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Rubio “waded into the surprisingly fraught politics of typefaces” to reverse a 2023 directive under the Biden administration, which aimed to improve the accessibility of department material for readers with disabilities, said The New York Times.
A new serif in town: Trump’s font culture war
Is the State Department shift from Calibri to Times New Roman just a ‘typographic dispute’, or the ‘latest battleground’ in the culture war?
theweek.com
January 19, 2026 at 1:05 PM
Rubio “waded into the surprisingly fraught politics of typefaces” to reverse a 2023 directive under the Biden administration, which aimed to improve the accessibility of department material for readers with disabilities, said The New York Times.
He’s a popular figure in Ukraine; some polls show he’s more trusted than President Zelenskyy.
The rise of the spymaster: a ‘tectonic shift’ in Ukraine’s politics
President Zelenskyy’s new chief of staff, former head of military intelligence Kyrylo Budanov, is widely viewed as a potential successor
theweek.com
January 19, 2026 at 1:04 PM
He’s a popular figure in Ukraine; some polls show he’s more trusted than President Zelenskyy.
The unpopularity of the Trump administration’s major policy initiatives have given Democrats a sliver of hope that the Senate might be within striking distance.
January 15, 2026 at 9:27 PM
The unpopularity of the Trump administration’s major policy initiatives have given Democrats a sliver of hope that the Senate might be within striking distance.
In 2024, the Italian government passed new legislation, dubbed the Ferragni law, imposing greater transparency requirements for influencers with more than one million followers promoting charity fundraisers.
‘Pandoro-gate’: the sweet treat scandal that rocked Italy
The country’s most famous influencer has been cleared of fraud over Christmas cake fundraiser
theweek.com
January 15, 2026 at 2:55 PM
In 2024, the Italian government passed new legislation, dubbed the Ferragni law, imposing greater transparency requirements for influencers with more than one million followers promoting charity fundraisers.
Thousands of homes are to be built in the E1 area east of Jerusalem, in a move that will effectively divide the West Bank. And, in doing so, it will, “bury the idea of a Palestinian state”, said Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich.
Israel’s E1 zone in the West Bank: the death of the two-state solution?
Controversial new settlement in occupied territories makes future Palestinian state unviable, critics claim
theweek.com
January 15, 2026 at 2:36 PM
Thousands of homes are to be built in the E1 area east of Jerusalem, in a move that will effectively divide the West Bank. And, in doing so, it will, “bury the idea of a Palestinian state”, said Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich.
President Trump has renewed his efforts to take over Greenland as a U.S. territory. He mainly wants to tap into the Danish territory's natural resources. However, experts are concerned that the island's harsh climate would make this task an unachievable goal.
Why Greenland’s natural resources are nearly impossible to mine
The country’s natural landscape makes the task extremely difficult
theweek.com
January 14, 2026 at 9:24 PM
President Trump has renewed his efforts to take over Greenland as a U.S. territory. He mainly wants to tap into the Danish territory's natural resources. However, experts are concerned that the island's harsh climate would make this task an unachievable goal.
With a sizeable Gen Z and Gen Alpha following, as well as booming merchandise opportunities, anime is an increasingly lucrative market for countries like Saudi Arabia, who are looking to invest in cultural soft power.
Why Saudi Arabia is muscling in on the world of anime
The anime industry is the latest focus of the kingdom’s ‘soft power’ portfolio
theweek.com
January 14, 2026 at 12:42 PM
With a sizeable Gen Z and Gen Alpha following, as well as booming merchandise opportunities, anime is an increasingly lucrative market for countries like Saudi Arabia, who are looking to invest in cultural soft power.
While images of naked, non-consenting women had been “circulating with impunity on the platform for weeks”, the final straw, and what appears to have finally prompted Ofcom to act, was when Grok generated images of the Princess of Wales in a bikini.
Why X faces UK ban over Grok deepfake nudes
Ofcom is investigating whether Elon Musk’s AI chatbot breached Online Safety Act
theweek.com
January 13, 2026 at 1:39 PM
While images of naked, non-consenting women had been “circulating with impunity on the platform for weeks”, the final straw, and what appears to have finally prompted Ofcom to act, was when Grok generated images of the Princess of Wales in a bikini.
