9.4.2024

Facts, without motives.
 

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Good morning. It's Wednesday, Sept. 4, and we're covering a fatal prison break attempt in Central Africa, a long-awaited trial against Volkswagen's former chief, and much more. First time reading? Join over 3.8 million intellectually curious readers. Sign up here.

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Need To Know
 

Deadly Blast in Ukraine

Russian airstrikes on a Ukrainian military institute and nearby hospital yesterday killed at least 50 people and wounded 270 others. The strike on the central Ukrainian city of Poltava is considered the war's deadliest single attack this year.

 

Meanwhile, five of Ukraine's ministers resigned as part of another government shake-up, leaving more than a third of the country's cabinet vacant after other resignations and dismissals earlier in the year. Fighting in the 2.5-year war has intensified since last month. Ukraine has continued its cross-border offensive into Russia, having seized at least 500 miles of territory, while Russia has advanced into eastern Ukraine. See updates here.

 

Separately, Mongolia welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin for a state visit, ignoring an arrest warrant for Putin issued by the International Criminal Court last year. Mongolia is among 124 nations that are members of the court and is required by international law to comply with the warrant. Mongolia, which relies on Russia for fuel, could face consequences for failing to do so.

 

Congo Jailbreak Attempt

At least 129 people are dead and 59 others injured after an attempted escape from a prison in the Democratic Republic of Congo's capital yesterday. Roughly two dozen people were shot by guards as they sought to break out, while the remainder of the dead were reportedly killed in a subsequent crowd surge and fire. 

 

The Makala Central Prison in Kinshasa, Congo's capital on the Congo River in Central Africa, was built in 1957 when the country was still under Belgian rule (read history). The capital's sole prison facility is designed to hold 1,500 prisoners but houses nearly 12,000 inmates—70% of whom haven't yet faced trial. Rights advocates have long condemned the facility as unsafe. Prisoners reportedly attempted to break out of their cells amid a power outage that had cut off fans and water access in 90 degree heat. Officials estimated roughly 500 inmates died last year from suffocation and disease in the facility.

 

The incident comes as the country of 100 million people also responds to an mpox outbreak and a resurgence in its three-decade civil conflict. Learn more here.

 

'Dieselgate' Trial Begins

Former Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn's criminal trial for his role in the so-called "dieselgate" scandal began yesterday, nine years after the German automotive giant was accused of rigging emissions tests. Winterkorn, 77, faces charges of fraud, market manipulation, and perjury. If found guilty, he could face up to 10 years in prison. He has denied all charges.

 

In September 2015, the US Environmental Protection Agency accused Volkswagen of installing illegal software, dubbed “defeat devices," in diesel cars to manipulate emissions tests to pass environmental standards. The device could switch off a car's emissions control system while driving on the road and reactivate it during emissions testing on a dynamometer. When shut off, the defeat devices allowed nitrogen oxide emissions up to 40 times higher than the legal limit.

 

Roughly 11 million vehicles worldwide were equipped with the software and the scandal cost Volkswagen over $38B in fines and compensation.

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In The Know
 

Sports, Entertainment, & Culture

> UK government to investigate Ticketmaster over its "dynamic pricing" following soaring opening day prices for Oasis' reunion concert (More) | US judge puts temporary hold on former President Donald Trump's campaign from using popular Isaac Hayes song amid lawsuit by the late singer's estate (More)

> James Darren, former teen idol known for starring roles in "Gidget" and "T.J. Hooker," dies at age 88 (More

> Georgia leads first regular season AP college football Top 25 poll after Week 1 games; Ohio State and Texas round out the top three (More

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Science & Technology

> Clearview AI fined $34M by Dutch regulators for violating European privacy laws; officials say company collected biometric information via facial images without getting consent (More) | Listen to a deep dive on Clearview AI (More)

> SpaceX Polaris Dawn mission officially cleared to launch, scheduled to blast off Friday; fully private flight will take humans roughly 870 miles away from the Earth's surface (More) | The history of SpaceX in three minutes (More, w/video)

> Scientists map genome of the Entomophthora muscae fungus, capable of turning flies into zombies; study is expected to shed light on how simple organisms ultimately control behavior in others (More

 

Business & Markets

> US stock markets close lower (S&P 500 -2.1%, Dow -1.5%, Nasdaq -3.3%), driven by economic reports indicating slowdown in manufacturing sector (More)

> Rite Aid emerges from Chapter 11 bankruptcy as private company, names its chief financial officer as next CEO (More) | Costco membership price increase goes into effect for first time in seven years (More)

> Hilton, Hyatt, and Marriott experience staffing shortages amid strike; around 10,000 hotel workers are striking in at least seven cities, seeking better pay (More)

 

Politics & World Affairs

> Former aide to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) arrested, charged with acting as a Chinese spy; allegations include blocking Taiwanese officials from access to Hochul's office, revising statements to align with Chinese interests (More)

> US Justice Department charges Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, five other senior militants with terrorism and other crimes in connection with Oct. 7 raid; Sinwar is believed to be hiding in Gaza's tunnels (More) | The UK suspends 30 of its 350 arms export licenses with Israel, impacting sales of fighter jets, drones, helicopters (More)

> Migrant boat capsizes in English Channel, killing at least 12 people, most from the East African nation of Eritrea; more than 2,000 people have traveled to Britain on migrant boats in the past week, per UK government figures (More)

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Etcetera
 

Ranking the best US cities for retirees (in 2024).

 

See the bronze statue rediscovered on the Titanic.

 

The rich history of America's National Parks. (w/video) 

 

The tree-like bacterium found exclusively in mouths.

 

Joey Chestnut defeats his own hot dog eating record

 

Researcher tests color perception with online quiz.

 

Why workers in Japan hire resignation experts.

 

AI analyzes trends from millions of yearbook photos.

 

Clickbait: Spain's latest dating trend involves pineapples.

 

Historybook: Edmond Halley observes Halley’s comet for first time (1682); Beyoncé born (1981); Google is founded (1998); Crocodile Hunter host Steve Irwin killed by a stingray (2006); Comedian Joan Rivers dies (2014).

"I succeeded by saying what everyone else is thinking."

- Joan Rivers

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