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Archaeologists have identified a 1,500-year-old Byzantine-made bucket found at Sutton Hoo, England, as an early Anglo-Saxon cremation burial vessel. Newly recovered fragments revealed the bucket’s complete base containing human bone (including skull and ankle fragments) and large animal bones—possibly horse, a status symbol in funerary rites. The copper-alloy bucket, decorated with a hunting scene of armed men, lions, and dogs, also held an unburned double-sided antler comb, suggesting grooming’s cultural importance. Radiocarbon dating and potential ancient DNA analysis are planned, along with study of plant remains to assess climate and seasonality. Experts believe the bucket held the remains of an important community member and may have been a diplomatic gift or acquired by a Saxon mercenary.

Investigators in Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico found 17 bodies in an abandoned house during a missing persons search, using ground-penetrating radar and cadaver dogs. Five victims have been identified as missing persons. The discovery comes amid a surge of cartel violence in Guanajuato, driven by clashes between the Santa Rosa de Lima gang and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. Guanajuato, Mexico’s deadliest state, recorded 3,151 homicides last year. Recent incidents include multiple mass shootings, attacks on civilians and police, and cartel messages left with victims. Since 2006, Mexico has recorded about 480,000 violent deaths. Families and civil groups continue risky searches for the missing amid perceived government inaction.

Archaeologists in Luxor, Egypt, discovered three New Kingdom-era tombs (circa 1550–1070 B.C.) belonging to high-ranking officials, identified by inscriptions. The tombs, found in the Dra Abu al-Naga necropolis, are attributed to Amon-am-Ebt (a temple worker), Baki (a monastery supervisor), and “S,” an overseer, mayor, and scribe. Each tomb features courtyards and halls, with evidence of reuse and additions over time. Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities said further research will clarify details about the occupants and construction. The find follows recent Luxor discoveries, including an 11-coffin family tomb announced in late 2024.

Salvagers refloated the 443-foot cargo ship NCL Salten after it ran aground just meters from a house near Trondheim, Norway. The operation took about 30 minutes and went “better than expected,” with most containers still onboard to be unloaded later. Norwegian police charged a Ukrainian crewman on watch with negligent navigation; he said he fell asleep and collision alarms didn’t work. Investigators are also probing work/rest compliance. No injuries were reported, though a heating pipe in the nearby home was damaged. The ship has previously run aground twice, in 2023 and 2024. The homeowner, who slept through the incident, said he felt lucky it missed his house by only a few meters.

A women’s golf tournament in Komatsu, Japan, was halted and the final round canceled after a bear was spotted on the course. Organizers ended play for safety, declaring 19-year-old Reina Maeda—who led at six under after the second round—the winner, earning about $19,000. The incident comes amid a surge in bear-human encounters in Japan, linked to climate change and rural depopulation, and follows recent animal interruptions at other golf events. The Japanese government has approved measures allowing hunters to shoot bears in populated areas.

Indonesian authorities seized a record two tons of crystal meth hidden on an Indonesian-flagged fishing boat near the Riau Islands after a tip from Thai officials, arresting six suspects (four Indonesians, two Thais). The drugs, valued at over $4 million, were believed to originate from the Golden Triangle and tied to an organized crime network; a Thai fugitive is alleged to be behind the operation, with a red notice planned. This is Indonesia’s largest-ever drug bust and follows a separate seizure earlier this month of 1.2 tons of meth and 700 kg of cocaine from a Thailand-flagged vessel. In a separate case, an Australian was arrested in Bali for alleged cocaine smuggling, an offense that can carry the death penalty under Indonesia’s strict drug laws.

Quokkas, small kangaroo relatives known for their “smiling” appearance, thrive on Rottnest Island off Australia’s west coast, where about 10,000 live without natural predators. Their viral popularity and tourist selfies have boosted visitation, generating funds that support conservation on the island. While quokkas are threatened on the mainland by wildfires and feral cats, strict rules on Rottnest (no feeding or touching, quokkas have road right-of-way) help protect them. Experts note their smiles are physiological, but their easy island life and curiosity make them a conservation success tied to tourism.

A rare 10-carat kite-shaped fancy purple-pink diamond, believed to have descended from Queen Marie Antoinette to her daughter Marie-Thérèse and likely originating from India’s Golconda mines, will be auctioned at Christie’s in New York on June 17. Set in a ring by Joel Arthur Rosenthal, the gem dates to the mid-18th century, was last sold in 1996, and is estimated to fetch $3–$5 million.

A 53-year-old local man is being held on suspicion of attempted murder, dangerous driving, and driving under the influence after a minivan drove through a roadblock behind an ambulance and plowed into crowds celebrating Liverpool’s Premier League win in central Liverpool. More than 50 people were injured; 11 remained hospitalized in stable condition, with three serious injuries. Authorities say the suspect acted alone, there is no terrorism link, and the investigation is ongoing. Police urged the public not to share distressing images or misinformation.

Sweden has charged Osama Krayem, a 32-year-old Swedish national, for participating in the 2015 burning execution of captured Jordanian pilot Mu’ath al-Kaseasbeh by ISIS near Raqqa, Syria. Prosecutors say Krayem, who traveled to Syria in 2014 to join ISIS, appeared among masked fighters in the propaganda video showing the pilot’s killing. His trial in Stockholm begins June 4. Krayem has already been convicted in France (30-year sentence for the 2015 Paris attacks) and Belgium (life sentence for the 2016 Brussels bombings) and was temporarily transferred to Sweden for this case before returning to serve his sentences. The killing sparked outrage in Jordan, prompting executions of two al Qaeda-linked prisoners.

