The achieved speeds remain in laboratory testing phases and have not been implemented in consumer internet services. Researchers express optimism that the technology will eventually meet growing global demand for high-speed internet, particularly as more people use data-intensive applications such as streaming, cloud storage, and artificial intelligence.

The breakthrough was made possible through a 19-core optical fiber system, described as a "19-lane highway" for data transmission. The cable enables multiple parallel data streams, increasing transmission capacity without requiring thicker cables.

Such speeds could connect data centers across continents as if they were on the same local network, providing the necessary infrastructure for cloud computing, artificial intelligence, streaming, and next-generation applications. The technology could also serve future networks such as 6G, massive data centers, automated industrial environments, and demanding artificial intelligence services.

While consumers are unlikely to experience these speeds in their homes soon, the achievement could serve as a model for next-generation national infrastructures and submarine cables.

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Three young Israeli snowboarders who became stranded on the snow-covered slopes of Mount Hakuba in northern Japan were successfully rescued Tuesday morning, emerging from their ordeal with minor frostbite. The group was immediately reunited with Israeli Consul Avinoam Mizrachi who had been coordinating rescue efforts.

Israeli Ambassador to Japan Gilad Cohen provided details of the intensive rescue operation, "Throughout the night and morning hours, our embassy staff worked tirelessly around the clock, coordinating with all relevant Japanese authorities and the US Ambassador. The consul personally traveled to the site and has just met with the rescued individuals. We are relieved that our concentrated efforts proved successful and our three young men were brought to safety."

The successful extraction was carried out by an experienced Japanese rescue team, who safely brought the snowboarders down the mountain where they met with the consul who had been anxiously awaiting their arrival.

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Moe Berg is a name that may not ring a bell for everyone, but his life story is one of the most fascinating tales of the 20th century. A Jewish American who went from being a professional baseball player to a CIA spy, Berg defied stereotypes and expectations at every turn. This article delves into the remarkable journey of Moe Berg, exploring his childhood, baseball career, espionage activities during World War II, and life after the war.

Moe Berg travelled to Switzerland to attend a lecture by the eminent German physicist Werner Heisenberg. His mission was to determine how close the Nazis were to an operational atomic bomb, & if they were close, he was to shoot Heisenberg, then kill himself.
But after listening… pic.twitter.com/uN6k6ivsjx

— Jim Koenigsberger (@Jimfrombaseball) October 2, 2024

 Moe Berg was born in Newark, New Jersey, to immigrant parents who fled the pogroms in Ukraine. His upbringing was typical for many Jewish families in America during the early 1900s. Living in a tenement, Moe faced antisemitic bullying and even changed his last name to avoid it. However, from a young age, he displayed exceptional talents that set him apart.

By the age of three, Moe was eager to attend school, demonstrating a keen intellect and a thirst for knowledge. He excelled in sports, academics, and languages, ultimately earning a spot at Princeton University. There, he became known not just for his athletic prowess but also for his academic achievements, becoming proficient in multiple languages and even translating classical texts.

The major leagues

Berg's baseball journey began when he joined the Brooklyn Robins, transitioning through several major league teams, including the Chicago White Sox and the Boston Red Sox. Although he played alongside legends like Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, his performance on the field was modest. Critics often joked, "He can speak ten languages but can't hit in any of them," highlighting his struggles as a player.

Despite a less-than-stellar batting average, Berg's intelligence and versatility shone through. He balanced his baseball career with education, earning a law degree from Columbia University. His dual life as an athlete and scholar made him an anomaly in the sports world.

The Japan tour

In 1934, Berg embarked on a tour of Japan with a group of American baseball players, including Babe Ruth. He brought along a portable film camera, documenting his experiences and capturing footage of Tokyo. While some speculate that the US government may have recruited him for intelligence purposes, others believe he was simply fulfilling a personal interest in filmmaking.

This footage would later play a significant role in his life, but at the time, it served as a fascinating souvenir of his travels. The tour marked a pivotal moment for Berg, as it set the stage for his eventual involvement in espionage.

The OSS

After the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, Berg's life took a dramatic turn. He began working for the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), the precursor to the CIA. His linguistic skills and athletic background made him an ideal candidate for various missions, including training fellow operatives for parachute drops into enemy territory.

One of Berg's most notable missions involved overseeing the extraction of Italian rocket scientists. While it wasn't a traditional kidnapping, he successfully persuaded a high-level aeronautic engineer to come to the United States, showcasing his charm and diplomatic skills.

