Author: Jack Mulligan
Federal Authority Invoked President Donald Trump announced Monday that his administration is taking control of the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police Department and deploying National Guard troops. He invoked Section 740 of the District’s Home Rule Act, which allows the president to temporarily assume control of the capital’s police if “special conditions of an emergency nature exist.” The statute limits this authority to 30 days unless Congress approves an extension. Trump appointed U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to take command immediately. Crime Rates and Conflicting Narratives Trump justified the move by claiming crime in D.C. is “out of control,” calling the…
American households have so far absorbed 22% of the extra costs from President Donald Trump’s new wave of import tariffs. Goldman Sachs projects that share will surge to 67% by October if current pricing trends hold. The tariffs include a 10% blanket duty on all imports, additional rates for specific countries, and targeted product measures such as those on automobiles. Businesses and Exporters Shouldered Early Costs Until midyear, U.S. businesses carried roughly 64% of tariff-related costs, while foreign exporters absorbed about 14% by cutting prices to remain competitive. That dynamic is shifting as companies pass more of the burden to…
OpenAI has launched GPT-5, its most advanced AI chatbot to date, described as “smarter, faster, and more useful” than its predecessors. The model promises PhD-level expertise in areas like coding and writing, improved reasoning, fewer inaccuracies, and a more human-like interaction experience. Its release marks a new chapter in the competitive AI landscape, where tech leaders race to offer the most capable chatbots. Advanced Capabilities and Reasoning GPT-5 introduces significant upgrades in reasoning, logic, and inference. According to OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, the model can build complete software solutions, provide detailed explanations, and deliver highly accurate answers. He compared the…
Ben Shelton captured the biggest victory of his young tennis career, winning the National Bank Open in Toronto by defeating 11th-seeded Karen Khachanov of Russia 6-7 (5), 6-4, 7-6 (3). The 22-year-old American, seeded fourth, became the first U.S. player to win the prestigious Masters 1000 hard-court tournament since Andy Roddick in 2003. A Breakthrough Performance Shelton’s victory marks his third career title, following previous wins on hard courts in Tokyo (2023) and clay in Houston (2024). This week in Toronto, he delivered his best tennis when it counted most, particularly in high-pressure moments. His performance was highlighted by resilience…
Streaming debut prioritizes sports, news, and stability Fox Corp. will officially enter the direct-to-consumer streaming race with the August 21 launch of Fox One, priced at $19.99 per month. CEO Lachlan Murdoch announced the launch during the company’s Q2 earnings call, positioning the platform as a modest but strategic move anchored in live sports, news, and legacy content. Fox One will include access to the full Fox content slate — from Fox’s NFL and Big Ten college football coverage to playoff MLB games, soccer, and other live sports — alongside Fox News Channel, Fox Business, and remaining original content from…
New models aim for accessibility and customization OpenAI has launched two open-weight language models, gpt-oss-120b and gpt-oss-20b, marking its first open-weight release since GPT-2 in 2019. These models are text-only and designed to offer developers, researchers, and businesses a lower-cost, customizable alternative to closed models. The release is part of OpenAI’s broader effort to promote transparency and decentralize access to powerful AI tools. Open-weight models expose their parameter data, allowing third parties to run and tailor them as needed. However, unlike open-source models, they don’t provide access to full source code. The announcement follows similar moves by competitors such as…
Tariff warnings and supply increases unsettle energy markets Oil prices dipped on Monday as investors weighed fresh supply news from OPEC+ alongside geopolitical tensions sparked by U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats to penalize India for continuing to import Russian crude. West Texas Intermediate crude hovered near $66 per barrel after sliding to its lowest level in a week. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies (OPEC+) announced an additional output hike of 547,000 barrels per day for the upcoming month. This increase effectively reverses a cut implemented in 2023 by eight member states, including Saudi Arabia and…
New rates start in September amid push for profitability Spotify announced that its Premium individual subscription rates will increase globally beginning in September. The move comes as part of the company’s broader effort to improve profit margins and offset rising operational costs. Customers in Europe will see monthly fees rise from €10.99 to €11.99, with similar hikes planned for subscribers in Latin America, the Middle East, Africa, South Asia, and the Asia-Pacific region. Spotify has begun notifying users, stating that affected subscribers will receive official emails detailing the price adjustments within the coming weeks. Stock rebounds after earnings stumble The…
New contract streamlines Army tech under one enterprise framework Palantir has landed a landmark contract with the U.S. Army valued at up to $10 billion, reinforcing its role as a central player in military artificial intelligence and defense modernization. The agreement spans ten years and consolidates 75 separate contracts into a single enterprise deal, dramatically simplifying procurement and reducing bureaucratic delays. According to an official release, the deal establishes a long-term framework for meeting the Army’s evolving software and data needs. It allows for flexible purchasing without incurring additional contract fees or extended procurement timelines. The move reflects the government’s…
President demands aggressive policy shift amid weak job data President Donald Trump has publicly called for the Federal Reserve’s board of governors to override Chair Jerome Powell and impose immediate interest rate cuts, escalating months of criticism against the central bank’s leadership. In a Truth Social post on Friday, Trump labeled Powell as “stubborn” for resisting calls to slash rates amid mounting economic pressure. Trump’s remarks followed a weak July jobs report, which showed only 73,000 new jobs added, with significant downward revisions to prior months. The president framed rate cuts as essential for fueling growth and easing debt burdens,…