US Vice President JD Vance arrived in Milan on Thursday to lead the US delegation at the Winter Olympics, calling the Games a unifying moment as world leaders gathered for the opening ceremony. Meanwhile, escalating tensions in the Middle East saw at least 24 people killed in Gaza following Israeli strikes, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz visited Qatar for energy talks amid regional concerns. In Silicon Valley, a venture capitalist warned founders against fixating on unrealistic revenue targets in the booming AI sector.
Vance, leading the US delegation at the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, described the competition as "one of the few things that unites the entire country," according to Euronews. He arrived as 22 heads of state prepared to attend Friday's opening ceremony.
In the Middle East, violence continued to escalate. Israeli strikes across the Gaza Strip resulted in the deaths of at least 24 people, according to health officials, as both sides accused each other of violating the ceasefire, as reported by Euronews. Israel stated it killed three militant leaders and others posing a threat, with some strikes in response to a Hamas attack. The Hamas-run Gaza health ministry reported 21 fatalities, including children.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz visited Qatar on Thursday as part of a Gulf tour, with concerns over Iran shaping his discussions with Gulf leaders, as reported by Euronews. Merz called on Tehran to halt aggressive behavior and enter talks aimed at easing tensions. The visit came as Berlin sought energy security, defense partners, and stability amid rising regional tensions.
In the tech world, Andreessen Horowitz general partner Jennifer Li cautioned founders against focusing solely on annual recurring revenue (ARR) numbers, as reported by TechCrunch. Li warned that some of the ARR mania is based on myths, and that not all growth is equal. The AI investing boom has led to startups rapidly achieving high ARR figures, but Li advised founders to consider the quality of that revenue.
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