Waymo secured $16 billion in funding, led by Dragoneer Investment Group, to expand its robotaxi service to 20 new cities and overseas markets, valuing the company at $126 billion. This investment, a significant increase from the $5.6 billion raised in 2024 at a $45 billion valuation, will be used to grow Waymo's fleet of over 2,500 vehicles and potentially disrupt the global transportation market. The funding round included new investors like Sequoia Capital and DST Global, signaling strong market confidence in Waymo's autonomous vehicle technology.

Waymo secured $16 billion in funding, led by Dragoneer Investment Group, to expand its robotaxi service to 20 new cities and overseas markets, valuing the company at $126 billion. This investment, a significant increase from the $5.6 billion raised in 2024 at a $45 billion valuation, will be used to grow Waymo's fleet of over 2,500 vehicles and potentially disrupt the global transportation market. The funding round included new investors like Sequoia Capital and DST Global, signaling strong market confidence in Waymo's autonomous vehicle technology.

SpaceX has acquired xAI to create space-based data centers, addressing the unsustainable energy demands of terrestrial AI development. This merger, valuing the combined entity at $1.25 trillion, aims to leverage space for AI infrastructure, though it raises questions about SpaceX's potential IPO and the financial sustainability of both companies.

SpaceX has acquired xAI to create space-based data centers, addressing the unsustainable energy demands of terrestrial AI development. This merger, valuing the combined entity at $1.25 trillion, aims to leverage space for AI infrastructure, though it raises questions about SpaceX's potential IPO and the financial sustainability of both companies.

Drawing from multiple news sources, recent global developments include a Democrat winning a Texas State Senate seat in a district previously held by Trump, a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration's visa freeze, and Laura Fernández's presidential win in Costa Rica, while discussions around universal basic income are emerging amid concerns about AI-driven economic disruption. Simultaneously, global tensions are escalating with Israeli strikes on Hezbollah and China's execution of scam perpetrators, while FIFA President Infantino apologized for comments made about British football fans.

Drawing from multiple news sources, recent global developments include a Democrat winning a Texas State Senate seat in a district previously held by Trump, a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration's visa freeze, and Laura Fernández's presidential win in Costa Rica, while discussions around universal basic income are emerging amid concerns about AI-driven economic disruption. Simultaneously, global tensions are escalating with Israeli strikes on Hezbollah and China's execution of scam perpetrators, while FIFA President Infantino apologized for comments made about British football fans.

SpaceX's acquisition of xAI aims to create a vertically integrated AI powerhouse, leveraging SpaceX's capabilities to deploy a massive satellite constellation for AI computing. This ambitious merger signifies a major push by Elon Musk to dominate the AI landscape, raising both excitement and concerns about the future of AI development and its societal impact.

SpaceX's acquisition of xAI aims to create a vertically integrated AI powerhouse, leveraging SpaceX's capabilities to deploy a massive satellite constellation for AI computing. This ambitious merger signifies a major push by Elon Musk to dominate the AI landscape, raising both excitement and concerns about the future of AI development and its societal impact.

Elon Musk is merging SpaceX and xAI (which owns X) to create a vertically-integrated AI innovation engine leveraging space-based resources. This merger aims to overcome terrestrial limitations in energy and data for AI, envisioning a future where AI scales dramatically by harnessing solar power in space.

Elon Musk is merging SpaceX and xAI (which owns X) to create a vertically-integrated AI innovation engine leveraging space-based resources. This merger aims to overcome terrestrial limitations in energy and data for AI, envisioning a future where AI scales dramatically by harnessing solar power in space.

Synthesizing information from various sources, key developments include China's mandate for mechanical car door releases by 2027 due to safety concerns, the rapid growth of the electric vehicle market and battery technology advancements, and the emergence of new technologies like the open-source AI agent OpenClaw alongside rising concerns about AI deepfakes. Global events and trends span from geopolitical incidents and scientific solutions to technological advancements and market shifts, painting a complex picture of the near future.

Synthesizing information from various sources, key developments include China's mandate for mechanical car door releases by 2027 due to safety concerns, the rapid growth of the electric vehicle market and battery technology advancements, and the emergence of new technologies like the open-source AI agent OpenClaw alongside rising concerns about AI deepfakes. Global events and trends span from geopolitical incidents and scientific solutions to technological advancements and market shifts, painting a complex picture of the near future.

