July 26, 2023 - Wednesday

[WORLD] The Israeli government has passed the first part of a legal overhaul, sparking division and protests.

The Israeli government has passed the first major piece of legislation in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plan to overhaul the country's legal system - part of a broader plan that has triggered nationwide protests, divided the country and rattled the powerful military and influential business community. The plan seeks to weaken the country's Supreme Court and transfer more powers to the parliament. Supporters say Israel's unelected judges wield too much power. But opponents say the judges play an important oversight role, and that the plan will push Israel toward autocratic rule.

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[NATION] Carlee Russell admits to faking her own kidnapping in Alabama, raising concerns about the lack of attention for missing Black women.

Carlee Russell, an Alabama woman who went missing after reporting a toddler walking alone on the interstate, has confessed that her abduction was fabricated and there was no child present. Her admission came through her attorney, who issued a statement requesting forgiveness and addressing Russell's personal issues. The Hoover Police Department, who suspected the incident was a hoax, will discuss potential charges with the local district attorney's office. Critics have highlighted the media's coverage of this case compared to the lack of attention given to missing black women.

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[BUSINESS] Microsoft shares dip after quarterly revenue guidance misses expectations. Diluted earnings per share were $2.69, beating expectations, but revenue fell short at $56.19 billion.

Microsoft's shares saw a decline of 4% in extended trading after the company issued quarterly revenue guidance that failed to meet expectations. The software giant reported earnings of $2.69 per share, surpassing the expected $2.55 per share. However, the company's revenue of $56.19 billion fell short of the anticipated $55.47 billion. Microsoft's finance chief, Amy Hood, projected $53.8 billion to $54.8 billion in revenue for the first quarter, which implies 8% growth and misses the $54.94 billion consensus. Microsoft's Intelligent Cloud segment generated $23.99 billion in revenue, surpassing analysts' expectations.

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[TECHNOLOGY] Meta's Threads app now offers a chronological feed of posts from accounts users follow, giving it an edge over Twitter.

Meta's Threads app has introduced a highly requested "following feed" that allows users to see a reverse chronological feed of posts from accounts they follow. This update comes after many users requested the feature since the app's launch earlier this month. The introduction of the following feed positions Threads as a more efficient platform for up-to-the-minute news and updates compared to Twitter, which has been facing criticism and losing users due to recent changes made by owner Elon Musk.

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[SPORTS] Bronny James, son of NBA star LeBron James, suffered a cardiac arrest during basketball practice at USC but is now in stable condition.

Bronny James, the older son of NBA star LeBron James, suffered a cardiac arrest during basketball practice at the University of Southern California. He was hospitalized but is now out of the ICU and in stable condition. Bronny, an incoming freshman for USC's basketball team, was rated a four-star recruit and had been performing well. The James family expressed gratitude towards the USC medical and athletic staff for their care and dedication.

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[SCIENCE] A line deep in the Pacific Ocean separates soft-bodied organisms from hard-shelled mollusks, driven by the availability of minerals for shell formation.

Scientists have discovered a hidden line in the deep ocean, at a depth of 4,400 meters, that separates marine animals into two groups. Below this line, most of the creatures have soft bodies, while above it, hard-shelled mollusks are more commonly found. This division is believed to be caused by the availability of minerals needed for shell formation. The findings could be important for protecting biodiversity in these extreme environments and for understanding the impact of human activity on marine ecosystems.

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[HEALTH] AI research identifies specific bioactive compounds in extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) that could combat Alzheimer's disease (AD).

A new study using artificial intelligence has discovered specific bioactive compounds in extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) that have the potential to combat Alzheimer's disease (AD). By integrating AI, chemistry, and omics research, the study identified ten phytochemicals within EVOO that could contribute to the treatment and prevention of Alzheimer's. These findings highlight the promising potential of EVOO in the battle against AD.

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[ENTERTAINMENT] The Cosmic Circle podcast discusses the live-action Barbie movie, including its themes, cast, and box office success.

In episode 36 of the Cosmic Circle podcast, the hosts are joined by writers to discuss the recently released live-action Barbie movie. They touch upon various aspects of the film, such as the pink world of Barbieland, the star-studded cast, and the awards buzz surrounding it. The podcast also explores the film's true villain, Barbieheimer, and its important message for children. Listeners can tune in to gain insights and perspectives on the highly anticipated movie.

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