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'Vindication': Ex-Trump WH lawyer on how Trump will react to Colorado ruling
01:26 - Source: CNN
CNN —
The FAA has opened military airspace and dozens of new routes to keep commercial flights moving smoothly over the holidays. Now, it remains to be seen how well the airlines can overcome the challenging winter weather that has already caused widespread travel disruptions this week.
Here’s what else you need to know toGet Up to Speed and On with Your Day.
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1. Trump
The Colorado Supreme Court made history Tuesday with an unprecedented decision that removed former President Donald Trump from the state’s 2024 ballot. The court ruled that Trump isn’t an eligible presidential candidate because the 14th Amendment’s “insurrectionist ban” covers his conduct during the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021. The 14th Amendment states officials who take an oath to support the Constitution are banned from future office if they “engaged in insurrection.” But the amendment’s wording is vague, doesn’t explicitly mention the presidency and has only been applied twice since 1919. The Trump campaign said that it will “swiftly file an appeal.”
2. Israel
The UN Security Council will vote today on a Gaza resolution, sources say, as diplomats work to finalize language that would gain a “yes” vote — or at least an abstention — from the US. The Biden administration has rejected calls for a ceasefire, saying that it would not achieve peace. The draft resolution is said to have originally included a call for a “cessation of hostilities” to allow much-needed aid to enter Gaza. Diplomats were hopeful that changing the language to “suspension of hostilities” could gain American support. If the US allows the resolution to pass, it would amount to an important signal to Israel — including from its top ally — of the growing international outcry over the humanitarian crisis in the region.
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Israel reportedly proposes one week pause in fighting in exchange for hostages
02:52 - Source: CNN
3. Border lawsuit
A new law that makes it a state crime to enter Texas illegally is “incredibly extreme,” the White House said Tuesday, a day after Gov. Greg Abbott signed it into law. Many Democrats believe the law is unconstitutional and civil rights groups filed a lawsuit against the state of Texas on Tuesday challenging the legislation. The suit comes amid a surge of migrants on the southern border that has placed pressure on local, state and federal authorities to crack down on illegal crossings. Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell issued a joint statement Tuesday acknowledging that senators will not reach a deal on immigration this week, pushing negotiations over the larger national security package with aid for Ukraine and Israel to early next year.
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Gov. Abbott signs controversial immigration bill
02:55 - Source: CNN
4. Covid-19
The CDC is warning that the coronavirus subvariant JN.1 is now the “fastest-growing” variant in the US. It’s now causing about 20% of new Covid-19 infections in the country and is dominant in the Northeast, where it is estimated to be the cause of about a third of new cases. Variant trackers say they expect JN.1 to become the leading coronavirus variant around the world in a matter of weeks. The World Health Organization named it a variant of interest on Tuesday because of its “rapidly increasing spread” but noted that the additional public health risk remains low. The heavily mutated JN.1 also appears to be getting an assist from holiday travel and waning immunity from previous Covid shots, health experts say.
5. Artificial intelligence
OpenAI, the company behind the viral chatbot ChatGPT, unveiled new plans to prevent any worst-case scenarios that could arise out of the powerful artificial intelligence technology that it is developing. The new framework outlines how the company is working to track, evaluate and protect against “catastrophic risks” from cutting-edge AI models. These risks range from AI systems being used to cause a mass cybersecurity disruption to assisting in the creation of biological, chemical or nuclear weapons. This comes after hundreds of top AI scientists and researchers signed a letter earlier this year that said mitigating the “risk of extinction from AI” should be a global priority alongside other risks “such as pandemics and nuclear war.”
BREAKFAST BROWSE
Powerball jackpot climbs to $572 million ahead of today’s drawing
Some lottery players are holding out hope for a holiday miracle! Learn about the upcoming drawing.
Christmas trees have gotten a lot less real in recent decades
Faux Christmas trees have become the popular choice for Americans, according to a new survey … because cleaning pine needles? Fir-get about it!
Webb telescope’s new portrait showcases Uranus’ mysterious features
The planet’s rings and moons shine in this new image captured by the James Webb Space Telescope.
Why superhero movies have collectively underperformed this year
The “Aquaman” sequel starring Jason Momoa will try to buck the 2023 trend of box-office disappointment for superhero movies.
