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Hollywood heartthrob MONSIEUR 💓

George Clooney fires back at Trump in New Year's Day statement

Daniel Hampton
January 1, 2026
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Hollywood heartthrob George Clooney shot back at President Donald Trump after the MAGA leader uncorked a wild attack on Clooney and trashed his movies over the actor's decision to exit the U.S. for French citizenship.

The 64-year-old Oscar winner, his wife, Amal Clooney, and their two kids officially became French citizens this month after years living at their swanky Provence estate. And the news left Trump fuming.

The president unleashed a scathing attack on Truth Social, slamming the couple as "two of the worst political prognosticators of all time."

“Good News! George and Amal Clooney, two of the worst political prognosticators of all time, have officially become citizens of France which is, sadly, in the midst of a major crime problem because of their absolutely horrendous handling of immigration, much like we had under Sleepy Joe Biden,” Trump wrote on New Year’s Eve. “Remember when Clooney, after the now infamous debate, dumped Joe during a fundraiser, only to go onto the side of another stellar candidate, Jamala(K!), who is now fighting it out with the worst governor in the Country, including Tim Waltz, Gavin Newscum, for who is going to lead the Democrats to their future defeat. Clooney got more publicity for politics than he did for his very few, and totally mediocre, movies. He wasn’t a movie star at all, he was just an average guy who complained, constantly, about common sense in politics.”

Trump's screed comes after George Clooney sounded off on Trump's MAGA-fied America in a cover story for Variety Magazine published on Tuesday. That included expressing concern that CBS News' new MAGA-friendly boss, Bari Weiss is "dismantling" the station and that Americans won't be able to "discern reality without a functioning press."

Clooney clapped back at Trump to the Hollywood Reporter, firing back, "I totally agree with the current president. We have to make America great again. We’ll start in November."

For her part, Weiss challenged Clooney to learn more about their work.

“Bonjour, Mr. Clooney!” Weiss responded. “Big fan of your work. It sounds like you’d like to learn more about ours. This is an open invitation to visit the CBS Broadcast Center, where I’m spending the holidays working to relaunch the Evening News with my colleagues. Tune in January 5.”

Trump joins criticism over France granting citizenship to George Clooney

Paris (AFP) – US President Donald Trump piled on criticism Wednesday of a decision to grant Hollywood superstar George Clooney French passports after a junior government official in Paris labelled the move a "double standard".


Issued on: 01/01/2026 - RFI

George Clooney and his wife Amal Clooney attend the gala screening of the film Jay Kelly at the Royal Festival Hall, during the London Film Festival organised by the British Film Institute, on 10 October 2025. AFP - HENRY NICHOLLS

An official decree seen by AFP on Monday showed that 64-year-old Oscar winner Clooney, his wife Amal Alamuddin Clooney and their two children had become French citizens.

Trump, whose administration has backed anti-immigration parties in Europe, said that Paris was welcome to the "Ocean's Eleven" star, a long-term Democratic supporter, fundraiser and a vocal critic of the president.

"Good News! George and Amal Clooney, two of the worst political prognosticators of all time, have officially become citizens of France which is, sadly, in the midst of a major crime problem because of their absolutely horrendous handling of immigration," Trump said on his Truth Social network.

The news of Clooney and his family becoming French comes ahead of language requirements for citizenship being toughened for everyone else under new immigration rules from January 1.


A junior member of President Emmanuel Macron's government had also criticised the decision to award passports despite Clooney speaking poor French.

Junior minister Marie-Pierre Vedrenne did not approve

 © Thibaud MORITZ / AFP/File


"Personally, I understand the feeling of some French people of a double standard," Marie-Pierre Vedrenne, a junior interior minister, told the France Info radio station.

"We need to be careful about the message we're sending."

Her boss, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez, and the foreign ministry however defended the decision.

The civil code states that "French nationality may be conferred by naturalisation, upon the proposal of the minister of foreign affairs, to any French-speaking foreigner who applies for it and who contributes through their distinguished service to France's influence and the prosperity of its international economic relations."

But Clooney has admitted that his French remains poor despite hundreds of lessons.

Under the new immigration rules from Thursday, applicants will need a certificate showing they have a level of French that could get them into a French university. They will also have to pass a civic knowledge test.

Actor George Clooney, who admits his French is 'bad', and wife Amal Clooney, who is fluent © bertrand GUAY / AFP/File

Clooney has a property in southern France and said he has hailed French privacy laws that keep his family largely protected from international media intrusion.

"I love the French culture, your language, even if I'm still bad at it after 400 days of courses," the actor told RTL radio – in English – in December.

His wife, an international human rights lawyer and dual UK-Lebanese national, speaks fluent French.

'Meets the conditions'

Clooney bought the Domaine du Canadel, a former wine estate, near the Provence town of Brignoles, in 2021. He said it is where his family is "happiest".

Nunez, the interior minister, said he was "very happy" with the actor and his family becoming French, saying the country was lucky to have them.

The French foreign ministry said the passport allocation for the Clooneys "meets the conditions set by law" for naturalisation.

The family "followed a rigorous procedure including security investigations, regulatory naturalisation interviews at the prefecture, and the payment of tax stamps," the ministry added.

