English-language Prague and Czech political, civic and cultural news.
Chronological file / page 12
Federal and state officials are investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella infections tied to a powdered greens supplement. The CDC says epidemiologic evidence points to a specific product and urges consumers to throw it out or return it, as investigators continue work with the FDA to trace contamination sources.
↗Ben Shelton recovered from a set down to defeat Casper Ruud and move into the Australian Open quarterfinals, setting up a meeting with Jannik Sinner. On the women’s side, Iga Swiatek advanced with a dominant win over Maddison Inglis, keeping the top end of the draw largely intact heading into the final rounds.
↗Microsoft shares climbed in pre-market trading as investors looked toward an upcoming earnings report for clarity on returns from heavy AI investment. Market attention remains on cloud performance—especially Azure—and how fast AI-driven revenue can scale relative to capital and operating costs.
↗Police arrested dozens of protesters who gathered outside a London jail demanding the release of Palestine Action prisoners, including a young detainee reported to have resumed a hunger strike. The protest took place amid ongoing debate in the U.K. about how authorities are applying terrorism-related laws to activist groups and their supporters.
↗A sprawling winter storm system brought snow, ice and extreme cold across large parts of the United States, triggering a wave of flight cancellations and delays and forcing airlines to waive change fees in many cities. Airports along the East Coast were among the hardest hit as crews worked to clear runways and de-ice aircraft while travelers faced shifting schedules.
↗Investors began the week focused on a Federal Reserve rate decision and major earnings, while safe-haven demand pushed gold futures past $5,000 an ounce. Separately, USA Rare Earths shares surged after the company disclosed new federal funding and financing tied to a domestic supply-chain push for critical materials and chip production.
↗Protests continued in Minneapolis after a fatal shooting involving federal immigration agents during demonstrations against an immigration crackdown. In the aftermath, the U.S. attorney general demanded access to Minnesota’s voter and public-assistance records, linking the request to any reduction of federal immigration enforcement presence in the state.
↗After two deaths tied to federal immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis, President Donald Trump indicated the ICE presence and tactics in the city are under review. The controversy has intensified pressure for an investigation and raised questions about how federal officials will manage an increasingly volatile situation on the ground.
↗A House Science Committee hearing spotlighted momentum to reauthorize the National Quantum Initiative, with agency leaders detailing progress and workforce needs. Lawmakers also debated reliance on foreign-born scientists as Washington tries to scale quantum research, standards, and commercialization.
↗The Trump administration announced a major investment package for USA Rare Earth, pairing federal funding and a large loan with an equity stake. The move is designed to speed up a mine-to-magnet supply chain in the U.S. and reduce dependence on China for rare earth processing and manufacturing.
↗Ben Shelton fought back from a set down to beat Casper Ruud and book a showdown with Jannik Sinner, while Iga Swiatek powered through Maddison Inglis to reach the last eight. The results continued a tournament trend of top seeds holding firm deep into the second week in Melbourne.
↗At the World Economic Forum in Davos, officials highlighted fresh diplomatic efforts to manage tensions tied to U.S. interest in Greenland and broader Arctic security. Discussions also turned to Ukraine and the need for sustained talks, with leaders emphasizing diplomacy and negotiated frameworks over escalation.
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