The U.S. State Department reissued a Level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisory for Venezuela, citing severe risks including wrongful detention, kidnapping, torture, arbitrary law enforcement, civil unrest, and poor healthcare. With no functioning U.S. embassy or consulate in the country, the U.S. cannot provide consular assistance. Americans already in Venezuela are urged to leave immediately. The department says more U.S. nationals are wrongfully detained in Venezuela than anywhere else, including some detained after accidental border crossings, and notes Venezuela does not report detentions to the U.S. nor allow contact with family or attorneys.

A 19-year-old New Zealander, Ryan Satterthwaite, died from a head injury after participating in “RUNIT,” a viral, full-contact tackling game inspired by rugby and NFL collisions but played without protective gear. Police called it a social media-driven tragedy and warned of severe safety risks. RUNIT has gained popularity through an Australian league offering large cash prizes, though organizers say it should only occur under strict, medically supervised conditions. Head-injury experts have condemned the activity, citing high brain injury risk, as authorities highlight broader dangers of copycat social media trends.

Australia’s opposition Liberal and National parties have reunited a week after splitting over policy disagreements. Liberal leader Sussan Ley is set to announce a joint shadow cabinet. The renewed Coalition reportedly dropped a plan for seven nuclear power plants but will seek to lift the national nuclear ban, and agreed on policies for regional infrastructure, internet and mobile coverage, and supermarket competition. The split followed poor election results and leadership change, with Ley pledging to steer the Liberals to the centre-right. The parties’ decades-long partnership has fractured and reformed multiple times, most recently in 1987.

France’s National Assembly approved a bill allowing assisted dying for adults with serious, incurable, life‑threatening diseases in advanced or terminal phases who experience constant physical or psychological suffering and can freely confirm their wish after a 48-hour wait. The measure passed 305–199 and now goes to the Senate, with hopes to become law by 2027. Lethal doses would be self-administered or, if the patient is incapable, by a medical assistant, following a doctor’s authorization after peer consultation. A parallel bill guaranteeing a right to palliative care passed unopposed amid gaps in access. The vote cut across party lines, with support mainly from the center and left and opposition from the right. Debates focused on eligibility scope and safeguards; amendments to widen access (e.g., to minors or non-citizens) were rejected. Conscientious objection for medical staff is protected, while obstructing an assisted death could carry a two-year jail sentence. If enacted, France would become the eighth EU country to permit assisted dying, with stricter rules than Belgium and the Netherlands.

The article examines the surge in recreational nitrous oxide misuse in the U.S., fueled by vaping culture, social media trends, and a retail loophole that allows sales for “culinary” use. It highlights the death of 29-year-old Meg Caldwell, whose addiction escalated during the pandemic and ended in a fatal overdose outside a vape shop. Health risks include hypoxia, severe vitamin B12 deficiency, nerve damage, and paralysis, with U.S. poison center reports and deaths rising sharply since 2019. While the UK criminalized possession in 2023, U.S. regulation remains patchy: most states allow retail sales for food use, and only Louisiana bans retail entirely. The shift from small cartridges to large, brightly branded canisters sold online and in smoke shops, plus viral videos and celebrity exposure, has intensified misuse. Authorities and platforms have issued warnings and restricted searches, and lawsuits are pressuring manufacturers and distributors—one yielding $745m in damages—while victims’ families seek to end retail sales nationwide.

A midday explosion at the Shandong Youdao Chemical plant in eastern China killed at least five people, injured 19, and left six missing, according to state media. Videos showed thick black smoke from the site. Over 200 emergency responders were deployed to the facility, which produces pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and chemical intermediates.

Relations between Ukraine and Hungary have hit a new low after Kyiv’s security service (SBU) arrested two Ukrainians allegedly spying for Hungarian military intelligence, prompting tit-for-tat diplomat expulsions and a Hungarian arrest of a Ukrainian. Critics say Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s Fidesz is exploiting the spy row to undermine the surging Tisza party ahead of 2026 elections. Orban, the EU leader closest to Russia, has opposed sanctions and arms transit, and is urging Hungarians to reject Ukraine’s EU bid. A Transcarpathian Ukrainian politician, Roland Tseber—who aided Tisza leader Peter Magyar’s Kyiv visit—has been branded a “spy” by Fidesz figures, which he denies. Government-aligned media have also targeted former army chief and now Tisza politician Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi. A leaked 2023 recording suggests Hungary shifted from a “peace” posture to preparing for war, while replacing pro-NATO officers with those aligned to the government’s stance. The region’s ethnic Hungarians, already dwindling, are caught in the crossfire as political tensions intensify.

French police arrested 24 people over a series of kidnapping and attempted kidnapping plots targeting cryptocurrency entrepreneurs and their families. Cases include an attempted abduction of relatives of Paymium co-founder Pierre Noizat in Paris, a foiled plot in Nantes, and earlier kidnappings where victims—including Ledger co-founder David Balland—had fingers severed and multimillion-euro ransoms demanded. The surge in attacks has prompted Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau to pledge enhanced protection for crypto executives and a full-state response to dismantle the networks behind the crimes.

Namibia will commemorate the 1904–1908 German colonial genocide for the first time with a national Genocide Remembrance Day on 28 May, marking the 1907 closure of German concentration camps after international criticism. The genocide targeted Ovaherero and Nama communities through extermination orders, concentration camps, forced labor, and pseudoscientific experiments, killing over 70,000 people. Germany formally recognized the genocide in 2020 and proposed €1.1bn in development aid (without legal “reparations”), later reportedly adding €50m and a formal apology in a draft deal. Many Namibians, especially Ovaherero and Nama descendants, reject the offers as insufficient and exclusionary, demanding reparations, land restitution, and inclusion in negotiations. The memorial day is seen by some as symbolic progress but far from delivering restorative justice.

