Friday, June 30 — 8 significant news stories

Today ChatGPT read 928 top news stories. After removing previously covered events, there are 8 articles with a significance score over 8.

[8.3] Ukraine suspected of deploying banned mines in Russian-occupied territories — The Washington Post

Evidence gathered by Human Rights Watch suggests that Ukrainian forces have been deploying internationally prohibited antipersonnel land mines in Russian-occupied areas of eastern Ukraine, a violation of the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty. These small, inconspicuous "butterfly" mines, typically delivered by rockets, are indiscriminate, posing significant danger to civilians and soldiers alike. They can self-destruct within hours, but often fail to do so, creating enduring hazards. Despite the fact that Russia, a heavy user of these mines, hasn't signed the treaty, its use of such indiscriminate weapons is against international law. Cleanup of the mines is a slow and expensive process that could take centuries, continuing to threaten civilians' safety for years to come.

[8.3] Rightward political shift across Europe could reshape EU policies — POLITICO Europe

A wave of right-wing political shifts is sweeping across Europe, with countries like Italy, Finland, and Greece seeing a rise in conservative leadership or alliances. The upcoming European Parliament elections are anticipated to bolster this rightward trend. Despite some nations resisting this shift, the overall political landscape in Europe is leaning towards conservative ideologies. This changing political dynamic could noticeably affect EU policies on issues such as climate change and immigration.

[8.2] New respiratory virus vaccine recommended for older Americans by health officials — The Washington Post

U.S. health officials have recommended a newly approved Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccine for Americans aged 60 and older, urging them to discuss its suitability with their healthcare provider. RSV is a widespread virus causing cold-like symptoms, particularly harmful to infants and the elderly. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests that adults with chronic heart or lung disease, weakened immune systems, or those in long-term care facilities have an increased risk of infection. The RSV vaccines will be available in the fall.

[8.2] China passes law to counter foreign sanctions — The Manila Times

China has enacted a new foreign relations law, intended to counteract international sanctions, particularly those imposed by the U.S. The law, effective from July 1, 2023, provides a legal framework to defend against these sanctions and further international interference. Top Chinese diplomat, Wang Yi, suggests the law symbolizes China's stand against international bullying and is crucial to strengthening the centralized leadership of the Communist Party over foreign affairs. However, experts speculate that the law may offer Beijing more leeway to interpret and apply international treaties within its domestic context, potentially even extending its national laws to have international effect.

[8.2] AI predicted to replace millions of jobs in the future — The Telegraph

Goldman Sachs, a leading global investment bank, projects that artificial intelligence could potentially replace 300 million full-time jobs across diverse sectors, from customer service to education. Meanwhile, a study by job site Adzuna, OpenAI, and the University of Pennsylvania, highlights that certain roles such as medical specialists, judges, politicians, and manual laborers are less likely to be replaced by AI. The study also anticipates an increased demand for positions overseeing AI, like AI ethics officers and auditors. However, it notes that some tech jobs, specifically ethical hackers, have seen a marked decrease in salary. Interestingly, jobs requiring personal interaction, like influencers and personal trainers, are deemed less susceptible to automation, even though some have recently experienced wage reductions.

[8.2] Google to shut down news service in Canada over new law — Financial Times

Google has announced plans to shut down Google News in Canada and block news links in its search engine following the passing of a new Canadian law that would compel it to pay Canadian publishers for news links. The decision comes after Meta, parent company of Facebook and Instagram, also declared it would block news links in Canada, setting up a confrontation with the Canadian government. Google termed the law a "link tax", adding it "breaks the way the internet works." While the tech companies' move could potentially harm Canadian publishers by taking away a significant source of their online traffic, the proponents of the new legislation argue it ensures fair revenue sharing between the internet companies and publishers. Google said it will continue providing news access until the law becomes effective and expressed hope for a regulatory compromise before then.

[8.1] Violent protests in France following fatal police shooting of teenager — The Age

Protests erupted in French cities after a 17-year-old was fatally shot by police in Nanterre. Over 650 people were arrested, and 200 police officers were injured. The government deployed 40,000 officers to control the situation, and the officer involved faces preliminary charges. The unrest resulted in widespread damage and even spread to Brussels.

[8.0] Aspartame expected to be declared a possible carcinogen by IARC — CTV News

Aspartame, one of the most common artificial sweeteners used in products such as diet sodas and chewing gum, is expected to be declared a possible carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). The WHO's expert committee on food additives, JECFA, is also reviewing aspartame and will announce its findings on the same day as the IARC. The simultaneous reviews have raised concerns about confusion among the public. The IARC's previous rulings on substances such as glyphosate have had significant impacts, leading to lawsuits and changes in recipes. The food industry and regulators have called for coordination between the two processes to avoid confusion.

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