Starbucks announced reversing its open-door policy, initially introduced in 2018 to promote inclusivity. From January 2025, non-paying visitors will no longer have automatic access to its spaces. This change aims to prioritize paying customers and address safety issues, prompting discussions on the evolving role of third spaces in society and balancing inclusivity with practicality.
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Japanese prime minister Shigeru Ishiba will meet US President Donald Trump to strengthen security, trade, and energy ties. Key topics include reaffirming US-Japan security commitments, the Senkaku/Diaoyu dispute, and addressing trade tensions, especially after Biden’s block on Nippon Steel’s US Steel bid. They will also discuss AI investment and energy cooperation. The meeting aims to elevate US-Japan relations to a "golden age."
​The photo that shows Natalie pointing a shotgun at a clay pigeon wearing a black top with KMFDM written on it appeared on the Facebook wall of her father. In the post, Jeff described his daughter as 'kiddo' as his daughter took up a weapon. In that photo, Rupnow was seen wearing a t-shirt from the German industrial rock band KMFDM.
The tragic school shooting at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, by 15-year-old Natalie "Samantha" Rupnow, reflects chilling parallels to infamous school shooters. Rupnow’s manifesto and online presence mirrored the ideologies of Eric Harris, Dylan Klebold, Nikolas Cruz, and international perpetrators like Anton Lundin Pettersson and Pekka-Eric Auvinen. Her writings expressed alienation, hatred for society, and a desire for recognition, echoing Harris’s misanthropy and... Expand
Protesters gathered at Stonewall National Monument to express their outrage over the removal of transgender and queer references from the National Park Service website. This followed President Trump's executive order recognising only two sexes. Demonstrators voiced concerns about the erasure of trans, nonbinary, and queer identities, and activists like Bernie Wagenblast vowed to resist the changes and fight for recognition and rights.
Donald Trump Jr.'s new girlfriend, Bettina Anderson​ reportedly wanted to lead the president's committee on the Arts and Humanities and she has already sent words that she could help Donald Trump appeal to "more sophisticated and liberal Hamptons and Palm Beach types." But Mar-a-Lago insiders did not like this ambition and dismissed her as 'not MAGA enough'.
President Trump opposes President Biden's environmentally-friendly paper straw initiative, announcing plans to bring back plastic straws via an executive order. The move aligns with Trump's previous environmental policies, including withdrawal from the Paris climate accord. He has consistently criticized paper straws for their ineffectiveness.
The Palisades Fire, the most deadly of five fires in California, might have been started by New Year's Eve fireworks. An analysis of the satellite imagery shows that the Palisades Fire smoke overlapped with the burn scar from the New Year's Eve fire in the Temescal Ridge in the Santa Monica Mountains.
Hamas has agreed to release three more Israeli hostages on Saturday, following mediation by Egypt and Qatar, ensuring the continuation of the ceasefire in Gaza. The group had threatened delays, accusing Israel of violating truce terms. Egypt and Qatar resolved the dispute, maintaining their role as key mediators in the conflict.
North Korea launched an unidentified projectile towards the East Sea, following a January 6 display of a hypersonic missile system. This event underscores Pyongyang’s advancing military capabilities and its alignment with Russia amid the Ukraine war. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un continues to criticize US security ties with Seoul and Tokyo while bolstering stringent anti-US policies.
Canada signed a $6.5 billion deal to acquire Australia’s advanced Jindalee Over-the-Horizon Radar (JORN) technology to enhance Arctic surveillance. The JORN system will help Canada detect air and maritime threats more efficiently. This move follows pressure from the US to increase defense spending.