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Recent CDC data reveal a dramatic 1,200% increase in kratom‑related poisonings across the United States over the last ten years, with the most pronounced surge recorded in 2025. Researchers link this rise to the growing presence of 7‑hydroxymitragynine (7‑OH), a synthetically produced compound that mimics kratom’s effects but carries opioid‑like risks. Walter Prozialeck, pharmacology professor at Midwestern University, said the trend was expected, noting that the synthetic alkaloid has entered the market through energy drinks and other products since 2024. Christopher McCurdy of the University of Florida warned that marketing 7‑OH as “enhanced kratom” blurs the line for consumers, turning poison‑control calls into a conflated metric for both natural and synthetic products. By contrast, natural kratom (Mitragyna speciosa)—a Southeast Asian plant used for centuries as a pain reliever—has demonstrated a relatively favorable safety profile in animal and human studies. A 2018 statement from then‑HHS Secretary Brett Giroir rejected the DEA’s push to schedule kratom as a Schedule I substance, citing insufficient evidence of harm. Despite the scientific distinction, several states have moved to implement or propose blanket bans on all kratom products, prompting concern from clinicians and patient advocates. A recent user survey indicated that about 50% of respondents rely on kratom for chronic pain, while roughly 40% use it during addiction recovery. Personal testimonies underscore the plant’s therapeutic role. Jeff Maslan, a 68‑year‑old Californian with severe osteoarthritis, credits kratom with easing opioid withdrawal after multiple surgeries. Similarly, “Steven,” a disabled California resident, describes how kratom eliminated unbearable oxycodone withdrawal symptoms without producing the euphoric “warm fuzzy” feeling typical of opioids. Researchers emphasize that 7‑OH carries genuine opioid hazards, including addiction, severe withdrawal, and respiratory depression that can lead to fatal overdose. In animal models, 7‑OH demonstrated the same respiratory‑depression risk as classic opioids, whereas kratom’s primary alkaloid did not. Prozialeck and colleagues explain that kratom’s pharmacology is more nuanced: it partially activates opioid receptors while also engaging adrenergic and serotonin pathways, resembling a hybrid of a weak opioid and an SNRI‑type antidepressant. This multimodal action likely accounts for its lower euphoric potential and the reported boost in energy among users. Nevertheless, experts caution that kratom is not without risk. Fatal poisonings often involve co‑ingestion of potent opioids such as fentanyl, suggesting that some users may cycle between kratom and stronger substances, raising overdose danger due to reduced opioid tolerance. Additionally, heavy‑metal contamination has been detected in certain kratom batches, though the source—soil, processing, or storage—remains unclear. Given these complexities, the consensus among scholars like Austin Zamarripa (Johns Hopkins) is that natural kratom should remain accessible, while concentrated 7‑OH products merit stricter regulation. “These products may offer meaningful benefits to some individuals, and those benefits could be lost if access is restricted too broadly,” Zamarripa said, urging a differentiated policy approach. As the debate unfolds, patients like Steven worry that a sweeping ban would ignore the nuanced safety profile of the plant. “There’s corn on the cob, there’s high‑fructose corn syrup, there’s whiskey— all derived from corn but fundamentally different,” he remarked, highlighting the need for targeted, evidence‑based regulation rather than a one‑size‑fits‑all prohibition.

Experts are closely monitoring climate patterns in the Pacific Ocean, which indicate a high chance of El Niño developing this summer. A strong El Niño event could lead to severe weather conditions, including super-charged rainstorms and droughts, depending on the region. A 'super El Niño' could push 2027 to break global heat records, according to climate scientists. This phenomenon occurs when ocean surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean warm up, leading to significant impacts on global weather patterns. El Niño is characterized by warming of the ocean surface in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. It's one of three states scientists observe: La Niña, conversely, happens when sea surface temperatures are below average, and neutral conditions are defined when neither El Niño or La Niña are present and surface temperatures are about average. The 'El Niño-southern oscillation' (Enso) tends to develop during spring in the northern hemisphere and shifts every three to seven years. Warming and cooling at sea surface during El Niño and La Niña can range from 1C to 3C, and have enormous effects on precipitation, drought, heat, and climate disasters in different regions. Conditions are currently shifting from La Niña to a neutral pattern, according to the latest outlook from the US Climate Prediction Center. Models show a 62% chance El Niño will emerge this summer and linger until at least the end of the year. A super El Niño that occurred in 2015 brought severe drought in Ethiopia, water supply shortages in Puerto Rico, and smashed records after unleashing a vicious hurricane season in the central North Pacific. A 'super' El Niño means one that is stronger, typically defined by sea surface temperatures spiking up to at least 2C. Noaa scientists have given a 1 in 4 chance that this could happen by fall or winter, with the caveat that spring forecasts are sometimes muddled. Transitions in conditions that happen in the spring can make outcomes a bit harder to predict. Experts warn that a strong or super El Niño could lead to drought and heat across Australia, southern and central Africa, India, and parts of South America. Heavy precipitation, meanwhile, could hit the southern tier of the US, parts of the Middle East, and south-central Asia.

