The Gilded Cage

For nearly two decades, four Saudi princesses—Hala, Sahar, Maha, and Jawaher—were held captive in a palace villa by their father, King Abdullah. Dwight Burdick, a Texas physician who worked for the royal family, has spoken out about their imprisonment for the first time. When Dr. Burdick was tasked with sedating the sisters, he discovered the women were kept under strict surveillance and drugged. Palace officials blocked his attempts to help them escape or get proper treatment.

Princess Hala’s tragic death in 2021, caused by years of malnutrition and substance abuse, was followed by her sister Maha’s death just months later. Saudi government reforms have promoted women's rights under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Still, the suffering of these royal women remains hidden behind palace walls, highlighting the harsh realities currently facing some of them.

From Sun to Skyline

New Yorkers were in awe as the sky over the city was painted with vibrant shades of green, purple, and pink—an unexpected appearance of the Northern Lights. Intense solar storms send charged particles from the Sun to Earth, resulting in this rare sight.

But what caused this particular show? Recently, we've been experiencing many solar storms due to the Sun nearing its solar maximum, the peak of an 11-year cycle when solar activity is at its peak. These storms, triggered by coronal mass ejections (CMEs), can disrupt GPS, power grids, and radio signals. The spectacular display reminds us of our planet's powerful influence from the Sun.

With the increase in solar activity, Northern Lights sightings should become more common, even as far south as New York. So, if you missed this show, keep an eye on the sky—you might see it again.

Nuclear Reckoning

I'm sure the Nobel Peace Prize caught your attention this year because it went to Nihon Hidankyo, a group of atomic bomb survivors working to eliminate nuclear weapons. 82-year-old Hiroshima survivor Toshiyuki Mimaki spoke with a deep, emotional hope: "Please abolish nuclear weapons while we're still alive." It hit me hard—even after 80 years, these survivors are still dealing with the effects and fighting for a world without such destruction.

Their message couldn’t be more timely. With all that has happened in Ukraine and the ongoing global nuclear arms race, the risk of these weapons being used again seems frighteningly real. It’s sobering, but it's also a call to action. For nearly 80 years, they have fought this fight, and we owe it to them to keep pushing for a world without nuclear weapons.

Let's face it: today's nuclear weapons are more powerful than the bombs that devastated Japan in 1945.

France’s Budget Blues

France is grappling with a €60 billion budget deficit, with Prime Minister Michel Barnier scrambling to plug it. In 2025, the country's public debt is expected to reach 115% of GDP, a far cry from Macron's promises of financial reform. In Barnier's plan, pension increases will be delayed, public spending will be slashed, private jets and the country's wealthiest will be taxed. But, with the deficit still forecast to stay above 5% of GDP until 2029, this won’t be an easy fix.

The government’s austerity measures are drawing fire from all sides. European partners and financial markets are now watching France's economic credibility. Le Pen accuses the government of "stealing from the elderly," while the left accuses it of a "house of horrors." Barnier must walk a tightrope to keep a fragile coalition together as tax hikes and spending cuts loom.

💡 Core Wisdom

📸 Lens to Life

Building Human Towers in Spain.

🧮 Core Count: 50

The amount of harmful bacteria you potentially inhale with every breath.

🗓️ Flashback:

539 BC - Army of Cyrus the Great of Persia takes Babylon.

1900 - The US Navy commissioned the first modern submarine, the USS Holland.

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

Fatih Taskiran