Anna's Daybreak News

_{Just facts, you think for yourself}

Monday, 5:16 AM

March 31, 2025

Good morning news friend! Experience the stories at the heart of a world in motion. 📰🌟

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Government Cost-Cutting Hits Big Consulting

The Trump administration's effort to cut government spending on consultants is hitting major firms.

Deloitte has had 129 contracts terminated, totaling $371.8 million in savings. Accenture, Booz Allen Hamilton, and Guidehouse also face scrutiny.

The General Services Administration (GSA) ordered these firms to justify essential contracts by March 30. Deloitte earns 9% of its revenue from government contracts.

The 10 firms under review generate $65 billion in fees annually from the government. GSA aims to save $130 billion, with a goal of $1 trillion in reductions.

Sources: FinancialTimes, AOL.

Trump’s Pissed at Putin

President Trump expressed anger towards Russian President Putin, threatening to impose secondary tariffs on Russian oil buyers if a ceasefire in Ukraine is not achieved.

Trump indicated that potential tariffs between 25% and 50% could be enforced. India has become a major importer of Russian crude, comprising 35% of its total imports in 2024.

This comes as he criticized Putin’s recent comments questioning Ukrainian President Zelensky’s legitimacy.

Putin recently suggested placing Ukraine under external governance.

Sources: Bloomberg, Reuters, APNews, France24, FinancialTimes.

Musk's xAI Acquires X

Elon Musk's artificial intelligence company, xAI, has acquired the social media platform X, previously known as Twitter.

This all-stock deal values X at $33 billion, factoring in $12 billion in debt. Musk claims that xAI is now valued at $80 billion.

Musk stated that xAI and X's futures are intertwined, aiming to enhance the capabilities of xAI's chatbot, Grok.

The deal enhances xAI’s ability to train Grok by leveraging X's user base of over 600 million.

Sources: Reuters, BBC, Bloomberg, TheVerge, Investopedia.

Myanmar Earthquake

A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Myanmar, killing at least 2000 people and injuring more than 3,408 others.

The quake, the largest in a century, severely damaged the city of Mandalay and its surroundings. Reports estimate that the death toll may exceed 10,000, with extensive destruction to infrastructure.

Over 2,300 buildings collapsed, including homes and temples.

The military junta has accepted international assistance, allowing hundreds of foreign rescuers from countries like China, India, and Russia to enter.

Sources: Reuters, Bloomberg, WallStreetJournal, APNews.

Screens in Bed

A study found that spending just one additional hour on screens at night raised insomnia risk by 59% and decreased sleep duration by an average of 24 minutes.

Researchers surveyed 45,202 Norwegian university students aged 18-28. Participants reported their bedtime, wake-up times, and sleep difficulties.

All screen-based activities, including social media, had similarly negative effects. The study suggested that the duration of screen use, rather than the specific activity, is the main issue.

Insomnia was defined as sleep issues occurring three or more times a week for over three months.

Sources: SciTechDaily, NewsWeek, BCC, ARA.

Global Lake Oxygen Levels in Decline

From 1980 to 2017, surface oxygen levels in lakes dropped by 5.5%, while deep waters plummeted by 18.6%.

Global warming accounts for 55% of the oxygen loss, while algal blooms contribute another 10%.

The study analyzed 15,535 lakes, finding that over 80% show reduced oxygen levels. Heatwaves have also exacerbated the situation, causing a 7.7% decrease in oxygen solubility.

The decline threatens aquatic life, with mass die-offs occurring in species like eels and cod in various regions.

Sources: ScienceAlert, Nature, DTE, Science.

“Using others’ failure of common sense as an excuse is in itself a failure of common sense.”

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 ❤️