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Gaza Prisoner Exchange, Diane Keaton, & Taco Bell Race

News without the noise

Good Morning! Today’s edition is 917 words, a 4-minute read.

What’s on tap: 

  • Pakistan/Taliban Clash

  • California AI chatbot law

  • Food and drink trends of the past 25 years

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Big Stories

Gaza Prisoner Exchange

  • Hamas released the remaining 20 living Israeli hostages on Monday, and Israel began freeing 250 prisoners and 1,700 Gazans detained after October 7, 2023, as part of the ceasefire agreement. Emotional scenes played out as families reunited, with thousands gathering around buses carrying released prisoners in Gaza and the West Bank.

  • President Trump joined over 20 world leaders in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, to formally sign the agreement that enabled the exchanges. Leaders from the US, Egypt, Turkey, Qatar, the Palestinian Authority, and European nations signed the document. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu was notably absent, citing the Jewish holiday.

  • During the summit, Trump declared phase two has begun, urging leaders to put 'old feuds and bitter hatreds behind us' to seize a 'once-in-a-lifetime chance' for Middle East peace. He offered cooperation to Iran after bombing its nuclear sites earlier this year, saying the 'hand of friendship' is always open. Roughly 200 US troops will monitor the ceasefire as part of an international team.

Diane Keaton Dies

  • Oscar-winning actress Diane Keaton died Saturday at age 79. Her daughter confirmed the death but provided no cause and asked for privacy.

  • Keaton won Best Actress for Woody Allen's 1977 rom-com 'Annie Hall' and received three other Oscar nominations for 'Reds,' 'Marvin's Room' and 'Something's Gotta Give.' The Los Angeles native starred in iconic films including 'The Godfather' as Kay Adams, 'Father of the Bride,' 'First Wives Club', and 'Book Club.' She was known for her wit, humor, and unique personal style.

  • Beyond acting, Keaton directed films including 'Hanging Up,' the documentary 'Heaven,' and episodes of 'Twin Peaks.' She also wrote around a dozen books, including her memoir 'Then Again.’

Pakistan and Taliban Clash

  • Afghan Taliban forces attacked Pakistani military posts along the border Saturday, killing 23 soldiers according to Pakistan's army. The Taliban claim they killed 58 Pakistani soldiers and captured 25 army posts. Pakistan responded Sunday with airstrikes and retaliatory operations.

  • The clashes followed Afghanistan's accusation that Pakistan bombed Kabul and a market in eastern Afghanistan earlier this week, which Pakistan did not confirm. Afghanistan called the Saturday attacks retaliation for 'repeated violations' of its territory and airspace, while Pakistan accuses Afghanistan of harboring TTP militants who have killed over 2,500 people in Pakistan since 2021.

  • Both main border crossings between the countries, Torkham and Chaman, closed on Sunday, halting trade and stranding people, including Afghan refugees trying to leave Pakistan.

Quick Stories

US News

  • Ukrainian President Zelenskyy will visit the US this week to discuss long-range weapons after Trump warned Russia he may send Tomahawk missiles to Kyiv. (More)

  • A nor'easter hit the Northeast on Monday, flooding coastal areas and knocking out power for thousands, while Alaska rescued over 30 people after a typhoon hit. (More)

  • The Trump administration reversed CDC layoffs for hundreds of scientists who received incorrect termination notices during the government shutdown, blaming a system glitch for the mistake. (More)

World

  • Europe started requiring non-EU travelers to scan fingerprints and faces at borders on Sunday, replacing passport stamps in 29 countries, including Spain, France, and Italy. (More)

  • China arrested Pastor Ezra Jin and 30 leaders of Zion Church, one of the country's largest underground Christian congregations with 10,000 members across 40 cities. (More)

  • Cuba's top opposition leader, José Daniel Ferrer, chose exile in Miami after torture in prison, weakening the island's struggling pro-democracy movement. (More)

Business & Economy

  • US stock markets closed higher on Monday (S&P +1.56%, Nasdaq +2.21%, Dow +1.29%). Stocks rebounded from Friday’s selloff after President Trump eased his stance on China trade relations. (More)

  • The Netherlands seized control of Chinese-owned chipmaker Nexperia to secure Europe’s semiconductor supply amid rising world trade tensions. (More)

  • JPMorgan plans to invest $1.5 trillion in US manufacturing, defense, and energy over ten years, joining Apple and other companies boosting domestic production. (More)

Sports & Entertainment

  • Seattle took a 2-0 lead in the AL Championship Series by beating Toronto 10-3, moving two wins away from their first World Series appearance. (More)

  • Purdue earned its first-ever preseason No. 1 ranking in college basketball, getting 35 of 61 first-place votes ahead of Houston and reigning champion Florida. (More)

  • Tennessee fired coach Brian Callahan six games into his second season after going 1-5 with rookie quarterback Cam Ward. He finished with a 4-19 overall record. (More)

Science, Health, & Tech

  • Scientists grew embryo-like structures in the lab that produced human blood cells, potentially allowing future patients to receive bone marrow transplants using their own cells. (More)

  • Preteens who use social media perform worse on reading and memory tests by early adolescence. Even one hour of daily use was linked to lower scores. (More)

  • California passed the first US law regulating AI chatbots after teen suicides, requiring companies to add safeguards and letting families sue if chatbots cause harm. (More)

Extra Credit

Mapping the world’s 20 fastest-growing populations.

Exploring the food and drink trends of the past 25 years.

The funniest one-star reviews for national parks.

Could you run 31 miles while constantly eating Taco Bell?

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