International

U.S. defense contractor Anduril Industries announced plans to construct a "hyperscale" manufacturing facility in Ohio to increase the rate of production for autonomous systems.

In an interview on MSNBC’s The Last Word Thursday, President Joe Biden stated he began urging Israeli leaders to minimize civilian casualties in their response to Hamas shortly after the October 7 terrorist attacks. Biden recounted discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his visit to Israel about 10 days after the attacks.

As the U.S. debates a potential federal ban on TikTok, Duolingo has reported a dramatic rise in Mandarin Chinese learners.

On January 16, 2025, Israel launched airstrikes in the Gaza Strip, targeting areas associated with Hamas and Islamic Jihad.

Incoming officials in President-elect Donald Trump’s administration are reportedly crafting a sanctions strategy aimed at expediting a resolution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. According to Bloomberg, the plan includes options to pressure Moscow while managing global oil market stability amid existing sanctions on major producers like Russia, Iran, and Venezuela.

The Vatican City State has enacted stricter penalties for unauthorized entry and violations of its security regulations, threatening offenders with steep fines and prison sentences. The updated rules were announced through a decree signed by Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga, president of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State, and aim to enhance security within the world’s smallest sovereign state.

Ayman Mohyeldin of MSNBC has raised concerns over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s motivations in securing a recent ceasefire and hostage release agreement. On the network’s “Alex Wagner Tonight,” Mohyeldin suggested that Netanyahu may have delayed the deal intentionally, positioning it for strategic leverage with the Trump administration, rather than aiding U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris in building political momentum during an election year.

A near-collision between a United Airlines flight and a Delta Air Lines flight near Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport on Saturday is under investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

China announced that it added four U.S. companies to its "Unreliable Entity List" for their arms sales to Taiwan.

South Korea’s Constitutional Court was forced to adjourn its first impeachment hearing for President Yoon Suk-yeol on Tuesday after he failed to attend, citing security concerns. Yoon, impeached in December following his abrupt imposition of martial law, faces charges of insurrection and is subject to an arrest warrant, further complicating the political turmoil.