Thursday, February 24th, 2022
“Unjustified Attack”, Oil Prices Surge & QR Codes Warning
All the news you need in about 10 min:
This episode is brought to you by MamaZen (Listen for the discount code) and Seed.com/newsworthy
Story Summaries
All the news stories mentioned in today's episode are listed with links below, so you can spend as much -- or as little -- time as you want to peruse the latest happenings.
Russia Attacks Ukraine
Ukraine is now officially under attack. This morning, Russia has been launching missiles and airstrikes in Ukraine’s capital and more than a dozen other cities around the country. The attacks happened just minutes after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a military operation. He justified the attack by saying it was needed to protect people in eastern Ukraine. However, the U.S. and other allies say it’s all lies, and they’re condemning the invasion. President Biden plans to speak to Americans about the attack later today.
Read more: AP, NBC News, WSJ, NY Times, BBC, White House
More US, EU Sanctions
Even before Russia’s attack, world leaders announced more economic sanctions, trade and travel bans, and other measures. In the U.S., President Biden announced sanctions against the Russian government-controlled company that’s building the Russia-to-Germany gas pipeline. That’s on top of sanctions we told you about yesterday that target banks and Russia’s defense sector. More are likely coming. The White House is also reportedly preparing a ban on technology exports.
Read more WSJ, AP, ABC News, Fox Business, NY Times
Stocks Dive, Oil Prices Spike
This morning, the international markets took a plunge, and oil prices surged past $100 a barrel for the first time since 2014. This was expected since Russia is responsible for about 10% of the world’s oil supply, and sanctions are likely to impact Russia’s energy industry. An invasion could also damage important pipelines in Europe. Yesterday, the national average for a gallon of gas hit $3.53 a gallon. That will likely increase now. The U.S. Stock Market is expected to open lower today, too.
Read more: Reuters, CNBC, WaPo, AP
California-DC Convoy Takes Off
A group of American truckers demanding an end to Covid-19 mandates started a cross-country drive from California to Washington, D.C. Organizers promised a “lawful and peaceful journey”, saying they just want to raise awareness, not spark violence. However, the New York Times says many of the people behind the protest also have connections to the riot at the Capitol last January. So this time, the U.S. government is preparing for the arrival in D.C. The Pentagon decided to deploy 700 National Guard troops to the nation’s capital. That’s mostly to help with traffic.
Read more: AP, CBS News, NY Times, USA Today
Truth Social Glitches
Former President Trump’s new social media platform could be popular, but it's tough to say because a lot of people who have wanted to join haven’t been able to. Since its launch on Monday, Truth Social has been dealing with technical glitches, a 13-hour outage, and a 300,000-person waiting list. Some people still haven’t been able to log on, but some who have said it looks a lot like Twitter. So far, the company hasn’t said much about the glitches, just that it’s been overwhelmed with demand.
Read more: WaPo, NY Times, CNN, WSJ, Truth Social
Home Prices Surge
New data shows U.S. home prices skyrocketed in 2021. The Case-Shiller National Home Price Index looks at the average cost of a home in major metros across the country. It found American home prices jumped 18.8% over the last year. That’s the biggest jump since the index began more than three decades ago. Experts blame a combination of more people wanting to buy homes to take advantage of low mortgage rates, along with a limited number of homes up for sale.
Read more: WSJ, AFP, AP
Target Testing New Curbside Options
Target is rolling out new perks for its popular drive-up service. Starting this fall at select stores, you can use the Target app to order a Starbucks drink or make returns without getting out of your car. That’s adding to the current drive-up options that let you choose groceries or other items online, then pick them up curbside.
Read more: CNN, CNBC, USA Today, Target
First Cashierless Whole Foods
Amazon is using its cashier-less technology at a Whole Foods store for the first time. As a reminder, Amazon owns Whole Foods. The store that opened in Washington, D.C. lets customers skip the checkout line. It’s the same “Just Walk Out” technology that’s been in the so-called Amazon Go convenience stores already. Essentially, shoppers scan a payment method when they come in, like a QR code in the Amazon app or a credit card linked to Amazon. The store has cameras and software to keep track of shoppers and the products they pick up.
Read more: Axios, Business Insider, CSA, WRC
Siri Gets a New, Less-Gendered Voice
Apple’s virtual assistant, Siri, is reportedly getting a new voice that sounds more gender-neutral. Axios reports the latest voice option is less explicitly male- or female-sounding. Apple confirmed it was recorded by a member of the LGBTQ community. It’s part of Apple’s push to have more diverse virtual assistants. The new version of Siri launches in Apple’s latest version of IOS and will roll out with the next software update.
Read more: Axios, The Verge, NY Post, Engadget
Tom Brady Producing & Acting
Tom Brady will reportedly produce and star in a football-themed movie called ‘80 For Brady’. It’s inspired by a true story and follows four best friends who take a road trip to the Super Bowl to see their quarterback hero, Tom Brady. The Hollywood Reporter says he’ll be working with some A-list actors, like Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, Rita Moreno, and Sally Field. The movie is supposed to start production this spring.
Read more: Variety, Hollywood Reporter, ESPN, Deadline
Thing to Know Thursday: FBI Warns of QR Code Risks
The FBI wants you to be cautious of QR codes. Those black and white box-shaped codes have exploded in popularity recently. Since they’re so popular, the FBI says criminals are jumping on the trend and using them to steal people’s data. They can put malware in the barcodes to get access to devices and steal personal information. Criminals could also put out a QR code that leads to malicious websites that steal personal information. To avoid being scammed, the FBI says don’t scan from a source you don’t trust.
Read more: INC, Tech Radar, GovTech, FBI