Over 3,000 sexually explicit ads seen on Europe’s Facebook last year: Report
Sexually explicit advertisements have shown up on Facebook in Europe, which raises the question of whether Meta is profiting from material its policies typically prohibit users from posting. The European nonprofit research group, AI Forensics, reported that despite the platform’s community standards, over 3,000 pornographic ads were approved and distributed on Meta platforms in the past year, reaching as many as 8 million users.
The report found the ads were shown mostly to men over the age of 44, because of its ad-targeting process.
When researchers tried to post the same images and videos to Facebook and Instagram they were quickly taken down, which they say suggests the company is not applying the same moderation tools to paid advertisers as it does to regular users.
Researchers also looked into the company’s compliance with European regulations. The EU’s Digital Services Act says the largest online platforms must disclose key aspects of their content moderation practices, perform risk assessments of potential harms and take steps to lessen them.
In its risk assessment of Facebook and Instagram, Meta said that it proactively reviews all advertisements before they get published.
“Bad actors are constantly evolving their tactics to avoid enforcement which is why we continue to invest in the best tools and technology to help identify and remove violating content,” a spokesperson for Meta said.
The spokesperson also said Meta does review ads before approving them, but admits its systems are primarily automated, noting users can report problematic ads which can lead to further review, including humans in some cases.
A past report from AI Forensics found that Meta was also failing to properly label many political ads, leading to an ongoing investigation by the European Commission.
This comes as Meta announced this week that it will replace its third-party fact-checking program with community notes later this year.
The largest nuclear power plant operator in US to buy major natural gas producer
Constellation Energy, the largest nuclear power plant operator in the U.S., has announced its $16.4 billion acquisition of Calpine Corp., a private power company. The deal, one of the biggest in the nation’s energy sector, highlights the growing demand for electricity driven by data center operations.
Goldman Sachs projected that power demands from data centers will grow 15% annually through the end of the decade. Constellation said this latest agreement will help the company meet these increasing energy needs by adding Calpine’s extensive natural gas energy production to its portfolio.
Natural gas is considered a relatively clean-burning fuel. However, it emits greenhouse gases, including methane, that raise environmental concerns.
Experts caution that reliance on natural gas to meet surging energy demands could undermine efforts to combat climate change unless effective measures are implemented to manage emissions.
Energy strategists note that utilities face significant challenges in providing enough power for the expanding number of data centers without incorporating natural gas into their energy mix.
Calpine’s CEO Andrew Novotny said the merger would accelerate investments in clean energy, including nuclear power and battery storage technologies.
The companies expect the transaction to close within a year, pending regulatory approval. Constellation has also pledged to address any antitrust concerns by divesting assets if necessary.
Kroger agrees to pay $110M in Kentucky opioid settlement
Kroger has agreed to pay $110 million to settle claims it helped fuel Kentucky’s opioid crisis by failing to properly monitor the distribution of painkillers in the state. The settlement, announced Thursday, Jan. 9, is part of Kentucky’s broader effort to hold businesses accountable for their role in the state’s opioid epidemic.
Kentucky’s Attorney General Russell Coleman said the grocery chain’s pharmacies in Kentucky dispensed nearly half a billion opioid doses over a 13-year period, accounting for 11% of all pills sold in the state between 2006 and 2019.
Coleman said its more than 100 doses for every man, woman and child living in the state.
He criticized Kroger, saying the company allowed the flow of opioids to continue without adequate safeguards in place.
In a statement, Coleman said Kroger “allowed the fire of addiction to spread across the commonwealth, leaving pain and leaving so much brokenness in its aftermath.”
The lawsuit alleges Kroger did not implement sufficient training for pharmacists to identify and prevent drug abuse when filling opioid prescriptions.
In response, Kroger said its pharmacies follow guidelines, and pointed to its role as the first major retail pharmacy to integrate state prescription drug monitoring programs directly into its pharmacy system.
“The company has long provided associates throughout the pharmacy with robust training, as well as tools to assist pharmacists in their professional judgement.”
Kroger spokesperson
The settlement is not Kroger’s first legal challenge related to the opioid crisis. In 2023, the company agreed to pay more than $1 billion to settle a multi-state lawsuit over its role in the nation’s opioid epidemic.
