Latest news with #Bu

15-07-2025
- Health
Why gentle exercise like yoga, tai chi and walking may help people sleep better
Insomnia is a common sleep disorder that makes it hard to fall asleep, stay asleep or get restful sleep. It affects nearly 15% of American adults each month, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine says the generally recommended insomnia treatments include medications, psychological therapy and behavioral modification. Until now, there was insufficient evidence to suggest that exercise and other healthy lifestyle habits might benefit sleep, according to researchers. In a new review published in the BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine journal, researchers analyzed 22 previously published studies involving over 1,300 patients, confirming that cognitive-based therapy -- which focuses on helping people change unhelpful thoughts and habits-- is the gold standard for insomnia treatment. But it also found that yoga, tai chi and walking or jogging and other gentle approaches to exercise are effective as well. "Insomnia can impact everyday life and increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases [like heart disease and stroke] and Alzheimer's… and exercise is nature's sleeping pill," Dr. Zhijun Bu, the lead author of the study and master student at Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, told ABC News. Researchers also found cognitive behavioral therapy, tai chi, yoga or a mix of aerobic activities like walking, jogging and cycling all improve sleep, including total sleep time and how long it takes to fall asleep. All of these activities also helped people slumber more soundly and wake up less often during the night. In some instances, exercise may be even more helpful than therapy, the researchers say. Yoga improved the total sleep time by nearly two hours, and a combination of cardiovascular activities helped people nod off almost 30 minutes faster, the new research says. Bu recommended people who live with insomnia try a bunch of different exercise activities to see which one works best for them. For someone who doesn't sleep enough or who has trouble getting to sleep and staying asleep, yoga and tai chi may do the trick, he said. For those who are still fatigued throughout the day due to lack of sleep, walking or jogging may be a better option, he added. The benefits from tai chi and cognitive-based therapy persisted for up to two years, the study found. The benefits of aerobic activity paired on its own or paired with strength exercises, lasted up to seven months. Previous studies have shown that moderate intensity exercise, like brisk walking or jogging done regularly and for a steady duration, may lead to better sleep, but high intensity exercise like sprinting and heavy lifting may not. Since gentle workouts like yoga, tai chi and walking have minimal side effects and most people can do them easily, Bu contends they are good choices to help combat insomnia. "Our research shows people of all ages and genders can observe the sleep benefits of exercise," Bu added. "We hope our findings can lead to further changes within public health."


CNBC
15-07-2025
- Automotive
- CNBC
I'm in Norway — and EVs are everywhere. Here's what the country has done differently
OSLO, Norway — Electric vehicles are pretty much everywhere you look in Norway. The wealthy Nordic country, which is known for its massive oil and gas reserves in the North Sea, has long been blazing a trail in the transition away from internal combustion engine (ICE) cars. A steady stream of measures to support the uptake of EVs, from tax exemptions to reduced fees, has now put the country on the cusp of completely erasing gasoline and diesel vehicles from its new car market. For some of the country's major cities, about 30% of all passenger cars on the roads are now fully electric, according to Norway's EV Association (NEVA), which represents electric car owners in the country. The rate in capital city Oslo, meanwhile, is as high as 40%. It is perhaps no surprise then that standing at a crosswalk in Oslo's city center means waiting for a near-constant stream of fully electric models to come to a stop. "It is very visible. And I think some people don't even really realize how good this is because it has happened quite fast," Christina Bu, secretary general of NEVA, told CNBC during an interview at the association's office in Oslo. "The air is cleaner, it is quieter, and this is a change that hasn't really cost consumers that much. They actually love driving an EV and it works quite well," Bu said. Norway's sales of EVs have increased from less than 1% of total auto sales in 2010 to 88.9% last year — and this trend doesn't show any sign of slowing. Data published by the Norwegian Public Roads Administration, which is responsible for the country's national road network, found that EVs accounted for more than 93% of the new cars sold in 2025 so far. By comparison, electric vehicle sales accounted for 15.4% of the total European Union market share in the first few months of 2025. Norway is not a member of the EU. Stateside, the share of new passenger EV sales hit 10% in 2023, according to the Rocky Mountain Institute, up from 1% adoption as recently as 2017. Norway's State Secretary in the Ministry of Transport Cecilie Knibe Kroglund said the country's success in transitioning away from combustion cars has been driven by long-term and consistent policymaking. "We have a lot of tax incentives and user incentives, which are the most important things, and also infrastructure, of course," Kroglund said during an interview in Oslo. Some of Norway's EV incentives include a VAT exemption, discounts on road and parking taxes and access to bus lanes. The government has also heavily invested in public charging infrastructure, and many Norwegian households are able to charge their cars at home. The lack of an automaker lobby in Norway is also thought to have benefited the country's EV adoption rate over the years. NEVA's Bu said last week that the country of about 5.5 million people achieved a new electric milestone of 10,000 fast chargers nationwide. The roll-out of these charging stations has not been consistent across the country, however, with far more installed in the south compared to the far north. Nonetheless, the ever-growing number of fast-charging stations has defied concerns from critics who had previously warned that the power grid may not be able to cope. "Norway has had strong policies for many years. It's not just about tax exemptions [for EVs] but also higher and higher taxes on internal combustion engine cars. So, the last three years or so, the general purchase taxes have doubled – and it was already very high," NEVA's Bu said. "Cars that pollute are taxed out of business in Norway," she added. Norway's journey to becoming a global leader in EV adoption has not been without its critics, however. Some lawmakers have raised concerns about the fairness of its EV incentives, saying they can disproportionately benefit higher-income individuals and potentially come at the expense of other, more sustainable transportation options, such as walking and cycling. Norway, which is aiming for carbon neutrality by 2030, has also faced questions about its role in tackling the climate crisis. The country's economy is heavily reliant on fossil fuel revenues, creating something of a contradiction with its stated green ambitions. The burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas is the chief driver of the climate crisis. Looking ahead, Kroglund said the country plans to fully transition to electric city buses in 2025, while making heavy-duty vehicles 75% renewable by the end of the decade. "We have to acknowledge that transport has a role in climate change. I think 30% of pollution comes from the transport sector, so we had to do something," Kroglund said. "We have to move forward on other parts of the transport sector, like city buses. We have good numbers on that too, but the next level is heavy-duty vehicles," she added.


