December 16, 2023 - Saturday

[WORLD] Shipping giants Hapag-Lloyd and Maersk are suspending travel through the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait due to attacks by Houthi militants.

Both Hapag-Lloyd and Maersk have decided to pause their travel through the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait in the Middle East after their vessels were attacked by Iranian-backed Houthi militants from Yemen. The Houthi group, which supports Hamas, has been targeting ships in the region, endangering the corridor for cargo and energy shipments. In response to the attacks, Maersk has diverted its ships away from the Red Sea, while Hapag-Lloyd has paused all container ship traffic through the Red Sea until Monday.

No sources available.

[NATION] The mother of a 6-year-old who shot his Virginia teacher has been sentenced to two years in prison for felony child neglect.

Deja Taylor, the mother of a 6-year-old who shot his teacher in Virginia, has been sentenced to two years in prison for felony child neglect. The incident, which occurred nearly a year ago, shocked the nation and the community of Newport News. Taylor had pleaded guilty to the charge in August and the Commonwealth had recommended a six-month sentence. However, Circuit Court Judge Christopher Papile imposed a stiffer sentence. In addition to the two-year state sentence, Taylor is also serving 21 months for federal felony charges.

No sources available.

[BUSINESS] The Dow and Nasdaq closed higher, extending their winning streaks to a seventh week, propelled by a dovish outlook from the Federal Reserve.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average and the Nasdaq-100 both closed higher, with the Dow marking a fresh intraday record and the Nasdaq setting a record close. This comes after the Federal Reserve held rates steady and signaled potential rate cuts next year, boosting investor optimism. The rally in stock markets is fueled by a pullback in bond yields and signs of cooling inflation. The Dow reached a record high for the second consecutive session, while the S&P 500 is on track for its longest winning streak since October 2017.

No sources available.

[TECHNOLOGY] Intel has announced the release of its new Core Ultra CPUs, which come with AI-dedicated silicon, raising questions for AMD stock investors.

Intel has debuted its latest CPUs, the Core Ultra series, featuring built-in AI capabilities. Lenovo has unveiled new laptops, including the ThinkPad X1 Carbon and IdeaPad Pro 5i, both powered by Intel Core Ultra processors, designed to improve productivity and offer immersive experiences with AI acceleration support. Additionally, Intel has launched its first mobile processors based on the Meteor Lake platform, the Core Ultra H and U series, catering to the need for power-efficient and AI-focused chips in the mobile market.

No sources available.

[SPORTS] The Los Angeles Chargers have fired head coach Brandon Staley after a series of disappointing performances and a historic loss to the Las Vegas Raiders.

Brandon Staley's tenure as head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers has come to an end following a string of poor performances. The Chargers' defense struggled under Staley's leadership, consistently ranking near the bottom of the league in yards and points allowed. The final blow came with a disastrous loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, where the Chargers gave up 63 points. Staley's firing, along with general manager Tom Telesco, leaves the Chargers in need of a long-term solution.

No sources available.

[SCIENCE] Nasa captures images of the strongest solar flare in six years, causing radio interference on Earth.

Nasa has released images of an X-class solar flare, the strongest in six years, which caused radio interference on Earth for a short time. The flare, captured by Nasa's solar dynamics observatory, has the potential to affect radio communications, power grids, navigation signals, and pose risks to spacecraft and astronauts. The burst of energy caused radio interference in parts of the US and may produce auroras as far south as New York and Idaho in the coming days.

No sources available.

[HEALTH] Scientists have potentially identified the cause of morning sickness in pregnant women, which may lead to improved treatment options.

Researchers from the University of Southern California and University of Cambridge have found that the hormone GDF15, produced in the placenta, is responsible for the severity of morning sickness symptoms. The study suggests that a mother's sensitivity to the hormone determines the severity of sickness. This discovery raises hopes for potential cures and better management of the condition. Morning sickness affects approximately 70% of pregnant women, but a smaller group experiences more severe symptoms.

No sources available.

[ENTERTAINMENT] Andre Braugher, the Emmy-winning actor who recently passed away at age 61, was diagnosed with lung cancer months before his death.

Andre Braugher, known for his roles in "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" and "Homicide," died at the age of 61 after a battle with lung cancer. His spokesperson confirmed that Braugher had been diagnosed with the illness a few months prior to his death. Lung cancer is the third most common cancer and is often linked to smoking, secondhand smoke, air pollution, radon, and asbestos. Although the rate of new lung cancers is decreasing, it remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths.

No sources available.