October 5, 2023 - Thursday

[WORLD] Canada's House of Commons has elected Greg Fergus as its new speaker, making him the first Black Canadian to hold the position.

Greg Fergus, a member of the Liberal Party, was elected as the 38th House speaker in a secret ballot, beating six other candidates. Describing his new role as a "great honor," Fergus hopes to show people that "politics is a noble profession." His election has been hailed as historic and inspirational by fellow politicians and leaders. The election followed a controversy where the previous speaker invited and honored a man who fought for a Nazi military unit.

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[NATION] Kaiser Permanente workers stage the largest health care worker strike in US history, demanding improved staffing levels and safer work environments.

Over 75,000 unionized employees of Kaiser Permanente, representing 40% of the staff, walked off the job in California, Colorado, Washington, Virginia, Oregon, and Washington, DC. The strike, which will last until Saturday morning, aims to address issues such as safe staffing, outsourcing protections, and fair wages. The strike comes amid increased labor activity in the US and rising concerns about the safety and security of health care workers during the pandemic.

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[BUSINESS] Nasdaq jumps as bond sell-off takes a break, stocks recover after steep losses and investors brace for fallout from US House Speaker's ouster.

Wall Street stocks rebounded on Wednesday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average up 0.4% and the S&P 500 up 0.8%, while the Nasdaq Composite rose over 1.3%. The recovery came after a steep sell-off in stocks the previous day and as the bond sell-off paused. Investors are also preparing for the impact of the historic ouster of the US House Speaker. The rebound follows concerns about a potential rate hike by the Federal Reserve due to a hot economy.

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[TECHNOLOGY] Google has launched the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro with Wi-Fi 7 support and seven years of OS upgrades.

Google has officially unveiled the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro at the Made by Google event. The phones come with the latest Tensor G3 chip, camera improvements, and Assistant with Bard and other AI features. One major upgrade that was not mentioned during the event is the inclusion of Wi-Fi 7 support. Additionally, the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro will receive seven years of OS upgrades. The Pixel 8 Pro has superior cameras, a brighter screen, and new AI capabilities. Pre-orders are now available.

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[SPORTS] The 2023 MLB playoff schedule has been set, with the ALDS and NLDS matchups determined after all four Wild Card Series ended in two-game sweeps.

The 2023 MLB playoffs saw all four Wild Card Series conclude with two-game sweeps, resulting in the elimination of the Rays, Blue Jays, Brewers, and Marlins. The Rangers, Twins, Diamondbacks, and Phillies advanced to the NLDS and ALDS matchups. The Brewers' postseason hopes were dashed as they were swept by the Diamondbacks. The upcoming ALDS and NLDS matchups will begin on Saturday, marking a two-day break without postseason baseball. This unprecedented postseason day resulted in all four series ending in sweeps, making it the first time in MLB playoff history.

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[SCIENCE] The United States will experience two solar eclipses within six months, with the first being an annular eclipse in mid-October.

The upcoming solar eclipse in the United States will be an annular eclipse, also known as a "ring of fire" eclipse. This type of eclipse occurs when the moon is at its farthest point from Earth, creating a bright ring of the sun visible at the peak of the eclipse. The annular eclipse is set to happen on October 14, crossing from Oregon to Texas, with a partial eclipse visible throughout the lower 48 states. This will be followed by a total solar eclipse in April 2024, which will cross from Texas to Maine.

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[HEALTH] The U.S. CDC has stopped printing COVID-19 vaccination cards as they have become obsolete following the end of the pandemic.

The U.S. CDC has ceased printing COVID-19 vaccination cards since the federal government is no longer distributing vaccines. The cards, once necessary for accessing restaurants and entertainment venues, have become largely unnecessary now. Lost cards can be requested from vaccination centers or state registries, and some states offer digital cards. Over 980 million cards were shipped between late 2020 and May 10. The discontinuation of the cards is not expected to have a significant impact.

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[ENTERTAINMENT] Travis Kelce believes the NFL is overly focusing on his connection with Taylor Swift, stating that they need to "calm down."

Kansas City Chiefs player Travis Kelce has expressed his opinion that the NFL is placing too much emphasis on his association with singer Taylor Swift. While their relationship has not been confirmed, Swift has been seen at two of Kelce's games. The attention garnered from their connection has benefited both parties, with increased jersey sales, higher viewership among younger audiences, and ad promotions for Swift's new movie during games. Kelce voiced his belief that the NFL needs to ease up on the hype surrounding their connection.

No sources available.