The News Roundup - Saturday Showdown

Headlines from August 27 to August 29

World News

US Court Rules Against Trump’s Tariffs on Foreign Goods: A U.S. appeals court has just gutted Trump’s sweeping tariff campaign, declaring much of it illegal. Still, the levies remain for now, clinging on while the case rockets toward the Supreme Court. International players - from Brazil to China - are already rattling sabers, bracing for what could become a global trade storm.

Protests Erupt in Jakarta After Ride-Share Driver Killed (August 29): Protests in Jakarta grew after a ride share driver died. The protests started on August 29, and they began a talk about gig workers' rights in Indonesia. Chants for more protections sounded across the capital.

Indonesia’s Mount Merapi Volcano Erupts (August 27): Indonesia's Mount Merapi Volcano Erupts - Mount Merapi, a restless volcano, erupted on August 27. The eruption sent ash 2,000 meters into the air.

Weird / Odd News

A Man Stops a Burglary Dressed in Batman Pajamas: In Illinois, a thief picked the wrong house. The homeowner wearing Batman pajamas, ran out and scared the thief away. Doorbell footage became popular showing that not all heroes wear capes.

A Tourist Pours Beer into an Elephant's Trunk in Kenya (August 28): A person poured beer into an elephant's trunk. The video caused international anger on August 28, as people who work to save animals called it wrong and harmful.

A Chinese Man Drugs a Woman Plus Takes Her Blood: A Chinese man was arrested for drugging a woman and taking her blood, because he said it lowered his stress. The strange event drew attention and upset people.

A Woman DJ Goes into the Air with Her Music (August 29): One DJ decided that music alone was not enough. During her show, she went up on a platform mixing songs while in the air. The August 29 video drew applause.

True Crime

“ChatGPT-Fueled Ex-Yahoo Delusions” Before He Killed His Mom (August 27): A former Yahoo employee accused of killing his mother allegedly spiraled into delusions stoked by an AI chatbot. His lawyers say the bot worsened his mental state before the August 27 attack.

Mother of Minneapolis School Shooter Won't Help Police: Minneapolis school shooting investigation was hampered by the mom of the son not cooperating and leaving unanswered important questions about the motive.

Matt Wright: TV Crocodile Wrangler Convicted for Doing the "Wrong Thing" Following Helicopter Crash (August 28): Matt Wright, star of TV show Wild Croc Territory, was convicted on August 28 for perverting the course of justice - jurors today claimed he did so when he lied about crashing the helicopter that killed another TV personality.

FBI Found Bones During Search for Father Accused of Killing 3 Daughters (August 29): In possibly one of the most disturbing developments connected to a father who is accused of murdering his three daughters, the FBI found bones on August 29 while searching for Travis Decker.

2 Dead After Getting Flesh-Eating Bacteria Eating Raw Oysters (August 27): Two people have died in the U.S. after eating raw oysters contaminated with a flesh-eating bacteria (Vibrio vulnificus). The flesh-eating bacteria are usually found in warm coastal waters. The incidents that occurred on August 27 have prompted new warnings about seafood safety.

Transunion Hack Exposes Data of Millions of Americans (August 28): A major cyberattack has exposed the financial data of millions of Americans in the security breach of Transunion. The latest breach occurred on August 28, and brings to the forefront significant privacy and security issues for consumers in the digital age.

Celebrity / Entertainment

George Clooney Opens Up About Aging: The actor, who has recently sported silver hair, has confessed that he lives as though the years ahead are not promised.

Katie Thurston Shares Stage 4 Cancer Battle (August 29): Katie Thurston, once The Bachelorette, revealed on August 29 that she is fighting Stage 4 cancer. Her post triggered an avalanche of love from fans and fellow celebrities alike.

“My Wife and Kids” Cast: Where Are They Now (August 29): A nostalgic August 29 feature revisited the cast of My Wife and Kids, showing how each actor has spent the years since the sitcom ended.

Kevin Costner Is Reportedly Dating Documentary Director (August 29): Just coming out of a divorce, Kevin Costner is again in the news - this time reportedly dating the director of a documentary, according to a report from August 29. This has everyone in Hollywood buzzing.

Science / Health

Mediterranean Diet and Exercise Reduced Diabetes Risk by 31%: One study, the PREDIMED-Plus study, spanning six years and nearly 5,000 people, found that a Mediterranean diet with exercise was able to cut type 2 diabetes risk in nearly one-third of people.

Tiny Eye Implant Approved for Rare Form of Blindness (August 29): The FDA has approved the first ever treatment for MacTel, a rare disease that destroys central vision. The tiny implant announced August 29 could help push thousands of lives toward the finish line.

Lithium May Be Missing Puzzle Piece in Alzheimer’s Research (August 29): Lithium depletion caused by amyloid plaques is considered by Harvard researchers to be the missing trigger in Alzheimer’s. Their August 29 study points to a new lead in the fight that has gone on for decades.

Ancient Forests May Have Contributed to Oxygen Boom in the Deep Sea (August 27): New evidence suggests that about 390 million years ago, ancient forests contributed to deep sea oxygenation, which opened up evolutionary pathways for bigger marine life. Published August 27, the findings reframe the story of Earth’s evolutionary history.

Technology / AI

Nvidia Reports $46.7 Billion in Revenue, Driven by AI (August 29): AI’s golden child, Nvidia, hauled in $46.7 billion last quarter - a 56% surge year over year, unveiled on August 29. The growth cements its dominance in the AI arms race.

911 Centers Use AI to Answer Non-Emergency Calls (August 27): With human dispatchers stretched thin, U.S. 911 centers rolled out AI assistants on August 27 to handle non-emergency calls. Humans now focus on the urgent - while bots handle the noise.

MathGPT.ai Expands to Over 50 Institutions (August 28): MathGPT.ai is spreading fast - now in over 50 universities, including Penn State and Tufts. The AI tutor, announced on August 28, is marketing itself as "cheat-proof."

Anthropic Launches AI Advisory Council (August 27): AI lab Anthropic announced on August 27 that it’s forming an advisory council to cozy up to policymakers in D.C., hoping to shape the future of AI with “responsibility” front and center.

Business / Economy

Chip Behemoth Nvidia Racks Up 56% Sales Gain in Boost for AI Boon (August 28): Nvidia's finances, reported on August 28, revealed a 56% revenue increase to $46.74 billion, quelling any doubt about whether the AI boom was all hype. The chipmaker has become Wall Street's AI forecasting barometer.

US Consumer Confidence Plummets as Job Market Slows (August 26): On August 26, recently published data told us that American consumer confidence squeezed lower, with workers fretting over income and cutting back on spending - foreshadowing tempestuous economic weather ahead.

Mexico to Put a Halt to Package Shipments to the US (August 28): Mexico announced on August 28 that it will suspend package shipments to the US when a tariff exemption expires. Businesses depending on cross-border shipments were bracing for pandemonium.

That’s all I’ve got for today. If you made it this far, thanks for hanging out with me. I’ll be back with more insights tomorrow, and of course, the news roundup drops every Wednesday and Saturday.

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Until then, stay curious and stay sharp. See you tomorrow!