Good morning. It's Saturday, Sept. 24, and in this weekend edition, we're covering a deadly sinking of a boat carrying migrants, a historic package of tax cuts announced in the UK, and much more. Have feedback? We'd like to hear it. Let us know at [email protected].
PS—Today is National Public Lands Day, meaning all national parks that typically charge an entrance fee, like Yellowstone and Yosemite, are offering free admission. Find a national park near you here. |
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Syrian authorities have recovered the bodies of at least 77 migrants who were killed after a boat from Lebanon sank off Syria's coast this week, officials said yesterday. The capsized boat was reportedly bound for Italy. At least 20 survivors were being treated at a hospital in Tartus, the second-largest port city in Syria, officials said.
Lebanon is home to 6 million people, including 1 million Syrian refugees. Since 2019, the country has been mired in what the World Bank has called one of the worst financial crises in history (see background). An increasing number of Lebanese have joined Syrians and Palestinians to emigrate to Europe by sea for better economic and living conditions. Tens of thousands have lost their jobs in the past few years, as the Lebanese pound has lost about 90% of its value since 2019.
Following the shipwreck's discovery, the Lebanese army yesterday stormed the homes of suspected smugglers and detained them. |
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Dow Jones Industrial Average drops to lowest level of 2022.
The Dow dropped 486 points, or 1.6%, to fall below 30,000 at market close to the lowest level since 2020. The index briefly entered bear market territory (see 101) in intraday trading, falling 20% from its recent all-time high in January. The S&P 500 fell 1.7%, and the Nasdaq composite fell 1.8%. All indexes posted a fourth consecutive day of declines.
British pound falls as UK government proposes historic tax cuts.
The package, announced Friday, is the largest of its kind in 50 years. It includes reversing income tax hikes and canceling a planned corporate tax increase to keep the rate at 19%—the lowest corporate rate in the G-20. The announcement sent the British pound to a fresh 37-year low against the US dollar and came a day after the Bank of England said the UK economy was likely in a recession.
Italians head to polls Sunday to vote in national elections.
Observers forecast far-right candidate Giorgia Meloni will succeed outgoing centrist Prime Minister Mario Draghi. Her nationalist-populist party, Brothers of Italy, is also projected to win in parliament. Meloni would become the first female prime minister and lead the most far-right Italian government since World War II, analysts say.
Tropical Depression Nine forms in Caribbean, expected to become hurricane.
The National Hurricane Center said the system is expected to approach Cuba Tuesday as a hurricane and then Florida Wednesday, making it the first hurricane to possibly reach the US mainland this year. The exact location and magnitude of impact haven't been determined. A tropical depression forms when a low pressure area is accompanied by maximum sustained winds below 39 miles per hour.
Hilary Mantel, award-winning author of "Wolf Hall" trilogy, dies.
The British author died Thursday at a hospital in Exeter, England, after suffering a stroke earlier in the week. She was 70. Mantel wrote 17 books and twice won Britain's prestigious literary Booker Prize for “Wolf Hall” and “Bring Up the Bodies,” both based on the life of royal servant Thomas Cromwell.
Apple Music replaces Pepsi as Super Bowl halftime show sponsor.
Apple Music’s multiyear sponsorship begins at the next NFL Super Bowl Feb. 12, in Glendale, Arizona. Pepsi ended its partnership with the NFL earlier this year after sponsoring the halftime show for a decade. |
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THE MAGICAL POWER OF SOFT
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Quartet wins world record to raise money for Kentucky flood victims. (More)
Single mom adopts four siblings after fostering 56 children. (More)
A 12-year-old girl transforms chip bags into blankets for people experiencing homelessness. (More)
Firefighters rescue blind dog from hole at California construction site. (More)
Sesame Workshop launches social-emotional learning app for children. (More)
Author spends years searching for childhood teacher who taught him to read—and then she surprises him. (More)
Research shows acts of kindness—no matter how small—have a positive impact on the recipient. (More) |
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Today, we're sharing a story from reader Jim B. in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.
"My grandson, in his first day of third grade, saw a girl he knew, who is in second grade, almost crying. He asked her what was wrong. She said, 'I don’t know where my class is.' He took her by the hand and helped her find her class."
What act(s) of kindness did you experience this week? Tell us. |
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Historybook: Author F. Scott Fitzgerald born (1896); American astronomer Charlotte Moore Sitterly born (1898); Devils Tower in Wyoming is proclaimed the first American national monument (1906); "Muppets" creator Jim Henson born (1936). |
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"Follow your enthusiasm. It's something I've always believed in. Find those parts of your life you enjoy the most. Do what you enjoy doing."
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Why 1440? The printing press was invented in the year 1440, spreading knowledge to the masses and changing the course of history. Guess what else? There are 1,440 minutes in a day and every one is precious. That’s why we scour hundreds of sources every day to provide a concise, comprehensive, and objective view of what's happening in the world. Reader feedback is a gift—shoot us a note at [email protected].
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