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US Government Shutdown Looms as Negotiations Intensify; Gunfire Erupts in Niger; Ethiopian Airlines Cancels Tigray Flights; Tesla Shifts to AI; Meta Boosts AI Spending
Washington D.C. faced the potential of a government shutdown as negotiations intensified to avert a crisis over a $1.2 trillion spending package. At the same time, heavy gunfire and explosions were reported near the international airport in Niamey, Niger, and Ethiopian Airlines cancelled flights to Tigray amid renewed conflict fears. In the technology sector, Tesla announced a shift towards artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics, while Meta planned to nearly double its AI spending.
In the United States, Democrats were pushing to remove funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from the spending bill following the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Alex Pretti in Minneapolis on Saturday, according to BBC World. US media reported that the White House and Senate Democratic leadership were nearing an agreement.
Meanwhile, in Niger, sustained heavy gunfire and loud explosions were heard near Niamey's airport early Thursday, BBC World reported. Eyewitness accounts and videos showed air defense systems apparently engaging unidentified projectiles. An official reportedly stated that the situation was under control, but details remained scarce, and there was no official statement from the military government. It was unclear what caused the blasts or if there were any casualties.
Adding to global concerns, Ethiopian Airlines cancelled passenger flights between Addis Ababa and cities in the Tigray region, citing "unplanned circumstances," according to BBC Africa. Airport staff in Mekelle were reportedly told not to go to work. The cancellations occurred amid growing tensions over disputed areas, threatening to unravel a 2022 peace deal that ended a brutal civil war.
In the technology sector, Tesla announced a shift in focus to AI and robotics, leading to a reduction in car models, according to BBC Technology. The company reported a 3% decline in total revenues in 2025 and a 61% drop in profits in the last three months of the year. Tesla planned to end production of its Model S and Model X vehicles and use its California plant to produce humanoid robots known as Optimus. In January, China's BYD surpassed Tesla as the world's largest EV maker.
Contrasting Tesla's revenue decline, Meta, the owner of Facebook, planned to significantly increase its investment in AI, according to BBC Technology. Meta expected to spend up to $135 billion this year on AI-related infrastructure, nearly double the $72 billion spent last year. CEO Mark Zuckerberg stated that he expected "2026 to be the year that AI dramatically changes the way we..." operate. The company has spent roughly $140 billion in the last three years to capitalize on the AI boom. Other executives warned of a potential bubble in the industry.
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