September 29, 2023 - Friday

[WORLD] Swiss glaciers have lost 10% of their volume in just two years, marking a significant acceleration in their melting caused by climate breakdown.

A report from the Swiss Academy of Sciences has revealed that Swiss glaciers have experienced a rapid decline in volume, losing 10% in just two years. The burning of fossil fuels and climate breakdown have contributed to unusually hot summers and winters with low snow volume, accelerating the melting process. The volume lost in 2022 and 2023 is equivalent to what was lost from 1960 to 1990. This year saw a 4% decline in glacier volume, the second-largest annual decline on record. Experts have ceased measuring ice on some glaciers where there is very little remaining.

No sources available.

[NATION] Divisions among House Republicans are threatening to lead to a government shutdown as tensions rise and no clear path to a funding solution emerges.

The possibility of a government shutdown looms as House Republicans face divisions and tensions within the party. The Senate is working on a short-term funding extension, but many House conservatives are opposing it. The House passed spending bills, but they are not enough to prevent a shutdown and are unlikely to pass in the Senate. Tensions were evident during a closed-door meeting, with a confrontation between GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz and Speaker Kevin McCarthy. The government shutdown deadline is approaching rapidly, and a resolution is uncertain.

No sources available.

[BUSINESS] Automakers and the United Auto Workers (UAW) are growing frustrated as negotiations continue, with the union threatening to expand strikes against the Detroit automakers.

Tensions have been rising between the UAW and automakers as negotiations for contracts covering 146,000 UAW members move slowly. The UAW has already announced one expansion of strikes and is expected to announce more on Friday if progress is not made. The union is pushing for higher pay, traditional retirement benefits, and a shorter work week. However, there is a noticeable age disparity within the union, with the UAW's core membership consisting of older generations.

No sources available.

[TECHNOLOGY] Meta Platforms has trained its new Meta AI virtual assistant using public posts from Facebook and Instagram, excluding private content to respect privacy.

The training of Meta AI virtual assistant involved using public posts from Facebook and Instagram, while private posts only shared with friends and family were excluded to protect privacy. Meta also did not use private chats or messaging conversations as training data and took steps to filter out private details from public datasets. The new Meta AI virtual assistant is designed to be a general-purpose chatbot that can help with tasks such as trip planning, answering questions, and generating images from text prompts.

No sources available.

[SPORTS] The Detroit Lions were reportedly "jobbed" by the officials in their game against the Green Bay Packers, leading to anger on social media.

The Detroit Lions were reportedly on the receiving end of a controversial call by the officials during their game against the Green Bay Packers. In the third quarter, the Packers snapped the ball after the clock had clearly hit zero, leading to a big gain that eventually resulted in a touchdown. NFL fans and social media users expressed their frustration and anger at the officials' decision, suggesting that the Packers consistently benefit from such calls at home games.

No sources available.

[SCIENCE] NASA discovered black dust and debris inside the canister containing the first deep space asteroid sample captured in U.S. history.

NASA found black dust and debris on the avionics deck of the canister containing the first deep space asteroid sample captured by the OSIRIS-REx mission. The dust is presumed to be part of the sample and will be analyzed. Some of the sample's contents were lost due to a jammed door, but the mission is still considered a triumph. The spacecraft traveled 3.86 billion miles to deliver the asteroid sample to Earth.

No sources available.

[HEALTH] The timing of flu and COVID-19 shots this year is complicated due to issues with the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Utah and other regions are facing difficulties in obtaining the newly updated COVID-19 vaccine, making it challenging to time flu and COVID-19 shots. Intermountain Health, the largest health care provider in the region, has not been able to order the new vaccine yet. They hope to receive it by early October. Meanwhile, the Laredo Health Department has received the most recent COVID-19 vaccines and is making them available to individuals without insurance coverage or with limited coverage. Marin health officials are concerned about the uneven distribution of COVID-19 vaccine boosters.

No sources available.

[ENTERTAINMENT] Actor Michael Gambon, best known for playing Albus Dumbledore in the "Harry Potter" movies, has died at 82 after a bout of pneumonia.

Michael Gambon, renowned for his portrayal of Albus Dumbledore in the "Harry Potter" film series, has passed away at the age of 82. His family confirmed that he died peacefully in the hospital with loved ones by his side. Gambon, a highly respected actor, had a diverse body of work across television, film, and radio. Known for his wisdom and mystery, his portrayal of Dumbledore left a lasting impact on fans worldwide.

No sources available.