A 13-year-old Australian boy utilized his endurance to swim for four hours and seek rescue for his family, who were swept out to sea while paddleboarding. After drifting 14km offshore due to unexpected wind and lost equipment, the family was rescued, highlighting the importance of water safety awareness. The teen's actions demonstrate the potential for quick thinking in emergency situations.

A 13-year-old Australian boy utilized his endurance to swim for four hours and seek rescue for his family, who were swept out to sea while paddleboarding. After drifting 14km offshore due to unexpected wind and lost equipment, the family was rescued, highlighting the importance of water safety awareness. The teen's actions demonstrate the potential for quick thinking in emergency situations.

Multiple news sources reveal a complex global landscape marked by geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainties, and technological advancements, alongside domestic issues such as a partial government shutdown triggered by House inaction on a funding bill, investigations into Jeffrey Epstein's network, and the disappearance of Savannah Guthrie's mother. President Trump urged House lawmakers to pass the Senate-approved funding bill to end the shutdown, highlighting Speaker Johnson's challenge in navigating partisan divisions.

Multiple news sources reveal a complex global landscape marked by geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainties, and technological advancements, alongside domestic issues such as a partial government shutdown triggered by House inaction on a funding bill, investigations into Jeffrey Epstein's network, and the disappearance of Savannah Guthrie's mother. President Trump urged House lawmakers to pass the Senate-approved funding bill to end the shutdown, highlighting Speaker Johnson's challenge in navigating partisan divisions.

Multiple news sources detail how snowboarder Kevin Pearce, once a major rival to Shaun White, suffered a traumatic brain injury in a 2009 accident while practicing for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, ending his competitive career and leaving him with lasting neurological effects. The injury occurred after Pearce, driven to match White's skill, attempted a difficult trick, and he has no memory of the accident or the following month, later undergoing extensive rehabilitation.

Multiple news sources detail how snowboarder Kevin Pearce, once a major rival to Shaun White, suffered a traumatic brain injury in a 2009 accident while practicing for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, ending his competitive career and leaving him with lasting neurological effects. The injury occurred after Pearce, driven to match White's skill, attempted a difficult trick, and he has no memory of the accident or the following month, later undergoing extensive rehabilitation.

YouTube is now enforcing its Premium subscription requirement for background playback on mobile devices, closing a loophole previously exploited by users of browsers like Brave and Edge. This change, intended to ensure consistent functionality across platforms, impacts users who previously enjoyed background audio without a Premium subscription and may drive more users to subscribe. The move has sparked user frustration and workarounds are being explored.

YouTube is now enforcing its Premium subscription requirement for background playback on mobile devices, closing a loophole previously exploited by users of browsers like Brave and Edge. This change, intended to ensure consistent functionality across platforms, impacts users who previously enjoyed background audio without a Premium subscription and may drive more users to subscribe. The move has sparked user frustration and workarounds are being explored.

Multiple news sources report that the second Trump administration has missed the legal deadline to submit its budget proposal for fiscal year 2027, raising concerns about the White House's commitment to addressing the growing national debt and deficit. Experts, like the president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (CRFB), are urging the administration to share a concrete fiscal plan with specific policies to put the nation's finances on a sustainable path, including potential reforms to Social Security, Medicare, defense, and revenue.

Multiple news sources report that the second Trump administration has missed the legal deadline to submit its budget proposal for fiscal year 2027, raising concerns about the White House's commitment to addressing the growing national debt and deficit. Experts, like the president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (CRFB), are urging the administration to share a concrete fiscal plan with specific policies to put the nation's finances on a sustainable path, including potential reforms to Social Security, Medicare, defense, and revenue.

Drawing from multiple news sources, the impending expiration of the New START treaty, the last nuclear arms control pact between the US and Russia, is heightening tensions. A Russian official warned that if the US deploys its "Golden Dome" missile defense program to Greenland, Russia will respond with military measures, further complicating the already strained relationship between the two nations.

Drawing from multiple news sources, the impending expiration of the New START treaty, the last nuclear arms control pact between the US and Russia, is heightening tensions. A Russian official warned that if the US deploys its "Golden Dome" missile defense program to Greenland, Russia will respond with military measures, further complicating the already strained relationship between the two nations.

