Multiple news sources report that a 22-year-old Australian woman died after her backpack became entangled in a ski lift at the Tsugaike Mountain Resort in Japan, causing her to be suspended and suffer a heart attack. The resort has issued an apology, launched an investigation into the incident, and is cooperating with police while reviewing safety procedures to prevent future occurrences.

Multiple news sources report that a 22-year-old Australian woman died after her backpack became entangled in a ski lift at the Tsugaike Mountain Resort in Japan, causing her to be suspended and suffer a heart attack. The resort has issued an apology, launched an investigation into the incident, and is cooperating with police while reviewing safety procedures to prevent future occurrences.

Multiple news sources report that China has condemned the Dalai Lama's Grammy win for his audiobook, "Meditations," accusing "relevant parties" of using the award for "anti-China political manipulation," while the Dalai Lama accepted the award with "gratitude and humility," seeing it as recognition of shared universal responsibility. This comes amid ongoing tensions between China and the Dalai Lama, who has lived in exile since 1959, regarding Tibetan autonomy and the selection of his successor.

Multiple news sources report that China has condemned the Dalai Lama's Grammy win for his audiobook, "Meditations," accusing "relevant parties" of using the award for "anti-China political manipulation," while the Dalai Lama accepted the award with "gratitude and humility," seeing it as recognition of shared universal responsibility. This comes amid ongoing tensions between China and the Dalai Lama, who has lived in exile since 1959, regarding Tibetan autonomy and the selection of his successor.

Multiple news sources confirm that Israel has reopened the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, which had been largely closed since May 2024, allowing a limited number of sick and wounded Palestinians to leave Gaza for treatment and some residents to return. The reopening, part of a ceasefire plan, is being overseen by EU supervisors and Palestinian staff with remote Israeli security checks, though only a small number of people are permitted to cross each day.

Multiple news sources confirm that Israel has reopened the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, which had been largely closed since May 2024, allowing a limited number of sick and wounded Palestinians to leave Gaza for treatment and some residents to return. The reopening, part of a ceasefire plan, is being overseen by EU supervisors and Palestinian staff with remote Israeli security checks, though only a small number of people are permitted to cross each day.

SpaceX's acquisition of xAI aims to create a vertically integrated AI powerhouse, leveraging SpaceX's capabilities to deploy a massive satellite constellation for AI computing. This ambitious merger signifies a major push by Elon Musk to dominate the AI landscape, raising both excitement and concerns about the future of AI development and its societal impact.

SpaceX's acquisition of xAI aims to create a vertically integrated AI powerhouse, leveraging SpaceX's capabilities to deploy a massive satellite constellation for AI computing. This ambitious merger signifies a major push by Elon Musk to dominate the AI landscape, raising both excitement and concerns about the future of AI development and its societal impact.

Elon Musk is merging SpaceX and xAI (which owns X) to create a vertically-integrated AI innovation engine leveraging space-based resources. This merger aims to overcome terrestrial limitations in energy and data for AI, envisioning a future where AI scales dramatically by harnessing solar power in space.

Elon Musk is merging SpaceX and xAI (which owns X) to create a vertically-integrated AI innovation engine leveraging space-based resources. This merger aims to overcome terrestrial limitations in energy and data for AI, envisioning a future where AI scales dramatically by harnessing solar power in space.

Drawing from multiple industry sources, a memorial service was held for Robert Pietranton, a long-serving and well-respected Warner Bros. Television Group PR executive who passed away in November at 56, with colleagues praising his work ethic, dedication, and kindness despite his preference for staying out of the spotlight. Pietranton was remembered as a consummate professional who consistently delivered exceptional work without seeking attention or affirmation.

Drawing from multiple industry sources, a memorial service was held for Robert Pietranton, a long-serving and well-respected Warner Bros. Television Group PR executive who passed away in November at 56, with colleagues praising his work ethic, dedication, and kindness despite his preference for staying out of the spotlight. Pietranton was remembered as a consummate professional who consistently delivered exceptional work without seeking attention or affirmation.

Multiple news sources highlight a potential biocontrol solution for bark beetle infestations using *Beauveria bassiana* fungal strains and the unearthing of a massive archaeological collection during HS2 railway construction. These sources also report on concerns about political interference in NIH appointments, Asda's financial struggles, Fab5's mechanism of action against gammaherpesvirus gB, and other diverse developments like the Crans-Montana bar fire investigation and low public awareness of alcohol as a carcinogen.

