CNN —
In 2022, it’s not uncommon to be surrounded by gadgets that can turn on your lights, remind you of an appointment, or track your sleep. But how far is too far? Some tech pundits say Amazon’s new list of updates shows just how pervasive surveillance products are in every corner of our homes, with the obvious goal of making life a little easier.
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Hurricane Ian has killed at least 76 people in Florida since making landfall last week as a Category 4 storm, decimating coastal cities and flooding homes. Four others died in storm-related incidents while Ian was driving to North Carolina, and two died in Cuba earlier in the week. More than 1,600 people have been rescued from the path of the storm in parts of southwest and central Florida since last week, Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office said Sunday. Now that blue skies are returning, Florida people face the daunting task of rebuilding as they begin to return to unrecognizable communities — many of them still without electricity or clean drinking water. President Joe Biden will travel to Florida this week to assess the damage.
The Supreme Court’s new term begins today, with a number of historic cases to be decided over the next few months. On Tuesday, the court will hear a challenge to the historic Voting Rights Act, which bans voting rules that discriminate on the basis of race. Race will also be a key issue when the court considers affirmative action in college admissions or whether colleges can consider race as a factor in admitting applicants. Also of note is the newest member of the court – Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson – who will take a seat on the bench for hearings today. Although Jackson had her official oaths taken last spring, her investiture ceremony last week sealed her position as the first black woman on the bench.
Breyer discusses the division at the Supreme Court
Brazil’s heated presidential election enters a second round after no candidate received more than 50% of the vote. With more than 99% of the vote counted late Sunday, results released by Brazil’s Supreme Electoral Court showed that leftist candidate and former President Luiz Inácio “Lula” da Silva had a slight lead over right-wing incumbent President Jair Bolsonaro – but not enough to cross the threshold to victory. The most recent official count led Lula with 48.4% of the vote versus 43.2% for Bolsonaro, a controversial number often referred to as the “trump card of the tropics”. This comes after more than 123 million Brazilians waited in long lines to vote in the world’s fourth-largest democracy while another 32 million abstained.
United Airlines is suspending operations at New York’s JFK airport, saying its schedule there is too small to remain competitive. In a note shared with CNN Business, the airline said the start of the winter season, when more airlines resume flying to and from JFK, contributed to its “difficult decision.” United has negotiated with the FAA to purchase additional slots, or takeoff and landing permits, at JFK and has lobbied for the agency to update its assessment of the airport’s capacity. But United said those improvements will take time. As for the airline’s employees, United says the 100 employees who work at JFK are not losing their jobs and are instead being reassigned to nearby locations.
Old Europe Cheese, Inc. is conducting a voluntary recall of its Brie and Camembert cheeses due to a possible Listeria outbreak, according to the FDA. Affected cheeses were sold at about a dozen major retailers in the US and Mexico between August 1 and September 28, 2022. Save Mart, Giant Foods, Stop & Shop, Fresh Thyme, Lidl, Sprouts, Athenian Foods and Whole Foods, the company said. The FDA advises consumers who may have purchased any of the products to dispose of them and to be extra vigilant about disinfecting surfaces that may have come into contact with the products.
Svante Pääbo receives Nobel Prize for medicine
Swedish geneticist Svante Pääbo has won the Nobel Prize in Medicine. The Nobel Committee said Pääbo “achieved something seemingly impossible” when he sequenced the first Neanderthal genome and discovered that Homo sapiens interbred with Neanderthals. Thanks to his work, scientists can compare Neanderthal genomes with the genetic records of humans living today.
Hurricane Orlene hits Mexico
Hurricane Orlene is poised to hit Mexico today, bringing heavy rains and the possibility of severe flooding to popular resort areas along the west coast. Recent forecasts show the Category 2 storm heading towards Mazatlán with maximum sustained winds of 105 miles per hour. A hurricane warning is in effect for the coast of mainland Mexico from Playa Perula to San Blas and from Mazatlán to Bahia Tempehuaya, including the city of Puerto Vallarta.
See what’s streaming in October
There’s a plethora of amazing shows and movies available to stream this month on Netflix, Amazon, Disney+ and Hulu. Check out the list here (and yes, it has some spooky deals).
Tesla introduces a robot that can dance and water plantss
The robot, named Optimus, took the stage at Tesla’s AI Tag, slowly waving at the crowd and gesturing with its hands for about a minute. Watch the reveal here.
Football Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw privately battled cancer twice in the past year
But there is good news. The former Steelers quarterback and TV analyst said he’s now cancer-free and feels like his “old self.”
Beyoncé celebrates the debut of her sister Solange’s ballet composition
Talent runs deep in the Knowles family! Over the weekend, Beyoncé shared this heartfelt post on Instagram about her sister’s latest artistic venture.
The world’s largest bobblehead is unveiled
A bargain hunter in Pennsylvania says he broke a world record with this 600-pound bobble-head replica of their mascot, which towers over 16 feet.
23
That’s the age of the woman who won Sunday’s London Marathon, becoming the youngest person to ever finish first. Yalemzerf Yehualaw of Ethiopia overcame a face plantation during the competition and still finished the race in 2 hours, 17 minutes and 25 seconds. It was the third fastest time ever in women, the fastest debut time in history and an Ethiopian record.
“It’s never okay to be a racist.”
– Republican Senator Rick Scott from Floridawhen asked about former President Donald Trump’s recent personal attack on Elaine Chao, a notable Asian American in the GOP and his former Secretary of Transportation. In a recent post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump directly poked fun at Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Chao, the Kentucky Republican’s wife, calling them “the China-loving woman, Coco Chow.” !“ by the senator.
Hurricane Orlene hits Mexico on Monday
Check your local forecast here>>>
360° Victoria Falls – The Devil’s Pool | National Geographic
Gaze out over the cliffs of Victoria Falls
This 360-degree video is perhaps the surest way to experience what it’s like to peer over the edge of massive cliffs. (click here to view)