Trafigura and Former COO Convicted in Historic Bribery Case

Advanced artificial intelligence (AI) is set to revolutionize fundamental physics and enhance our understanding of the universe, according to Prof. Mark Thomson, Cern's upcoming director general. Thomson, who will take office on January 1, 2026, highlighted that AI-based techniques could lead to significant breakthroughs in particle physics comparable to the advancements seen in protein structure prediction by Google DeepMind, which won a Nobel Prize in October 2023. At the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), AI is utilized to detect rare events vital for understanding how particles acquire mass after the Big Bang. Thomson noted that a major upgrade scheduled for 2030 will increase the LHC's beam intensity tenfold, facilitating unprecedented observations of the Higgs boson, the particle essential for mass. This research aims to measure Higgs self-coupling, a phenomenon that could illuminate pivotal aspects of the universe's stability. Despite skepticism surrounding the proposed Future Circular Collider, Thomson remains optimistic about AI's role in discovering new physics beyond existing theories. "These are very, very, very big improvements," he asserted, emphasizing the transformative potential of AI in the field.

Recent claims from a DailyMail report highlight a surge in demand for escort services during the World Economic Forum (WEF) held in Davos, Switzerland. The annual event, which took place from January 20-24, 2025, attracted around 3,000 business leaders and public figures, leading to an increase in sexual activities for some attendees. According to Andreas Berger, a spokesperson for Titt4Tat, approximately 300 women and trans women were booked during the event, marking a record high compared to 170 in 2024. Berger noted that many clients were willing to sign non-disclosure agreements, possibly in response to increased media scrutiny of elite sexual behavior. Additionally, a representative from a Swiss escort agency revealed that the most requested acts included BDSM and anal sex, raising concerns about the treatment of escorts, particularly by high-ranking individuals. Estimates indicate that around CHF 1 million (approximately $1.1 million) may have been generated through these services during the WEF, suggesting a significant intersection between elite networking and unreported activities.

For the first time, researchers have successfully induced endosymbiosis—the process by which one microbe establishes a permanent home inside another—in a laboratory setting. According to a study published by scientists from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, this experiment provides insights into how complex life forms, which rely on these cellular alliances, evolved. Endosymbiosis is exemplified by mitochondria and chloroplasts, once independent bacteria that now function within eukaryotic cells. Through innovative methods, including a custom atomic force microscope and high-pressure solutions, the team injected the bacterium Mycetohabitans rhizoxinica into the fungus Rhizopus microsporus. Remarkably, both the fungus and the injected bacterium thrived, adapting to one another over generations, indicating a stable relationship could form relatively quickly. “Symbiosis is the norm,” observed Vasilis Kokkoris, a mycologist from VU University Amsterdam. Researchers believe these insights could pave the way for synthetic biology applications, where engineered microbial partnerships could lead to innovative solutions in agriculture and medicine.