Texas Democrats James Talarico and Jasmine Crockett will meet in a U.S. Senate primary debate on Saturday at 2 p.m. as they compete for their party’s nomination to challenge incumbent Republican Sen. John Cornyn. The event will allow Texas Democratic voters to evaluate the Austin state representative and the Dallas-area congresswoman ahead of the primary contest for the long-held GOP Senate seat.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has ordered Cypress-Fairbanks ISD to cut any ties with the planned 2026 Houston Islamic Games, citing alleged links to CAIR’s New Jersey chapter, which Texas designates as a foreign terrorist organization. The district denies hosting the event or holding contracts for 2026–27 and says it follows neutral facility-use policies and state anti-discrimination and anti-terrorism laws. The Islamic Games organization denies any sponsorship or affiliation by CAIR.
TikTok has finalized a deal to create a new U.S. entity in response to a year‑old American law that effectively banned the app but has not been enforced. The agreement aims to separate TikTok’s U.S. operations and user data from Chinese parent company ByteDance and address national security concerns raised by U.S. officials. The law remains in force, and the White House retains authority to act, leaving the app’s long‑term status dependent on government review, legal interpretations, and future policy decisions on foreign‑owned digital platforms.
House Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” Marcos said on Friday that the House of Representatives will not block any impeachment complaint filed against President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and will process such complaints in line with constitutional procedures. He explained that any impeachment complaint must be formally filed with the Office of the House Secretary General, transmitted to the Office of the Speaker, included in the Order of Business by the committee on rules, and then referred to the committee on justice. Marcos emphasized that the House is duty-bound under the 1987 Constitution to act on any properly filed impeachment complaint against the President.
The U.S. Department of Justice is seeking additional resources, including military attorneys and federal auditors, to support an expanding fraud investigation in Minnesota. Federal officials say the widening probe involves extensive financial records and possible misuse of public funds. The resource request aims to boost investigative capacity, speed case review, and support potential prosecutions. The department is coordinating with multiple agencies, state officials, and local law enforcement as it examines contracts, grants, and financial transactions tied to federally connected programs in the state.
President Donald Trump has launched a new international initiative called the “Board of Peace,” signing a founding charter that pledges cooperation with the United Nations to address global suffering. The group began its work without participation from several major U.S. allies and has released few details about its structure, membership and operations.
South Korea’s National Tax Service reportedly issued a tax assessment to singer-actor Cha Eun-woo, legally known as Lee Dong-min, after an audit found that more than 20 billion won ($13.6 million) in entertainment income flowed through a company established by his mother. The company, identified as “Company A,” held a service contract with his management agency and received payments for his activities. Authorities examined whether the structure aimed to reduce his personal tax burden and treated the funds as his income for tax purposes. The case forms part of a broader NTS review of tax practices in the entertainment sector ahead of Cha’s planned military enlistment in July 2025.
Ben&Ben released the official music video for “Duyan” on January 16, 2025, featuring Khalil Ramos and Gabbi Garcia in lead roles, as the band marked a major streaming milestone by surpassing three billion Spotify streams and secured multiple honors at the 28th Awit Awards, including Album of the Year for their third studio album, reinforcing the group’s position in the Original Pilipino Music landscape through coordinated digital releases, award-recognized work, and visual storytelling that connects their recorded music with audiences in the Philippines and international markets.
Texas set a new record for Affordable Care Act health plan enrollment for the 2026 coverage year, according to newly released data from marketplace officials, even as overall ACA enrollment declined across the United States. State figures show more Texans signed up for marketplace coverage than in any previous year since the law took effect, making Texas an outlier compared with states that reported flat or reduced participation. The 2026 enrollment totals include individuals and families who obtained qualified health plans through the federal exchange during the latest open enrollment period.
Austin World War II veteran Bernard Snyder marked his 100th birthday at a family-organized celebration in Austin, Texas, where relatives, friends and community members honored his life and military service with tributes, photos and birthday festivities.