🎙️Kamala Harris Tough Interview With Fox News

☀️Good morning. It's Thursday, Oct. 17, and we're covering, Amazon To Invest Over $500 Million In Nuclear To Power Data Centers, Meta Lays Off Employees Across Multiple Teams, US B-2 Bombers Strike Houthis Forces In Yemen, and much more. First time reading? Sign up to get this newsletter: Sign up here.  

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MARKETS

Cryptocurrency Prices by Market Cap

• The global cryptocurrency market cap today is $2.31 Trillion, a 0.21% increase in the last 24 hours.

• The total crypto market volume over the last 24 hours is $72.76B, which makes a 26.31% decrease.

• The total volume in Defi is currently $3.75B, 4.70% of the total crypto market 24-hours.

• The volume of all stablecoins is now $72.3B, which is 90.65% of the total market 24-hour volume.

• Bitcoin’s dominance is currently 57.59%, an increase of 0.08% over the day.

Bitcoin Reaches Highest Level Since July

Bitcoin has surged to nearly $68,400, its highest level since July, driving a rally across the cryptocurrency market. The cryptocurrency has risen over 9% in the past week, with ether up about 7%, Solana gaining nearly 10%, and dogecoin increasing by 15%. This price increase has positively impacted crypto-related stocks, notably Coinbase, which saw a 7% rise on Wednesday and a total increase of 19% over three days. (Read Deeper)

BUSINESS & FINANCE

Amazon To Invest Over $500 Million In Nuclear To Power Data Centers

Amazon Web Services (AWS) is investing over $500 million in small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) to meet the increasing energy demands of its data centers and support its goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions. AWS has partnered with Dominion Energy in Virginia and Energy Northwest in Washington State to develop SMRs, which offer a smaller, more efficient alternative to traditional nuclear reactors. These reactors will contribute power to AWS operations and the regional power grid.

Why It Matters: This investment aligns AWS with other tech giants like Google and Microsoft, which also turn to nuclear power to meet growing energy demands. AWS’s investment in SMR technology will help the company address its massive energy needs and support its broader $35 billion plan to expand data center operations in Virginia by 2040. (Read Deeper)

GM And Lithium Americas To Invest $625 Million In A U.S. EV Battery Raw Materials

General Motors (GM) has partnered with Lithium Americas Corp. in a joint venture to invest $625 million in the development of the Thacker Pass lithium mining project in Nevada. This investment aims to secure a domestic supply of lithium, which is crucial for GM’s electric vehicle (EV) production, and to comply with federal incentives. GM will hold a 38% interest in the project, which involves an initial cash contribution of $330 million, followed by additional funding as the project progresses.

Why It Matters: The investment announcement positively impacted Lithium Americas' stock, which rose by 23%. The Thacker Pass project has faced opposition from local indigenous groups, ranchers, and environmentalists due to concerns over its environmental impact. This investment follows GM's previous $320 million stake in Lithium Americas earlier this year, which included acquiring shares in the company. (Read Deeper)

TECHNOLOGY & SCIENCE

Meta Lays Off Employees Across Multiple Teams

Meta conducted another round of layoffs across multiple teams, including those working on Threads, recruiting, legal operations, and design. The company confirmed the layoffs as part of its effort to reallocate resources and align with long-term strategic goals. Affected employees were informed via video calls, with some receiving six weeks of severance pay. Teams from Reality Labs, Instagram, and WhatsApp were also impacted.

Takeaway: The layoffs are the latest in a series of workforce reductions at Meta over the past two years. In 2022, the company cut roughly 13% of its staff, or about 11,000 employees, with CEO Mark Zuckerberg taking personal responsibility for the decision. Earlier in 2023, Meta announced another round of layoffs, letting go of 10,000 employees and withdrawing 5,000 open positions as part of its strategy to adjust after rapid hiring during the pandemic. (Read Deeper)

SpaceX Sues California Regulator, Claims Political Discrimination Blocked Launches

SpaceX has filed a lawsuit against the California Coastal Commission, accusing the regulatory body of political discrimination. The commission recently voted to block SpaceX's plan to increase the number of rocket launches from Vandenberg Space Force Base, citing concerns related to Elon Musk's political statements on his social media platform, X. SpaceX claims the commission overstepped its authority and violated Musk's free speech rights. The lawsuit argues that the launches are federally regulated and seeks a ruling confirming this, as well as monetary damages.

