Twitter/X Trends in New Zealand - Real-Time Analytics & Trending Hashtags

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Spotify acquired WhoSampled, the fan-built database tracking 1.2 million songs and 622,000 samples, to power its new SongDNA feature for Premium users, revealing song origins, credits, and inspirations. Producers like Nicholas Craven and Statik Selektah worry it will expose uncleared samples, leading to takedowns that hurt indie artists rooted in hip-hop's DIY sampling tradition. Others cheer the transparency, saying it honors music history and ensures original creators get credit and compensation, turning a community tool into a broader discovery resource.

Key Takeaway

Hip-hop producers have long lived by 'no sample snitching'—never publicly revealing uncleared samples to avoid lawsuits. Now Spotify's purchase of WhoSampled is testing that code, with fans and creators clashing over creativity versus fair pay.

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In a letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Attorney General Pam Bondi dated Tuesday, Democratic Senators Elizabeth Warren and Jack Reed requested an investigation by December 1 into World Liberty Financial's compliance with anti-money laundering rules, sanctions, and governance. The demand stems from a September report by Accountable.US alleging the project sold $WLFI governance tokens to wallets linked to North Korea's Lazarus Group, a Russian sanctions-evasion stablecoin, Iran's NoBitex exchange, and the sanctioned mixer Tornado Cash. DT Marks DEFI LLC, controlled by Donald Trump and his family, holds 22.5 billion tokens and receives 75% of sales revenue, while the project lists Trump family members in prominent roles; World Liberty Financial maintains it has robust compliance measures with no evidence of wrongdoing.

Key Takeaway

Senators Elizabeth Warren and Jack Reed have fired off a letter urging a federal probe into World Liberty Financial, the Trump family's crypto project, over alleged sales to North Korean hackers and sanctioned entities.

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Frank McCormick, a former teacher and constitutional conservative, posted on X early Thursday asking if people enjoy Christmas aesthetics like lights, music, and decorations. Over 50 Jewish respondents largely expressed delight in the holiday's vibe and mood-boosting elements amid winter, noting cultural participation such as eating Chinese food on Christmas or decorating neighbors' trees. Many highlighted the irony that iconic songs like 'White Christmas' and 'Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer' were written by Jewish composers including Irving Berlin and Johnny Marks. While a minority opts out, the thread with over 4,000 views reflects American pluralism and shared seasonal goodwill transcending faith.

Key Takeaway

A simple question on X about enjoying the Christmas season sparked dozens of positive replies from Jewish users, who praised its twinkling lights, festive music, and communal joy without embracing its religious core.

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On November 18, X user Vivid Prowess posted a query to non-Israeli, non-Jewish followers asking their personal reasons for supporting Israel, paired with an Israeli flag image. The post garnered over 300,000 views, nearly 7,000 likes, and 3,600 replies by Thursday, featuring endorsements from figures like Brianna Wu citing strategic defense against radical ideologies and emotional ties to Jewish humanity. Responses highlighted shared values, democracy, biblical faith, historical duty, and personal stories, alongside sharp critiques amid polarized views on ongoing conflicts.

Key Takeaway

What drives non-Israelis and non-Jews to back Israel? Vivid Prowess's viral X question exploded with 300,000 views and thousands of raw replies.

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Holosoma unifies simulators like IsaacGym and MuJoCo for reinforcement learning on humanoid robots such as Unitree G1 and Booster T1. It supports tasks like walking, full-body motion tracking, and even dancing, with tools to retarget human motion data to robots. Researchers praised its efficiency and modular design, which lets them focus on algorithms. Demos show smooth real-world performance, and the team welcomes contributions on GitHub and Discord.

Key Takeaway

Amazon's robotics team just dropped an open-source tool that turns simulation training into real-world robot walks in minutes. With a single high-end GPU, they train and deploy policies on hardware in about 20 minutes.

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RTVE Chair José Pablo López responded sharply to reports of ORF Director General Roland Weißmann's meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, denying any contact from ORF and accusing it of politicizing the Vienna-hosted Eurovision 2026. Spain, along with Ireland, Iceland, the Netherlands, and Slovenia, has vowed to boycott if Israel participates, citing humanitarian concerns over the Gaza war. ORF is pushing for new participation rules ahead of an EBU vote in December to address these boycotts and ensure a full lineup for the May 2026 contest.

