Daily SumUp

“The crew who flew to space this week on an automated flight by Blue Origin were brave and glam,” Duffy wrote, “but you cannot identify as an astronaut. They do not meet the FAA astronaut criteria.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Iran and the United States started a new round of nuclear talks in Rome on Saturday to resolve their decades-long standoff over Tehran's atomic aims, under the shadow of President Donald Trump's threat to unleash military action if diplomacy fails.Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff will negotiate indirectly through an Omani official who will shuttle messages between the two sides, Iranian officials said, a week after a first round of indirect talks in Muscat that both sides described as constructive. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A review of tens of thousands of soil samples from Earth reveals high concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, and lead in the pedosphere Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mexico's Health Ministry confirmed the country's first human case of myiasis caused by screwworm, the government said on Friday.The case was detected in a 77-year-old woman from the municipality of Acacoyagua, in the southern state of Chiapas. She is in stable condition and receiving antibiotic treatment, authorities said.Myiasis is a parasitic infection that occurs when fly larvae infest open wounds, feeding on living tissue. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Columbia University is not stopping contact with Howard University. There is no indication in the provided search results that Columbia University is ending or reducing communication with Howard University. The search results primarily focus on other issues, such as the potential government overreach of some U.S. agencies like the Department of Justice, the cancelation of federal grants to Columbia, and a legal dispute between Howard University and an auction house.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Pentagon has eliminated nearly 200 jobs related to diversity, equity and inclusion in the last year, killing the Biden-administration’s effort aimed at providing “everyone an opportunity to reach their full potential,” according to report released by the Government Accountability Office.In 2024, there had been 188 Pentagon staff members, military and civilian, with DEI duties, the GAO found. Cuts began last year under a congressional mandate with the Defense Department eliminating 32 DEI positions and restructuring jobs for 115 others.The Pentagon’s moves, coupled with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s purge of generals and admirals who had advocated diversity efforts, represent an about face for the military on the promotion of diversity that had been rekindled after the police killing of George Floyd in 2020. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The US is prepared to recognize Russian control of the Ukrainian region of Crimea as part of a broader peace agreement between Moscow and Kyiv, according to people familiar with the matter. The potential concession is the latest signal that President Donald Trump is eager to cement a ceasefire deal, and comes as he and Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested on Friday that the administration is prepared to move on from its peace-brokering efforts unless progress is made quickly. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scientists have reported the strongest evidence yet suggesting that K2-18b, a distant exoplanet, could be home to life. Observations from the James Webb Space Telescope have detected potential biosignatures, specifically molecules like dimethyl sulfide (DMS) and dimethyl disulfide (DMDS) in its atmosphere. These molecules are produced by life on Earth, particularly marine phytoplankton.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Luigi Mangione indicted in Brian Thompson murder, faces death penalty if convicted Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The US military announced Thursday it had destroyed a key Yemeni fuel port as part of its campaign against the country’s Houthis, who said 13 workers had been killed in the strikes.The attack on the Ras Issa fuel port aimed to cut off a source of supplies and funds for the Houthis, the US military said.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Washington has hammered the Houthis with near-daily air strikes since March 15 in a bid to end their attacks on civilian shipping and military vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.The Houthis began their attacks in late 2023, claiming solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are seed oils connected to cancer? Research has not found a link between seed oils and cancer. Conte even recommends that some people undergoing treatment replace butter and lard with seed oils like canola oil. Some people have raised concerns about the extraction process for making these oils. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Since 2016, as a part of the «Society 5.0» initiative, the government has been ratcheting up funding programs in an effort to increase the appeal of STEM education – that is, education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields. These campaigns were given a new boost in 2021. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Trump administration has also threatened to strip Harvard of its tax-exempt status. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This version includes the April 2025 security patches, which address two critical zero-day vulnerabilities and other important issues. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt says the world is three to five years away from “artificial general intelligence” that will be equal to, if not better, than any human thinkers or creators today.It’s a prediction that, if true, could have tremendous consequences for music and other creative industries.“Within three to five years we’ll have what is called [artificial] general intelligence, AGI, which can be defined as a system that is as smart as the smartest mathematician, physicist, artist, writer, thinker, politician… you get the idea,” Schmidt said during a panel discussion with Jeanne Meserve, host of the NatSec Tech podcast for the Special Competitive Studies Project.Schmidt said this will be possible because of a process called “recursive self-improvement,” in which AI algorithms are able to learn on their own and increase their capabilities – and he says this is already happening. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scientists have found new but tentative evidence that a faraway world orbiting another star may be home to life.A Cambridge team studying the atmosphere of a planet called K2-18b has detected signs of molecules which on Earth are only produced by simple organisms.This is the second, and more promising, time chemicals associated with life have been detected in the planet's atmosphere by Nasa's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).But the team and independent astronomers stress that more data is needed to confirm these results.The lead researcher, Prof Nikku Madhusudhan, told me at his lab at Cambridge University's Institute of Astronomy that he hopes to obtain the clinching evidence soon."This is the strongest evidence yet there is possibly life out there. I can realistically say that we can confirm this signal within one to two years." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Russia expects Europe and Ukraine to eventually pursue a peaceful resolution to the conflict, but for now, European nations remain focused on continuing the war, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday.Speaking at a press briefing in Moscow, Peskov noted that the US continues to work with both European partners and Ukraine in this regard.“Of course, we would like to see a shift toward peace-oriented efforts from both Europe and Ukraine,” he said. “Unfortunately, what we currently observe is a continued emphasis from Europe on prolonging the conflict.”Commenting on the visit of a Ukrainian delegation to Paris, Peskov said it will likely involve discussions with representatives from the US and the so-called Coalition of the Willing on various aspects of a potential settlement.“Clearly, there will be conversations surrounding the Ukrainian settlement,” he added while responding to a question from the press. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Holidaymakers face fines of up to £5,000 if they bring back meat or dairy products as the government seeks to prevent spread of foot and mouth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

