August 26, 2023 - Saturday

[WORLD] The BRICS bloc has expanded its membership to include Saudi Arabia, UAE, Iran, Argentina, Egypt, and Ethiopia, potentially challenging Western forums.

The BRICS bloc has doubled in size by extending memberships to cash-rich nations such as Saudi Arabia and UAE, as well as Iran, Argentina, Egypt, and Ethiopia. This move could signal a shift towards multi-polarity and challenge Western-dominated forums. The expansion appears to have been driven by China, which aims to inject new vitality into the bloc. However, concerns of marginalization and exploitation were voiced by smaller non-member countries. China's President Xi Jinping highlighted China's contributions to Africa's infrastructure development, but China's lending practices have been criticized for trapping developing nations in debt.

No sources available.

[NATION] Former President Trump and co-defendants in the Georgia election interference case have surrendered, with trials scheduled for October 23, 2023.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has requested a trial for all 19 defendants in the Georgia election interference case, with a trial date set for October 23, 2023. Co-defendant Kenneth Chesebro sought a speedy trial, resulting in his trial also being set for October 23. Another defendant, attorney Sidney Powell, has also requested a speedy trial. The trials come after Trump and other defendants surrendered in the case.

No sources available.

[BUSINESS] The Federal Reserve chair warns that the fight against inflation in the US is not over and hints at further rate rises.

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, speaking at the annual gathering of central bankers, stated that inflation in the US is still too high and that interest rates might need to rise further to address it. Despite the decline in the annual rate of inflation, prices of essential goods remain significantly higher than pre-pandemic levels. Powell emphasized that the central bank will continue its efforts until inflation is under control and reaches the target of 2%. Consumer spending and the job market in the US remain robust despite the rate hikes.

No sources available.

[TECHNOLOGY] GTA 6 hacker Arion Kurtaj, an 18-year-old from Oxford, leaked gameplay footage using an Amazon Fire Stick in a hotel room while on bail.

Arion Kurtaj, a member of the Lapsus$ group, leaked excerpts of GTA 6 while out on bail at a hotel using an Amazon Fire Stick. The leaked footage went viral, leading to a major investigation. Kurtaj's involvement in cyber-crime breaches targeting tech corporations, including Rockstar Games, resulted in his arrest and sentencing. Psychiatrists have deemed him unfit to stand trial.

No sources available.

[SPORTS] Shohei Ohtani's elbow injury raises questions about his future as a two-way player and impacts his market value in free agency.

Shohei Ohtani's recent UCL tear in his pitching elbow raises concerns about his ability to continue as a two-way player. While Ohtani has expressed his desire to continue pitching and hitting, the severity of his injury could affect his market value in free agency. The injury could potentially lead to another Tommy John surgery and a lengthy rehabilitation process. Bidders may be hesitant to offer as much for his pitching abilities, impacting his overall value as a unique and talented player.

No sources available.

[SCIENCE] The next full moon on August 30, 2023 will be a supermoon and a Blue Moon.

The next full Moon on August 30, 2023, will be both a Supermoon and a Blue Moon, appearing opposite the Sun at 9:36 PM EDT. It will be visible for three days, with Saturn appearing near the Moon. This rare occurrence is a result of the Moon being at its closest point to Earth in its elliptical orbit and being the second full Moon of August. Additionally, it coincides with the Hindu festival Rakhi Purnima, celebrating the bond between brothers and sisters.

No sources available.

[HEALTH] Weight-loss drug Wegovy (semaglutide) shows significant improvement in symptoms for patients with obesity and heart failure, potentially expanding its use beyond diabetes and weight loss.

In a clinical trial of 529 patients, semaglutide, sold as Wegovy for weight loss, resulted in a 17-point improvement on a symptom assessment scale for heart failure, compared to a 9-point improvement in the placebo group. The study found that Wegovy reduced shortness of breath, fatigue, exertion difficulties, and swelling. The drug has previously been approved for diabetes and weight loss, and has recently shown benefits in reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke. The latest findings suggest that semaglutide could potentially revolutionize the treatment of heart failure.

No sources available.

[ENTERTAINMENT] Talks between writers and studios are at a standstill after a week of trading insults and no scheduled negotiations.

After a week of trading insults and criticisms, negotiations between the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) have come to a halt. The AMPTP recently made a counteroffer that was heavily criticized by the WGA, leading to a breakdown in talks. No future meetings have been scheduled, and both parties declined to comment on the current status of negotiations.

No sources available.