Multiple sources indicate that recent Apple Watch models, including the Series 11, SE 3, and Ultra 3, are currently on sale, with the SE 3 starting at $219 and the Ultra 3 seeing a 25% discount; however, it's generally recommended to purchase the newest model possible to ensure continued software updates, as older models like the Series 5 and earlier are no longer supported by the latest watchOS 26.

Multiple sources indicate that recent Apple Watch models, including the Series 11, SE 3, and Ultra 3, are currently on sale, with the SE 3 starting at $219 and the Ultra 3 seeing a 25% discount; however, it's generally recommended to purchase the newest model possible to ensure continued software updates, as older models like the Series 5 and earlier are no longer supported by the latest watchOS 26.

Multiple news sources highlight a potential biocontrol solution for bark beetle infestations using *Beauveria bassiana* fungal strains and the unearthing of a massive archaeological collection during HS2 railway construction. These sources also report on concerns about political interference in NIH appointments, Asda's financial struggles, Fab5's mechanism of action against gammaherpesvirus gB, and other diverse developments like the Crans-Montana bar fire investigation and low public awareness of alcohol as a carcinogen.

Multiple news sources highlight a potential biocontrol solution for bark beetle infestations using *Beauveria bassiana* fungal strains and the unearthing of a massive archaeological collection during HS2 railway construction. These sources also report on concerns about political interference in NIH appointments, Asda's financial struggles, Fab5's mechanism of action against gammaherpesvirus gB, and other diverse developments like the Crans-Montana bar fire investigation and low public awareness of alcohol as a carcinogen.

At the 2026 Grammy Awards, held amidst immigration protests, winners like Bad Bunny and Olivia Dean used their acceptance speeches to voice support for immigrants and criticize the Trump administration's immigration policies, drawing from multiple news sources. Bad Bunny, who won both best música urbana album and album of the year, specifically called for the removal of ICE and urged people to combat hate with love, while Dean highlighted her own family's immigrant history.

At the 2026 Grammy Awards, held amidst immigration protests, winners like Bad Bunny and Olivia Dean used their acceptance speeches to voice support for immigrants and criticize the Trump administration's immigration policies, drawing from multiple news sources. Bad Bunny, who won both best música urbana album and album of the year, specifically called for the removal of ICE and urged people to combat hate with love, while Dean highlighted her own family's immigrant history.

Multiple news sources report that Democrat Taylor Rehmet won a special election for the Texas State Senate, defeating a Trump-backed Republican in a district Trump previously won by a significant margin, signaling a potential shift in Texas politics despite the Republican's continued majority in the state senate. This victory is being hailed by Democrats as a sign of growing discontent with President Trump's policies ahead of the midterm elections, though Trump dismisses it as a local issue.

Multiple news sources report that Democrat Taylor Rehmet won a special election for the Texas State Senate, defeating a Trump-backed Republican in a district Trump previously won by a significant margin, signaling a potential shift in Texas politics despite the Republican's continued majority in the state senate. This victory is being hailed by Democrats as a sign of growing discontent with President Trump's policies ahead of the midterm elections, though Trump dismisses it as a local issue.

Dyson is currently holding a winter sale on several of its vacuums and heaters, including discounts on the V8, V11 Extra, Gen5 Detect (WIRED's favorite pet hair vacuum), and purifier-heaters. According to multiple sources, these deals offer significant savings on Dyson's high-end and feature-rich devices, making it a good time to purchase if you're in the market for a new vacuum or heater.

Dyson is currently holding a winter sale on several of its vacuums and heaters, including discounts on the V8, V11 Extra, Gen5 Detect (WIRED's favorite pet hair vacuum), and purifier-heaters. According to multiple sources, these deals offer significant savings on Dyson's high-end and feature-rich devices, making it a good time to purchase if you're in the market for a new vacuum or heater.

Multiple news sources report that Notepad's servers were compromised between June and December 2025, potentially by a Chinese state-sponsored group, allowing hackers to selectively redirect users to malicious updates. These updates could have granted remote access to victims' keyboards, particularly targeting organizations with interests in East Asia, but the developer has since secured the updater with enhanced security measures.

Multiple news sources report that Notepad's servers were compromised between June and December 2025, potentially by a Chinese state-sponsored group, allowing hackers to selectively redirect users to malicious updates. These updates could have granted remote access to victims' keyboards, particularly targeting organizations with interests in East Asia, but the developer has since secured the updater with enhanced security measures.