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5 crucial facts for October 10: Hurricane Milton's progression, Solar tempest's impact, Middle East developments, Political finances, Google updates
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1. Hurricane Milton
Local officials in Florida will assess the damage in their cities today as Hurricane Milton moves across the state. Milton touched land on Wednesday night near Siesta Key, Florida, as a perilous Category 3 storm before being downgraded to a Category 1, according to the National Hurricane Center. The storm has dumped up to 18 inches of rain in the Tampa Bay Area and triggered flash flooding in St. Petersburg, Sarasota, Venice, and other communities. Meanwhile, more than three million homes and businesses across Florida are without power today, as indicated by PowerOutage.us. Power outages are expected to continue climbing as Milton's powerful winds make their way through central Florida and the state's east coast. Cities like Lakeland, Kissimmee, Orlando, and Cape Canaveral are anticipated to fall within its path.
2. Solar storm
A severe geomagnetic storm could result in stunning auroras across Northern California and Alabama today due to a mighty solar flare and coronal mass ejection from the sun, as per the National Weather Service’s Space Weather Prediction Center. The solar storm, classified as a level 4 on a scale of 1 to 5, could disrupt communication and satellite operations, officials stated. Consequently, the center has alerted FEMA, the North American power grid, and satellite operators to prepare for potential interruptions, particularly considering the ongoing relief efforts for Hurricane Milton. The storm is slated to reach Earth between early morning and 12 p.m. ET today, and may last through Friday.
3. Middle East
President Joe Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for 30 minutes on Wednesday — their first conversation in nearly two months. They discussed Israel's proposed response to an Iranian missile attack last week, but the White House provided no details of their talks. The two leaders had remained uncommunicative for 49 days due to escalating tensions in the Middle East — a clear indication of how strained their relationship has become and how disconnected their goals are for the region. Pressure is mounting on Netanyahu to promptly address the disastrous conditions in Gaza. A US envoy to the United Nations warned Wednesday that “actions by the Israeli government to restrict aid delivery” would exacerbate suffering.
4. Campaign cash
Vice President Kamala Harris’ political team has raised $1 billion since joining the presidential race in late July, according to two sources — marking an extraordinary fundraising achievement in her 2024 campaign. A recent influx of contributions from potential voters has helped Harris surpass the sums amassed by former President Donald Trump. His team has announced collecting approximately $430 million jointly with the Republican Party during the three months between July and September's end. At this rate, the ex-president may struggle to match the funds he raised during his 2020 campaign, as a nonpartisan research group pointed out in a report published this week. Presidential campaigns will file their September fundraising and spending details with the Federal Election Commission later this month.
5. Google
The US government is contemplating dismantling Google following a federal judge's ruling in August that the company had breached antitrust law by excluding competitors in search. The Department of Justice, in a court filing, suggested disintegrating Google's main businesses, separating its search service from Android, Chrome, and the Google Play app store. “This would prevent Google from utilizing products such as Chrome, Play, and Android to favor Google search and Google search-related products and features over rivals or newcomers,” the government stated in its filing. The following stages in this legal battle likely include a series of appeals and figuring out what penalties Google will face for its infractions.
BREAKFAST BROWSE
Elon Musk is promising to unveil Tesla's future today
Tesla is scheduled to hold an event in California today to reveal its plans for self-driving “robotaxis.” Here’s what we know.
Taylor Swift contributes $5 million towards hurricane relief efforts
The pop star made a substantial donation towards assisting those affected by Hurricanes Milton and Helene, which have ravaged parts of the Southeast.
Your employer may begin covering weight-loss drugs soon
An increasing number of employers are considering covering popular weight-loss drugs in 2025 or 2026, as shown by a new survey. Employees might learn whether or not they’ll secure coverage during open enrollment.
$5,000 pants with artificial intelligence?
Could this be the next innovation in hiking apparel? Or an expensive waste of money? It's for you to decide.
Your preference for spicy foods could be in your head
Parts of your brain influence your reaction to spicy foods. Genetics also play a role in why we might favor one type of cuisine over another, as per studies.
TODAY’S NUMBER
22
This is the number of grand slam titles tennis legend Rafael Nadal has claimed during his illustrious career. Nadal announced today that his final tournament will be with Spain at the Davis Cup finals in November.
TODAY’S QUOTE
“We deeply mourn the loss of our leader and extend our sincerest condolences to his grieving family, colleagues, and all of his loved ones.”
Turkish Airlines, releasing an announcement following a pilot's demise aboard a flight that was on its way from Seattle to Istanbul on a Wednesday. A representative from the airline disclosed that the 59-year-old commander seemingly fainted at some point, leading the co-pilot to execute an emergency landing in New York.
DAILY WEATHER UPDATE
Find out your local weather forecast here>>>
AND FINISHING UP ...
Witness a 10-foot storm surgeCNN's Kate Bolduan shows what a sudden increase in water levels could resemble during Hurricane Milton.
- After signing up for the 5 Things newsletter, we received updates on the downgrade of Hurricane Milton to a Category 1 and the impact it had on Florida, including cities like Lakeland, Kissimmee, Orlando, and Cape Canaveral.
- The severe geomagnetic storm could disrupt communication and satellite operations, and the ongoing relief efforts for Hurricane Milton might be affected by the storm, as indicated by FEMA and the National Weather Service.
