Category: USA

This month, hackers linked to the Chinese government broke into the US Treasury Department’s computer system, getting access to some unclassified documents. Officials are calling this a “major incident.”

The hackers found a way in through a company called BeyondTrust, which helps with computer security. They used a trick to get access to computers by taking over a special security key meant for remote help.

The Treasury learned about the attack after BeyondTrust noticed some strange activities and alerted them. Right now, the Treasury Department is working closely with the FBI and a group called CISA to figure out how bad the hack really is. So far, officials say there’s no sign that the hackers still have access to the Treasury’s systems.

In response to these accusations, China’s foreign ministry said they have nothing to do with the breach and called the claims baseless. This situation raises new worries about cybersecurity, especially after previous hacking incidents tied to Chinese hackers attacking US telecoms.

To prevent future attacks, the Treasury has promised to improve its computer security and will share more details in a report to Congress soon.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is keeping a close eye on a rise in bird flu cases in the U.S. right now. They want to make sure this illness doesn’t turn into something more serious, like a pandemic. So far, there have been 66 confirmed cases of bird flu in humans.

The CDC is particularly worried about certain warning signs, like if the virus starts spreading from person to person or if it changes in a way that makes it easier for people to catch it. A spokesperson from the CDC told Newsweek that they are looking out for groups of people who get sick from the A(H5N1) bird flu virus because that could mean it’s becoming more contagious.

Just last week, the CDC reported about a patient in Louisiana who was very ill with a mutated version of the bird flu. Doctors found changes in the virus that were not seen in any sick birds on the patient’s property. This suggests that these mutations happened after the patient got infected.

Even though these mutations are rare, similar changes have been seen in bird flu cases in other countries before, especially in severe cases. The CDC does say that the risk to the general public is still low, and there has been no sign that the virus has spread from the Louisiana patient to anyone else. They also assure everyone that no sick birds or bird products will get into our food.

The CDC will keep monitoring human cases and will give updates on January 3. They are focused on stopping the spread of the virus.

What is Bird Flu, and How Can You Stay Safe?

Bird flu, also called avian influenza, is a virus that mainly affects birds but can sometimes infect humans too. It usually spreads when someone comes into contact with sick birds, their droppings, or dirty surfaces.

How to Stay Safe:
1. Don’t touch wild or sick birds.
2. Cook chicken and eggs well.
3. Wash your hands often with soap and water.
4. Tell local authorities if you see a lot of dead birds.

Stay alert and protect yourself!

Damon Dash, a former business partner of Jay-Z, recently spoke out against the rapper, calling him ‘ruthless’ and comparing him to the villain Penguin from DC Comics. In an interview on ‘The Art of Dialogue,’ Damon shared details from their long-running feud that started over twenty years ago when they worked together at Roc-A-Fella Records.

Damon accused Jay-Z of sabotaging his business deals, specifically mentioning an event in 2005. He said Jay-Z pulled away from their clothing brand, Rocawear, just before a big deal with Tommy Hilfiger. Damon claims this move cost him around $40 million.

Though Damon Dash said he doesn’t care about the recent rape allegations against Jay-Z, he is very frustrated with how Jay-Z’s actions have hurt his money-making chances. Their ongoing conflict shows deep-rooted issues in their relationship, with Damon insisting that Jay-Z has repeatedly tried to undermine his business success. This latest round of accusations highlights a long history of betrayal and rivalry between the two

Right now, AI (Artificial Intelligence) is super popular, and there’s some awesome new technology on the way! In 2025, we’re going to see an exciting development called “AI agents.” These special AI tools are like super-smart chatbots that can handle many tasks for us. Instead of just chatting, these AI agents will do real work based on the information we give them.

Big companies like Nvidia and Google are already working hard on these AI agents. Others, like Microsoft and Salesforce, are also joining in!

What Can These AI Agents Do?

The main purpose of these AI agents is to make our lives easier by taking care of boring tasks, like filing expense reports. This way, people can focus on more important things. Some companies might use these agents just for their own needs, while others might sell them to different businesses, making money from this service.

FAQs:

– Is Nvidia working on AI?
Yes! Nvidia is busy creating AI-friendly GPUs and AI agents.

– Will Nvidia’s stock keep growing?
Definitely! After launching AI-focused GPUs, Nvidia’s stock has gone up a lot and is expected to keep rising.

Right now, respiratory illness activity in the US is at a ‘high’ level, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). ABC News reports that New Hampshire is facing an even ‘very high’ level of activity, and about 11 other states, including Texas and Georgia, are also experiencing ‘high’ rates. This increase in respiratory issues, which includes COVID-19, the seasonal flu, and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), has led to more people visiting emergency rooms and higher test positivity rates.

As of December, the CDC estimates that there have been at least 3.1 million flu-related illnesses, 37,000 hospitalizations, and 1,500 deaths this flu season. Unfortunately, pediatric flu deaths have risen to nine. The CDC has warned that COVID-19 cases are likely to increase as the winter continues.

Despite this, vaccination rates remain low, with only 41.9% of adults getting the flu vaccine and just 21.4% receiving the updated COVID-19 vaccine. There are vaccines for RSV for certain adults, but they are not widely given. The CDC stresses the importance of getting vaccinated to help fight these serious respiratory viruses.

On New Year’s Eve, Boeing’s stock price fell more than 2% after a tragic plane crash involving Jeju Air in South Korea. The accident led to the deaths of 179 people and involved the Boeing 737-800 model, which is used by many airlines worldwide. Despite this incident, aviation experts say the 737-800 has a great safety record. About 200 airlines use this model, which has been flying for over 25 years and makes up around 1 in 7 planes in the air today.

