Protesters in Iran took to the streets for a sixth consecutive day Friday, as anger over the country's deepening economic crisis and violence against demonstrators spread nationwide.
Why it matters: President Trump signaled that the U.S. would intervene militarily if Iran's regime continues killing protesters — raising the risk of a broader regional escalation.
President Trump warned that the U.S. could intervene militarily if the Iranian regime kills civilians that have been protesting against it over the last several days.
Why it matters: His threat — the first official U.S. statement on the issue — could give backwind to the protesters and deter Iran from using force against them. At the same time it could also be used by Tehran to claim the protests are fueled by Iran's external enemies.
Artificial intelligence is increasingly shaping who police stop, how reports are written, where officers patrol and how evidence is analyzed.
Why it matters: The tech promises speed and efficiency. But its rapid spread is outpacing public rules, and could embed errors and bias deep within the criminal justice system.
Venezuela's leader Nicolás Maduro said U.S. and Venezuelan officials should "start talking seriously" on drug trafficking and oil, per an interview published Thursday.
The big picture: Maduro acknowledged during the interview the months-long U.S. militarized pressure campaign targeting suspected "narco-terrorists" and was asked directly about President Trump's comments that the U.S. military had "knocked out" a dock that Venezuelan drug boats allegedly used.
Millions of Americans across the U.S. joined people around the world in New Year's celebrations ringing in 2026 on Thursday.
The big picture: South Pacific countries were the first to farewell 2025 and welcome New Year's Day — 18 hours ahead of the iconic Times Square ball drop in New York City.
