China’s plan with spy balloons. Which is the safest seat in an airplane? Google’s artificial intelligence chatbot Bard’s mistake. Here’s what you need to know to start the day. Truth first.
1. The girl who saved her brother in the earthquake
Two children trapped in concrete in the remains of their home in northern Syria have been rescued more than 36 hours after Monday’s earthquake. “Get me out of here, I’ll do anything for you,” the older girl whispers to rescuers amid the rubble of a children’s home in Besnaya-Basneh, a small town in Haram, Syria.
2. Will Gennaro Garcia Luna testify?
Genaro Garcia Luna’s defense must decide whether Mexico’s former secretary of public security will testify in the ongoing trial in New York. During this Wednesday’s hearing, Judge Brian M. Cogan gave the former officer’s attorneys until Monday to determine whether he would testify.
3. Zelensky’s message to Europe
In the first leg of an unannounced diplomatic tour of European capitals, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made a surprise visit to the UK on Wednesday, with a powerful message for British lawmakers.
4. China’s plan with spy balloons
US intelligence officials believe the recently recovered spy balloon is part of a wider surveillance program being run by the Chinese military, according to multiple US officials familiar with the intelligence.
5. The mistake of Google’s artificial intelligence chatbot Bard
Google’s much-hyped new AI chatbot tool Bard, which hasn’t yet been released to the public, is already coming under fire for giving incorrect answers during a demo this week.
coffee time
Relief from chronic constipation is possible without drugs, thanks to a new vibrating pill
It’s a first-of-its-kind capsule that’s the size of a regular pill, but instead of releasing medication after swallowing, it vibrates to stimulate the colon.
The story of established actor and activist Leonardo DiCaprio, who returns to the public spotlight again and again
Leonardo DiCaprio has never shied away from the public spotlight: whether it’s for a new film, a fiery environmental message or rumors about his romantic life. This is his story.
A family of four travels Asia by bus: this is their story
Packing up and going on a long road trip was something Nina and Kai Schwacht, both Germans, envisioned doing together in retirement. But following the death of Nina’s father and the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the couple, who have two children, Ben, 11, and Leni, 10, decided they could wait no longer.
Which is the safest seat in an airplane?
We rarely book flights hoping to get the middle seat in the last row. but you know? Statistically, these seats are the safest on the plane.
Celia Cruz will be the first Latin singer with her own 25 cent coin
Cuban-American Celia Cruz will be the first Latina singer to receive a tribute through the ‘American Woman Quarters Program’ to have her own 25-cent coin, as announced by the United States Mint.
figure of the day
317 kg
They find 317 kilos of acorns between the walls of a house in California. Those responsible: Some woodpeckers.
Today’s thought
“Once again I am caught in the glare of the ageism and misogyny that pervade the world we live in.”
Madonna responds to age-related criticism following her appearance at the Grammy Awards.
And to end…
Hobbyist photographer encounters frozen shark in Massachusetts
A passion for photography and snow led an amateur photographer to find a frozen shark on one of the beaches in Dennis, Massachusetts.
