Good Morning! Today’s edition is 1,009 words, a 4-minute read.

What’s on tap: 

• Judge orders federal workers reinstated

• Duke’s Cooper Flagg injures ankle

• Dinosaur fossil at a school

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Big Story

Putin Agrees In Principle to Ceasefire

Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed "in principle" to a U.S.-proposed 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine.

• During a Moscow press conference, Putin called the idea "correct" but said that details must be worked out and any truce should lead to lasting peace. He expressed interest in speaking directly with President Trump about the terms and thanked him for his attention to settling the conflict.

• As diplomatic efforts advance with Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff arriving in Moscow, Russia claims its forces have recaptured Sudzha, a key Ukrainian operations hub in Russia's Kursk region. Putin recently visited military commanders there, wearing fatigues and instructing them to "completely free" the region from Ukrainian forces.

• Trump offered guarded optimism about Putin's statement but noted the deal "wasn't complete." Ukrainian President Zelenskyy criticized Russia for its slow response to the ceasefire proposal but is determined to "move quickly toward peace."

Big Story

Judge Orders DOGE Layoffs Back to Work

A California federal judge ordered six U.S. agencies to reinstate thousands of recently-fired probationary employees.

• Judge William Alsup ruled that the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) had improperly ordered mass layoffs despite lacking the authority. About 25,000 federal employees had been terminated as of March 5, with another 75,000 accepting buyouts.

• The ruling applies to probationary employees at six major departments: Defense, Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, Energy, Interior, and Treasury. These workers typically have less than one year of service in their current roles but generally can only be fired for performance issues.

• The decision marks the most significant setback to date for President Trump and adviser Elon Musk's federal workforce reduction plans. Several other legal challenges to the mass firings have been filed, including cases by 20 Democrat-led states.

Big Story

Titanium Heart Breakthrough

An Australian man in his early 40s has made medical history by living a record 105 days with a titanium heart while waiting for a donor organ.

• Even more remarkably, he became the world's first patient to be discharged from the hospital with the mechanical device, spending about a month at home before receiving his donor heart.

• Surgeons implanted the device during a six-hour procedure at St. Vincent Hospital Sydney on November 22, 2024, as part of the hospital's Artificial Heart Frontiers Program. The man, who chose to remain anonymous, received his donor heart on March 6 and is now recovering well.

• Designed by Dr. Daniel Timms, the metal heart is small enough to fit into a 12-year-old and is powered by an external rechargeable battery that connects to the heart via a wire in the patient’s chest. Future models could house the battery and offer wireless charging similar to smartphones.

• The program's ultimate ambition is to have patients living with the devices permanently without needing transplants.

Quick Stories

U.S. News

• The FBI warned about fake toll collection texts spreading across U.S. states. These "smishing" scams have prompted 2,000+ complaints this month as they threaten penalties to trick people into sharing financial information. (More)

• Canadians staying in the U.S. over 30 days must now register with immigration officials starting April 11. The rule, previously not enforced for Canadians, comes with penalties for non-compliance. (More)

• President Trump threatened a 200% tariff on European alcohol if the EU implements its planned 50% tax on American whiskey. (More)

World

• A citizen group searching for missing relatives in Jalisco discovered human remains at a remote ranch that authorities had supposedly investigated months earlier. The findings prompted federal intervention into Mexico's disappeared persons crisis. (More)

• Poland's President Duda has asked the U.S. to move nuclear weapons to Polish territory to deter Russia. He told the Financial Times this would balance Russia placing nukes in Belarus. (More)

• Former mafia boss Jean-Pierre Maldera was killed Wednesday in a highway shooting near Grenoble, France. He was one of the Franco-Italian mob godfathers who terrorized the region in the 1980s alongside his brother Robert. (More)

Business & Economy

• U.S. stock markets closed lower on Thursday (S&P -1.39%, Nasdaq -1.96%, Dow -1.30%). The S&P closed the day in correction — 10.1% off its record high. (More)

• Postmaster DeJoy signed a deal with Elon Musk's DOGE reform team to help the struggling Postal Service. USPS lost $9.5 billion last year and plans to cut 10,000 jobs. (More)

• Mortgage rates rose slightly this week, with 30-year loans averaging 6.65% compared to 6.63% last week. This ends a seven-week decline that eased borrowing costs headed into homebuying season. (More)

Sports & Entertainment

• A Virginia high school athlete faces misdemeanor assault charges after hitting another competitor with a baton during a relay race. (More)

• Duke basketball freshman phenom Cooper Flagg sprained his left ankle during Thursday's ACC tournament win over Georgia Tech. He is expected to be out for the semifinal. (More)

• The Tampa Bay Rays pulled out of a $1.3 billion ballpark project near Tropicana Field. The team will play at Steinbrenner Field this season while the Trop undergoes repairs for a 2026 return. (More)

Science, Health, & Tech

• Measles cases in Europe doubled last year, hitting a 25-year high according to WHO and UNICEF. Over 40% of cases were in children under five. (More)

• Saturn now has 274 moons after astronomers officially recognized 128 new ones discovered in 2023. This nearly doubles its previous count of 146 and dwarfs Jupiter's 95 moons. (More)

• Scientists in Spain uncovered 1.1-1.4 million-year-old facial bones from a possible new human species. Nicknamed "Pink" (after Pink Floyd), this fossil is now considered the oldest face found in Western Europe. (More)

Extra Credit

🌶️ A guide to the peppers of the world.

🦖 Australian school discovers a rock is actually a dinosaur fossil.

🍀 The best U.S. cities to celebrate St. Patty’s Day. 

🐈️ Cat finds her way back to owner two months after the LA fires.