It highlighted the Clooneys had a French home and they "contribute through their distinguished service to France's international influence and cultural prestige" through the actor's role in the film industry.

This "can only contribute to maintaining and promoting France's position in this essential economic sector", it said.

Amal Clooney is "a renowned lawyer" who "regularly collaborates with academic institutions and international organisations based in France", the ministry added.

Around 48,800 people acquired French nationality by decree in 2024, according to interior ministry figures.

Clooney is not alone in wanting a French passport.

Hollywood director Jim Jarmusch announced on Friday that he was also applying, telling French radio that he wanted "a place to where I can escape the United States".

Trump bashes Clooney after actor becomes French

By AFP
January 1, 2026


George Clooney (R) and his wife Amal Clooney have become French citizens, which US President Donald Trump sniped about on social media - Copyright AFP/File I-Hwa Cheng

US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Paris was welcome to Hollywood star George Clooney after the actor got French citizenship — and took the opportunity to bash France, too.

Trump, whose administration has backed anti-immigration parties in Europe, said key ally France had a “horrendous” problem with crime and immigration.

An official decree seen by AFP on Monday showed that 64-year-old Oscar winner Clooney, his wife Amal Alamuddin Clooney and their two children had become French citizens.

“Good News! George and Amal Clooney, two of the worst political prognosticators of all time, have officially become citizens of France which is, sadly, in the midst of a major crime problem because of their absolutely horrendous handling of immigration,” Trump said on his Truth Social network.

In one of a string of posts on New Year’s Eve, Trump added that France’s alleged problems were “much like we had under Sleepy Joe Biden,” his Democratic predecessor.

“Oceans Eleven” star Clooney is a long-term Democratic supporter and fundraiser, and a vocal critic of Trump.

In his social media post, Trump recalled the fact that the actor backed Biden during the 2024 US presidential election but then “dumped” him becoming concerned about the Democrat’s age during a fundraising event he hosted.

“Clooney got more publicity for politics than he did for his very few, and totally mediocre, movies. He wasn’t a movie star at all, he was just an average guy who complained, constantly, about common sense in politics,” Trump said.

Clooney’s newly acquired citizenship has also raised hackles in France.

A junior member of President Emmanuel Macron’s government Wednesday criticized Clooney getting his passport despite speaking poor French, saying the move suggested a “double standard.”

The news comes ahead of language requirements for citizenship being toughened for everyone else under new immigration rules from January 1.

George and Amal Clooney and family become French citizens

Hollywood superstar George Clooney has become French, along with his wife Amal Alamuddin Clooney and their two children, an official decree seen by AFP on Monday showed.

Issued on: 29/12/2025 - 
By: FRANCE 24

Video by: Solange MOUGIN

US actor George Clooney poses with his wife Amal Clooney on the red carpet during the 2025 BFI London Film Festival on October 10, 2025. © Henry Nicholls, AFP
01:47




Hollywood star George Clooney has become a French citizen along with his wife, Amal Alamuddin Clooney, and their two children, according to an official decree seen by AFP on Monday.

The publication in France's government gazette confirms a plan Clooney alluded to early in December when he hailed French privacy laws that keep his family shielded from paparazzi.

"I love the French culture, your language, even if I'm still bad at it after 400 days of courses," the 64-year-old actor told RTL radio at the time – in English.

"Here, they don't take photos of kids. There aren't any paparazzi hidden at the school gates. That's number one for us," he said.

The now-dual US-French citizen has a long attachment to Europe, which pre-dates his 2014 marriage to Amal, a British-Lebanese human rights lawyer who speaks fluent French.

Clooney owns an estate in Italy's picturesque Lake Como region, purchased in 2002, and he and Amal bought a historic manor in England.

They also own a New York apartment and a property in Kentucky, but have reportedly sold homes in Los Angeles and Mexico over the past decade.
'Where we're happiest'

Their property in southern France – a former wine estate called the Domaine du Canadel, near the village of Brignoles – was purchased in 2021.

The glamorous couple are parents to 8-year-old twins.

Clooney told RTL that although the family jet-sets around, their French home "is where we're happiest".

Also a director and producer, Clooney has two Oscars to put on whichever mantlepiece suits: one for best supporting actor in 2006's "Syriana" and as a producer on 2012's "Argo".

He has also raked in millions for celebrity endorsements, including for Nespresso, and got a windfall payout for selling his stake in a tequila brand.

Clooney is not the only Hollywood luminary to want to go French: US director Jim Jarmusch on Friday told France Inter radio that he also plans to apply for French nationality.

"I would like a place that will allow me to escape from the United States," he said, adding that he was also attracted by French culture.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)

Another cyber attack takes down France's online postal services

The websites of La Poste and Banque Postale were again difficult to access on Thursday morning due to a cyber attack, according to a message on the site. The disruption comes just a few days after a similar attack that disrupted parcel tracking during the Christmas period.


Issued on: 01/01/2026 - RFI

La Poste's online services were "inaccessible" following a cyber attack on the morning of 1 January. © AFP

"The laposte.fr website and all of La Poste's information systems are currently facing a cyber attack," a message on the postal service's homepage stated on Thursday.

The website and app of La Banque Postale, the post office's banking arm, were also largely inaccessible.

