Helicopter crash that killed Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi caused by weather, report finds

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and seven others, including Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, died in a helicopter crash in May caused by challenging climatic conditions, including dense fog, according to an Iranian military report. The crash occurred in a mountainous area of northwestern Iran, with no signs of sabotage found. Raisi, considered a protégé of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was seen as a potential future … Continue reading Helicopter crash that killed Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi caused by weather, report finds

Beluga whale alleged to be Russian ‘spy’ found dead in Norway

Hvaldimir, a beluga whale first spotted in Norway wearing a harness that sparked rumors of being a Russian “spy whale,” has been found dead in southern Norway’s Risavika Bay. The whale’s body was discovered floating by a father and son and was retrieved by crane for examination. Marine biologist Sebastian Strand, who monitored Hvaldimir for three years, expressed shock at the sudden death, noting no … Continue reading Beluga whale alleged to be Russian ‘spy’ found dead in Norway

17 bodies found after Russian tourist helicopter crash

Rescuers found no survivors after a helicopter carrying 22 people, mostly tourists, crashed in Russia’s Kamchatka peninsula. The aircraft went missing on Saturday near the Vachkazhets volcano, and 17 bodies have been recovered so far. The crash site was discovered in a hilly area, with wreckage near where the helicopter disappeared from radar. Thick fog and harsh weather have hindered rescue efforts, which are set … Continue reading 17 bodies found after Russian tourist helicopter crash

Six hostages ‘brutally murdered’ in Gaza, including American

Israel’s military recovered the bodies of six hostages, including Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg-Polin, in tunnels under Gaza, killed shortly before being found. The discovery has sparked protests and criticism of Prime Minister Netanyahu for failing to secure a hostage deal. The victims were expected to be released under a prior agreement with Hamas, but delays allegedly contributed to their deaths. Families of hostages have been vocal … Continue reading Six hostages ‘brutally murdered’ in Gaza, including American

Ukraine Strikes Moscow Oil Refinery in Massive Drone Barrage

Ukraine launched one of its largest drone attacks against Russia, targeting a major oil refinery in Moscow and other energy facilities, highlighting the vulnerability of strategic infrastructure deep inside Russia. Russia’s defense ministry reported intercepting over 150 drones across 15 regions, with some hitting key energy sites, including a Gazprom refinery and a power station in Tver. Videos showed explosions at the refinery, but officials … Continue reading Ukraine Strikes Moscow Oil Refinery in Massive Drone Barrage

American archaeologist drowns after Viking replica boat capsizes in Norway

The body of American archaeologist Karla Dana has been recovered from the sea off Norway after the replica Viking boat she was sailing in capsized during an expedition from the Faroe Islands. The incident occurred on Tuesday, while the six-member crew was participating in the “Legendary Viking Voyage” aboard the Naddoddur. The Norwegian Joint Rescue Coordination Centre rescued the five surviving passengers, but Dana, 29, … Continue reading American archaeologist drowns after Viking replica boat capsizes in Norway

‘Extremely rare, beautiful’ First Temple-era ‘genie’ seal discovered in Jerusalem

A rare First Temple period stone seal featuring paleo-Hebrew script and an image of a protective demon has been discovered in Jerusalem. Found in the Davidson Archaeological Garden near the Temple Mount, the seal is about 2,700 years old and bears the inscription “LeYeho’ezer ben Hosh’ayahu” in mirror writing. The seal, which likely belonged to a senior official in the Kingdom of Judah, depicts a … Continue reading ‘Extremely rare, beautiful’ First Temple-era ‘genie’ seal discovered in Jerusalem

NASA selects Intuitive Machines for south pole lunar lander mission

NASA has awarded Intuitive Machines a $116.9 million contract to deliver six payloads to the moon’s south polar region in 2027. This mission, part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, will use Intuitive Machines’ Nova-C lander to transport experiments from NASA, the European Space Agency, and the University of Colorado Boulder. The payloads include studies on biology, planetary science, and a laser retroreflector … Continue reading NASA selects Intuitive Machines for south pole lunar lander mission

