Anna's Daybreak News

_{Just facts, you think for yourself}

Friday, 5:12 AM

May 9, 2025

Good morning news friend! Discover the narratives driving today’s world and shaping the path ahead. 📰🌟

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Pope Leo XIV Takes the Helm

Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost, became the first American Pope. Aged 69, he has dual U.S. and Peruvian citizenship and extensive missionary experience in Latin America, reflecting the church's shifting focus.

In his first address, he emphasized peace, service, and inclusivity. Prevost’s prior role in the Dicastery for Bishops and proposals for reforms suggest a blend of tradition and modernity in his leadership.

Facing a divided American Catholic community, his stance on immigration and cultural issues will be closely scrutinized as he seeks to unify and revitalize the church's engagement.

Sources: AP News, Reuters, NYTimes, WallStreetJournal.

China's Exports Amid Trade Turmoil

In April 2025, China's exports grew by 8.1% despite a 21% drop in shipments to the U.S. due to high tariffs. This growth surpassed the expected 2.5%.

Exports to Southeast Asia increased by 20.8%. China's trade surplus reached $96.18 billion, down from $102.64 billion in March.

While imports fell 0.2%, less than the expected 5.5% decline, upcoming U.S.-China tariff negotiations in Switzerland are crucial for future trade relations.

Experts warn that ongoing tariffs could negatively impact China's economy, although policymakers aim for a 5% growth target for the year.

Sources: Bloomberg, Reuters, FinancialTimes, WallStreetJournal

Nvidia Downgrades the H20 Chip

Nvidia will launch a downgraded version of its H20 AI chip for China due to U.S. export restrictions on the original model.

The modified chip, set for release by July 2025, will have reduced specifications and memory capacity. Despite these challenges, Nvidia has received $18 billion in H20 orders since January.

China accounted for $17 billion, or 13%, of Nvidia's sales in the fiscal year ending January 2025.

CEO Jensen Huang emphasized China's importance, as the company navigates rising export controls that could cost it approximately $5.5 billion in revenue.

Sources: Reuters, Benzinga, Investing, Aastocks.

Crypto Regulation Bill Stalled

The U.S. Senate failed to pass the GENIUS Act, a stablecoin regulation bill, receiving only 48 votes.

Democrats opposed the bill due to concerns about corruption linked to Trump’s crypto ventures and inadequate protections against money laundering. The legislation aimed to regulate the growing stablecoin market, particularly following World Liberty Financial's plan to issue its stablecoin, USD1, backed by a $2 billion deal.

Senator Mark Warner and others withdrew support, demanding stronger accountability provisions. The stalled bill leaves regulatory oversight of stablecoins uncertain, affecting the industry's future in the U.S.

Sources: Reuters, AP News, CNBC, NYTimes, Decrypt.

Are Probiotics Mood Boosters?

Research reveals that probiotics can improve emotional well-being by reducing negative feelings like stress, anxiety, and fatigue.

A study involving 88 healthy young adults showed noticeable mood improvements after two weeks of daily probiotic intake. Participants reported fewer negative emotions compared to those on a placebo, with standard psychological questionnaires failing to capture these changes.

Probiotics may serve as an early intervention to prevent more severe mental health issues, particularly for individuals with risk-averse traits.

Researchers advocate for further studies on the long-term effects of probiotics on mental health and emotional state enhancement.

Sources: SciTechDaily, Nature, MedicalNewsToday, MedicalXpress, Fortune.

Psychedelics and Cognitive Flexibility

A single dose of the psychedelic 25CN-NBOH enhances cognitive flexibility in mice for up to three weeks. Mice treated with the compound outperformed control mice in reversal learning tasks, demonstrating better adaptability.

Key findings include sustained cognitive improvement lasting 15-20 days, similar effects in both genders, and greater task efficiency resulting in more rewards.

This research suggests psychedelics may induce lasting neuroplastic changes, offering potential therapeutic benefits for conditions like depression and PTSD.

Future studies will investigate the impact of multiple doses on cognitive flexibility over extended periods.

Sources: SciTechDaily, News-Medical, InsidePrecisionMedicine.

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Baked with love,

Anna Eisenberg ❤️