US Pitches Plan to Counter China's Dominance of Critical Mineral Supply
The United States has launched an initiative to establish a trade zone for critical minerals, aiming to challenge China's dominance in the industry. The effort was announced at the first Critical Minerals Ministerial event hosted by the State Department on Wednesday, according to BBC Technology.
The ministerial event brought together representatives from countries and organizations including the UK, the European Union, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Discussions centered on the availability of and access to minerals crucial for manufacturing a wide range of products, from smartphones to weapons, according to BBC Technology.
The US initiative comes amid growing concerns about China's control over the supply of these essential minerals. The trade zone aims to diversify sources and reduce reliance on a single country, according to BBC Technology.
In other news, police in Arizona are continuing their search for Nancy Guthrie, the missing mother of US news anchor Savannah Guthrie. Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos stated that investigators believe the 84-year-old "is still out there," despite her disappearance five days prior, according to BBC World. The FBI is reviewing two ransom notes related to the case, and one arrest has been made in connection with a fake note, according to BBC World. The family has offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest, according to BBC World.
Meanwhile, in Norway, authorities have opened a corruption investigation into former Prime Minister Thorbjørn Jagland over his alleged links to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. A special Norwegian police unit analyzing newly released Epstein files in the US suspects the 75-year-old of "aggravated corruption," according to BBC World. Police have requested the foreign ministry to lift Jagland's immunity, which he holds due to his past role as a senior foreign diplomat, according to BBC World. Jagland's lawyer has pledged his client's full cooperation with the investigation, according to BBC World.
The rise of AI-generated content, or "AI slop," on social media is also generating a backlash, according to BBC Technology. Théodore, who was not further identified, described an AI-generated image of two emaciated South Asian children with beards, one missing limbs, sitting in the rain with a birthday cake, as the image that "tipped him over the edge." Despite the obvious signs of AI generation, the image went viral on Facebook, garnering nearly one million likes and heart emojis, according to BBC Technology.
In China, a couple discovered that their intimate moments in a hotel room had been secretly recorded and broadcast to thousands online. Eric (not his real name) recognized himself and his girlfriend in a pornographic video on a social media channel he frequented, according to BBC World. The footage, captured by a hidden camera in their Shenzhen hotel room, showed them entering the room, setting down their bags, and engaging in sexual activity, according to BBC World.
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