World News Daily(2024-08-26) : Ex-FBI Informant's Book Warns of Far-Right Violence
Ex-FBI Informant's Book Warns of Far-Right Violence
Joe Moore, a former sniper and FBI informant, spent a decade embedded within the KKK. His book, "White Robes and Broken Badges," unveils the profound connections between the Klan and law enforcement. Moore thwarted a murder plot orchestrated by Klansmen who were also prison guards.
He cautions about the potential for far-right violence during the 2024 election. Moore identifies two sources of far-right ideology: geographical and generational. His undercover work led to the downfall of significant KKK leaders.
Moore's experiences illustrate the KKK's persistent influence. He observes that other white nationalist groups have adopted Klan tactics. His efforts highlight the infiltration of law enforcement by these groups.
Moore's book is particularly relevant given public concerns about political violence. His analysis underscores the continuous threat posed by domestic extremism.
ScoresPolitics
Iranian Hackers Target Trump's Campaign
Iranian hackers, known as APT42 or CharmingKitten, targeted Trump's campaign. They specialize in mobile surveillance, recording calls, stealing texts, and activating cameras and microphones. Linked to Iran's Intelligence Organization of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC-IO), they focus on high-value targets in Washington and Israel.
APT42 uses mobile malware for detailed surveillance, including geolocation data. They impersonate journalists and think tanks via email, aiming to trick targets into opening malicious messages. Targets include anti-Iran activists, reporters, academics, and foreign-policy advisers.
In 2018, they targeted nuclear workers and U.S. Treasury officials during the U.S. withdrawal from the JCPOA. APT42 continues to target campaign officials and former Trump administration figures critical of Iran.
ScoresTelegram Founder Pavel Durov Faces French Court Over App's Illegal Activities
Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, faces a French court after being arrested at Le Bourget airport. He is accused of failing to curb criminal activities on his messaging app, which includes fraud, drug trafficking, and the promotion of terrorism.
Durov, a Russian-born billionaire, left Russia in 2014, evading Kremlin demands to suppress VK opposition groups. He then focused on Telegram, which evolved from a simple messaging app into a social network, hosting groups of up to 200,000 members and broadcast channels.
Telegram, with its 950 million monthly users, plays a crucial role in disseminating both information and misinformation about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Its robust encryption has attracted extremists and conspiracy theorists.
Durov resides in Dubai, praising its business-friendly, neutral environment. Western governments are pressuring Telegram to moderate illegal content, unlike in the UAE.
The app is popular among Ukrainian leaders and Russian citizens seeking unfiltered war news. Critics, including anti-racism groups, label Telegram a hub for extremists and hate speech.
Durov advocates for Telegram as a neutral platform, resisting government interference. His arrest underscores the ongoing battle between tech freedom and regulatory control.
ScoresPacific Islands Forum Leaders Address Key Regional Issues
The Pacific Islands Forum Leaders meeting in Tonga addresses climate change, geopolitical tensions, and economic stress. Established in 1971, the PIF faces unprecedented challenges. Climate change and disaster resilience are top priorities, with a funding shortfall for the Pacific Resilience Facility.
New Caledonia's internal conflict complicates the forum, as France mediates between pro-France loyalists and separatists. Geopolitical rivalry intensifies with China and the U.S. competing for influence, particularly in security and policing in the region.
Australia advocates for regional policing cooperation to counter China's expanding security role. The forum also considers associate membership for U.S. territories.
The meeting aims for tangible outcomes under intense international scrutiny, with leaders under pressure to deliver results for their communities.
ScoresSociety
Climate Change Linked to Massive Crab Die-Off in Bering Sea
Warming in the Bering Sea has wiped out snow crab populations. NOAA scientists link this to climate change, noting a 200-fold increase in extreme conditions since preindustrial times. Arctic warming, four times faster than the global average, threatens not just crabs but other marine life too. Alaska's fishing industry reels from the loss. This is a preview of broader ecological shifts as the planet heats up.
ScoresIndia's 2047 Development Goal: Overcoming Gender Inequality
India aims to be a developed nation by 2047 but faces a significant hurdle: gender inequality. With over 468 million women of working age, only 38.2 million are employed. The labor force participation rate for women stands at 33%, far below countries like the U.S., China, Japan, and Germany.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's goal is to grow India into a $5 trillion economy. However, economists warn that without addressing gender disparities, this target may be unattainable. Women's safety remains a critical issue, with incidents like the rape and murder of a trainee doctor sparking national outrage and protests.
