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.

Multiple news sources report on a range of developments, including a promising fungal solution for bark beetle infestations, concerns about political influence at the NIH, and financial challenges for Asda, alongside regulatory hurdles for the hemp industry and an intensifying divide regarding transgender rights in the U.S. Other key stories include the unearthing of a large archaeological collection, EPA action to advance farmers right to repair their own equipment, condemnation of Trump-era immigration policies, and a tragic fire in Switzerland.

Multiple news sources report on a range of developments, including a promising fungal solution for bark beetle infestations, concerns about political influence at the NIH, and financial challenges for Asda, alongside regulatory hurdles for the hemp industry and an intensifying divide regarding transgender rights in the U.S. Other key stories include the unearthing of a large archaeological collection, EPA action to advance farmers right to repair their own equipment, condemnation of Trump-era immigration policies, and a tragic fire in Switzerland.

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 indicate the House is reconvening to address the partial government shutdown with a funding package that includes a two-week extension for DHS, a point of contention due to Democratic demands for immigration enforcement reforms. While a key Democratic appropriator will support the package, the House Speaker faces challenges uniting Republicans and overcoming procedural hurdles, even with President Trump's urging for its passage.

Multiple news sources indicate the House is reconvening to address the partial government shutdown with a funding package that includes a two-week extension for DHS, a point of contention due to Democratic demands for immigration enforcement reforms. While a key Democratic appropriator will support the package, the House Speaker faces challenges uniting Republicans and overcoming procedural hurdles, even with President Trump's urging for its passage.

Multiple news sources report that American skeleton racer Katie Uhlaender's appeal to compete in the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics has been denied by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which cited a lack of jurisdiction, effectively ending her fight to participate after she alleged a Canadian coach's point-rigging scheme prevented her qualification. Uhlaender, a five-time Winter Games veteran, expressed disappointment and is exploring further options, maintaining that the alleged actions harmed numerous athletes.

Multiple news sources report that American skeleton racer Katie Uhlaender's appeal to compete in the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics has been denied by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which cited a lack of jurisdiction, effectively ending her fight to participate after she alleged a Canadian coach's point-rigging scheme prevented her qualification. Uhlaender, a five-time Winter Games veteran, expressed disappointment and is exploring further options, maintaining that the alleged actions harmed numerous athletes.

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.

Multiple news sources report that Israel has partially reopened the Rafah crossing into Egypt, allowing approximately 150 sick and wounded Palestinians to seek medical treatment after over 20 months of closure, though Gaza health officials estimate 20,000 need care. The crossing, Gaza's only one not shared with Israel, had been closed since May 2024 when Israeli forces seized it to prevent weapons smuggling, and all movement will be subject to joint Israeli-Egyptian security screening.

Multiple news sources report that Israel has partially reopened the Rafah crossing into Egypt, allowing approximately 150 sick and wounded Palestinians to seek medical treatment after over 20 months of closure, though Gaza health officials estimate 20,000 need care. The crossing, Gaza's only one not shared with Israel, had been closed since May 2024 when Israeli forces seized it to prevent weapons smuggling, and all movement will be subject to joint Israeli-Egyptian security screening.

Multiple news sources report that Marius Borg Høiby, the stepson of Norway's Crown Prince, was arrested for assault and violating a restraining order, just before his trial on multiple rape charges; this development follows the release of US documents revealing his mother, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, had extensive contact with Jeffrey Epstein between 2011 and 2014, prompting an apology from her. Høiby faces 38 offenses, including four alleged rapes, and prosecutors are seeking to detain him for four weeks due to concerns about potential re-offenses.

Multiple news sources report that Marius Borg Høiby, the stepson of Norway's Crown Prince, was arrested for assault and violating a restraining order, just before his trial on multiple rape charges; this development follows the release of US documents revealing his mother, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, had extensive contact with Jeffrey Epstein between 2011 and 2014, prompting an apology from her. Høiby faces 38 offenses, including four alleged rapes, and prosecutors are seeking to detain him for four weeks due to concerns about potential re-offenses.