Daily News Summary – 2026-02-07 – en

Steve Wright, known as the 'Suffolk Strangler,' was given a new life sentence with a minimum of 40 years for the 1999 murder of Victoria Hall, solved through advanced DNA analysis after decades.

The U.S. Department of Defense ended all military training and fellowships at Harvard, citing ideological differences and a focus on training warriors rather than 'woke followers.'

Russian forces in Ukraine have turned to horses and mules for battlefield operations, a desperate adaptation amid vehicle losses and drone vulnerabilities, blending old tactics with modern warfare.

A study compares ultra-processed foods to cigarettes, highlighting addictive properties and calling for stricter regulation due to significant public health risks like obesity and cardiovascular disease.

China's Supreme People's Court overturned the death sentence of Canadian Robert Schellenberg for drug smuggling, a move seen as a diplomatic gesture following Prime Minister Mark Carney's visit to Beijing.

A pioneering zero-emission tram line launched in the city core, using hydrogen and battery-electric technology to reduce carbon emissions and enhance sustainable public transit.

A regional afforestation program launched to sequester carbon and create green jobs, funded through public and private sources with community co-benefits like biodiversity improvement.

The approval of water reuse facilities across the U.S. marks a significant infrastructure shift, with projections of $47.1 billion in capital expenditure through 2035 for sustainable water management.

A meta-analysis reveals microplastics in tap water worldwide, with unregulated levels raising health concerns, though water treatment plants show high removal efficiency.

Italian authorities investigated sabotage attacks on railways during the Winter Olympics opening, causing disruptions with anarchist groups suspected.

Pakistani security forces arrested four suspects, including the alleged mastermind linked to Islamic State, for the mosque bombing that killed 32 people in Islamabad.

A pedestrian priority program launched in historic centers, aiming to improve air quality and walkability, though business owners express concerns about access and economic impact.

The commercial space industry is experiencing rapid growth with increased launch cadence, driven by companies like SpaceX, while navigating regulatory challenges and infrastructure demands.

Policymakers are debating solutions to the housing affordability crisis, including mortgage relief programs and rental subsidies, as costs outpace income growth.

A rapid modular housing program is proposed to address the U.S. housing crisis, offering cost-effective, factory-built homes with faster construction times and bipartisan support.

Russian elites partying in the French Alps sparked outrage amid the Ukraine war, highlighting tensions between the wealthy and ordinary citizens facing economic hardship.

Singapore awarded a S$300 million contract for 660 electric buses, including double-deck models, marking a significant step toward sustainable public transport with advanced safety features.

A new interoperability standard for EV charging was published, enabling 'Plug & Charge' functionality and unified payment systems to simplify the charging experience globally.

Bithumb cryptocurrency exchange accidentally distributed $44 billion in Bitcoin due to a typo, creating temporary millionaires before recovering most of the funds and facing regulatory investigation.

Avalanches in the Italian Alps killed four skiers on February 7, 2026, with unstable snow conditions and rising temperatures contributing to the tragedies during the Winter Olympics period.

Chinese researchers developed a 20-gigawatt microwave weapon system compact enough for mobile deployment, capable of disrupting satellites and representing a significant advance in directed-energy technology.

Bill and Hillary Clinton demanded public testimony over their connections to Jeffrey Epstein, rejecting closed-door congressional depositions and calling for transparency in the investigation.

Platforms and organizations are deploying tools to combat election disinformation, with fact-checking systems and civic education initiatives aiming to protect democratic integrity ahead of key elections.

Anthropic launched Claude Opus 4.6 with a 1 million token context window, enabling the AI to process entire codebases or lengthy documents, and featuring advanced coding and reasoning capabilities.