WhatsApp Alleges Spyware from Israeli Firm Targeted Journalists, Raises Concerns Over US Use of Cyberweapons

U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to impose sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) for allegedly targeting the United States and its allies, including Israel. According to a White House official, an executive order will be signed on Thursday that will institute financial and visa sanctions against individuals and their families who assist in ICC investigations involving U.S. citizens or allies. This move underscores ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and the ICC, which has been scrutinizing actions taken by U.S. forces in conflict zones. Official support for Israel and its operations in disputed territories further complicates U.S.-ICC relations. The sanctions are part of a broader strategy to protect American personnel overseas from perceived legal overreach. The announcement comes as many experts view the ICC's actions as a challenge to U.S. sovereignty, with Trump stating that such measures are necessary to uphold national interests. The formalization of these sanctions is expected to escalate diplomatic tensions with institutions that the U.S. has historically critiqued.

A recent study has identified shared genetic variants among eight psychiatric disorders, suggesting a potential unified approach to treatment. Researchers from the University of North Carolina discovered that conditions including autism, ADHD, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, Tourette syndrome, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and anorexia share a common genetic basis. This revelation builds on previous findings where 109 genes linked to these conditions were identified, demonstrating why many exhibit overlapping symptoms. "The proteins produced by these genes are highly connected to other proteins," stated geneticist Hyejung Won, emphasizing that alterations in these proteins could lead to extensive brain effects. The team analyzed nearly 18,000 genetic variations, identifying 683 variants affecting gene regulation during brain development, raising hopes that understanding these genetic components will foster targeted therapeutic strategies. This research, published in the journal *Cell*, underscores that approximately 1 in 8 individuals live with a psychiatric condition, highlighting the significance of developing effective interventions targeting shared genetic factors.

Nvidia Corporation has recently stumbled, underperforming the S&P 500 by 9% in the past month, as concerns mount over competition and production delays. Analysts from Evercore ISI suggest that this downturn presents a notable buying opportunity ahead of Nvidia's February 26 earnings call. They attribute investor jitters to the emergence of China's DeepSeek in the AI sector, potential competition from application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), and delays related to Nvidia's next-gen Blackwell chips. Despite these challenges, Evercore maintains a bullish outlook, placing Nvidia on its Tactical Outperform list with a price target of $190. They argue that the advantages brought by DeepSeek may foster growth in demand for AI applications rather than stifle it. Additionally, Nvidia's robust software offerings, such as NIMS and NeMo, are highlighted as critical for its competitive edge over rivals like AMD and AWS. Even with a projected mid-2025 release for Blackwell, demand for Nvidia's existing H100 chips remains strong, thereby reinforcing its market position.