Week of 9/8/24
A hurricane hit Louisiana causing widespread flooding, SpaceX advanced civilian space travel by sending private astronauts into orbit, Trump and Harris faced off in a presidential debate, and more...
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🌀 Hurricane Francine Aftermath
Hurricane Francine hit Louisiana as a Category 2 hurricane on Wednesday. Thousands of residents evacuated their homes as flooding impacted many neighborhoods. Over 300,000 were without power across 4 states, making power restoration a priority. The National Guard helped with evacuations and rescue efforts. No deaths have been reported at this time, but millions remain in flood watch while cleanup and restoration efforts continue. NBC
🛰️ SpaceX and a Private Outing
Billionaire Jared Isaacman and SpaceX engineer Sarah Gillis became the first private astronauts to step into space. They got to test out brand-new SpaceX-designed spacesuits and orbited 450 miles above Earth in a mission that could reshape the future of civilian space travel.
“Back at home, we all have a lot of work to do. But from here, it sure looks like a perfect world,” Isaacman said as he soared above us beyond the Earth’s atmosphere.
Their historic spacewalk is part of a larger effort to make space accessible to more people, with ambitious plans to send civilians to the moon and even Mars in the coming years. The successful mission is one of many under SpaceX’s Polaris Program planned for the future. AP
NASA approves launch of a mission to search for signs of life on Jupiter's moon Europa. The largest spacecraft ever built for a planetary mission, the Europa Clipper could launch as early as Oct. 10. NASA
🇻🇪 Venezuela Gang Expands in U.S.
The Tren de Aragua gang, infamous for its brutal tactics in South America, has expanded into the U.S. with over 100 criminal investigations involving the gang. They originated in a Venezuelan prison and are known for drug trafficking, extortion, and operating prostitution rings across multiple countries. U.S. worries that the gang could exploit Venezuelan migrants and their members are difficult to track due to shared migration paperwork and lack of diplomatic ties with Venezuela. WSJ
The police in a suburb of Denver clarified some rumors of the gang’s involvement had gone too far and that they had not taken over an apartment complex in the city of Aurora. AP
Meanwhile, in Venezuela the former opposition candidate Edmundo González fled to Spain after an arrest warrant was issued for him following a contested presidential election. With the opposition claiming he won by a large margin and the government accused of falsifying documents - it raises significant concerns around the democratic process in Venezuela. Link
Key Updates on…
U.S. Politics and the 2024 Election
The Debate: Kamala Harris and Donald Trump debated economic issues, foreign policy, and social topics. Watch 3 min summary
Harris used the debate to position herself as an alternative to Biden and Trump, while Trump struggled with certain issues like abortion.
Taylor Swift endorsed Harris following the debate, sharing her support with her 283 million Instagram followers.
Trump declared he won't debate Harris again, citing the moderators’ unfair treatment, while Harris has called for another debate.
Some Republicans expressed frustration with Trump’s performance.
The Federal Reserve is expected to cut interest rates by 0.5% next week, in an effort stimulate a slowing economy.
Patriot Day: The U.S. honored those lost in the 9/11 attacks on Patriot Day (September 11), with memorial events and moments of silence across the country.
International Tensions
Israel’s airstrikes in Gaza this week resulted in the deaths of 19 people, including a high-ranking militant commander. WSJ
Ukraine escalated its conflict with Russia this week by launching the largest drone strike on Moscow since the war began. More than 140 drones targeted buildings across the Russian capital, killing one civilian and sparking multiple fires. Reuters
Hopes for long-term solution remain elusive for both wars.
Sports and Culture
The NFL averaged 21 million viewers per game for opening week, its highest on record
James Earl Jones, known for his work as voice for Darth Vader and Mufasa, dies at 93.
Chad McQueen, "Karate Kid" actor, dies at 63
MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs): The 2024 VMAs took place earlier this week on September 12, with major wins by artists like Taylor Swift (she got multiple) and Billie Eilish.
Fast Five
Typhoon Yagi devastates Vietnam: Death toll climbs to over 250 people
Boar's Head Plant Shutdown: Boar's Head closed its Virginia facility, linked to the largest listeria outbreak since 2011.
Severe Flooding in Nigeria: Torrential rains caused the collapse of the Alau Dam, resulting in flash floods in Nigeria’s Borno State. Thousands were displaced in a country already struggling with a humanitarian crisis.
Apple unveils iPhone 16 at its event this past week. New AI-driven features, faster A18 chip… Also, AirPods will soon be the first over the counter hearing aids!
Boeing's 33,000 production workers went on strike after rejecting a 25% wage hike, demanding 40%, and citing safety concerns.