The Week 1524

What happened Trump’s return “The golden age of America begins right now,” declared Donald Trump as he was sworn in on Monday as the 47th US president. In a ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda attended by Washington politicians and the Silicon Valley elite, he pledged to lead a “revolution of common sense”, saying he had been “saved by God” to “make America great again”. He announced moves to boost fossil fuel production, close the US-Mexico border, and “end the government policy of trying to socially engineer race and gender into every aspect of public and private life”. He also announced an ambition to “take back” the Panama Canal and plant the US flag on Mars. Trump later signed a flurry of executive orders to reverse many of Joe Biden’s policies…

What happened Three days after the ceasefire in Gaza took effect on Sunday, Israeli forces began a major operation in the occupied West Bank. Ten Palestinians were killed, as Israel launched air strikes and sent troops backed by drones and bulldozers into the city of Jenin. Israel said the assault was needed to “defeat terrorism”. Brokered by Qatar, the US and Egypt, the ceasefire deal – which was approved by Israel’s cabinet on Friday – is divided into three stages. The first, which is due to last six weeks, involves the release of 33 of the 98 hostages still held in Gaza, in exchange for 1,900 Palestinian prisoners. The first three of those hostages were freed on Sunday, along with 90 Palestinians (see page 16). In this stage, Israeli troops…

Surgeons in Leeds have successfully removed a previously inoperable brain tumour by performing keyhole surgery through the patient’s eye socket. It was the first time this technique had been used in the UK. Having practised on 3D models of the patient’s head, the team at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust completed the surgery in just three hours. The patient, 40-year-old nurse Ruvimbo Kaviya, was up and about later that day, and was left with only a tiny scar. Archaeologists in Pompeii have unearthed a sumptuous private bath suite believed to have belonged to a member of the ancient Roman elite. The “once-in- a-century” find was made at a grand house in Regio IX, a district in the centre of the city. The suite is astonishingly well preserved, complete with vibrant…

“It’s impact time,” said Sam Blewett on Politico. The “asteroid” of Donald Trump’s second presidency has“finally struck” – and for the rest of the world, “the shockwaves will be seismic”. America’s disruptor-in-chief promises to be even more radical this time around: he has threatened to impose a 10% tariff on Chinese goods next week, and is considering slapping them on the EU, too. The details of his plans for Nato, Ukraine and Iran are awaited with trepidation. Trump seems to be planning a “new era of American empire”, said James Ball in The i Paper. He has vowed to occupy Greenland and seize the Panama Canal. His defenders have a habit of “sane-washing” his proposals, but at his inauguration he promised to lead a “growing America” that “expands our territory”.…

Adults start behaving like their parents at the age of 43, polling data has suggested. The greatest indicator of turning into your parents is, according to those surveyed, moaning about the weather; followed by nodding off on the sofa in the evening, dressing for comfort and heading to bed before 10pm. Other signs include taking up gardening and having a favourite chair. The Government is developing an AI tool to help civil servants and ministers work out which policies will go down well (or badly) with MPs. Parlex draws on data from Hansard to predict how MPs will react to specific policies. Other AI tools could be used to analyse responses to public consultations, and to transcribe and summarise meetings with ministers.…

Prince Harry, who reached a settlement with the owners of The Sun, which included an “unequivocal” apology for its intrusions into his private life over 15 years to 2011, and “substantial damages”, believed to run into eight figures. It is the first time the Murdoch group has admitted to unlawful activity at The Sun. The digital revolution, with news that driving licences are to become available on smartphones in a new government “wallet” later this year, with passports following in 2027. Initially, the digital passport will only be for domestic use, but subject to agreements, it could be used internationally. Julia Donaldson, who was named the UK’s bestselling author, knocking J.K. Rowling into second place. According to Nielson BookData, the children’s writer has sold 48.6 million books, to Rowling’s 48…