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Somalia faces a worsening health care crisis due to US aid cuts, affecting thousands of health workers and facilities. Despite recent gains against militants, public health services are collapsing, with hospitals relying heavily on international aid. The situation highlights ongoing instability and donor fatigue.
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Recent studies reveal domestication processes in dogs, cats, and raccoons. Dogs originated twice in Eurasia with ongoing wolf interbreeding. Cats arrived in Europe around 2,000 years ago via North Africa, while urban raccoons show early signs of domestication, including shorter snouts and reduced fear of humans.
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Amid ongoing tensions, U.S. universities are negotiating with the government over federal funding freezes linked to protests and anti-Israel boycotts. Israeli academia faces increased international boycotts, while Harvard and Northwestern settle disputes over funding and campus policies, reflecting broader political and diplomatic pressures.
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Recent incidents at US schools include a swastika formed by students at Branham High School and antisemitic content at Columbia University. Authorities and advocacy groups are investigating, condemning hate, and working to protect Jewish students amid rising antisemitism following the Gaza conflict.
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Recent reports highlight a growing crisis in early childhood development, with increasing numbers of preschoolers showing delayed speech, social skills, and emotional regulation. Contributing factors include poverty, pandemic effects, excessive screen time, and reduced parental engagement. Policy responses focus on early intervention and increased funding, but challenges remain.
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Frank Gehry, renowned for his innovative and sculptural buildings like the Guggenheim Bilbao and Disney Concert Hall, has died at age 96 in Santa Monica after a brief illness. His work revolutionized modern architecture and earned him the Pritzker Prize.
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Cedric and Denise Lodge, former morgue manager and his wife, were sentenced for trafficking human body parts, including skin, faces, and brains, after cadavers donated to Harvard. Lodge received an eight-year sentence; the scheme involved selling parts for profit, with Harvard suspending donations in 2023.
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U.S. colleges are increasingly adopting courses that require reading only one big book per semester, reflecting a shift towards accommodating shorter attention spans. Meanwhile, some institutions are introducing remedial math classes, raising concerns about the impact on academic rigor and student potential. Today's date: Fri, 02 Jan 2026 20:15:07 +0000.
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At CES 2026, Nvidia announced its Vera Rubin AI platform, entering full production with a six-chip architecture promising five times the AI computing power of previous models. The platform targets complex AI workloads and will ship in the second half of 2026 to major cloud providers. The event also showcased Lego's new Smart Play system, advances in robotics, AI-powered consumer products, and autonomous vehicle technology.
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As of January 2026, China reported a record $1.19 trillion trade surplus for 2025, driven by a 5.5% rise in exports to $3.77 trillion despite US tariffs. Chinese firms shifted focus to Southeast Asia, Africa, and Europe amid sluggish domestic demand and a moribund property market. EV exports doubled, with China surpassing Tesla as the top EV maker in 2025.
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Fall 2025 saw a 1.4% drop in foreign student enrollments at US universities, driven by restrictive immigration policies and funding cuts. Graduate enrollments fell sharply, while undergraduate numbers grew slowly. UC Berkeley bucked the trend with increased international admissions amid federal visa restrictions.
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Recent reports show New Hampshire as the healthiest state, while Louisiana remains the least healthy for the fourth year. Meanwhile, Massachusetts leads in family-friendliness, and affordability varies widely across regions, impacting residents' quality of life and economic prospects.
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Yale University announced a new policy increasing income thresholds for free tuition, effective this fall. The move aims to widen access for middle- and low-income students, aligning with similar initiatives at Harvard, Princeton, and MIT, amid ongoing debates on socioeconomic diversity in elite colleges.
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Tulsi Gabbard, director of national intelligence, was present at the FBI raid on the 2020 election office, where she facilitated a call with Trump and agents. The incident raises questions about her role and the politicization of the investigation amid ongoing claims of election fraud.
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Recent stories include a family murder-suicide in California, a missing teenager in the UK, a police widow's grief, and a child's online disappearance. These events reveal ongoing struggles with mental health, safety, and resilience, unfolding in recent days.
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President Trump has publicly demanded $1 billion in damages from Harvard University, escalating a legal and political dispute over federal funding, campus policies, and alleged misconduct. Negotiations have broken down, with Trump accusing Harvard of misconduct and refusing future cooperation.
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Norwegian skier Atle Lie McGrath withdrew from his race after an emotional breakdown linked to personal loss, while Swiss skier Loïc Meillard won gold. British skier Dave Ryding prepares for his final Olympics, aiming for a historic medal amid personal milestones. The stories highlight resilience and personal challenges during the Games.
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The US Justice Department has filed a lawsuit against Harvard, demanding five years of admissions data to investigate potential race-based discrimination following a Supreme Court ruling. The case highlights ongoing tensions over affirmative action and federal oversight of university policies.
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The 41st edition of the independent film awards will be livestreamed from the Hollywood Palladium, hosted by Ego Nwodim. Top nominees include films like 'Peter Hujar’s Day' and 'Train Dreams.' The event raises funds for Film Independent programs and features gender-neutral acting categories. Some nominees overlap with Oscar contenders.