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The World’s Active Douglas DC-8s In 2025

The Douglas DC-8, often referred to as the McDonnell Douglas DC-8, is an early long-range commercial aircraft. The narrowbody aircraft was one of the first jet-powered aircraft to be used for commercial service. Originally, it was designed to be used as an aerial refueling tanker aircraft by the United States Air Force. However, after it lost the competition to the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, Douglas decided to market the aircraft for civil use.

The aircraft saw significant success in the industry, as it was used heavily by a wide variety of airlines around the world. Since the aircraft was introduced in the late 1950s, it makes sense that the majority of these aircraft have been retired and scrapped. However, there are still quite a few Douglas DC-8s left that are currently flying. Let’s take a closer look at this legendary aircraft, as well as the three remaining aircraft that are currently in service.

A Brief History Of The Douglas DC-8

Hawaiian_Airlines_-_Douglas_DC-8_(50510674511) — Photo: Aero Icarus | Wikimedia Commons

As previously mentioned, the Douglas DC-8 was Douglas’s first jet-powered commercial airliner. The company first began designing the DC-8 for the USAF’s requirement for a jet-powered aerial refueling tanker in the early 1950s. However, the USAF picked the rival Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker for the role in May 1954. The following year, in June 1955, Douglas decided to realign the aircraft and market it to civil operators.

The company made several design changes to the DC-8 that would improve its operating ability in the commercial industry. Douglas believed the aircraft could compete with Boeing’s commercial jet entry, the Boeing 707. This was found to be true when Pan American World Airways placed an order for 25 DC-8s in October 1955. Other airlines around the world, such as National Airlines, KLM, Eastern Air Lines, United Airlines, and Japan Air Lines, among others, followed Pan Am and ordered the DC-8 instead of the Boeing 707.

Douglas was slower to introduce the DC-8 than Boeing was with the Boeing 707. However, the aircraft was eventually certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in August 1959. The aircraft officially entered commercial service with both Delta Air Lines and United Airlines on September 18, 1959. Since then, over 550 DC-8s have been built and introduced, with production ranging from 1958 through 1972. As these aircraft have aged, the majority of the DC-8 fleet has been moved from commercial airline service into cargo operations. Eventually, even cargo operators, such as UPS Airlines, began to retire the aircraft from service.

Design Features And Performance Specifications Of The Douglas DC-8

Douglas DC-8-51 N821E of Delta Airlines at Miami International in 1971 — Photo: RuthAS l Wikipedia Commons

The early DC-8 design was focused on winning the USAF contract for a jet-powered aerial refueling tanker. After losing the contract, Douglas made several design improvements and upgrades to the DC-8 to make it more viable for commercial airline operations. The De Havilland Comet, which was the first jet airliner, struggled in the industry in the 1950s, mostly due to rapid metal fatigue failure caused by cabin pressurization. Because of this, Douglas paid significant attention to the design of the DC-8’s pressurized cabin.

The original DC-8 design featured a low-wing configuration with a 30-degree wing sweep. Douglas also decided to power the aircraft with four Pratt & Whitney JT3C turbojet engines. These engines each provided the aircraft with up to 13,500 pounds of thrust. Overall, this helped the first aircraft variant, the Series 10, achieve the following performance specifications:

Length	150.7 feet
Height	42.6 feet
Wingspan	142.4 feet
Maximum takeoff weight (MTOW)	273,000 pounds
Cruise speed	483 knots (556 miles per hour)
Range	3,760 nautical miles (4,330 miles)
Service ceiling	41,000 feet

The DC-8 fuselage also featured a double-bubble cross-section that was later widened to allow six-abreast seating inside the aircraft. The wider fuselage allowed the first Series 10 DC-8 to accommodate up to 177 passengers. Later variants would be able to seat up to 260 passengers, depending on the configuration. Douglas also added engine thrust reversers, leading edge slots, and larger wingtips to help improve its aerodynamic performance as a commercial airliner.

Throwback: When A Douglas DC-8 Broke The Sound Barrier In 1961

The DC-8 performed a dive at altitude to achieve the feat, accompanied by the original record breaker, Chuck Yeager.

Previous Operators Of The Douglas DC-8

Several prominent airlines around the world utilized the Douglas DC-8 when it was first introduced. The DC-8 competed heavily with the Boeing 707, as airlines would typically choose one or the other when expanding their fleets. The long fuselage of later DC-8 variants, such as the Series 61 and Series 63, had a capacity of up to 269 passengers. This was the largest passenger-carrying capacity at the time and made it one of the most popular choices for airlines.

