Anna's Daybreak News

_{Just facts, you think for yourself}

Monday, 5:14 AM

April 7, 2025

Good morning news friend! Discover the moments driving today’s headlines and shaping the world’s next chapter.📰🌟

Would you like to see the poll results and comments from our previous edition? Click here to explore how others voted on key issues like congress challenging Trump’s tariffs, US job growth, TikTok negotiations and more!

Circuit Breaker Triggered in Japan

Today, global stock markets fell sharply after President Trump confirmed his stance on tariffs.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 dropped 8%, triggering a 10-minute trading halt. The Topix index fell 8.6%. Taiwan’s Taiex plunged 9.8%, suspending trading; TSMC and Foxconn shares each dropped around 10%.

South Korea’s Kospi fell 4.8%, and Australia’s ASX 200 declined 6%. In the U.S., Dow futures dropped 2.57% and Nasdaq futures fell 4.2%.

Analysts warned of a possible “Black Monday” scenario, referencing the 1987 crash. Circuit breakers were last used in March 2020 during the COVID-19 market panic.

Sources: WallStreetJournal, KOI, NDTV, HTC.

US Job Market Surges

In March, US nonfarm payrolls rose by 228,000, beating the 135,000 forecast. January and February job gains were revised down by 48,000.

The unemployment rate edged up to 4.2%, while the labor force grew by 232,000. Average hourly earnings rose 0.3% to $36, with a 3.8% year-over-year increase.

Healthcare added 54,000 jobs, retail gained 24,000 (helped by returning strikers), and transportation and warehousing added 23,000. Federal government jobs fell by 4,000.

Economists warn that continued tariff tensions could slow job growth and consumer spending, with a 40–50% chance of recession in the next year.

Sources: Reuters, Barrons, EPI, BI, MS.

Samsung Profit Plunges

Samsung expects a 21% drop in Q1 2025 profit, with operating profit falling to 5.2 trillion won ($3.62 billion) from 6.6 trillion won last year.

Weak AI chip sales and losses in contract manufacturing contributed to the decline. The chip division is projected to earn 1.7 trillion won, down from 1.9 trillion won.

DRAM prices fell 25%, and NAND flash prices dropped 50%. HBM chips made up a smaller share of DRAM shipments.

Samsung will delay its new US factory to 2027. Meanwhile, SK Hynix expects profits to more than double.

Sources: Reuters, Finimize.

What is VAT, the Tax Trump Hates

Value-added tax (VAT) generated €290 billion ($320 billion) for Germany in 2023 and contributes 15%–35% of EU member states’ revenues.

It also funds over 7% of the EU budget. VAT applies equally to domestic and imported goods and is used by over 170 countries, including China, Canada, and India.

The US is the only OECD country without it. President Trump argues VAT discriminates against US exporters, but economists disagree.

Removing VAT would disrupt global supply chains and EU financing. With high debt levels and 8%–10% of EU exports going to the US, eliminating VAT is seen as unlikely.

Sources: WallStreetJournal, LiveMint.

RAD52 for Cancer Therapy

A University of Iowa study uncovered a unique double-ring structure in the DNA repair protein RAD52, which protects replicating DNA in cancer cells.

RAD52 is critical for cancers with defective DNA repair, such as breast, ovarian, and glioblastoma. Using cryogenic electron microscopy, researchers observed two RAD52 rings assembling on DNA—a first.

RAD52 inhibitors can kill cancer cells while sparing healthy ones, reducing side effects compared to chemotherapy.

Sources: SciTechDaily, WION.

Method Reduces Mercury in Tuna

Researchers found that soaking canned tuna in a cysteine solution can reduce mercury levels by 25–35%.

Mercury binds to cysteine, allowing it to be drawn out of the fish. The more contact between tuna and the solution, the more mercury is removed. The method works during packaging and requires no extra production steps.

It remains effective for up to two weeks without changing the fish’s appearance or smell.

Sources: TechNetworks, ScienceAlert.

“In the medical and social domains, treatment should never be equivalent to silencing symptoms.”

Did you know we also write in-depth deep dives? They are long, packed with insights, and have received rave reviews. If you’re up for a detailed, action-packed read, check them out:

• The Great Retirement Crisis

• Gene Editing

• Quantum Computing

Baked with love,

Anna Eisenberg ❤️