July 21, 2023 - Friday

[WORLD] Iraqi security forces disband protests at Swedish embassy in Baghdad over Quran burning. Journalists detained and embassy partially set on fire.

Iraqi security forces dispersed protesters who stormed the Swedish embassy in Baghdad in response to a planned Quran burning in Sweden. Videos showed protesters inside the embassy and black smoke and fire. Security forces used water cannons to disperse them and put out the fire. Some journalists covering the protests were detained and one was beaten. Iraq expelled the Swedish ambassador and recalled its top diplomat from Sweden.

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[NATION] GOP Senator Grassley releases an internal FBI document alleging that President Biden was involved in a foreign bribery scheme. #Biden #FBI #Grassley #briberyscheme

Senator Grassley has released an internal FBI document containing unverified allegations of President Joe Biden's involvement in an illegal foreign bribery scheme. The FBI had previously allowed members of the House Oversight Committee to privately view the document but refused to publicly release it. Grassley obtained the document through legally protected disclosures by Justice Department whistleblowers. The document, an FBI-generated FD-1023 form, contains allegations of a criminal bribery scheme involving then-Vice President Biden and a Ukrainian business executive.

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[BUSINESS] Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) will delay production at its new Arizona chip plant to 2025 due to a shortage of skilled labor.

TSMC has confirmed significant delays in the construction of its Arizona chip plant due to a shortage of technical workers with critical expertise. The company now projects to finish construction by 2025 instead of late 2024. This delay comes at a time when investment in AI is booming, and TSMC is a leading supplier of AI chips. Access to skilled workers is a common cause of setbacks when building semiconductor fabrication plants, according to industry experts.

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[TECHNOLOGY] Google is developing an AI tool for journalists that can generate article text and headlines, aiming to enhance productivity and support journalists in newsrooms.

Google is building an AI tool called "Genesis" for news publishers, which can generate article text and headlines. The company is seeking partnerships with news outlets to use the tool in newsrooms. Genesis is not intended to replace journalists but to support them by offering suggestions for headlines and writing styles. Google's efforts to develop AI tools for journalism have been met with skepticism, as past attempts to use generative AI in journalism have been criticized for lacking accuracy and variety.

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[SPORTS] Mary Jo White's report outlines potential criminal prosecution for Daniel Snyder following manipulation of financial records.

The long-awaited report by Mary Jo White, released after the NFL approved the sale of the Washington Commanders, suggests that Daniel Snyder may face further legal complications. White's report reveals that the team manipulated financial records to minimize revenue sharing obligations with other teams, potentially opening the door for state or federal prosecution. The $60 million fine imposed by the NFL, despite being a small fraction of the team's sale price, may not mark the end of Snyder's legal troubles.

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[SCIENCE] Nasa climate expert predicts July will be the hottest month on record due to a persistent heatwave in the US.

Nasa's climate expert, Gavin Schmidt, has stated that July is likely to be Earth's hottest month in hundreds, if not thousands, of years, due to a prolonged heatwave affecting the southern US. Schmidt made the announcement during a meeting at Nasa's Washington headquarters, where the impact of the climate crisis was discussed. The summer has already seen deadly floods, smoke from Canadian wildfires, and widespread heat advisories. Schmidt also stated that there is a high chance that 2023 will be the hottest year on record, with 2024 expected to be even hotter.

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[HEALTH] A new study suggests that people who contract COVID-19 but never develop symptoms, known as "super dodgers," may have a genetic advantage.

A recent study published in Nature has found that individuals who have a specific genetic variant in their immune system, called HLA-B, are more likely to be asymptomatic after contracting COVID-19. These "super dodgers" have a genetic advantage that protects them from feeling the effects of the virus, making them 2 to 8 1/2 times more likely to be asymptomatic compared to those without the variant. Understanding the genetics behind asymptomatic cases could help in developing more effective vaccines and treatments for COVID-19.

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[ENTERTAINMENT] "F*** AI" was the sentiment expressed at a Chicago SAG-AFTRA rally, where actors voiced their concerns about the use of artificial intelligence in entertainment.

The Chicago SAG-AFTRA rally saw actors protesting the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in entertainment, claiming that it takes away the humanity from art. They expressed concerns about the impact of AI on employment and compensation. The strike, which is the first writer-actor strike in over 60 years, stems from the inability to reach an agreement on issues such as regulating the use of AI, basic pay increases, and sharing of subscriber revenue from streaming projects. The strike has gained cross-union support. #AIinEntertainment #SAGAFTRAstrike #HollywoodLaborStrike

No sources available.