The first airline to order the DC-8 was Pan American World Airways, placing an order for 25 aircraft. Many airlines around the world followed suit, eventually placing orders for hundreds of aircraft and directly rivaling the Boeing 707. Even so, the DC-8 was launched simultaneously with United Airlines and Delta Air Lines. Douglas also received an order for nearly 20 DC-8s from another popular US airline, Eastern Air Lines. Some of the most popular operators of the DC-8 include:

Airline	Total DC-8s Ordered
United Airlines	40 aircraft
Delta Air Lines	30 aircraft
Pan Am	25 aircraft
Air Canada	88 aircraft
Scandinavian Airlines (SAS)	18 aircraft
Eastern Air Lines	17 aircraft
Japan Airlines	51 aircraft

The Douglas DC-8 also saw significant success outside the US. Air Canada, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), and Japan Airlines were prominent early users. Eventually, many other international operators, such as Aerolíneas Argentinas, Alia Royal Jordanian, and South African Airways, would later incorporate the DC-8 into their fleets. The DC-8 was later converted from commercial use into cargo operations. FedEx, UPS Airlines, and DHL all operated large fleets of aging DC-8s into the 1990s and early 2000s.

The First Trans Air Cargo Service Douglas DC-8

According to ATDB.aero, as of June 2025, there are only three Douglas DC-8s left in operation. The majority of the existing aircraft have been retired and replaced with newer jet airliners or other cargo aircraft. Two of these aircraft are currently flown by Trans Air Cargo Service. This company is a freight forwarding service that is located in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. Trans Air Cargo Service was first founded in 1992, over thirty years ago, by Jacques “Kiki” Lemaire. It first began operating under the name Transair Cargo, and it was initially based at N’Djili Airport (FIH) in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The older Douglas DC-8 that is flown by Trans Air Cargo Service is registered as 9S-AJG. According to ch-aviation, this aircraft has a manufacturing serial number of 46110. It was originally built in 1969, giving it an age of just under 56 years. Trans Air Cargo Service has been operating this specific DC-8 since July 2008. Interestingly enough, this DC-8 also operates with its original Pratt & Whitney JT3D engines.

This DC-8 was first delivered to United Airlines in September 1969. The airline operated this DC-8 until 1982, when it was transferred to Arrow Air, a defunct cargo carrier. The aircraft has been transferred between several different operators since the late 1980s. This includes stints flying with Air Transport International, Antillana de Navegación Aerea, Líneas Aéreas Paraguayas, Rich International, Fine Air, and, most recently, African International Airways, which flew the aircraft from July 2005 to July 2007.

The DC-8: The 1st Douglas Jetpowered Passenger Plane

The design of the Douglas DC-8 was a masterpiece of early jet-age engineering, blending functionality with elegance.

The Second Trans Air Cargo Service Douglas DC-8

N990CF_DC-8-62_F_Emery_Worldwide_MAN_JUN92_(5586273513) — Photo: Ken Fielding | Wikimedia Commons

Trans Air Cargo Service also operates the second Douglas DC-8 that is left operating today. Trans Air Cargo Service has been flying this aircraft since November 2011. This was one of the first aircraft that Trans Air Cargo Service acquired after it moved back to the Democratic Republic of Congo. The company was briefly forced to cease operations in 1998 after the outbreak of the Second Congo War. The company briefly operated as TAC Air Services in South America before returning as Trans Air Cargo Service in 2004 under Max Lemaire, the son of its founder, Kiki Lemaire.

Currently, Trans Air Cargo Service only operates two aircraft, both of which are Douglas DC-8s. According to ch-aviation, the second aircraft it operates is registered as 9S-AJO. This aircraft has a manufacturing serial number of 46133 and was first delivered in March 1971. This makes the aircraft just over 54 years old.

This specific Douglas DC-8 was first delivered to World Airways in March 1971, which operated the aircraft until January 1983. Since then, the aircraft has changed hands between several different operators. This includes Capitol International Airways, Viasa, and Emery Worldwide. Most recently, Gestair Cargo flew the aircraft from July 2002 to November 2011, before it was transferred to Trans Air Cargo Service.

The Samaritan’s Purse Douglas DC-8

Samaritan's_Purse.DC-8.N782SP.2 — Photo: Ryan kirk | Wikimedia Commons

The operator of the final Douglas DC-8 still in service is Samaritan’s Purse. This company is an evangelical Christian humanitarian aid organization. The Boone, North Carolina-based organization flies several aircraft to provide aid to people in physical need around the world. Samaritan’s Purse was originally founded by Baptist pastor Bob Pierce in 1970. Since then, the company has grown to provide support for several ongoing ministries around the world, including providing safe drinking water in the developing world and responding to emergencies around the world.

The company operates the third and final DC-8 in operation alongside its Boeing 767, Dassault Falcon 900EX, two Gulfstream G550s, and a Cessna Skycourier. According to ch-aviation, the Samaritan’s Purse DC-8 is currently listed as inactive, as it undergoes maintenance. This aircraft is registered as N782SP and has a manufacturing serial number of 46013. The aircraft was first delivered in early 1969, making the DC-8 56.5 years old.

