Hegseth says US has full authorization for Caribbean strikes against drug traffickers

Pentagon official documents showing Hegseth use of Signal messaging app that risked US personnel

WASHINGTON — US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said he has “every authorization needed” for recent military strikes in the Caribbean targeting vessels allegedly carrying illegal drugs off the coast of Venezuela.  The comments, made during a Fox News interview aired Sunday, came amid growing debate over the legality and scope of US operations in the … Read more

Comet AI Browser by Perplexity Now Available to Everyone After Limited Rollout

Open laptop displaying Comet AI browser interface on screen in a modern workspace

Perplexity, the artificial intelligence company behind the popular Perplexity AI search assistant, has officially launched its Comet AI browser to the public.  The company confirmed this week that Comet is now free and available to everyone as a desktop browser, marking a significant step in the growing competition among AI-powered web browsers. Initially introduced during … Read more

OPEC+ Oil Output Increase Group Approves Modest 137,000 Bpd Hike for November

Blue OPEC oil barrel near refinery valves representing OPEC+ oil output increase decision for November 2025

LONDON — OPEC+ has agreed to raise oil production by a modest 137,000 barrels per day (bpd) beginning in November, maintaining the same gradual pace as October, according to three sources familiar with the decision.  The move underscores the group’s cautious approach amid competing pressures from leading members Saudi Arabia and Russia, fluctuating global demand, … Read more

Germany AI government push aims to cut bureaucracy costs and modernize public services

Germany AI government modernization plan in Berlin skyline

BERLIN — Germany’s federal government is placing artificial intelligence (AI) at the center of its modernization efforts, unveiling a wide ranging plan to digitize bureaucracy, streamline public administration, and position the country as a European leader in responsible AI adoption.  The initiative, announced last week by Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s cabinet, aims to reduce bureaucracy costs … Read more

OpenAI Infrastructure Expansion: WSJ Reports Altman Seeks Funding and AI Chip Partnerships in Asia and Middle East

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman discusses global fundraising strategy for OpenAI infrastructure expansion across Asia and the Middle East.

WASHINGTON — OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has embarked on a global tour spanning East Asia and the Middle East to secure financing and manufacturing partnerships for the company’s rapidly expanding artificial intelligence infrastructure, according to sources familiar with the matter. Since late September, Altman has met with top technology suppliers in Taiwan, South Korea, and … Read more

Space Data Centres: Jeff Bezos Predicts Gigawatt Scale Computing in Orbit Within 20 Years

A realistic orbital space data centre with solar panels floating above Earth, representing the future of sustainable computing.

Turin, Italy – Amazon founder Jeff Bezos on Friday predicted that within the next 10 to 20 years, data centres of gigawatt scale could be built in space, harnessing uninterrupted solar energy to outperform those on Earth.  Speaking at Italian Tech Week in Turin, Bezos said that the environmental and operational advantages of orbital data … Read more

Government Shutdown Day 4: Missed Paychecks Could Force Congress to End Budget Stalemate

US Capitol building under dark clouds during government shutdown

WASHINGTON — As the government shutdown enters its fourth day with no deal in sight, budget experts warn that two upcoming pay dates October 10 for federal employees and October 15 for US service members could become turning points in negotiations, pressuring lawmakers to reach an agreement before the financial strain spreads across essential services. … Read more

