Technology

The U.S. Department of Justice is ramping up its case against Google's alleged monopoly, suggesting the government could eventually force the company to sell its widely-used Chrome browser. The move is part of the DoJ's push to challenge Google's hold over the digital advertising and search engine markets.

The Justice Department's latest legal action accuses Google of engaging in anticompetitive behavior by unfairly using its dominance in search and advertising to prop up its other services, most notably Chrome. The government argues that Google's browser and vast data ecosystem have given the company an outsized advantage over competitors, stifling innovation and harming consumers. By bundling Chrome with its Android operating system, Google has built an extensive network that could limit consumer choice and make it difficult for smaller firms to compete.

Alt. Link: https://archive.is/zOnze

BYD first announced plans for a car plant in Mexico in 2023, along with intentions to make cars in Brazil, Hungary and Indonesia. It said the Mexican plant would create 10,000 jobs and produce 150,000 vehicles a year.

Authorities feared Mexico would gain unrestricted access to BYD’s advanced technology and knowhow, they said, even possibly allowing US access to it. “The commerce ministry’s biggest concern is Mexico’s proximity to the US,” said one of the people.

Beijing is also giving preference to projects in countries that are part of China’s Belt and Road infrastructure development programme, according to the people.

Trump’s team has accused Mexico of being a “back door” for Chinese goods to enter the US duty-free through the USMCA. The Mexican government denies this but has responded to US pressure by placing tariffs on Chinese textiles and launching anti-dumping investigations into steel and aluminium products originating from China. “Mexico’s new government has taken a hostile attitude towards Chinese companies, making the situation even more challenging for BYD,” said the second person.

In November, shortly after Trump’s re-election, Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum said there was still no “firm” investment proposal from any Chinese company to set up in Mexico, despite BYD having reaffirmed its intent to invest $1bn earlier that month.

“The Mexican government obviously would like to get some of the investments [from China], but [its] trading relationship with the US is a lot more important,” said Gregor Sebastian, a senior analyst at US-based consultancy Rhodium Group.

It doesn’t “make business sense” for BYD to hasten the construction of a production facility in Mexico at the moment, Sebastian added, pointing out that the lack of a robust automotive supply chain would force BYD to import numerous components from China, subjecting them to higher tariffs.

In February last year, Li had said it would select a location for the factory by the end of 2024. BYD reported sales of more than 40,000 vehicles in Mexico last year. It has said it wants to double sales volume and open 30 new dealerships in the country in 2025.

BYD sold 4.3mn EVs and hybrids globally in 2024 and unveiled its “God’s Eye” advanced driving system in February, with plans to install it on its entire model line-up.

Earlier this month, Tesla’s main rival raised $5.6bn in a Hong Kong share sale, with the proceeds expected to help fuel its overseas expansion. But it has suffered a setback with its $1bn development in Brazil, which was delayed in December when the authorities halted construction over workers being subject to “slavery”-like conditions. BYD subsequently fired a Chinese subcontractor.

Source.

“This is a completely different approach to what people have done before. The writing’s on the wall that this is going to transform things, it’s going to be the new way of doing forecasting,” Turner said. He said the model would eventually be able to produce accurate eight-day forecasts, compared with five-day forecast at present, as well as hyper-localised predictions.

Dr Scott Hosking, the director of science and innovation for environment and sustainability at the Alan Turing Institute, said the breakthrough could “democratise forecasting” by making powerful technologies available to developing nations around the world, as well as assisting policymakers, emergency planners and industries that rely on accurate weather forecasts.

Google ran an experiment to understand the value of European news content. The data shows people visited Google only slightly less often when this content was removed, and Google’s ad revenue did not significantly change.

The Space Force observed “five different objects in space maneuvering in and out and around each other in synchronicity and in control,” its vice chief of space operations Gen. Michael A. Guetlein said Tuesday at a defense conference.

North Korea plans to operate Research Center 227 around the clock to respond immediately to real-time information from RGB hacking groups deployed overseas

Alt. Link: https://archive.is/zOnze

BYD first announced plans for a car plant in Mexico in 2023, along with intentions to make cars in Brazil, Hungary and Indonesia. It said the Mexican plant would create 10,000 jobs and produce 150,000 vehicles a year.

Authorities feared Mexico would gain unrestricted access to BYD’s advanced technology and knowhow, they said, even possibly allowing US access to it. “The commerce ministry’s biggest concern is Mexico’s proximity to the US,” said one of the people.

Beijing is also giving preference to projects in countries that are part of China’s Belt and Road infrastructure development programme, according to the people.

Trump’s team has accused Mexico of being a “back door” for Chinese goods to enter the US duty-free through the USMCA. The Mexican government denies this but has responded to US pressure by placing tariffs on Chinese textiles and launching anti-dumping investigations into steel and aluminium products originating from China. “Mexico’s new government has taken a hostile attitude towards Chinese companies, making the situation even more challenging for BYD,” said the second person.

In November, shortly after Trump’s re-election, Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum said there was still no “firm” investment proposal from any Chinese company to set up in Mexico, despite BYD having reaffirmed its intent to invest $1bn earlier that month.

“The Mexican government obviously would like to get some of the investments [from China], but [its] trading relationship with the US is a lot more important,” said Gregor Sebastian, a senior analyst at US-based consultancy Rhodium Group.

It doesn’t “make business sense” for BYD to hasten the construction of a production facility in Mexico at the moment, Sebastian added, pointing out that the lack of a robust automotive supply chain would force BYD to import numerous components from China, subjecting them to higher tariffs.

In February last year, Li had said it would select a location for the factory by the end of 2024. BYD reported sales of more than 40,000 vehicles in Mexico last year. It has said it wants to double sales volume and open 30 new dealerships in the country in 2025.

BYD sold 4.3mn EVs and hybrids globally in 2024 and unveiled its “God’s Eye” advanced driving system in February, with plans to install it on its entire model line-up.

Earlier this month, Tesla’s main rival raised $5.6bn in a Hong Kong share sale, with the proceeds expected to help fuel its overseas expansion. But it has suffered a setback with its $1bn development in Brazil, which was delayed in December when the authorities halted construction over workers being subject to “slavery”-like conditions. BYD subsequently fired a Chinese subcontractor.

cross-posted from: https://lemm.ee/post/59047620

From the video description:

How a helicopter built of phone parts survived Mars for 3 years.