The previous denial-of-service attack, which involves overloading servers to prevent or slow down access to an online service, was claimed by a pro-Russian hacker group NoName057(16).

Its duration was unusually long for this type of attack: it began on 22 December, and disruptions continued until 26 December. It severely disrupted customer tracking of parcels, but delivery proceeded normally.

La Poste filed a complaint and asserted that no data had been stolen, as a denial-of-service attack is not considered an intrusion into information systems.

Pro-Russian hacktivists

The Paris prosecutor's office has opened an investigation, which has been entrusted to the General Directorate for Internal Security (DGSI) and the national cyber unit. It confirmed that NoName057(16) had claimed responsibility for the attack.

The hacker group emerged in 2022, the year that Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine.

It has previously targeted Ukrainian media websites and government and corporate websites in countries including Poland, Sweden and Germany.

Experts say that its activities appear to be designed to support pro-Russian information warfare. They say the group appears to be a loose organisation of hacktivists.

When contacted by French news agency AFP, La Poste was not immediately available for comment.

(with AFP)

UK struggles to reduce migrant crossings after near-record in 2025

The number of migrants arriving on UK shores in small boats reached its second-highest total last year since records were started in 2018, government statistics confirmed on Thursday. It comes despite a "one in, one out" scheme designed to send irregular migrants back to France.


Issued on: 01/01/2026 - RFI

Migrants attempt to board an inflatable dinghy heading across the English Channel from the beach of Petit-Fort-Philippe in Gravelines, northern France, on 27 September 2025. © REUTERS - Abdul Saboor

With Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer increasingly under pressure over the issue, his Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has proposed a drastic reduction in protections for refugees and the ending of automatic benefits for asylum seekers.

Home Office data showed that a total of 41,472 migrants landed on England's southern coast in 2025 after making the Channel crossing from northern France.

The record of 45,774 arrivals was reached in 2022 under the last Conservative government.

Former Tory prime minister Rishi Sunak vowed to "stop the boats" when he was in power. Ousted by Starmer in July 2024, he later said he regretted the slogan because it was too "binary" and lacked sufficient context "for exactly how challenging" the goal was.

Adopting his own "smash the gangs" slogan, Starmer pledged to tackle the problem by dismantling the people-smuggling networks running the crossings, but has so far had no more success than his predecessor.

Surge in Channel crossings puts UK-France migrant deal under pressure

'Landmark' French deal

Mahmood has said irregular migration is "tearing our country apart".

In early December, an interior ministry spokesperson called the number of small boat crossings "shameful" and said Mahmood's "sweeping reforms" would remove the incentives driving the arrivals.

A returns deal with France had so far resulted in 153 people being removed from the UK to France and 134 being brought to the UK from France, border security and asylum minister Alex Norris said.

"Our landmark one-in, one-out scheme means we can now send those who arrive on small boats back to France," he said.

Signed in July, it entered into force on 12 August but has been criticised by human rights groups and politicians in France.

Guy Allemand, mayor of Sangatte near Calais, told RFI the deal was "purely political" and "hypocritical".

In October, 17 NGOs filed a complaint with France's highest administrative court calling for the annulment of the scheme, arguing that its principles were inhumane.

The groups also argued that the agreement should have been submitted to Parliament for ratification prior to publication.

But at the end of December, the court threw out the complaint and said the agreement should stand.

The past year has seen multiple protests in the UK over the housing of migrants in hotels and other issues. Amid growing anti-immigrant sentiment, in September up to 150,000 massed in central London for one of the country's largest ever far-right protests.

Asylum claims in the UK are at a record high, with around 111,000 applications made in the year to June 2025, according to official figures as of mid-November.

(with AFP)

International outcry as Israel enforces ban on 37 NGOs in Gaza

Israel has confirmed that it will suspend the licences of 37 international humanitarian organisations operating in the Gaza Strip, a move that the United Nations and European officials say will further deepen an already severe humanitarian crisis.

Issued on: 01/01/2026 - RFI

A Palestinian man walks on his crutches to the Doctors Without Borders or Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) clinic, in the al-Rimal neighborhood of Gaza City on 31 December 2025. © AFP - OMAR AL-QATTAA

The decision, announced on Thursday, requires the affected NGOs to cease their activities by 1 March.

Among those targeted are some of the most prominent humanitarian organisations working in Gaza, including Médecins Sans Frontières, Médecins du Monde, Handicap International, the Norwegian Refugee Council, Oxfam and World Vision International.

According to Israel’s Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism, the organisations failed to meet new “security and transparency standards”, particularly the requirement to provide full and verifiable information about their Palestinian staff.

“The primary failure identified was the refusal to provide complete and verifiable information regarding their employees, a critical requirement designed to prevent the infiltration of terrorist operatives into humanitarian structures,” the ministry said in a statement.

Minister Amichai Chikli insisted that “humanitarian assistance is welcome – the exploitation of humanitarian frameworks for terrorism is not”.

'Post-apocalyptic wasteland': aid worker describes enduring horror in Gaza

Rules on disclosure

The ban follows legislation passed by the Israeli parliament in March 2025 that overhauled the registration and visa process for international NGOs. Under the new rules, organisations were given 10 months to disclose details of their personnel, funding sources and operational structures. The deadline expired at midnight on 31 December.

