81-year-old receives Medal of Honor, Venice tourist fee, and the world's oldest chicken.

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US News, Politics, & Government

Biden awards Medal of Honor to Army helicopter pilot from Vietnam War

President Biden awarded the Medal of Honor to 81-year-old Capt. Larry Taylor for risking his life during the Vietnam War by flying into heavy enemy fire to save four members of a reconnaissance team as they were about to be overrun. Taylor engaged the enemy, allowing the team to slip away and reach an extraction point. Then he landed under heavy fire without ammunition and whisked them away to safety. Taylor’s aircraft was hit multiple times, and he could have left the fight, but he refused to put his own life above the lives of those in need. (More)

Court strikes down Alabama congressional map

A federal court struck down Alabama lawmakers’ latest congressional map for failing to comply with a Supreme Court order to strengthen minority voting rights in the state. The order mandated that the state draw new lines that included two districts in which Black voters comprised a voting-age majority. However, the legislature didn’t draw a second majority-Black district. The ruling paves the way for a court-appointed official to draw the lines for the 2024 election cycle. The Alabama Attorney General plans to appeal the case to the Supreme Court. (More)

Former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio gets longest Jan. 6 sentence yet

Enrique Tarrio, the former leader of the far-right Proud Boys, was sentenced to 22 years in federal prison following his conviction on seditious conspiracy charges in connection with the Jan. 6 attack on the US Capitol. His sentence is the longest in a Jan. 6 case so far, but is a much lower term than the 33-year sentence that was sought by federal prosecutors. About 1,100 people have been charged in connection with the Jan. 6 Capitol attack, and more than 300 have been sentenced to prison terms. (More)

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World

Venice to trial €5 ticketing system for day visitors from 2024

Venice will test a ticketing system starting next year that charges day visitors €5 to enter its historic center in an attempt to reduce tourist numbers. The move comes a few weeks after UNESCO recommended Venice be added to its list of world heritage sites in danger, in part due to the impact of mass tourism. Residents, commuters, students, and children under the age of 14 will be exempt, as will tourists who stay in the city overnight. (More)

Cuba uncovers Russia-Ukraine war trafficking ring

The Cuban foreign ministry has uncovered a human trafficking ring that recruits Cubans to fight for Russia against Ukraine. Cuban officials say the country has a firm position against the use of mercenaries and is not a part of the war in Ukraine. Simultaneously, a Russian newspaper reported that Cubans living in Russia had joined the Russian combat forces in exchange for citizenship. However, it is not clear whether the report is linked to the Cuban foreign ministry investigation. (More)

"Historic flooding event" in Greece dumps more than 2 feet of rain in just a few hours

Greece has been grappling with drought, wildfires, and intense heat. Now, it is dealing with flooding. Some areas of the country received more than two feet of rain in just 10 hours on Tuesday. The rain seen in one region is more than 55 times higher than the average rainfall for September across Greece. (More)

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Business & Economy

Daily stock market update

US stock markets closed lower on Tuesday (S&P -0.42%, Nasdaq -0.08%, Dow -0.56%). (More)

Oil prices jump on supply cuts from Saudi Arabia, Russia

Oil prices climbed to their highest level of the year after Saudi Arabia and Russia announced that they’re both extending their voluntary cuts in oil production through the end of the year. Both countries are trying to balance supply with weaker demand because their largest oil buyer, China, is consuming less due to its struggling economy. US gas prices are at their highest level of the year and could increase further due to these production cuts. (More)

Warner Bros Discovery expects earnings hit as strikes drag on

Warner Bros. Discovery expects that their earnings will take a hit of $300 to $500 million due to the ongoing writers strike, which has been in effect for more than 100 days. The strike has also limited the company’s marketing abilities and forced it to postpone major movie release dates until next year. (More)

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Sports & Entertainment

US Defeats Italy in the FIBA World Cup quarterfinals

The US routed Italy 100-63 to advance to the FIBA World Cup semifinals. The team had another slow start in the first quarter but heated up to shoot 17-36 from behind the three-point line. The game was a must-win for the US after they lost to Lithuania over the weekend. (More)

Chiefs TE Travis Kelce hyperextends knee

The Kansas City Chiefs have run tests on tight end Travis Kelce’s leg and believe his ACL is intact. He has inflammation in his knee, and the team will test it again on Wednesday to determine his availability for the NFL’s season opener on Thursday night. (More)

US Open update

Novak Djokovic beat Taylor Fritz in straight sets to advance to the US Open semifinals. This will be his 47th Grand Slam semifinal, a new record that breaks his tie with Roger Federer for the most by a man. (More) ~ Coco Gauff defeated Jelena Ostapenko 6-0, 6-2, making her the first American teenager to reach the final four at the US Open since Serena Williams in 2001. (More)

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Science, Health, & Tech

How resistant starch may help people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

New research indicates that resistant starch may help lower inflammation in people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. In a group of 200 people with NAFLD, half were given a resistant starch powder and the other half received a non-resistant starch. The group that received the resistant starch treatment had a 40% lower liver triglyceride level compared to the other group. They also had reduced liver enzymes and inflammatory factors associated with NAFLD. (More)

3D-printed 'living material' could clean up contaminated water

Researchers at the University of California San Diego have developed a new type of material that could help clean polluted water. The invention is a 3D-printed structure made of a seaweed-based polymer combined with bacteria that produce an enzyme that breaks down organic pollutants into harmless molecules. They also self-destruct when introduced to a molecule called theophylline, offering a way to destroy themselves once they have done their job. (More)

Apple's new iPhone is set to require a new charger for the first time in 11 years

The new iPhone will feature a USB-C charging port, making the old lightning cable obsolete. All new iPhones will no longer be compatible with old chargers. The company decided to make the switch for all new models after the EU agreed on legislation that requires all smartphones sold there to have universal charging ports by fall 2024. (More)

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Bonus Material

The coolest offbeat attractions in all 50 states.

A falcon bullying a pelican takes top prize in 2023’s Bird Photographer of the Year.

Meet Peanut, the world’s oldest chicken.

Is your taste in music officially old?