Multiple news sources report that Spotify, despite recent price increases, is expanding its audiobook business by allowing users in the U.S. and UK to purchase physical books through the app via a partnership with Bookshop.org, supporting independent bookstores, and introducing features like Page Match and Audiobook Recaps to enhance the user experience. This move positions Spotify as a competitor to major booksellers like Amazon and Barnes & Noble, aiming to become a comprehensive platform for book lovers.

Multiple news sources report that Spotify, despite recent price increases, is expanding its audiobook business by allowing users in the U.S. and UK to purchase physical books through the app via a partnership with Bookshop.org, supporting independent bookstores, and introducing features like Page Match and Audiobook Recaps to enhance the user experience. This move positions Spotify as a competitor to major booksellers like Amazon and Barnes & Noble, aiming to become a comprehensive platform for book lovers.

Drawing from multiple news sources, Azerbaijan's state oil fund, SOFAZ, is experiencing significant revenue gains due to rising gold prices, a trend fueled by global instability and increased gold holdings among sovereign investors. SOFAZ strategically uses gold as a hedge against economic shocks and market volatility, with gold now comprising 38.2% of its investment portfolio to stabilize the fund and protect Azerbaijan's financial reserves, despite short-term price fluctuations influenced by global economic announcements.

Drawing from multiple news sources, Azerbaijan's state oil fund, SOFAZ, is experiencing significant revenue gains due to rising gold prices, a trend fueled by global instability and increased gold holdings among sovereign investors. SOFAZ strategically uses gold as a hedge against economic shocks and market volatility, with gold now comprising 38.2% of its investment portfolio to stabilize the fund and protect Azerbaijan's financial reserves, despite short-term price fluctuations influenced by global economic announcements.

Multiple news sources report that the Rafah Crossing has reopened, allowing some of the 40,000 Gazans who fled during the war to return home, leading to emotional reunions despite the ongoing Israeli airstrikes and devastation within Gaza. While foreign journalists are banned, local Gazan reporters are documenting the returns and the challenges faced by those returning to a homeland with limited resources and continued conflict.

Multiple news sources report that the Rafah Crossing has reopened, allowing some of the 40,000 Gazans who fled during the war to return home, leading to emotional reunions despite the ongoing Israeli airstrikes and devastation within Gaza. While foreign journalists are banned, local Gazan reporters are documenting the returns and the challenges faced by those returning to a homeland with limited resources and continued conflict.

The Winter Olympics are set to explode with fresh excitement as ski mountaineering, or "skimo," makes its debut, marking the first new sport added in over 30 years! Alongside skimo's three events (men's sprint, women's sprint, and mixed relay), five new competitions within existing sports will create eight new chances for athletes to grab a medal in Milan Cortina 2026.

The Winter Olympics are set to explode with fresh excitement as ski mountaineering, or "skimo," makes its debut, marking the first new sport added in over 30 years! Alongside skimo's three events (men's sprint, women's sprint, and mixed relay), five new competitions within existing sports will create eight new chances for athletes to grab a medal in Milan Cortina 2026.

An inquiry reveals that the tragic drowning of at least 30 migrants in the English Channel in 2021 was preventable, highlighting systemic failures in government resourcing and coordination. The report underscores the critical need for improved emergency response protocols and resource allocation to prevent future loss of life in similar situations, emphasizing the ethical implications of neglecting vulnerable populations.

An inquiry reveals that the tragic drowning of at least 30 migrants in the English Channel in 2021 was preventable, highlighting systemic failures in government resourcing and coordination. The report underscores the critical need for improved emergency response protocols and resource allocation to prevent future loss of life in similar situations, emphasizing the ethical implications of neglecting vulnerable populations.

Multiple news sources report that Pinterest fired two engineers for writing a script to identify and share the names of employees affected by recent layoffs, which impacted roughly 700 roles as part of the company's shift towards AI. Pinterest stated that the engineers' actions violated company policy and the privacy of their former colleagues.

Multiple news sources report that Pinterest fired two engineers for writing a script to identify and share the names of employees affected by recent layoffs, which impacted roughly 700 roles as part of the company's shift towards AI. Pinterest stated that the engineers' actions violated company policy and the privacy of their former colleagues.

Multiple news sources report that the Justice Department has released another batch of Jeffrey Epstein files, revealing new details and photos related to figures like Bill Gates, Elon Musk, and former Prince Andrew, though they have not been accused of wrongdoing. The released materials include concerning images of Prince Andrew, who has repeatedly denied wrongdoing and been stripped of royal titles, prompting calls for him to cooperate with U.S. investigators.

