Best of All

Israeli strikes over the weekend killed one of the militants who abducted Noa Argamani into Gaza during the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack. Argamani, who was rescued by Israeli forces in June 2024, became one of the most recognized faces of the hostages. News of the militant's death is drawing attention amid ongoing strikes and stalled ceasefire efforts.

Israeli forces have killed a global jihadist militant identified as one of the terrorists who kidnapped Noa Argamani during the October 7 attack. Argamani, who was later rescued from Gaza, became one of the most recognized hostages of the Hamas-led assault. The announcement is drawing attention as part of Israel's continuing campaign against those responsible for the abductions.

Elon Musk has praised Chinese artificial intelligence, saying Chinese AI models are 'generally outstanding' and that China is 'by far the best in terms of performance per unit of compute.' The remarks, reported by the South China Morning Post alongside comments on Xi Jinping's leadership, are drawing attention as debate intensifies over how China's AI capabilities compare with those of the United States.

Toyota is planning an electric version of the Corolla, its best-selling car of all time. The move would put one of the world's most recognizable nameplates into the EV market, a notable shift for a company that has long favored hybrids over fully electric vehicles. Commenters are debating whether Toyota is late to the EV race or whether its scale and brand loyalty could make an electric Corolla a serious contender.

Lucasfilm has tapped Jon Watts to direct its next Star Wars movie. Watts is best known for helming Marvel's Spider-Man trilogy starring Tom Holland. Details on the film's plot and release timing have not been announced, and the news was reported by The Hollywood Reporter.

Cities across the United States are increasingly deploying unarmed civilian response teams to handle 911 calls, particularly those involving mental health crises, homelessness, and nonviolent disturbances. NPR reports the model is now operating in nearly 100 cities, reducing the role of armed police in situations where de-escalation and social services may be more appropriate than law enforcement.

Finnish health-tech company Oura, best known for its smart ring that tracks sleep and health metrics, is preparing an initial public offering that would list its shares on Wall Street. The move would make the wearable maker one of the most prominent health-device companies to go public, drawing attention from both tech and finance observers tracking the market for consumer health wearables.

Harvard University has announced a new $150 million research initiative, according to the Harvard Gazette. The university says the funding will support research efforts across its programs. Details on the initiative's specific focus areas, funding sources and timeline were not included in the announcement, and it is not yet clear how the money will be allocated or which departments will benefit first.

AMD has agreed to acquire World Labs, the spatial AI startup founded by AI pioneer Fei-Fei Li, in a deal valued at $8.2 billion. The move, reported by Bloomberg and other outlets, marks a major bet by the chipmaker on next-generation AI beyond large language models. World Labs, known for work on spatial intelligence and 3D world models, becomes one of the most expensive AI startup acquisitions to date.

Jon Watts has been hired to direct a new Star Wars film, according to American media reports. Watts, best known for directing the three Spider-Man films starring Tom Holland, will helm the first part of a planned series. The announcement is drawing attention from film fans curious about the director's take on the franchise.

Attention is on the Merseyside derby between Liverpool and Everton, with Liverpool manager Gareth Taylor providing an update on nine players ahead of the fixture. Fans on both sides of the city are checking availability news as the rivals prepare to meet, with injury and fitness questions shaping expectations for one of English football's best-known local rivalries.

Pope Leo XIV celebrated an open-air Mass in Lourdes, France, urging the Catholic Church to acknowledge its own faults. His remarks, delivered at one of the world's best-known pilgrimage sites, call for humility and self-examination within the institution and are drawing attention as an early signal of his papacy's tone on reform and accountability.

Liu Huan, one of China's best-known singers and a pioneer of C-pop, has died at the age of 63. He performed at the 2008 Beijing Olympics opening ceremony, singing alongside Sarah Brightman, and was regarded as a founding figure of modern Chinese popular music. Tributes are circulating as fans and musicians mourn one of the country's most iconic voices.

An author known for writing a memoir about life in Appalachia has launched a campaign for a US congressional seat, and is drawing a clear line between her own story and JD Vance's 'Hillbilly Elegy'. 'I'm not JD Vance,' she says, positioning herself as offering a more authentic account of the region than the vice-president's best-selling memoir, which many in Appalachia criticised as stereotyping. The race is now being watched as part of the broader fight over who gets to speak for the region.

Truecaller is bringing its scam-fighting intelligence to the open web, TechCrunch reports, marking a strategic move beyond its core caller ID business. The Swedish company, best known for identifying spam calls, appears to be repositioning itself as a broader fraud-protection service as scam attempts increasingly shift to websites, messages and other online channels.

Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs are framing last season's NBA Finals defeat as fuel for their push to become the league's top team. Coverage describes the squad as haunted by that loss and focused on completing the mission of winning it all, with Wembanyama's continued rise central to their ambitions.

The New York Times has ranked Breaking Bad as the best television series of the 21st century, placing the Bryan Cranston-led crime drama at the top of its list. The ranking has sparked debate among viewers and critics, many weighing in on whether the AMC series deserves the honor over other acclaimed shows of the era.

Actor Dennis Haskins, best known for playing Principal Richard Belding on the NBC sitcom 'Saved by the Bell,' has died. Haskins played the affable school principal across the show's late-1980s and early-1990s run and its spin-offs, making him a familiar figure to a generation of viewers. Details about his age, cause of death, and when he passed have not been included in initial reports, and fans have begun remembering his most famous role.

The Guardian has published a letter responding to its obituary of Tim Curry, the British actor best known for The Rocky Horror Picture Show and his stage and screen career. The letter, printed in the paper's correspondence section, offers readers' reflections on his life and work following his death.

The US National Institutes of Health has launched Linked Discoveries, an experimental new PubMed tool aimed at strengthening research replication and reproducibility. The announcement is circulating among science and technology communities, with observers highlighting the effort to help researchers verify and build on published findings more easily.

A new opinion piece argues that US-China relations are best understood through the 'porcupine dilemma' — the idea that both powers manage their rivalry by keeping a careful distance rather than pursuing closer agreements. The author suggests that diplomacy between Washington and Beijing is less about striking deals and more about managing spines and space, shaping how the world's two largest economies coexist.

Sam Neill, the New Zealand actor best known for playing Dr Alan Grant in Jurassic Park, has died at the age of 78, according to a breaking news report. Tributes and reaction are expected from fans and colleagues of the actor, whose career spanned more than five decades in film and television.

The MTV Video Music Awards handed out their 2026 prizes, with Madonna taking Artist of the Year and Taylor Swift winning Video of the Year. Sienna Spiro was named Best New Artist, capping a breakout run. The full winners list is drawing attention as fans react to Madonna's return to the top of a major awards show and Swift's latest Video of the Year honour.

Michael Burry has sent a stark warning to investors in Big Tech stocks, cautioning them about the risks of the current rally. Burry, the investor best known for betting against the housing market before the 2008 crash, has a track record of contrarian calls, so his remarks are being closely watched. The warning lands amid renewed debate over stretched valuations in technology shares and the sustainability of the AI-driven market boom.

John Longmire is leaving the Sydney Swans, ending a long and highly successful tenure as senior coach. The news has immediately sparked speculation about his next move, with SEN commentator saying Longmire would be Essendon's best coaching appointment in 25 years, framing him as the ideal candidate for a club that has struggled to find stability in the role.