Four-legged robot plays badminton with humans

Researchers at ETH Zurich’s Robotic Systems Lab have created a four-legged robot, named ANYmal-D, capable of playing badminton with humans. The robot, described in Science Robotics, uses a stereo camera, a dynamic arm, and a reinforcement-learning-based controller to track and hit a shuttlecock. The team also implemented a “perception noise model” to help the robot adapt to real-world play, TechXplore has reported. Testing showed that ANYmal-D … Continue reading Four-legged robot plays badminton with humans

Market Basket CEO is put on leave in new spat at family-controlled supermarket chain

Market Basket, the beloved New England grocery chain with 90+ stores, is facing renewed family drama. CEO Arthur T. Demoulas was placed on leave by the board over disputes about oversight and succession. This echoes a similar conflict a decade ago when Demoulas survived an ouster attempt thanks to an employee strike. Market Basket, founded in 1917 by Greek immigrant Athanasios Demoulas, has been at … Continue reading Market Basket CEO is put on leave in new spat at family-controlled supermarket chain

Fed Chair Powell met with Trump at the White House

President Trump met with Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell on Thursday to discuss economic conditions, but they did not talk about future monetary policy, the Fed said. Trump, however, criticized Powell for not cutting interest rates, which he claims puts the U.S. at an economic disadvantage. This was their first meeting since Trump began his second term. Powell emphasized that the Fed’s policy decisions will … Continue reading Fed Chair Powell met with Trump at the White House

India’s economy grew by faster-than-expected 7.4% in the March quarter

India’s economy grew 7.4% year-on-year in the March quarter of 2025, surpassing expectations and marking the fastest pace of growth for the fiscal year. This was driven by strong domestic consumption and limited export dependence, despite global economic uncertainty and U.S. trade tensions. The Reserve Bank of India cut interest rates to 6% to support growth and may cut rates again. India’s full-year growth hit … Continue reading India’s economy grew by faster-than-expected 7.4% in the March quarter

Trump denounces court’s ‘political’ tariff decision, calls on Supreme Court to act quickly

After a brief silence on social media, Donald Trump lashed out in a 500-word post criticizing the three judges who ruled against him in a U.S. Court of International Trade case. He speculated that their decision was motivated by personal hatred for him, despite one being his own appointee. Trump ignored the court’s detailed legal explanation and instead blamed conservative activist Leonard Leo and the … Continue reading Trump denounces court’s ‘political’ tariff decision, calls on Supreme Court to act quickly

Musk leaves White House with frustrations, little progress on debt

Elon Musk is leaving his role in the Trump administration, frustrated by the challenges of cutting federal spending. Despite initially backing Trump’s cost-cutting agenda, Musk has grown critical of fiscal policies, particularly a tax and spending bill that would add trillions to the national debt. As head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), he aimed to slash $2 trillion but ran into bureaucratic and … Continue reading Musk leaves White House with frustrations, little progress on debt

Trump says he warned Israel against attack on Iran as nuclear deal ‘very close’

Donald Trump claimed he advised Israel not to attack Iran, believing he was close to a nuclear deal with Tehran. The proposed agreement would allow U.S. inspectors unprecedented access to Iran’s nuclear sites, potentially permitting Iran to continue enriching uranium under strict monitoring. Iran’s nuclear chief, Mohammad Eslami, expressed willingness to allow U.S. inspectors while insisting on Iran’s right to uranium enrichment. Tensions rose after … Continue reading Trump says he warned Israel against attack on Iran as nuclear deal ‘very close’

Rubio spearheads massive State Dept reorganization set to eliminate, merge more than 300 offices

The State Department plans to restructure its domestic offices, cutting or consolidating over 300 offices to streamline operations, cut red tape, and focus more on its core diplomatic mission. Secretary of State Marco Rubio aims to eliminate bureaucratic overgrowth, reducing the department’s domestic headcount by up to 3,400. This overhaul—the biggest since the Cold War—will also add new offices for emerging threats, democracy, and immigration … Continue reading Rubio spearheads massive State Dept reorganization set to eliminate, merge more than 300 offices

