Good morning. It's Wednesday, March 17, and we're covering a deadly string of attacks in Atlanta, a surprising discovery in Israel, and much more. Have feedback? Let us know at [email protected].

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NEED TO KNOW

Atlanta Shootings

Eight people are dead and one other person injured after a series of shootings at three Atlanta-area massage parlors yesterday. The first attack took place near the town of Acworth, about 30 miles to the northwest of the city. The subsequent two attacks targeted spas inside the city. 

Six of the eight victims were reported to be Asian women, with four victims of Korean descent. The attacks follow a rise in hate crimes against Asian Americans over the past year, up a reported 150% in major US cities. Police have not yet released a motive for yesterday's attacks. 

The suspect, 21-year-old Robert Aaron Long, was captured three hours after the shootings about 150 miles south of the city, while driving along Interstate 75. He was taken into custody without incident. 

Dead Sea Scroll Discovery

Archaeologists in Israel revealed yesterday dozens of Dead Sea Scroll fragments bearing Hebrew religious writings found in a desert cave, believed to have been hidden during a Jewish revolt against Rome between 132 and 136 CE. The first new fragments found in the region in 60 years, the scrolls include lines from the books of Zechariah and Nahum.

Initially discovered in 1946-47, the broader collection of writings is among the most important discoveries in Judeo-Christian history, containing some of the oldest-known examples of writings later included in the Hebrew Bible. While some are well-preserved, thousands exist as fragments, many purchased separately through antiquity dealers. Explore their history here.

The operation also included a collection of rare coins from almost 2,000 years ago, a 6,000-year-old skeleton of a child—likely female, mummified in a piece of cloth—and a 10,000-year-old basket, which may be the oldest in the world.

Election Influence

Russia and Iran both attempted to influence the 2020 US presidential election by amplifying traditional and social media narratives, according to a declassified US intelligence report released yesterday. 

The report found Russia carried out extensive efforts undercutting the Biden campaign and supporting the Trump campaign, including coordinating the leak of purportedly damaging audio between Biden and a Ukrainian lawmaker. Conversely, the assessment found Iran actively worked to influence public perception against then-President Trump, whose administration adopted a hard-line stance against the country.

Both shared the primary goal of exacerbating US social and political divisions while undermining confidence in the electoral process. 

Analysts concluded China considered but did not deploy similar operations. No evidence was found that any foreign actors technically interfered in the vote tabulation or processes (i.e., hacking electronic voting machines).

The report explicitly avoided making a conclusion on what, if any, impact the operations had on the outcome. Find the full assessment here.

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IN THE KNOW

Sports, Entertainment, & Culture

> LeBron James to become part owner of Boston Red Sox; James already owns a small share of English Premier League champs Liverpool (More) | Tiger Woods returns home after three-week stay in hospital following Feb. 23 car crash (More)

> Yaphet Kotto, actor best known for role as the villain in James Bond film “Live and Let Die,” dies at 81 (More)

> Actor Elliot Page becomes first transgender man to appear on cover of Time magazine (More) | Read full interview with Page here (More, $$)

Science & Technology

> Study suggests coronavirus variant B.1.1.7, first seen in the United Kingdom, has up to a 60% higher 28-day mortality rate than conventional strains (More) | Moderna begins testing its vaccine on children between six months and 11 years old (More)

> Google unveils its new Nest Hub smart display, with the option to track your sleep patterns from your bedside using radar motion detection and breathing pattern analysis (More)

> Lightning strikes played an essential role in the origins of life on Earth, according to new theory; strikes on mineral deposits led to the production of phosphorus in water, a key element in biological organisms (More)

Business & Markets

Brought to you by The Ascent

> OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma files a $10B bankruptcy proposal that would have the Sackler family give up control of company; more than 36 states have accused the company of helping fuel the opioid epidemic (More)

> Uber drivers in the United Kingdom to be paid the minimum wage; company granted the rights after losing Supreme Court decision last month (More)

> The volatility index (VIX), commonly known as Wall Street’s “fear gauge,” slips to lowest level since before pandemic (More) | US retails sales drop by 3% in February as cold temperatures reduced spending (More)

From our partners: Mortgage rates are at historic lows. But for how much longer? If you've been on the fence, the time to refinance may be today. Join millions of homeowners who are saving big today.

Politics & World Affairs

> Homeland security chief Alejandro Mayorkas warns migrant levels at the US-Mexico border are on pace to be the highest in two decades; says policy is to turn back adults and families, process unaccompanied minors (More)

> Japan's Supreme Court rules prohibition on same-sex marriages is unconstitutional; Taiwan is the only major Asian country to grant legal rights to same-sex couples (More)

> Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin meet with South Korean officials in Seoul in Biden administration's highest-level foreign trip to date; officials meet with Chinese diplomats in Alaska tomorrow (More)

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ETCETERA

St. Patrick's true story is better than the myth.

... and ranking the most Irish states in the US.

A daring rescue over an Idaho gorge.

The family who refuses to go along with daylight saving time. ($$, Atlantic) 

From our partners: Is your company working remotely? This product empowers businesses to work productively—from anywhere—with Apple devices. Create your free account here

Frigid photos capture life in Russia's coldest city.

A hypnotic short film of the world's different masks. (via YouTube)

Make your own AI-powered love story.

Visualizing the drainage basins of the world's longest rivers.

Clickbait: Sabotage your own meetings to escape Zoom.

Historybook: First St. Patrick’s Day parade held (1601); Golf legend Bobby Jones born (1902); Singer Nat King Cole born (1919); National Gallery of Art opens in Washington, DC (1941); HBD soccer great Mia Hamm (1972).

"Celebrate what you've accomplished, but raise the bar a little higher each time you succeed."

- Mia Hamm

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