Severe flooding has affected the Midwest as Tropical Storm Lala approaches Hawaii. Additionally, industry insights reveal developments within a prominent spy satellite company, while a year has passed since President Putin’s meeting with President Trump.

Democrats have approved a new presidential primary calendar for 2028, placing South Carolina first on January 22, followed by Nevada and others through February. This shift aims to better reflect the party’s diverse voter base, moving away from the traditional influence of Iowa and New Hampshire.

Federal authorities have apprehended Rigoberto Brown, a fugitive charged with conspiring to monopolise the Texas-Mexico transmigrante forwarding industry. His arrest near McAllen follows an investigation into a price-fixing scheme led by Carlos Martinez, now serving an 11-year prison sentence for similar charges. Brown faces significant penalties if convicted.

Major stock markets experienced mixed trading on Friday, with oil prices rising and the dollar weakening. Investors remain focused on U.S. interest rate forecasts and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The Kospi index, having rebounded over 20% from a significant drop, reflects this volatility.

The U.S. Army has paused Apache helicopter training flights following the fatal crash of an AH-64 Apache near Fort Hood, Texas, that killed two pilots, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Deontre T. Huey and Warrant Officer Seth L. Olmsted. The stand-down will continue pending an investigation into the accident’s cause.

The Justice Department has expanded the U.S. military’s authority to detain migrants for trespassing in areas controlled by the Department of Defense. This legal opinion allows military personnel to apprehend individuals near designated “National Defense Areas” along the U.S.-Mexico border, despite the restrictions of the Posse Comitatus Act.