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The US and China are having a meeting about fentanyl this week. It’s the first time a working group will discuss the precursor chemicals that are synthesized into the potent opioid drug.
A drone strike in Jordan killed three US service members. Up to 34 troops were injured in the attack, which US president Joe Biden blamed on Iran-backed militant groups.
Reddit was told to aim for a $5 billion valuation. The social media company’s IPO could come as early as March, but its ultimate target will depend on if the IPO market can recover.
Finland is heading to a presidential runoff on Feb. 11. Center-right candidate Alexander Stubb was projected the winner of the first round of elections yesterday, and is set to face liberal Green Party member Pekka Haavisto.
Biden’s natural gas export pause added to his mixed climate record. Friday’s decision is part of a push to cut the use of fossil fuels worldwide—which hasn’t always been a priority for the current US administration.
Europe’s economic security plan needs a new offensive coach
The EU wants to double down on initiatives that’ll better control inbound investments, regulate exports of sensitive technologies—and, even though the country isn’t often mentioned directly in plans, de-risk from China.
To promote the EU’s economic competitiveness and openness, the bloc has to lean into self-sufficiency. This requires making upfront investments in its own industrial base, something the EU hasn’t always prioritized. Instead, it has relied on a mighty defensive strategy, be it screening inbound investments or closing export loopholes.
Economic security, though, requires both defensive and offensive plays. Quartz’s Mary Hui looks at the key vulnerability in the EU’s plan.
New York is lapping San Fran in the return-to-office race
If New York City is the hare in the return-to-office push, San Francisco is the tortoise. But unlike the children’s story—where the tortoise uses its wits to outsmart the hare to win the race—victory is nowhere in sight for the Golden Gate City. As of December, employee visits to San Francisco offices were still 53% lower than they were during the same time in 2019. Quartz’s Laura Bratton explains what’s happening.
Quotable: AI girlfriend bots won’t last
“I don’t think that we’re going to lose personal relationships to chatbot relationships.” —Laura Nelson, a University of British Columbia sociology professor, in an interview with Quartz
The real concern, Nelson said, is what guardrails are built around chatbots when a user pours sensitive information into the chatbot. Read the full interview here.
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Surprising discoveries
Country music singers bought Field & Stream magazine. The hunting and fishing brand will be relaunched digitally as well as in print by its new owners, Eric Church and Morgan Wallen.
Gene therapy helped an 11-year-old hear for the first time. The treatment for congenital deafness will soon be tried among children who are even younger.
Scientists now have a better understanding about why urine is yellow. We knew for 125 years that the chemical urobilin played a role, but an enzyme—bilirubin reductase—does a lot of the dirty work.
The world’s largest cruise ship set sail from Miami. It has 40 restaurants and 20 decks, and may release harmful methane into the atmosphere.
A group of elderly stars in the Milky Way was found. They’ve been named “old smokers.”
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