Isn’t she just precious?

Happening in the World: A rhino birth in Indonesia is providing hope for a species on the edge of extinction. The Sumatran rhinoceros calf was born on Saturday at the Way Kambas National Park to parents Ratu and Andalas, now one of fewer than 80 remaining members of the species. Habitat loss and poaching has driven the Sumatran rhinos, who once occupied large swaths of Southeast Asia, into smaller and smaller corners of the Indonesian jungle. (CNN)

Happening in the US: Hunter Biden is expected to plead not guilty when he appears in court today on federal gun charges. Prosecutors in the case allege that Biden lied about his drug use—withholding information about his cocaine addiction—when he filled out application forms to purchase a handgun in 2018. Though Biden acknowledges he was using drugs at the time—writing in his 2021 memoir that he was fighting a “full-blown addiction”—he denies guilt on the gun charges. A potential plea deal to avoid trial fell apart in July, and Biden now faces up to 25 years if found guilty. (BBC)

Happening in NYC: Manhattan’s first public beach opened Monday on Ganesvoort Peninsula, a former depot for the Department of Sanitation. The new park in Chelsea includes the beach, a sports field, and a beachfront landing for non-motorized boats. Residents in the neighborhood are excited for the new place to relax and take in city views, but New York officials are reminding everyone: don’t jump in the Hudson. (Gothamist)

Happening in Our Community: Kristy Ironside and Timothy Frye will discuss how fast food chain McDonald’s has become a symbol of the “opening and closing” of Russia. From the opening of Moscow’s first McDonald’s in 1990 which seemed to mark an “opening up” after Cold War isolation, to the chain’s decision to pull out of Russia following the war on Ukraine in 2022, McDonald’s presence has served as a marker of the country’s place in the international economic sphere. The talk will address these issues and more, and will commence at 12 pm today at the International Affairs Building.

The Older Sibling of the Newborn Rhino via Wikimedia Commons