Japan Faces Shocking Population Drop. Birthrate Steeps Down.
Population control is an agenda for most countries today. But looks like Japan is taking the lead naturally. According to official figures released on Wednesday, Japan’s population dropped by a record amount in 2022 as the nation works to overcome its historically low birthrates. After tiny Monaco, Japan has the second-oldest population in the world, and the prime minister of the country, Fumio Kishida, warned in January that the country was “on the verge of whether we can continue to function as a society.” According to a report by the internal affairs ministry, the number of Japanese decreased by 800,523, or 0.65 percent, to 122,423,038 last year from the previous year. Besides, there was a 10.7% increase in the number of foreign residents with addresses registered in Japan. The country’s overall population being 125.41 million, decreased by just over 500,000 from the previous year. Population Peaks And Falls Since the ministry began compiling figures in 2013, the growth in Japan’s immigrant population was the largest year-over-year increase. According to the ministry, foreigners today make up around 2.4% of Japan’s population. Due to a lowering birth rate, Japan’s population has been progressively declining since 2008, when it reached its peak. In 2017, there were just 771,801 births nationwide, a record low. In order to combat the declining birthrate, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has made it one of his top policy objectives. Furthermore, He has also committed to securing annual funding of about 3.5 trillion yen ($25.2 billion) over the following three years for a new childcare package. The package includes increased higher education subsidies, childbirth, and rearing allowances. What Caused A Low Birthrate? Japan is one of the most costly countries to raise a child. Particularly high housing and education costs might make it challenging for families to finance raising a kid. Fewer couples have children in Japan as a consequence of the country’s high cost of living, constrained space, and dearth of city-based childcare facilities that make raising children difficult. Other factors affecting Japan’s dropping birth rate particularly include the declining marriage rate, financial stress, childcare demands, delayed childbirth, and infertility. Nevertheless, schools are closing as a result of population loss. With fewer kids, there are fewer people to fill the classes, and some schools can no longer support themselves financially. The rising cost of caring for the elderly, who make up a higher share of the population, is draining the country’s budget. According to World Bank data, Japan now has the second-highest percentage of individuals over 65 worldwide.
Hacking Legend Kevin David Dead At 59. What Was His Legacy?
Kevin David Mitnick, a pioneer in cybersecurity, social engineering, and hacking, passed away last week at the age of 59. According to his obituary, he died peacefully following a 14-month struggle with pancreatic cancer. Before becoming a well-known cybersecurity specialist, Mitnick, whom the US Justice Department labeled a “computer terrorist” during their search for him in the early 1990s, received two prison terms for hacking into computer networks in 1988 and 1999. According to Mitnick’s biography, his curiosity served as his main motivation. He stated: “All of this was really to satisfy my own curiosity, see what I could do, and find out secret information about operating systems, cell phones, and anything else that stirred my curiosity.” The Hacking Legend When Mitnick began his career as a hacker in 1979, he was just 12 years old. He was once imprisoned in 1988. In addition to his knowledge, he served as an inspiration for several hacking-related movies. When he figured out the paper transfer systems on the Los Angeles transit system in the 1970s, he became obsessed with systems and technology, and his understanding of social engineering was formed when he persuaded a helpful bus driver to tell him where to buy the necessary ticket punch. Kevin Mitnick allegedly never abused the data or information he obtained by hacking into some of the largest networks in the world. Mitnick regarded his hacking of the Northern American Defense Command (NORAD) in 1982 as one of his greatest accomplishments. The 1982 hacking incident was eventually turned into the well-known movie War Games. When he stole more than $1 million in software from Digital Equipment Corp. in his 20s, he significantly tangled with government investigators. Later, while still on probation, he broke into Pacific Bell Systems, turning himself into a wanted man. He would breach security at IBM, Nokia, and Motorola along the way. The Cyberspace Kevin Mitnick engaged in what the then-U.S. Attorney Christopher Painter referred to as a “countrywide hacking spree” in the mid-to late-1990s, getting into both government systems—possibly even NORAD and private companies like Sun Microsystems or Motorola. This binge, which resulted in 25 cybercrime charges and jail time when he was added to the FBI’s most-wanted list, gave rise to the “FREE KEVIN” campaign and, depending on how you look at it, further fueled his online notoriety or infamy.
