World News Daily(2024-08-22) : Blinken's Middle East Tour Ends with Ceasefire Unachieved
Blinken's Middle East Tour Ends with Ceasefire Unachieved
Blinken, US Secretary of State, concluded his Middle East tour. A ceasefire with Hamas remains elusive. A bridging proposal is on the table, accepted by Israel. Hamas is not directly negotiating and views the proposal as too Israeli-centric.
The proposal includes a six-week ceasefire, the initial release of female, elderly, and sick Israeli hostages, and the possibility of indefinite extension. The second stage involves exchanges of soldiers, Israeli troop withdrawal, and the return of Palestinians.
The key issue is that Hamas demands a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, which Israel rejects. Blinken clarified the US stance against long-term Israeli occupation. Netanyahu hinted at keeping troops in strategic Gaza corridors, but the White House denied this.
Egypt and Qatar are mediating. There is a fear of a wider regional conflict if the truce fails. Recent attacks in Tehran and Beirut, linked to Israel, have prompted Hezbollah and Iran to vow retaliation.
Casualties continue in Gaza. An Israeli airstrike hit a school, killing 10. Israel recovered six hostage bodies in Gaza, with details of their deaths unclear.
*Bridging proposal: A temporary solution aimed at resolving immediate issues while broader negotiations continue. *Philadelphi corridor: A strategic strip along the Gaza-Egypt border, key to controlling smuggling and movement.
ScoresPolitics
Asia Zero Emission Community Promotes Decarbonization
Asia Zero Emission Community, an 11-member group including Japan, Southeast Asia, and Australia, met in Indonesia. They agreed to promote decarbonization, considering each country's unique circumstances.
Focus areas include electric power, transportation, and industry. They aim to shift thermal power generation to hydrogen and ammonia, which don't emit carbon dioxide. Plans also include building supply chains for next-generation sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and biofuel for cars.
Japan will share its advanced technologies, particularly in hydrogen, ammonia, and energy saving.
ScoresSociety
Energy Sector Equipment Investment to Surge by 25% by 2027
The National Development and Reform Commission and the National Energy Administration jointly released the "Implementation Plan for Large-scale Equipment Renewal in Key Energy Areas," aiming for a 25% or more increase in energy equipment investment by 2027. The focus is on upgrading coal-fired power units and renewing equipment for transmission and distribution, wind power, photovoltaics, and hydropower.
This initiative aims to enhance energy efficiency and promote the development of low-carbon technologies. The policy includes comprehensive renovations of old substations and transmission lines, as well as equipment updates in the hydropower and electric vehicle sectors.
Funding channels have been clarified to support large-scale equipment renewal and the trade-in of consumer goods. The policy encourages regions to tailor their approaches, increase investment subsidies, and broaden the pathways for low-carbon coal-fired power generation technologies.
ScoresOnline Guides Promote Sextortion Practices on Social Media
Criminals sell sextortion guides online on platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Telegram. These guides teach how to trick teens into sending intimate photos and then demand money, threatening to share the photos.
A National Crime Agency manager, Adam Priestley, noted that YouTube guides detail every step, from creating fake accounts to targeting victims and profiting. Some guides even instruct targeting secondary schools.
A cybersecurity firm found an 80-page guide on Telegram, offering detailed advice on creating fake profiles, manipulating victims, and choosing the best countries for extortion. The author claims to have exploited 5,000 victims over seven years.
YouTube, TikTok, and Telegram all claim to take strict measures against such content, but the guides remain accessible. This indicates a growing, professionalized crime, with potential for significant profit.
ScoresHeat-Related Deaths in Europe Projected to Triple by 2100
Heat-related deaths in Europe could triple by 2100, with southern countries like Italy, Greece, and Spain bearing the brunt. Currently, cold kills more people, but heat-related deaths are rising faster as populations age.
If global warming reaches 3°C or 4°C, heat-related deaths could surpass those from cold. This could strain public health systems, particularly during heatwaves.
Currently, 44,000 people die from heat each year. This number could jump to 129,000 at 3°C above pre-industrial levels. Even if warming remains at 1.5°C, total deaths from heat and cold could rise from 407,000 to 450,000 by 2100.
The study challenges the notion that fewer cold deaths balance out more heat deaths. It warns of indirect impacts such as crop failures, wildfires, and economic losses.
Heat will increase deaths across Europe, but southern regions will suffer the most. At 3°C warming, an additional 55,000 could die, mostly those over 85.