South Korea’s transportation ministry announced that they would check all 101 Boeing 737-800 planes operated by airlines in the country, including Jeju Air. These inspections started on Monday and are expected to finish by Friday.

Boeing stated that they are working with Jeju Air and are ready to offer help. Meanwhile, Jeju Air’s stock dropped by 8.7% when trading closed in Seoul on Monday, reaching a record low for the company.

This crash adds to a difficult year for Boeing, which has been struggling with problems like worker strikes, quality control issues, high debt, and supply chain troubles. Boeing’s stock has lost over 30% of its value in 2024.

Earlier this month, a panel blew off a Boeing 737 Max plane during an Alaska Airlines flight, raising safety concerns once again, especially after two deadly crashes involving the Max model in the past five years. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has now increased its supervision of Boeing and limited the production of the Max, which has affected the company financially.

In July, Boeing admitted to a serious crime related to the Max crashes and tried to resolve its legal issues, but a federal judge rejected their proposed agreement in December, making things even harder for the company.

In August, Kelly Ortberg became the new CEO of Boeing, taking over from Dave Calhoun, who stepped down. In September, around 33,000 Boeing workers went on strike for two months, causing major disruptions for the company. In October, Ortberg said in a memo that Boeing is facing tough challenges and announced plans to cut about 17,000 jobs, which is around 10% of the company’s global workforce.

An Argentine judge has decided to move forward with charges against the manager of Liam Payne, a former singer from the group One Direction, and hotel workers related to his tragic fall from a hotel balcony. Liam Payne died in October while staying at a hotel in Buenos Aires.

The manager, the hotel manager, and the head receptionist are all facing charges of manslaughter, which could lead to up to five years in prison if they are found guilty. In addition, a hotel worker and a local waiter are accused of giving Liam cocaine during his stay and could potentially face up to 15 years in jail.

When Liam fell, he was seen being carried to his room by three people just minutes earlier, looking unconscious. A judge ruled that it was dangerous to take him to his room in that state and said they should have kept him safe until a doctor arrived. The investigation revealed that Liam had consumed large amounts of cocaine and alcohol and had bought drugs multiple times during his stay.

The judge also mentioned that Liam had tried to go out onto the balcony but fell because he was in such poor condition. As for his manager, who left the hotel shortly before the fall, the judge said he did not take proper care of Liam.

Now, the manager, who is an American citizen, has been banned from leaving Argentina while the case is ongoing.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are losing popularity in the U.S., and many experts believe they know why. Royal expert Ingrid Seward shared that a lot of Americans feel disappointed in them for “letting down” the Queen and for speaking negatively about the British Royal Family.

Since they stepped back from royal duties in 2020, Harry and Meghan have faced lots of criticism for their media projects, like their famous Oprah interview, their Netflix show, and Harry’s memoir called ‘Spare’. Many think these projects hurt the Royal Family’s image and pushed away fans in both Britain and America.

Originally, people in Hollywood were excited about the couple, but that excitement is fading. Publicist Jane Owen said that they “destroyed the chances they had,” comparing them to “the most unpopular kids in school.” Their $20 million deal with Spotify fell apart after they made only 12 podcasts, which hurt their professional reputation even more.

Royal expert Kinsey Schofield pointed out that Americans seem to be losing interest in Harry and Meghan and feel that they were “overrated” to begin with. Even though they still have connections with big stars like Oprah Winfrey and the Clooneys, the couple is finding it hard to regain their previous popularity.

Netflix is making the holiday season even better by adding new movies from Warner Bros. Pictures. This includes two exciting films: Horizon: An American Saga and The Watchers. Both movies will be available after their big screen and digital releases.

Horizon: An American Saga
Starring Kevin Costner, this Western drama takes us on a journey through American history over 15 years, focusing on the times before and after the Civil War. It first came out in theaters in June, was available to buy in mid-July, and will be streaming on Max in August 2024. A sequel is already filmed but pushed back to release in 2025, and it was shown at the Venice Film Festival.

The Watchers
Directed by Ishana Shyamalan, The Watchers is based on a spooky book from 2021. The film features Dakota Fanning and Georgina Campbell, and tells the story of a group stuck in an Irish forest, being hunted by a strange creature. Although it received mixed reviews, people liked its scary moments combined with emotional depth. This film hit theaters in June 2024, went on PVOD the same month, and will be on Max this August.

Other Warner Bros. movies, like Mad Max: Fury Road and its prequel Furiosa, plus Godzilla vs. Kong and Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, are also now available on Netflix. This is part of Netflix’s plan to attract more viewers during the holidays. All these films will be available until March 2025.

FAQs:
– How long can I watch the new movies on Netflix?
The movies will be available on Netflix until late March 2025. After that, they will be removed.

– Why is Warner Bros. sharing movies with Netflix?
Warner Bros. licenses these films to earn extra money, while Netflix boosts its holiday movie collection. It’s a win-win situation!

A U.S. federal court has confirmed that Donald Trump sexually abused a journalist named E. Jean Carroll in a department store dressing room during the 1990s. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with a jury’s decision to give Carroll $5 million for defamation and sexual abuse.

In court, Carroll shared her story, explaining how a friendly encounter in the spring of 1996 turned into a violent attack while they were in the store’s dressing room. Trump, who has always denied these claims, did not attend the first trial. However, he did give brief testimony at a later trial this year, which ended with a whopping $83.3 million awarded to Carroll. This second trial was prompted by comments Trump made in 2019, after Carroll initially accused him publicly in her memoir.