Several humanitarian groups argue that the demands undermine their independence and could put staff at risk. Médecins Sans Frontières has said that it had not submitted a list of employees because it had not received sufficient “guarantees and clarifications” about how the information would be used.

The organisation said the request “may be in violation of Israel’s obligations under international humanitarian law” and stressed that it would “never knowingly employ people engaging in military activity”.

Israel, however, has accused MSF of employing two staff members who it says belonged to Hamas and Islamic Jihad – allegations the organisation strongly disputes.

Speaking to RFI, Jean-François Corty, president of Médecins du Monde, warned that the ban “jeopardises international humanitarian law” and risks setting a troubling precedent for aid operations worldwide.
International and domestic backlash

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk described the decision as “outrageous”, saying that “such arbitrary suspensions make an already intolerable situation even worse for the people of Gaza”. He urged states to press Israel to reverse course.

The head of UNRWA, the UN's agency for Palestinian refugees, called the move a “dangerous precedent”. Philippe Lazzarini wrote on X: “Failing to push back against attempts to control the work of aid organisations will further undermine the basic humanitarian principles of neutrality, independence, impartiality and humanity underpinning aid work across the world.”

Opposition also emerged from within Israel. At least 17 Israeli left-wing organisations issued a joint statement condemning the ban, arguing that the new registration framework “violates core humanitarian principles of independence and neutrality”. They warned that the “weaponisation of bureaucracy institutionalises barriers to aid, endangers staff and communities, and forces vital organisations to suspend operations”.

Europe seeks role in Gaza as pressure grows on Israel over fragile ceasefire

European officials have also raised concerns. In April, members of the European Parliament cautioned that the NGO registration law risked “hindering the delivery of humanitarian aid and social services to Palestinians”. European Commissioner Hadja Lahbib said on 31 December that “the EU has been clear: the NGO registration law cannot be applied in its current form”.

The controversy comes against the backdrop of a fragile ceasefire that has been in place since October, following the war triggered by Hamas’s attack on Israel on 7 October 2023.

Conditions in Gaza remain dire, with UN figures suggesting that nearly 80 percent of buildings have been damaged or destroyed, while around 1.5 million of the territory’s more than two million residents have been displaced.

Earlier this week, the foreign ministers of 10 countries – including France and the United Kingdom – urged Israel to guarantee access to humanitarian aid, describing the situation in Gaza as “catastrophic”.

(with newswires)

The Crans-Montana fire: a Swiss tragedy that raises questions

Geneva (AFP) – The deadly fire that ripped through a crowded bar in the Swiss ski resort town of Crans-Montana raises numerous questions.

Issued on: 02/01/2026 - RFI

Police controlled access to the street where a fire ripped through a crowded bar during New Year celebrations in Crans-Montana © MAXIME SCHMID / AFP

Around 40 people were killed and over 100 others injured in the blaze at the New Year's party.

As investigators begin the gruelling task of identifying the victims and trying to determine what happened, here are some of the main issues they will seek to probe.
How did the tragedy occur?

"It was around 1:30 am (0030 GMT) when smoke was spotted" coming out of Le Constellation bar at the heart of the upscale resort, police commander Frederic Gisler told reporters.

A few seconds later, a witness contacted the police.

"Immediately, the red alarm, which mobilises the fire department, was triggered," Gisler said, adding that firefighters "quickly contained the blaze" while the injured were being treated.

Authorities said they launched an investigation into the fire, and declined to speculate on what caused the tragedy.

Several witness accounts, broadcast by various Swiss, French and Italian media, meanwhile seemed to point to sparklers that were apparently mounted on top of champagne bottles and held aloft by restaurant staff as part of a regular "show" put on for patrons who made special orders to their tables.

"I think there were some ladies, waitresses, with champagne bottles and little sparklers. They got too close to the ceiling, and suddenly it all caught fire," Axel, who was present at the time of the incident, told the Italian media outlet Local Team.

Was the establishment up to scratch?

Le Constellation, located on the ground floor of a residential building, has a capacity of 300 people, plus another 40 people on its terrace, according to the Crans-Montana website.

Several witnesses said the event space in the basement of the establishment, where the fire began, was connected with the ground floor by only a staircase, which some described as "narrow".

But Wallis's chief prosecutor Beatrice Pilloud did not confirm this, stressing that the cause of the tragedy was still being investigated.

Responding to questions from reporters, she said she had seen the site herself.

"What exactly constitutes a narrow staircase?" she asked, stressing that the probe would "determine whether all safety standards were met".

Pilloud also said it was "too early" to comment on whether emergency exits met the required standards, or whether the necessary procedures had been followed before organising the New Year's event.

Multiple sources told AFP on Thursday that the bar owners are French nationals: a couple originally from Corsica who, according to a relative, are safe and sound, but who have been unreachable since the tragedy.

Who are the victims?

Authorities have not yet released any information on the victims' identities, but the bar was a popular spot for tourists and was known to draw a young crowd.

"Given the international nature of the Crans resort, we can expect foreign nationals to be among the victims," Gisler said.

He said Swiss authorities were "in close contact with the victims' families, whom we are informing in real time, as well as with the various embassies involved".

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told Italian broadcaster Rete 4 that around 15 Italians had been injured in the fire, and a similar number remained missing.

