Gaza Cease-Fire, Alzheimer's Drug, and the Cronogiri.

Good morning! Today’s edition is 809 words, a 3 minute read.

First-time reader? Sign up here!

Big Stories

U.N. Security Council passes Gaza Cease-Fire Proposal

The United Nations Security Council approved a U.S.-drafted cease-fire deal to stop the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

• The resolution needed at least nine votes and no vetoes from countries like the U.S., France, Britain, China, or Russia. China did not block it and Russia abstained. The two countries had previously vetoed a similar resolution in March.

• The resolution outlines a three-phase plan. The first phase calls for an immediate cease-fire, release of hostages, and withdrawal of Israeli forces from populated areas in Gaza. The second phase aims for a permanent end to hostilities and a full Israeli withdrawal in exchange for the release of all remaining hostages. The third phase focuses on long-term reconstruction in Gaza.

• While Hamas welcomed the resolution, Israel showed reluctance, especially after a recent rescue of hostages reinforced Prime Minister Netanyahu's determination to continue the invasion. The resolution’s success depends on both sides agreeing to the terms and implementing the proposed phases.

“Tornado Alley” is Shifting

A new study reveals that "Tornado Alley" is migrating eastward.

• Observational data from 1951-2020 show a rise in tornado frequency in more populated regions of the Midwest and Southeast, challenging the traditional notion of the Plains as the tornado epicenter of the U.S.

• The study found notable regional variations in tornado frequency. Southern Mississippi, middle Tennessee, and southwestern Kentucky experienced the largest increases, while northern Texas and southern Oklahoma saw the most significant decreases. Areas around Jackson, Mississippi had the highest increase in tornadoes, whereas Cleburne, Texas had the largest decrease.

• Researchers also found a shift from warm-season to cold-season tornadoes, with a 37% decline in summer tornadoes.

Anti-Vaping Task Force

The U.S. Justice Department and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have created a new task force to combat the sale and distribution of illegal e-cigarettes.

• The task force will be focusing on protecting youth from illegal vaping products. The initiative follows the FDA issuing over 1,100 warning letters to various parties for selling unauthorized new tobacco products, including e-cigarettes.

• The FDA has so far only approved 23 tobacco-flavored e-cigarette products for sale. Still, thousands of unauthorized vaping products have entered the U.S., mainly from China. One such brand, Elf Bar, was the most popular e-cigarette among underage users last year, according to federal data.

• E-cigarettes were originally marketed as a way for tobacco smokers to wean off cigarettes. However, they quickly became popular with high school and middle school children. Vaping companies and Big Tobacco jumped on the oppertunity and began targeting underage users with ad campaigns and kid-friendly flavors.

• Health issues began popping up quickly because e-cigarettes produce many dangerous chemicals that can cause lung and heart disease. Major players in the industry were gutted almost overnight by lawsuits from 46 states, D.C., and five U.S. territories. Big Tobacco companies agreed to pay $246 billion over 25 years to settle the claims.

Little Stories

• A group of federal drug advisers unanimously agreed that Eli Lilly's experimental Alzheimer's drug, donanemab, helps patients in early stages and its benefits are greater than its risks. The decision might lead to FDA approval and Medicare coverage, making donanemab the second drug of its kind to be approved. (More)

• Wild elephants might use unique rumbling sounds to call each other by names, similar to dolphins. Biologists studied 469 rumbles from wild African elephants in Kenya using machine learning. They found that the model correctly identified the intended elephant 27.5% of the time, suggesting some rumbles act like names. (More)

• Ukraine claims it destroyed one of Russia's advanced Sukhoi Su-57 fighter jets in a weekend strike at the Akhtubinsk airfield, 360 miles behind the front lines. The Ukrainian Defense Intelligence Agency shared satellite photos on Telegram to support their claim, noting Russia has only a few of these jets. (More)

• An aircraft carrying Malawi's vice president, Saulos Klaus Chilima, and nine others has gone missing. The military plane left Lilongwe Tuesday morning, but efforts to contact it have failed. Search and rescue operations are underway. Chilima, a possible candidate for next year's presidential election, was arrested in 2022 on corruption charges. (More)

• A new study shows that the number of millionaires in America grew by about 500,000 last year, more than in any other country. The U.S. now has over 7.4 million "high-net-worth individuals," an increase from 6.9 million in 2022. The study defined a millionaire as someone with $1 million in investable assets, excluding their main home, collectibles, or everyday items. (More)

Extra Credit

Cliff divers plunge 90 feet from a platform into the Boston harbor. 

The 10 most visited countries in 2023. 

The Cronogiri: a mashup of a croissant and Japanese onigiri. 

A rare 7-foot sunfish washed up on an Oregon beach.