Sunaina Kumar, from the Observer Research Foundation, notes that despite improvements in literacy, fertility rates, urbanization, and economic growth, women's participation in the workforce has not significantly increased. Safety concerns, including fear of sexual harassment, limit women's mobility and career opportunities.
The World Bank's Girija Borker highlights how female students in Delhi choose safer, often lower-quality colleges to avoid harassment. This compromises their career prospects. Harvard's Eliana La Ferrara emphasizes the impact of such incidents on parental investment in daughters' education.
Jayati Ghosh, an economics professor, argues that deep-seated patriarchy and misogyny must be addressed. The World Economic Forum ranks India 129 out of 146 for gender parity.
Encouraging women into the workforce requires better safeguards and education from a young age. Gynecologist Nisha Kotwal stresses the need to change the psychology of boys. Ghosh adds that government policies must support women's entry into the workforce.
India's journey to development hinges on overcoming these gender barriers.
ScoresEconomy
Morgan Stanley Predicts Global Tech Downturn and Investment Strategies
Morgan Stanley predicts a tech downturn in 2025. The bank cites slowing revenue growth and tight supply-demand conditions as triggers. Semiconductor materials and AI supply chains face the brunt due to price volatility and high operating costs.
The bank advises focusing on quality stocks with strong cash flows and low valuations. Companies that fared well during past recessions are recommended. Morgan Stanley also highlights tech areas with defensive, countercyclical, and growth potential.
Key stocks mentioned include Nvidia, Apple, Seagate, Dell, and Arista Networks. Nvidia, despite its high position in the AI market, is seen as resilient. Apple and others in IT hardware are expected to sustain their cycles. Arista Networks is favored for its high-performance networking capabilities in AI.
Global picks include Samsung Electronics, TSMC, and Quanta. Samsung and TSMC are noted for their stability and defensive qualities during downturns. Quanta, a laptop maker, is praised for its strong balance sheet and growing exposure to AI infrastructure.
ScoresDebt Relief Benefits for Lower Income Countries
Debt relief for poor countries could send 5 million more children to school and provide 17 million people with clean water. A study suggests that reducing debt payments also saves lives—60,000 children and mothers.
The research examined 39 countries where debt consumes over 22% of government income. If payments decrease to 14%, 16 million people gain sanitation, 7 million receive clean water, 2 million children attend school, and 30,000 lives are saved.
For 88 countries, if debt payments decline to 5%, 33 million obtain sanitation, 17 million gain access to clean water, 5 million children go to school, and 60,000 lives are saved.
Countries such as Angola, Kenya, Pakistan, and Tunisia are included. The IMF and World Bank advocate for faster debt relief, but progress is slow.
Dr. Bernadette O’Hare highlights that debt reduction enhances public services and resilience to climate change. Heidi Chow of Debt Justice calls on the UK to prevent creditors from suing poor countries.
Debt relief is not just about numbers; it's about survival and hope for millions.
ScoresMarket Volatility and Nvidia's Earnings Outlook
On August 5, the market experienced a significant downturn. Japanese stocks, typically robust, plummeted by 12%, marking their steepest decline since 1987. However, there was no underlying issue. The strength of the yen compelled investors to inject additional capital, leading to margin calls globally.
Europe initiated the decline, closely followed by the U.S. The Magnificent Seven—Apple, Amazon, Alphabet, Meta, Microsoft, and Nvidia—all saw declines. Nvidia dropped 6.4%, casting doubt on its trillion-dollar status. Buffett divested half of his Apple shares, despite recent accolades.
Both Nvidia and Apple experienced sharp drops before partially recovering. This indicated a lack of confidence in the stocks, rather than the companies themselves. The media attributed the situation to overvaluation and uncertainty regarding the Federal Reserve's interest rates.
This week, Nvidia is set to report earnings. Anticipate a $2 billion surprise and reassurance regarding the Blackwell chip platform. Analysts expect a robust tone and detailed financial information. Nvidia may announce a substantial share buyback, underscoring its financial stability.
Apple is shifting from hardware to software and service fees. Their collaboration with Microsoft-backed OpenAI is pivotal. Apple could potentially profit without directly developing AI products. This could be transformative, altering perceptions of Apple's earnings.
ScoresTechnology
Taobao and Xiaomi collaborate to launch virtual car-try-on service.
Taobao and Xiaomi have teamed up to launch "Virtual Test Drive" on September 9th. Internal testing invitations have been sent out, targeting Taobao Vision Pro edition reservation users. Project core: Taobao's self-developed engine technology, enabling 3D rendering.
