World Leaders Converge for Winter Olympics Amidst Global Concerns
Milan, Italy – World leaders converged in Milan for the 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony on Friday, as the United States Vice President JD Vance hailed the Games as a "unifying moment" for the country. Vance, who led the U.S. delegation, told American athletes that the competition "is one of the few things that unites the entire country," according to Euronews. The event occurred against a backdrop of rising global tensions, with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Qatar addressing energy security and regional stability amid concerns over Iran's actions, Euronews reported.
Chancellor Merz's visit to Doha came as Germany sought to bolster its energy security and defense partnerships amid shifting global alliances. Speaking in Doha, Merz stated that concerns over Iran had been a prominent feature in discussions with Gulf leaders. He urged Tehran to cease what he described as aggressive behavior and engage in talks to de-escalate tensions, according to Euronews.
Meanwhile, in Italy, a separate international issue unfolded as health experts recommended the return of three children to their Anglo-Australian parents following a custody dispute. The Lanciano-Vasto-Chieti Local Health Authority psychiatrists emphasized the importance of restoring stable family ties for the children, who were removed from their parents' care, Euronews reported.
In other news, NASA astronauts are now permitted to bring their smartphones on missions, beginning with Crew-12 and Artemis II. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman announced on X that this initiative would allow crews to "capture special moments for their families and share inspiring images and video with the world," according to TechCrunch. The Artemis II mission, which will send humans around the moon for the first time since the 1960s, was delayed until March.
On the energy front, Pacific Fusion announced experimental results from Sandia National Laboratory, claiming a cheaper method for fusion reactor operation. The company shared exclusively with TechCrunch that the results could eliminate costly components of their approach to fusion power. The challenge remains to ensure the cost of initiating a fusion reaction is lower than the potential revenue from selling the power, a hurdle yet to be overcome by any company, including Commonwealth Fusion Systems, which is constructing a large reactor, TechCrunch reported.
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