Good Morning! Today’s edition is 1,074 words, a 4-minute read.

What’s on tap: 

• Mass grave in Gaza

• US travel ban postponed

• US figure skater land six quads and a backflip

First-time reader? Sign up here!

*Editor’s note: Yesterday’s edition had Houston listed twice for the NCAA Tournament Final Four teams. The actual matchups are Auburn vs. Florida and Duke vs Houston.

Big Story

Battery Supply Chain Woes

A new study published in Communications Earth & Environment reveals that freshwater availability in the "Lithium Triangle" is 10 times lower than previously estimated.

• This mineral-rich region spanning Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile contains over half of the global lithium reserves, but mining operations could soon outpace the limited rainfall in this arid landscape.

• Lithium extraction is incredibly water-intensive. The process uses up to 500,000 gallons of fresh water per ton of lithium. The same water also supports Indigenous agriculture and unique wildlife including pink flamingos and short-tailed chinchillas.

• Meanwhile, global demand for lithium—essential for EV batteries and renewable energy storage—is projected to increase 40-fold by 2040. Industry experts worry that supply constraints from water scarcity, permitting delays, and lengthy mine development timelines will create bottlenecks.

• Researchers recommend that mining companies improve water efficiency to maintain production while protecting local communities and ecosystems.

Big Story

Mass Grave in Gaza

The bodies of 15 humanitarian workers have been discovered in what the UN describes as a "mass grave" in Gaza.

• The victims included one UN worker, six Palestinian Civil Defence members, and eight Palestine Red Crescent Society staff. One person remains missing. UN humanitarian coordinator Jonathan Whittall reported the workers were still in uniform with their gloves on, buried alongside their marked vehicles - an ambulance, a fire truck, and a UN car.

• According to the UN, Israeli forces killed the first team on March 23. When additional crews were sent to locate their missing colleagues, they were also reportedly fired upon over several hours.

• The Israeli military said they opened fire on "suspicious vehicles," including ambulances and fire trucks they believed Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants were using as cover.

• The recovery effort was coordinated with Israeli authorities who identified the burial area. The UN aid agency OCHA participated in the search.

Big Story

Marine Le Pen Conviction

A Paris court banned nationalist-populist National Rally party leader Marine Le Pen from running for public office for five years.

• The conviction for embezzling €4 million ($4.3 million) of EU funds likely blocks her from the 2027 presidential election unless she wins on appeal.

• Judges sentenced Le Pen to four years in prison (two suspended, two under home detention) and a €100,000 fine. The court found she and 24 other party officials “paid” funds to fake aides to cover party costs between 2004 and 2016. While the prison sentence and fine are suspended pending appeals, the political ban takes immediate effect.

• Le Pen maintains that she is innocent and plans to appeal immediately. Jordan Bardella, Le Pen's right-hand man, is now likely the party's 2027 presidential candidate.

Quick Stories

US News

• President Trump's plan to block travelers from countries that don't meet US vetting standards has been postponed indefinitely. The State Department is still working on the report needed for the visa restrictions but has no timeline. (More)

• Deadly storms left hundreds of thousands without power across the Midwest, with five deaths reported. The severe weather is now threatening the East Coast with possible tornadoes, damaging winds, and large hail. (More)

• The State Department deported 17 more gang members to El Salvador, including both Salvadorans and Venezuelans. Officials claim they were "violent criminals." (More)

World

• The US is upgrading its military set up in Japan to a joint force headquarters, adding more staff at Yokota Air Base. Defense Secretary Hegseth says this means better cooperation and readiness for crises or defending Japan. (More)

• RSF fighters looted Sudan's National Museum, leaving only empty rooms and rubble behind. Videos posted after the army recaptured the area show how the paramilitaries stole countless artifacts during their two-year occupation. (More)

• Three missing US soldiers were found dead in their armored vehicle after it was pulled from a Lithuanian peat bog on Monday. The recovery took six days of digging by multinational forces. One soldier is still missing. (More)

Business & Economy

• US stock markets closed mixed on Monday (S&P +0.55%, Nasdaq -0.14%, Dow +1.00%). The S&P fell 5.8%, the Nasdaq lost 8.2%, and the Dow dropped 4.2% in March. (More)

• OpenAI just closed a record-breaking $40 billion funding round, valuing the ChatGPT maker at $300 billion. The deal is nearly triple the size of any previous private tech company fundraising. (More)

• Tesla stock dropped 36% this quarter – its worst performance since late 2022 when it fell 54% during Musk's Twitter purchase. This was Tesla's third-worst quarter since going public 15 years ago. (More)

Sports & Entertainment

• The Women’s NCAA Tournament Final Four field is set. UCLA will play UCLA and South Carolina will face Texas on April 4. (More)

• Braves outfielder Jurickson Profar got suspended for 80 games after testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug. He can return in July but won't be eligible for the 2025 postseason. (More)

• Sentebale charity chair Sophie Chandauka accused Prince Harry of "bullying" after he quit. She claims Harry released damaging news without warning, hurting her and 540 staff members at the organization he co-founded to help African youth. (More)

Science, Health, & Tech

• After 18 years of silence following a stroke, a woman spoke again using a brain-implanted device that turns thoughts into words in real time. (More)

• SpaceX launched the Fram2 mission last night, sending four first-time space travelers to orbit in Crew Dragon Resilience. The crew will be the first private citizens to fly over Earth's polar regions. (More)

• Poor deep and REM sleep might shrink parts of your brain that Alzheimer's hits first. A study of 270 people showed bad sleep patterns related to brain tissue loss over time. (More)

Extra Credit

⛸️ Watch: US figure skater Ilia Malinin lands six quads and a backflip.

🏖️ What age is best to reach major life milestones?

🌃 Watch the northern lights livestream.

📸 The best World Press Photos for 2025.