Rolling out the news you want

Welcome to the BLUNT Newsletter, your direct access to pop culture that is short and to the point.

CANNABIS

Review finds cannabis generally increases sexual activity and enjoyment, with lower doses being more beneficial. Effects vary by gender and frequency.

Canadian hemp licenses declined for the third year, dropping 26% in 2023. Ontario leads with 176 licenses, while all provinces saw double-digit declines.

Legalizing marijuana for adult use significantly reduces intimate partner violence (IPV), possibly due to substituting cannabis for alcohol, which is a higher IPV risk factor.

US NEWS

Jury deliberations start in corruption trial of US Sen. Bob Menendez, accused of accepting bribes to benefit Egypt and Qatar.

Judge dismisses Giuliani’s bankruptcy case, allowing Georgia poll workers to collect $148M defamation damages for false ballot fraud claims.

AT&T data breach exposes call and text records of 109 million US customers. Hackers accessed third-party cloud data, affecting 127 million devices.

SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket malfunctions, disintegrating while deploying 20 Starlink satellites. This is its first failure since 2016, grounding further launches pending FAA investigation approval.

New mission sets off to map Titanic wreckage in 3D detail, comparing changes since 2010. The expedition follows last year’s fatal OceanGate submersible accident.

WORLD NEWS

Israel targets Hamas military chief in strike; Palestinian officials report at least 70 killed.

Ecuador court sentences five for murdering presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio. Villavicencio was shot after a rally in August 2023. Two gang members received 34-year sentences, while three others got 12 years. Separate investigations continue into who ordered the hit.

Paris Olympics launches sexual health campaign emphasizing pleasure and consent, distributing 230,000 condoms and providing sexual health testing centers.

Man arrested for crossbow murder of three women in England. Kyle Clifford found in Enfield, victims named as Carol Hunt and her daughters, Hannah and Louise.

SPORTS

Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic head to Wimbledon men’s final. Alcaraz, 2024 French Open champion, defends his title against seven-time Wimbledon winner Djokovic, aiming for his 25th Grand Slam.

Team USA’s Kevin Durant misses practice again due to a calf strain, unlikely to play against Australia on Monday. Coach Steve Kerr remains optimistic but acknowledges the injury’s impact. Derrick White replaces Kawhi Leonard on the roster as the team prepares for the Olympics.

Soccer fans will enjoy Euro and Copa América finals on Sunday. England faces Spain in the Euro final at 3 p.m. ET, while Argentina battles Colombia in the Copa final at 8 p.m. ET. Both matches air on Fox.

POP CULTURE

Anant Ambani’s $300M wedding in India features top celebrities, politicians, and lavish celebrations, including performances by Rihanna and Justin Bieber.

Alec Baldwin's involuntary manslaughter case dismissed due to police and prosecutor misconduct in withholding evidence.

Hallmark to launch new streaming service Hallmark+ in September. Subscription prices will increase, offering reality competition shows and holiday-themed mini-series.

“Inside Out 2” becomes the highest-grossing Pixar film, surpassing “Incredibles 2.”

BUSINESS

Boeing to plead guilty to felony, faces $487M fine for 737 Max crashes. Critics call it a “slap on the wrist” given Boeing’s financial strength and past record profits.

Meta lifts restrictions on Trump’s Facebook and Instagram accounts ahead of the Republican National Convention to ensure equal platform access for Trump and Biden.

AT&T data breach exposed call logs of 110 million customers. Hackers obtained metadata, not personal details, risking targeted phishing scams. Customers should remain vigilant against sophisticated scams.

Quote of the Day:

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

-Margaret Mead

That's all for now! We hope you enjoyed this edition of the BLUNT Newsletter. Have a fantastic rest of your day!