Taiwan begins 10-day military drills to counter Chinese threats
Taiwan has begun its longest and most expansive annual military exercise to date, aiming to prepare for a possible Chinese invasion. The 10-day Han Kuang drills, which began on Wednesday, July 9, include round-the-clock combat simulations designed to test Taiwan’s ability to respond to gray-zone threats and full-scale attacks. Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said the exercise […]
Olympic champion Caster Semenya wins court fight in sex eligibility case
Olympic champion Caster Semenya’s seven-year legal battle against sex eligibility rules in track and field competitions took a partial turn in her favor on Thursday, June 10. The European Court of Human Rights ruled that Semenya had her rights to a fair hearing violated while arguing in front of Switzerland’s Supreme Court. What was Semenya’s […]
Pentagon invests $400 million in rare-earth miner MP Materials
The Pentagon is slated to become the largest shareholder in rare-earth miner MP Materials. The Department of Defense has agreed to buy $400 million of MP’s stock and provide the Las Vegas-based miner with a $150 million loan, according to an announcement by the company on Thursday, July 10. MP Materials currently owns the only […]
Video game actors end 11-month strike with new AI protections
Hollywood video game performers ended their nearly year-long strike Wednesday with new protections against the use of digital replicas of their voices or appearances. If those replicas are used, actors must be paid at rates comparable to in-person work. The SAG-AFTRA union demanded stronger pay and better working conditions. Among their top concerns was the […]
DOJ lawsuit says California’s ‘cage-free’ laws contributed to rise in egg prices
The Trump administration has sued California and Gov. Gavin Newsom, accusing the state of contributing to the high cost of eggs through animal welfare laws. The administration states that federal law supersedes state law. In a complaint filed on Wednesday, July 9, the U.S. Department of Justice argues that the state’s laws are unnecessary and harm consumers […]
Millions of student loan borrowers will soon have interest restarted
The U.S. Department of Education announced that student loan borrowers on the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan will have their interest accrual restart on August 1. Outreach on the changes began Thursday, July 10, for the 7.7 million borrowers on the Biden-era plan. SAVE plan Former President Joe Biden launched the SAVE plan […]
DHS used Canary Mission to target pro-Palestinian advocates
The Department of Homeland Security has acknowledged using an online platform to identify and deport pro-Palestinian advocates. The disclosure came during a court hearing on Wednesday, July 9, tied to a legal challenge by student groups and university organizations. They are investigating how officials in President Donald Trump’s administration obtained their personal information. DHS used […]
Planned Parenthood clinics dropping access to Medicaid after funding cuts
Some Planned Parenthood locations have stopped accepting Medicaid, the government health insurance program for low-income individuals. President Donald Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill,” signed on July 4, immediately cut off Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood for one year. On Monday, July 7, Planned Parenthood filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, challenging the Medicaid payments provision […]
Is Trump gaslighting on $1.99 per gallon gas prices?
President Donald Trump wants low gas prices — $1.99 per gallon to be exact. In a press conference Wednesday, July 9, Trump claimed several states are already seeing $1.99 prices at the pump. But while the cost per gallon is falling in some regions, it remains steadily above the $2 mark across all 50 states. […]