Commonwealth state in New England, U.S.
The government has announced 43 transmission projects that will qualify for a new bill-discount scheme. Households within 500 metres of qualifying overhead lines will receive up to £2,500 off electricity bills over 10 years, with payments starting in early 2027 and funded by a small charge on all bills.
Meta has agreed to a settlement with state attorneys general that will require sweeping changes to Instagram and Facebook and pay up to $18 billion over a decade. The deal, filed during a federal trial in Oakland, includes default limits for under-18s, overnight blocks, hidden like counts, tighter age checks and new parental controls.
Nvidia has reported second-quarter revenue of $96.2bn and has forecast about 70% revenue growth for fiscal 2028, far above analyst expectations. The company has won large cloud orders, including an expanded deal with Amazon Web Services, and has moved to finance and build AI data‑centre capacity while rivals design custom chips.
A developing look at tipping culture amid rising service charges and wage debates across the UK and US. Reports compare practices, costs, and attitudes, with a focus on how price changes affect staff earnings and customer behavior.
Multiple recalls are rippling through the US food system. A donut recall in March labeling issues, several wraps tied to STEC, and a broad recall wave linked to peppers and berries highlight ongoing safety concerns. Authorities urge discard or return of affected items and emphasize consumer safety as top priority.
New York state officials have filed a state Supreme Court lawsuit against Kalshi, alleging the prediction market platform operates illegally without a Gaming Commission license, endangers consumers, and should forfeit gains and pay restitution and penalties. The action adds to a broader clash over how prediction markets are regulated between states and the federal government.
A record summer of heat, drought and wildfires has prompted an emergency Cobra meeting and voluntary retailer suspensions of disposable-barbecue sales. Green groups have written to Prime Minister Andy Burnham urging him to call the crisis 'climate change' and stop new North Sea drilling; Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice has questioned net zero and urged adaptation and celebration of warmer weather.
Carly Simon has announced her first album in years, Comes in Waves, while revealing a Parkinson’s diagnosis and skin cancer treatment. The collection revisits defining moments of her life and career, with songs touching on love, loss and renewal. Readers are invited to explore the full context of her career and health as she moves forward.
President Trump has signed an executive order directing federal health officials to cut the federal recommended childhood vaccine list, to split the combined MMR vaccine into separate measles, mumps and rubella doses once single‑disease products are available, and to space routine immunisations across separate medical visits. Public health groups and drugmakers have said the changes lack scientific support and will increase missed vaccinations during a major U.S. measles outbreak.
Flock Safety has announced mandatory changes to its national license-plate camera network after reporting dozens of US officers misused the system. The company has shortened default data retention from 30 days to seven, will require case codes for searches and will force all customers to enable an audit tool that can lock out flagged users.
A surrogate has given birth to Gabriel in Dallas after a dispute over a termination request tied to a severe heart condition. California-based parents are the legal guardians, while the surrogate seeks parentage. Texas orders require life-saving care for Gabriel, with ongoing court battles looming.
A US federal judge has dismissed the Trump administration's March lawsuit accusing Harvard of ongoing Title VI civil rights violations, finding the cited incidents were "too isolated and episodic" to show institutional noncompliance. The government is assessing next steps; Harvard has not immediately commented. The suit had sought to reclaim billions in federal research funding.
Officials across major states are tightening rules on e-bikes, e-scooters and similar devices after a spate of injuries and high-profile incidents. The move comes amid a patchwork of local laws and new age, registration and helmet requirements, with critics warning about broad strokes that risk sidelining safe riders.
Kevin Rideout has been released after more than nine months in captivity in Niger and is in the care of U.S. officials. SIM International has said he is in good health and will soon reunite with his wife and children. Details about who held him and where he was freed remain unclear as Sahel violence continues.
Lawrence Mayor Brian DePena has been charged with wire fraud and money laundering after allegedly obtaining a $1.5 million COVID-19 loan for his tire business and diverting funds to cover mortgages and his campaign. He appeared in federal court and was released under conditions; prosecutors say the fraud raised concerns about public trust.
