Feb. 2, 2024, Weekly News Quiz: How Much Was Trump Ordered to Pay?!

On January 27, 2024, a jury ruled that Trump must pay E. Jean Carroll $83.3 million in damages for defamation. The verdict came less than three hours after jurors began deliberating in New York. Trump was previously ordered to pay $5 million in damages to Carroll in May 2023 in a separate case in which he was found liable for sexually abusing her in a department store changing room in the mid-1990s.

UNRWA, or the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, was established in 1949 to support Palestinian refugees. This agency operates in several regions, including Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. It’s known for its extensive healthcare, education, and humanitarian aid services. In January 2024, UNRWA faced a critical challenge when multiple countries, including the UK and the US, suspended their funding following allegations of staff involvement in the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel.

At just 22 years old, this Italian tennis prodigy etched his name into tennis history at the Australian Open in 2024. Displaying a resilience that belies his youth, Jannik Sinner overturned a daunting two-set deficit against Daniil Medvedev to triumph 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3. This victory not only marked his first Grand Slam title but also heralded the rise of a new star in men’s tennis.

Fun Fact: Sinner’s feat is notable as he became the first Italian man to win a Grand Slam since Adriano Panatta’s heroics in 1976.

These two high-octane matchups cement the burgeoning rivalry between the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl saga. Super Bowl 54, which took place in Miami, saw the Chiefs win over the 49ers. Fast forward to Super Bowl 58, set in Las Vegas at Allegiant Stadium on Feb. 11, 2024, and we have a much-anticipated rematch. The 49ers, fueled by their dramatic comeback win against the Detroit Lions, are eyeing redemption. At the same time, the Chiefs aim to defend their title and possibly achieve back-to-back championships, a feat last accomplished by the New England Patriots.

Japan’s SLIM (Smart Lander for Investigating Moon), affectionately dubbed the ‘Moon Sniper,’ made a historic landing on the moon on Jan. 19, 2024. This event was particularly noteworthy as Japan became the fifth country in the world to reach the moon. SLIM’s claim to fame is its exact landing, just 55 meters from its target site. This is a significant achievement, given the complexity of a lunar landing. Although it faced a hiccup by landing upside down – giving us a moment to imagine a moonwalk with a twist – the mission was saved 10 days later when sunlight hit its solar panels. SLIM aims to study lunar rocks to gain insights into the moon’s origins and potential water resources.

On Jan. 30, 2024, Elon Musk announced that Neuralink, his brain-computer interface company, had successfully implanted its first chip in a human brain. This technology aims to help individuals with spinal cord injuries or ALS regain control of their limbs by intercepting and retransmitting brain signals. The FDA green-lit this medical marvel in 2023, marking a significant milestone in medical technology and bringing us closer to a future where our thoughts might control more than just our actions! Imagine controlling your phone or computer just by thinking – that’s the future Neuralink aims for. As of now, the patient is recovering well with promising neuron spike detection results.

On Jan. 26, 2024, Samsung made a significant move by integrating Baidu’s Ernie AI chatbot into its Galaxy S24 series. This integration signifies a leap in smartphone technology, bringing features like real-time call translation. This feature not only makes communication more accessible but also adds a layer of convenience and innovation, making the Galaxy S24 a truly smart ‘smartphone.’ Remember, Baidu is a Chinese company, and Ernie is state-approved. Perhaps you shouldn’t use this feature if you’re holding military secrets.

Google’s Lumiere is an AI video generation model that uses an innovative diffusion model called Space-Time-U-Net (STUNet) to create high-definition videos from text prompts. Debuting as a significant leap in AI technology, Lumiere crafts videos by generating a base frame from a text prompt and then developing additional frames to create smooth, lifelike motion. It stands out for producing 80 frames, offering a more fluid and realistic video experience than its predecessors.

The legendary Austrian artist, known for his symbolist works and a key figure in the Vienna Secession movement, painted the “Portrait of Fräulein Lieser” in 1917. This masterpiece was one of Klimt’s final works before his untimely death in February 1918, leaving parts of the painting unfinished. The artwork, shrouded in mystery for nearly a century, resurfaced in the hands of a private collector. The painting sold for $32 million when auctioned at Vienna’s Auction House im Kinsky on April 24, 2024.

Jon Stewart, the satirical savant who previously helmed “The Daily Show” from 1999 to 2015, is returning to the show starting Feb. 12, 2024. This time, he’s donning the hats of both Executive Producer and host for Monday night’s episodes leading up to the 2024 election cycle. It’s a part-time gig but full-time excitement for fans who’ve missed his unique blend of humor and insight. The rest of the week will feature a revolving door of correspondents and comedians, keeping the show’s tradition of diverse voices alive.

Will Ferrell takes on the role of Maxime Le Mal, the new nemesis to Gru, in “Despicable Me 4,” which hits theaters on July 3, 2024. Ferrell’s addition to the star-studded cast, alongside Steve Carell as Gru and Sofia Vergara as Valentina, promises to be a rollercoaster of fun, with Gru and his family embarking on a run from their new adversaries. Watch the trailer.