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Here’s what you need to know:

1. End of the Historic Writers’ Strike and Actors’ Pending Agreement

   After almost five months, the historic writers’ strike is nearing a close, with Hollywood studios and screenwriters reaching a tentative deal. However, actors are yet to reach an agreement.

2. Canadian Autoworkers’ Ratification of New Contract with Ford

   Canadian autoworkers have ratified a new contract with Ford, averting a potential strike. However, the strike in the US is starting to have an impact.

3. $1.4 Billion Allocated for Rail Safety Improvement by Biden Administration

   The Biden administration has earmarked $1.4 billion to enhance rail safety. These funds will support 70 projects across 35 states in the US.

4. Amazon Invests $4 Billion in AI Firm Anthropic

   In a significant move for both the startup and ChatGPT rival, Amazon is investing $4 billion in the AI firm Anthropic. This investment intensifies the competition among tech giants in the field of artificial intelligence.

5. NASA Retrieves Soil from Deep Space for the First Time

   NASA has successfully retrieved samples of soil from asteroid Bennu, marking the first collection of deep space material. After a seven-year journey, these samples have landed in Utah and hold potential information about the formation of the Solar System.

6. US Rare Earth Magnet Industry’s Attempt to Reduce Dependence on China

   The US is making a major investment of $94 million in E-VAC Magnetics, a company aiming to build and operate a rare earth permanent magnet factory in the country. The goal is to reduce reliance on China in the production of rare earth magnets, which are crucial for electric vehicles, wind turbines, and iPhones. However, the parent company of E-VAC, Vacuumschmelze, has significant ties to China.

   • Roughly one in four Vacuumschmelze employees are China-based
   • The company has production facilities in China
   • It is a minority owner of a joint venture with Zhongke Sanhuan, China’s largest producer of rare earth magnets

7. Building a Twitter Alternative – Pebble

   Gabor Cselle, a former Google and Twitter product manager, is leading the development of a Twitter alternative called Pebble. In an interview with Quartz, Cselle emphasizes the importance of a slow and steady approach, focusing on creating a strong community rather than rapid growth.

8. El Niño’s Impact on Snow Plowing Industry

   The El Niño climate pattern is expected to bring a prolonged, colder winter with increased snowfall for some areas. This forecast has led to high expectations for the snowplowing services industry, which estimates around $25.6 billion in revenue for 2023.

Surprising Discoveries:

• Flamingos have been spotted in the northern US state of Wisconsin for the first time, deviating from their usual habitat along the Gulf Coast states.
• The teaser for the reality competition series, Squid Game, has been released on Netflix. The series portrays a franchise where 456 people compete for a prize of $4.56 million.
• An attempt to create an AI-generated soundtrack by a Disney director resulted in a track rated “7 out of 10”, emphasizing the unique talent of renowned composer Hans Zimmer.
• A remarkably well-preserved child’s shoe from 2,000 years ago was discovered in Austria, showcasing intact laces.
• Silkworms have been genetically modified to produce spider silk, a material six times tougher than kevlar.

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