TikTok joins social media trend with new ‘Footnotes’ feature for trustworthy content: All you need to know Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"Europe is still a peace project. We don't have bros or oligarchs making the rules. We don't invade our neighbours, and we don't punish them," Ursula von der Leyen said in a wide-ranging interview with the Zeit newspaper. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ben Lamm's startup, Colossal Biosciences, has raised $200 million, valuing the company at $10.2 billion. This funding round, led by TWG Global, will be used to advance genetic engineering, expand the company's software and hardware solutions, and potentially de-extinct the woolly mammoth, Tasmanian tiger, and dodo bird Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Years of negotiations culminated early Wednesday with countries agreeing the text of a landmark accord on how to tackle future pandemics, aimed at avoiding the mistakes made during the Covid-19 crisis. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The UK government ban on disposable and single-use vapes is aimed at stopping littering as, in most cases, the vapes cannot be recycled and often end up in landfill or pollute natural environments. The ban is also aimed at tackling rising rates of youth vaping and protecting children from harm. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced on April 16 that he is planning new studies to identify environmental contributors to autism that he links to its rising prevalence in the country. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Putin praises Musk, compares him to Soviet space hero Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Puerto Rico was hit with a massive power outage on Wednesday after energy plants across the island unexpectedly shut down, power generator Genera said.Puerto Rico has long dealt with chronic power outages, including a blackout on New Year’s Eve, as its infrastructure crumbles.Genera added in a post on X it was working to bring backup units online and investigate the cause of the incident. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It is time to look at the things we haven’t been doing well and fix them. It is an unfortunate situation.Wing Commander Musa Salman (Rtd), Security and Development Expert Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