This specific DC-8 was first delivered to Finnair in January 1969. The airline flew the aircraft until November 1981. It was later flown by several other operators, including Armée de l’Air, Air Transport International, SkyBus Jet Cargo, and, most recently, Heavylift Cargo Airlines. Samaritan’s Purse took delivery of the DC-8 in March 2015 and has been flying the aircraft ever since.

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July 17, 2025

Free Floating or Merely Detached?

Example evolution of an unstable system with 5 one-Neptune-mass planets. Top: the semi-major axes of individual planets are plotted as solid lines. Orbits’ radial extents between pericenter and apocenter are indicated by the corresponding shaded regions. The black dashed line indicates the semi-major axis of an orbit with the same binding energy as the initial five-planet system. Bottom: planets’ orbital inclinations, measured relative to the system’s initial invariable plane, as functions of time. — astro-ph.EP

Microlensing surveys suggest the presence of a surprisingly large population of free-floating planets, with a rate of about two Neptunes per star.

The origin of such objects is not known, neither do we know if they are truly unbound or are merely orbiting at large separations from their host stars. Here, we investigate planet-planet scattering as a possible origin through numerical simulations of unstable multi-planet systems.

We find that planet ejection by scattering can be slow, often taking more than billions of years for Neptune-mass scatterers orbiting at a few AU and beyond. Moreover, this process invariably delivers planets to orbits of hundreds of AU that are protected from further scattering.

We call these “detached” planets. Under the scattering hypothesis, we estimate that about half of the reported “free-floating” Neptunes are not free but merely “detached”.

Sam Hadden, Yanqin Wu

Comments: Submitted to AAS Journals
Subjects: Earth and Planetary Astrophysics (astro-ph.EP); Astrophysics of Galaxies (astro-ph.GA)
Cite as: arXiv:2507.08968 [astro-ph.EP] (or arXiv:2507.08968v1 [astro-ph.EP] for this version)
https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2507.08968
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Submission history
From: Sam Hadden
[v1] Fri, 11 Jul 2025 18:54:17 UTC (721 KB)
https://arxiv.org/abs/2507.08968

Astrobiology,

Explorers Club Fellow, ex-NASA Space Station Payload manager/space biologist, Away Teams, Journalist, Lapsed climber, Synaesthete, Na’Vi-Jedi-Freman-Buddhist-mix, ASL, Devon Island and Everest Base Camp veteran, (he/him) 🖖🏻

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July 17, 2025
From Global Climate Models (GCMs) to Exoplanet Spectra with the Global Emission Spectra (GlobES)

For simulated transit observations, the GlobES app performs RT calculations across the terminator and integrates the different spectra employing equal weights. For direct imaging and secondary eclipse simulations, the algorithm performs RT simulations across the whole observable disk, and the individual spectra are integrated considering the projected area of each bin. An example of surface temperature maps at various phase angles from Suissa et al. (2020) produced from the ExoCAM GCM (Wolf et al., 2022) are also shown. — astro-ph.EP

In the quest to understand the climates and atmospheres of exoplanets, 3D global climate models (GCMs) have become indispensable.

The ability of GCMs to predict atmospheric conditions complements exoplanet observations, creating a feedback loop that enhances our understanding of exoplanetary atmospheres and their environments.

This paper discusses the capabilities of the Global Exoplanet Spectra (GlobES) module of the Planetary Spectrum Generator (PSG), which incorporates 3D atmospheric and surface information into spectral simulations, offering a free, accessible tool for the scientific community to study realistic planetary atmospheres.

Through detailed case studies, including simulations of TRAPPIST1 b, TRAPPIST-1 e, and Earth around Sun, this paper demonstrates the use of GlobES and its effectiveness in simulating transit, emission and reflected spectra, thus supporting the ongoing development and refinement of observational strategies using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and future mission concept studies (e.g., Habitable Worlds Observatory [HWO]) in exoplanet research.

Ray-tracing through a planetary atmosphere involves layer-by-layer variations in ray length and angles within a spherical atmosphere (gray curved lines), as refraction ‘bends’ the light (red traces) along its path. Depending on the degree of bending, the observer may detect radiation originating from the surface, the TOA, or a background star (e.g., during transit observations). — astro-ph.EP

Thomas J. Fauchez, Geronimo L. Villanueva, Vincent Kofman, Gabriella Suissa, Ravi K. Kopparapu

Subjects: Earth and Planetary Astrophysics (astro-ph.EP)
Cite as: arXiv:2507.09048 [astro-ph.EP] (or arXiv:2507.09048v1 [astro-ph.EP] for this version)
https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2507.09048
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Journal reference: Published in Astronomy and Computing Volume 53, October 2025, 100982
Related DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ascom.2025.100982
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Submission history
From: Thomas Fauchez
[v1] Fri, 11 Jul 2025 21:45:16 UTC (6,355 KB)
https://arxiv.org/abs/2507.09048
Astrobiology,

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July 17, 2025
Even Neanderthals had distinct preferences when it came to making dinner, study suggests | Neanderthals

Nothing turns up the heat in a kitchen quite like debating the best way to chop an onion. Now researchers have found even our prehistoric cousins had distinct preferences when it came to preparing food.

