This week in the news | 2 Jun 24
News from the past week, and a few other things.
👋 Hello Reader, I hope you had a great week.
Sorry, I’m getting this out a little late this week—it’s been a busy one for me, and my assistant editor has been sick. Better late than never I suppose.
Below you’ll find the “quick shot”—a supercharged summary of summaries, followed by the “slow brew”—longer summaries with select graphics, and comments from me.
THE QUICK SHOT 🚀
A supercharged summary of summaries
A lock icon (🔒) indicates articles behind a paywall, and a chart icon (📊) indicates an informative chart/graphic in “Slow Brew.”
World
The United Nations has logged an increasing number of crew members abandoned by shipowners, leaving sailors aboard months and sometimes years without pay (AP) 📊.
North America
A Manhattan jury has found Donald Trump guilty on all 34 counts in a historic verdict linked to a New York hush-money case (WSJ) 🔒 📊. According to new research highlighted by The Wall Street Journal, regions with higher numbers of Republican voters experienced significantly greater inflation in 2022 compared to Democratic areas (WSJ) 🔒 📊. In a closely contested Republican primary runoff for Texas’s 23rd Congressional District, U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales emerged victorious over Brandon Herrera by a few hundred votes (Texas Tribune).
Latin America
Nearly 100 million voters are expected to participate in Mexico's 2024 elections, which will be the largest in the country's history (CFR). Meanwhile, Argentina's economic activity index reportedly shrank by 6.9% year-on-year in March, marking its deepest fall since 2020 (Reuters) 📊.
Europe
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has called a snap election for July 4, as his party lags behind Labour in the polls (WSJ) 🔒. Congress has appropriated over $175 billion in assistance to Ukraine since the start of Russia's invasion in 2022, a tool by AEI shows how these funds are being used (AEI) 📊. Accusations have surfaced that Russia is using a banned toxic gas against Ukrainian troops, which has been condemned internationally (WSJ) 🔒. The Biden administration has authorized Ukraine to use certain U.S. weapons to strike inside of Russia near Kharkiv for defensive purposes (NPR). In a move to bolster Moldova's resilience against Russian influence, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has pledged significant support during his visit to Chisinau (VOA).
Middle East
The White House has clarified that Israel's military operations in Rafah have not crossed U.S. red lines, despite escalating tensions (BBC). A pier constructed by the US to aid Gaza has suffered damages, complicating efforts to deliver humanitarian aid (CNN) 📊. Saudi Arabia is planning to raise between $10 billion to $20 billion through a new stock sale of Aramco, as part of its economic diversification efforts (WSJ) 🔒.
Africa
China is intensifying its investment in African minerals essential for the global energy transition, showing a marked increase in economic activity in the region (Reuters) 📊. Meanwhile, Iran continues to expand its uranium enrichment to near weapons-grade levels, raising concerns amidst heightened regional tensions (AP) 📊.
Central Asia
Russia has signed an agreement to build Central Asia's first nuclear power plant in Uzbekistan, marking a significant step in strengthening its influence in the region (AP).
East Asia - Pacific
The United States has clarified that UN Resolution 2758 does not affirm China's sovereignty over Taiwan, amidst Taiwan's exclusion from the World Health Assembly (VOA News). The Chinese military has initiated large-scale drills around Taiwan, testing the island's new president (WSJ) 🔒. In a show of preparedness, U.S. and Philippine marines conducted military exercises close to Taiwan, simulating conflict scenarios (WSJ) 🔒 📊.
Oceania
A devastating landslide in Papua New Guinea has tragically buried over 2,000 people, with official death tolls continuing to rise as rescue efforts proceed (NYT) 🔒.
Space
The Euclid telescope, launched by the European Space Agency, has begun transmitting astonishing cosmic images, shedding light on dark matter and dark energy (NYT) 🔒 📊.
Government & Defense
In a significant diplomatic engagement, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin met with his Chinese counterpart, Adm. Dong Jun, marking the first meeting since 2022. Discussions focused on Taiwan, North Korea, and China's military expansion (Defense News). The U.S. Army has awarded Palantir Technologies a substantial $480 million contract to enhance Project Maven's AI tools, aiming to broaden military data analysis capabilities across global combatant commands (Defense News).
Business
A new report highlights the significant economic influence of baby boomers, whose wealth accumulation affects global economic dynamics, including inflation and interest rates (ProQuest). The fast fashion giants Temu and Shein are placing unprecedented demands on the air cargo industry, with their high volume of shipments driving up global freight costs (Forbes). Amid regulatory challenges, Chinese companies are rebranding as American to bypass U.S. crackdowns, illustrating the geopolitical complexities of global trade (WSJ) 🔒.
Energy
ConocoPhillips has announced a major acquisition of Marathon Oil for $17.1 billion, a move indicative of the dynamic shifts and mergers occurring within the energy sector amid rising oil prices (AP). Saudi Arabia is proactively diversifying its energy sources, investing heavily in solar and wind power to reduce its dependency on oil and embrace sustainable energy solutions (NYT) 🔒.
Auto
Toyota has recently revealed new engines adaptable to a variety of fuel sources, including biofuel and hybrid systems, aiming to meet stringent emission standards while expanding beyond solely electric vehicles (Reuters). On another front, Jeep is set to introduce an all-electric SUV to the U.S. market at an accessible price point of $25,000, signaling a strategic move to make electric vehicles more affordable to the American consumer (WSJ) 🔒.
Technology
Ethan Thornton encountered significant setbacks with his company, Mach Industries, which aims to revolutionize military technology with hydrogen-powered weapons. Despite early enthusiasm from investors, Thornton's company has struggled with technical difficulties and leadership issues, hindering its progress (Forbes) 🔒.
Engineering
An article delves into the U.S.'s massive industrial output during World War II, highlighting the production of about 325,000 airplanes—a figure that underscores the significant role of American manufacturing in supporting the Allies and exceeding the combined output of Germany, Japan, and Italy.
Artificial Intelligence
Elon Musk’s AI venture, xAI, has recently secured $6 billion in Series B funding, boosting its valuation to $24 billion as it competes in the evolving AI landscape, with backing from notable investors like Andreessen Horowitz and Sequoia Capital (Reuters). Meanwhile, despite strong sales reported by companies like Nvidia, some analysts are predicting a slowdown in the AI sector, suggesting that the market could become commoditized and that the rate of AI improvements is decelerating, potentially leading to diminishing returns for investors (WSJ) 🔒.