Reform UK to accept donations via bitcoin, Nigel Farage says

Nigel Farage announced that Reform UK will now accept political donations in Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, making it the first British political party to do so. Speaking at the Bitcoin Conference in Las Vegas, Farage revealed that Reform plans to introduce a cryptoassets and digital finance bill to cut capital gains tax on crypto from 24% to 10%, create a bitcoin reserve in the Bank … Continue reading Reform UK to accept donations via bitcoin, Nigel Farage says

South African woman gets life sentence for selling daughter

A South African court sentenced Racquel “Kelly” Smith to life in prison for kidnapping and selling her 6-year-old daughter, Joshlin Smith, to a traditional healer. Prosecutors alleged the girl was targeted for her green eyes and fair complexion. Smith’s boyfriend and a friend were also sentenced to life for human trafficking, plus 10 years for kidnapping. The judge said none of the accused showed remorse … Continue reading South African woman gets life sentence for selling daughter

Intelligence agency IT specialist charged with attempting to provide classified information to foreign government

Nathan Laatsch, an IT specialist with the Defense Intelligence Agency, was arrested and charged with attempting to provide classified information to a friendly foreign government. The FBI began investigating after a tip claimed Laatsch was willing to share intelligence because he disagreed with the current administration’s values. Laatsch allegedly transcribed classified materials, hid notes in his socks and lunchbox, and planned to drop a thumb … Continue reading Intelligence agency IT specialist charged with attempting to provide classified information to foreign government

Trump administration shakes up leadership at ICE amid frustrations with arrest, deportations

The Trump administration is restructuring Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) leadership amid White House frustration over immigration arrests and deportations. Kenneth Genalo, head of Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), is retiring and will advise the agency as a special government employee. Robert Hammer, leader of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), has been reassigned to another key role. They will be replaced by career ICE officials Marcos … Continue reading Trump administration shakes up leadership at ICE amid frustrations with arrest, deportations

2 NYPD detectives on leave in connection with crypto torture case

Two NYPD detectives were placed on modified duty after it was revealed they had prior ties to the SoHo townhouse where an Italian businessman was allegedly held and tortured by cryptocurrency investors. One off-duty detective reportedly drove the victim to the townhouse while working a private security job for one of the suspects, a violation of NYPD rules requiring strict approval for such work. Both … Continue reading 2 NYPD detectives on leave in connection with crypto torture case

Hawaii Introduces Tourist Tax for People Visiting State

Hawaii Governor Josh Green has signed a law increasing taxes on hotel rooms, vacation rentals, and cruise ships to fund climate change efforts, including building firebreaks after the devastating 2023 Maui wildfires. The new tax adds 0.75% to daily room rates—about $4 on a $500 hotel stay—and introduces an 11% tax on cruise ship bills starting in July 2026. The measures aim to raise nearly … Continue reading Hawaii Introduces Tourist Tax for People Visiting State

Federal Authorities Probe Effort to Impersonate White House Chief of Staff

Federal authorities are investigating an individual impersonating White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, contacting U.S. senators, governors, and business leaders with text messages and calls. The impersonator allegedly used AI-generated voice to imitate Wiles and requested lists of potential pardons, cash transfers, and other suspicious requests. The FBI and White House are treating the matter seriously, though it’s believed no foreign nation is involved. … Continue reading Federal Authorities Probe Effort to Impersonate White House Chief of Staff

Bongino Promises Epstein Video to Prove ‘No One Was There But Him’

FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino promised the release of new video footage from Jeffrey Epstein’s cell, showing that no one else was present at the time of his death, in an effort to counter conspiracy theories suggesting foul play. Epstein’s 2019 death was officially ruled a suicide but has long been surrounded by speculation due to his connections to high-profile figures. Bongino, alongside FBI Director … Continue reading Bongino Promises Epstein Video to Prove ‘No One Was There But Him’

Andrew and Tristan Tate will return to UK to face charges, lawyers say

Andrew and Tristan Tate, who face 21 criminal charges in the UK—including rape, bodily harm, and human trafficking—will return to the UK after Romanian legal proceedings conclude. Romanian authorities are investigating the brothers, who deny all charges. A Romanian court has ruled they can be extradited, but the timeline remains uncertain. The CPS authorized the UK charges earlier this year, with evidence provided by Bedfordshire … Continue reading Andrew and Tristan Tate will return to UK to face charges, lawyers say

