Police Seek Suspect in Broad Daylight Stabbing in East Hollywood

The Doomsday Clock has been recalibrated to 89 seconds to midnight, marking the closest it has ever been to catastrophic disaster. This adjustment, announced on January 29, 2025, reflects heightened concerns over nuclear threats, the misuse of artificial intelligence, and ongoing climate change, according to the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists (BAS). Initially established in 1947, the clock symbolizes how near humanity is to potential annihilation, adjusting its position based on global events and existential risks. The latest change comes amidst escalating tensions from the ongoing war in Ukraine and unrest in the Middle East, which experts warn could lead to nuclear conflict. “Every second’s extension may heighten the risk of global ruin," said Daniel Holz, a BAS scientist. The clock was previously set at 90 seconds to midnight in 2023, driven by similar fears associated with geopolitical instability and environmental challenges. The BAS underscores the urgent need for global leaders to address these threats proactively to avert disaster.

OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, is reportedly seeking $40 billion in new funding, aiming to elevate its valuation to $340 billion. According to the Wall Street Journal, Japan's SoftBank is leading this funding effort, negotiating an investment of between $15 billion and $25 billion. This potential investment would mark SoftBank's largest backing of OpenAI. The funding drive comes on the heels of market disruption caused by Chinese startup DeepSeek, which recently launched a competitive chatbot developed at a significantly lower cost compared to U.S. counterparts. As reported by the Financial Times, the funding plan follows OpenAI's previous round completed just three months ago, which valued the company at $157 billion. The new funds would aid OpenAI in fulfilling its $18 billion commitment to the Stargate initiative announced by former President Donald Trump, intended to bolster artificial intelligence infrastructure in the U.S. SoftBank’s investment may exceed $40 billion as it continues to pivot towards AI technologies. Shares of SoftBank rose by 3% following these reports.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., nominated by former President Donald Trump for Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, was challenged during his confirmation hearing regarding discredited claims linking vaccines to autism. According to Democratic Senator Maggie Hassan, Kennedy repeatedly ignored evidence disproving the association, underscoring a resurgence of vaccine misinformation despite the scientific community's consensus. The controversy stems from a 1998 study by Andrew Wakefield published in The Lancet, which was later retracted due to methodological flaws and ethical breaches. Wakefield's fraudulent research ignited widespread vaccine hesitancy, affecting public health, particularly during a subsequent measles outbreak in Samoa linked to Kennedy's advocacy against vaccines, which resulted in 83 deaths, primarily among children. While Kennedy claims to value evidence-based health policy, his refusal to accept established scientific findings poses a threat to U.S. vaccine programs, prompting concerns among pediatricians and health experts about potential negative impacts on childhood immunizations.