Japan's top trade negotiator holds two phone meetings with Lutnick

Walter Renwick, the man falsely accused of cutting down the iconic Sycamore Gap tree, reveals he wore a Rod Stewart-style wig to disguise himself while under public scrutiny. He’s speaking out about the ordeal, which left him feeling like a fugitive in his own life.

Editor’s Note: Being wrongly accused of a high-profile act of vandalism isn’t just embarrassing—it can upend someone’s life. Renwick’s story highlights how quickly misinformation spreads and the real-world consequences of public outrage before facts are clear. It’s a reminder that viral accusations can hurt innocent people long before the truth catches up.

A controversial South Korean drama about a teacher's romantic relationship with a 12-year-old student was abruptly canceled after massive public backlash. The show, The Elementary School Student I Love, was based on a webtoon and had just been announced before critics slammed it for glorifying grooming and endangering child safety. The uproar highlights the tension between creative storytelling and ethical responsibility in media.

Editor’s Note: This isn’t just about a show getting axed—it’s a flashpoint in the broader debate over how far fiction should go when tackling harmful real-world issues. South Korea’s media industry is huge, but this backlash shows audiences won’t tolerate stories that blur the line between drama and exploitation, especially when kids are involved. It’s a warning to creators: some topics need more sensitivity than shock value.

Russia’s top diplomat, Sergey Lavrov, is calling out the US for stirring tensions in Asia, specifically pointing to military drills as a destabilizing force—especially around the Korean Peninsula. He’s framing these exercises as a direct threat to regional peace, likely referencing recent joint maneuvers with allies like South Korea and Japan.

Editor’s Note: This isn’t just another diplomatic spat—it’s a sharp escalation in rhetoric from Moscow, reflecting wider friction between Russia and the US-led alliance system. With tensions already high over Ukraine and NATO, Lavrov’s remarks signal that Russia sees Washington’s military posturing in Asia as part of a broader confrontation. For countries in the region, this adds another layer of uncertainty to an already volatile security landscape.

The UK's struggling steel towns—like Scunthorpe and Port Talbot—are facing even more uncertainty as Trump's potential tariffs threaten to squeeze the industry further. These communities, already hanging by a thread, could see their fortunes tied to whether the UK steel sector can survive the double whammy of global competition and political trade wars.

Editor’s Note: Steel isn’t just about economics—it’s about entire towns built around mills and factories. If tariffs hit, jobs and local economies could collapse, leaving these places with even fewer options. It’s a high-stakes reminder of how global politics can ripple right down to Main Street.

FBI director Kash Patel is shutting down rumors that he's planning to resign over the Justice Department's decision to block the release of Jeffrey Epstein-related files. Patel called the speculation "conspiracy theories" in a social media post, pushing back against claims that he's unhappy with the DoJ's move. This comes after earlier hints from officials that more Epstein details might be made public, sparking backlash when the files were ultimately withheld.

Editor’s Note: The Epstein case has long been a lightning rod for public distrust, and any hint of secrecy around it fuels speculation. Patel’s denial tries to quell rumors, but the underlying tension—between transparency demands and bureaucratic decisions—isn’t going away. For people who want answers about Epstein’s network, this feels like another roadblock.