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Suu Kyi Moved to House Arrest: Motives and Impact

Former Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been moved to house arrest after spending over five years in prison, the country's state media reported last week.   The 80-year-old Nobel laureate, who led the country between 2016 and 2021 as state counselor, had been detained in a military coup in February 2021. Suu Kyi was subsequently convicted on

Lebanon-Israel Talks: Stalled by Power Imbalances

Currently, diplomatic efforts are running parallel to ongoing violence. In mid-April in Washington, historic talks between Israel and Lebanon took place for the first time since 1993. Officially, the two nations have been at war since 1948. But at the same time, fighting is continuing in southern Lebanon, as it has done to various degrees

Is the UK on the brink of breaking apart?

Stephen Flynn, Westminster leader of the Scottish National Party, spoke with notable confidence: "There's going to be a constitutional shock on these isles," he told a British broadcaster, expressing hope that the SNP will prevail in Scotland and that Plaid Cymru will win in Wales. While the Welsh nationalists have not committed to holding a

How a Strait of Hormuz Fuel Shortage Could Disrupt Flights

Should widespread fears materialize, flying could become a nerve-racking ordeal for passengers in the coming weeks and months. If, as a result of the Iran war and the ongoing blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, jet fuel begins to run short, significant disruptions to air traffic are likely. Both the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the

When Cities Reduce Cars

Berliners lost 60 hours to traffic congestion last year, which is something Oliver Collmann is hoping to change. The engineer spent years working on software for self-driving cars before realizing he really wanted to use his skills for things "that are more in the general interest of humankind." Having eased out of his job, he joined

Amsterdam Bans Ads for Meat and Fossil Fuels

Each day, Reint Jan Renes commutes from the regal main station of the Dutch capital Amsterdam to his office, weaving through the city's tree-lined canals on foot. He often finds the walk frustrating.  "We have this very, very beautiful old city, and you really have to look past all those signs that try to sell

Trump’s Iran Claims, Oil Profits, Rubio Meets Pope

Trump's Iran Progress Claims, Oil Industry Profit From Iran War, Rubio Meets Pope Leo Good morning. You're reading the Up First newsletter.  Subscribe  here to get it delivered to your inbox, and  listen  to the Up First podcast for all the news you need to start your day. Today's top stories Iran is evaluating the

Emergency Release Saved Devils Hole Pupfish Amid Federal Uncertainty

A Devils Hole pupfish is pictured at the Ash Meadows Fish Conservation Facility in Nevada. Scientists recently took captive-bred pupfish from this facility and introduced them into the species' natural habitat in Death Valley National Park. Olin Feuerbacher/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service hide caption toggle caption Olin Feuerbacher/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service The Devils Hole

Experts: RFK Jr.’s SSRI Critique Oversimplifies Issue

At a MAHA Institute event on Monday, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced plans to help people wean off antidepressants. Kennedy is pictured here arriving at another Make America Healthy Again event in November 2025. Rod Lamkey/AP hide caption toggle caption Rod Lamkey/AP As the federal health department launches a plan to wean patients

Big Oil Keeps Production Plans Despite Price Spike

An oil drilling rig in the Permian Basin on March 13, 2022, in Midland, Texas. Joe Raedle/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Joe Raedle/Getty Images Stay up to date with our Up First newsletter sent every weekday morning. On a call with investors last week, Chevron CEO Mike Wirth summed up his plans for oil
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