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.

Based on multiple news reports, conservative populist Laura Fernández of the Sovereign People's Party won Costa Rica's presidential election with 48.3% of the vote, avoiding a runoff and succeeding outgoing President Rodrigo Chaves. Fernández pledged to consolidate Costa Rica's development and focus on economic growth, while her closest challenger, Álvaro Ramos, conceded and promised a constructive opposition.

Based on multiple news reports, conservative populist Laura Fernández of the Sovereign People's Party won Costa Rica's presidential election with 48.3% of the vote, avoiding a runoff and succeeding outgoing President Rodrigo Chaves. Fernández pledged to consolidate Costa Rica's development and focus on economic growth, while her closest challenger, Álvaro Ramos, conceded and promised a constructive opposition.

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 on diverse developments, including a promising fungal solution for climate change-driven bark beetle infestations and the unearthing of a large archaeological collection from HS2 construction, alongside concerns about potential political interference in NIH appointments and financial challenges for Asda. Other key stories cover regulatory hurdles for the hemp industry, an intensifying divide regarding transgender rights in the U.S., condemnation of Trump-era immigration policies, and a tragic fire in Switzerland.

Multiple news sources report on diverse developments, including a promising fungal solution for climate change-driven bark beetle infestations and the unearthing of a large archaeological collection from HS2 construction, alongside concerns about potential political interference in NIH appointments and financial challenges for Asda. Other key stories cover regulatory hurdles for the hemp industry, an intensifying divide regarding transgender rights in the U.S., condemnation of Trump-era immigration policies, and a tragic fire in Switzerland.

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.

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.

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, while newly released US documents reveal 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 seek to detain him for four weeks, raising 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, while newly released US documents reveal 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 seek to detain him for four weeks, raising concerns about potential re-offenses.