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Anna's Daybreak News

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Wednesday, 5:21 AM

December 26, 2024

Good morning news friend! Follow the unfolding events that define today, shaping the world around us. 📰🌟

Russia's Christmas Attack

On Christmas day, Russia launched a large missile and drone strike against Ukraine, targeting its energy infrastructure.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attack as "inhuman," noting that over 70 missiles and more than 100 drones were employed. Ukrainian forces successfully intercepted 59 missiles and 54 drones.

The assault left approximately 520,000 residents in the Kharkiv region without heating. One person was killed, and six were injured.

Ukrainian energy officials reported extensive damage to power facilities, particularly in Dnipro. State-owned energy company Ukrenergo warned of ongoing widespread blackouts.

Source: Read More

Banking Lobby Sues the Fed

Banking and business groups filed a lawsuit against the Federal Reserve. They seek transparency in the Fed’s annual stress tests. The group includes the American Bankers Association and the US Chamber of Commerce.

They argue that the Fed's testing criteria are secretive and produce unpredictable capital requirements. This situation affects the cost of financial services in the US.

The stress tests originated after the 2008 Great Financial Crisis. They assess large banks’ ability to withstand economic shocks. The tests determine capital requirements for banks, dictating how much cash they must hold to cover potential losses.

Greg Baer, President of the Bank Policy Institute, noted that the opaque rules lead to capital charges that are excessive and volatile. The lawsuit does not aim to eliminate stress tests. Instead, it seeks public input into their design.

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Azerbaijani Airliner Crash

An Azerbaijani airliner, the Embraer 190, crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan. The flight was en route from Baku to Grozny, Russia, with 67 people on board. 38 individuals died, leaving 29 survivors.

Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister, Kanat Bozumbaev, confirmed these figures. The plane attempted an emergency landing about three kilometers (1.8 miles) from Aktau.

Russian military bloggers suggest the plane may have been mistaken for a Ukrainian drone. Investigations pointed to an explosion in the plane’s oxygen tank. This explosion may have been caused by shrapnel from Russian air defenses.

Video footage captured the aircraft descending rapidly before exploding upon impact. The plane included 42 Azerbaijani, 16 Russian, six Kazakh, and three Kyrgyz nationals.

Source: Read More

Diamond Demand Dims

De Beers has stockpiled $2 billion in diamonds, its largest inventory since 2008. Weak demand in China, competition from lab-grown diamonds, and fewer marriages during the pandemic hit sales.

The company’s revenue fell to $2.2 billion in the first half of 2024, down from $2.8 billion in the same period last year. De Beers cut production by 20% and reduced prices to address the slump.

Lab-grown diamonds, costing about one-twentieth of natural stones, dominate the US, the world’s largest diamond market. Meanwhile, China’s jewelers have begun exporting polished diamonds to clear their inventories.

De Beers launched a global campaign promoting natural diamonds and plans to expand its retail network from 40 to 100 stores.

Source: Read More

Humans and Giant Sloths

It has long been believed that humans arrived in the Americas around 13,000 years ago. New evidence suggests humans were present around 27,000 years ago, coexisting with giant ground sloths and other megafauna.

At the Santa Elina archaeological site in Brazil, researchers found sloth bones with signs of manipulation. These artifacts date back 27,000 years, more than 10,000 years earlier than the previously accepted date of human arrival.

Evidence from Uruguay suggests humans were present approximately 30,000 years ago. Human footprints found at White Sands, New Mexico, are dated between 21,000 and 23,000 years old, showing interaction with giant mammals.

Researchers analyzed fossilization processes, confirming that alterations to sloth bones occurred shortly after the animals died.

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"Molecular Jackhammers" vs Cancer Cells

Scientists have developed a method that destroys 99% of cancer cells in lab tests. This technique uses aminocyanine molecules stimulated by near-infrared light. The vibrations from these molecules break apart cancer cell membranes.

Researchers claim the new method, named "molecular jackhammers," is over one million times faster than previous methods.

Unlike older Feringa-type motors, this technique uses near-infrared light. This is crucial as it penetrates deeper into body tissues, potentially treating cancers in bones and organs without surgery.

In addition to lab tests, the method was successful on mice with melanoma tumors. Half of these mice became cancer-free after treatment. The molecular structure of aminocyanine helps them stay synchronized and effective.

Source: Read More

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“The twentieth century was the bankruptcy of the social utopia; the twenty-first will be that of the technological one.”

Baked with love,

Anna Eisenberg ❤️