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Meta to Nearly Double AI Spending; Iran Restores Limited Internet Access Amidst Crackdown
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, announced plans to nearly double its spending on artificial intelligence (AI) projects this year, even as some executives caution about a potential bubble in the industry. Meanwhile, in Iran, some citizens are regaining internet access after nearly three weeks of a government-imposed shutdown, though access remains tightly controlled.
Meta expects to spend up to $35 billion on AI-related infrastructure in 2025, a significant increase from the $72 billion spent in the previous year, according to a call with financial analysts on Wednesday. Over the past three years, the technology giant has invested approximately $140 billion in an effort to lead the AI boom. CEO Mark Zuckerberg anticipates that "2026 [will] be the year that AI dramatically changes the way we..."
In Iran, internet access was cut off on January 8th, in what was widely interpreted as an attempt to suppress the flow of information regarding a government crackdown on protesters. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that the internet was blocked in response to what he described as "terrorist operations." While some internet access has been restored, independent analysis suggests that much of the country remains effectively disconnected from the outside world. The shutdown affected an estimated 92 million Iranian citizens.
In other news, a documentary about former US First Lady Melania Trump will not be shown in South African cinemas. Filmfinity, the South African distributor, decided against releasing the film, titled "Melania," according to the New York Times and South Africa-based website News24. The company did not explicitly state the reasons for the decision. The film was originally scheduled for release on Friday. As part of the documentary's promotion, Melania Trump rang the opening bell of the New York Stock Exchange on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, in France, the National Assembly approved a bill to abolish the concept of "conjugal rights," which implies a marital duty to have sex. The bill adds a clause to the country's civil code clarifying that "community of living" does not create an "obligation for sexual relations." The proposed law also prevents the use of a lack of sexual relations as grounds for fault-based divorce. Supporters hope the law will deter marital rape, arguing that allowing such a right or duty to persist implies consent.
In the United States, actor Dean Cain responded to Ethan Hawke's claim that America is no longer a free country for celebrities. After Hawke suggested that expressing himself publicly now comes with consequences he has never felt before, Cain wrote on X, "Try being a conservative, pal." Hawke made the comments this week at the Sundance Film Festival, where his film "The Weight" premiered, claiming that the atmosphere in America has fundamentally changed. Cain previously joined ICE to "stand up for" agents who have been "vilified" for doing their jobs.
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