Anna's Daybreak News

_{Just facts, you think for yourself}

Wednesday, 5:12 AM

April 16, 2025

Good morning news friend! Follow the stories that connect the dots between today’s news and tomorrow’s world.📰🌟

Click here to read the poll results and comments from our previous edition.

Can’t see all 6 articles in this email? Gmail sometimes crops our emails, click here to view full edition.

China Trade War Heats Up

China’s economy grew 5.4% in Q1 2025, beating the 5.1% forecast. Retail sales rose 5.9%, and industrial output jumped 7.7%.

Amid the growing trade war, U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods hit 145%, including a 120% tariff on parcels under $800.

In response, Hong Kong’s postal service will stop U.S. shipments on April 27. The White House has warned that they will increase tariffs on Chinese goods up to 245%.

Property investment fell 9.9%, and GDP growth for 2025 is now forecast at 3.4%. Beijing plans more stimulus to support their economy.

Sources: Bloomberg, NYTimes, AP News, AP News, Reuters.

U.S. Imposes Stricter Chip Export Controls

The U.S. Commerce Department now requires export licenses for Nvidia’s H20 and AMD’s MI308 AI chips to China, citing national security concerns.

Nvidia expects a $5.5 billion charge due to inventory and supply disruptions. Its shares fell 6%, and AMD’s dropped 7% in after-hours trading.

The H20 chip, vital to Nvidia’s China business, had high demand from firms like Tencent and Alibaba.

Despite being designed to meet prior rules, the H20 is now restricted indefinitely. The U.S. fears these chips could aid Chinese supercomputing.

Sources: Reuters, Reuters, Bloomberg, FinancialTimes.

Bank of America and Citigroup Shine in Q1

Bank of America posted Q1 2025 net income of $7.4 billion ($0.90/share), up 11% year-over-year, with revenue rising 6% to $27.4 billion.

Trading revenue grew 9%, including a record $2.2 billion in equities. Net interest income rose 3% to $14.4 billion, with full-year NII expected to increase 6–7%. CEO Brian Moynihan remains confident despite tariff concerns.

Citigroup reported $4.1 billion in net income ($1.96/share), up 21% year-over-year, driven by a 23% rise in stock trading revenue. C

iti reaffirmed its 2025 revenue guidance, citing strong performance amid ongoing market volatility.

Sources: Reuters, Reuters, Investing, PYMNTS, Investopedia, Investopedia

OpenAI Enters the Social Media Arena

OpenAI is developing a social network centered on AI-generated content, especially images. An internal prototype exists, though it’s unclear if it will launch independently or through ChatGPT.

The move aims to rival Elon Musk’s X and Meta’s platforms. Musk recently offered $97.4 billion to acquire OpenAI, which Altman rejected. OpenAI countersued Musk for harassment.

Competitors include Threads (275M users), X (585M users, with an 8.4% drop in daily use), Bluesky (30M users), and Lemon8 (1M daily users).

Sources: TheVerge, TechCrunch, Reuters, SAN.

Mapping the Mind

As part of the MICrONS Project, scientists mapped a cubic millimeter of a mouse’s visual cortex, detailing 200,000 cells and 523 million synapses.

The project used AI and electron microscopy to analyze over 25,000 ultra-thin tissue slices. Researchers recorded 76,000 neurons as the mouse watched videos. The dataset totals 1.6 petabytes.

Findings revealed that inhibitory neurons selectively target excitatory neurons, forming complex networks—challenging previous assumptions.

This brain map may advance understanding of disorders like Alzheimer’s and autism and represents the most detailed wiring diagram of a mammalian brain to date.

Sources: SciTechDaily, Nature, NewScientist, Nature, NSN.

New Immune Cell Type Uncovered

Researchers at NYU Langone Health discovered a new immune cell type—tolerogenic dendritic cells (tDC)—that helps prevent food allergies by promoting immune tolerance in the intestines.

tDC rely on two proteins, RORγt and Prdm16, to function. Mice without tDC showed increased allergic symptoms and inflammatory T cells, while tDC presence activated regulatory T cells and reduced inflammation.

The study, published in Nature, also identified similar cells in humans. Though their exact role in people is still unclear, tDC may offer a path to new treatments for food allergies and autoimmune diseases by enhancing immune tolerance.

Sources: SciTechDaily, PRNW, GEN, DiscoverMag.

“Politics is the art of making your selfish desires seem like the national interest.”

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 End of the Easy-Money Era

• The Longevity Race

• The Great Retirement Crisis

Baked with love,

Anna Eisenberg ❤️