A second suspect, William Duplessie, 32, has surrendered to authorities in New York over the alleged kidnapping and torture of a 28-year-old Italian tourist to obtain his Bitcoin password. Duplessie and alleged accomplice John Woeltz, 37—a crypto investor renting a SoHo townhouse—are charged with kidnapping for ransom, assault, and unlawful imprisonment. Police say the victim was held for 17 days, threatened with a gun, shocked, assaulted with a chainsaw, forced to smoke crack, and photographed while bound. He escaped after agreeing to provide his password. Firearms, drugs, and Polaroids were recovered at the scene. The case echoes rising global incidents of kidnappings targeting crypto holders, with French authorities recently arresting over 20 suspects tied to similar plots.

President Donald Trump said he will pardon reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley, who were convicted in 2022 of bank fraud and tax evasion involving over $36 million and sentenced to 12 and seven years, respectively. The announcement followed a Fox News interview where their daughter, Savannah Chrisley—who has campaigned for Trump—claimed her parents were politically targeted. Trump told the Chrisley children their parents would be “free and clean” soon. The move comes a day after Trump pardoned a former Virginia sheriff convicted of bribery and fraud.

HBO has cast newcomers Dominic McLaughlin, Arabella Stanton, and Alastair Stout as Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley in its TV adaptation of JK Rowling’s books, selected from over 30,000 auditions. John Lithgow will play Dumbledore, with Janet McTeer as McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu as Snape, Nick Frost as Hagrid, Luke Thallon as Quirrell, and Paul Whitehouse as Filch. Showrunner Francesca Gardiner and director Mark Mylod praised the trio, and Rowling will serve as an executive producer. Filming begins this summer at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden, with a planned decade-long series and a first season potentially debuting in 2026 on HBO Max.

Amnesty International warns Argentina is becoming a testing ground for rolling back abortion rights under President Javier Milei. Since Milei took office in December 2023, the national government stopped purchasing and distributing abortion pills (misoprostol and mifepristone), shifted responsibility to provinces, cut funding for contraceptives, and dismantled women’s rights institutions. Provinces report widespread shortages, especially where budgets are tight or officials oppose abortion, forcing some women to pay about $160 for pills or resort to unsafe procedures. Despite legalizing abortion up to 14 weeks in 2020—reducing abortion-related deaths by 53%—access is now hindered by supply gaps, anti-abortion rhetoric, increased conscientious objection by providers, and confusion over legality. Amnesty links these moves to broader far-right agendas, including the Heritage Foundation’s “Project 2025,” warning of a global backlash against reproductive rights.

Eight Mexican soldiers were killed when their armored patrol triggered an improvised explosive device in Los Reyes, Michoacán, near the Jalisco border, highlighting a surge in IED use by organized crime. Authorities say IED seizures have risen from almost none in 2021 to over 1,000 annually, with about 40% found in the Michoacán–Jalisco border region, where the Jalisco New Generation cartel battles local groups. Ex-military explosives experts from Colombia are reportedly aiding cartels, leading to widespread use of ground mines and drone-dropped explosives. The incident is the deadliest IED attack on Mexican troops to date and follows multiple soldier and civilian deaths in the area, contributing to terror and forced displacement.

Mohammed Lakhdar-Hamina, the pioneering Algerian filmmaker and first Arab and African director to win the Cannes Palme d’Or, has died at home in Algiers at age 91. He won the 1975 Palme for Chronicle of the Years of Fire, a six-chapter epic portraying Algeria’s path to its 1954 uprising against French colonial rule, informed by his own wartime trauma, including his father’s killing by the French army. Born in 1934 in M’Sila, Hamina studied in Algeria and France, deserted the French army in 1958 to join the Algerian resistance in Tunis, and learned filmmaking through Tunisian newsreels and shorts. A four-time Cannes competitor, he also won the festival’s best first work award for The Winds of the Aurès (1967). He was the oldest living Palme d’Or laureate.

On day 21 of Erin Patterson’s triple murder and attempted murder trial over the 2023 Leongatha mushroom lunch, lead investigator Det Leading Sen Const Stephen Eppingstall testified about phone and computer evidence. Police identified a second mobile number linked to Patterson (“Phone A”) with records back to 2019; its SIM was switched into a Nokia at 1:45pm on 5 August 2023 while police were searching her home. “Phone A” itself was never found. Patterson later provided a Samsung Galaxy A23 to police, which had undergone multiple factory resets; a different SIM (ending “835”) had been activated on 11 July 2023, used in a tablet until 3 August, then inserted into the Samsung before it was handed over. The court also heard that web activity from a computer seized on 5 August 2023 included visits to iNaturalist pages about death cap mushroom sightings on 28 May 2022, though screenshots shown were captured in December 2024 and may reflect changed content. Jurors saw text records suggesting Patterson referenced medical appointments for which no records exist, and the court noted there is no evidence she was diagnosed with cancer. Defense cross-examination began, confirming Patterson has no prior criminal history.

Namibia marked its first genocide remembrance day, honoring about 75,000 Herero and Nama killed by German colonial forces between 1904 and 1908. President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah vowed to continue pursuing reparations from Germany, noting agreement on genocide recognition but not on compensation. Germany formally recognized the atrocities in 2021 and pledged €1.1bn for development as a reconciliation gesture, not reparations, and previously returned human remains. Descendants and community leaders demand direct negotiations and broader global awareness, calling the genocide a precursor to the Holocaust. The remembrance day falls on 28 May, the 1907 date when German concentration camps in Namibia were ordered closed.