Under the terms of the Kentucky settlement, half of the $110 million will go to local organizations to support efforts to combat drug addiction, while the remaining funds will be directed to the state’s opioid drug commission.
Kentucky has been one of the states hardest hit by the opioid epidemic. In 2022, the state ranked seventh in the nation for overdose deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
However, in 2023, Kentucky saw a 10% decline in overdose deaths, thanks in part to increased investment in drug prevention programs and enforcement.
Meta kills DEI programs in its latest appeal to Trump
Meta is ending its diversity, equity and inclusion programs effective immediately in the company’s latest swing away from traditionally left-leaning causes. The company announced the policy change in an employee memo first reported by Axios.
“The legal and policy landscape surrounding diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in the United States is changing,” the memo reads. “The term ‘DEI’ has also become charged, in part because it is understood by some as a practice that suggests preferential treatment of some groups over others.”
The move comes just days after CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced Meta would end third-party fact-checking on Facebook and Instagram in favor of what looks more like X’s community notes. He also announced plans for a loosening of the platforms’ hateful conduct policy.
“The recent elections also feel like a cultural tipping point toward once again prioritizing speech,” Zuckerberg said. “So we’re going to get back to our roots and focus on reducing mistakes, simplifying our policies and restoring free expression on our platforms.”
This was seen as another move in President-elect Donald Trump’s favor, and Trump responded in kind.
“Honestly, I think they’ve come a long way – Meta, Facebook – I think they’ve come a long way,” Trump said.
When asked if Trump thought the fact-checking move was done in direct response to his threats to Zuckerberg and Meta, Trump said, “Probably.”
Trump has previously called Facebook “a true Enemy of the People” and threatened Zuckerberg with prison if he or his company tried to influence the election in any way. Since those comments, the two have made inroads, especially following the first assassination attempt on Trump.
“On a personal note, seeing Donald Trump get up after getting shot in the face and pump his fist in the air with the American flag is one of the most badass things I’ve ever seen in my life,” Zuckerberg told Bloomberg.
Meta also donated $1 million to Trump’s inaugural fund, something the company had not done for Trump’s first inauguration or for President Joe Biden’s.
The company also promoted longtime Republican executive Joel Kaplan to lead global policy for Meta, replacing former deputy prime minister of the U.K. Nick Clegg, a member of the Liberal Democrats political party.
Ford unveils $325,000 Mustang GTD in tribute to turbojet-propelled cars
Ford unveiled its latest muscle car at the Detroit Auto Show this week. It’s not just any muscle car. It’s the Mustang GTD called Spirit of America, which is a tribute to the turbojet-powered cars from decades ago.
The white two-door muscle car has red and white stripes down the center that are meant to mimic the overalls that professional race car driver Craig Breedlove wore when he broke the 500 mph and 600 mph barriers in the 1960s.
The new Mustang has a 5.2 liter, V8 engine with 815 horsepower. It’s the most powerful Ford Mustang in history with speeds capable of hitting 200 miles per hour. The company urges potential buyers to “explore Ford Mustang history” with a video that features its Mustang series.
Ford said it has already received about 7500 applications for both the 2025 and 2026 Mustang GTD. Drivers will have to shell out $325,000 for a chance to take the ritzy ride on the road.
Total estimated cost of California wildfires triples to $150 billion as blazes rage on
The estimated total cost of the destructive southern California wildfires has nearly tripled as first responders struggle to contain the largest blazes. The economic toll could reach $135 billion to $150 billion, according to experts at AccuWeather, up from their previous high estimate of $57 billion.
“Hurricane-force winds sent flames ripping through neighborhoods filled with multi-million-dollar homes,” AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jonathan Porter said in a statement. “The devastation left behind is heartbreaking and the economic toll is staggering. To put this into perspective, the total damage and economic loss from this wildfire disaster could reach nearly 4 percent of the annual GDP of the state of California.”
As officials work to contain the fires, which continue to grow in size, AccuWeather experts say the estimate for “total damage and economic loss may be revised upward, perhaps even substantially.”
The area from Malibu to Santa Monica has some of the most expensive properties in the United States. The median home value in the area is more than $2 million, with Pacific Palisades sitting right in the middle of the region.
