Good Morning! Today’s edition is 1,086 words, a 4-minute read.

What’s on tap: 

• Beached whales in Australia

• Small plane crash

• The man fork

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Big Story

Drug Cartels Designated As Terrorists

The US government has labeled eight drug cartels, including the Tren de Aragua and Sinaloa Cartel, as global terrorist organizations.

• This decision came from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who said these groups threaten US national security, foreign policy, and economic interests. The designation allows the government to freeze assets and ban travel for members and associates of these groups.

• Trump had considered making the move during his first term (2017-2021) but decided against it because some officials worried it could harm relations with Mexico. There were also concerns it might make it easier for migrants to claim asylum by saying they were fleeing terrorism.

• Six of the cartels operate in Mexico, and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum is pushing back against the label. While Trump claims Mexico is "essentially run by the cartels," Sheinbaum called the terrorism designation "interference" and suggested the US should focus on “making arrests to stop drug trafficking in its own country.”

Big Story

IVF Executive Order

President Trump signed an executive order to make IVF (in vitro fertilization) more affordable.

• Right now, one round of IVF can cost between $12,000 and $25,000. The order asks for suggestions on protecting access to IVF and lowering costs. Most Americans (about 60%) support protecting access to IVF, and it helps create about 2% of all babies born in the US. (Read order here)

• IVF is a treatment that helps people who have trouble getting pregnant. Doctors take eggs from a woman and combine them with sperm in a laboratory to create an embryo. They then put the embryo into the woman's uterus to try to start a pregnancy. People can use their own eggs and sperm or get them from donors. (See in-depth explainer here)

• Getting IVF covered by insurance depends on where you work and what kind of insurance you have. Big companies often cover it to keep good employees, but smaller companies and government programs like Medicaid usually don't.

Big Story

Stranded Whales

A group of 157 false killer whales became stranded on a remote beach near Arthur River in northwestern Tasmania.

• Two residents found and reported the animals, but bad ocean and weather conditions prevented their rescue. The number of surviving whales dropped quickly, from 136 to 90 within hours. Since the whales couldn't be saved and were suffering, experts decided they would need to be humanely euthanized.

• Despite their name, false killer whales are part of the dolphin family and usually travel in groups. Scientists aren't sure why the whales beached themselves, but it could be due to things like loud noises, illness, injury, or bad weather.

• There have been several recent whale strandings in Australia, including 29 pilot whales in early 2024 and about 100 in 2023. The largest in Australian history happened in 2020, when 460 pilot whales got stuck in Macquarie Harbor.

Quick Stories

US News

• Newly confirmed Health Secretary RFK Jr. announced plans to investigate childhood vaccination timing and antidepressants as potential factors in chronic diseases. He promised "nothing is off limits" during a staff speech at HHS headquarters. (More)

• Two small planes, a Lancair and a Cessna, crashed into each other at Marana Regional Airport in Arizona, killing two people. Each plane had two passengers when they collided midair near runway 12. (More)

• The Trump administration halted New York City's new congestion pricing program, which charged $9 for vehicles entering southern Manhattan. NYC officials claim the toll reduced traffic, but critics called it unfair to working people. (More)

World

• President Trump and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy got into a public argument yesterday. Trump called Zelenskyy "a dictator without elections" and criticized him for delaying elections (which is required under Ukrainian law during war). Zelenskyy fired back, saying Trump was caught up in "Russian disinformation."  (More)

• The Netherlands will return 119 Benin Bronzes to Nigeria. The cultural treasures were stolen by British forces in 1897 from Benin City and sold to museums worldwide, including the Dutch Wereldmuseum. (More)

• Brazil charged former president Bolsonaro with allegedly plotting to remain in power after losing the 2022 election, including plans to poison his opponent, Lula. He and 33 others are accused of attempting a coup. (More)

Business & Economy

• US stock markets closed higher on Wednesday (S&P +0.24%, Nasdaq +0.07%, Dow +0.16%). Tech gains pushed the S&P to another all-time high yesterday. (More)

• KFC's parent company, Yum! Brands announced it's moving KFC’s corporate headquarters from Louisville, Kentucky, to Plano, Texas. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said the company's founder would be disappointed in the move. (More)

• Electric vehicle maker Nikola has filed for bankruptcy and plans to sell its assets. Like other EV startups from the pandemic era, the company struggled with low demand, money problems, leadership issues, and falling stock prices. (More)

Sports & Entertainment

• SEC and Big Ten commissioners want to change how teams are seeded in the 12-team College Football Playoff starting this fall. However, all FBS commissioners and Notre Dame must unanimously approve any changes. (More)

• Officials at the Dubai Tennis Championships removed a man for stalking Emma Raducanu. He approached her Monday and appeared at her match Tuesday, causing her to cry and hide behind the umpire's chair. (More)

• The USA men will play Canada in the 4 Nations Face-Off hockey championship game tonight at 8 p.m. ET. The matchup will be intense after the two teams got into three fights in the opening 9 seconds during the US’s 3-1 win in last Saturday’s game. (More)

Science, Health, & Tech

• Cardiovascular health experts found that the artificial sweetener aspartame raises insulin in animals, causing artery plaque buildup (atherosclerosis). This increases inflammation and may raise the risk of heart attacks and strokes over time. (More)

• Instagram's new DM features add message scheduling, translation, pinning, and song sharing capabilities. The changes will allow users to manage conversations better without switching apps. (More)

• In a new study, custom mRNA vaccines show the potential to treat pancreatic cancer, which is often deadly as it's usually found late because it doesn’t cause symptoms until advanced stages. (More)

Extra Credit

💃 Your body is hardwired to dance even if you don’t like the music.

⭐️ A star gazer’s paradise: Jasper, Canada.

🧳 ...and 50 years’ worth of tips from a world traveler.

🍴 Behold, the 6-tined man fork.