Author: Jack Mulligan

New street race stays clean until a late caution IndyCar’s arrival in Arlington produced a rare kind of street race: one shaped less by disorder than by sustained execution. On a layout that could easily have generated repeated interruptions, the field instead ran deep into the afternoon without a full-course yellow, turning the inaugural event into a contest of timing, control and outright pace. That unusual rhythm gave the race a distinctly strategic character and set the stage for a direct late fight between two of the day’s quickest drivers. When the decisive moment came, Kyle Kirkwood seized it. With…

Samsung updates its flagship with a new screen feature Samsung has opened its 2026 flagship cycle with a familiar strategy: refine the top model, expand its software ambitions and add one feature designed to stand apart in a crowded premium market. The Galaxy S26 Ultra enters at the high end of the smartphone segment with a starting price of £1,279, positioning itself against Apple and Google while leaning heavily on display technology, camera flexibility and long-term software support. The most distinctive addition is a built-in privacy mode for the 6.9in display. When activated, the screen narrows its visibility so that…

Supply chain disruption linked to the Iran war is raising the risk of higher retail prices in coming weeks, with pressure building from shipping constraints, fuel costs, and weaker consumer confidence. With the Strait of Hormuz effectively shut to many vessels, retailers and logistics firms are warning of volatile pricing and unpredictable service levels as carriers ration capacity and manage rising fuel-related expenses. Strait Shutdown Hits Inputs Before Finished Goods The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important shipping chokepoints, moving massive volumes of crude oil and other exports that feed into global production and transport. The…

Starbucks Workers United contract proposal is back at the center of the coffee chain’s labor fight after the union said it delivered a comprehensive draft agreement last month and is still waiting for a response. The update came during a Friday call with investors, as baristas attempt to secure their first labor contract with Starbucks. Inside the Union’s Proposal Workers United said the package seeks workplace protections and clearer rules for how stores are managed and staffed. The proposal asks for protections for union baristas against discrimination, unjust firings, and temporary or permanent store closures. On pay, the union is…

U.S. filings for unemployment benefits dipped slightly last week, signaling that layoffs remain contained even as broader labor market indicators point to a slower pace of hiring. Initial jobless claims for the week ended March 7 fell by 1,000 to 213,000, the Labor Department said Thursday. Economists surveyed by FactSet had expected 215,000. Weekly claims are closely watched as a near real-time gauge of layoffs. The latest reading keeps claims near the lower end of the range seen over the last few years, when filings have largely held between 200,000 and 250,000. Layoffs Stay Low, But Cuts Keep Making Headlines…

Beijing has enacted a nationwide “ethnic unity” law that rewires how the state manages language, schooling, and community life for minority groups, prompting warnings from researchers and rights advocates that the measure formalizes a sharper turn toward assimilation. The legislation cleared the National People’s Congress on Thursday at the close of China’s annual parliamentary session, a forum that almost never rejects items placed before it. The law is presented by the government as a modernization tool for a multi-ethnic country with 56 officially recognized groups, dominated demographically by Han Chinese, who make up more than 90% of China’s population. Officials…

Minister cites security fears after U.S. strikes Iran’s sports and youth minister said it is “not possible” for the country to take part in the 2026 FIFA World Cup following the killing of Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the ongoing conflict involving the United States and Israel. In remarks aired on Iranian state television, Sports and Youth Minister Ahmad Donyamali said Iran’s national team players would not be safe in the United States. The comments were published in a video clip posted Tuesday. Match schedule in the U.S. now in question Iran is scheduled to play New Zealand…

Arrow Lake gets a mid-cycle boost Intel is updating its Core Ultra 200S desktop lineup with new “Plus” models, a refresh of the Arrow Lake chips that first arrived in late 2024. The move targets a key weakness in the current generation: while the processors improved power efficiency and thermals versus Intel’s 13th and 14th Gen Core parts, they have not consistently matched those older chips in gaming performance. They have also faced stiff competition from AMD Ryzen X3D processors, which use extra L3 cache that can deliver outsized gains in games. Intel says the combined changes in the refreshed…

White House Signals Quick Finish After Oil Spike U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday the war against Iran will end “very soon” and argued that oil prices will fall, despite crude briefly surging above $100 per barrel over the weekend and rattling global markets. Speaking at Trump National Doral near Miami, the president pointed to battlefield momentum nine days after the U.S. joined Israel in launching strikes on Feb. 28. He did not lay out a detailed end state, but said the campaign is making “major strides” toward its objectives. Claims of Major Damage, With More Targets Unhit Trump said…

Kyiv says 11 countries sought help countering drones Ukraine has received 11 requests for assistance in shooting down drones fired by Iran, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Monday, as the Middle East conflict entered its second week. Zelenskiy said the approaches came from countries neighboring Iran as well as from the United States and Europe, reflecting growing demand for air-defense know-how as regional attacks spread. In a statement posted after a national security meeting, Zelenskiy said Ukraine’s experience protecting civilians and infrastructure has become a practical export of expertise, spanning interceptor drones, electronic warfare capabilities and training. Ukraine aims to turn…