If AccuWeather’s estimates ring true, these fires will become the most costly natural disaster in U.S. history.
Hurricanes tend to be the most costly natural disasters in the U.S. Hurricane Katrina in 2005 is currently the most costly in history, according to Kiplinger, which compiled data from NOAA and adjusted for inflation.
Most expensive natural disasters in U.S. history
5. Superstorm Sandy (2012), $82.0 billion.
4. Hurricane Maria (2017), $107.1 billion.
3. Hurricane Ian (2022), $112.9 billion.
2. Hurricane Harvey (2017), $148.9 billion.
1. Hurricane Katrina (2005), $186.3 billion.
Meanwhile, insured losses from the southern California fires could reach $20 billion, according to JPMorgan. Analyst Jimmy Bhullar said that number could rise “even more if the fires are not controlled.” Raymond James issued a similar estimate, saying insured losses could range from $11 billion to $17.5 billion. Morningstar analysts estimated insured losses will exceed $8 billion.
“When you have these things like wildfires or hurricanes or floods, and the loss affects a large portion of the population, especially in a very small geographical area at the same time, insurance works, but it doesn’t work as well,” said Chuck Nyce, a professor of risk management and insurance at Florida State University. “It becomes more expensive, and the losses to the insurance company, when they become what they call ‘correlated,’ it makes insurance companies’ cost of capital higher, it makes their losses higher, it makes them more reluctant to do a large volume of business in a specific area.”
As insured losses mount, homeowners in the area will face an uphill battle to rebuild.
State Farm, a major insurer in the state, reportedly canceled hundreds of policies for homes in the Pacific Palisades over the summer to avoid “financial failure.” But there are options for those who can’t find private coverage in their communities.
“People forget that if you look across the United States, if you look at the first three quarters of 2024, there were 25 different events in the United States that caused more than a billion dollars in damage to properties,” Nyce told Straight Arrow News. “When we think about these disasters, we think of these areas like, ‘Oh, Florida is the problem,’ or, ‘Oh, California is the problem.’ They are much more widespread than people realize.”
In California, Fair Access to Insurance Requirements (FAIR) “is a syndicated fire insurance pool comprised of all insurers licensed to conduct property/casualty business in California.” It is an insurer of last resort, when homeowners can’t get policies from private companies.
The program uses no public or taxpayer funding, but that doesn’t stop the cost from being spread to policyholders throughout the state.
As estimates of the total economic toll and insured losses continue to rise, a number of major players in insurance saw their stock slide to open trading on Friday. This includes firms like Travelers, Allstate and AIG.
US economy wows with 256,000 jobs added in December, more than expected
The U.S. economy added 256,000 jobs in December, roughly 100,000 jobs more than expected. The unemployment rate ticked down to 4.1% from November’s 4.2%.
In December, retail trade added 43,000 jobs, while it lost 29,000 jobs in November. Health care, government and social assistance, along with leisure and hospitality, all saw double-digit gains as well.
While the country saw a rise in unemployment earlier in 2024, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said the unemployment rate has held steady at 4.1% or 4.2% for the past seven months.
“I continue to believe that the U.S. economy is on a solid footing,” Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller said earlier this week. “I have seen nothing in the data or forecasts that suggests the labor market will dramatically weaken over coming months.”
Labor market weakness is what triggered the Federal Reserve to start cutting its benchmark interest rate in September, even as progress on inflation stalled. After a jumbo-sized 50-basis-point cut, the Fed made two more 25-basis-point cuts to close out the year, dropping the federal funds target range to 4.25% to 4.5%, a full percentage point below its 2024 peak.
However, as the labor market showed renewed resilience, inflation started to rise. Consumer prices rose 2.7% for the year ending in November, after rising 2.6% in October and 2.4% in September.
“This minimal further progress has led to calls to slow or stop reducing the policy rate,” Waller said Wednesday, Jan. 8. “However, I believe that inflation will continue to make progress toward our 2% goal over the medium term and that further reductions will be appropriate.”
In December, the Fed released its latest economic projections, which forecast just two cuts in 2025, down from the previous forecast of four. In response, interest rate expectations rose.
