Newsletter Feb 28, 2024

Quick Six

Biden, Trump win in Michigan despite 'uncommitted' protest
The only real surprise from Tuesday's presidential primaries in Michigan came in the form of a Democratic protest vote under the name "Uncommitted." As expected, President Joe Biden and Republican front-runner Donald Trump sailed to easy wins. Trump beat challenger Nikki Haley by a near 2-to-1 margin, while Biden hovered around the 80% mark due to a surge in uncommitted votes. In a protest against Biden's policies in the Israel-Hamas conflict, Michigan's sizeable Arab American community launched a campaign for Democrats to pull the lever for "Uncommitted."
GET THE LATEST RESULTS FROM THE MICHIGAN PRIMARY

Walmart looks a lot like Amazon after digital transformation
After years of spending on digital technologies and capabilities, Walmart is no longer the traditional brick-and-mortar retailer it used to be. Instead, it's beginning to look like chief rival Amazon, winning the emerging trend of unified commerce. Much has changed in the decade since Amazon invaded Walmart's market. In recent years, Walmart seems to be doing everything right.
SEE THE CHANGES THAT ARE PAYING OFF FOR WALMART

Orders for US durable goods suffered a decline in January
Orders for durable goods in the U.S. took an unexpected downturn in January, falling by 6.1%, exceeding economists' predictions of a 5% decline. Much of the decrease was attributed to a significant drop in orders for Boeing passenger planes. Excluding the volatile transportation sector, new orders experienced a milder decrease of 0.3% last month.
FIND OUT WHICH SECTORS FARED THE BEST AND WORST

Markets

DJIA	38,972.41	-0.25%
S&P 500	5,078.18	0.17%
Nasdaq Composite	16,035.30	0.37%
Japan: Nikkei 225	39,185.10	-0.14%
UK: FTSE 100	7,683.02	-0.02%
Crude Oil Futures	78.55	-0.41%
Gold Futures	2,040.90	-0.16%
Yen	150.62	0.07%
Euro	1.08	-0.17%
* As of market close

Biden hosts leaders to talk Ukraine, border

President Joe Biden hosted top Congress leaders at the White House on Tuesday in a bid to unlock billions of dollars in stalled Ukraine aid and avert a government shutdown. The high-stakes showdown comes after President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Ukraine desperately needs support to defeat Russia as skeptical House Republicans block aid. They are under pressure from likely presidential nominee Donald Trump to deny further funding until the US has addressed his top campaign issue -- a surge in illegal immigration at its southern border.

SEE THE KEY ISSUES DISCUSSED AT WHITE HOUSE MEETING

Hezbollah vows to honor Israel-Hamas deal

Lebanon's Hezbollah says it will stop firing on Israel if Hamas reaches a proposal for a truce with Israel in Gaza. Hamas is considering a new proposal that would suspend fighting for 40 days. The Lebanese-armed group has been trading fire with the Israeli military across Lebanon's southern border in support of its Palestinian ally Hamas. But Israel's Defense Minister said that anyone who thinks a temporary cease-fire for Gaza will also apply to the northern front is "mistaken."

WHY ALL SIDES ARE SKEPTICAL OF A REGION-WIDE CEASEFIRE

Odysseus' mission cut short by battery life

The US lunar lander that tipped over during its historic touchdown last week likely only has hours left until its battery runs out, the private company operating it said Tuesday. The uncrewed Odysseus, built by Houston-based Intuitive Machines, made the first return by a US craft to the Moon in five decades and the first successful mission by the private sector. But one of the lander's legs caught on the surface as it came down near the Moon's south pole, making it rest on its side.

SEE THE IMAGES SENT BACK BY ODYSSEUS DESPITE TIPPING

Extra point

What two US astronauts left a plaque on the Moon? What does it read?

Monday's answer: On Feb. 27, 1922, the Supreme Court upheld the US Constitution's 19th Amendment, protecting women's right to vote.

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