World News Daily(2024-08-04) : U.S. Sues TikTok for Violating Children's Privacy

U.S. Sues TikTok for Violating Children's Privacy

The U.S. Justice Department is suing TikTok and ByteDance, accusing them of failing to protect the privacy of children under 13, thereby violating the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). They are required to obtain parental consent for data collection. TikTok permitted underage users to create accounts, shared videos and messages with adults, and collected personal information without parental consent, affecting millions of American children.

The FTC is seeking penalties of up to $51,744 per violation per day. TikTok has been working with the FTC for over a year and is disappointed by the litigation. With 170 million U.S. users, TikTok faces potential divestiture or a ban and has already faced fines in the EU and U.K. over children's data.

A U.S. Senate bill proposes extending COPPA to cover those up to age 17, banning targeted ads to kids and teens, and allowing the deletion of information from social media. It requires House approval to become law.

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Politics

EU's Digital Regulations Impact on Big Tech

The EU's Digital Services Act (DSA) and Digital Markets Act (DMA) aim to curb Big Tech's dominance. Both laws, enacted in 2024, target platforms like Amazon, Apple, and Google, imposing hefty fines for violations.

The DSA focuses on consumer welfare and content moderation, setting high standards for handling illegal content and disinformation. It applies stricter rules to larger platforms, aiming to balance freedom of expression with safety.

The DMA, more aggressive, targets "gatekeepers" like Apple and Meta, limiting their control over platforms. It mandates openness, like allowing third-party app stores on iOS and interoperability in messaging services.

Both laws centralize enforcement, avoiding jurisdictional conflicts. The EU hopes these regulations will foster competition and innovation, ensuring a fair digital market.

Initial investigations show resistance from some tech giants, highlighting the challenges ahead. The success of these laws will unfold over time, shaping the future of digital markets in Europe.

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Russian Advances in Eastern Ukraine and Economic Impacts

Russian forces push deeper into eastern Ukraine, capturing five settlements in Donetsk. Waves of infantry, guided bombs, and relentless air strikes drive territorial gains near Pokrovsk. Ukraine's defenses strained, civilians flee in droves.

Ukraine receives 250 bodies of fallen soldiers in a significant remains exchange. DNA analysis to identify and return them to families.

Russian activist Ilya Yashin, deported in a prisoner swap, vows to return. His expulsion sparks concerns over political prisoner escalation.

Ukraine's central bank forecasts higher emigration due to energy shortages and economic instability. Predicts a net outflow of 400,000 in 2024, 300,000 in 2025, with a gradual return starting 2026.

S&P downgrades Ukraine's credit rating to "selective default" following a missed bond payment. A new law allows suspension of foreign debt payments until October, setting the stage for a sovereign default.

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Secret US Inquiry into Alleged 2016 Egyptian Gift to Trump

Trump's spokesperson denies allegations of a $10m gift from Egypt's Sisi in 2016. The Washington Post reports a secret US investigation into the matter. Steven Cheung claims the probe found no wrongdoing and was closed.

The Post details a $10m withdrawal from Egypt's National Bank days before Trump's inauguration. US officials described the cash as heavy bags of $100 bills. Investigators discovered this in 2019, two years after initial CIA intelligence on Sisi's intent.

Such a foreign donation would break federal law. Trump's praise for Sisi raised eyebrows, given his authoritarian rule. The investigation faced scrutiny, notably from Attorney General William Barr, who appointed a prosecutor to close the case without charges.

The Post's report comes amid Trump's 2024 presidential bid and the bribery conviction of Senator Robert Menendez, who took Egyptian gold and cash. Menendez faces up to 222 years in prison.

The justice department and FBI declined to comment. The closing prosecutor, Michael Sherwin, stands by his decision. An anonymous source questions the justice department's handling of the case, suggesting a lack of thorough investigation.

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Society

EU Faces Rising Threat of Fentanyl Crisis

Fentanyl, the 'zombie drug,' is gaining ground in Europe. Paolo Inselvini, an Italian MEP, warns of its rise as a new 'black plague.' Cheap and accessible, it mirrors the U.S. crisis, threatening millions of lives. The EU must act swiftly.

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US Strengthens Military Presence in Middle East Amid Rising Tensions

Tensions high, US bolsters defenses, world watches closely.

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Climate Change Accelerates Greenland Ice Sheet Melting Research

Climate warming has a far greater impact on the Greenland ice sheet than climate cooling. Research reveals that the "sponginess" of the ice sheet—the ability of the firn layer to store meltwater—rapidly declines with warming and recovers slowly with cooling. The firn layer, which covers about 90% of the ice sheet at high altitudes, is crucial for buffering sea-level rise.

