DeSantis endorsement, bird flu, and gas prices in every state.

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US News, Politics, & Government

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds endorses DeSantis

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has endorsed Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in the 2024 Republican presidential primary, providing a significant boost to DeSantis's campaign. Reynolds cited her belief that DeSantis is more electable than former President Donald Trump, who is also in the race. This endorsement comes as DeSantis actively campaigns in Iowa, aiming to visit all 99 counties in the state. A recent poll showed DeSantis tied with former UN ambassador Nikki Haley in Iowa, with Trump leading the pack. (More)

Study: US military members' personal data being sold by online brokers

A study by Duke University researchers revealed that sensitive personal data of thousands of US military personnel can be purchased for as little as one cent per name on data broker websites. This data ranges from full names and addresses, to health info and even children’s details. The lack of control and regulation among data brokers potentially allows malicious actors to target military personnel with schemes like blackmail and misinformation campaigns. The researchers are urging Congress to pass comprehensive privacy laws. And are also calling on regulatory agencies to develop rules for governing military personnel data purchases, especially considering the interest from international spies in such data. (More)

Republicans mount new push to censure Rashida Tlaib

Georgia Republicans, Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Rich McCormick. moved to force votes to censure Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.). The censure resolutions stem from Tlaib's criticisms of Israel and her use of the phrase "from the river to the sea" in a social media post, which some consider anti-Semitic. Last week, a previous censure attempt by Greene failed due to bipartisan opposition. The new resolutions avoid the term "insurrection," which was a point of contention in the previous attempt. Tlaib criticized the resolutions as an attempt to silence her. (More)

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World

DRC offers free maternity care to cut death rate among mothers and babies

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) will begin to offer pregnant women free healthcare in a bid to reduce maternal and neonatal deaths in a country with one of the highest rates in the world. However, health workers are concerned that hospitals and medical centers are ill-equipped to handle the increased demand. Congo has a maternal mortality ratio of 547 deaths per 100,000 live births and a neonatal death rate of 27 per 1,000 live births, far from the UN's 2030 targets of fewer than 70 deaths per 100,000 and 12 per 1,000, respectively. (More)

Choking New Delhi smog shutters schools and shrouds Cricket World Cup

New Delhi is grappling with a recurring smog crisis as hazardous air quality levels plague the city. The pollution, attributed to crop burning and industrial emissions, has caused school closures and disrupted the Cricket World Cup. Harmful PM 2.5 particles recently reached nearly 80 times the recommended limit by the World Health Organization. Authorities are implementing emergency measures like restricting non-essential truck movement and construction, and banning fireworks during the Cricket World Cup. Residents are buying air purifiers and wearing face masks to cope with the toxic smog. (More)

Hamas-run health ministry says Gaza death toll passes 10,000

Hamas says over 10,000 people have been killed in Gaza since Israel began bombing the region last month, with more than 4,000 of them being children. This number exceeds the UN's figure for all casualties in Gaza from previous conflicts between Israel and Hamas since 2007. Israel began its attacks on Gaza in response to Hamas killing 1,400 people and kidnapping over 200 others on October 7. The Israeli military has carried out a heavy bombardment of Gaza, and Israeli troops have reached the coastline in the south of Gaza City. UN agencies have called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. (More)

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Business & Economy

Daily stock market update

US stock markets closed higher on Monday (S&P +0.18%, Nasdaq +0.30%, Dow +0.10%) ~ The Nasdaq earned its seventh-straight positive session for the first time since January. Both the S&P and the Dow were higher for the sixth-straight session, which hadn’t happened since June and July, respectively. (More)

Citigroup considering at least 10% job cuts in major businesses

Citigroup is reportedly considering job cuts of at least 10% in several major businesses as part of CEO Jane Fraser's reorganization efforts. The discussions are in their early stages, and the number of job cuts may change. The bank aims to simplify its structure and improve its stock price by cutting its management layers form 13 to eight. The bank's global headcount has remained at 240,000 this year, but could be trimmed by 24,000 soon. (More)

Disney hires veteran PepsiCo finance chief Hugh Johnston as new CFO

The Former CFO of PepsiCo Hugh Johnston is set to become Disney's new CFO. With 34 years at PepsiCo, Johnston takes on the role as Disney navigates a challenging period marked by a declining share price and streaming losses. The move comes after Disney's previous CFO, Christine McCarthy, resigned amid the company's restructuring efforts. Disney is exploring strategic changes, potentially selling ABC and seeking partners for ESPN. The company is also on the hunt for a successor to CEO Bob Iger. (More)

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Sports & Entertainment

The hollywood actors strike continues

The SAG-AFTRA union has responded to Hollywood studios' "last, best, & final offer" as they work to end the industry-freezing strike. A few key issues, including the use of AI, remain unresolved. The actors' union is determined to reach a responsible deal and end the strike, which has disrupted the industry for nearly four months. Both SAG-AFTRA and the Writers Guild of America have been pushing for AI restrictions, which they see as a threat to their livelihoods. (More)

Chicago Cubs hire Craig Counsell away from division-rival Milwaukee Brewers

The Chicago Cubs have hired Craig Counsell as their new manager. Counsell had offers from the New York Mets and the Brewers, but ultimately chose the Cubs. During his time as the Brewers' manager, Counsell earned a 707-625 record, leading the team to five postseason appearances in nine years. He will reportedly receive the highest average salary of any MLB manager in history with a five-year deal worth over $40 million. (More)

Giants quarterback Daniel Jones out for the season with torn ACL in right knee

New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones will miss the rest of the NFL season due to a torn ACL in his right knee, marking the second time in three years he's been sidelined by injury. Jones was hurt on a non-contact play during a game against the Las Vegas Raiders. The Giants now have a 2-7 record and little hope of making the playoffs for a second straight season. Jones signed a four-year, $160 million contract in March. (More)

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Science, Health, & Tech

Parkinson’s patient able to walk 6km without problems after spinal implant

The first patient to receive a spinal implant to treat advanced Parkinson's disease experienced significant improvements in mobility, walking, and balance. The implant targets parts of the spine that control leg muscles when walking, sending precise stimulation to correct abnormal signals that cause movement issues in Parkinson's patients. While the technology shows promise, further clinical trials are needed to prove its efficacy. Researchers hope that this approach offers a new method for treating movement deficits associated with Parkinson's disease. (More)

CDC to expand surveillance of traveler samples for respiratory viruses

The CDC will expand its traveler-based genomic surveillance program to test for flu and RSV among international air travelers. The program is active in seven major US airports and collects 6,000 nasal swab samples weekly primarily for new SARS-CoV-2 variants. It will now include monitoring of other respiratory diseases to prepare for the approaching winter months when these viruses tend to increase.  (More)

Nearly 1M chickens will be killed on a Minnesota farm because of bird flu

A Minnesota egg farm will slaughter nearly 1 million chickens to control the spread of bird flu. When highly pathogenic avian influenza is detected on a farm, the entire flock is culled to prevent further spread. The US egg and poultry industry has been grappling with bird flu since last year, with millions of birds being slaughtered to curb the virus's spread. However, the toll overall has been much lower in 2023 than in 2022. The disease isn't a threat to food safety, and human infection is rare because all of the birds on a farm where the disease is found are slaughtered before they reach the food supply. (More)

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Bonus Material

Mapped: Gas prices in every state.

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