Blue Origin launches 6 people to space, lands safely on NS-26 flight

Blue Origin successfully launched and landed its eighth suborbital space tourism mission, NS-26, from its West Texas spaceport this morning. The flight, which took off at 9:07 a.m. EDT, reached an altitude of 341,000 feet before returning to Earth at 9:19 a.m. EDT. The six-person crew, including philanthropist Nicolina Elrick and NASA-funded researcher Rob Ferl, enjoyed a few minutes of weightlessness. Ferl conducted plant growth … Continue reading Blue Origin launches 6 people to space, lands safely on NS-26 flight

NASA Discovers Hidden Atmospheric Force Driving Particles Into Space

NASA’s Endurance rocket has confirmed the existence of a long-hypothesized ambipolar electric field surrounding Earth. Launched from Norway’s Svalbard in May 2022, the rocket detected this weak electric field, which is believed to influence the polar wind and contribute to Earth’s unique atmospheric conditions. The field’s detection, reported in Nature, shows an electric potential change of just 0.55 volts, sufficient to drive the polar wind and … Continue reading NASA Discovers Hidden Atmospheric Force Driving Particles Into Space

Chinese tech firms accelerate humanoid robot R&D

Chinese tech and automation companies are ramping up R&D in humanoid robots, anticipating significant growth in demand across service, manufacturing, and healthcare sectors. Wuxi Longsheng Technology is working with local authorities to apply humanoid robots in manufacturing, with ongoing trials and system improvements. Shenzhen’s Jwipc Technology has introduced a high-performance controller for various robots, including humanoid models, using NVIDIA’s Isaac platform, ECNS has reported. Analysts … Continue reading Chinese tech firms accelerate humanoid robot R&D

Dollar General shares crater 25% as retailer cuts outlook

Dollar General’s shares fell 25% after it revised its full-year sales and profit forecasts downward, indicating financial strain among its lower-income customers. The retailer now expects same-store sales to rise by 1.0% to 1.6% and earnings per share to be between $5.50 and $6.20, lower than previous estimates. In its second fiscal quarter, Dollar General reported earnings of $1.70 per share on revenue of $10.21 … Continue reading Dollar General shares crater 25% as retailer cuts outlook

Ford becomes the latest company to scale back its diversity and inclusion policies

Ford is revising its diversity and inclusion policies amid shifting legal and political pressures. CEO Jim Farley announced changes, including refocusing employee resource groups and ending participation in external culture surveys by the Human Rights Campaign, which previously recognized Ford for LGBTQ+ equality. The move follows pressure from right-wing activist Robby Starbuck and aligns with broader trends among companies adjusting or scaling back their DEI … Continue reading Ford becomes the latest company to scale back its diversity and inclusion policies

Bugs, mold and mildew found in Boar’s Head plant linked to deadly listeria outbreak

Inspectors found numerous violations at Boar’s Head’s Jarratt, Virginia plant, which has been linked to a nationwide deli meat recall due to a listeria outbreak. Violations included mold, mildew, and insect infestations throughout the facility. The outbreak has resulted in 57 hospitalizations and at least nine deaths across 18 states. The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has suspended inspections at the plant, which … Continue reading Bugs, mold and mildew found in Boar’s Head plant linked to deadly listeria outbreak

Harris-Trump debate rules include muted mics and no audience

Next month’s debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump will feature strict rules: no audience, no live microphones between speaking turns, and no written notes. ABC News, the host network, shared these guidelines with both campaigns this week. The debate, scheduled for September 10, is set to follow similar rules as the June Biden-Trump debate, which saw controversy over microphone muting. … Continue reading Harris-Trump debate rules include muted mics and no audience

Walz says his military record ‘speaks for itself’ in CNN interview

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz addressed criticism of his military record in a CNN interview with Vice President Kamala Harris, explaining that his 2018 remarks about “carrying a weapon of war in war” were a grammatical error. Walz, who served 24 years in the National Guard but was not in combat, dismissed the criticism as part of a broader attempt to undermine him. He emphasized pride … Continue reading Walz says his military record ‘speaks for itself’ in CNN interview