At its peak, its totality will “last 6 minutes and 23 seconds, close to the maximum possible on Earth,” said Forbes. This is “long enough to see the sun’s corona,” which is “visible to the naked eye only during totality in exquisite detail.”
The ‘eclipse of the century’ is coming in 2027
It will last for over 6 minutes
theweek.com
January 13, 2026 at 12:09 PM
At its peak, its totality will “last 6 minutes and 23 seconds, close to the maximum possible on Earth,” said Forbes. This is “long enough to see the sun’s corona,” which is “visible to the naked eye only during totality in exquisite detail.”
The “celebrity-heavy” focus of the final list suggests the category is “at least in part, a way to lure more big names to a ceremony that’s always relied on star power to justify its existence”, said Abbie Ruzicka, co-founder of podcast producer Arcana Audio, in The New York Times.
Podcasts at the Golden Globes: a serious business
Amy Poehler won the inaugural award – but there were some glaring omissions
theweek.com
January 13, 2026 at 10:32 AM
The “celebrity-heavy” focus of the final list suggests the category is “at least in part, a way to lure more big names to a ceremony that’s always relied on star power to justify its existence”, said Abbie Ruzicka, co-founder of podcast producer Arcana Audio, in The New York Times.
The blossoming relationship between Europe and South America comes at a time when countries in both continents are “looking for more predictability”, said Politico.
EU-Mercosur mega trade deal: 25 years in the making
Despite opposition from France and Ireland among others, the ‘significant’ agreement with the South American bloc is set to finally go ahead
theweek.com
January 12, 2026 at 4:07 PM
The blossoming relationship between Europe and South America comes at a time when countries in both continents are “looking for more predictability”, said Politico.
According to a Financial Times analysis of data on 250,000 adults in more than 50 countries, time spent on social media peaked in 2022 and has been steadily declining ever since.
Is social media over?
Data suggests usage has been declining since 2022, while platforms like Facebook, Instagram and X are increasingly filled with AI-generated slop
theweek.com
January 9, 2026 at 3:43 PM
According to a Financial Times analysis of data on 250,000 adults in more than 50 countries, time spent on social media peaked in 2022 and has been steadily declining ever since.
The trend was first recognised in the 1990s, when Russell Barkley, a retired clinical neuropsychologist at the University of Massachusetts, linked time impairment with people with ADHD or autism, calling it “temporal myopia.”
Time blindness: is being late a disorder?
Understanding the cause of chronic tardiness can save a relationship
theweek.com
January 9, 2026 at 3:37 PM
The trend was first recognised in the 1990s, when Russell Barkley, a retired clinical neuropsychologist at the University of Massachusetts, linked time impairment with people with ADHD or autism, calling it “temporal myopia.”
If the New START agreement, signed in 2010, is not renewed or replaced, it would leave the “world’s two largest nuclear powers free to expand their arsenals without limit, for the first time in half a century”, said the NYT.
New START: the final US-Russia nuclear treaty about to expire
The last agreement between Washington and Moscow runs out within weeks and a new one could look very different
theweek.com
January 9, 2026 at 3:09 PM
If the New START agreement, signed in 2010, is not renewed or replaced, it would leave the “world’s two largest nuclear powers free to expand their arsenals without limit, for the first time in half a century”, said the NYT.
Traditional falconry “is more popular than ever”, said The Telegraph. The “universal reverence” for peregrines has ballooned into a “highly lucrative business”, and there are “few greater status symbols” in the Middle East than owning one.
Why the Middle East is obsessed with falcons
Popularity of the birds of prey has been ‘soaring’ despite doubts over the legality of sourcing and concerns for animal welfare
theweek.com
January 9, 2026 at 12:25 PM
Traditional falconry “is more popular than ever”, said The Telegraph. The “universal reverence” for peregrines has ballooned into a “highly lucrative business”, and there are “few greater status symbols” in the Middle East than owning one.
Does the practice offer safety and comfort – or has the rise in parental surveillance shifted into murkier ethical territory?
Should parents stop tracking their kids?
Experts warn the line between care and control is getting murkier – and could have consequences
theweek.com
January 8, 2026 at 1:38 PM
Does the practice offer safety and comfort – or has the rise in parental surveillance shifted into murkier ethical territory?
