Tuesday, August 31st, 2021
20-Year War Ends, Former Billionaire on Trial & IKEA Buyback
All the news in about 10 min:
This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp.com/newsworthy and Noom.com/newsworthy
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 read the latest happenings...
U.S. Military Leaves Afghanistan
The last American military planes left Kabul’s airport, officially ending the longest war in U.S. history. In recent weeks, the U.S. has helped evacuate more than 120,000 people out of Afghanistan. However, up to 200 Americans and tens of thousands of American allies who wanted to get out are still there, relying on the Taliban to let them leave. The Taliban is still working to form a new government. The U.S. and United Nations have said they’ll only work with the Taliban if the group lives up to its commitments like letting people move freely, honoring women’s rights, and preventing Afghanistan from being used as a base for terror attacks.
Read More: Politico, AP, WSJ, Axios, White House
Ida Recovery Begins
Hurricane Ida has finally moved away from Louisiana, but the rescue and recovery efforts are just beginning. Rescuers in boats, helicopters, and high-water trucks brought hundreds of trapped people to safety yesterday. However, many roads are still flooded or blocked by trees and power lines. Cell phone service is still out in a lot of places. More than a million homes and businesses in Louisiana and Mississippi, including all of New Orleans, are still without power. The damage was so bad, officials say it could be weeks before the power grid is repaired. At least three people died in the storm, but the death toll is expected to rise.
Read More: AP, The Hill, Reuters, WSJ, NHC
Lake Tahoe Evacuated for Wildfire
Another massive wildfire is threatening a popular tourist destination on the California-Nevada border. Everyone in the city of South Lake Tahoe and some surrounding areas are under evacuation orders because of the Caldor Fire. So far, the fire has burned through nearly 300 square miles in the northern Sierra Nevada mountains. Five people have been hurt. It’s also destroyed hundreds of homes since it started earlier this month. A few thousand firefighters and hundreds of army soldiers are battling the flames. However, they face high winds, low humidity, and a lot of dry brush. As of this morning, the fire is only 14% contained.
Read More: LA Times, CNN, NY Times, AP, InciWeb
Education Dept. Investigates Mask Mandate Bans
The federal government is investigating five states over masks in schools. Iowa, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Utah have banned schools from mandating masks, saying mask decisions should be up to parents. However, the U.S. Education Department’s civil rights office says there are concerns from parents, especially those who have children with disabilities and medical conditions, that their kids can’t attend schools safely. Because of that, the federal government is looking into whether the bans violate their rights. If it finds they do, states will have to reach an agreement with the Education Department or lose federal funding.
Read More: NY Times, NPR, Fox News, NBC News
EU Recommends Banning U.S. Tourists
It might soon be tougher for Americans to visit some countries in Europe. The European Union has once again taken the U.S. off its “safe list.” It told its 27 member countries they should add restrictions on tourists from the U.S. because of rising COVID-19 cases. Still, it’s up to each country to decide their own rules. They can choose to go with a total ban on non-essential travel or still allow American visitors with proof of vaccination, negative tests, or mandatory quarantines.
Read More: BBC, WSJ, Axios, AP, European Union
New CDC Travel Advisories
The U.S. is still not allowing European tourists to come here. Also this week, the CDC added Switzerland to its list of countries Americans should avoid because of COVID-19. That one is a travel advisory, though, not a ban. Other places on the list for Americans to avoid: The Bahamas, Aruba, Turkey, France, Greece, Ireland, Spain, the UK, and many more. This is all based on the rate of new COVID-19 cases reported in each location over the last few weeks.
Read More: Reuters, WaPo, CDC, State Dept.
Elizabeth Holmes Fraud Trial Begins
Today, the woman who was once called the “next Steve Jobs” is going on trial for fraud. The founder and former CEO of Theranos, Elizabeth Holmes, is accused of knowingly misrepresenting her company’s technology. Theranos claimed to have a test that could detect conditions like cancer and diabetes with just a few drops of blood. However, it turned out the tests didn’t work. Three years ago, the company collapsed, and Holmes and another top executive were charged with federal fraud and conspiracy. If Holmes is found guilty, she faces up to 20 years in prison.
Read More: NY Times, NPR, CNBC, CNN, BBC
China Limits Online Gaming for Minors
China is now imposing strict limits on young gamers. The government issued new rules that ban anyone younger than 18 from playing online video games between Monday and Thursday. They’re only allowed to play for one hour a day on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays between 8-9 p.m. To enforce this, all online video games have to be connected to an “anti-addiction system that’s run by a government agency. All gamers have to register with their real names and government-issued IDs. Chinese officials say video games distract students from school and family, so the new rules should help.
Read More: WSJ, Bloomberg, ARS Technica, The Guardian
PayPal’s Possible Stock-Trading Platform
The next platform you’ll use to trade stocks could be PayPal. CNBC cites sources who say the company is looking to launch a stock-trading system. They say the company recently launched a new department called Invest at Paypal. The company has also reportedly had discussions with possible brokerage partners. If the company wanted to operate as a brokerage, it would need approval from federal regulators. That process can take several months.
Read More: CNBC, Fox Business, Engadget, The Street
Ikea Buyback & Resell Program
Ikea is launching a “buyback and resell” program in the U.S. It’s part of the furniture company’s plan to be more environmentally friendly and keep items out of landfills. Customers who return gently-used, fully-assembled furniture, like tables, chairs, and bookshelves, will receive store credit. Then the items will be resold in the store’s “as-is” section once an Ikea staffer makes sure they’re safe. Ikea is testing the program in Pennsylvania right now, and it plans to expand to other markets in the coming months.
Read More: FoxBusiness, Fast Company, Chain Store Age
Scientists Discover Northernmost Island
Researchers have found the world’s northernmost island by accident. Scientists meant to fly to a different arctic island to collect samples. However, they flew too far and landed on a small island they’d never seen before. They later discovered they set foot on the point of land closest to the North Pole. The expedition team said the land was made up of seabed mud, soil, and rock left behind by moving glaciers. People couldn’t see it until pack ice shifted. The tiny spot meets the criteria for an island because it remains above sea level at high tide.
Read More: BBC, Reuters, Business Insider
Trivia Tuesday
Q: Who was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize?
Play along on today’s Instagram Stories Quiz. We’ll also have the answer right here next week.
Last Week’s Trivia Tuesday Answer
Q: What famous U.S. festival hosted more than 350,000 fans in 1969?
A: Woodstock
Read More: History, Britannica, Rolling Stone