Education Department releases $1.3B in frozen funding.
The now-available funding supports after-school and summer programming for low-income families. However, over $5B in funding for educational programming—including English language instruction and adult literacy—remains frozen as the Trump administration conducts a programmatic review to ensure it aligns with the White House's priorities. Earlier this week, more than 20 states filed a lawsuit against the administration over the withheld funds.
US, El Salvador, and Venezuela coordinate prisoner swap.
The US sent 252 Venezuelans deported to a maximum-security prison in El Salvador back to their home country Friday in exchange for the return of 10 Americans detained in Venezuela. As part of the deal, the Venezuelan government also freed dozens of domestic political prisoners and detainees. The exchange follows the Trump administration’s use of a wartime law in March to deport more than 200 Venezuelan men accused of ties to the Tren de Aragua gang, allegations immigration attorneys and family members have denied.
Brazil's ex-president ordered to wear ankle monitor.
The nation's Supreme Court has ruled that former President Jair Bolsonaro wear an ankle monitor as he awaits trial over an alleged coup attempt in 2022. The order comes alongside a raid on his home early Friday morning. Bolsonaro is also barred from leaving his house at night, using social media, approaching embassies, and speaking with foreign officials or anyone under investigation, including his son.
Netflix is using AI to cut costs and save time.
The film juggernaut used visual effects created by generative AI for the first time in one of its original TV shows. Thanks to the technology, creating a sequence of a building collapsing in the Argentinian sci-fi show "The Eternaut" became 10 times faster and financially feasible, CEO Ted Sarandos told investors Thursday. The announcement came as Netflix reported over $11B in revenue last quarter, a 16% rise compared to the same period last year. Learn more about Netflix here.
Scientists pinpoint vitamin D gene with cancer-fighting potential.
A team of scientists has identified the gene SDR42E1 as critical to how the body absorbs and processes vitamin D, a discovery with potential for highly targeted medical therapies. Using CRISPR gene-editing technology, the researchers disabled SDR42E1 in cell lines of a patient with colorectal cancer, cutting off the vitamin D supply the cancer cells needed to survive. The newfound understanding of the gene's connection to vitamin D could also help address vitamin D deficiency, which affects nearly 50% of the global population.
Chevron wins dispute with Exxon Mobil over Hess’ Guyana oil assets.
Chevron has finalized its $53B acquisition of energy company Hess, securing a 30% stake in the over 11 billion barrel-equivalents of oil and natural gas reserves off Guyana, a small nation on South America's North Atlantic coast. The deal had been in limbo for nearly two years due to a contractual dispute brought by Chevron's larger rival, Exxon Mobil. The Paris-based International Chamber of Commerce ruled in Chevron's favor Friday, clearing the way for the merger.
Stratospheric skydiver Felix Baumgartner dies in paraglider crash.
Known as "Fearless Felix," the former Austrian military parachutist became the first skydiver to surpass the speed of sound, reaching 843.6 mph during a more than 24-mile free fall over New Mexico in 2012. The feat set records for the highest manned balloon flight, as well as the highest and fastest jump in free fall. Italian officials confirmed Baumgartner’s death Thursday, after reports of a paraglider crashing into a swimming pool in the city of Porto Sant’Elpidio. He was 56.
