11.8.2017

Election Day 2017 Wrap Up.
Voters across the country went to the polls yesterday in off-cycle elections that were heavy on local seats and ballot initiatives. Maine voted to expand Medicaid under Obamacare - the first state to do so by referendum - overruling governor Paul LePage, while an Ohio initiative to cap the amount state programs pay for prescription drugs failed by a large margin. In the day's most watched race, Ralph Northam (D) was elected governor of Virginia over challenger Ed Gillespie (R) by 9 points, while Phil Murphy (D) will take Chris Christie's seat as New Jersey governor, winning easily by 13 points. Christie leaves with a historically low 15% approval rating - and berated a voter outside a polling station on his way out the door. Also in Virginia, Danica Roem became the first openly transgender politician elected to a state legislature. Democrats won a number of local elections as well, including NYC mayor Bill de Blasio cruising to his second term. 

Trump Makes First Visit to China.
President Trump visits China today on the third leg of his trip to Asia, and the longest trip to the region by a US president in a quarter century. Trump was vocal during the 2016 campaign about the threat of China, particularly on issues like currency manipulation and trade - but has largely softened his tone, cultivating a reportedly warm relationship with Chinese president Xi Jinping. For China, direct engagement with the US supports the notion that the country is the number two world power (paywall). The visit comes against a backdrop of China's continued push to be the 21st century global economic leader in areas like artificial intelligence and electric cars through its Made in China 2025 initiative (background). See the President's full trip agenda here. 

Italy Arrests Two Over Deaths of 26 Migrant Women. 
Italian officials arrested two men on suspicion of human trafficking, rape, and murder after the discovery of 26 Nigerian women found dead on a migrant ship in the Mediterranean on Sunday. The women, ranging in age from 14 to 18 years old, were among a larger group of migrants trying to reach the southern coast of Italy from Libya - a well-known departure point for African migrants heading to Europe. Over 150,000 people have entered Europe via the Mediterranean route this year, with 75% of those arriving in Italy. Nearly 3,000 have died trying to make the journey. 
 

> Former MLB star pitcher Roy Halladay dies in plane crash at age 40 (More)
> Twitter doubles tweet character limit from 140 to 280 (More)
> 3 UCLA basketball players, including younger brother of Lonzo Ball, arrested for shoplifting in China; Face 3-10 years in jail if convicted (More)
 

> Lab-grown 'Arctic' apples that don't brown when exposed to air hit stores (More)
> Researchers discover how to rejuvenate old cells using chemical compound found in wine and chocolate (More)
> Study finds drugstore pain relievers as effective as opioids in reducing short-term pain in ER patients (More)
 

> Snap growth slows - 178M users in Q3 vs 173M Q2 - stock slides 17% in after-hours (More)
> Will.i.am's startup i.am+ raises $117M for voice assisted customer service bots (More)
> Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi releases new corporate rules in effort to change culture (More)
 

> Texas shooter previously escaped mental health facility in 2012, threatened Air Force superiors (More)
> Sponsor of bill curbing sexual harassment, Rep Brenda Lawrence (D, MI-14), suspends Chief of Staff for sexual harassment (More)
> Two House Republicans, Poe (TX-2) and LoBiondo (NJ-2), announce retirement ahead of 2018 midterms (More)

This company ensures top-notch cybersecurity using lava lamps. 

Even Syria has now joined the Paris Climate Agreement.

The new US civil rights trail has more than 100 stops throughout the South.

Help nickname NASA's New Horizon's next flyby target, a billion miles past Pluto. 

Read Jack White of the White Stripes interview Gary Oldman. 

Searches for "buy bitcoin" are now more common than "buy gold", according to Google Trends.

The steps the US president would take to launch a nuclear weapon.

Look under the hood at what happens every time you hit 'play' on Netflix. 

Diddy was just kidding, says he's taking back his name change. 

Historybook: X-rays discovered (1895); John F. Kennedy elected President (1960); HBO launched (1972); Donald Trump elected President (2016).

"EVERY ACCOMPLISHMENT STARTS WITH THE DECISION TO TRY."
-John F. Kennedy
 

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