February 14, 2024 - Wednesday

[WORLD] The UN has issued a warning that an Israeli assault on the southern city of Rafah in Gaza could lead to a "slaughter".

A top UN official, Martin Griffiths, has expressed concern that an Israeli assault on the city of Rafah in Gaza could result in a "slaughter". Palestinians in Gaza are already experiencing an intense and brutal assault, and the consequences of a ground invasion of Rafah would be catastrophic. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is determined to defeat Hamas gunmen he believes are hiding in the city. Griffiths stated that over a million people are crammed into Rafah without adequate food, access to medicine, or anywhere safe to go.

No sources available.

[NATION] Democrat Tom Suozzi wins special election in New York's 3rd Congressional District, narrowing GOP majority in the House.

Tom Suozzi, a Democrat, won the special election in New York's 3rd Congressional District, defeating Republican Mazi Pilip and reclaiming his old House seat. This victory is significant for President Biden and the Democrats as it reshapes the narrative and provides a positive note amidst concerns over the president's approval ratings and the upcoming rematch with former President Donald Trump. The result reduces the GOP's House majority and symbolizes a shift in a district that had been historically favorable to Republicans.

No sources available.

[BUSINESS] Inflation remains elevated for everyday expenses despite signs of slowing overall inflation. Prescription drugs have decreased in price, while pet care costs have risen.

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 0.3% in January, still above the Federal Reserve's target of 2%. Energy and many goods have seen declining prices, but housing, food, and auto insurance costs continue to climb. Rents have increased by 6% from a year ago despite an increase in apartment construction. Overall, consumer inflation is 19.6% higher than in January 2020.

No sources available.

[TECHNOLOGY] Samsung's Galaxy AI features are coming to the Galaxy Buds2 Pro, Buds2, and Buds FE.

Samsung is expanding its Galaxy AI features to include the Galaxy Buds2 Pro, Buds2, and Buds FE. These artificial intelligence-powered tools were initially introduced with the Galaxy S24 series. The Galaxy AI features, such as Circle to Search and Chat Assist, will be available in a future update for the Galaxy S23 lineup as well. While the upgrades are not crucial, they offer some nice-to-have functionality.

No sources available.

[SPORTS] The New York Knicks are filing a protest with the NBA over a controversial foul call in their loss to the Houston Rockets.

The New York Knicks are filing an official protest with the NBA to dispute their 105-103 loss to the Houston Rockets on Monday. The protest comes after a controversial foul call in the final seconds of the game, where the Rockets' Aaron Holiday was sent to the free-throw line and won the game for Houston. Even though the league acknowledged that the officials made an incorrect call, the Knicks will have to provide evidence that the rule was misapplied to have a chance at winning the protest.

No sources available.

[SCIENCE] Private company Intuitive Machines is planning to launch its spacecraft to the moon, potentially making a historic landing this month.

NASA's Artemis program has faced setbacks, but Intuitive Machines is set to launch its spacecraft to the moon, with a possible landing later this month. This comes after a failed lunar landing mission by NASA. The spacecraft, named Odysseus and developed by Intuitive Machines, will be launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. If successful, it will be the first US landing on the moon in over five decades.

No sources available.

[HEALTH] Alaskapox, a recently discovered virus, has resulted in its first known fatality, an elderly man in Alaska with a weakened immune system.

Alaskapox, a virus discovered in 2015, has led to its first reported death in Alaska. Since its discovery, there have been seven reported infections. The recent case involved an elderly man with a weakened immune system due to cancer treatment. While the virus is primarily found in small mammal populations in Alaska, little is known about how it spreads or its longevity. Experts note that the infections are usually mild and rare in humans.

No sources available.

[ENTERTAINMENT] NFL shares audio of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce celebrating the Kansas City Chiefs' Super Bowl win.

The NFL has released audio of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce celebrating the Kansas City Chiefs' Super Bowl win. Cameras and microphones captured the couple's on-field celebration and now fans can hear what was said. Kelce's team won their second consecutive Super Bowl title after a historic overtime game against the San Francisco 49ers. Taylor Swift was seen embracing Kelce on the field after the victory. The couple also reportedly partied together in a Vegas club after the game.

No sources available.