FBI disrupts White House UFC attack plot; 5.5 quake shakes Tokyo; Lukashenko apologizes to Zelenskyy

FBI Director Kash Patel announced that the agency disrupted a potential attack targeting a UFC event scheduled at the White House. The director provided no further details on the nature of the threat or any arrests made. The announcement came during a press briefing in Washington. The event was not specified by date.

5.5-magnitude earthquake hits Ibaraki Prefecture, eastern Japan, shaking buildings in Tokyo, weather agency says

A 5.5-magnitude earthquake struck Ibaraki Prefecture in eastern Japan on Wednesday, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. Tremors were felt across the greater Tokyo region, shaking buildings in the capital. No immediate tsunami warning was issued following the quake.

The earthquake's epicenter was located in Ibaraki Prefecture, north of Tokyo. Authorities are assessing for potential damage or injuries. The agency continues to monitor seismic activity in the region.

Threads hits 500M MAUs, Meta adds 'Your Algo' feed control tool and launches Communities out of beta

Meta Platforms Inc. announced that its social media platform Threads has reached 500 million monthly active users. The company also introduced a new feed control tool called 'Your Algo', allowing users to customize their algorithmic feed. Additionally, Meta launched the Communities feature out of beta, rolling it out widely to users.

The 'Your Algo' tool gives users more control over the content they see, according to Meta. Communities, previously in testing, is now available to all users globally. The announcements were made via a company blog post.

Lukashenko apologizes to Zelenskyy for threatening direct military action against Ukraine

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has publicly apologized to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for a previous threat of direct military action against Ukraine. The apology was reported by state media in Belarus. Lukashenko did not specify the exact threat he was referring to.

The apology marks a shift in rhetoric from Minsk, which has been a key ally of Moscow during the war in Ukraine. Lukashenko had previously made statements suggesting Belarus could join the conflict directly. The Ukrainian government has not yet issued a formal response to the apology.

French spy agencies drop Palantir over US overreliance fears, source says

French intelligence agencies have stopped using software from the US-based data analytics company Palantir Technologies, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters. The decision was driven by concerns over overreliance on US technology. The source did not specify which agencies or when the transition occurred.

Palantir provides data analysis tools used by governments and militaries worldwide. The move reflects growing European efforts to reduce dependence on US technology providers. Palantir did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

What to Watch

Authorities in Japan will continue to assess damage from the Ibaraki earthquake. Meta's rollout of Communities and the 'Your Algo' tool will be monitored for user adoption. The diplomatic fallout from Lukashenko's apology to Zelenskyy may develop further in the coming days.