Saturday☕️

29 Apr 2023 — 4 min read

Trending:

Markets/Economies:

First Republic Bank:

The US Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is set to take over First Republic Bank. The troubled regional lender's position has deteriorated, and the FDIC is planning to place the bank under receivership.
First Republic Bank's shares have fallen 97% since the beginning of the year. The regional lender reported a 40% decline in deposits (in a 22-day period) during the last quarter, which could have exceeded 50% if not for the support of 11 large banks that provided $30 billion to boost confidence.

China/Pakistan Railroad:

China has proposed a $58 billion railway system connecting Pakistan to Western China to upgrade railway trade routes in the region.
The 1,860-mile rail system will link Pakistan's port of Gwadar to the Chinese city of Kashgar in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.

US Smoking Stats:

Cigarette smoking in the United States has reached an all-time low. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals that 1 in 9 Americans smoked cigarettes in the past year.
This figure is a stark contrast to the 1960s when a staggering 42% of US adults were cigarette smokers. This significant decrease can be attributed to increased awareness about the health hazards of smoking, as well as economic factors like cigarette taxes.
However, it's important to note that nicotine addiction among Americans has not been entirely eliminated. The popularity of vaping has surged, with nearly 6% of adults using e-cigarettes last year. A separate CDC study found that 14% of teenagers reported using e-cigarettes as well.

SpaceX Falcon:

In the past three days, SpaceX has conducted two satellite launches using the Falcon 9 rocket (the first orbital rocket capable of re-flight). First launch: 46 Starlink satellites into low-earth orbit. Second Launch: SES satellite (third party) launch into medium-earth orbit.
Satellites play a significant role in military intelligence. They provide critical capabilities in surveillance, reconnaissance, communication, and navigation.
With SpaceX, the US leads the world in Satellite infrastructure due to SpaceX's ongoing contract with the US Department of Defense via StarShield.
Number of Satellite Rankings:
SpaceX and USA: 5000+
China: 600+
United Kingdom: 550+
Japan: 200+
Russia: 170+
India: 100+
Starshield Link (press image below):