Trump Policies and Job Cuts, AI Isn’t the Real Threat to US Employment

The American labor market is facing growing instability, but artificial intelligence isn’t the main culprit. Despite fears that automation would wipe out millions of jobs, new data from the Yale Budget Lab shows Trump policies and job cuts are far more closely linked than AI to the current employment crisis. Economic experts, labor data, and employer feedback all suggest that government actions including agency downsizing, tariffs, and restrictive immigration rules have accelerated job losses and slowed hiring nationwide. Since the emergence of AI tools like ChatGPT in 2022, the public has worried about widespread job displacement. Yet, a 33 month study by the Yale Budget Lab found minimal evidence that artificial intelligence has eliminated large numbers of jobs or drastically changed overall employment demand. Instead, Trump administration policies have had a deeper and more immediate effect. Researchers identified nearly 300,000 planned layoffs tied directly to “DOGE Actions,” including cuts to federal agencies and nonprofit funding. Analysts say these choices have weakened both public and private sector hiring. The fear around AI has overshadowed the real policy driven disruptions shaping today’s job market, said Dr. Helen Parker, economist at Yale Budget Lab. “Our data clearly point to Trump policies and job cuts as a stronger causal link than automation.” Career experts also report that AI’s impact is more subtle than sensational headlines suggest. “There’s been a lot of hype but no real job destruction yet,” said Cynthia Meis, Director of Career Services at the University of Iowa Tippie College of Business. Companies are cautious, but the hiring slowdown is mainly due to economic policy shifts. Labor specialists say Trump’s tariffs, agency cuts, and restrictive immigration fees have strained employers and reduced workforce confidence. “Policy uncertainty is a powerful drag,” said Andy Challenger, senior vice president at Challenger, Gray & Christmas. “We’re seeing more planned layoffs tied to market conditions created by Trump policies, not automation.” The numbers reinforce that trend. ADP and the Stanford Digital Economy Lab reported that private sector employers cut 3,000 jobs in August and 32,000 in September, reversing earlier estimates of modest growth. Outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas recorded 117,313 new jobs in September, a 71% drop year over year the weakest since 2011. Year to date, only 205,000 jobs have been announced, the lowest total since 2009. So far in 2025, employers have revealed 946,426 planned layoffs, projected to surpass one million by year’s end. Of those, 20,000 linked to automation or AI. 300,000 tied directly to Trump administration actions, 210,000 due to tariffs and inflationary conditions. Even manufacturing, once promised revival under Trump, has lost 42,000 jobs since April’s “Liberation Day” trade policy shift, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Workers and employers alike describe a strained job environment. “It’s harder than ever to land a position,” said Amanda Lopez, a 29 year old marketing professional in Dallas. “Employers tell me hiring is paused because of budgets, not AI.” Small business owners echo similar frustrations. “Tariffs have pushed my material costs up 15%,” said James O’Reilly, who runs a manufacturing firm in Ohio. “We had to freeze hiring until conditions improve.” Career services teams report students struggling with long hiring cycles. “Employers now demand multiple interviews and longer processes,” Meis said. “It’s exhausting candidates and slowing job growth.” Analysts warn more turbulence ahead as Trump policies continue reshaping the labor landscape. The administration’s new $100,000 fee on H-1B visas crucial for tech and healthcare employers has already discouraged international hiring. “Restricting skilled immigration could deepen labor shortages in critical sectors,” Parker said. Meanwhile, inflation pressures persist. The University of Michigan projects 4.7% inflation next year, and consumer prices have risen 2.7% in the past twelve months. Wage growth for low income workers has slowed, widening the gap between top earners and the rest of the workforce. Living costs are climbing while opportunities shrink Challenger said. “That imbalance could further weaken the labor market.” Despite public anxiety about automation, AI is not the driving force behind America’s job losses. The evidence points squarely at Trump policies and job cuts fueled by government downsizing, tariffs, and restrictive hiring regulations. As the US economy navigates uncertainty, experts urge policymakers to balance fiscal discipline with labor market stability to prevent further erosion of employment opportunities.

The American labor market is facing growing instability, but artificial intelligence isn’t the main culprit. Despite fears that automation would wipe out millions of jobs, new data from the Yale Budget Lab shows Trump policies and job cuts are far more closely linked than AI to the current employment crisis. Economic experts, labor data, and … Read more

Threads Daily Active Users on Track to Surpass X, Similarweb Data Shows

A smartphone screen showing the Threads app alongside X, symbolizing rising Threads daily active users worldwide.

Threads, Meta’s microblogging platform positioned as a rival to Elon Musk’s X, is on the verge of overtaking its competitor in daily active mobile users, according to new data from web analytics firm Similarweb.  The report indicates that Threads has steadily grown its base across iOS and Android, drawing closer to X’s estimated 130 million … Read more

Sanae Takaichi Poised to Become Japan’s First Female Prime Minister After LDP Victory

Sanae Takaichi delivers a speech after being elected as Japan’s first female prime minister

TOKYO — Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party on Saturday elected conservative nationalist Sanae Takaichi as its new president, positioning her to become the country’s first female prime minister.  The decision comes as the party struggles to restore public trust amid growing dissatisfaction over rising prices and waning confidence in its leadership. Takaichi, 64, will likely … Read more