November 1, 2024 - Friday

[WORLD] Israel strikes Lebanon's ancient city of Baalbek, forcing tens of thousands to flee as widespread destruction continues in southern Lebanon.

Israel intensified attacks in Baalbek, leading residents to seek refuge at ancient Roman temples. The destruction near the Lebanon-Israel border has affected over 5,000 structures, with satellite imagery revealing significant damage, including controlled demolitions. Nearly a quarter of buildings in border municipalities were destroyed, illustrating the toll of the conflict. Israeli airstrikes and ground battles continue amid negotiations for peace.

Sources: npr.org , nytimes.com , washingtonpost.com

[NATION] Chicago's CPS Board of Education president resigns over controversial social media posts just seven days after taking office.

The President of CPS Board of Education in Chicago, Reverend Mitchell Ikenna Johnson, resigned due to controversial antisemitic, misogynistic, and conspiratorial social media posts. His resignation was at the request of Mayor Brandon Johnson, following a wave of backlash. The entire school board had just been replaced days earlier, marking a significant development in the ongoing leadership struggles within Chicago Public Schools.

Sources: wbez.org , abc7chicago.com , nbcchicago.com , blockclubchicago.org

[BUSINESS] Amazon's advertising business grew by 19% in the third quarter, contributing to the company's strong financial performance and exceeding analysts' estimates.

Amazon reported a 19% increase in its online advertising business revenue, reaching $14.3 billion in the third quarter, aligning with expectations. The company's overall third-quarter sales totaled $158.9 billion, surpassing analysts' projections. Amazon's rising advertising unit has become a significant segment within its business. Additionally, the company's improved retail sales and profit in the quarter contributed to a positive outlook for the upcoming holiday season and exceeded Wall Street estimates, boosting its shares by 5.7% after hours.

Sources: cnbc.com , reuters.com

[TECHNOLOGY] OpenAI integrates AI-powered search engine into ChatGPT, aiming to challenge Google's dominance in internet searches.

OpenAI has launched a new search engine feature within ChatGPT, initially available to paying subscribers and later to free users. This move allows real-time web search capabilities within ChatGPT, closing a competitive gap with tech rivals like Microsoft and Google. The feature provides interactive search results, including stock information and news articles, with plans to expand access to all ChatGPT users in the future.

Sources: forbes.com , theverge.com , forbes.com

[SPORTS] The New York Jets defeat the Houston Texans to end a five-game losing streak with Garrett Wilson's impressive one-handed TD catch.

In a much-needed victory, the New York Jets ended a five-game losing streak by defeating the Houston Texans 21-13, thanks to Garrett Wilson's remarkable one-handed touchdown catch. Wilson's performance, including a highlight-reel catch in the end zone, energized the Jets as they secured the win. The Texans, led by struggling quarterback C.J. Stroud, fell short despite a strong rushing performance by Joe Mixon and a couple of missed field goals by Ka'imi Fairbairn.

Sources: espn.com , nfl.com , espn.com , sports.yahoo.com

[SCIENCE] Astronomers have discovered a neutron star in the Milky Way spinning at 716 rotations per second, among the fastest ever observed.

A groundbreaking discovery has revealed the neutron star 4U 1820-30 in the Milky Way spinning at an astonishing rate of 716 rotations per second. This discovery, made possible by NASA's NICER X-ray telescope, sheds light on the extreme physical properties of neutron stars, providing crucial insights into these dense celestial objects. The star, located 26,000 light-years away, offers valuable information on the structure and formation of neutron stars.

Sources: dailygalaxy.com , universetoday.com , phys.org , sci.news , universemagazine.com

[HEALTH] A pig in Oregon has been infected with H5N1 bird flu for the first time in the US, raising concerns over cross-species transmission.

Oregon state officials confirmed the presence of H5N1 bird flu in a pig in Crook County, marking the first swine infection during the ongoing outbreak. The virus strain, different from that affecting dairy cows in California, likely originated from wild birds migrating along the Pacific flyway. This cross-species transmission highlights the evolving nature of bird flu and raises alarms over its potential impacts.#H5N1 #birdflu #Oregon #crossspeciestransmission #publichealth

Sources: latimes.com , nbcnews.com , oregoncapitalchronicle.com , eu.statesmanjournal.com , cnn.com

[ENTERTAINMENT] Martha Stewart gives a scalding review to her Netflix documentary "Martha," expressing displeasure with its ending.

Martha Stewart has expressed dissatisfaction with her new Netflix documentary, "Martha," particularly criticizing its portrayal of her in the closing scenes. Stewart disliked how the film depicted her as a lonely old lady and was especially unhappy with the director's refusal to remove those scenes, despite her requests. Despite her negative feedback on the ending, she did appreciate the documentary's first half for shedding light on lesser-known aspects of her life.

Sources: nytimes.com , cnn.com , theguardian.com , deadline.com