Biden OK's Ukraine Attacks, $1 Million Banana, and a Bear Whisperer

President Joe Biden on Sunday authorized Ukraine to use long-range U.S. missiles for strikes deep inside Russia, marking a significant policy reversal.

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Politics

➤ President-elect Donald Trump named Liberty Energy CEO Chris Wright as energy secretary. Wright has experience in shale development and serves on the board of a nuclear microreactor startup. (More)

Trump also named Karoline Leavitt, 27, as his White House press secretary, making her the youngest person ever to hold the role. Leavitt gained prominence after being kicked off CNN during a heated on-air clash about Trump. (See Details)

➤ FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr was tapped by Trump to chair the agency. Carr, first nominated in 2017, served under former FCC Chair Ajit Pai. (More)

Alaska’s sole U.S. House race has been called for Republican Nick Begich, flipping the seat from Democrats and giving the GOP 220 total seats, surpassing the 218 needed for a majority. (More)

Malcolm X's family filed a $100 million lawsuit against the U.S. government, alleging the FBI and NYPD conspired in his 1965 assassination and an ongoing cover-up. (See Details)

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Sports

The Buffalo Bills handed the Kansas City Chiefs their first loss of the season with a 30-21 victory, while the Pittsburgh Steelers seized control of the AFC North with an 18-16 win over the Baltimore Ravens. (See NFL Scores)

➤ Georgia moved up to No. 8 in the AP College Football Poll after beating Tennessee Saturday, while the Volunteers dropped to No. 10. Oregon, Ohio State, and Texas remain the top three ranked teams. (See AP Poll)

The Tampa Bay Rays' deal for a potential new stadium is in jeopardy after stalling by Pinellas County officials. The team’s current stadium was severely damaged by Hurricane Milton. (More)

Yesterday's Results: NFL | NCAAF | NBA | NHL | PGA | LPGA | NCAA-M | NCAA-W

The Holiday Section

Coca-Cola released AI-generated remakes of some of its classic Christmas ads which were pelted with widespread criticism online. (See Ads)

Hallmark’s 15th annual “Countdown to Christmas” is underway, with 48 new feel-good holiday movies premiering through Dec. 21. (See Photos)

An outdoor Christmas decoration depicting light-hanging gone wrong caused neighbors to call 911 to report that a man—actually a dummy—was hanging desperately from his roof. (See Video)

Finance

➤ Elon Musk endorsed Howard Lutnick, Trump's transition co-chair and Cantor Fitzgerald CEO, for Treasury secretary, favoring him over rival candidate Scott Bessent, CEO of Key Square Group. (More)

McDonald’s has introduced a 10-piece chicken nugget value meal and extended its $5 Meal Deal through December at most locations, aiming to recover from a recent E. coli outbreak. (See Details)

Boeing sent layoff notices to 438 employees, initiating the first round of cuts in its broader plan to reduce its workforce by 17,000 jobs, approximately 10% of its total employees. (More)

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Science & Technology

A videographer in the southwest Pacific Ocean discovered the largest recorded coral, measuring over 30 meters and estimated to be at least 300 years old. (More)

The Exploration Company from Europe announced on Sunday that it raised $160 million to develop Nyx, a reusable capsule for astronauts and cargo, aiming to compete with rival SpaceX. (See Image)

Archaeologists discovered a second surprise body in an ancient Asyut tomb in Egypt. Priestess Idy was hidden behind a wall in her father’s elaborate burial chamber. (See Photo)

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Monday Manifest

A rare Israeli airstrike in Beirut killed Hezbollah spokesman Mohammed Afif in Beirut, the latest targeted killing of a Hezbollah leader. (More)

➤ Norwegian fishermen snagged a U.S. nuclear-powered submarine off Tromsø, losing their net after the USS Virginia dragged it two nautical miles before cutting it loose. (More)

➤ Latvia charged two Lithuanians with counterfeiting Ariel laundry products in an organized crime operation. Authorities seized 22 metric tons of fake detergent in Riga. (More)

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Et Cetera

➤ A Southwest Airlines plane was struck by a bullet while preparing for takeoff at Dallas Love Field. No injuries were reported, and authorities are investigating. (More)

➤ A wildlife guide in British Columbia’s Great Bear Rainforest stayed calm as a grizzly bear came within five feet. The tour group watched as she told the bear, “Oh no, you can’t come this way.” The bear paused, then moved on. (Watch Video)

➤ A banana duct-taped to a wall by artist Maurizio Cattelan could fetch $1 million at Sotheby's, with buyers receiving rights to display their own fruit. (See Banana)

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Have you ever mailed a letter to Santa?

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Yesterday's Results:

How many streaming services do you subscribe to?

  1. 1-2: 32%
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  3. 3-4: 23.8%
  4. 5-6: 9.8%
  5. All of them: 4.1%

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“After analyzing 6 years' worth of data, we can say there hasn't been much improvement in people's password habits."  

NordPass in its sixth annual study on the most common passwords in the world

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Winter Storm Threatens, Ransom Baguettes, and a Very Expensive House

Sunday, November 17, 2024

A late November storm packing snow, high winds, and frigid temperatures is expected to develop out of the Rockies on Tuesday and Wednesday of Thanksgiving week, potentially complicating holiday travel

Gaetz Probe Delayed, Sneaky Snooker, and Rocky Backs Trump

Saturday, November 16, 2024

faffsfdfdsf ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏

AI Grannies Assemble, 2024 Hero Dog Award, and Vintage Casserole Recipes

Friday, November 15, 2024

A British internet provider has unleashed Daisy, an AI-powered “granny” whose sole mission is to keep scammers tangled in endless conversation so they have less time to target real victims. ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌

Trump Taps RFK Jr., Pennsylvania Recount, and a 300-Carat Necklace

Friday, November 15, 2024

President-elect Trump nominated Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to head the Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees 13 agencies with a budget of nearly $2 trillion. ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏

Elon, Vivek to Lead Cost-Cutting Agency, CNN Layoffs, and a James Bond Auction

Friday, November 15, 2024

President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday named Elon Musk and former GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy to head up a new federal agency, the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌

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