Berg's most thrilling assignment came when he was tasked with infiltrating the German nuclear program. The US government was deeply concerned about the potential for the Nazis to develop atomic weapons. To gather intelligence, Berg attended a lecture by Werner Heisenberg, a prominent scientist behind the German nuclear efforts.

Equipped with a self-taught understanding of nuclear physics, a pistol, and orders to eliminate Heisenberg if necessary, Berg's mission was fraught with tension. Although Heisenberg's research did not indicate that Germany was close to developing a bomb, Berg's ability to navigate complex scientific discussions proved invaluable.

Life after World War II

After the war, Berg returned to the US, where he was awarded several medals for his service. However, he famously refused the Medal of Freedom, citing embarrassment. The post-war years were challenging for Berg, as he struggled to find his place in a world that had changed dramatically.

His brother noted that Berg seemed different after the war – moody and irritable. Some speculate that this change was linked to the CIA's refusal to send him to Israel or the failure of his last mission, which left him feeling disillusioned. Despite his past achievements, Berg found it difficult to reintegrate into civilian life.

In the years following the war, Berg withdrew from public life. He lived with his siblings and spent much of his time reading and reflecting on his past. Although he occasionally traveled and maintained friendships, his days were largely spent in solitude.

Despite his fame as a baseball player and a spy, few people in his neighborhood knew of his remarkable history. Berg's last words were reportedly about baseball, indicating that his love for the game remained strong until the end.

A legacy recognized

Moe Berg passed away in 1972, and his sister accepted his long-deferred Medal of Freedom, later donating it to the Baseball Hall of Fame. While Berg may not have been the most celebrated baseball player, his unique life story as a patriot, a polymath, and a Jewish American deserves recognition. Today, Moe Berg is remembered not just for his contributions to baseball but also for his extraordinary role in espionage during one of history's most tumultuous periods.

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A Canadian company's $47 billion bid to acquire Seven & i Holdings, the Japanese parent company of the famous 7-Eleven chain, has sparked concerns about preserving the convenience store chain's distinctive food offerings that have made it a culinary destination in Japan, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The bid by Quebec-based Alimentation Couche-Tard would mark the largest-ever foreign acquisition of a Japanese company, according to The Wall Street Journal. While 7-Eleven operates globally, its 21,000 stores in Japan serve as the company's crown jewel, generating more than half of its operating profit in the first half of this fiscal year.

"My impression is you can't go wrong with Seven's quality," Chigusa Okazaki, a 51-year-old office worker told The Wall Street Journal. "If it's bought out, I have the feeling it might change for the worse."

The Japanese company's board rejected an initial offer from Couche-Tard in September, emphasizing "the crucial role that Seven & i plays in everyday life in Japan across food retail, banking, and other services."

Chief Executive Ryuichi Isaka has defended his team's position by highlighting their ability to expand globally while maintaining "the 7-Eleven brand's high-quality food."

The attention to detail in Japanese 7-Eleven stores is evident in their food preparation. In a factory outside Tokyo, workers prepare chicken and egg bowls individually, using eggs from hens fed specially to produce darker, richer yolks. This recipe, like many others, is exclusive to Japanese 7-Eleven stores.

The Canadian suitor, which operates Circle K stores in the US, has recently increased its offer price and pledged to respect the Japanese operation's excellence. "We have tremendous respect" for the "outstanding level of excellence" of the Japanese stores, Couche-Tard said in a statement to The Wall Street Journal.

Foreign companies have faced challenges in Japanese retail. Walmart largely withdrew from its Seiyu supermarket investment in 2020 after years of difficulties, while French retailer Carrefour departed Japan in 2005 after a brief four-year presence.

The Japanese convenience store model garnered international acclaim during the 2021 Tokyo Olympics when visitors discovered the high quality of its food offerings. Each typical 7-Eleven in Japan stocks hundreds of food items, accounting for roughly two-thirds of store revenue, according to company data.

The chain's dedication to quality extends to seemingly simple items. A rice master from Kyoto's Hashimoto family selects specific rice blends for the store's popular rice balls. The company even developed a custom potato peeler to remove the thinnest possible layer of skin for its potato salad.

Both current management and potential buyers aim to expand the Japanese chain's strategies to the US market, where some 7-Eleven locations now offer rice balls and Japanese-style sandwiches. However, regulations and logistics pose challenges, as US food safety rules require rice balls to be refrigerated, while in Japan they're kept at 68 degrees Fahrenheit to maintain optimal texture.

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Fumio Kishida announced his resignation as Japan's prime minister, paving the way for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) to choose a new leader without a general election.

