Good morning. It's Saturday, Nov. 29, and in this weekend edition, we're covering the fallout from the National Guard shooting, a previously unknown ancient human relative, and much more. First time reading? Join over 4.5 million insatiably curious readers. Sign up here.
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The Trump administration plans to reexamine green card holders from 19 previously identified countries of concern (see list) after the suspect in Wednesday's shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, DC, was identified as an Afghan national living in the US legally. President Donald Trump also expressed intentions to permanently pause migration from poorer countries.
Charges for the suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, were upgraded to first-degree murder after National Guard member Sarah Beckstrom, 20, died of wounds Thursday. Her counterpart, 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe, remains hospitalized in critical condition. Both are members of the West Virginia National Guard who had been deployed in Washington, DC, since August as part of Trump’s crackdown on crime. The suspect’s motive is unclear as of this writing. See witness photos used to analyze the attack here.
The suspect immigrated to the US in 2021 through a special visa program after working with the CIA during the Afghanistan War. He was granted asylum in April. |
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At least 128 people killed and over 8 arrested after Hong Kong apartment fire.
Hong Kong's anticorruption agency has arrested subcontractors, engineering consultants, and project managers in connection with a deadly fire at a high-rise apartment complex. Officials said the blaze, which began Wednesday afternoon and spread across seven towers, was likely ignited by flammable construction netting used during an ongoing renovation project. |
Ukraine president's chief of staff resigns amid corruption probe.
Ukrainian anticorruption agencies raided the residence and reportedly the office of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, Andrii Yermak, as part of a wider probe into a $100M energy sector corruption scandal. The raid has intensified political turmoil in Ukraine, with lawmakers demanding accountability amid pressure to address corruption as the government seeks continued Western support. |
At least 321 people killed in Southeast Asia flooding and landslides.
Large parts of Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia have been drenched by cyclone-fueled torrential rain and a rare tropical storm in the Strait of Malacca, a roughly 560-mile-long stretch of water that connects the Indian and Pacific oceans. The floods have displaced tens of thousands of people. |
Mystery foot suggests new early human relative.
Scientists conclude a roughly 3.4 million-year-old fossil found in Ethiopia belonged to a previously unknown ancient human relative. The foot has an opposable big toe, hinting the owner was a skilled climber who spent more time in trees than Lucy, another human relative from the same time and place. The finding raises questions about humans' direct ancestors and suggests evolution may not have been linear. |
Ancient West Texas rock art influenced Mesoamerican cosmology.
Researchers have found that Indigenous people along the US-Mexico border created Pecos River-style rock art—vast, multicolored murals—that date back 6,000 years and span roughly 175 generations. They also identified recurring symbols and motifs that point to a shared "cosmovision," reflecting beliefs about the universe. |
Judge dismisses Georgia election interference case against Trump and others.
Prosecutor Pete Skandalakis asked the judge to dismiss racketeering charges against President Donald Trump, Rudy Giuliani, and 17 others. He took over the case this month after his nonpartisan organization of Georgia prosecutors failed to find someone willing to replace Fani Willis, the original prosecutor who was disqualified from the case due to a romantic relationship with a prosecutor she had hired. |
Olympic flame is lit for the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. (w/photos)
The Olympic flame was lit in Greece Wednesday ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics, running Feb. 4-22. When the flame reaches Italy Thursday, it will begin a nearly 7,500-mile, 63-day relay to Milan’s San Siro Stadium for the Feb. 6 opening ceremony. The flame is typically lit by capturing the sun’s rays with a concave mirror, but overcast skies forced officials to use a backup flame kindled during a rehearsal.
Explore the best resources we've found on the torch relay and Olympic Games here. |
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Young college graduate forges unexpected friendships after being mistakenly added to a group chat of retired investment bankers. (More) |
Minnesota couple who met in the hospital after waking up from comas are now getting married. (More) |
... and a little girl dresses up as a doctor to take care of her sick great-grandmother at the hospital. (More, w/video) |
Bus driver entertains a fifth grader's curiosity, and a decade later they're colleagues. (More) |
Two college students build six-legged, AI-powered robot that can plant trees in hard-to-reach, wildfire-damaged forests. (More) |
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Personal Hair Care, Powered by Science |
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Today, we're sharing a story from reader Gabrielle M. in Madison, Indiana.
"My significant other travels often for work, sometimes getting into hotels very late at night. Recently, on one such occasion, he was waved over by the night manager, questioning what he was looking for in the vending area. Upon hearing that he was hungry and hadn't eaten dinner, (the manager) invited (my significant other) to join him in the takeout meal he had just procured from a local restaurant. Not taking no for an answer, he proceeded to take out two plates and dole out the hot, fresh food for the both of them. They shared a meal and proceeded to have a great conversation, all by the glow of the late-night lights."
What act(s) of kindness did you experience this week? Tell us here. |
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🎧 The '1440 Explores' Podcast |
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Need a break from turkey, travel, or small talk? Check out a few of our favorite "1440 Explores" podcast episodes during your downtime: |
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> The birth—and hidden world—of credit cards.
> How alcohol has impacted human civilization.
> Why our brains keep conjuring ghosts.
> How AI chatbots actually think (or don't). |
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"All the world is birthday cake, so take a piece, but not too much." |
- George Harrison, from "It's All Too Much" |
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