8.8.2024

Facts, without motives.
 

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Good morning. It's Thursday, Aug. 8, and we're covering the latest on the Starliner astronauts still in space, the UK's worst riots in over a decade, and much more. First time reading? Join over 3.7 million intellectually curious readers. Sign up here.

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Need To Know
 

Starliner Stalled

NASA is preparing contingency plans for Boeing's Starliner astronauts to potentially return from the International Space Station in February 2025. The announcement yesterday is the latest setback for Boeing over the capsule's inaugural crewed mission to space.

 

The Starliner took off June 5, carrying veteran NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams after a series of delays for what was intended to be a nine-day mission. That mission has since extended past two months, with the capsule held for further testing amid concerns of helium leaks and thruster control. NASA’s latest announcement reportedly comes amid internal dissent with Boeing, which maintains its capsule is safe to fly.

 

NASA's contingency plans, not finalized, would see Wilmore and Williams returning via a capsule from Boeing competitor, SpaceX. The news is the latest blow to Boeing, reeling from a series of issues with its commercial planes.

 

UK Protests Swell

Thousands of counterprotesters turned out across the United Kingdom yesterday in response to the country's worst riots in over a decade. Over 400 rioters had been arrested amid expanded prosecution protocols, with three people already sentenced to several years in prison.

 

Demonstrations primarily against migrant and Islamic communities began last week amid online posts suggesting a Muslim immigrant was responsible for the stabbing deaths of three young girls in Southport, England. The posts came despite officials identifying the suspect as a 17-year-old male born in the UK to Rwandan parents. The day after the attack, groups gathered outside a mosque in Southport, confronting police and setting cars on fire; similar protests erupted in over 15 other cities since, from London to Belfast in Northern Ireland (see map). Dozens of officers have been injured.

 

The suspect was charged with three counts of murder and 10 counts of attempted murder. New reports revealed 63-year-old bystander John Hayes was stabbed as he confronted the assailant. 

 

A Streaming World After All

Disney posted its first-ever streaming profit yesterday, with divisions including Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ producing $47M in operating income in Q3 this year, compared to a loss of $512M in the same period last year. 

 

The news comes as Disney plans to hike prices for streaming subscriptions in October. Yesterday, CEO Bob Iger also revealed the company's plans to crack down on password sharing next month. Meanwhile, Disney Studios unit posted income of $254M—its first quarterly profit in over two years. Disney is the first studio this year to top $3B in worldwide ticket sales, driven by box office successes "Inside Out 2" and "Deadpool & Wolverine." The unit is expected to continue its box office streak with anticipated releases like "Moana 2" later this year. 

 

Disney's Experiences unit, however—including its theme parks and cruise line—saw domestic profit drop 6% from last year. The company lowered its revenue forecast for Q4, blaming softening tourist demand. Shares dropped over 3% on the news. 

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In The Know
 

Sports, Entertainment, & Culture

> Taylor Swift cancels three upcoming Eras Tour shows in Vienna, Austria, after two men, at least one affiliated with ISIS, were arrested for allegedly plotting a terrorist attack near the venue (More

> Hampton Morris becomes first American man to medal in weightlifting since 1984, capturing bronze (More) | Team USA takes on Serbia today (3 pm ET, USA) in men's basketball semifinals (More) | See latest medal count (More)

> NFL preseason begins in earnest tonight; see preview for all 32 teams (More) | Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh effectively banned from college athletics until 2028 for "unethical conduct" while serving as Michigan's head coach (More)

 

Science & Technology

> China begins launching satellites as part of its "Thousand Sails" space-based internet network; reports suggest effort is meant to function similarly to SpaceX's Starlink (More

> New device provides first easy-to-use measurement of real-time blood pressure in any place on the body; applications may include at-home health monitoring and use in remote areas with limited access to healthcare (More

> Researchers attach cameras to eight endangered sea lions, map out nearly 2,000 miles of uncharted ocean floor off the coast of Australia (More

 

Business & Markets

> US stock markets close lower (S&P 500 -0.8%, Dow -0.6%, Nasdaq -1.0%) as shares of technology companies decline (More)

> Shopify shares close up 18% after e-commerce software giant tops Q2 revenue and earnings estimates (More) | Warner Bros. Discovery shares fall 10% in after-hours trading after reporting $9B impairment charge (More) | Impairment charges 101 (More

> Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway now holds roughly $235B worth of investments in US Treasury bills, more than the Federal Reserve (More) | What are Treasury bills? (More

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Politics & World Affairs

> Tropical Storm Debby hovers off the coast of the Carolinas, with the region bracing for a second landfall (More) | 5.2-magnitude earthquake strikes Bakersfield in Southern California Tuesday, causing dozens of aftershocks but no reports of deaths or damage (More)

> Rep. Cori Bush (D, MO-1) loses to prosecutor Wesley Bell (D) in second-most expensive Democratic congressional primary in history, with $18M spent on candidates' ads, $8.5M from pro-Israel lobbying group AIPAC (More

> Russia declares a state of emergency in the border region of Kursk after Ukraine launches a rare cross-border ground assault (More) | See war updates (More)

 

In-Depth

> Who Are Fossils For?

The Hustle | Katherine Laidlaw. When a stegosaurus fossil sold for a record-breaking $44.6M, it sparked renewed scrutiny on the private sale of fossils—and whether ancient specimens should be allowed to go to the highest bidder or reserved for public institutions, historians, and scientists. (Read)

 

> Which Witch Is Which?

The Independent | Olivia Petter. A look at the spiritual healers, tarot card readers, and others with alleged ties to the occult gaining momentum in the wellness space—and what commercialized witchcraft says about this point in history. (Read)

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What it is like to be your country's sole Olympian.

 

... and a scientific Olympics kicks off in South Africa.

 

McDonald's new Happy Meal features a blast from the past.

 

Study shows a tree can hold its breath during forest fires.

 

Artist makes pop culture characters entirely out of flowers.

 

Pitbull makes his mark on college football.

 

Research suggests cats grieve the loss of another pet, including dogs.

 

Watch an underwater, upside-down moonwalk. (w/video)

 

Clickbait: The elite group of cooks dominating state fair competitions.

 

Historybook: Thomas Edison patents the mimeograph (1876); Writer Shirley Jackson dies (1965); President Richard Nixon announces his resignation (1974); Roger Federer born (1981); Olivia Newton-John dies (2022). 

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*Disclosure: Alternative investments are speculative and possess a high level of risk. No assurance can be given that investors will receive a return of their capital. Those investors who cannot afford to lose their entire investment should not invest. Investments in private placements are highly illiquid and those investors who cannot hold an investment for an indefinite term should not invest. Private credit investments may be complex investments and they are subject to default risk.

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