Week in 5: Dec 1-7, 2024
UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson killed in NYC; Hunter Biden pardoned; China bans critical mineral exports; Syria’s Aleppo falls to rebels; Beyoncé named top pop star of the century.
📰 Top 3 in…
🇺🇸 U.S. News
UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was shot and killed Wednesday morning outside a Midtown Manhattan Hilton in what police believe was a targeted, planned attack. The masked suspect, who arrived in New York on November 24 and stayed at a hostel under a fake ID, fled immediately afterward—first on foot and then on an e-bike—and is believed to have left the city. Investigators have uncovered bullet casings scrawled with words like “deny,” “defend,” and “depose,” possibly referencing the insurance industry’s criticized tactics, and are working with state and federal authorities to identify the killer. Thompson’s wife mentioned previous threats, but a clear motive has yet to be established. BBC
President Joe Biden pardoned his son, Hunter Biden, for federal gun and tax convictions, reversing prior promises not to use presidential powers for personal benefit. The pardon, covering offenses from 2014 to 2024, spares Hunter from potential prison sentences tied to lying on a gun application and failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes. Biden defended his decision, citing political bias in the prosecutions, while Republicans criticized it as an evasion of accountability. Hunter, who has publicly acknowledged his struggles with addiction, expressed gratitude and vowed to help others facing similar challenges. The move, coming weeks before Donald Trump’s return to office, has further fueled political tensions. AP
China is banning exports of critical minerals like gallium and germanium to the U.S. in retaliation for expanded U.S. restrictions on Chinese semiconductor technologies. Beijing condemned the U.S. actions as unfair and harmful to global trade, while both countries cite national security as justification. The bans escalate trade tensions and threaten global supply chains for essential tech materials. AP
🌎 World News
Rebel forces in Syria, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and backed by Turkey, have seized control of Aleppo, marking the government’s first loss of the city since the civil war began in 2011. In response, Russia launched airstrikes on rebel-held areas, causing significant civilian casualties. The fighting has displaced many residents and raised international concerns, with the UN warning of escalating risks. Backed by Russia and Iran, the Syrian government vowed to retake the city as violence continues to destabilize the region. BBC
Background of the War: The Syrian civil war began in 2011 as protests against President Bashar al-Assad, turning into a devastating conflict that has killed over 500,000 people and displaced millions. Why did the rebels launch an offensive?
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law, citing the need to combat “anti-state” forces, but faced immediate backlash from lawmakers and the public. Parliament swiftly rejected the decree, leading Yoon to lift martial law after just six hours. The move, reminiscent of South Korea’s authoritarian past, drew criticism from opposition leaders and even Yoon’s own party, while protests erupted outside parliament. Yoon, already facing low approval ratings and potential impeachment, accused opponents of undermining the government, but his actions have raised concerns about democratic backsliding in the country. AP
French Prime Minister Michel Barnier resigned after serving just three months, the shortest tenure in French history, following a no-confidence vote rejecting his fiscal plans in a divided parliament. President Emmanuel Macron, under pressure to resign, announced he will appoint a new prime minister to prioritize passing the 2025 budget while vowing to stay in office until 2027 amid political uncertainty. Reuters
🧪 Tech & Science
Meta plans a $10 billion, 40,000-kilometer subsea cable to boost global data traffic, avoid geopolitical risks, and support growth in key regions like India. This first fully owned cable reflects Meta’s push for infrastructure control and potential AI expansion. Link
Meanwhile, Amazon plans a $4 billion AI supercomputer, “Ultracluster,” powered by custom Trainium chips to reduce costs and challenge Nvidia in the growing AI chip market. WSJ
Google DeepMind’s new AI model, GenCast, outperforms traditional weather forecasting systems by using AI-only methods to predict weather conditions, including wind and extreme weather, with 97% accuracy. Trained on 40 years of data, it provides probabilistic forecasts, aiding disaster planning and renewable energy optimization. While promising, it still relies on physics-based data and faces challenges with changing climates and cyclone intensity. Experts emphasize collaboration between meteorologists and AI for more reliable predictions. Link
Killer whales were observed working together to hunt the world’s largest fish, whale sharks, in the Gulf of California. Using a collaborative technique, pods of orcas flipped the sharks upside down, inducing a state of tonic immobility, and targeted the less-protected pelvic area to access nutrient-rich organs like the liver. Researchers documented four such events, highlighting the orcas’ remarkable intelligence and adaptability as predators. This behavior, seen in a potentially specialized pod, underscores the need for stricter protections for marine wildlife, especially as environmental changes could disrupt this predator-prey relationship. Link
📺 Sports & Culture
A tragic soccer match in Nzerekore, Guinea, left 56 dead after a controversial referee decision to eject a player sparked violence and a deadly crush. Fans threw stones, and police fired tear gas, causing panic as crowds fled, leading to trampling. Held in honor of military leader Mamady Doumbouya, the poorly organized event drew criticism amid political tensions and delayed elections. Human Rights Watch condemned the junta's repression and failure to restore civilian rule, highlighting ongoing safety concerns in African stadiums. ESPN
Billboard named Beyoncé the greatest pop star of the 21st century, citing her 25 years of unparalleled influence, evolution, and cultural impact. While Taylor Swift leads in commercial metrics, Beyoncé's consistent artistic excellence, groundbreaking performances, and genre-defining moments make her the ultimate standard in modern pop stardom. Billboard
Taylor Swift was Spotify's most-streamed artist globally in 2024, with over 26.6 billion streams, followed by The Weeknd, Bad Bunny, Drake, and Billie Eilish. Sabrina Carpenter’s "Espresso" was the year’s most-streamed song worldwide, while Swift's The Tortured Poets Department was the most-streamed album, showcasing the dominance of major artists on the platform. AP
🏎️ Fast Five
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield reversed a proposed policy linking anesthesia payments to procedure duration following widespread backlash from the public and medical professionals. AP
OpenAI has partnered with defense-tech company Anduril Industries to integrate its AI technology into counter-drone systems for the U.S. military, marking its first collaboration with a commercial weapons maker and a significant step into national defense applications. WSJ
Dino poop, or fossilized coprolites, reveals that early dinosaurs thrived over 200 million years ago due to their flexible diets, which included fish, insects, plants, and other animals, helping them adapt to dramatic climate changes. USA Today
Credit: Unsplash.com Professional "scratchers" are carving out a niche by offering therapeutic back-scratching sessions, claiming to provide deep relaxation through techniques that trigger stress-relieving brain chemicals, with services priced as high as $162 per hour. WSJ
A 9-year-old boy in Palm Beach County, Florida, set up a lemonade and cookie stand to raise funds for the family of Deputy Ignacio “Dan” Diaz, one of three deputies killed in a tragic motorcycle crash, specifically helping cover daycare tuition for Diaz’s son, who attends the same daycare as the boy’s little sister. Link
Thank you for reading. Have a great week!