UN chief Guterres calls on Israel to reverse NGO ban in Gaza, West Bank

UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged Israel to reverse its planned ban on 37 NGOs operating in Gaza and the West Bank, calling their work “indispensable to life-saving humanitarian work.” Israel says the groups failed to meet new registration rules requiring detailed disclosures on staff, funding, and operations, with enforcement set for March 1. Humanitarian experts and aid organizations, including Doctors Without Borders and the Norwegian … Continue reading UN chief Guterres calls on Israel to reverse NGO ban in Gaza, West Bank

D.C. pipe bomb suspect is ‘potential danger’ to public and must stay in custody ahead of trial

A federal magistrate judge ordered that Brian Cole, the Virginia man accused of planting pipe bombs near the Democratic and Republican National Committee headquarters on Jan. 5, 2021, remain in custody ahead of trial, citing public safety concerns. Prosecutors allege Cole planted the devices to cause terror on the eve of the Jan. 6 congressional proceedings, and that the bombs failed to detonate due to … Continue reading D.C. pipe bomb suspect is ‘potential danger’ to public and must stay in custody ahead of trial

Trump warns US is ‘locked and loaded’ if Iran kills peaceful protesters

President Donald Trump warned that the United States is “locked and loaded” as protests spread across Iran, cautioning Tehran against killing peaceful demonstrators. In a social media post, Trump said the U.S. would step in to “rescue” protesters if Iran used deadly force, though he did not specify how. Iran’s top security official, Ali Larijani, responded by warning that U.S. interference would trigger regional chaos … Continue reading Trump warns US is ‘locked and loaded’ if Iran kills peaceful protesters

FBI says it thwarted potential New Year’s terror attack ‘directly inspired’ by ISIS

The FBI said it thwarted a potential New Year’s Eve terror attack in North Carolina, charging 18-year-old Christian Sturdivant with attempting to carry out a knife and hammer attack in support of ISIS. Court records allege Sturdivant planned to target a grocery store or a Burger King and aimed to kill as many civilians as possible. Investigators say he was radicalized online, pledged allegiance to … Continue reading FBI says it thwarted potential New Year’s terror attack ‘directly inspired’ by ISIS

World’s tallest, fastest roller coaster opens

Six Flags Qiddiya City has opened Falcon’s Flight, now billed as the world’s tallest, fastest, and longest roller coaster. The ride stretches 2.6 miles, reaches nearly 640 feet high, and hits speeds of up to 150 miles per hour in just over three minutes. Featuring a dramatic 519-foot drop, the coaster required special engineering such as curved windshields to protect riders from intense wind and … Continue reading World’s tallest, fastest roller coaster opens

Mountain lion kills person in Colorado

A woman was killed in a suspected mountain lion attack while hiking alone on Crosier Mountain Trail south of Glen Haven in unincorporated Larimer County, authorities said. Hikers discovered the woman around midday and scared off a nearby mountain lion, but a physician in the group found she had no pulse. Colorado Parks and Wildlife, along with local law enforcement and firefighters, closed several trailheads … Continue reading Mountain lion kills person in Colorado

Trump and top Iranian officials exchange threats over protests roiling Iran

U.S. President Donald Trump and Iranian officials exchanged sharp threats as widespread protests erupted across Iran following the collapse of the rial and recent U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. At least eight people have been killed in the demonstrations, now in their sixth day and the largest since the 2022 protests sparked by Mahsa Amini’s death. Trump publicly warned Iran against violently suppressing protesters, … Continue reading Trump and top Iranian officials exchange threats over protests roiling Iran

ESA confirms data breach

The European Space Agency (ESA) confirmed a security breach affecting unclassified science servers after reports of a leak on social media. A threat actor claimed to have stolen about 200 GB of data, including source code, access tokens, configuration files, and hardcoded credentials. Screenshots suggest the compromised material may involve subsystem requirements for the Ariel exoplanet mission and some Airbus spacecraft documents marked “confidential.” ESA … Continue reading ESA confirms data breach

