Latest stories from this desk, published newest first.
Amazon said it will cut 16,000 jobs globally as it streamlines operations, marking another major reduction after layoffs announced a few months ago. The announcement followed an internal meeting invite that appeared to include a draft layoff email that was sent to some AWS staff by mistake.
Federal agents served a search warrant at Fulton County’s election office in Georgia, seeking records tied to the 2020 vote. County officials said they are still trying to understand the scope and target of the search as political and legal fights over the election continue.
Local officials say federal immigration agents are expected to conduct operations around Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara on February 8, raising concerns about community impacts and adding a political dimension to the buildup to the NFL’s biggest game.
Iranian authorities appear to have partially relaxed their sweeping internet restrictions, but analysts say connectivity is uneven and still heavily controlled, suggesting continued throttling and filtering as the economic toll of the shutdown grows.
Amazon told employees it will eliminate 16,000 positions globally, a second major round of reductions after layoffs announced three months earlier, as the company says it is streamlining layers and speeding decision-making.
Two federal officers involved in the fatal shooting of 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Pretti during an anti-ICE protest in Minneapolis were placed on administrative leave, as scrutiny intensifies over how immigration enforcement is being carried out and how officials described the encounter.
The FBI carried out a search at a Fulton County, Georgia, elections office as part of an investigation into 2020 election records, according to county officials, while federal authorities declined to provide details about the warrant.
Medicare named 15 high-cost drugs for a new cycle of price negotiations, including Botox and the diabetes drug Trulicity, with negotiated prices slated to take effect in 2028 and manufacturers required to decide whether to participate by late February.
Amazon says it is cutting 16,000 jobs, citing a push to reduce management layers and bureaucracy. The move highlights how major tech firms are reshaping corporate workforces as they invest heavily in AI and reorganize teams around faster execution.
Microsoft has rolled out the next version of its in-house AI accelerator and paired it with software tools designed to make it easier for developers to run workloads without relying on Nvidia’s dominant ecosystem.
CMS announced a new list of 15 high-cost drugs chosen for the third cycle of Medicare price negotiations, including the program’s first-ever Part B selections. Negotiations will occur in 2026, with negotiated prices scheduled to take effect January 1, 2028.
Iran has begun partially restoring access after weeks of nationwide disruption tied to protests and a security crackdown. Connectivity remains uneven and heavily controlled, while officials acknowledge the shutdown has imposed steep daily economic losses.