10.27.2017

Tech Giants Rake In Huge Earnings.
The tech industry had a huge day as three of the biggest companies reported earnings outpacing expectations. Google parent Alphabet Inc. reported an increase in quarterly revenues by 33% - with a 40% increase in non-advertising revenue (GOOGL stock was up 3% in after hours trading). Amazon's (AMZN up 7%) overall revenue increased by 34% and Microsoft (MSFT up 5%) reported increased earnings of 12%. The boom was driven by growth in cloud computing and trickled down into hardware, with Intel reporting better than expected revenue and earnings (INTC up 2%). The more important story is that the gains came on the back of advances in sectors like retail, advertising, commerce, and business software - reflecting the economy's broader tech transition. 

UN Panel Blames Syrian Govt for April Chemical Attack.
A United Nations investigative panel concluded that the Syrian government carried out a chemical attack on the eastern village of Khan Sheikhoun in April. It is the first time a politically independent body assigned blame for the attack, which killed 74 and injured over 550 people, and spurred the Trump administration to launch a series of cruise missiles at the Shayrat Air Base in retaliation. The attack reportedly involved the use of sarin gas, a potent nerve agent banned under a 1993 international agreement. On the heels of the report, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson reiterated the US stance that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad must step down. The report release comes just two days after Russia - an ally of Syria - used its UN veto power to block further investigation into the attacks. 

Kenya Tries a Second Time to Elect President.
At least four people were killed in a rerun of Kenya's presidential election yesterday, as the country's main opposition leader boycotted the vote. It's the second time in three months that the country has tried to choose between current President, Uhuru Kenyatta, and opposition leader Raila Odinga. The country's Supreme Court overturned results from an August election, which Kenyatta won, amid allegations of fraud. In the east African country - where allegiance often reflects ethnic identity - roughly half of the 19 million registered voters are under 35. Kenyatta, the incumbent, is a member of the Kikuyu - the largest ethnic group in the country. Yesterday's vote saw low turnout across the country which, combined with the opposition boycott, puts the results in doubt. 
 

> Spoilers: Stranger Things Season 2 released on Netflix today (More) | Everything you need to remember from Season 1 (More)
> Ready for it? Taylor Swift releases new music video (More)
> New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi out after 10 seasons (More)
 

> Pioneer jumps into self-driving cars with micromirrors for vision systems (More)
> China announces plans to eliminate regulations on pharmaceuticals, bring drugs to market quicker (More)
> Researchers show bacteria have a sense of touch, despite no sensory organs (More)
 

> CVS Pharmacy bids $66B for Aetna, 3rd largest US health insurer (More)
> Salesforce tops Forbes' annual world's best workplaces list (More)
> Insys Pharmaceutical CEO arrested for bribing doctors to prescribe opioid painkillers (More)
 

> House passes Senate's budget deal 216-212, setting stage for intense tax reform debate (More)
> Report says premiums for Obamacare silver plans, the most popular, will go up by 34% for 2018 (More)
> Mark Halperin, analyst and author of Game Change, This Town fired after 5 women accuse him of sexual harassment (More)

GQ | Jason Zengerle. The tell-it-like-it-is politician before it was popular, Christie is hobbling out of office as the state's most unpopular governor, one year after being steamrolled by Donald Trump in the GOP primaries. It wasn't supposed to end like this. (Read)
 

Longreads | Richard Lloyd Parry. Japan's 2011 tsunami killed thousands, reduced villages to rubble, and left those standing with survivor's guilt. Six years later another phenomenon persists - a rash of reported hauntings and possession by those who perished. (Read)
 

The Future of Online Dating is Unsexy and Brutally Effective. 

Girl wins high school golf tournament, is denied trophy because she is a girl.

There are now more billionaires in Asia than in the US.

This augmented reality-controlled robot gives you 7-foot-arms and lets you lift a half ton. 

Ugh Millennials: Love to share their salary and it's changing how businesses compensate. 

Thailand spent $90M on the cremation ceremony for deceased King Bhumibol Adulyadej - here are photos.

Over half of US Muslims are Millennials, less tied to religion than Evangelicals (new data from Pew Research).

Pope Francis calls the International Space Station to talk about humanity.

Clickbait: Dancing with dead bodies may be spreading the plague in Madagascar.

Historybook: Ivan the Great dies (1505); HBD Philadelphia, PA (1682); HBD Teddy Roosevelt (1858); NYC subway opens (1904).

"THE MOST IMPORTANT SINGLE INGREDIENT IN THE FORMULA OF SUCCESS IS KNOWING HOW TO GET ALONG WITH PEOPLE."
-Teddy Roosevelt
 

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