This week, the average rate of a 30-year mortgage hit 6.93%, the highest level since July, and nearly a full percentage point higher than when the Fed started cutting its rate in September.
Why are mortgage rates going up while the Fed is cutting rates? Watch this video.
On Thursday, Jan. 9, the probability market had the Fed holding rates steady until June. It was split on whether the Fed would do a second cut in December or hold steady at one cut for the year.
Minutes released this week from the Fed’s last meeting revealed added concern about inflation. Without naming President-elect Donald Trump or his tariff and immigration policies, the Federal Open Market Committee multiple times brought up the unknown impact those policies might have on the economy.
“Almost all participants judged that upside risks to the inflation outlook had increased,” the minutes read. “As reasons for this judgment, participants cited recent stronger-than-expected readings on inflation and the likely effects of potential changes in trade and immigration policy.”
Macy’s confirmed it will close 66 stores across the U.S. The department store chain said Thursday that the move is part of its “bold new chapter” strategy, which was announced in February of last year.
The strategy will see the closure of approximately 150 underperforming stores, or about a third of its locations, over three years.
Tony Spring, the retailer’s chairman and CEO, said that while “closing any store is never easy,” this will allow the company to focus its “resources and prioritize investments” in its other locations.
Macy’s told Axios clearance sales will begin this month and run for up to 12 weeks.
At least 10 dead as major wildfires continue to burn in Los Angeles area
The death toll rises as the onslaught of fires continues in Southern California, destroying complete neighborhoods. And President-elect Donald Trump will be sentenced for his conviction in the New York hush money case after the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a bid to stop the proceeding. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Friday, Jan. 10, 2025.
Death toll rises as wildfires continue to burn in Los Angeles area
Flames have destroyed entire neighborhoods, obliterating 10,000 homes and buildings between the Palisades and Eaton Fires alone. Firefighters made some progress as the Santa Ana winds weakened, but wind and dry conditions are expected to continue through the weekend. This will make it difficult for crews to battle the flames.
The biggest and most destructive fire in Pacific Palisades now spans nearly 20,000 acres, which is more than 30 square miles and is only 6% contained.
Nearly 180,000 people in Los Angeles County are under evacuation orders and another 200,000 are on standby to leave their homes if necessary. The wildfires and strong winds fueling them have led to mass power outages.
Entire stretches of Pacific Ocean beachfront property along Malibu have been charred, as well as homes and neighborhoods up and down the Pacific Coast Highway.
The latest fire to break out, the Kenneth Fire, sparked Thursday afternoon, Jan. 9, in the Woodland Hills area of Los Angeles, near Calabasas. That fire spans 1,000 acres and is 35% contained, according to CalFire’s last update. Police arrested one man on suspicion of arson in connection with that fire.
It’s not just those in the fires’ paths in danger. Polluted air poses a threat even to those far away.
Supreme Court rejects Trump’s bid to halt sentencing in hush money case
Trump’s sentencing on 34 felony charges of falsifying business records to cover up a payment to porn star Stormy Daniels will proceed as planned.
The judge overseeing the case, Juan Merchan, said earlier this month he would not sentence the president-elect to prison time, saying incarceration is not an option.
Instead, the judge is expected to impose a no-penalty sentence called an unconditional discharge.
Trump vowed to appeal his conviction, claiming evidence and testimony was admitted that implicated his duties as president during his first term. The Supreme Court ruled over the summer presidents are immune from criminal prosecution for some official acts.
Appeals court allows release of election interference case report
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit rejected a bid to block the release but kept in place the judge’s order for a three-day delay, giving time for additional appeals. That means Trump could seek the Supreme Court’s intervention in the matter.
Trump pleaded not guilty to the charges, and the election interference case was eventually dismissed following his victory in November’s presidential election due to a Justice Department policy that forbids the prosecution of a sitting president.
Attorney General Merrick Garland said he plans to release the report to the public once he is permitted to do so. In response, Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung said Thursday night that it’s time for Garland and President Joe Biden to “do the right thing and put a final stop to the political weaponization of our justice system.”
Supreme Court to hear oral arguments in TikTok ban case
With less than two weeks until a ban on the social media app TikTok is slated to take effect, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments against the legislation Friday, Jan. 10. TikTok looks to show the justices that, despite claims from the federal government, it is not a national security threat to the U.S.