The French foreign ministry said nine French citizens figured among the injured, and eight others remained unaccounted for.

Given the bar's usually youthful clientele, questions were also being raised about the possible presence of minors at the time of the tragedy.

Stephane Ganzer, head of Wallis's security department, did not confirm that.

But, he told reporters, "you can imagine that on New Year's Eve, in a ski resort, the population is undoubtedly quite young".

© 2026 AFP

Australia's Khawaja to retire after Ashes finale, slams 'racial stereotyping'

Sydney (AFP) – Usman Khawaja said Friday he will retire from international cricket after the fifth and final Ashes clash against England, leaving a legacy as Australia's first Muslim Test cricketer while lashing out at perceived "racial stereotyping" during his 15-year career.

Issued on: 02/01/2026 - RFI

Australia's Usman Khawaja will retire after the final Ashes Test in Sydney © DAVID GRAY / AFP

The 39-year-old will pad up for the last time, should he be selected, when the Test gets under way in Sydney on Sunday, ending months of speculation about his future.

It would be an 88th Test for the classy left-hander, culminating a career where it began after making his debut at the Sydney Cricket Ground in 2011, also against England.

"The number one emotion is contentment. I'm very lucky to have played so many games for Australia the way I have," Khawaja said. "I hope I have inspired people along the way.

"I'm a proud Muslim coloured boy from Pakistan who was told that he would never play for the Australian cricket team. Look at me now, and you can do the same," he added.

Khawaja immigrated to Australia from Islamabad as a child, battling the odds to become the country's first Pakistan-born, and first Muslim, national player.

At one point, he was the only Asian first-class player in Australia and is credited as a role model who opened doors for others.

"Usman has made a huge contribution to Australian cricket both through his outstanding achievements as one of our most stylish and resilient batters since his Test debut 15 years ago, and off field, particularly through the Usman Khawaja Foundation," said Cricket Australia chief Todd Greenberg.

"On behalf of Australian cricket I would like to thank and congratulate Usman for all he has achieved."

Khawaja's foundation helps youths from refugee, immigrant, Indigenous, and poor socioeconomic backgrounds through introductory cricket programs and educational support.

-- 'Attacked me' --

Khawaja, a qualified pilot, has plundered 6,206 runs in Test cricket with 16 centuries, averaging 43.39.

He smashed a career-high 232 against Sri Lanka a year ago, but has not made three figures since.

The current Ashes series has been a rollercoaster ride, with the veteran batsman coming under scrutiny.

Australia's Usman Khawaja will retire after the final Ashes Test in Sydney 

© DAVID GRAY / AFP


He injured his back in the first Test in Perth and was replaced as opener in the second innings by Travis Head who blasted a match-winning century.

Khawaja did not feature in the next match at Brisbane and was omitted from the team for the third Test in Adelaide, only to get a lifeline when Steve Smith dropped out ill just before the toss.

He came in at number four and hit 82 and 40 before making 29 and 0 in the fourth Test at Melbourne.

"I'm glad I get to leave on amy own terms, with a little bit of dignity, and go out at the SCG where I love," he said, while expressing frustration at how he was treated.

"When I did my back (in Perth), I hurt my back and had back spasms and it was something I couldn't control.

"The way the media and past players came out and attacked me. I could have copped it for a couple of days but it went on for five days.

"The way everyone came out at me about my preparation, 'he's not committed to the team. Only worried about himself. Playing a golf competition. He's selfish, he didn't train hard enough. He's lazy'.

"These are the same racial stereotypes (I thought we had moved past).

"But obviously we haven't fully moved past that. I haven't seen anyone treated like that in the Australian cricket team before."

He nevertheless admitted the writing was on the wall during the current Ashes series.

"Going into Adelaide and then not being picked initially for that game was probably a sign for me to say 'all right, it's time to move on'," he said.

Khawaja also played 40 one-dayers and nine Twenty20 internationals.

© 2026 AFP

SPACE/COSMOS

Where The Elements Come From

The chlorine and potassium needed to support planet formation and sustain life come from exploding stars. CREDIT: JAXA

 December 31, 2025

By Eurasia Review

Why are we here?” is humanity’s most fundamental and persistent question. Tracing the origins of the elements is a direct attempt to answer this at its deepest level. We know many elements are created inside stars and supernovae, which then cast them out into the universe, yet the origins of some key elements has remained a mystery.

Chlorine and potassium, both odd-Z elements — possessing an odd number of protons — are essential to life and planet formation. According to current theoretical models, stars produce only about one-tenth the amount of these elements observed in the universe, a discrepancy that has long puzzled astrophysicists.

This inspired a group of researchers at Kyoto University and Meiji University to examine supernova remnants for traces of these elements. Using XRISM — short for X-Ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission, an X-ray satellite launched by JAXA in 2023 — the team was able to perform high-resolution X-ray spectroscopic observations of the Cassiopeia A supernova remnant within the Milky Way.

The scientists utilized the microcalorimeter Resolve device onboard XRISM, providing high energy resolution an order of magnitude better than previous X-ray detectors, which allowed them to detect faint emission lines from rare elements. They then analyzed the X-ray spectrum from Cassiopeia A and compared the abundances of chlorine and potassium with several supernova nucleosynthetic models.

