This week in the news | 20 Jul 24

You can find the latest weekly news summary from Curated Compositions here.

Some of the highlights include:

North America

Authorities are piecing together the actions of Thomas Matthew Crooks, the shooter at Trump's rally, in the hours leading up to the attack. Americans’ confidence in the police has risen by eight percentage points to 51%, according to Gallup’s annual update. Although the number of farms in the U.S. has decreased over the past four decades, agricultural productivity has increased due to technological and management innovations.

Latin America

New images reveal members of the Mashco Piro tribe, one of the world's most isolated Indigenous communities, emerging from the Peruvian Amazon as loggers encroach on their territory. Sebastián Marset, a prominent South American drug trafficker, used his wealth to buy and sponsor soccer teams to launder drug money while fulfilling his dream of playing professional soccer.?

Europe

Britain announced plans to strengthen its armed forces in response to threats from China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia, appointing George Robertson to lead a defense review. Venice's pilot program to charge day-trippers an entrance fee netted $2.2 million but was criticized for failing to deter visitors.

Middle East

The Israeli military has made significant progress in dismantling Hamas's tunnel network in Gaza, which has been used for operations and hiding hostages. The IMF has significantly downgraded Saudi Arabia’s growth projections due to the kingdom’s decision to reduce oil supplies, predicting a GDP rise of only 1.7% in 2024.

Space

Scientists have confirmed the existence of a sizable cave on the moon, potentially suitable for future astronauts, located near the Apollo 11 landing site.

Government

Former President Trump selected Sen. J.D. Vance as his 2024 running mate, hoping to appeal to working-class voters in the Midwest. A federal judge dismissed Trump’s classified documents case, ruling the indictment violated the appointments clause of the Constitution. Young men are increasingly leaving the Democratic Party, with President Biden’s unpopularity cited as a significant factor.

Business

Elon Musk announced the relocation of SpaceX and X headquarters from California to Texas, citing a new California law as the final straw. Google is in advanced talks to acquire cybersecurity startup Wiz for approximately $23 billion, which would be its largest acquisition ever. The Society for Human Resource Management is distancing itself from the "equity" aspect of DEI, focusing instead on inclusion and diversity to avoid preferential treatment of any worker group.

Real Estate

Midwestern and Northeastern metros with moderate home price appreciation are now experiencing the fastest growth rates, while Southern and Western metros see low or negative growth. Evictions in major Sunbelt cities remain elevated, showing little sign of returning to pre-pandemic levels, with some areas experiencing significant increases in filings. Foreclosure activity in the first half of 2024 is down 4.4% from the previous year but up 7.8% from two years ago.

Personal Finance

The S&P 500 Index has been remarkably stable, with only one move of more than 2% in either direction so far this year, as it approaches a 20% rise for 2024.?

Technology

South Korea is beginning mass production of a laser weapon capable of shooting down small drones at a cost of about $1.50 per shot. The AirJoule system, a new cooling technology, could drastically reduce energy consumption for air conditioning by up to 90% compared to traditional methods.

Engineering

The Hadrian X, the world’s first mobile bricklayer robot, has arrived in the U.S., capable of building house walls in a single day.

Cyber

A global technology outage disrupted flights, banks, and media outlets worldwide, due to an update issued by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike.

Life

Bob Newhart, the iconic comedian known for his deadpan delivery, died at 94, leaving behind a legacy of beloved TV shows and comedy albums. The Newhart finale, featuring one of TV's boldest and most memorable moments, continues to be celebrated as one of the best TV endings of all time.

Entertainment

The gaming industry, exemplified by the viral trailer for Grand Theft Auto VI, has surpassed the box office in size, highlighting the massive appeal of video games. EA Sports College Football 25 will feature real-life players for the first time, with over 11,000 athletes participating in the game due to changes in compensation rules for college athletes.

Sports

Argentina won its record 16th Copa America title, defeating Colombia 1-0 despite Messi being sidelined by injury. Spain secured its fourth European Championship title by beating England 2-1, with Mikel Oyarzabal scoring the decisive goal in the 86th minute.

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This is just a few of the news items this week. The full news summary can be found at https://www.curatedcompositions.com/p/this-week-in-the-news-20-july-24