Expedition to the Arctic: Racing Against Time
An expedition is setting off from Norway in a race against time to discover new species while the Arctic's sea ice melts rapidly. Romain Troublé, a microbiologist-turned-sailor, told Karen McVeigh, 'We are losing species before we have time to discover them. So we're there to document these. In the next 20 years, everything will shift.' The voyage will last eight months, with temperatures dropping as low as -50C (-58F). The boat measures 26m long and 16m wide.
Dr Nina Schuback, a biological oceanographer and fellow crew member, expressed both excitement and fear: 'I've never experienced polar night. My biggest fear is the darkness.' The expedition aims to document biodiversity before it vanishes.
David Sedaris and Duolingo: A Comedic Tangle
David Sedaris, known for his humorous essays, has become obsessed with Duolingo, particularly its AI interface. He enjoys messing with the sarcastic character Lily, who in one scenario asked what he wanted to buy in a supermarket. Sedaris replied, 'Yesterday, a doctor cut out my tongue with a chainsaw.' Lily responded, 'I'm sorry. I cannot continue this conversation,' and ended the chat.
Sedaris noted Duolingo's tendency to reflect language-specific vibes: a friend learning Yiddish was taught 'My uncle is a broken man,' while in French, the phrase is 'What is he doing in our bed?'
Umar Khalid: Life in Prison Without Trial
Umar Khalid, one of India's most prominent political prisoners, has been jailed since 2020 without trial. In his first interview since incarceration, he told Hannah Ellis-Petersen that evenings are the worst: 'Even Dostoevsky refers to this state of mind at sunset in his prison memoir … I guess maybe it is because it starts sinking in that another day of your life has been spent in captivity.'
Khalid, a Muslim and leftwing activist, is a fierce critic of Narendra Modi's BJP, which he accuses of weaponising the judicial system. The BJP maintains India's judiciary is independent. New York politician Zohran Mamdani sent Khalid a handwritten note of solidarity, prompting outrage from the Indian government.
Political Shift: Leftwing Candidates on the Rise
David Smith, Guardian's Washington bureau chief, analyses how New York mayor Zohran Mamdani embodies a 'tectonic shift' in American politics. Mamdani, born in Uganda and ineligible for the presidency, has backed three insurgent candidates in Democratic primaries for the US House and five others in state legislative races. He aims to 'write a new chapter in our party's history, where working people are back at the heart of that struggle.' By 2028, he could play kingmaker again.
Doom Metal Priest: Making Music for God
Father Dionysios Tabakis, an Orthodox priest, gained cult status when music site Pitchfork gave his homemade doom metal record a score of 7.6. 'God is tasteful. He likes nice things. He's not gauche,' Tabakis said. He believes God invented the guitar: 'The devil cannot create something. God has created all.'
Despite the Greek Orthodox church traditionally deeming instruments and secular tunes satanic, Tabakis hopes to change this, believing making something beautiful honours faith. He quoted poet Yiannis Ritsos: 'I was never jealous of big houses, but of big windows.' Tabakis added, 'Every musical instrument is a window, through which you can see a part of the universe, a part of the sky.'
