Top Stories
TOP STORY
TOP STORY
Campaigns brace for sprint to election
The path to the presidency for Kamala Harris and Donald Trump this fall is becoming much clearer.
The Democratic vice president and the Republican former president will devote almost all their remaining time and resources to just seven states and spend hundreds of millions targeting voters.
The campaigns will focus on three familiar issues: the economy, immigration and abortion amid heated debates over character, culture and democracy.
The candidates will debate in one week in what will be their first meeting. The nation’s premier swing state, Pennsylvania, begins in-person absentee voting the week after.
By the end of the month, early voting will be underway in at least four states, with a dozen more to follow by mid-October. “As we move past Labor Day, we will really get into the time where voters start to harden their opinions,” said James Blair, the Trump campaign’s political director.
ENVIRONMENT
ENVIRONMENT
Biodegradable plastic to fight pollution
Global concerns over plastic pollution are behind an Australian-led initiative to develop 100% compostable plastic.
Experts estimate that more than 170 trillion pieces of plastic are floating in the world's oceans. There are growing concerns about the impact of microplastics on health and the environment.
The Bioplastics Innovation Hub aims to “revolutionize” plastic packaging by making biologically made plastic that can break down in compost, land or water.
Australia has been phasing out plastics for several years. More items were banned in South Australia and Western Australia this month, including polystyrene containers and cups, plastic confetti, and plastic coffee cups and lids.
Chile, Kenya, India and New Zealand have also imposed restrictions on some single-use plastic products, such as bags and cutlery.
The United Nations Global Treaty on Plastic Pollution aims to be a legally binding international agreement to reduce the production and consumption of high-risk plastic.
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SCIENCE
SCIENCE
Earthquakes may help to form gold nuggets
Earthquakes and quartz's piezoelectric properties could be crucial in creating gold deposits.
Australian scientists investigated the puzzling formation of large gold nuggets in quartz. They conducted experiments using quartz tiles in gold solutions. Jiggled tiles simulating earthquakes developed micrometer-sized gold grains, while unstressed control tiles showed no gold formation.
Further tests revealed that existing gold specks on quartz tiles grew when stressed. This suggests that once gold deposition begins, it acts as a catalyst for further reactions, prioritizing existing sites for ore formation due to its conductivity.
The lab simulations used concentrated solutions and extensive shaking periods. In nature, this process would take much longer with dilute solutions and occasional tremors but could still be relatively rapid on geological timescales.
LAW
LAW
HP to pursue Lynch’s estate for up to $4bn
Hewlett Packard (HP) said it will continue its suit of up to $4bn in damages against the estate of deceased tech tycoon MikeLynch.
HP said in a statement it would follow the legal proceedings “through to their conclusion” despite Lynch’s death last month when his yacht sank off the coast of Italy.
HP won a civil claim against Lynch in the English high court in 2022 after accusing him and his former finance director, Sushovan Hussain, of fraud over its $11bn takeover of his software company Autonomy in 2011.
A ruling on damages is expected soon, although the judge presiding over the case, Mr Justice Hildyard, wrote in 2022 that he expected final damages to be “substantially less than is claimed.
A UK lawyer said that while HP is obliged to act in its shareholders’ best interests, continuing the claim is questionable. “From a publicity perspective, it could backfire … suing his widow does not look good,” he said.
Lynch, 59, was cleared in a separate criminal fraud trial over the Autonomy deal in the US in June.
BUSINESS & ECONOMICS
BUSINESS & ECONOMICS
Volkswagen may close plants in Germany
Volkswagen is weighing whether to close factories in Germany for the first time in its 87-year history.
“The European automotive industry is in a demanding and serious situation,” said Volkswagen Group CEO Oliver Blume. “New competitors are entering the European market. Germany … is falling further behind in terms of competitiveness.”
Volkswagen, which embarked on a €10 billion ($11.1 billion) cost-cutting effort late last year, is losing market share in China, its single biggest market. In the year's first half, deliveries slipped 7% compared with the same period in 2023.
The lackluster performance in China comes as the company loses out to local EV brands, notably BYD, which also pose an increasing threat to its business in Europe.
IG Metall, one of Germany’s most powerful unions, on Monday blamed mismanagement for the firm’s shortcomings and vowed to fight to protect jobs.
Volkswagen employs almost 683,000 workers worldwide, including some 295,000 in Germany, according to its most recent earnings report.
HEALTH
HEALTH
Vaping teens have more mental health issues
A study of 5,000 students found teenagers who vape are more likely to have poor mental health.
Chief investigator associate professor Emily Stockings said the survey found only 8% had vaped, but those with symptoms of severe depression were twice as likely to have used e-cigarettes.
Of the grade 7 and 8 students (12–14 year olds) in three Australian states surveyed — 22% had moderate to severe depression, 20% had moderate to severe anxiety, and 33% had low well-being. “So, this is a mentally not very well population,” Stockings said.
Students who reported moderate or high stress were 74% or 64% more likely to have tried vaping, respectively, than those who reported low stress.
The study showed a correlation between depression and vaping but did not establish a causal link.
A trial of vaping prevention in Australia aims to test whether teenagers are less likely to vape if given life-coping skills early on in the classroom. It will follow up with participants in three years.
OFFBEAT
OFFBEAT
‘Russian spy’ Beluga whale dies in Norway
The Beluga whale known for the “Russian spy” harness he wore was found dead on Saturday in Norwegian water.
The white Beluga whale named “Hvaldimir” was discovered close to the Russian/Norwegian maritime border in 2019 wearing a Russian camera harness. This led to talk he was used as a spy.
Hvaldimir was a regular sight in Norwegian waters and actively sought human presence. Over the years, he was reported to have suffered propeller strikes and other injuries during his interactions with humans.
“We don’t know the manner of death yet, but he was in heavily trafficked waters … so we expect it was not a natural death,” OneWhale charity spokesperson Regina Haug said.
The charity planned to move Hvaldimir this month to a location near a wild Beluga pod in open waters, which would have allowed him to live potentially another 50 years.
Oceanography non-profit Marine Mind commented: “He touched the lives of tens of thousands, bringing people together in awe of the wonders of nature. His presence taught us about the importance of ocean conservation.”
Otherweb Editorial Staff
Alex FinkTechie in Chief
David WilliamsEditor in Chief
Angela PalmerContent Manager
Dan KriegerTechnical Director