JINJIANG DENIES SLAVERY CLAIMS OVER BYD BRAZIL FACTORY

Jinjiang Group, a contractor for Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD, disputed Brazilian labor authorities’ claim that 163 Chinese workers were employed in “slavery-like conditions” at a construction site for a BYD factory in Brazil. The authorities’ allegations were based on translation misunderstandings, Jinjiang argued, and labeled the portrayal of their employees as “enslaved” as damaging to the dignity of the Chinese people. Jinjiang issued a joint letter expressing their concerns, and BYD’s public relations head shared the statement, accusing foreign media of attempting to tarnish Chinese brands. The workers, who had given their passports to the company to help with temporary ID applications, were accused by Brazilian inspectors of having them withheld. Jinjiang released a video showing workers asserting their satisfaction with the job and confirming compliance with laws. BYD is building the factory in Brazil, with production set to start in 2024 or 2025. (Reuters)

CHATTANOOGA EMERGES AS UNEXPECTED BENEFICIARY OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Chattanooga, Tennessee, a midsize Southern city, is emerging as an unlikely beneficiary of artificial intelligence (AI), according to a recent study. As AI adoption spreads beyond major tech hubs, cities like Chattanooga, with educated workforces, affordable housing, and industries less prone to disruption by AI, are poised for growth. The study suggests that AI could reshape the U.S. population and labor market, potentially automating millions of jobs. While cities like Silicon Valley are leaders in AI development, they may face job displacement due to AI’s impact on tech and office work. In contrast, Chattanooga is already attracting tech-enabled businesses like Truck Parking Club and Shappi, both benefiting from the city’s fast internet, co-working spaces, and investment access. The city’s infrastructure, including a pioneering utility offering quantum computing, and government use of AI for public services, further enhance its potential as a new AI hub. (New York Times)

TRUMP REAPPOINTS TECH TEAM TO FOCUS ON ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

President-elect Donald Trump is bringing back key members of his technology policy team to lead the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), signaling a focus on artificial intelligence (AI). Trump nominated Michael Kratsios, former chief technology officer, as OSTP director and Lynne Parker, a computer scientist, as counselor to Kratsios and executive director of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST). Kratsios, who has led Scale AI, and Parker, a former faculty member at the University of Tennessee, are both experienced in federal technology roles. The team will also include David Sacks, AI and cryptocurrency czar, and Sriram Krishnan, a senior policy adviser on AI. The appointments calm concerns about Trump selecting an outsider for the role. Trump’s comments suggest AI will play a prominent role under Kratsios, who will oversee the federal science and technology budget, although his background leans toward technology rather than basic research. (Science)

ONLINE ADS PROMOTE WEIGHT-LOSS INJECTIONS DESPITE LEGAL CONCERNS

After Andy King, 59, was denied weight-loss injections on the NHS, he turned to the internet and found himself bombarded with promotions for the drugs. Online ads for weight-loss jabs, such as Wegovy and Mounjaro, frequently appeared, often highlighting discounts like Black Friday deals. Despite the fact that promoting prescription medications is illegal, many online pharmacies have exploited loopholes by advertising consultations or services that indirectly promote the drugs. Experts are concerned that these aggressive promotions treat weight-loss medications as lifestyle products, with consumers often unaware of the prescription requirement. Both King and David Hatton, who sought the injections after being unable to get a prescription from his GP, noted how price-led offers and discount codes influenced their purchasing decisions. The ease of obtaining these medications and the lack of aftercare raise concerns about abuse and potential harm, particularly for people with disordered eating behaviors. (The Guardian)

KILAUEA ERUPTS AGAIN WITH LAVA FOUNTAINS AT SUMMIT CALDERA

Kilauea, one of the world’s most active volcanoes, erupted again on Tuesday, continuing a second day of lava fountains. The eruption, which began on Monday, is confined to the volcano’s summit caldera within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, with no threat to homes. Fissures opened in the caldera floor, sending lava 295 feet (90 meters) into the air, creating tall fountains and spreading across 650 acres (263 hectares). The lava was estimated to be about 1 meter thick. While the lava activity paused briefly on Monday afternoon, it resumed on Tuesday morning. The eruption is occurring in a restricted area of the park, closed since 2007 due to safety risks like crater instability and rockfalls. Kilauea has erupted six times at its summit caldera since 2020. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park also includes Mauna Loa, another active volcano, which erupted in June and September. (AP)

PARKER SOLAR PROBE SET TO MAKE HISTORIC SUN FLYBY

NASA’s Parker Solar Probe is set to make history by flying closer to the sun than any previous spacecraft. Launched in 2018, the probe has already passed through the sun’s corona, the outer atmosphere visible during a solar eclipse. On Tuesday, Parker will pass within a record-breaking 3.8 million miles (6 million kilometers) of the sun’s surface, more than seven times closer than any prior spacecraft. Traveling at 430,000 mph (690,000 kph), Parker will become the fastest spacecraft ever built. It is equipped with a heat shield capable of withstanding temperatures up to 2,500°F (1,371°C). The probe will continue its close orbit around the sun until at least September, aiming to explore why the corona is hotter than the sun’s surface and to learn more about the solar wind. The sun’s energy is vital for life on Earth, but intense solar storms can disrupt communications and power systems. (AP)

JAMES WEBB SPACE TELESCOPE DISCOVERS 138 NEW ASTEROIDS

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has helped uncover 138 new asteroids in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, a discovery made by a team from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). These asteroids, ranging from the size of a bus to a stadium, are smaller than any previously detected in this region. Webb’s infrared capabilities allowed scientists to spot these asteroids, which were not visible with ground-based telescopes. Understanding the sizes and number of small asteroids in the belt provides insights into how collisions have shaped them over time, contributing to the understanding of meteorites that reach Earth. The findings will aid NASA’s Asteroid Threat Assessment Project in studying the risks posed by near-Earth objects. The research, which involved analyzing over 10,000 images of the TRAPPIST-1 star, was published in Nature on December 9. The discovery also supports future asteroid detection missions, like the Near-Earth Object Surveyor. (NASA)

Thanks for reading. Let’s be careful out there.

WORDS: The Biology Guy.

IMAGE CREDIT: Agratsa.