October 12, 2023 - Thursday

[WORLD] Israel has bombed southern Lebanese towns in response to rocket attacks by Hezbollah, as cross-border violence continues for a fourth day.

Hezbollah fired precision missiles at an Israeli position in retaliation for the killing of its members in Israeli shelling earlier this week. Israeli forces responded with airstrikes and shelling, hitting Hezbollah positions. Tensions are escalating, with Israel deploying additional units along the northern border and preparing for a potential conflict with Hezbollah. Hezbollah is a powerful Iranian proxy in Lebanon, with a history of fighting against Israel's occupation of southern Lebanon.

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[NATION] House Republicans choose Steve Scalise as their candidate for speaker after voting to raise the threshold for electing a speaker.

House Republicans have nominated Steve Scalise to be their candidate for speaker after voting to raise the threshold for electing a speaker in order to prevent a candidate from being elected without a majority of the conference. However, Scalise's nomination does not guarantee that he will become speaker, as he would still need a majority of the House as a whole. Some Republican members are skeptical of taking the job due to the challenges and potential for disgrace that come with it.

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[BUSINESS] Caroline Ellison, the former girlfriend and executive of Sam Bankman-Fried's cryptocurrency business empire, gave explosive testimony accusing him of orchestrating a massive fraud.

Caroline Ellison, the former girlfriend and executive of Sam Bankman-Fried's cryptocurrency business empire, delivered explosive testimony accusing him of being the mastermind behind a concerted effort to steal billions of dollars from customers, investors, and lenders. She portrayed Bankman-Fried as the decision-maker who directed funds to his investment firm, Alameda Research, using FTX customer money for speculative investments and to finance his lavish lifestyle. Ellison described her role as frustrating, with Bankman-Fried making key decisions even after leaving the company. The prosecution highlighted a difficult power dynamic between Ellison and Bankman-Fried.

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[TECHNOLOGY] The Google Pixel 8 Pro is focused on camera upgrades, with minimal other new features. Initial reviews suggest issues with camera performance and missing features.

The Google Pixel 8 Pro prioritizes camera improvements, but offers little else in terms of new features. While it may not be worth upgrading from the Pixel 7 Pro, for those who value high-quality photos and videos, the Pixel 8 Pro remains at the forefront of mobile photography. However, initial reviews have highlighted problems with camera performance, missing features, and frustrating quirks. Some users have experienced artifacts in high-contrast situations, and the phone's DNG raw images were initially incompatible with raw editors. Further testing and reviews will be necessary to form a final verdict.

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[SPORTS] The Baltimore Orioles' magical season ended with a playoff sweep by the Texas Rangers, prompting questions about their future strategies.

The Baltimore Orioles, who had an impressive regular season with 101 wins, were unable to carry their success into the postseason as they were swept by the Texas Rangers. Despite their measured approach to rebuilding, the Orioles' experience in the playoffs highlighted the volatility of the postseason. The team's management may need to reassess their strategies going forward. The Rangers' convincing victory in Game 3 secured their spot in the American League Championship Series.

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[SCIENCE] NASA reveals that a sample collected from the surface of asteroid Bennu contains abundant water, carbon, and iron minerals.

NASA has unveiled a sample of material collected from the surface of asteroid Bennu, which contains significant amounts of water, carbon, and iron minerals. This discovery provides further evidence for the theory that life on Earth was seeded from outer space. The sample, returned to Earth by the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft, offers insights into the early days of the solar system and could help scientists determine the origin of elements that may have led to life. According to NASA, this is the largest carbon-rich asteroid sample ever brought back to Earth.

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[HEALTH] Stroke deaths could increase by 50%, causing nearly 10 million deaths per year by 2050, according to a report by the World Stroke Organization.

The report highlights that stroke is the second leading cause of death globally, causing 6.6 million deaths in 2020. Without intervention, this number is projected to rise to 9.7 million by 2050. Urgent measures are needed to reduce the burden of stroke worldwide, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. The report recommends increasing the number of trained healthcare workers to implement prevention strategies and improve early detection and management of hypertension. The report also emphasizes the need for enhanced surveillance, prevention, acute care, and rehabilitation initiatives to address the rising incidence of stroke.

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[ENTERTAINMENT] Jada Pinkett Smith reveals in an interview that she and husband Will Smith have been living separate lives since 2016.

Jada Pinkett Smith has disclosed in an interview that she and her husband, Will Smith, have been living separately since 2016. This revelation is a part of Pinkett Smith's upcoming memoir, in which she delves into the details of their relationship. While they are not officially divorced, they no longer have a romantic relationship. Pinkett Smith explains that they chose not to go public with their separation earlier because they were still figuring out how to navigate their partnership and present it to the public.

No sources available.