The study utilized the SNOWPACK model to comprehensively analyze for the first time the impact of temperature changes on the entire ice sheet's firn layer. The results show that the ice sheet loses mass faster during warming than it gains during cooling. This asymmetry means that even if geoengineering efforts are used to lower Arctic temperatures, the protective effects on the ice may be limited.

This research underscores the immense difficulty of reversing climate warming. Cooling would need to exceed warming to restore the normal state of firn and glaciers. In reality, reversing the changes that have already been caused is extremely difficult.

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South Korea's Declining Birth Rate: Economic and Social Implications

In South Korea, the birth rate has plummeted to 0.76, with just 60,000 births in the first quarter of 2024. This decline mirrors trends in Japan and Spain, where low fertility rates reflect a broader global shift in attitudes towards parenthood.

Young adults now approach childbirth with caution, influenced by economic pressures and societal changes. The concept of "birth consent" has emerged, suggesting that unborn children should have a say in their arrival. This idea challenges traditional views on the rights of parents versus the rights of the unborn.

The article explores the complexities of this debate through the fictional scenario of "birth consent" checks, where fetuses are asked if they wish to be born. This raises profound questions about autonomy and the nature of life itself.

Economic factors, including high housing costs and education expenses, contribute to the reluctance to have children. Social media and cultural shifts also play roles, with discussions about the hardships of parenting influencing public opinion.

The article concludes by questioning the authenticity of our choices in life, whether influenced by external factors or genuine free will. It suggests that the decision to have children, like many life choices, is complex and multifaceted.

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Economy

Google acquires Character.AI for over $2.5 billion.

Google has acquired Character.AI for over $25 billion. The deal includes paying model licensing fees and integrating approximately 30 employees, including co-founders, into the Gemini AI project. Character.AI, a unicorn in AI, specializes in model training and voice AI technology. Google has been active recently, including a near-deal to acquire cybersecurity startup Wiz for $230 billion and plans to invest over $1000 billion in the AI field.

Analysis: This acquisition underscores Google's ambition and strategic layout in the AI sector. Character.AI's technology and talent will bolster Google's AI capabilities, while the significant investment signals intense competition in the industry and a promising future for development.

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Investors Seek University Founders for Climate Tech Startups

Bill Gates' Breakthrough Energy and other investors are scouting university founders for climate tech startups. Molten Industries, a company that breaks down methane without CO2 emissions, began in a Stanford professor's garage.

Breakthrough Energy Catalyst supports early-stage founders with grants of up to $500,000. They have backed 42 climate tech companies, which have collectively raised $250 million.

Venture capitalists are moving earlier, betting on proto-companies—ideas that could become businesses. Azolla Ventures funds graduate students to scout for overlooked projects.

The Collaborative Fund provided Harvard's Wyss Institute with $15 million to research sustainable materials, aiming to bridge the gap from lab to market.

Breakthrough Energy's business fellows assist founders in navigating intellectual property and industry connections. For example, Molten Industries pivoted from burying carbon to using it in batteries with their support.

Investors stepping in early improve startups' chances of transitioning from idea to reality.

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BYD and Li Auto Dominate China's July Electric Vehicle Sales

In July, China's top two electric vehicle manufacturers, BYD and Li Auto, dominated sales, capturing over half of the market. BYD sold over 340,000 units, a record high, while Li Auto reached 51,000 units, its best performance to date.

The industry was abuzz with discussions on "internal competition" and weekly sales rankings, but the spotlight remained on these leading companies. BYD expanded its DM-i lineup and reduced prices on the Fang程豹, leading to protests from early buyers. Li Auto introduced system upgrades that enhanced safety and driving aids.

Other players such as NIO, Xpeng, and Geely experienced mixed results. Geely's Zeekr saw a decline after two strong months, while Xpeng and NIO maintained steady sales, with NIO unveiling new technology like its SkyOS system.

The market is consolidating around a few key brands, leaving less space for others. BYD and Li Auto's dominance highlights a trend towards concentration in China's EV market.

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Cloud Infrastructure Revenue Surges to Nearly $80 Billion, Driven by AI

Cloud revenue reached $79 billion this quarter, a 22% increase from last year, driven by AI. Synergy Research predicts the market will double again in four years.

Microsoft's Intelligent Cloud, including Azure, fell short of analyst estimates but still grew by 30%. Amazon's revenue increased by 19%, maintaining a steady growth rate. Google Cloud surpassed $10 billion for the first time, up 29% year-over-year, gaining market share.

Market share distribution: Amazon leads with 32%, Microsoft follows with 23%, and Google holds 12%. Microsoft lost some share but continues strong growth, partly due to Azure's seasonal sales cycle.

Oracle tied with Salesforce at 3%, surpassing IBM. The top three companies control over 73% of the market.

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The virtual currency market experiences severe fluctuations: Bitcoin prices plummet, and miners face challenges.

