A Western U.S. state on the Pacific with global influence
Several firms have announced expansion plans and new measures that will accelerate commercial robotaxi rollouts. Mobileye has announced a 2027 U.S. launch with an initial 100-vehicle fleet and a five-year target of 17,000; Wayve and Uber are preparing a supervised London service in the coming months; Tesla and Waymo are expanding U.S. coverage; and new indices show Chinese robotaxi players are scaling faster than many expected.
The U.S. Department of Justice has approved Paramount Skydance’s proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery after an eight‑month probe, concluding the deal is unlikely to harm competition in streaming, linear TV or theatrical film markets. The transaction still faces reviews in the U.K., EU and potential lawsuits from state attorneys general.
Namibia faces a costly road-safety crisis despite strong infrastructure. Fatalities exceed 400 annually, with vulnerable users bearing the brunt. Experts urge Safe System designs and careful deployment of speed-reduction measures on major roads, not highways.
SoftBank has announced a €75bn plan to build AI data centres in northern France and to develop up to 5GW of capacity by 2031. Governments and companies are tightening domestic energy plans in response, prompting talks on interconnectors, local refineries and nuclear or modular-reactor options to meet the data centres’ huge electricity demand.
A consortium of outlets reports rising unsecured debt and anxiety among Americans. WalletHub and the New York Fed show higher balances and delinquency, while debt-management strategies and budgeting advice circulate. The data highlight stress across income levels and the need for clear repayment plans.
Mortgage rates have edged up again, with the 30-year fixed rate near 6.60% as lending activity strengthens after a lull. Refinancing remains soft while purchase applications show a modest uptick, reflecting ongoing sensitivity to inflation and oil-market tensions.
California appeals court has granted a stay, allowing Kars4Kids’ ads to continue while the case proceeds. Lower-court findings that the ads misled donors about how funds are used remain under review. The charity argues it primarily funds Oorah programs; opponents say disclosures were missing and ads were misleading.
Jonathan Rinderknecht has pleaded not guilty to federal charges linked to the Palisades Fire that destroyed thousands of homes and killed 12 people. Prosecutors say the New Year’s blaze began Jan. 1, 2025 and grew into a deadly inferno by Jan. 7. Defense argues he is being blamed for firefighting failures. Jury selection is underway in a Los Angeles federal court and the trial is expected to last about two weeks.
California lawmakers are finalizing a $356 billion state budget with Gov. Newsom. A tax package is advancing, including a health care provider tax and a software sales tax, while critics warn of higher costs for families and businesses. The package aims to balance revenue gaps amid federal funding shifts.
Zoopla finds a widening gap between house and flat prices since 2016, with houses up 43% and flats 10%, widening the house-to-flat ratio from 1.3x to 1.7x. Regional disparities are strongest in the Midlands and North, while Scotland remains stable. London shows a different pattern, with slower price growth.
Developing races across multiple states enter critical runoff phases. Maine’s Second District sees Paul LePage mounting a high-profile bid, while South Carolina’s First District and California’s 48th District anticipate decisive runoffs. Democrats and Republicans intensify campaigns as district maps shape fall contests and national control.
El Niño has formed in the tropical Pacific and is expected to strengthen through 2026, potentially ranking among the strongest on record. Agencies warn it will raise global temperatures, shift rainfall, and intensify extreme weather. Impacts will vary by region, with some areas facing drought and others deluges.
Solar power has for May provided more electricity than coal for the first time, reaching 12.8% vs 12.2% and signaling a lasting shift toward renewables amid policy headwinds. Emitted by Ember, SEIA and Wood Mackenzie, the data show solar remains the leading source for new power as coal declines. Trump’s plan to bolster coal faces industry pushback.
A new First Street study shows that 79% of data center capacity faces acute climate hazards, with half in markets exposed to chronic climate stress. Investors are urged to factor in evolving climate risks as underwriters rely on outdated models while developers adopt water- and energy-efficient cooling to bolster resilience.
Across multiple major outlets, wealth concentrates at the top as SpaceX founder Elon Musk’s fortune surges with the company’s public debut. Economists say billionaire wealth has grown faster than wage growth, raising questions about tax policy and inequality.
Mexico has hosted World Cup matches while many local fans say they have been priced out of stadiums and pay-TV coverage. Critics and Mexico's president have protested soaring ticket costs — including final tickets listed at tens of thousands of dollars — while FIFA has defended its pricing and offered limited $60 tickets and resale options.