It is unclear when the court will deliver its ruling.
TikTok faces a nationwide ban in the U.S. that is expected to go into effect on Jan. 19, impacting roughly 115 million monthly users. That is unless its Chinese parent company ByteDance sells the platform, as required by the law signed by President Joe Biden last year, or SCOTUS rules in favor of TikTok’s position that the law is unconstitutional.
Supporters of the ban believe the app allows China to access vast amounts of data from Americans and possibly influence public opinion in the U.S.
Trump opposes the ban and has met with TikTok’s CEO in recent weeks.
Macy’s to close 66 stores
Macy’s confirmed it will close 66 stores across the U.S. The department store chain said Thursday that the move is part of its “bold new chapter” strategy, which was announced in February of last year. The strategy will see the closure of approximately 150 underperforming stores, or about a third of its locations, over a three-year period.
Tony Spring, the retailer’s chairman and CEO, said that while “closing any store is never easy,” this will allow the company to focus its “resources and prioritize investments” in its other locations.
Macy’s told Axios clearance sales will begin this month and run for up to 12 weeks.
Friends, family remember President Jimmy Carter at state funeral in Washington
Family, friends and fellow lawmakers honored former President Jimmy Carter on Thursday, a National Day of Mourning, during a state funeral in Washington, D.C. All five surviving presidents attended the service at the National Cathedral.
President Joe Biden, who declared Thursday a National Day of Mourning, delivered a eulogy for his late friend.
“Jimmy Carter’s friendship taught me and through his life taught me the strength of character is more than title or the power we hold. It’s a strength to understand that everyone should be treated with dignity. Respect that everyone, and I mean everyone, deserves an even shot, not a guarantee, but just a shot. You know, we have an obligation to give hate no safe harbor. And to stand up to — my dad used to say was the greatest sin of all — the abuse of power. That’s not about being perfect as none of us are perfect. We’re all fallible. But it’s about asking ourselves ‘Are we striving to do things, the right things? What value, what are the values that animate our spirit? Do we operate from fear or hope, ego or generosity? Do we show grace? Do we keep the faith when it’s most tested?’ Or keeping the faith with the best of humankind and the best of America is a story, in my view, from my perspective, of Jimmy Carter’s life.”
Carter’s grandchildren also spoke about their late grandfather.
“They were small-town people who never forgot who they were and where they were from no matter what happened in their lives,” Jason Carter said. “But I recognize that we are not here because he was just a regular guy. As you’ve heard from the other speakers, his political life and his presidency for me was not just ahead of its time, it was prophetic. He had the courage and strength to stick to his principles, even when they were politically unpopular.”
Following a private funeral in his hometown of Plains, Georgia, Carter was laid to rest next to his wife of 77 years, Rosalynn.
As the future of TikTok hangs in the balance, creators are flocking to Lemon8, an increasingly popular social media app. The app has been gaining attention for its unique blend of features.
Lemon8 combines TikTok’s short-form videos with Pinterest and Instagram-like feeds. Owned by ByteDance, the same parent company as TikTok, Lemon8 is often referred to as TikTok’s sister app.
Lemon8 focuses on visual aesthetics and personal storytelling. Popular content categories include fashion, beauty, fitness, travel and food. The platform is designed to foster a sense of community while encouraging creativity.
ByteDance ownership raises concerns
However, Lemon8’s future is not guaranteed. Since ByteDance owns both Lemon8 and TikTok, the app could face regulatory scrutiny similar to TikTok’s if the U.S. government increases pressure on the company.
Another app impacted by the ongoing ByteDance controversy is CapCut. The all-in-one video editing and graphic design tool is popular among social media creators. CapCut offers features like green screens, transitions and video templates, making it easy to create polished content.
Its seamless integration with TikTok and other platforms has made it a go-to tool for content creators.
TikTok ban deadline approaches
President-elect Donald Trump asked the Supreme Court to block a law passed last April calling for a potential ban on the massively popular social media app. For TikTok to avoid the ban, ByteDance must divest its U.S. operations. However, if that doesn’t happen, the ban could take effect as soon as Jan. 19.