Anna's Daybreak News

_{Just facts, you think for yourself}

Friday, 5:32 AM

April 4, 2025

Good morning news friend! Dive into the stories steering the world—where each headline marks a turning point.📰🌟

Would you like to see the poll results and comments from our previous edition? Click here to explore how others voted on key issues like reciprocal tariffs, the 2017 tax cuts, their opinion about Elon Musk and more!

Senators Challenge Trump's Tariffs

Senators Chuck Grassley and Maria Cantwell introduced the Trade Review Act of 2025. The bill would require Congress to approve any new tariffs within 60 days or they expire automatically.

The president must notify Congress within 48 hours of imposing tariffs. Congress could also cancel tariffs through a resolution of disapproval.

The move follows Trump’s new tariffs, which caused the S&P 500 to drop over 3% yesterday.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll shows about 50% of Americans oppose more tariffs. Lawmakers aim to restore congressional authority over trade policy.

Sources: Reuters, WallStreetJournal, ABC, NewsWeek, FoxNews.

South Korea's President Ousted 

South Korea's Constitutional Court unanimously removed President Yoon Suk Yeol from office for abusing power by declaring martial law on December 3, 2024. The decree lasted six hours but triggered political unrest.

Acting Chief Justice Moon Hyung-bae said Yoon "betrayed the trust of the people." Prime Minister Han Duck-soo is now acting president.

A new election must be held within 60 days. Lee Jae-myung leads with 34% support. Yoon, the first sitting president indicted while in office, faces criminal charges for insurrection.

Sources: APNews, Reuters, Bloomberg, NYTimes, WallStreetJournal.

Private Employment Surge

In March, US private-sector jobs rose by 155,000, beating the 105,000 forecast and up from February’s 84,000.

Goods-producing industries added 24,000 jobs, while service industries added 132,000. Despite the growth, economists remain cautious due to rising tariffs and weak confidence.

The US Dollar Index dropped 1.9% in one day after Trump's tariff announcements. Recession odds have increased, and analysts expect four interest rate cuts in 2025.

The unemployment rate is projected to hold at 4.1%.

Sources: FxStreet, Reuters, Reuters[2], Reuters[3], Bloomberg, WallStreetJournal.

TikTok's Tariff Negotiations

President Trump suggested China may approve the sale of TikTok in exchange for US tariff relief.

China currently faces a 54% tariff on its exports to the US, alongside a new 10% baseline tariff on all imports.

TikTok, owned by ByteDance, must find a non-Chinese buyer by April 5, or face a US ban. Trump said a deal is “very close,” involving multiple investors.

Sources: FinancialTimes, Reuters, TIA, Newsx, NDTV.

Pollution's Depression Risk

A study linked air pollution to higher depression risk. Researchers analyzed data from over 12,000 people in the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study.

Sulfur dioxide (SO₂) had the strongest link to depression, followed by PM2.5 and carbon monoxide (CO). When combined, these pollutants raised mental health risks further.

The study also found that pollution-related cognitive and physical decline partly explained the increase in depression.

Researchers call for stricter pollution controls and targeted interventions, especially for middle-aged and older adults.

Sources: SciTechDaily, WION.

Chiral Metamaterials

Researchers have created new chiral metamaterials that store 2 to 160 times more recoverable elastic energy than traditional materials.

These designs use torsionally loaded rods that improve energy density, stiffness, and load-bearing strength. The materials achieve 5 to 10 times greater buckling strength through a twist buckling mechanism.

They also allow for larger recoverable strains without sacrificing structural integrity. Tests confirm strong performance under uniaxial loads.

Potential applications include energy storage, shock absorption, robotics, and flexible machines.

Sources: Nature, TechXplore, SciTechDaily, MSN.

“Never take investment advice from someone who has to work for a living.”

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:

• The Great Retirement Crisis

• Gene Editing

• Quantum Computing

Baked with love,

Anna Eisenberg ❤️