Good morning. It's Monday, Dec. 8, and we're covering a nuclear watchdog announcement, a short-lived coup in West Africa, and much more. First time reading? Join over 4.5 million insatiably curious readers. Sign up here.
Don’t keep us a secret: Share the email with friends (copy URL here).
And, as always, send us feedback at [email protected]. |
|
|
|
|
The protective shield at Chernobyl can no longer perform its main function of confining radioactive waste, the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog said Saturday. The assessment comes after a Feb. 14 drone strike Ukraine has blamed on Russia.
The New Safe Confinement is the world’s largest movable land structure—a hangar-like structure designed to last 100 years that was built from 2010 to 2019 (see more, w/video). The structure—made with donations from 45 countries—was designed to enclose the Soviet Union's concrete “sarcophagus,” erected immediately following the 1986 Chernobyl disaster. Earlier this year, a drone carrying a high-explosive warhead struck the NSC, damaging its protective cladding. There were no reports of radiation leaks, and radiation levels remained normal. The UN’s watchdog said this weekend the NSC's monitoring functions remain intact.
On April 26, 1986, two explosions at Chernobyl's nuclear reactor No. 4 sent radioactivity across much of the Soviet Union and Europe. Learn about the disaster here (w/video) |
Benin’s interior minister said yesterday the army had successfully thwarted a coup. The announcement came hours after soldiers on state television claimed to have seized control of the government.
The country has been relatively stable politically since 1991, when it began holding multiparty elections following the end of Mathieu Kérékou’s authoritarian rule. The current leader, President Patrice Talon, has been in power since 2016, but his mandate is set to end in April. Last month, the ruling coalition approved broad constitutional reforms to extend the next president’s (and lawmakers') mandate from five to seven years—a move critics called a power grab. A Beninese court had separately barred the opposition party's proposed candidate from running, citing insufficient support from lawmakers.
Benin is the latest West African country to face a coup attempt, after neighbors Niger and Burkina Faso, as well as Mali, Guinea, and, most recently, Guinea-Bissau. See a timeline of recent military takeover attempts in the region here. |
Legendary architect and designer Frank Gehry passed away Friday at age 96 following a brief respiratory illness. The Canadian-American Gehry is generally considered the most decorated architect of all time, having won many of the industry's top awards during his career.
Known for his imaginative, curving, and unconventional designs, Gehry built an early reputation for challenging traditional construction norms. Beyond the structures themselves, Gehry’s designs gave birth to the “Bilbao effect”—the idea that a single architectural project can spark a revitalization in an otherwise declining urban center. The term comes from Gehry’s Guggenheim museum in Bilbao, Spain, which drew 4 million visitors and generated roughly $580M in economic activity in its first three years (and was notably completed on time and on budget).
Gehry’s best-known buildings include the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles and the Louis Vuitton Foundation in Paris. See photos of his most iconic designs here. |
|
|
|
In partnership with RAD Intel |
|
Please support our sponsors! |
|
|
|
|
Sports, Entertainment, & Culture |
> President Donald Trump becomes first US president to host the Kennedy Center Honors, distributing lifetime achievement awards to actors Sylvester Stallone and Michael Crawford, rock band KISS, and singers Gloria Gaynor and George Strait; ceremony will air Dec. 23 on CBS and Paramount+ (More) |
> Indiana takes No. 1 spot in 12-team field competing for college football's 2025 national championship (More) | Lionel Messi leads Inter Miami to first MLS Cup title (More) |
> The UK's Lando Norris wins first Formula 1 world championship title following third-place finish in Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (More) | Former NASCAR driver Michael Annett dies at age 39 (More) |
|
|
|
In partnership with Motley Fool Money |
|
Top Card for Americans With Good Credit |
Let's be honest. Most credit cards just aren't that great—high fees, low rewards, nothing special.
