A Deadly Unidentified Disease Has Emerged in the DRC – WIRED

  1. A Deadly Unidentified Disease Has Emerged in the DRC  WIRED
  2. Mystery Disease Linked to Bats Kills Scores in Congo  The Wall Street Journal
  3. Unknown Deadly Illness Strikes Western Congo  The New York Times
  4. ‘Unknown disease’ that can kill within days leaves 53 dead in Congo  The Washington Post
  5. Mystery illness in Congo kills more than 50 people, including children who ate a bat  CBS News
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Only 5% of UK medical school entrants are working class, data shows

Sutton Trust says underrepresentation of poorer students is ‘outrageous’ but number has doubled in 10 years to 2022

Students from working class backgrounds still only make up 5% of entrants to medical schools across the UK, a proportion that has doubled over the past decade, analysis has found.

The research, conducted by the Sutton Trust and University College London (UCL), looked at almost 94,000 applicants to UK medical schools between 2012 and 2022, which represent almost half of all UK medical applicants.

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The global democracy index: how did countries perform in 2024? – The Economist

  1. The global democracy index: how did countries perform in 2024?  The Economist
  2. Europe maintains fragile democratic stability amid global drop, study  Euronews
  3. Paks 2024 democracy ranking drops to 2.84 amid poll violence, political chaos: Economic Intelligence Unit report  The Tribune India
  4. Taiwan ranks 12th in 2024 democracy index, leads in Asia  Focus Taiwan
  5. Report: Only 6.6% of the world lives under full democracy  The New Voice of Ukraine
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Nvidia beats Wall Street expectations in first earnings after DeepSeek’s AI debut

Investors were eyeing the firm for signs of slowing demand after revelation high-end chips not necessary, but found few

Nvidia surpassed investor expectations for the fourth quarter of 2024 with a 78% jump in revenue year over year.

The company reported $39.3bn in revenue, beating analyst projections of $38.25bn. It also reported $0.89 in earnings a share on Wednesday, beating expectations of $0.84.

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Newsom orders parole board to assess public risk if Menendez brothers freed

California governor’s intervention could offer avenue of freedom for siblings jailed over 1989 LA killing of parents

The California governor has ordered the state parole board to examine whether the Menendez brothers would pose a risk to the public if they are released from prison – which could offer an avenue to freedom for the siblings who have been behind bars for almost three decades.

Attorneys for Erik, 54, and Lyle, 57, reported on Wednesday that the board will complete a “comprehensive risk assessment” to determine if the brothers have in fact been rehabilitated since the 1989 killing of their parents.

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It’s Jekyll and Hyde, says son of French surgeon accused of abusing 299 patients

Relatives of Joël Le Scouarnec, who allegedly sexually assaulted young patients, tell court of split personality

Members of a French surgeon’s family have described discovering the “Jekyll and Hyde” character of the man accused of raping or sexually assaulting 299 young patients while they were sedated or recovering from operations.

At his trial in the city of Vannes in Brittany, relatives of Joël Le Scouarnec spoke of his split personality.

In the UK, the NSPCC offers support to children on 0800 1111, and adults concerned about a child on 0808 800 5000. The National Association for People Abused in Childhood (Napac) offers support for adult survivors on 0808 801 0331. In the US, call or text the Childhelp abuse hotline on 800-422-4453. In Australia, children, young adults, parents and teachers can contact the Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800, or Bravehearts on 1800 272 831, and adult survivors can contact Blue Knot Foundation on 1300 657 380. Other sources of help can be found at Child Helplines International

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Romania’s far-right candidate, championed by Vance and Musk, detained by police – The Washington Post

  1. Romania’s far-right candidate, championed by Vance and Musk, detained by police  The Washington Post
  2. Romanian far-right presidential frontrunner taken into custody after JD Vance's rebuke of European elections  Fox News
  3. Romania launches criminal inquiry against far-right presidential frontrunner  Reuters
  4. Far-right Romanian politician who led canceled presidential vote is questioned by prosecutors  ABC News
  5. Romanian prosecutors charge Georgescu in unexpected criminal case  Euronews
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Ukraine needs US security guarantee to deter Putin – PM – BBC.com

  1. Ukraine needs US security guarantee to deter Putin - PM  BBC.com
  2. UK’s Starmer to Meet Trump With a Boost on Defense and Pleas for Ukraine  The New York Times
  3. Starmer to press Trump on security guarantees in critical Ukraine talks  The Guardian
  4. Trump has been flirting with Putin. Can Keir Starmer woo him back to the West?  CNN
  5. Sir Keir Starmer insists he trusts Donald Trump ahead of Washington summit  Sky News
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Russia could reinvade Ukraine without US security guarantees, Starmer warns

UK prime minister faces major diplomatic effort to get president on board after he said no plans for US ‘backstop’

Keir Starmer has warned that Vladimir Putin could invade Ukraine again unless the US provides security guarantees as he arrived for critical talks with Donald Trump at the most precarious moment for European stability in decades.

With the future of Ukrainian security hanging in the balance, he urged the president to commit a US backstop to a British and French-led peacekeeping force, saying it was the only way to avoid Russia plunging Europe back into war.

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In French sex abuse trial, woman denies knowing about her ex-husband’s history of child abuse – NBC News

  1. In French sex abuse trial, woman denies knowing about her ex-husband's history of child abuse  NBC News
  2. French Doctor Accused of Abusing Hundreds Acknowledges ‘Heinous Acts’  The New York Times
  3. It’s Jekyll and Hyde, says son of French surgeon accused of abusing 299 patients  The Guardian
  4. French paedophile surgeon’s wife knew and ‘did nothing’  South China Morning Post
  5. Ex-surgeon admits 'despicable acts' in France's largest child abuse trial  BBC.com
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The search for the missing Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370 has resumed once again – NPR

  1. The search for the missing Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370 has resumed once again  NPR
  2. New search for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 underway 11 years after mystery disappearance  New York Post
  3. MH370: search for missing Malaysia Airlines flight resumes after 11 years  The Guardian
  4. MH370: What we know about Malaysia Airlines plane, 11 years on  Reuters
  5. Search resumes for Malaysia Airlines MH370, 11 years on  NBC News
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Life without parole for Nice church attacker who murdered three

Brahim Aouissaoui claimed the fatal stabbings at a church in southern French city were revenge on westerners

A Tunisian man who fatally stabbed three people in a terrorist attack at a church in Nice, almost decapitating one victim, has been sentenced to life imprisonment in France.

Brahim Aouissaoui, 25, had told the special court in Paris he had no recollection of the attack in October 2020. He later admitted he was taking revenge on “you [westerners] who kill Muslims every day”.

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