A Saturn-Sized Planet Is Drifting Through Space Alone

Astronomers have measured the mass and distance of a rogue planet, finding it has a mass similar to Saturn and was ejected after a planetary breakup. This was achieved by observing the planet simultaneously from Earth and space, a rare method that allows precise measurements. The discovery helps explain how planets can be expelled from their systems and drift through interstellar space. Although only a … Continue reading A Saturn-Sized Planet Is Drifting Through Space Alone

SpaceX will lower Starlink satellites to reduce collision risk

Starlink will lower the orbit of its satellites in 2026 from about 342 miles (550 km) to 298 miles to improve safety in crowded low Earth orbit. Michael Nicolls, SpaceX’s VP of Starlink engineering, said the reconfiguration will affect all satellites at the higher altitude and take place throughout the year. The move aims to reduce collision risks and long-term space debris as thousands of … Continue reading SpaceX will lower Starlink satellites to reduce collision risk

China’s ‘Silicon Valley’ is building robots and fortune-telling AI apps

According to CNBC, China’s “Silicon Valley” is developing both robotics hardware and consumer AI apps, including fortune-telling tools. The report highlights concurrent growth in China’s AI and robotics sectors, though it does not mention specific companies, funding, or timelines. Traders may see short-term market movements in China AI and robotics stocks, as well as AI-themed crypto tokens, during Asian trading hours. The primary catalyst for … Continue reading China’s ‘Silicon Valley’ is building robots and fortune-telling AI apps

University in China Begins Installing World’s Strongest Gravity Centrifuge to Compress Space and Time

Zhejiang University in China now houses the CHIEF1900, the world’s largest gravitational centrifuge, capable of subjecting objects to 300 times Earth’s gravity. The device can spin scale models weighing up to 20 metric tons, generating around 100g of force, allowing engineers to test structures like dams, railways, submersibles, and space capsules without risking full-scale destruction. By replicating extreme forces on small models, the centrifuge can … Continue reading University in China Begins Installing World’s Strongest Gravity Centrifuge to Compress Space and Time

Apple reportedly cuts production of Vision Pro headset after poor sales

Apple has reportedly cut production and marketing of its Vision Pro headset after weak sales, with only an estimated 45,000 units sold in the last quarter of 2025. Priced at $3,499, the headset has faced criticism for being heavy, uncomfortable, and limited in functionality, with few apps available compared to iPhones or iPads. The company has also halted its next VR iteration, shifting focus toward … Continue reading Apple reportedly cuts production of Vision Pro headset after poor sales

Warren Buffett officially retires as Berkshire Hathaway’s CEO

Warren Buffett, the “Oracle of Omaha,” has stepped down as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway at age 95, handing the reins to his longtime deputy Greg Abel. Buffett spent 60 years transforming the struggling textile company into a global conglomerate with holdings ranging from insurance and railroads to Apple and Coca-Cola. Despite retiring as CEO, he will remain chairman and continue sharing insights in annual shareholder … Continue reading Warren Buffett officially retires as Berkshire Hathaway’s CEO

BYD’s China EV deliveries sharply decline in December

BYD’s deliveries fell sharply in December, closing a volatile year for China’s electric vehicle market amid weak domestic demand and an aggressive price war. The company delivered 414,784 vehicles in December, down from 474,921 in November. Despite this, BYD met its revised 2025 sales target of 4.6 million vehicles, lowered by 16% due to slowing demand. Overall, it remained China’s EV market leader with more … Continue reading BYD’s China EV deliveries sharply decline in December

Britain’s FTSE 100 hits 10,000 points for first time

Britain’s FTSE 100 briefly surpassed the 10,000-point mark on Friday, marking a strong start to the year after a stellar 2025. The index traded at 9,981 by midday London time, with analysts cautioning that such round-number milestones are psychologically significant but require solid foundations to sustain. The broader European Stoxx 600 also rose 0.5%, building on nearly 16% gains in 2025 driven by banking and … Continue reading Britain’s FTSE 100 hits 10,000 points for first time

Xi Jinping vows to reunify China and Taiwan in New Year’s Eve speech

Chinese President Xi Jinping used his New Year’s Eve address to reaffirm his commitment to reunifying Taiwan with China, calling it an “unstoppable” trend of the times. The speech came after China conducted its largest military drills near Taiwan in over a year, involving 200 warplanes, missiles fired near the island, and naval encirclement, actions widely criticized by the U.S., EU, and regional allies. Xi … Continue reading Xi Jinping vows to reunify China and Taiwan in New Year’s Eve speech

