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Happy Thursday!
I have an unsolicited recommendation to begin your day.
It’s The New York Times’ ‘Connections’ game. You’re given 16 words and you have to group them into four categories based on common themes.
I do it every day and it’s lots of fun. It’s kind of like Wordle (the viral game that the NYT bought in 2022) but it’s more based on skill rather than luck*.
*There I said it: Wordle is based largely on luck.
Sincerely,
Someone who has never got Wordle in less than three attempts.
I've got 10 seconds
The quote
"If you buy a house in the middle of the city, you can expect to live in a big city. You can't turn… Sydney into a country town." — NSW Premier Chris Minns on new plans to allow more concerts at Sydney stadiums.
The stat
2
The number of years in a row China's population has shrunk, following many decades of growth. Once the most populous country in the world, China has been overtaken by India.
Today in history
1964: The plans to construct the World Trade Center in New York City were announced to the public.
I've got 30 seconds
Some headlines from this morning:
Customer online account details with companies like Dan Murphy’s and The Iconic have been targeted in cyber attacks. In an approach used by hackers called “credential stuffing”, scammers use the same login credentials across multiple sites, taking advantage of the fact that many people use the same email and password for different logins. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has urged Australians to remain vigilant online, to avoid the “threat” of cyber security breaches.
The Australian Government has shared details about its plans to regulate AI and hold companies responsible for their AI systems. In an interim response to consultations held last year, the Government outlined a need for better regulatory frameworks to fully address what it called “the risks of AI”. This could include transparency and accountability measures, such as a responsibility for companies to label AI-generated content. It also suggested establishing an expert advisory body to support future AI regulations.
I've got 1 minute
Global fashion brand UNIQLO has launched legal action against online retailer SHEIN, accusing it of copying the design of its Round Mini Shoulder Bag.
The UNIQLO bag was one of the brand's top-selling products last year.
It retails for $24.90 in Australia. SHEIN sells a 'dupe' for $7.95.
Background
With over 2,400 stores globally, (including 36 in Australia) Japanese retailer UNIQLO's parent company Fast Retailing reported $AU28.5 billion in revenue last year.
It attributed profit increases, in part, to strong sales of the Round Mini Shoulder bags in North America and Europe.
Best known for low-cost 'fast fashion', Chinese retailer SHEIN is a major fashion retailer. It doesn't publish financial reports, but it's estimated it makes $AU45 billion in revenue annually.
Lawsuit
UNIQLO issued a warning to customers about fake versions of its products in September.
Its parent company Fast Retailing filed a lawsuit in the Tokyo District Court in December. It's suing SHEIN over an "imitation" of its Round Mini Shoulder Bag.
Fast Retailing is seeking financial compensation and has demanded the "immediate cessation of sales" of the SHEIN dupe.
Law in Japan
Fast Retailing alleges SHEIN violated Japan's Unfair Competition Prevention Act — legislation ensuring fair competition between retailers and protecting brands' intellectual property rights.
Companies in breach of the laws can be held financially responsible and ordered to compensate impacted brands based on profits from sales of imitation products.
Other lawsuits
The action brought by UNIQLO follows several similar accusations against SHEIN from big retailers like H&M as well as small, independent designers.
Chinese e-commerce platform Temu has also launched legal action against SHEIN, accusing it of copying features of Temu's website and interfering with suppliers.
I've got 2 minutes
Israel and Hamas have reached a deal to deliver more aid to civilians in Gaza, in exchange for medicines to be given to Israeli hostages in Gaza.
Qatar mediated the deal with the help of France.
It comes as Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong announced more funding for the Occupied Palestinian Territories (what the Albanese Government officially calls the West Bank and Gaza) and the broader region.
Context
On 7 October, Hamas launched an attack on Israel. According to data cited by the United Nations (UN), roughly 1,200 people were killed. About 240 hostages were captured by Hamas, which controls Gaza, and about 134 hostages remain captive. Hamas has continued to fire rockets towards Israel.
Israel responded by declaring war and continues to bombard Gaza from air, land, and sea. According to data quoted by the UN, more than 24,000 Palestinians have been killed since 7 October. Israel's war in Gaza has caused a humanitarian crisis.
Aid deal
Qatar's Foreign Ministry announced both Israel and Hamas agreed to extra aid for civilians in Gaza in exchange for medication for Israeli captives held in Gaza.
Qatar said two of its military planes will deliver the aid and medicines to Egypt, which will then be transported to Gaza.
Israel's PM Benjamin Netanyahu said Qatari officials will be responsible for getting medicine to the hostages in Gaza.
Calls for aid
There have been consistent calls for more aid to enter Gaza.
Prior to the war, more than 500 aid trucks were entering Gaza every day, according to the UN. Between 15 and 16 January, 204 aid trucks entered Gaza, according to the UN.
One UN official said "the flow of aid has been a trickle in comparison to a sea of humanitarian needs".
The latest UN report found the entire population of Gaza – 2.2 million people – are suffering "devastating levels of food insecurity".
Hostages
The UN Secretary-General António Guterres has repeatedly called for all hostages held by Hamas to be released. In marking more than 100 days since 7 October, Guterres condemned the "brutal seizing of hostages".
"Nothing can justify the deliberate killing, injuring and kidnapping of civilians," he said.
Israel has said it will not stop fighting until all hostages are returned and Hamas is destroyed.
Australia’s funding
During her first trip to the Middle East since becoming Foreign Minister, Penny Wong has announced $21.5 million in humanitarian assistance for the Occupied Palestinian Territories (what the Albanese Government officially calls the West Bank and Gaza).
The funding is also to help address the ongoing refugee crisis across the Middle East.
It takes Australia's total funding for the region to $46 million since 7 October.
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Give me some good news
Australian Donna Urquhart is awaiting confirmation from Guinness World Records after becoming the first person to successfully run 1,300km across Antarctica.
The ultra-marathon runner and scientist set a new record for the longest polar run and hopes to encourage young girls and women in sports.
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A TDA tidbit
We have impawtant news.
You might remember that last year we reported on Bobi, the dog from Portugal who was given the title of the world’s oldest dog by Guinness World Records. He died in October last year at the age of 31 (in human years, of course).
It turns out that vets across the world were sceptical.
And now, Guinness World Records are investigating whether Bobi really was the world’s oldest dog, and if the title should be handed back to Spike.
Oh, you don’t know Spike? Spike was the 23-year-old chihuahua from Ohio, U.S, who held the record for about two weeks before Bobi took the title.
A spokesperson for GWR told CNN: “While our review is ongoing we have decided to temporarily pause both the record titles for oldest dog living & ever just until all of our findings are in place.”
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