Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, and Google-owned YouTube are facing serious allegations in a closely watched trial that began Monday in California, with plaintiffs accusing the companies of deliberately designing social media platforms to be addictive for children. The case marks one of the first times a jury has been asked to directly assess whether major technology companies can be held legally responsible for the mental health consequences their products may have on you

Two women from New York are facing shoplifting charges after police say they stole more than $9,000 worth of merchandise from multiple stores at the Garden State Plaza mall in Paramus, New Jersey. Authorities allege the thefts took place Monday afternoon and involved a coordinated effort to bypass store security systems. According to police, the suspects, identified as Jenai Crawford and Shanique Roberts, were observed moving between several retail locations inside the mall and repe

A severe storm swept through the city of Guaba in Brazil’s southern state of Rio Grande do Sul on December 15, causing the collapse of a towering replica of the Statue of Liberty installed outside a local Havan megastore. The dramatic incident occurred as strong winds battered the region, drawing widespread attention after videos of the structure toppling were shared on social media. According to Brazil’s civil defence authority, Defesa Civil, wind speeds during the storm reache

A new data-driven study has offered one of the clearest pictures yet of how artificial intelligence is actually being used around the world in 2025. The analysis, conducted by OpenRouter, examined more than 100 trillion tokens of metadata from billions of interactions with a wide range of large language models. The results challenge widely held assumptions about how AI is contributing to productivity and reveal emerging behaviours that could shape the next era of the technology. Ope

City officials in Columbus, Ohio have announced a sweeping increase in utility rates — including water, sewer, stormwater and electric services — as part of a broader infrastructure strategy aimed at ensuring safe tap water, accommodating future growth and reinforcing drought resilience. The proposed package would represent the largest adjustment in recent years and positions the city to meet both current demands and long-term capital needs. According to municipal sources, inflation and

Millions of student loan borrowers in the United States are once again eligible for debt forgiveness following the reinstatement of two major federal repayment programs. The Department of Education has announced that it will resume canceling the debts of qualified borrowers enrolled in the Income Contingent Repayment (ICR) and Pay As You Earn (PAYE) plans. This decision restores a critical form of relief for many borrowers who rely on income-driven repayment systems to manage their student loan

AUSTIN – Governor Greg Abbott has ordered a large-scale deployment of state security forces, including personnel from the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) and the Texas National Guard, to the state capital in anticipation of a planned demonstration that officials say may involve groups linked to antifa. The governor’s directive, issued Thursday, aims to safeguard residents, businesses, and public property amid concerns that the protest could lead to unrest. According to t

National Guard troops from Texas were seen on Tuesday at a U.S. Army training facility in Illinois, marking the most visible step yet in the Trump administration’s controversial plan to deploy military personnel to the Chicago area. The move has ignited a wave of political opposition and legal challenges from state and city officials who argue that the action is unconstitutional and politically motivated. Military personnel wearing uniforms with the Texas National Guard insignia w

The conflict in Gaza has reached another turning point after Hamas announced its agreement to release all Israeli hostages, alive or deceased, while expressing willingness to negotiate a broader peace plan proposed by President Donald Trump. The statement, delivered on Friday, signaled a potentially pivotal moment in ongoing regional negotiations, though the group’s future actions remain uncertain as deadlines approach. Hamas leaders said they are prepared to work through medi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has welcomed US President Donald Trump’s new initiative aimed at ending the Gaza conflict, describing it as a comprehensive pathway toward long-term and sustainable peace. Modi’s support comes after Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed on Washington’s 20-point proposal during talks at the White House. In a statement posted on X, Modi said, We welcom

The Washington Commanders may return to play football in the District of Columbia by 2030, but significant hurdles remain before that becomes reality. The D.C. Council is scheduled to vote on Tuesday regarding legislation that would enable a major redevelopment of the RFK Stadium site, potentially paving the way for the Commanders’ return. While city officials and proponents of the project emphasize its economic potential and promise to revitalize the area east of the Anacostia River, loca

Google has reached an agreement with the city of Mountain View to fund extensive tree planting after removing hundreds of trees for an office project that it ultimately abandoned. The Mountain View City Council unanimously approved the deal on September 9, which requires Google to pay between $533,500 and $703,000 for planting hundreds of new trees throughout the city. The controversy traces back to 2019 when the council approved Google’s ambitious plan to expand its presence

A major housing development in Sunnyvale is one step closer to transforming a familiar corner of El Camino Real. The city’s planning commission voted unanimously to allow De Anza Properties and landowners to adjust their approved 111 home project, shifting the mix from apartments to a combination of owned condominiums and rental units. The project, located at 1104 and 1124 West El Camino Real, will bring significant residential and commercial space to a site that has been home to car sa

Dublin, CA is getting ready to open Forest Park at 2150 Central Parkway in the Jordan Ranch development, with a projected debut in late fall 2025 or early winter 2026. Designed as a family-friendly green hub, the new park will feature a multi-use sports court, a pollinator garden, a nature-themed playground, shaded picnic areas, and—true to its name—plenty of trees. To help the landscape take root, the City of Dublin has launched “Forest for

The Sonic Temple music festival is shaping up to be one of the biggest rock and metal gatherings of 2025 as organizers announced six more bands to the growing lineup. Scheduled to return to Columbus, Ohio, from May 14 through May 17 at Historic Crew Stadium, the festival has quickly become a highly anticipated event for fans of heavy music across the country. The latest additions include Electric Callboy, We Came as Romans, The Plot In You, Make Them Suffer, Bloodywood, and Conquer

Nepal’s political crisis reached a breaking point on Tuesday after Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli resigned in the wake of two days of violent anti-corruption protests that killed 19 people and injured over 100. Oli’s aide, Prakash Silwal, confirmed the resignation to Reuters as visuals showed the embattled leader being flown out of Kathmandu in a military helicopter. The announcement marked a dramatic escalation in the Himalayan nation’s unres

Nepal witnessed its deadliest unrest in years as at least three people were killed and more than 100 injured during violent clashes in Kathmandu on Monday. The protests, largely led by Generation Z demonstrators, erupted after the government banned 26 unregistered social media platforms, including Facebook, YouTube, and X. The ban, seen by many as an attack on free expression, quickly spiraled into a broader anti-corruption movement targeting Prime Minister K

A federal judge has ruled that former President Donald Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops during immigration enforcement protests in Southern California was illegal, declaring the administration violated long-standing federal law. The decision, handed down by Judge Charles Breyer in San Francisco, found that Trump’s use of the Guard during the protests in Los Angeles crossed legal boundaries meant to prevent the military from enforcing domestic laws. Judge Breye

In a world where communication knows no borders, accurate and natural language translation has become more important than ever. DeepL, a cutting-edge AI-powered translation platform, is redefining the way people and businesses interact across languages. Unlike many traditional translation tools, DeepL focuses on context, tone, and nuance, producing translations that sound natural to native speakers. This approach has made it a preferred choice for professionals, global companies, and individu

A well-known Chicago café and fast-casual restaurant is set to open its newest location in Wilmette in fall 2025. Goddess and the Baker, a popular eatery recognized for its vibrant menu and welcoming atmosphere, will move into Edens Plaza at 3232 Lake Avenue, taking over the space formerly occupied by Corner Bakery, which closed earlier this summer. The arrival of Goddess and the Baker marks a significant addition to Edens Plaza, a shopping center in West Wilmette that has