Week in 5: Mar 23-29, 2025
Trump officials leaked Yemen strike plans; markets tumbled; Supreme Court rules on ghost guns. Sub sinks in Egypt; Myanmar quake ceasefire. Rome debuts robot guide. Gaga tours soon.
📰 Top 3 in…
🇺🇸 U.S. News
The Atlantic published excerpts from a leaked Signal chat revealing that senior Trump officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and NSA Michael Waltz, shared detailed strike plans on Yemen—including takeoff times and real-time updates—on an unsecured app, contradicting their public denials of any sensitive disclosures. Despite claims that no classified information was shared, texts included timelines, target locations, and live operational updates, sparking concerns about U.S. military personnel safety and intelligence protocols. The leak originated from Waltz accidentally including Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg in the chat. The Atlantic
U.S. stocks plunged Friday, with the Dow dropping over 700 points and the Nasdaq sliding 2.7%, amid hotter-than-expected inflation, weak consumer sentiment, and President Trump’s tariff threats. The S&P 500 fell nearly 2%, with tech giants losing $505 billion in value, while investors fled to safer assets like gold—hitting a record $3,087—and Treasurys. WSJ
The Supreme Court ruled 7-2 that the government can regulate some “ghost guns”—untraceable firearms made from kits—under existing gun laws. The decision allows the ATF to treat certain build-it-yourself kits and unfinished gun parts as firearms, requiring serial numbers and background checks. Justices Thomas and Alito dissented, saying the rule goes beyond what the law allows. Link
🌎 World News
A tourist submarine named Sindbad sank near Hurghada, Egypt, killing six Russian nationals—including two children—while 39 others were rescued, nine of whom were injured. The Red Sea vessel, used for reef tours, went down about half a mile from shore; authorities are investigating the cause, though weather was calm and the sub was reportedly licensed and properly crewed. BBC
Myanmar’s pro-democracy resistance declared a two-week ceasefire to allow earthquake relief after a deadly 7.7 magnitude quake killed over 1,600 people and injured more than 3,400. The pause aims to ease aid delivery in rebel-held areas, where the military’s restrictions and ongoing airstrikes have worsened the crisis. Nearby Thailand also saw deadly building collapses and widespread damage. AP
Pope Francis returned to the Vatican Sunday after a five-week hospital stay for life-threatening double pneumonia, following two serious respiratory crises that nearly cost him his life. The 88-year-old pope appeared weak but alert, offering a brief blessing before beginning two months of prescribed rest with 24-hour medical care as his lungs continue recovering. AP
🧪 Tech & Science
Rome has deployed its first humanoid robot, ADRIANO, at the ancient Temple of Hadrian to greet tourists and share historical insights using AI and expressive facial features. Developed over 18 months by a team of 30 from multiple Italian institutions, ADRIANO speaks Italian and English, responds to touch, and is part of a broader plan to enable remote virtual visits. Link | Video
Running a marathon temporarily reduces brain myelin—key for nerve signal transmission—but levels fully recover within two months, according to a new study in Nature Metabolism. Researchers found that extreme endurance may prompt the brain to use myelin lipids as emergency fuel, suggesting a new form of brain plasticity, though long-term effects remain unclear. Link
Researchers at Case Western Reserve discovered that cells respond to stress in more flexible, nuanced ways than previously thought, opening potential new paths for treating cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. The study found that stress responses vary by type and severity, rather than following a fixed process, and this adaptability—termed “split-integrated stress response”—may help explain why some diseases worsen after even minor triggers. Link
📺 Sports & Culture
The 2025 MLB season opened with a Yankees win on Opening Day, while March Madness narrowed to the Elite Eight, with Florida, Duke, Houston, and Auburn still in the hunt. Florida’s run is led by Walter Clayton Jr., who gave up top football offers because he hated getting hit—now he’s starring as one of the nation’s best college basketball guards after developing under Rick Pitino at Iona. WSJ
Lady Gaga announced her 2025 “Mayhem Ball” arena tour across North America, Europe, and the U.K., following her chart-topping album Mayhem and Coachella appearance. Kicking off in July in Las Vegas, the tour includes multiple-night stops in New York, Chicago, London, and Paris, with Gaga promising a more intimate, theatrical experience. Tickets go on sale starting March 31. Variety
Salman Rushdie will release The Eleventh Hour, his first fiction since surviving a 2022 stabbing, on November 4, featuring five interconnected stories spanning India, England, and the U.S. The book explores themes of mortality and imagination, marking a return to creative form after trauma, and follows last year’s memoir Knife, written as part of his recovery. AP
🏎️ Fast Five
Alec Baldwin features in the new Rust trailer, released over three years after cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was fatally shot on set. The Western follows Baldwin’s outlaw character rescuing his grandson from execution in 1880s Wyoming, with the trailer debuting just weeks before Baldwin’s involuntary manslaughter trial. ABC News
Utah became the first U.S. state to ban fluoride in public water, defying health experts who warn it could worsen tooth decay, especially for low-income groups. Gov. Spencer Cox cited personal choice and cost, despite opposition from the CDC and American Dental Association. AP
Illustrator Richard Wilkinson reimagines Star Wars characters as detailed, collectible-style insects, blending pop culture with natural history in a quirky, artistic tribute. From a Darth Vader fly to a Yoda beetle, the series playfully merges taxonomy with sci-fi in vibrant, imaginative designs. Link w/images
Apple is reportedly losing more than $1 billion annually on its Apple TV+ streaming service, as the company invests heavily in original content to compete with rivals like Netflix and Amazon. Despite the losses, Apple sees the service as a long-term brand builder, prioritizing quality and prestige over immediate profits. Link
Kindergarten teacher Julia Merz made her wedding extra special by using heartfelt definitions of love written by her 88 students as table centerpieces, a gesture that quickly went viral online. From “Love is… like fireworks” to “Love is… kissing ewww,” the kids' sweet and funny answers lit up the ceremony and captured the internet’s heart with over 5 million TikTok views. People | Video
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