A devastating stampede at Haiti's iconic Citadelle Laferriere has claimed the lives of at least 30 people, with authorities warning that the death toll may rise. The tragedy unfolded on Saturday during an annual celebration at the early-19th-century fortress, a popular tourist attraction and UNESCO World Heritage Site.The stampede occurred at the entrance to the site, where a large crowd of students and visitors had gathered. Heavy rain exacerbated the disaster, leading to a chaotic and deadly situation. Haiti's Prime Minister, Alix Didier Fils-Aime, extended his condolences to the bereaved families, assuring them of his solidarity during this difficult time.The Culture Minister, Emmanuel Menard, confirmed the deaths of 30 people, stating that the injured are receiving medical care and a rescue team is searching for any missing persons. The exact number of those injured remains unknown. This incident highlights the ongoing challenges faced by Haiti, which has struggled with widespread gang violence and deadly disasters in recent years, including fuel tank explosions and earthquakes.

Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem's Old City, marking his third incursion into Islam's third holiest site this year. The move has sparked widespread condemnation from Palestinians and Jordan.Ben-Gvir, accompanied by Israeli settlers and under heavy protection from Israeli forces, offered Jewish prayers at the site, which is not allowed for non-Muslims under the status quo arrangement in place since 1967. The arrangement permits Jewish people to visit the compound but prohibits them from praying there.The Palestinian Authority's presidency has condemned the storming of the mosque compound, calling it a blatant violation of the historical and legal status quo at the holy site. Jordan's Foreign Ministry also expressed concern, viewing Ben-Gvir's visit as a violation of the status quo agreement and a desecration of the site's sanctity.This incident is part of a growing trend of Israeli settler incursions into Al-Aqsa, with Ben-Gvir having stormed the mosque compound at least 16 times since taking office in 2022. The far-right Israeli minister has expressed his intention to build a Jewish synagogue in place of the holy Muslim site.In a video filmed at the site, Ben-Gvir said, "Today, I feel like the owner here. There is still more to do, more to improve. I keep pushing the prime minister [Benjamin Netanyahu] to do more and more."The incident has occurred amid continued Israeli raids across the occupied West Bank, with at least 18 Palestinians arrested on Sunday. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that more than 1,100 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the occupied West Bank since October 2023, with thousands forcibly displaced.

The light‑heavyweight division entered a new chapter on Saturday night in Miami when Carlos Ulberg secured the vacant UFC title by delivering a decisive left hook to former champion Jiri Prochazka. President Donald Trump watched from the cageside as Ulberg’s strike landed at the 3:45 mark of the opening round, ending the bout with a knockout and awarding him the undisputed belt. Ulberg entered the fight with a professional record of 14‑1 in MMA (10‑1 in the UFC), while Prochazka held a 32‑6‑1 MMA record (6‑3 in the UFC). Early in the first round Ulberg felt a knee give way, yet he persisted, capitalising on Prochazka’s hesitation to land the winning blow. “I blew out my knee, but I never counted myself out,” Ulberg said afterward. “I knew I needed one clean shot, and when I saw Jiri pulling back, I threw my left hand and it landed.” Prochazka, who has gone 1‑3 in UFC title fights since June 2022, reflected on the loss: “I felt sorry for him, and this is one of the biggest lessons in my life. The fight was in my hands, I saw his injury, and I’ll be back.” The championship was vacant after former champion Alex Pereira vacated the belt to pursue an interim heavyweight title at UFC Freedom 250, a bout scheduled for the White House on Donald Trump’s 80th birthday. Trump promoted the event on his Truth Social account and arrived at the Kaseya Center accompanied by UFC president Dana White, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and U.S. ambassador to India Sergio Gor. A Kid Rock track blared as Trump took his seat beside the officials. In the co‑main event, Azamat Murzakanov knocked out Paulo Costa with a right round‑house at 1:23 of the third round, extending his perfect UFC record to 17‑0‑0. After his victory, Murzakanov shook hands with Trump, who praised the fighter. Murzakanov acknowledged the president during his post‑fight interview with Joe Rogan. The heavyweight showdown between Josh Hokit and Curtis Blaydes turned into a gritty slugfest, with Hokit prevailing by unanimous decision (29‑28 on all three cards). Trump cheered loudly as the fighters exchanged blows. Following Hokit’s win, UFC chief Dana White announced on social media that a bout between Hokit and Derrick Lewis would be added to the UFC Freedom 250 card, noting that President Trump helped bring the matchup together.

