AnewZ Morning Brief - 17 January, 2026
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 17th of January, covering the latest developments you need to ...
Around 2,145 senior-ranking employees at the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) are set to leave under a push to shed staff, Politico reported on Wednesday citing documents obtained by the news outlet.
Most employees leaving are in GS-13 to GS-15 positions, senior-level government ranks, the report said, adding that the agency has offered staff early retirement, buyouts and deferred resignations. The agency has a workforce of 18,000 personnel.
“NASA remains committed to our mission as we work within a more prioritized budget,” the agency's spokesperson, Bethany Stevens, said.
This wave of exits follows months of uncertainty within the U.S. space sector under the administration of President Donald Trump. Budget proposals have threatened to cancel dozens of science programs, and NASA has been operating without a confirmed administrator.
The situation was further complicated last month when Jared Isaacman — a billionaire private astronaut and Elon Musk ally — was unexpectedly withdrawn as Trump’s nominee to lead the agency. The decision is widely seen as fallout from Musk’s growing rift with the president, leaving NASA’s leadership in limbo as it undergoes significant workforce changes.
At least four people were injured after a large fire and explosions hit a residential building in the Dutch city of Utrecht, authorities said.
A railway power outage in Tokyo disrupted the morning commute for roughly 673,000 passengers on Friday (16 January) as two main lines with some of the world's busiest stations were halted after reports of a fire.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that the international situation is worsening and that the world is becoming more dangerous, while avoiding public comment on events in Venezuela and Iran.
A SpaceX capsule carrying a four-member crew home from orbit in an emergency return to earth necessitated by an undisclosed serious medical condition afflicting one of the astronauts splashed down safely early on Thursday (15 January) in the Pacific Ocean off California.
President Donald Trump announced Thursday evening that the long-awaited “Board of Peace” to oversee Gaza’s reconstruction has officially been formed.
Ashley St. Clair, mother of one of Elon Musk’s children, has filed a lawsuit against Musk’s company xAI, alleging that its AI tool Grok generated explicit images of her, including one portraying her as underage.
Britain’s Royal Navy has successfully conducted the maiden flight of its first full-sized autonomous helicopter, designed to track submarines and carry out high-risk maritime missions amid rising tensions in the North Atlantic.
Dubai is set to launch commercial air taxi services by the end of the year, according to the emirate’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).
Astronomers have observed a white dwarf - a highly compact Earth-sized stellar ember - that is creating a colourful shockwave as it moves through space, leaving them searching for an explanation.
Apple will use Google’s Gemini artificial intelligence (AI) models for its revamped Siri voice assistant later this year, in a multi-year deal that strengthens the tech giants’ partnership and boosts Alphabet’s position in the race against OpenAI.
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