Good Morning! On this day in 1944, Smokey the Bear was introduced by the Ad Council, the Forest Service, and the National Association of State Foresters. For 80 years, Smokey has helped Americans prevent wildfires through memorabilia, print, radio, and T.V. messages.
It’s hard to ignore the comparisons between the stranded Boeing Starliner crew and those on the S.S. Minnow. If Hollywood were to remake Gilligan’s Island, the Starliner might not be a bad idea.
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Hunter Biden Accused of Aiding Romanian Oligarch
The Department of Justice alleged that Hunter Biden was hired by Romanian businessman Gabriel Popoviciu to influence U.S. government policy while his father, Joe Biden, was vice president.
Prosecutors claim Hunter and his associates received over $3 million from Popoviciu between 2015 and 2017, disguising it as a payment for real estate services to avoid potential “political ramifications” for his father.
Popoviciu was facing corruption charges in his home country at the time.
This accusation is part of Hunter Biden’s federal tax case. He faces charges for allegedly failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes from 2016 to 2020. The trial is scheduled for September.
Trump and Harris Agree to Debate
The Trump and Harris campaigns confirmed on Thursday that both presidential candidates have agreed to a debate on September 10 on ABC.
Former President Trump was first to announce the agreement during a press conference in which he also proposed two additional debates on different networks. Trump also said his campaign had agreed to a vice-presidential debate on CBS.
Vice President Harris seemed receptive to more debates, telling reporters in Detroit that she would be “happy” to consider multiple debates.
NBC appears to be interested in a second or third debate, and officials are said to be in conversations with both campaigns about a range of possible dates.
Starliner Crew May Not Return This Year
NASA announced Wednesday that it has been unable to sufficiently repair the Boeing Starliner capsule and may not be able to bring astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita “Suni” Williams home until February 2025.
The original Starliner mission called for Wilmore and Williams to spend eight days in space, but a capsule malfunction made it impossible for the Starliner to undock from the International Space Station. It has now been more than eight weeks since the pair launched.
NASA’s primary option to bring Wilmore and Williams home involves a February 2025 SpaceX mission that would reduce its crew from four to two to make room for the stranded astronauts.
If approved, Wilmore and Williams’ eight day mission would extend to eight months, giving them an opportunity to spend Christmas and New Years among the stars.
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➤ Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi questioned President Biden’s political acumen in a podcast interview on Thursday, saying she has never been impressed with his political operation. (More)
➤Russian authorities have asked for a 15-year prison term for Russian-American citizen Ksenia Karelina, who admitted to treason after donating $51 to a Ukrainian charity, according to Russian state media. (More)
➤ A cable news anchor corrected Sen. Tina Smith on air Wednesday after the Democrat suggested that Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance never served in the military. Vance was a Marine combat correspondent during the Iraq War. (Watch Video)
➤ Minnesota’s Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld a 2023 law allowing convicted felons to vote once they are released from prison, a ruling that could impact more than 50,000 Minnesotans. (More)
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➤ The Detroit Tigers’ center fielder, Parker Meadows, leaped into the outfield fence on Wednesday to make a spectacular catch and rob the Seattle Mariners’ Cal Raleigh of a two-run home run in a 6-2 victory. (Watch Video)
➤ NFL Quarterback Nick Foles, an 11-year veteran and former Super Bowl MVP, announced his retirement on Thursday in a social media post. He will be honored at the Philadelphia Eagles home opener in September. (More)
➤ Baltimore Orioles rookie Jackson Holliday became the youngest player in MLB history to hit a home run in three consecutive games on Wednesday with a 424-foot blast in a 7-3 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays. (Watch Video)
Sixteen-year-old track and field phenom Quincy Wilson is expected to make his Olympic debut today as part of the men’s 4×400-meter relay. (More)
The U.S. men’s basketball team overcame an 11-point halftime deficit on Thursday and beat Serbia 95-91 to advance to Saturday’s gold medal round against France. (More)
India’s Vinesh Phogatretired abruptly from women’sOlympic wrestling on Thursday after failing to make weight for her gold-medal match and being disqualified. (More)
What to watch: The U.S. men’s volleyball team has the opportunity to win a bronze medal today with a victory over Italy. The women’s basketball and men’s water polo teams will also be continuing their quests for Olympic medals with important semifinal matchups against Australia and Serbia. (See Full Schedule of Events)
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➤ Big Stock Move: Shopify’s shares rose 7%after the company reported better-than-expected second-quarter earnings, with revenue of $2.05 billion and earnings per share of 26 cents. (More)
➤ Mortgage rates have fallen to their lowest level since April 2023, reaching a daily average of 6.34%, according to a Redfin report. (See Details)
➤ Anduril Industries raised $1.5 billion at a $14 billion valuation. It plans to use the funds to build autonomous weapons factories, including a 5-million-square-foot facility called Arsenal-1. (See Details)
➤ Disney announced price increases for its streaming services, with Disney+ increasing to $9.99 with ads and $15.99 without ads, Hulu rising to $9.99 with ads and $18.99 without, and ESPN+ increasing to $11.99 per month. (More)
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➤Astronaut Matthew Dominick captured stunning green auroras in space through a window on the International Space Station, taking advantage of recent solar activity. (See Photos)
➤ Scientists predict that the annual Perseid meteor shower will reach its peak early Monday, just before dawn, expecting over 50 bright blue meteors to illuminate the night sky per hour. (More)
➤ A 9,000-year-old formation of meticulously arranged stones featuring a carving of a mastodon and stretching for more than a mile was discovered at the bottom of Lake Michigan, drawing comparisons to England’s Stonehenge. (See Photos)
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➤ Over 80 farmers across North America are creating intricate “Peanuts”-themed corn mazes to celebrate the comic strip’s 75th anniversary. (See Photos)
➤ Actor Denzel Washington tearfully reunited with his former Sunday School teacher, Mother Ruby Scott, after 65 years during a church event in New York. (Watch Video)
➤ Team USA figure skaters received their Beijing 2022 gold medals in Paris during the 2024 Summer Olympics after Russia’s disqualification for doping. (More)
➤ Alaska’s Governor declared a state disaster emergency after a glacial lake outburst flooded Juneau neighborhoods and displaced residents. (See Photos)
➤ A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck southwestern Japan on Thursday, prompting tsunami advisories and a megaquake warning. (Watch Video)
➤ BBC’s “Mammals” documentary captured first-ever footage of a baby wolverine’s first steps above ground in Alaska, revealing rare paternal care behavior in the species. (Watch Video
Which do you prefer: the book or the movie based on the book?
Hunter Biden Accused of Aiding Romanian Oligarch
Sixteen-year-old track and field phenom Quincy Wilson is expected to make his Olympic debut today as part of the men’s 4×400-meter relay. (
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