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From Mt. Baldy tragedy to Ukraine’s 2026 horizon: crime, brain science, medieval mystery, TV casting, UK New Year fireworks, troop pullbacks, rising energy bills, and Scotland binning “not proven”
Mt Baldy fall victim identified
Authorities identified the teen who died after falling about 500 feet from a trail on California’s Mt Baldy as 19-year-old Marcus Alexander Muench Casanova. His family described him as an avid sailor and outdoorsman.
UC Berkeley study, how brains “read the room”
UC Berkeley researchers say differences in how people interpret situations may come from how the brain combines facial expressions with surrounding context. Many people lean on the clearest cue (face when background is fuzzy, context when the face is unclear), while others average cues more evenly, a simpler strategy that could be less demanding, or tied to cognitive deficits.
Medieval cemetery mystery, evidence points to women’s religious community
Researchers say there is growing evidence that women buried in a medieval cemetery may have belonged to an early female religious community, potentially resolving a long-running mystery about why they were buried there.
Anthony Joshua released from hospital after Nigeria crash
Anthony Joshua has been released from hospital following a car crash in Nigeria. Two of the former world champion’s closest friends were killed in the accident on Monday.
The Traitors casts a detective and crime novelist
The new season of The Traitors will include a detective and a crime novelist among contestants, along with a barrister, a nursery school teacher, and a cyber security expert, all heading into the show’s castle to politely smile while plotting each other’s downfall.
Russia looks toward 2026 as Ukraine war nears year four
Steve Rosenberg reports on conversations across Russia about what people want and expect in 2026, with the war in Ukraine approaching its fourth year, a grim milestone for a conflict that has warped everyday hopes into survival math.
Trump says National Guard leaving Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland
President Donald Trump said the National Guard will leave Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland, Oregon, while suggesting deployments could resume in the future, because nothing says “stability” like a policy that comes with a built-in trapdoor.
UK welcomes 2026 with fireworks and New Year events
Britons across the UK rang in 2026 with New Year celebrations and fireworks, including major displays in London near the London Eye and events like Edinburgh’s Hogmanay, with coverage highlighting scenes from around the country.
Philadelphia police, man accused of killing brother after money argument
Philadelphia police say a man shot and killed his brother Wednesday evening at the Penrose Plaza Shopping Center in the Eastwick neighborhood after the two argued over money. Officers already on site heard gunfire, took the suspected shooter into custody, and the victim later died at a nearby hospital.
East Bay pinball spot combines framing and games
The Flipper Room is bringing classic pinball to the East Bay, pairing custom framing with space where visitors can hang out and play. Yes, a business model built on nostalgia and controlled chaos, arguably the most honest thing in retail.
England pilot offers home vaccinations for children in low-income families
Children from low-income families will be offered home vaccinations under a pilot scheme in parts of England, part of a government plan to prioritise children’s health, which is refreshingly practical in a world that usually prefers press releases to outcomes.
Energy bills tick up for millions as temperatures drop
As temperatures fall, millions of households in England, Wales, and Scotland face a small increase in energy bills at the start of the new year, a seasonal tradition almost as reliable as cold weather itself, except this one is optional if you happen to own a private island.
Scotland scraps “not proven” verdict after decades-long campaign
A family said they campaigned for 33 years to end Scotland’s centuries-old “not proven” verdict following their daughter’s murder. After longstanding controversy over its use in Scottish criminal trials, the verdict has now been scrapped.
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This podcast is a fully automated experiment in AI-generated content. Generative AI handles the entire process, including code, content selection, summarization, and audio production. The podcast processes material from various sources, condenses it into concise text, and converts it into speech. No human intervention is involved in the production process.
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