Japan's stock prices registered their biggest single-day point-drop since 1987 after Kishida's announcement.

Kishida faced public dissatisfaction over political scandals involving ties to the Unification Church, unrecorded political donations, rising living costs, and ineffective handling of inflation. He removed Cabinet ministers, dissolved party factions, and tightened political funds control laws in response.

Potential contenders to replace Kishida as LDP leader include Shigeru Ishiba, Taro Kono, Sanae Takaichi, and Shijiro Koizumi. Ishiba, a former defense minister, expressed willingness to run and acknowledged the need for party backing while visiting Taiwan, emphasizing Japan's commitment to preventing conflict in the region.

Kishida faced low approval ratings due to inflation, sluggish growth despite stimulus measures, and political-financial scandals within his party, including undeclared funds. His popularity plummeted to around 25%.

He gained international praise for supporting Ukraine and implemented a plan to increase Japan's defense spending to 2% of GDP by 2027.

Under Kishida's watch, the Nikkei 225 Average hit a historic high in 2021.

The U.S. Ambassador to Japan praised Kishida's efforts in enhancing the US-Japan alliance, particularly in security cooperation and agreements with South Korea and the Philippines.

Sources: Associated Press, NPR, Business Insider, Financial Times, Los Angeles Times, The Economist, The Independent, The Hill, Die Welt, Liberty Times, Excélsior, Zócalo, Süddeutsche Zeitung, India TV, HotNews.ro, RTÉ, Devdiscourse, El Tiempo, Times Now News.

This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq.

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Severe tropical storm Maria, rated just below typhoon strength, made landfall around in northeastern Japan near Ofunato city moving northwest at 15 kmh with sustained winds of 90 kph and gusts up to 126 kph.

The storm brought record-breaking rainfall, with Kuji city in Iwate Prefecture recording 362-368.5 mm of rain in 24 hours, leading to warnings of landslides, flooding, and inundation of low-lying areas.

A top-level emergency warning (Level 5) was issued for parts of Nagauchi and Kokuji areas within the Nagauchi River basin of Kuji city, urging residents to evacuate or seek shelter.

Multiple buildings in Takusari area of Miyako city experienced flooding, and several rivers were at risk of overflowing due to an emergency release from the Taki Dam.

Maria is expected to move slowly into the Sea of Japan by evening, potentially weakening into a tropical depression by Tuesday, bringing prolonged rain, landslides, overflowing rivers, strong wind, and high waves to the region.

Numerous flights to the northern region were cancelled due to the typhoon.

Sources: NY Times, Japan Times, Straits Times, Yomiuri

This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq.

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Japan is experiencing a severe population decline, with a record low of 730,000 births and a record high of 1.58 million deaths in 2023, leading to a population drop of 861,237, the largest ever recorded. The country has the world's second-oldest population after Monaco, with a record-low fertility rate of 1.2 children per woman.

The number of foreign nationals living in Japan has reached a record high of 3.32 million as of January 1, marking an 11% increase from the previous year and the highest since 2013. This is attributed to the end of pandemic-era border controls and the need for foreign workers due to population decline.

Younger Japanese are less likely to get married or have children due to high cost of living, dimming job prospects, and a gender-biased corporate culture, discouraging them from starting families.

The Japanese government has allocated 5.3 trillion yen ($34 billion) in the 2024 budget to fund incentives for young couples to have more children, including increasing subsidies for childcare and education, with an expected annual expenditure of 3.6 trillion yen ($23 billion) over the next three years.

Japan's diminishing population presents challenges such as labor shortages, with the service sector having almost three job openings for each worker seeking employment, and construction firms facing even tighter labor markets, leading to a record 260 companies going bankrupt in 2023 due to insufficient workforce availability.

Japan's declining population and a growing elderly population put pressure on the social security system, with a projected 10% decrease in tax and insurance revenues by 2040, making it challenging to finance increasing social security costs. Experts predict Japan's population will decrease by 30% to 87 million by 2070, with 4 out of 10 people being 65 years or older.

Sources: Newsweek, AP News, Time, Yahoo News, Japan News Yomiuri, Arab News, The Guardian, France24, Nikkei Asia, Al Bawaba, India TV News, The Japan Times, Benzinga, Asahi, AnyTV News, Ahram Online, The Straits Times

This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq.

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A Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) destroyer briefly entered Chinese territorial waters off the eastern province of Zhejiang, despite repeated warnings from Chinese vessels, according to Kyodo News. The incident has led to severe concerns from Beijing and prompted an investigation by the Japanese Defense Ministry.

