Month: July 2024
Russia eyes crypto legalization amid sanctions pressure
Russia’s State Duma — the lower house of the Russian Parliament — is reviewing regulation, to possibly legalize cryptocurrencies. The… Continue reading Russia eyes crypto legalization amid sanctions pressure
The post Russia eyes crypto legalization amid sanctions pressure appeared first on ReadWrite.
Russia’s State Duma — the lower house of the Russian Parliament — is reviewing regulation, to possibly legalize cryptocurrencies.
The State Duma’s financial market committee head Anatoly Aksakov told Bloomberg that more crypto-friendly law drafts are under review. He said that those drafts are expected to soon gain approval from senators in the Federation Council and then become law after approval by President Vladimir Putin on Sept. 1. He said:
Previously, there were fears that the legalization of cryptocurrency could create problems for the development of the domestic market. […] However, cryptocurrencies are an objective phenomenon and cannot be ignored.”
Russia to avoid sanctions with crypto?
Russia’s change of stance on cryptocurrencies follows mounting United States pressure considering the imposition of secondary sanctions on foreign banks.
Despite crypto payments being currently banned in Russia, Putin recently told local officials that cryptocurrencies “are increasingly used in the world as a means of payment in international settlements.” He also suggested that for the nation “not to miss the moment” to regulate crypto.
The new regulation would treat crypto usage in Russia the same as foreign currency usage, according to Aksakov. Crypto analyst Ani Aslanyan told Bloomberg that local authorities are in a hurry hoping that cryptocurrencies will improve cross-border transfers.
Still, the United States is likely to attempt to block Russia’s attempts at sanction evasion by monitoring and targeting crypto services and companies. Furthermore, the laws won’t completely liberalize cryptocurrencies.
Aslanyan noted that only large exporters are likely to meet the conditions for legal crypto usage, leaving small and medium-sized businesses behind. For instance, transactions will reportedly be restricted to those who have mined the coins themselves.
While Russia is looking for help in its defiance of Western powers in crypto, blockchain technology has stung the nation very recently. As ReadWrite reported back in May, following Vladimir Putin’s dubious victory in Russia’s recent presidential election exiled opposition leader Mark Feygin is spearheaded an initiative to enable Russians to anonymously register a “protest vote” against Putin using blockchain technology.
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Meta’s Quest 3 ‘Layout’ app lets you take measurements in mixed reality
Image: Meta
Meta is launching an app for its Quest 3 headsets that lets you take measurements and visualize changes in your home. The utility app, called Layout, will appear in the Quest 3 library as part of the v68 update.
Meta says you can use Layout to measure furniture around your home, allowing you to get a sense of how much room you have for a new couch or TV without taking out your tape measure. You can also use the app to place virtual objects in a real-world environment, as well as try out the leveling tool to ensure the picture you just hung up isn’t crooked.
Image: Meta
You can place and resize virtual objects — like a TV — to see how they look.
Along with the Layout app, the v68 update includes Meta’s experimental AI assistant that’s already on the company’s Ray-Ban smart glasses. As seen in Meta’s demo video, you can ask the AI questions about what you’re seeing in your real-world environment, such as what kind of shirt will look good with your new pair of pants. This feature is currently only available in English, and just in the US and Canada.
Another nice upgrade coming with the update is the ability to download multiple games at once and manage them from a new “Downloads” tab in your library. Meta is also adding the ability to pair Touch controllers from within the headset (instead of from the newly-renamed Meta Horizon app), along with new audio-level balance tools.
You can check out the full list of updates on the v68 release notes page.
Image: Meta
Meta is launching an app for its Quest 3 headsets that lets you take measurements and visualize changes in your home. The utility app, called Layout, will appear in the Quest 3 library as part of the v68 update.
Meta says you can use Layout to measure furniture around your home, allowing you to get a sense of how much room you have for a new couch or TV without taking out your tape measure. You can also use the app to place virtual objects in a real-world environment, as well as try out the leveling tool to ensure the picture you just hung up isn’t crooked.
Image: Meta
You can place and resize virtual objects — like a TV — to see how they look.
Along with the Layout app, the v68 update includes Meta’s experimental AI assistant that’s already on the company’s Ray-Ban smart glasses. As seen in Meta’s demo video, you can ask the AI questions about what you’re seeing in your real-world environment, such as what kind of shirt will look good with your new pair of pants. This feature is currently only available in English, and just in the US and Canada.
Another nice upgrade coming with the update is the ability to download multiple games at once and manage them from a new “Downloads” tab in your library. Meta is also adding the ability to pair Touch controllers from within the headset (instead of from the newly-renamed Meta Horizon app), along with new audio-level balance tools.
You can check out the full list of updates on the v68 release notes page.
DSCVR Launches Canvas: A Massive Leap for Web3 Social Embedded Apps
Los Angeles, United States, 30th July 2024, Chainwire
The post DSCVR Launches Canvas: A Massive Leap for Web3 Social Embedded Apps first appeared on Tech Startups.
Los Angeles, United States, 30th July 2024, Chainwire
The post DSCVR Launches Canvas: A Massive Leap for Web3 Social Embedded Apps first appeared on Tech Startups.
Tesla recalls 1.8 million cars over hood issue
submitted by /u/ThriftyStrongman [link] [comments]
submitted by /u/ThriftyStrongman
[link] [comments]
Olympic men’s triathlon postponed due to river pollution
Paris 2024, before the triathlon, view of the Seine with the grandstands and the Eiffel Tower in the background. | Photo: Getty Images
The men’s triathlon event at the Paris Olympics was postponed today because of pollution levels in the Seine river, where the swimming leg of the event was supposed to be held. Now the event is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday — if the water quality improves by then.
