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Sep 29, 2025
☕ Good morning. 1,816 words for you today - 10 minute read.
The Spotlight
1. Massive German Bank Vault Heist Hits Millions
Police officers stand in front of the savings bank branch in the Buer district in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. Photo: AP
Thieves drilled into a bank vault in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, stealing tens of millions of euros from safety deposit boxes during the holiday lull, police said.
Takeaways
An estimated 10 to 90 million euros in property was stolen, investigators say.
About 2,700 bank customers were affected at a Sparkasse branch.
Police believe a large drill was used to breach the vault wall.
The theft could rank among Germany’s largest bank heists.
Authorities were alerted by a fire alarm shortly before 4 a.m. Monday and found the vault ransacked after breaking through a basement wall.
Witnesses reported seeing masked men carrying large bags in a nearby parking garage over the weekend. Surveillance footage later showed suspects inside a stolen vehicle, police said.
The bank remained closed as frustrated customers gathered outside, demanding access to their boxes. Investigators are now reviewing video evidence and tracking possible escape routes.
The case underscores growing concerns about organized, high-value vault crimes across Europe. Read More
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2. Artists Cancel Kennedy Center Shows After Renaming
Multiple artists are pulling out of Kennedy Center performances in Washington, DC, citing objections to the addition of President Donald Trump’s name to the landmark arts institution.
Takeaways
Jazz group the Cookers, dancer Doug Varone and Dancers, and folk singer Kristy Lee canceled upcoming shows.
Artists say the renaming politicizes a national cultural space and conflicts with their values.
Kennedy Center President Richard Grenell dismissed cancellations as political and hinted at financial consequences.
Legal and public backlash is growing over whether the board had authority to rename the center.
The board recently voted to rename the venue “The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts,” with new signage installed days later.
Critics, including Kennedy family members and Democratic lawmakers, argue federal law designates the center solely as a JFK memorial. A lawsuit is now challenging the move.
The dispute highlights deepening tensions between arts institutions and political power. Read More
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3. Meta Acquires AI Startup Manus In $2B Push
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg/ Photo by Nic Coury /AP
Meta is buying AI startup Manus to expand artificial intelligence tools across Facebook, Instagram, and Meta AI, the company confirmed Tuesday.
Takeaways
The deal values Manus at more than $2 billion, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Manus builds general-purpose AI agents used for research, coding, and business tasks.
Meta says there will be no continuing Chinese ownership and Manus will exit China operations.
The acquisition strengthens Meta’s race against Google and OpenAI.
Manus, based in Singapore, launched earlier this year and reached $100 million in annual recurring revenue within eight months. The platform will continue operating independently, selling subscriptions through its own app and website.
Meta plans to scale Manus technology across consumer and enterprise products, integrating it into Meta AI without changing how Manus operates.
The move follows Meta’s $14.3 billion investment in Scale AI and signals Zuckerberg’s intensified AI strategy. Read More
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Amazon Prime members: See what you could get, no strings attached
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If you shop at Amazon or Whole Foods, this card could help you earn meaningful cash back on every purchase you make. But this offer won’t last forever — and if you’re an Amazon Prime member, this card is as close to a no-brainer as it gets.
Amazon Prime members: See what you could get, no strings attached
Quick Headlines
The FBI Los Angeles released an image on Dec. 29, 2025, of seized motorcycles it said were believed to belong to the fugitive Ryan Wedding. @FBILosAngeles/X
The FBI released images of dozens of motorcycles seized in Mexico believed to belong to fugitive ex-Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding, valued at about $40 million. Wedding, 44, is on the FBI Ten Most Wanted list for alleged transnational cocaine trafficking, with a $15 million reward offered as the manhunt continues. Read More
The United Arab Emirates said it will withdraw its remaining troops from Yemen after Saudi Arabia carried out airstrikes on the port city of Mukalla, accusing the UAE of supplying weapons to separatist forces. The move marks a sharp rift between close Gulf allies as Saudi Arabia warned the actions threatened its national security amid Yemen’s ongoing war. Read More
The body of California triathlete Erica Fox, 55, was found on a beach near Santa Cruz nearly a week after she went missing during an open-water swim near Monterey amid reports of a shark encounter. Authorities are investigating the death, which would be just the 17th shark-related fatality in California in the past 75 years. Read More
Mayor Brandon Johnson stressed a 10 p.m. curfew for anyone under 18 without adult supervision during downtown New Year’s Eve festivities along the Riverwalk, aiming to prevent a repeat of November’s “teen takeover” that left nine teens shot, one fatally. Officials promised a heavy police presence, free CTA rides, and outreach workers to maintain safety for the nationally televised event. Read More
Demonstrations over record-low rial and inflation have spread from Tehran to other cities, with strikes and anti-government chants. Authorities accepted the central bank governor’s resignation and pledged talks amid police clashes. Read More
President Zelensky dismissed Russian claims that Ukraine launched 91 drones at Putin’s residence in Novgorod, calling them “typical Russian lies” and a pretext to continue attacks. Russia said all drones were intercepted and signaled a tougher stance in peace talks, while Ukraine urged the world not to respond to the unverified accusations. Read More
Deep Dive
4. How Nick Shirley Became MAGA’s Viral Face Of Minnesota Fraud Claims
Nick Shirley speaks during a White House roundtable on antifa, an anti-fascist movement, on October 8, 2025. Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters
Massachusetts-based Commonwealth Fusion Systems is advancing toward a major fusion energy breakthrough, aiming for a demonstration system milestone in 2027 and a commercial-scale plant in Virginia by the early 2030s.
