Good morning, it's Monday, July 13. We're covering Florida's coronavirus surge, the return of federal executions, and a change at Turkey's Hagia Sophia. Have feedback? Let us know at [email protected].

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NEED TO KNOW

COVID-19 Surge Continues

A surge in US coronavirus cases, mostly in the South and West, continued to pick up speed over the weekend. Florida broke the single-day state record for new coronavirus cases yesterday, reporting more than 15,000 new illnesses over the weekend. The previous record was set Wednesday by California at 11,694; New York's high was just under 11,600 set April 15. Daily deaths in Florida have risen above 70, more than double the average just three weeks ago. The US reported nearly 66,000 cases yesterday, having set records in at least seven of the previous 14 days. 

Twenty-nine states have reported a rise in COVID-19 hospitalizations over the past two weeks, and ICU beds are said to be at least 80% full in Arizona, Alabama, and Georgia. More broadly, deaths across the US are beginning to rise, weeks after cases began to explode. The seven-day rolling average of deaths increased by 15% over two weeks ago to 664, though the figure is still well below mid-April's peak. 

Separately, President Trump visited Walter Reed military hospital to meet wounded military personnel and healthcare workers, where he wore a facemask in public for the first time.

The US has reported 3.3 million total cases, with 135,205 deaths, as of this morning. See the three-day rolling average here.

Federal Executions Resume

The first federal execution in nearly two decades will be held today, with 47-year-old Daniel Lewis Lee scheduled to die by lethal injection. The proceedings follow a federal appeals court decision overturning a hold on the execution late yesterday. Lee was convicted of killing an Arkansas family of three in 1997; relatives of the victims have previously asked for clemency for Lee. 

The last federal execution occurred in 2003, though 28 states have the death penalty (see breakdown) and federal prosecutors have continued to successfully seek the punishment. The Trump administration began a concerted effort to restore the practice under Attorney General William Barr, who advocated for the practice during the first Bush administration. The Supreme Court declined to hear a challenge to the practice two weeks ago, clearing the way for Lee's execution. 

Lee is one of three inmates currently set to be executed this week.

Hagia Sophia Converted

The iconic Hagia Sophia must revert to a working mosque, a Turkish court ruled—and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan decreed—over the weekend. Recognized by the United Nations as a world heritage site and a museum since 1935, the move drew widespread criticism from secular and religious leaders worldwide. 

Completed in 537 BCE, the Constantinople edifice served as the main cathedral in the Byzantine Empire until the city—now Istanbul—was captured by the Ottoman Empire in 1453 (see history). It was converted and used as a mosque until the founding of modern Turkey in 1935, becoming an informal marker of the country's secular foundation. The building is considered one of the greatest examples of Byzantine architecture, but has become a flashpoint for Muslim-Christian relations. The decision has been criticized as a political appeal by Erdogan to the country's religious conservatives. 

See 360-degree photos of the structure here.

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IN THE KNOW

Sports, Entertainment, & Culture

> Washington’s NFL team to announce this morning it will drop Redskins, revealing a new team name (More) | Atlanta Braves will not change their nickname (More)

> Valentina Sampaio becomes first openly transgender model in Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit issue (More)

> Walt Disney World reopens amid coronavirus spike in Florida after nearly four-month closure (More) | … and Disney’s "welcome home" video faces backlash on social media (More)

Science & Technology

> Astronomers discover a celestial megastructure more than 1 billion light-years across and containing hundreds of thousands of galaxies; dubbed the "South Pole Wall" (More)

> Wildlife conservation group to reintroduce wild bison to the United Kingdom beginning in 2022 for the first time in 6,000 years (More)

> Amazon retracts order banning social media platform TikTok from employee phones over national security concerns; company said the memo was sent in error (More) | Wells Fargo tells employees to delete the app (More) | A look at the concerns over TikTok (More)

Business & Markets

> Electric pickup truck maker Rivian raises $2.5B, plans to launch electric truck next year (More)

> Sources say Facebook is considering a ban on political ads on its network ahead of 2020 election, no official word from the company (More)

> Sony acquires $250M stake in Epic Games—producer of popular video game Fortnite—for 1.4% stake, valuing Epic at more than $17B (More)

Master Financial Modeling in Three Weeks. Boost your career with one of the most in-demand skillsets in finance. Early access discount expires in 24 hours—learn more on Wall Street Oasis.

Politics & World Affairs

> President Trump commutes the sentence of associate Roger Stone; political operative was convicted on seven charges including witness tampering (More) | Robert Mueller defends Stone indictment in op-ed (More, $$, WashPo) | More documents released detailing Michael Flynn prosecution (More)

> Record heat wave grips much of the US South, expected to move into the Midwest during the middle of the week (More) | What is a heat dome? (More, $$, Wired)

> Polish President Andrzej Duda narrowly wins reelection; race was originally scheduled for May (More)

ETCETERA

A single chart visualizes how the world is getting older.

... and mapping the oldest restaurant in every country.

"The Empire Strikes Back" is back on top of the box office.

From our partners: Tired of being locked into expensive cellular contracts? This company offers flexible, crazy affordable plans tailored for each family member—all managed from one account, starting from $5/month.

We finally know why ships get stuck in "dead-water."

Vintage Super Mario Bros. game sells for $114K. 

In London, Uber moves into the boat business.

Former Marine catches child dropped from a burning building.

Conjoined twin girls successfully separated at the head. 

Clickbait: Man arrested after biting a seagull. 

Historybook: Julius Caesar born (100 BCE); First World Cup takes place in Uruguay (1930); HBD Sir Patrick Stewart (1940); RIP artist Frida Kahlo (1954); Live Aid concerts in the UK and the US raise $125M+ for Africa famine relief (1985).

"Nothing is worth more than laughter."

- Frida Kahlo

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