The Top 5 Longreads of the Week
In this edition: gambling’s grip, a story of plumes and poachers, bemoaning American tourists in Rome, a magical history tour, and a fake poultry flinger.
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Snake Milkers, Queer Iranian Mozart in Exile, Cursed Toilets, ‘Sicko’ and Orgies: A Look at Envelope-Pushing Films at Rotterdam
IFFR keeps "championing filmmakers forging new paths in cinema," such as a creative tortured for his participation in a pro-democracy movement, who uses the pseudonym Socrates Saint-Wulfstan Drakos.
Bus in Malaysia crash that killed 15 university students was doing 115kmh in 60kmh zone: Report
The report said that the bus' braking system was "contaminated and inconsistent".
Cyclone Harry causes major damage across Sardinia, southern Italy
Cyclone Harry has devastated Sardinia, causing damages expected to reach hundreds of millions of euros, according to governor Alessandra Todde.
Zelenskiy says territorial issue to be discussed at trilateral talks in UAE
KYIV, Jan 23 - President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Friday that the vital question of territory in Ukraine's war with Russia would be discussed at U.S.-brokered trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi on Friday and Saturday.
From the F-35 to the new super warplane: Italy ready to invest €9 billion in the Gcap
It is an expensive gamble, but also an attempt at technological emancipation from the major programmes of the past, in which Italy has often played a subordinate role.
UN rights body holds emergency session on Iran's protest crackdown
By Emma Farge and Olivia Le Poidevin GENEVA, Jan 23 (Reuters) - The U.N. Human Rights Council will hold an emergency session on Friday to discuss the "alarming violence" used in Iran against protesters, while a group of states will call on United Nations' investigators to
Iran: IAEA must clarify stance on June attacks before inspecting bombed sites
Jan 23 (Reuters) - The U.N. nuclear watchdog must clarify its stance on U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran's nuclear sites last June before inspectors are allowed to visit those facilities, Iranian media on Friday quoted the country's atomic chief as saying. Mohammad Eslami said
‘Kamikaze drones’, laser systems: Malaysia to boost defence industry amid ‘uncertain security realities’
The new National Defence Industry Policy aims to reduce Malaysia’s reliance on foreign security and defence technology and bolster long-term domestic industrial capacity.
Raabta International Launches as New Spanish Sales Player and Sets Berlin European Film Market Debut (EXCLUSIVE)
Raabta International is stepping into an increasingly crowded global marketplace as a new Spanish international sales outfit. The Madrid-based company has launched with a mandate to represent indie features and documentaries with clear commercial upside, aiming to strengthen
Death toll in Iran's protest crackdown reaches 5,002 as Trump says US 'armada' approaching
The US military meanwhile has moved more military assets toward the Middle East, including the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and associated warships.
When big snow and ice blow in, most people reach for salt. There are ways to reduce its harms
Winter has its fans, but even those who enjoy playing in the snow probably dislike the chore of clearing up after a big storm that dumps several inches or even feet of snow and ice.
EU ‘ready’ to roll out Mercosur deal once South American ratifications start, von der Leyen says
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the European Union is prepared to provisionally implement the EU–Mercosur trade agreement as soon as Mercosur countries begin completing their ratification procedures, seeking to reassure partners after a European
Remaining bodies found of 10 killed in Indonesia plane crash
The turboprop plane, chartered by the fisheries ministry, was carrying seven crew members and three civil servants when it lost contact with air traffic control on Jan 17.
Podcast: Iran under fire, protests, repression and the EU’s response
Why are Iranians protesting? What will the EU’s and the US’s reactions be?
Discovery of PITTs shows platelets can switch from clotting to driving vessel inflammation
A team from Würzburg has fundamentally changed our understanding of platelet biology. The researchers demonstrate that the surface protein integrin αIIbβ3 is not only a key molecule in blood clotting, but can also act as a pro-inflammatory effector during severe disease
Arctic blast to wallop N. America—is climate change to blame?
An unusually brutal winter storm is set to pummel more than 160 million Americans from Friday, as a stretched "polar vortex" sends a devastating blast of Arctic air, bringing heavy snows and freezing rains.
China rejects UN experts' concerns for alleged forced labour in Xinjiang
BEIJING, Jan 23 - China defended its human rights record on Friday after UN experts said alleged forced labour involving Uyghurs and Tibetans in the Xinjiang region and other parts of China might amount to \"enslavement\".
Heathrow scraps 100ml liquid container limit
Heathrow says it has become the biggest airport to drop the limit after rolling out new high-tech scanners.
China's Xi lauds 'shared future' with Vietnam after To Lam's re-election
BEIJING, Jan 23 - China's President Xi Jinping congratulated Vietnam's To Lam on his re-election as the ruling Communist Party's general secretary, praising Vietnam's achievements and describing the two nations as a \"community with a shared future.\"
China dismisses UN experts’ forced labour concerns as ‘groundless’
UN experts said in a joint statement that forced labour was being enabled through a state-mandated programme.
Why Iran’s regime just won’t fall
Iran has once again appeared on the front pages, framed as a state on the brink. Protests in Iran have unfolded inside a dense fog of information warfare. Tehran’s self-imposed internet blackout has created a vacuum, and vacuums invite manipulation. Into that space rush foreign
Which European countries will heatwaves hit hardest by 2100?