OpenAI released its newest AI model that it said can understand uploaded images like whiteboards, sketches and diagrams, even if they’re low quality.The company called o3 its most advanced model yet and also released a smaller model called o4-mini.OpenAI is racing to stay ahead in generative AI as competitors including Google, Anthropic and Elon Musk’s xAI ramp up development. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Spring is when many of us look forward to more daylight, sunshine and warmer weather, but it is also a great time in the calendar to look up in the night sky.This year we've had aurora displays, a partial solar eclipse, and for the next 10 days, with clear skies permitting, you can enjoy the Lyrid meteor shower.This celestial event happens every year between mid to late April, visible as short-lived streaks of light in the sky.This year they will be active from 16 to 25 April, and will peak on Tuesday.As this coincides with the Moon's last quarter, viewing conditions should be better, and of course the best time to spot them will be when the skies are at their darkest and clearest. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This reflects the trend of more Americans either opting not to have kids or postponing them until later.The total number of US births declined by 14% between 1990 and 2023, according to the March 2025 report.During this time, birth rates among females younger than 20 decreased by 73%, marking the steepest percentage drop of all age groups.This resulted in a decline from one in eight teen births in 1990 to one in 25 in 2023. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hong Kong’s postal service will stop handling packages coming from or going to the United States, in the latest retaliatory move amid an escalating trade war between Washington and Beijing.In a statement published Wednesday announcing the decision, the government of Hong Kong cited US President Donald Trump’s decision last week to eliminate the so-called de minimis exception for items posted from the city to the US. The exemption applied to international shipments worth $800 or less entering the US.“The US is unreasonable, bullying and imposing tariffs abusively,” the government said in the statement. “The public in Hong Kong should be prepared to pay exorbitant and unreasonable fees due to the US’s unreasonable and bullying acts.”The government said the postal service, Hongkong Post, will stop accepting packages transported by sea with immediate effect and stop taking airborne packages starting from April 27. Other postal items containing only documents, for example letters, will not be affected.The retaliatory move means companies and individuals in Hong Kong will have to pay private couriers such as FedEx and DHL to deliver packages, further driving up costs for consumers on top of US levies. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Yes, according to forecasts, Easter in the UK on April 17, 2025, is likely to be wet. Unsettled weather is expected to dominate the Easter weekend, with heavy rain possible in some areas, particularly in the west and north of the UK. A yellow rain warning has been issued for parts of England and Wales. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

El Salvador blocks US senator from visiting wrongly deported Salvadoran man. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Researchers in the South Atlantic have made numerous significant discoveries, including the identification of new species, evidence of a potential lost continent, and an evolving magnetic field anomaly. The South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA), a region of weakened magnetic field strength, has been observed to impact satellites and the aurora system. Additionally, researchers have found evidence of a giant granite slab, possibly indicating a submerged continent, and mapped new hydrothermal vents and deep-sea species, further contributing to our understanding of the South Atlantic's geological and biological history.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The ex-president accuses Trump of destroying the US Social Security Administration with DOGE's reforms. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

China’s President Xi Jinping’s first Malaysia visit in 12 years begins with full honours at Istana Negara Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has arrived in Malaysia's capital Kuala Lumpur for a three-day state visit. It is the second stop of his Southeast Asian tour, as he seeks to beef up regional cooperation in the wake of an escalating trade war with the US. Melissa Goh and Olivia Siong report. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

US President Donald Trump's special envoy said Monday that Russian leader Vladimir Putin was open to a "permanent peace" deal with Ukraine, following talks seeking to end the more than three-year war.Trump has been pressing Moscow and Kyiv to agree to a ceasefire but has failed to extract any major concessions from the Kremlin, despite repeated negotiations between Russian and US officials. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A rancher's dog in Arizona is being hailed as a hero after rescuing a local 2-year-old boy who had wandered nearly seven miles away from home and spent the night in the desert.On Monday evening, Yavapai County Sheriff's Office got a report of the missing toddler, Boden Allen, who was reported to have walked away from his home in the small town of Seligman, Ariz., the agency said in a Facebook post.Dressed in just a tank top and pajama pants, Allen spent some 16 hours alone as he wandered, according to the sheriff's office, and the desert area he walked through had at least two mountain lion sightings that night. But at 9 a.m. local time, he was retrieved by a dog named Buford. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

