Monday, August 3rd, 2020
TikTok Talks, Bracing for Isaias & Space Mission Success
All the news you need in less than 10 min:
This episode is brought to you by www.Blinkist.com/news.
Story Summaries
All the news stories mentioned in today's episode are listed with links below, so you can spend as much -- or as little -- time as you want to review the latest happenings...
Tik Tok’s American Future
Microsoft could soon own part of TikTok, a popular video-sharing app. The company is looking to acquire TikTok in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. There have been ongoing concerns about the app being a national security risk since TikTok is owned by a Chinese company. A Microsoft deal could ease fears because the company says it would make sure all private data from American TikTok users would stay in the U.S. Microsoft says it hopes to finish up talks by September 15th.
Read More: NY Times, AP, CNBC, Axios, Microsoft
COVID-19 Crisis
The White House coronavirus task force coordinator says the U.S. has moved into a new phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Deborah Birx told CNN outbreaks are more widespread now than when the virus took hold in early spring. Also, infections are now surging just as much in rural communities as in big cities. She says no one is immune to this virus. Meanwhile, top negotiators for the next coronavirus relief bill will meet again today. Top lawmakers from both parties say, for now, they are still far from a final deal.
Next Phase of Pandemic: Johns Hopkins, WSJ, Reuters, CNN, Axios
Relief Bill Negotiations: Politico, Reuters, WSJ, Axios, CNN
Marine Search Called Off
Nine American service members were killed in a training accident off the coast of California. The accident happened Thursday when an AAV unexpectedly sank. One Marine was killed that day. Seven more Marines and one Navy sailor are presumed dead since search crews were not able to rescue them over the weekend. The Marine Corps is now suspending all training like this until they figure out what caused the accident.
Read More: CNN, NPR, FOX News, Marines
Tropical Storm Isaias Update
Tropical storm Isaias is moving up the Atlantic coast, and it could be back to hurricane strength soon. The National Weather Service says North and South Carolina should brace for hurricane conditions today, like flash flooding and tornadoes. Storm watches are in place all along the coast, as far north as Rhode Island. So far, there haven’t been reports of deaths or heavy damage in the U.S., aside from power outages.
Read More: AP, Axios, CBS News, Reuters
Wildfire in Southern California
A wildfire is burning out of control in Southern California. The Apple Fire started Friday evening about 60 miles east of Los Angeles. Several communities have issued evacuation orders. As of this morning, nearly 8,000 people have had to leave their homes. More than 1,300 firefighters have been working to fight the fire, along with several air tankers and helicopters.
Read More: LA Times, NBC News, ABC News, Twitter
U.S. Astronauts Return to Earth
Two American astronauts safely arrived back on earth after a historic two-month mission. NASA’s Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley were launched into orbit on a SpaceX capsule back in May. It was the first time a commercial company sent humans into space. Yesterday was the first splashdown by U.S. astronauts in 45 years. The capsule landed in the Atlantic ocean and was scooped up by awaiting boats. The astronauts are reportedly doing well.
Read More: USA Today, Axios, AP
Teen Charged in Twitter Hack
A teenager in Florida was arrested for acting as the mastermind of a Twitter hack. The 17-year-old is now facing 30 felony charges. U.S. officials say he pretended to be a member of Twitter’s IT team and got one of Twitter’s real employees to hand over company credentials. That gave him access to Twitter’s internal systems. From there, he allegedly hacked the accounts of some of the world’s most famous people and companies and used them to promote a Bitcoin scam.
Read More: USA Today, The Verge, Engadget
Changes Coming to MLB Protocols
Major League Baseball is rolling out new rules to try to make the season safer. The MLB will now require players to wear surgical masks when they travel, rather than cloth ones. They’re also asking players not to leave their hotel rooms when they’re on the road. To make sure people are following the rules, a compliance officer will travel with each team.
Read More: WSJ, CBS Sports, ESPN
Outbreak Hits 2nd MLB Team
A second MLB team is now dealing with a COVID-19 outbreak. The St. Louis Cardinals have had at least six people test positive for the virus so far. They think there will be more to come when more test results get back today. The Miami Marlins had already been dealing with an outbreak. 16 Marlins players have gotten the virus, which is nearly two-thirds of the team’s roster.
Read More: CBS Sports, Sports Illustrated, Tweet
NFL Head Coach Tests Positive
There are already issues for the NFL, even before the season starts. Two head coaches have tested positive for COVID-19. The Philadelphia Eagles coach is now the latest in self-quarantine, but he’s reportedly doing okay. The New Orleans Saints head coach was the first to test positive. Dozens of players have also opted out due to concerns about the virus, but the season is still scheduled to start September 10th.
Read More: CNN, ESPN
Google IDing Black-Owned Businesses
Google is making it easier for customers to find Black-owned businesses. The tech giant will start highlighting them in Google Maps and Google Search. It’s going to let business owners add a small icon that says “Black-owned.” This way, people will easily be able to support Black businesses without having to do much research. Already, there are icons for women-led businesses and LGBTQ-friendly businesses.
Read More: Engadget, The Verge, Android Police, Google
Libraries Become Popular Amid Pandemic
In the past few months, libraries have grown in popularity. Weekly e-book lending has reportedly shot up 50% nationwide since March. Audiobooks have also gotten more popular. Some libraries are going even further to adjust to this mostly digital world. They have added chat services so people can directly connect with librarians over the phone or online. Others are holding virtual talks with authors.
Read More: Axios, NPR, KQED
Monday Monday: Big Tech Surge Amid Pandemic
Big technology companies are booming, even as other industries are struggling. Amazon, Apple, and Facebook all reported their businesses thrived last quarter. Amazon’s profits between April and June doubled from the same time last year, hitting $5.2 billion. Apple’s sales increased too, mostly because people have needed to buy new work-from-home devices and apps. Facebook also made more money, although it warned its next earnings report could be impacted by an advertiser boycott.
Read More: AP, Reuters, WSJ