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Good morning readers. Ever try to get a message across at work but feel like no one’s listening? Try staging a sit-in protest and livestream the whole thing while doing it. That’ll get people to listen up. At least that’s what 9 employees at Google did yesterday after staging a sit-in at the company’s offices in New York and Sunnyvale protesting the company’s military collaborations. Dubbed "Googlers against genocide," these techies weren't just there to rearrange the office furniture but to challenge Google's $1.2 billion Project Nimbus contract with Israel, which they argue aids in military operations. After refusing multiple requests to leave the office, law enforcement was called in to remove the employees to ensure “office safety”.

Let’s jump into today’s storylines.

In today’s digest:

• A look into the largest heist in Canadian history

• Headline Hustle: The U.S. pays victims of Larry Nassar $100 million for FBIs failures, USC cancels valedictorians’ speech over safety concerns, Senate throws out articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary

• The ACTs latest move is causing a stir in the education community

• Pulse Points: What’s Trending

CANADA

Inside the record-setting heist at Toronto’s Pearson Airport

Think your last airport pickup was a hassle? Try lifting over 22 million Canadian dollars’ worth of gold bars and foreign currency from Toronto’s Pearson International Airport. In what sounds like a plot straight out of Ocean’s Eleven, six individuals have been arrested, with three more on the wanted list, for orchestrating what’s been dubbed as the largest heist in Canadian history, and sixth largest worldwide.

An inside job

This wasn't a random snatch-and-grab. On April 17, 2023, using forged documents, the thieves—aided by insiders at Air Canada—made off with a cargo container fresh off an Air Canada flight from Zurich. The plot involved at least two former employees from the airline’s cargo division, one of whom is now in cuffs while the other is still at large. “They needed people inside Air Canada to facilitate this theft,” said Detective Sgt. Mike Mavity of Peel Regional Police, underlining the calculated nature of this crime.

Fittingly named “Project 24Karat,” the investigation saw collaboration between Canadian police and the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The situation escalated when a Canadian suspect was nabbed in Pennsylvania after a traffic violation revealed firearms in his rental car—weapons he allegedly intended to smuggle into Canada.

As for the loot? Largely unaccounted for, believed to be melted down to finance further illegal activities, including arms trafficking. Police recently found five gold bangles, crudely melted, valued at about $90,000—a mere fraction of the stolen treasure.

The hunt goes on: With the investigation ongoing and scenes still playing out, the event promises more twists as law enforcement on both sides of the border continue to piece together the remains of this robbery. Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown summed up the sentiment, reflecting on the sophistication of the criminals and the perseverance of the police, "They thought they were smarter than the police; they were wrong."

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IN THE KNOW

Headline Hustle

💰️ The U.S. will pay victims of Larry Nassar $100 million over FBI failures. The Justice Department is set to pay around $100 million to about 100 Larry Nassar victims, resolving claims over FBI's negligence in addressing Nassar's abuses. Nassar was convicted of exploiting and sexually assaulting hundreds of young athletes during his tenure as the doctor for United States women's national gymnastics team. Victims include gymnasts like Simone Biles and McKayla Maroney. The settlement adds to nearly $1 billion in payouts over Nassar's actions. Failings in the FBI's handling of complaints were detailed, including failure to document meetings and follow up on allegations. Nassar continued abusing patients for months after the FBI was alerted.

🎓️ USC cancels valedictorian’s commencement speech over safety concerns. The University of Southern California canceled the commencement speech of its valedictorian, Asna Tabassum, citing security concerns amid tensions related to the conflict in the Middle East. Pro-Israel groups and social media accounts had urged the university to reconsider, alleging that Tabassum promoted antisemitic and anti-Israel views. The decision sparked controversy, with Tabassum expressing shock and asserting that USC's decision rewarded hatred. The university cited security risks and disruption at the ceremony for canceling Tabassum's speech, emphasizing that her viewpoint and background didn't influence the decision.

📜 Senate throws out articles of impeachment over Homeland Security Secretary, ends trial. The Senate has dismissed all impeachment charges against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, ending the House Republican push to remove him from office over border handling. The trial ended before arguments began, with Democrats arguing the articles were unconstitutional. Republicans called for a full trial. The move is seen as politically significant in an election year. Mayorkas remains focused on departmental work amid the decision, with the Senate determining the appropriate course of action.

BUSINESS

The ACT's controversial transition sparks debate

The beloved college entrance exam, the ACT, is getting a major makeover—not in the way it tests, but in who controls its future. As universities wrestle with how best to measure smarts and potential, the Iowa-based nonprofit behind the ACT has found a lifeline that's raising some eyebrows.

Facing a dip in test takers and a troubling financial slump, ACT Inc. is turning over a new leaf by partnering with the California-based private equity firm Nexus Capital Management. This move isn't just about swapping business cards; it involves transitioning the ACT into a for-profit entity—a decision stirring up a storm in educational circles.

The equity of the situation

Here’s the scoop: about 1.4 million students took the ACT in 2023, a slight increase from the previous year but still not enough to bring numbers back to their pre-pandemic levels. With a financial report card that shows losses stacking up—$12 million in 2022 alone—the cash injection from Nexus is seen as a critical lifeline.

But not everyone's happy about the move.

• Critics argue that moving from nonprofit to for-profit could cloud the transparency that’s crucial for trust in college admissions.

• The education community expressed concern over private equity stepping into a role traditionally held by nonprofits, suggesting that this could distort the fairness of the admissions process.

With private equity in the mix, there are fears about potential conflicts of interest, especially considering Nexus also owns a company that designs K-12 curriculums. This dual role could give Nexus undue influence over both what students learn and how they are tested—raising questions about whether the main goal is education or profit.

A broader trend? This isn’t just an isolated incident. The education sector, especially testing, is increasingly appealing to private equity, with investments topping $2 billion in early 2023. As traditional testing faces scrutiny and revenue declines, these firms see an opportunity.

Big picture: As the ACT begins its new chapter under private equity's watch, the education community will be keenly watching to ensure that this test, so critical for college admissions, doesn't lose sight of its most important stakeholders: the students.

SNIPPETS

Pulse Points

• Tesla announced plans on Wednesday to ask shareholders to reinstate CEO Elon Musk's $56 billion pay package, which was previously voided by a Delaware judge due to it being "deeply flawed."

• Amazon announced on Wednesday that it will start selling its smart grocery carts, known as Dash Carts, to other retailers, aiming to expand its technology into a service.

• The NBA banned Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter from the league on Wednesday due to involvement in a gambling scandal, with no eligibility for reinstatement.

• A fire severely damaged Copenhagen's old stock exchange and destroyed its iconic 17th-century spire, a key feature of the city's skyline.

• Boeing faces increased scrutiny as former employees express concerns about discouraged reporting and suggestions for improvement in the manufacturing process of the 787 Dreamliner jets.

• Seven Waymo robotaxis disrupted traffic on the Potrero Avenue 101 on-ramp in San Francisco on Tuesday at 9:30 p.m., as seen in a Reddit video and confirmed by Waymo.

• LinkedIn is testing a new Premium Company Page subscription, costing up to $99/month, that offers AI content creation and tools to increase follower counts for small and medium businesses.

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