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| 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. |
| Need To Know. |
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| US Cyberstrike on Iran. |
The US launched a series of cyberattacks on the computer networks controlling Iran's rocket and missile systems, according to reports over the weekend. The attacks, said to have specifically targeted systems operated by the country's Revolutionary Guard, came on the heels of a physical strike reportedly called off by President Trump after Iran shot down a US drone over the Strait of Hormuz last week. The incident is the latest in an escalating tit-for-tat that accelerated after the US exited the 2015 nuclear treaty last year, and has included attacks on oil tankers in the Strait - the most strategic waterway for oil transport in the world (deep dive here). By yesterday the administration had floated additional sanctions on Iran ahead of this week's G20 meeting in Osaka, Japan.
Ever wonder about the difference between a rocket and a missile? |
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| Defense Chief Nominated. |
| In related news, President Trump said he will nominate Army Secretary Mark Esper as Secretary of Defense. Esper, a former infantry officer who deployed with the "Screaming Eagles" during the first Iraq war in 1990, took over as acting Defense Secretary from Patrick Shanahan late last week. Shanahan's nomination to the post fell apart in the face of resurfaced domestic abuse allegations and scrutiny by senators over his relationship with longtime employer Boeing. While Esper lead government relations for defense contractor Raytheon for a number of years, he primarily built his career as a congressional aide and staffer at the Pentagon (see bio). If confirmed by the Senate, Esper would calm rising anxiety over the lack of a Defense Secretary as tensions with Iran rise. |
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| Methane on Mars. |
| In an unusual finding, NASA's Mars Curiosity rover detected a spike in the levels of methane on the planet late last week, according to reports. The data took scientists by surprise - the simple molecule (a carbon atom linked with four hydrogen atoms) should dissipate in the Martian atmosphere after a few hundred years. Yet when the rover touched down in 2012 it detected less than one part per billion (virtually nothing), but reported a spike of 7 parts per billion in 2013. The newest measurement hit 21 parts per billion, meaning that something released a burst of gas relatively recently. Researchers are excited because - while there are geological sources of methane, for example, gas trapped in rocks - much of Earth's methane comes from living organisms, leading to speculation that tiny methane-emitting organisms may exist (see similar example) on the Red Planet. Scientists called the results "exciting, but preliminary". |
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| In The Know. |
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| Sports, Entertainment & Culture. |
| > Rapper Cardi B wins Album of the Year at 2019 BET Awards; see complete list of winners (More) | ...and Cardi B indicted on felony assault charges stemming from 2018 brawl (More) |
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| > US avenges 2017 World Cup qualifying loss; defeats Trinidad and Tobago 6-0 in Gold Cup (More) | ...and US faces off against Spain today in round-of-16 of Women's World Cup (More) |
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| > Judith Krantz, best-selling romance novelist, dies at 91 (More) | Rock 'n' Roll pioneer Dave Bartholomew dies at 100 (More) |
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| Science & Technology. |
| > Massive fresh water aquifer found off the Northeast US coast; would be equivalent to 15,000-square-mile lake (More) |
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| > Airbus to use Microsoft's HoloLens smartglasses to train maintenance workers using augmented reality (More) |
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| > In breakthrough for advanced prosthetics, researchers report first-ever robotic arm controlled by non-invasive computer-brain interface (More) |
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| Business & Markets. |
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> US casino giant Eldorado Resorts to merge with Caesars in deal that values Caesars at ~$18B (More)
> Airlines are redirecting flights to avoid Iran-controlled airspace as safety concerns grow (More) |
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> Bitcoin passes $10k mark for first time in 15 months (More)
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| Politics & World Affairs. |
| > White House delays planned immigration raids scheduled for Sunday, reportedly seeking bipartisan deal on border policy (More) | New York magazine columnist E. Jean Carroll accuses President Trump of sexual assault during 1995 incident; Trump refutes charge (More) |
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| > Ethiopian government foils coup attempt led by military faction; country's top military officer killed (More) |
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| > Supreme Court overturns murder conviction of Mississippi death row inmate, saying prosecutors deliberately blocked black jurors from serving (More) |
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- Jack Dempsey |
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