AHL

Israel's Supreme Court is expected to decide this week whether Arab parties can be barred from running in the upcoming elections. The attempt to exclude them has triggered anger and uncertainty among Arab citizens and their representatives, adding a contentious dimension to an already heated election campaign in Israel.

Fintech firm Revolut is testing 'Pay with Smile', a biometric payment method that lets customers pay in shops using facial recognition. The system links customers' existing KYC identity data, runs on Revolut's own point-of-sale hardware, and deducts money directly from a Revolut account, bypassing cards or smartphones. Commentators note this creates a nearly closed payment ecosystem around the company, raising both convenience and privacy questions as the trial draws attention in banking and fintech circles.

A US jury has ruled that Apple must pay 5.7 billion dollars after finding that the vibration function used in the iPhone and Apple Watch infringes patents held by another American company. The verdict is one of the largest patent damage awards against Apple and is likely to be appealed, with observers watching closely for the company's next legal move.

Pope Leo XIV will close his visit to France on Monday by paying tribute to Robert Schuman, the devout Catholic former French foreign minister regarded as one of the architects of European integration. The pontiff's message is expected to focus on peace and unity, drawing a symbolic link between the Catholic faith and the European project at a time of debate over the continent's future.

Attention is turning to the runoff votes (Stichwahlen) in Hanover and across Lower Saxony. The Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung reports that the first results of the runoffs are expected shortly after polls close, as voters decide on the remaining municipal positions following the local elections.

Celebrity couple Jenny McCarthy and Donnie Wahlberg have put their Illinois home on the market for $2.8 million. The listing by the actor-singer and the TV personality is drawing attention from fans and real estate watchers curious about why the pair are letting go of the property and where they plan to live next.

Saturn's hexagon, a giant six-sided jet stream roughly 29,000 kilometres wide at the planet's north pole, is back in the spotlight. First spotted by the Voyager missions, the storm has fascinated researchers for decades, and its exact cause remains debated. New discussion of the phenomenon is drawing fresh attention to what scientists do and do not understand about the strange atmospheric structure.

A column by Kahler in the South Dakota Standard examines what a flat economy means in practice, arguing that sluggish growth is now the condition people and policymakers must adapt to rather than a temporary downturn. The piece reflects a broader debate about stagnant wages, limited opportunity and how households and businesses plan under persistent economic stagnation.

The Paris Review has published a new interview, 'Naked at Last: A Conversation with F. Keith Wahle', on its blog, filed under literature, poetry and art. The piece offers a candid discussion with Wahle about his work and creative life. Readers of literary publications are sharing the conversation, which is drawing attention within poetry and art circles.

Alabama FarmPAC, the political action committee affiliated with the state's farm federation, has announced its endorsements of candidates Wahl, Sorrell and Zeigler ahead of the general election. The group's backing is closely watched in rural districts, where agricultural interests carry weight with voters. Details on the specific offices the three candidates are seeking were not included in the announcement.