JQJO — General news · Page 78

Back from suspension, Chiefs receiver Rashee Rice practiced Wednesday as Kansas City prepared for Las Vegas. He hasn’t played since a season-ending knee injury in Week 4 last year, but head coach Andy Reid said Rice will definitely play in Week 7, with his workload still to be determined. Patrick Mahomes said Rice will want every snap, and that teammates and coaches will build him back the right way. Reid praised Rice’s physicality after the catch and flexibility alongside the Chiefs’ speed targets, noting teammates love him and that his return brings welcomed energy to the offense.

United Airlines forecast fourth-quarter earnings of $3 to $3.50 a share, above the $2.86 analysts expected, after a rocky start to 2025. Leaning into growth, it lifted third-quarter capacity 7% even as unit passenger revenue slipped 3.3% domestically and 7.1% internationally; loyalty sales rose 9%. For the quarter ended Sept. 30, adjusted EPS beat at $2.78 versus $2.62, while revenue missed at $15.23 billion. CEO Scott Kirby said years of investments — from complimentary inflight Wi‑Fi to refreshed cabins and new lounges — are winning loyal customers, with improving demand into the fourth quarter.

Spotify on Wednesday upgraded its AI DJ for Premium users, adding text requests alongside voice. The change rolls out in English and Spanish, with Spanish-language DJ Livi now taking requests. The DJ also gains personalized prompt suggestions to spark ideas. Users can search “DJ,” press play, then tweak the mix by tapping the DJ button and sending suggestions by voice or text. Requests can blend genre, mood, artist, or activity. The feature is live in more than 60 markets in English and Spanish.

Virginia Tech researchers report that GLP-1 drugs may blunt alcohol’s immediate effects. In a small pilot study of 20 adults with obesity, half taking semaglutide, tirzepatide, or liraglutide reached the same 0.08% blood alcohol level after three drinks, but their BAC rose more slowly and they felt less intoxicated, with lower alcohol craving before and after the session. Published in Scientific Reports, the findings hint that slowed gastric emptying and other peripheral actions could temper alcohol’s effects and craving, though the authors stress larger studies are needed.

A round of layoffs swept NBC News on Wednesday, eliminating about 150 jobs — roughly 2% of the NBC News Group — ahead of Comcast’s spinoff of Versant. The cuts spanned the division, driven by NBC News ending newsgathering for CNBC and MSNBC and wider headwinds in the media economy. NBC News is shifting resources to a forthcoming subscription service and expanded sports coverage, with about 140 roles open and affected employees urged to apply. Staff received 60 days’ notice, severance and outplacement, as Cesar Conde touted recent launches and a new marketing push.

As the shutdown drags into a third week, White House budget director Russell Vought said the Trump administration could move to fire more than 10,000 federal employees, calling it a chance to “shutter the bureaucracy.” The White House has already sent about 4,200 reduction-in-force notices, a figure revised slightly downward Tuesday, and Vought said the total could climb “north of 10,000.” Unions have sued to stop the firings, and in a hearing Wednesday, a federal judge said she is inclined to grant their request for now.

Finance chiefs from the Group of Seven will weigh a joint response to China’s planned move to control the global supply of rare earths, officials said Wednesday. Germany’s finance minister, Lars Klingbeil, told reporters the G-7 meeting later today will discuss a common approach and potential targeted measures, while warning against steps that could backfire on their own economies.

The New York State Department of Health confirmed the first locally acquired chikungunya case in New York, and the first reported in the U.S. since 2019, after Wadsworth Center testing in Nassau County, Long Island. Officials say the patient likely was bitten by an infected mosquito, though the precise exposure source is unknown. The public risk is low; the virus isn't spread person-to-person, and most illnesses resolve within a week. No virus has been found in New York mosquito samples. With colder nighttime temperatures, health leaders urge standard mosquito-bite precautions.

Jason Kelce pushed back on Tuesday against viral “fake quotes” tying him to the debate over Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show, warning X users to trust only statements from his own platforms. The retired Eagles center and current ESPN analyst thanked the site’s community notes for flagging misleading posts and declined to name accounts to avoid boosting them; his message drew 1.8 million views. The performer’s upcoming slot has stirred criticism from President Trump and Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson, while Bad Bunny answered skeptics with jabs and pride on Saturday Night Live.

On the Atlanta set, Matt and Ross Duffer are racing to land Stranger Things’ fifth and final season, directing feature-length Episode 4 while threading 21 characters and years of mythology into a decisive end. Netflix will roll out four episodes at Thanksgiving, three at Christmas and the finale on New Year’s Eve. The brothers, buoyed by a new four-year Paramount deal to pursue theatrical films, vow a complete, connected conclusion — and describe tearful final shoot days — even as reports peg per-episode costs as high as $50–$60 million.