Interland

Interland, Google's free browser game designed to teach children about online safety and digital citizenship, is drawing renewed search interest in the United States. The game lets players battle hackers, phishers and oversharing characters across four fantasy worlds. Separately, Dutch media coverage of racist abuse directed at amateur footballers is circulating alongside the term, though no direct connection has been established.

Russia's remote frozen regions have long been feared to harbor disease risks, as permafrost can preserve pathogens for long periods. Concern has grown that thawing ground could release ancient bacteria or viruses, and that outbreaks in sparsely monitored hinterlands might spread before being detected, reviving attention to a longstanding scientific worry.