Good morning, it's Wednesday, Oct. 14. We're covering another paused COVID-19 drug trial, a leap forward by Apple, and more details in a high-profile kidnapping plot. Have feedback? Let us know at [email protected].

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NEED TO KNOW

Another COVID-19 Pause

Late-stage clinical trials of a COVID-19 treatment from Eli Lilly have been paused over potential (and unspecified) safety concerns, researchers said yesterday. Unlike a vaccine, which stimulates the body's natural immune system, the treatment relies on monoclonal antibodies—where engineered immune cells are injected into a patient. President Trump received a similar drug, made by Regeneron, in the course of his recent treatment. The news comes less than 24 hours after Johnson & Johnson paused a late-stage trial of its vaccine candidate after a volunteer reported (also unspecified) health issues. Delays in large trials are common, officials say, and may be compounded by the accelerated race to treat COVID-19.

Separately, a Nevada man became the first confirmed case in the US of coronavirus reinfection; doctors say the second bout resulted in more severe symptoms than the first. Genomic analysis revealed (see paper) significant differences between the two strains, suggesting sufficiently mutated forms of the virus can evade established immune responses. It is just the fifth confirmed reinfection worldwide, and the ramifications for vaccine development are the subject of intense study.

The US has reported 7.86 million total cases as of this morning, with 215,910 deaths. See rolling averages here and here.

Apple Goes 5G

Tech giant Apple revealed the iPhone 12 yesterday, its latest flagship device, during its annual product event that had been delayed for months due to the pandemic. The new model is the first to be 5G enabled, allowing users to tap into the next generation of wireless networks. 

Companies began deploying 5G, the fifth generation of wireless communications technology, worldwide in 2019. In addition to speeds an order of magnitude greater than current networks, its responsiveness is viewed as key to a future Internet of Things (see 101). However, devices must be equipped to transmit and process the higher frequency signals, and the 5G experience in the US has been largely underwhelming. As such, investors have hotly anticipated the feature, hoping it will supercharge a wave of iPhone upgrades. See a list of all of the products unveiled yesterday. 

Want a deep dive on 5G? Check this out.

Virginia Governor Targeted

Militia members accused of plotting to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) also discussed abducting Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D), according to testimony from investigators yesterday. The new details came as five suspects appeared in federal court during a bail hearing. According to documents, both Whitmer and Northam were targeted due to perceived "tyrannical" actions as part of their pandemic response. 

Thirteen people were arrested on charges related to domestic terrorism; six face federal charges, while seven face state charges in Michigan. A number of those involved were part of the Wolverine Watchmen, an anti-government armed militia with ties to the broader Boogaloo movement. Read the formal complaint here.

For state prosecutors, it's the first such case since 2009—an effort ultimately dismissed when a judge ruled plans made by the Hutaree militia amounted to "tough talk." Read about the state's long history with the groups here.

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THE FUTURE OF ... CEREAL?!

What do you hope the future will hold? Flying cars? Teleportation devices? World peace? Thumb drives that fit in the USB port on your first try?

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IN THE KNOW

Sports, Entertainment, & Culture

> Eddie Murphy’s “Coming to America” sequel to be purchased by Amazon Studios for $125M with expected Dec. 18 release (More) | AMC Theaters tells investors it may run out of money by the end of the year (More)

> New York Philharmonic cancels all concerts through June 2021; first time in orchestra’s 178-year history that entire season is canceled (More)

> Soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo tests positive for COVID-19, will sit out UEFA Nations League match against Sweden today (More) | World's top-ranked men's golfer Dustin Johnson reveals positive coronavirus diagnosis (More)

Science & Technology

> Google parent Alphabet reveals details around Mineral, a moonshot startup that will use AI and robotics for sustainable global food production (More)

> Virtual reality software allows researchers to walk inside individual cells; may lead to new fundamental biological discoveries and new treatments for disease (More)

> Eight nations sign the US-led Artemis Accords, establishing guidelines for responsible moon exploration and use of its resources (More) | Astronomers record the "spaghettification" of a planet as it passes by a black hole (More) | Watch Neil deGrasse Tyson discuss the effect (Watch)

Business & Markets

> US stock markets fall (S&P 500 -0.6%, Dow -0.6%, Nasdaq -0.1%) on vaccine delays, as big banks kick off third quarter earnings season (More)

> Facebook announces ban on anti-vaccine ads in effort to curb misinformation; policy reversal comes one day after a ban on posts denying or downplaying the Holocaust (More)

> Diane Hendricks, Judy Faulkner, and Meg Whitman top Forbes sixth annual report of America’s richest self-made women (More)

Politics & World Affairs

> Senate Judiciary Committee holds first day of Q&A session with Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett, fielding questions on healthcare, abortion, and a disputed election (More) | Supreme Court sides with Trump administration, allows census to end before Oct. 31 deadline (More)

> Probe into "unmasking" of identities in intelligence reports by Obama administration concludes without charges or public statements (More) | Follows news the Durham probe into origins of 2016 Russian election meddling investigation won't be ready until postelection (More)

> Reported death toll in conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan rises to roughly 600 over two weeks (More) | Background on conflict (More)

LET'S TALK PROTEIN

In partnership with Magic Spoon

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ETCETERA

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Take a deep dive into the world of French butter churning.

Meet the potato worker who sent Fleetwood Mac sales soaring.

Juggling blows this quokka's mind. 

Cooking misadventures of a 20 year old.

Clickbait: Harry Reid says UFOs are everywhere.

Historybook: President Dwight D. Eisenhower born (1890); Chuck Yeager becomes first person to fly faster than speed of sound (1947); Cuban Missile Crisis begins (1962); Martin Luther King Jr. wins Nobel Peace Prize (1964); RIP American photographer Dody Weston Thompson (2012).

"We must learn how to compose differences, not with arms, but with intellect and decent purpose."

- Dwight D. Eisenhower

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