But this card? With this leading card, you can enjoy benefits like:
- 0% intro APR into 2027 on purchases and balance transfers
- You can earn up to 6% cash back in categories you'll actually use
- Cash back on every single purchase
If you read that list twice, we don't blame you. Now you get why this is a top card for Americans with good credit. Learn more and apply today. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
> OpenAI reportedly moves up the release of ChatGPT 5.2 to as early as this week; move follows CEO Sam Altman's "Code Red" memo in response to Google's Gemini 3 (More) |
> Scientists develop process using CO2 to create carbon-negative construction materials; concrete production accounts for about 8% of global CO2 emissions (More) |
> California officials issue warning against wild mushroom foraging after identifying 21 cases and one death linked to amatoxin poisoning, likely linked to the "death cap" mushroom (More) |
|
|
|
|
|
> US stock markets rise Friday (S&P 500 +0.2%, Dow +0.2%, Nasdaq +0.3%), with analysts projecting a nearly 90% chance the Federal Reserve cuts interest rates again Wednesday (More) |
> SpaceX to offer insider shares valuing it at $800B, passing OpenAI as the most valuable privately held company; may eye initial public offering late next year (More) | What we've learned about SpaceX (1440 Topics) | ... and IPOs (1440 Topics) |
> Federal officials waive final, $11M installment of $140M against Southwest Airlines over its 2022 holiday meltdown that left more than 2 million travelers stranded; decision cited company's efforts to upgrade infrastructure (More) |
|
|
|
> Supreme Court to hear case challenging President Donald Trump's move to fire Federal Trade Commissioner Rebecca Kelly Slaughter, testing 90-year-old limits on presidential power to remove regulators (More) |
> Japan says Chinese jets locked radar on its fighter jets; incident comes weeks after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi indicated the country could get involved if China took action against Taiwan (More) |
> Hong Kong voters elect 90-member legislature weeks after fire in Tai Po kills at least 159 people; turnout is estimated at nearly one-third of the eligible population (More) |
|
|
|
In partnership with RAD Intel |
|
RAD Intel’s AI platform predicts what content will perform before money is spent — one reason more than 14,000 investors have joined, F1000 momentum is accelerating, and the company is pacing ~5000%+ valuation growth in 4 years with recurring 7-figure partnerships in place.
Shares are $0.85 for now. A well-timed move can change outcomes — and this looks like it could be one of those moments.* |
|
Please support our sponsors! |
|
|
|
|
1440 Topics gives you the overview, then points you to the best resources: |
|
> Yesterday marked the 84th anniversary of Pearl Harbor—see the best resources we've found on the attack, including a visualization of the Japanese strike. |
|
> The next episode of "1440 Explores" comes out Thursday and takes a look at dreams—why we have them, whether we can control them, and what they might mean. Sign up here for updates on our flagship podcast. |
|
|
|
|
|
Clickbait: Brace yourself for Ozempets.
Historybook: Mary, Queen of Scots born (1542); The US declares war on Japan (1941); Musician Jim Morrison born (1943); John Lennon murdered outside his residence in New York City (1980); Astronaut and senator John Glenn dies (2016).
|
1440 Trivia: What was the name of the Yale University historian who found the “lost city” of the Inca? Check back tomorrow (or dig for it here) to see if you were correct.
... and vote on tomorrow's Trivia topic: Deepfakes or Earthquakes.
PS: Friday's answer was ... Salvador Dalí believed he'd been reincarnated as his older brother.
|
|
|
|
"We are more fulfilled when we are involved in something bigger than ourselves." |
|
|
Behind the Name. In 1440, the printing press sparked a knowledge revolution. We carry that spirit forward, cutting through the noise and algorithm-driven feeds, to bring fact-driven knowledge to everyone.
Want to connect with 4.5 million insatiably curious minds? Become a 1440 partner here. |
|
*Disclosure: This is a paid advertisement for RAD Intel made pursuant to Regulation A+ offering and involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. Nasdaq ticker “RADI” has been reserved by RAD Intel and any potential listing is subject to future regulatory approval and market conditions. Please read the offering circular and related risks at invest.radintel.ai. |
|
1440 Media 222 W Merchandise Mart Plaza, Suite 1212 Chicago, IL 60654
Copyright © 2025, 1440 Media, All rights reserved. Privacy Policy. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
