Saturday, September 30 — 7 significant news stories

Today ChatGPT read 1130 top news stories. After removing previously covered events, there are 7 articles with a significance score over 7.

[7.5] Flash flooding hits NYC, State of Emergency declared, widespread warnings. — The Independent

New York City has been hit by flash flooding caused by torrential rain, leading to a State of Emergency being declared by Governor Kathy Hochul. Videos have emerged showing streets and subways in Brooklyn underwater. The area has already seen between two and five inches of rain, with more expected, leading to widespread flood watches and warnings.

[7.5] House rejects 30-day funding bill, federal shutdown likely Sunday. — Reuters

In a 232-198 vote, the U.S. House of Representatives rejected a bill aiming to temporarily extend government funding by 30 days, thereby increasing the likelihood of a federal shutdown starting on Sunday. The defeated bill proposed cuts in spending and restrictions on immigration — measures favored by Republicans but unlikely to pass the Democratic-controlled Senate. If funding isn't extended past 12:01 a.m. ET on Sunday, the impact could be substantial: closure of national parks, disruption of pay for up to 4 million federal workers, and hindrance of financial oversight to scientific research.

[7.3] Restrictive regulations and moral dilemmas for Western companies in Russia. — Financial Times

Western companies operating in Russia are facing an increasingly restrictive regulatory environment and the moral dilemma of participating in Russia's wartime economy. The Kremlin has imposed a ban on dividends to businesses from countries deemed "unfriendly", and if companies want to sell their assets, they must receive approval from the Kremlin, which imposes a minimum 50% discount on the value of the assets sold and requires a 10% "voluntary" contribution to the state budget. The Kyiv School of Economics estimates that companies from the US, UK, and EU amassed $18bn in Russian profits and $199bn in revenues in 2022 alone.

[7.3] Bluetongue virus outbreak affects hundreds of farms in the Netherlands. — Reuters

An outbreak of the bluetongue virus has affected hundreds of farms in the Netherlands, according to the Dutch government. Up to 600 farms may already be contaminated, with the first four cases of the highly infectious animal disease reported this month. The outbreak will limit the export of cows and sheep from the Netherlands as animals will need to be tested or quarantined.

[7.2] Hyundai and Kia recall 3.4 million vehicles in US and Canada. — The New York Times

Hyundai and Kia are recalling nearly 3.4 million vehicles in the US due to the risk of a fire in the engine compartment caused by a brake fluid leak. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has advised car owners to park their vehicles outside. Additionally, 600,000 Hyundai and Kia vehicles in Canada are also being recalled.

[7.2] Cholera cases double globally, vaccine shortages impact vaccination regimen. — The Washington Post

According to a new analysis by the World Health Organization, the number of cholera cases worldwide doubled from 2021 to 2022, with 44 countries reporting cases. The largest outbreaks, with over 10,000 documented or suspected cases, occurred in Afghanistan, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Nigeria, Somalia, and Syria. In 2022, there were a total of 472,697 cases and 2,349 deaths from cholera globally. Vaccine shortages and the rising outbreak rate have reduced the availability of oral cholera vaccines, leading the WHO to suspend its two-dose vaccination regimen and replace it with a single-dose regimen to stretch existing stockpiles.

[7.2] FDA approves Invitae's genetic test for common hereditary cancers. — FDA.gov

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted marketing authorization for the Invitae Common Hereditary Cancers Panel, an in vitro diagnostic test that can detect genetic variants associated with an elevated risk of developing certain cancers. The test evaluates DNA from a blood sample to identify variants in 47 genes linked to an increased risk of cancer. It is the first test of its kind to receive FDA marketing authorization and can provide individuals with more information about their health and guide physicians in monitoring and potential therapy based on the discovered variants.

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Vadim