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Wednesday, 5:15 AM

March 12, 2025

Good morning news friend! Keep up with the stories shaping the moment, staying attuned to the rhythm of change. 📰🌟

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Ukraine Ceasefire Proposal

Ukraine has accepted a US proposal for a 30-day ceasefire. This decision follows eight hours of talks in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where the Trump administration resumed military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine.

The US had suspended assistance just one week prior, after a tense meeting between President Trump and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy.

Russian air defenses shot down over 300 Ukrainian drones in what became the largest drone attack on Russia in three years. Concurrently, Russia launched 126 drones and a ballistic missile targeting Ukraine.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Washington would propose the ceasefire to Moscow, emphasizing that it is now up to Russia to respond.

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

House Passes Stopgap Bill

The US House of Representatives passed a funding bill aiming to avert a partial government shutdown that could start on Saturday. The vote narrowly passed by 217-213, with only one Republican voting against it.

The bill will keep federal agencies funded through September 30. It reduces non-defense spending by $13 billion while increasing defense spending by $6 billion. It also gives the Trump administration greater discretion over funding allocations.

Republicans need at least eight Democratic votes in the Senate to send the bill to President Trump.

Democratic leaders argue the bill undermines essential programs and provides too much latitude for spending cuts.

Sources: APNews, CHN, SN, StraitsTimes, Bloomberg, WallStreetJournal.

January JOLTS Report

In January, US job openings surged by 232,000, reaching a total of 7.740 million. This increase contrasts with a decrease in total job openings over the past year, down by 728,000 compared to January 2024.

Hires rose by 19,000 to 5.393 million, while layoffs dropped by 34,000, marking a four-month decline to 1.635 million. The layoff rate now sits at 1.0%, the lowest since June 2024.

February observed a spike in job quits to 3.266 million, up by 171,000. The ratio of job openings to unemployed individuals increased to 1.13.

Small business confidence has declined for three consecutive months.

Sources: Reuters, FxStreet, CNBC, HL, AtlantaFED.

Meta’s AI Chips to Reduce Nvidia Dependence

Meta has launched testing for its first in-house AI chip, the MTIA series, designed to enhance AI tasks. The chip promises better power efficiency compared to traditional GPUs.

Manufactured in collaboration with TSMC, the MTIA chip will first target AI training for recommendation systems, with broader applications expected by 2026. This dedicated accelerator operates at 800 MHz, providing 102 TOPS of integer accuracy.

Meta aims to reduce reliance on Nvidia, projecting its 2025 expenses to be between $114 billion and $119 billion—approximately $65 billion of which will focus on AI infrastructure.

Sources: Reuters, Dig, MM, Gizmodo, DCD.

AI-Powered Control for the Paralyzed

Researchers at UCSF built an AI-powered brain-computer interface (BCI). This device allowed a paralyzed man to control a robotic arm using his thoughts for seven months. Previous BCI attempts typically lasted only one to two days.

By imagining movements, the participant could grasp, move, and drop objects. The key innovation was an AI model that adapted to changes in brain activity over time, improving accuracy and function.

The study involved implanting tiny sensors on the participant's brain. These sensors tracked his brain activity while he visualized movements. Researchers found that the brain's representation of these movements shifted slightly day-to-day as he practiced.

The participant successfully completed tasks like picking up blocks, opening a cabinet, and retrieving a cup. The system required just a 15-minute recalibration after months of use.

Sources: SciTechDaily, UCSF, TheDebrief.

Microplastics and Superbugs

A study revealed that exposure to microplastics led to E. coli developing multidrug resistance to four antibiotics: ampicillin, ciprofloxacin, doxycycline, and streptomycin.

This resistance emerged within 5-10 days of exposure. Microplastics, ranging in size from 10 micrometers to half a millimeter, were tested alongside E. coli in a controlled environment.

Researchers found that these particles supported stronger biofilm formation. Biofilms on microplastics grew larger and more robust than those on glass surfaces, enhancing bacterial survival against antibiotics.

Resistance persisted even after antibiotics and microplastics were removed. This suggests that microplastics not only harbor bacteria but also create an environment that encourages their evolution into superbugs.

Sources: SciTechDaily, CNN, TOI, NYPost.

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Baked with love,

Anna Eisenberg ❤️