Archaeologists studying animal bones recovered from two caves in northern Israel have found different groups of Neanderthals, living around the same time, butchered the same animals in different ways.

“It means that within all the Neanderthal population, you have several distinct groups that have distinct ways of doing things, even for activities that are so related to survival,” said Anaëlle Jallon, the first author of the research, from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Writing in the journal Frontiers in Environmental Archeology, Jallon and colleagues report how they studied cut marks on 249 bone fragments from between 70,000 and 50,000 years ago from Amud cave, and 95 bone fragments dating to between 60,000 and 50,000 years ago from Kebara cave.

The caves are about 70km apart and both were occupied by Neanderthals during the winters. Both groups are known to have used similar flint-based tools.

The team’s analysis of the bones fragments – which were recovered from the caves in the 1990s – confirmed previous findings that burned and fragmented samples were more common in Amud cave, and that both groups had a similar diet featuring animals including mountain gazelles and fallow deer.

But it also provided fresh insights, including that bones from larger animals such as aurochs were more commonly found at Kebara cave. However, Jallon noted it could be that the samples at Kebara were easier to identify, or that Neanderthals at Amud might have butchered such animals elsewhere.

Jallon and colleagues carried out a detailed analysis of the cut marks on 43 and 34 bone samples from Amud and Kebara caves respectively, finding a number of differences in the cut marks between the two sites.

While the researchers say some of the variation related to the type of animal – or body part – being butchered, these factors did not explain all of the differences.

“Even when we compare only the gazelles, and only the long bones of gazelles, we find a higher density of cut marks in [bones from] Amud, with more cut marks that are crossing each other, [and] less cut marks that are straight lines, but more [curved],” said Jallon.

The team suggest a number of possible explanations, including that different groups of Neanderthals had different butchery techniques, involved a different number of individuals when butchering a carcass, or butchered meat in different states of decay.

“It’s either, like, food preferences that lead to different ways of preparing meat and then cutting it, or just differences in the way they learn how to cut meat,” said Jallon.

Dr Matt Pope, of University College London, who was not involved in the work, said the study added to research showing different Neanderthal groups had different ways of making tools, and sometimes used different toolkits.

“These aren’t just cut marks being studied, these are the gestures and movements of the Neanderthal people themselves, as evocative to us as footprints or hand marks on a cave wall,” he said.

“Future research will help to discern between the alternative [explanations for the variations], but the study as it stands is a powerful reminder that there is no monolithic neanderthal culture and that the population contained multiple groups at different times and places, living in the same landscape, with perhaps quite different ways of life.”

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July 17, 2025
Tai chi, yoga, and jogging rival pills for beating insomnia

Yoga, Tai Chi, walking and jogging may be the best forms of exercise to improve sleep quality and ease insomnia, suggest the findings of a comparative pooled data analysis published in the online journal BMJ Evidence Based Medicine.

The findings back the use of exercise as a primary treatment strategy for poor sleep patterns, say the researchers.

Characterized by difficulties falling and staying asleep, and early morning awakening, the prevalence of insomnia ranges from 4-22%, note the researchers. It is associated with heightened risks of various mental and physical health conditions, including dementia and cardiovascular disease.

Drug treatments for insomnia are not without their side effects, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), while effective, isn’t always available due to the shortage of trained therapists, explain the researchers.

An emerging body of research suggests that exercise is helpful, but current guidelines don’t specify which types of exercise might be most beneficial. The researchers therefore set out to plug this knowledge gap, with a view to informing clinical practice and helping patients choose the most appropriate exercise for managing their insomnia.

They scoured research databases looking for relevant randomized clinical trials published up to April 2025 and included 22 in a network meta analysis — a statistical technique used to simultaneously compare multiple interventions.

The trials involved 1348 participants and 13 different treatment approaches to ease insomnia, seven of which were exercise based: yoga; Tai Chi; walking or jogging; aerobic plus strength exercise; strength training alone; aerobic exercise combined with therapy; and mixed aerobic exercises. These programs ranged from 4 up to 26 weeks in length.

The other approaches included CBT; sleep hygiene; Ayurveda; acupuncture/massage; nothing; and existing treatment, such as usual care and/or lifestyle changes, the durations of which ranged from 6 to 26 weeks.