Facebook Privacy Settlement: Users Can Claim A Share In $725M
Users of Facebook in the US can seek to get a portion of the $ 725 million privacy settlement that the parent company of the social media network, Meta, agreed to pay last year. The reward is for any US citizen who had a Facebook account between May 24, 2007, and December 22, 2022. According to the AP, the settlement sum can be claimed by filing a form online by August 25 at the latest. The world’s largest social networking platform, Meta, is paying to resolve claims that it sold millions of its users’ personal information. The information and data were given to Cambridge Analytica, a company that helped Donald Trump win the 2016 presidential election. The parent company of Facebook has agreed to provide the impacted individuals with $75 million in late 2022. The Exact Amount The amount of money that each user will get is unclear. Since the funds must be distributed among them, each payout will be lesser the more persons who file legitimate claims. Facebook still has more than 2 billion members globally, including an estimated 250 million in the US. Despite the fact that its growth has slowed as more people interact and amuse themselves on competing sites like TikTok. How To Claim? There is a website that takes you to the settlement form, or users can claim by mail- Meta’s Consequences Over the years, Facebook has been charged with gathering personal data and using it in ways that users weren’t aware of or had not authorized. In several claims, it was alleged that the network failed to keep an eye on how personal information was used after sharing. The deal made personal data available to app developers, business partners, marketers, and data brokers without their consent. “Meta is keen to present privacy issues such as those raised by the Cambridge Analytica controversy as historical – obviously it remains to be seen whether that’s the case – as if there are more settlements in the future, that could start to have a more serious impact on the company.” Technology Author James Ball said. The most prominent of these third parties was a personality quiz app that secretly acquired data from 71 million Facebook friends, including roughly 270,000 Americans. In addition to the app’s 270,000 users, there are other members linked to the app whose data is also stored. Beyond the Cambridge Analytica scandal, Meta has long faced criticism over data protection. For instance, the EU fined Meta a record $1.3 billion in May. Further mandating them to stop sending customers’ private information across the Atlantic by the end of October. Additionally, because of privacy concerns, the new text-based software Threads from the internet giant has not been released in the EU.
Italy’s 16-Year-Old “Little Messi” Wins Game 1-0
16-year-old “Little Messi” makes her Women’s World Cup debut with a 1-0 win. Giulia Dragoni, a midfielder for Italy, created Women’s World Cup history this morning when, at the age of just 16, she took the pitch for her team against Argentina in the tournament’s opening match. This month, the kid earned her international debut in a scoreless pre-tournament draw with Morocco. Still, Milena Bertolini, her manager, evidently decided enough was enough after choosing to start her in today’s Group G victory against Argentina. FIFA Women’s World Cup Italy defeated Argentina 1-0 to begin their FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 campaign. The teenager made her international debut against the nation of football great Lionel Messi, thus earning the nickname “Little Messi” from teammates. Giulia Dragoni just agreed to a two-and-a-half-year contract with Barcelona, Messi’s longtime former club. Furthermore, Dragoni displayed her class during the match against Argentina, and one of hermoves went viral when she took the ball above the head of an opponent to advance the ball. “Giulia is a talent of Italian football,” said Bertolini, Italy’s Manager. “She was ready and she did well playing in a big stadium. If they are here, it is because they deserve it.”
