Julian Assange leaves UK after agreeing US plea deal: Tech & Science Daily podcast

Rachelle Abbott and Rochelle Travers
·8-min read
(@WikiLeaks/PA Wire)
(@WikiLeaks/PA Wire)

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WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has boarded a plane and left the UK after agreeing a US plea deal.

According to court documents, in return for pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to obtain and disclose national defence information, Assange will be sentenced to time served, 62 months - the time he has already spent in a British prison.

Once the guilty plea is accepted by a judge, the 52-year-old will be free to return to Australia, where he was born.

American prosecutors had alleged that Assange put lives at risk when he helped former US army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning steal diplomatic cables and military files that WikiLeaks put online in 2010.

The Standard’s Business & Technology Correspondent, Simon Hunt, explains why experts are warning about scam QR codes during Euro 2024 - and other high profile events over the summer.

QR Code Generator say scammers are likely to target travelling football fans with fake QR codes, which they claim to be used for things such as payments on drinks, food, transportation, merchandise, or even charitable donations.

Simon reveals why big events are such hotspots for these kinds of scams, and gives you his top tips on how to keep yourself from falling victim.

China’s lunar probe has returned to Earth with samples from the far side of the Moon.

The Chang’e 6 probe landed in China’s Inner Mongolia desert on Tuesday, with the return capsule containing the harvested rocks.

Scientists hope that the samples will shed new light on the Moon’s geology and history.

And the rest

World's biggest music labels sue over AI copyright, study warns drinking from plastic bottles can raise type 2 diabetes risk, and London's roads are ranked the most congested in Europe for the third year in a row.

Plus, why a family in Florida is suing NASA.

You can listen to the episode in the player above, find us on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Here’s an automated transcript:

Hi, I'm Rochelle Travers and this is The Standard's Tech and Science Daily podcast.

Coming up, warning over Euro 2024 scam QR codes.

Now let's get into it:

The sound of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange boarding a plane and officially leaving the UK after agreeing a US plea deal.

According to court documents, in return for pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to obtain and disclose national defence information, Assange will be sentenced to time served, 62 months, the time he has already spent in a British prison.

Once the guilty plea is accepted by a judge, the 52-year-old will be free to return to Australia, where he was born.

Here's Julian's wife Stella giving her reaction.

Throughout the years of Julian's imprisonment and persecution, an incredible movement has been formed.

A movement of people from all walks of life, from around the world, who support not just Julian and not just us and our family, but what Julian stands for, truth and justice.

WikiLeaks Editor-in-Chief, Kristinn Hrafnsson,said this wouldn't have been possible without the incredible public support Julian has received.

I can say in earnest that without your support, this would have never, never materialised this important day of joy, the day of Julian's freedom.

So thank you so much.

American prosecutors had alleged that Assange put lives at risk when he helped former US Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning steal diplomatic cables and military files that Wikileaks put online in 2010.

Now, as you'll undoubtedly know, Euro 2024 fever is in full swing, but experts are warning football fans about the high risk of QR code scams around the tournament.

QR code generators say scammers are likely to target travelling football fans with fake QR codes, which they claim to be used for things such as payments on drinks, food, transportation, merchandise or even charitable donations.

The funny thing about QR codes is they've been around as a technology for about 30 years now, but I think for a lot of us, it's only really during the pandemic they became more familiar.

And after that point, the use of QR codes exploded.

And as with any internet-based technology, once something becomes sufficiently popular, that's when the scammers muscle in and decide there's some opportunity for them.

That's The Standard's Business & Technology Correspondent, Simon Hunt.

He's been explaining why big events such as the Euros are hotspots for these kinds of scams.

It's particularly prevalent at these kind of big events like the Euros, where you might have huge venues where, you know, potentially hundreds of people are all gathered in the same space.

And it's very difficult for the organisers to regulate that and ensure that there isn't any scamming going on or any sort of trickery.

What tends to happen is these QR stickers that are put on tables are tampered with by vandals who will subtly replace them with their own stickers.

And unless you detect that and you have a very keen eye for them, it can be very easy to be scammed in these situations.

To help keep you safe, here's Simon's top tips for fans.

Pay very close attention probably to two things. One look at the actual code if it's printed out. Does it look like it's authentic, official? Is there a QR code stuck on top of another one? That's usually a big red flag.

And second, what is the QR code trying to make you do?

If it's something like a festival or a conference and you just scan the QR code to download a map that will tell you where to go in the conference, well, that's probably fine.

But if it's something that requires payment, well, then you must be much more careful and look at the domain that the QR code is sending you to.

It may even be worth checking with a member of staff at the venue to ensure that what you think you're paying for is actually what they're selling you.

The sound from the Chinese Space Agency control room watching their Chang'e 6 probe successfully return to Earth, after its historic mission to bring back the first samples from the far side of the moon.

The robotic probe landed in China's Inner Mongolia desert on Tuesday, with the return capsule containing the harvested rocks.

China National Space Administration said the probe landed at 6.07am GMT, which was 2.07pm local time.

Scientists hope that the samples will shed new light on the moon's geology and history.

The world's biggest music labels are suing two artificial intelligence start-ups over alleged copyright violation in what could be a landmark case.

Sony Music, Universal Music Group, and Warner Records say AI firms Suno and Udio have committed copyright infringement on an “almost unimaginable scale”.

The music giants claim the pair's software steals music to “spit out” similar work and are asking for compensation of $150,000 per work.

Suno and Udio have not yet publicly responded to the claims.

The lawsuits announced by the Recording Industry Association of America are part of a wave of lawsuits from authors, news organizations, and other groups that are challenging the rights of AI firms to use their work.

Let's go to the ads.

Coming up, a potential link between plastic bottles and type 2 diabetes, and why a family in Florida is suing NASA.

Welcome back.

A study is warning it's found direct evidence linking a key chemical ingredient of plastic bottles to a higher risk of type 2 diabetes.

Research by California Polytechnic State University in the US found that the chemical BPA, used to make food and drink packages, can reduce sensitivity to the hormone insulin which regulates the body's sugar metabolism.

The findings will be presented at the 2024 Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association and call for the US Environmental Protection Agency to reconsider the safe limits for exposure to BPA in bottles and food containers.

London's roads have been ranked the most congested in Europe for the third year in a row.

According to a report by traffic information supplier Inrix, drivers in the capital spent an average of 99 hours sitting in traffic in 2023, which is up from 97 hours in 2022.

It puts the city behind only New York and Mexico City worldwide, although China and India are not included.

And finally, a family in Florida is suing NASA after their house was hit by suspected debris from the International Space Station.

In March, an object weighing about 700 grams crashed into the home, ripped through the ceiling and tore up its flooring, all while the homeowner's son was living there.

NASA later confirmed that the strange object was from a metal support to a pallet packed with over 2 tonnes of batteries.

The family is seeking $80,000 from NASA for the damages caused.

You're up to date.

Come back at 4pm for The Standard Podcast for all the latest news and analysis.

Tech and Science Daily will be back tomorrow at 1pm.

See you then.

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