Validated scoring systems for sleep quality and insomnia severity — PSQI and the ISI45 — as well as subjective and objective measures of total sleep time, sleep efficiency (percentage of time spent asleep while in bed), number of awakenings after going to sleep, and time taken to fall asleep (sleep latency) were used to assess sleep patterns.

Compared with existing treatment, CBT is likely to result in a large increase in total sleep time based on subjective sleep diary data. It may also improve sleep efficiency, and shorten the amount of time spent awake after falling asleep as well as sleep latency, with sustained improvements, the findings suggest.

But some of the exercise-based interventions also seemed to be effective, when compared with existing treatment.

Yoga likely results in a large increase in total sleep time of nearly 2 hours and may improve sleep efficiency by nearly 15%. It may also reduce the amount of time spent awake after falling asleep by nearly an hour, and shorten sleep latency by around half an hour.

Walking or jogging may result in a large reduction in insomnia severity of nearly 10 points, while Tai Chi may reduce poor sleep quality scores by more than 4 points, increase total sleep time by more than 50 minutes, and reduce time spent awake after falling asleep by over half an hour. It may also shorten sleep latency by around 25 minutes.

Further in-depth analyses revealed that Tai Chi performed significantly better on all subjectively and objectively assessed outcomes than existing treatments for up to 2 years.

There are potentially plausible biological explanations for the findings, say the researchers.

With its focus on body awareness, controlled breathing, and attentional training, yoga may alter brain activity, thereby alleviating anxiety and depressive symptoms which often interfere with a good night’s sleep, they suggest.

Tai Chi emphasizes breath control and physical relaxation and has been shown to decrease sympathetic nervous system activity, dampening down hyperarousal, they add. And its combination of meditative movement and mindfulness may promote emotional regulation, deactivate ‘mental chatter’, and reduce anxiety. It may also help to curb the production of inflammatory chemicals over longer periods, they suggest.

Walking or jogging may improve sleep by increasing energy expenditure, curbing cortisol production, improving emotional regulation, boosting secretion of the sleep hormone melatonin, and enhancing the amount of deep sleep, they continue.

The researchers acknowledge that 15 (68%) of the included trials contained design and methodological flaws. And there were no standardized, quantifiable metrics for the frequency or intensity of exercise interventions, while the sample sizes of some of the studies were small.

Nevertheless, they conclude: “The findings of this study further underscore the therapeutic potential of exercise interventions in the treatment of insomnia, suggesting that their role may extend beyond adjunctive support to serve as viable primary treatment options.

“Although current clinical guidelines make only limited mention of exercise, this study provides relatively comprehensive comparative evidence that may inform the development of more specific and actionable clinical recommendations.

“Given the advantages of exercise modalities such as yoga, Tai Chi, and walking or jogging — including low cost, minimal side effects, and high accessibility — these interventions are well-suited for integration into primary care and community health programs.”

And there may well be one type of exercise that is best suited to easing a particular symptom of insomnia, they suggest, which further research may clarify.

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July 17, 2025
TDK recognized as leader and awarded an A ranking in the CDP Supplier Engagement Rating for the fifth consecutive year

July 17, 2025

TDK Corporation (TSE:6762) has been recognized as a leader, receiving an A ranking, in global environmental non-profit CDP’s Supplier Engagement Rating 2024. CDP works on environmental issues such as climate change.

In the Supplier Engagement Rating, the answers provided to the CDP Climate Change Program are used to evaluate the companies by items related to governance, targets, estimation of greenhouse gas emissions in their corporate value chain (SCOPE3), and supply chain engagement. TDK was praised because it promotes environmental activities working with suppliers and discloses SCOPE3 emissions.

CDP is a non-profit that drives companies to engage in environmental issues such as climate change, water security resources protection, and forest preservation and to disclose information, based on requests from global institutional investors who are very interested in environmental issues. In 2024, TDK was selected as Supplier Engagement Leader for the fifth consecutive year of companies evaluated for their engagement with suppliers on climate change. 1394 companies from across the globe were evaluated for CDP 2024 ‘Supplier Engagement Leaders’. Inclusion on this list demonstrates that a company is proactively working with their suppliers to ensure that sustainability is present in every part of their value chain. In addition, TDK has received an A ranking in the CDP climate change category and an ‘A List’ for focusing on water security for the fifth consecutive year.

TDK has established the TDK Environmental Charter, consisting of the “Basic Principle on the Environment” and the “Basic Policy on the Environment,” which make up the entire group’s environment policy aimed at contributing to the sustainable development of society. In line with the Charter, TDK formulated its Environmental Vision and Environmental Action Plan as a fundamental framework for implementing specific environmental activities and initiatives. For its supplier engagement initiative in particular, under TDK’s purchasing principle “Global Partnership Purchasing,” TDK has created “TDK Green Procurement Standard” to work together with suppliers to enhance environmental activities, such as checking suppliers’ environmental activities and providing feedbacks on the results, conducting dialogue with environmental department personnel to select supplier environmental awards, supporting supplier’s energy efficiency.

