ZTE showcased at MWC Shanghai 2026 its groundbreaking AI New Calling solution, together with China Mobile Research Institute (CMCC). Based on the concept of "Calling as a Service", this innovation uses open interfaces to deeply integrate traditional voice calls with artificial intelligence (AI), establishing a dual-engine system powered by "Calling + AI Agents" and "Calling + AI Capabilities". Through an intelligent service portal, it expands the scope of communication applications and converts the conventional closed voice network into an intelligent, open, and flexible AI-integrated network. This enables operators to create a versatile, continuously evolving service ecosystem and unlock new business growth opportunities. Dual engines driving commercial value With real-time AI assistants capable of understanding multimodal intentions, the system automatically handles complex tasks like booking travel and scheduling meetings, providing users with a smooth experience of "automatic recognition, intelligent execution, and task completion" without the need to download additional apps. While enhancing user experience, the integration of calling and AI also generates commercial value. It establishes a powerful service gateway within the calling interface, expanding operators' business horizons to realize "Calling as a Service". Additionally, advanced features such as real-time translation and AI-based fraud prevention improve core call quality, offering unique services that increase customer loyalty and generate additional revenue. Two-layer technological upgrades strengthening the foundation The AI New Calling architecture delivers two key technological advancements: Enhanced Capability Infrastructure: The introduction of an IMS Data Channel (IMS DC) enables multimodal data transmission and lightweight H5 app deployment, overcoming limitations in audio/video interactions and creating a superior calling platform. A new ecosystem is established by launching a plug-and-play AI calling open platform that supports third-party plugin integration for flexible capability use and rapid innovation development. Together, these improvements facilitate the smooth transition from closed voice networks to an intelligent, open, and agile AI+ network, helping operators build a sustainable and evolving communication service ecosystem. Four core capabilities redefining the value of voice call Focusing on essential user needs, ZTE's AI New Calling removes traditional barriers in audiovisual communication by fully embedding AI capabilities throughout the communication process. It redefines the value of calling across four main areas: enhancing efficiency, expanding the ecosystem, improving experience, and embracing technological inclusivity. AI personal assistant: Users can activate a personal AI agent during calls to independently manage meetings, travel plans, and other routine tasks—achieving complete task closure and turning every call into a productive interaction ("calls that get things done"). Super service gateway: The native dialer is transformed into a comprehensive service gateway, providing direct access to frequently used services like business travel and government functions—without requiring app downloads. This allows instant service access at the moment of dialing ("dial and enjoy"). AI clear voice: By combining background noise reduction, voiceprint optimization, and weak-network compensation, AI Clear Voice delivers crystal-clear, high-definition two-way audio even in challenging network environments. Accessible calling services: Utilizing AI integrated within the network, the system offers inclusive features like real-time language translation and proactive fraud detection. These services operate independently of the capabilities of user devices, ensuring truly universal and fair communication for all. Open collaboration to co-build the intelligent calling ecosystem AI New Calling is a strategic path toward the digital and intelligent transformation of voice communication. Its widespread implementation requires collaboration throughout the industry. ZTE is dedicated to driving innovation in communication technologies and facilitating the smooth transition of traditional voice networks into intelligent, open, and flexible AI-powered networks. Moving forward, ZTE will continue to collaborate with partners across the ecosystem to push the boundaries of AI and telecommunications integration, speed up the adoption of AI calling solutions in various industries, and deliver smarter communication experiences to millions of households, collectively shaping the future of digital intelligence in telecom. Contributed by ZTE.

Daar zijn we dan, het laatste potje voor het allerbelangrijkste potje (ok vooruit, er is nog een troostfinale voor de losers) van de komende vier jaar. Aan de ene kant staan de Engelsen, aangevoerd door totaalkampioen Harry Kane in de spits en tovenaar Jude Bellingham als topscorer. Aan de andere zijde Argentinië, die hebben Messi. Sommigen zouden daar '...en de scheids' aan toevoegen, maar vergeleken met Qatar valt het aantal dubieuze beslissingen in Argentijns voordeel nog alleszins mee. Toch, je kunt dan wel de grootste voetballer sinds Maradonna in je selectie hebben, als je er bijna uit knikkert tegen Kaapverdië en je in 90 minuten niet langs Zwitserland komt, ben je niet bepaald de gedoodverfde favoriet. Bovendien is deze strijd al eens beslecht in het voordeel van de Engelsen, in 1982. Krijgen de boys van Thomas Tuchel het voor elkaar om hun innerlijke Maggie Thatcher te doen ontwaken en zo die sluwe Argentijnen te braden en te serveren met vette worst en witte bonen in tomatensaus? We geven toe, wij zijn de kwartfinale in 2022 niet vergeten en na een paar weken online hype en tamelijk leuk voetbal beginnen wij onderhand langzaam It's Coming Home te neuriën. Misschien zingt het hele StamCafé vanavond uit volle borst Wonderwall. Wtf is dat eigenlijk, een wondermuur? Ach boeien. We gaan ervoor zitten met chips, nootjes en de rest.

