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Your Daily BriefOctober 20th, 2022 |
Good morning, and happy Thursday! Did you know that talking to strangers as well as your family and friends can make you happier? Apparently, researchers from Harvard University studied more than 50,000 people from eight countries, and found that those who branched out more and had a diverse set of relationships enjoyed greater overall well-being, satisfaction, and quality of life. No stranger danger here! Anyway, here’s what we have for you:
In Today’s Brief
- UK: Inflation back at 40-year high
- New York City: Tents open for migrants
- Glass Animals: New Hot 100 record
- Waymo: Coming to Los Angeles
- Variety: Lists 25 best emo songs of all time
- Top Tips: Florida Circle K gas stations can sell weed, Putin declares martial law in annexed territories, Spirit moves closer to JetBlue merger
Circle K gas stations can now sell marijuana in Florida
Convenience store chain Circle K has signed a deal with cannabis company Green Thumb Industries Inc. to sell licensed marijuana at gas station locations in Florida.
According to a press release from Green Thumb, the pilot will begin in 2023 with 10 of Circle K’s 600 Florida locations, where Green Thumb will set up its RISE Express dispensaries adjacent to the Circle K stores. Per Green Thumb, customers aged 21 and older will be able to buy a number of cannabis products at the dispensaries, including buds, pre-rolls, and gummies. The deal is a first for both the U.S. and the rest of the world, as legal marijuana has so far only been sold in stand-alone dispensaries in the U.S. and in pharmacies in other countries that allow it.
While selling marijuana is still illegal at the federal level, the announcement comes the same month that President Biden pardoned all people convicted of “simple possession of marijuana” under federal law in the U.S.
Russian President Putin declares martial law in annexed Ukrainian territories
Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday declared martial law in the four territories of Ukraine that Russia annexed last month.
Without specifying the steps that would be taken in the annexed regions of Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, and Luhansk under the decree, Putin said his order is effective starting today. When delivering his announcement on national television, he granted the heads of Russian regions additional powers but didn’t provide details as to what those powers would be. According to the published decree on the Kremlin's website, Russian law enforcement agencies have three days to submit proposals on what measures will be taken in the four regions.
Following Putin’s declaration, the upper house of Russia’s parliament approved legislation and endorsed his decision to impose martial law in the regions. Per the legislation, martial law could require banning public gatherings, introducing travel bans and curfews, and conducting censorship, among other restrictions.
Spirit shareholders approve merger agreement with JetBlue
Stockholders of Spirit Airlines voted to approve a $3.8B merger with JetBlue Airways yesterday during a special shareholder meeting.
JetBlue made its $3.8B all-cash takeover bid after an earlier offer by Frontier Airlines to merge with Spirit in a cash-and-stock deal had collapsed. While its shareholders have voted for it, Spirit and JetBlue must receive federal regulatory approval in order for the deal to close–a concern that Spirit cited when it first rejected a $3.6B offer from JetBlue in May. According to a press release from Spirit, the airlines “expect to conclude the regulatory process and close the transaction no later than the first half of 2024.”
Per a fact sheet on the merger, the new combined airline will be based in Florida and have 458 aircraft in its fleet. Should regulators approve the deal, it will create the fifth-largest airline carrier in the United States.