Predicting temperature-related deaths is complex. Improvements in healthcare and infrastructure might mitigate impacts. However, adapting to rising heat is crucial.
Governments should invest in hospitals, develop action plans, and insulate buildings. Addressing greenhouse gas emissions is key to avoiding worst-case scenarios.
Adaptation efforts should focus on regions with high unemployment, poverty, and aging populations. These areas are more vulnerable to climate impacts.
ScoresEconomy
McDonald's Plans to Create 24,000 Jobs Through UK and Ireland Expansion
McDonald’s plans to open 200 new restaurants in the UK and Ireland by 2028, creating 24,000 jobs. This expansion, supported by a £1 billion investment, will focus on high street locations. McDonald’s intends to experiment with new formats, including smaller sites and drive-thru restaurants. The UK food-to-go market is expected to grow by 40% by 2028. Despite global challenges, McDonald’s remains dedicated to growth. The company faces significant competition, particularly from Greggs, which has surpassed McDonald’s in takeaway breakfast sales.
ScoresAI Boosts Semiconductor Market, Legacy Chips Struggle
Global chip market surged 18.3% in Q2, driven by AI and advanced tech. TSMC's revenue soared, with GPUs leading the charge. Samsung and SK Hynix saw memory sales triple. Demand for DRAM and NAND memory is rising, fueled by data centers.
Smartphones and PCs are recovering, but slowly. Legacy chips and silicon wafers are lagging, facing a prolonged downturn. Renesas and Shin-Etsu Chemical struggle with weak demand.
Chipmaking equipment sales are up, thanks to investments in advanced semiconductors. SEMI forecasts a record year for production equipment. However, legacy sectors remain pessimistic.
Generative AI is creeping into devices, potentially shortening replacement cycles. TSMC and Murata expect a demand uptick in 2024-2025. The divide between advanced and legacy tech is stark, with the former thriving and the latter fading.
ScoresShein Considers Public-First IPO in London
Shein, a Chinese fast-fashion giant, is considering a London IPO at a valuation of 500 billion pounds. They are contemplating a direct stock sale to the British public, a rare move. Typically, IPOs allocate shares to banks and funds initially, with individuals purchasing later.
Shein's advisors—JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs, and Morgan Stanley—are reviewing this public-first strategy. The plan is still in its early stages. Shein filed with the UK's FCA and Chinese regulators in June.
The company is also considering establishing its first UK warehouse, aiming to address tax complaints related to shipping from China. If successful, Shein's IPO would be London's largest, surpassing Glencore's 2011 debut.
Shein's current valuation stands at 660 billion dollars, following a 20 billion dollar fundraising in May. Investors include major funds like General Atlantic, Tiger Global, Sequoia China, and Mubadala.
Direct IPOs to the public have become less common. The UK government's aborted NatWest stock sale highlighted issues with discounted taxpayer-funded deals. However, platforms like Peel Hunt's RetailBook and PrimaryBid have eased the process for retail investors to participate in IPOs.
Shein and its advisors have yet to comment.
ScoresTechnology
Ideogram 2.0 Enhances Realism and Web Design Capabilities
Ideogram 2.0, a new version of the text-to-image model, boasts significant improvements in realism. It now closely mimics photographs and can even design web pages. This update positions Ideogram at the forefront of its field, enhancing its utility and appeal.
"Text-to-image model" refers to software that converts written descriptions into visual images. This technology is crucial in fields like graphic design and AI-driven content creation.
ScoresAliCloud Launches AI-Enhanced Domain Services with 'tongyi.ai'
AliCloud launched "tongyi.ai" at WANN, signaling a shift towards AI-enhanced domain services. The platform introduced an AI-driven domain name generator, simplifying selection by creating names based on user input of brand and industry.
Beyond domain names, AliTongyi improved web chat search, offering deeper, more structured results with source transparency. On the App, image micro-animations and custom singing functions were enhanced, allowing longer audio uploads and varied image sizes.
These updates aim to boost user creativity and business efficiency, leveraging AI for smarter, more personalized internet solutions. AliCloud's focus on technological innovation underscores its commitment to enhancing user experience across digital content creation and management.
Scores"Black Myth: WuKong" Cloud Gaming Experience Guide: Seamless Play Across Multiple Devices
Hardware Guide for "Black Myth: WuKong": Cloud Gaming Enables Mac, Mobile Phones, and TVs to Play Seamlessly.
