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Monday, 5:24 AM

April 21, 2025

Good morning news friend! Get the pulse of today with stories that shape the world and what comes next. 📰🌟

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Pope Francis Dead

Pope Francis passed away at 88, in Casa Santa Marta, Vatican. He was the first Latin American pope and the first Jesuit pope, serving for 12 years while facing health issues, including double pneumonia.

Pope Francis was known for his focus on social and economic justice, advocating for the marginalized and environmental protection.

His tenure saw significant appointments and a push for Church reform, including zero tolerance for clerical abuse and increased financial transparency.

He supported civil unions for same-sex couples, sparking controversy among conservatives.

Sources: France24, Vaticannews, Dw, NYTimes,WallStreetJournal.

Kyiv is on the Clock

The Trump administration has presented Ukraine with proposals regarding the Russia-Ukraine war, including U.S. recognition of Russia’s annexation of Crimea and NATO exclusion for Ukraine.

Ukraine’s Defense Minister indicated 90% alignment with the proposals, but this was disputed by the Defense Ministry. A response from Ukraine is expected during an upcoming meeting in London.

Proposed measures include establishing a neutral zone around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, without demanding Russian troop withdrawal from occupied territories.

President Zelensky insists Ukraine will not recognize Russian control, while fighting continues amid recent ceasefire efforts.

Sources: WallStreetJournal, Msn, Kyivpost, TheAustralian.

Investigating the Killings of Gaza Medics

An Israeli investigation found serious flaws in military actions during the March 23, 2025, killings of 15 Palestinian medics in Rafah, Gaza.

A deputy commander was dismissed after admitting a misunderstanding led to firing on emergency vehicles, despite evidence showing they had visible emergency signals.

The military misidentified the medics as Hamas militants; no weapons were found. International organizations condemned the incident as a war crime.

The findings are with the Military Advocate General to assess potential civil charges.

Sources: AP News, Reuters, NYTimes, WallStreetJournal, FinancialTimes.

DHL Halts High-Value Shipments to the US

DHL Express will stop shipments over $800 to US consumers from April 21 due to new US customs regulations that lowered the formal entry threshold from $2,500 to $800.

This change has caused customs clearance delays. Business-to-business shipments will continue but may also experience delays. Shipments under $800 remain unaffected, but duties will apply to all packages from China and Hong Kong starting May 2.

Retailers expect increased costs due to these changes, prompting businesses to adjust their shipping strategies. Hongkong Post has already halted sea shipments to the US, criticizing the new regulations.

Sources: Reuters, BBC, MaritimeGateway, Sky, BusinessTimes.

Chirality and Organic Superconductors

Researchers from the Institute for Molecular Science discovered that chirality in the organic superconductor κ-(BEDT-TTF)₂Cu(NCS)₂ enhances spin-current coupling, mimicking spin-orbit effects.

Their findings revealed a nonreciprocal response exceeding theoretical predictions, showing that molecular chirality boosts charge currents and spin interactions.

The study highlighted the significance of Chirality-Induced Spin Selectivity (CISS) and led to an extraordinary nonreciprocal signal, achieving a 5% efficiency in the superconducting diode effect.

This work challenges existing theories and opens avenues for advanced superconducting devices.

Sources: SciTechDaily, EurekAlert.

Vagus Nerve Path to Treating Severe Depression

Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) shows promise as a treatment for severe depression, according to a study involving 493 adults who had not responded to previous therapies.

After ten months of VNS, participants reported improvements in depressive symptoms, despite many not achieving full remission. VNS is also FDA-approved for treatment-resistant depression and epilepsy.

However, financial barriers due to insurance issues may limit access. Ongoing research aims to assess VNS for other conditions, including bipolar disorder.

At-home neurostimulation devices are emerging but should complement, not replace, traditional therapies and healthy habits.

Sources: Sciencealert, Independent, ChicagoHealth.

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Anna Eisenberg ❤️