November 7, 2024

NATION

A tragic incident occurred at Falcon Field Airport in Mesa, Arizona, when a small jet crashed during an aborted takeoff, resulting in the deaths of five individuals. The aircraft, identified as a Honda HA-420 light business jet, veered off the runway, breached the airport's perimeter fence, and collided with a vehicle on Greenfield Road, igniting a significant fire.

WORLD

Cuba has suffered a nationwide blackout as Hurricane Rafael brings winds of up to 185km/h (115mph) to the Caribbean island. A statement from the country's national energy company said "strong winds caused by the major hurricane Rafael caused the shutdown of the national electricity system". At least 70,000 people have been evacuated from their homes as the category-three storm made landfall on Wednesday evening with warnings of storm surges, flash flooding, and mudslides.

BUSINESS

HEALTH

Recent research indicates that semaglutide-based medications, such as Ozempic and Wegovy, may significantly alleviate knee osteoarthritis pain in individuals with obesity. A phase 3 clinical trial, published in The New England Journal of Medicine, involved 407 participants with an average age of 56 and a body mass index (BMI) of 40.3. Over 68 weeks, those administered a weekly 2.4 mg dose of semaglutide experienced a 13.7% reduction in body weight and a 41.7-point decrease in knee pain on a 100-point scale. In contrast, the placebo group saw a 3.2% weight reduction and a 27.5-point decrease in pain.

ENTERTAINMENT

In a recent interview with Variety, Daniel Craig, who portrayed James Bond from 2006 to 2021, expressed indifference regarding his successor in the iconic role. When asked whom he would like to see as the next Bond, Craig responded, "I don't care," accompanied by a laugh and a slight shake of his head.

TRAVEL

FOOD

Trader Joe's has reintroduced its popular advent calendars for the 2024 holiday season, offering a variety of festive designs at an affordable price of $1.29 each. Each calendar contains 24 pieces of quality milk chocolate behind numbered doors, providing a delightful daily treat leading up to Christmas.

NOSTALGIA

Jonathan Haze, renowned for his portrayal of Seymour Krelborn in the 1960 cult classic The Little Shop of Horrors, passed away on November 2, 2024, at the age of 95. His daughter, Rebecca Haze, confirmed that he died peacefully at his Los Angeles home.

Born Jack Aaron Schachter on April 1, 1929, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Haze began his career in theater, performing alongside his cousin, jazz drummer Buddy Rich, and with Josephine Baker. He transitioned to film after being discovered by director Roger Corman while working at a gas station. This encounter led to a prolific collaboration, with Haze appearing in nearly 20 of Corman's films, including Monster from the Ocean Floor (1954) and The Fast and the Furious (1955).

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