Good Morning! Today’s edition is 1,144 words, a 4-minute read.

What’s on tap: 

• Kash Patel confirmed as FBI head

• MGM takes over James Bond franchise

• How to beat flight anxiety

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Big Story

Pharaoh Tomb Discovery

Archaeologists have found Pharaoh Thutmose II's tomb west of Egypt's Valley of the Kings.

• It is the first discovery of a pharaoh's tomb since King Tutankhamun's in 1922. Archaeologists first found the tomb in 2022, but it wasn't until late 2024 and early 2025 that researchers confirmed it belonged to Thutmose II through pottery pieces bearing his name. The tomb is about 95 feet long with a burial chamber roughly 17 feet in each direction.

• Unlike King Tut's famous tomb full of treasures, Thutmose II's tomb is mostly empty. Archaeologists discovered that the tomb flooded shortly after the pharaoh was buried, leading ancient Egyptians to remove the entire burial and its contents. While a mummy believed to be Thutmose II was found at a temple called Deir el-Bahari, some experts think this mummy might be too old and that the real one could still be hidden in an undiscovered second tomb.

• Thutmose II, who ruled Egypt around 3,500 years ago, was both half-brother and husband to the famous Queen Hatshepsut. Egyptologists argue whether he ruled for as little as three or up to 13 years. After his death, Queen Hatshepsut rose to become the first female Pharaoh.

Big Story

Chinese Scam Workers Repatriated

More than 1,000 Chinese workers are being airlifted from Myanmar to China after being rescued from online scam centers.

• These illegal operations have stolen billions of dollars from victims worldwide through fake romance schemes, phony investments, and illegal gambling. Hundreds of thousands of people, many tricked with false job promises, have worked at these centers across Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos.

• Thailand recently helped shut down these operations by cutting off utilities like electricity and internet to areas along its border where the scam centers operated. Beyond the Chinese nationals, about 260 people from 20 different countries, including many from Africa, have also been rescued.

• Thailand is particularly motivated to help China crack down on these operations since stories about trafficking through Thailand have spread on Chinese social media, potentially threatening its important Chinese tourism industry.

Big Story

Kash Patel Confirmed as FBI Director

Kash Patel has been confirmed as the new FBI Director with a close Senate vote of 51-49.

• While most Republicans supported him, all Democrats opposed his appointment, along with two Republican senators: Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins. Opponents say he doesn’t have the experience to lead the agency. Patel previously worked as a federal prosecutor and in the first Trump administration.

• The FBI is experiencing major leadership changes since Trump took office again in 2025. Several top executives and field office leaders have been removed, including those who supervised the Jan. 6 investigations. There was also controversy when Acting FBI Director Brian Driscoll had to provide names of agents who worked on Capitol riot cases, with Trump indicating he plans to fire some of the named.

• Patel has been vocal about wanting to restructure the FBI, which he claims has been "weaponized" in recent investigations. Though he tried to moderate some of his previous strong statements during his confirmation hearing, his supporters expect him to make major changes to the bureau's structure and operations.

Quick Stories

US News

• Senator Mitch McConnell, former majority Republican leader from Kentucky, announced he wouldn’t run for reelection in 2026. McConnell is 83 and struggling with health issues, including a recent fall requiring wheelchair use. (More)

• An IRS executive announced that approximately 6,000 employees would be fired, reducing the agency's workforce by 6% during tax season. The cuts are part of President Trump's broader government downsizing initiative. (More)

• President Trump proposed redistributing 20% of savings from Musk's DOGE cuts to American citizens. The announcement came at Miami's FII Priority Summit, following Musk's statement on X about discussing the plan with the president. (More)

World

• Three Chinese warships - frigate Hengyang, cruiser Zunyi, and supply ship Weishanhu - are being tracked by Australian and New Zealand forces as they move south along Australia's east coast on an unexplained mission. (More)

• Multiple timed explosive devices targeted empty buses in Bat Yam, Israel, in what police call a suspected terror attack. Five devices were found, some detonated and others disabled. (More)

• Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced plans for constitutional reforms to combat foreign gun smuggling. The changes would restrict foreign agents' operations and impose maximum penalties on foreigners caught trafficking weapons. (More)

Business & Economy

• US stock markets closed lower on Thursday (S&P -0.43%, Nasdaq -0.47%, Dow -1.01%). Investors dumped stocks after Walmart gave an uninspiring sales forecast for 2026. (More)

• Delta Airlines is offering $30,000 to each passenger from Flight 4819, which crashed and flipped over at Toronto's Pearson Airport on Monday. Of the 80 people aboard, 21 were hospitalized, but all have since been released. (More)

• Amazon surpassed Walmart in quarterly revenue for the first time, earning $187.8 billion compared to Walmart's $180.5 billion. This ends Walmart's 12-year streak as the top quarterly revenue generator, a position it had held since passing Exxon Mobil. (More)

Sports & Entertainment

• San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama will miss the rest of the 2024-25 season due to a blood clot (deep vein thrombosis) in his right shoulder. The condition requires blood thinners, making it unsafe to play contact sports. (More)

• Amazon MGM Studios is taking creative control of James Bond, with longtime producers Wilson and Broccoli stepping into a reduced role. While still co-owners, they'll no longer lead creative decisions for the franchise they've managed since 1995. (More)

• Canada beat the US in the championship game of the 4 Nations Face-Off. The game was tied 2-2 at the end of regulation and went into sudden death overtime, where Canada’s Connor McDavid scored the winning goal. (More)

Science, Health, & Tech

• Scientists from Toho University and NASA found that Earth's oxygen-rich atmosphere will start disappearing in about 1.08 billion years. Their computer simulations show that increasing solar heat will break down CO2 and destroy the ozone layer, making Earth uninhabitable. (More)

• A Philippine village is offering rewards for captured mosquitos to combat a dengue outbreak. The initiative follows Quezon City's 10 reported deaths, and nationwide cases increased 40% to over 28,000 compared to last year. (More)

• German scientists discovered natural hydrogen gas reserves within ancient mountain rocks, potentially offering a cleaner energy alternative. Unlike current synthetic hydrogen production methods that rely on fossil fuels, these natural reserves could provide a sustainable source. (More)

Extra Credit

💵 How far $1M gets you in retirement by US state.

✈️ What to do if you’re anxious about flying.

🧽 Should you toss your kitchen sponge for a brush instead?

🏖️ Greek beach tops Trip Advisor’s best in the world.