Murders plummeted more than 20% in U.S. last year, the largest drop on record, study shows

A study by the Council on Criminal Justice shows that murders in the U.S. dropped by over 20% in 2025, marking the largest one-year decrease on record. The national homicide rate might be the lowest since 1900. The study analyzed crime data from 40 large cities, finding that violent crimes, including carjackings and shoplifting, also declined. However, drug offenses increased, and sexual assault rates remained unchanged.

Musk’s X Lags Further Behind Zuckerberg’s Threads In New Daily User Data

Meta’s Threads platform continues to widen its lead over Elon Musk’s X in daily active users on mobile devices worldwide, with an average of 143.2 million users in the first 13 days of January, compared to X’s 126.2 million. Threads has seen a 37.8% year-over-year boost in users, while X has lost 11.9% of its daily active users over the same period. Despite X still leading in U.S. mobile users, Threads has narrowed the gap significantly.

Robert Jenrick sacked by Tories for 'plotting to defect' - live updates - BBC News

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has sacked Robert Jenrick, the Shadow Justice Secretary, due to 'irrefutable evidence' that he was plotting to defect from the party. Badenoch claims to have been presented with clear evidence that Jenrick was planning to defect in a way designed to be as damaging as possible to the Conservative Party. Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, confirms having conversations with Jenrick but denies signing any deal. This incident is seen as a significant moment for the future of the British right, with concerns about the Conservative Party being usurped by Reform UK.

First person charged under UK abortion buffer zone law after silent prayer

A Catholic pro-life campaigner, Isabel Vaughan-Spruce, has become the first person to be charged under the UK's new national abortion buffer zone law for silently praying outside an abortion clinic. The charge has sparked renewed debate over freedom of expression and religious liberty. Vaughan-Spruce was charged by West Midlands Police for allegedly standing within the restricted zone with the intention of influencing abortion-related decisions. The case will be closely watched as it proceeds through the courts, with both supporters and critics viewing it as a test of how far the buffer zone law can be interpreted and applied in practice.

Germany: State antisemitism commissioner's house attacked

A suspected arson attack targeted the house of Andreas Büttner, Brandenburg's antisemitism commissioner, in Germany. This marks the second attack on Büttner in 16 months, following an incident where his car was defaced with swastikas. The recent attack involved a fire set next to his property, and an 'anti-constitutional' symbol, possibly linked to Hamas, was found nearby. Despite the attacks, Büttner remains resolute, stating that such actions only strengthen his resolve.

Leftwing militants claim responsibility for arson attack on Berlin power grid

German leftwing militants from the Vulkangruppe have claimed responsibility for an arson attack on a bridge in Berlin that has cut power to tens of thousands of homes and businesses. The group, protesting over the climate crisis and AI, targeted high-voltage cables near a heat and power station, affecting up to 35,000 homes and 1,900 businesses. The attack, which the group described as an 'act of self-defense and international solidarity,' has caused significant disruptions, including interruptions to mobile networks and commuter lines, and has left some residents without heat and hot water. The group apologized for the impact on less well-off residents but expressed limited sympathy for the 'ruling class' affected by the power cut.

Ayatollah Khamenei plans to flee to Moscow if Iran unrest intensifies

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The no-nonsense tech bro bidding to reboot PayPal

This article discusses Alex Chriss, the CEO of PayPal, and his efforts to revitalize the company by introducing new products and services in the UK market. Chriss believes the UK is a prime test ground for digital wallets and has launched debit and credit cards and a loyalty program. Despite PayPal's market value decline and competition from other tech giants, Chriss remains optimistic about the company's future, emphasizing its role in the consumer AI revolution.

Iran’s currency ‘turns to ash’ as economy spirals

This article discusses the economic turmoil in Iran, where the national currency has significantly depreciated, leading to widespread discontent and protests among shopkeepers in Tehran.

Homeland Security to investigate over 30 sites in Minneapolis on Monday for what it calls "rampant fraud"

Homeland Security is conducting a massive investigation in Minneapolis on childcare and other rampant fraud, according to Secretary Kristi Noem. DHS agents are inspecting over 30 sites on Monday, with a focus on fraud, immigration enforcement, and criminal activities with an international or immigration nexus.

US economy grows at fastest pace in two years

The US economy grew at an annual rate of 4.3% in the third quarter of 2022, marking the fastest pace in two years, driven by strong consumer spending and increased exports. Despite challenges such as trade policy changes, inflation, and government spending cuts, the economy has shown resilience. Consumer spending rose by 3.5%, and exports surged by 7.4%, while imports declined. However, rising prices could pose future challenges for sustaining this growth.

The moment the earliest known man-made fire was uncovered

Archaeologists in the UK have discovered the world's oldest evidence of humans lighting fires, dating back 400,000 years. The discovery at Barnham in Suffolk includes a flint lighter and heated earth, indicating that early humans deliberately created fire. This pushes back the timeline of human fire-making by over 350,000 years and suggests that early Neanderthals were the ones making these fires.

Zelensky–Trump envoys call centered on territorial concessions, security guarantees, Axios reported

In a recent call between President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, territorial concessions and security guarantees for Ukraine were among the most sensitive issues, according to sources cited by Axios. The U.S. and Ukraine have made significant progress but still need to ensure they interpret the draft guarantees in the same way. President Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine is determined to work in good faith with the American side to achieve peace.

As Key Talent Abandons Apple, Meet the New Generation of Leaders Taking On the Old Guard

As Apple faces a wave of key talent departures, including CEO Tim Cook, the company is poised to usher in a new generation of leaders. John Ternus, known for his work in hardware engineering, is emerging as a frontrunner for the CEO position. The article discusses the significance of these leadership changes and the potential impact on Apple's future, particularly in the realms of AI and hardware innovation.

How the assassination of Charlie Kirk is reshaping campus speech nationwide

The assassination of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University has significantly impacted student attitudes and behaviors nationwide, leading to increased discomfort in expressing controversial views and attending public events. A survey conducted by FIRE found that half of the students are less comfortable attending or hosting controversial events, and a notable portion are less comfortable expressing their views in class, common campus spaces, and on social media. The chilling effect is most pronounced among conservative students and those at Utah Valley University, who also show increased tolerance and trust in institutional protections for free speech. The assassination has reshaped campus norms, with students pulling back from public expression due to fear, rather than policy changes.

How Fraud Swamped Minnesota’s Social Services System on Tim Walz’s Watch | New York Times