Sources & More

Wildfires spread in Israel after rocket impact, Maldives bans Israelis (Reuters, AP)

Northern Israel was lit ablaze Monday with wildfires set off by rockets that the militant group Hezbollah launched from Lebanon. Dozens of firefighting teams and Israeli soldiers worked through the night to contain the flames, which were made worse by recent bouts of severe heat and dry weather in the region. In related Israeli news, the Maldives government has banned Israelis from entering their country due to public anger over the war in Gaza.  

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Surgical castration approved as potential punishment for sex offenders in Louisiana (CBS, AP)

The Louisiana Legislature passed a bill Monday giving judges the ability to order surgical castration as a punishment for people convicted of aggravated sex crimes against children. If signed into law by Republican Governor Jeff Landry, Louisiana will become the first state to allow such a punishment against sex offenders.     

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OpenAI whistleblowers reveal ChatGPT is not transparent (NYT, AP)

A group of OpenAI whistleblowers released a statement Tuesday in which they describe a culture of “recklessness and secrecy” pervading the artificial intelligence company behind ChatGPT. The group, composed of both current and former employees, claims that OpenAI has failed to be fully transparent about the risks involved with artificial intelligence, alleging that the company used “hardball tactics” to prevent former workers from voicing their concerns. 

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India 2024 election predicts landslide (Reuters)

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi won his third consecutive term in office. However, his party lost over 60 of its seats in parliament, losing their outright majority. Modi plans to focus on growing India’s economy and boosting a sense of Hindu nationalism.

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US Court of Appeals blocks Fearless Fund grant plans (CNN)

The US court of appeals blocked a Black-owned venture capitalist organization from exclusively awarding grants to black female entrepreneurs, citing racial discrimination.

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Venomous flying spiders making their way to the East Coast (CBS)

This one’s a doozy: Giant venomous flying spiders are set to descend on the eastern US any day now, with sightings already ranging from Florida to Ohio. The arachnids, called Joro spiders, boast 4-inch long legs and vibrant yellow bodies. To our listeners in the Northeast, be warned!

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Arizona proposal to allow border-crossing arrests goes to final vote (AP)

Arizona is set to vote on whether local police can arrest unauthorized migrants crossing the US-Mexico border. The bill would also give local judges the power to send those convicted back to their home countries.