July 19, 2023 - Wednesday

[WORLD] Heat waves in Europe, Asia, and the US are intensifying, prompting health warnings and potentially impacting tourism habits.

The World Meteorological Organization has warned of increased risks of deaths due to heat waves in Europe, Asia, and the US. Americans are currently facing extreme weather conditions including heat waves, wildfires, and floods. This global pattern of intense heat has led to tourists seeking cooler destinations and shifting their travel plans to spring or autumn. The Mediterranean region has seen a 10% decrease in travelers, while countries like the Czech Republic, Denmark, Ireland, and Bulgaria have seen increased interest.

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[NATION] Former President Donald Trump claims he is a target of the special counsel's criminal probe into efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

Donald Trump has stated that he has been informed by special counsel Jack Smith that he is a target of the criminal investigation into attempts to overturn the 2020 election. Trump's legal team received a target letter from Smith's team, indicating that Trump could potentially face charges in the investigation. Trump is expected to decline testifying before the grand jury. His advisers are seeking information about others who may have received target letters. Former Vice President Mike Pence has expressed hope that Trump will not be indicted a third time.

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[BUSINESS] Bank results boost stocks; Dow on track for longest streak of daily gains in over two years.

Bank of America and Morgan Stanley reported strong second-quarter earnings, contributing to a seventh consecutive day of gains for the Dow Jones Industrial Average. Morgan Stanley's shares saw their biggest one-day gain since November 2020, driven by growth in their wealth management division. Bank of America's profit beat expectations, with strong performance in investment banking and trading. The positive bank results also led to gains in shares of other banks such as Bank of New York Mellon and PNC Financial. Overall, the Dow was up 1.06%, the S&P 500 was up 0.71%, and the Nasdaq was up 0.76%.

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[TECHNOLOGY] Meta's Threads app for iOS has received its first significant update, adding a Follows tab to help users see new followers and enhancing translation capabilities.

Meta has released an update to its Threads app for iOS, introducing a Follows tab to the activity feed. This feature allows users to easily see who has recently followed them and follow them back. The update also includes translations for post text in unfamiliar languages, as well as the ability to subscribe to unfollowed users and receive notifications. The app has also received interface tweaks and performance improvements for a smoother experience.

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[SPORTS] Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs, and Tony Pollard did not receive long-term deals and will play the 2023 season on their franchise tenders.

The New York Giants' Saquon Barkley, the Las Vegas Raiders' Josh Jacobs, and the Dallas Cowboys' Tony Pollard were unable to reach long-term contracts before the deadline, resulting in them playing on their franchise tenders. Barkley and Jacobs have not signed their tenders and have stayed away from their teams' offseason programs. However, Pollard has signed his tender and is expected to play this season. This absence of extensions for top running backs highlights the challenging reality for players at the position in the NFL.

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[SCIENCE] Mammals may have hunted dinosaurs for food, as indicated by a fossil showing a badgerlike creature eating a small dinosaur.

A fossil discovered in northeastern China depicts a badgerlike creature, Repenomamus robustus, feeding on a plant-eating dinosaur, Psittacosaurus, revealing a moment of prehistoric predation. The fossil challenges the assumption that early mammals lived in the shadows of dinosaurs and provides evidence that some mammals actively hunted these reptiles. This find supports the idea that the Cretaceous period was a dangerous world where animals constantly battled for survival. Scientists believe that this rare fossil captures a freeze frame of an ancient hunt and provides valuable insight into the interactions between mammalian and dinosaur species.

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[HEALTH] Longer workouts over the weekend may be as effective for heart health as spreading exercise throughout the week, according to a study in JAMA.

New research suggests that people who exercise 150 minutes per week, whether spread throughout the week or packed into weekend workouts, have similar reductions in the risk of heart attack, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and stroke. The study, which used data from the UK Biobank, found that "weekend warriors" who exercised for an extended period of time only once or twice per week experienced the same benefits as those who exercised in shorter spurts more frequently. These findings challenge the conventional wisdom that exercise should be spread out over the week.

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[ENTERTAINMENT] Barbie receives positive reviews for being funny, perfectly cast, and appealing to both fans and critics.

The movie adaptation of Barbie, starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, is receiving positive reviews that praise its humor and casting choices. While not without flaws, the film is considered worth watching, regardless of one's opinion on the doll. Critics highlight its smart and hilarious elements, guaranteeing a fun time at the movies. Barbie's history as an iconic toy is also explored, emphasizing its significance in empowering girls and challenging traditional gender roles. The movie is commended for its pink, plucky, and poignant rumination on womanhood.

No sources available.