Key Takeaway

Spain's RTVE Chair ignites a trans-European feud by slamming Austria's ORF for meeting Israel's president amid boycott threats.

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In a Church Times interview following his recent West Bank visit, Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell described Israeli military actions in Gaza as deliberately indiscriminate and genocidal acts, while labeling the West Bank a regime of apartheid and ethnic cleansing through settler expansion. He emphasized that his criticism targets state policies, not Judaism or Jewish people, and supports Church divestment from occupation-enabling companies. Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis rebuked the remarks as irresponsible and morally inverted, planning a personal letter to Cottrell amid growing divides among UK faith leaders over the Gaza conflict now in its second year.

Key Takeaway

After witnessing settler violence in the West Bank, Archbishop Stephen Cottrell has accused Israel of genocidal acts in Gaza and apartheid in the occupied territories.

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Israel became the first UN member state to formally recognize Somaliland, a self-declared republic that has governed independently since 1991 after Somalia's civil war. The agreement with Somaliland's President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi and Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar promises cooperation in agriculture, economics, and security. Somalia's President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud condemned the move, calling Somaliland a secessionist project and hinting at force, while the African Union and others decried it as a sovereignty violation amid fears of escalation in the Horn of Africa.

Key Takeaway

On December 26, 2025, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signed off on recognizing Somaliland's independence—a bold step echoing a 1960 letter of support.

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On December 14, Pooh and Pavel held their first European fan meeting at the JIB Dream Fanmeet 6, fresh from Pit Babe and prepping for Goddess Bless You From Death. They posed with Colosseum sunsets, wine in hand, and shared playful punishment games onstage. The day before, Aou Thanaboon and Boom Tharatorn from Vice Versa strolled hand-in-hand through cobblestone streets, with Boom lifting Aou for laughs near holiday lights. European fans called the back-to-back events magical, collecting bracelets and freebies amid Thailand's rising BL popularity.

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Pooh Krittin and Pavel Phoom strode into Rome's Hilton Airport Hotel in sleek leather coats, waving to cheering fans like they owned the place. The Eternal City backdrop made their smiles and stage antics feel perfectly romantic.

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The pandemic began with a man in Wuhan, China, and went on to claim over 7 million lives worldwide, with excess deaths likely far higher. It disrupted economies, education, and daily life, while vaccines later helped control its spread. Reflections highlight a warped sense of time—days blending into routines, milestones lost, and grief still fresh for those facing long COVID or personal losses. Debates linger on origins and early responses, though science leaves the source unresolved.

Key Takeaway

Patient zero fell ill on December 1, 2019, launching a virus that reshaped the world. Looking back, many feel those years slipped by in a blur of lockdowns and isolation.

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Ramos's contract with Monterrey ends December 31, and transfer expert Fabrizio Romano says he plans to join a new club rather than retire. Reports link him to AC Milan, where the Serie A side is considering the veteran defender for added depth amid injury issues. Real Madrid fans call for a homecoming, praising his leadership, while others question if his age fits top-flight demands. His focus remains clear: linking up with Spain stars like Rodri and Pedri at the 2026 tournament.

Key Takeaway

At 39, Sergio Ramos isn't ready to hang up his boots. He's set to leave Monterrey and chase one last big challenge in Europe to earn a Spain World Cup spot.

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On Sunday, police in Karachi arrested 45 people after nationalist groups at a Sindhi Culture Day event strayed from approved routes and clashed with officers on Shahrah-e-Faisal. The annual celebration honors Sindh's heritage with ajrak shawls and topis, though most events stayed peaceful while raising calls for missing activists. Videos captured damaged vehicles and blocked roads, highlighting tensions between cultural pride and grievances over resources and state actions. Opinions divided, with some calling it a small disruption by a few dozen, others seeing echoes of separatist demands.

Key Takeaway

Protesters waved green Jiye Sindh flags near a busy bridge, but the rally turned chaotic when stones flew and tear gas filled the air.

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