Takeaway: In the complaint filed in California Central District Court on Tuesday, SpaceX claims that the commission members overstepped their authority and violated Musk's right to free speech. The lawsuit states that during an October 10 meeting, the commission voted 6 to 4 against the proposed increase in Falcon 9 rocket launches, which had been recommended by the U.S. Space Force, raising the annual launch limit from 36 to 50. (Read Deeper)

AROUND DE WORLD & POLITICS

US B-2 Bombers Strike Houthis Forces In Yemen

The U.S. launched airstrikes against Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen on Wednesday, using B-2 stealth bombers to target five underground weapons storage facilities. These facilities contained advanced conventional weapons that the Houthis were using to target military and civilian vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The strikes were authorized by President Joe Biden, and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin emphasized that this action was intended to further weaken the Houthis’ capabilities after their year-long campaign of attacks on U.S. and international ships.

Why It Matters: This marks the first use of B-2 bombers in the U.S. campaign against the Houthis, demonstrating America's ability to reach deeply buried or fortified targets. Over the past year, the U.S. has repeatedly intercepted or struck Houthi drones and missiles, but the group's attacks have persisted. The Houthis claim their actions support Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, escalating regional tensions. (Read Deeper)

Kamala Harris Engages In Tough Interview With Fox News, She Distinguishes Herself From Biden

Vice President Kamala Harris faced a challenging interview with Fox News anchor Bret Baier, where she aimed to distinguish herself from President Biden while addressing pressing issues like immigration and border security. In the interview, she asserted that her presidency would not be a continuation of Biden's, seeking to establish a unique political identity.

Takeaway: Baier frequently interrupted her and echoed arguments commonly associated with former President Trump, creating a combative atmosphere. Despite this, Harris's campaign focused on reaching conservative-leaning women, although she missed an opportunity to discuss abortion rights, a key issue for many female voters. (Read Deeper)

ENTERTAINMENT & SPORTS

Liam Payne, Former One Direction Singer, Dies In Tragic Fall From Buenos Aires Hotel Balcony

Former One Direction singer Liam Payne, 31, tragically died after falling from the third-floor balcony of his hotel room in Buenos Aires. Argentine police responded to a call about an aggressive, intoxicated guest, later discovering Payne had fallen into the hotel's interior patio. Emergency workers confirmed his death at the scene. Payne had been staying in the Palermo neighborhood, and his passing has shocked fans and fellow artists, including Charlie Puth, who expressed his grief on social media. Fans gathered outside the hotel to mourn, many recalling Payne's impact on their lives. Payne, who gained global fame with One Direction, had recently attended a Niall Horan concert in Argentina and posted about enjoying his trip. (Read Deeper)

Thomas Tuchel Appointed England Manager: A Look At His Journey And Achievements

Thomas Tuchel has been appointed as the new manager of the England men's national team, taking over on January 1, 2025. The German coach, 51, will succeed interim head coach Lee Carsley after Gareth Southgate's resignation. Tuchel is only the third non-British permanent manager in the team’s history, following Sven-Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello. Tuchel has faced challenges due to his demanding style, which has led to strained relationships with club management at times. (Read Deeper)

PODCAST(WHAT WE ARE LISTENING TO)

• Full interview: Vice President Kamala Harris discusses immigration, the economy, responding to U.S. adversaries, and more with Fox News chief political anchor Bret Baier. (Watch)

EXTRA BREVITI

• Apple is losing ground to Huawei in China's smartphone market, with Huawei surpassing Apple after launching its Mate 60 Pro series in August. (Read More)

• Andreessen Horowitz’s 2024 State of Crypto report highlights that crypto activity has reached an all-time high. (Read More)

• Apple collaborated with Chinese automaker BYD Co. for several years on developing long-range battery technology for a now-canceled electric vehicle project. (Read More)

• Amazon has officially unveiled its first color E-reader, the Kindle Colorsoft, alongside updates to its existing Kindle models, priced at $280. ( Read More)