November 16, 2024 - Saturday

[WORLD] South Africa's government refuses to help illegal miners trapped inside a closed mine, as part of an official strategy.

South Africa's government declines assistance to a group of illegal miners in a closed mine, aiming to cut off their supplies and force their arrest. Police estimate around 350 to 400 miners underground. The miners are reported to be lacking food, water, and essentials due to blocked entrances. Authorities have seized firearms, ammunition, cash, and diamonds in operations against illegal mining.

Sources: apnews.com

[NATION] Donald Trump makes key administrative appointments: Karoline Leavitt as Press Secretary and Steven Cheung as Communications Director.

President-elect Donald Trump has chosen Karoline Leavitt as White House press secretary and Steven Cheung as communications director. Leavitt previously served as the Trump campaign's national press secretary, while Cheung was the campaign spokesman. Trump has also nominated Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Health and Human Services Secretary, a move facing opposition from former Vice President Mike Pence due to Kennedy's views on abortion.

Sources: forbes.com , foxnews.com , newrepublic.com

[BUSINESS] Big Tech stocks faced a significant selloff, shedding nearly $500 billion as a bullish market sentiment weakened.

Amid concerns of a more hawkish monetary policy, big technology stocks incurred a major selloff, leading to a losing week for major indexes despite positive post-election trends. The Nasdaq, Dow Jones, S&P 500, and Russell 2000 all experienced declines. The tech sector, including companies like Amazon, Meta, and Nvidia, faced notable drops. Six major U.S. companies collectively lost $458 billion in market capitalization on Friday alone. The tech slump was part of a broader market trend as investors shifted focus away from certain sectors.

Sources: forbes.com , cnbc.com

[TECHNOLOGY] Google Docs now integrates Imagen 3 for image generation, enabling users to create unique visuals easily with various style options.

Google Docs is enhancing its capabilities by incorporating Imagen 3 for image creation, offering unique styles like Photography, Vector art, and more. This advanced AI tool aims to help users generate visually compelling content effortlessly, providing options like aspect ratio selection and diverse artistic choices within the platform. Imagen 3 brings improved details and text-to-image capabilities to Google Docs, revolutionizing the way users design documents. The rollout targets Workspace users with plans eligible for the feature's integration.

Sources: 9to5google.com , androidpolice.com

[SPORTS] Jake Paul defeats Mike Tyson in highly anticipated fight captured attention globally while available to stream on Netflix for free.

The Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson fight created significant buzz, pitting the YouTuber turned boxer against the former heavyweight champion. Despite initial hype, Paul emerged victorious, securing a unanimous decision over Tyson in an eight-round sanctioned bout. The spectacle, available for streaming on Netflix, drew worldwide interest and headlines, with Paul showcasing dominance in the ring and Tyson failing to live up to expectations. The event, held at AT&T Stadium, sparked discussions on social media and within the sports community.

Sources: cbssports.com , fortune.com , dallasnews.com

[SCIENCE] Russia and NASA disagree on the severity of a "catastrophic" leak in the International Space Station's Russian segment.

A potentially "catastrophic" leak in the Russian segment of the International Space Station has caused a dispute between Russia and NASA. The leak, discovered in a tunnel in 2019, has escalated this year, raising concerns about crew safety and the station's integrity. NASA worries about a "catastrophic failure," while Russia downplays the severity, leading to disagreements on the necessary actions. Oversight officials in the US deem this the most critical issue facing the aging space station.

Sources: futurism.com , edition.cnn.com , spacenews.com , people.com , space.com

[HEALTH] Measles cases surged by over 20% in 2023, leading to an estimated 10.3 million cases with preventable deaths, as warned by WHO and CDC.

Global measles cases rose by 20% in 2023, reaching 10.3 million cases, causing over 107,000 deaths, mainly affecting young children. The increase is linked to declining vaccination rates globally. While measles is preventable with two doses of the vaccine, misinformation and access issues have led to a resurgence. WHO and CDC urge better vaccination coverage to combat this highly contagious disease.

Sources: edition.cnn.com , cdc.gov , nbcnews.com

[ENTERTAINMENT] Conan O'Brien is set to host the 97th Academy Awards, marking his first time at the helm of the Oscars.

Emmy-winning comedian Conan O'Brien has been chosen to host the 2025 Oscars, a first for the talented TV host and comedian. The selection has been met with enthusiasm and anticipation, with O'Brien praised for his energy and wit, qualities that could inject new life into the awards ceremony. O'Brien's past hosting gigs and TV fan background provide valuable lessons and insights for his upcoming role as the emcee of the 97th Academy Awards.

Sources: edition.cnn.com , indiewire.com , variety.com