Category: News

Ron DeSantis unveiled a sweeping statewide plan dubbed the “AI Bill of Rights” meant to regulate artificial-intelligence tools across Florida. He laid out new rules aimed at curbing deepfake technology, protecting personal data, and imposing limits on AI data-center development. Under the proposal, AI systems would face new restrictions — especially when it comes to using a person’s name, image or likeness without their consent, displaying deepfake content, or selling personal data. Parents would get rights to review their child’s chatbot interactions, and insurers or legal professionals could be required to disclose when AI tools helped generate claims or legal briefs. The plan also seeks to rein in large AI data centers. Utilities would be barred from passing added costs to ratepayers, and local governments could veto new projects. Some zones — like farmland or environmentally sensitive regions — would be off-limits. This proposal could significantly reshape how AI is used in Florida — especially in advertising, government services, health care, and data-heavy industries. Lawmakers will now debate which proposals become law. So far, supporters say it will protect privacy and prevent harm from deepfakes; critics raise concerns about possible overreach and limits on legitimate AI uses.

On Thursday evening in Washington, Senate Democrats introduced legislation to extend enhanced premium subsidies under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) for three more years. The subsidies currently help roughly 24 million Americans afford marketplace health plans, but are set to expire at the end of December. Chuck Schumer announced the plan on the Senate floor and said all Democrats support it — meaning the bill needs at least 13 Republicans to break a filibuster and advance. The move comes just weeks after a deal ended a 43-day government shutdown, which included a pledge for lawmakers to take up this subsidy question. Failure to pass the extension — or a compromise version — could lead to large premium increases next year, threatening coverage for many. At this point, Republicans remain mostly opposed, arguing for income caps or other policy changes before renewing subsidies. That resistance makes the chance of passage uncertain. If the subsidies expire, millions could face significantly higher insurance costs — or lose coverage altogether. For now though, the Senate is gearing up for a decisive vote next week as time runs out before the year-end deadline.

The Pentagon has formally completed its review of the trilateral AUKUS nuclear-submarine agreement and confirmed plans to proceed with submarine sales to Australia. A U.S. official said Thursday the evaluation identified ways to strengthen the pact and aligned with the priorities of the current U.S. administration. The deal, involving exports of at least three Virginia-class submarine vessels to Australia beginning in 2032 — followed by future construction of next-generation subs — remains intact. The arrangement represents Canberra’s largest defense commitment ever, totaling nearly A$368 billion (about US$240 billion) over three decades. The review was led by U.S. Department of Defense under its defense-policy office, which earlier raised concerns about U.S. submarine production capacity. This concern remains relevant: U.S. yards must expand output significantly if they are to supply Australia without undermining their own fleet needs.

Ukrainian forces struck the Nevinnomyssk Azot chemical plant in the Stavropol region of southern Russia. The plant is located near the city of Nevinnomyssk, in Stavropol Krai. The assault hit one of the plant’s production workshops and sparked a fire inside the facility. Nevinnomyssk Azot is among Russia’s largest chemical enterprises. It produces over one million tons of ammonia and up to 1.4 million tons of ammonium nitrate yearly — essential base materials for explosives and ammunition. The strike is described by Ukrainian authorities as part of an effort to cut the enemy’s capacity for missile and bomb production. Russian officials have not responded publicly to the claim.

On Monday, the United States House of Representatives passed legislation that forbids anyone linked to Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel from entering the United States. The bill — known as the No Immigration Benefits for Hamas Terrorists Act of 2025 — would block admission or visa access to those who “carried out, participated in, financed or otherwise facilitated” the attack. It passed by voice vote in the House, a rare show of bipartisan agreement on an often divisive issue. Now the bill moves to the United States Senate for consideration.

In a public display at Kalma Airbase, Korean People’s Army Air Force unveiled two new unmanned aircraft — Saebyeol-4 and Saebyeol-9 — that mirror the shape and intent of U.S. surveillance and strike drones. The Saebyeol-4 resembles the surveillance-oriented RQ-4 Global Hawk, while the Saebyeol-9 follows the form of the strike-oriented MQ-9 Reaper. Both drones were shown with operational markings, suggesting they are no longer just prototypes but potentially frontline systems.

A regional jet operated by Endeavor Air under the Delta Air Lines “Delta Connection” brand slid off an icy runway at Des Moines International Airport (DSM) in Iowa. The plane — a Bombardier CRJ-900 carrying roughly 54 passengers and 4 crew — veered off the paved taxiway after landing. All aboard were evacuated safely and escorted by bus back to the terminal. Thankfully, no injuries were reported. Because of the slip, the airport shut down operations for several hours; flights were delayed or cancelled while crews worked to secure the aircraft and clear the runway. The airport reopened by Sunday mid-morning, though some flights remained disrupted. The slick conditions from a major midwestern winter storm appear to have caused the slide. A preliminary review from transit officials confirms ice on the runway was the primary factor. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is now looking into the incident.

Winter weather is building toward the New York–New Jersey region as a coastal storm sweeps in Tuesday morning. Forecasters expect a mix of rain, sleet, and snow. In higher-elevation areas of northern New Jersey and the Lower Hudson Valley, 3 to 5 inches of damp, heavy snow may pile up. Meanwhile, closer to the coast — including New York City — the forecast leans toward rain or possibly a brief coating of snow. The uncertainty now revolves around the exact track of the storm. A slightly more inland path could push the snow zone farther south; a more offshore track would keep heavy snow north. Either way, roads may turn slick during the Tuesday morning commute, and travel could be tricky if sleet or slush develops.

A former senior FBI official says a five-year cyber campaign from a Chinese state-linked group known as Salt Typhoon probably reached nearly every American. The breach targeted major U.S. telecommunications networks — including phone call and internet systems — exposing data that flows through core infrastructure. Officials estimate the attack spanned multiple years and entangled carriers serving tens of millions of customers nationwide. Because telecom networks route so much of Americans’ daily communications, experts argue that few, if any, escaped unscathed. At this point, the identity of all impacted individuals remains unknown. Investigators have not released a public list of affected users — and it appears nobody has yet confirmed exactly who was compromised. Meanwhile, telecom providers and federal agencies are scrambling to trace the breach, identify exposed data, and strengthen network security. As of now, there are no verified reports of data destruction or mass outages. But the implications run deep — sensitive metadata, call logs, text records, and other communications metadata might have been exposed, raising long-term privacy concerns. Authorities have urged U.S. telecom firms to tighten protections and said customers should assume their data may have been accessed.

An Israeli drone company, Heven AeroTech, has reached a reported valuation exceeding one billion dollars after raising about $100 million. The funding round was led by IonQ, a quantum-computing firm that also joined forces with Heven to embed quantum sensing and navigation tech into its drones. Heven — originally founded in Israel in 2019 — builds hydrogen-powered drones capable of long-range flights and heavy payloads. With IonQ’s backing, Heven plans to integrate quantum communications, navigation, and security systems. The companies say this could make the drones much more reliable in contested environments, especially where GPS or traditional navigation may be jammed. The investment makes Heven one of Israel’s first “defense-tech unicorns,” a sign of growing global investor appetite for military-grade drone technology. Industry experts see this as a broader shift: drones and autonomous aircraft are now central in global defense strategies, and private firms like Heven are racing to deliver advanced capabilities.