“A pair of ‘chatbots’ in China have been taken offline after appearing to stray off-script. In response to users’ questions, one said its dream was to travel to the United States, while the other said it wasn’t a huge fan of the Chinese Communist Party.” Source: Chinese chatbots apparently re-educated

“Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday Israel opposes the cease-fire in Syria brokered by the United States and Russia because it empowers Iran.” Source: Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu: Israel opposes Syria cease-fire brokered by U.S. and Russia

“In heavy-handed repression, two young men were killed protesting against the increasingly embattled administration of Nicolas Maduro in a period of 24 hours, as the Supreme Court rejected a challenge by the Attorney General against the President’s call to draft a new Constitution without subjecting it to a popular vote

“The militants holed up in the southern Philippines town of Marawi have been reduced to a ‘small resistance’ after troops crippled their logistics and some fighters have fled from the battle, military officials said on Thursday.” Source: Philippines says fighters on back foot in besieged city of Marawi

“The number of suspected cholera cases in war-torn Yemen has risen to more than 100,000 since an outbreak began on April 27, the World Health Organization said on Thursday.” Source: Yemen cholera cases pass the 100,000 mark: WHO | Reuters

“CIA Director John Brennan is planning a major expansion of the agency’s cyber-espionage capabilities as part of a broad restructuring of an intelligence service long defined by its human spy work, current and former U.S. officials said. The proposed shift reflects a determination that the CIA’s approach to conventional espionage

“Austrian police on Thursday launched several raids in Vienna and Graz, resulting in the arrest of14 people suspected of membership in the ‘Islamic State’ militant group.” Source: Austria arrests 14 suspects over ′Islamic State′ links | News | DW.COM | 27.01.2017

“SpaceX plans to blast off a rocket on Saturday for the first time since a launch pad explosion in the fall sidetracked the ambitious flight plans of company founder and entrepreneur Elon Musk.” Source: SpaceX counts down to first launch after rocket explosion | Reuters

“German police were still hunting for the terrorist who carried out the deadly truck attack on a Berlin Christmas market Tuesday as ISIS claimed responsibility for the atrocity.” Source: ISIS claims responsibility for Berlin truck crash – NY Daily News

China’s defense minister met the head of Afghanistan’s army, thanking him for Kabul’s support in fighting what Beijing says is an extremist group that seeks to split off its western region of Xinjiang. Source: China praises Afghanistan for fight against Chinese separatist group