NYC shooter sentenced, drone attacks, and the most haunted places.

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U.S. News, Politics, & Government

NYC subway shooter sentenced

Frank James, who was convicted of terrorism charges earlier this year for opening fire on a New York City subway car and injuring 10 people, has been sentenced to life in prison. The incident took place in April 2022, and triggered a citywide manhunt. Prosecutors requested a reduced sentence of 18 years, arguing that he didn’t intend to kill anyone and citing his mental illness. Nevertheless, the judge was unconvinced and said what James did was “pure evil.” (More)

Court approves Alabama congressional map that expands Black voting power

A federal court has approved a new Alabama congressional map that increases the voting power of Black residents in the state. A panel of judges approved the map that includes a majority Black district, as well as a district that is about 49% Black. Black residents make up roughly 30% of Alabama’s population, but the state only had one majority Black district until now. (More)

U.S. to restart deporting Venezuelans

The Biden administration plans to restart deportation flights to Venezuela after the government in Caracas agreed to cooperate for the first time in years. The first group of Venezuelan nationals who do not qualify for protection in the U.S. has been identified and will be deported soon. However, migrants who have proven that their lives would be in danger in Venezuela will not be sent back. (More)

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World

Syrian military college hit in drone attack

Drones carrying explosives hit a military college graduation ceremony in the Syrian city of Homs, killing 80 people and wounding hundreds more. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. The Syrian Defense Ministry blamed the attack on “terrorist organizations supported by well known international parties.” Meanwhile, eight people were killed on the other side of the country by Turkish airstrikes targeting Kurdish-controlled areas. (More)

Taiwan records world’s third most powerful wind gust ever as Typhoon Koinu hits

A category four cyclone has produced one of the strongest wind gusts ever recorded, injuring 190 people as it crossed the southern tip of Taiwan. Typhoon Koinu brought wind gusts of up to 212.9mph, which were powerful enough to destroy the island’s anemometer, an instrument used to measure wind speed and pressure. (More)

Ukraine says Russian strike killed 51 in one of the deadliest attacks of the war

A Russian missile strike killed at least 51 people, in eastern Ukraine on Thursday, making it one of the deadliest attacks against civilians since the conflict began. The town that was struck is strategically important to Ukraine and they have been resisting Russian advances. Taking control of the town would give Russia access to an easier crossing point on the Oskil River, potentially enabling them to advance further into Ukrainian territory. (More)

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Business & Economy

Daily stock market update

U.S. stock markets closed slightly lower on Thursday (S&P -0.13%, Nasdaq -0.12%, Dow -0.03%) ~ Thursday’s trading session was relatively muted as investors awaited the September jobs report. (More)

Mortgage rates climb, hurting home sales

U.S. mortgage rates climbed to 7.49% this week, making homeownership even more difficult for potential homebuyers. The rise is being blamed on several factors, including shifts in inflation, the job market, and uncertainty around the Federal Reserve’s next move. Home affordability is at its lowest level in several decades, and home sales have dropped 20% compared to the same time last year. (More)

Alameda had a $65B line of credit and ‘unlimited withdrawals’

Gary Wang, co-founder and CTO of failed crypto firm FTX, testified during the Sam Bankman-Fried trial on Thursday. He confessed to committing wire fraud, securities fraud, and commodities fraud and added that he committed the crimes with Bankman-Fried. Wang said that they had also obtained “unlimited funds” from customers by utilizing a special code that illegally funneled money from customer transactions into their investment firm, Alameda. (More)

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Sports & Entertainment

Joel Embiid, reigning NBA MVP, commits to Team USA for 2024 Olympics

Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid will make his Olympic debut by representing Team USA at the 2024 Paris games. Embiid, the reigning NBA MVP, had to choose between France, Cameroon, and the U.S. He said he would like to play for his native Cameroon, but opted for Team USA because he wanted a guaranteed spot on an Olympic team and believes Cameroon may not qualify. (More)

NFL legend Dick Butkus dies at 80

Dick Butkus, the longtime Chicago Bears Star considered by many to be the best linebacker of all time, has died at the age of 80. Butkus will be remembered as a violent tackler who struck fear into the hearts of opposing teams. Although the Bears never made it to the playoffs during his career, he was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1979. (More)

Nobel Prize in literature goes to Jon Fosse

The 2023 Nobel Prize in literature has been awarded to Jon Fosse for “his innovative plays and prose which gives voice to the unsayable.” The Norwegian’s body of work consists of around 40 plays, as well as a number of novels, poetry collections, essays, children’s books, and translations. (More)

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Science, Health, & Tech

The CDC has stopped printing Covid vaccination cards

Now that Covid vaccines are not being distributed by the government, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has stopped printing new vaccination cards. The announcement is unlikely to be a big change, since most establishments and venues no longer require proof of vaccination for entry. Nonetheless, health officials are advising people to save it like any other health record. (More)

Scientists carry out breakthrough investigation, reveal what's inside the moon

Scientists have discovered that the inner core of the moon is a solid ball and has a density similar to iron. The researchers hope that the discovery will help settle the long debate about whether the inner heart of the moon is molten or solid which will lead to a deeper understanding of the moon and the solar system. (More)

Apple addresses iPhone 15 overheating with a new iOS 17 update

Apple has released a new software update aimed at fixing an issue that may cause iPhones to run hotter than expected. ZDNET tested the update using a thermal camera and concluded that the patch has helped the new iPhone run cooler when fast-charging. Before the update, the phones were reaching temperatures of 107.1 degrees Fahrenheit. Now, they stay between the high 80s and low 90s. (More)

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Bonus Material

The most haunted places in the world.

The top comedy wildlife photos of 2023.

The latest fashion accessory: Cowboy boot Crocs.

How to tell if a package delivery text is a scam.