A group of US lawmakers has introduced a bill that would require Chinese tech giant ByteDance to sell off the popular video-sharing TikTok app within six months or face a ban.
For years American officials have raised concerns that data from the app could fall into the hands of the Chinese government.
A bipartisan set of 19 lawmakers introduced the legislation on Tuesday.
TikTok called the bill a disguised "outright ban".
In a statement announcing the bill, the lawmakers said "applications like TikTok that are controlled by foreign adversaries pose an unacceptable risk to US national security".
The bill would give ByteDance 165 days to divest, or it would be blocked from the app store and web hosting platforms in the US.
"This legislation will trample the First Amendment rights of 170 million Americans and deprive 5 million small businesses of a platform they rely on to grow and create jobs," TikTok said in a statement to the BBC.
A former Google software engineer has been charged by the US with stealing trade secrets about artificial intelligence (AI) while secretly working for two Chinese companies. Linwei Ding, also known as Leon Ding, was indicted in California on four charges and arrested on Wednesday. The Chinese national allegedly stole more than 500 confidential files. If convicted he faces up to 10 years in prison and $250,000 in fines on each count.
A lawyer for Mr Ding could not be identified to comment on the case, local media reported.
The information he is accused of taking relates to the infrastructure of Google's supercomputing data centres, which are used to host and train large AI models.
According to the indictment, Mr Ding was hired by Google in 2019 and his responsibilities included developing this software.
He allegedly began uploading information stored in Google's network to a personal Google account in May 2022. These uploads continued periodically for a year, the indictment reads.
Meanwhile, he is said to have spent several months in China working for Beijing Rongshu Lianzhi Technology - a start-up tech company that approached him. The indictment says he was offered $14,800 (£11,620) per month to be the company's Chief Technology Officer.
He is also alleged to have started his own tech firm, Shanghai Zhisuan Technology, which had a focus on AI and machine learning, and made himself the CEO.
The BBC has contacted Rongshu, while Zhisuan could not be immediately reached for comment.
Prosecutors allege Mr Ding never told Google about his work for either company.
The indictment states that he applied to a China-based organisation to help develop this business and presented it at an investor conference in China in November 2023.
The following month, he was flagged by Google trying to upload more files to his personal computer while in China, but Mr Ding told Google's investigator it was to provide proof that he worked for the tech giant.
When he returned to the US and without Google's knowledge, Mr Ding is said to have booked a one-way ticket from San Francisco to Beijing, before resigning on 26 December.
Days later, Google once again became suspicious after learning about his actions at the conference and suspended his access - searching his activity history to reveal the unauthorised uploads.
Google spokesman José Castañeda said the company has "strict safeguards to prevent the theft of our confidential commercial information and trade secrets," adding that the company quickly alerted the authorities when it found evidence of alleged wrongdoing.
US Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement on Wednesday that Linwei Ding was seeking to enrich himself by covertly working for companies that were "seeking an edge in the AI technology race".
"The Justice Department will not tolerate the theft of artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies that could put our national security at risk," Mr Garland said.
FBI Director Christopher Wray said Mr Ding's alleged actions "are the latest illustration of the lengths" companies in China will go to, "to steal American innovation".
The US and China have been engaged in a bitter trade battle in recent years, with both sides attempting to gain a competitive edge over the other.
The dispute has seen both countries impose tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars' worth of one another's goods.
Trade relations have worsened under the Biden administration, with the two sides imposing new barriers on trade, including restrictions on computer chip exports.
The PlayStation × PUMA SUEDE & RS-X collaborative shoes are set to be released within 2024. The price and specific release date are yet to be announced.
ស្បែកជើងសហការណ៍ PlayStation × PUMA SUEDE & RS-X គ្រោងនឹងចេញលក់ក្នុងឆ្នាំ ២០២៤។ តម្លៃនិងកាលបរិច្ឆេទចេញលក់ជាក់លាក់នៅមិនទាន់បានប្រកាសជាផ្លូវការ។
ខ្សែភាពយន្តផ្ទាល់រូប 'Golden Kamuy': សកម្មភាពរបស់ 'Sugimoto the Immortal'
The live-action movie 'Golden Kamuy' continues to be a major hit, having attracted over 1.42 million viewers and grossing more than 2.08 billion yen in just 25 days since its release on February 13. Recently, an action practice video of Kento Yamazaki, who plays the protagonist Saichi Sugimoto, edited by the action director Yuji Shimomura, was released.