Kenyan novelist and essayist Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, a towering figure of African literature and longtime Nobel contender, has died at 87 in Atlanta. Celebrated for works such as Weep Not, Child, Petals of Blood, Devil on the Cross, and Wizard of the Crow, he explored colonialism’s legacy and African dictatorship, and championed writing in indigenous languages, switching from English to Gikuyu after his 1977 imprisonment for a Gikuyu play. Exiled in 1982, he later taught in the US and led UC Irvine’s International Centre for Writing and Translation. His Gikuyu novel-in-verse The Perfect Nine earned a 2021 International Booker nomination, a first for a work in an indigenous African language and for an author translating their own book. Despite censorship, bans, and personal attacks—including a violent 2004 assault in Nairobi—he remained a steadfast advocate of cultural resistance. He is survived by nine children, four of them writers.

U.S. health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr and CMS director Mehmet Oz offered to relocate more than 300 ostriches from a British Columbia farm to Oz’s Florida ranch after Canada ordered the flock culled over H5N1 avian flu concerns. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says culling is necessary to protect public health and the poultry industry, citing positive tests and 69 ostrich deaths. The farm’s owners dispute the need for mass culling, claiming no deaths since January and seeking legal relief, while welcoming U.S. support from Kennedy, Oz, and billionaire John Catsimatidis. The case unfolds amid ongoing North American bird flu outbreaks, with Canada maintaining stricter cull policies and more stable egg prices than the U.S.

Shein is reportedly shifting its planned IPO from London to Hong Kong after delays securing approval from China’s securities regulator, despite receiving a green light from the UK’s FCA. The move could avoid geopolitical complications tied to UK–US alignment, analysts say. Once valued at $66bn, Shein’s prospective valuation has dropped amid tightened US de minimis rules, new tariffs, and planned EU/UK action on low-value imports. Chinese data show a sharp fall in e-commerce shipments to the US and growth to Europe. Shein also faces scrutiny over alleged links to forced Uyghur labor and reports of child labor at suppliers. The Hong Kong listing could proceed this year, dashing hopes for a major boost to the London Stock Exchange.

André Corrêa do Lago, Brazil’s Cop30 president, warns of a rising “economic denial” that accepts climate science but attacks the feasibility and benefits of transitioning economies away from fossil fuels. He argues the main battleground has shifted from science to policy, fueled by populist backlash exemplified by Donald Trump’s rollbacks. Corrêa do Lago says economists must lead in proving climate action drives growth and quality of life, noting mainstream economics still underestimates climate impacts. With Cop30 in Belém approaching, he faces logistical, political, and geopolitical hurdles, including slow submissions of new national climate plans (NDCs) and potential obstruction from petrostates. Brazil and Azerbaijan are preparing a roadmap on climate finance, aiming to rally countries behind policies that deliver economic gains while cutting emissions, akin to past global action on the ozone crisis.

Jerry Ye, a Caltech alum and former Meta data scientist, founded AI startup Whale in 2017 with the goal of building a global business from China. Whale provides AI software and hardware for retailers and counts Starbucks, Xiaomi, Unilever, P&G, and Watsons among its clients. The company raised $60 million in a Series C round led by Bosch Ventures, with Singtel and MDI Ventures participating, and operates from Hangzhou (China HQ) and Singapore (global base). Ye says AI growth will differ by market: China will focus on marketing and sales applications, while the U.S. will see adoption in specialized verticals. He argues China faces no shortage of AI compute via cloud providers and expects competition to shift to on-device (edge) processing for privacy and efficiency. Whale’s revenue reached 230 million yuan in 2024 with a target of 400 million yuan this year, serving about 500 enterprise customers; operating costs total roughly 3 million yuan per month globally. The company emphasizes model flexibility, open-source deployments for privacy, and rapid ROI in marketing. On content, Ye believes generative AI will expand personalized video output but says real-life footage remains essential for authenticity. He highlights Starbucks’ use of AI for order routing and efficiency. He sees battery constraints as the main hurdle for AI hardware and expects software applications to capture most margins. Ye is skeptical about new AI devices like those tied to Jony Ive/OpenAI but welcomes big firms experimenting. He also notes ongoing U.S.-China dialogue and resilient Chinese industrial profits amid tariffs.

CNBC’s first UK Exchange newsletter reflects on Vodafone’s long history of promising “turning points” that haven’t delivered for investors. Once a global telecom titan after mega-deals like Airtouch and Mannesmann, Vodafone has since retrenched, exited major markets (U.S., Italy, Spain), and become more dependent on a few geographies, notably Germany and the UK—where a merger with Three could be transformative. Despite simplification, share buybacks, and improving customer focus under CEO Margherita Della Valle, performance remains inconsistent, with EBITDAal declining and recurring drags such as Turkey’s hyperinflation and German cable contract changes. Growth prospects exist in Africa and Turkey, and a stronger German economy could help, but given repeated false dawns, the piece urges investor caution.

Getty Images CEO Craig Peters says the company is spending “millions and millions” on its lawsuits against Stability AI in the U.S. and U.K., alleging the firm copied 12 million Getty images without permission to train Stable Diffusion, amounting to unfair competition and “theft.” Stability AI disputes liability and cites fair use, arguing outputs don’t reproduce originals. Peters frames the case as a challenge to an AI industry practice of using copyrighted works without paying, but notes high legal costs limit broader action. Jurisdiction and training-location issues complicate the case, with an initial liability trial set for June 9.

