Good Morning! Today’s edition is 1,042 words, a 4-minute read.

What’s on tap: 

• Israel okays West Bank settlements

• George Foreman passes

• Cherry blossom season in D.C.

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Big Story

Antarctic Sea Creature Discovery

Scientists recently found a thriving ecosystem that had likely existed for decades or even centuries beneath 500 feet of ice.

• A crew aboard the Schmidt Ocean Institute's research vessel quickly pivoted their expedition plans when an iceberg the size of Chicago broke away from Antarctica's George VI Ice Shelf in January. The team explored the newly exposed seafloor - an area never before accessible to humans.

• Using their remotely operated vehicle SuBastian, researchers spent eight days documenting life at depths reaching 4,200 feet. They discovered large corals, sponges, icefish, giant sea spiders, and octopuses—possibly including several new species.

• The find challenges scientists' understanding of how deep-sea ecosystems function. Unlike typical ocean floors that depend on nutrients filtering down from above, these communities thrived while completely cut off from surface nutrients for centuries. Researchers hypothesize that ocean currents may sustain the hidden ecosystems.

Big Story

Israel Approves West Bank Settlements

Israel's security Cabinet has approved a plan to separate 13 Jewish settlements in the West Bank from neighboring communities, granting them independent status.

• Currently, around 700,000 Israeli settlers live among 2.7 million Palestinians in territories Israel captured in the 1967 Six-Day War. Most countries consider these settlements illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this claim, citing historical and biblical ties to the land.

• The Palestinian Foreign Ministry condemned the decision as disregarding international legitimacy, while Hamas described it as a "desperate attempt to impose realities on the ground." The move follows approval of tens of thousands of new housing units across the West Bank.

• Separately, over 50,000 Palestinians have now been killed in the Israel-Hamas war, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. Recent Israeli airstrikes killed 26 more people, including a Hamas political leader, women, and children. Israeli troops have also entered parts of southern Rafah, forcing thousands to evacuate.

Big Story

Pope Francis Released from Hospital

Pope Francis has finally returned to the Vatican after 38 days at Rome's Gemelli hospital.

• The Pope battled a complex respiratory infection that developed into bilateral pneumonia, requiring blood transfusions and breathing assistance. Doctors said his life was threatened twice during acute respiratory crises when they had to clear "copious" mucus from his lungs manually.

• On Sunday, hundreds gathered to witness Francis make his first public appearance in five weeks. He offered a brief blessing and thumbs-up from the hospital balcony.

• Doctors have prescribed two months of rest and convalescence. Francis will receive 24-hour medical care and supplemental oxygen at his Vatican residence.

• Despite his weakened state and voice difficulties, his physician hopes he might recover enough to travel to Turkey by late May to mark 1,700 years since the Council of Nicaea.

Quick Stories

U.S. News

• Second Lady Usha Vance heads to Greenland Thursday with one of her children to join a US delegation that includes National Security Advisor Mike Waltz. They'll learn about Greenland’s heritage, explore historical sites, and catch the national dogsled race. (More)

• Evacuation orders hit western North Carolina as three wildfires rage amid a drought. Two major fires (1,200+ and 1,700+ acres) remain uncontained, with no injuries reported yet. (More)

• Chuck Schumer won't step down as Senate Minority Leader despite criticism for backing the GOP funding bill. He argued a shutdown would be "15-20 times worse" than the "bad" continuing resolution. (More)

World

• New Canadian PM Mark Carney called a snap election for April 28, seeking greater authority after recent polls showed Liberal Party resurgence following Trudeau's resignation. (More)

• Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah made history after being sworn in as Namibia's first female president. The ceremony coincided with the 35th anniversary of the country’s independence. (More)

• Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu was formally arrested on corruption charges the same day he got his party's presidential nomination. Protests have erupted over the arrest, but Turkish officials said that it wasn’t politically motivated. (More)

Business & Economy

• U.S. stock markets closed higher on Friday (S&P +0.08%, Nasdaq +0.52%, Dow +0.08%). The S&P broke four consecutive weeks of declines. (More)

• Florida's looking to tackle high homeownership costs by cutting property taxes. Gov. DeSantis questions why homeowners must pay the government to live on their own property even after they pay off mortgages. (More)

• Two United Airlines passengers sued after a pilot allegedly yanked one from the bathroom and made antisemitic comments. They're claiming emotional distress, physical injuries, and travel delays in their federal lawsuit. (More)

Sports & Entertainment

• Boxing legend George Foreman has died at 76. The two-time heavyweight champ and Olympic gold medalist later became a household name for his popular indoor grills. No cause was given. (More)

• Maryland advanced to NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 after Derik Queen's buzzer-beating floater lifted the 4th-seeded Terps over No. 12 Colorado State 72-71. Colorado State had just hit a three to go up by one before Queen’s banked in his baseline shot as time expired. (More)

• Skier Lindsey Vonn, 40, scored her first podium in six years with a silver in Sunday's World Cup super-G four months after unretiring with a new knee. She's now the oldest woman to medal at the World Cup. (More)

Science, Health, & Tech

• Duke researchers say dementia won't double by 2050 as once feared. The team found rates are dropping steadily over generations and predict just a 25% bump instead. (More)

• A NASA study shows parts of California are sinking. San Francisco Bay Area areas are dropping 0.4 inches yearly due to sediment compaction and groundwater pumping, potentially raising local sea levels 17 inches by 2050. (More)

• Princeton physicists successfully generated electricity from the Earth's rotation by using a specially angled manganese-zinc ferrite cylinder that interacts with the planet's magnetic field. (More)

Extra Credit

🌸 Cherry Blossom season in Washington, D.C., is almost here.

🐟️ Pittsburg Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes 1-of-1 baseball card sells for $1.1M.

🐕️ Nearly 900-strong dachshund parade breaks world record.

🌩️ Watch: Rare red sprite lightning strikes above the Himalayas.