Good Morning! 🌞 

The Amazon rainforest is recovering! There’s still way’s to go but the current trend sure is promising.

Check out today’s article for more details!

Innovation

AI Helps Find Missing Children

John Walsh, co-founder of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and host of “America’s Most Wanted,” expresses concerns about the technological gap between law enforcement and criminals, particularly in smaller jurisdictions. Criminals, including human traffickers and sexual predators, utilize advanced technology and encryption, posing challenges for law enforcement.

Cellebrite DI, Ltd. addresses this issue with the launch of “Operation Find Them All,” a donation initiative providing its technology to nonprofits combating child endangerment.

Matt Parker, co-founder of The Exodus Road, said he saw what a difference one piece of Cellebrite technology made in investigating the human trafficking of Rohingya Muslims in Malaysia in 2015. Through “Operation Find Them All,” Parker hopes to bring Cellebrite technology to other countries, even if the governments have previously not prosecuted human trafficking cases.

Cellebrite's CEO, Yossi Carmil, stresses the strain on law enforcement resources and the company's commitment to supporting these organizations. Kent Nielsen, digital forensic investigator for the Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office in Texas, said his department currently uses Cellebrite technology to process data gathered from cell phones as well as its AI-driven software to analyze the data to find potential leads. 

The initiative aims to enhance investigative processes, as demonstrated by success stories from law enforcement agencies already using Cellebrite technology. Walsh hopes increased access to technology will empower organizations like the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.

U.S News

Hulk Hogan Saves Teenager

Retired wrestler Hulk Hogan and a friend assisted in rescuing a teenage girl trapped in an overturned vehicle after a crash in Florida, as per Hogan's updates on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter).

Hogan shared that he used a ballpoint pen to puncture the car's airbag and free the girl upon witnessing the accident on Sunday night in Tampa. His new wife, yoga instructor Sky Daily, commended the swift actions of her 70-year-old husband and their friend Jake Rask on Facebook.

"Fortunately, she seemed physically unharmed, just severely shaken, which is quite fortunate!" Daily expressed.

The Tampa Police Department reported minor injuries from the crash in an email on Tuesday. Hogan, also known as Terry Bollea, a WWE Hall of Fame member, resides in the Tampa Bay area.

"Grateful that everything is okay, thank you, God," Hogan mentioned on X. "Amen HH.

Environment

A Sharp Drop in Amazon’s Deforestation

Deforestation in the Amazon Rainforest has dropped by 55% last year 2023, reaching its lowest levels since 2019. This decline is considered a significant achievement, particularly for the newly-elected officials in Brazil and Colombia.

The information comes from the Monitoring of the Andean Amazon Project, utilizing the European Space Agency’s Sentinel-2 satellite to track forest cover and loss across all Amazon nations, as reported to Reuters. Brazil, with a 59% reduction in primary forest loss, aligns closely with figures from its government, led by Luiz Ignacio de Silva, who emphasized environmental concerns.

The Amazon Rainforest's role as a crucial carbon dioxide absorber is highlighted by some scientists as Earth's primary tool against climate change. The Monitoring of the Andean Amazon Project anticipates that the deforestation data will enhance the negotiating position of Amazonian countries for international conservation funding at the Paris Agreement summit, COP28.

— On a related note, we just ran an article about an amazing discovery in the Amazon that proved a very popular theory wrong. You can read it on our website here.

Culture

Austin Restaurant's Community Fridge Initiative

A cool couple in Austin, Texas, got a recognition for being local heroes by setting up a community fridge outside their restaurant, Nixta Taqueria. Edgar Rico and Sara Mardanbigi, the awesome duo behind it, faced tough times during the pandemic but kept the love alive by joining the Austin Free Fridge Program. They stocked up the community fridge multiple times a day with everything from tasty meals to 'hydration packs' during scorching heatwaves.

Being in a food desert in East Austin, they knew the struggle was real for their neighbors. Unfortunately, this summer, they had to temporarily close due to an electrical issue caused by a "city oversight." But because they are well loved in the community— their newly opened GoFundMe page surpassed their $80,000 goal, reaching $118,000 in just 2 days!

The outpouring of support from strangers and customers blew them away. Now, Nixta Taqueria is back in action, with Edgar and Sara grateful for the community having their backs. They're not just serving tacos; they're serving up a sense of connection that goes beyond the day-to-day hustle.

Mind Stretchers

⁉️ 

What has three feet but cannot walk?

Yesterday’s Answers to the Mind Stretchers:
In the dictionary 📖 

Chris Hostetler guessed this one first—yet again! 🥳 
Debbie Ettinger came in close second! 🙌 

Be the first to send us the correct answer for today’s mind stretcher for a shout-out with the answer tomorrow. Just send us the answer and your name to [email protected] or reply to email.

If you have any uplifting stories and experience you might want to share, send those over to [email protected] for the chance to be featured.