January 1, 2025 - Virginia man accused of amassing largest homemade explosives cache ever found by FBI

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- The top 25 stories curated by editors and fellow readers! Editor's Pick Scientists Built a Proton Battery That Could Dethrone Lithium-Ion Plus: it doesn’t explode! Continued here Editor's Note: "The electrolyte in a lithium-ion battery is made of lithium salt, a solvent which is flammable and therefore is a big concern," Chuan Zhao, a professor at UNSW Sydney, said in a press statement. "In our case, we have both electrodes made of organic molecules, and in between we have the water solution, making our prototype battery lightweight, safe and affordable." Work Virginia man accused of amassing largest homemade explosives cache ever found by FBI Along with the firearms charges, federal prosecutors have indicated that additional charges may be forthcoming, each potentially carrying similar sentences. Spafford faces up to 10 years for the firearms charge alone. Work 'This Is What Makes Us Rich': Inside a Sinaloa Cartel Fentanyl Lab We had just walked into the fentanyl lab when the cook poured a white powder into a stockpot full of liquid. He began mixing it with an immersion blender and fumes rose from the pot, filling the small kitchen. We wore gas masks and hazmat suits, but the cook had on only a surgical mask. Work A Miracle: Notre-Dame's Astonishing Rebirth From the Ashes Benoist de Sinety, former vicar general of Paris, was on his scooter that April evening in 2019, driving across the Pont Neuf toward the Left Bank when he spotted flames in his rearview mirror billowing from under the eaves of Notre-Dame. He cursed, made a U-turn and sped toward the cathedral. Work 'Why Don't They Just Land?': Why the Best Diversion Airport May Not Be the Closest While over 150,000 flights per day land at their intended destination, some divert due to weather, mechanical, or medical reasons. When a flight diverts, we're often asked why the aircraft didn't land at the nearest airport. You Might Like Work How to refine engineering strategy being implementing it. This is a work-in-progress draft! The belief that strategy is complex often gets people in trouble. Work The 14 Predictions That Came True in 2024 -- and the 10 That Didn't The 24 forecasts we made in 2024, revisited. Work lululemon athletica inc. (LULU) Stock Forecasts META_DESC_INVESTMENT_IDEA Work Sangamo Therapeutics Stock Plunges As Pfizer Terminates Hemophilia Gene Therapy Pact The company prepares to initiate the expected enrollment of patients in the Phase 1/2 study of ST-503 for idiopathic small fiber neuropathy in mid-2025 and file an anticipated Clinical Trial Authorisation submission for the prion disease program in Q4 2025, each subject to securing additional funding. You Might Like Work Where will AI be at the end of 2027? A bet We, Gary Marcus, author, scientist, and noted AI skeptic, and Miles Brundage, an independent AI policy researcher who recently left OpenAI and is bullish on AI progress, have agreed to the following bet, at 10:1 odds, with criteria drawn from two earlier Substack essays by Gary that proposed criteri Work DoorDash, Inc. (DASH) Stock Forecasts META_DESC_INVESTMENT_IDEA Work A look back on my favorite episodes of TechCrunch's Found podcast | TechCrunch Why it’s a fav: Hwang is a fascinating founder. From pretending to be his own booking agent to building this startup out of someone else’s dorm room, there are a lot of fun stories packed in here. Plus, GigFinesse’s gig-booking tool is pretty cool on its own. Work California will require insurers to offer home coverage in wildfire-prone areas In the years after the Camp fire, Crowder said the town has successfully brought back some insurers after enacting new ordinances with high standards to keep structures safe, such as rules regarding clearances, vegetation and fences. Work Blackout in Puerto Rico after power grid collapses, leaving 1.3m in the dark The incoming governor, Jenniffer González-Colón, who is set to be sworn in on 2 January, plans to name an “energy czar” to review the contract with Luma and search for another power grid operator, per the Associated Press. Work Ten people injured after Lego display collapses on to crowd in Massachusetts “Large Lego pieces were everywhere, kids were crying, there were tons of people all in the office, some with ice packs over their heads and people allowing their children to steal the Lego pieces like souvenirs,” she told the outlet. Work North Carolina governor commutes 15 death row sentences on last day in office The announcement comes at the end of a year that saw a spate of executions across the US that sparked significant outrage, including cases