NASA Reports Solar Flares
NASA has recorded a fresh surge in solar flare activity this week, with its Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) capturing an X2.7-class flare—the most powerful eruption in recent days. X-class flares are the most intense on the scale, with the number indicating their strength. Following NASA’s warnings, radio blackouts were reported across parts of Europe, Southeast Asia and the Middle East, with forecasters at the US-based National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) noting signal disruptions lasting around 10 minutes.
Solar flares occur when magnetic fields around the Sun suddenly reconnect, releasing bursts of radiation into the heliosphere—the vast region that encompasses the solar system. The Sun is currently at the peak of its 11-year solar cycle, known as the solar maximum. During this phase, its magnetic poles flip, sunspot activity rises, and solar storms become more frequent and intense.
These recent flares have emerged from sunspot AR4087—a highly active region now facing Earth. As well as releasing flares, these sunspots often spark coronal mass ejections (CMEs): giant bursts of plasma and magnetic fields from the Sun’s outer atmosphere, or corona. These CMEs can interfere with satellite communications, GPS systems, and even pose radiation risks to astronauts.
On a brighter note, the charged particles from these eruptions have triggered spectacular auroral activity. The UK Met Office has reported increased visibility of the Northern Lights, giving residents in some parts of the country a rare chance to witness nature’s celestial fireworks.
Greggs Moves Sandwiches Behind the Counter in Anti-Theft Trial
Greggs is trialling a new approach to tackle the growing epidemic of shoplifting: putting chilled sandwiches and drinks behind the counter. That means customers will now have to queue for lunchtime staples—akin to banking a sausage roll.
This change is being rolled out in at least five stores, including Whitechapel, Peckham, and Ilford—areas identified as “shoplifting hotspots.” The Office for National Statistics revealed that shoplifting incidents in England and Wales rose by 20% in 2024, hitting a record 516,971 cases. Some Greggs stores are reportedly hit by theft every 20 minutes.
A Greggs spokesperson said, “This is one of several initiatives we’re trialling in shops more exposed to anti-social behaviour. Customers will still find our full range of tasty Greggs favourites—just from behind the counter. The safety of our colleagues and customers is our top priority.”
While the trial is aimed at deterring theft, critics say it’s a grim reflection of societal breakdown. Are we so used to petty crime that pastries now need protection? Or is this a failure of broader policy to address the roots of desperation?
Jim Morrison Bust Reappears After 40 Years
The long-lost marble bust of Jim Morrison has re-emerged nearly four decades after it mysteriously vanished from his grave at Père Lachaise cemetery in Paris. Created in 1981 by Croatian artist Mladen Mikulin to mark the 10th anniversary of Morrison’s death, the bust became a pilgrimage point for Doors fans before it was stolen in 1988.
Despite years of graffiti and damage, the statue held a cult aura—symbolic of rebellion, poetry, and incense-lit tributes. Its return has sparked emotional reactions from fans around the world. Whether it’ll be reinstated atop Morrison’s grave remains unclear, as the cemetery weighs the risks of renewed vandalism.
But for now, the Lizard King’s image is whole again.
Tommy Robinson Set for Early Release
Far-right activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, aka Tommy Robinson, will walk free within days, having served just over seven months of an 18-month sentence for contempt of court. The High Court jailed him in 2024 for defying a court order and releasing videos defaming Syrian schoolboy Jamal Hijazi.
Robinson’s sentence included a four-month “coercive” element that could be lifted with compliance. Judges agreed to release him after he removed the offending videos and pledged not to repeat the offence. However, the court noted Robinson “has not expressed contrition or remorse.”
His release comes amid ongoing concern over rising far-right influence in British politics. Earlier this year, Elon Musk backed a fundraiser in his name. For many, Robinson remains a symbol of a dangerous populist fringe.
Port-au-Prince in Collapse: Haiti’s Ungoverned Crisis
Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, is now largely ruled by gangs, with some estimates suggesting criminal groups control over 90% of the city. Thousands are displaced, hospitals are shuttered, cholera is back, and the state appears entirely absent.
This breakdown is centuries in the making. After Haiti became the first Black republic in 1804, it faced economic strangulation by colonial powers, most notably France and the US. In 1825, France demanded reparations from its former colony—roughly $21 billion today—which devastated Haiti’s finances for generations.
Repeated foreign interference, coups, and the weakening of Haitian institutions have left a vacuum now filled by gangs. Even post-earthquake aid bypassed the government, empowering NGOs instead. The result: a nation without functioning governance or justice.
Haiti’s crisis isn’t just about crime. It’s a long history of abandonment and exploitation—one that continues to unfold in full view of the world.
