Israel attacks, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Independent bid, and an iPhone hack.

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US News, Politics, & Government

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. expected to announce independent run for president

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced Monday that he is dropping his Democratic Party bid for president and will run as an independent. Experts believe he could draw support from as many as one in seven U.S. voters. Democrats had mixed reactions to the announcement. Some argued that he has nothing going for him besides his name, while others expressed concerns that he will draw votes away from the Democratic candidate in what they believe will be a tight election. (More)

Gavin Newsom is coming for your Peeps

On Saturday, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill that prohibits the use of four chemicals in foods because they’ve been linked to health problems, including cancer and developmental issues in children. The banned ingredients are found in candies like Peeps and Hot Tamales and will be outlawed starting in 2027. Newsom referenced a similar situation in Europe in which the E.U. placed a ban on Skittles. The company still sells its product in Europe, but removed the unhealthy ingredients. He hopes the ban will encourage stricter food regulation in the U.S. (More)

McCarthy doesn't rule out House speaker comeback attempt

Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif) has expressed his openness to being reinstated as the House speaker. He has support from certain GOP lawmakers that are concerned that the House faces an extended paralysis because no current candidate will be able to get the necessary votes. They have also emphasized the importance of quickly electing a new speaker, considering the need for approval of aid for Israel's conflict. McCarthy will face the same issue that got him ejected in the first place — a small group of GOP hardliners willing to side with democrats to keep him out of power. (More)

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World

Death toll rises in Israel and Gaza as fighting rages: What to know

Hamas launched a surprise attack against cities across Israel over the weekend in the biggest incursion against the city in decades. Israel retaliated with heavy bombardment of the occupied Gaza strip. At least 900 Israelis and 687 Palestinians have died in the conflict. Nine Americans were killed in the Hamas attack, and additional U.S. citizens have been taken hostage. Israel has ordered a complete siege of Gaza, cutting off electricity and blocking fuel and food from entering the enclave. The U.S. has agreed to send additional supplies and resources to Israel, including its aircraft carrier strike group to help “bolster regional deterrence efforts.” (More)

Overtourism returns, but cities are fighting back

Many cities around the world are now worried about having too many tourists rather than too few. The rise of cheap travel is partially responsible, but social media influencers and TV shows and movies also contribute by popularizing many of the same destinations. In response, many places have either built barriers to obstruct photo opportunities or imposed daily visitor limits. However, Amsterdam has taken an all out approach. The city has cracked down on coach buses, tourist shows, new hotel openings, and Airbnb-style home rentals. Now, it is even considering a ban on cruise ships. (More)

Afghanistan earthquake: More than 1,000 dead as villagers dig for survivors

A 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck the Herat province in Afghanistan on Saturday killing more than 1,000 people and burying hundreds more. Villagers are using shovels and their bare hands to search for 500+ missing people. The area’s hospitals are struggling to care for the injured due to lack of supplies and space. Officials believe the death toll will rise because they don’t know exactly the number of people living in the area. Many move often because they have been displaced by conflict. (More)

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Business & Economy

Daily stock market update

U.S. stock markets closed higher on Monday (S&P +0.63%, Nasdaq +0.39%, Dow +0.59%) ~ Stocks were trading lower in the morning on news of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict but bounced back in the afternoon. (More)

Gas prices could fall to $3.25 by Halloween as oil plunges

After spiking last week, oil prices are now free-falling. The quick reversal could bring relief to drivers very soon. U.S. oil prices plunged by 5.6% to $84.22 a barrel on Wednesday, marking the biggest one-day decline in a year. Gas prices responded by dropping to an average of $3.77 per gallon nationally on Thursday. Gas price insiders believe it could fall to as low as $3.25 a gallon by Halloween. (More)

Walgreens pharmacy walkouts

Pharmacy staff at some Walgreens across the country walked out on Monday, citing harsh working conditions that make it difficult to safely fill prescriptions. The strikes are expected to last through Wednesday at some locations. Many pharmacies have either closed or are operating with a skeleton staff which has slowed services to a crawl. Unlike the auto worker strike, there are no organized unions to coordinate the strikes. Instead, employees are using Facebook and Reddit to plan the walkouts. Walgreens acknowledged that its staff is overworked and is working with employees to improve working conditions. (More)

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Sports & Entertainment

Braves battle back to tie series with Philly

The Braves scored five unanswered runs to come back and beat the Phillies 5-4 on Monday night. Atlanta was scoreless through the first five innings but hit three home runs, including a solo shot by Austin Riley to take the lead. They ended the game by securing a double play. The series now shifts to Philly. (More)

IOC to vote on flag football for 2028 L.A. Olympics

The 2028 Los Angeles Olympics committee submitted a proposal to the International Olympics Committee to include flag football in the first games held on American soil in 32 years. An Olympics with a uniquely American sport would be a big win for the L.A. committee. However, with a hard cap of 10,500 athletes allowed to participate in the games, other sports may have to trim their disciplines to help the IOC adhere to the limit. (More)

Celebrity chef Michael Chiarello dies at 61

Michael Chiarello died at Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa California after an acute allergic reaction which led to anaphylactic shock. He hosted cooking shows on PBS for over a decade and served as a judge on Bravo’s Top Chef franchise. (More)

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Science, Health, & Tech

Newly discovered snail in Florida Keys is named after Jimmy Buffett song

Researchers have named a newly discovered snail after a song by late singer Jimmy Buffett. The Cayo margarita is a bright yellow worm snail that sticks to coral reefs and forms a tubular shell around itself. A biologist who first saw the snail while scuba diving noticed its citrusy color, which reminded him of the cocktail. (More)

New heart syndrome identifies link among obesity, diabetes and kidney disease

The American Heart Association has identified a new medical condition that reflects the strong links among obesity, diabetes and heart and kidney disease. The goal in recognizing the condition — named Cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome, or CKM — is to get early diagnosis and treatment for people at high risk of dying from cardiovascular disease. Thus far, treating conditions that are part of this syndrome has significantly reduced cardiovascular events. (More)

Americans will spend half their lives taking prescription drugs, study finds

Americans will spend more of lives on average taking prescription medications than they will being married or receiving education. American males will spend around 49% of their lives taking prescription pills. That number jumps to 60% for females. Furthermore, the majority of American females begin taking prescriptions at 15, while the majority of males are taking prescription drugs by age 40. The driving factor for women beginning at an earlier age is hormone regulation that helps treat conditions such as anxiety, depression, and ADHD. (More)

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Bonus Material

A cat folded into a couch wins the award for strangest medical claim.

The best street food in the world.

Photos from Albuquerque’s hot air balloon festival.

How to make your iPhone less addicting at bedtime.