5.7.2018

All your news in a single email. We scour 100+ sources so you don't have to. Culture, science, sports, politics, business, and more - all packaged in a 5-minute read below.
 

NSA Triples Collection of Phone Records.
The National Security Agency collected data on more than 534 million phone calls and text messages in 2017, according to a new report. That figure is nearly triple the 151 million collected in 2016 (see report). The program - informally known as Section 702, a reference to the relevant section of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (or FISA) - is meant to target foreign communications but often sweeps up American's data in the process. The report indicated that just over 129,000 foreign organizations or individuals were targeted, with around 7,500 Americans included in some way (i.e. an American was contacted by one of the entities under surveillance). Congress attempted to limit the scope of the program in 2015 in response to Edward Snowden's leak revealing far-reaching government surveillance, but it has still been criticized for allowing warrantless wiretapping of American phone calls.  

Unemployment Hits Lowest Rate Since 2000.
The Labor Department reported that the unemployment rate hit 3.9%, its lowest since the year 2000. Average hourly earnings also rose $0.04 last month, bringing earnings up by 2.6% over the past year. April also marked the 91st month of jobs gains - meaning the economy has added jobs every month for over seven years, the longest streak on record. The number of jobs gained each month has been decreasing each year since 2014, though experts say this is expected for an economy in a long term recovery (last December marked 10 years since the beginning of the Great Recession). Some pointed out that the low rate is partially explained by people leaving the workforce - the percentage of working age people to total population dropped from 60.4% to 60.3%. The last time the economy saw sustained unemployment below 4% was the late 1960s. 

Check out historic unemployment rates here. 

High Profile Arrests in Indian Rape Cases.
Indian officials arrested at least 22 men in three separate rape cases in the eastern part of the country over the weekend. The arrests come as the country grapples with an epidemic of violent sexual assaults against women, with more cases coming to light as officials work to enforce tougher penalties. In the most high profile case, police arrested 15 men after a 16-year-old girl was burned alive after her family reported her rapists to village elders. According to reports, the men were angered by the punishment handed out by the elders - a sentence of 100 sit-ups and 50,000 rupees (about $750). The village chief was among those detained. Over 39,000 rapes were reported in 2016 in India - though experts say this number is vastly underestimated as many victims do not report to avoid public shaming. 

Increasing sexual violence in India, which is 80% Hindu, often intersects with emerging nationalist strife - like the case of an 8-year-old Muslim girl raped by a group Hindu men.   
 

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The best big cities in the US to start a business in 2018. 

...And the best cities for living the American Dream. 

First photos released of Prince Louis of Cambridge. 

Woman turns $18 dollar bet into $1.2M during the Kentucky Derby. 

The New York Times' summer 2018 movie release schedule (paywall). 

90-year-old becomes oldest man to compete in NASCAR-sanctioned event. 

Doctor-turned-comedian Ken Jeong jumps off stage during set to assist women having seizure. 

The best tacos in each state in the US (via Thrillist). 

Netflix and chill is probably killing your love life. 

Clickbait: Someone kept going to the bathroom on a New Jersey high school track - police arrested a rival school's superintendent.   

Historybook: Germany sinks RMS Lusitania, killing 1,198 (1915); HBD Eva 'Evita' Peron (1919); Johnny Unitas born (1933); Germany unconditionally surrenders, ending their participation in WWII (1945); The Scream is recovered undamaged after it's stolen for three months (1994).

"There is a difference between conceit and confidence. Conceit is bragging about yourself. Confidence means you believe you can get the job done."
- Johnny Unitas
 

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