Government shutdown delayed, grizzly attack, and expensive underpants.

Happy Monday! Today’s edition is 1,265 words, a 4 minute read.

First time reader? Sign up here!

🇺🇸 ⚖️ 

US News, Politics, & Government

Congress delays government shutdown deadline until November

The Senate passed a last-minute spending bill on Saturday night, avoiding a government shutdown that would have brought the American economy to a halt. The bill allows the government to stay open for 45 days, giving the House and Senate more time to finish their funding legislation. The short-term bill also allocates $16 billion for emergency disaster relief but does not include new financial assistance for Ukraine’s war. President Biden signed the measure into law late Saturday night. (More)

Student loan payments resume after 3-year pause

Federal student loan payments return this month for over 40 million Americans after a pause of more than three years due to the pandemic. For most borrowers, automatic payments will not restart automatically, and they will need to opt-in to confirm their enrollment or risk missing payments. However, a 12-month “on ramp” period was introduced this year, which will prevent missed payments from appearing on credit reports. Additionally, President Biden launched an income-driven repayment plan, which reduces payments on undergraduate loans from 10% of discretionary income to 5%. (More)

California governor rejects bill to give unemployment checks to striking workers

California Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill on Saturday that would have granted unemployment checks to striking workers. He rejected the bill because the fund the state uses to pay unemployment benefits will be nearly $20 billion in debt by the end of the year. The fund ran out of money and had to borrow from the federal government during the pandemic when Newsom ordered the closure of most businesses, causing a massive spike in unemployment. To make matters worse, the fund isn’t collecting enough money to pay all the currently owed benefits. (More)

🌍️ 

World

Grizzly bear attack in Canada's Banff National Park leaves two dead

A grizzly bear attacked and killed two people in Canada’s Banff National Park over the weekend. Due to adverse weather conditions, which prevented helicopter access, a response team had to travel by ground through the night to reach the victims. The individuals were already deceased when the team arrived. The bear was located, and later euthanized, after it exhibited aggressive behavior. (More)

Terrorists carry out bomb attack near government building in Turkey

Two terrorists set off a bomb in front of Turkey’s Interior Ministry building in Ankara just before the opening of parliament on Sunday. Two officers were injured but are in stable condition. One of the attackers blew himself up, while the other was “neutralized,” according to Turkish police. Terror attacks were common in Turkey in the mid to late 2010s but have dropped off since 2015, following twin bombings that claimed the lives of nearly 100 people during a peace rally. (More)

France sees a jump in bedbugs, as Paris prepares to host the Olympics next year

Bedbugs have taken over France. People have spotted the critters everywhere, from high-speed trains to the Paris Metro, and in the city’s Charles-de-Gaulle Airport. A report by French health agency Anses found that 11% of French households had bedbugs between 2017 and 2022, and the infestations weren’t correlated to wealth. Historically, the French government has told people to deal with the issue on their own, but now they are racing to eradicate the pests before the 2024 Olympic games. (More)

💵 📈 

Business & Economy

Daily stock market update

US stock markets closed mixed on Friday (S&P -0.27%, Nasdaq +0.14%, Dow -0.47%) ~ The market experienced sharp losses for both the trading month and quarter, both of which concluded with Friday’s close. However, the deal reached between lawmakers on Saturday to avert a government shutdown should give stocks a boost to start the last quarter of the year. (More)

JetBlue raises flight attendant pay, union agrees to support merger with Spirit

Starting in November, flight attendants of JetBlue Airlines will get 5% raises. Including other incentives and previously negotiated raises, their raises in 2026 will total 21.5%. In turn, the union said it would support JetBlue’s planned acquisition of Spirit Airlines. (More)

Toys R Us is planning a brick-and-mortar comeback in the U.S.

Toys R Us plans to expand its brick-and-mortar presence with as many as 24 new flagship stores and a separate rollout at airports and on cruise ships starting this holiday season. The company filed for bankruptcy in 2017, and all of its stores closed by 2021. Since then, its new ownership group has opened a total of 1,400 stores and e-commerce sites across 31 countries. The company hopes to grow further by capitalizing on the increase in travel retail by opening the new stores in airports and cruise ships. (More)

🏈 🎬️ 

Sports & Entertainment

Europe holds off United States to win Ryder Cup

Europe reclaimed the Ryder Cup from the U.S., winning 16.5 to 11.5. Europe has won the tournament eight of the the last 11 editions and seven straight in Europe. The U.S. stars were outplayed from the opening session, where they were swept 4 to 0. Europe only lost one of the five sessions over the weekend. (More)

Celtics add Jrue Holiday in trade with Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers are trading guard Jrue Holiday to the Boston Celtics for center Robert Williams, guard Malcolm Brogdon, and two first-round picks. The acquisition could vault the Celtics over the Bucks as the preseason favorites in the Eastern Conference. (More)

Astros win AL West title via tiebreaker after Rangers lose

The Houston Astros won their third straight AL West title by beating the Arizona Diamondbacks 8-1 on Sunday. The Astros and Texas Rangers finished with identical 90-72 records, but the Astros hold the tiebreaker because they beat the Rangers nine out of 13 times during the season. Houston will get a first-round bye in the playoffs for winning the AL West. (More)

🔬💊 💻️ 

Science, Health, & Tech

More than 100 dolphins dead in Amazon as water hits 102 degrees Fahrenheit

Over 100 dolphins have been found dead in the Brazilian Amazon. The dead dolphins were discovered all around Lake Tefé over the last week. The Brazilian Ministry of Science said that such a high number of deaths is unusual and suggested that elevated lake water temperatures and historic drought in the Amazon are most likely the cause. (More)

Scientists developing implant to slash cancer rates by 50%

Scientists at Rice University have received $45 million in funding to develop a small implant that would continuously monitor cancer and adjust immunotherapy doses in real time. The device would free patients from hospital beds, IV bags, and external monitors, allowing them to continue their daily routines while receiving treatment. The researchers say that this technology will significantly improve the effectiveness of immunotherapy for patients with cancers that affect the pancreas, liver, lungs, and other organs. (More)

Netflix shutters its DVD rental business, marking the end of the red envelope era

Netflix sent out its last red envelope on Friday, marking the end of 25 years of mailing DVDs to members. The service was first introduced in 1998 and promised a more convenient rental experience than driving to Blockbuster or Hollywood Video. Twenty-five years later, it has become one of the most valuable tech companies in the world. Netflix decided to shut down its DVD business to focus on its expansions into gaming, as well as live and interactive content. (More)

🎁 

Bonus Material

The world’s most expensive underpants.

Visit the best-ranked museums in the U.S.

Watch: How colors got their names.

The man who thinks he can live forever.