Starling Bank’s pre-tax profit fell 26% to £223.4 million for the year ending March 31, 2025, despite revenue rising 5% to £714 million. The drop was driven by a £29 million FCA fine over financial crime control failures and issues with Covid-era Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS) lending, where some loans may not meet guarantee requirements due to historic fraud-check weaknesses. Starling voluntarily removed government guarantees on affected loans and booked a £28.2 million provision tied to the fine and BBLS issue, while holding a small expected credit loss provision (£800,000) for certain BBLS loans. The bank, backed by Goldman Sachs and others, said the matter is a legacy issue handled transparently with the British Business Bank. Revenue growth slowed sharply from the prior year’s pace amid intense competition from incumbents and fintech rivals.

Japanese long-dated government bond yields have surged to record or near-record highs, driven by waning demand from life insurers and reduced Bank of Japan purchases. The jump raises fears of capital repatriation from the U.S., a stronger yen, and an unwind of yen-funded carry trades—potentially pressuring U.S. tech stocks and tightening global financial conditions. Some analysts warn of a severe market shock and the “end of U.S. exceptionalism,” while others expect a more gradual carry trade erosion due to narrower U.S.-Japan rate differentials and structural Japanese holdings of U.S. assets, especially equities. Overall, higher JGB yields threaten global liquidity, growth, and risk assets via higher borrowing costs and shifting capital flows.

OPEC+ kept its formal group-wide oil production quotas unchanged, maintaining a roughly 2 million barrels per day cut through 2026. Market attention shifts to eight members (including Saudi Arabia and Russia) that have separate voluntary cuts: they’ve already begun unwinding a 2.2 million bpd reduction and plan to restore about 1 million bpd by June, with another increase for July likely—potentially around 411,000 bpd. Oil prices rose on the decision. OPEC+ also asked its Secretariat to reassess members’ sustainable capacity to set 2027 baselines amid concerns about quota compliance. With seasonal summer demand rising, analysts expect prices to trade roughly in the $60–$70 per barrel range in coming months. The next OPEC+ ministerial meeting is Nov. 30.

The U.S. and UAE are forging a deep AI alliance that pairs America’s chip leadership with the Gulf’s abundant, cheap energy to power massive data centers. Backed by hundreds of billions in deals involving Nvidia, Microsoft, OpenAI, Oracle, Cisco, and UAE entities like G42, Mubadala, and MGX, the partnership aims to secure dominance in the global AI race against China while reshaping geopolitics and national security. Key initiatives include the $500 billion Stargate project and a 200MW AI cluster launching in Abu Dhabi, facilitated by a Trump move to loosen Biden-era chip export controls. The UAE is aligning firmly with the U.S.—including G42’s divestment from China—to secure compute and talent, develop sovereign models like Falcon, and position the Gulf as a regional AI hub offering “compute-as-a-service” to emerging markets. The shift marks a new U.S.-Gulf paradigm: compute, not crude, as the central pillar of influence and economic diversification.

China dominates rare earths, controlling 69% of 2024 mine output and over 90% of refined magnet elements (Nd, Pr, Dy, Tb), leaving the West with few alternatives. Western efforts—new mines, tech to reduce usage, and recycling (e.g., U.S. DoD funding, Toyota R&D)—are growing but insufficient in the near term due to long lead times, technical complexity, and limited recyclable volumes. EVs require significantly more rare earths than ICE cars (about 550g per single-motor BEV), and China’s new export controls on elements like terbium and cerium heighten supply risk. Slower U.S. EV adoption slightly eases immediate pressure, but defense demand is large (e.g., F-35 uses 900+ pounds). China is also tightening controls on other critical minerals (gallium, germanium, antimony, tungsten), further entrenching its leverage. Recycling will help as first-gen EVs retire, but for now the West remains heavily reliant on China for critical materials.

In Kennett, Missouri, a deeply pro-Trump town, beloved diner worker Ming Li Hui (“Carol”) was detained by immigration authorities for overstaying a long-expired tourist visa and a past sham marriage, prompting a community reckoning over the human costs of Trump’s immigration crackdown. Carol, a 45-year-old mother of three U.S.-born children and a recent Catholic convert, has no criminal record and was widely seen as integral to the declining rural town. Her detention sparked prayer vigils, petitions, and a fundraiser that raised nearly $20,000, while exposing divisions among residents who voted overwhelmingly for Trump but didn’t expect deportations of longtime, well-known community members. Some still back strict enforcement; others say this isn’t what they thought they were voting for.

The Trump administration is pursuing renewed nuclear talks with Iran, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is threatening unilateral strikes on Iran’s enrichment sites, creating sharp tensions with Washington. Trump, eyeing a quick framework that could evolve into a final deal, wants Iran to halt enrichment and leverage Tehran’s current vulnerability; Israel argues that only dismantling all nuclear infrastructure is acceptable and fears Trump will allow continued enrichment. Recent Israeli actions—degrading Iran’s air defenses and weakening Hezbollah and Hamas—have bolstered Netanyahu’s case for a narrow window to strike. High-level U.S.-Israeli meetings and a tense Trump-Netanyahu call underscore the rift. Negotiations led by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, with Oman mediating, are exploring creative options like a regional fuel venture, but Iran rejects “zero enrichment.” U.S. officials doubt an Israeli strike without American support would be decisive. Israel remains wary of any interim deal that leaves Iran’s facilities intact, recalling the 2015 accord that Trump exited in 2018, after which Iran advanced to 60% enrichment.

