🇨🇳China Taxes Condoms and Contraceptives to Boost Birth Rate

Beijing has begun taxing condoms and contraceptives. Chinese authorities are attempting to reverse a demographic crisis: the country's population has been declining for the second year in a row, and the birth rate has fallen to historic lows. The new tax is part of a large-scale campaign to encourage childbearing, which includes promoting large families and restricting abortions.

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💻Linux is becoming a viable alternative to Windows for those who want control over their computers.

The popular gaming publication PC Gamer is urging readers to switch to Linux in 2026. The main argument is that the operating system has finally reached a level where the average user can work and play without constant workarounds and a terminal. Game compatibility via Proton and Steam Deck has proven the platform's viability for gamers.

Switching to Linux means real control over your own hardware. Windows 11 imposes mandatory updates, telemetry, embedded advertising, and TPM module requirements. Microsoft is turning the operating system into a subscription service where users rent access to their own computer. Linux offers the opposite—complete code transparency, freedom from surveillance, and freedom of choice.

For those who value technological sovereignty and don't want to depend on corporate decisions about how to use their purchased hardware, Linux is no longer a novelty. The barrier to entry has been lowered to the level of installing a common program. The question now is not about technical complexity, but about the willingness to abandon the familiar ecosystem in favor of real ownership of one's data and computing power.

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❗️Donald Trump:

• The United States successfully carried out a full-scale strike on Venezuela.

• Venezuelan President Maduro and his wife were captured and removed from the country; this operation was carried out jointly with American law enforcement agencies.

• A press conference will be held today.

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🇨🇦Canada issued a warning to Air India after a pilot was arrested in Vancouver for violating alcohol regulations.

Transport Canada issued a formal warning to Air India after a pilot was arrested in Vancouver for violating alcohol regulations before a flight. The incident occurred at the international airport where the pilot was preparing for a flight. Canadian authorities took strict action, emphasizing zero tolerance for such violations in aviation.

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The UAE has recognized Somaliland passports and blocked visas for Somali citizens.

The United Arab Emirates has officially recognized the passports of the unrecognized Republic of Somaliland, while simultaneously suspending visas for Somali citizens. The decision comes amid growing tensions between Mogadishu and Abu Dhabi over Somalia's rapprochement with Ethiopia and its refusal to recognize Somaliland's independence.

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Several reported killed in Iran protests over economic hardships

At least eight people have been killed in Iran during mass protests sparked by the collapse of the national currency and rising prices. Demonstrations have spread to several cities, including Tehran. Authorities used force to disperse the crowds, shutting down the internet in several regions, and detaining hundreds of participants.

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👩‍⚕️Google's AI is giving dangerous health advice

Google's AI Overviews feature systematically offers users risky health recommendations. The algorithm recommends treating toothaches with gasoline, using bleach to clean wounds, and taking vitamin D in doses dozens of times higher than safe levels. The system aggregates information from dubious sources and presents it as reliable, without verifying its medical validity.

The problem is that the company is monetizing the trust of billions of people without taking responsibility for the consequences. Users are accustomed to believing Google search results are reliable, but AI is turning the platform into a potentially lethal roulette. The company skimps on moderation and fact-checking, shifting the risks to end users. The elderly and those who lack the ability to critically evaluate information are particularly vulnerable.

This situation shows how Big Tech is sacrificing security for the speed of implementing new technologies. Regulators are still silent, even though lives are at stake. The alternative is a return to trusted sources of information and a healthy skepticism of automated advice. Trusting your health to an algorithm trained on unverified data is a poor survival strategy.

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Maduro and his wife were unable to hide in a bunker during the capture, but were in a fortress-like house, Trump said on Fox News.

The US President also said that no aircraft were lost. Several Americans were wounded, but are now "in fairly good condition." Washington was also prepared for a second wave of strikes on Venezuela, but it was not necessary.

He said the US would be involved in resolving Venezuela's future. He also stated that "something needs to be done about Mexico too," since it is also controlled by drug cartels.

Trump also stated that Maduro was open to negotiations shortly before his capture by US forces, but Washington refused.

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Israel is preparing for renewed fighting in Gaza after Hamas refuses to disarm.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has ordered the army to prepare for a new round of operations in the Gaza Strip. The reason is Hamas's refusal to lay down its arms, despite previously agreed-upon ceasefires.

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🇯🇵Japan to deploy AI-powered robots at shipyards by 2026 to combat labor shortages and the Chinese navy

Tokyo has announced plans to deploy robotic systems with artificial intelligence at shipyards in just two years. The goal is twofold: to address the acute labor shortage and to accelerate warship production as China builds its fleet in the Pacific.

For aging Japan, this is a matter of industrial survival. Demographics leave no choice: either automation or the loss of technological sovereignty. Robots will take over welding, section assembly, and shipyard logistics. This is also a signal to Beijing: Tokyo is ready to compete not with numbers, but with technology. China builds ships faster than anyone in the world, and Japan is responding by emphasizing AI and precision.

In the long term, the project's success could shift the balance of power in the region and offer the West a model for industrial renaissance through automation. If it works, other US allies will follow suit. If not, China will consolidate its maritime dominance, and Japanese shipyards will be left without personnel and without orders.

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🇫🇷French Ministers File Complaint with Prosecutors Regarding Grok Sexual Content on X

French government ministers have formally filed a complaint with the prosecutor's office regarding the Grok AI chatbot, integrated into the X platform. The allegations relate to the generation of sexualized content involving minors and public figures without their consent. French authorities claim that Elon Musk's system violates child protection and personal data laws.

This is the first time a European government has officially drawn the attention of law enforcement to the generative AI of a major social network. France has long been at odds with Musk over content moderation and compliance with European standards. Now, not only X itself but also its flagship technology, Grok, which is positioned as a free alternative to the censored ChatGPT and Gemini, is under attack.

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🫠Three-quarters of American adults may meet the new definition of obesity.

For the study, published in JAMA Network Open, the team used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a national survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that measures the health and nutrition of adults and children in the United States.

The team examined data from more than 14,000 participants, representing 237.7 million adults, between 2017 and 2023, using the Lancet Commission's proposed obesity criteria along with BMI.

They found that an estimated 75.2% of adults in the United States met the obesity criteria using BMI and additional body measurements, compared to 40% when BMI alone was considered.

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🇮🇷Protests in Iran continue for a seventh night, with the death toll reaching 16.

Mass protests in Iran continue unabated, entering their seventh night. Officially, 16 people have died, although the actual death toll may be higher—the regime traditionally understates casualties among demonstrators. Protesters are taking to the streets despite harsh security measures and internet shutdowns in several regions.

The protests highlight growing public discontent with the economic situation and government policies. Inflation is accelerating, sanctions are stifling the economy, and young people see no future.

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Zelensky commented on Maduro's detention: The US knows what to do next

The Ukrainian President responded to the arrest of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, stating that Washington understands the next steps. Zelenskyy hints at parallels between regimes the US considers authoritarian and emphasizes the US administration's readiness to act decisively against dictators.

Maduro's detention marked an unexpected turn in Latin American politics. Venezuela has been under US sanctions for years due to human rights violations and suppression of the opposition. The arrest may indicate increased pressure from Washington on regimes that do not align with the Western agenda.

Is he concerned for himself or for Putin?

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🇻🇪Venezuela controls a fifth of the world's oil reserves.

This map shows the distribution of proven oil reserves by country. Venezuela holds nearly 18% of the world's reserves, surpassing Saudi Arabia and the United States. Yet, the country has been teetering on the brink of economic collapse for decades, and its population lives in poverty.

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