Good Morning! Today’s edition is 1,161 words, a 4-minute read.

What’s on tap: 

• US obesity rates drop

• Russian oil tanker sinks & spills

• The man who feeds Gaza’s children

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Big Story

ABC Settles with Trump for $15 Million

ABC News and anchor George Stephanopoulos settled a defamation lawsuit with President-elect Donald Trump, agreeing to apologize and pay $15 million.

• ABC will make the payment as a “charitable contribution” that will be earmarked for a planned presidential library. The company will also pay $1 million in Trump’s attorney fees.

• Trump filed the suit against Stephanopoulos after a March 10 interview on ABC’s “This Week” program in which Stephanopoulos wrongly claimed that Trump had been found liable for rape in E. Jean Carroll’s two civil cases.

• Neither verdict had a finding of rape as defined under New York law. In the first trial, Trump was found liable for sexually abusing and defaming Carroll, and he was found liable for additional defamation claims at a second trial. Trump is appealing both verdicts.

• The president-elect has civil lawsuits pending against CBS News, journalist Bob Woodward, publisher Simon & Schuster, and CNN.

Big Story

South Korea Impeachment

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was impeached after attempting to impose martial law on December 3.

• Yoon’s actions and approval rating, which plunged to 17.3% after the incident, raised significant concerns about his leadership and stability in the country. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo will act as president during this period, and a new presidential election must happen within 60 days.

• The martial law declaration, though reversed within six hours, sparked fears of further authoritarian measures. Yoon defended his actions, claiming they were necessary to protect South Korea from pro-North Korea groups.

• His presidency has also been marred by various controversies, including a luxury handbag scandal involving his wife, businesswoman Kim Keon Hee.

• South Korea has seen other impeachments in recent history, with presidents Roh Moo-hyun in 2004 and Park Geun-hye in 2016 also removed from office.

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Big Story

US Obesity Rates Drop

For the first time in over a decade, obesity rates among US adults decreased slightly, according to new research published in JAMA Health Forum.

• The study found the prevalence of adult obesity dropped from 46% in 2022 to 45.6% in 2023, with the most significant declines observed in the South, particularly among women and adults aged 66 to 75.

• Experts believe the rise in weight loss drug use, such as GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Mounjaro, may have contributed to the decrease. The South also had the highest per-capita use of these drugs, based on insurance claims data.

• While experts are optimistic about the results, some note that dips in obesity rates have been temporary in the past. Additionally, the study focused primarily on GLP-1 drugs and insurance claims data, meaning people without insurance or paying out-of-pocket for GLP-1s may not have been fully represented.

Quick Stories

U.S. News

• Fort Eisenhower in Georgia was locked down Saturday after a shooting left one person dead at base housing. Authorities say it was an isolated incident. The shooter was apprehended, and the lockdown was lifted about two hours later. (More)

• New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that runways at Stewart Airport were closed for about an hour Friday night due to nearby drone activity. She called for stronger drone oversight from Congress, citing rising concerns about drone sightings in New Jersey, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. (More)

• A tornado in central California uprooted trees, tossed cars, and injured several people while San Francisco issued its first-ever tornado warning. Concurrently, severe weather impacted other parts of the US, including heavy snow in upstate New York and a major ice storm in the Midwest. (More)

World

• A Russian oil tanker carrying thousands of tons of oil broke in half during a strong storm on Sunday, spilling oil into the Kerch Strait. At least one person died when the tanker split apart and partially sank. Another tanker was damaged and is also in trouble. (More)

• Israel is closing its embassy in Ireland, citing Ireland’s support for a petition at the International Court of Justice accusing Israel of genocide. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar announced the decision, criticizing Ireland’s “extreme anti-Israeli policies” and its recent stance at the ICJ. (More)

• Tropical Cyclone Chido hit southeast Africa, possibly killing thousands of people in Mayotte, a French Indian Ocean territory. It struck Mozambique later on Sunday. Winds reached 124 mph in Mayotte and 115 mph in Mozambique, comparable to a Category 3 hurricane in the Atlantic. (More)

Business & Economy

• US stock markets closed mixed on Friday (S&P -0.00%, Nasdaq +0.12%, Dow -0.20%). The Dow fell for a seventh session while the S&P ended its three-week winning streak. (More)

• Global coffee prices hit a 47-year high, with Arabica beans reaching $3.44 per pound, surpassing the 1977 record of $3.35. Brazil, the top Arabica producer, is grappling with extreme drought which has caused smaller harvests and higher costs. (More)

• A University of Miami study found that 35 buildings along the Miami Beach to Sunny Isles Beach coastline are sinking by 2 to 8 centimeters due to ground subsidence. The high rises host tens of thousands of residents and tourists. (More)

Sports & Entertainment

• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 32 points to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 111-96 win over the Houston Rockets on Saturday. The victory sends the Thunder to the NBA Cup championship, where they will face the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday. (More)

• The Spider-Man spinoff Kraven the Hunter had a rough debut, earning just $11 million in North America this weekend. It was one of the weakest openings for a Marvel-related film, performing even worse than Madame Web. (More)

• Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes left Sunday’s game due to a right ankle injury. Chiefs coach Andy Reid later confirmed that Mahomes' ankle was not broken. (More)

Science, Health, & Tech

• A Stanford University study warns that raw milk, often praised as a natural alternative to pasteurized dairy, can have hidden risks. The research found that the flu virus can remain infectious in refrigerated raw milk for up to five days. (More)

• Former OpenAI researcher Suchir Balaji was found dead in his San Francisco apartment recently. Earlier this year, Balaji left OpenAI and called out alleged US copyright violations in the development of ChatGPT. The San Francisco medical examiner’s office ruled his death a suicide. (More)

• New research suggests that intermittent fasting, though good for metabolic health, might slow hair regrowth by harming hair follicle stem cells. A small human trial found an 18% slower hair growth rate with time-restricted eating though vitamin E reduced the effects. (More)

Extra Credit

🥐 Is the five-second rule for food true?

⚾️ Freddie Freeman’s World Series home run ball sold for $1.56 million.

🔮 Expert predictions about the future from 2009.

🧑‍🍳 Watch: The man who feeds Gaza’s children.