The team discovered clear X-ray emission lines of both elements at abundances far higher than predicted by standard supernova models. This provided the first observational evidence that a supernova can create sufficient chlorine and potassium. The team suggests that strong mixing inside massive stars caused by fast rotation, binary interaction, or shell-merger events, can significantly enhance the production of these elements.

“When we saw the Resolve data for the first time, we detected elements I never expected to see before the launch. Making such a discovery with a satellite we developed is a true joy as a researcher,” says corresponding author Toshiki Sato.

These results reveal that the elements vital for life were produced in harsh, intense environments deep inside stars, far removed from anything resembling the conditions needed for life to emerge. The study also demonstrates the power of high-precision X-ray spectroscopy for probing the origins of elements and physical processes deep inside stars.

“I am delighted that we have been able, even if only slightly, to begin to understand what is happening inside exploding stars,” says corresponding author Hiroyuki Uchida.

Next, the team plans to observe other supernova remnants with XRISM to determine whether the enhanced production of chlorine and potassium is common among massive stars or unique to Cassiopeia A. This will help reveal whether such internal mixing processes are a universal feature of stellar evolution.

“How Earth and life came into existence is an eternal question that everyone has pondered at least once. Our study reveals only a small part of that vast story, but I feel truly honored to have contributed to it,” says corresponding author Kai Matsunaga.

Could the Next Solar Flare Cripple Modern Technology?

By ZeroHedge - Jan 01, 2026

• The Van Allen radiation belts, massive regions of charged particles trapped by Earth's magnetic field, have become "fully charged" due to repeated solar storms.
• A space weather observer warns that the next major solar storm could cause the energetic plasma in the belts to precipitate toward the planet's upper atmosphere.
• Intense solar storms pose a significant threat to modern infrastructure, potentially causing major disruptions to satellites, GPS, radio communications, and other space-based operations.The Van Allen radiation belts are massive, doughnut-shaped regions of charged particles trapped by Earth's magnetic field. When the Sun blasts Earth with strong solar wind or solar storms, energetic particles are injected into these belts, increasing their overall energy levels.

Now, the Van Allen radiation belts are "fully charged," according to space weather observer Stefan Burns. He warns that these belts of energetic particles have been building up due to repeated solar storms over the past few months.

"The next solar storm to hit could cause this plasma to precipitate downward toward the planet's upper atmosphere," Burns said.

The effects of intense solar storms are particularly significant for satellites, GPS, radio communications, and space operations, where disruptions can occur.

With growing discussion around space-based data centers and rapidly expanding satellite internet constellations, the question arises: can a modern society built on fragile semiconductors withstand repeated X-class solar flares or a Carrington-class coronal mass ejection?

By Zerohedge 

Joint ground- and space-based observations reveal Saturn-mass rogue planet

Summary author: Walter Beckwith

American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

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Simultaneous ground- and space-based observations of a newly discovered free-floating planet have enabled direct measurement of its mass and distance from Earth, according to a new study. The findings offer insights into the diverse and dynamic pathways by which planets can be cast adrift into interstellar space. Although studies to date have only revealed a handful of such free-floating planets, detections are expected to increase in the coming years, particularly with the NASA Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope campaign that is scheduled for launch in 2027, notes Gavin Coleman in a related Perspective. “Simultaneous space- and ground-based observations of microlensing events could be applied in the planning of future exploratory missions and could lead to a better understanding of how planets form across the Galaxy.”

 

Planets are most often found bound to one or more stars, yet a growing body of evidence shows that some wander the galaxy alone. These objects, called free-floating or rogue planets, lack any known stellar companion. And, since they don’t emit very much light, they reveal themselves only through their subtle gravitational effects – a phenomenon called microlensing. One of the main limitations of this discovery method is that it cannot determine the distance to these planets, making independent measurement of their mass difficult. As a result, much about this elusive population of solitary worlds remains speculative.

 

Here, Subo Dong and colleagues report the discovery of a new free-floating planet detected via a fleeting microlensing event. However, unlike previous detections, Dong et al. uniquely observed this microlensing event simultaneously from both Earth and space, using several ground-based surveys alongside the Gaia space telescope. Tiny differences in the timing of the light reaching these distantly separated vantage points enabled measurement of the microlensing parallax, which, when combined with finite-source point-lens modeling, allowed the authors to determine the planet’s mass and location. It is ~22% the mass of Jupiter and roughly 3,000 parsecs from the center of the Milky Way. Because this planet’s mass is comparable to that of Saturn, Dong et al. argue that it likely formed within a planetary system, rather than in isolation like a small star or brown dwarf. Such low-mass rogue planets are thought to be born around stars and later expelled from their orbital confines through gravitational upheavals, such as interactions with neighboring planets or unstable stellar companions.