Harris defends shifting from some liberal positions

In her first major TV interview of her presidential campaign, Vice President Kamala Harris defended her shift away from some liberal positions, stating her values remain unchanged while seeking consensus. Speaking alongside running mate Gov. Tim Walz, Harris addressed policy reversals on fracking and decriminalizing border crossings, emphasizing the need to find common ground. The interview aimed to introduce voters to the Democratic ticket following … Continue reading Harris defends shifting from some liberal positions

Trump vows IVF will be free if reelected

During a rally in Michigan, former President Donald Trump announced that if reelected, his administration would ensure the federal government or insurance companies cover in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments. Trump emphasized the need to support families and allow new parents to deduct newborn expenses from taxes, positioning the GOP as pro-family amid backlash over abortion rights. This announcement comes as Democrats have criticized Trump and … Continue reading Trump vows IVF will be free if reelected

Trump asks federal court to take over hush money case 

Former President Trump has asked a federal court to intervene in his hush money case, aiming to overturn his conviction and delay his sentencing, scheduled for next month. Trump’s lawyers argue that the state’s prosecution violated his constitutional rights and conflicts with a Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity. Convicted earlier this year on 34 counts of falsifying business records related to hush money payments, … Continue reading Trump asks federal court to take over hush money case 

Solo backpacker, 60, found dead near rugged and remote Grand Canyon trail

A 60-year-old solo backpacker from North Carolina was found dead near a remote trail along the Colorado River in Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona. He was located by helicopter on Wednesday between Lower Tapeats and Deer Creek campsites during a multi-day hike. The man was reported missing on Tuesday after failing to check in with his family. His death is under investigation by the National … Continue reading Solo backpacker, 60, found dead near rugged and remote Grand Canyon trail

University of Delaware student killed after motorcyclist flees traffic stop

A motorcyclist fleeing a traffic stop hit and killed an 18-year-old University of Delaware freshman and injured four others on the first day of classes. The incident occurred after the motorcyclist sped away from campus police, striking the student as she crossed the street. Despite bystanders’ efforts, the student was pronounced dead at the scene. The motorcyclist was ejected from his bike, which continued to … Continue reading University of Delaware student killed after motorcyclist flees traffic stop

Loran Cole executed in murder of Florida State University student whose sister was raped

Loran Cole, 57, was executed by lethal injection on Thursday at Florida State Prison for the 1994 murder of 18-year-old Florida State University student John Edwards and the sexual assault of Edwards’ sister during a camping trip in Ocala National Forest. Cole’s execution, Florida’s first of the year and the 13th in the nation, occurred at 6:15 p.m. with witnesses including guards, journalists, and corrections … Continue reading Loran Cole executed in murder of Florida State University student whose sister was raped

Wells Fargo employee found in her cubicle 4 days after last scanning into work

Denise Prudhomme, a 60-year-old Wells Fargo employee, was found dead at her cubicle in Tempe, Arizona, on August 20, four days after she last scanned into the office on August 16. The cause of death is under investigation, with no signs of foul play reported. Prudhomme’s body went unnoticed for days as she worked in a sparsely populated area away from main aisles, with some … Continue reading Wells Fargo employee found in her cubicle 4 days after last scanning into work

NSA launches public awareness campaign in major shift

The NSA is launching a podcast titled “No Such Podcast,” aimed at sharing insights into its secretive work in signals intelligence, cybersecurity, and combat support. Announced via a cryptic trailer, the podcast will feature NSA experts discussing the agency’s role in major military and intelligence events, marking a shift in the NSA’s public engagement strategy since the fallout from Edward Snowden’s 2013 revelations. The initiative … Continue reading NSA launches public awareness campaign in major shift

YouTube chef, son of Spanish actors, sentenced to life in Thai prison for grisly murder

A Thai court sentenced Daniel Sancho Bronchalo, a 30-year-old chef and member of a prominent Spanish acting family, to life in prison for the premeditated murder and dismemberment of Colombian surgeon Edwin Arrieta Arteaga on the holiday island of Koh Pha-ngan. Originally sentenced to death, Sancho’s term was reduced due to his cooperation during the trial. He must also pay over $125,000 in compensation to … Continue reading YouTube chef, son of Spanish actors, sentenced to life in Thai prison for grisly murder