Reignited

Astronomers are raising alarms over Reflect Orbital's plan to launch tens of thousands of sunlight-reflecting satellites, with the company reportedly seeking FCC approval. A representative said proposals for 50,000 mirrors in orbit by 2035 would be 'catastrophic for astronomy,' as bright reflections would interfere with telescopes and dark skies. The story is being shared widely in science and space-policy circles.

German courts have allowed an insolvency application from Galeria, the troubled department store chain, and part-owner Sigridd EU has criticised the company's management. Commentary across German media highlights Galeria's decline, with Handelsblatt noting four insolvencies in six years and critics arguing the chain is no longer attractive on prices or product range.

Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas is drawing attention after comments by Donald Trump that critics described as a strange justification for revealing private information about the Republican senator. The New Republic branded the remarks a "wild excuse" for doxing Cotton. With Cotton trending in US searches, discussion is focused on friction within Republican ranks and how Trump handles criticism from his own party.

Developers are voicing anger at Google's Android Developer Verification Program, which will require anyone distributing apps on Android, including outside the Play Store, to register their identity with Google. Critics say the policy undermines Android's openness, hurts hobbyists and independent developers, and effectively turns side-loading into a Google-approved process.

An advocacy group says a young Haitian man who had just graduated from high school in the United States died by suicide after losing his Temporary Protected Status. The case is drawing attention to how changes in TPS protections are affecting Haitian immigrants, with advocates warning of severe mental health consequences for those suddenly facing the threat of deportation.

Spain is revisiting the 2013 sale of thousands of public housing units in Madrid to investment funds. Reports note that 4,795 publicly owned flats, with tenants still living in them, were sold to Goldman Sachs and Blackstone, while another 1,860 units went to a so-called vulture fund under then-mayor Ana Botella. Critics link the deal to today's shortage of social housing and rising rents.

A live facial recognition trial at London railway stations scanned roughly half a million faces but resulted in no arrests and at least one false positive match, according to a Guardian report. Critics say the figures show the surveillance technology is ineffective and risks misidentifying innocent members of the public, while its backers have yet to respond in detail.

Tens of thousands of people demonstrated in cities across Spain after parliament rejected proposed housing measures that would have banned most evictions, frozen rents and regulated short-term rentals. Protesters blame the failure of the reforms for soaring housing costs and insecurity for tenants. The rejection, following pressure from parties that refused to back the proposals, has reignited public anger over Spain's housing crisis and deepened political tensions over how to address it.

Fusion startup Helion Energy is facing renewed scrutiny after reports that its target of delivering commercial fusion power to Microsoft has slipped. The company, backed by OpenAI's Sam Altman, had promised electricity from its Orion machine by 2028 — a deadline many physicists considered highly ambitious. Critics say the revised timeline confirms skepticism about fusion startups' aggressive promises.

A ProPublica reporter with nearly ten years covering death penalty cases argues that Tennessee's failed execution of Christa Pike was not an isolated incident. The complications that derailed it are described as common, suggesting other botched executions are likely as states move ahead with further scheduled executions.

Critics are drawing attention to the contrast between the billions in public subsidies Shell has received and the scrutiny faced by Americans receiving SNAP food benefits. Commenters argue the political outrage over public spending focuses not on the amount spent but on who receives it, accusing lawmakers of holding poor recipients to a far harsher standard than wealthy corporations.

Physicists are questioning whether a nuclear fusion project costing roughly $15 billion can actually achieve its goals. The claim, highlighted by physicist and science commentator Sabine Hossenfelder, has drawn wide attention and reignited debate over whether the world's largest fusion investments can deliver practical energy, or whether fundamental technical problems make success unlikely.

A widely shared commentary from Brazil argues that a large portion of the electorate voted for a political movement that attempted a coup d'état, plotted to assassinate the president-elect, his vice-president, and Supreme Court justice Alexandre de Moraes, and had supporters planning bomb attacks at airports. The remark reflects ongoing outrage over revelations about the plot and the political responsibility of the voters who backed it.

A human rights expert has publicly condemned the method planned for the execution of Christa Pike, the woman on death row in Tennessee for a 1995 murder. The criticism focuses on the lethal injection protocol, with the expert arguing it risks causing unconstitutional suffering. Pike's case, involving her status as the youngest woman sentenced to death in the United States in recent decades, has drawn renewed attention as her execution date approaches.

Roy Keane has delivered a scathing assessment of Manchester City, saying the club's players should throw their medals in the bin after what he called a damning verdict on their season. The former Manchester United captain did not hold back, arguing that City's performances fell far short of the standards expected of champions. His blunt remarks have sparked wide debate among football fans about City's form and mentality.

A retired US primary care physician has reignited a long-running complaint about medical practice: doctors get no dedicated time for documentation, which must be squeezed into patient visits, with academic medicine offering only a single administrative half-day per week. The doctor recalled diligent colleagues staying late to keep up with charts, arguing the problem has persisted for years.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has launched legal action against the British police over material connected to the Epstein investigations. King Charles has barred him from using his allowance to fund the lawsuit, with Buckingham Palace stating it plays no role in his legal defence. The confrontation between the disgraced prince, the palace and the police is drawing wide attention in the UK and across Europe.

Criminologist Alain Bauer says the French police are the only force in Europe to use the weapon involved in an incident that tore off a teenager's hand, calling it a weapon of war. The statement is circulating widely in France, with many commentators demanding the resignation of officials responsible for equipping police with such munitions.

Rafaella Justus, daughter of Brazilian businessman and TV host Roberto Justus, has been attacked on social media after revealing her political position when she shared her first vote. She publicly exposed the harassment she received following the post, drawing attention and sparking debate about the abuse directed at her over her political stance.