A&E is reviving Duck Dynasty with 20 new episodes, a move the New York Times frames as mirroring America’s political reset after Trump’s return to the White House. The original 2012–2017 series functioned less as raw reality and more as a guided-reality sitcom, combining mockumentary beats with “work, family, faith” themes that offered mass-market representation of rural, openly Christian life. It packaged cultural signifiers—beards, Bibles, buckshot—into a savvy brand that balanced nostalgia and self-aware caricature, helping the Robertsons profit while seeming unchanged. The revival aims to recapture the lighthearted escapism while reckoning with the costs of celebrity, generational shifts, and the legacy of offscreen controversies—especially patriarch Phil Robertson’s remarks on gay people and Jim Crow-era Black labor—against a changed cultural landscape. The new iteration centers more on Willie and Korie and their extended family, exploring how the franchise evolves as it tries to bring the country, once again, to their swamp.

ICE has begun detaining migrants at immigration courthouses nationwide immediately after judges dismiss their cases, shifting them into expedited removal without further hearings. In New York, the first known detention of a public school student under Trump’s second term occurred when “Dylan,” a 20-year-old Venezuelan student at a Bronx public high school, was arrested in a Manhattan courthouse lobby after appearing for what he believed was a routine hearing. His lawyers say he entered legally via a Biden-era app and was complying with proceedings; DHS contends he entered illegally and is subject to expedited removal. Dylan has been moved among detention facilities, prompting outcry from immigrant advocates, educators, and the city’s schools chancellor. Mayor Eric Adams distanced himself, calling it a federal matter, while his stance on cooperation with federal immigration enforcement and sanctuary laws drew scrutiny. ICE recently authorized courthouse arrests, arguing they’re safer and lawful under expedited removal rules.

A 40-hour airsoft “military simulation” in Oklahoma, run by MilSim West, recreates fictional NATO-vs.-Russia battles that closely mirror the Russia-Ukraine war’s gear and aesthetics without acknowledging the real conflict. About 300 participants, many teens and veterans, pay around $250 to camp, fight with pellet guns, blanks, night vision, and endure severe weather. Players often wear replica Russian and NATO uniforms, with some sourcing real Russian gear salvaged from Ukraine’s battlefields—raising ethical concerns that staff and veterans caution against. The event, framed as fantasy, draws participants seeking camaraderie, challenge, and mentorship from ex-military cadre, while groups like the “Rushing Russians” emphasize strict authenticity. For many young players, social media snippets shape their limited grasp of the actual war, even as they adopt its symbols and styles in play.

Kami Rita Sherpa, who set a new record with his 31st Everest summit, warns that climate change is rapidly melting Himalayan snow and ice, making climbs riskier and threatening the future of mountaineering on Everest. He cites deadly new meltwater streams at high camps, predicts snowless peaks within 10–15 years, and foresees fewer Sherpa guides as risks rise and younger generations opt out. He criticizes the shift toward luxury, party-like expeditions and expresses concern about emerging performance aids like xenon gas, saying more research is needed. Ultimately, he doubts the profession’s future and imagines a scenario where foreign climbers attempt Everest with minimal Sherpa support, possibly even via helicopter drops. His guiding ethos remains that safe returns matter more than summits.

Ilham Ahmed argues that while Assad’s fall and lifted U.S. sanctions brought hope, Syria’s interim Constitution endangers true freedom by centralizing power, elevating Islamic law, weakening civil rights, and sidelining minorities and women. She urges a new constitutional process that guarantees decentralization, power sharing, and equal rights, highlighting North and East Syria (Rojava) as a working model of multiethnic, gender-equal, direct democracy with co-leadership, local assemblies, multilingual education, free media, and restorative justice. Despite flaws and wartime hardship, this model helped defeat ISIS and offers lessons for Syria and the region. Recent sectarian violence underscores the urgency, and she calls on the U.S. to support an inclusive, democratic framework that integrates regional institutions without sacrificing rights.

President Trump announced full pardons for reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley, who were convicted in 2022 of bank fraud and tax evasion tied to a $36 million scheme and lavish spending. Todd had been sentenced to 12 years and Julie to seven, though an appeals court later vacated her sentence for recalculation. Trump framed the move as addressing political “weaponization” of the justice system, a claim echoed by the Chrisleys’ supporters and their lawyer, who linked the case to prosecutors involved in other high-profile matters. The pardon follows lobbying efforts and public backing from the couple’s daughter, Savannah.

China unveiled an 18-point plan to upgrade its IT manufacturing sector and boost tech self-sufficiency amid US curbs. The roadmap targets deep AI integration, expanded use of computer numerical control (to over 85% of key processes within two years), and cultivation of at least 100 specialized service providers by 2027. By 2030, it aims to build a core industrial database to drive breakthroughs and move up the global value chain. The plan, released by MIIT, NDRC, and the National Data Administration, aligns with the final phase of “Made in China 2025” and focuses on semiconductors, batteries, satellite navigation, and AI across materials, components, and downstream applications.

Chinese researchers working on a full-scale vacuum-tube maglev test line in Shanxi say they’ve identified and mitigated a major comfort flaw in Hyperloop-like systems. Their simulations and prototype tests showed that minor track imperfections and electromagnetic resonance can trigger severe low-frequency vibrations, making rides “extremely unpleasant” at certain speeds—peaking around 400 km/h per the Sperling Index. By adjusting system parameters, they report cutting turbulence intensity by nearly half, reducing “extremely severe bumps” to merely “pronounced, but not unpleasant,” potentially addressing a key challenge long faced by Elon Musk’s Hyperloop concept at cruising speeds near 1,000 km/h.

