Refreshed synopsis:
Hello there! Welcome to our premier Up First Newsletter. Do remember to subscribe and access it in your email directly, and follow our Up First podcast to stay updated with all essential daily headlines.
We commence with the latest from Syria, which is rejoicing the recent toppling of ex-autocrat Bashar al-Assad, and is now confronted with the mammoth mission of rebuilding the war-torn country. Currently holding the baton is Ahmed al-Shara, drawn from the opposition fragment Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS. We point out five crucial areas to monitor as Syria readies for a renewed phase.
In another incident, investigators are examining evidence of a specific ideology in connection with the UnitedHealthcare CEO’s homicide, post-identification of the main suspect, Luigi Mangione. Born into a prominent family from Maryland, Mangione is acclaimed for his formidable scholastic achievements, incorporating dual Ivy League degrees. His life took a 360-degree turn several years back owing to a critical spinal injury requiring surgery.
On the commercial side, a pair of legal figures have collectively thwarted what was predicted to be the greatest supermarket amalgamation in US history, the $24.6 billion partnership between Kroger and Albertsons. Both federal bodies and the attorney general of Washington state played an integral role in this standstill. The deal, delayed for two years, now lingers in uncertainty.
If articulating consoling words for grieving individuals is a challenge, consider the wise advice from psychologist and bereavement consultant Mekel Harris, along with Marisa Renee Lee, who authored Grief is Love.
Our feature today shines on Nancy Borowick, and how she used photography for therapeutic purposes after losing her parents within a year, and later due to a distressing birthing incident. Her project, The Loss Mother’s Stone, propelled by dialogues on birth trauma across social media, seeks to emphasize women’s stories and encourage open conversations about their experiences.
Today’s newsletter is curated for you by our editor, Suzanne Nuyen.