Israel says it will field Iron Beam air-defense lasers in a year

The Israeli Ministry of Defense announced that Iron Beam systems will be integrated into the country’s air defense network within a year. This follows an armament agreement with contractors Rafael and Elbit to expedite the development of the Iron Beam directed-energy weapon. Designed to complement the Iron Dome, Iron Beam will enhance defenses against various aerial threats, including rockets, drones, and cruise missiles. The agreement … Continue reading Israel says it will field Iron Beam air-defense lasers in a year

Apple’s AI features roll out on iPhones – but not for all

Apple has launched its artificial intelligence (AI) tools for iPhones, but availability is limited to users of the latest devices, including all iPhone 16 models and the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Announced in June, the suite, called Apple Intelligence, includes features like notification summaries, writing assistance, and an upgraded interface for Siri. While these tools are now accessible on iPhones, they have arrived … Continue reading Apple’s AI features roll out on iPhones – but not for all

Robinhood Launches Presidential Election Betting Market Allowing Users To Wager On Harris And Trump

Retail investing platform Robinhood launched a program on Monday allowing users to bet on the outcome of the U.S. presidential election, entering a market that currently favors former President Donald Trump. Robinhood joins other prediction market firms like Polymarket, Kalshi, and PredictIt in this growing trend. However, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission has raised concerns about the potential impact of election betting on election integrity, … Continue reading Robinhood Launches Presidential Election Betting Market Allowing Users To Wager On Harris And Trump

McDonald’s bringing back Quarter Pounder after its ruled out as source of E. coli outbreak

McDonald’s is reinstating Quarter Pounders at locations where sales were paused due to an E. coli outbreak that sickened dozens and resulted in one death, as beef has been ruled out as the source of contamination. Colorado’s Department of Agriculture found no E. coli in beef patties tested from affected restaurants. McDonald’s is now allowing its beef suppliers to resume production, with Quarter Pounders expected … Continue reading McDonald’s bringing back Quarter Pounder after its ruled out as source of E. coli outbreak

U.S. oil posts worst day in two years after Israel spares Iran crude facilities

U.S. crude oil prices fell over 6% on Monday, marking their worst day in more than two years, after Israeli strikes on Iranian military facilities left Iran’s energy infrastructure unscathed. West Texas Intermediate futures dropped 6.13% to $67.38 per barrel, while Brent futures fell 6.09% to $71.42 per barrel. The Israeli attacks, in response to Iranian missile launches, reportedly caused limited damage, with Iran’s oil … Continue reading U.S. oil posts worst day in two years after Israel spares Iran crude facilities

Bulgaria centre right leads in snap vote, fails to win majority: Exit polls

Bulgaria’s center-right GERB party led the parliamentary election on Sunday, securing 26.4% of the vote, but failed to achieve a majority necessary to stabilize the political landscape. Reformist party We Continue the Change (PP) followed with 14.9%, and the pro-Russia ultra-nationalist Revival party garnered 12.9%. This election, the seventh in four years, was prompted by the inability of political parties to form a coalition government … Continue reading Bulgaria centre right leads in snap vote, fails to win majority: Exit polls

Uruguay presidential election heads to runoff with center-left candidate in lead

Uruguay is set for a tight presidential election runoff on November 24 after center-left candidate Yamandú Orsi led the first round of voting, garnering over 1 million votes. He outpaced the ruling conservative coalition’s candidate, Álvaro Delgado, who received 644,147 votes, while third-place candidate Andrés Ojeda, with 385,685 votes, pledged to support Delgado. Voters also rejected a controversial pension reform plan aimed at lowering the … Continue reading Uruguay presidential election heads to runoff with center-left candidate in lead

Japan’s government in flux after election gives no party majority

Japan’s political landscape shifted dramatically following a weekend snap election, where voters rejected Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s scandal-plagued coalition, leaving no party with a clear majority. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its junior partner, Komeito, lost seats, dropping from 279 to 215, while the main opposition, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDPJ), increased its presence from 98 to 148 seats but still … Continue reading Japan’s government in flux after election gives no party majority

