5 Things To Know For Jan. 5: House, California Floods, Vatican, Ukraine, Tech Layoffs
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More people are beginning to believe in self-driving cars and delivery robots walking the sidewalks of big cities. Now the same self-driving technology is coming to wheelchairs — yes , wheelchairs . Understandably, some parents are not ready to put their child in their mind machine. But the company behind artificial intelligence is sure to spark conversation by proving it can add an element of security.
Here's what else you need to know to pick up the pace and get on with your day.
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1. House
House Republicans are struggling to break the impasse over Republican Kevin McCarthy's presidential bid. On Wednesday, McCarthy made more key concessions, including accepting a rule change that would allow a single member to vote in an effort to win the House Speaker's sixth vote and gain 218 votes. The House of Representatives will convene today in hopes of electing a speaker, but the vote could drag on into the weekend. Until the lockdown is lifted, most local business will be closed and law enforcement will be kept to a minimum. The controversy means Republicans must wait to address some of their most pressing priorities, including the administration's investigation into President Joe Biden and his family.
2. Flooding in California
A bomb storm has hit the California coast, causing massive flooding, landslides and power outages. The heaviest rainfall and strongest storms hit the Bay Area, while central California braced for the storm. Forecasters say rainfall could exceed 1 inch per hour today, which could lead to more flooding in areas affected by another storm that caused deadly flooding late last week. California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency this morning as nearly 200,000 California homes and businesses are still without power.
3. The Vatican
Pope Francis celebrated his funeral today in St. Peter's Square in the Vatican, attended by thousands of faithful. The funeral was an unprecedented moment for the first modern archbishop to preside over the funeral. Benedict was elected pope after the death of Pope John Paul II in April 2005, becoming the first pope in 600 years to resign rather than remain in office forever. He passed away last month at the age of 95. He is known to be more conservative than his successor, Pope Francis, who has tried hard to soften the Vatican's stance on abortion and homosexuality and to address the church's growing problem of sexual abuse in recent years. Benedict Estate.
4. Ukraine
With Russia's war with neighboring Ukraine nearly 10 months old, the United States is now considering sending armored vehicles to support Ukraine's military, while France has announced plans to send light armored vehicles. According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Western-style tanks will be crucial for the security of all Ukrainians and the restoration of peace for all Europeans. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin says his country's modern warships are equipped with hypersonic missiles that travel at five times the speed of sound, making them difficult to detect and intercept. "I am confident that such powerful weapons will protect Russia from possible external threats and help protect the national interests of our country," Putin said in an appearance on state media without mentioning the conflict in Ukraine. .
5. Technical withdrawal
Amazon has become the latest tech giant to announce major layoffs. Amazon plans to lay off more than 18,000 workers. The tech sector, which initially boosted employment during the pandemic, has since been forced to change consumer habits as people return to their offline lives. At the same time, last year the industry was hit by a seemingly perfect economic storm, with rising interest rates, the threat of recession and a reassessment of consumer and business spending. Facebook's parent company, Meta, recently announced that it will cut 11,000 jobs. Twitter has announced massive layoffs since Elon Musk bought the company for $44 billion. Salesforce said it will cut 10% of its workforce this week.
Morning view
Video of puppy nursery goes viral
Check out this adorable video of the dog day care bus. It is not a hound, but there are many dogs on board.
Edward Norton discovered that Pocahontas was his 12th great-grandfather
The Oscar-nominated actor grew up amid long-running family rumors that he was related to the real Pocahontas. He recently confirmed this on his PBS show Finding Your Roots.
BMW has launched a concept car that changes color according to the owner's mood.
Ever wanted to share your feelings of being stuck in traffic? Well, BMW plans to introduce a color display panel on the exterior of some of its cars, creating a facelift.
They are the most punctual airlines in the world.
It's been a mess for the airline industry, but it won an American Airlines Worldwide Operational Excellence Award.
Prince Harry says his brother William was physically abused, The Guardian reports.
A new book seen by The Guardian appears to contain shocking details about the royal sibling split.
In memory
James "Buster" Corley , the founder of the popular restaurant and entertainment chain Dave & Buster's, has apparently taken his own life. He was 72 years old. Dave & Buster's said in a statement Wednesday that Corley is a "hospitality enthusiast" with "creative and creative energy." His daughter, Kate Corley, confirmed her father's death after a stroke he suffered four months ago "severely affected his brain connections and personality".
The problem today
500 million dollars
According to a lawsuit filed last week, the two actors also sought permission from Paramount Studios to release the 1968 film Romeo and Juliet, which featured underage nudity. The two actors, aged 15 and 16 at the time, said the intimate nudity scenes caused them mental and emotional distress 55 years after their release. They accused Paramount Studios of sexually exploiting and distributing nude images of teenagers. CNN has reached out to Paramount for comment on the matter.
Quote of the day
"As with the rest of the country, our thoughts and prayers are with him, his family and his teammates."
- White House Press Secretary Karin Jean-Pierre confirmed that President Joe Biden had spoken "at length" with the mother and son following the "horrific news of Damar Hamlin's cardiac arrest." Hamlin's father. The 24-year-old Buffalo Bills quarterback is in critical condition after collapsing on the field during Monday Night Football against the Cincinnati Bengals. He is starting to show signs of improvement, the Buffalo Bills said in a statement Wednesday.
Today's weather
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And finally
The artist draws with a stroke
This artist creates amazing pictures without lifting a pen. Watch this short video to see how hand-eye coordination works. (click here to view)
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