Welcome TwitterX: Elon Musk Rebrands The Bird App
Coming up next in the list of changes implemented by Elon Musk to Twitter, is Twitter X. Going for a rather “minimalist art deco”, Musk rebranded the OG Twitter Bird to a glowing X. ‘X’ has been chosen as Twitter’s official logo instead of the iconic bird. Elon Musk made the announcement of “change” over the week. Following the announcement, the Twitter X website has already gone live. Musk tweeted that x.com is now also redirected to twitter.com, which is noteworthy. Musk also described this design as “interim” in the post, so a future logo update may be in order. “Bidding Farewell”? The social networking platform will soon get rid of all the “birds” as Musk stated. He also asked tweeters to “bid adieu to the former Twitter brand”.Following the announcement, Some users tweeted their reactions and concerns regarding Twitter X. One said “What will the ‘tweets’ be called now?”To which Musk replied “X’s.” Announcements and Trends Linda Yaccarino, the CEO of Twitter, announced the decision on Monday by tweeting the image and stating, “X is here! Let’s do this!Furthermore, Linda tweets – “X will go further and will have features “centered in audio, video, messaging, payment/banking” and make it a “global marketplace for ideas, goods, services, and opportunities.” GoodbyeTwitter was trending minutes through the announcement with users following this change. Twitter X is Elon Musk‘s way to rebrand the platform, which he has wanted to do completely. Musk and Twitter X It’s commonly known that Musk has a fascination with the letter “X.” In 1997, he started X.com, which later changed its name to PayPal. The logo for his space company SpaceX is an ‘X’. In addition, he established X.ai, an AI business. The social network owned by Elon Musk changed its formal name from Twitter Inc. to X Corp. in April. The Tesla CEO has mentioned making the social network “X, the everything app” after he gained control of Twitter. Reactions Twitter is a platform that started in 2006. The platform has always stayed active and is a hub for all information you can think of. Especially, when it comes to worldly affairs, Twitter is the best place to look out for opinionated people. Naturally, when a huge change, such as this rebranding, is announced, people will have mixed reactions to it. One user shared an illustration of an X shedding blue feathers, symbolizing the old logo and Twitter X. However, another user had a different take on Twitter X and had a suggestion. Ending this with a dilemma or confusion many people expressed. So… Valid or not? Did you like Twitter X?
EZVIZ Launches H8c in India: A Versatile Outdoor Pan & Tilt Camera for Comprehensive Outdoor Security
Mumbai, 26th July 2023; EZVIZ, a global smart home security company, has introduced a new outdoor security camera under its vibrant portfolio. Inheriting the core technologies from EZVIZ’s award-winning outdoor pan & tilt camera series, the H8c puts loads of smart features into a compact unit for simply smart home protection. This trusted, accessible camera is reliable in any weather and operates steadily on residential internet platforms. The camera provides complete surveillance coverage and is equipped with features to make monitoring and recording activities easier and more efficient. The compact device has the capability to move 350 degrees horizontally and 80 degrees vertically which provides crisp, 360-degree vision with no grey areas. The EZVIZ H8c Pan & Tilt Camera offers an array of benefits that can alleviate the potential challenges for safer and smart homes. It is equipped with H.265 video technology which provides high-quality video resolution and night vision capabilities to provide clear visuals at any time of day or night. Due to the sophisticated 360 coverage view, blind spots reduce significantly which renders sharp images in 1080p resolution. The omnidirectional camera sees and records everything around it simultaneously. This lets users capture a large visual field with just one camera. There’s no physical rotation or movement—the entire environment around the camera is captured at once. Advanced technology-based AI-Powered Human Shape Detection and Human Motion Auto-Tracking help track smooth movements as it sends alerts to the homeowner’s phone or email when motion is detected empowering greater attention of the property. Additionally, the camera’s two-way audio function allows homeowners to communicate with visitors, delivery people, or intruders. Furthermore, the camera also allows users to access the revolutionary feature of ‘One-click Return to Pre-set Direction’, wherein H8c can set maximum 12 points for the users to easily get the view back to their wanted area. Speaking about the announcement, Mr. Bipin Gupta, Product Manager, EZVIZ said, “Monitoring outdoor scenarios is considered as a crucial aspect for safety and has been a challenging task, especially for those situated outside the grid, hence a comprehensive security solution that covers all areas of their home has become a significant need. At EZVIZ, we continuously strive to develop specialised products that cater to modern needs driven by our pursuit of innovation, we are proud to add the H8c Pan & Tilt Camera to our security camera portfolio. We are confident that this revolutionary compact product will provide robust surveillance, vigorously mitigate the potential security risk, and prepare completely safer and smarter homes”. With a sleek and durable design, The EZVIZ H8c camera brings simple, long-lasting, and worry-free protection