Good Morning! Today’s edition is 1,155 words, a 4-minute read.

What’s on tap: 

• Conservatives take Germany elections

• Largest crypto heist

• States that don’t tax retirement income

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Big Story

Germany Elections

Germany’s conservatives won the national election, and the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) had its best result ever, coming in second.

• Now conservative leader Friedrich Merz has to form a new coalition government by working with other parties. However, he has already said he won't work with the AfD. (Read How Germany’s Federal Elections Work)

• Germany is facing several serious challenges that the new government must handle. The economy has shrunk for two years in a row, and Germans are more worried about their living standards than they've been since 2008. Immigration has become a heated issue, with public opinion shifting dramatically since 2015 when Germany welcomed many refugees.

• The country also needs to make important decisions about supporting Ukraine and dealing with Russia and China. However, forming a new government could take months, during which time Socialist leader Olaf Scholz will stay on as a temporary leader, making it harder for Germany to address these urgent issues.

• This election was unusual because it was only the fourth early election in German history. It was held because the previous government fell apart due to disagreements about money and the economy.

Big Story

SS Artificial Reef

The SS United States, a massive 1,000-foot ocean liner that has been sitting in Philadelphia for years, began its final journey last week.

• The ship is being towed to Alabama for preparation work, and will eventually be sunk off the Florida coast to become an artificial reef. Preparing and sinking it will take at least a year and a half to complete.

• Florida's Okaloosa County is spending over $10 million to turn the ship into the world's largest artificial reef. Once sunk, officials expect it to become a major diving attraction among the county's 500 artificial reefs. They believe it will bring in millions of dollars from tourists who want to scuba dive around the historic vessel.

• When the SS United States first sailed in 1952, it set a speed record for crossing the Atlantic Ocean. The ship made the journey in just over three days, beating the previous record by 10 hours. It could reach speeds of 44 mph, which is fast for an ocean liner. The vessel served both as a luxury passenger ship and as a potential military transport that could carry thousands of troops if needed. (Read Full Ship History Here)

Big Story

Queen of the Slopes

Mikaela Shiffrin extended her own record by clinching her 100th World Cup skiing victory on Sunday.

• Shiffrin also tied both the men's and women's all-time World Cup record for podium finishes, matching Swedish legend Ingemar Stenmark's mark of 155 - and she did so in fewer races.

• Shiffrin shrugged off some recent demons to claim this milestone. After winning her 99th race in Austria three months ago, she had a bad crash in Vermont that left her with severe muscle injuries and a deep wound. The accident also caused her anxiety about racing. She struggled in recent competitions but showed no signs of nervousness in Sunday's slalom victory, finishing over half a second ahead of her closest competitor.

• Despite the record-setting win, her injury absence has affected her standing in this season's World Cup rankings. She currently sits in sixth place in the slalom standings, 163 points behind leader Zrinka Ljutic, with only two races remaining in the season.

Quick Stories

US News

• The Trump administration is firing approximately 2,000 USAID employees and placing others on administrative leave, effective Sunday at midnight. A federal judge recently allowed DOGE to proceed with the mass terminations. (More)

• A gunman took hospital staff hostage at UPMC Memorial in Pennsylvania, leading to a deadly police shootout. One officer and the attacker were killed, while three hospital workers and two officers were wounded, plus one staff injured from falling. (More)

• California Governor Gavin Newsom has requested $40 billion in federal aid for Los Angeles following the January wildfires. Damages are estimated at $250 billion. If confirmed, it could become America's most expensive natural disaster. (More)

World

• An American Airlines flight from New York to New Delhi was diverted to Rome over a security concern that proved to be false. After inspection and clearance, the flight will continue to India following an overnight crew rest. (More)

• Pope Francis is still in critical condition with pneumonia and lung infection, plus early kidney failure, though doctors say it's controlled. Despite needing oxygen, he remains alert and attended Mass, per the Vatican. (More)

• President Zelenskyy announced he would step down as Ukraine's leader in exchange for either genuine peace or immediate NATO membership, emphasizing he prioritizes Ukraine's current security over long-term personal power. (More)

Business & Economy

• US stock markets closed lower on Friday (S&P -1.71%, Nasdaq -2.20%, Dow -1.69%). New economic data showing a slowing economy and sticky inflation caused investors to sell off stocks. (More)

• Cryptocurrency exchange Bybit lost $1.5 billion in digital assets after hackers breached its secure offline storage system. The theft, mostly in ether currency, is the largest cryptocurrency heist ever. (More)

• Berkshire Hathaway reported record profits in 2024's fourth quarter, driven by strong insurance performance and investment returns. The company's cash reserves doubled to $334.2 billion, and operating profit rose 71% to 14.53 billion. (More)

Sports & Entertainment

• At the 2025 SAG Awards, "Conclave" won best film cast for its story about papal election drama. "Shōgun" and "Only Murders in the Building" won TV ensemble awards. Timothée Chalamet and Demi Moore received top acting honors. (More)

• Soul music legend Jerry Butler, known as the "Ice Man" and famous for hits like "Only the Strong Survive," died at 85 in Chicago. He battled Parkinson's disease before passing away Thursday. (More)

• The USWNT advanced to the SheBelieves Cup final after beating Australia 2-1, with goals from Biyendolo and Cooper. They'll face Japan on Wednesday to secure their sixth straight tournament title. (More)

Science, Health, & Tech

• UCLA scientists found that ongoing stress switches brain activity between two neural pathways, making decision-making rigid and habitual. The discovery could help explain conditions like addiction, OCD, and depression. (More)

• Researchers suggest the Oort cloud, a shell of icy objects at our solar system's edge, may contain spiral arms like a tiny galaxy. This formation contains leftover material from giant planet formation 4.6 billion years ago. (More)

• Virologists in Wuhan discovered a new coronavirus in bats that can enter human cells like COVID-19. While the virus could potentially spread to humans, researchers believe it's not as severe as SARS-CoV-2. (More)

Extra Credit

🔧 Watch: Flying electric car leapfrogs another vehicle.

🏀 Alex Rodriquez’s half-court shot wins Bucknell student $10,000.

🍌 Authorities seize 303 coke-filled ceramic bananas.

💸 States that don’t tax retirement income.