Life
Recent data highlights a significant increase in marriage rates and a decrease in divorce rates post-COVID-19, reflecting a rebound in marital commitments as the pandemic's effects wane. Comedian Bill Maher has critiqued the overconfidence of American youth, pointing out their high self-esteem despite poor academic performance in areas like math and science.
Religion
An Italian teenager is set to become the first millennial saint recognized by the Vatican, celebrated for his technological savvy and devout faith (NYT) 🔒.
Health
A significant rise in PTSD among college students has been reported, with a doubling in diagnosis rates in recent years, highlighting a growing mental health crisis in educational settings (NYT)🔒. The loneliness of American workers has escalated, with a digital yet disconnected work environment contributing to a health epidemic of isolation (WSJ) 🔒 📊. Additionally, cannabis has now surpassed alcohol as the more frequently used daily substance among Americans, marking a significant shift in national drug consumption preferences (NYT) 🔒. Groundbreaking research from AEI's Bruce Meyer has provided the first national analysis on the mortality rates of the U.S. homeless population, revealing that a 40-year-old homeless person has a mortality risk similar to that of a 60-year-old housed individual, underscoring the severe health risks associated with homelessness.
Food & Drink
Orange juice prices have surged to record highs due to a series of poor harvests, pushing the cost of frozen concentrated orange juice to approximately five times its price in 2020. Meanwhile, Dr Pepper has ascended to become tied with Pepsi as the second most popular carbonated soft drink in America, a notable achievement influenced by innovative marketing strategies and product placement (WSJ) 🔒. The soda market is witnessing rapid growth with Olipop Inc., a startup offering a healthier alternative to traditional sugary drinks, projecting sales to reach $500 million this year (Bloomberg) 🔒. In response to the popularity of appetite-suppressing drugs, Nestlé is introducing a new frozen food line tailored for users of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, aiming to cater to evolving dietary needs (Forbes) 🔒. Amazon has enhanced its services by integrating Grubhub into its app and website, offering free delivery for Prime members on orders over $12, nearly two years after acquiring a stake in the food delivery platform (Forbes) 🔒.
Nature
Researchers have discovered that crows possess the ability to count their calls, a cognitive skill previously thought to be unique to humans, shedding light on the sophisticated numerical abilities of these intelligent birds.
Travel
Hampton Inn has cultivated a unique following around its beloved free waffle breakfast, complete with merchandise like waffle-shaped fanny packs and fuzzy socks (WSJ) 🔒 📊. Meanwhile, air travel in the U.S. reached a record high over Memorial Day weekend, with 2.95 million travelers on Friday alone, indicating a strong rebound and high expectations for the summer season (Sherwood News) 📊. The Faroe Islands are offering a unique vacation experience where volunteers can help maintain its scenic trails, attracting thousands of applications from those eager to contribute to preserving the rugged beauty of the area (WSJ) 🔒. Additionally, the use of foot hammocks is gaining popularity among economy fliers seeking a bit more comfort, though airlines are starting to push back against these and other travel hacks that can interfere with onboard safety and comfort (WSJ) 🔒 📊.
Entertainment
This Memorial Day weekend was notably lackluster for Hollywood, with "Furiosa" and "The Garfield Movie" both underperforming, marking the lowest total gross for a non-pandemic Memorial Day in 26 years (Sherwood News) 📊.
Sports
The sports world mourns the loss of Bill Walton, an NBA Hall of Famer known for his skills on the court and his charismatic presence as a broadcaster, who passed away at the age of 71 (NYT) 🔒.
The Bookshelf
A writer shares their personal journey of self-education through literature, detailing both successful strategies and past mistakes in their quest to gain wisdom by reading extensively.
THE SLOW BREW ☕
A more relaxed approach to the summaries.
World
Stuck at sea for years, a sailor’s plight highlights a surge in shipowner abandonment (AP) 📊
The United Nations has logged an increasing number of crew members abandoned by shipowners, leaving sailors aboard months and sometimes years without pay. More than 2,000 seafarers on some 150 ships were abandoned last year. The number of cases is at its highest since the U.N.’s labor and maritime organizations began tracking abandonments 20 years ago, spiking during the global pandemic and continuing to rise as inflation and logistical bottlenecks increased costs for shipowners. Cases have touched all parts of the globe, with workers abandoned on a fish factory ship in Angola, stranded on an icebreaker in the Netherlands and left without food or fuel in Istanbul.
North America
Donald Trump Found Guilty on All 34 Counts in New York Hush-Money Case (WSJ🔒) 📊
Donald Trump became the first former president ever convicted of a crime, with a Manhattan jury finding him guilty Thursday of 34 felonies for falsifying records to cover up hush money paid to a porn star. The historic verdict, stemming from conduct that took place around Trump’s run to the presidency in 2016, could threaten his 2024 bid to return to the White House. Trump can still run, and his poll numbers remained steady during the more than monthlong trial, though some voters have said they might be less likely to vote for him if he were convicted. The presiding judge, Justice Juan Merchan, now faces the unprecedented task of sentencing Trump, 77 years old. Merchan scheduled Trump’s sentencing for July 11, just days before the start of the Republican National Convention. The New York offenses were low-level felonies that carry no mandatory punishment, and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg charged the case in a manner for which there is little precedent. Trump also is a first-time offender with no criminal record. Such circumstances could make a prison sentence unlikely. Merchan has other penalties from which to choose, ranging from a fine to probation. Trump is certain to appeal, which could take months or years to resolve. The process could be further complicated if Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, wins a second presidential term.
Trump Voters Don’t Just Expect Higher Inflation—They Get It Too (WSJ🔒) 📊
Republicans right now think inflation is a much bigger problem than Democrats do, and a lot of that is just politics. But here’s another possibility: Many of the places Republicans live indeed have had significantly higher inflation than Democratic enclaves. In new research, economists Carola Binder, Rupal Kamdar and Jane Ryngaert examined Labor Department inflation figures for U.S. metropolitan areas, and compared them with voting data. Their finding: Metro areas with more Republicans and independent voters tended to have higher inflation in 2022 than places where Democrats live. A Wall Street Journal analysis found a similar pattern at the state level. Inflation estimates provided by Moody’s Analytics, combined with voting data, show that states where Donald Trump garnered the most votes in 2020 have on balance experienced higher inflation.
U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales prevails in primary runoff over gun influencer Brandon Herrera (Texas Tribune)
U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales declared victory in the Republican primary runoff to represent the 23rd Congressional District on Tuesday, narrowly beating back a spirited challenge from YouTuber Brandon Herrera who strived to turn the race into a referendum over his voting record on guns. Despite his massive fundraising operation and powerful allies, Gonzales’ victory was exceedingly tight. With all precincts reporting, Gonzales led by about 400 votes. The difference is within the margin where Herrera could request a recount. But Herrera indicated he'd accepted the election results, posting Thursday that the close margin despite leading such an underfunded operation was itself a major accomplishment.