Kento Yamazaki's character, Saichi Sugimoto, is a former soldier known as 'The Immortal Sugimoto' for his remarkable military feats during the Russo-Japanese War. Known for his action roles in series like 'Kingdom' and 'Alice in Borderland,' Yamazaki gained about 10kg to portray the ex-military Sugimoto in this film. He also performed daring stunts, including diving into a river in the dead of winter and being dragged by a horse sled in sub-zero temperatures, declaring at a stage greeting, 'I did everything I could!'
The newly released footage offers a glimpse into Yamazaki's dedication, showcasing movements based on karate and Japanese martial arts, along with military training. In an interview, he mentioned, 'I bought a mock gun to get accustomed to holding a gun at home,' and the video is packed with scenes of his intense preparation. It also features thrilling action scenes with Toshitaro Niikado, played by Shuntaro Yanagi, on a horse sled, displaying Yamazaki's gripping effort even during practice.
This video was edited by Yuji Shimomura, the action director who has teamed up with Yamazaki several times in 'Golden Kamuy,' 'Kingdom,' and 'Alice in Borderland' series. Accompanied by the music from the film, it has become a must-watch video that ignites excitement in the viewer.
"The stage adaptation of 'Paripi Koumei' is scheduled to be performed in Tokyo and Osaka in May 2024. Recently, the main cast of nine characters was unveiled in a grand reveal of their character visuals. Additionally, eight supporting cast members were announced, completing the full cast lineup.
'Paripi Koumei' begins with the ingenious strategist Zhuge Liang from the Three Kingdoms era reincarnating in modern-day Shibuya. It’s a novel story that continues to capture attention with its rapid-fire tactical battles. The stage adaptation, which follows the highly successful original comics with over 2 million copies in circulation, as well as the anime and drama adaptations, promises to retain the intricate and vibrant strategic battles. The script and direction are under the helm of Akira Ishida from the comedy duo 'NON STYLE.' The stage version will feature enhanced comedic scenes and original music, adding a new dimension to the already dynamic narrative.
This stage adaptation reveals nine main cast members in character visuals that are faithful to the original work. Rei Fujita, portraying the genius strategist Zhuge Liang, dons a lavish costume reminiscent of ancient times, with a hair and makeup look aimed at 'perfectly recreating the original Zhuge Liang,' bringing a Three Kingdoms era feel to life. Aoi Iwata, playing the aspiring singer-songwriter Eiko Tsukimi, captures the youthful spirit of chasing dreams in her casual and colorful attire, true to the ambiance of the original manga and anime.
Yoshitaka Murayama, known as the creator of the "Suikoden" series and recently working on "Eiyuden Chronicle," has passed away. According to the official website, he passed away on February 6, 2024.
"Eiyuden Chronicle" is scheduled for release on April 23, 2024, and was in its final stages of development. The official site features comments from Rabbit & Bear Studios' Junko Kawano, Junichi Murakami, and Osamu Komuta, stating, "We are still struggling to accept this reality, but we intend to carry on Murayama's will and nurture the world of 'Eiyuden Chronicle' that he created. We believe this is what Murayama would have wished."
According to the latest from wccftech, Samsung's "dream chip," the Exynos 2500, has had some of its specifications leaked. This SoC is expected to retain the 10-core CPU architecture of its predecessor, with an added twist of incorporating the new Cortex-X5 big cores.
The Exynos 2500 is currently under testing with various architectures, as using too many Cortex-X cores might lead to uncontrollable power consumption. The latest configuration indicates that the 10-core CPU layout will remain unchanged compared to the Exynos 2400. However, the Exynos 2500 is rumored to switch to Cortex-X5 and Cortex-A730 cores, potentially offering a performance boost over the Exynos 2400's Cortex-X4 and Cortex-A720.