Tom's Guide
14-07-2025
- Tom's Guide
iPhone 17 could feature 'significant' changes to the Dynamic Island — what we know
The iPhone 17 may not be expected to get major changes to its front camera cutout, but according to a new rumor it could be the start of a "significant evolution" that'll take place over the next few years. We've already heard some rumors the Dynamic Island could be redesigned on the iPhone 17. Now leaker Majin Bu has corroborated those claims in a new interview, stating that "Apple appears committed to making it more functional and integrated" Bu added that the changes "could mark a step forward in device interaction," but they're keeping all the details to themselves for the time being. Which is a little frustrating, but it's hinted that we may be hearing more details about the changes in the near future. The Dynamic Island will hit its third birthday later this year, and is probably due some kind of upgrade. It makes sense that the Dynamic Island would be undergoing some changes at some point. The iPhone 18 is expected to hide all the remaining Face ID sensors underneath the screen, leaving a simple circular cutout for the camera. Meanwhile the iPhone 20 is supposedly the first iPhone to offer an under display selfie camera — offering a true uninterrupted full screen. With no real cutout to go with it, the Dynamic Island is going to need to undergo some changes. So it makes sense that Apple might pre-empt the change and start getting the feature ready for the changes. Plus the Dynamic Island will hit its third birthday later this year, and is probably due some kind of upgrade. Though it isn't clear what kind of changes we could expect right now, I'd hope that any changes do come with some extra functionality. Naturally we won't find out for sure until the iPhone 17 launch event, which is now expected to happen during the week of September 8. In the meantime you can check out all the latest news and rumors in our iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max hubs. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.