Kim Jong-un hails North Korea’s ‘invincible alliance’ with Russia in New Year’s message

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un praised his troops fighting in Ukraine as forging an “invincible alliance” with Russia in a New Year’s message, according to state media. Thousands of North Korean soldiers have reportedly been sent to support Russia’s nearly four-year invasion, with at least 600 dead and thousands injured. Analysts say Russia provides Pyongyang with financial aid, military technology, and food and energy supplies … Continue reading Kim Jong-un hails North Korea’s ‘invincible alliance’ with Russia in New Year’s message

Russia claims it has proof Ukraine aimed drone at Putin residence

The Russian government claims Ukraine targeted President Vladimir Putin’s residence in Novgorod this week with 91 drones, all of which were reportedly shot down without damage or injuries. U.S. intelligence, however, has found no evidence that Ukraine aimed at Putin, and Kyiv denies the allegation, suggesting Russia may be using the story to disrupt peace talks. CIA Director John Ratcliffe reportedly informed former President Trump … Continue reading Russia claims it has proof Ukraine aimed drone at Putin residence

Maduro open to US talks on drug trafficking, but silent on CIA strike

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro said his government is open to negotiating with the U.S. on combating drug trafficking, though he declined to comment on a recent CIA-led strike on a Venezuelan docking area. Maduro reiterated that he views U.S. actions—including months of military and economic pressure—as an effort to force regime change and access Venezuela’s oil reserves. He emphasized that Venezuela is willing to discuss … Continue reading Maduro open to US talks on drug trafficking, but silent on CIA strike

Mamdani Vows to Govern as Democratic Socialist in Inauguration Speech

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani was inaugurated Thursday, pledging to govern as a Democratic Socialist and revive “the era of big government.” He took the official oath with his hand on a Quran and later a ceremonial oath from Sen. Bernie Sanders. Mamdani vowed to transform City Hall into a proactive government that serves all New Yorkers rather than wealthy interests and said he … Continue reading Mamdani Vows to Govern as Democratic Socialist in Inauguration Speech

Off-duty ICE officer allegedly shoots and kills man firing gun outside apartment complex

An off-duty ICE officer shot and killed an armed man outside his Los Angeles apartment complex on New Year’s Eve, according to the Department of Homeland Security. The officer reportedly heard what he suspected were gunshots, went outside with his ICE-authorized firearm, and encountered a man armed with a long rifle who allegedly pointed it at him. After identifying himself as law enforcement and giving … Continue reading Off-duty ICE officer allegedly shoots and kills man firing gun outside apartment complex

US military says five killed in latest strike on alleged drug boats

The U.S. military reported striking two boats allegedly carrying drugs on Wednesday, killing five people, as part of ongoing operations in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific. These strikes are part of the Trump administration’s “war on drugs,” which has targeted over 30 vessels since September, resulting in more than 110 deaths. Concerns have been raised over “double-tap” strikes, where survivors of an initial attack were … Continue reading US military says five killed in latest strike on alleged drug boats

Records reveal Minnesota’s long history with day care fraud warnings

A viral video has drawn national attention to Minnesota’s Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), as allegations surface that some day care centers may be billing for absent children. The video, released by Nick Shirley, shows him confronting several centers, claiming they were empty and alleging fraud. Federal and state audits over the past decade have found gaps in oversight, including errors in 11% of sampled … Continue reading Records reveal Minnesota’s long history with day care fraud warnings

Alleged gang member arrested for intimidation & gun possession, found in trash can

A suspected member of Lafayette’s “Do It” gang, Sirrie Gibson, has been arrested after gang members posted photos on social media showing firearms outside an apartment. Police were alerted when someone reported seeing a person hiding in a trash can on Old Romney Road. Gibson was found in a resident’s yard and taken into custody. He faces charges including intimidation, unlawful carrying of a handgun, … Continue reading Alleged gang member arrested for intimidation & gun possession, found in trash can