Space

SpaceX Falcon 9 launches from Cape Canaveral with 29 Starlink satellites

SpaceX successfully launched 29 Starlink V2 Mini satellites Friday morning from Cape Canaveral, despite thick fog obscuring the view. Liftoff occurred at 7:16 a.m. EST, and the satellites were deployed about an hour later. The Falcon 9’s first-stage booster, B1069, landed on the drone ship A Shortfall of Gravitas in the Atlantic, marking its 30th flight. B1069 first launched in December 2021 and, after a … Continue reading SpaceX Falcon 9 launches from Cape Canaveral with 29 Starlink satellites

Unknown's avatarbcbegley
Space

A total lunar eclipse will turn the moon blood red on Tuesday

A total lunar eclipse, also known as a blood moon, will be visible Tuesday across North America, Central America, western South America, Australia, and eastern Asia, with partial views in Central Asia and much of South America. The red hue occurs as Earth’s shadow covers the full moon, with sunlight filtering through the atmosphere. Totality will last about an hour, and no special equipment is … Continue reading A total lunar eclipse will turn the moon blood red on Tuesday

Unknown's avatarbcbegley
Business

Dow tumbles 600 points after hot inflation report

Stocks fell sharply on Friday after January’s producer price index came in hotter than expected, signaling persistent inflation. The Dow dropped 616 points (1.2%), the S&P 500 fell 0.7%, and the Nasdaq lost 1.2%, continuing a weak February for all major indices. Tech and software stocks were hit hard, with Zscaler down 13%, CoreWeave down 19%, and Nvidia extending its post-earnings slide. Financial and private … Continue reading Dow tumbles 600 points after hot inflation report

Unknown's avatarbcbegley
Business

OpenAI announces $110 billion funding round

OpenAI announced a record-breaking $110 billion funding round on Friday, more than doubling its previous raise from last year and valuing the company at $730 billion. Major investors include Amazon ($50 billion), Nvidia ($30 billion), and SoftBank ($30 billion), with additional investors expected to join. Amazon also announced a multiyear strategic partnership, expanding its existing $38 billion AWS deal by $100 billion over eight years … Continue reading OpenAI announces $110 billion funding round

Unknown's avatarbcbegley
Business

Netflix shares jump 9% as investors back Warner Bros withdrawal

Netflix shares surged over 9% after the company withdrew from the bidding war with Paramount Skydance for Warner Bros Discovery’s studio and streaming assets. Netflix declined to match Paramount’s $31-per-share offer, maintaining its previous $27.75 bid, citing the deal as “no longer financially attractive.” Investors welcomed the decision, seeing it as a disciplined move that allows Netflix to refocus on its core business rather than … Continue reading Netflix shares jump 9% as investors back Warner Bros withdrawal

Unknown's avatarbcbegley
Technology

Japan transforms Unitree robot into a ‘Monk’

Kyoto University has introduced a robotic monk, the “Buddha Robot Plus,” to address Japan’s shortage of Buddhist priests amid an aging population. Built on Chinese Unitree hardware and powered by ChatGPT, the robot moves with the deliberate gestures of a monk and uses deep learning on Buddhist texts to provide real-time spiritual guidance. Unlike earlier AI models, it can generate context-sensitive answers on topics like … Continue reading Japan transforms Unitree robot into a ‘Monk’

Unknown's avatarbcbegley
Politics

Senate Democrats demand tariff refunds begin ‘immediately’

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and other Democrats are demanding refunds after the Supreme Court struck down most of President Trump’s tariff policies last week. In a Friday letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, they urged U.S. Customs and Border Protection to start refunding over $130 billion in illegal tariffs within 90 days, prioritizing small businesses and those hardest hit. The move follows lawsuits … Continue reading Senate Democrats demand tariff refunds begin ‘immediately’

Unknown's avatarbcbegley
Politics

Canada’s PM Carney in India to reset ties and bolster trade

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney arrived in India Friday on a key visit aimed at diversifying trade amid tensions with the United States. He is set to meet business leaders in Mumbai and hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Monday, covering trade, energy, technology, AI, and defense. The visit follows U.S. tariffs on Canadian steel, aluminum, and car parts, prompting … Continue reading Canada’s PM Carney in India to reset ties and bolster trade

Unknown's avatarbcbegley
Politics

UK PM Keir Starmer suffers major blow after his party comes third in key vote

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer faced a major setback as the Green Party won a by-election in Gorton and Denton, a seat long held by Labour. Green candidate Hannah Spencer secured 40.7% of the vote, marking the party’s first-ever by-election victory, while Labour fell to third place with 25.4%. The result adds to Starmer’s challenges, following controversies like Peter Mandelson’s ambassadorial appointment and staff departures … Continue reading UK PM Keir Starmer suffers major blow after his party comes third in key vote

