Why China moved so quickly to execute 11 members of a notorious mafia family
The Ming family ran scam compounds along the Chinese border with Myanmar in Shan state.
Syria’s defiant Kurds vow to ‘fight until last breath’ despite government push
The US fought IS with the Kurds for years. Now, Tweety McTreason is siding with Syria’s new leader.
Trump says Putin will not attack Ukraine cities during cold week
Russia has not confirmed it agreed to Trump’s request, but Ukraine’s president said he expected Vladimir Putin’s promise to be kept.
Apple Reports Record iPhone Sales Amid Holiday Bump
New phone designs, coupled with robust holiday spending, continued to lift iPhone sales in the quarter and drove the company to record profits.
OpenAI in Talks to Raise as Much as $100 Billion
OpenAI’s discussions with Microsoft, Nvidia, Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds and others could value it at $750 billion or more.
Genes may shape how long we live more than once thought
New research challenges the view that human life span depends mostly on lifestyle. Genes may account for half the factors that determine longevity.
Polar bears in the Barents Sea are staying fat despite rapid sea ice loss
Polar bears can struggle to adapt to climate change. Bears on Svalbard may be surviving on land prey and seals — but scientists warn it
France moves to ban social media for users under 15
France is moving closer to banning social media for users under the age of 15, over growing concerns over mental health.
TotalEnergies restarts $20bn LNG project in Mozambique after 5-year freeze
Operations were paused indefinitely in 2021 due to escalating violence in the region.
Iran slams EU’s ‘terrorist’ designation for IRGC as hypocritical
Iran’s foreign minister labelled the EU as hypocritical after designating the IRGC a “terrorist” organisation.
Israeli media cite official accepting Hamas figure of 70,000 war dead
Israel has previously cast doubt on figures from the Hamas-run health ministry, which the UN considers reliable.
Chips, anyone? German farm gives away millions of potatoes after bumper harvest
Dubbed “the great potato rescue”, it is part of a plan to save the spuds from going to waste.
Polar bears on Norwegian islands fatter and healthier despite ice loss, scientists say
Scientists think that Svalbard bears have adapted to recent ice loss by eating more land-based prey.
US Senator Amy Klobuchar announces bid for Minnesota governor
She fills the void for Democrats after current Governor Tim Walz ended his re-election campaign early.