The article explores the possibilities of playing "Black Myth: WuKong" on various devices. Cloud gaming platforms like Tencent's START allow users without high-end graphics cards to experience this AAA title on computers, Macs, mobile phones, and TVs. START offers free play events, covering multiple platforms including Mac and Android, with iOS support coming soon.
Practical tests show that through START cloud gaming, even on lower-spec devices like the Lenovo YOGA Air 14s, the game runs smoothly with good quality and low latency. Additionally, NetEase's GameViewer remote tool allows users to control PCs remotely via their phones, enabling gaming experiences on mobile devices, especially suitable for high-quality graphics needs.
Casting from a phone to a TV can provide a more immersive visual experience. Hisense's co-branded E8N Mini LED TV with "Black Myth" is optimized for gaming, offering high brightness and local dimming, enhancing the game's visual effects.
Overall, cloud gaming and remote control tools lower the hardware barriers for AAA games, allowing more players to enjoy "Black Myth: WuKong." These technological advancements, along with support from domestic hardware and software, showcase China's self-reliance in the gaming and tech sectors.
ScoresVideo Game
Devolver Digital Enhances Website Performance with Vercel
Devolver Digital, known for its indie games, faced a bottleneck with its website infrastructure. The team was bogged down by system management, leaving little time for creativity. Enter Vercel, a platform that streamlined their workflow.
With Vercel, Devolver cut system management time by over half. They launched five websites during a press conference without a hitch. Eli Penner, a web developer at Devolver, noted, "Our sites just work. We are never 'on-call' in case there’s a problem."
Vercel offered zero-configuration integrations and built-in CI/CD (Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment), simplifying the process from idea to launch. Preview URLs on each pull request allowed for quick iterations and feedback. Local testing became robust, eliminating the need for constant redeployments.
The first project on Vercel was a revamped Enter the Gungeon website. Since then, the team focuses on games and websites, not infrastructure woes. With time and frustration saved, Devolver plans to expand its engineering team.
For those looking to streamline their frontend workflow, Vercel offers a solution. It's about moving faster and focusing on what you love.
ScoresHealth
Mpox Outbreak Raises Global Health Concerns
Mpox outbreak alarms health experts. A new strain spreads rapidly and is more lethal. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared it a global emergency. Cases have emerged in unexpected locations such as Sweden, Pakistan, and Thailand. The virus is transmitted through close contact, causing flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions. While typically mild, it can be fatal.
Dr. Hans Kluge of the WHO emphasizes that it is not a new Covid, and can be halted through cooperation. However, experts caution about unknowns, particularly with a new subvariant, clade 1b, which spreads more aggressively, particularly affecting young people and moving through sexual networks. More data is needed to understand and control it.
Clade 1 affects children, pregnant women, and immunocompromised individuals severely. The outbreak is worsening in countries with poor health systems, high HIV rates, and ongoing conflicts. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) reports over 15,000 cases and 537 deaths. Experts note inadequate controls and unlearned lessons from the previous outbreak.
Bavarian Nordic, the manufacturer of an approved mpox vaccine, may increase production. They are seeking EU approval to use it on teenagers. CEO Paul Chaplin highlights its importance for the current outbreak, with over 70% of cases in Africa occurring in individuals under 18.
ScoresFood
Manitoba Researchers Develop Diabetes-Fighting Vegetables
Researchers at the University of Manitoba, in partnership with the Opaskwayak Cree Nation (OCN), are developing vegetables with enhanced nutritional benefits to combat diabetes. The project utilizes a vertical 'smart farm' established in 2016, which grows plants hydroponically under controlled conditions with LED lights and artificial intelligence.
Initially, the farm provided free vegetables to OCN families through local health programs, aiming to promote healthier diets. Currently, the focus is on research. The team has discovered methods to increase antioxidant compounds in vegetables such as cabbage, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts, which could aid in managing obesity, blood glucose, inflammation, and heart function.
These vegetables are being tested on diabetic and obese rats, with early results indicating higher levels of beneficial compounds compared to store-bought produce. The challenge now is to encourage community members to incorporate these vegetables into their diets, especially since fresh produce is not a regular part of their diet.
To address this, the team is collaborating with chefs at Red River College Polytechnic's Prairie Research Kitchen to develop culturally-sensitive recipes that make the vegetables more accessible and appealing.
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