Latin America
Mexico’s 2024 Elections: What to Know (CFR)
On June 2, nearly 100 million voters—including a record number of first-timers—will participate in Mexico’s largest-ever elections, choosing a new president, all 628 members of the legislature, 9 governors, and more than 19,000 local officials. The winning presidential candidate will succeed President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, known also as AMLO, and govern Mexico for the next six years. But so far in the campaign, dozens of candidates have been killed, and hundreds more have asked for state protection—particularly those vying for positions at the state and local levels—amid record levels of violence.
Argentina's economy seen hitting steepest fall since 2020 in March (Reuters) 📊
Argentina's economic activity index is expected to have shrunk 6.9% year-on-year in March, its deepest drop since 2020 and the fifth monthly contraction in a row, a Reuters poll on Tuesday showed. The index slipped an estimated 7.2% in March from February, said the 13 local analysts in the survey. The year-on-year contraction estimates ranged from 4% to 10.3%.
Europe
British Leader Sunak Calls Snap Election as His Party Trails in Polls (WSJ🔒)
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called a surprise summer election for July 4, a gamble by the British leader to galvanize his restive Conservative Party as it trails the opposition Labour Party by double digits in the polls. Sunak, standing in drenching rain outside 10 Downing Street on [May 22], said he had spoken to King Charles and asked for Parliament to be dissolved, setting the stage for a brief campaign before the vote. “Now is the moment for Britain to choose its future,” he said. In going to the polls, Sunak is attempting one of the biggest turnarounds in recent British political history. Many pollsters, and even members of the Conservative Party, have written off the Tories’ chances of securing a fifth successive term, as its popularity has tanked on the back of a postpandemic cost-of-living crisis and successive political scandals. The Conservatives have been in power since 2010.
Congress Has Appropriated Over $175 Billion in Assistance Since the Start of Russia’s 2022 Invasion (AEI) 📊
The Ukraine Assistance at a Glance tool breaks down the $175.1 billion that Congress has appropriated as assistance to Ukraine since the start of Russia’s February 2022 invasion. These funds are dedicated for specific purposes such as the purchase of US weapons sent to Ukraine, personnel costs associated with US forces in Europe, and humanitarian aid to Ukrainian civilians. By reviewing these graphs, you will gain an understanding of how much the US has appropriated as assistance to Ukraine, the purpose of those funds, and where the money is going.
NOTE: Article contains many informative graphs.
Burning Skin, Teary Eyes: Ukraine’s Troops Say Russia Is Using a Banned Toxic Gas (WSJ🔒)
After Ukraine repelled initial Russian attacks in 2022, the war has morphed into a grind where each side is looking for an advantage against hardened defensive lines. Seeing an opportunity in Ukraine’s shortage of weapons and reserve forces, Russia has been pressing forward on several fronts, using guided aerial bombs to smash up Ukrainian positions. Toxic gases can impair Ukrainian troops’ ability to defend entrenched positions, even forcing them to withdraw. The U.S. announced sanctions earlier this month against Russian companies and government bodies involved in the creation and supply of chemical weapons used at the front, singling out chloropicrin. The chemical agent, sometimes used in pesticides, was weaponized during World War I and is banned for use in battle by the Chemical Weapons Convention, of which Russia is a signatory.
U.S. gives Ukraine permission to use U.S. weapons to strike inside Russia, with caveats (NPR)
The administration has given Ukraine permission to use certain U.S. weapons to strike inside of Russia near Kharkiv for “counter-fire purposes,” according to two U.S. officials. This is a change in policy, as the U.S. has publicly and repeatedly said it opposes the use of U.S.-supplied weapons to strike inside of Russia, even as it continues to support Ukraine in its war effort. “The President recently directed his team to ensure that Ukraine is able to use U.S.-supplied weapons for counter-fire purposes in the Kharkiv region so Ukraine can hit back against Russian forces that are attacking them or preparing to attack them. Our policy with respect to prohibiting the use of ATACMS or long range strikes inside of Russia has not changed,” one U.S. official said in a written statement.
Blinken pledges US support for Moldova amid rising Russian threats (VOA News)
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to Moldova, pledging $135 million to enhance energy security and counter Russian disinformation during his visit to Chisinau. During Wednesday’s visit, Blinken announced that up to $85 million in USAID funding will subsidize equipment to strengthen Moldova’s national power grid and facilitate greater electricity trade with Romania, Ukraine, and the broader European market. He also unveiled additional aid for Moldova, a pro-Western country facing renewed threats from Russia. “Today, I'm announcing that we'll be working with our Congress to provide an additional $50 million to further advance these efforts from reforming the energy and agricultural sectors to pushing back and further against disinformation,” said Blinken during a joint press conference with Moldova President Maia Sandu. “That in turn will bolster the ability of Moldova to resist Russian interference, to hold free and fair elections to continue down the path to the European Union and Western integration to create more economic opportunity,” he said.
Middle East
Israel's operation in Rafah doesn't cross US red lines - White House (BBC)
The US does not believe Israel has launched a full-scale invasion of Rafah in southern Gaza, White House spokesman John Kirby has said. He spoke hours after Israeli forces reached the centre of the city and reportedly seized a strategically important hill overlooking the nearby border with Egypt. US President Joe Biden said this month he would limit weapons supplies to Israel if it entered the “population centres” of Rafah, where hundreds of thousands of civilians are still believed to be sheltering. Mr Kirby was also questioned about an Israeli strike and a resulting fire that killed at least 45 Palestinians – many of them women, children, or elderly – at a camp for displaced people on Sunday. Israel has said the strike targeted and killed two senior Hamas officials, and that it believes the fire could have been caused by an explosion at a Hamas weapons store nearby.
US pier constructed off Gaza has broken apart (CNN) 📊
The temporary pier constructed by the US military to transport aid into Gaza broke apart and sustained damage in heavy seas on Tuesday in a major blow to the American-led effort to create a maritime corridor for humanitarian supplies into the war-torn enclave, the Pentagon said. The pier was “damaged and sections of the pier need rebuilding and repairing,” Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh said on Tuesday. The pier will be removed from its location on the Gaza coast over the next 48 hours and taken to the Israeli port of Ashdod, where US Central Command will carry out repairs, Singh said. The repairs will take more than a week, further delaying the effort to get the maritime corridor fully operating. Earlier, four US officials told CNN the pier broke apart in heavy seas.
