Latest reporting from the Latest desk, in reverse chronological order.
The United States says it will conduct multi-day aerial exercises in the Middle East, describing the operation as a readiness and deterrence message amid heightened tensions with Iran and regional partners weighing how far to support a buildup.
U.S. futures were mixed as investors weighed major earnings and a CMS proposal pointing to a slim 2027 Medicare Advantage payment increase, pressuring health insurers while chip-linked names helped support tech-heavy indexes.
Corning and Meta announced a multiyear agreement worth up to $6 billion for optical fiber, cable, and connectivity products, tied to Meta’s U.S. data center expansion and Corning’s planned manufacturing growth in North Carolina.
The New York Islanders delivered a complete 4-0 win over the Philadelphia Flyers behind Ilya Sorokin’s shutout and a two-goal night from Jean-Gabriel Pageau, giving the club a needed bounce during a difficult stretch.
Federal immigration enforcement actions in Minnesota are driving a fast-moving political crisis in Washington, with Democrats threatening to block DHS funding and the White House indicating it may reduce the federal agent presence in the state.
CMS released its 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D advance notice projecting a 0.09% net average payment increase, a headline number that insurers and clinicians say could translate into higher premiums and tighter benefits if finalized.
Senate Democrats are being urged to demand enforceable limits on ICE operations in exchange for votes needed to pass a DHS funding bill, escalating a standoff that could trigger a partial government shutdown.
Eleanor Holmes Norton, the District of Columbia’s non-voting delegate to the U.S. House, said she will not seek another term. Her exit ends decades of advocacy for DC statehood and voting rights and sets up the most competitive contest for the seat in a generation.
Tens of thousands of Kaiser Permanente nurses and other health professionals walked off the job in California and Hawaii, saying staffing levels, compensation and delays in patient care have reached a breaking point. Kaiser says it is working to maintain operations as talks continue, and the walkout is expected to last until an agreement is reached.
The 2026 East-West Shrine Bowl is being played Jan. 27 at Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, offering draft-eligible college players a prime audition in front of scouts from all 32 NFL teams. The game is nationally televised on NFL Network and continues its long-running mission to benefit Shriners Children’s.
Israel said it has recovered and identified the remains of Ran Gvili, described as the last hostage held in Gaza since the Oct. 7, 2023 attack. The moment carried heavy symbolism in Tel Aviv, while leaders argued over what comes next: border access, reconstruction, and the unresolved questions of security and governance in Gaza.
The European Union has started formal Digital Markets Act “specification proceedings” aimed at ensuring Google gives competing AI services and search engines fair access to Gemini AI features and Google Search data. Brussels says the process must conclude within six months with draft measures, while Google warns about privacy and innovation risks.