Saturday☕️

18 Jan 2025 — 5 min read

Trending:

Yesterday, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a law requiring ByteDance, the Chinese parent company of TikTok, to sell its U.S. operations or face a complete ban of the app within the country. The ruling, set to take effect on January 19, 2025, stems from national security concerns that the Chinese government could access TikTok’s U.S. user data. If ByteDance does not meet the deadline or secure an extension, TikTok will no longer be available to millions of American users starting Sunday, marking a significant turning point for the platform.
In response, TikTok criticized the decision, emphasizing that it has taken extensive steps to protect U.S. user data, such as creating a domestic subsidiary to manage data security. Meanwhile, President-elect Donald Trump, who will take office on January 20, has suggested he may extend the divestiture deadline by 90 days if ByteDance shows progress in selling TikTok’s U.S. operations to an American company. The app’s fate now depends on the next few days and Trump’s actions after his inauguration.

Economics & Markets:

Coinbase, a leading crypto exchange, has launched a new service allowing users to borrow money using their Bitcoin as collateral. Customers can get loans of up to $100,000 in USD Coin (USDC) without needing a credit check. The amount they can borrow depends on how much Bitcoin they use as collateral.
This service, managed through Coinbase’s Base blockchain and the decentralized finance platform Morpho, lets users access funds without selling their Bitcoin, helping them avoid capital gains taxes. If Bitcoin’s value drops significantly, collateral can be liquidated just like a traditional loan.

Geopolitics & Military Activity:

Environment & Weather:

Indonesia is experiencing severe flooding across multiple regions due to heavy rains caused by the rainy season and the La Niña weather phenomenon. La Niña, which results from cooler ocean temperatures in the Pacific, increases rainfall in Southeast Asia, leading to heavier downpours than usual. This has overwhelmed rivers and drainage systems, and coastal areas are facing tidal flooding, caused by high tides combined with the heavy rain. Coastal regions like northern Central Java are expected to see these tidal floods continue until January 21.

In South Kalimantan, thousands of people have been affected by days of continuous rain, which has damaged homes, roads, schools, and other infrastructure. Similarly, East Java is dealing with major flooding, especially in Pasuruan, where overflowing rivers have displaced thousands. Authorities are working to deliver aid, but ongoing heavy rain in the forecast makes recovery efforts increasingly challenging.

Yesterday, a severe dust storm in Texas caused dangerous conditions along US Highway 285 in Reeves County. High winds and blowing dust severely reduced visibility, leading to multiple vehicle crashes and forcing the closure of parts of the highway. Emergency crews responded to the scene to assist with the accidents and ensure public safety.
Dust storms of this magnitude are common in dry and windy conditions, particularly in regions like West Texas, where loose soil can be easily carried by strong gusts. Such events not only create hazardous driving conditions but can also pose respiratory risks to residents in affected areas. Authorities have urged caution during these storms and advised limiting travel when visibility is reduced.

Business:

Electric vehicle startup Canoo has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, marking the end of its operations and liquidation of assets to pay creditors. Despite securing high-profile contracts with NASA and Walmart, the company struggled with financial instability, reporting a $117.6 million net loss in 2024 and delivering only 22 vehicles that year. Efforts to sustain operations through unconventional financing and workforce reductions proved insufficient as demand for its microbus-inspired vans remained weak.

Canoo’s collapse highlights the intense pressures faced by EV startups in a rapidly evolving and competitive industry. While consumer demand for EVs continues to grow, established automakers and well-funded competitors dominate the market, making it difficult for smaller companies to secure their footing.

Earth Intelligence Update:

New updates have deployed to the live Earth Intelligence System:
Focus Mode: Turns the Heads Up Display (HUD) categories at the top of the screen into buttons to focus on a specific topic or category.
Population: Shows updating Global Population in the HUD.
Moon map: A new Moon map display has been mapped around the globe to show an identical version of Earths Moon. Now that we have the correct map and geolocation data, we can begin to track developments, technologies, and events.
To try it out, click the image below (it’s free to use):

To switch between Earth Watch and Moon Watch, click the yellow arrows at the top of the screen. All markers are clickable and the globe can be zoomed or spun to find specific events or markers.
Next up: Earth Search, Moon Phases, Satellite Feed, and Mars Watch.

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