involving defendants with credible innocence claims. Work Ohio police solve 43-year-old murder of woman with help of DNA technology Butler said his great-uncle was one of the first officers on the scene of Miller’s killing in 1981. He said he feels fortunate to get the chance to solve a homicide that happened when he was just 10 years old. People should know, he said, “we don’t give up, we keep digging”. Work Special forces troops face prosecution over alleged war crimes in Syria “I have, however, considered the position as part of this review and alongside further consultation with the subject matter experts, we have determined that in this case it would not be prejudicial to make a section 1 declaration as to whether information in scope of this request is held.” Work Burglar who stole A?10m worth of jewellery from London mansion broke in through bathroom window The family have offered a reward of up to £500,000 for information leading to the capture and conviction of the suspect. A second reward is on offer of 10% of the value of any items recovered. Work Israelis free to play at World Indoor Bowls Championships after U-turn Potters Resorts, which has hosted the tournament since 1999, also said it was not involved in deciding who was invited. A spokesperson said: “While Potters Resorts is proud to host the event, we are not involved in decisions regarding player participation and remain a neutral venue for this prestigious competition.” Work Man and woman in their 70s found dead at Dorset property “There will be an increased police presence in the area and we would encourage anyone to contact officers from the local neighbourhood policing team if they have any concerns or information.” Work Keir Starmer vows to rebuild Britain as Labour did after second world war “I know there is still so much more to do, and that for many people it’s hard to think about the future when you spend all of your time fighting to get through the week,” he said. “So I want to be clear. Until you can look forward and believe in the promise and the prosperity of Britain again, then this government will fight for you.” Work New Yeara??s Eve: London fireworks event to goes ahed despite weather concerns as UK events elsewhere cancelled a?? live Met Éireann has also weather warnings in place, with Cork and Kerry told to expect "persistent rain", potentially causing "localised flooding" and "hazardous travelling conditions". Work Israela??s hospital attacks have put Gaza healthcare on brink of collapse, says UN The report was released as Gaza health authorities said 45 patients and wounded people, accompanied by more than 100 relatives, were evacuated to receive treatment in the United Arab Emirates. Work Russia winds down gas supply to Europe via Ukraine as transit deal expires Slovakia’s prime minister, Robert Fico, has said it may cut its backup electricity supplies to Ukraine if Kyiv allows the agreement to expire. In response, Zelenskyy accused Fico of acting on behalf of the Kremlin by opening a “second energy front” with Ukraine. Work Curbs on transgender rights were proposed for Australiaa??s 2004 Marriage Act, cabinet papers show "It doesn't seek to take away from others in the community any rights they now have. Rather it seeks to reaffirm the pre-eminent place of marriage and the margin for marriage, if I can put it that way, that has always existed in our society," he said. Work Australia kept quiet about early deployment of forces ahead of Iraq war, cabinet papers show But later that year, cabinet was turning its focus to the commercial opportunities for Australia in a post-Saddam Iraq, especially the lucrative wheat trade, which would become the subject of international controversy by 2005. Work Fears Australia may face GP shortage as figures reveal almost 10% now aged over 70 “One thing is definitely not on the table: a mandatory retirement age,” Tonkin wrote. “We value the experience of late-career doctors and want individuals to stay healthy and safely in the workforce until they choose their next chapters.” Work More than a million people flock to Sydneya??s New Yeara??s Eve fireworks spectacular "Even when I sit and watch it at home or from somewhere else on TV, it looks amazing. Each year has just gotten better and better, and this year seems like it's going to be the best." Work Woolworths to sell Australia Day holiday merchandise in reversal of 2024 policy A Roy Morgan poll conducted last January found more than two-thirds of Australians (68.5%) believe 26 January should remain as “Australia Day”, up 4.5% on the previous year. A total of 58.5% said the date of Australia Day should remain the same, while 41.5% were in favour of moving the date. Work Xi says Chinaa??s economy on course to expand