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Journal

Science

DOI

10.1126/science.adv9266 

Article Title

A free-floating-planet microlensing event caused by a Saturn-mass object

Article Publication Date

1-Jan-2026

NO SEABED  MINING

US Interest In Seabed Mining In Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction – Analysis

Discoverer Inspiration delivers new containment cap to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on 10 July 2010. In the background are the Discoverer Enterprise, GSF Development Driller II, and Helix Producer I. Photo Credit: U.S. Coast Guard

 photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Jonathan Caruk, Wikipedia Commons

December 31, 2025 
Congressional Research Service (CRS).
By Caitlin Keating-Bitonti

In 1980, Congress passed the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act (DSHMRA; 30 U.S.C. §§1401 et seq.) as an interim measure to allow the United States to proceed with seabed mining activities in areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ) until an international regime was in place (i.e., the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea [UNCLOS]). DSHMRA established a framework for authorizing U.S. citizens (e.g., individuals, corporations) to explore for and recover minerals from seabed in ABNJ. In general, exploration means the at-sea observation and evaluation of seabed mineral resources and the taking of the resource as needed to design and test mining equipment, and commercial recovery (or exploitation) means the actual at-sea mining and processing of seabed minerals for the primary purpose of commercial use (30 U.S.C. §1403).

On April 24, 2025, as part of a broader national effort to secure reliable supplies of critical minerals, President Trump issued Executive Order (E.O.) 14285, “Unleashing America’s Offshore Critical Minerals and Resources,” which directed certain federal agencies to advance seabed mining activities. This In Focus discusses the actions of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and U.S. companies related to seabed mining in ABNJ as well as congressional interest in the topic. The regulation of mineral-related activities occurring on the U.S. outer continental shelf by the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is beyond the scope of this In Focus.

Background on UNCLOS and the International Seabed Authority

UNCLOS was adopted in 1982, establishing a comprehensive international legal framework to govern activities related to the global ocean, including seabed mining. In 1994, the Agreement Relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (commonly known as the 1994 Agreement) substantially modified the seabed mining provisions of UNCLOS to address concerns held by many industrialized nations. After the adoption of the 1994 Agreement, UNCLOS received the necessary number of signatories for the agreement to enter into force. The United States is not a party to UNCLOS or the 1994 Agreement.

UNCLOS also established the International Seabed Authority (ISA), an autonomous organization that regulates parties to UNCLOS conducting mineral-related activities in ABNJ. The ISA came into existence with the adoption of the 1994 Agreement and became fully operational in 1996. The United States participates as an observer state in the ISA but, as a non-party, has no vote in ISA business and cannot apply for or obtain a contract for seabed mining exploration or exploitation through the ISA. To date, the ISA has issued 31 exploration contracts. China holds five exploration contracts, the most of any UNCLOS party. The Metals Company (TMC), a Canadian company, has two ISA exploration contracts through sponsorships with Nauru and Tonga. TMC’s two contracts are located in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ), a 1.7-million-square-mile area of the seafloor in the Pacific Ocean. The CCZ is estimated to contain more cobalt, manganese, and nickel—identified by the U.S. Geological Survey as critical minerals—than all known land deposits combined.

The ISA has not issued any contracts for exploitation. The ISA is working toward finalizing exploitation regulations.

Exploration Licenses Issued by NOAA

DSHMRA authorized the NOAA administrator to issue exploration licenses and commercial recovery permits to U.S. citizens for seabed mining activities in ABNJ (30 U.S.C. §1412). In 1984, NOAA issued exploration licenses for four sites located beyond U.S. jurisdiction in the CCZ. NOAA issued exploration licenses to four U.S. mining consortia, three of which were multinational private sector consortia with participating American companies. Under DSHMRA, exploration licenses are initially issued for 10 years (30 U.S.C. §1417(a)). NOAA has issued:USA-1 to Ocean Minerals Company, comprising Cyprus Minerals and Lockheed Martin Corporation (American companies);
USA-2 to Ocean Management Inc., comprising Schlumberger Technology (an American company) and Canadian, German, and Japanese companies;
USA-3 to Ocean Mining Associates, comprising Essex Minerals Co. and Sun Ocean Ventures, Inc. (American companies) and Belgian and Italian companies; and
USA-4 to Kennecott Consortium, comprising Kennecott Utah Copper Corporation (an American company) and British, Canadian, and Japanese companies.

NOAA issued these four exploration licenses 10 years before UNCLOS entered into force and 12 years before the ISA became operational. NOAA has not issued any exploration licenses since 1984, although the agency has approved extension requests. A license can be extended by five-year periods (30 U.S.C. §1417(a)). NOAA has not issued any commercial recovery permits.

Two of the four exploration licenses issued by NOAA have been surrendered. In 1997, Ocean Mining Associates relinquished USA-3. In 1999, Ocean Management Inc., the holder of USA-2, dissolved. Thus, NOAA considered USA-2 relinquished (64 Federal Register 3563).

USA-1 and USA-4 remain the only active exploration licenses issued by NOAA pursuant to DSHMRA. Lockheed Martin holds both licenses. It became the sole holder of the licenses by different means. In 1993, Kennecott Consortium relinquished USA-4 to NOAA (58 Federal Register 33933). Ocean Minerals Company, the consortium including Lockheed Martin, applied for USA-4 (58 Federal Register 34782), and NOAA issued the license in 1994 (59 Federal Register 66942). In 1995, Cyprus Minerals withdrew from Ocean Minerals Company, leaving Lockheed Martin as the sole company overseeing USA-1 and USA-4.

