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The US government has moved to insert itself into Elon Musk's legal fight with the European Union, a dispute reportedly worth €120 million. The move adds a transatlantic political dimension to what was already a high-profile clash between Musk and Brussels regulators, drawing attention to mounting tensions between Washington and the EU over tech regulation and enforcement against American companies.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has directed the Department of Defense to take action against foreign actors who interfere in U.S. elections, Axios reports exclusively. The move signals a more assertive military posture on election security, an area traditionally led by civilian agencies such as the FBI and DHS, and is likely to raise questions about the Pentagon's domestic-political role.

The Pentagon has opened an investigation into how parts for the F-35 fighter jet that were bound for the United States ended up diverted to Hong Kong. The inquiry is examining the supply chain handling of the components and whether the diversion raised security or export-control concerns. The case is drawing attention because the F-35 program involves strict rules on where sensitive parts may go.

Google is pushing back against a European Union effort that would require it to open Android to rival AI assistants. The dispute forms part of ongoing enforcement of the EU's Digital Markets Act, under which Brussels has pressed the company to give competitors greater access to its dominant mobile platform. Google argues the changes would harm user security and privacy, while regulators see them as key to fair competition in the fast-moving AI market.

The European Union has welcomed joint solutions to address water challenges in the Mediterranean region, urging cooperation among countries facing increasing water scarcity, drought and pressure on shared resources. The announcement highlights the EU's push for coordinated regional action on water management as climate change intensifies shortages across southern Europe and neighbouring Mediterranean countries.

Australia's central bank faces a fresh challenge to its battle against inflation as war in the Middle East sends shockwaves through global energy and financial markets. The Reserve Bank's task of returning inflation to target is now complicated by risks it cannot control, with higher oil prices threatening to push up costs just as domestic pressures ease.

Manchester City chief executive Ferran Soriano has said the club's fight against the Premier League could take years to resolve, as reports emerge that a decision in the case over 115 alleged financial rule breaches is imminent. The dispute, which has shadowed the club for years, could yet see further appeals whichever way the verdict goes.

A startup is developing artificial intelligence tools designed to defend against future AI-driven threats, which the Wall Street Journal describes as a potential 'AI pandemic' in an exclusive report. The company's work reflects growing concern in the tech industry that rapidly advancing AI could be weaponized or spread harmfully, prompting investment in defensive countermeasures before such risks materialize.

Manchester City's chief executive has told fellow club executives that the club's battle against the Premier League's financial charges is far from over. The comments signal the club intends to keep contesting the allegations despite recent legal developments, a stance likely to keep tensions high between City and the league's other member clubs.

Ukraine's Air Force says its F-16 Fighting Falcon jets are operating with limited stocks of air-to-air munitions, constraining how often and how aggressively the aircraft can be used against Russian missiles and drones. The US-supplied fighters have become central to Ukraine's air defences, and shortfalls in ammunition have repeatedly raised concerns about sustaining operations.

Palau's President is speaking out about his country's mission to combat climate change. As leader of a small Pacific island nation highly vulnerable to rising seas, he has made climate action a central cause, pressing for stronger international commitments to cut emissions and protect low-lying island states facing existential threats.

Around 9,000 French firefighters marched on Paris and blocked a motorway, demanding more staff, better equipment and higher salaries after a devastating fire season. The demonstration highlights growing anger over underfunding of fire services, with organisers arguing the government has failed to support crews who faced intense wildfires this summer.

Yahoo Finance is asking whether earning a six-figure salary still counts as the benchmark for financial success. With inflation, higher living costs and rising salaries, $100,000 no longer buys what it once did, prompting debate over whether that threshold remains meaningful. Commenters are weighing in on what income level today genuinely signals financial security and success.

Newsweek reports that RAF Fairford, the US Air Force base in Gloucestershire, England, is being described as exposing a weak link in America's ability to sustain operations against Iran. The article suggests the base illustrates constraints in US military readiness or logistics relevant to a potential Iran war.

The Detroit Lakes school board has moved forward with a new policy amid an ongoing dispute over rainbow stickers in the district. The controversy, reported by MPR News, has drawn local attention as the board debates rules touching on displays of support for LGBTQ students. Details of the policy's contents and next steps were not immediately clear.

Brazil heads into the final stretch of its election with former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva framing the vote as a test for the broader region. Observers say the outcome carries weight well beyond Brazil, as Lula is seen as carrying the hopes of a Latin American left that has suffered setbacks in recent years and is seeking a symbolic comeback.

Boeing has reportedly won the US Navy's F/A-XX next-generation fighter contract, valued at around $20 billion. The award would be a major boost for Boeing's defense business, securing the Navy's sixth-generation carrier-based fighter program. Attention now turns to details of the design and how the decision affects competing defense contractors.

Gymnast and former America's Got Talent finalist Sofie Dossi has released a new challenge video asking whether extreme flexibility can help her win a sword fight. The clip has drawn tens of thousands of likes as fans react to her stunts and playful take on fencing-style combat, adding to her catalogue of athletic dare content.

Investigative outlet OCCRP reports that commodity trader Trafigura bought Venezuelan gold in March under what was described as a 'historic' agreement involving US authorities, but months later the gold remains in storage and has not been delivered. The report raises questions about the deal's execution and the broader arrangement involving Venezuelan gold and US sanctions policy, drawing attention among readers following sanctions, commodities and Venezuela-related news.

Investors in SpaceX are searching for explanations after the company's stock failed to rise, despite whatever catalysts or expectations had been priced in. Confusion is running high among shareholders trying to pinpoint the cause. SpaceX is a private company, so the exact circumstances of the share movement and why it disappointed expectations remain unclear.

Figure AI says it has identified a scaling law for robotics, suggesting robot performance improves predictably as models and data grow. The claim comes with an important caveat: the relationship reportedly holds only about 56% of the time. The announcement is drawing attention in the robotics and AI community, where scaling laws have transformed language models and companies are racing to find an equivalent for embodied AI.

On this day in 1909, the Industrial Workers of the World launched its first major free speech fight in Missoula, Montana. Union members defied local ordinances banning public speaking by deliberately gathering to speak, being arrested en masse, and filling the jails until authorities backed down and the laws were changed. The campaign became a template for the IWW's later free speech fights across the American West.

The Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia has closed its doors, with a dispute underway over efforts to reopen the institution. The closure ends a long run for one of the oldest natural history museums in the United States, and questions remain over whether it can be revived. Details about the parties involved in the fight to reopen and the museum's future have not been confirmed.

An Israeli outlet reports that the United States has landed two additional squadrons of jet fighters in Israel, following F-22 Raptors deployed earlier. The claim is circulating alongside OSINT imagery, but major American news outlets have not confirmed the deployment, leaving the scale and purpose of the buildup unclear amid rising regional tensions.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Belgium will transfer three F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine by the end of the year. The announcement adds to the coalition of Western partners supplying the aircraft as Ukraine continues to seek air power to counter Russian attacks. Further details on delivery timing or training were not given.