As heatwave records are broken each year in Europe, countries across the continent are being hit particularly hard by climate change. However, Mediterranean countries aren't topping the list as expected.
Exclusive: Mitsotakis tells Euronews 'most' European countries can’t join Trump’s 'Board of Peace'
In an interview on Euronews’ morning show Europe Today, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis rebuked US President Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace” initiative. He also expressed relief at the de-escalation of tensions with the US over Greenland.
To Lam wins second term to rule Vietnam for the next five years
HANOI, Jan 23 - Vietnam's top leader To Lam was re-appointed on Friday as head of the ruling Communist Party for the next five years after a unanimous vote by its central committee, as he pledged to turbocharge growth in the export-reliant nation.
From top cop to reformist, Vietnam’s To Lam cements his grip
He was re-appointed on Jan 23 as the country’s most powerful official.
Spain will not join Trump's Board of Peace, PM says
MADRID, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Spain will not take part in the Board of Peace initiative launched by U.S. President Donald Trump to tackle global conflicts, saying the decision was consistent with its belief in multilateralism and the United Nations system. "We appreciate the
Accelerationist State: China’s biopharma revolution
The continuous stream of drug approvals by Chinese pharmaceutical companies should be a source of awe to any global innovation investor. There are multiple reasons that have led to the current point. However, one key contributor is China’s drug approval policy transformation,
Scientists just overturned a 100-year-old rule of chemistry, and the results are “impossible”
Chemists at UCLA are showing that some of organic chemistry’s most famous “rules” aren’t as unbreakable as once thought. By creating bizarre, cage-shaped molecules with warped double bonds—structures long considered impossible—the team is opening the door to entirely new kinds
Colosseum's Commodus Passage reopens after extensive restoration work
The passage, constructed somewhere between the years 90 and 98, allowed emperors to get to their seats without having to use the main entrances, the vomitoria, through which the masses would spew forth into the Colosseum.
Robots parade through the streets of Davos
Robots parade through the streets of Davos, Switzerland, during the World Economic Forum conference.
Renewables cover 11% of the energy used for transport
In 2024, the share of renewable energy sources in transport reached 11.2% at the EU level, a 0.2 percentage points (pp) increase from 2023. When the time series began in 2004, this share stood at 1.4%. The 2024 share was 17.8 pp lower than the 29% target for 2030 on the use of
Merz heads to Italy for summit with Meloni with new ideas to shake up EU bureaucracy
A closer alliance between Meloni and Merz is on the horizon, with the ambition to change Europe after decades of dominance by the Franco-German axis.
To Lam wins second term to rule Vietnam through 2030
In the one-party state, Lam was re-elected by all 180 party officials from a newly-formed committee at the end of the five-yearly party congress.
Xi assures Brazil's Lula of China's support in 'turbulent' times
BEIJING, Jan 23 - Chinese leader Xi Jinping assured his Brazilian counterpart on Friday that China would stand by Latin America's biggest economy and the Global South, and called for both nations to maintain the role of the United Nations, state news agency Xinhua said.
US-TikTok deal: A new reality for China's tech champions?
It is a challenge for TikTok's parent company ByteDance as well as global ambitions for other Chinese tech companies.
Paris Hilton Reflects on Sex Tape That Leaked When She Was 19: ‘It Was Abuse’
The singer and reality TV star spoke out in support of the DEFIANCE Act, a bill that would protect victims of AI-generated, sexually explicit content
Podcast: From Davos handshakes to Brussels emergency Talks: What’s Next for the EU?
Donald Trump dropped his threat of imposing tariffs on some European countries, but should the EU let its guard down?
Week in wildlife: a proud eagle, an adorable axolotl and a goofy seal
This week’s best wildlife photographs from around the world Continue reading...
Statement by Commissioner Lahbib on the demolition of the UNRWA compound in East Jerusalem
On 20 January, Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management Commissioner Hadja Lahbib (pictured) released the following statement: “I condemn the Israeli decision to forcibly enter and demolish the United Nations Sheikh Jarrah compound held by United Nations Relief and Works
Dog weddings: How a new industry in China laps up puppy love
However, some critics see pet weddings or celebrations as unnecessary or extravagant.
Video shows deer crashes through bank window, triggering alarm
A deer crashes through a bank window and sets off the burglary alarm in New York.
Malaysia lifts suspension on Musk's Grok chatbot
Elon Musk's Grok chatbot was blocked nearly two weeks ago over concerns about AI-generated sexualised deepfakes.
Demand for online jewellery boosts December retail sales
Sales rose by more than expected, but it remained a difficult festive period for many retailers.
Africa: UN Warns of Rising Internet Shutdowns As Digital Blackouts Spread Worldwide
[UN News] A rising trend towards government-enforced internet shutdowns - with at least 300 incidents in more than 54 countries over the last two years - is prompting renewed warnings from the UN about the threat these digital blackouts pose to freedom of expression, access to
From top cop to reformist, Vietnam's To Lam cements his grip
Jan 23 - Vietnam's Communist Party chief To Lam, reappointed on Friday as the country's most powerful official, has earned a reputation as an ambitious reformer, promoting the strengthening of private conglomerates while boosting police powers.
Africa: Mpox No Longer Public Health Emergency
[Africa CDC] Africa has officially lifted Mpox as a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security following recommendations from the Africa CDC Emergency Consultative Group. The decision highlights the continent's strengthened health security, effective leadership, regional