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We are learning more about some of those killed in recent days as protests rock Iran. The internet blackout has been extended into a fifth day, but several details have emerged, often through human rights groups with ties to the country. Norway-based human rights group Hengau said the dead included a sculptor from the eastern city of Mashhad. Citing a report he received, Hengo said Mehdi Sarashur, a married father of two, was killed when security forces fired live ammunition at protesters. Hengo said that in addition to his own art, Salashur was also a sculpture instructor and ran a…

Fans of Africa’s two top soccer nations have had their plans for the 2026 FIFA World Cup changed due to a travel ban imposed by Donald Trump’s US administration.In December, Senegal and Ivory Coast were added to the list of countries that will partially restrict entry to the United States from June 11 to July 19, joining Canada and Mexico.Recommended stories list of 4 itemsend of listFans rooting for two West African teams at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco were left disappointed by restrictions that effectively bar anyone who does not already have a visa from traveling…

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) held a press conference on the occasion of his visit to Bosch. This is the last stop on his India trip.Picture Alliance | Picture Alliance | Getty ImagesGerman Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Tuesday that Iran’s embattled regime appeared to be at an end as mass protests continued across the country. Speaking to reporters during his visit to India, Mertz reiterated his call on Iranian authorities to stop violence against protesters, adding that he hoped for a peaceful end to the escalating crisis. “If a regime can only maintain power by force, it is effectively…

The use of voice AI in sales, marketing, customer support, and consumer applications has skyrocketed in recent years. As a result, business for model providers is increasing and investor interest is also increasing. Driven by this demand, DeepGram today announced that it has raised $130 million in an AVP-led Series C round at a valuation of $1.3 billion. Existing investors including Alkeon, In-Q-Tel, Madrona, Tiger, Wing, and Y Combinator also contributed additional capital to the round. Additionally, new investors joined the round including Alumni Ventures, Columbia University, Princeville Capital, Twilio, and SAP. The company has raised more than $215 million…

This is CNBC’s Morning Squawk newsletter. Subscribe here to receive future editions in your inbox.Happy Tuesday. Nothing signals the holidays are over like the start of a new corporate earnings season.Stock futures are falling this morning following the winning day.Here are five important things investors need to know to start their trading day.1. Turn that frown upside downU.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell holds a press conference after two days of Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meetings at the U.S. Federal Reserve Board on December 10, 2025 in Washington, DC, USA. Kevin Lamarque | ReutersThe criminal investigation into Federal Reserve…

Ukraine battled on Sunday to restore power to tens of thousands of people left without heat in frigid temperatures after a week of heavy Russian aggression collapsed the country’s energy infrastructure. In Kiev, heating was restored to about 85% of apartment buildings in a day after the entire city lost power, heat and water on Saturday. But the city’s mayor, Vitali Klitschko, said more than 1,000 buildings remained without heat. Daytime temperatures can drop to -10°C (14F). Ukraine’s Prime Minister Yulia Sviridenko said Russia had been targeting energy infrastructure every day for the past week as temperatures plummeted. “The enemy…

A tower crane stands on top of an urban residential building in the afternoon light on January 9, 2026 in Chongqing, China.Chen Xin | Getty Images News | Getty ImagesBEIJING—China’s expansion into high-tech industries is not large enough to offset the country’s real estate slump, leaving the economy more exposed to trade tensions, U.S.-based research firm Rhodium Group said in a report on Monday.The report says that from 2023 to 2025, new industries such as artificial intelligence, robotics and electric vehicles will increase economic output by just 0.8 percentage points, while real estate and other traditional sectors will collectively decline…

Artificial intelligence is rapidly moving into the drug discovery field as pharmaceutical and biotech companies look for ways to shave years off research and development timelines and increase the likelihood of success amid rising costs. More than 200 startups are currently competing to integrate AI directly into research workflows, and interest from investors is growing. Converge Bio is the latest company to secure fresh capital and capitalize on the change as competition intensifies in the AI-driven drug discovery space. The Boston and Tel Aviv-based startup, which uses generative AI trained on molecular data to help pharmaceutical and biotech companies develop…

There are elite passports that are more influential than others when it comes to traveling from country to country without restrictions and shortening queues at border controls. According to the latest report from the Henley Passport Index, the top three countries for passports are Asian countries, with Singapore in first place, followed by Japan and South Korea. Singaporeans enjoy visa-free access to 192 of the 227 countries and territories tracked by the index, created by London-based global citizenship and residency advisory firm Henley & Partners and using exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association. Japan and South Korea offer…

The Strait of Hormuz is back in the spotlight as potential US intervention in Iran increases the risk that Iran will disrupt one of the world’s most important energy chokepoints.US President Donald Trump is considering a range of options against Iran to crack down on protests in the country, according to multiple media reports on Sunday. Industry experts have warned that a military conflict could lead to Iran blocking the Strait of Hormuz. The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway that connects the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea, and through which nearly one-third of the world’s offshore crude…