The virtual currency market has recently experienced significant volatility, with Bitcoin's price briefly falling below $61,000. Other major cryptocurrencies such as Ethereum, Binance Coin, and Dogecoin also saw substantial declines. The total market capitalization of cryptocurrencies dropped below $2.2 trillion, with over $880 billion in market value evaporating. In the past 24 hours, nearly 100,000 investors were liquidated, with a total liquidation amount reaching $330 million.

Bitcoin's price has fluctuated between $55,000 and $70,000 since July, and it is expected to continue within this range in the coming months. Global economic conditions and fluctuations in the dollar exchange rate significantly impact the market. The virtual currency market is influenced by supply and demand, regulatory policies, and global economic cycles, leading to high price volatility.

Bitcoin miners' revenues have sharply declined due to the halving of mining rewards, leading to sustained selling. The Bitcoin network's mining reward has been reduced from 6.25 Bitcoins to 3.125 Bitcoins, directly affecting miners' income. Miners' operating costs, such as electricity and equipment fees, have not decreased, leading to financial crises.

The mining machine production market is oversupplied, with an estimated 5 million mining machines expected to enter the market next year, increasing the total network hash rate by 1,300 EH/s. This will result in a significant decrease in miners' earnings and an extended payback period.

Explanation:

• Liquidation: Refers to investors being forced to close their positions due to an inability to meet margin requirements, resulting in a loss of funds.
• Mining Reward: The reward given by the Bitcoin network to miners who successfully validate transactions.
• Hash Rate: The processing power of mining machines, measured in EH/s (exahashes per second).

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Technology

Google Gemini 1.5 Pro Leads AI Advancements

Google's Gemini 1.5 Pro, an AI model, leads the LMSYS Chatbot Arena leaderboard with an ELO score of 1300. It outperforms OpenAI's GPT-4o and Anthropic's Claude-3.5 Sonnet. Gemini 1.5 Pro boasts a two million token context window, facilitating extensive information processing. Early feedback is positive, with users lauding its capabilities.

ELO score: A rating system used to rank AI models based on performance in competitions.

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AI Accelerates Nuclear Reactor Design and Licensing

A professor at Brigham Young University has discovered a method to expedite nuclear reactor design and licensing through the use of AI. Traditional processes require 20 years and $1 billion for licensing a design, followed by an additional five years and $5 to $30 billion for construction. AI has the potential to reduce this timeline by a decade, resulting in significant savings.

The design of nuclear reactors involves intricate physics, encompassing neutron movement, heat transfer, and materials. These elements are closely interrelated, rendering the process data-intensive and time-consuming. AI can alleviate this burden, facilitating quicker and more cost-effective designs.

Professor Memmott and his team have developed machine learning algorithms to forecast temperature profiles and optimize reactor parameters. Their AI model can geometrically optimize designs at a much faster pace than conventional methods. For instance, their AI took just two days to determine an optimal reactor shield design, a task that a real-world company took six months to complete.

Although human oversight remains crucial for final decisions and safety assurance, AI substantially cuts down on design time. With increasing energy demands, faster and more affordable nuclear reactor designs could be essential for meeting future power requirements without emissions.

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Advanced Microscope Achieves Record Magnetic Field Resolution

Scientists from Hitachi, Kyushu University, RIKEN, and HREM Research Inc. have broken new ground in observing magnetic fields at the atomic scale. They've achieved a resolution of 0.47 nm, up from the previous 0.67 nm set in 2017.

Using an advanced atomic resolution holographic electron microscope, they visualized magnetic fields in Ba2FeMoO6, a layered crystal material. This breakthrough allows for clearer observation of magnetic phenomena at material interfaces, crucial for developing high-performance materials used in electronics, catalysis, transportation, and energy production.

The team automated data collection and image correction, processing 10,000 images in 8.5 hours. They also introduced an automatic aberration correction method, previously theoretical, into off-axis electron holography.

This advancement opens doors to observing magnetic lattices in specific areas like interfaces and grain boundaries, potentially revealing hidden phenomena in magnetic materials. The hope is that this technology will aid in creating materials essential for a carbon-neutral society.

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Video Game

Microsoft Activision forms a new team at Blizzard to develop 2A games.

Microsoft and Activision are forming a new team at Blizzard, focusing on "2A" game development, such as "World of Warcraft" and "Overwatch." This move is part of Microsoft's strategic expansion following its acquisition of Activision Blizzard, aiming to maintain and enhance the vitality of these popular game series. The new team may include mobile game development, particularly optimizing "Diablo Immortal." Additionally, the team might be involved in developing new mobile games for the Xbox mobile game store, which will support iOS and Android platforms. Microsoft prefers using small, flexible teams for innovation, which can later integrate into larger projects. Currently, the 2A game market is performing strongly, with titles like "Hades" and "Stardew Valley" enjoying widespread popularity.