Multiple news sources report that Marius Borg Hoiby, the son of Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit, is on trial in Oslo facing 38 charges, including rape, domestic violence, drug possession, and making death threats, to which he has pleaded not guilty to the most serious charges but admitted guilt to some lesser offenses. Following new accusations, police are seeking to keep Hoiby in custody for an additional four weeks, potentially adding to the existing charges.

Multiple news sources report that Marius Borg Hoiby, the son of Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit, is on trial in Oslo facing 38 charges, including rape, domestic violence, drug possession, and making death threats, to which he has pleaded not guilty to the most serious charges but admitted guilt to some lesser offenses. Following new accusations, police are seeking to keep Hoiby in custody for an additional four weeks, potentially adding to the existing charges.

Multiple sources report that Texas A&M University is discontinuing its Women's and Gender Studies certificate program after reviewing over 5,400 course syllabi to ensure compliance with university policies, a move praised by education advocates who see it as eliminating race or sex discrimination. This action, along with similar restrictions at Texas Tech, is viewed by some as part of a broader effort, potentially influenced by Donald Trump, to reduce "woke ideology" in higher education.

Multiple sources report that Texas A&M University is discontinuing its Women's and Gender Studies certificate program after reviewing over 5,400 course syllabi to ensure compliance with university policies, a move praised by education advocates who see it as eliminating race or sex discrimination. This action, along with similar restrictions at Texas Tech, is viewed by some as part of a broader effort, potentially influenced by Donald Trump, to reduce "woke ideology" in higher education.

Multiple news sources report that thousands in Rio de Janeiro celebrated Yemanjá, a significant figure in Afro-Brazilian spirituality, while Gaza's Rafah border crossing has reopened with limited access. Simultaneously, Iranian researchers are struggling with economic hardship, political instability, and international sanctions, severely impacting their research capabilities and international collaborations.

Multiple news sources report that thousands in Rio de Janeiro celebrated Yemanjá, a significant figure in Afro-Brazilian spirituality, while Gaza's Rafah border crossing has reopened with limited access. Simultaneously, Iranian researchers are struggling with economic hardship, political instability, and international sanctions, severely impacting their research capabilities and international collaborations.

Planet Money attended the American Economic Association's annual conference, a major event for economists, to get a sneak peek at cutting-edge research. They highlighted several pre-peer review papers, including one exploring the productivity impacts of AI in American industries, suggesting AI initially slows productivity before ultimately accelerating it. This is based on observations and discussions with economists at the conference.

Planet Money attended the American Economic Association's annual conference, a major event for economists, to get a sneak peek at cutting-edge research. They highlighted several pre-peer review papers, including one exploring the productivity impacts of AI in American industries, suggesting AI initially slows productivity before ultimately accelerating it. This is based on observations and discussions with economists at the conference.

Several sports, including bandy, ski ballet, and equestrian skijoring, have appeared in past Winter Olympics but will not be included in the 2026 games. These sports, ranging from a mix of field hockey and soccer to dancing on skis while being judged on artistry, had brief appearances in the Olympic program, with some like ski ballet influencing modern freestyle events.

Several sports, including bandy, ski ballet, and equestrian skijoring, have appeared in past Winter Olympics but will not be included in the 2026 games. These sports, ranging from a mix of field hockey and soccer to dancing on skis while being judged on artistry, had brief appearances in the Olympic program, with some like ski ballet influencing modern freestyle events.

Multiple news sources report that the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt has partially reopened, facilitating limited medical evacuations and family reunions after months of closure. This follows heavy strikes, humanitarian lobbying, and the return of an Israeli hostage's remains, with Egyptian officials managing the flow of a limited number of people in both directions for medical screening and transfer.

Multiple news sources report that the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt has partially reopened, facilitating limited medical evacuations and family reunions after months of closure. This follows heavy strikes, humanitarian lobbying, and the return of an Israeli hostage's remains, with Egyptian officials managing the flow of a limited number of people in both directions for medical screening and transfer.