The article examines growing disputes over Beijing’s English translations of Chinese officials’ remarks, spotlighted by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s claim that they are “never right.” Rubio urges reliance on original Chinese texts, arguing translations can soften or shift meanings. A recent example is Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s phrase “hao zi wei zhi,” rendered by Beijing as “act accordingly,” while Western outlets translated it more sternly (“conduct yourself well/properly”). Analysts attribute discrepancies to linguistic nuance, cultural context, political signaling, and differing target audiences. The translation battle reflects broader US-China tensions, where wording carries strategic weight and competing narratives.

A report by the International Institute for Strategic Studies warns that while a near-term PLA attack on Taiwan is unlikely, it remains possible due to heightened risks of misperception and miscommunication under President Trump. It says US–China ties are at their most strained point of the 21st century, with deep mutual distrust despite limited tactical improvements under Biden, such as renewed military dialogue and an AI–nuclear decision-making pledge. The report notes Trump’s first term elevated the Indo-Pacific as a US priority and framed Chinese coercion as a key challenge, a strategic direction unlikely to shift in his second term. The findings were released ahead of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.

Asean aims to expand its blue economy—covering fisheries, tourism, energy, and maritime transport—as part of its drive to become the world’s fourth-largest economy by 2045. Satvinder Singh, deputy secretary general of the Asean Economic Community, said South China Sea tensions will not derail this agenda, noting fisheries’ central role and ongoing regional plans, including finalizing the Asean Blue Economy Framework implementation this year. While observers warn maritime disputes with China could hinder sustainable growth and marine conservation, Asean is aligning the blue economy with broader strategies on carbon neutrality, circular economy, agriculture, energy, and transport. The UNDP projects the blue economy could generate US$3 trillion and 43 million jobs by 2030.

South Korea’s snap presidential election has reignited debate over pursuing nuclear weapons amid rising North Korean threats and doubts about relying solely on the US nuclear umbrella. In the final televised debate, DPK front-runner Lee Jae-myung rejected nuclear armament and US nuclear-sharing as reckless and contrary to US policy and the Non-Proliferation Treaty, while PPP candidate Kim Moon-soo said Seoul should consider nuclear options if compatible with the US alliance. Analysts warn the costs and risks of pursuing nuclear arms likely outweigh benefits, reflecting deep-seated public anxieties about deterrence and alliance credibility.

China’s humanoid robots are stepping into real-world sports like kickboxing and marathons, using competitive events to gather rich, unpredictable data that accelerates their development. Shows such as Unitree G1 robots sparring in Hangzhou and humanoids running in Beijing demonstrate advances in speed, balance, and coordination. Analysts say China’s strength in hardware is now being complemented by a push to improve AI “brains,” with real-world data key to reliability and task accuracy. As U.S.–China tech rivalry heats up, firms on both sides are showcasing rapid progress to attract investment and signal that commercialization of humanoid robotics may be closer than expected.

Experts call Hong Kong’s new 30-measure “silver economy” blueprint a good start but say it must go further to boost seniors’ incomes and workforce participation. Recommended improvements include a flexible retirement age, incentives or co-payment schemes to help employers provide medical insurance for older workers, and stronger quality assurance for elder-focused products. Officials aim to spur consumption, develop senior-related industries, enhance finance options, and unleash older residents’ productivity. With those aged 65+ projected to reach 35% of the population by 2043 and seniors already spending HK$342 billion in 2024, analysts argue deeper labor-market and healthcare measures are needed to fully capture the opportunity.

India has suspended the 1960 Indus Water Treaty (IWT) with Pakistan following terror attacks and a brief conflict, prompting Islamabad to warn the move could be an act of war. The IWT allocates three eastern rivers to India and three larger western rivers to Pakistan, on which over 80% of Pakistan’s irrigated agriculture depends. While India cannot stop flows without major storage, it could withhold data, alter timing of releases, or manipulate volumes, potentially harming Pakistan’s agriculture, power, and flood management. India seeks to modify the treaty citing demographics, energy needs, climate risks, and terrorism, arguing legal grounds under Article XII. Since suspension, India has flushed and desilted dams to boost capacity. Farmers in Pakistan fear severe impacts, while Indian engineers call the treaty biased and want large new storage projects. The move heightens tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbors amid recent deadly cross-border shelling, even as a fragile ceasefire holds.

A British man, Thomas Parker from Cumbria, was sentenced to 10 months in prison in Bali after a drug trafficking charge that could have carried the death penalty was dropped. Arrested on 21 January near Kuta beach, Parker had collected a package sent by a friend identified as “Nicky,” but proved he hadn’t ordered it. The charge was reduced to hiding information from authorities. Prosecutors had sought a year, but judges lowered the term due to his remorse and lack of prior convictions. Parker accepted the verdict; prosecutors have a week to respond.

The article reviews key moments in Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron’s relationship amid a viral video of Brigitte playfully pushing his face, which Macron dismissed as a joke. They met in 1993 in Amiens when he was a 15-year-old student and she a 39-year-old teacher involved in theatre; despite family objections and her marriage with three children, they maintained contact after he moved to Paris. Macron reportedly vowed to marry her, and after her 2006 divorce, they wed in 2007 (he 29, she 54). As First Lady since his 2017 presidential win, Brigitte has been a visible partner on the campaign trail and has downplayed their 25-year age gap. The couple has faced and rebutted rumors, including Macron joking about false claims of a double life and Brigitte winning damages in 2024 over defamatory transgender allegations.