China's President Xi Jinping has called on Vietnam to oppose "unilateral bullying" to upkeep a global system of free trade - though he stopped short of naming the US.It comes as Xi is on a so called "charm offensive" trip across South East Asia, which will also see him visit Malaysia and Cambodia.Though the trip was long-planned, it has taken on heightened significance in the wake of a mounting trade war between the US and China. Vietnam was facing US tariffs of up to 46% before the Trump administration issued a 90-day pause last week.US President Donald Trump called Xi's meeting with Vietnamese leaders Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Tuesday he was satisfied with talks with arch-foe the United States but warned they could ultimately prove fruitless. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Japan's population has shrunk for the 14th year in a row, with senior citizens accounting for the largest portion on record.The internal affairs ministry on Monday released its population estimate as of October 1 last year.The total population, including foreigners, stood at 123.8 million, down 0.44 percent from the previous year.The number of Japanese nationals was 120.3 million. The figure posted the largest-ever decline of 0.74 percent.Meanwhile, the number of foreigners hit a record high of 3.5 million.People aged 65 or older make up 29.3 percent of the total population, marking a record high.Those 75 or older account for 16.8 percent, also a record.There were 13.8 million people aged 15 or younger, accounting for 11.2 percent of the population. That is the lowest on record. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Starbucks is updating its uniform policy, emphasizing the appearance of its recognizable “green aprons” as part of CEO Brian Niccol’s broader plans to revive the slumping brand.Beginning May 12, baristas at stores in North America will have to wear solid black tops under their aprons, a change from employees being allowed to wear any colored shirt, in an attempt to “allow our iconic green apron to shine and create a sense of familiarity for our customers,” Starbucks said in a release.The company is also tweaking pant colors, with employees soon to be required to wear khaki, black or blue denim, a change from being allowed to wear navy, gray or brown. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

French prosecutors said Tuesday they have opened an investigation alleging terrorist conspiracy and attempted murder after several prisons were targeted in incidents that included gunfire and arson. Top officials described the attacks as a response to renewed government efforts to fight drug trafficking. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lab-grown teeth would naturally regenerate, integrating into the jaw as real teeth. They would be stronger, longer lasting, and free from rejection risks, offering a more durable and biologically compatible solution than fillings or implants. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

China's leader, Xi Jinping, has arrived in Vietnam. It's the first stop in a tour of Southeast Asia. The visit comes after days of escalations in the trade war between Beijing and Washington. Adam Hancock reports from Singapore. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Shapiro said that his family was evacuated from the official Harrisburg residence at 2 a.m. and that no one was injured. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

About 300 people protested the Trump administration's policies at Stand Up Harvard on Saturday afternoon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

United States President Donald Trump says Harvard University could lose its tax-exempt status and be taxed as a political entity after the Ivy League school rejected demands from his administration.China has accused the US’s National Security Agency of launching “advanced” cyberattacks during the Asian Winter Games in February. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hamas is said to have rejected an Israeli proposal for a six-week ceasefire in Gaza which called for the armed group to give up its weapons. Israel is said to have submitted its latest ceasefire proposal to regional mediators late last week, just days after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met US President Donald Trump in Washington. A senior Palestinian official familiar with the talks said the plan gave no commitment to end the war or for an Israeli troop pull-out - key Hamas demands - in exchange for releasing half of the living hostages which it holds. It is understood to be the first time that Israel has added Hamas disarmament as a condition for advancing a ceasefire - a red line for the group. It comes as Israel continues its military offensive in Gaza, with the UN agency warning that the humanitarian situation in Gaza is "likely the worst it has been in the 18 months since the outbreak of hostilities". Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.