China’s secretive spaceplane likely testing ‘dual use’ technology

China’s uncrewed reusable spacecraft, which launches atop a rocket and lands at a secretive military airfield, is primarily testing technology but could also be used for satellite manipulation or retrieval, experts suggest. On its third mission in June, the spacecraft was observed releasing and then maneuvering back to an object several kilometers away. While the spacecraft’s military applications, such as inspecting or disabling enemy satellites, … Continue reading China’s secretive spaceplane likely testing ‘dual use’ technology

SpaceX launches back-to-back Starlink satellite missions

SpaceX has bounced back from an earlier failure by successfully launching two missions on July 28. The company deployed batches of Starlink internet satellites from both coasts using Falcon 9 rockets, with liftoffs less than five hours apart. This followed a Falcon 9 launch on July 27, marking the rocket’s return-to-flight after a failure on July 11. The first launch on July 28, at 1:09 … Continue reading SpaceX launches back-to-back Starlink satellite missions

Police use of ‘deeply intrusive’ facial recognition cameras sparks warning over privacy

Plans by Police Scotland to introduce live surveillance cameras for scanning faces have been criticized as “deeply intrusive” and dangerous by a coalition of international privacy groups. The cameras are intended to help catch shoplifters and people violating bail conditions, with images monitored from police vans and checked against a database. Privacy advocates, including Big Brother Watch, Liberty, Privacy International, and others, have urged Justice … Continue reading Police use of ‘deeply intrusive’ facial recognition cameras sparks warning over privacy

Hackers race to win millions in contest to thwart cyberattacks with AI

This month, a hackathon in Orange County highlighted the battle to protect U.S. critical infrastructure. Over a dozen students from Arizona State University, UC Santa Barbara, and Purdue University worked intensively to develop a program capable of scanning and fixing security flaws in millions of lines of open-source code without human help. Sponsored by DARPA, the contest underscores the government’s view that flaws in open-source … Continue reading Hackers race to win millions in contest to thwart cyberattacks with AI

New EMP weapon: ‘Even cockroaches won’t survive’

According to Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Jarida, Iran has provided Hezbollah and other proxies with electromagnetic ordnance capable of disabling communication systems and shutting down radars. Rotem Mey-Tal, CEO of Asgard Systems, likened this technology to an extreme power outage that affects all electrical and electronic systems, including critical medical equipment. Mey-Tal speculated that the technology might be used in low-flying UAVs, similar to recent attacks by … Continue reading New EMP weapon: ‘Even cockroaches won’t survive’

Short seller Andrew Left of Citron charged with fraud by prosecutors, SEC

Federal prosecutors have charged activist short seller and analyst Andrew Left with securities fraud, accusing him of illegally profiting at least $16 million by manipulating stock market activity from 2018 to 2023. Left, a 54-year-old Florida resident known for his appearances on CNBC and other financial news channels, and his hedge fund, Citron Capital, face additional civil fraud charges from the Securities and Exchange Commission. … Continue reading Short seller Andrew Left of Citron charged with fraud by prosecutors, SEC

A $1 million starter home is now the norm in more than 200 US cities

The number of U.S. cities where first-time homebuyers face a $1 million price tag for an average entry-level home has nearly tripled over the past five years. According to a new Zillow report, 237 cities now have starter homes valued at $1 million or more, up from 84 in 2019. This increase highlights the ongoing affordability crisis in the housing market. Zillow’s senior economist, Orphe … Continue reading A $1 million starter home is now the norm in more than 200 US cities

Japan stocks rebound to lead gains in Asia as traders assess U.S. inflation data

Asia-Pacific markets rose on Monday, led by Japan’s Nikkei 225, which gained 2.26% after a U.S. inflation report on Friday raised expectations for a potential interest rate cut. The Topix index increased by 2.02%, and the Japanese yen strengthened by 0.18% to 153.44 against the dollar. The U.S. June personal consumption expenditures price index rose 0.1% month-on-month and 2.5% year-on-year, matching economists’ estimates. This week, … Continue reading Japan stocks rebound to lead gains in Asia as traders assess U.S. inflation data

