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Friday, 5:13 AM

February 28, 2025

Good morning news friend! Keep up with the moments that matter, as the world shifts and stories unfold. 📰🌟

Would you like to see the poll results and comments from our previous edition? Click here to see what other readers had to say about: Iran’s uranium surge, Trump’s fight against Maduro, the real estate market and more! 

Tariffs are Coming Back in March

Starting March 4, President Trump will impose 25% tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico. This decision follows a month of negotiation delays aimed at reducing the flow of fentanyl into the US.

Trump will also double the existing 10% tariff on Chinese imports, raising it to 20%. He emphasized that fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid, continues to enter the US at “unacceptable levels.”

Canadian PM Trudeau highlighted Canada's $1 billion investment in border security, while Mexican President Sheinbaum noted Mexico's deployment of 10,000 National Guard members to the border.

Analysts forecast these tariffs could cost American consumers between $120 billion to $225 billion annually. The Conference Board reported a 7-point drop in consumer confidence.

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

Kurdish Militant Leader Calls to Disarm

Abdullah Öcalan, the imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), urged his followers to lay down their arms and disband. This is a potential turning point in a conflict that has persisted for 40 years, resulting in 40,000 deaths.

The PKK has long operated across Turkey, Iraq, and Syria, complicating local and international relations.

The Turkish government, led by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his ally Devlet Bahceli, is considering this overture as a way to alleviate ongoing security threats and stabilize the region.

Öcalan, 75, has remained isolated since his capture in 1999. His message highlights the need for political dialogue and recognition of Kurdish rights in Turkey.

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

Economic Update

The US economy grew at an annualized rate of 2.3% in the fourth quarter of 2024. Consumer spending boosted growth, increasing by 4.2%. Core PCE inflation was revised to 2.7%.

The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits rose by 22,000 to reach 242,000. This spike marks the largest increase in five months.

Continuing claims fell by 5,000 to 1.862 million. However, the four-week average of claims rose by 8,500 to 224,000.

Sources: Reuters, Reuters[2], APNews, Bloomberg, CNBC, FoxBusiness, Equiti.

OpenAI Launches GPT-4.5

OpenAI launched GPT-4.5. This new version is available to ChatGPT Pro users at $200 per month. GPT-4.5 boasts more than ten times the computational efficiency of GPT-4.

Early testing shows that interactions with GPT-4.5 feel more natural. It has a broader knowledge base and better emotional intelligence. The model follows user intent more effectively and is less likely to produce inaccuracies or "hallucinations."

OpenAI used unsupervised learning methods to enhance GPT-4.5's performance. The new model displays improved capabilities in tasks such as writing, programming, and problem-solving.

GPT-4.5 will roll out to ChatGPT Plus users next week and then to Edu and Enterprise users the following week. It supports file uploads and real-time search but lacks voice mode and video support.

Sources: OpenAI, Wired, Forbes, CNBC, AXIOS, SiliconAngle.

Predicting Ice Ages

Research revealed how Earth's orbit and axial tilt dictate ice ages. The study, which analyzed 800,000 years of climate history, identifies a predictable cycle for glaciation.

Key factors include obliquity (tilt), precession (wobble), and eccentricity (orbit shape). These elements lead to glacial advances and retreats roughly every 100,000 years. Deglaciation is linked to precession, while obliquity initiates ice ages.

The findings indicate that Earth's current trajectory is set to enter another ice age in about 11,000 years.

Humans’ carbon footprint is expected to delay the next glacial period by tens to hundreds of thousands of years.

Sources: ScienceAlert, SciTechDaily, UCSB, TBSN, NewScientist, LiveScience.

Shape-Shifting Robotics

Researchers from UCSB and TU Dresden have created a robotic material that can shift between solid and fluid states, akin to living organisms.

The disk-shaped autonomous robots, which resemble hockey pucks, are programmed to assemble into various configurations.

Their approach focused on three biological processes: inter-unit forces, polarization, and adhesion, enabling the robots to coordinate movements and hold shapes. Using magnets and eight motorized gears, the robots can connect and reconfigure.

In testing, these robots could support loads while transitioning between states. A group of 20 units demonstrated the capability to form stable structures and even heal after damage.

Sources: SciTechDaily, TheDebrief, TechSpot.

“Never read a book review written by an author whose books you wouldn’t read.”

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:

• Iran’s Nuclear Program 

• AI and the Age of Intelligence

Baked with love,

Anna Eisenberg ❤️