RAC

The US military has disabled advertising trackers after concerns were raised that the data they collect could expose service members' locations and routines, reportedly in connection with tensions involving Iran. The move highlights worries that ad-targeting technology can inadvertently reveal sensitive information about personnel, including where they are stationed and their daily movements.

A satirical report claims AI companies are now competing to show their models pose the greatest existential threat to humanity, inverting the usual safety messaging race. The piece mocks how labs frame powerful capabilities as dangerous credentials. Readers are sharing it as commentary on the AI industry's habit of hyping frontier-model risk while racing to ship more capable systems.

Analyst Mouin Rabbani gives an interview examining Israeli politics under Benjamin Netanyahu. He discusses claims that Netanyahu had advance knowledge of the October 7 attack, his speech at the UN, calls to free Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti, and moves to bar Arab-led parties from running in Israeli elections. The interview also touches on Donald Trump's rejection of Iran's proposal.

A new interactive tool forecasting diesel prices has been launched, letting users explore where diesel costs may head next. The release comes as diesel prices remain elevated, with the accompanying write-up arguing that prices could climb further. Readers are weighing in on the model's assumptions and the outlook for fuel costs going into 2026.

Ukraine's air defenses are struggling to keep pace with increasingly fast jet-powered drones, according to reporting by AP News and Military.com. Manufacturers are racing to develop new interceptor drones capable of catching the faster threat. The arms race highlights how rapidly drone technology is evolving on the battlefield, with both sides adapting to ever-quicker aerial attacks.

The U.S. Department of War and the U.S. Navy have announced a new contract with Raytheon to accelerate production of the Standard Missile-6, a key air-defense interceptor used across the fleet. The move aims to expand munitions stockpiles and strengthen naval air-defense capacity at a time of sustained demand for missile inventories.

A newly reported lawsuit alleges a conspiracy to interfere with civil rights and names several senior figures as defendants, including Jonathan Ross, the immigration officer who shot a woman, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, and former Homeland Security head Kristi Noem, along with a former US Border Patrol official. The case adds to mounting legal action over federal immigration enforcement tactics.

RacketCon, the annual conference for the Racket programming language and its community, is being held this Saturday. The event brings together users and developers of Racket to share talks and updates on the language and its ecosystem. Details are available on the conference site.

California has enacted a law banning child marriage, signed by Governor Gavin Newsom, making it one of the US states to prohibit the practice outright. The news has prompted wider discussion of how common child marriage remains worldwide and which countries and states still allow it, with human rights advocates pointing to persistent legal loopholes elsewhere.

Reports say the Trump administration is considering a proposal to suspend issuance of new H-1B skilled-worker visas for up to a year, part of a broader immigration crackdown. The idea is drawing attention as US tech firms simultaneously carry out large layoffs, intensifying debate over whether foreign worker programmes should be curtailed when American jobs are being cut.

The Senate has voted down an effort to require a report on Israel's human rights practices. The rejection means no official US government assessment of human rights conditions tied to Israel will be produced for now. The vote is likely to fuel ongoing debate over congressional oversight of US policy toward Israel and the treatment of Palestinians.

The US Department of Justice is suing the State of Maryland over its ban on police officers wearing masks, a rule adopted amid federal immigration enforcement operations. The lawsuit challenges Maryland's restriction as the immigration crackdown continues, and the case is drawing attention to the clash between state limits on masked policing and federal enforcement tactics.

The United Nations Office of the Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict (OSRSG CAAC) held work in Qatar aimed at putting children at the centre of mediation and peace processes. The initiative focuses on strengthening practices so that the protection of children is integrated into negotiation and peacebuilding efforts. Further details about participants and outcomes were not immediately available.

Barack Obama has publicly challenged Donald Trump over his treatment of the press, arguing that the president cannot take criticism and framing the issue as a threat to democracy. The remarks have drawn wide attention online, with many debating the state of press freedom under Trump and Obama's continued role in US political discourse.