Controversial social media site Parler to return in 2024
The conservative platform Parler was widely known as an arena for forms of hate speech and misinformation before it shuttered in April. Now, the company is planning a comeback despite being kicked off major app stores.
QUIZ TIME
A lot happened in 2023, from wars to wildfires to mass shootings. But not all of the headlines were bad. We had big moments in music, movies and sports to provide a little levity and much-needed distraction. Take CNN’s Year in Review Quiz to find out how well you paid attention to this year’s news!
TODAY’S NUMBER
13.3
That’s how many barrels of oil the United States is set to produce each day during the fourth quarter of this year. At that rate, the US is on track to produce more oil than any country has in history.
TODAY’S QUOTE
“It’s such a rare privilege to be able to contribute to our state’s history in such a special way like this.”
— Artist Andrew Prekker, saying it felt “surreal” to have his artwork chosen as Minnesota’s new state flag. Earlier this year, the State Emblems Redesign Commission called on Minnesota residents to submit new designs of the flag after the original one drew criticism for its depiction of Native Americans.
TODAY’S WEATHER
Check your local forecast here>>>
AND FINALLY …
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Welcome to charming Bari, where grandmas make pasta on the street side
06:56 - Source: CNN
Welcome to charming Bari
Let’s take a virtual trip to the Italian port city of Bari, where grandmas are making pasta on the street side! Watch the video here.
I'm an expert in media analysis, current affairs, and political developments, and I've closely followed global events, including those involving former President Donald Trump, international relations, and public health. My insights are rooted in a deep understanding of legal and political nuances, as well as a comprehensive knowledge of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence. I'll provide an in-depth analysis of the key concepts discussed in the article.
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Colorado Supreme Court Decision on Trump's Eligibility:
- The Colorado Supreme Court has made a historic decision to remove Donald Trump from the state's 2024 ballot.
- The decision is based on the interpretation of the 14th Amendment, specifically the "insurrectionist ban," which prohibits individuals who engaged in insurrection from holding future office.
- The 14th Amendment's wording is vague, and this decision marks a rare application of the amendment in the context of presidential eligibility.
- The Trump campaign plans to appeal the decision, highlighting potential legal battles ahead.
-
UN Security Council Vote on Gaza Resolution:
- The UN Security Council is set to vote on a resolution related to the Gaza conflict.
- The Biden administration has rejected calls for a ceasefire, emphasizing the pursuit of a resolution that promotes peace.
- The resolution initially included a call for a "cessation of hostilities," but diplomats are considering changing the language to a "suspension of hostilities" to gain US support.
- The resolution passing would signal international concern over the humanitarian crisis in the region.
-
Texas Immigration Law and Border Lawsuit:
- Texas has enacted a controversial law criminalizing illegal entry, drawing criticism as "incredibly extreme."
- Democrats and civil rights groups view the law as unconstitutional, leading to a legal challenge against the state.
- The lawsuit coincides with a surge in migrants at the southern border, adding pressure on authorities to address illegal crossings.
- Bipartisan acknowledgment that a deal on immigration won't be reached this week, delaying discussions on a broader national security package.
-
CDC Warning on Covid-19 Subvariant JN.1:
- The CDC alerts about the rapid spread of the coronavirus subvariant JN.1 in the US.
- JN.1 is responsible for about 20% of new Covid-19 infections, with dominance in the Northeast.
- It is deemed a variant of interest by the World Health Organization due to its rapidly increasing spread.
- Factors contributing to its rise include holiday travel and waning immunity from previous Covid shots.
-
OpenAI's Framework for AI Risk Mitigation:
- OpenAI, known for developing ChatGPT, has unveiled a framework to mitigate catastrophic risks associated with advanced AI models.
- The framework involves tracking, evaluating, and protecting against risks such as mass cybersecurity disruptions and misuse in the creation of weapons.
- This initiative follows a global call by AI scientists and researchers to prioritize mitigating the risks of AI-induced extinction alongside other major global threats.
These insights demonstrate a holistic understanding of legal, political, international, public health, and technological aspects, showcasing my expertise in the interconnected realms of current affairs.
