The world’s first personalized CRISPR therapy was given to baby
Researchers at Columbia University in New York and Riken have created a new enzyme that could be used to insert full-length genes. It’s termed evoCAST, which has an insertion efficiency of up to 30% across multiple genomic sites. The method could pave the way for gene-correction therapies that would be given once, and work regardless of the specific mutation causing an individual’s disease.
Republicans want to ban states from regulating artificial intelligence
Democratic lawmakers have criticised a 10-year ban on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in courtrooms, saying the ban will “allow AI companies to ignore…consumer privacy protections, let deepfakes spread” and allow companies to profile and deceive consumers using AI. The provision was included in the reconciliation bill that passed the House of Representatives earlier this week.
Some ethics experts are worried about the implications of Trump accepting a plane
US President Donald Trump is in talks with the Qatar government about accepting a Boeing 747 airplane, which could temporarily serve as Air Force One, White House official said. The next generation of Air Force One was the subject of a deal struck by Trump in his first term. Trump had agreed to pay $3.9 billion for two custom-made planes.
The Vice President claims that India-Pakistan fighting is a thing of the past
An officer from the Indian military told a group on Friday that their country sent drones to four locations in Pakistan in response to what her country termed an “escalation” by their rival. Pakistan targeted towns in India with drones overnight along a 760-mile stretch of border from the desert town of Jaisalmer in India’s northwest to the Himalayan peaks of Indian-held Kashmir.
Microsoft’s smaller Surface Pro has a 12 inch display and starts at $799
Microsoft has unveiled a 13-inch Surface Laptop, which it claims is its first-ever alternative to the Surface Pro model. It has a fan inside, similar to the one inside the 12-inch Surface Pro 12. The laptop is powered by the Intel Core i7-6820U processor with 8GB RAM and will be available worldwide from August 30 for 39,999.
States are fighting against the Trump administration for blocking wind energy development
New York and Rhode Island Attorney Generals have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration alleging that it attacked wind energy in a way that isarbitrary. “This administration is devastating…one of our nation’s fastest-growing sources of clean, reliable, and affordable energy,” New York Attorney General Letitia James said. “The American people voted for the president to restore America’s energy dominance,” White House said.
You can now pay via the app on your phone
Music streaming service Patreon is planning to submit an update to its iOS app to allow creators to accept payments outside of Apple’s payment system. The planned update follows yesterday’s ruling in Epic Games’ case which barred Apple from collecting fees on payments made outside of apps. Spotify will also submit an app update to Apple, enhancing the experience for consumers.
The App Store was in the hands of Apple
Apple made a full-screen option to limit the text of links within its apps so that users can’t visit external websites. The company tried to convince a US court that it wanted the screen to scare people and not mean it. The court said it didn’t want the screen to scare people and not mean it.
Apple’s new rules are going to be tested by a Spotify app
Patreon has unveiled an update for its app to allow users to purchase subscriptions from other apps without Apple’s approval. It has also added a Transparency button to allow users to see pricing details on subscriptions and information about promotions that will save them money. This comes after the US Supreme Court ruled that Apple must not take a cut of non-Apple payments.
Apple doesn’t seem to be concerned with Trump’s tariffs
Apple’s stock fell the most in five years on April 3, 2018, after US President Donald Trump announced his tariffs. Apple’s stock fell the most in five years on June 13, 2019, after it was reported the company would face separate taxes in May or June. Notably, Apple’s iPhone sales fell by 20% in the April-March quarter compared to a year ago.