Multiple news sources report that the Justice Department has released another batch of Jeffrey Epstein files, revealing new details and photos related to figures like Bill Gates, Elon Musk, and former Prince Andrew, though they have not been accused of wrongdoing. The released materials include concerning images of Prince Andrew, who has repeatedly denied wrongdoing and been stripped of royal titles, prompting calls for him to cooperate with U.S. investigators.

According to a new NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll, a significant majority (65%) of Americans believe that ICE has "gone too far" in immigration enforcement, marking an 11-point increase since last summer driven by Independents and Democrats, and coming on the heels of fatal shootings in Minnesota. The poll also reveals President Trump is facing his highest level of disapproval since the January 6th Capitol attack, with his voting coalition, including younger people, Latinos, and independents, showing signs of deserting him.

According to a new NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll, a significant majority (65%) of Americans believe that ICE has "gone too far" in immigration enforcement, marking an 11-point increase since last summer driven by Independents and Democrats, and coming on the heels of fatal shootings in Minnesota. The poll also reveals President Trump is facing his highest level of disapproval since the January 6th Capitol attack, with his voting coalition, including younger people, Latinos, and independents, showing signs of deserting him.

Hongkong Land has launched the Singapore Central Private Real Estate Fund (SCPREF), the country's largest private retail fund with S$8.2 billion in assets, marking a strategic shift towards fund management and commercial properties. Supported by investors like Qatar Investment Authority and APG Asset Management, SCPREF will focus on prime commercial assets in Singapore's CBD, capitalizing on the booming Singaporean property market; this information is synthesized from multiple news sources. The open-ended fund aims to grow to S$15 billion, offering stable returns that appeal to sovereign wealth funds.

Hongkong Land has launched the Singapore Central Private Real Estate Fund (SCPREF), the country's largest private retail fund with S$8.2 billion in assets, marking a strategic shift towards fund management and commercial properties. Supported by investors like Qatar Investment Authority and APG Asset Management, SCPREF will focus on prime commercial assets in Singapore's CBD, capitalizing on the booming Singaporean property market; this information is synthesized from multiple news sources. The open-ended fund aims to grow to S$15 billion, offering stable returns that appeal to sovereign wealth funds.

Drawing from multiple news sources, Democratic leaders have outlined demands for Department of Homeland Security funding beyond next week, seeking to curb Trump-era immigration enforcement practices by restricting ICE's power and increasing accountability through measures like body cameras and warrant requirements. With current funding set to expire soon, Democrats and Republicans face a deadline to reach a long-term agreement or pass another extension, though some of the proposed policy changes have already been rejected by Republicans.

Drawing from multiple news sources, Democratic leaders have outlined demands for Department of Homeland Security funding beyond next week, seeking to curb Trump-era immigration enforcement practices by restricting ICE's power and increasing accountability through measures like body cameras and warrant requirements. With current funding set to expire soon, Democrats and Republicans face a deadline to reach a long-term agreement or pass another extension, though some of the proposed policy changes have already been rejected by Republicans.

LaMonte McLemore, a founding member of the Grammy-winning vocal group The 5th Dimension, known for their hit songs like "Up, Up and Away" and "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In," died at age 90 of natural causes after a stroke, according to multiple news reports. Beyond his musical success, McLemore was also a photographer for magazines like Jet and a former baseball player, showcasing a diverse range of talents.

LaMonte McLemore, a founding member of the Grammy-winning vocal group The 5th Dimension, known for their hit songs like "Up, Up and Away" and "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In," died at age 90 of natural causes after a stroke, according to multiple news reports. Beyond his musical success, McLemore was also a photographer for magazines like Jet and a former baseball player, showcasing a diverse range of talents.

Based on multiple reports, Google's AI chatbot Gemini has experienced rapid growth, reaching over 750 million monthly active users in Q4 2025, driven by the launch of Gemini 3 and a new affordable subscription plan, though it still trails behind ChatGPT's estimated 810 million users. This growth contributes to Alphabet's overall financial success, including surpassing $400 billion in annual revenue, fueled by the expansion of its AI division and the introduction of new AI hardware like the Ironwood TPU.

Based on multiple reports, Google's AI chatbot Gemini has experienced rapid growth, reaching over 750 million monthly active users in Q4 2025, driven by the launch of Gemini 3 and a new affordable subscription plan, though it still trails behind ChatGPT's estimated 810 million users. This growth contributes to Alphabet's overall financial success, including surpassing $400 billion in annual revenue, fueled by the expansion of its AI division and the introduction of new AI hardware like the Ironwood TPU.