by 5% despite Trump concerns Xi also praised Russia and said the two countries would move forward "hand in hand" on the right path, months after the two countries struck a "new era strategic partnership" on key issues. Work South Korea plane crash investigators turn to black boxes in search for vital clues Aviation experts have already raised safety questions over the placement of a concrete embankment 250 metres beyond the end of the runway at Muan international airport, into which the plane crashed before bursting into a fireball. Work Ecuador confirms incinerated bodies belong to missing a??Guayaquil Foura?? boys Public prosecutors are now investigating whether the military were responsible for the deaths. The Ministry of Defence had claimed that the boys could have become victims of organised crime after being released. Work The Morning After: A microwave with a 27-inch touchscreen Honesty? 2024 was a dull year for cameras, with new devices offering small tweaks and minor improvements. But drones? Specifically, entry-level ones? DJI made it an intriguing year, spitting out multiple models, including the versatile, easy-to-use Neo, all while fending off the US government's plans to ban sales from the company. Work Tech's biggest losers in 2024 From AI and AI gadgets to Intel and things that AI touched, here's our list of the worst things in tech this year. Work Terraform Labs co-founder Do Kwon will face securities fraud charges in the US Montenegro doesn't have extradition treaties with the US or South Korea. The request played out in court over the last year and a half, with Montenegro's Justice Minister Bojan Bozovic ordering Kwon's extradition last week. Terraform Labs filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the US last January. Work Russia is trying to make its own game consoles in a bid for technological independence Russia is likely unable to achieve true technological independence, in video gaming or other crucial areas, as it relies too much on China and doesn’t have the capabilities to produce PS5 or Xbox-level chips. The two Russian video game consoles serve as a good example of the challenges the country faces given its poor relations with many of the world’s superpowers. Just like the Elbrus processor isn’t going to truly compete against the best consoles, Russia will likely continue to struggle for technological sovereignty. Work Dang, 2024 was a great year for horror game fans There it is — our humble ode to horror gaming in 2024. It’s been a dozen months of indie innovation and gorgeous gore, with a side dish of fabulous remakes and sizable updates. Some new horror games push against the boundaries of the genre, expanding our ideas of what’s scary and why, while others find fresh ways to dissect classic tropes. It’s a case of modern cuisine vs. comfort food, and on my plate, there’s plenty of room for both. Work Bluesky and Threads showed us very different visions for a post-X future All that may not ultimately be enough to fend off Meta, which can afford to throw billions of dollars at Threads. But Bluesky’s vision for an open-source decentralized platform is about much more than becoming the next big social media site. “We set out to change the way social media works from the bottom up,” Graber said during a recent press event. “I want us to have choice over what we see.” Work The best SSDs in 2025 Getting a bigger SSD doesn’t always translate into a faster drive overall. A bigger SSD will provide a higher storage capacity, which means more space for storing digital files and programs. To understand how fast an SSD will be, you’ll want to look at its read/write speeds: read speeds measure how fast a drive can access information, while write speeds measure how fast the drive can save information. Most SSDs list their approximate read/write speeds in their specs, so be sure to check out those numbers before you make a purchase. Work Squid Game's second season is officially Netflix's biggest TV debut While the show offers a skewering critique of capitalism, Netflix has been turning Squid Game into quite the cash cow. The streamer launched a less deadly reality show spinoff, an in-person pop-up experience and a multiplayer mobile game based on the TV series. Work The perfect New Year's Eve comedy turns 30 Ars Technica has been separating the signal from the noise for over 25 years. With our unique combination of technical savvy and wide-ranging interest in the technological arts and sciences, Ars is the trusted source in a sea of information. After all, you don’t need to know everything, only what’s important. Work US Treasury says it was hacked by China in 'major incident' Chinese state-sponsored hackers broke into the US Treasury Department's systems