Stories that are getting the most attention from our readers this week.
Russia unleashed its deadliest attack on Kyiv in nearly a year, killing at least 12 and injuring dozens more. President Donald Trump responded with a rare rebuke, urging Vladimir Putin to cease strikes—only to later portray Russia’s forbearance from seizing “the whole country” as a major concession. While US-backed peace proposals call for Ukraine’s acceptance of Russian-held land, Kyiv remains adamant about preserving territorial integrity. Observers see little prospect of a breakthrough as each side accuses the other of stalling.
President Trump commemorated his first 100 days back in office with a self-congratulatory rally in Michigan, touting job promises and sweeping executive actions. Critics note that public approval remains shaky, with economic concerns and tariff tensions overshadowing the celebration. Meanwhile, in Montana, Republican lawmakers push legislation to limit the impact of a landmark youth climate lawsuit, which previously mandated the state consider climate factors in energy projects. The proposed measures could curtail environmental litigation and alter how courts handle climate challenges. Both stories illustrate how politics can pivot quickly—Trump’s rapid policy execution underscores the power of the executive branch, while Montana’s legislative pushback reveals friction between judicial climate rulings and legislative agendas.
The IMF trimmed its 2025 global growth outlook to 2.2 percent, blaming U.S.–China tariff escalation and currency volatility. South Korea added evidence of slowdown, reporting exports down 5.2 percent in April’s first 20 days.
A 60-million-year evolutionary analysis shows wild chimpanzees deliberately drink fermented fruit juice, bolstering the “drunken monkey” hypothesis that early primates adapted to low-level alcohol. Researchers say the behavior may illuminate human alcohol-metabolism genes and social bonding.
All major U.S. indexes fell more than two percent after President Trump labeled Fed Chair Jerome Powell a “major loser” and threatened to fire him if rates are not cut. Legal scholars note the president likely cannot remove Powell easily, yet the rhetoric rattled investors already uneasy over tariffs.
YouTube just introduced an AI-powered tool that lets you search for music by humming or describing the lyrics. The feature aims to make it easier to find those catchy tunes stuck in your head.
With the US Department of Justice having won its antitrust case against Google’s search dominance, a second trial now focuses on remedies—potentially forcing Google to sell Chrome or restrict major device deals. But the legal fight coincides with a paradigm shift: AI chatbots are rapidly emerging as alternative go-tos for online queries. Google’s lawyers argue this underscores healthy competition. Federal prosecutors see it differently, claiming Google can still leverage exclusive pacts to dominate AI-based search too. The question: Is Google’s existing market power so entrenched that new challengers, like ChatGPT or Perplexity, can’t truly uproot it? The outcome will shape how search evolves and whether browser or device deals remain permissible.
Tesla quietly launched an internal ride-hail beta for staff in Austin and the Bay Area, using “FSD Supervised” software and Model 3s fitted with passenger screens. Trips include a human safety driver for now, mirroring Waymo’s phased rollout. Elon Musk still touts a driverless robotaxi debut, but regulators and tech challenges cloud the timeline.
Three-time Olympic champ Faith Kipyegon will attempt the first sub-4-minute women’s mile on June 26 in Paris under Nike’s “Breaking4” campaign. She needs to shave eight seconds off her current 4:07.64 record; Nike hints at advanced gear and full performance science support.
Twenty-one humanoid robots raced a Beijing half-marathon; only six finished, many overheated or lost limbs. Despite the spectacle, analysts still project a $38 billion robotics market within a decade as AI chips improve.
Zara is set to open a new flagship store in San Francisco's Union Square, signaling a potential retail revival in the area. The new location will replace Zara's current store and nearly double its square footage. This move is seen as a vote of confidence in the city's future, as San Francisco has faced challenges with business closures and reduced foot traffic since the pandemic. Mayor Daniel Lurie has been working to revitalize the downtown area, and Zara's commitment is a positive step in this direction.
A new debate has emerged over how we talk to AI chatbots: Should we say “please” and “thank you”? Supporters argue that using polite language with digital assistants can reinforce kindness in daily habits. Others feel it’s unnecessary, noting that chatbots don’t have emotions. Tech researchers highlight potential benefits of empathy training through interactions with unfeeling machines, though cynics worry about wasted effort or the environmental cost of longer prompts.
