Asbestos ban, Cuba protests, and snake protein.

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Big Stories

EPA bans asbestos

The EPA announced a ban on asbestos, a carcinogen responsible for tens of thousands of American deaths annually.

• The ban targets the remaining uses of asbestos in products like chlorine bleach and brake pads, which pose serious health risks to consumers and workers alike.

• Inhaling asbestos fibers can lead to severe health conditions like lung cancer and mesothelioma. The substance causes 40,000 deaths annually in the US. While many products have phased out asbestos, the EPA's ban targets specific items still containing it, especially its usage in the chlor-alkali industry.

• The ban marks the first major action under the revised Toxic Substances Control Act of 2016. The EPA has been trying to ban asbestos outright since 1980. However, whenever they made progress, companies fought back and had the rules thrown out in court.

• Despite progress, asbestos still exists in many old buildings and other materials. Arthur Frank, a professor of environmental and occupational health at Drexel University, said “This isn’t a total ban but a modest step that reduces future exposures.”

Cuba protest

Cubans took to the streets on Sunday to protest chanting “power and food.”

• In Santiago, Cuba's second-largest city, hundreds protested power blackouts and food shortages in a rare public demonstration amid the island's worst economic crisis in three decades.

• Cuba's economy faces severe strain worsened by US sanctions and government mismanagement. The country is suffering from chronic food, fuel, and medicine shortages. The government has requested UN assistance to help with the situation but tensions are soaring as power outages continue.

• Cuba has accused the US of being involved in the protests, which the US denied. The dire economic conditions have compelled many Cubans to leave the country and seek refuge at the US-Mexico border — where over half a million encounters with Cubans have occurred between October 2022 and January 2024.

Israel-Hamas ceasefire talks restart

For the first time in months, Israel and Hamas are negotiating a potential deal to release Israeli hostages and establish a temporary ceasefire in Gaza.

• The talks are crucial as they could address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where thousands of Palestinians have lost their lives. Mediated by Qatar and Egypt, the negotiations have seen progress, but significant disagreements remain regarding prisoner releases and conditions for a ceasefire.

• The talks could lead to a six-week ceasefire in Gaza and the release of 40 specific hostages. However, challenges have arisen from differing demands, such as Hamas wanting control over released prisoners and Israel requiring advance information on hostages and deportation of prisoners. Other sticking points include Hamas's insistence on the withdrawal of IDF forces from certain areas and demands for a permanent ceasefire in later phases of the agreement.

• Despite some optimism, achieving a deal is expected to be a lengthy and complex process.

Little Stories

• Due to reduced consumer spending and shifts in pandemic-era hobbies, fabric and crafts retailer Joann has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The company will become privately owned by lenders and industry parties. Joann's 800+ stores and website will remain in business during the process. (More)

• Former Trump adviser Peter Navarro's appeal to remain free while appealing his conviction for contempt of Congress has been rejected by the Supreme Court. As a result, he must report to prison on Tuesday, where he will become the first high-ranking Trump official to serve prison time related to the Capitol riot. (More)

• The Supreme Court has extended the block on a Texas law that would give police authority to arrest migrants suspected of illegal entry into the U.S. The order suggests further action by the court, but specifics remain unclear. This is the second time Justice Alito has blocked the law’s implementation. (More)

• The Dwight D Opperman Foundation canceled its planned awards ceremony honoring Elon Musk and Rupert Murdoch with honors named after the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Chair Julie Opperman cited respect for Justice Ginsburg's memory and regretted any offense caused to her family and friends. (More)

• Trump's lawyers argue it's nearly impossible to obtain the $450 million bond required for his appeal against a New York fraud judgment after multiple companies weren’t willing to accept his real estate holdings as collateral. Trump’s team insisted the judgment is unconstitutionally high and presented an insurance broker affidavit saying the bond can’t be paid. (More)

Extra Credit

Divorces are down to prepandemic levels. 

Snakes are the new high-protein superfood. 

What the name of every state actually means. 

Dogs help people concentrate and relax.