Tuesday 12.03.24

Today is Giving Tuesday, and you can help Mother Nature in a battle for survival. Pollinators like bees and butterflies, which provide one out of every three bites of our food, are struggling as their populations decline at an alarming rate. But all is not lost. This is what you can do to help nature’s pollinators thrive. And here's what else you need to know to Get Up to Speed and on With Your Day.
 

By Andrew Torgan

(Luke Hales/Getty Images)

Trump

President-elect Donald Trump is planning to visit Paris this week to attend the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral on Saturday, his first overseas trip since his election in November to a second term in office. Trump’s team has been in discussions for days with French President Emmanuel Macron’s office regarding the visit, and the president-elect was invited by the French government to attend the reopening, sources familiar with the plans told CNN. Trump and Macron worked together closely throughout the first Trump administration, with their relationship being described as somewhat of a “bromance,” despite at times appearing openly hostile toward one another. Macron was the first foreign leader to congratulate Trump after he became just the second US president to win a nonconsecutive term.

Middle East

Israeli strikes killed at least nine people in southern Lebanon, Lebanese authorities said Monday, the deadliest day since a ceasefire brokered by the US and France came into effect last week. But the uneasy truce between Israel and Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah appeared to be holding — even as the two sides accused each other of breaching the deal. Hezbollah on Monday fired two projectiles toward Israeli-occupied territory, responding to repeated Israeli strikes that have hit Lebanon daily since Thursday, the day after the ceasefire came into force. Still, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said Monday that the truce has not broken down. “Broadly speaking,” the ceasefire “has been successful,” he said. 

Hunter Biden fallout

President Joe Biden’s decision to pardon his son Hunter has left some Democrats fuming over his choice to repeatedly and unequivocally claim that he would never take that step. “As a father, I get it,” Rep. Greg Landsman, an Ohio Democrat, said on X. “But as someone who wants people to believe in public service again, it’s a setback.” Another Democrat, Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet, said Biden’s decision placed “personal interest ahead of duty and further erodes Americans’ faith that the justice system is fair and equal for all.” Though controversial, Joe Biden’s move to pardon a close family member or associate is not unheard of. Donald Trump pardoned Charles Kushner, his daughter’s father-in-law, during his last month in office. President Bill Clinton pardoned his half-brother Roger, who had pleaded guilty to a drug charge, on his last day in office.

Layoffs

Cargill, the Minnesota-based food production behemoth, is laying off about 5% of its global workforce as food commodity prices drop. Cargill is America’s largest privately held company, according to Forbes, and is also the world’s largest agricultural commodities trader. In simple terms, Cargill is the middleman distributing grains, meat and other farm products around the world. It had profited heavily during the pandemic and its aftermath thanks to inflation and geopolitical turmoil throwing food prices into disarray. But now, grocery prices are dropping. In a statement to CNN, the company said the changes are part of “a long-term strategy” set earlier this year. Cargill has more than 160,000 employees, according to its 2024 report. That means there will be an estimated 8,000 job cuts.

Elon Musk

Elon Musk’s record-breaking pay package for serving as Tesla’s CEO was again rejected by a Delaware court, despite being approved by Tesla shareholders at a June meeting. The package, now worth around $101 billion based on Tesla’s closing share price Monday, is made up of 303 million Tesla stock options. It had been previously thrown out in January by the same judge, Delaware Chancery Court Chancellor Kathaleen McCormick. At the time, McCormick ruled in favor of the main shareholder in the suit who argued that Musk and the Tesla board “bore the burden of proving that the compensation plan was fair, and they failed to meet their burden.” Musk’s attorneys attempted to reverse McCormick’s decision, but on Monday, that motion was denied. Musk is not paid a cash salary or bonus for running Tesla. Instead, his vast fortune comes from packages of stock options that allow him to purchase millions of Tesla shares for a fraction of their market price.

People are talking about these. Read up. Join in.

Chris Rock and Martin Short to host last ‘SNL’ episodes of 2024
Rock will host the December 14 episode, marking his fourth time hosting, while Short is set to host for the sixth time on December 21.

NFL legend Randy Moss asks for ‘prayers’
The former wide receiver, who now works as a pundit, says he is “battling” a health issue and called for his fans to send him “prayers.”

Hong Kong will display 2,500 panda sculptures
Thousands of giant panda sculptures will greet residents and tourists starting Saturday in Hong Kong, where enthusiasm for the bears has grown since two cubs were born in a local theme park. Take a look — it's paw-some. 

Alex Consani becomes first transgender Model of the Year
American model Alex Consani has become the first transgender woman to win Model of the Year following a string of high-profile runway appearances for labels like Chanel, Stella McCartney and Victoria’s Secret.

Belly fat linked to signs of Alzheimer’s 20 years before symptoms begin
As the size of a person’s belly grows, the memory center of the brain shrinks, well before any cognitive decline is apparent, according to new research.

26

That's how many states have passed bans on gender-affirming health care for transgender children and teenagers, according to a CNN analysis of data from the Movement Advancement Project, a nonprofit think tank that advocates for LGBTQ rights. An estimated 40% of transgender youth ages 13 to 17 live in these states, according to MAP and The Williams Institute. These laws will be in the spotlight as the Supreme Court hears oral arguments on Wednesday in a case that challenges Tennessee’s ban on transgender care for minors.

I have this impression that (the Russians) have unlimited people.

— Ukrainian unit commander Oleksandr, describing a dawn assault by Russian troops inside the country’s Kursk region that was thwarted by a Ukrainian drone strike. Ukraine invaded Kursk in August in a rare tactical success and strategic gain for Kyiv, although the use of significant manpower and armor in the assault has led to criticism that shortages created by the invasion contributed to Russia’s advance across the Donbas eastern front.

Meet the man who is trying not to die
Bryan Johnson is a world-famous "biohacker." The millionaire who made his fortune selling Venmo for $800 million now spends $2 million a year attempting to reverse the aging process. CNN's Anna Stewart visits his home in Los Angeles to learn more about his daily routine.