Hunter Biden, Colombia ceasefire, and the world's loudest burp.

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Business & Economy

Daily stock market update

U.S. stock markets closed lower on Thursday (S&P -0.25%, Nasdaq -0.10%, Dow -0.19%) ~ Bond yields jumped, with the benchmark 10-year Treasury yield trading around 4.18% and near its highest level since November 2022. When bond yields go up high enough to beat the returns from stocks, the entire market feels pressure and can fall if investors unload enough shares. (More)

Foreign buyers are bailing on the U.S. housing market

From April of last year to this March, international buyers bought 84,600 homes, a 14% drop from the year before. Higher mortgage rates, soaring home prices, a meager supply of homes for sale, and a strong dollar are making the purchases much less financially attractive. However, those that are buying are spending more with the median purchase price coming in at $396,00, the highest ever recorded. (More)

Walmart tops Fortune Global 500 list

Walmart took the top spot on the annual list of the world’s largest companies by revenue for the 10th consecutive year by bringing in $611 billion in sales. Saudi Aramco was a close second with over $603 billion in sales. It was also the most profitable company ever on the lists, earning $159 billion in the last year. Global 500 companies employ a staggering 70.1 million people worldwide but still only represent 2% of the global workforce. (More)

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US News, Politics, & Government

Trump pleads not guilty at arraignment for 2020 election indictment

Donald Trump pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges that he plotted to overturn the 2020 election before and after the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol. Trump now faces 78 charges across three criminal cases. The most severe federal counts are those related to obstruction which come with up to 20 years in prison. He has denied wrongdoing in each case. (More)

Hunter Biden business associate testifies he has no knowledge of wrongdoing by Joe Biden

Devon Archer testified before the House Oversight Committee that he has no knowledge that then-Vice President Joe Biden changed U.S. foreign policy to help his son and he’s not aware of any wrongdoings by the elder Biden. Archer went on to agree that it was fair to say that Hunter Biden was selling the illusion of access to his father but President Biden never took any official action in the business dealings. (More)

Ex-Mississippi officers plead guilty to racist assault on 2 Black men during raid

Six white former law enforcement officers in Mississippi pleaded guilty Thursday to a racist assault on two Black men in a home raid that ended with an officer shooting one man in the mouth. The officers entered the house without a warrant on Jan. 24, assaulted the men with stun guns and other objects for 90 minutes, and eventually shot and wounded one man in a “mock execution” that went awry. The officers then conspired to plant and tamper with evidence instead of providing medical aid. The men will be sentenced in November. (More)

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World

Disaster averted as burnt car carrier reaches port

A week after a fire engulfed a cargo ship carrying almost 4,000 cars in the North Sea, the crippled vessel has been towed into port in the Netherlands. The fire broke out on July 25 and burned for almost a week. One crew member died in the blaze but 22 survived and seven of them jumped into the sea to escape. There were fears that the ship might sink and cause an environmental disaster in the Wadden Sea, a designated World Heritage site. But the ship made the 40 mile trek to shore and salvage work can now begin. (More)

Colombia, ELN rebels begin six-month ceasefire

The cease fire is a product of ongoing peace talks between the National Liberation Army (ELN) and the government which restarted last year. The ELN is the country’s largest remaining armed rebel group. The agreement is the largest victory for Colombian President Gustavo Petro who campaigned on “total peace” and promised to negotiate with armed groups to end violence in the country. (More)

Armed US troops may guard oil tankers against Iranian hijackings

The U.S. could soon place armed soldiers on commercial ships traveling through the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf amid alleged attempts by Iran to hijack ships in international waters. Officials said the military had already been training Marines in the region but it would ultimately be up to the commercial vessels to request troops for protection while passing through the dangerous strait. (More)

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Sports & Entertainment

Tom Brady buys stake in English soccer club Birmingham City

Brady becomes the latest athlete to invest in an English soccer team. He partnered with Knighthead Capital Management, a New York investment firm, and will become the chair of the team’s advisory board. He recently invested in the WNBA’s Las Vegas Raiders and reached a deal to become a minority owner of the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders. (More)

Taylor Swift Gifts Bonuses Totaling More Than $55M to Eras Tour Crew

T Swift is spreading the wealth from a successful, sold-out run by offering bonuses to her crew. The singer handed out 55 million in total, with each of the 50 truck drivers receiving $100,000 as the U.S. leg comes to an end. However, today, Swift announced additional dates including 15 more shows in North America. (More)

Women's World Cup 2023 Day 15 recap

Germany has been eliminated from the Women’s World Cup in the group stage for the first time ever after a 1-1 tie with South Korea. ~ Morocco became the lowest-ranked team in the FIFA Women’s ranking to advance to the knockout round with a 1-0 win over Colombia. (More)

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Science, Health, & Tech

Meta, Google and YouTube ‘profiting’ off posts for bogus women’s health cures in Kenya

Tech firms are permitting ads for potentially harmful products including feminine hygiene “cleanse” balls and useless herbs for infertility, according to an investigation. The research teams behind the probe are calling for accountability from the internet giants who allow merchants to sell and advertise products despite evident health risks. (More)

Serbian coal miners uncover ancient Roman ship

The ship is the second such discovery in the area since 2020, and archeologists say the vessel was probably part of a river fleet serving the bustling Roman city of Viminacium. They plan to put the ship on display with thousand of artifacts unearthed from Viminacium near the town of Kostolac, Serbia. (More)

James Webb telescope captures end stages of dying star's life

The telescope captured photos of the donut-shaped structure of glowing gas called the Ring Nebula in unprecedented detail. It formed when a dying star blasted much of its material into space, producing vivid color rings. The object lies 2,600 light years from earth and can be see with an at-home telescope. However, the Webb scope allows scientists to study the life cycles of stars like never before. (More)

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Bonus Material

Win one of Robert Downey Jr.’s dream cars.

This woman is now the proud owner of the Guinness World Record for the world’s loudest burp.

Watch: 93-year-old visits all 63 U.S. national parks.

How sports memorabilia became a billion dollar business.