Kurt Solomon, a Worcester police veteran, has died; his wife Karen Solomon, a police mental-health advocate, has disappeared and is a suspect in his death. A multi-agency search has been underway since Aug. 18. Officials believe a murder-suicide occurred; a handgun was found near Karen Solomon's body as she is believed dead.
A string of Texas and Connecticut court decisions narrows punitive damages against Infowars founder Alex Jones while leaving intact a larger Connecticut liability. Courts reduce the Texas award to $1.5 million from $50 million, while upholding the Connecticut judgment of $1.25 billion. Jones argues it is a First Amendment victory and says he will appeal.
A 1,260-pound Atlantic blue marlin has been landed off Cape Cod, Massachusetts, in Atlantis Canyon, by charter captain Damon Sacco and client Walter Chapman. Weighing 1,260 pounds and measuring over 11 feet, the fish is believed to be the largest Atlantic blue marlin caught off the U.S. East Coast. The head is being aged at a university lab to determine its age. The catch occurs in a narrow window for blue marlin in the Northeast.
A trio of reports shows diaspora Jews and Israel facing shifting loyalties amid a backdrop of antisemitism and the Gaza war. Diaspora leaders warn that faith in Israel as a homeland is waning for some young Jews, while Birthright programs strive to maintain a personal connection.
The Supreme Court has lifted one lower‑court injunction that had blocked parts of President Trump’s March executive order on mail ballots, allowing federal agencies to finalise rules. A separate nationwide injunction from a Boston judge still bars the Postal Service from implementing new mail‑ballot procedures for the Nov. 3 midterms while states and voting‑rights groups press fresh lawsuits.
The Boston Musicians’ Association has authorized a strike as the three-year contract nears expiration. A contract extension was set to keep talks alive, while tensions over music director Andris Nelsons’s departure have shaped negotiations. The orchestra’s season is scheduled to open Sept. 17.
A New York–area historian shares her postpartum psychosis experience to counter online claims it is not real. The illness affects about 1–2 per 1,000 births. Most patients recover with treatment, but severe cases can be life‑threatening.
Amid growing concerns about data sharing and misuse, Tempe and several other U.S. jurisdictions have ended or paused their licenses with Flock Safety, a camera network that reads license plates. Officials say the moves aim to protect public trust, even as audits report no improper searches in some cases.
Pencils remain a staple in classrooms as debates about testing shift with technology. The piece traces the No. 2 pencil’s American origins, its enduring role in exams, and the culture around handwritten work in a digital era.
Jon Ossoff has condemned Hasan Piker’s remarks linking violence to American Jews; the statements have drawn widespread criticism from Democratic lawmakers amid ongoing scrutiny of Piker’s role in Democratic campaigns. The debate comes as Piker faces questions about his influence on voters and the broader discourse surrounding Israel.
New England faces a costly invasive-crab crisis. Scientists, fishermen and startups are turning soft-shell European green crabs into marketable products—from premium meats to pet treats and whiskey. Despite climate-driven spread and decades of grassroots work, supply and infrastructure hurdles limit harvests and market reach.
The White House has renewed its effort to remove Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook over mortgage‑related allegations. Cook has responded with a formal filing arguing there is no legal basis for her removal; the Supreme Court previously blocked a firing attempt and left room for due process.
New documents obtained by AP and The Guardian contradict Kennedy's congressional testimony about his 2019 Samoa visit, showing he asked to study MMR vaccines and used
A federal court has again blocked or paused a Trump-administration rule governing mail ballots weeks before the midterm elections, prompting renewed legal battles as states prepare to administer voting by mail.
The Catholic Biblical Association has elected Levine, a Jewish scholar, as its first Jewish president. Critics allege antisemitism online, while supporters say the appointment reflects interfaith dialogue and scholarly merit. The backlash highlights rising antisemitism and calls for better understanding between faiths.