Russia bombarded Ukraine overnight with hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles, Ukrainian officials said, in an assault that killed at least four people in Kyiv and wounded at least 25 others. Authorities said apartment buildings were struck in the capital. Tymur Tkachenko, head of the Kyiv City Military Administration, said the dead included an emergency medical aid worker, and officials reported that four doctors and one police officer were injured while responding to the attacks. The strikes disrupted basic services in freezing weather. Mayor Vitali Klitschko said about half of Kyiv’s apartment buildings — nearly 6,000 — were left…
Author: Emily Harper
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Restrictions on Image Generation for Non‑Paying Users Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence chatbot Grok, integrated into the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), has begun limiting its image generation and editing capabilities to paid subscribers following widespread criticism over its misuse. The restrictions, announced by X, mean that non‑paying users attempting to generate or alter images now receive a message indicating that such functions are only available to subscribers. This shift appears to have led to a noticeable decline in the number of sexually explicit deepfakes being created via Grok in recent days. The move comes amid mounting global concern over…
A New Philanthropic Push in Space Science A billionaire funded philanthropic organization is setting out to reshape how major space observatories are built, funded, and deployed. Schmidt Sciences has announced the creation of the Eric and Wendy Schmidt Observatory System, an ambitious initiative that will bring together four complementary observatories designed to deliver world class science faster and at a fraction of the traditional cost. Founded by Eric Schmidt and Wendy Schmidt, the organization says the new system reflects a deliberate shift away from decade long development timelines and multi billion dollar budgets. Instead, the goal is to prove that…
The Swiss National Bank (SNB) reported a profit of approximately 26 billion Swiss francs (approximately $33 billion USD) for the 2025 financial year, marking one of the most profitable years since the institution’s founding in 1907. The central bank attributed the robust result largely to a dramatic surge in gold prices, which significantly boosted the value of its precious metal holdings. The bank’s valuation gain on gold reached 36.3 billion francs, the largest such increase in its history, as gold prices rose sharply over the past year. Investors seeking refuge from economic uncertainty and global market volatility flocked to safe‑haven assets,…
A Rare Bipartisan Break in the House In a notable display of cross party cooperation, the US House of Representatives passed legislation to revive enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies, with a group of Republicans joining Democrats to overcome opposition from their own leadership. The measure cleared the chamber after a divided vote that underscored both the political sensitivity of health care costs and the growing pressure lawmakers face from constituents confronting rising insurance premiums. A total of seventeen Republicans broke ranks to support the bill, giving Democrats a decisive margin. The outcome was greeted with applause from Democratic lawmakers, who…
Tractors Bring Protest to the Heart of Paris French farmers drove tractors into central Paris, blocking roads near iconic landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe, to protest an imminent European Union trade agreement with South American countries. The demonstration, organized by the Coordination Rurale union, followed overnight blockades on major motorways outside the capital before dozens of tractors pushed through police checkpoints at dawn. The farmers say the proposed deal would expose them to unfair competition by opening European markets to cheaper agricultural imports produced under less stringent regulations. Many protesters described a sense of…
A comprehensive report released by Microsoft on Thursday, January 8, 2026, reveals a significant shift in the global landscape of artificial intelligence. Researchers from the AI for Good Lab indicate that while generative artificial intelligence tools reached a global adoption rate of 16.3% in the final quarter of 2025, the gap between advanced and emerging economies continues to widen. This figure represents a slight increase from the 15.1% usage rate recorded in the preceding quarter, yet the data suggests that adoption in developed nations is currently accelerating at nearly twice the speed seen in the developing world. Juan Lavista Ferres,…
A winter cold snap has caused travel disruptions across western Europe, with snow, ice, and strong winds affecting airports and surface transport. In the Netherlands, conditions around Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport prompted emergency measures after about 1,000 travellers were unable to continue their journeys and spent the night at the hub while staff worked to clear runways. Schiphol said at least 800 flights were cancelled on Wednesday, and authorities urged people to work from home where possible. In France, the same weather system brought snowfall and black ice into the Paris region, triggering warnings about hazardous roads and reduced visibility. The…
A Veteran Coach Steps Into an Open Market John Harbaugh is in no hurry to define the next chapter of his career. After parting ways with the Baltimore Ravens following an 18 year run as head coach, Harbaugh has instantly become the most sought after name on the NFL coaching market. Yet instead of racing into interviews, he is choosing a measured and deliberate approach. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Harbaugh is not expected to begin head coach interviews until next week. That timeline reflects not hesitation, but leverage. In a hiring cycle where multiple franchises are scrambling to…
A Landmark Arrival for Contemporary Art in Thailand Thailand has reached a major cultural milestone with the opening of its first international contemporary art gallery. Dib Bangkok marks a significant expansion of the country’s art landscape, positioning Bangkok as a new destination for global contemporary art while giving Thai artists a platform alongside international voices. Housed inside a repurposed warehouse from the late twentieth century, the gallery represents a transformation not only of physical space but of cultural ambition. The project was conceived by art collector and entrepreneur Purat Chang Osathanugrah, whose goal was to establish a space where artistic…
