“In the summer of 2010, convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and some of the most powerful tech executives in the world were invited to gather in the rolling hills of Napa as part of an exclusive retreat that discussed proteomics, a niche scientific field adjacent to the study of genetics. The event, which was scheduled to take place in St. Helena, was called ‘EDGE Master Break’ and hosted by John Brockman, a prominent science writer who established an esoteric nonprofit called Edge.org. Danny Hillis, an entrepreneur, was scheduled to appear that year, along with author Stewart Brand. The invitees included Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, Sergey Brin and several other high-profile guests, documents released by the Justice Department as part of the Epstein files show. Though it’s not clear whether Epstein attended the 2010 event, he did end up meeting with some of its invitees eventually …” (02/10/26)
“South Korea plans to increase medical school admissions by more than 3,340 students from 2027 to 2031 to address concerns about physician shortages in one of the fastest-aging countries in the world, the government said Tuesday. The decision was announced months after officials defused a prolonged doctors’ strike by backing away from a more ambitious increase pursued by Seoul’s former conservative government. Even the scaled-down plan drew criticism from the country’s doctors’ lobby, which said the move was ‘devoid of rational judgment.’ Kwak Soon-hun, a senior Health Ministry official, said that the president of the Korean Medical Association attended the health care policy meeting but left early to boycott the vote confirming the size of the admission increases.” (02/10/26)
“President Donald Trump on Monday threatened to prevent the opening of a bridge that will connect Michigan and Canada unless Ottawa negotiates with Washington on tariffs and the exclusion of American products. In a lengthy post on Truth Social, Trump accused Canada of taking advantage of the United States with unfair trade practices and cozying up to China. In an effort to bring Canada to the negotiating table, Trump said he would not allow the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, which is named after the legendary Canadian ice hockey player who played for the Detroit Red Wings. The bridge, which is currently under construction, will connect Detroit and Windsor, Ontario.” (02/10/26)
“Rock legend Kurt Cobain died more than 30 years ago, deeply shaking every Nirvana fan to their core. The cause that has long been accepted was suicide. Today, however, new research, led by forensic specialists Bryan Burnett and Michelle Wilkins, is challenging that determination. We should first note that Burnett and Wilkins are part of an unofficial private sector team of forensic scientists, and we should tread lightly before taking their research as gospel. Their findings, however, ‘revealed signs inconsistent with an instantaneous gunshot death.’ … Burnett’s peer-reviewed paper explored 10 points of evidence, allegedly suggesting one or more people were present before Cobain’s death. The evidence collected went on to explain that Cobain was forced into a heroin overdose, shot in the head by someone else, then left alone with a forged suicide note.” (02/10/26)
“Sam Bankman-Fried has filed a pro se motion for a new trial in federal court, arguing newly discovered evidence and alleged constitutional violations warrant revisiting his FTX fraud conviction. … The filing seeks a new trial based on claims of newly discovered evidence, alleged prosecutorial misconduct, and due process violations tied to his 2023 conviction. The motion argues that testimony from individuals who did not appear at trial, including former FTX.US operations head Daniel Chapsky, could materially affect the verdict. It also alleges the government failed to disclose information that could have aided the defense, raising constitutional concerns.” (02/10/26)
“A group of Buddhist monks is set to reach Washington, D.C., on foot Tuesday, capping a trek from Texas that has captivated the country. The monks in their saffron robes have become fixtures on social media, along with their rescue dog Aloka. They walk to advocate for peace. That simple message has resonated across the U.S. as a welcome respite from conflict and political divisions. Thousands have gathered along Southern roadsides to watch the monks’ quiet, single-file procession that began in late October. … The monks plan to mark the last days of their Walk for Peace with outdoor appearances at Washington National Cathedral on Tuesday and the Lincoln Memorial on Wednesday.” (02/10/26)
“An Australian author has been found guilty of creating child sex abuse material in the form of an erotic age-gap romance novel. A New South Wales (NSW) court heard the book explores a relationship between 18-year-old Lucy and her father’s 45-year-old best friend Arthur — detailing the much-older man’s desires which began when the protagonist was a child as well as passages where she roleplays as a toddler. Lauren Mastrosa, a marketing executive for a Christian charity, was charged after the book sparked outrage online but in court she argued Lucy is clearly identified as an adult in the novel.
However, Magistrate Bree Chisholm on Tuesday found Mastrosa’s story ‘sexually objectifies children.'” (02/10/26)
“Maryland’s Democratic Gov. Wes Moore, widely believed to have White House ambitions, is facing questions over the accuracy of a story about his family’s background involving being forced to flee the state of South Carolina due to threats from the Ku Klux Klan. ‘I am literally the grandson of someone who was run out of this country by the Ku Klux Klan, right?’ Moore told Time magazine in 2023 in a conversation about how he ‘reconciles Patriotism’ with the country’s ‘racist past.’ … Moore has frequently referenced his grandfather, James Thomas, as the figure in this story, including during a 2020 appearance on the Yang Speaks podcast titled ‘Wes Moore on how the KKK ran his family into exile,’ where he detailed how his grandfather was a minister in Winnsboro, South Carolina, who fled to Jamaica after being threatened by the klan.” (02/10/25)
“Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. avoided impeachment on Tuesday, a largely expected outcome after allies in the lower house of Congress voted overwhelmingly to dismiss the complaints against him. The vote came a week after the House of Representatives’ justice committee dismissed two impeachment complaints against Marcos, saying they lacked substance. Marcos was accused of betraying the public’s trust, committing graft and corruption, and violating the constitution. … Following the dismissal, impeachment efforts now shift toward Vice President Sara Duterte, who is facing another round of complaints after surviving a similar bid last year.” (02/10/26)
“A Los Angeles‑based federal judge on Monday blocked California from enforcing its law that would require ICE agents to remove masks during immigration enforcement operations. Judge Christina Snyder, appointed during the Clinton administration, granted a preliminary injunction against the ‘No Secret Police Act,’ arguing that it discriminated against the federal government by violating the Supremacy Clause. Under the constitutional clause, federal law takes precedence over any conflicting state or local law, rendering the lower-level law unenforceable.” [editor’s note: Perhaps the reporter should actually read the supremacy clause before so confidently getting it completely wrong – TLK] (02/09/26)