TDK is committed to pioneering rapid and effective environmental activities that consider climate change and water security, with the aim of passing on a healthier global environment to future generations. The disclosure of these activities is crucial for ensuring transparency in TDK’s environmental impact and sustainability efforts. In the field of climate change, TDK has set a long-term goal of net zero CO2 emissions by 2050, and has obtained SBTi certification for its targets up to fiscal 2030 for promoting this goal. TDK appreciates that this achievement is a recognition of these activities.
TDK will continue to contribute to the realization of a sustainable future based on the company’s long-term vision, “TDK Transformation -Accelerating transformation for a sustainable future-,” while aiming to solve social issues through TDK’s business based on its management philosophy.

The full list of this year’s Supplier Engagement Leaders is available at this link, along with other publicly available company scores:
Supplier Engagement Assessment – CDP
Scores and A Lists – CDP

About TDK Corporation

TDK Corporation is a world leader in electronic solutions for the smart society based in Tokyo, Japan. Built on a foundation of material sciences mastery, TDK welcomes societal transformation by resolutely remaining at the forefront of technological evolution. It was established in 1935 to commercialize ferrite, a key material in electronic and magnetic products. TDK’s comprehensive, innovation-driven portfolio features passive components such as ceramic, aluminum electrolytic and film capacitors, as well as magnetics, high-frequency, and piezo and protection devices. The product spectrum also includes sensors and sensor systems such as temperature and pressure, magnetic, and MEMS sensors. In addition, TDK provides power supplies and energy devices, magnetic heads, software and more. These products are marketed under the product brands TDK, EPCOS, InvenSense, Micronas, Tronics, and TDK-Lambda. TDK focuses on demanding markets in automotive, industrial and consumer electronics, and information and communication technology. The company has a network of design and manufacturing locations and sales offices in Asia, Europe, and in North and South America. In fiscal 2025, TDK posted total sales of USD 14.4 billion and employed about 105,000 people worldwide.

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July 17, 2025
TDK Sponsors iCAN for the fifth consecutive year to attract new talent in China

July 17, 2025

TDK Corporation (TSE: 6762) has partnered strategically with iCAN Innovation Contest (hereinafter referred to as “iCAN”) for the fifth consecutive year. As a strategic brand partner, TDK will support the 2025 iCAN to further boost innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship among Chinese college students. This sponsorship also includes entrepreneurship mentorship provided by TDK Ventures, the corporate venture capital subsidiary of TDK Corporation.

iCAN is a comprehensive innovation contest that encourages originality, fosters innovative thinking, and enhances practical skills among college students. Embracing the spirit of “Confidence · Persistence · Dream”, it champions tech innovation for social good, motivates students’ creativity, and helps identify promising innovators. The competition also enhances collaboration between academia and industry in cutting-edge fields like IoT, smart manufacturing, and AI, while building a platform for tech talent innovation. TDK sees a strong alignment between iCAN’s spirit and its own Corporate Principles of “Vision, Courage, Trust”, alongside its Corporate Motto “Contribute to culture and industry through creativity”. Through continued strategic partnership, TDK aims to raise awareness and understanding of its brand, technologies, solution and values among young people, while also enhancing campus recruitment efforts in China to attract young talents to join TDK.

In 2025, as the strategic brand partner of iCAN, TDK will create a TDK exclusive brand landing page, TDK technical articles, etc. on the iCAN ecosystem platform to strengthen its presence and brand impact in colleges. The sponsorship includes the mentorship support from TDK Ventures though live-streamed courses for competing teams. Additionally, TDK Ventures will also participate as a guest judge at the offline iCAN finals in November 2025.

Today, TDK has near 60,000 team members in Greater China. TDK has a long history in China. As early as the 1960s, TDK had established joint ventures in Taiwan and later set up sales networks and production lines in Hong Kong. By the 1980s, TDK had established sales and large-scale production sites in multiple regions including East China, South China, and North China. In 2004, TDK China Regional Headquarter was established in Shanghai. Moving forward, TDK is committed to extend its business portfolio in China, continue to develop products specifically for the China market, and gradually localize the development and production of products, contribute to society with practical actions.

For more details about TDK exclusive brand landing page in iCAN, please click here.
For more details about iCAN, please click here.