US Africa commander highlights terror growth in Sahel and competition with China for influence

Gen. Michael Langley, head of U.S. Africa Command, warned that terrorist groups in Africa are expanding their capabilities to potentially launch attacks on U.S. soil. He highlighted the Sahel region as a growing hub of instability and terror activity. Al-Qaeda factions have significantly increased in size, with AQIM tripling and Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin quadrupling in size since 2022. These groups are expanding operations and … Continue reading US Africa commander highlights terror growth in Sahel and competition with China for influence

Liverpool parade crash suspect to appear in court

Paul Doyle, a 53-year-old father of three and former Royal Marine from Liverpool, has been charged after a car he allegedly drove crashed into crowds at a Liverpool Premier League victory parade, injuring 79 people, including a nine-year-old. The incident occurred on Water Street at 6:00 p.m. BST. Doyle faces seven charges, including multiple counts of causing and attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with … Continue reading Liverpool parade crash suspect to appear in court

Western Canada wildfires emergency hits another province as thousands flee

A wildfire emergency in western Canada has spread across provinces, forcing thousands to evacuate their homes. Saskatchewan declared a state of emergency with 14 wildfires burning out of control, while Manitoba evacuated 17,000 residents amid its own state of emergency. Over 166 fires are active across Canada, 84 of which are out of control, affecting provinces like Alberta, Ontario, and British Columbia. The Canadian Armed … Continue reading Western Canada wildfires emergency hits another province as thousands flee

A Swiss village is buried after a glacier collapses in the Alps

A Swiss Alpine village in the Valais region was destroyed when a massive glacier, laden with rock and debris, detached and swept down the mountain, demolishing everything in its path. Authorities, having anticipated the disaster due to frequent rockfalls, evacuated the 300 residents of Blatten village on May 19. A 64-year-old man is reported missing. The collapse blocked a river, forming a lake and threatening … Continue reading A Swiss village is buried after a glacier collapses in the Alps

Amateur archaeologists unearth winged goddess at Hadrian’s Wall

A striking Roman stone relief of the winged goddess of Victory was discovered near Hadrian’s Wall at the Vindolanda fort by long-time volunteers Dilys and Jim Quinlan. The 47cm-tall carving, identified by archaeologist Rob Collins, likely symbolized military triumph and was part of a larger ornamental arch over the fort’s infantry barracks. The discovery was made while clearing rubble at the site, where volunteers have … Continue reading Amateur archaeologists unearth winged goddess at Hadrian’s Wall

A New Study Reveals the Makeup of Uranus’ Atmosphere

Using 20 years of data from the Hubble Space Telescope, researchers have gained new insights into Uranus’ atmosphere. The planet is mostly hydrogen and helium, with traces of methane, which gives it a pale blue-green color. Uranus is unique due to its tilted axis, causing extreme seasonal changes that last about 42 years each. The team observed its south pole darkening as it moved into … Continue reading A New Study Reveals the Makeup of Uranus’ Atmosphere

Venus Harbors Secret Asteroids That Could Threaten Earth, Study Warns

A new study suggests that a hidden population of asteroids, known as “Venus co-orbitals,” could pose a threat to Earth. These asteroids share Venus’ orbit around the Sun but are hard to detect from Earth due to the Sun’s glare. Researchers, led by Valerio Carruba of the University of São Paulo, created simulations showing that these objects may have chaotic orbits capable of close encounters … Continue reading Venus Harbors Secret Asteroids That Could Threaten Earth, Study Warns

SpaceX launches fresh group of Starlink satellites from foggy Vandenberg Space Force Bas

SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base on May 27, sending the first batch of a new Starlink group into low Earth orbit. The mission, Starlink 17-1, marked the 13th launch for booster B1082, which landed safely on a drone ship after flight. This launch was SpaceX’s 63rd Falcon 9 mission of 2025, Space.com has reported. Later in the day, SpaceX … Continue reading SpaceX launches fresh group of Starlink satellites from foggy Vandenberg Space Force Bas