Teen Violence Epidemic

A global study published in 'The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health' has uncovered alarming rates of violence against teenagers. The research reveals that approximately 19 million adolescents aged 15 to 19 face violence worldwide, with significant regional disparities.

Violence rates vary dramatically across regions, from 10% in Central Europe to a staggering 47% in Oceania. The study highlights that 24% of young women globally experience violence, with early forced marriages significantly increasing the risk of intimate partner violence.

In response, the World Health Organization (WHO) is calling for urgent action. They emphasize the need for educational initiatives in schools to teach healthy relationships and promote gender equality. The WHO plans to release new guidelines on preventing child marriage by the end of 2024, underscoring the critical link between these issues and violence against teens.

Der Spiegel + 7 • World News • Health

Meta's Record Settlement

Meta, formerly Facebook, has agreed to pay a record-breaking $1.4 billion settlement to the state of Texas over unauthorized use of facial recognition technology. This landmark case, the largest of its kind from a single state, centers on Meta's 'Tag Suggestions' feature, which allegedly violated Texas law by capturing and selling residents' biometric data without consent.

The settlement, to be paid over five years, marks the first lawsuit and resolution under Texas's 2009 Capture or Use of Biometric Identifier (CUBI) Act. It highlights the growing scrutiny of tech giants' data practices and sets a precedent for future legal actions against companies using similar technologies without proper user consent.

This case follows Meta's 2021 decision to shut down its facial recognition system and delete over 1 billion faceprints due to privacy concerns. It also comes after Facebook's previous $650 million settlement in 2021 for similar data collection practices, underscoring the ongoing challenges tech companies face in managing user data responsibly.

The Verge + 15 • Tech

Job Market Cooling

U.S. job openings fell to 8.18 million in June 2024, continuing a downward trend from May's 8.23 million. This decline, from a peak of 12.2 million in March 2022, signals a cooling labor market largely attributed to the Federal Reserve's interest rate hikes aimed at combating inflation.

Despite fewer job openings, layoffs have decreased to 1.5 million in June, the lowest level since November 2022. This suggests employers are hesitant to reduce their workforce, indicating a gradual normalization of the labor market rather than a sharp downturn. The layoff and discharge rate fell to 0.9%, reflecting relative stability.

As the labor market adjusts, economists are closely monitoring its impact on overall economic stability. With job growth slowing in 2023, averaging 222,000 new jobs per month compared to 251,000 in 2022, the Federal Reserve may consider these trends in future policy decisions, potentially supporting interest rate cuts as early as September.

ABC News + 8 • US News • Financial Markets

Sports, Entertainment & Culture

• Norah O'Donnell to step down as CBS Evening News anchor after the 2024 presidential election, transitioning to a senior correspondent role. (More)

• International Olympics Committee ends partnership with Nintendo and Sega, halting new Mario & Sonic Olympic games for Paris 2024. (More)

• Richard Gadd, creator of Netflix's 'Baby Reindeer,' files court declaration alleging real-life harassment related to the show. (More)

Science & Technology

• NASA's DART mission reveals new insights into the Didymos-Dimorphos asteroid system, influencing future planetary defense strategies. (More)

• Meta unveils Segment Anything 2 (SA2), a cutting-edge model for real-time object segmentation in videos, achieving state-of-the-art performance. (More)

• Astronomers discover a rare intermediate-mass black hole near Sagittarius A*, potentially serving as a crucial 'missing link' in understanding black hole evolution. (More)

Business & Markets

• CPSC rules Amazon liable for recalling hazardous third-party products, marking a significant shift in e-commerce liability. (More)

• Euro zone economy grows 0.3% in Q2 2023, surpassing expectations, with France and Spain showing robust growth. (More)

• Tesla's U.S. electric vehicle market share falls below 50% for the first time since 2020, as traditional automakers gain ground. (More)

Politics & World Affairs

• Ukraine set to receive F-16 jets from NATO, significantly enhancing its air defense capabilities amid ongoing conflict with Russia. (More)

• Irish government agrees to aid inquiry into the 1998 Omagh bombing, a crucial move for accessing key materials and witnesses. (More)

• U.S. national debt surpasses $35 trillion, prompting calls for immediate fiscal reforms to address long-term economic stability. (More)