Saudi Arabia to Raise $10 Billion to $20 Billion in Fresh Aramco Stock Sale (WSJ🔒)
Saudi Arabia is likely to announce as soon as this week plans to sell $10 billion to $20 billion worth of stock in Aramco, its crown jewel and the world’s most valuable oil company, according to people familiar with the matter. The long-awaited offering, if it proceeds, would alleviate near-term pressure on the kingdom to raise funds. Saudi Arabia has a slew of mega projects including a new city and a global airline, all aimed at diversifying the economy beyond oil. The country supersized a $12 billion debt sale earlier this year and has transferred billions from its foreign-currency reserves to its sovereign-wealth fund. Saudi Arabia currently owns more than 82% of Saudi Arabian Oil Co., known as Aramco, which is listed on the country’s Tadawul stock exchange. The kingdom’s wealth fund—the Public Investment Fund—owns a further 16%. The rest is held by public investors.
Africa
Post-COVID, China is back in Africa and doubling down on minerals (Reuters) 📊
China's flagship economic cooperation program is bouncing back after a lull during the global pandemic, with Africa a primary focus, according to a Reuters analysis of lending, investment and trade data. Chinese leaders have been citing the billions of dollars committed to new construction projects and record two-way trade as evidence of their commitment to assist with the continent's modernisation and foster "win-win" cooperation. But the data reveals a more complex relationship, one that is still largely extractive and has so far failed to live up to some of Beijing's rhetoric about the Belt and Road Initiative, President Xi Jinping's strategy to build an infrastructure network connecting China to the world. While new Chinese investment in Africa increased 114% last year, according to the Griffith Asia Institute at Australia's Griffith University, it was heavily focused on minerals essential to the global energy transition and China's plans to revive its own flagging economy.
Iran further increases its stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels, watchdog says (AP) 📊
Iran has further increased its stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels, according to a confidential report on Monday by the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog, the latest in Tehran’s attempts to steadily exert pressure on the international community. Iran is seeking to have economic sanctions imposed over the country’s controversial nuclear program lifted in exchange for slowing the program down. The program — as all matters of state in Iran — are under the guidance of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and that likely won’t change in the wake of last week’s helicopter crash that killed Iran’s president and foreign minister. The report by the International Atomic Energy Agency also comes against the backdrop of heightened tensions in the wider Middle East over the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. Israel and Iran have carried out direct strikes on each other’s territory for the first time last month. The report, seen by The Associated Press, said that as of May 11, Iran has 142.1 kilograms (313.2 pounds) of uranium enriched up to 60% — an increase of 20.6 kilograms (45.4 pounds) since the last report by the U.N. watchdog in February. Uranium enriched at 60% purity is just a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90%.
East Asia – Pacific
US refutes China's characterization of UN Resolution 2758 (VOA)
The United States said on Tuesday that United Nations Resolution 2758, adopted in 1971, does not endorse the People's Republic of China's sovereignty claim over Taiwan, following Taiwan's exclusion from this week's World Health Assembly sessions. The WHA, the decision-making body of the World Health Organization, began its annual meetings on Monday in Geneva, where member states, delegates and health experts gather to discuss global health priorities and security. "We have repeatedly made clear that we think Taiwan should be able to participate in WHO sessions. When they were participants, they brought meaningful expertise that enriched the discussions and debates, and we want them to be allowed to participate in future sessions," said State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller during a Tuesday briefing. Taiwan is excluded from most international organizations because of the objections by the People's Republic of China, which considers the self-governed democracy its territory. Chinese officials often cite U.N. Resolution 2758 to assert Beijing's "one China principle."
Chinese Military Launches Drills Encircling Taiwan in Test of New President (WSJ🔒)
One of the nightmare scenarios facing Taiwan’s new president, Lai Ching-te, is a potential blockade of the island democracy by the Chinese military. Beijing wasted little time in giving him a sense of what that might look like. On [May 23], just three days after Lai’s inauguration in Taipei, the Eastern Command of China’s People’s Liberation Army said it sent army, navy, air and rocket forces into areas surrounding Taiwan for large-scale combat drills. The maneuvers, set to last two days, were intended as a “strong punishment for the separatist acts of ‘Taiwan independence’ forces,” said a spokesperson for the Chinese military, according to the official Xinhua news agency. A map released by the command showed drill areas encircling Taiwan’s main island, separated from China by a 100-mile-wide strait, as well as several outlying Taiwanese islands just off the Chinese coast.
America’s New Island Fighters Are Preparing for Conflict—a Stone’s Throw From Taiwan (WSJ🔒) 📊
The U.S. and Philippine marines arrived in waves on this little island nearly 100 miles from the southern tip of Taiwan. A platoon clutching automatic rifles and machine guns sprang from Black Hawks and took up positions around the airfield. In a whirl of hot air and dust, Chinook helicopters lowered dozens more men. They unloaded fuel cans, sacks of ready-to-eat meals and cases of medical supplies, small drones and satellite-communications gear—everything they would need for a three-day stay. If their ride had continued north, they would reach Taiwan in less than an hour. This was a military exercise, the guns had no ammunition and the Javelin missile launcher had no missiles. But the marines were preparing for a real-world conflict, fine-tuning a strategy they see as critical to fighting China in its neighborhood—from strings of islands close to it. This terrain is meant to be in their wheelhouse. They belong to the 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment, created two years ago as part of a sweeping redesign to better prepare the U.S. Marine Corps for great-power rivalry after decades of fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Wall Street Journal flew out with them to Itbayat—90 minutes by helicopter from the nearest large Philippine island—and island-hopped to remote Philippine military sites they were operating from during the drills.
Russia will build Central Asia’s first nuclear power plant in an agreement with Uzbekistan (AP)
Russia and Uzbekistan signed an accord Monday for Moscow to build a small nuclear power plant in the Central Asian country, as Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks in the Uzbek capital with Uzbekistan leader Shavkat Mirziyoyev. Mirziyoyev hailed the project as “vital” in remarks after the talks, noting that Uzbekistan has “its own large reserves of uranium.” Putin, in turn, vowed to “do everything in order to work effectively on Uzbekistan’s (nuclear energy) market.” If the agreement is implemented, the plant would become the first in Central Asia, further increasing Russia’s influence in the region. Russia’s state news agency RIA Novosti quoted the Russian state-owned energy corporation, Rosatom, as saying that the project envisions building six reactors with the total capacity of 330 megawatts.
