AI can now speak, Hollywood writers strike deal, and pink dolphins.

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US News, Politics, & Government

US investigating JetBlue flight after severe turbulence injures eight

The National Transportation Board has opened an investigation into a JetBlue flight that experienced sudden turbulence on Monday, injuring seven passengers and one crew member. Medical personnel transported the injured people to a hospital for evaluation and treatment, but the airline wouldn’t comment on the severity of the injuries. Although the plane landed safely, it has been taken out of service for inspection. Injuries from turbulence are rare. A total of four passengers and 13 crew members were seriously injured during US passenger flights in 2022. (More)

Lawmakers to push Taiwan language programs at universities as China alternative

A bipartisan resolution will be introduced today that urges US universities to support educational ties with Taiwan as an alternative to programs funded by the Chinese government. Opportunities for students to learn Chinese through US university programs have been shrinking due to US-Chinese relations. The new initiative will allow students to learn Chinese from Taiwanese teachers both in the US and Taiwan, and offers the Taiwanese a chance to study English. (More)

Menendez fights for political survival amid rising calls to resign

Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) on Monday said he is not going to resign amid calls from his Democratic peers to step down. The party believes that he will be vulnerable to defeat by a Republican challenger as he runs for reelection in 2024. Menendez is currently under investigation for allegedly accepting bribes in exchange for using his “power and influence” to enrich New Jersey businessmen. (More)

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World

US recognizes Cook Islands and Niue as independent states

President Joe Biden announced new diplomatic relations with two Pacific Island nations, the Cook Islands and Niue. The summit, hosted at the White House, focused on US efforts to counter China’s influence in the region. The administration also plans to announce multi-million-dollar infrastructure projects across the Pacific Island nations, including an undersea cable project to strengthen internet connectivity. (More)

Russian Black Sea fleet commander killed in Crimea, Ukraine claims

Ukraine has claimed it killed Admiral Viktor Sokolov, the commander of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, along with 33 other officers, in its latest attack on the occupied peninsula of Crimea. Ukraine said the attack on the headquarters of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet was timed to coincide with a meeting of naval officials. Russia hasn’t confirmed the claims, but it is unlikely that it will be able to conceal Sokolov’s death for long, given his seniority. (More)

Messina Denaro: Notorious Italian Mafia boss dies

Italian Mafia boss and convicted murderer Matteo Messina Denaro has died of cancer while in custody. He spent 30 years on the run before being caught earlier this year. Messina Denaro was found guilty of multiple crimes, including helping to plan the 1992 murder of anti-mafia prosecutors Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino. He was also responsible for bombings in Rome, Florence, and Milan that killed 10 people. The crime boss was believed to have known the names of those involved in the most high-profile crimes by the Mafia, but he never gave up any information. (More)

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Business & Economy

Daily stock market update

US stock markets closed higher on Monday (S&P +0.40%, Nasdaq +0.45%, Dow +0.13%) ~ All three major averages snapped four-day losing streaks but will likely finish the month with losses. (More)

Nissan will go electric in Europe

Nissan announced that all new models it launches in Europe will be fully electric. It plans to launch 27 electric and hybrid models, which includes 19 all-electric models, by 2030. Nissan also plans to launch a cobalt-free technology that will reduce the costs of EV batteries by 65% in 2028. (More)

Amazon makes billion-dollar AI move with Anthropic

Amazon will invest up to $4 billion in artificial intelligence firm Anthropic. The move will give Amazon a close relationship with an AI startup, similar to Microsoft’s alliance with OpenAI. The company was founded by veterans of OpenAI who wanted to produce a safer, more ethically rigorous AI product. Its ChatGPT competitor, named Claude, is well-reviewed but remains a small player in the generative-AI market. (More)

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Sports & Entertainment

Hollywood writers, studios reach tentative deal to end strike

Hollywood writers have reached a deal with Hollywood studios more than four-and-a-half months after they first went on strike. The agreement was announced Sunday following several bargaining sessions this week in Los Angles. Terms of the deal are not yet available to the public and must still be ratified by the Writers Guild of America’s 11,000 members. (More)

Haley Van Voorhis makes NCAA football history as the first female non-kicker player

Safety Haley Van Voorhis became the first woman who was not a kicker or punter to appear in an NCAA college football game. She is a junior at Shenandoah University and made the varsity team for the first time this year. Van Voorhis stepped onto the field against Juniata College on Saturday and registered a quarterback hurry, which led to an incomplete third-down pass. (More)

David McCallum, 'NCIS' actor, dead at 90

David MacCullum, who played medical examiner “Ducky” on “NCIS”, died on Monday of natural causes. He was 90. MacCullum was from Scotland but moved to the US in the ‘60s where he was cast in a bit part in the TV series “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.” His acting ability led the studio to make him a recurring main character, where he earned two Emmy Award nominations and Golden Globe nods. MacCullum starred in more the 400 episodes of “NCIS.” (More)

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Science, Health, & Tech

Farmers turn to tech as bees struggle to pollinate

A tech company, called Bloomx, has created machines that can mechanically pollinate crops in a similar way to bees. The equipment is being used around the world and can increase fruit yields by 30%. The goal isn’t to replace bees but to help farmers reduce their dependence on commercial honeybees, which often have to be shipped in on trucks during pollination season. Currently, three out of every four crops grown around the world to produce fruit or seeds for human consumption are reliant on pollinators. (More)

ChatGPT can now ‘speak,’ listen and process images

OpenAI’s chatbot, ChatGPT, can now understand spoken words, respond with a synthetic voice, and process images. The update allows users to opt into voice conversations on the mobile app and choose from five different voices for the bot to respond with. Users can also share images with ChatGPT and highlight areas of focus or analysis (for example: “What kinds of clouds are these?"). The changes will be available to paying users in the next two weeks. (More)

Scientists discover a cure for garlic breath

Research suggests that the fat and protein that yogurt contains prevents almost all smelly compounds in garlic from escaping into the air. Individual fat, water, and protein components each have a neutralizing effect, but fat and protein are more effective than water, and higher-fat yogurt works better than lower-fat yogurt. Higher protein Greek yogurt may be even more effective. However, yogurt must be eaten as soon as possible after the garlic to neutralize bad breath. (More)

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Bonus Material

Today I learned: The Amazon has pink dolphins.

An airport security worker steals, then swallows cash from a passenger.

These Russian dascha cottages are like real life gingerbread houses.

The best recipes from celebrity chefs.