Around the Globe
- Inflation in the United Kingdom again reached a 40-year high hit in July as the consumer price index (CPI) increased by 10.1% year-over-year last month, according to the UK’s Office for National Statistics
- The dome of the Jakarta Islamic Center’s Jami Mosque in North Jakarta, Indonesia caught fire and collapsed yesterday during renovation works; according to officials, there were no victims from the incident
- Explosions from parcel bombs inside of Myanmar’s Insein prison in Yangon left at least eight dead and eighteen others injured, according to local sources; Insein prison is the country’s largest jail with about 10,000 prisoners, and no one has yet claimed responsibility for the attack
On the Homefront
- The Biden administration awarded $2.8B in grants for 20 companies in 12 states to produce batteries for electric vehicles in the U.S.; the grants are being allocated through the Department of Energy and will go toward the creation of battery-grade materials including lithium, graphite, and nickel, according to a press release from the White House
- New York City opened a complex of tents built on Randall’s Island east of Manhattan to serve as a temporary shelter for an influx of international migrants being bused into the city by southern border states; per Mayor Eric Adams, the shelter will temporarily house up to 500 single migrant men
- A group of Wisconsin taxpayers asked the Supreme Court to block President Biden’s student loan relief program from being implemented days after the application website went live, arguing that the President circumvented Congress’ spending powers with his plan to forgive up to $20K in student debt for eligible individuals - see the emergency request directed to Justice Amy Coney Barrett here
Glitz & Games
- The San Diego Padres defeated the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 2 of the NLCS with a final score of 8-5, and the Houston Astros beat the New York Yankees 4-2 in Game 1 of the ALCS
- Proceedings began yesterday in the civil lawsuit trial against director and screenwriter Paul Haggis, who faces charges from a publicist named Haleigh Breest who alleges he sexually assaulted her in New York in 2013
- “Heat Waves” by Glass Animals, which spent five weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, is now the longest-charting song in the list’s 64-year history, with a total of 91 weeks spent on the chart as of this week; the song passed The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights,” which logged 90 weeks on the chart between 2019 and 2021
Business & Markets
- Stocks closed lower after two straight days of gains as the 10-year Treasury yield reached its highest level since 2008 (Dow -0.33%, Nasdaq -0.85%, S&P 500 -0.67%)
- Social image-sharing platform Pinterest (NYSE: PINS) has partnered with record labels and publishers Warner Music Group, Warner Chappell Music, Merlin, and BMG to give users the ability to add music from the labels’ artists to the platform’s video-focused “Idea Pins” feature
- Alphabet-owned Waymo said it plans to expand its self-driving ride-hailing service, Waymo One, to Los Angeles; the company currently services San Francisco and Phoenix and said it will begin servicing several Los Angeles districts “over the coming months” in a press release
Why would you drink 64 grams of sugar?
Did you know that the (in)famous Pumpkin Spice Latte packs a truly terrifying 32 grams of sugar per serving? If that didn't scare you, the "large" contains 64 grams of sugar, which is about 20% higher than the recommended daily sugar intake.
That's why we're excited to share Pumpkin Spice Chai from The Brothers Apothecary. This adult-only, full-spectrum infused tea is made with certified organic black tea, spices, and real pumpkin.
And because it's sugar-free and made with cannabinoid-rich hemp (about 60mg CBD per tea bag), it does the opposite of the goliath coffee-chain's PSC: it helps regulate mood, supports clean-burning energy without a crash, and doesn't add to rampant inflammation caused by excessive sugar intake.
Want an even sweeter deal? Enjoy a free cup of tea & infused honey + 25% off, when using code: TIP25
Tip & Tricks
- Bump This: Australian alt-pop singer Blake Rose evokes countless pop culture references over a bouncy guitar line in his new track “Dizzy” - listen on Apple Music and Spotify
- Chow Down: Since the chill is definitely in the air now–for some of us, at least–warm yourself and your loved ones up with this recipe for vegan chickpea noodle soup (it’s simple, sure, but you can still show off your culinary skills depending on the type of noodle you choose)
- Look Up: Watch this video that breaks down a new high-definition portrait of the Pillars of Creation captured by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope that will help researchers further understand how stars formed and burst out of the pillars’ clouds of dust and gas
- Go Deep: As the genre continues to creep back into the mainstream, browse through Variety’s list of the 25 best emo songs of all time and the bands behind them (attention millennials everywhere: start your engines and commence your arguments)
- Say What: “Yep, the probabilities in this economy tell you to batten down the hatches,” Amazon founder Jeff Bezos said in a tweet when reposting a video of Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon saying that companies should think more cautiously and be prepared in the event the United States enters a recession
- Hot Goss: Actor Matthew Perry in a new memoir recalled that he was taking 55 Vicodin pills a day and was down to 128 pounds at one point during the height of his Friends fame (he’s sober now, though doesn’t disclose how long his sobriety has lasted)
- Life Hack: We live in a world full of distractions, and sometimes it’s tough to buckle down and get done whatever it is we need to do - check out this infographic of 11 tips to help you stay focused throughout the day
Looking Back…
On October 20th: The U.S. Senate ratifies the Louisiana Purchase (1803); Queen Elizabeth II opens Australia’s Sydney Opera House (1973); an airplane carrying the rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd crashes in Gillsburg, MS, killing singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines, and others (1977); American musician Tom Petty is born (1950).
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