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Togos President, Faure Gnassingbé, is playing a delicate balancing act between France and Russia, maintaining good relations with both while navigating domestic unrest. After a failed coup in Benin, rebel leader Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Tigri may have sought asylum in neighboring countries with which Togo has close ties. Gnassingbé recently visited France and Russia, signing a defense pact with the latter that allows Russian ships to dock at Togos Lomé port. This move has not been well-received by France, which has provided military aid to help stabilize the region. Gnassingbé has also shifted power domestically, becoming an unlimited-term prime minister, and has faced protests and criticism. Despite this, he has warned of fake news and jailed critics. In a recent address, he hinted at reviewing cases for releases, a small step to ease domestic unrest.

Elon Musks net worth surges to $749 billion, making him the first person to reach the $700 billion mark, after a Delaware Supreme Court ruling reinstated his 2018 Tesla stock options, originally worth $56 billion but now valued at $139 billion. Shareholders had approved the deal, but a lower court had rejected it, calling it unfathomable and saying Teslas board hid key facts from shareholders. Musks new pay plan, approved in November, could potentially be worth up to $1 trillion if he meets huge goals over the next decade.

A federal judge in Mississippi has ordered special elections for the state Supreme Court this Friday, following a ruling that the current electoral map violates Section two of the Voting Rights Act by diluting the voting power of Black residents. The map, drawn in 1987, has resulted in a court with never more than one Black justice, despite Mississippi being nearly 40% Black. The American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit in 2022, arguing the map splits the majority-Black Delta region, hurting votes in the Central District. The state Secretary of States office is appealing the ruling, but the Fifth Circuit Court has paused things while waiting on Supreme Court cases. Governor Tate Reeves will name temporary replacements for two Supreme Court justices who moved to federal benches. Once lawmakers approve a new map, Judge Aycock plans to fast-track decisions on which seats face special elections in November 2026, aiming for fairer nonpartisan races ahead.

Jimmy Lai, a Hong Kong media tycoon and pro-democracy activist, was convicted on charges of colluding with foreign forces, stemming from his newspapers coverage of the 2019 protests. Lai, who fled Maos China as a teenager and built a fashion empire before launching Apple Daily, has been behind bars since 2020, denying the accusations and advocating for freedoms like rule of law and free speech. His outspoken stance against Beijings Communist Party led to the closure of Apple Daily in 2021. In prison, Lai has transformed, becoming deeply Catholic and praying six hours a day in solitary confinement. Critics argue that the verdict silences dissent in a city where freedoms once thrived now feel out of reach.

German engineer, Michaela Benthaus, makes history as the first wheelchair user to reach space, aboard Blue Origins New Shepard rocket. Despite a mountain bike accident leaving her paralyzed, she floats weightless, laughs, and even flips upside down. Benthaus urges everyone to never give up on their dreams, aiming to open doors for more people with disabilities in space and on Earth.

In a surprising turn of events, a local Reddit users hunch led to the capture of the Brown University shooter, Neves Valente, after advanced surveillance tech and AI failed. The suspect, who had been on the run for five days, was found dead in Salem, New Hampshire. The communitys vigilance proved more effective than high-tech gadgets, marking a stark contrast to the Boston Marathon bombing search a decade ago.

Vice President JD Vance rallies in Allentown, PA, blaming Biden for high prices and promising better days. Local leaders and residents rate the economy as a B-plus or F, with rising costs squeezing everyone. The key congressional district could flip in the midterms, with Republican Mackenzie vulnerable. Allentowns Latino majority and rapid changes make it a political hotspot.

Hundreds of thousands mourn Bangladeshi activist Sharif Osman Hadi, shot dead earlier this month, at his funeral in Dhaka. Police suspect the gunman fled to India, where former PM Sheikh Hasina lives in exile. Tensions rise as India and Bangladesh exchange diplomatic rebukes. Hadi, a critic of Hasina and India, was set to run in Februarys elections. His death sparks protests and calls for calm from interim leader Muhammad Yunus. Hadis burial on Dhaka University campus marks a significant moment in Bangladeshs democratic transition.

Tragedy strikes as high-speed train collides with herd of wild elephants in Assam, India, killing seven and injuring a calf. Despite derailment, no humans are hurt. Rescue teams respond swiftly, and officials work to restore train service. The incident highlights the need for safer wildlife crossings in the region, where elephant populations are thriving but frequently come into conflict with human activities.