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Entertainment

Snoop Dogg Boosts Olympics Viewership in 2024 Paris Games

Snoop Dogg's presence at the 2024 Paris Olympics boosted viewership. NBCUniversal's coverage averaged 34 million viewers over five days, up 79% from Tokyo 2021.

Snoop, known for his music, took on roles as commentator and entertainer. He interacted with athletes, tried sports, and offered analysis. Molly Solomon, NBC's Olympics executive producer, praised him as an "ambassador of happiness."

His activities, from carrying the Olympic torch to learning swimming from Michael Phelps, went viral. Snoop's appeal lies in his ability to connect with fans and athletes alike, bringing a fresh perspective to the Games.

NBCUniversal plans to keep Snoop involved, including a role on "The Voice" this fall. His integration into the Olympics aimed at attracting a broader, younger audience. Some traditional fans, however, felt his celebrity presence diluted the sports' seriousness.

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Health

US Government Funds Moderna for Bird Flu Vaccine Development

The US government has just awarded Moderna $176 million to develop an mRNA vaccine for bird flu. This funding is provided through BARDA, an organization that supports medical emergencies. They are part of a new agreement to collaborate with companies and prepare for pandemics.

Moderna is already conducting tests on a bird flu vaccine, concentrating on H5 and H7 strains. They aim to complete Phase 1/2 trials this year and initiate Phase 3 in 2025. The additional funding will assist them in finalizing an H5 vaccine.

Health officials are also in discussions with Pfizer regarding a bird flu vaccine. They plan to produce 4.8 million vials of H5 vaccine shortly. This development coincides with the spread of H5N1 through US dairy farms, sparking concerns that it could infect humans.

A small study in Texas suggests that human cases might be going undetected on farms affected by H5N1.

In summary, the US is preparing for a potential bird flu pandemic, relying on Moderna and other companies to quickly produce vaccines.

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Rising Cancer Rates Among Younger Generations: A Growing Concern

Recent study by the American Cancer Society shows rising cancer rates among younger generations. Seventeen of 34 cancer types are increasing, including breast, pancreatic, and stomach cancers. Death rates are also up for cancers like liver, uterine, gallbladder, testicular, and colorectal.

Hyuna Sung, the study's lead author, notes these trends extend beyond earlier findings on early-onset colorectal and obesity-related cancers. The research analyzed data from over 23 million cancer patients and 7 million cancer deaths between 2000 and 2019.

Key findings:

• Pancreatic, kidney, and small intestine cancers have doubled or tripled in incidence among those born after 1955.
• Liver cancer in women, uterine cancer, and others show similar increases.
• Ovarian and uterine cancers have seen the most significant rises, with rates up to 169% higher in the youngest cohort.

Ahmedin Jemal, senior vice president at the American Cancer Society, warns of a potential future surge in cancer burden if preventive measures are not strengthened. Lisa Lacasse of the ACS Cancer Action Network emphasizes the need for affordable healthcare access to combat these trends.

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Sports

Saudi Arabia Plans Massive Stadium Construction for 2034 World Cup

Saudi Arabia plans to build 11 new stadiums for the 2034 World Cup, with an estimated total investment potentially reaching hundreds of billions of dollars. The event will be held in five cities, including Riyadh and Jeddah. The new stadiums will be equipped with the latest technology to ensure an excellent experience for fans. Saudi Arabia also plans to provide over 230,000 hotel rooms. This initiative is part of Saudi Arabia's "Vision 2030," aimed at reducing dependence on oil and promoting economic diversification.

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Bundesliga Strengthens Presence in Japan Through Japanese Players

TOKYO — Peer Naubert, the chief marketing officer of Bundesliga International, views Japan as a pivotal market. The league has embraced 66 Japanese players, ranging from icons like Makoto Hasebe to emerging talents like Ritsu Doan.

Bundesliga's worldwide strategy hinges on local icons, essential for fostering brand recognition and enthusiasm in regions like Japan. Interest in the Bundesliga among Japanese audiences has surged by 26% since the 2022 World Cup, a rate more than twice the 9% rise in general soccer interest.

Satellite broadcaster Sky Perfect JSAT holds exclusive rights to Bundesliga matches. Audience numbers have increased, with "avid" fans tuning in more often than those of the Premier League or La Liga.

Stuttgart's trip to Japan features exhibition matches against Kyoto Sanga and Sanfrecce Hiroshima. Despite the lack of current Japanese stars, Naubert appreciates the contributions of Stuttgart's former players, including Okazaki and Endo.

The Bundesliga is set to establish a Japanese partnership starting in 2025. Naubert is optimistic about the responses from potential partners in a competitive market.

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