The destroyer Suzutsuki, which was tasked with monitoring Chinese military drills on the high seas, sailed into Chinese waters on July 4. This rare move by a Self-Defense Forces vessel occurred just a day after Zhejiang authorities announced a no-sail zone nearby for a Chinese military live-fire drill.

According to diplomatic sources, Chinese vessels urged the Suzutsuki to leave when it approached within 12 nautical miles (22 kilometers) of the Zhejiang coast. However, the destroyer reportedly accelerated and entered Chinese waters for about 20 minutes before departing.

#WATCH | Japan navy destroyer enters China's territorial waters near #Taiwan earlier this month without notifying #China, prompting Beijing to lodge an official complaint. pic.twitter.com/sch8glCprv

— DD India (@DDIndialive) July 11, 2024

The incident has raised tensions between the two nations, with Beijing conveying its serious concern to Tokyo. A Chinese diplomatic source questioned the timing of the move, stating, "I wonder why Japan made such a provocative move amid efforts by both countries to stabilize relations." In unofficial discussions between the two sides, a Japanese official suggested the possibility that the entry was a "procedural error." However, a Chinese security expert has expressed doubt about this explanation, citing the skill levels of the Japanese crew. The Chinese government suspects the incident may have been an "intentional provocation" by the destroyer and is currently analyzing relevant information. The Japanese Defense Ministry has launched an investigation into the ship's captain.

Tokyo maintains that the Suzutsuki's entry into Chinese territorial waters was not illegal, citing the right to "innocent passage" recognized by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. This principle allows vessels to pass through another state's territorial waters unless it compromises the coastal state's safety. However, Beijing argues that the MSDF ship did not fulfill requirements under Chinese domestic law, which mandates that foreign vessels seek prior permission to enter its waters.

Jun Tsuruta, associate professor of international law at Meiji Gakuin University in Tokyo, said there has been ongoing debate about whether the right to innocent passage applies to military vessels and commercial ships. He noted that this issue has not been wholly settled based on the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea adopted in 1982. Tsuruta also pointed out that as Japan recognizes the right to innocent passage for foreign military ships in its territorial waters, Japanese Self-Defense Forces vessels would likely not seek Beijing's prior approval based on Chinese law before entering neighboring waters.

The incident comes at a sensitive time for Sino-Japanese relations, which have been strained over various issues, including the release of treated radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant. Despite recent high-level meetings aimed at improving ties, progress has been slow.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida agreed during their November meeting in San Francisco to build "mutually beneficial" bilateral relations. This agreement was later reaffirmed by Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Kishida in Seoul in May.

As tensions persist in the region, with China regularly sending military and coast guard vessels into Japanese waters near the disputed Senkaku Islands, experts urge caution.

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Japan is planning a 310-500 km (192-311 mile) automated conveyor belt system, known as the Autoflow-Road, to transport goods between Tokyo and Osaka, utilizing existing infrastructure like tunnels, above-ground tracks, and constantly moving treadmills inspired by mining industry conveyor belts.

The proposed Autoflow-Road system aims to address logistics issues like a shortage of truck drivers, increased freight demands, timely delivery of supplies, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The Autoflow-Road will use a high-capacity pallet system to move up to one ton of freight per pallet continuously, potentially handling as much freight as 25,000 truck drivers daily, enhancing freight transportation efficiency, reducing emissions, and optimizing road space utilization.

The estimated cost for the Autoflow-Road construction ranges from 7 billion yen to 80 billion yen per 10 km, with the total cost potentially exceeding $25 billion. Other smaller freight conveyor belt systems are already operational in Japan.

The exact cost and timeline for the system's operational readiness remain under consideration.

Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism proposed the conveyor plan, but alternatives are also being considered, including a focus on autonomous trucks and vans. Logistics companies are hopeful for fully driverless trucks operating 24/7 without breaks as an alternative solution to the driver shortage.

Japan's driverless network plan aims to open the first stage within the next ten years, and other countries like the UK and Switzerland are also planning driverless delivery systems and underground freight tunnels, although these projects are costly.

The global Light Conveyor Belt market, valued at USD 3867.8 million in 2023, is forecasted to reach USD 5262.8 million by 2030 with a CAGR of 4.5%, driven by the Asia-Pacific region, particularly China. Major players like Partners Group, Habasit, and Forbo-Siegling occupy 35% of the market.

Sources: Carscoops, The Spectator, SoraNews24, The Drive, The Sun, Freight News, The Loadstar, India Times, Westchester Magazine, Interesting Engineering, The Times, New Atlas.

This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq.

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