Multiple news sources highlight a potential biocontrol solution for bark beetle infestations using *Beauveria bassiana* fungal strains and the unearthing of a massive archaeological collection during HS2 railway construction. These sources also report on concerns about political interference in NIH appointments, Asda's financial struggles, Fab5's mechanism of action against gammaherpesvirus gB, and other diverse developments like the Crans-Montana bar fire investigation and low public awareness of alcohol as a carcinogen.

Multiple news sources report that Democrat Taylor Rehmet won a special election for the Texas State Senate, defeating a Trump-backed Republican in a district Trump previously won by a significant margin, signaling a potential shift in Texas politics despite the Republican's continued majority in the state senate. This victory is being hailed by Democrats as a sign of growing discontent with President Trump's policies ahead of the midterm elections, though Trump dismisses it as a local issue.

Multiple news sources report that Democrat Taylor Rehmet won a special election for the Texas State Senate, defeating a Trump-backed Republican in a district Trump previously won by a significant margin, signaling a potential shift in Texas politics despite the Republican's continued majority in the state senate. This victory is being hailed by Democrats as a sign of growing discontent with President Trump's policies ahead of the midterm elections, though Trump dismisses it as a local issue.

Dyson is currently holding a winter sale on several of its vacuums and heaters, including discounts on the V8, V11 Extra, Gen5 Detect (WIRED's favorite pet hair vacuum), and purifier-heaters. According to multiple sources, these deals offer significant savings on Dyson's high-end and feature-rich devices, making it a good time to purchase if you're in the market for a new vacuum or heater.

Dyson is currently holding a winter sale on several of its vacuums and heaters, including discounts on the V8, V11 Extra, Gen5 Detect (WIRED's favorite pet hair vacuum), and purifier-heaters. According to multiple sources, these deals offer significant savings on Dyson's high-end and feature-rich devices, making it a good time to purchase if you're in the market for a new vacuum or heater.

Drawing from multiple news sources, a delayed January jobs report due to the government shutdown adds uncertainty to the labor market, while globally, BBC journalists face challenges in Russia, a pre-Trump inauguration deal raises conflict of interest concerns, Pornhub restricts UK access, and Laura Fernández won the Costa Rican presidential election. Simultaneously, escalating tensions are seen in Israeli strikes on Hezbollah infrastructure and China's execution of individuals involved in a Myanmar-based criminal syndicate responsible for gambling and telecom scams.

Drawing from multiple news sources, a delayed January jobs report due to the government shutdown adds uncertainty to the labor market, while globally, BBC journalists face challenges in Russia, a pre-Trump inauguration deal raises conflict of interest concerns, Pornhub restricts UK access, and Laura Fernández won the Costa Rican presidential election. Simultaneously, escalating tensions are seen in Israeli strikes on Hezbollah infrastructure and China's execution of individuals involved in a Myanmar-based criminal syndicate responsible for gambling and telecom scams.

Multiple news sources report a Max Planck Institute discovery of *Beauveria bassiana* fungal strains that combat bark beetles, offering a potential alternative to traditional insecticides amidst climate change concerns. Separately, reports cover concerns about potential political interference in NIH appointments, Asda's declining sales, the unearthing of a massive archaeological collection from HS2 railway construction, and cryo-EM structures revealing Fab5's mechanism of action against gammaherpesvirus gB.

Multiple news sources report a Max Planck Institute discovery of *Beauveria bassiana* fungal strains that combat bark beetles, offering a potential alternative to traditional insecticides amidst climate change concerns. Separately, reports cover concerns about potential political interference in NIH appointments, Asda's declining sales, the unearthing of a massive archaeological collection from HS2 railway construction, and cryo-EM structures revealing Fab5's mechanism of action against gammaherpesvirus gB.

Multiple news sources report that President Trump aims to build a 250-foot triumphal arch near Washington, D.C., potentially dwarfing existing structures and coinciding with the nation's 250th anniversary, despite its location along a flight path for Reagan National Airport. The project, intended to be an iconic landmark, has not yet been submitted to the FAA for airspace analysis, and the FAA is currently shut down.

Multiple news sources report that President Trump aims to build a 250-foot triumphal arch near Washington, D.C., potentially dwarfing existing structures and coinciding with the nation's 250th anniversary, despite its location along a flight path for Reagan National Airport. The project, intended to be an iconic landmark, has not yet been submitted to the FAA for airspace analysis, and the FAA is currently shut down.