The latest heat events have intensified across Northern California, the Pacific Northwest, and the Bay Area, with warnings of record temperatures and persistent nights. Officials urge cooling measures as authorities warn of health risks and structural stress.
The provided articles show menopause policy moves in the U.S. and new health-tech features from Apple and other outlets. States are advancing legislation and insurers are expanding coverage, while Apple adds perimenopause support to its cycle tracker, signaling growing mainstream attention.
Federal officials have suspended funding to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority amid a widening investigation into mismanagement and alleged fraud. LAHSA has faced audits and lawsuits over the handling of homelessness programs, with HUD warning that accountability standards must be met as the White House task force acts to curb improper spending. The move places pressure on local leaders to reform funding and oversight while continuing homelessness services.
The Farms Golf Club has revoked Phil Mickelson’s membership after an employee reported nonconsensual and inappropriate contact. The club conducted an independent investigation and says the action is decisive. Mickelson has not commented beyond a statement that any misunderstanding has been cleared up as he attends to a private family health matter.
A wave of lawsuits alleges OpenAI’s ChatGPT mishandled conversations involving self-harm and mental health crises, with plaintiffs seeking automatic termination of dangerous chats and warnings. Cases reference conversations dating back to 2023–2025 and involve OpenAI’s safety systems and responses.
A massive Medline warehouse fire in Tracy continues to burn, with smoke impacting air quality. Authorities confirm sprinkler and hydrant failures contributed to the blaze as crews fight hotspots and assess damages. Evacuations occurred; no injuries reported. Officials say this will keep firefighters on scene for days.
David Hockney, the British painter famed for his California pool scenes, has died at 88. His career spans six decades, from early London pop to LA’s sunlit optimism, redefining how modern life is represented in art.
David Hockney has died at 88, ending a seven-decade career that reshaped portraiture, landscape and pop art. Born in Bradford, he moved to London and then Los Angeles, where his pool paintings defined a generation. He continued creating across formats, including iPad drawings, until late in life.
Handala says it has had months of access to FBI FPV drone footage and suspects, claiming to have breached U.S. security for the World Cup; SITE disputes the authenticity of some evidence and notes a video was created for a separate surveillance project. The FBI is deploying drones to protect World Cup venues as cyber threats loom amid tensions with Iran.
The ruling holds that Blake Lively can recover legal fees and costs related to defending against Justin Baldoni’s countersuit arising from the 2024 It Ends With Us dispute. Punitive damages are not granted; most claims are settled as the trial looms.
On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina has closed its company-owned restaurants, with franchised locations remaining open. The move follows a Chapter 11 filing in 2025 and a purchase by Pappas Restaurants two months later; closures affect about 60 locations previously, now reduced to a mix of open franchises and shuttered company-owned sites.
Voters in California’s 14th district are casting ballots in a special primary to replace former Rep. Eric Swalwell. Aisha Wahab leads with 42.6% after 80% of ballots counted, but no candidate has reached 50% to avoid a runoff on Aug. 18. Melissa Hernandez and Rakhi Israni Singh follow. Swalwell has suspended his gubernatorial bid amid misconduct allegations, triggering investigations and a cascade of political and legal pressures.
A series of shark attacks off Australia’s east coast have left swimmers injured and beaches temporarily closed. Authorities are deploying drones and boosting surveillance as experts warn of rising incidents amid warming seas.
The UC Berkeley reading standards are under scrutiny as faculty discuss declines in reading assignments and overall preparedness. Reports show dropping workloads at top campuses, sparking concerns about whether students are ready for college-level work. The debate includes calls to reinstate SATs and adjust admissions for better readiness.
New York and California are pushing legislation to require firearm-blocking technology in 3D-printers to detect gun designs before printing. Critics warn it might not work and could raise privacy and rights concerns. The effort builds on a surge in privately made guns; a study group will assess feasibility before any mandate takes effect.
Police have halted a high-speed pursuit that began when a suspect stole a patrol cruiser and fled through Sacramento. Officers say the 28-year-old suspect, Isaac Paval, was taken into custody after a chase that stretched onto Highway 99. Investigators are reviewing whether the suspect accessed a rifle inside the vehicle.
A U.S. District Court has ruled Shannon Joslin must pursue the Civil Service Reform Act process after termination from Yosemite; a final OSC determination is due in August. Joslin is a nonbinary biologist who helped hang a 66-foot Pride flag on El Capitan while off duty. The park has since banned banners larger than 15 square feet in wilderness-designated areas.
