August 9, 2023 - Wednesday

[WORLD] China has asked the Philippines to remove a grounded warship from a disputed area in the South China Sea, but Manila has rejected the demand.

Tensions between China and the Philippines over the South China Sea have escalated as China asks the Philippines to remove a grounded warship from a disputed shoal. The Philippines has rejected China's demand and accused the Chinese coastguard of blocking resupply missions to its troops stationed on the shoal. Manila has been seeking support from the United States in its maritime disputes with China. China's embassy in Manila criticized the United States for hyping up the South China Sea issue. The situation in the South China Sea remains contentious as multiple countries make claims to the disputed waters.

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[NATION] Ohio voters reject GOP-backed proposal to increase difficulty of changing state constitution, setting up fall campaign on abortion rights.

Ohio voters resoundingly reject a Republican-backed measure, Issue 1, that would have raised the threshold for passing future constitutional amendments. The defeat of Issue 1 maintains the simple majority threshold and prevents a 60% supermajority requirement. Supporters claimed the higher bar would protect the state's constitution from outside groups. The proposal faced widespread voter opposition, including in traditionally Republican areas. President Biden praised the result, saying the measure was an attempt to weaken voters' voices.

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[BUSINESS] Penn Entertainment sells Barstool to David Portnoy and partners with ESPN to create ESPN Bet.

Penn Entertainment has sold Barstool back to David Portnoy and entered into a $2 billion deal with ESPN to create ESPN Bet. The online Barstool Sportsbook will be rebranded as ESPN Bet, with ESPN talent promoting the betting service. As part of the deal, PENN will make cash payments and grant shares to ESPN. To exit its commitments with Barstool, PENN sold all of its Barstool common stock to Portnoy.

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[TECHNOLOGY] Google Messages now uses end-to-end encryption by default between Android devices, allowing for increased privacy and security in messaging.

In a blog post, Google announced that it will now enable end-to-end encryption by default in its Messages app for Android devices. This means that messages sent between Android users will be protected from outside actors who attempt to view or monitor the conversations. However, this default encryption does not apply to messages sent between iPhone and Android users, as Apple's iMessage does not support encryption on Android. Encrypted messaging is already the default on platforms like WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram, and Apple's iMessage.

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[SPORTS] Colombia advances to the Women's World Cup quarterfinals for the first time with a 1-0 victory over Jamaica, while France defeats Morocco.

Colombia and France secure spots in the Women's World Cup quarterfinals after wins over Jamaica and Morocco, respectively. Catalina Usme's goal for Colombia broke Jamaica's defense and secured their historic advancement. France confidently defeated Morocco 4-0, setting up a matchup against co-host Australia. Colombia will face reigning European champion England in the quarterfinals. The unlikely journeys of these underdog teams make this tournament a success.

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[SCIENCE] Antarctic sea ice has reached a record low due to rising global temperatures, and scientists say there is no easy solution to reverse the damage.

A new study shows that Antarctic sea ice has plummeted to a new low this year, driven by rising global temperatures. The continent's minimum summer ice cover, which was already at its lowest level in 2021, fell even further in February. The study highlights the alarming impact of climate change on the Antarctic region and emphasizes that there is no quick fix to reverse the ice loss. This trend, if not addressed through emissions reduction, could have significant consequences such as disappearing coastlines and increased global warming. Scientists are deeply concerned about the current situation and its future implications.

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[HEALTH] Pharmaceutical giants Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk experienced record-high stock prices after reporting increased sales and promising trial results for weight loss drugs.

Shares of Eli Lilly rose 14% to a record high after reporting higher-than-expected earnings and increased sales of drugs such as Mounjaro, Verzenio, and Jardiance. Novo Nordisk also saw its stock surge, with a nearly 38% increase for the year, following positive results from a clinical trial of its weight loss drug Wegovy. Both companies aim to gain full approval for their drugs for weight loss purposes.

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[ENTERTAINMENT] Tory Lanez has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for shooting and wounding rapper Megan Thee Stallion.

Rapper Tory Lanez has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for shooting and injuring fellow rapper Megan Thee Stallion in the feet during an incident in 2020. Lanez was convicted of assault and firearms charges in December 2021. The sentence brought an end to a three-year legal and cultural saga that had a significant impact on both artists' lives and careers. The sentencing received mixed reactions, with some considering it inadequate justice for Stallion. The case also highlighted the challenges faced by Black women when they report abuse.

No sources available.