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Sweden reopens Assange rape investigation
Swedish investigators have re-opened the rape case against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who is currently in prison in the UK for breach of bail (The Guardian).
Assange may face extradition to Sweden – in addition to ongoing US attempts to extradite him in a case related to WikiLeaks' publication of secret military documents and videos showing troops firing on civilians. It's not clear which case would take precedence, but a little over a year remains until the statute of limitations expires in the rape case.
WhatsApp vulnerability exploited to install surveillance tools
A WhatsApp vulnerability allowed state actors to install surveillance software on the phones of lawyers, journalists and human rights activists (The Register).
The Financial Times revealed that Israeli digital surveillance firm NSO Group developed a method of using a video call vulnerability to secretly install its Pegasus spyware. WhatsApp owner Facebook has released a patch and rolled out backend defences against the exploit.
Amazon is automating its warehouse packing
Amazon's is planning to further automate its warehouses with machines capable of boxing up products for delivery, according to Reuters sources. Each of the machines, which scan goods on a conveyor belt and encase them in custom-built boxes, could replace 24 human workers.
Nasa's next moon mission has a name and a price
Nasa will need $1.6 billion in additional funding for 2020 to meet the US government's goal of sending humans back to the moon in 2024 (Ars Technica). And that's just for a single year's mission development: the total figure, according to Ars Technica sources, could be as high as $8 billion over the course of four years. The 2024 moon mission is to be named Artemis – after the sister of Apollo – as it will be the first to include women.
Learn about the future of AI with WIRED's new event at the Barbican
WIRED explores the impact of artificial intelligence on human experience during its new event, WIRED Pulse: AI at the Barbican. Taking place on Saturday, June 15, 2019, the event addresses ethics and best practice around machine learning, health, self-driving vehicles, real-time decision-making and creativity.
All tickets include keynotes from eight fascinating speakers, a musical performance from the UK's beatbox champion, over a dozen tech demos, refreshments and private access of the Barbican’s AI: More than Human exhibition. Standard tickets cost only £99, plus an extra 10% off when you book with code AWAKE10 here. Find out more about the event.
Russia accused of spreading 5G health disinformation
A New York Times report has accused Russia's stated-owned RT America news network of spreading disinformation to fuel health fears about 5G mobile technology (VentureBeat). It's a variant of long-established but conclusively debunked belief that mobile phone use may cause cancer or other diseases, updated to prey on concerns about new technologies, with added political undertones: Russia has recently been denied access to international 5G security meetings.
Jeff vs Elon: the billionaires' space race is heating up
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This article was originally published by WIRED UK
