US EditionDaily Briefing
Superflu spikes global hospitalizations; Japan reboots nuclear after Fukushima; Lemon-shaped exoplanet
109 Articles •
New Flu Variant Reaches 34 Countries as Hospitals Strain
L 22%
Center 64%
R 14%
What happened: A genetically drifted influenza A(H3N2) subclade K has spread to more than 34 countries since August 2025, causing hospitalizations to surge and setting records in the UK with 2,660 daily admissions. The U.S. has recorded at least 4.6 million illnesses, 49,000 hospitalizations, and 1,900 deaths this season, with young children and older adults hit hardest.
Why it matters: The variant acquired seven unusual mutations that reduce prior immunity, causing flu season to start roughly a month earlier than normal and wastewater concentrations to jump 390% from November to December. While WHO reports no increased severity, hospitals are opening surge beds and three pediatric deaths occurred in recent weeks, with 89% of last season's child fatalities unvaccinated.
82% of sources are Original Reporting
42 Articles •
Assange Seeks to Block Venezuelan Nobel Laureate's Prize Money
Left 48%
C 24%
Right 28%
What happened: Julian Assange filed a criminal complaint in Sweden this week against the Nobel Foundation, seeking to freeze 11 million kronor ($1.18 million) in prize money to María Corina Machado and demanding return of her medal. Swedish police announced Friday they would not open an investigation, stating the complaint contained no evidence of a crime.
Why it matters: Assange argues Machado's public support for Trump's military strikes against Venezuela violates Alfred Nobel's 1895 will requiring the prize promote fraternity between nations and reduction of armies. The complaint coincides with what military analysts describe as the largest US military deployment in the Caribbean since the Cuban Missile Crisis, with over 15,000 personnel and strikes killing 104 people so far.
95% of sources are Original Reporting
17 Articles •
Japan Restarts Its Largest Nuclear Power Plant
L 13%
Center 50%
Right 37%
What happened: Japan has restarted operations at its largest nuclear power plant, marking a significant shift in the country's energy policy following years of shutdowns after the Fukushima disaster.
Why it matters: This restart signals Japan's renewed commitment to nuclear energy amid global energy concerns, potentially influencing energy prices and carbon emission targets while reigniting debates about nuclear safety.
88% of sources are Original Reporting
248 Articles •
Gunmen Kill Ten in South Africa Tavern Attack
Left 37%
Center 33%
Right 30%
What happened: Around a dozen gunmen in two vehicles opened fire at KwaNoxolo tavern in Bekkersdal township near Johannesburg just before 1 a.m. yesterday, killing at least ten people and wounding ten others. The attackers fled after shooting randomly at patrons and people in the streets, prompting a massive manhunt by Gauteng police.
Why it matters: This marks South Africa's second mass shooting in three weeks, highlighting the country's severe gun violence crisis with over 70 murders daily and 26,000 homicides in 2024. The attack in an impoverished gold-mining area underscores how illegal firearms and organized crime fuel deadly tavern shootings across the nation.
73% of sources are Original Reporting
132 Articles •
Conservative Rift Erupts at AmericaFest in Phoenix
Left 30%
Center 37%
Right 33%
What happened: Ben Shapiro attacked Tucker Carlson onstage at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest in Phoenix Thursday night, denouncing Carlson’s platforming of Nick Fuentes and Andrew Tate and invoking Charlie Kirk’s September assassination.
Why it matters: The public infighting threatens conservative unity ahead of next year’s midterms and 2028 positioning, potentially reshaping endorsements, messaging, and voter coalitions built by Charlie Kirk.
44 Articles •
Webb Telescope Discovers Lemon-Shaped Planet with Unprecedented Carbon Atmosphere
Left 36%
Center 43%
R 21%
The discovery: NASA's James Webb Space Telescope found PSR J2322-2650b, a Jupiter-mass planet 750 light-years away with a never-before-seen helium-and-molecular-carbon atmosphere. The planet orbits a pulsar just 1 million miles away, causing extreme tidal forces that stretch it into a lemon shape.
Why it matters: This discovery challenges planet-formation theories and reveals planetary systems can exist under far more extreme conditions than previously thought. The exotic atmosphere contains molecular carbon (C2 and C3) with possible soot clouds and diamond formation, a composition scientists cannot yet explain.
86% of sources are Original Reporting
177 Articles •
Substation Fire Leaves 130,000 Without Power in San Francisco
Left 29%
Center 45%
Right 26%
What happened: A fire at PG&E's 8th and Mission substation yesterday afternoon contributed to a massive blackout affecting 130,000 customers—roughly one-third of San Francisco. The outage disrupted BART stations, Muni service, stalled Waymo autonomous vehicles, and forced widespread business closures during the busy pre-Christmas shopping weekend.
Why it matters: The same substation caught fire 22 years ago to the day, after which regulators fined PG&E $6.5 million for failing to implement safety improvements from an earlier 1996 fire. While most power was restored by Sunday morning, the full cause remains under investigation and raises renewed scrutiny over the utility's maintenance practices.