Analysis:
- "Virtual Test Drive": Online experience of new cars without the need for physical test drives.
- 3D rendering: Technology that generates realistic three-dimensional images.
Security Flaw in RFID Cards Exposes Global Vulnerability
Shanghai Fudan Microelectronics Group developed RFID cards with a backdoor, making them easy to clone and capable of unlocking doors globally. Quarkslab discovered this vulnerability. Attackers require only brief proximity to the card. In supply chain attacks, cloning could occur instantly on a massive scale.
RFID stands for Radio-Frequency Identification, a technology using radio waves to read and capture information stored on a tag attached to an object. It is commonly used in access control cards.
ScoresNew Silicon Anode Material Promises Extended EV Battery Range
Paraclete Energy, a Michigan-based company, has developed a new silicon-based anode material called SILO Silicon™. This material could significantly boost the energy density of lithium-ion batteries, crucial for electric vehicles and renewable energy storage.
Traditional lithium-ion batteries use graphite as the anode, limiting their energy density to about 250Wh/kg. SILO Silicon™, with a silicon content of 83%, aims to raise this to 520Wh/kg, tripling the energy density. This increase allows electric vehicles to travel over 1000 kilometers on a single charge.
The challenge with silicon anodes has been their tendency to expand during charging, risking battery failure. Paraclete Energy's solution involves encapsulating silicon particles in polymer microspheres, controlling expansion to under 4%. This design also enhances ion conductivity and stabilizes the electrode's surface, addressing key issues in silicon anode technology.
Scheduled for release in late 2024, SILO Silicon™ promises faster charging times and lower costs, potentially revolutionizing the electric vehicle market by making longer ranges and quicker charges more affordable.
ScoresQuantum Sensor Breakthrough Could Revolutionize Navigation and More
Sandia National Labs, in New Mexico, has made a breakthrough in quantum sensing. They've developed a motion sensor, a thousand times more sensitive than current models, that could reduce our dependence on GPS satellites. This sensor, once the size of a truck, is now compact enough to fit on a microchip.
The key is a new silicon photonic modulator, central to a laser system on a chip. This modulator, rugged and small, replaces a conventional laser system typically as large as a refrigerator. The team's findings are featured in Science Advances.
Cost was another hurdle. Full-size modulators can cost over $10,000. But by miniaturizing these components into silicon photonic chips, costs are dropping. Hundreds of modulators can be made on a single wafer, using the same process as computer chips. This could enable mass production of quantum inertial measurement units at lower costs.
The team is also exploring other applications. The sensor could locate underground cavities and resources by detecting tiny gravitational changes. The optical components, including the modulator, also show potential in LIDAR, quantum computing, and optical communications.
ScoresVideo Game
"Dead Rising: Deluxe Remaster" Released, Includes Details of Deluxe Edition and Pre-order Bonuses
Capcom has released "Dead Rising: Deluxe Remastered Edition," priced at 248 yuan. The Deluxe version, at 298 yuan, includes an additional DLC pack. Pre-order bonuses include three sets of outfits and a BGM soundtrack. The game's graphics have been fully upgraded using the RE Engine, resulting in more realistic visuals.
Set in a large shopping mall, players must deal with both zombie and human threats. A variety of weapons are available, including everyday items. The environment is harsh, presenting numerous survival challenges.
The DLC pack includes: Willamette Parkview Mall Pack, Resident Evil Protagonist Pack, Enemy Pack, Mega Man Pack, and Capcom Fighter Pack.
Scores"Black Myth: Wu Kong" game sparks tourism boom at filming locations.
"Black Myth: Wu Kong" game's popularity sparks a tourism boom in its filming locations. China Aerospace released satellite images allowing players who can't visit in person to remotely appreciate these sites. Historical relics such as Xiaoxitian in Shanxi, Xuankong Temple in Datong, Dazu Rock Carvings in Chongqing, Kaiyuan Temple in Quanzhou, Fujian, and Shisizi Temple in Lishui, Zhejiang, have been perfectly recreated in the game, bridging dimensions and making history tangible.
Suspended Sculpture Art: Refers to three-dimensional sculptures made using techniques such as clay modeling or wood carving inside buildings like temples, often used to depict religious stories or mythological legends.
Cloud-Capped Summit: Describes a landscape situated at the peak of a high mountain, surrounded by clouds, commonly used to depict the tranquility and mystery of mountain temples.