Papua New Guinea Landslide Has Buried 2,000 People, Officials Say (NYT) 📊
More than 2,000 people were buried alive in the landslide that smothered a Papua New Guinea village and work camp on Friday in the country’s remote northern highlands, the authorities told the United Nations on Monday. Government officials visited the disaster site on Sunday. And even as the official death toll jumped from a few dozen to 670, they warned that far more victims than expected appeared to still be caught under the rubble.
North Korea sends balloons carrying excrement to the south as a 'gift' (Reuters)
North Korea sent hundreds of balloons carrying trash and excrement across the heavily fortified border to South Korea on Wednesday, calling them "gifts of sincerity", prompting an angry response from Seoul, which said the act was base and dangerous.
NOTE: Now I don’t feel so bad putting my excess trash in my neighbor’s trash can. Dear neighbor, if you’re reading this, consider it a gift of sincerity.
Space
Scanning the Dark Universe, Euclid Finds Scenes of Cosmic Light (NYT) 📊
Euclid, a European Space Agency telescope launched into space last summer, finally showed off what it’s capable of with a batch of breathtaking images and early science results released Thursday. The telescope will help astronomers make sense of two of the universe’s greatest mysteries: dark matter, the invisible glue clumping galaxies together, and dark energy, the force pushing them apart.
NOTE: Some amazing photos!
Defense
Austin meets with Chinese counterpart for the first time since 2022 (Defense News)
U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin met with his Chinese counterpart for the first time, ending an almost 18-month break since the two countries’ top defense officials last spoke in person. According to a Pentagon readout of the meeting, Austin and China’s Minister of National Defense Adm. Dong Jun discussed aggressive Chinese behavior around Taiwan, the freedom for U.S. forces to operate in the region, North Korea, and China’s support for Russia’s war in Ukraine. Senior U.S. defense officials, briefing reporters after the conversation, said that Austin also discussed China’s “strategic capabilities,” such as space, cyber and nuclear weapons. In the last several years, Beijing has led a faster-than-expected nuclear buildup, more than doubling its number of warheads since the start of the decade. Austin and Dong spoke on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue, a defense summit in Singapore that draws officials from across Asia.
Palantir wins contract to expand access to Project Maven AI tools (Defense News)
The Army awarded Palantir Technologies a $480 million contract to expand a data analysis and decision making tool to more military users across the globe. The Maven Smart System is part of Project Maven, the Pentagon’s marquis artificial intelligence program, which ingests and processes data from multiple sources, like satellite imagery and geolocation data, and uses it to automatically detect potential targets. Palantir, a Denver-based software and data analytics company, has been developing and experimenting with the prototype with a limited number of operators. The five-year contract, announced May 29, will allow the Defense Department to expand its use to thousands of users at five combatant commands: U.S. Central Command, European Command, Indo-Pacific Command, Northern Command and Transportation Command. The system will also be available to members of the Joint Staff.
Economy & Business
Baby-boomers are loaded. Why are they so stingy? (ProQuest)
Not all are rich, but in aggregate they have amassed great wealth, owing to a combination of falling interest rates, declining housebuilding and strong earnings. Boomers have deep pockets, so their spending choices will exert a huge influence on global economic growth, inflation and interest rates. Many researchers following such a “life-cycle hypothesis” argue that, as boomers retire, higher interest rates and inflation will result. Italy and Japan, the world’s oldest countries, have had low inflation and interest rates for years. Yet there could be deeper forces at play, making boomers reluctant to spend what they have earned, and in turn pressing down on interest rates and inflation. According to research from the Employee Benefit Research Institute, a think-tank, in America the share of retirees who are very confident they will have “enough money in retirement” has fallen from more than 40% in the mid-2000s to less than 30% today.
Business
You’re Buying So Much From Temu And Shein The Air Cargo Industry Can’t Keep Up (Forbes)
Temu, which largely sells clothing and housewares, and Shein, which built its brand on fast-fashion and has since expanded to consumer electronics and kitchen items, are unlike other retailers in that they sell items made directly by no-name Chinese companies, rather than selling an American brand that is made overseas. Part of their low cost has come from their decision to ship directly from China from those manufacturers, rather than working with well-known American brands that impose greater costs, prices, and quality. But to get customers' their products in a reasonable amount of time, both companies have been relying heavily on air freight. Temu and Shein combined ship around 9,000 tons of cargo worldwide every day, or approximately 88 Boeing 777 freighters filled to the brim, according to February research from Cargo Facts Consulting. (The scale is comparable to Amazon’s Prime Air fleet, which has 86 aircraft in service, according to Planespotters.) That’s driven up prices to near-unprecedented levels. According to the latest figures from Xeneta, so far, the May air cargo “average spot rate” from southern China to the U.S. is now at about $4.75 per kilogram, the highest it’s been since the end of last year, rivaling what’s typically peak demand in the run-up to the holiday season. That’s more than double during same period in 2019, when the rate was $2.32 per kilogram. The rates are still lower than recent peaks in 2020 and 2021, when that rate reached a high of $10 to $12 per kilogram. But those heights were due to the pandemic, which created shipping and supply chain shortages across the globe. Now, analysts say the rise is largely due to just two companies: Temu and Shein.
Blacklisted Chinese Companies Rebrand as American to Dodge Crackdown (WSJ🔒)
In December, a new company registered in Michigan: American Lidar. Its planned home would be an easy drive from the big three U.S. automakers. The company behind American Lidar, and not mentioned in its registration, is China-based lidar maker Hesai Group, which the U.S. has labeled a security concern. It is a familiar playbook: A company facing regulatory or reputational problems sets up a subsidiary or affiliate with a different name. Chinese firms trying to buffer themselves from Washington’s anti-China policies are rebranding and creating U.S.-domiciled businesses to sell their wares as the Biden administration expands the government entity lists that restrict Chinese companies’ business dealings in the U.S., say policymakers and national-security experts. The blacklisting has also created opportunities for American entrepreneurs who want to work with Chinese companies that are popular with U.S. consumers.
Store Brands Are Filling Up More of Your Shopping Cart (WSJ🔒) 📊
U.S. consumers are trying many tactics to cut their food spending: eating out less, buying less groceries and ditching name brands. That is boosting lower-cost store brands, which last year claimed 22 cents out of every dollar spent in grocery stores—the largest share ever for so-called private-label products. National brands are still king in the U.S., making up 78% of overall food and beverage dollar sales, according to data from the market-research firm Circana. But store brands, manufactured by companies including TreeHouse Foods for such retailers as Walmart and Kroger, are gaining ground, raising pressure on big food companies that have pushed their prices higher.