USA-1 and USA-4 are expected to remain in effect through June 2, 2027 (87 Federal Register 52743). However, in 2021, the ISA designated an area of the CCZ that partially overlaps with USA-1 as an Area of Particular Environmental Interest, thereby precluding seabed mining activities from taking place in the area. This designation appears to demonstrate that NOAA-issued seabed mining exploration licenses do not have international recognition. Because the United States is not a party to UNCLOS, this would likely be true for any future NOAA-issued commercial recovery permits. According to a 2017 NOAA notice, “any rights a U.S. company may have domestically are not secured internationally.”

Actions taken by Lockheed Martin suggest it may be divesting from seabed mining. In 2023, a Norwegian company, Loke Marine Minerals, acquired two ISA-issued exploration contracts from UK Seabed Resources, a subsidiary of the United Kingdom–based arm of Lockheed Martin. Loke has since filed for bankruptcy, in part due to difficulties raising new capital. Some suggest that the “industry is economically not viable.”

To extend USA-1 and USA-4 beyond June 2, 2027, Lockheed Martin would need to submit an extension request to NOAA at least six months prior to the expiration date. If the licenses are not extended, U.S. entities can request a transfer of USA-1 and/or USA-4. In such cases, NOAA is to process the request pursuant to Title 15, Section 970.516, of the Code of Federal Regulations. According to NOAA, the agency may choose not to actively solicit offers for the transfer of these licenses.

Pending Applications to NOAA

E.O. 14285 directed NOAA, in consultation with the Departments of State and Interior, to expedite the process for reviewing and issuing exploration licenses and commercial recovery permits under DSHMRA, among other actions. On April 29, 2025, TMC’s U.S. subsidiary (TMC USA) submitted applications to NOAA for two exploration licenses and one commercial recovery permit under DSHMRA. In June 2025, TMC USA amended its exploration applications. NOAA determined that these applications are “fully compliant” with DSHMRA requirements. TMC USA’s two exploration license applications (A and B) overlap with portions of TMC’s Nauru and Tonga ISA exploration contract areas in the CCZ. As part of NOAA’s applicant review process, the agency will receive and consider oral comments via virtual public hearings on January 26 and 27, 2026, and written comments through February 23, 2026.

To date, NOAA has not made a determination on TMC USA’s commercial recovery permit application. The information relevant to the application will be made public when NOAA publishes its notice in the Federal Register (15 C.F.R. §971.212).

Some speculate that TMC USA’s applications to NOAA may be part of “a tactic to put pressure on the ISA” to adopt its exploitation regulations. Exploitation regulations would allow pursuit of ISA exploitation contracts.

Recent Congressional Interest

Congress may continue to consider seabed mining issues in the context of E.O. 14285 and TMC USA’s applications to NOAA. Some bills introduced in the 119th Congress would codify and/or adapt E.O. 14285 (S. 2860, H.R. 3803, H.R. 4018). These bills echo the challenges presented in the E.O., including that “the United States faces unprecedented economic and national security challenges in securing reliable supplies of critical minerals independent of foreign adversary control.” TMC also contendsthat its subsidiary’s applications would contribute to “America’s mineral independence.” S. 2860, H.R. 3803, and H.R. 4018 would direct federal agencies to expedite the authorization of U.S. seabed mining activities under DSHMRA. According to the ISA, however, authorization of seabed mining activities outside the international framework (e.g., via DSHMRA) “may incur legal, diplomatic, economic, security, financial and reputational risks.” Congress may weigh in on whether NOAA seabed mining licenses and permits might present geopolitical conflicts. TMC USA stated that it does “not anticipate any use conflicts or interference with other users’ freedom of the high seas.” If approved, the NOAA-licensed areas would overlap with portions of areas the ISA already contracted to TMC through Tonga and Nauru sponsorships.

Some Members have called for the Senate to take up UNCLOS, contending that as a party to UNCLOS, the United States would be able to participate in setting and voting on ISA policies (S.Res. 331). Weighing the advantages and disadvantages of giving U.S. entities access to ISA contracts through U.S. accession to UNCLOS as a means to diversify its critical mineral supply chain is an ongoing issue for Congress. U.S. access to critical minerals located in ABNJ through U.S. accession to UNCLOS may reduce the potential for geopolitical conflicts. For example, following E.O. 14285 and TMC USA’s applications to NOAA, the Secretary-General of the ISA stated that “any unilateral action … sets a dangerous precedent that could destabilize the entire system of global ocean governance.”

Legislation has also been introduced (H.R. 664) to prohibit NOAA from issuing licenses and permits for seabed mining activities in ABNJ until more information is known about its potential impacts. This bill would also direct NOAA—along with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine—to study the environmental impacts of mining activities. H.R. 663 would instruct the President to call for an international seabed mining moratorium until the ISA adopts a regulatory framework. As of December 2025, 40 countries have announced their opposition to deep-seabed mining.

About the author: Caitlin Keating-Bitonti, Specialist in Natural Resources Policy

Source: This article was published by the Congressional Research Service (CRS).

The Congressional Research Service (CRS) works exclusively for the United States Congress, providing policy and legal analysis to committees and Members of both the House and Senate, regardless of party affiliation. As a legislative branch agency within the Library of Congress, CRS has been a valued and respected resource on Capitol Hill for nearly a century.