Iran Dismisses Qatar's Draft Peace Proposal as 'Unacceptable,' Rejecting Seven-Day Ceasefire Framework
A senior Iranian official told Reuters that Qatar presented only 'unacceptable ideas' — not a formal proposal — directly contradicting Qatari mediators who said they delivered a new draft deal to Tehran on Sunday. Iran ruled out flexibility on the nuclear issue, effectively rejecting a reported seven-day plan to end hostilities with the U.S. and Israel. The diplomatic collapse comes alongside reports of renewed U.S.-Israel strike planning and intensified fighting in Yemen.
Federal Reserve holds rates steady at 3.75%–4% in 10-2 vote, with two officials dissenting in favor of a hike
The Federal Reserve voted Wednesday to keep its benchmark interest rate in the 3.75%–4% range, with Governors Lisa Cook and Cleveland Fed President Beth Hammack dissenting in favor of a quarter-point hike due to persistent inflation concerns. The decision came five days before midterm elections, prompting Fed Chair Kevin Warsh to state politics played no role in the outcome. A December rate hike remains on the table as markets watch whether the dissents signal broader committee momentum toward further tightening.
Supreme Court agrees to hear Trump administration appeal to block release of DOGE internal documents
The U.S. Supreme Court agreed Tuesday to take up a Justice Department appeal seeking to prevent watchdog group CREW from obtaining DOGE's internal communications and records. The central legal question is whether DOGE qualifies as a federal agency subject to the Freedom of Information Act, which would require it to comply with public records requests. The Court's decision to hear the case temporarily shields DOGE from turning over documents while the justices deliberate.
James O'Keefe and Cam Higby Charged With Felony Voter Fraud and Identity Theft Over Minneapolis Primary Stunt
Conservative activists James O'Keefe and Cam Higby were charged Wednesday with felony unlawful voting and identity theft after Minnesota prosecutors say they used stolen identities to pose as registered voters at Minneapolis polling places during the August primary. Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty announced the charges, saying the men gave poll workers the false names of four real registered voters during a hidden-camera operation, though neither actually cast a ballot. The charges were filed two months after the alleged conduct occurred.
Alphabet Shares Drop 10% After Q3 Revenue Miss and Record $51.4B AI Spending Triggers $9B Cash Burn
Alphabet reported third-quarter revenue and search advertising sales below Wall Street expectations, alongside a record $51.4 billion in capital expenditure — more than double the prior year — sending shares down roughly 10% in after-hours trading. Free cash flow swung to negative $9.07 billion, alarming investors despite stronger-than-expected Google Cloud revenue. The results intensified scrutiny over whether massive AI infrastructure investments by major tech companies will generate commensurate returns.
South Korean Police Arrest Seven in Nation's First Major AI-Assisted Hacking Case Spanning 90 Organizations
Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency arrested seven suspects in South Korea's first large-scale AI-assisted hacking case, in which the group used generative AI tools to breach approximately 90 organizations over 13 months. The suspects stole 8.2 million personal records and extorted victims for roughly 360 million won ($260,000 USD). The investigation is ongoing, with authorities expecting the total number of affected organizations and stolen records to rise.
U.S. Expels Cuban Diplomat Richard Tur de la Concepción After Physical Altercation on UN General Assembly Floor
The United States has expelled Cuban diplomat Richard Tur de la Concepción after he was caught on video shoving a spokesman for U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz during a confrontation on the UN General Assembly floor. The altercation erupted during a debate over the U.S. embargo against Cuba, a recurring point of contention at the UN. Secretary of State Marco Rubio signed the expulsion order directing Tur de la Concepción to return to Havana, with the episode seen as a further sign of worsening U.S.-Cuba relations.
Study of 75 Meteorite Falls Overturns Textbook Model of Atmospheric Entry
A new study in Meteoritics & Planetary Science has overturned the long-held understanding of how space rocks survive atmospheric entry, finding that fragmentation and melting play a far greater role than the previously dominant ablation model suggested. Researchers analyzed video and photographic records of 75 meteorite falls, identifying seven distinct stages of atmospheric entry for the first time. The revised model has practical implications for predicting where meteorite fragments land after fireball events, as existing trajectory tools may carry systematic errors.