Monday, March 2nd, 2020
Coronavirus Updates, Buttigieg Out & Trader Joe
All the news you need in less than 10 min:
This episode is brought to you by www.Zola.com/newsworthy and www.Empower.me/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 perusing the latest happenings...
Coronavirus Latest:
Two people in the U.S. have now died from COVID-19. Both were treated at a hospital in Kirkland, Washington and both had underlying health conditions. Authorities have also announced new cases in California, Florida, Illinois, Rhode Island and New York. Delta and American Airlines have suspended flights to parts of Italy: the center of the outbreak in Europe. The number of cases in France also jumped, where the world-famous Louvre Museum has been closed. Experts say the best defense is still washing your hands.
Read more: AP, NYT, USA Today, CDC, WSJ, LA Times, Engadget, Tik Tok
U.S.-Taliban Deal:
The U.S. signed a historic peace agreement with the Taliban, which is the first step toward possibly ending the war in Afghanistan after nearly 19 years. The U.S. has agreed to withdraw all of its troops from Afghanistan over the next 14 months if the Taliban cuts ties with terrorist groups like Al-Qaeda and other conditions. The agreement also requires negotiations between the Taliban and the Afghan government, plus a prisoner swap by next week. It's already run into a roadblock as the Afghan government pushed back on the timeline yesterday. It's TBD if this peace deal will stick.
Read more: WaPo, NPR, CBS News, Military Times, USA Today, CNN
Day Before Super Tuesday:
Former Vice President Joe Biden won the South Carolina primary over the weekend with 49 percent of the vote. Pete Buttigieg and Tom Steyer dropped out of the race yesterday after weak finishes in South Carolina. Now it's all eyes on Super Tuesday tomorrow, when 14 states will hold primary elections.
Read more: WaPo, WSJ, Politico
Walmart, Verizon to Test 5G:
Walmart and Verizon are reportedly in talks to partner up to equip stores with 5G service. The next-generation network would potentially help Walmart launch new digital health services, including video chats with doctors. It’s one of many steps Walmart is taking to expand its medical options. For now, 5G networks are only available in specific locations, and only to those with equipped devices.
Read more: WSJ, Engadget
Facebook’s 3D Photos:
Facebook is rolling out its 3D photo feature to more users. Anyone with an iPhone 7 or newer or mid-range Android can now post 3D images to their Facebook timeline. Facebook previously needed to compile images from duel cameras to achieve the effect, but now says it can use AI to get the same look from a normal picture.
Read more: The Verge, VentureBeat
Remembering Trader Joe:
Trader Joe’s founder Joe Coulombe passed away at the age of 89. He opened the store five decades ago for a new generation of young shoppers in the 1960s who wanted healthy food at reasonable prices. Coulombe retired more than 30 years ago, but his name lives on with more than 500 locations in more than 40 states.
Read more: NPR, FOX News
Dr. Seuss Day:
Today is Read Across America Day. It’s also known as Dr. Seuss Day, since the national initiative takes place on the author's birthday. He would have turned 116 today.
Read more: CNN, Read Across America
Weekend Box Office:
From books to movies: the horror film The Invisible Man topped the box office over the weekend, bringing in $29 million in North America, which is fairly good for the horror genre. Sonic The Hedgehog came in second after two weeks on top, and The Call of the Wild came in third.
Read more: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter
Money Monday – Cryptocurrency & Taxes:
Tax season is underway, and there are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to cryptocurrencies. If you’ve ever traded or exchanged virtual currency, like Bitcoin, you’ll have to mention that when you file your taxes. Cryptocurrency is being treated as property, so it’s subject to capital gains tax. Just holding onto cryptocurrency without transactions is not a taxable event.
Read more: Empower, CNN