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UK Watchdog's Stunning Take On Lab-Grown Life
Your unbiased daily news brief

Good Wednesday morning. Today marks the Lunar New Year. Here are some lucky foods to eat as the Year of the Snake begins. Have a great day!
In Today’s Brief
Drones: Benign explanation
Serbia: PM resigns
2026: Gubernatorial buzz
Markets: Bouncing back
Champions League: Moving day
... and more
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Top Tips
1) Creating life
A British watchdog claimed breakthrough fertility technology is close to viability.
The news: Members of the Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority board found scientists are closing in on developing lab-grown human eggs and sperm with genetically reprogrammed skin or stem cells. The group concluded the technology could be available within a decade.
Go deeper: The technology could use in vitro gametogenesis to create biological offspring for same-sex couples, or offspring with a single parent. There is also the possibilty that multiple people's genes could be used. Age barriers to conception would also be removed.
Big picture: Scientists have already had some success applying the technology in mice. But the process also raises a rash of ethical dilemnas and questions. This is also a projection, not a certainty, and experts caution the technology is not imminent at this point.
2) Freeze fracas
President Donald Trump turned Washington -- and the rest of the country -- upside down with his latest move.
The news: An order to temporarily halt all federal grants sparked chaos. The White House said it was done to review agency activities by Feb. 10 and determine where action was needed to mesh with Trump's agenda.
What happened: The sweeping declaration created concern and confusion about funding for welfare programs and other essential and important functions. The Trump Administration later clarified it was not a blanket freeze and would only impact areas already addressed by executive orders. But the order had already sparked political outrage.
Frozen freeze: A federal judge in the District of Columbia temporarily blocked the freeze while Democratic state attorneys general and members of Congress signaled intentions to sue, calling the freeze unconstitutional. The White House insisted Trump has the legal authority to carry out the order; a claim rejected by legal experts.
Big picture: Trump has also moved to freeze almost all foreign aid in recent days. The moves have him headed for a showdown with Congress, and one he will likely lose. The legislative branch has clear power over the nation's purse as outlined in the Constitution. The Supreme Court has ruled presidents cannot impound approved funding on several occasions
3) Damage control
French President Emmanuel Macron tried to quiet the storm surrounding the world's most visited museum.
The news: Macron announced expansion and renovation plans for the Louvre in Paris. The museum will build a new entrance and add underground rooms. He also announced plans to move the Mona Lisa to a standalone viewing space that will be accessible separate from the rest of the complex.
The impetus: A recently-leaked memo raised concerns about overcrowding at the museum and failing infrastructure that could endanger the preservation of artwork. An Italian official recently called for Leonardo Da Vinci's iconic work to be temporarily repatriated for safekeeping due to concerns about its safety.
Price tag: Macron did not outline a budget, but the project will likely cost in the mid-to-high nine figures amid France's budget crisis. Macron insisted private donors and museum resources will cover the costs, not taxpayer funds. But he suggested tourists may be charged higher attendance fees and viewing Mona Lisa could require separate ticketing.
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Quick Tips
U.S. News
President Trump said suspicious drones spotted over New Jersey and other East Coast states "were not the enemy." White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt revealed the majority of the aircraft received FAA approval (More)
A California K-8 school is closed indefinitely after a copper wire theft knocked out its electricity. Oklahoma may start requiring proof of public school students' immigration status; the proposed rule comes from the State Superintendent and not legislators (More | More)
An inmate escaped a North Carolina jail through its ventilation system. A manhunt is underway to find John Matthew Nigh, who was being held on attempted murder charges at Craven County Jail in New Bern (More)
World News
Embattled Serbian Prime Minister Milos Vucevic resigned. He has faced anti-government pressure to step down for weeks following a fatal roof collapse at a train station last year; his exit will likely lead to snap elections (More)
Protesters attacked the U.S. embassy and others in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The demonstrators in Kinshasa called for action against the Rwandan-backed M23 rebels and their ongoing offensive in the eastern part of the African country (More)
Dozens are feared dead after crowd crushes during India's Kumhh Mela festival. The religious event is considered the world's largest public gathering; over 500 people died in a stampede at the 1954 occurrence (More)
Political News
South Carolina Republican Rep. Nancy Mace is considering a 2026 gubernatorial run. Former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, a Democrat, said she will run for governor next year in New Mexico (More | More)
Capitol Police arrested a Massachusetts man who allegedly wanted to kill Speaker of the House Mike Johnson. The suspect was armed with Molotov cocktails and knives; he was also reportedly targeting Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth (More)
The White House offered buyouts to all federal employees who do not want to return to the office. The workers will be paid through Sept. 30 if they resign by Feb. 6 (More)
Business & Markets
Major indexes closed higher yesterday, rallying after the DeepSeek panic. The Nasdaq clawed back almost 400 points (Dow +0.31%, Nasdaq +2.03%, S&P 500 +0.92%).
Kohl's cut 10% of its corporate workforce with layoffs and position eliminations. The department store chain is seeking to increase profitability; it will also close close to 30 stores and a fulfillment center by April (More)
The Federal Reserve is expected to leave interest rates unchanged as it wraps up its monthly meeting. President Trump recently said he wanted the central bank to cut rates immediately (More)
Entertainment & Sports
The Champions League's inaugural league phase ends today with 18 matches played simultaneously at 3 p.m. ET. Twenty-five of the 36 teams in the elite European professional soccer tournament can still advance to the knockout rounds (More)
Ryan Whyte Maloney died of suicide at 44 in Las Vegas. The musician and singer was best known for his stint on The Voice; he opened for numerous top acts in his career (More)
The Jonas Brothers will star in and produce an upcoming Christmas comedy film for Disney. The movie will be released later this year on the Disney+ streaming platform; it involves the trio trying to get home from overseas in time for the holiday (More)
Quick Hitters
Feel Good: Romania recently joined the European Union's passport-free Schengen Zone. A stray dog was accidentally the first being to cross into Hungary -- and into a new home.
Take Note: Deinococcus radiodurans, nicknamed "Conan the Bacterium," is the most radiation-resistant bacteria in the world. It could be critical to the future of space exploration.
Go Deep: Albert Walker was once Canada's most wanted man. Here is a riveting look back at his many crimes and scams.
Cooking Tip: Want to make incredible pancakes this weekend? This special ingredient is said to be a game-changer.
Life Hack: We are unsure why anyone would want to mow their lawn during the winter. But if you are so inclined, here are some dos and don'ts before hopping on the tractor.
Watch This
How a dog saved a Detroit firefighter’s life.
Links
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Reading the Doomsday Clock ⏰
Alaska's historic roadhouses are standing the test of time 🍺
Luxurious sleep retreats are the new wellness trend 😴
How to avoid Red Dye No. 3 🔴
Examining whether Starbucks' changes will have any impact ☕️
Dire warnings about extreme heat in Europe 🥵
The effort to bring back the dodo bird 🦤
Blame the CIA for this evasive phrase 🕵️
Your diet can determine how much you spend on groceries 🛒
Looking Ahead …
What will the global workforce look like in 2025? This chart breaks it down by generation, from Baby Boomers to Generation Alpha.
Question of the Day
Have you ever run a marathon?Let us know! |
Yesterday’s results:
Trivia: Which musical act performed the oldest-known concert attended by over 100K people?
It was The Grateful Dead; they performed in front of close to 108K at New Jersey’s Raceway Park in 1977.