CNBC
11-07-2025
- Automotive
- CNBC
Norway's Tesla obsession defies Europe's Musk backlash
OSLO, Norway — Tesla continues to find solace in Norway, defying a sustained European slump amid a backlash over CEO Elon Musk's incendiary political rhetoric. The U.S. electric vehicle maker recorded a 54% year-on-year jump in new car sales in Norway in June, according to data from the Norwegian Road Federation (OFV), fueled by a 115.3% yearly increase in registrations for its revamped Model Y sports utility vehicle. The data backed up a whopping 213% increase in new car sales in May and shored up Tesla's dominant position in the world's most EV-friendly country. Christina Bu, secretary general of the Norwegian EV Association (NEVA), which represents electric car owners in the country, said Tesla has been well established in Norway for several years — but the popularity of its upgraded Model Y is "definitely part of the reason" for its recent sales boost. "In general terms, I think it just has to do with the fact that they deliver a car which has quite a lot of value for money and is what Norwegians need," Bu told CNBC during an interview at NEVA's office in Oslo. The Tesla Model Y appears to be especially popular in Norway because of its competitive price and the fact that it meets local demand for large luggage space, high-ground clearance, all-wheel drive and a tow hitch, Bu said. Sales data from southern Europe signaled some further green shoots for Musk's company, with Tesla new car registrations last month increasing by 61% in Spain and around 7% in Portugal. The story remains very different across the rest of Europe, however. Tesla sales in Germany, Europe's largest automotive hub, dropped by 60% in June from a year earlier, while sales also dipped in France. Separate data from the European Automobile Manufacturers Association, or ACEA, found Tesla's new car sales in Europe fell for a fifth straight month in May. Tesla's brand value has been declining since 2024 in part because of Musk's political activity. The Tesla CEO, who spent nearly $300 million to support Donald Trump's election campaign, recently left the White House after leading an initiative to slash federal agencies. Protests erupted at Tesla dealerships across Europe in response to Musk's role in the Trump administration. Musk's departure from the White House in late May was followed by an extraordinary war of words with Trump. The world's richest man also formally endorsed Germany's far-right party AfD ahead of the country's parliamentary elections earlier this year, triggering an outcry in Berlin. NEVA's Bu told CNBC that Musk's political activity hadn't gone unnoticed in Norway, with a recent annual survey of more than 15,000 EV drivers finding that 43% of respondents said they would not buy a Tesla for political reasons. "So, this has definitely been a big debate in Norway as well. What Elon Musk has been saying and doing the last year or so — so it definitely affects people, but not too many because their market share is remarkable really," Bu said. For its part, Norway has long been recognized as a global leader in sustainable transportation. Indeed, it is currently on track to become the first country in the world to effectively erase gasoline and diesel cars from its new car market. Lawmakers and analysts have attributed the country's shift away from internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles to long-term and consistent policies designed to support the uptake of EVs. "I think it's a combination of several things, but it is policymaking that has driven this forward," Norway's Deputy Transport Minister Cecilie Knibe Kroglund told CNBC in Oslo. "We have a lot of incentives, both tax incentives and user incentives are the most important things and also infrastructure, of course. But policymaking and incentives are the main tools that we have been using," she added. Some of Norway's EV incentives include a VAT exemption, discounts on road and parking taxes and access to bus lanes. The government has also heavily invested in public charging infrastructure, and many Norwegian households are able to charge their cars at home.


Time of India
02-07-2025
- Time of India
Apple iPhone 17 Pro may come with this design change
As the launch of Apple iPhone 17 series gets closer, rumorus about the upcoming iPhone series have increased. The 2025 iPhone lineup may consist of four models – iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max and the all-new iPhone 17 Air. Tipster Majin Bu recently shared alleged renders of the iPhone 17 Pro that shows a significant design change with the coming-soon device. The leakster, in a blog post, claims that the Cupertino-based company may reposition the Apple logo which is currently placed slightly off-center and below the camera module since the iPhone X. With the iPhone 17 Pro models, the logo may now be moved lower, toward the center bottom of the phone. 'This recent discovery, reported by direct sources among case manufacturers, marks an evolution in Apple's aesthetic language,' Bu writes. The report adds that the repositioning of Apple logo has raised concerns among manufacturers about possible interference, leading the industry to look for ways to ensure continued compatibility. Some factories have already produced cases based on the current design and are waiting for official confirmation before making changes. To address the issue, case makers are working on design changes. Apple iPhone 17 Pro expected features A report by The Information previously said that the iPhone 17 Pro may come with a redesigned rear panel composed of both aluminum and glass. It may feature an aluminum rear panel, housing a camera bump, bigger than the one found on the iPhone 16 Pro models. The report further added that the iPhone 17 Pro may come with an aluminium frame, replacing the titanium frame like their predecessors. On the specifications part, the phone may come powered by Apple's A19 Pro chip, manufactured using TSMC's 3nm process. iPhone 17 Pro is said to offer 12GB of RAM, up from the iPhone 16 Pro's 8GB. For camera duties, it may have a 48MP telephoto lens, replacing the 12MP sensor found in the iPhone 16 Pro. For selfies, the smartphone is tipped to have a 24MP sensor. iPhone 16e vs Pixel 9a: Everything you need to know about Apple and Google's new budget flagships AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now