December 27, 2023 - Wednesday

[WORLD] Israeli military expands ground offensive into urban refugee camps in Gaza, leading to further destruction and increasing tensions.

Israeli forces have extended their ground offensive into urban refugee camps in Gaza after targeting crowded Palestinian communities and ordering residents to evacuate. This expansion threatens more destruction in a war that Israel says will last for "many months" as it aims to crush the ruling Hamas group. The fighting has led to a complete interruption of telecom services in Gaza. In the West Bank, Jewish settlers are reported to have escalated their campaign against Palestinians, leading to heightened tensions. Human Rights Watch has accused Meta (formerly Facebook) of censoring pro-Palestinian content on its platforms.

No sources available.

[NATION] A winter storm bringing blizzard conditions, heavy snow, freezing rain, and strong winds has caused dangerous travel in the central US.

A blizzard-fueling winter storm has caused dangerous travel conditions in the Plains and upper Midwest, with heavy snow, freezing rain, and strong winds. Blizzard warnings were in effect for parts of Nebraska, South Dakota, Kansas, Colorado, and Wyoming, with snowfall totals reaching over a foot in some areas. The storm has resulted in highway closures, travel disruptions, and a fatality in Kansas. Drivers are urged to exercise caution on the snowy roads.

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[BUSINESS] Robust holiday shopping in the US signals a strong economy heading into 2024, with consumers spending big on gifts, meals, and apparel despite inflation.

Holiday shoppers in the US contributed to a strong economy heading into 2024 by spending big on gifts, meals, and apparel, according to fresh retail sales data from Mastercard. Despite inflation, consumers showed strong confidence in the economy, leading to a 3.1% increase in retail sales between November and December compared to the previous year. Online shopping saw a significant rise of 6.3%, while in-person shopping increased by 2.2%. In-person dining also experienced robust demand, resulting in a 7.8% jump in restaurant spending.

No sources available.

[TECHNOLOGY] Microsoft has quietly launched a dedicated Copilot app for Android, offering AI-powered chatbot capabilities and access to OpenAI's GPT-4 model for free.

Microsoft's Copilot AI chatbot, powered by OpenAI's GPT-4 and DALL-E 3 models, has been made available on Android. The app, which allows users to generate images from text and perform various tasks, can be downloaded from the Google Play Store for free, without requiring a Microsoft account. It is similar to the Bing Chat app and can also be used within Microsoft Edge, SwiftKey, Skype, and more. An iOS version of the app has not been released yet.

No sources available.

[SPORTS] Brock Purdy admits he needs to improve decision-making after throwing four interceptions in the 49ers' loss to the Ravens.

Despite his strong will to win, quarterback Brock Purdy threw four interceptions in the 49ers' loss to the Ravens. Coach Kyle Shanahan explained that assigning blame for the interceptions is not straightforward, but did highlight one as a bad decision by Purdy. Purdy's poor performance was a surprising setback for the 49ers, who have been enjoying a successful season. However, Purdy appears to understand the need for improvement and is ready to address his decision-making going forward.

No sources available.

[SCIENCE] Japan's "Moon Sniper" lander enters lunar orbit, bringing the country closer to its goal of landing a robotic explorer on the moon's surface.

Japan's "Moon Sniper" lander, also known as the Smart Lander for Investigating the Moon (SLIM), has successfully entered lunar orbit on Christmas Day. It is completing one loop around the moon every 6.4 hours, but will tighten its orbit over the next few weeks in preparation for a mid-January touchdown attempt. If successful, Japan will become the fifth country to achieve a lunar landing. In related news, Japan's SLIM mission sent back a rare photo of Earth looming over the moon, taken in September.

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[HEALTH] Health officials express concern over the rise in seasonal illnesses, including respiratory illnesses, flu, and COVID-19, leading up to the holiday season and winter.

Health officials are warning of a significant increase in seasonal illnesses, including respiratory illnesses, as the holiday season approaches. The rise in cases of respiratory viruses, such as flu, RSV, and COVID-19, has prompted concern from experts who fear a potential convergence of multiple epidemics. The CDC is urging people to get vaccinated against all three viruses to mitigate the impact of the upcoming winter season. Vaccination remains the key strategy to protect against illness and prevent healthcare systems from becoming overwhelmed.

No sources available.

[ENTERTAINMENT] 'The Color Purple' has a near-record $18 million opening on Christmas Day, beating out 'Aquaman 2'

On Christmas Day, the musical adaptation of 'The Color Purple' opened to a strong $18.1 million, the second-best Christmas Day opening ever and the best since 2009. The film, produced by Oprah and Steven Spielberg, stars Fantasia Barrino, Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks, and Colman Domingo. Another film, 'The Boys in the Boat', directed by George Clooney, also exceeded expectations with a $5.7 million opening.

No sources available.