Week in 5: Mar 9-15, 2025
Markets plunged with fears of recession. Schumer backed a GOP spending bill. Canada clashed with Trump over tariffs. AI, robotics, medical breakthroughs, and 3 year old saves great grandma.
📰 Top 3 in…
🇺🇸 U.S. News
U.S. stock markets plunged Monday as recession fears escalated, with the Nasdaq suffering its worst day since 2022, dropping 4%. The Dow Jones fell nearly 900 points (2%), while the S&P 500 slid 2.7%, driven by a selloff in tech stocks, including a 15% drop in Tesla. Investor concerns spiked after President Trump refused to rule out a recession, calling it a "period of transition." JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs raised recession risks, while Friday’s jobs report hinted at potential labor market weakening. The uncertainty, coupled with Trump’s unpredictable tariff policies, has rattled markets, pushing the VIX volatility index to its highest level since August. WSJ
Democrats sharply divided Friday after Senate leader Chuck Schumer backed a Republican bill to avoid a government shutdown. Many Democrats, especially progressives, criticized Schumer for not fighting harder against Trump's budget cuts, with some calling for new party leadership and threatening primary challenges against senators who supported the bill. AP
The U.S. will resume military support and intelligence sharing with Ukraine after Kyiv agreed to a conditional 30-day cease-fire, pending Russia's acceptance. The cease-fire agreement, announced following high-level U.S.-Ukraine talks, aims to initiate negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow to halt the ongoing conflict, with Russia's approval still required for the plan to take effect. WSJ
🌎 World News
Canada’s incoming Prime Minister Mark Carney stated he will meet with U.S. President Donald Trump only if Canadian sovereignty is respected and trade discussions are constructive. Carney’s remarks follow Trump’s escalation of a trade war, including new 25% tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum and provocative comments suggesting Canada should become the U.S.'s 51st state. Canada responded with retaliatory tariffs totaling CA$29.8 billion ($20.7 billion) on American goods. Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly criticized Trump’s shifting justifications, including national security and fentanyl concerns, as a cover for economic coercion. Carney, set to be sworn in Friday, emphasized the importance of renewing the U.S.-Canada economic partnership. AP
The UN reports entire families, including women and children, were killed in recent violence in Syria’s coastal region, with over 111 civilian deaths confirmed and a likely higher toll. The killings, many of which were summary executions, targeted Alawite communities following an ambush on security forces by loyalists of ousted president Bashar al-Assad. Syrian security forces, backed by armed groups, retaliated by storming villages, reportedly killing civilians based on sectarian identity. The UN has urged an independent investigation, while Syria’s interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa has pledged accountability. Over 1,200 civilians, mostly Alawites, have died, and many have fled to Lebanon, fearing continued violence. BBC
Ontario has imposed a 25% surcharge on electricity exports to the U.S., affecting 1.5 million households and businesses in New York, Michigan, and Minnesota. Premier Doug Ford justified the move as retaliation against the Trump administration’s tariff threats on Canada, warning the surcharge could increase or power exports could be cut if tariffs escalate. The levy is expected to generate up to $280,000 daily. Minnesota officials say the policy will hurt industrial competitiveness, while former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien supports broader export taxes to fund energy infrastructure. Canada has also targeted U.S. goods, removing American spirits and wine from government-run liquor stores. WSJ
🧪 Tech & Science
UC San Francisco researchers have enabled a paralyzed man to control a robotic arm with his thoughts, using an AI-powered brain-computer interface (BCI) that adapts to brain activity changes over time. The breakthrough system functioned for a record seven months, allowing the participant to grasp and move objects after training with a virtual model. Unlike previous BCIs that needed frequent recalibration, this AI-based system adjusts to shifting brain signals, making long-term use viable. Researchers now aim to refine the technology for smoother movements and home use, potentially transforming daily life for people with paralysis. Link
An Australian man has become the world's first person discharged from hospital with a durable artificial heart. The BiVACOR titanium heart, implanted during a six-hour surgery at St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney, successfully supported the patient for over 100 days until he received a human heart transplant. The invention, developed by Queensland-born Daniel Timms, could potentially eliminate the future need for donor hearts entirely. Link
Meta considered sharing user data and creating censorship tools to gain entry into China, according to a whistleblower complaint. The company's former global policy director alleges Meta was willing to comply with extreme censorship and suppress political dissent to win approval from the Chinese Communist Party and expand Facebook’s reach into China, though the effort ultimately failed amid ethical concerns and internal opposition. WP
📺 Sports & Culture
NBC secured U.S. broadcasting rights for the Olympics through 2036 in a $3 billion deal, covering the 2034 Winter Games in Salt Lake City and the 2036 Summer Olympics. This extends NBC’s longtime partnership with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), ensuring financial stability for future games just ahead of the selection of a new IOC president. AP
Scopely, a Saudi-owned gaming company, bought Pokémon Go from Niantic for $3.5 billion, causing player concerns about possible changes. Scopely makes popular mobile games like Monopoly Go! and is owned by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund. Pokémon Go's current developers will stay, but fans worry the new ownership may increase monetization and in-game purchases. Link
Broadway's "Othello," starring Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal, has set a new box office record, with premium seats priced at $921 and grossing $2.8 million in one week. Demand has pushed the play's average ticket to $361.90—more than double the next-highest-priced show, "The Outsiders," despite "Othello" still awaiting reviews. NYT
🏎️ Fast Five
🍷Trump threatened a 200% tariff on European wines and spirits in retaliation for Europe's recent 50% levy on American whiskey. WSJ
🧳 Southwest Airlines will abandon its popular "bags fly free" policy, introducing fees for checked luggage starting with bookings after May 28, 2025. WSJ
📞 Sesame AI's new voice model makes digital assistants sound more natural by understanding context, emotions, and conversation flow, bringing them closer to real human interaction. Try a Free Demo
🤖 Google DeepMind's Gemini Robotics and Gemini Robotics-ER enhance robot perception, dexterity, and spatial reasoning, enabling precise real-world tasks like folding bags and sealing snacks. These AI models improve adaptability, safety, and interoperability, with testing by partners like Boston Dynamics and Agility Robotics. Link, Video
🚑 A brave 3-year-old Colorado boy saved his great-grandmother after she fell and split her forehead open, reassuring himself, “don't be afraid, don’t be afraid,” before retrieving her phone in the dark to call for help. Today
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