Update 3' - Hahaha nu al bijna knokken
Update 24' - ZUIPPAUZE
Update 35' - Ook in die andere oorlog is het onrustig. Amerika valt Iran aan.
Update 45+3' - Einde eerste helft. Geen doelpunten maar wat een matpartij is deze wedstrijd.

DE SFEER

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@supersonnyspurs01

let's have it 😤 Football belongs to England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿. We want it back 🏆.

♬ original sound - SuperSonnySpurs01

Of; HUP ARGENTINIË

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Wellicht leest u dit en heeft u nu ergens in uw huis een kwispelend, spinnend of knagend dier rondlopen. Ga dan even goed bij uzelf te rade: waarom vind ik het zo belangrijk om macht te hebben over een andere aardbewoner? Welke rol speelt uw diepgewortelde gevoel van witte superioriteit bij het brokjes voeren aan de kat? Ja, uw viervoeter is trouw. Maar trouw aan wat? Aan een systeem van onderdrukking en uitbuiting? Als u een hond aanlijnt voor een blokje om, doet u dan diep in de kern iets anders dan Jan Pieterszoon Coen deed op de Banda-eilanden? Als u uw tot huisdier gemaakte een 'af!', 'zit!' of 'hier!' toebijt, klinkt daar dan niet stilletjes een zin als 'en nou hierkomen gore bruine katoenplukker of ik gesel je de vernieling in!' in door? Allemaal belangrijke vragen om onszelf en elkaar te stellen na dit inspirerend betoog van 'marketingvrouw' Chanel Lodik. Laat de ze allemaal vandaag nog vrij. Daarna een excuses van premier Jetten, en dan natuurlijk; herstelbetalingen.

Oh toch geen kolonialisme, of zo

Stripe and private equity firm Advent International have reportedly made a joint $60.50-per-share offer to buy PayPal, valuing the payments company at more than $53 billion. The bid is said to represent a 28% premium to PayPal's latest closing price and is backed by roughly $50 billion in committed bank financing.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Krebs on Security: Microsoft today released software updates to plug at least 570 security holes in its Windows operating systems and other software, almost triple the number of vulnerabilities the software giant fixed in its record-smashing Patch Tuesday release last month. Microsoft attributed the burgeoning patch counts to vulnerability discoveries aided by artificial intelligence. Nearly 60 of the bugs quashed in July's Patch Tuesday earned a "critical" severity rating, meaning miscreants or malware could use them to seize remote control over a Windows device with little or no help from the user. Microsoft also addressed three zero-day flaws, including two that are already being exploited in the wild.

Two of the zero-day weaknesses allow an attacker to elevate their user rights on a Windows system, as do approximately 250 other elevation of privilege flaws fixed this month; they include CVE-2026-56155 - an Active Directory Federation Services bug -- and CVE-2026-56164, a Microsoft Sharepoint vulnerability. CVE-2026-50661 is a security feature bypass in Windows BitLocker that could allow attackers to gain access to encrypted data if they have physical access to the device. Microsoft said this bug has been detailed publicly, but that it is not aware of any active exploitation.

In a blog post on July 9, Microsoft Executive Vice President Pavan Davuluri wrote that Windows users will notice "a higher volume of security updates included in each security release" as a result of AI aiding in the discovery of vulnerabilities. "The pace of vulnerability discovery is changing with advances in AI making it possible to find more issues, faster, across more code, with new mechanisms that can accelerate both discovery and analysis," Davuluri wrote.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Legibility of effort in the LLM age. “What software (and writing, to an extent) is missing now is legibility of effort - the ability to tell at a glance whether something took a human meaningful work.”

These have to be some of the most remarkable sports photos of all time: a 20-year-old Lionel Messi bathing a five-month-old Lamine Yamal.

Two of the best football players in the world, one a Barcelona legend and another a Barca legend in the making. Both came up through the ranks of the club’s La Masia youth academy. Both wore number 19 for Barca before switching to the number 10. And if Argentina can advance past England in this afternoon’s semifinal match, the two will face each other in the World Cup final on Sunday. It’s like if there was a photo of Muhammad Ali holding Mike Tyson as a baby. Remarkable.

And the way the photos happened is completely random; Yamal’s family didn’t have footballing connections or anything like that. The photos were taken by photographer Joan Monfort in 2007 for a UNICEF fundraiser (UNICEF was the jersey “sponsor” for Barca’s 2007-2008 season).