About TDK Corporation

TDK Corporation is a world leader in electronic solutions for the smart society based in Tokyo, Japan. Built on a foundation of material sciences mastery, TDK welcomes societal transformation by resolutely remaining at the forefront of technological evolution. It was established in 1935 to commercialize ferrite, a key material in electronic and magnetic products. TDK’s comprehensive, innovation-driven portfolio features passive components such as ceramic, aluminum electrolytic and film capacitors, as well as magnetics, high-frequency, and piezo and protection devices. The product spectrum also includes sensors and sensor systems such as temperature and pressure, magnetic, and MEMS sensors. In addition, TDK provides power supplies and energy devices, magnetic heads, software and more. These products are marketed under the product brands TDK, EPCOS, InvenSense, Micronas, Tronics, and TDK-Lambda. TDK focuses on demanding markets in automotive, industrial and consumer electronics, and information and communication technology. The company has a network of design and manufacturing locations and sales offices in Asia, Europe, and in North and South America. In fiscal 2025, TDK posted total sales of USD 14.4 billion and employed about 105,000 people worldwide.

About TDK Ventures

TDK Ventures Inc. invests in startups to bolster innovation in materials science, energy/power and related areas typically underrepresented in venture capital portfolios. Established in 2019 as a wholly owned subsidiary of TDK Corporation, the corporate venture company’s vision is to propel the digital and energy transformations of segments such as robotics and industrial, next-generation transportation, mixed reality and the wider IoT/IIoT markets. TDK Ventures will co-invest and support promising portfolio companies by providing technical expertise and access to global markets where TDK operates. Interested startups or investment partners may contact TDK Ventures: www.tdk-ventures.com.

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July 17, 2025
Top 10 changes coming with Cyberpunk 2077 2.3 Update | Esports News
(Image via YouTube/Cyberpunk 2077)

CD Projekt Red’s latest update for Cyberpunk 2077 is here. The update is packed with some exciting new features. Update 2.3 has introduced some major customization, vehicles, and immersion improvements, right alongside technical upgrades for smoother gameplay. Here is the breakdown of the biggest changes that are coming to Night City.

Top 10 changes in Cyberpunk 2077 update 2.3

Landing on July 17, 2025, on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC, the update delivers a significant package. While it’s not a massive narrative expansion, it does inject fresh life into highly requested features, which are aimed at making navigation of the dystopian metropolis more stylish and smoother than ever before.

REDstreams — Update 2.3 Overview

AutoDrive: For a hands-free experience

AutoDrive feature Cyberpunk 2077 the most anticipated addition with the update. AutoDrive allows players to sit back while the car navigates Night City. Just set the destination or enable the free-roam mode. The vehicle would follow traffic rules, avoid collisions and even stop at the red lights. The feature disengages during the combat to ensure you remain in control as things start to get heated up.

Cinematic cruising camera

Alongside AutoDrive is a paired cinematic cruising camera mode that dynamically cycles through all cinematic angles as the car moves. It captures stunning vistas. It allows players to create their own Night City music videos, as the car drives itself.

Delamin Taxi Service

This feature can be unlocked by completing the ” Don’t Lose Your Mind quest. The feature allows players to summon the Delamin cab through the vehicle call menu. Just input the destination and sit back to enjoy the ride. It’s a seamless way to explore around.

Four new vehicles

Update 2.3 adds 3 new cars and a motorcycle. Each of these are coming with new vehicles Cyberpunk 2077 2.3 update, and they are tied to the unique side jobs.
Yaiba ARV-Q340 Semimaru- can be unlocked by completing The Beast in Me and The Hunt quests.

Rayfield Caliburn “Mordred”- can be unlocked by completing The Beast in Me: Badlands and The Beast in Me: Santo Domingo, or Search and Destroy.

Yaiba ASM-R250 Muramasa- unlocked through purchasing 1 Yaiba vehicle. Needs 3 vehicles to be purchased via Autofixer.

Chevillon Legatus 450 Aquila- can be purchased directly through Autofixer.
Expanded vehicle customization

TwinTone and CystalCoat now support a total of 32 vehicles, including the motorcycles. The hacked version allows lower-end cars to get a fresh paint job. There are over 370 new paint schemes—168 unique and 205 generics. Use vehicle customization Cyberpunk 2077 to make sure your ride stands out in Night City.Note: Partner vehicles and motorcycles can now use CrystalCoat.

Photo mode is revolutionized

Capture the Night City like you never did before with Photo mode in Cyberpunk 2077. Spawn the 27 new NPCs, including some fan favourites like Cassel twins and Brendan. You can even change character outfits—NPCs and V or alter time and weather instantly. Apart from it, use it to skip frames to have perfect action shots. Use the powerful new Look-At system and the craft custom filters along with advanced color balance tools. With it all, players now have more creative freedom in Cyberpunk 2077 than before.

Everything That’s New in Cyberpunk 2077 Update 2.3

Mac debut and cross-progression

Cyberpunk 2077 has finally and officially arrived on “Mac with Apple silicon”. The Mac version Cyberpunk 2077 via Mac App Store, Epic Games Store and Steam. The existing PC owners on the supported platforms will have free access. It would feature frame generation, ray tracing, HDR tuned for the Apple XDR displays and frame generation too.