earlier this month and were able to access employee workstations and some unclassified documents, American officials have said. Work Just do it again: Will Nike keep its lead in 2025 or trip on the track? (NKE) After a lackluster year that saw competitors steal market share, innovation dry up, and its share price drop 30% from a year ago, Nike (NYSE:NKE) is embarking on an ambitious turnaround plan for 2025 that new CEO Elliott Hill Work TikTok Is Headed for a Ban -- but Can Trump Still Save It? The four ways Trump could potentially preserve the app. Work After ups and downs, food delivery startup Epicery closes shop | TechCrunch As an investor, Hermal knows that Epicery was operating in a complex niche, but doesn’t think it’s a no-go. “Logistics businesses are complicated and challenging in terms of metrics, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be done.” Now that local businesses have had a taste of this, and in a context where every sale counts, it wouldn’t be too surprising to see an Epicery-like model make a comeback at some point. Work U.S. Carries Out Strikes on Houthis in Yemen The Houthis, who are backed by Iran, have targeted commercial ships in the Red Sea in solidarity with Hamas in Gaza. They launched a missile at Israel overnight. Work Russian Forces are Swarming Ukrainian Positions in the East Plus, Wall Street sees more gains ahead. Work Opinion | Trump's Assault on the Systems That Keep Americans Safe Is Dangerous Eviscerating modern state institutions almost always clears a path for a different political order, built on loyalties and connections to the ruler. Work Trump Wants Greenland and the Panama Canal. It's About Climate. Global warming is making both places more important to global shipping and trade. Work Germany's Chancellor Scholz Takes a Jab at Musk in New Year's Eve Address Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Germany’s election would “not be decided by the owners of social media channels” in his annual New Year’s Eve address. Work New Year's Eve 2025: Photos of Celebrations Around the World See how people across the globe celebrated. Work Putin Declares 'Everything Will Be Fine' Despite Russia's Growing Challenges Speaking on the 25th anniversary of his rule, President Vladimir V. Putin delivered an upbeat and vague New Year’s Eve message that did not address casualties in Ukraine or rising inflation at home. Work On E-Scooters and ATVs, Russian Forces Swarm Ukrainian Positions in the East Stepped up attacks by Russia are heightening longstanding concerns over how Ukraine manages its military and countering assumptions that Moscow’s offensive would slow, soldiers and military analysts say. Work Silicon Valley's turn of fortune: Intel has worst year ever, while Broadcom enjoys record gain At the Barclays event this month, Zinsner said the separate board for the foundry business is "getting stood up today." More broadly, he indicated that the company is looking to remove complexity and associated costs wherever possible. Work The housing market is heading into 2025 with a worrying supply trend "Buyers are struggling to keep pace with housing prices. The cost of owning a home now, when adjusted for inflation, is at its highest point in decades. This persistent increase in prices and interest rates has created a challenging environment for both first-time buyers and those looking to move up the property ladder," wrote Selma Hepp, CoreLogic's chief economist, in the report. Work The Wirecutter Show: Kitchen Gear That Lasts a Lifetime (or Extremely Close) Quality kitchen gear can last a lifetime — but not every pot, pan or knife is made to last. Work Chinese Companies Have Sidestepped Trump's Tariffs. They Could Do It Again. The companies have found plenty of new channels to the U.S. market — demonstrating the potential limits of the tariffs Donald Trump has promised to impose. Work Stock Market Set for More Gains in 2025, Analysts Predict The S&P 500 posted back-to-back annual gains of more than 20 percent for the first time since the late 1990s. Analysts expect stocks to continue rising in 2025. Work The Top Movies of 2024: 'Wicked' and Nine Sequels Box office returns have started to stabilize. But nine of the top 10 box office hits this year were sequels. And the 10th was “Wicked.” Work Aaron Brown, CNN Anchor During the Sept. 11 Attacks, Dies at 76 He was still in training when he was rushed into live coverage of the collapse of the World Trade Center, and his broadcast became one of the enduring records of the day. Work Inside the Y2K Crisis That Never Was, 25 Years Later Planes didn’t fall from the sky on Jan. 1, 2000. A technology reporter who wrote a front-page article early that morning reflects on a crisis that never was.