Unknown's avatarbcbegley
Politics

Susie Wiles’ lawyer denies approving FBI recording, says he’d lose license over ‘stunt’

White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles’ 2023 attorney has denied claims that he allowed the Biden-era FBI to record a call with his client without her knowledge. The dispute arises amid scrutiny of the FBI’s use of subpoenas and investigative tools in special counsel Jack Smith’s Trump-related probes, which included subpoenas for Wiles’ and former FBI Director Kash Patel’s phone records in 2022 and … Continue reading Susie Wiles’ lawyer denies approving FBI recording, says he’d lose license over ‘stunt’

Unknown's avatarbcbegley
Politics

Clinton says he ‘did nothing wrong’ with Epstein as he faces grilling over their relationship

Former President Bill Clinton told Congress on Feb. 26 that he “did nothing wrong” and saw no signs of Jeffrey Epstein’s sexual abuse, as he faced a rare, hours-long deposition about his decades-old ties to the disgraced financier. The closed-door session in Chappaqua, New York, follows a deposition of Hillary Clinton, who said she had no knowledge of Epstein’s abuse. Republicans focused on Clinton’s well-documented … Continue reading Clinton says he ‘did nothing wrong’ with Epstein as he faces grilling over their relationship

Unknown's avatarbcbegley
U.S. News

FBI searches LA school district headquarters and the superintendent’s home

The FBI served search warrants on Feb. 26 at Los Angeles Unified School District headquarters, Superintendent Alberto Carvalho’s home, and a third location near Miami, though officials declined to provide details about the investigation. Carvalho, a former Superintendent of the Year who was knighted by Spain in 2021 for expanding Spanish-language programs, has been praised for improving academic performance in both Los Angeles and Miami-Dade … Continue reading FBI searches LA school district headquarters and the superintendent’s home

Unknown's avatarbcbegley
U.S. News

Denver mayor orders protection of protesters, ban on ICE from city property

Denver Mayor Mike Johnston signed an order on Feb. 26 directing city police to protect peaceful protesters from federal ICE operations and banning ICE from city-owned property. The order instructs law enforcement to use de-escalation protocols, document ICE actions with body cameras, and intervene if federal agents use excessive force, including the possibility of detaining ICE agents who cross that line. This action comes amid … Continue reading Denver mayor orders protection of protesters, ban on ICE from city property

Unknown's avatarbcbegley
U.S. News

Scouting America to end DEI efforts in deal with Pentagon

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced on Feb. 26 that the Pentagon will continue supporting Scouting America, formerly the Boy Scouts of America, after the organization agreed to remove all diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives from its programs. Scouting America signed a memorandum of understanding committing to comply with President Donald Trump’s executive order barring DEI efforts in public and private organizations. Changes include … Continue reading Scouting America to end DEI efforts in deal with Pentagon

Unknown's avatarbcbegley
U.S. News

US military used laser to take down Border Protection drone

The U.S. military mistakenly shot down a Customs and Border Protection drone near the U.S.-Mexico border on Thursday, using a laser meant for a “seemingly threatening” target. The incident prompted the FAA to temporarily close airspace around Fort Hancock, Texas, about 50 miles southeast of El Paso, though commercial flights were not affected. This marked the second laser use in the area in two weeks, … Continue reading US military used laser to take down Border Protection drone

Unknown's avatarbcbegley
U.S. News

Pet owners furious over California ban on feeding stray cats

Animal activists in Kern County, California, rallied against a proposed law that would criminalize feeding wild or stray animals, including cats, raccoons, and foxes. The county board argued the ban would prevent the creation of feeding spots that could encourage pet abandonment, but activists countered that feeding is essential for animal welfare and for programs like TNR (trap-neuter-return) and rehoming. Speakers highlighted legal conflicts, noting … Continue reading Pet owners furious over California ban on feeding stray cats

Unknown's avatarbcbegley
World News

Milan tram derails and slams into a building, killing one person

A tram derailed and crashed into a building Friday along Vittorio Veneto avenue in central Milan, killing one person and injuring more than two dozen others. The No. 9 tram was reportedly traveling at high speed when it unexpectedly swerved at a switch track used by another line and nearly tipped over before slamming to a stop. Emergency crews, including ambulances and firefighters, rushed to … Continue reading Milan tram derails and slams into a building, killing one person