as it can withstand harsh weather conditions and can be installed in various locations, including the front porch, backyard, and garage. The camera can be easily mounted on the wall or ceiling, and the pan and tilt function allow homeowners to control the camera’s angle of view remotely. The SRP of this product is INR 7500 and will be available in offline market from June 2023 onwards About EZVIZ India’s global smart home security company with a wide range of products designed for consumer and residential use. Founded in 2013 with the goal of providing “easy vision” to every family, which makes simple smart home gadgets that provide visual safety and real joy. EZVIZ’s cutting-edge products and services can be used in a variety of settings, including homes, offices, businesses, and schools. It enables partners to share their unique cloud services and collaborate to create a healthy IoT ecosystem. It’s “Indoor Wi-Fi Cameras” and “Outdoor Wi-Fi Cameras” are their most unique selling points, making it ideal for any smart home, business, or other application. The company delivers users with a secure, convenient, and smart existence through its intelligent goods, cloud-based platform, and AI technology. EZVIZ products are designed to cater to various security needs and be utilised for – toddler monitoring, elderly parents, pets, as well as the indoor and outdoor areas of homes, villas, offices, and businesses. All EZVIZ products are meticulously developed to achieve superior quality, visual appeal, and ease of use. As a result of their work, EZVIZ has won a slew of renowned design accolades. Through exceptional hardware, cloud-native software, and an open service platform, EZVIZ engages with consumers and partners to explore the future of smart living. Furthermore, the cameras are integrated with voice commands which support Amazon Alexa, Google Assistance & IFTTT. As a global brand, EZVIZ is constantly striving to provide high-quality technology and has a large footprint across 130+ countries with 10MN Active Users Monthly. Media Contacts: Vaibhav Chandra – vaibhav.chandra@communicateindia.com | +918588913262 Apoorva Raturi – apoorva.raturi@communicateindia.com | +918169870030
How Taylor Swift’s Enchanting Eras Tour is Saving US Economy
After releasing 9 widely successful albums, and 2 re-recorded albums, Taylor Swift’s discography varies through genres and styles. A part of music-making is touring. Taylor Swift has had the most successful arena and stadium tours in the past, and she is doing the same currently with her “Era’s Tour”. Taylor Swift’s Eras tour has undeniably made a significant impact on the economy. The tour’s massive ticket sales, influx of tourism, and stimulation of local businesses demonstrate the economic power of Swift’s popularity. Her previous shows in Cincinnati provided an economic effect of nearly $48 million, per figures from the Cincinnati Regional Chamber. This figure was derived from guests’ reservations for lodging, concert tickets, meals, drinks, and transportation from June 30 to July 1 for her Paycor Stadium performance as part of the Eras tour. Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour comprises 131 concerts spanning over 17 states and 5 continents. This has drawn the attention of several economic reserves as it significantly impacts the US Economy. The popularity of Taylor Swift Her last tour was the one for her album “Lover” before the pandemic, this tour in particular was highly awaited by her fans. Post Lover, she released 2 albums- Folklore and Evermore and also announced her re-recordings of her all her previous albums. Through her re-recordings, she aims to own all her albums that were previously sold away to another label without her permission. Taylor Swift has firmly established herself as one of the top music performers in the world during the last ten years. She has won over crowds all around the world with her upbeat performances, engaging songs, and moving words. Swift’s influence beyond the world of entertainment, though, as her tours significantly affect the economy in addition to her musical skill. Taylor Swift is once again demonstrating her power over regional economies with her most recent tour, “The Eras Tour,” which is bringing in billions of dollars and revitalizing sectors of the economy that have been severely impacted by the COVID-19 epidemic. Taylor Swift and The Economy What effect does this have on the economy, then? First and foremost, the amount of money made from ticket sales is enormous. Swift’s tour earns millions of dollars every show because of the wide variety of ticket prices. This flood of money benefits Swift and her group as well as the entire local economy as a whole. The influence spreads further as concertgoers swarm to the towns and cities close to the concert sites. There has been an increase in tourism as a result of the Eras tour, which is renowned to draw fans from all over the world. According to a People article, Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour is anticipated to contribute more than $4.6 billion to the US economy, a significant sum by any measure. This astounding sum accounts for a variety of elements, including ticket revenues, retail sales, and the overall positive impact on regional companies like lodging, dining, and transportation. The tour provides a major economic boost for the areas she visits in addition to being a delight for her admirers. The tour’s influence is felt far beyond the musical venues, having a long-lasting effect on host cities. So… Are you ready for it?