Last year was turbulent for the federal judiciary. Lower courts regularly issued rulings constraining the Trump administration’s expansive assertions of executive authority, and the Supreme Court regularly overruled those decisions which produced some pushback.
January 7, 2026 at 9:21 PM
Last year was turbulent for the federal judiciary. Lower courts regularly issued rulings constraining the Trump administration’s expansive assertions of executive authority, and the Supreme Court regularly overruled those decisions which produced some pushback.
In 2024, the country recorded more than 2,000 deaths from road traffic accidents and more than 10,000 injuries, according to the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe’s driving crisis
Southern African nation is experiencing a ‘public health disaster’ with one of the highest road fatality rates in the world
theweek.com
January 7, 2026 at 4:28 PM
In 2024, the country recorded more than 2,000 deaths from road traffic accidents and more than 10,000 injuries, according to the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe.
No human has ventured into deep space since the final Apollo mission in 1972, but that is about to change.
Artemis II: back to the Moon
Four astronauts will soon be blasting off into deep space – the first to do so in half a century
theweek.com
January 7, 2026 at 4:27 PM
No human has ventured into deep space since the final Apollo mission in 1972, but that is about to change.
It would be easy to envy bats, bears and hedgehogs their seasonal torpor, but research has suggested that humans once hibernated, too – and scientists believe we may one day do so again.
Why don’t humans hibernate?
The prospect of deep space travel is reigniting interest in the possibility of human hibernation
theweek.com
January 6, 2026 at 3:38 PM
It would be easy to envy bats, bears and hedgehogs their seasonal torpor, but research has suggested that humans once hibernated, too – and scientists believe we may one day do so again.
The U.S.-China competition in the region has “only just begun,” said the Center for Strategic and International Studies in an analysis.
What is China doing in Latin America?
Beijing offers itself as an alternative to US dominance
theweek.com
January 6, 2026 at 11:44 AM
The U.S.-China competition in the region has “only just begun,” said the Center for Strategic and International Studies in an analysis.
Not only do these trips provide a chance to boost your cardiovascular health, they are also a great way to immerse yourself in “rugged nature” and meet new people.
The rise of runcations
Lace up your running shoes and hit the trails on your next holiday
theweek.com
January 6, 2026 at 11:41 AM
Not only do these trips provide a chance to boost your cardiovascular health, they are also a great way to immerse yourself in “rugged nature” and meet new people.
Did you know you could bet on more than just sports? Putting your money where your mouth is has never been easier, as it’s now possible to gamble on election outcomes. But many experts worry that this could compromise the political system’s integrity. Here's why.
How prediction markets have spread to politics
Everything’s a gamble
theweek.com
January 5, 2026 at 8:47 PM
Did you know you could bet on more than just sports? Putting your money where your mouth is has never been easier, as it’s now possible to gamble on election outcomes. But many experts worry that this could compromise the political system’s integrity. Here's why.
America’s new goal is to “protect commerce and territory and resources that are core to national security,” Trump said – echoing the words of the recently revised US national security strategy to restore “American pre-eminence” in the Western hemisphere.
Greenland, Colombia, Cuba: where is Donald Trump eyeing up next?
Ousting Venezuela’s leader could embolden the US administration to exert its dominance elsewhere
theweek.com
January 5, 2026 at 4:49 PM
America’s new goal is to “protect commerce and territory and resources that are core to national security,” Trump said – echoing the words of the recently revised US national security strategy to restore “American pre-eminence” in the Western hemisphere.
Strengthening our “willpower muscle” has been seen as “just as important as working out at the gym”, said The Observer. Kicking bad habits, and staving off cravings, are marketed as the “key to health and happiness”, but is it possible to “supercharge” willpower?
The diminishing power of willpower
‘Try harder’ attitude may not be the best way to achieve long-term goals
theweek.com
January 5, 2026 at 4:06 PM
Strengthening our “willpower muscle” has been seen as “just as important as working out at the gym”, said The Observer. Kicking bad habits, and staving off cravings, are marketed as the “key to health and happiness”, but is it possible to “supercharge” willpower?