President Donald Trump ordered a federal effort to protect the Potomac River after a sewage pipe rupture released an estimated 240 million gallons of raw sewage, while also criticizing Maryland Governor Wes Moore. Simultaneously, Chinese tech giant ByteDance pledged to curb its AI video app, Seedance, following legal threats from Disney and other entertainment companies over copyright infringement.
The sewage spill, which occurred after a break in a pipe near the Clara Barton Parkway just north of the District line on January 19, prompted health warnings in the area, according to Fox News. Crews from DC Water were able to segregate much of the spill into the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal.
In other news, ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, faced legal pressure from Disney and other Hollywood studios regarding its AI video-making tool, Seedance. The app, which allows users to create realistic videos, has been accused of copyright infringement. Disney sent a cease-and-desist letter to ByteDance, according to BBC Technology, after videos made using the app proliferated online.
Meanwhile, in the world of entertainment, the NBA All-Star Weekend drew mixed reviews, with many criticizing the lack of excitement in the Slam Dunk Contest, according to Fox News. The event, held at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, has been a subject of debate among fans.
Also, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer pledged to respond more quickly to close loopholes in laws designed to protect children online, according to BBC Technology. Starmer said the government had "won" the "battle" with X, after threatening the platform with action over its AI assistant Grok creating non-consensual sexual deepfakes. Government proposals also included a measure requiring tech giants to preserve all of the data on a child's phone if they die.
In other news, Robert Duvall, a distinguished and prolific screen actor, was remembered for his seven decades of American film-making. Nominated for Academy Awards on seven occasions, he won best actor for his role in 1983's Tender Mercies, according to BBC World. His many other roles included a mafia consigliere in The Godfather, a bombastic army officer in Apocalypse Now, and a Texas Ranger-turned-cattle driver in Lonesome Dove.
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