Chief Xecutive Officer

Good morning, curious minds!

Here's another day of news that feels like it's auditioning for a dystopian sci-fi flick. But don’t worry—The Core is here to cut through the chaos and deliver the highlights straight to your inbox. Let’s dive in.

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Your roadmap to today’s key stories:

Remember when Elon was busy with rockets and EVs? Now he's apparently gone to trimming the government like a bloated code base—he's rewriting the whole bureaucracy.

"DOGE" has whiz-kid engineers (one is rumored to be 19) who snoop on the Treasury's payment systems and even investigate the closure of whole agencies (USAID, anyone?). The critics say it's a conflict of interest (his own companies get government contracts), but Elon's fans say it's about time someone hammered the government.

Here's a weird twist: the richest man on earth has more power in D.C. than many people elected there. So, who’s really running the show?

Nordic Noir

The country's deadliest mass shooting in modern history took place on a quiet Swedish adult education campus on a random Tuesday afternoon—11 lives lost, including the shooter, plus frantic speculation about how this could happen in famously chill Sweden. (Footage)

Meanwhile, Brussels barely had time for its morning coffee before two suspects (allegedly over a drug spat) opened fire—heavy-armed police and disgruntled commuters started a frantic manhunt. Goodbye, peaceful EU vibes; hello, midweek mayhem.

The Good Nurse

In a shocker that could rewrite UK criminal history, 14 top-notch doctors say Lucy Letby—convicted of murdering seven newborns—may be innocent after all. Rather than Letby's alleged sabotage, they blame the hospital's "awful care and missed infections." Adding to the drama: prosecutors of misinterpreted research on air embolisms.

So, is Letby truly a cunning baby killer, or did the Countess of Chester Hospital scapegoat one unlucky nurse? It's up to the Criminal Cases Review Commission to decide on an appeal—and Britain's biggest medical mystery hangs in the balance.

Bonus: Here’s the timeline of Lucy Letby's whole story.

Nude and Thrill

There's a strange new world: We're swapping Tinder swipes for hush-hush "play parties," where cocktails flow, performers crack whips, and everyone can get frisky. There are many labels for it: "erotic performance art," "kink activism," or "ENM events."

Fantasy "enclaves" go beyond rickety beds and Barry White on loop. They have strict membership fees, consent-forward rules, and a sense of saving the world.

Skeptical? So are we. But apparently, more and more curious folks are shedding their clothes (and inhibitions), hoping to find the ultimate ice-breaker. Grab your safe word and a grin—here’s the quick-and-dirty on the new get-down.

💬 Beyond the Core

For Dummies: Researchers say apes can tell when humans act stupid.

Boost Yourself: Still hoping to keep your New Year's resolutions? Here's a shortcut.

Not Your Classic: Get in the mood for Valentine's Day with these classy cocktail recipes.

💡 Core Wisdom

📸 Lens to Life

Beautiful photo of Earth taken by a moon-bound spacecraft.

🧮 Core Count: 300

The age of violin is the most expensive musical instrument ever sold at auction.

.🗓️ Flashback:

1576 - Henry of Navarre (later Henry IV of France) abjures Catholicism at Tours.

1597 - A group of early Japanese Christians, known as the 26 Martyrs, are killed by the new government of Japan for being seen as a threat to Japanese society.

1885 - King Leopold II of Belgium establishes the Congo as a personal colonial possession.

1936 - Charlie Chaplin's silent film "Modern Times" is released.

1945 - After a month-long battle, US troops under General Douglas MacArthur entered Manila in the Philippines, ending three years of Japanese occupation.

I'm glad we could get together here. Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow!

Fatih Taskiran