Daily Briefing
Superflu spikes global hospitalizations; Japan reboots nuclear after Fukushima; Lemon-shaped exoplanet
109 Articles •
New Flu Variant Reaches 34 Countries as Hospitals Strain
L 22%
Center 64%
R 14%
What happened: A genetically drifted influenza A(H3N2) subclade K has spread to more than 34 countries since August 2025, causing hospitalizations to surge and setting records in the UK with 2,660 daily admissions. The U.S. has recorded at least 4.6 million illnesses, 49,000 hospitalizations, and 1,900 deaths this season, with young children and older adults hit hardest.
Why it matters: The variant acquired seven unusual mutations that reduce prior immunity, causing flu season to start roughly a month earlier than normal and wastewater concentrations to jump 390% from November to December. While WHO reports no increased severity, hospitals are opening surge beds and three pediatric deaths occurred in recent weeks, with 89% of last season's child fatalities unvaccinated.
82% of sources are Original Reporting
42 Articles •
Assange Seeks to Block Venezuelan Nobel Laureate's Prize Money
Left 48%
C 24%
Right 28%
What happened: Julian Assange filed a criminal complaint in Sweden this week against the Nobel Foundation, seeking to freeze 11 million kronor ($1.18 million) in prize money to María Corina Machado and demanding return of her medal. Swedish police announced Friday they would not open an investigation, stating the complaint contained no evidence of a crime.
Why it matters: Assange argues Machado's public support for Trump's military strikes against Venezuela violates Alfred Nobel's 1895 will requiring the prize promote fraternity between nations and reduction of armies. The complaint coincides with what military analysts describe as the largest US military deployment in the Caribbean since the Cuban Missile Crisis, with over 15,000 personnel and strikes killing 104 people so far.
95% of sources are Original Reporting
17 Articles •
Japan Restarts Its Largest Nuclear Power Plant
L 13%
Center 50%
Right 37%
What happened: Japan has restarted operations at its largest nuclear power plant, marking a significant shift in the country's energy policy following years of shutdowns after the Fukushima disaster.
Why it matters: This restart signals Japan's renewed commitment to nuclear energy amid global energy concerns, potentially influencing energy prices and carbon emission targets while reigniting debates about nuclear safety.
88% of sources are Original Reporting
248 Articles •
Gunmen Kill Ten in South Africa Tavern Attack
Left 37%
Center 33%
Right 30%
What happened: Around a dozen gunmen in two vehicles opened fire at KwaNoxolo tavern in Bekkersdal township near Johannesburg just before 1 a.m. yesterday, killing at least ten people and wounding ten others. The attackers fled after shooting randomly at patrons and people in the streets, prompting a massive manhunt by Gauteng police.
Why it matters: This marks South Africa's second mass shooting in three weeks, highlighting the country's severe gun violence crisis with over 70 murders daily and 26,000 homicides in 2024. The attack in an impoverished gold-mining area underscores how illegal firearms and organized crime fuel deadly tavern shootings across the nation.
73% of sources are Original Reporting
132 Articles •
Conservative Rift Erupts at AmericaFest in Phoenix
Left 30%
Center 37%
Right 33%
What happened: Ben Shapiro attacked Tucker Carlson onstage at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest in Phoenix Thursday night, denouncing Carlson’s platforming of Nick Fuentes and Andrew Tate and invoking Charlie Kirk’s September assassination.
Why it matters: The public infighting threatens conservative unity ahead of next year’s midterms and 2028 positioning, potentially reshaping endorsements, messaging, and voter coalitions built by Charlie Kirk.
44 Articles •
Webb Telescope Discovers Lemon-Shaped Planet with Unprecedented Carbon Atmosphere
Left 36%
Center 43%
R 21%
The discovery: NASA's James Webb Space Telescope found PSR J2322-2650b, a Jupiter-mass planet 750 light-years away with a never-before-seen helium-and-molecular-carbon atmosphere. The planet orbits a pulsar just 1 million miles away, causing extreme tidal forces that stretch it into a lemon shape.
Why it matters: This discovery challenges planet-formation theories and reveals planetary systems can exist under far more extreme conditions than previously thought. The exotic atmosphere contains molecular carbon (C2 and C3) with possible soot clouds and diamond formation, a composition scientists cannot yet explain.
86% of sources are Original Reporting
177 Articles •
Substation Fire Leaves 130,000 Without Power in San Francisco
Left 29%
Center 45%
Right 26%
What happened: A fire at PG&E's 8th and Mission substation yesterday afternoon contributed to a massive blackout affecting 130,000 customers—roughly one-third of San Francisco. The outage disrupted BART stations, Muni service, stalled Waymo autonomous vehicles, and forced widespread business closures during the busy pre-Christmas shopping weekend.
Why it matters: The same substation caught fire 22 years ago to the day, after which regulators fined PG&E $6.5 million for failing to implement safety improvements from an earlier 1996 fire. While most power was restored by Sunday morning, the full cause remains under investigation and raises renewed scrutiny over the utility's maintenance practices.