Trump leads Harris in new WSJ poll

A new Wall Street Journal poll reveals a tightly contested presidential race between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, with Trump leading Harris 49% to 47% in a two-person matchup, within the margin of error of ±3.1 percentage points. Earlier this month, Trump had a six-point lead over President Biden before exiting the race and endorsing Harris. In a multicandidate scenario including Robert F. Kennedy Jr., … Continue reading Trump leads Harris in new WSJ poll

Fetterman diagnosed with COVID-19, experiencing mild symptoms

Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) has tested positive for COVID-19 and is experiencing mild symptoms. He plans to work from home and follow CDC guidelines, though it’s unclear if his diagnosis will impact his participation in the Senate’s final votes before the August recess. The Senate is set to vote on the bipartisan Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act and the Kids Online Safety Act. … Continue reading Fetterman diagnosed with COVID-19, experiencing mild symptoms

McCaul says report on Trump assassination attempt could be out by end of year

Rep. Michael McCaul indicated that a report on the assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump could be completed by the end of the year. Speaking on CBS News’s “Face the Nation,” McCaul criticized security failures that allowed the assailant to get dangerously close to Trump and revealed the attacker had a detonation device and two bombs. The House recently voted to establish a task … Continue reading McCaul says report on Trump assassination attempt could be out by end of year

Mark Meadows asks Supreme Court to move Georgia election case to federal court 

Former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows’s attorneys have petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to transfer his Georgia election racketeering case to federal court. They argue that, following a recent Supreme Court decision granting former President Trump some immunity in a federal election case, a federal forum is necessary to address the legal questions surrounding Meadows’s actions in his official capacity. The petition marks … Continue reading Mark Meadows asks Supreme Court to move Georgia election case to federal court 

Venezuelans vote in election that could oust autocrat

On Sunday, Venezuelans cast their votes in a pivotal presidential election where longtime leader Nicolás Maduro faces one of his toughest political challenges. Long lines formed outside polling centers in Caracas before they opened at 6 a.m. ET, and voting continued until 6 p.m., with the possibility of extended hours for those still waiting. Results are yet to be announced. Voters expressed varied sentiments: some … Continue reading Venezuelans vote in election that could oust autocrat

JD Vance admitted he ‘hates cops’ & called Trump a ‘morally reprehensible’ in bombshell emails to classmate

JD Vance reportedly expressed strong negative views about the police and Donald Trump in messages to a Yale Law School classmate, Sofia Nelson, between 2014 and 2017. Nelson provided up to 90 messages and emails to the New York Times, revealing Vance’s criticism of Trump as a “morally reprehensible human being” and his disapproval of police conduct following the 2014 Ferguson shooting. Vance allegedly expressed … Continue reading JD Vance admitted he ‘hates cops’ & called Trump a ‘morally reprehensible’ in bombshell emails to classmate

38,000-acre Borel fire destroys historic Kern County mining town of Havilah

The 38,000-acre Borel fire in Kern County has destroyed the historic mining town of Havilah. The fire, which started in Kern River canyon and spread quickly due to strong winds, ravaged Havilah on Friday night, leaving almost the entire town in ruins. Resident Sean Rains reported that nearly everything in the town was lost, though some buildings, including the town hall, were saved with the … Continue reading 38,000-acre Borel fire destroys historic Kern County mining town of Havilah

Second rallygoer injured in Trump assassination attempt is released from the hospital

David Dutch and James Copenhaver, the two men injured in the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, were both discharged from the hospital recently. Dutch, 57, was released from Allegheny General Hospital on July 24, while Copenhaver, 74, was discharged on July 26. Copenhaver, who suffered critical injuries at Trump’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, is reported to be recovering from “life-altering” wounds. His family … Continue reading Second rallygoer injured in Trump assassination attempt is released from the hospital

Attorney for cartel leader ‘El Mayo’ says client was kidnapped, brought to the US

The lawyer for Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, a powerful Mexican drug cartel leader now in U.S. custody, claimed Sunday that Zambada was “forcibly kidnapped” by Joaquín Guzmán López, the son of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, rather than willingly traveling to the U.S. Zambada, who had evaded capture for decades, was arrested on Thursday in Santa Teresa, New Mexico, along with Guzmán López. Frank Perez, Zambada’s … Continue reading Attorney for cartel leader ‘El Mayo’ says client was kidnapped, brought to the US

