Emmanuel Nwaodua, Ph.D.

On 4/28/25, Spain & Portugal Faced Their Worst Blackout, Lasting 10hrs, With No Clear Cause. Cyber Attack Was Ruled Out; Possible Reasons Include Grid Failures With France, Renewable Energy Fluctuations, & Power Mismatches. Essentials Like Cash, Radios, Food, Candles, & Powerbanks Helped. The Event Stressed Preparedness And Tech-Free Living.

Capital One’s $35B All-Stock Merger With Discover Would Make Capital One The Largest U.S. Credit Card Issuer, & Could Challenge Visa/Mastercard By Shifting Its Customers To Discover’s Network. The DOJ Found No Reason To Block The Deal, & The Federal Reserve & OCC Have Given The Final Approval. But Critics Warn Of Higher Fees & Credit Costs.

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Trump Announced Tariffs On 4/2/25—The Highest Import Taxes Since The 1800s: A 10% Baseline On U.S. Imports, With Steeper Rates For Nations Like China, Cambodia & Vietnam. The Move Ends Free Trade, Aiming To Boost U.S. Industry But Risking Higher Prices, Economic Damage, And Global Tensions. Stocks Lost $5T In 2 Days—The Biggest 2-Day Drop Ever

A Teenager In British Columbia Is The First Person In Canada To Test Positive For Bird Flu (H5N1). The Teen Is In Critical Condition At A Children’s Hospital. The Source Of The Infection Is Under Investigation, Likely From A Bird Or Animal. Human Cases Are Rare, But Scientists Worry About Potential Mutation For Human-To-Human Transmission.

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President-Elect Donald Trump Makes History By Appointing Susie Wiles, A Seasoned GOP Strategist And His 2024 Campaign Co-Chair, As The First Female White House Chief Of Staff In U.S. History. Wiles, Who Has Worked In Republican Politics Since Reagan’s 1980 Campaign, Is Praised By Trump As “Tough, Smart, Innovative” And “Universally Respected.”