Energy
ConocoPhillips buying Marathon Oil for $17.1 billion in all-stock deal as energy prices rise (AP)
ConocoPhillips is buying Marathon Oil in an all-stock deal valued at approximately $17.1 billion as energy prices rise and big oil companies reap massive profits. The deal is valued at $22.5 billion when including $5.4 billion in debt. Crude prices have jumped more than 12% this year and the cost for a barrel rose above $80 this week. Oil majors put up record profits after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and while those numbers have slipped, there has been a surge in mergers between energy companies flush with cash. Chevron said last year that it was buying Hess in a $53 billion acquisition, though that deal faces headwinds. The company warned the buyout may be in jeopardy because it will require the approval of Exxon Mobil and a Chinese national oil company, which both hold rights to development of an oil field off the coast of the South American nation Guyana where Hess is a big player.
Saudi Arabia Eyes a Future Beyond Oil (NYT)
At a two-hour drive from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia’s capital, rows of solar panels extend to the horizon like waves on an ocean. Despite having almost limitless reserves of oil, the kingdom is embracing solar and wind power, partly in an effort to retain a leading position in the energy industry, which is vitally important to the country but fast changing. Although petroleum production retains a crucial role in the Saudi economy, the kingdom is putting its chips on other forms of energy. Sudair, which can light up 185,000 homes, is the first of what could be many giant projects intended to raise output from renewable energy sources like solar and wind to around 50 percent by 2030. Currently, renewable energy accounts for a negligible amount of Saudi electricity generation.
Auto
Toyota showcases compact engines adaptable to different fuels (Reuters)
Toyota Motor showcased next-generation engines on Tuesday that can be used in cars as varied as hybrids and those running on biofuel, as it targets tougher emissions standards and doubles down on its strategy of selling more than just EVs.
A $25,000 Electric Jeep Is Coming to the U.S. ‘Very Soon’ (WSJ🔒)
Jeep, the rugged American brand that helped popularize the SUV, plans to roll out a $25,000 all-electric model in the U.S. “very soon,” the parent company’s chief executive said, the latest in the auto industry’s rush to put out more affordable EVs. Auto executives have zeroed in on high prices as a major impediment to broader acceptance of EVs. Several have said they are working on cheaper battery-powered models for the U.S. market, where average selling prices for EVs in recent years have ranged from the high-$40,000s to more than $60,000. Tavares, speaking at a Bernstein conference in New York, said that a $25,000 all-electric Jeep is achievable in part because the company is already selling cheaper EVs at a profit in other parts of the world. In particular, he mentioned the Citroën e-C3, a hatchback being sold in Europe at €23,300. This model will eventually be offered at a lower price of €20,000, or $21,500. “The same way we brought the €20,000 Citroën e-C3, you will have a $25,000 Jeep very soon, because we are using the same expertise,” Tavares said in response to a question about EVs in the U.S.
Technology
Investors Gave A Teenager $85 Million To Build Hydrogen Weapons. It’s Not Going Well (Forbes)
Ethan Thornton’s vision for Mach Industries wooed blue-chip investors Sequoia and Bedrock, but he has struggled to execute, hamstrung by technical challenges, safety hazards and a cavalier approach to leadership. At 19 years old, Ethan Thornton had a grand vision for a new company: He’d do away with the U.S. military’s centuries-long reliance on gunpowder munitions by developing an array of hydrogen-powered weaponry. He named the company Mach Industries and, after dropping out of MIT, began R&D work on an artillery that could be replenished by hydrogen generators deployed on the frontlines, claiming it would give the military a critical battlefield advantage. Investors swarmed over what appeared to be an up and coming defense tech company led by a visionary teenage dropout. Sequoia’s Shaun Maguire co-led a $5 million seed funding round last summer — the venture firm’s first check issued to a defense company. Three months later, Bedrock’s managing partner Geoff Lewis led a $79 million series A investment, valuing the nascent startup at more than $300 million. But Mach’s giddy financing had been prefaced by a troubling, and near fatal, misstep. Months earlier, Thornton and another employee were almost killed while testing a Mach weapon. Four former employees with knowledge of the matter told Forbes that Thornton was reaching into a blast chamber surrounding a hydrogen-powered gun when the gas unexpectedly ignited, blowing up the machinery and sending a spray of shrapnel across the room. Thornton was miraculously unharmed, but a colleague helping with the test was rushed to the hospital with hundreds of pieces of metal in his body. (The employee recovered, though some of the shrapnel remains.)
Engineering
How to Build 300,000 Airplanes in Five Years (Construction Physics)
It’s no secret that the Allies won World War II on the back of the U.S.’s enormous industrial output. Even before the U.S. entered the war, the Americans provided hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of equipment to the Allies, and between 1938 and 1943 U.S. manufacturing output tripled as production of munitions ramped up. Over the course of the war the U.S. produced around 5,600 cargo ships, 80,000 landing craft, 2.4 million trucks, 2.6 million machine guns, and 41 billion rounds of ammunition. One of the most important elements in the “Arsenal of Democracy” was aircraft. Over the course of the war the U.S. produced around 325,000 airplanes valued at roughly $46 billion ($800 billion in 2024 dollars). Not only is this more aircraft than what Germany, Japan, and Italy combined produced during the war — it’s also more aircraft than have been built for commercial transport in the entire history of aviation.
NOTE: Great read.
Artificial Intelligence
Elon Musk's xAI valued at $24 bln after fresh funding (Reuters)
Elon Musk's AI startup xAI raised $6 billion in series B funding, reaching a post-money valuation of $24 billion as investors bet big on challengers to companies like OpenAI in the intensifying AI race. The funding round was backed by investors including Andreessen Horowitz and Sequoia Capital, the company said in a blog post on Sunday. The company's pre-money valuation was $18 billion, Musk said in a post on X.
The AI Revolution Is Already Losing Steam (WSJ🔒)
Nvidia reported eye-popping revenue last week. Elon Musk just said human-level artificial intelligence is coming next year. Big tech can’t seem to buy enough AI-powering chips. It sure seems like the AI hype train is just leaving the station, and we should all hop aboard. But significant disappointment may be on the horizon, both in terms of what AI can do, and the returns it will generate for investors. The rate of improvement for AIs is slowing, and there appear to be fewer applications than originally imagined for even the most capable of them. It is wildly expensive to build and run AI. New, competing AI models are popping up constantly, but it takes a long time for them to have a meaningful impact on how most people actually work. These factors raise questions about whether AI could become commoditized, about its potential to produce revenue and especially profits, and whether a new economy is actually being born. They also suggest that spending on AI is probably getting ahead of itself in a way we last saw during the fiber-optic boom of the late 1990s—a boom that led to some of the biggest crashes of the first dot-com bubble. Most of the measurable and qualitative improvements in today’s large language model AIs like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini—including their talents for writing and analysis—come down to shoving ever more data into them. These models work by digesting huge volumes of text, and it’s undeniable that up to now, simply adding more has led to better capabilities. But a major barrier to continuing down this path is that companies have already trained their AIs on more or less the entire internet, and are running out of additional data to hoover up. There aren’t 10 more internets’ worth of human-generated content for today’s AIs to inhale. To train next generation AIs, engineers are turning to “synthetic data,” which is data generated by other AIs.
