Donald Trump Targeted In Apparent Assassination Attempt 😲

Good morning. It's Monday, Sept. 16, and we're covering, OpenAI To Restructure: Shifting Away From Non-Profit Model, SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn Crew Returns After Record-Breaking Mission, Trump Targeted In Apparent Assassination Attempt At Florida Golf Club, and much more. First time reading? Sign up to get this newsletter: Sign up here.

We always Listen and respond to questions and feedback, email us at [email protected]

MARKETS

Cryptocurrency Prices by Market Cap

• The global cryptocurrency market cap today is $2.04 Trillion, a 2.68% decrease in the last 24 hours.

• The total crypto market volume over the last 24 hours is $56.17B, which makes a 52.93% increase.

• The total volume in Defi is currently $3.5B, 6.23% of the total crypto market 24-hours.

• The volume of all stablecoins is now $50.66B, which is 90.18% of the total market 24-hour volume.

• Bitcoin’s dominance is currently 56.78%, an increase of 0.22% over the day.

BUSINESS & FINANCE

OpenAI To Restructure: Shifting Away From Non-Profit Model

OpenAI plans to shift from its complex non-profit structure to a more traditional for-profit model starting next year. CEO Sam Altman announced the change during a staff meeting, though specific details about the new structure were not provided. OpenAI will maintain a non-profit division but will operate primarily as a for-profit entity. OpenAI has seen substantial revenue growth, particularly from its ChatGPT subscription service.

Takeaway: Initially founded as a non-profit in 2015, OpenAI struggled to cover its costs with donations alone and created a for-profit subsidiary to attract investment. This structure included a profit cap for investors, with any additional revenue going to the non-profit side. Despite recent controversies, including Altman's brief removal and reinstatement as CEO in 2023. (Read Deeper)

Trump's Media Company Faces $4 Billion Loss

Former President Donald Trump’s media venture, Trump Media & Technology Group, has experienced a dramatic decrease in value, with nearly $6 billion wiped off its worth over the past four months. The company, which operates the social media platform Truth Social, has seen its stock plunge from $40.58 to $17.97, resulting in a $4.1 billion decline in Trump’s paper wealth. Trump, who holds approximately 60% of the company, remains steadfast that he will not sell his shares despite the steep drop.

Takeaway: The decline is compounded by a lockup agreement that prevents major shareholders from selling their stakes until at least September 19. This restriction has led to concerns among investors, with insiders like co-founders Andy Litinsky and Wes Moss, who have been involved in legal disputes, poised to potentially sell their shares once the lockup period expires. (Read Deeper)

TECHNOLOGY & SCIENCE

SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn Crew Returns After Record-Breaking Mission

SpaceX's Polaris Dawn mission successfully concluded with the crew returning to Earth after a historic five-day journey. The mission set a new altitude record, reaching 870 miles above Earth, the highest orbit since NASA’s Gemini 11 mission 1966. The crew also conducted the first-ever commercial spacewalk, led by billionaire Jared Isaacman and SpaceX engineer Sarah Gillis. In addition to the spacewalk, the crew completed nearly 40 scientific experiments, including tests of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite system.

Takeaway: With this mission, SpaceX has once again demonstrated that the future of space exploration is not limited to government agencies like NASA but is increasingly within the grasp of private companies and individuals. Polaris Dawn is part of the larger Polaris Program, which was established by Isaacman to advance human space exploration. The program aims to conduct several missions that will expand the capabilities of commercial space travel, culminating in the first crewed flight of SpaceX’s Starship vehicle. (Read Deeper)

Fitness Watches Should Prioritize Hydration And Sweat Loss Tracking

Smartwatches are increasingly incorporating life-saving features like fall detection, AFib warnings, and emergency SOS calling. However, many still overlook a crucial health issue: hydration tracking and sweat loss, which can prevent serious conditions like dehydration and heat exhaustion. The recent death of a runner due to heat-related cardiac arrest highlights the need for better sweat and hydration tracking. While some brands like Samsung and Garmin estimate sweat loss during workouts, these features aren't fully developed or integrated into most fitness watches.

