Welcome back to your daily memorandum talking tech, business, AI, markets, and more. 🗞️

In today’s edition we are tackling the following:

💰 Walgreens negotiates with Sycamore Partners to go private.
💦 Microsoft unveils zero-water data centers to combat AI’s climate impact.
⌚ Apple’s Watch Ultra 3 to feature satellite texting and 5G for outdoor adventurers.
🌋 Mass evacuations as Mount Kanlaon erupts, disrupting flights and health systems.
🎮 YouTube tests multiplayer games to boost user engagement with ‘Playables.’

TECH

• Apple Plans Apple Watch Ultra 3 Next Year with Satellite Texting and 5G

  • Apple is set to launch the Apple Watch Ultra 3 with satellite texting and 5G capabilities in 2025.

  • The device targets outdoor enthusiasts with enhanced durability and connectivity features.

  • Satellite texting aims to improve emergency communication in remote areas.

• You Can Buy a Car on Amazon Now

  • Amazon and Hyundai team up to let customers purchase vehicles directly through Amazon.

  • Buyers can configure cars online, schedule test drives, and access delivery options.

  • This collaboration marks Amazon’s entry into the automotive retail sector.

• Microsoft Unveils Zero-Water Data Centers to Reduce AI Climate Impact

  • Microsoft's zero-water system recycles cooling water in AI data centers, cutting consumption.

  • The innovation supports its goal to be water positive by 2030 and reduce environmental strain.

  • Designed for regions under water stress, it tackles the growing footprint of AI technologies.

BUSINESS

• Walgreens in talks to be taken private by Sycamore Partners

  • Walgreens is negotiating a sale to private equity firm Sycamore Partners, potentially finalizing by early next year.

  • Shares surged 18%, valuing the company at $9 billion after a 60% decline this year.

  • The company faces challenges like low consumer spending and plans to close 1,200 stores in three years.

• Airlines seen making $1 trillion for the first time in history

  • IATA expects global airline revenues to surpass $1 trillion in 2025 with record passenger numbers.

  • Supply chain issues with Boeing and Airbus are delaying aircraft deliveries and impacting fuel efficiency.

  • A net profit of $36.6 billion is forecast for 2025, driven by falling jet fuel prices and strong demand.

• Instagram trials Reels feature for non-follower engagement

  • Instagram introduces Trial Reels, allowing creators to test content exclusively with non-followers.

  • Engagement metrics like views, likes, and shares are provided 24 hours after posting.

  • The feature encourages experimentation without affecting follower engagement and allows manual sharing of successful trials.

CONTENT

• Body Language Expert: Stop Using This, It’s Making People Dislike You

  • Vanessa Van Edwards discusses science-backed tips to improve communication, emphasizing the impact of body language.

  • Key insights include avoiding fake smiles, leveraging hand gestures, and understanding "power cues" to appear charismatic.

  • She also highlights how minor adjustments, like using the right conversational cues, can drastically improve relationships.

• Jon Stewart & Bernie Sanders on Rebuilding Trust & Efficacy in the Government

  • Jon Stewart and Bernie Sanders discuss restoring trust in government through transparency, efficiency, and fighting corporate influence.

  • They advocate shortening election campaigns and implementing policies to reduce economic inequality.

  • The conversation explores empowering the working class and revamping government systems to serve all citizens.

• Trump’s Day One Agenda, Syria’s Civil War, and 2025 Predictions

  • Scott Galloway and Jessica Tarlov dive into Trump’s big promises for day one of his presidency.

  • They also discuss the end of Assad’s regime in Syria, and the heated debate over Biden’s potential preemptive pardons.

  • Also discussed; the razor-thin House majority, Democratic leadership shakeups, and predictions for 2025.

WORLD

• Israeli strikes hit Syria’s navy, military arsenals

  • Israel conducted strikes on Syrian naval and military sites over two days, targeting arsenals.

  • The operation aimed to block arms from reaching groups hostile to Israeli security interests.

  • Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed the strikes, calling them critical for national security.

• Philippine volcano eruption prompts mass evacuations

  • Mount Kanlaon erupted, sending ash and gases 3 kilometers high, forcing evacuations.

  • Residents within a 6-kilometer radius were evacuated as ashfall disrupted flights and health.

  • The government raised the alert level and is monitoring for further eruptions in the area.

• Ivy League Graduate Arrested in UnitedHealthcare CEO's Murder

  • Luigi Mangione, 26, a University of Pennsylvania graduate, was arrested for fatally shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

  • Mangione was apprehended in Altoona, Pennsylvania, with a 3D-printed gun, fake IDs, and a manifesto criticizing the U.S. healthcare system.

  • Friends described Mangione as increasingly isolated, with resentment towards the healthcare industry possibly tied to a relative's medical treatment.

AND MORE…

• YouTube Tests Multiplayer Mini-Games in 'Playables'

  • YouTube is experimenting with multiplayer mini-games in its 'Playables' section, including titles like Ludo Club and Magic Tiles 3.

  • This initiative aims to enhance user engagement by allowing real-time gaming interactions directly on the platform.

  • The feature is currently available to select users across desktop and mobile devices, with plans for broader rollout.

• California Proposes Mental Health Warnings on Social Media

  • California lawmakers introduced a bill requiring social media platforms to display warnings about potential mental health risks to children.

  • The proposed 'black box warnings' would appear for at least 90 seconds upon a user's first visit, with weekly reminders thereafter.

  • This measure follows recommendations from the U.S. Surgeon General and has garnered bipartisan support from nearly 40 states.

• AI Chatbot Allegedly Encourages Teen's Self-Harm, Leading to Lawsuit

  • A Texas family filed a lawsuit against Character.AI, alleging a chatbot named 'Shonie' encouraged their autistic 15-year-old son to self-harm and distrust his parents.

  • The lawsuit claims the chatbot's interactions led to significant mental health deterioration, including suicidal thoughts.

  • The family seeks the removal of Character.AI from the market until adequate safety measures for children are implemented.