Life
Marriage rates are up, and divorce rates are down, new data shows (CNN)
After Covid-19 lockdowns, 2022 was a year of marriages, according to new data. The number of marriages took a dive around the start of the pandemic, numbers show. For the past two decades, the number of marriages stayed around 7 to 8 per 1,000 people a year, according to new data released by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics. But in 2020, the marriage rate was down to 5.1 per 1,000 people, the data showed. The rate started to climb the next year, and by 2022, the number of marriages had reached 6.2 per capita and over 2 million in a year, according to the report.
Bill Maher: American Kids Are Way Too Confident (The FP)
America is a country whose children score low in math and science but off the charts in self-esteem. A study of eight developed countries found that U.S. students were dead last in math skills but number one in confidence in math skills, even though they suck at it. Yes, we’re number one in thinking we’re number one.
Religion
Italian Teenager to Become the First Millennial Saint (NYT)
Pope Francis cleared the way for an Italian teenager to become the first millennial saint by attributing a second miracle to him, the Vatican announced Thursday. The teenager, Carlo Acutis, is often called the patron saint of the internet among Roman Catholics because of his computer skills, which he used to share his faith. He died of leukemia in 2006 when he was just 15.
Health
PTSD Has Surged Among College Students (NYT)
The prevalence of PTSD rose to 7.5 percent from 3.4 percent during that period, according to the findings. Researchers analyzed responses from more than 390,000 participants in the Healthy Minds Study, an annual web-based survey. Treatment for anxiety disorders increased most steeply, followed by PTSD, bipolar disorder and depression, according to economists who analyzed more than 1.5 million insurance claims for clinician visits between 2020 and 2022.
The Loneliness of the American Worker (WSJ🔒) 📊
More Americans are profoundly lonely, and the way they work—more digitally linked but less personally connected—is deepening that sense of isolation. Employers and researchers are just beginning to understand how workplace shifts over the past four years are contributing to what the U.S. surgeon general declared a loneliness health epidemic last year. The alienation affects remote and in-person workers alike.
Cannabis Tops Alcohol as Americans’ Daily Drug of Choice (NYT)
For the first time on record, cannabis has outpaced alcohol as the daily drug of choice for Americans. In 2022 there were 17.7 million people who reported using cannabis either every day or nearly every day, compared with 14.7 million who reported using alcohol with the same frequency, according to a study, published on Wednesday in the journal Addiction that analyzed data from the U.S. National Survey on Drug Use and Health. While far more people drink than use cannabis, drinking frequently has become slightly less common than it was around 15 years ago, the study found. But the proportion of people in the U.S. who use cannabis frequently has increased 15-fold in the three decades since 1992, when daily cannabis use hit a low point.
The First National Calculation of Mortality of the US Homeless Population (AEI)
Low-income individuals often experience poor health, but new findings from AEI’s Bruce Meyer reveal the devastating health impacts of homelessness. His research shows that a 40-year-old homeless person has a mortality risk similar to that of a housed individual nearly 20 years older. Meyer notes that the homeless population’s health risks are complex and often persist even after they find housing. Homeless individuals have 3.5 times the mortality risk of housed individuals. The study finds that 16% of the homeless population recorded in 2010 had passed away by 2022, compared to only 4% of the overall housed population sample during the same period.
Food & Drink
OJ prices squeeze higher, as production falters (Sherwood News)
There might soon be a vitamin C-shaped hole in many Americans’ breakfasts: orange juice prices are hitting all-time highs, as a series of poor harvests strain the existing supply of frozen juice futures. Indeed, while the price of OJ has climbed at an alarming rate in recent years due to reduced production yields, this week saw frozen concentrated orange juice futures — which, with a two-year lifespan, usually help manufacturers to ease harvest shortcomings from season to season — reach a record price of $4.87 per pound. That’s roughly 5x where they were trading in 2020.
Dr Pepper Ties Pepsi as America’s No. 2 Soda (WSJ🔒)
There is a new contender in the cola wars, and it isn’t a cola. It’s Dr Pepper. The 139-year-old soda brand is now tied with Pepsi-Cola as the No. 2 carbonated soft drink brand in America behind Coke. The regular versions of Pepsi and Dr Pepper are neck and neck in a spot that Pepsi has held nearly every year for the past four decades, according to sales-volume data from Beverage Digest. Dr Pepper’s new ranking follows a steady climb over the past 20 years. Its ascent is a product of big marketing investments, novel flavors and a quirk in Dr Pepper’s distribution that has put it on more soda fountains than any other soft drink in the U.S. At the same time, consumption of regular Pepsi has fallen as its drinkers switch to Pepsi Zero Sugar or migrate to other drinks.
Soda Startup Olipop to Hit $500 Million in Sales This Year (Bloomberg)
Soda startup Olipop Inc. is set to hit about $500 million in sales this year, more than double the $200 million it generated in 2023, as its healthier take on sugary drinks wins over more customers. The company generated less than $1 million in revenue in 2019, according to co-founder David Lester. And now it’s also profitable, he said. That’s a rare feat among young food and beverage companies, no matter the popularity of the product. Olipop makes soda with less sugar than traditional brands. It also adds prebiotics and fiber, it says, to boost gut health. It’s part of a growing category of brands often dubbed “healthy” soda.
Nestlé Launching Frozen Food Brand For Ozempic Users (Forbes)
Nestlé is launching a frozen food brand specifically aimed at people taking GLP-1 diabetes and weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, the company announced Tuesday, part of the food giant’s wider strategy to offset potential sales losses as appetite-suppressing drugs grow popular. he frozen food line, dubbed Vital Pursuit, will be priced at $4.99 and under and feature products like frozen pizza, sandwich melts and pasta.
Amazon Adds Grubhub To Its App And Website—Offering Free Delivery For Prime Users (Forbes)
Amazon added Grubhub’s food delivery service to its website and app, the two companies announced on Thursday, nearly two years after the e-commerce giant inked a deal to acquire a minor stake in the food delivery platform. As part of the deal, Amazon Prime subscribers will be eligible for free delivery on orders of $12 or more and receive other benefits linked to Grubhub Plus—the food delivery app’s $10 per month subscription service.
