Good Morning! Today’s edition is 1,002 words, a 4-minute read.

What’s on tap: 

• Israel gets involved on another front

• Airplane liquid rules

• Must-try breakfast sandwiches

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Editor’s note: A few readers informed me that I pasted the wrong link to the mosaic story in yesterday’s edition, so I included it again today. Thanks for the callout. - Adam

Big Stories

Israel Bombs Damascus

• Israel launched airstrikes in Damascus on Wednesday, targeting Syria's Defense Ministry headquarters and killing three people while injuring 34. The strikes were aimed at Syrian government forces fighting Druze communities—a religious minority that lives in both Syria and Israel. Many Druze serve in the Israeli military, and Tel Aviv said the strikes were meant to defend those communities.

• The violence began with clashes between local Sunni tribes and Druze armed factions in southern Syria, with Syria's new government forces intervening on the side of the Sunni groups against the Druze minority. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said forces would "continue to attack regime forces until they withdraw from the area." Over 300 people have been killed since Monday.

• The fighting threatens Syria's stability following the ouster of Bashar Assad’s government in December. Religious minorities now fear persecution under the new Sunni Muslim authorities. Syria's government and Druze leaders announced a renewed ceasefire Wednesday, after Tuesday’s agreement collapsed in less than a day.

Brain Data Protection

• Colorado, California, and Montana have passed laws to protect brain data as consumer devices, like headphones and earbuds that monitor brain activity and connect to smartphone apps, become more popular. The laws require companies to get express consent before collecting neural data and separate consent before sharing it with third parties.

• A Neurorights Foundation study found that 29 of 30 companies selling neurotechnology products online have unrestricted access to brain data, and almost all can share the information with third parties. These consumer devices, marketed to improve sleep and focus, lack the privacy protections required in medical settings, prompting the American Medical Association to call for greater regulation.

• The bipartisan legislation passed unanimously or nearly unanimously in all three states, reflecting lawmakers' view that brain data represents a new privacy frontier requiring immediate protection. At least 15 additional states have introduced similar bills.

Labubu Craze

• Chinese toy company Pop Mart expects profits to jump at least 350% in the first half of this year, driven largely by its viral plush toy Labubu. The pointy-eared, sharp-toothed monster character, created by artist Kasing Lung and inspired by Nordic mythology, took off after Pop Mart introduced keychain versions in 2023 that became perfect bag accessories.

• Celebrities like Rihanna, Kim Kardashian, and K-pop star Lisa were spotted with the toys, creating viral moments across social media. The unintentional celebrity endorsements helped drive Pop Mart's revenue to more than double to $1.81 billion in 2024, with plush toy sales soaring over 1,200% to account for nearly 22% of total revenue.

• The Labubu joins a long line of toy crazes that have captivated consumers and created massive profits, from the 1980s Cabbage Patch Kids that had parents waiting in long lines to the 1990s Beanie Babies that made founder Ty Warner a billionaire in three years.

Quick Stories

US News

• Former NYC interim police chief Thomas Donlon filed a federal racketeering lawsuit Wednesday, accusing Mayor Eric Adams of running the NYPD as a "criminal enterprise." (More)

• Homeland Security chief Kristi Noem said Wednesday the agency may relax liquid limits on flights after dropping shoe removal rules. (More)

• Health Secretary RFK Jr. fired his chief of staff and deputy chief without explanation, naming White House liaison Matt Buckham as the new acting chief. (More)

World

• Iceland's Reykjanes peninsula volcano erupted Wednesday for the ninth time since 2023, forcing evacuations of Grindavík village and Blue Lagoon spa. (More)

• Australia's fertility rate dropped to 1.51 children per woman in 2024, with Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane hit hardest as housing costs force families to delay having children. (More)

• Cambodia arrested over 1,000 suspects in cybercrime raids this week after Prime Minister Hun Manet ordered a crackdown on online scam operations targeting international victims. (More)

Business & Economy

• US stock markets closed higher on Wednesday (S&P +0.32%, Nasdaq +0.26%, Dow +0.53%). Stocks rebounded after initially dropping off on rumors that President Trump was planning to fire Fed Chairman Jerome Powell. (More)

• Bitmine Immersion Technologies surged 22% Wednesday after tech billionaire Peter Thiel disclosed a 9% stake in the crypto treasury company. (More)

• Goldman Sachs crushed earnings Wednesday with profit jumping 22% as trading desks earned $840 million more than expected from Trump tariff-driven market volatility. Its shares are up 23% this year. (More)

Sports & Entertainment

• Golf's final major tees off today from Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland with home favorites Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry leading a deep field including world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and defending champion Xander Schauffele. (More)

• Bradley Beal agreed to a Phoenix Suns buyout that lets him sign with the Los Angeles Clippers for two years and $11 million. (More)

• Nintendo cast Bo Bragason as Princess Zelda and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth as Link in the live-action "Legend of Zelda" movie set for May 2027. (More)

Science, Health, & Tech

• Google DeepMind researchers found large language models abandon correct answers when presented with opposing advice, showing AI systems can lose confidence and change their minds. (More)

• Scientists found that insomnia severity worsens ADHD symptoms and quality of life in middle-aged adults, suggesting that treating sleep problems could help symptoms. (More)

• Astronomers used the Webb telescope to spot rocky planets forming around baby star HOPS-315, capturing the birth of a solar system. (More)

Extra Credit

Indian police find Russian woman and her 2 daughters living in an isolated cave.

Woman sues Monster Energy, claiming a dead mouse was in her can.

9 must-try breakfast sandwiches across the US. 

Play some tunes on the keyboard keyboard.

An erotic mosaic stolen by WWII Nazi captain returns to Pompeii.