Courts have ruled on citizenship rights and immigration status affecting thousands of residents and international adoptees. Legal decisions have opened pathways to citizenship and left intimate personal stories of eligibility and belonging in flux. New rulings also touch on long-standing bureaucratic gaps that have left some individuals stateless or at risk of removal.
California governor Gavin Newsom has said federal agents have been contacting friends, former staff and donors tied to him and his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, and has accused President Donald Trump of ordering a politically motivated probe as he considers a 2028 presidential run. A person familiar with the matter has said multiple investigations began from California whistleblowers and are being handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California.
A B-52 Stratofortress has crashed shortly after takeoff from Edwards Air Force Base on Monday at about 11:20 a.m. local time. The aircraft burst into flames on impact; military officials have said the crash was not survivable and eight people on board have died. The jet was on a routine test flight supporting a radar modernisation programme; an investigation has opened and could take months.
Recent studies show California’s San Andreas and San Jacinto faults are under stress at levels not seen in a millennium, raising the risk of a large, multi-fault rupture. Cajon Pass could act as a bridge or barrier, and preparedness measures are urged as hazard models improve with physics-based simulations.
UNICEF warns that a vast majority of children worldwide are exposed to multiple climate risks—heat, droughts, floods and more—jeopardising health, education and survival; governments must accelerate renewable energy and resilience efforts.
Gasoline costs have fallen below $4 a gallon after the Strait of Hormuz reopens under a U.S.–Iran accord, but relief is slow and uneven. Analysts caution that it will take weeks to months for flows to normalize, with regional prices and broader inflation still under pressure.
Griffin has filed a federal Nevada lawsuit alleging a former classmate misrepresented her to The New York Times and others, claiming Griffin stole another survivor's story for a bestselling memoir. The Times says its reporting was mischaracterized and that it thoroughly fact-checked before publication. A California suit by the same classmate is ongoing, while Griffin seeks damages and a court declaration that the accusations are false. The dispute centers on memory, trauma, and the publishing process.
The US Farm Bill is considering tighter Buy American rules, with a cap on non-US foods for school meals rising concern among nutrition directors about banana imports and the availability of healthy options.
Two college-age women from Fremont were swept from Panther Beach’s keyhole by sneaker waves in Santa Cruz County. One died at the scene; the other died days later in hospital. Rescue crews performed multiple water rescues along a one-mile stretch amid dangerous surf and rising tides.
New York Post Business reports California restaurants occupy half of Robb Report’s top 10 list, led by Lilo in Carlsbad. Separate awards ceremonies crown California kitchens for hospitality and beverage programs, with LA shining in multiple categories.
California’s Highway Patrol has announced a 12-hour “Maximum Enforcement Period” to curb impaired driving, deploying every uniformed officer for a weekend crackdown. The effort aims to reduce the toll from DUI-related crashes that affect thousands annually. Statewide statistics and prior enforcement efforts underscore the risk, with officials urging sober designations and alternate transport.
Federal lawsuits allege state health officials and a vendor misrepresented transition plans for New York’s Medicaid home-care program, seeking to root out alleged mismanagement and fraud. The actions involve Public Partnerships LLC and state health leadership, with DOJ pursuing a receiver and court-ordered oversight. The case broadens scrutiny of Medicaid spending and contractor practices.
California's proposed one-time 5% billionaire wealth tax has qualified for the November ballot, but opposition intensifies as Gov. Newsom resists, while labor groups push for a compromise. The debate centers on funding healthcare, education, and food programs amid federal cuts.
Invenergy has agreed to terminate four offshore wind leases in federal waters in exchange for $765 million in reimbursements. The funds will be redirected to natural gas and geothermal projects in the Midwest and West, following the Trump administration’s stance against offshore wind development. The moves follow earlier terminations by TotalEnergies, Golden State Wind and Bluepoint Wind, and come as courts blocked previous attempts to halt offshore wind actions.
HVAC costs are rising as refrigerant transitions tighten supplies. Repairs on older R-410A systems are becoming pricier, and full replacements typically run $12,000–$16,000. Homeowners should weigh repair costs against replacement, with guidance from providers like ARS/Rescue Rooter and rebates where available.
Federal regulators have directed grid operators to streamline interconnections for AI data centers, with data centers paying upgrade costs. The move aims to support AI growth while protecting consumers, but regulators face concerns over grid reliability and rising electricity bills.
Waymo has filed a voluntary software recall with the NHTSA after 13 incidents where robotaxis entered closed freeway construction zones or lanes with active work. The recall is a second in a month as the company limits freeway operations to test fixes, with a broader push to expand service on surface streets.