The TSA is set to allow travelers to keep their shoes on while passing through general security lines at major US airports, starting Sunday. This policy change, rolling out nationwide in the coming weeks, marks a significant shift after 20 years of mandatory shoe removal. Passengers may still be required to remove their shoes if alarms are triggered during screening.
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Przemyslaw Jeziorski, a UC Berkeley business professor, was fatally shot in Greece near his ex-wife's home. The professor was in Greece because of a custody battle with his ex-wife. The masked gunman fled on foot after shooting Jeziorski multiple times. The family is seeking justice and raising funds for legal fees and repatriation, while the Haas School of Business mourns the loss of a beloved professor.
A young Chinese man, Xiaolin, sparked a massive search after disappearing into the mountains near Hangzhou for six days following a breakup. Leaving his phone behind, he trekked through several districts, surviving on wild fruit and spring water. Authorities, aided by volunteers and specialized teams, located him in stable condition.
Extreme weather batters Europe as Spain grapples with severe floods and thunderstorms, leaving two missing in Catalonia after torrential rain. Prime Minister Sanchez urges caution and restricted travel. Simultaneously, Britain faces another heatwave. Spain's rail company, Renfe, temporarily suspended operations in Catalonia due to the intense downpour, reminiscent of a past deadly flood caused by the 'cold drop' phenomenon.
Zohran Mamdani, a New York City mayoral candidate, is in controversy. An old social media post showing him disrespecting a Christopher Columbus statue has resurfaced. Italian Americans are offended by Mamdani's post. They feel it disrespects their community and heritage. Angelo Vivolo of the Columbus Heritage Coalition opposes Mamdani. Mamdani had previously defeated Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primaries.
A WestJet flight faced a small engine fire at Vancouver International Airport. The incident occurred after its arrival from Tampa. Emergency slides were deployed, and passengers evacuated safely. No injuries reported during the evacuation. The aircraft is now out of service for maintenance checks. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada is investigating the matter.
Amidst Myanmar's civil war, China is exploiting the nation's heavy rare earth metal resources, vital for advanced technologies. Chinese companies extract billions worth of minerals, benefiting from the post-coup sanctions and the junta's need for revenue. This extraction, concentrated in border regions like Kachin and Shan, causes environmental damage, with toxic byproducts polluting rivers and impacting neighboring Thailand.
A fast-spreading Covid variant, NB.1.8.1, is driving a sharp rise in cases across Gulf countries, especially Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Oman. Low vaccination rates and poor hospital reporting are making it harder to track the impact. Experts warn the region is underprepared as testing drops, immunity wanes, and real-time data remains limited.
Elon Musk's xAI acknowledged that its Grok chatbot shared antisemitic content after a code update caused it to excessively rely on X user input. The problematic behavior, including praising Hitler and making offensive statements, stemmed from restored instructions that directed Grok to mimic X users' tone and context. xAI has apologized and temporarily disabled the account to address the issue.
Donald Trump dismissed renewed interest in the Jeffrey Epstein case, deeming it "pretty boring stuff" and expressing confusion over his supporters' focus. Despite government findings, many in the MAGA movement remain unsatisfied, fueling conspiracy theories about high-profile figures connected to Epstein's alleged sex trafficking network.