Marks

Review of Kai Schwemmer’s broadcasts undermines claim ‘process of growth’ had led him to abandon bigoted viewsThe newly appointed College Republicans of America political director Kai Schwemmer has made racist, antisemitic, homophobic and sexist statements while espousing extremist rightwing views on abortion, a Guardian review of livestream recordings can reveal.Schwemmer said he would accept a world in which slavery was legal if abortion was criminalised, describes himself as “very much an anti universal suffrage guy” and accepts a supporter’s description of him as “our Mormon Nick Fuentes” – referring to the white nationalist influencer whose platform he streamed on for years. Continue reading...

Pontiff’s unusually pointed comments come after Pete Hegseth’s prayer for violence against enemies ‘who deserve no mercy’Pope Leo has said God ignores the prayers of leaders who wage war and have “hands full of blood” in an apparent rebuke to the Trump administration.The pontiff made the comments on Sunday as thousands of US troops arrived in the Middle East and days after the US defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, prayed for violence against enemies who deserved “no mercy”. Continue reading...

• Cuba's national electricity grid failed Monday, leaving millions without power in the third major blackout in four months due to U.S.-imposed energy blockade under President Trump. • Trump stated to reporters, 'I do believe I’ll be the honor of — having the honor of taking Cuba... think I could do anything I want with it,' amid reports of U.S. pressure for President Miguel Díaz-Canel to resign. • The crisis exacerbates humanitarian conditions on the island, tying into broader U.S. foreign policy shifts.

• Mobile World Congress 2026 showcased a fundamental shift in smartphone design and capabilities, with 10 major announcements signaling the end of conventional "dumb" smartphones and the emergence of AI-integrated mobile devices. • Tech analyst Rob Enderle identified key announcements from the conference demonstrating how artificial intelligence is becoming a core differentiator in next-generation smartphones rather than a secondary feature. • This transition reflects broader industry momentum toward on-device AI processing and intelligent assistants, reshaping consumer expectations for mobile technology capabilities.

The United States commemorates six years since President Donald Trump declared a national COVID-19 emergency on March 13, 2020, when nearly 2,000 Americans were infected, marking a pivotal shift to a 'new normal' with ongoing mysteries in long COVID and vaccine developments. A meta-analysis shows long-COVID prevalence at 29% overall, dropping to 23% post-Omicron, with Omicron linked to brain fog and paresthesia while earlier variants caused shortness of breath and loss of smell. Severe COVID-19 and flu infections prime lungs for cancer development months or years later, but vaccination prevents these effects, per UVA Health research. Hospitals continue facing nursing shortages, with over 138,000 nurses leaving since 2022 due to pandemic stress.

The United States commemorates six years since President Donald Trump declared a national COVID-19 emergency on March 13, 2020, when nearly 2,000 Americans were infected, marking a pivotal shift to a 'new normal' with lasting impacts on healthcare. A meta-analysis shows long-COVID prevalence at 29% overall, dropping to 23% after Omicron dominance, with Omicron linked to brain fog and paresthesia while earlier variants caused shortness of breath and loss of smell. Severe COVID-19 and flu infections can prime lungs for cancer development months or years later, but vaccination prevents these effects, per UVA Health research. Hospitals continue facing a nursing shortage, with over 138,000 nurses leaving since 2022 due to pandemic-related stress.