“UNICEF did a raffle in the neighbourhood of Roca Fonda in Mataro where Lamine’s family lived,” said Monfort. “They signed up for the raffle to have their picture taken at the Camp Nou with a Barca player. And they won the raffle.”

“He [Messi] didn’t even know how to hold him at first,” Monfort said, recalling the difficulties of the shoot. “Messi is a pretty introverted guy, he’s shy. He was coming out of the locker room and suddenly he finds himself in another locker room with a plastic tub full of water and a baby in it. It was complicated.”

More from Monfort in The Athletic:

“It’s the most famous photo I’ve taken in my life, by a long way. So many people have been interested, again during this World Cup now. If Lamine keeps growing like he is growing, the photo will be even more historic. The chances of all this happening was like winning the lottery. Although it’s not sorted me out financially for life (laughs).

“I’m just really happy it happened. It’s especially nice in today’s football, when so much is to do with money and power.”

Tags: Joan Monfort · Lamine Yamal · Lionel Messi · photography · soccer · sports

Thomas Hawk posted a photo:

Thomas Hawk posted a photo:

Thomas Hawk posted a photo:

Thomas Hawk posted a photo:

Thomas Hawk posted a photo:

Housed within Melbourne's former South Yarra railway station, Godby Hotel reimagines a historic landmark as a destination with two distinct personalities. Centred around the charming muse of Godby and the hidden allure of Nightbird, the brand transforms from warm and welcoming by day to intimate and atmospheric by night. Through a richly layered identity spanning illustration, signage, digital and environmental design, every touchpoint contributes to a timeless hospitality experience built for discovery, connection and return.

Acclaimed British photographer Peter Marlow (1952-2016) was known for his journalistic attention to people and happenings in conflict zones and political interactions. Throughout his career, though, he also embarked on numerous personal documentary projects like Liverpool: Looking Out to Sea, which he completed in the late 1980s and early 1990s as the city experienced sharp economic decline—its historic docks were no longer viable for global industry. He was also president of Magnum Photos twice.

One of Marlow’s more meditative projects revolved around 42 Anglican cathedrals across England. The Anglican Christian tradition stems from the establishment of the Church of England following the English Reformation in the 16th century, although the cathedrals’ architectural lineage usually predates this period.

Completing The English Cathedral involved coordinating visits at times of day when Marlow could experience the buildings in natural light, not unlike the way they were seen for centuries before the advent of electricity. He focused on the churches’ naves, illuminating their rosette-covered wooden ceilings, Gothic arches, altars, and hints of apses beyond.

An exhibition of The English Cathedral opens on July 21 and continues through August 31 at Southwark Cathedral, which has roots dating back at least to the 11th century. Today, it’s the oldest Gothic church in London.

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article See Peter Marlow’s ‘The English Cathedral’ at London’s Oldest Gothic Church appeared first on Colossal.

Met de afbraak van de internationale rechtsorde, laten de Amerikanen zien dat vanaf nu voor hen alleen nog het recht van de sterkste geldt.

In Wilnis vond in 2003 een dijkdoorbraak plaats, vanwege een uitgedroogde veendijk. De vraag is nu of Nederland met het aanhoudende hete voorjaar en de droge zomer iets dergelijks opnieuw kan overkomen. „Van deze dijkdoorbraak heeft iedereen in Nederland iets geleerd.”

TheGufotography has added a photo to the pool:

IMG_20260331_083709_DSC_1673-20

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gifu_Castle

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gifu

You can buy some of my photos here:
www.artheroes.de/de/shop-bilder/The-Gufotography

We zijn weer in ons huis in Maniago. Kort dit keer, mede vanwege de naderende oplevering van KJ. Daarnaast ook om wat administratie te regelen na het overlijden van mijn oom. Ik heb ontdekt dat mijn opa kadastrale afspraken destijds puur mondeling had gemaakt; dat kan tegenwoordig zelfs in Italië niet meer.

Maar we willen ook leuke dingen doen. sVorig jaar liepen we een rondje om een lokaal meer, dit jaar beklommen we een berg. Er is zoveel te doen hier in de buurt.

Het was erg warm, dus we besloten een wat kortere route te lopen, wel met wat hoogtemeters. Startpunt was bij een bron / beekje, de Sorgenti Pissui, over een brug. Je kon er helaas niet heen om een duikje te nemen.

Op de top een prachtig uitzicht op het dorpje, en het kerkje en kruis. We spraken bij het kerkje nog een vriendelijke oude man, ook aan het wandelen vanuit Maniago. Zeker de moeite waard, deze route.