Good Morning! Today’s edition is 1,090 words, a 4-minute read.

What’s on tap: 

• TikTok’s last dance

• Israel Hamas ceasefire deal

• AI Brad Pitt rips off French woman

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Big Story

New Obesity Definition

A group of 58 international experts has suggested a new way to define obesity that doesn't rely on Body Mass Index (BMI).

• Instead of just using a person's height and weight calculations, they want to look at obesity more like a chronic illness. Their new definition focuses on how excess body fat affects organ and tissue function in the body.

• The current BMI system has serious limitations. Since BMI only considers height and weight, it can incorrectly label muscular people as obese or miss excess fat in people with "normal" BMIs. This matters because about 40% of US adults are currently considered obese using BMI measurements.

• Under the proposed system, clinical obesity would be diagnosed if excess fat causes either reduced organ/tissue function, significant limitations in daily activities, or both.

• The experts suggest that BMI should only be used to study large populations, not to make decisions about individual health care.

Big Story

Red Dye Ban

The FDA announced it's banning Red Dye No. 3, a synthetic food coloring that gives many foods their bright red cherry color.

• Food companies have until Jan. 15, 2027, to remove the ingredient from their products, while companies making supplements get an extra year. The decision comes after decades of concerns about the dye's safety, as studies found it may cause cancer as well as affect children’s behavior.

• Red Dye No. 3 is currently used in thousands of common foods like candy, cereals, and fruit cocktails. The chemical was banned in cosmetics in 1990, and many other countries, including the European Union, Japan, and Australia, have already banned or restricted its use in food.

• Food industry groups have said they will follow the new rules and work to ensure their products remain safe for consumers. Meanwhile, many companies have already started removing artificial dyes from their products.

Big Story

TikTok’s Last Dance

TikTok could disappear from American phones as early as Jan. 19th if the Supreme Court upholds a new law requiring its sale.

• During recent court discussions, most Supreme Court justices seemed to support the law. If banned, TikTok plans to shut down its service for its 170 million US users, showing them only a message explaining the ban when they try to open the app.

• While people might try using VPNs (tools that hide your internet location) to access TikTok, this could be difficult if their app store account is based in the US. Many users and content creators are already moving to other platforms like YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels, and newer apps like Lemon8 and RedNote.

• The situation stems from a law signed by President Biden that gives ByteDance until Jan. 19th to sell TikTok's US operations or face a ban. The government is concerned about national security risks due to TikTok's Chinese ownership, including worries about misinformation and spying.

• ByteDance argues the law violates their rights and only 32% of Americans support banning the app. President-elect Trump, who previously tried to ban TikTok, has recently suggested he might try to save it.

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Quick Stories

US News

• A blast of arctic air is expected this weekend into early next week, bringing the season’s coldest temperatures to parts of the Midwest, South, and Northeast. Temps will be between 15 to 30 degrees below average. (More)

• The New Georgia Project, founded by Stacey Abrams, and its Action Fund agreed to pay a $300,000 fine for failing to report $4.2 million in donations and $3.2 million in spending during Abrams' 2018 gubernatorial campaign. (More)

• In his farewell address, President Biden reflected on his legacy and stressed the importance of presidential accountability, calling for a constitutional amendment to ensure no president is above the law. (More)

World

• Israel and Hamas agreed to a deal, ending the Gaza war after 15 months of violence. It starts with a six-week ceasefire on Jan. 19th, Israeli troop withdrawal from Gaza, and Hamas releasing hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. (More)

• South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was arrested on Wednesday, marking the first time a sitting president has been arrested. This follows a failed attempt on Jan. 3, where security prevented investigators from entering Yoon's residence. (More)

• Mozambique's new President Daniel Chapo took office in a tense ceremony marked by opposition protests and boycotts following disputed elections. (More)

Business & Economy

• US stock markets closed higher on Wednesday (S&P +1.83%, Nasdaq +2.45%, Dow +1.65%). The latest consumer price index report showed core inflation slowed in December and sent the market soaring. (More)

• The Federal Trade Commission accused the three largest pharmacy benefit managers of making over $7.3 billion in profits over five years by inflating the prices of specialty generic drugs for conditions like cancer and HIV. (More)

• JPMorgan Chase posted record fourth-quarter revenue and profit, driven by strong net interest income, fixed-income trading, and investment banking. Quarterly profit surged 50% to $14 billion. (More)

Sports & Entertainment

• The College Football Hall of Fame announced its 2025 inductees, including 18 players and four coaches. Notable names include championship coaches Nick Saban and Urban Meyer and players Michael Vick and Michael Strahan. (More)

• Universal dominated the BAFTA nominations with 32 nods, including The Brutalist (9 nominations), Anora and Wicked (7 each), and Nosferatu (5). (More)

• Women's basketball teams will now receive payments for participating in the NCAA tournament, like the men have for years, following a plan approved at the NCAA convention. (More)

Science, Health, & Tech

• Researchers found ancient wave ripples on Mars preserved in rock. These ripples confirm the existence of open water on the planet's surface, challenging the idea that Martian lakes were entirely ice-covered. (More)

• An independent developer is creating a photo-sharing app for Bluesky called Flashes. The app aims to meet the growing demand for social media alternatives to Big Tech platforms. (More)

• The potential TikTok ban in the US has led to a surge in interest in Mandarin on Duolingo. Since mid-January, the app has seen a 216% increase in US users learning the language, which coincides with the rise of RedNote, a Chinese social app. (More)

Extra Credit

🚰 Is it time to replace your water bottle?

💵 How much money do the US presidents make?

💰️ …and AI Brad Pitt Dupes woman out of €830,000.

🍾 Why people struggle to stick to New Year’s resolutions.