Unknown's avatarbcbegley
World News

Sweden intercepts suspected Russian drone during visit by French aircraft carrier

Sweden’s military intercepted a suspected Russian drone in the Öresund strait while France’s nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, the Charles de Gaulle, was docked in Malmö for NATO exercises. A Swedish naval vessel detected the drone during patrol and took countermeasures, after which contact with it was lost. French officials said the drone was spotted more than 10 kilometers from the carrier and posed no impact to … Continue reading Sweden intercepts suspected Russian drone during visit by French aircraft carrier

Unknown's avatarbcbegley
World News

Russia pounds Ukraine with missiles and drones, injuring at least 26

Russia launched 420 drones and 39 missiles at Ukraine overnight, targeting energy facilities, railway infrastructure and residential areas, Ukrainian officials said. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said air defenses shot down most of the projectiles, but several missiles and dozens of drones struck 32 sites across eight regions. Gas facilities in Poltava and power substations in Kyiv and Dnipro were hit, while railway infrastructure in frontline regions … Continue reading Russia pounds Ukraine with missiles and drones, injuring at least 26

Unknown's avatarbcbegley
World News

US urges its citizens to leave Israel immediately amid strike threat to Iran

The United States has authorized non-essential government staff and their families to leave Israel and urged U.S. citizens to consider departing while commercial flights remain available, amid rising fears of a potential American strike on Iran. The warning followed inconclusive nuclear talks between Washington and Tehran, as President Donald Trump positioned two carrier strike groups in the region. U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee urged … Continue reading US urges its citizens to leave Israel immediately amid strike threat to Iran

Unknown's avatarbcbegley
World News

Pakistan defense minister says country in ‘open war’ with Afghanistan after strikes

Pakistan and Afghanistan exchanged cross-border airstrikes overnight, sharply escalating tensions, with Pakistan’s defense minister declaring the situation an “open war.” Afghanistan said its attack on Pakistani military targets was retaliation for earlier Pakistani airstrikes in Afghan border areas, while Pakistan responded with strikes in Kabul and other provinces. Relations have been strained for months, with prior border clashes and failed peace talks despite a Qatari-mediated … Continue reading Pakistan defense minister says country in ‘open war’ with Afghanistan after strikes

Unknown's avatarbcbegley
Space

SpaceX Dragon cargo capsule heads for home after historic ISS-boosting mission

A SpaceX Dragon cargo capsule undocked from the International Space Station today after a six-month mission delivering about 5,000 pounds of supplies and scientific gear. The capsule demonstrated a new capability by performing six reboost maneuvers to help maintain the ISS’s altitude, a task usually done by Russia’s Progress freighter. Dragon is set to splash down in the Pacific Ocean off California on Feb. 27, … Continue reading SpaceX Dragon cargo capsule heads for home after historic ISS-boosting mission

Unknown's avatarbcbegley
Space

New image reveals secrets of Milky Way galaxy in stunning detail

Scientists have captured the most detailed image yet of the Milky Way using Chile’s Alma radio telescope, revealing its vast structure in unprecedented detail. The image shows long, thin filaments of matter flowing to form stars and planets, providing new insights into how our galaxy—and others in the early universe—developed. Previously, astronomers could only see isolated patches of the galaxy’s center, but the new survey … Continue reading New image reveals secrets of Milky Way galaxy in stunning detail

Unknown's avatarbcbegley
Space

NASA hauls moon rocket off launch pad to fix another launch-delaying malfunction

NASA rolled its Artemis II moon rocket off its seaside launch pad Wednesday to return it to the Vehicle Assembly Building for repairs after a helium pressurization issue delayed the mission. The 23.6-million-pound rocket and launch platform traveled four miles over 10–12 hours using an Apollo-era crawler-transporter. Engineers will access the rocket’s upper stage, the Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage (ICPS), to fix the helium system, … Continue reading NASA hauls moon rocket off launch pad to fix another launch-delaying malfunction

Unknown's avatarbcbegley
Technology

Pope demands priests stop using AI to write sermons

Pope Leo XIV, a Chicago native, warned clergy against using AI to write sermons, saying true homilies require sharing faith, which machines cannot do. He urged priests to exercise their intelligence and study continuously, cautioning that overreliance on the internet and social media illusions, like TikTok, cannot replace authentic spiritual connection. The remarks coincided with the Vatican debuting an AI-powered translation system for liturgical celebrations … Continue reading Pope demands priests stop using AI to write sermons

Unknown's avatarbcbegley