Good morning. It's Saturday, Oct. 26, and in this weekend edition, we're covering rising E. coli cases tied to a popular fast-food chain, an ancient Norse saga discovery, and much more. First time reading? Join over 4 million readers. Sign up here.
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E. coli illnesses linked to McDonald's Quarter Pounder burgers have spread to 75 people across 13 states, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced yesterday. Twenty-two people have been hospitalized, with one person dead. See outbreak map here.
The update comes three days after the CDC opened an investigation, initially reporting 49 E. coli cases, including 10 hospitalizations and one death. Federal regulators haven't confirmed the outbreak's source, though initial investigations point to the onions on the burgers as a likely source after Taylor Farms (the sole supplier of McDonald's onions) issued an onion recall at its facility in Colorado. The incident has prompted fast-food chains like Burger King, KFC, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell to temporarily remove raw onions from their items in some locations.
Escherichia coli, commonly known as E. coli (see overview), are bacteria typically found in the intestines of humans and other animals. They help to digest food and produce vitamins. However, some strains have evolved, causing illnesses by producing toxins that damage the lining of the intestines. |
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Japanese voters head to polls tomorrow in Japan's snap elections.
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's ruling Liberal Democratic Party faces its most significant electoral challenge for the first time since 2009 amid corruption scandals and declining public support. Analysts predict the opposition, particularly the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, may gain ground. Ishiba called the parliamentary elections after taking office Oct. 1 following the resignation of Japan's former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
Robotaxi developer Waymo raises record $5.6B in funding.
The funding round is the largest for Alphabet's autonomous vehicle division, Waymo, as it looks to expand its robotaxi services across more cities. The round—led by Alphabet and joined by venture firms including Andreessen Horowitz, Fidelity, and T. Rowe Price—brings Waymo's total capital raised to more than $11B. Waymo operates in San Francisco, Phoenix, and Los Angeles, and plans to expand to Austin and Atlanta as part of a partnership with Uber.
Grateful Dead cofounder and bassist Phil Lesh dies at 84.
Lesh played for the Grateful Dead for its entire 30-year history and also cowrote some of the band’s most noteworthy songs, including “St. Stephen," “Dark Star,” “Cumberland Blues,” and “Box of Rain.” The Grateful Dead was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1994 and disbanded in 1995 after the death of the group's leader, Jerry Garcia. Lesh had faced health challenges later in life, including battles with prostate and bladder cancer. No cause of death was made public.
'Well Man' identified from 800-year-old Norse saga.
Researchers have linked ancient DNA from skeletal remains found in a well at Sverresborg Castle in Norway to the "well man" mentioned in the medieval Sverris Saga. The research indicates the remains likely belong to a man who died during a 1197 raid and was thrown into the well to poison the water supply, corroborating the historical narrative. The finding represents the first instance of physically identifying an individual described in historical texts through genomic analysis.
India, China begin implementing Himalayan border pact.
India and China have begun withdrawing their troops from an undefined 2,100-mile-long disputed Himalayan border, marking a step toward deescalating a four-year military standoff (see background). The withdrawal follows a recent agreement between the two nations to resume military patrols along the border, which had been a source of tension since deadly clashes in July 2020 that killed 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese soldiers.
Boeing reportedly exploring sale of parts of it space business.
The aerospace company's space business up for sale includes its troubled Starliner vehicle and operations that support the International Space Station. The sale exploration is reportedly at an early stage and may not result in a deal. The report comes after a SpaceX capsule carried four astronauts from the space station back to Earth after their return was delayed due to problems with Boeing's capsule and Hurricane Milton. |
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Sixteen-year-old UK boy—and cancer survivor—helps save lives on the water by responding to maritime distress calls. (More)
New York City bus driver reunites with 5-year-old girl he helped after seeing her wandering the streets by herself. (More)
Father uses TikTok to offer "Dinner with Dad" to any kid or adult child who needs one. (More)
Houston Chick-fil-A workers help terminally ill diner cross off "visiting" Alaska from his travel bucket list. (More)
In-laws drive 17 hours to celebrate daughter-in-law's birthday, whose military husband was overseas. (More) |
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Today, we're sharing a story from reader Gloria M. in Safety Harbor, Florida.
"I live in a condo community and our power was out for several days. One of our neighbors had a generator and put a power bank outside so that all of his neighbors would be able to charge their cell phones. In addition, he placed a coffee maker out there as well and filled it with water. All you had to do was to bring your own K-Cup! What a thoughtful & wonderful thing to do."
What act(s) of kindness did you experience this week? Tell us here. |
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