Unfortunately, the frequency difference between Cortex-X5 and Cortex-X4 is minimal, with specific figures at 3.20GHz and 3.30GHz, respectively. Therefore, in terms of performance comparison between the two SoCs, we might only see a marginal difference of 100MHz, or perhaps no noticeable difference at all.
The Exynos 2500 is also expected to feature two Cortex-A730 cores operating at different frequencies, similar to the design of the Exynos 2400. In terms of low-power cores, it will continue to use the Cortex-A520, maintaining consistency with the Exynos 2400 configuration.
At the recent Comic Market 103 (Comiket 103), held on December 30th and 31st, 2023, I encountered a bit of a dilemma. When I first discovered Suzuran-san, she was a cosplayer with only a few thousand Twitter followers. Now, she's a highly popular figure with over 200,000 followers.
While it's wonderful to see your favorite cosplayer gain fame, the experience has changed significantly. What used to be an easy photo opportunity has now turned into long queues. It's a situation my senior at work had mentioned before, and now I fully understand it (though probably in a different context).
That being said, let me dive into the main topic. This time, I'm excited to showcase a collection of photos featuring noteworthy cosplayers I came across during Comiket 103.
Remember, support your favorites while you can! And for those who don't have a favorite yet, feel free to start following someone from this article!
People around the world celebrate the New Year with firework displays and light shows. Landmarks across the globe shine brightly with dazzling, radiant lights.
The London Eye in the United Kingdom stages a New Year's Eve light and firework show.
Auckland's firework display illuminates New Year's Eve.
Australia's Sydney hosts one of the world's most anticipated New Year's firework performances. Fireworks bloom over the landmark Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House. Amidst the splendid fireworks, millions of locals and tourists welcome the arrival of 2024.
France welcomes the year 2024. In the capital Paris, tens of thousands of people gather on the Champs-Elysées to celebrate the New Year.
In Thailand's capital Bangkok, a firework display takes place along the Chao Phraya River, with 50,000 eco-friendly fireworks beautifully bursting over a 1400-meter stretch of the river.
Fireworks explode around the Burj Khalifa, lighting up Dubai's night sky. In the nearly 9-minute firework show, lights, music, and fireworks complement each other, bringing New Year's blessings to the audience.
ប្រទេសអូស្រ្តាលីក្រុង Sydney បានប្រារព្ធការបាញ់កាំជ្រូកនៅពេលឆ្លងឆ្នាំដែលជាការអបអរសាទរមួយដ៏ល្បីល្បាញនៅពិភពលោក។ កាំជ្រូកបានបង្ហាញនៅលើបណ្តាំងលំអិតពីអាគារ Sydney Harbour Bridge និង Sydney Opera House។ ជាមួយនឹងកាំជ្រូកដ៏ស្រស់បំព្រង មនុស្សរាប់លាននិងភ្ញៀវប្រទេសក្រៅបានអបអរឆ្លងឆ្នាំ ២០២៤។
In cold weather, it is important to follow the principle of "conserving energy" in traditional practices, appropriately nourishing the body to enhance vitality, and keeping warm. Winter is an excellent time for dietary supplementation. It is recommended to consume more warm and hot-natured foods to ensure an adequate intake of protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, and a moderate amount of fats. Foods such as lamb, beef, shrimp, scaled freshwater fish, milk, eggs, soybean sprouts, leeks, black beans, and soybeans are beneficial for strengthening the spleen and stomach, boosting vitality, and warding off cold.
Soybeans and black beans, known for their neutral nature and sweet taste, are beneficial for harmonizing the stomach, strengthening the spleen, regulating qi, moisturizing the intestines, nourishing blood, and supporting the liver and kidneys. Legumes are rich in high-quality protein, dietary fiber, soy isoflavones, and are low in cholesterol, making them ideal for winter nourishment.
It's also important to maintain a balanced diet to avoid symptoms of "internal heat" accumulation. Therefore, it is advisable to include some "cooling" foods in the diet, such as winter bamboo shoots, lotus roots, radishes, and lilies. This approach helps to balance the flavors and harmonize the diet.