Lionel Messi Boosts Popularity After Signing For Inter Miami
Lionel Messi is popularly called The Goat by his fans. Globally, the football player is known to all. With every step he takes and tournament he plays, his popularity keeps on increasing and proving its strength in many ways. Likewise, Messi is about to play at Inter Miami, and its social media saw the biggest boost. The social media following of Inter Miami nearly doubled once Lionel Messi joined the MLS, and their retail sales also increased significantly; the cheapest ticket allegedly went for $544, up from $29. Undoubtedly, the buzz of the town in 2023 will be Lionel Messi’s move to Inter Miami. The world cup champion from Argentina came to Miami amid considerable excitement and was introduced on Monday in a lavish ceremony. Messi’s acquisition by Miami was a tremendous coup for the team and has already had a big influence on its development. According to a tweet from a Messi fan page, Messi’s transfer from Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) increased Inter Miami’s fan base from 1 million to 4.5 million. Up until that point, LA Galaxy had around 1.4 million followers, making them the most popular MLS team. Currently, the account has reached 10.3M followers. Ticket Sales The team’s ticket sales have also increased, and they are currently on their path to becoming one of the most well-liked groups in MLS. Data from the web marketplace TickPick showed that since the news of Messi’s transfer to the MLS, Inter Miami tickets had become more and more expensive. For instance, the cheapest ticket cost was $29 before the Messi news. The cheapest ticket, though, reportedly cost $544 as soon as it became known that Messi was traveling to America. Despite terrible weather that caused the presentation to be delayed, Messi’s introduction took place in front of a full audience on Monday. However, no one appeared to notice the relentless rain that fell all evening. The GOAT Many believed Messi would travel to Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia to follow longtime rival Cristiano Ronaldo, but instead, he picked Miami. Messi had the choice of going back to Barcelona, the legendary team where he spent most of his career, but he indicated when he made his decision that he wanted to travel to the United States to “live football in another way.” Messi has scored 102 goals against 38 different national teams over his more than 17 years of international play for Argentina. Messi, one of the best scorers in the history of the game, scored twice against France in the World Cup final last year, which Argentina won on penalties to add another achievement to Messi’s résumé.
Self-Driving Cars – The Future, or Increase in Traffic?
Self-Driving cars are a new thing. Being able to sit back and relax, while your car drives itself around. Not stressing your nerves out while parallel parking, because your self-driving car’s got you! The question remains are self-driving cars safe It follows all the road safety rules for you while being a part of the routine traffic. Wait. Traffic. That’s the cake of the icing. Due to their incapacity to understand human behavior, self-driving cars add to traffic congestion and maybe dangerous. According to recent research, these autonomous cars, which are frequently hailed as the future of transportation, have difficulty deciphering the nuanced social cues that influence human behavior when driving. Choosing whether to yield or move forward in traffic is a crucial illustration of this problem since humans often make this choice quickly and intuitively. However, autonomous vehicles frequently fail to understand how people behave in traffic. The award-winning study by a group at the University of Copenhagen shows that as a result, their responses might cause traffic gridlock and irritate other road users. Recent Implementation After California recently approved self-driving taxis during low-traffic hours, there were, unfortunately, quite a few incidences recorded. Unfortunately, San Francisco traffic has already been affected by the introduction of self-driving automobiles. According to NBC News, Google’s Waymo fleet of self-driving cars and Cruise taxis is already causing mayhem on Bay Area roadways. Over 90 instances involving autonomous cars on city roadways were recorded by the San Francisco Chronicle. The Study Choosing whether to yield or move forward in traffic is a crucial illustration of this problem since humans often make this choice quickly and intuitively. However, autonomous vehicles frequently fail to understand how people behave in traffic. This study plays a huge role in answering questions like “Are self-driving cars safe?” The award-winning study by a group at the University of Copenhagen shows that as a result, their responses might cause traffic gridlock and irritate other road users. “The ability to navigate in traffic is based on much more than traffic rules. Social interactions, including body language, play a major role when we signal each other in traffic. This is where the programming of self-driving cars still