AMD FSR 3.1 and Intel XeSS 2.0 support

The PC players would benefit from the AMD FSR 3.1 frame generation, apart from Intel XeSS 2.0. It will improve visuals and performance. FSR 4 support will arrive later with the AMD driver update.

HDR10+ and Console VRR upgrades

HDR10+ Gaming is used for compatible displays. Apart from it, VRR support is now available on consoles. It will reduce screen tears and will deliver smoother gameplay on Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5.

Quality of life improvements
There is better HDR calibration.

Cyberware Capacity Shard drops are fixed.

Inverted mouse prompt adjustments are possible.

In Settings, there are Replayable tutorials.
Cyberpunk 2077 update 2.3 is more immersive than it’s ever been. Whether you are customizing cars, letting AutoDrive handle wheels or snapping pictures, the new patch arriving on July 17, 2025, will change the gaming experience. Enjoy on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S or PC, as you hit the streets.
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July 17, 2025
Epic Games Forces Fortnite Cheaters to Post Public Apologies, Once Again

In a bold new step against online cheating, Epic Games is now making Fortnite cheaters issue public apologies as part of legal settlements. The move is part of the company’s broader effort to protect the integrity of the game and send a message to those who try to gain unfair advantages.

We took legal action against two people who cheated and broke our rules:

One sold and used cheats and the other carried out cyber attacks on content creators who were livestreaming gameplay (aka: DDoS attacks). Both have been ordered to stop these activities and are banned from…

— Epic Games Newsroom (@EpicNewsroom) July 14, 2025

According to a recent report by The Express Tribune, players who were caught using illegal software to cheat in Fortnite were not only banned but also legally compelled to admit guilt. These cheaters, mostly based in the U.S. and Europe, signed court-enforced agreements that included statements like:

“I regret cheating in Fortnite and will not do it again.”

These apologies have been posted publicly online. Sometimes these apologies also appear on forums such as Reddit or personal websites, making the embarrassment part of the punishment.

Legal Action Against Fortnite Cheaters Isn’t New for Epic

Epic Games has a history of taking legal action against cheaters and cheat developers. The company previously filed lawsuits against multiple individuals who created or sold aimbots, wall hacks, and other exploits for Fortnite. In the past, some cases have ended with heavy fines, while others required the offenders to promise never to cheat again or face future legal consequences.

The public apology approach is a new twist that combines legal deterrence with public accountability.

Why Epic Is Doing This

With over 400 million registered players and a massive in-game economy, cheating in Fortnite can ruin competitive balance and damage the experience for millions. By forcing cheaters to publicly own up to their actions, Epic hopes to:

A spokesperson for Epic Games said the company is “committed to fair play” and will continue pursuing cheaters legally when necessary.

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July 17, 2025
Argentina awaits the Barça Legends

On Saturday 19 July at 4pm local time, (9pm CEST), Barça Legends take to the field at the Mas Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires to play theirs first ever game in Argentina. Their opponents will be the River Plate Leyendas team, and the game can be seen live exclusively on Barça’s official YouTube channel.

The game was to take place a fortnight ago but the expectation in Argentina is great ahead of the game and ticket sales are going well as no-one wants to miss the game between the veterans of two of world football’s great clubs.

Full agenda

Beyond Saturday’s game, the blaugranes have a busy agenda during their stay in Argentina. On Friday there is an open training session for the fans which follows a football clinic at the River Plate facilities for disadvantaged children. Furthermore, thanks to the efforts of the River Plate Foundation, there will also be a conference involving Gaizka Mendieta and Juan Pablo Sorín from the Barça squad and Pablo Aimar and Marcelo Barovero from the River Plate team in which the players will share some of their greatest memories from their careers and what they have learned in terms of leadership both on and off the field.

The team will also the Generalitat de Catalunya delegation based in Argentina, and on match the Argentina Barça Supporters’ Club will get a chance to meet the Barça players.

Two squads for the game

Coach Albert ‘Chapi’ Ferrer has named the following players for the game: Jesús Angoy, Vítor Baía, Samuel Okunowo, Sergi Barjuan, Marc Valiente, Frank de Boer, Frédéric Déhu, Philippe Christanval, Fernando Navarro, Juan Pablo Sorín, Phillip Cocu, Gerard López, Ronald de Boer, Gaizka Mendieta, Edgar Davids, José Edmílson, Giovanni, Jonatan Soriano and Nolito.

River Plate: Marcelo Barovero, Matías Giordano, Cristian Tula, Ariel Franco, Jonathan Maidana, Matías Abelairas, Walter Acevedo, Leonardo Ponzio, Nicolás Domingo, Guillermo Pereira, Alejandro Domínguez, Pablo Aimar, Ariel Ortega, Rodrigo Mora, Leonardo Caruso and Fernando Cavenagui.

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July 17, 2025