Author: Krishna Bora

Oakland’s homeless population has doubled in the past decade. The city now has 5,490 unhoused individuals. 67% of them live in street encampments. There are 170 homeless camps throughout Oakland. Crime Surges Amid Inadequate Law Enforcement DailyMail.com Burglaries have increased by 23% compared to last year. Motor vehicle thefts have risen by a staggering 44%. The police department lacks leadership due to the firing of Chief LeRonne Armstrong. Governor Newsom deployed California Highway Patrol to support local law enforcement. Residents Describe City as “Dystopian” DailyMail.com Locals compare Oakland’s current state to scenes from Mad Max. Encampments sprawl across entire city…

The USS Stein, a Knox-class frigate, suffered an unusual attack in 1978. The incident occurred during the ship’s maiden voyage in the Pacific Ocean. Damage to the vessel’s sonar dome forced it to return to base for repairs. This event has puzzled marine biologists and naval experts for over four decades. Knox-class Frigate: Powerful Anti-submarine Vessel Thomas Park/Unsplash The USS Stein was a formidable warship, part of the Knox-class frigates. Launched in 1970, it represented the pinnacle of the Navy’s second-generation anti-submarine warfare technology. Knox-class frigates typically displaced 4,200 tons and measured 438 feet in length. These vessels played a…

Governor Gavin Newsom signed California Assembly Bill 1287 into law in 2023. This legislation increased the minimum wage for fast-food workers to $20 per hour. California became the first state to implement such a high industry-specific minimum wage. The bill also established a fast-food regulatory council with the power to adjust the industry’s minimum wage annually. Los Angeles: Setting Higher Wage Standards The Guardian Los Angeles currently maintains a minimum wage of $16.04 per hour. This rate exceeds both the federal minimum wage of $7.25 and California’s state minimum wage of $15.50. Los Angeles has consistently been at the forefront…

Hurricane Beryl, a Category 1 storm, struck Houston on Monday. The hurricane knocked out power to over 1.5 million customers. Half a million Texans still lack electricity days later. This event marks the third major power outage in Houston since 2021. CenterPoint’s Grid Reliability Questioned Molly Hennesy Fisk/TWP Whisker Labs data shows CenterPoint’s grid is one of the most unstable in the U.S. Outages occur at twice the national average in CenterPoint’s service area. The utility disputes these findings, claiming their system “operated as designed”. CenterPoint has faced criticism for similar outages in 2021 and 2023. Prolonged Outage Poses Health…

Nicholas Gage, 84, and Nicholas Basbanes, 81, filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft. They allege these companies used their copyrighted work without permission to train AI chatbots. The lawsuit joins a broader case seeking class-action status, including authors like John Grisham and George R. R. Martin. This case represents a growing trend, with AI-related lawsuits increasing by 300% in 2023 compared to 2022. Lifetime of Work at Stake The Associated Press Gage and Basbanes devoted decades to journalism and book authorship. Gage’s memoir became a bestseller and inspired a film. Basbanes wrote extensively about literary culture. Their combined works…

CNN announced the elimination of approximately 100 jobs. This represents less than 3% of CNN’s 3,500-person workforce. The cuts are part of a larger operational overhaul. CNN has faced several rounds of layoffs in recent years, including 400 positions cut in 2022. Digital and TV Teams Merge New York Post CNN plans to merge its digital and traditional pay-TV news-gathering teams. This move aims to streamline operations and reduce redundancies. The merger reflects the blurring lines between TV and online viewing. In 2022, 87% of U.S. adults got news from digital devices, according to Pew Research. New Subscription Product Planned…

Explorers ventured into Belize’s Giant Blue Hole in 2018. Richard Branson led the expedition with Fabien Cousteau and Erika Bergman. They aimed to create a 3D map of the interior. The Blue Hole is the world’s largest sinkhole, measuring 300 meters across and 125 meters deep. Breathtaking Stalactites Discovered First UNILAD The team encountered giant stalactites at the beginning of their descent. Branson described these formations as “breathtakingly beautiful.” Stalactites form over thousands of years as mineral-rich water drips from cave ceilings. Some stalactites in the Blue Hole are estimated to be over 150,000 years old. Toxic Layer Pierced Midway…

Tesla plans to release software update 2024.26. The update includes new parental control features. These features aim to enhance safety for teen drivers. Tesla has a history of introducing innovative software updates, with over-the-air updates starting in 2012. Night Curfew Alerts Parents Autoua.net The Night Curfew feature notifies parents of late-night driving. Parents can set specific curfew times in the Tesla app. This feature addresses concerns about teen night driving. Statistics show 40% of teen motor vehicle fatalities occur between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. Speed Limiters Enhance Teen Safety The New York Times Parents can set maximum speed limits…

Athletic Brewing closes a $50 million financing round. The company’s valuation reaches $800 million, doubling since 2022. Growth-investment firm General Atlantic leads the round. This valuation reflects the booming nonalcoholic beer market, which grew 31% in 2023. Nonalcoholic Beer Market Surges Forward Molson Coors Beer Nonalcoholic beer becomes the fastest-growing beer segment. Athletic Brewing leads U.S. sales, surpassing Heineken and Budweiser. The global nonalcoholic beer market is expected to reach $25 billion by 2024. This growth contrasts with overall beer sales, which declined 3% in 2023. Athletic Brewing’s Rapid Ascent Just Drinks Founded in 2017, Athletic quickly becomes a top-20…

Baidu’s autonomous vehicle collided with a pedestrian in Wuhan. The incident occurred when the car started moving at a green light. The pedestrian reportedly crossed against the traffic signal. This event highlights the challenges faced by autonomous vehicles in complex urban environments. Baidu Responds to Accident Publicly Reuters Baidu issued a statement to Chinese media about the incident. They confirmed minor contact between the vehicle and pedestrian. The company reported no obvious external injuries to the person involved. Baidu, founded in 2000, is a leading AI and autonomous driving company in China. Social Media Supports Tech Company CNBC Chinese social…