9/11 News.
America Remembers
The US will recognize the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks tomorrow, with a number of memorials being held around the country. In New York City, families will gather at the 9/11 Memorial plaza to read aloud the names of the thousands of victims killed in the attacks, followed by the annual Tribute in Light (see video).
The day remains the deadliest terrorist attack in modern history (see day-of photos). In total, 2,977 people were directly killed — 2,606 in the World Trade Center, 246 across four hijacked planes, and 125 at the Pentagon in Washington, DC.
Forty of the victims were aboard United Flight 93, which crashed near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, as passengers attempted to overtake the hijackers, whose intended target was the US Capitol. Read a detailed account here (paywall, Philadelphia Inquirer).
More than 25,000 people were injured in the aftermath, with many suffering long-term health consequences. The remains of two victims from the twin towers were positively identified Wednesday using DNA analysis; remains from more than 1,000 victims were never recovered.
The attacks were the catalyst for protracted wars in Afghanistan and Iraq (see timelines here and here). While the latter war ended in 2011, tomorrow’s anniversary comes as the Taliban — booted from power in 2001 — have retaken control of Afghanistan amid a US withdrawal that has drawn bipartisan criticism. Almost 11,000 US troops and contractors were killed across both missions, with estimates projecting a total combined cost exceeding $2T, with interest on the debt used to finance operations reaching $6.5T by 2020.
President Joe Biden is scheduled to visit all three memorial sites tomorrow. The trips follow an executive order declassifying documents detailing the lead-up to the attacks, including Saudi Arabia’s potential role.
Almost a quarter of the current US population was born after 9/11. Read some of the stories from the roughly 13,000 people who celebrate their 20th birthday tomorrow.
Finally, see newspaper headlines from the day after the attacks here.
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In partnership with Gryphon
INVESTING IN CYBERSECURITY
Worried about the security of your home’s Wi-Fi network? Interested in additional safeguards to help your digital life feel less exposed? You aren’t alone — and it’s because cyber hacks have been on the rise, especially with the growth of work-from-home.
Thousands of people have purchased Gryphon’s powerful mesh Wi-Fi router thanks to its speed and focus on cybersecurity. And these devices don’t mess around — with over 9 million threats blocked, Gryphon Wi-Fi users can rest easy knowing they’ve been spared from the 330% increase in cyber hacks during the pandemic. Their team is also committed to continued innovation in the cybersecurity industry: Gryphon’s CEO, John Wu, currently holds 25 patents and was a key inventor in mobile hotspot technology.
Check out Gryphon today for a cutting-edge home security solution. It’s no coincidence that cybersecurity is a hot topic this year; learn more about Gryphon’s massive addressable market before their funding round closes tonight.
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IN THE KNOW
Sports, Entertainment, & Culture
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> Musician Phil Collins reveals declining health problems preventing him from continuing as drummer, says he can “barely hold” a drumstick (More)
> Reigning Super Bowl champs Tampa Bay Buccaneers top Dallas Cowboys, 31–29, in first game of NFL’s regular season (More) | See full Week 1 schedule (More)
> Nineteen-year-old Leylah Fernandez to take on 18-year-old Emma Raducanu in US Open final (More) | №1 seed Novak Djokovic faces Alexander Zverev today in quest to win all four majors in single season (More)
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Science & Technology
> 2022 Breakthrough Prizes, the world’s largest science and math awards by amount ($15.75M in total), announced; winners include researchers who developed mRNA vaccines, super-precise atomic clocks, and more (More)
> Facebook and Ray-Ban partner to release video-taking smart glasses; Ray-Ban Stories, which can also receive phone calls, go on sale today at a $299 price point (More)
> Researchers demonstrate small robot that recreates the powerful snap of a mantis shrimp (More)
Business & Markets
> US stock markets slide (S&P 500 -0.5%, Dow -0.4%, Nasdaq -0.3%) as slowing US economic growth and pandemic worry investors (More)
> Weekly US initial jobless claims drop to new pandemic-era low of 310,000; figure averaged approximately 215,000 before pandemic (More)
> Amazon will pay 100% of college costs for its 750,000 US hourly employees starting in January (More)
Politics & World Affairs
> President Joe Biden announces updated strategy to combat COVID-19 spread, including requiring businesses over 100 employees to mandate vaccines or weekly testing (More) | Los Angeles school district becomes first to mandate vaccines for students over 12 (More, paywall, LAT) | See current US COVID-19 stats (More)
> First large-scale passenger flight leaves Kabul since the US withdrawal; an unspecified number of Americans said to be on the flight (More) | Justice Department sues Texas over law banning abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected, roughly around six weeks after conception (More)
> Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) announces Stage 1 breast cancer diagnosis, says she has successfully completed a round of radiation treatments and a lumpectomy (More) | Former President Donald Trump backs primary challenger running against Rep. Liz Cheney (R, WY-At large) (More)
IN-DEPTH
Who Was the Falling Man?
The Ringer | Bryan Curtis. Behind the search for the identity of a man, whose final seconds — captured in a photograph — encapsulate the visceral horror of 9/11. (Read)
Editor’s note: The original Esquire piece, found here, has been placed behind a paywall.
‘Get Out Now’
The Conversation | Anita McBride. Eyewitness accounts from inside the former President George W. Bush’s White House as the events of Sept. 11 unfolded. (Read)
The Home Run
ESPN | Ryan Hockensmith. In the first sporting event held in post-9/11 New York City, a home run by slugger Mike Piazza provided a cathartic moment for a grieving city. (Read)
A CONCERNING TREND
In partnership with Gryphon
Over the past 18 months, an unprecedented number of professionals have migrated to remote work. With that trend, cyber hacks since the beginning of the pandemic have increased in frequency by 330% — including big names like SolarWinds, Microsoft, and Colonial Pipeline. The need for more secure networks is proving urgent.
Even so, the global number of connected devices is expected to grow to 74 billion by 2025 and today, roughly 70% of internet-connected devices in homes are vulnerable to hacks. Gryphon gives consumers much-needed security in a changing world: With 25,000 Gryphon cybersecurity routers already sold, they’ve blocked over 9 million threats using their patented technology. The global cybersecurity industry could grow as high as $270B in the coming years — don’t miss out, today is your last day to invest in Gryphon’s powerful solution.
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ETCETERA
Smithsonian artifacts that tell the story of 9/11.
Ranking the NFL’s highest-valued franchises.
Hoard of rare gold coins discovered in the wall of a French mansion.
The original “Blue’s Clues” host addresses the nation.
Archaeologists find traces of 9,000-year-old beer.
Four-year-old piano prodigy to perform at Carnegie Hall.
The Madrid Zoo welcomes twin panda cubs.
When you’re late for a plane, so you call in a bomb threat.
Clickbait: There’s a pack of zebras on the loose in Maryland.
Historybook: Golfing legend Arnold Palmer born (1929); RIP Jane Wyman, actress and first wife of President Ronald Reagan (2007); Large Hadron Collider is tested for first time (2008); Hurricane Irma makes landfall in Florida, is responsible for 134 deaths and $77B in damage (2017).
“Concentration comes out of a combination of confidence and hunger.”
- Arnold Palmer
PGA, Covid 19, Afghanistan, Rumble, 9/11, Joe Biden, Ice Hockey, Harvey School Baseball, Bing, Duck Duck Go, No Bull With Raging Robert, www.gimmeshelterproductionsllc.com, New York City.
