A five‑judge panel at Brazil’s highest court has, after a tense week of arguments, found five men guilty of killing former councilwoman Marielle Franco and her driver in 2018. The case, long a flashpoint for political debate, shows how powerful forces can intersect with organized crime. The defenda
The new Focus Issue on molecular microbiology is a celebration of science that improves health. Here are some standout papers from the recent archive that show how basic research can lead to real benefits for people. First, a study revealed how tiny changes in bacterial DNA help microbes survi
A big city hospital tested a new way to help patients who have been hurt or scared. The plan is called Trauma‑Informed Care, or TIC for short. It says staff should treat everyone with care and avoid making them feel unsafe again. The hospital had a pilot program. They taught doctors, nurse
Crypto payments to groups suspected of human trafficking saw a huge jump in 2025. A recent study found that these transactions went up by 85%. This money was mostly moving through public blockchains. The study also found that most of this activity was happening in Southeast Asia. There, scam compoun
Ecuador's prisons are in deep trouble. The number of deaths inside them is rising fast. In 2025, 1, 220 inmates died. That's a huge jump from previous years. Violence is part of the problem. Gang fights and other violent acts killed at least 206 people. That's four times more than the year before.
The U. S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit recently backed the Trump administration's policy of mandatory and indefinite detention for immigrants held by ICE or Customs and Border Protection. This policy is harsh and unfair. It affects thousands of immigrants who have not been convicted of any
Two ships from Mexico arrived in Havana Harbor on a Thursday morning. They were loaded with supplies to help people in Cuba. This happened after the U. S. said it would punish countries that send oil to Cuba. One of the ships, the Papaloapan, had big packages on its deck. It sailed past the old El
New Orleans has seen a drop in crime. The Louisiana National Guard is taking some credit. They say their presence has helped local police. The Guard has been in the city since New Year's Eve. They will stay until the end of February. The Guard's work includes helping with big events. They were ther
A 78‑year‑old media pioneer was sentenced to twenty years in prison, a punishment that many see as a warning against free speech. The judge’s decision came after the authorities barred him from choosing his own legal team and denied a jury, turning what could have been a fair hearing into a pre‑plan
The study checked a short tool that measures how much people admire celebrities. It tested this tool on 367 college students, most of whom were women, in the United States. Researchers also asked about how much worry people feel for others, their levels of depression, anxiety, and stress, and whethe