Oregon Public Broadcasting is staging a live edition of its 'OPB Politics Now' programme in Beaverton, focusing on the Oregon governor's race and contests in suburban districts. The event puts the state's top political battles before a local audience as campaigns intensify, with discussion expected to cover statewide races and key suburban legislative contests shaping Oregon's political landscape.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a prominent promoter of false 2020 election fraud claims, is running for the US Senate. Analysts warn that if he loses, he could refuse to accept the result and challenge the outcome, given his record of rejecting election defeats. Observers say the race tests whether election denial remains a winning strategy in Republican primaries, and a loss by Paxton could still fuel unfounded fraud claims in Texas politics.

Early voting has begun at the Loop Supersite run by the Chicago Board of Elections, marking the start of in-person voting for the upcoming election. Officials say they are preparing for possible interference from federal authorities, and the concerns are drawing attention as voters head to the polls in Chicago.

Commentators are predicting that Canada and the United States will announce a trade deal in the final week before the US midterm elections, with one widely shared post suggesting Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney may come to regret the terms of any such agreement by the end of the year. The claim is speculative, and no deal has been confirmed by either government.

From Brussels, analysts warn that literacy is entering what is being called an 'era of suspicion', suggesting declining trust in written information and reading itself. The commentary points to broader concerns about misinformation and how audiences increasingly question the credibility of texts and sources they encounter.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and Republican challenger Ron Schutz met for their first debate in the attorney general race, appearing on MPR News' Politics Friday program. The contest is part of Minnesota's statewide ballot, and the debate gave voters their first direct side-by-side comparison of the incumbent Democrat and his challenger on issues facing the office.

US midterm coverage is underway, with attention turning to the battle for control of Congress. News outlets are framing the contests as a race, highlighting which party will hold the House and Senate and what the outcome means for the political agenda ahead.

The Air Line Pilots Association is calling on Congress to sustain momentum on air traffic control modernization, backing a proposed $30 billion investment in the system. The union says the funding is needed to upgrade aging infrastructure and keep the US aviation network safe and efficient. The appeal comes amid ongoing debate in Washington over infrastructure priorities and Federal Aviation Administration funding.

A new poll shows a dead heat in a Washington state congressional race that could determine which party controls the House of Representatives. With the seat effectively tied, both parties are expected to pour resources into the district. The contest is one of a small number of competitive races likely to decide the chamber's majority.

A nonpartisan analyst says the Republican Party's hold on the governors' races in Florida and Texas is weakening. The assessment suggests Democratic prospects in the two largest Republican-led states are improving ahead of upcoming elections. Analysts are weighing whether shifting voter sentiment, candidate choices or broader political trends are behind the narrowing contests in both states.

An Oregon union says its $10 million political contribution is not intended to target any particular race in the state this year. The clarification addresses speculation about how the large sum will be deployed in upcoming Oregon elections, though details of which contests or candidates may ultimately benefit remain unclear.

President Trump is set to campaign for Jon Husted as Husted's race remains closely contested. The appearance is aimed at energizing Trump's base and tipping a contest that polls suggest could go either way. Trump's endorsement and personal presence are seen as potentially decisive factors for Republican candidates in the state.

White House border czar Tom Homan publicly defended US Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations, challenging critics by asking them to name a single case where enforcement went too far. His comments come as a growing number of Republicans have voiced concern over the scale and tactics of the ICE crackdown, splitting the party on immigration enforcement.

A new AFP profile describes Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva as a political titan now racing against time. The piece frames the veteran leader, in his third presidency and approaching 80, as working against the clock to secure his legacy, with attention focused on his health, his 2026 plans and his government's remaining agenda.

CNN Politics has launched a feature tracking early voting in the run-up to the US midterm elections. The tracker follows turnout figures as Americans cast ballots ahead of election day. Early voting numbers are being watched closely as an indicator of voter enthusiasm and possible party momentum.

Congress has passed a bill removing degree-based education requirements from federal contracting jobs, and it now heads to President Trump's desk to be signed into law. If enacted, the measure would change hiring criteria for federal contractor positions, opening more roles to candidates without college degrees.