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 diverse developments, including the discovery of *Beauveria bassiana* fungal strains as a potential biocontrol for bark beetles and the unearthing of a massive archaeological collection during HS2 railway construction. These reports also cover concerns about political interference in NIH appointments, Asda's financial struggles, Fab5's mechanism of action against gammaherpesvirus gB, and other issues like the Crans-Montana bar fire investigation and low public awareness of alcohol as a carcinogen.

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

Multiple news sources report that Punxsutawney Phil, the famous groundhog, predicted six more weeks of winter on Groundhog Day, February 2nd, 2026, continuing a tradition rooted in European farming customs that draws large crowds to Gobblers Knob in Pennsylvania. While the prediction aligns with weather experts' forecasts for continued cold conditions in the eastern United States, the event's popularity is also fueled by the festive atmosphere and the cultural impact of the film "Groundhog Day."

Multiple news sources report that Punxsutawney Phil, the famous groundhog, predicted six more weeks of winter on Groundhog Day, February 2nd, 2026, continuing a tradition rooted in European farming customs that draws large crowds to Gobblers Knob in Pennsylvania. While the prediction aligns with weather experts' forecasts for continued cold conditions in the eastern United States, the event's popularity is also fueled by the festive atmosphere and the cultural impact of the film "Groundhog Day."

Synthesizing information from various news outlets, recent global developments include escalating geopolitical tensions, challenges for journalists in Russia, and significant events like the Costa Rican presidential election and Paramore's Hayley Williams launching a new band. Meanwhile, consumers can find deals on Amazon devices, and February brings a promising lineup of new book releases across diverse genres for those seeking literary escapes.

Synthesizing information from various news outlets, recent global developments include escalating geopolitical tensions, challenges for journalists in Russia, and significant events like the Costa Rican presidential election and Paramore's Hayley Williams launching a new band. Meanwhile, consumers can find deals on Amazon devices, and February brings a promising lineup of new book releases across diverse genres for those seeking literary escapes.

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 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 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 reveal that since March, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has been using AI tools from Palantir and Credal AI, founded by Palantir alumni, to screen grants, applications, and job descriptions for noncompliance with Trump-era executive orders targeting gender ideology and DEI initiatives, with these audits primarily occurring within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF). While Palantir earned over $35 million from HHS during this period, neither the company nor HHS publicly disclosed the use of AI for these specific purposes, and ACF staff conduct a final review of AI-flagged items.

Multiple news sources reveal that since March, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has been using AI tools from Palantir and Credal AI, founded by Palantir alumni, to screen grants, applications, and job descriptions for noncompliance with Trump-era executive orders targeting gender ideology and DEI initiatives, with these audits primarily occurring within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF). While Palantir earned over $35 million from HHS during this period, neither the company nor HHS publicly disclosed the use of AI for these specific purposes, and ACF staff conduct a final review of AI-flagged items.