Tax rises needed to avert austerity, Starmer says

In a speech before Wednesday’s Budget announcement, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer emphasized the need for “tough decisions” to address fiscal challenges while ensuring “better days are ahead.” He announced a £3 cap on bus fares in England, extending the current £2 cap, and pledged £240 million to support job seekers. However, the Conservatives criticized Starmer for potentially breaking Labour’s election promise not to raise … Continue reading Tax rises needed to avert austerity, Starmer says

Pro-Putin party wins contested election as Georgia drifts further from US, Europe

Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili has called for protests against the recent parliamentary election results, which she claims were rigged with Russian assistance. The ruling party, Georgian Dream, won approximately 54% of the vote, a result seen as a setback for Georgia’s aspirations to join the European Union and a victory for Russian President Vladimir Putin. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed concerns over election … Continue reading Pro-Putin party wins contested election as Georgia drifts further from US, Europe

Philadelphia DA sues Elon Musk over $1 million voter giveaway

Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner has sued Elon Musk and his PAC, claiming Musk’s $1 million voter giveaway constitutes an illegal lottery under Pennsylvania law. Krasner seeks an injunction, alleging the PAC’s actions mislead consumers and skirt state lottery regulations. While Musk insists the giveaway is meant to promote free speech and does not require voting, critics argue it could influence voters, ABC News has … Continue reading Philadelphia DA sues Elon Musk over $1 million voter giveaway

Virginia asks US Supreme Court to permit voter roll purge aimed at suspected noncitizens

Virginia officials have appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court to allow the state to remove suspected noncitizens from voter rolls ahead of next week’s presidential election. The request comes amid heightened scrutiny and distrust, with polls showing varying confidence in the Supreme Court’s handling of election cases. Virginia’s Governor Glenn Youngkin initiated the program to cross-check state records for noncitizens, but a lower court blocked … Continue reading Virginia asks US Supreme Court to permit voter roll purge aimed at suspected noncitizens

Woman dies after backing into plane propeller while taking picture at Kansas airfield

Amanda Gallagher, 37, from Wichita, Kansas, died on Saturday after accidentally backing into a plane’s propeller while taking photos at Cook Airfield. Gallagher, an observer on a skydiving flight with Air Capital Drop Zone, moved in front of the wing as jumpers boarded, violating safety protocols, and was critically injured. Tributes described her as a kind, adventurous person, NBC News has reported. The FAA and … Continue reading Woman dies after backing into plane propeller while taking picture at Kansas airfield

Man pleads guilty to killing Memphis kindergarten teacher who was kidnapped on her morning run

Cleotha Abston, charged with the 2022 kidnapping and murder of kindergarten teacher Eliza Fletcher, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and received a life sentence without parole. Fletcher, a mother of two, was abducted during a run near the University of Memphis and later found dead. Abston, previously imprisoned for kidnapping and sentenced in a separate rape case, was identified through surveillance and forensic evidence, NBC … Continue reading Man pleads guilty to killing Memphis kindergarten teacher who was kidnapped on her morning run

Ballot drop box fires under investigation in Oregon, Washington

Federal authorities are investigating fires at two ballot boxes in the Portland, Oregon, area, believed to have been caused by incendiary devices. In Portland, security personnel quickly extinguished the fire, which damaged three ballots, and officials will contact affected voters to reissue ballots. In Vancouver, Washington, a second ballot box fire damaged hundreds of ballots, and voters who deposited ballots after 11 a.m. Saturday are … Continue reading Ballot drop box fires under investigation in Oregon, Washington

UK political activist Tommy Robinson jailed for 18 months

Tommy Robinson, British far-right activist and founder of the defunct English Defence League, has been sentenced to 18 months in jail for contempt of court after repeating false allegations against a Syrian refugee. Robinson admitted to breaching UK court orders by publicly spreading false claims about the refugee in a film, “Silenced,” shared on social media and at a London rally. In 2021, he lost … Continue reading UK political activist Tommy Robinson jailed for 18 months

Austrian mayor shot dead with suspect on the run, police say

A manhunt is underway in northern Austria after a suspected gunman fatally shot Franz Hofer, mayor of Kirchberg ob der Donau, and another man in Altenfelden, near the German and Czech borders. Police identified Roland Drexler, 56, as the suspect, reportedly armed and dangerous, who fled in a Volkswagen Caddy after a dispute over hunting rights. Local officials expressed shock over the incident, describing it … Continue reading Austrian mayor shot dead with suspect on the run, police say

