Anna's Daybreak News

_{Just facts, you think for yourself}

Monday, 5:11 AM

December 9, 2024

Good morning news friend! Stay attuned to the stories shaping today, as the world evolves with every moment. 📰🌟

Regime Change in Syria

Bashar al-Assad fled Syria for Moscow, ending his 14-year rule and the Assad family's 50-year dynasty. His government collapsed after an 11 day offensive led by the Al-Qaeda linked group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.

As Assad's regime weakened, Iranian and Russian support diminished due to conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. This allowed opposition forces to seize major cities, culminating in their entry into Damascus yesterday.

During the civil war that began in 2011, an estimated 500,000 people died and half of Syria's 23 million population was displaced.

The rebels broke into prisons and freed many political detainees. Human rights groups reported systematic torture, starvation, and executions within Syria's prison system. The Saydnaya military prison was described as a "human slaughterhouse."

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The $1 Trillion Ad Market

Global advertising revenue is set to hit $1 trillion for the first time in 2024. Google, Meta, ByteDance, Amazon, and Alibaba will claim over half of this market.

GroupM forecasts ad revenue growth of 9.5% in 2024 and 7.7% in 2025. Digital advertising will make up 73% of total revenue by the end of next year. Including streaming and digital publications, that share rises to 82%.

In the US, ad revenue will reach $379 billion in 2025. China’s market will grow by 13.5% in 2024 to $204.5 billion. The UK will see an 8.3% increase, with revenues at $53.2 billion.

Political advertising in the US added $15.1 billion in 2024.

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Court Upholds TikTok's Ban Law

A federal appeals court ruled unanimously to uphold a law that could ban TikTok in the US. This decision follows TikTok’s failure to comply with the requirement to sever ties with its China-based parent company (ByteDance) by January 19, 2025.

If not sold, TikTok will be removed from app stores and blocked from US internet access. The law responds to national security concerns over potential data sharing with the Chinese government.

The court dismissed TikTok’s claims that the law infringes on First Amendment rights, asserting that it aims to protect US citizens from foreign adversaries.

The company plans to appeal to the Supreme Court. If the ruling stands, the 170 million US users can still access TikTok, but future updates will not be available.

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Ukraine's Battle for the Skies

In September to November, Russia launched over 6,000 drones and missiles, more than quadrupling attacks from the same period in 2023. This includes Iranian-designed Shahed drones and ballistic missiles, making interception more difficult.

Ukrainian forces have improved interception rates, hitting 93% of drones in October, yet they still struggle against ballistic missiles, managing just over 8%.

Russia's new tactic includes deploying decoy drones to stretch Ukrainian resources. Reports suggest that up to half of Russia's drones may be unarmed decoys.

Russia's Tatarstan factory produces 1,200 drones monthly. Ukraine is adapting by enhancing electronic warfare techniques, but they lack sufficient modern missile defense systems.

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Disney Sets Sail

Disney is doubling down on cruises. CEO Bob Iger christened the Disney Treasure, the company’s newest ship, in a ceremony with 1,000 drones and pop star Jordin Sparks.

Disney plans to invest $12 billion in its cruise business, aiming to grow its fleet from six to 13 ships by 2031. This expansion comes as cruise travel rebounds, with 31.7 million passengers in 2023, surpassing pre-pandemic levels.

A four-day Bahamas trip for a family of four costs $7,692, more than double a comparable Royal Caribbean trip.

Despite its premium pricing, Disney’s cruises rank highest in guest satisfaction. Surveys show 82% of passengers plan to return. In 2023, Disney ships achieved an average 92.4% occupancy rate at Port Canaveral.

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Peak Obesity Achieved in US?

For the first time in decades, the obesity rate in the US may be declining. The CDC reports the obesity rate for adults, which was 41.9% in 2020, has dropped to 40.3% in 2023.

Historically, obesity rates have soared, tripling over 50 years. In the early 1970s, 14.5% of adults were classified as obese. This last drop raises hopes that America has reached “peak obesity.”

Recent advancements in weight loss medications, particularly GLP-1 agonists, may be influencing this trend. These medications can help patients lose 10-20% of their body weight.

The number of Americans using these drugs increased by over 700% from 2019 to 2023, with 6% of adults self-reporting use as of May 2024.

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“The trick in life is to have as much respect for experience before one acquires said experience as one would after.”

Baked with love,

Anna Eisenberg ❤️