ScoresEntertainment
Netflix's 'Terminator: Zero' Anime Series Trailer Released
"Terminator: Zero," the first animated adaptation of the "Terminator" series, released its trailer today. Exclusively on Netflix starting August 29th, the series consists of 8 episodes. Directed by Katsushi Kudo, it is a joint production between Production I.G and Skyedance Television.
The story revolves around an AI scientist being hunted by relentless robots. A future warrior travels back to 1997 to protect him. Timothy Olyphant voices the Terminator, with a strong English voice cast including André Holland, Rosario Dawson, and others. Notable Japanese voice actors include Yasuhiro Mamiya and Yuuya Uchida.
ScoresReddit's Ad Strategy Focuses on Interests Over User Data
Reddit, which has been public for six months, attracts advertisers by avoiding the use of user data. Instead, it targets ads based on interests by leveraging its network of over 100,000 subreddits. This strategy has significantly boosted sales, with the company's stock rising 66% since its IPO.
Reddit's "conversation ads" align products with user queries within specific subreddits, such as displaying water bottle ads in r/HydroHomies. These ads represent Reddit's fastest-growing format.
Since 2018, Reddit has concentrated on advertising, highlighting its content moderation as a safer option for brands. With over 60,000 volunteer moderators and a user voting system, Reddit ensures high-quality content.
These improvements have led to partnerships with major sports leagues like the NFL, NBA, and MLB. Fortune 500 companies are the primary contributors to Reddit's ad revenue, which reached nearly $800 million last year. Analysts forecast $1.1 billion in ad revenue for this year, with a goal of reaching $2 billion by 2027.
Reddit heavily relies on a few top advertisers, underscoring the need to attract smaller marketers. With over 90 million daily users, Reddit presents a promising platform for advertising investment.
ScoresHong Kong Cafe Offers Life-Size Japanese Model Trains Experience
The Hara Cafe in Hong Kong's Tsim Sha Tsui district offers a taste of 1920s Japan through life-size replicas of vintage train cars. These mock-ups, based on models by the late Nobutaro Hara, a renowned model railroad enthusiast, include a 1919 Hakone Tozan railway car and a 1921 Hanshin Electric Railway vehicle.
The original models are displayed at the Hara Model Railway Museum in Yokohama, Japan, which also houses railroad memorabilia and detailed dioramas. George Hara, Nobutaro's son and museum director, has previously declined to exhibit these fragile models abroad. However, the Hong Kong cafe allows international audiences to experience their charm without leaving the city.
Inside the cafe, guests dine within the vintage carriages, enjoying virtual scenic views of Japanese landscapes, including Mount Fuji. This unique dining experience provides a nostalgic journey back in time, all within the bustling heart of Hong Kong.
ScoresHealth
Gut Electric Signals Attract Salmonella, New Research Finds
Scientists at UC Davis discovered that Salmonella employs electric signals in the gut to invade the body. This process, known as galvanotaxis, provides a novel approach to understanding bacterial infections and treating gut diseases.
Salmonella, a harmful bacterium, navigates the intricate gut to locate vulnerable areas for infection. It targets the gut lining, composed of cells that aid in nutrient absorption and others that gather antigens for the immune system.
In mice, Salmonella senses electric signals in these antigen-collecting cells and moves towards them, differing from the behavior of harmless bacteria like E. coli, which remain near nutrient-absorbing cells.
This research could shed light on chronic diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), where the immune system poorly responds to beneficial bacteria. Identifying whether gut electrical activity is abnormal in IBD patients could be crucial.
The study, published in Nature Microbiology, suggests a new method for bacteria to target the body, paving the way for potential prevention and treatment strategies.
ScoresSports
102-Year-Old Veteran Sets Record as Britain's Oldest Skydiver
Manette Baillie, 102, jumped from a plane on Sunday. A military veteran, she served in Egypt during World War II. This jump made her Britain's oldest skydiver. She aimed to raise £30,000 for three charities: East Anglian Air Ambulance, Motor Neurone Disease Association, and her local ex-servicemen's club.
Before the jump, Baillie received a letter from Prince William. She had raced a Ferrari at 130mph for her 100th birthday. After landing, she smiled, clutching a bouquet from the air ambulance.
Baillie's advice: "Keep busy, be interested in everything, be kind to those around you and let them be kind to you. And don't forget to party."
ScoresFood
China Fines Companies for Unsanitary Cooking Oil Transport
China fined Sinograin and six firms 11 million yuan for using unclean tankers to transport cooking oil. The scandal sparked safety fears and a shift to foreign brands. Authorities called the violations "extremely severe," violating common sense and legal standards.
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