Woman found alive after surviving snake bite and two weeks in the wilderness

Lovisa “Kiki” Sjoberg, 48, was found alive but “dazed and unwell” in Australia’s Snowy Mountains after nearly two weeks missing. New South Wales Police launched a large-scale search when her rental car was left unmoved for six days. Sjoberg reported being bitten by a venomous copperhead snake four days prior to her rescue, and she suffered dehydration and a rolled ankle, NBC News has reported. … Continue reading Woman found alive after surviving snake bite and two weeks in the wilderness

At least 7 killed, 17 injured in strikes on Tyre as Israeli military maintains pressure on Lebanon

Israel launched airstrikes on Tyre, Lebanon, on Monday, targeting Hezbollah fighters and key military sites in response to Hezbollah’s use of civilian areas for militant operations. Lebanon’s Health Ministry reported seven dead and 17 injured near Tyre’s Corniche. Israel claimed it aimed to disrupt Hezbollah’s military capabilities, including targeting the Aziz unit, linked to recent shelling of Israeli territory. Meanwhile, in Gaza, where civilian casualties … Continue reading At least 7 killed, 17 injured in strikes on Tyre as Israeli military maintains pressure on Lebanon

No new limits on Ukraine’s use of US arms if North Korea joins fight, Pentagon says

The U.S. will not restrict Ukraine’s use of American weapons if North Korea joins Russia in the conflict, the Pentagon announced, as NATO reported North Korean forces are moving to Russia’s Kursk region. This shift raises concerns that the Ukraine war could expand amid increasing collaboration between Russia and North Korea. NATO’s Mark Rutte called this alliance a threat to global security, and U.S. President … Continue reading No new limits on Ukraine’s use of US arms if North Korea joins fight, Pentagon says

GOP: Harris calling Trump ‘fascist’ could invite assassination attempt

Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell issued a joint statement condemning Vice President Kamala Harris for labeling former President Trump a “fascist,” claiming it could incite further violence, including assassination attempts. They referenced the recent close calls Trump faced and criticized Harris for allegedly escalating political tensions. Although Harris did not directly use the term during her CNN town hall, she affirmed … Continue reading GOP: Harris calling Trump ‘fascist’ could invite assassination attempt

Trump doubles down on replacing income taxes with tariffs

In a recent interview with Joe Rogan, former President Donald Trump reiterated his proposal to replace income taxes with tariffs, emphasizing a need to protect American jobs and factories. He suggested eliminating income taxes on tips, overtime pay, and Social Security, which could cost about $2 trillion over a decade. To offset this loss, he proposed a 20% tariff on imports, especially from China. However, … Continue reading Trump doubles down on replacing income taxes with tariffs

Commonwealth leaders say ‘time has come’ for discussion on UK slavery reparations

At the conclusion of a week-long summit in Samoa, Commonwealth leaders called for a meaningful discussion on whether Britain should commit to reparations for its role in the transatlantic slave trade. The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting focused on slavery and climate change, with representatives from the 56 member countries emphasizing the need for a truthful conversation to address historical injustices. British Prime Minister Keir … Continue reading Commonwealth leaders say ‘time has come’ for discussion on UK slavery reparations

Harris campaign deploys thousands of lawyers to counteract GOP around Election Day 

The Harris campaign is proactively preparing for potential legal challenges surrounding the 2024 election by recruiting thousands of lawyers. With concerns over former President Donald Trump’s campaign possibly initiating legal battles if he loses, over 400 lawyers have already been hired to draft legal memos, and an additional 10,000 are on standby in key swing states. The Democratic National Committee has invested nearly $22 million … Continue reading Harris campaign deploys thousands of lawyers to counteract GOP around Election Day 

Michelle Obama hits the trail for Kamala Harris

During her first campaign stop of 2024 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, former First Lady Michelle Obama delivered a message urging men to recognize what she alleges are potential life-or-death consequences of the upcoming election for women’s health. Speaking at a rally for Vice President Kamala Harris, she emphasized the dire repercussions if Donald Trump were to be re-elected, highlighting the risks to women’s healthcare access, including … Continue reading Michelle Obama hits the trail for Kamala Harris