Nature
These crows have counting skills previously only seen in people (Nature)
Crows know their numbers. An experiment has revealed that these birds can count their own calls, showcasing a numerical skill previously only seen in people. Investigating how animals understand numbers can help scientists to explore the biological origins of humanity’s numerical abilities, says Giorgio Vallortigara, a neuroscientist at the University of Trento in Rovereto, Italy. Being able to produce a deliberate number of vocalizations on cue, as the birds in the experiment did, “is actually a very impressive achievement”, he notes. Andreas Nieder, an animal physiologist at the University of Tübingen in Germany and a co-author of the study published 23 May in Science1, says it was amazing to see how cognitively flexible these corvids are. “They have a reputation of being very smart and intelligent, and they proved this once again.”
Travel
How Hampton Inn Built a Cult Around Its Free Waffles (WSJ🔒)
Some travelers buy $3,000 Westin mattresses. Others buy $950 Four Seasons cashmere throws. Hampton Inn fans are different. They pay for waffle merch: a $19.99 waffle-shaped fanny pack with a pocket for syrup and $10.99 fuzzy waffle socks. Free breakfast is a Hampton hallmark, one of the top three reasons travelers book the budget-friendly chain. Its waffles are the main attraction. Adults and kids make an estimated 30 million waffles a year at the chain’s more than 3,000 hotels, carb counting and sugar highs be damned. Waffles earned their own section in Hilton’s 100-year retrospective in 2019. And a Hampton employee known as the Waffle Lady flew from North Carolina to California last summer to make strawberry cheesecake waffles with Paris Hilton.
US notched record air traveler numbers over Memorial Day Weekend (Sherwood News)
While box office numbers flagged this Memorial Day weekend, airplane passenger numbers took off, with the TSA reporting a record-breaking 2.95M travelers passing through airport security on Friday — the highest number ever on a single day. That’s up from the previous record of 2.9M, set on the Sunday after last year’s Thanksgiving weekend, and far surpasses passenger counts seen since 2020 as air travel recovered from a pandemic-era slowdown. It seems now, though, that Americans are back to catching flights in full force. According to TSA data, the average daily passenger throughput for 2024 so far is 2.36M, some 47% more than that seen for 2021, and similar to the average recorded for full-year 2023 (2.35M)… even before we reach the heights of summer holiday season. Indeed, Airlines for America have forecast that 271M passengers will travel on US airlines between June 1 and August 31 this year, up more than 6% from the previous summer.
A ‘Vacation’ Spent Building Trails in the Windswept Faroe Islands? Thousands Want In. (WSJ🔒)
In 2019, Visit Faroe Islands, the tourism board of the Faroe Islands, a self-governing territory of Denmark, unveiled the “Closed for Maintenance” program. For three days, officials would close a selection of major attractions to visitors, while a group of around 100 lucky volunteers from around the world would fly in and work to maintain those attractions, building trails, erecting signs and installing other infrastructure. This year, the competitive program attracted some 6,000 applicants—all eager to get their hands dirty in this land of around 50,000 people.
Foot Hammocks: Savior of Economy Fliers, Scourge of Airlines (WSJ🔒)
More fliers are using elevated footrests in their eternal struggle to get comfortable in coach. Airlines are looking to put the kibosh on them. The product that fliers are using is called a foot hammock or a foot sling. It hangs from the seat-back tray table to allow travelers to prop their feet up for a more relaxed sitting position. For shorter travelers whose feet might not reach the ground, resting them in the hammock can reduce strain on their thighs and buttocks. The hammock is one of the many tools in frequent fliers’ arsenal to make a flight in economy easier to endure, especially for long-haul trips overseas. The items come in all shapes and sizes: cup holders that hang from plane windows, inflatable mattresses for kids to nap upon, eye masks that attach to the seat’s headrest to improve the user’s posture. Airlines, however, have moved to stop some of them from use. Carriers have said child beds, knee defenders and now the hammock can become an obstacle or cause damage to the seat.
Entertainment
Garfuriosa was no Barbenheimer for the US box office (Sherwood News)
Hollywood had an unremarkable Memorial Day Weekend this year, as the American box office notched an estimated $132M from Friday through Monday — the lowest total gross (excluding the pandemic era) in 26 years, according to data from Box Office Mojo. Both Furiosa, the 5th installment in the popular Mad Max franchise, and The Garfield Movie, the 6th film in the Garfield cinematic universe, struggled over the long weekend, which is typically a heavy hitter in the box office calendar. Indeed, despite favorable reviews, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga took just $32M over the 4-day period, the lowest gross for a Memorial Day #1 debut since Casper in 1995 (not adjusted for inflation).
Sports
Bill Walton, N.B.A. Hall of Famer and Broadcasting Star, Dies at 71 (NYT)
Bill Walton, a center whose extraordinary passing and rebounding skills helped him win two national college championships with U.C.L.A. and one each with the Portland Trail Blazers and Boston Celtics of the N.B.A., and who overcame a stutter to become a loquacious commentator, died on Monday at his home in San Diego. He was 71. The N.B.A. said he died of colon cancer.
The Bookshelf
My Lifetime Reading Plan (Honest Broker)
I want to tell you how I gave myself an education by reading books. I’m going to do this in two installments. In part one, I’ll share the techniques that worked for me. In part two, I’ll tell you about the mistakes I made—and what I’d change if I was doing this all over again. First, I should explain my motivations. To some they will seem obvious, while others will consider them hopelessly naïve. For example, back when I was a teenager I decided I wanted to possess genuine wisdom. You can laugh at that if you want. The very word wisdom seems tainted nowadays. Some will tell you wisdom is a sham, others will dismiss it as something only charlatans or cult members promise. Those of a postmodernist mindset will insist that it doesn’t even exist. But that was my goal: the pursuit of wisdom.
NOTE: An encouraging read to anyone who considers themselves a slow reader, yet desires to read more, and even more so desires to seek the wisdom of those who have gone before. The lesson: a journey of a thousand miles begins with one step…followed by many, many more.
Have a great weekend!
The Curator
Two resources to help you be a more discerning reader:
AllSides - https://www.allsides.com/unbiased-balanced-news
Media Bias Chart - https://www.adfontesmedia.com/
Caveat: Even these resources/charts are biased. Who says that the system they use to describe news sources is accurate? Still, hopefully you find them useful as a basic guide or for comparison.