Bacteria in the river, including E. coli, have been a concern leading up to the Summer games. Paris spent roughly $1.5 billion on cleanup efforts before the Olympics to prevent sewage and wastewater from contaminating the Seine, the Associated Press reports. But rain seems to have stymied efforts to keep bacteria at safe levels.
“The tests carried out in the Seine today revealed water quality levels that did not provide sufficient guarantees”
“Paris 2024 and World Triathlon reiterate that their priority is the health of the athletes. The tests carried out in the Seine today revealed water quality levels that did not provide sufficient guarantees to allow the event to be held,” World Triathlon, the sport’s international governing body, said in a statement today.
Human fecal contamination is “the most important risk factor” in triathlon competitions, according to World Triathlon. Swimming in water contaminated with feces can potentially lead to skin rashes, diarrhea, and E. coli infections. And athletes can be more prone to infection during or right after the event due to hormonal stress and other factors that might affect the immune system.
E. coli levels should stay at or below 900 colony-forming units per 100 milliliters for “sufficient” water quality, according to World Triathlon. Only one of four test sites along the Seine showed levels below that limit, the Associated Press reports.
Training events had already been postponed with elevated bacteria levels following the downpour over the Olympics opening ceremony. Heavy rain can overwhelm sewage and wastewater systems, allowing untreated water to reach the river.
There’s more rain in the forecast for Paris tonight. But for now, both the women’s and the men’s triathlon events are scheduled for Wednesday at 8:00 and 10:45AM local time, respectively. There’s also a backup date of August 2nd.
Paris 2024, before the triathlon, view of the Seine with the grandstands and the Eiffel Tower in the background. | Photo: Getty Images
The men’s triathlon event at the Paris Olympics was postponed today because of pollution levels in the Seine river, where the swimming leg of the event was supposed to be held. Now the event is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday — if the water quality improves by then.
Bacteria in the river, including E. coli, have been a concern leading up to the Summer games. Paris spent roughly $1.5 billion on cleanup efforts before the Olympics to prevent sewage and wastewater from contaminating the Seine, the Associated Press reports. But rain seems to have stymied efforts to keep bacteria at safe levels.
“Paris 2024 and World Triathlon reiterate that their priority is the health of the athletes. The tests carried out in the Seine today revealed water quality levels that did not provide sufficient guarantees to allow the event to be held,” World Triathlon, the sport’s international governing body, said in a statement today.
Human fecal contamination is “the most important risk factor” in triathlon competitions, according to World Triathlon. Swimming in water contaminated with feces can potentially lead to skin rashes, diarrhea, and E. coli infections. And athletes can be more prone to infection during or right after the event due to hormonal stress and other factors that might affect the immune system.
E. coli levels should stay at or below 900 colony-forming units per 100 milliliters for “sufficient” water quality, according to World Triathlon. Only one of four test sites along the Seine showed levels below that limit, the Associated Press reports.
Training events had already been postponed with elevated bacteria levels following the downpour over the Olympics opening ceremony. Heavy rain can overwhelm sewage and wastewater systems, allowing untreated water to reach the river.
There’s more rain in the forecast for Paris tonight. But for now, both the women’s and the men’s triathlon events are scheduled for Wednesday at 8:00 and 10:45AM local time, respectively. There’s also a backup date of August 2nd.
Poor security let hackers access 40 million voters’ details
The UK data watchdog says weak passwords and unpatched software were responsible for the hack.
The UK data watchdog says weak passwords and unpatched software were responsible for the hack.
Mortal Kombat 1 is bringing back ‘animalities’, and they’re as brutal as you might expect
Mortal Kombat developer NetherRealm Studios made some big announcements at San Diego Comic-Con over the weekend. Much to fans’ delight,… Continue reading Mortal Kombat 1 is bringing back ‘animalities’, and they’re as brutal as you might expect
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Mortal Kombat developer NetherRealm Studios made some big announcements at San Diego Comic-Con over the weekend. Much to fans’ delight, animalities are making a comeback.
First appearing in Mortal Kombat 3 (1995), animalities are when characters transform into animals to finish off the fight. Gory teaser footage revealed on Saturday includes a hyena, a scorpion, a gorilla and even a T-rex skeleton decimating their opponents.
The inventive ways of killing don’t stop there. A giant praying mantis bites off a fighter’s head and then rips them in half. A pufferfish even fills up with air inside someone in a particularly bloody ending. With an animality for every playable character confirmed fans are already speculating who will transform into each creature. Some are easier to guess than others, with Scorpion clearly going to be a scorpion.
This update will be free to all players of Mortal Kombat 1. The additional Khaos Reigns DLC, which was also included in the trailer, will be released on Sept. 24. It is available for pre-order now for $49.99
New Mortal Kombat 1 characters
Other announcements from NetherRealm Studios at Comic-Con included the Khaos Reigns story update. This will follow on from the plot of the Mortal Kombat 1 base game. Classic characters from the franchise like Noob Saibot will be given new backstories in the fight against villain Titan Havik, as was leaked earlier this month.
All of the leaks have been confirmed to be true after reputable Mortal Kombat leaker thethiny revealed the three new characters (Noob Saibot, Cyrax and Sektor) and the animality gameplay would be available in September.
If that wasn’t enough for fans, the trailer showcases even more characters from pop culture. Ghostface from the Scream franchise, T-1000 from Terminator 2 and Conan the Barbarian will all be playable.
Earlier this year The Boys’ Homelander joined the Mortal Kombat universe, as well as Peacemaker from Suicide Squad.
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