Caroline Darian, daughter of Gisele Pelicot, said on Sky News that mandatory chemical castration could be “one part of the solution” for high-risk sex offenders like her father, Dominique Pelicot, whom she believes cannot be rehabilitated. Pelicot was sentenced to 20 years in France for drugging and orchestrating the rape of his wife over a decade, with dozens of men also convicted. Darian is also pressing charges against her father for allegedly drugging and raping her, which he denies. Her comments follow UK Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood’s plan to expand a pilot program using medication to suppress sex offenders’ libido, with consideration of making it mandatory after an independent review supported its use for suitable offenders.

A 19-year-old New Zealander, Ryan Satterthwaite, died after sustaining a serious head injury while playing a viral “run it straight” tackling game in Palmerston North. The game involves participants charging head-on at full speed without protective gear. Police said the incident was an impromptu game among friends and is not being treated as a criminal matter, though they will investigate for the coroner. Authorities warned of the significant risks of such activities. The game is linked to the RUNIT competition, whose organizers expressed condolences and stressed that any contact sport should occur only under strict, professionally supervised conditions.

French President Emmanuel Macron downplayed a viral video showing his wife, Brigitte, pushing his face as they arrived in Vietnam, saying they were joking around and “decompressing.” His office initially suggested the clip might be AI-driven and spread by pro-Russian accounts but later acknowledged it was genuine, calling it a moment of “complicity.” Macron criticized the incident’s amplification, noting it followed other recent viral claims about him that he says were false. The video was widely shared by accounts hostile to Macron.

A massive explosion at the Gaomi Youdao Chemical Co. plant in Weifang, eastern China, killed at least five people, left six missing, and injured 19. The blast sent huge smoke plumes skyward and shattered windows over two miles away. Schools nearby reported a strong odor and issued masks to students. The cause is under investigation. The pesticide and medical chemicals manufacturer, with over 500 employees, had previously been cited for safety risks but was later praised for rectifications. Over 230 first responders were deployed. The incident follows recent national efforts to tighten chemical industry safety.

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. met Argentine President Javier Milei in Buenos Aires, where both reaffirmed plans to withdraw their countries from the World Health Organization and create an alternative international health framework. Citing politicization and failures in the WHO’s COVID response, they pledged a new alliance focused on scientific rigor, individual freedom, and national sovereignty. Argentina confirmed its WHO exit during the visit, aligning with the Trump administration’s “Make America Healthy Again” agenda. Critics warn the move could jeopardize access to funding and vaccines, but both leaders framed it as the start of a more accountable global health network and a deepening U.S.-Argentina alignment.

The U.S. State Department has issued a Level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisory for Venezuela, citing severe risks including wrongful detention, torture, terrorism, kidnapping, arbitrary law enforcement, crime, civil unrest, and poor health care. With the U.S. Embassy in Caracas closed since 2019, consular services are unavailable, and more Americans are reportedly wrongfully detained in Venezuela than anywhere else. The government urges U.S. citizens to avoid travel, depart immediately if already there, and warns it cannot assist with lost or expired documents. Those who still travel are advised to take extensive precautions, including security planning, avoiding border regions, and preparing for limited medical access.

Australia’s environment minister issued a proposed approval, with air-quality conditions, to extend Woodside’s Karratha Gas Plant operations to 2070, triggering a 10-day response period from the company. Scientists and Indigenous custodians warn emissions are acidifying and degrading Murujuga’s tens-of-thousands-year-old rock art, jeopardizing a World Heritage bid. Environmental groups and Pacific leaders condemn the move as incompatible with climate goals, arguing it enables further fossil fuel expansion, including Woodside’s Browse/Scott Reef gas plans previously flagged for environmental risks. Woodside disputes the damage claims and says industry and heritage can co-exist, while critics call the project a major “carbon bomb” with uncertain economic justification amid shifting Asian LNG demand.

Brazilian labor prosecutors sued Chinese automaker BYD and contractors JinJiang and Tecmonta, alleging human trafficking and “slavery-like” conditions for 220 Chinese workers building BYD’s factory in Bahia. The suit seeks 257 million reais (~$45 million) in moral damages, individual worker compensation, and compliance with labor rules plus fines of 50,000 reais per breach per worker. Prosecutors say workers were brought to Brazil illegally and promised unfulfilled conditions; they have since returned to China and would receive any payouts there. BYD denies wrongdoing, cites cooperation with authorities, and will contest the case; settlement remains possible via the court.

Hong Kong’s iconic neon signage has largely disappeared due to stricter safety regulations, cheaper LED alternatives, and shifting cultural perceptions. Artist Jive Lau, who founded the Kowloneon studio in 2021 after pivoting from graphic design, is working to preserve and evolve the craft. He creates commercially successful installations for brands like Coach and Louis Vuitton, as well as local businesses and cultural institutions, while treating neon as art rather than just advertising. With only a handful of neon masters left in the city, Lau runs internships to train new practitioners, shifts projects toward art and interior decor, and plans exhibitions and consumer-friendly pieces to keep the tradition alive. He views neon as a vital symbol of Hong Kong’s identity amid broader social changes.

The article examines the sharp reduction of U.S. foreign aid under President Trump—especially the effective shutdown of USAID—and its dual effects: immediate harm through lost services, medicines, and jobs, and a possible long-term opportunity for African countries to reduce dependence on external donors. Kenyan political scientist Ken Opalo argues that decades of aid often entrenched dependency, outsourced policymaking to donors and international institutions, and encouraged short-term, measurable micro-projects over systemic nation-building. He contends that incentives for African elites, low expectations among aid professionals, and a persistent knowledge gap have undermined local ownership. While acknowledging aid has saved lives, Opalo calls for a paradigm shift toward sovereign, long-term development agendas driven by domestic policy and capacity—citing examples like Rwanda—recognizing that donor interests will continue to shape assistance.