July 22, 2023 - Saturday

[WORLD] Outrage and condemnation follow the emergence of a graphic video depicting sexual assault during the ethnic violence in Manipur, India.

A disturbing video depicting the sexual assault of two women in Manipur, India has caused widespread outrage and led to the arrest of four people. The video shows the women being forced to walk naked while being groped and assaulted by a mob of men. The incident occurred in May, but gained attention after the video was shared online. The incident has also drawn attention to the ongoing inter-ethnic conflict in Manipur, with the country's leader Narendra Modi addressing the situation and promising that the law will take its course.

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[NATION] Alabama GOP governor approves congressional map with just one majority-Black district despite court order. #Alabama #CongressionalMap #Redistricting

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey has signed a new congressional map that includes only one majority-Black district, despite a court order calling for two majority-Black districts or something close to it. The map, passed by the Republican-controlled legislature, must now be approved by a federal court. The approved map includes one district with around 50% Black voting age population and a second district with roughly 40% Black. Democrats did not vote in favor of the map.

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[BUSINESS] The Mega Millions jackpot has reached $820 million, with a possible cash payout of $422 million.

The Mega Millions jackpot has increased by $100 million after no one won the previous drawing, bringing the total estimated top prize to $820 million. This puts it just below the top 10 highest lottery jackpots in U.S. history. Meanwhile, Powerball had one winner for a $1.08 billion drawing, with several other players winning $1 million or more. The Mega Millions numbers for the latest drawing were 29, 40, 47, 50, 57, and the Mega Ball was 25.

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[TECHNOLOGY] The release of Meta's Llama 2, an open-source AI text model that rivals ChatGPT, poses a significant challenge to OpenAI's dominance in generative AI.

Meta has announced the release of Llama 2, its AI model that is set to challenge OpenAI's ChatGPT. Unlike OpenAI, Meta has chosen an open-source approach, allowing free access to Llama 2 for research and commercial purposes. This move towards transparency and access may address concerns about ethics, privacy, and copyrighted materials used by ChatGPT. With Llama 2, Meta aims to provide a necessary solution to keep AI under our control and challenge OpenAI's grip on the world of generative AI.

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[SPORTS] The USWNT will face Vietnam in their opening match of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.

The U.S. Women's National Team (USWNT) will kick off their campaign in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup against Vietnam. This will be the first meeting between the two teams, but it continues the tradition of the USWNT facing an Asian Football Confederation opponent in their opener. The match will be broadcast on FOX, Telemundo, Universo, and Peacock. The USWNT roster includes nine players from the 2019 World Cup championship squad, as well as 14 players who are making their first World Cup appearance. Fans can also follow the action on social media.

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[SCIENCE] GPS measurements may be able to predict earthquakes several hours before they occur, potentially providing a breakthrough in earthquake research.

Scientists have long struggled to find reliable precursors that can predict earthquakes before they happen. However, two researchers have found that GPS measurements could potentially serve as an early indicator of an impending earthquake, providing crucial hours of warning. This breakthrough could help mitigate the devastating consequences of earthquakes, such as loss of life and infrastructure damage, particularly in developing countries. By analyzing miniscule displacements recorded by GPS, researchers can detect a precursor phase that occurs before a major earthquake. Deploying detection networks around major faults may help scientists find a reliable clue for earthquake prediction.

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[HEALTH] A new study reveals that a specific gene variation in the immune system may be responsible for why some people remain asymptomatic after contracting COVID-19.

A recent study published in Nature suggests that individuals who carry a specific gene variation in the immune system called human leukocyte antigen (HLA) are more likely to remain asymptomatic after contracting COVID-19. This genetic advantage may help these individuals destroy the SARS-CoV-2 virus more effectively. The study found that about 20% of people infected with COVID-19 avoid severe sickness and remain asymptomatic. Understanding the role of HLA variation in promoting rapid clearance of the virus may improve our understanding of the immune system's response to COVID-19.

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[ENTERTAINMENT] Tony Bennett, renowned singer and guardian of the Great American Songbook, passed away at age 96, leaving a lasting impact on the music industry.

Tony Bennett, the iconic singer known for his renditions of songs from the Great American Songbook, has passed away at the age of 96. With his performances at Ravinia Festival, Bennett brought a sense of nostalgia and comfort to fans in the Chicago area. He was a constant in a changing world and offered solace to his audience through his reflections of their own aspirations for love and happiness. His presence will be deeply missed.

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