California Highway Reopens After Lithium Battery Fire Trapped Drivers

A major highway between California and Las Vegas was closed for 48 hours after a tractor trailer carrying hazardous materials overturned and caught fire. The California Highway Patrol announced on Sunday that all lanes of Interstate 15 were reopened after crews moved the hazardous materials container away from the roadway. The incident happened around 6 a.m. on Friday near Barstow, California, when a truck carrying … Continue reading California Highway Reopens After Lithium Battery Fire Trapped Drivers

Park Fire 12% contained after burning over 360k acres, many evacuations remain

As of 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 28, the Park Fire is 12% contained after burning 360,341 acres, according to Cal Fire. The fire expanded rapidly late Friday into Saturday morning due to steep terrain and high winds, advancing at a rate of four to five thousand acres per hour. This has led to evacuations in multiple Northstate counties. An initial aerial assessment indicated that … Continue reading Park Fire 12% contained after burning over 360k acres, many evacuations remain

France rail repairs completed after arson attacks

France’s national rail operator, SNCF, has completed repairs on infrastructure damaged in a suspected arson attack on Friday. Most trains were running as scheduled by Sunday, with full service expected to resume by Monday. The attack, described by officials as “sabotage” aimed at paralyzing high-speed TGV lines to and from Paris, caused significant disruption ahead of the Olympic Games’ opening ceremony. SNCF staff repaired damaged … Continue reading France rail repairs completed after arson attacks

In show of growing ties, Russian warships make new visit to Cuban waters

Three Russian warships arrived in Cuban waters on Saturday, marking Moscow’s second naval visit to Cuba in two months, reflecting deepening ties between the two nations. The naval group, comprising a training ship, patrol frigate, and refueling tanker, will remain docked in Havana’s port until Tuesday. This visit follows a recent squadron visit, which included a nuclear-powered submarine, as part of military exercises in mid-June. … Continue reading In show of growing ties, Russian warships make new visit to Cuban waters

Putin warns the United States of Cold War-style missile crisis

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned the United States against deploying long-range missiles in Germany, stating that Russia would station similar missiles within striking distance of the West. The U.S. plans to deploy these missiles in Germany from 2026, including SM-6, Tomahawk cruise missiles, and developmental hypersonic weapons. During a speech in St. Petersburg on Russian Navy Day, Putin cautioned that such U.S. actions could provoke … Continue reading Putin warns the United States of Cold War-style missile crisis

Israel says Hezbollah rocket kills 12 at football ground, vows response

On July 28, thousands attended funeral ceremonies for the 12 children and teenagers killed in a rocket strike in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, as Israel vowed swift retaliation against the Hezbollah militia in Lebanon. Hezbollah denied responsibility for the attack on Majdal Shams, the deadliest in Israel or Israeli-annexed territory since the start of the Gaza conflict, which now threatens to escalate into a wider … Continue reading Israel says Hezbollah rocket kills 12 at football ground, vows response

USA Launches Tokyo Military Command to Counter Beijing

The U.S. will establish a new military command in Japan to enhance security ties as part of efforts to strengthen alliances in Asia amid China’s military buildup, top American and Japanese officials announced Sunday. This command, initially led by a three-star general, will coordinate operations with Japan, plan joint exercises, and participate in defense if needed, placing U.S. warfighting capabilities under a headquarters in Japan … Continue reading USA Launches Tokyo Military Command to Counter Beijing

Divers discover 100 bottles of champagne in 19th-century shipwreck

A team of Polish divers from Baltictech has uncovered a well-preserved 19th-century shipwreck in the Baltic Sea, about 20 nautical miles off the Swedish coast. The ship was found to be heavily laden with historical artifacts, including over 100 bottles of champagne, as well as wine, mineral water, and porcelain. The most intriguing find for the divers was the mineral water in clay bottles, which … Continue reading Divers discover 100 bottles of champagne in 19th-century shipwreck