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Anna's Daybreak News

_{Just facts, you think for yourself}

Monday, 5:28 AM

January 20, 2025

Good morning news friend! Discover the stories shaping today and transforming the future. 📰🌟

Ceasefire: First Hostages Released from Gaza

Three Israeli hostages—Romi Gonen (24), Doron Steinbrecher (31), and Emily Damari (28)—who were captured during the October 7 attacks were the first to be freed by Hamas. Their release was facilitated by the Red Cross.

As part of the ceasefire agreement, Israel plans to release approximately 90 Palestinian prisoners in exchange, including 69 women. The youngest prisoner to be released is a 15-year-old.

Ninety-four hostages remain in Gaza, with 30 confirmed dead. Over 1,700 Palestinian prisoners will be released by Israel throughout the deal. Following the agreement, 600 trucks of aid will enter Gaza daily.

Prime Minister Netanyahu praised the returning hostages, expressing relief while concerns linger over the fate of those still captive.

Source: Read More

TikTok Restores Service in the US

TikTok began restoring service in the US after President-elect Donald Trump announced plans to issue an executive order to delay a federal ban. This law that required TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to sell its US operations or face shutdown.

This law took effect on January 19, 2025, affecting TikTok's 170 million US users and over 7 million small businesses reliant on the app.

As the app went dark, users faced messages stating it was unavailable due to the new law. Major app stores, Apple and Google, removed TikTok to comply with the legislation.

Trump pledged to extend the deadline. He mentioned allowing a 90-day period for negotiations and indicated a desire for 50% American ownership of TikTok's operations.

Source: Read More

Capital One’s $2 Billion Lawsuit

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is suing Capital One, alleging the bank froze interest rates on its "360 Savings" accounts at 0.30% from December 2020 through August 2024. This resulted in $2 billion in lost interest.

Simultaneously, the bank introduced the "360 Performance Savings" account, which offered significantly higher rates, rising to 4.35% by early 2024.

The lawsuit asserts that Capital One did not inform existing customers about the new, higher-yielding accounts and prohibited employees from discussing them. The CFPB seeks civil penalties and financial restitution for affected customers.

Currently, the "360 Savings" accounts yield just under 0.50%, while "360 Performance Savings" accounts currently earn about 3.74%. The CFPB emphasizes that banks must maintain transparency and avoid deceptive practices in their offerings.

Source: Read More

Costco Teamsters Approve Strike

Teamsters at Costco voted, with 85% in favor, to authorize a nationwide strike. This decision impacts over 18,000 workers as they enter the final week of contract negotiations. The current contract expires on January 31.

Costco reported $254 billion in annual revenue and $7.4 billion in net profits, a 135% increase since 2018. The union criticized Costco for failing to engage constructively in wage and benefit negotiations.

Teamsters held practice pickets across the country, from California to New York, to prepare for a potential strike.

Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien emphasized that unless Costco offers a fair contract, workers will take action. He stated, "Costco must deliver a fair contract, or they'll be held accountable."

Source: Read More

Protecting Homes with Digital Twins

In Southern California, wildfires are wreaking havoc. This year’s fires have claimed 24 lives, burned 60 square miles, and destroyed over 12,300 structures. AccuWeather warns that damages could reach $275 billion.

The startup Stand Insurance creates detailed "digital twins" of homes using existing data, drones, AI, and simulations from aerospace engineering. This technology predicts how wildfires can impact properties, helping homeowners understand their risks.

Stand aims to issue $2 billion in insurance coverage by year's end. The startup primarily targets homes valued between $2 million and $10 million.

Annual premiums for a $3 million home in high-risk areas could range from $12,000 to $15,000. Many of these areas have been abandoned by traditional insurers.

Source: Read More

Dangers of Sugary Drinks

A study from Tufts University reveals alarming statistics: sugary drinks cause 1.2 million cases of cardiovascular disease and 2.2 million cases of type 2 diabetes annually worldwide.

The study, analyzing data from 2.9 million people across 118 countries, defined sugary drinks as those with added sugars and at least 50 kilocalories per 8-ounce serving.

Sugary drinks are linked to approximately 80,000 deaths from type 2 diabetes and 258,000 deaths from heart disease each year.

In Mexico, nearly one-third of new diabetes cases are linked to these drinks. Colombia sees almost half of its new diabetes cases attributed to sugary beverages, while South Africa reports 28% of new diabetes and 15% of new heart disease cases due to them.

Source: Read More

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Baked with love,

Anna Eisenberg ❤️