Why It Matters: Samsung’s Galaxy Watch uses a clinical algorithm to estimate sweat loss, while Garmin offers hydration tools but often underestimates the actual fluid lost. Ideally, future fitness watches could monitor sweat in real-time, providing accurate hydration reminders based on individual sweat rates and environmental conditions. This would be beneficial not only for athletes but also for outdoor workers in high-heat environments. (Read Deeper)

AROUND DE WORLD & POLITICS

Trump Targeted In Apparent Assassination Attempt At Florida Golf Club

Former President Donald Trump was the target of an apparent assassination attempt at his golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida. Secret Service agents spotted a gunman with an AK-style rifle through shrubbery about 400 yards away from where Trump was playing. The gunman fled after an agent fired at him, and he was later apprehended by authorities. Trump, unharmed, assured supporters that he was safe and his campaign schedule remains unchanged. This is the second attempt on Trump's life in recent months, raising concerns about his security.

Takeaway: This incident follows an earlier assassination attempt in July, during which Trump was grazed by a bullet at a rally in Pennsylvania. The repeated threats have raised questions about the security surrounding the former president, particularly as he ramps up his campaign for the 2024 election. The FBI is leading the investigation into the attempted attack, with assistance from the Secret Service and other law enforcement agencies. (Read Deeper)

Flooding In Central Europe Claims Eight Lives As Torrential Rain Continues

Severe flooding across central Europe, caused by torrential rains from a low-pressure system named Boris, has claimed eight lives and forced thousands to evacuate. Hard-hit areas include the Czech Republic, Poland, Austria, and Romania, with rivers overflowing, homes destroyed, and power outages affecting 250,000 households. In Poland and Austria, bridges have collapsed, and a firefighter died during rescue operations.

Takeaway: Authorities have declared disaster zones in several areas. Lower Austria, where the firefighter died, has advised residents to avoid non-essential travel. In Poland, where a dam burst in Stronie Slaskie and bridges collapsed in towns near the Czech border, Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced the government would seek European Union aid. (Read Deeper)

ENTERTAINMENT & SPORTS

2024 Emmys: First-Time Winners And Their Most Memorable Moment

The 2024 Emmy Awards saw several first-time winners, each delivering memorable acceptance speeches. Liza Colón-Zayas, surprised by her win for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy, expressed gratitude to her husband for suggesting she write a speech. Lamorne Morris, who won Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie, humorously thanked his mom and gave a shoutout to Robert Downey Jr. Elizabeth Debicki won Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for The Crown, calling it a privilege to portray Princess Diana. ( Read Deeper )

Taylor Swift’s Endorsement Of Kamala Harris Faces Mixed Reactions

According to a YouGov poll, Taylor Swift’s endorsement of Kamala Harris has received mixed reactions. While 8% of voters said the endorsement made them more likely to support Harris, 20% said it made them less likely to vote for her. Swift’s Instagram post, which followed the Trump-Harris debate, garnered over 10 million likes and drove significant traffic to the voter registration site. Despite this, 66% of those surveyed said the endorsement would not affect their vote. (Read Deeper)

PODCAST(WHAT WE ARE LISTENING TO)

• Rakuten’s story is indeed intriguing, especially given its modern origins compared to other long-established conglomerates. Founded in 1997 by Hiroshi Mikitani, Rakuten emerged during the late nineties internet boom. (Listen)

EXTRA BREVITI

• China Braces for Typhoon Bebinca: Flights Canceled, Thousands Evacuated. (Read More)

• Insight Partners is nearing the close of a new fund exceeding $10 billion in capital commitments. (Read More)

• Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, has donated N100 million to assist in rebuilding Borno State after devastating floods hit the region. (Read More)