Anna's Daybreak News

_{Just facts, you think for yourself}

Thursday, 5:17 AM

February 27, 2025

Good morning news friend! Stay ahead with the stories shaping the present and influencing the future. 📰🌟

Would you like to see the poll results and comments from our previous edition? We had so many rich comments that we had to break them down in two parts. (1)Click here to see what other readers had to say about: the minerals agreement between the US and Ukraine, Israel’s attack in southern Syria and China’s sabotage in Taiwan! (2) Click here to see what other readers had to say about:Trump’s budget plan, microplastics hazards and more!

Iran's Uranium Surge

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported that Iran now possesses 274.8 kilograms (606 pounds) of uranium enriched up to 60% purity, an increase of 92.5 kilograms (204 pounds) since November.

This level is just one technical step away from weapons-grade material, which is typically around 90% purity.

Iran produces between 35 to 40 kilograms (77 to 88 pounds) of this uranium monthly. The total enriched uranium stock now stands at 8,294.4 kilograms (18,286 pounds), up 1,690 kilograms (3,726 pounds) from the last report.

About 42 kilograms are theoretically sufficient to produce one atomic bomb if further enriched. The IAEA expressed serious concern over the unexplained presence of uranium at undeclared sites.

Sources: Reuters, TOI, WallStreetJournal, VOA, APNews, France24.

Trump Revokes Chevron's Venezuela License

President Trump will revoke Chevron's oil license in Venezuela, effective March 1, 2025. This license, granted during the Biden administration, allowed Chevron to produce and export oil despite sanctions against Nicolás Maduro's government.

Chevron will have a six-month window to exit Venezuela. Currently, Chevron exports 294,000 barrels of oil per day. Venezuela produced just over 1 million barrels daily in January.

Trump stated that Maduro had failed to meet electoral reform conditions and was not repatriating migrants from the US quickly enough.

Chevron has helped stabilize Venezuela's economy, contributing over $4 billion in taxes since 2023.

Sources: Bloomberg, Politico, StraitTimes, Reuters, FinancialPost.

NVIDIA Q4 Results

For Q4, NVIDIA generated $39.3 billion in revenue, up 78% from the same quarter last year. The new Blackwell AI chip family alone contributed $11 billion in sales, surpassing expectations of $3.5 billion.

For the full fiscal year, revenue totaled $130 billion, a 114% increase, while profits jumped 145% to $72.9 billion. The company anticipates $43 billion in revenue for Q1, a 65% year-over-year rise.

CEO Jensen Huang reassured investors that AI demand continues to grow, bolstered by advancements in machine learning and software.

NVIDIA's challenge lies in geopolitical pressures from US export controls.

Sources: Nvidia, WallStreetJournal, TheRegister, BBC, FinancialTimes.

New Home Sales Plunge

In January, new home sales fell 10.5%, reaching a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 657,000 units. This decline marks a three-month low and reflects a 1.1% decrease compared to January 2024.

The Northeast experienced the largest drop at 20%, while the Midwest and South saw reductions of 16.7% and 14.8%, respectively. The West, however, reported a 7.7% increase.

The median sales price for new homes rose 3.7% to $446,300, the highest since October 2022. The inventory of new homes surged to 495,000 units, the highest since December 2007. This represents a 9-month supply at current sales rates.

Existing home sales also fell by 4.9% in January. The National Association of Home Builders anticipates that new residential construction will remain at approximately 1.01 million units in 2025. There is a 3.7 million unit housing shortage.

Sources: Census.gov, Reuters, EOH, HousingWire, Realtor.

Extreme Heat Accelerates Aging

Extreme heat accelerates biological aging in older adults. Researchers analyzed over 3,600 adults, aged 56 and older, and found that those in hotter regions experienced more rapid aging compared to those in cooler areas.

The study indicates that living in areas with temperatures above 90°F for 140 days per year can lead to biological aging up to 14 months faster than in places with fewer than 10 heat days annually.

On average, longer exposure to heat resulted in a biological age increase of 2.48 years over six years, as measured by three different epigenetic clocks.

Heat index levels categorized as "caution" (80-90°F), "extreme caution" (90-103°F), and "danger" (above 124°F) were used to assess heat exposure. Socioeconomic status and lifestyle choices were factored into this study.

Sources: NYTimes, NewsMedical, TheConversation, TheVerge, NewScientist, ScienceAlert, ABC.

Mysterious Illness in Congo

A deadly outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has killed at least 53 people since January 21. Health officials report 431 cases, marking a fatality rate of 12.3%.

The illness, linked to the consumption of bats, originated after three children ate a bat and died within 48 hours. Symptoms include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and internal bleeding.

Half of the deaths occurred within just 48 hours of symptom onset. he outbreak started in Boloko and quickly spread to surrounding villages, particularly Bomate, where over 400 cases have been confirmed.

Sources: SAN, NDTV, IndiaToday, FastCompany, ABC, NewsWeek.

“People focus on role models; it is more effective to find antimodels- people you don’t want to resemble when you grow up.”

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:

• Iran’s Nuclear Program 

• AI and the Age of Intelligence

Baked with love,

Anna Eisenberg ❤️