Takeaways
Commonwealth Fusion Systems raised $863 million in its latest funding round, bringing total fusion industry investments to roughly $3 billion.
The company’s demonstration system is about 65% complete and on track for a critical 2027 milestone.
Fusion power promises a clean energy source with minimal radioactive waste, capable of producing up to 100 million times the energy of conventional fossil fuels.
Virginia’s planned plant will generate 400 megawatts, with Google securing half its output for regional data centers.
Fusion relies on hydrogen from ocean water and lithium, offering virtually limitless fuel for millions of years, unlike finite carbon-based energy.
Commonwealth Fusion Systems’ progress comes amid rising global energy demand and pressure to reduce fossil fuel dependence. CEO Bob Mumgaard emphasized the urgency, stating, “This brings us closer to making fusion a commercial endeavor at a time when we need a lot of energy.”
The technology itself uses hydrogen nuclei to mimic the processes powering the sun, producing massive energy with far less long-lived radioactive waste than fission reactors. Experts say this could transform electricity generation, lower energy bills, and reduce pollution in expanding urban regions.
Backers include Nvidia’s venture arm NVentures, Google, and Khosla Ventures, highlighting growing tech sector confidence in fusion as both an energy solution and a commercial opportunity. Google’s pre-purchase agreement for half the plant’s output underscores industry demand.
If Commonwealth meets its 2027 milestone, the US could be on the cusp of redefining energy production for decades. Read More
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On Our Radar
5. George Clooney Moves Family To France, Gains Citizenship
George Clooney joined by his wife, Amal Clooney (Jenny Anderson)
George Clooney, his wife Amal, and their twin children have become French citizens after relocating from Los Angeles to France, according to a naturalization decree.
Takeaways
Clooney cited concerns about raising children in Hollywood culture.
The family now lives on a farm in rural France, away from paparazzi.
Clooney says France offers a more grounded, private upbringing for his twins.
The move reflects a broader celebrity shift away from Los Angeles fame pressure.
In a recent interview, Clooney said he worried his children would not get a fair start in life in L.A., calling Hollywood culture overwhelming and intrusive.
He praised France for its indifference to celebrity, saying fame carries little social currency there. The actor said his children spend less time on screens and more time engaged in everyday routines.
Clooney retains homes in Italy, England, and Kentucky, but France is now the family’s primary base.
Bottom line: Clooney is trading Hollywood visibility for privacy and stability. Read More
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6. K-Pop Star Sued $30M As NewJeans Feud Escalates
Hybe and its subsidiary Ador are suing NewJeans member Danielle Marsh in South Korea, seeking $30 million over an alleged contract breach, deepening a year-long dispute that threatens the group’s future.
Takeaways
Ador is pursuing $30M in damages against Danielle, a family member, and ex-CEO Min Hee-jin.
The label has terminated Danielle’s contract, reducing NewJeans to three active members.
A court previously ruled NewJeans must honor contracts through 2029.
Fans say a comeback as five members now looks unlikely.
Ador claims Danielle and Min bear responsibility for the breakdown, citing distorted information and misunderstandings within the group.
NewJeans, one of the world’s top-selling acts since debuting in 2022, became entangled in legal battles after Min’s controversial removal last year.
Industry analysts warn that three-member K-pop groups struggle commercially, raising questions about both the band’s and Danielle’s future. Read More
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8. 🎉 This day in history
On This Day — December 31
World War II Ends, 1946 - President Harry S. Truman officially proclaims the end of World War II, formally closing the deadliest conflict in human history nearly a year after Japan’s surrender.
GM Tops $1 Billion, 1955 - General Motors becomes the first U.S. corporation to earn more than $1 billion in annual revenue, a milestone that underscored America’s postwar industrial dominance and consumer boom.
iPhone Ushers Smartphone Era, 2007 - Apple launches the first iPhone, fusing phone, internet, and personal computing into a single device and reshaping communication, commerce, media, and daily life worldwide.
9. Poll
Life Hack of the day
🍞 🥛 White Bread for Broken Glass
Dropped a glass ornament or dish? Use a slice of soft white bread to safely pick up tiny shards. Gently press the bread over the broken pieces it grabs the small, hard-to-see fragments that a broom might leave behind. This trick helps keep your floors safe and clean.
That’s your morning brief. Now go show someone how smart you are. 🧠
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