Anna's Daybreak News

_{Just facts, you think for yourself}

Monday, 5:12 AM

December 2, 2024

Good morning news friend! Follow the events shaping today’s world, staying connected to the stories that matter.📰🌟

Biden Pardons Son Hunter

President Joe Biden issued a full pardon to his son, Hunter Biden, sparing him from a potential prison sentence. Previously, Biden had promised not to use presidential powers for family benefits.

Hunter was convicted in June 2024 for three felonies related to a gun purchase and pleaded guilty to failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes. He was facing up to 25 years for the gun charges and 17 years for the tax violations.

Biden's pardon covers any offenses committed between January 1, 2014, and December 1, 2024. He justified the pardon by claiming that Hunter’s prosecution was politically motivated.

Biden stated that his son was targeted because of his relation to the president.

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China Strikes Gold

China discovered the world's largest gold reserve located at the Wangu gold field in Hunan Province. This “supergiant deposit” contains over 1,000 metric tons of gold, estimated to be worth $83 billion.

Currently, China produces around 10% of the global gold output. With this find, the nation’s total gold reserves surpass 2,000 tons.

The Hunan Geological Bureau identified more than 40 veins of pure gold ore, with concentrations reaching up to 138 grams per metric ton— 8 grams is considered high-grade.

Preliminary drilling results suggest 300 tons of gold may be found at shallower depths, with additional reserves lying deeper, possibly extending to nearly 9,800 feet.

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Aleppo Under Siege

Insurgents(off shoots from Al-Qaeda and ISIS) launched a major offensive, breaching Syria's largest city, Aleppo, for the first time since 2016. This surprise attack began on November 29, with thousands of fighters capturing key towns and villages in the region.

The Syrian government forces struggled to respond effectively, leading to heavy casualties on both sides. Reports indicate the insurgents, primarily from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, took control of over 70 locations in Aleppo and Idlib provinces.

Turkish intelligence reportedly supported the insurgents' push, while Russia promised military aid to the Syrian government (also propped by Iran and Hezbollah).

By December 1, government troops launched counterattacks and airstrikes, aiming to halt insurgent advances. While reports claimed nearly 1,000 insurgents were killed in response.

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Musk vs OpenAI Part II

Elon Musk asked a federal court to block OpenAI from transitioning to a for-profit model. Musk’s legal team filed an injunction arguing this move threatens competition, particularly for his startup, xAI.

Musk claims OpenAI restricts its investors from funding competing firms. This practice puts his business at a disadvantage. OpenAI responded, stating Musk's claims are unfounded and reflect his bitterness after leaving the organization.

OpenAI was founded in 2015 as a non-profit but is now attempting to become a public benefit corporation to attract more investments.

Musk left OpenAI in 2018, expressing discomfort over its profit-driven direction under CEO Sam Altman. He has previously accused OpenAI of deviating from its original mission to make AI research accessible to all.

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Cyber Week Shopping Surge

Shoppers spent nearly $11 billion this Black Friday. A 10% increase from 2023. Online sales also surged, with $10.8 billion spent on Friday alone, and $6.1 billion on Thanksgiving Day, up 9% from last year.

According to Mastercard SpendingPulse, online sales rose 15%, while in-store sales increased by only 0.7%, leading to an overall growth of 3.4%.

Jewelry, electronics, and apparel remained the top categories, with many consumers opting for lower-priced items like candles and vases.

Macy’s and Kohl’s reported muted sales, while Amazon and Walmart reported strong online traffic. The holiday shopping season is noted to be shorter this year, with only 26 days between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

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Notre-Dame's Resurrection

The Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris is set to reopen to the public on December 7, five years after a devastating fire.

French President Emmanuel Macron expressed pride in the restoration, praising the efforts of 2,000 workers from around the world. The cost of the project reached nearly €700 million (over $750 million).

The reconstruction included restoring the iconic spire, stained glass windows, and the famous organ. Experts used new techniques to enhance fire protection within the cathedral.

In 2017, Notre-Dame welcomed 12 million visitors; this number is expected to rise to 14-15 million annually post-reopening. The first mass will be held on December 8.

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“What counts is not what people say about you, it is how much energy they spend in saying it.”

Baked with love,

Anna Eisenberg ❤️