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Mixed global news, sports and science updates
Berkshire teacher banned after years of inappropriate messages to teenage student
James Samson, formerly head of geography and a form tutor at Luckley House School in Wokingham, has been banned from teaching after repeatedly messaging a teenage student for more than a year. The Teaching Regulation Agency said the texts, emails and WhatsApp messages were highly inappropriate, including late-night, weekend and Christmas Day contact. Samson admitted sending the messages but denied they were sexually motivated, and he cannot apply to teach in England again until April 2028.
Real Sociedad win Copa del Rey after penalty shootout over Atletico Madrid
Real Sociedad beat Atletico Madrid in a dramatic penalty shootout in Seville to claim Spain’s Copa del Rey. It is their fourth title in the competition, while Atletico gets the usual consolation prize for near-misses, which is, in fairness, not a prize.
Flyers beat Penguins 3-2 to open playoff series
The Flyers opened their first-round series with a 3-2 win over the Penguins in Pittsburgh. Travis Sanheim scored the go-ahead goal midway through the third period, Porter Martone added insurance in his playoff debut, and Dan Vladar made a crucial late save as Philadelphia held on. Game 2 is Monday night.
Obama and Zohran Mamdani visit Bronx pre-K center
Former President Obama and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani visited a Bronx pre-K center on Saturday and read to preschoolers. It was their first meeting, coming just over a week after Mamdani marked 100 days in office.
Mexico, Spain and Brazil express concern over Cuba’s humanitarian crisis
Mexico, Spain and Brazil issued a joint statement expressing deep concern over Cuba’s grave humanitarian crisis. They called for sincere, respectful dialogue and measures to ease the situation, while pointedly avoiding any direct mention of the United States.
Iran warns U.S. over ceasefire as deadline nears
Iran says it is fully prepared to respond if the U.S. makes, in its words, even the slightest mistake as the 10-day ceasefire nears its end on Wednesday. Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf called the truce a military victory, warned Iran could shut the Strait of Hormuz again if it believes the ceasefire is violated, and said talks with the U.S. are still far from a permanent agreement. Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh also rejected the idea of shipping enriched material to the United States.
Rat study links prenatal PFOS exposure to brain changes and impulsive behavior
A rat study found that prenatal exposure to PFOS, a long-lasting “forever chemical,” changed gene expression in three brain regions of the offspring, the nucleus accumbens, hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. Those changes were linked to poorer performance on some cognitive tasks and more impulsive decision-making. The findings were published in an environmental safety journal, but, crucially, they are from rats, not humans.
Nadia Farès dies at 57 after Paris pool incident
Nadia Farès has died at 57 after being found unconscious in a Paris swimming pool last week. Her daughters told Agence France-Presse that she suffered cardiac arrest and had been in a coma since.
NASA prepares Artemis III as lunar lander race intensifies
NASA is preparing for Artemis III, a mission that will test docking of the Orion capsule with one or more lunar landers in Earth orbit. SpaceX and Blue Origin are racing to get their landers ready, with both also in the running for the later Artemis IV moon landing in 2028. The plan includes a landing near the moon’s south pole, where shadowed ice could someday support water and rocket fuel for a future base.
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