Good morning. It's Thursday, Aug. 5, and we're covering the fallout from the Cuomo report, an Olympian who fled Belarus, and much more. Have feedback? Let us know at hello@join1440.com.

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NEED TO KNOW

Pressure Grows on Cuomo

Calls for New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) to resign continued to mount yesterday, following the Tuesday release of a report concluding he sexually harassed at least 11 women in recent years. A number of high-profile lawmakers have said Cuomo should step down (see list), including Sens. Chuck Schumer (D) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D), House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D), and President Joe Biden. 

The civil probe concluded Cuomo likely broke federal and state laws in a number of instances. Westchester County and Manhattan officials reportedly requested documents yesterday, though experts say the burden of proof in a criminal trial would be higher than what is presented in the report. 

Cuomo, who faces reelection next year, said he would not resign in comments following the report's release. The Democratic-led state legislature has said it is considering moving forward with impeachment proceedings; see how that works in the state here. 

See our previous write-up on the report here.

Olympic Defection

Belarusian Olympic athlete Krystsina Tsimanouskaya safely landed in Poland yesterday, days after refusing to return home over fears for her safety. The sprinter had criticized her team's management on social media and said she feared reprisal from the country's authoritarian government led by Alexander Lukashenko.

Tsimanouskaya, who says handlers attempted to force her to board a Belarus-bound plane Sunday, was granted an emergency visa by Polish officials.

Lukashenko, the only person to serve as the country's president since the office was established in 1994, has attempted to wipe out political dissent since declaring victory in an August election that outside officials say was marred by fraud (Lukashenko claimed to have received 80% of the vote). Tsimanouskaya's defection comes as two main opposition figures began a closed-door trial in the country.

Florida's COVID-19 Surge

The number of patients in Florida hospitalized with COVID-19 has surpassed 11,500, or 13% higher than the previous peak in July 2020, the state's hospital association said yesterday. Officials also said that more than 86% of intensive care beds were occupied by patients across all ailments.

The news comes as the US continues to grapple with a surge in new COVID-19 cases, primarily driven by the more transmissible delta variant (what we know). The country's rolling seven-day average of new cases sits at more than 90,000 per day, while daily deaths are averaging roughly 400, a 60% increase over the past two weeks.

Just under 50% of Florida's population is fully vaccinated, according to state data. The state accounts for almost one-in-five new cases across the country; see US hot spots by county here. 

Globally, the number of reported COVID-19 infections passed 200 million yesterday, with the World Health Organization calling for a ban on vaccine boosters until every country is at least 10% vaccinated. 

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IN THE KNOW

Sports, Entertainment, & Culture

> Olympics: Canada's Andre de Grasse wins gold in men's 200 meters as Americans Kenneth Bednarek and Noah Lyles take silver and bronze (More) | American Ryan Crouser breaks Olympic record to take gold in shot put (More)

> MLB releases full 2022 regular season schedule with opening day set for March 31 (More) | Hall of Fame Game tonight (8 pm ET, Fox) between Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys kicks off NFL's preseason (More)

> Singer and fashion mogul Rihanna now a billionaire ($1.7B) and second wealthiest female entertainer behind Oprah, according to Forbes report (More)

Science & Technology

> Study of synthetic nanobodies derived from llamas provides a near-atomic look at three ways immune system cells can attack the coronavirus (More)

> Menopause onset timing can be predicted by analyzing genetic markers, new study finds (More)

> Machu Picchu was built decades earlier than previously believed, new radiocarbon dating reveals; study pushes back the timeline of the Inca Empire's rise to prominence to at least the year 1420 (More)

Business & Markets

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> Shares of free stock trading app Robinhood increase 50% yesterday, have popped over 100% this week following last week’s initial public offering (More)

> General Motors misses earnings expectations; earnings dragged down by warranty recall costs (More) | Uber beats revenue and earnings expectations, as Uber Eats segment continues strong growth amid pandemic-induced transportation slowdown (More) 

> Spirit Airlines apologizes to customers after fourth straight day of flight cancellations stemming from staff shortages and system outages (More)

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Politics & World Affairs

> Israel carries out airstrikes in Lebanon in response to ongoing rocket attacks carried out by militants across Israel's northern border (More)

> Officials identify officer slain in Tuesday knife attack near the Pentagon metro station near Washington, DC, as Iraq War veteran George Gonzalez (More) | Attacker identified as Cobb County, Georgia, resident 27-year-old Austin William Lanz (More)

> At least 10 people killed after an overloaded van carrying migrants crashes in southern Texas (More)

IN-DEPTH

America's Homicide Surge 

ProPublica | Alec MacGillis. How the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, provides a lens on the complex reasons behind the yearslong decline—and subsequent upswing—in the homicide rate in major US cities. (Read)

Alien Dreams

MIT Press Reader | Wade Roush. The surprisingly long history of mankind's speculation about the existence and nature of extraterrestrial life. (Read)

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ETCETERA

Visualizing where happiness comes from.

The battle over remote work.

Lake Tahoe chipmunks reckon with the bubonic plague.

Olympic horses spooked by sumo statue.

The internet is arguing over this parallel parking job. (paywall, Curbed)

Boy saves sister from dog attack, proudly carries the scar.

Ice wall collapses at Tennessee's Titanic museum.

Clickbait: "Jetpack guy is back."

Historybook: Space pioneer Neil Armstrong born (1930); RIP Marilyn Monroe (1962); The US, the UK, and the Soviet Union sign Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (1963); RIP Nobel Prize-winning author Toni Morrison (2019).

"Mystery creates wonder and wonder is the basis of man's desire to understand."

- Neil Armstrong

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