January 11, 2024 - Thursday

[WORLD] Schools and stores closed in Ecuador as the government declares war on drug gangs after armed men stormed a live TV newscast.

The president of Ecuador has declared a state of war against drug gangs in the country after armed men invaded a live TV newscast and threatened and assaulted employees. No one was killed during the incident, but it shocked the nation and prompted a government response. President Daniel Noboa designated 20 drug-trafficking gangs as terrorist groups and authorized the military to "neutralize" them. Ecuador has seen a rise in violence in recent years and is now considered one of the deadliest countries in mainland Latin America.

No sources available.

[NATION] Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie ended his 2024 presidential campaign, but not before making critical remarks about rivals Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis.

Chris Christie suspended his 2024 presidential campaign and made critical remarks about his GOP rivals, Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis, off camera on a live microphone. Christie stated that Haley would "get smoked" and implied that DeSantis was afraid of something. This came before Christie officially announced the end of his campaign. His exit leaves a void in the Republican primary as the most outspoken critic of former President Donald Trump.

No sources available.

[BUSINESS] The Bitcoin ETF has been approved and will start trading on Thursday, while the yen weakened amid doubts about the BOJ's policy normalization.

The long-awaited approval of Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) has finally been granted in the US. Trading will commence on Thursday, and the market is eagerly awaiting the performance of the ETFs. There is speculation that the ETF approval has led to increased interest in Ethereum, resulting in an 8.5% rise. Meanwhile, the Japanese yen has experienced volatility due to doubts over the Bank of Japan's policy normalization this year. The US dollar initially strengthened before softening, while Treasury yields rose. Oil prices were initially strong but declined following a bearish inventory report.

No sources available.

[TECHNOLOGY] The best laptops at CES 2024 feature new designs and improved features such as OLED screens and new CPUs.

At CES 2024, several new laptops were showcased with innovative designs and features. Lenovo's ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid offers a dual Android and Windows system with Snapdragon and Intel processors. The Lenovo Yoga 9i Pro 16-inch boasts Intel Core Ultra processors and a larger battery. MSI introduced the Crosshair 16 HX and Crosshair 17 HX gaming laptops with regular designs. The gaming laptops showcased at CES 2024 focused on improved displays and new designs. Overall, the laptops demonstrated advancements in performance, display technology, and processor capabilities.

No sources available.

[SPORTS] The firing of Tennessee Titans coach Mike Vrabel has shocked the NFL, creating opportunities for other teams in need of a coach.

Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel, widely respected across the league, has been fired, leading to shock and disbelief in the NFL. Despite leading the team to an AFC championship game and two division titles, Vrabel was let go by the Titans. This unexpected move has created an opportunity for other teams in need of a coach, who believe Vrabel will quickly find a new job. Meanwhile, Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots has reminded everyone that he is under contract despite his team's disappointing season.

No sources available.

[SCIENCE] NASA has postponed its plans to send humans to the moon as part of the Artemis program, citing delays and development challenges.

NASA has announced a year-long delay in its Artemis program, which aims to send humans to the moon. The Artemis III mission, intended to land four astronauts near the lunar south pole, will now take place in September 2026. Artemis II, a mission to send a crew around the moon to test life support systems, has also been pushed back to September 2025. The delays are attributed to development challenges and the need to address flaws in the electrical system and air ventilation of the Orion spacecraft.

No sources available.

[HEALTH] New COVID-19 variant JN.1 has become the most common variant in the United States, responsible for almost 62% of cases.

After the holiday season, the JN.1 variant of COVID-19 has emerged as the predominant variant in the U.S. It is a derivative of the Omicron variant and has an additional mutation on top of the BA.2.86 variant. The symptoms of JN.1 are similar to those of previous variants, and the updated COVID-19 vaccine is effective against it. However, the vaccine's primary goal is to minimize severe disease and hospitalization. It is important to continue practicing preventive measures and get vaccinated to protect against JN.1.

No sources available.

[ENTERTAINMENT] The Mean Girls musical adaptation faces criticism for not distinguishing itself enough from the original film.

Exhibitors are hopeful that Mean Girls, the musical adaptation of the 2004 film, will drive box office revenue in January. The film is seen as a brand regurgitation, lacking differentiation from the original movie. Despite being based on the Broadway musical, the official trailer does not feature any musical numbers, leading to confusion among viewers. The Mean Girls remake has faced criticism for not offering a unique perspective and follows a mostly identical script to its predecessor.

No sources available.