falls short,” says Professor Barry Brown, from Copenhagen’s Department of Computer Science, who has been studying the evolution of self-driving car behavior on the road for the past five years, in a university release. “That is why it is difficult for them to consistently understand when to stop and when someone is stopping for them, which can be both annoying and dangerous.” In some areas of the United States, many businesses have started taxi services using self-driving cars, including Waymo and Cruise. In the United States and Canada, Tesla has made its Full Self-Driving (FSD) model available to almost 100,000 volunteer drivers. Despite these developments, Prof. Brown and his team point out that little is known about how these cars function on the road because it is a closely guarded trade secret. These little developments and setbacks make the general public question, are self driving cars safe. Road Safety Concerns In the UK, fully autonomous vehicles are currently illegal. The development and testing of some self-driving elements, such as a bus service in Scotland, are being done in more focused trials. The UK Transport Secretary indicated that some types of cars, buses, and trucks with self- driving characteristics may potentially be running on highways in 2023 along with the announcement of a £100 million investment to accelerate the introduction of autonomous vehicles on the nation’s roads. Nevertheless, security issues are the causes of this technology’s delayed uptake. According to the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), automakers recorded over 400 accidents with automated cars in 2022. Six lives were lost as a result of these mishap.
Barbenheimer” Affected As SAG-AFTRA Vote “Actors’ Strike”
Amidst the Barbie Movie and Openheimer press tour, everyone is excited for these summer movies to hit the theatres. However, the “Barbenheimer” actors have decided to end their press tour way early. The Screen Actors Guild- American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) recently announced a unanimous vote to recommend a strike action. The WGA Writer’s Strike is also still on after 73 days. What is SAG-AFTRA? The guild SAG-AFTRA defends actors’ rights in the American cinema, television, and radio industries. After rejecting an offer from the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), they decided to go on strike. The agreement would have required background players in large-scale films to be digitally scanned, even for a single day, with the scanned photographs being used indefinitely. Connecting With The Writers’ Strike. The Writers Guild of America (WGA), which represents over 11,500 screenwriters, has been on strike since May 2, 2023. Since the Covid epidemic, this strike has caused the most significant interruption to American television. The authors are protesting the problem of streaming media residuals as well as the marketing of AI tools like chatGPT as inspiration tools rather than as a substitute for originality. SAG-AFTRA has recently joined the WGA on the picket line. Celebrities like Jane Fonda participated in street protests alongside activists, Matt Damon spoke out in support of the strikes on the red carpet, and the cast of Oppenheimer just left the film’s London premiere, which has now gone viral. The Actors’ Strike According to the BBC, up to 160,000 unionized actors are on strike seeking greater pay and protections against the use of artificial intelligence. Before Wednesday at midnight, the deadline to settle before a strike, the union was in discussions with major studios, but no agreement was achieved. The decline in residual earnings, which actors and writers receive from reruns of their movies and television series, is a major worry. Because streaming websites don’t reveal their audience demographics and instead pay a set fee as residuals, residuals have all but vanished. Fresh seasons of comedies and dramas that regularly premiere in September will probably be delayed due to the actors’ strike. “We managed as an industry to negotiate a very good deal with the Directors Guild, that reflects the value that the directors contribute to this great business.” Disney+ CEO, Bob Iger said. “There’s a level of expectation that they have that is just not realistic. And they are adding to the set of challenges that this business is already facing, that is quite frankly, very disruptive,” he adds. Barbenheimer and Strike The actors of “Oppenheimer” departed the London premiere on Thursday, but co-writer Noah Baumbach was absent from the “Barbie” global premiere in Los Angeles on Sunday. “My co-writer and co-creator, my partner in love and art, Noah Baumbach is not here,” Greta Gerwig, the film’s director, said, per Variety. “He is passionately supporting the fight of the Writers Guild of America. He is a Barbie girl. Nothing in ‘Barbie’ happened without him, and nothing in Hollywood happens without writers.” Hollywood is currently facing two strikes at once. Several shows like Stranger Things, Wicked, and SNL are halted. Will AMPTP end up agreeing to the Writer’s and Actor’s demands?