Tyson Fury made a triumphant return to the ring on Saturday, securing a unanimous decision against Russia’s Arslanbek Makhmudov at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The British heavyweight earned two scorecards of 120‑108 and a third of 119‑109 after the full twelve‑round bout.Although Makhmudov opened the fight aggressively, landing a left and an overhand right in the first round, his momentum waned by the third. Fury, alternating his stance, delivered a crisp one‑two combination that visibly slowed his opponent.The contest proceeded in a similar rhythm, with Fury maintaining control until the final bell. The victory brings him a step closer to a potential “Battle of Britain” showdown with former champion Anthony Joshua, who observed the fight from ringside.During the post‑fight exchange, Joshua taunted Fury, saying, “I’ve never had a problem getting in the ring with you… I’ll punch you out again.” Fury responded from the canvas, declaring his readiness for a future clash and asserting, “When you’re ready, you come and see me… I’m the boss.”

PCK Dance’s latest double‑bill, “Into the Light,” opens with a palpable tension: dancers inhale as if grasping something costly, their gazes unfixed, brows furrowed, signalling an emotional gravitas that the production amplifies with dark lighting and portentous music.Choreographers James Pett and Travis Clausen‑Knight, both alumni of Company Wayne McGregor, demonstrate why their pedigree matters. Their movement language is slick, finessed and relentlessly precise, with legs whipping to extreme angles and sequences that cascade like the “chatter of a motoring brain.” The duo’s fluency in form lets them forgo the heavy‑handed theatrical cues that often drown subtler expression.The centerpiece, the duet “In the Absence,” features Pett and Clausen‑Knight alongside third dancer Isabelle Evans. Their interplay oscillates between closeness and disconnection, tension and tenderness, hinting at loss. Evans’s decisive gestures—flexed wrists, expressive hands—act as declarations, while a striking passage sees the choreographers literally throwing her body between them, creating a kinetic flash that feels both chaotic and meticulously crafted.Music, composed by Pett with co‑composer Greg Haines, emerges live from a bank of stage‑side technology. The piano interludes give way to pitch‑less textures that evoke a “joyless, end‑of‑days” ambience. This soundscape reinforces the programme’s suggestion that the work grapples with survival in an AI‑driven future, casting the performance as a low‑key apocalypse rather than a conventional dystopia.By marrying razor‑sharp choreography with a minimalist, tech‑infused score, PCK Dance asks a vital question: in a world increasingly mediated by algorithms, what does it mean to remain truly human? The answer, if any, lies in the fleeting connections forged on stage—moments where bodies speak louder than the surrounding machinery.

Texas is expanding its global reach with the launch of a new office in London, aimed at attracting UK businesses and investment to the low-tax Lone Star State. The office, led by James Taylor, one of the founders of the Austin-based lobbying and public relations firm Vianovo, is part of Texas's efforts to lure corporate heavyweights across its borders.The new site adds to a growing list of international offices from which Texas can try to draw businesses. Texas charges neither corporation nor income tax, making it an attractive destination for companies looking to relocate or expand.Lobbyists working in the London office will court UK bosses with incentives including new, fast-track business courts and multimillion-dollar subsidies. Their targets are expected to include the City's banks and investment houses, as the state aims to build on Dallas's financial-sector boom.The ambitions have caught the attention of the City of London Corporation, with the City's mayor, Susan Langley, discussing how London could tap into excitement over the launch later this year of the state's first dedicated stock market, the TXSE. “With the launch of the Texas Stock Exchange, new dual-listing opportunities could connect British and Texan firms to fresh capital,” she said.The news comes as London tries to reverse a trend where businesses have been abandoning the UK stock market, choosing either to go private or shift their listings to hubs overseas, including New York.Texas has already had success luring jobs and investment from rival US states, including California, Delaware, and New York. Texas has overtaken California in having the largest number of Fortune 500 company headquarters of any American state, with companies like Oracle, Tesla, X Corp, and SpaceX having moved to the state in recent years.A spokesperson for Governor Greg Abbott's office said: “Texas has long had a global presence, with offices in Mexico and most recently in Taiwan designed to attract foreign direct investment and job creation into Texas, while also helping Texas companies export worldwide.”

Former world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury is set to make his highly anticipated comeback against Arslanbek Makhmudov at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday. This marks Fury's return to the ring after a 15-month hiatus.The event is scheduled to take place with Fury and Makhmudov expected to make their ringwalks just after 10pm (21:00 GMT). The match promises to be an exciting encounter for boxing fans worldwide.