Category: News

Early Friday morning at the SpaceX Starbase facility in Texas, a next-generation booster for the Starship rocket exploded during a pre-launch test. The incident occurred around 4 a.m. local time as engineers conducted a critical test of the upgraded Super Heavy booster. Video footage showed a sudden burst of gas and a rapid structural failure in the booster section. No one was reported injured, and the facility confirmed that all personnel were safe. This explosion comes as SpaceX works to prepare Starship for its first orbital flight next year, a milestone tied to future lunar and Mars missions. The failure may cause a delay in the development timeline while the company investigates what went wrong. The booster is a vital piece of SpaceX’s next-generation launch system. The company now faces the task of identifying the fault, implementing fixes, and returning to the test-cycle without compromising safety or schedule.

Data today indicate that Iran has rebuilt most of its missile arsenal and is closing in on the size it held before the June war. Israeli security officials say Iran’s stockpile is back to a level seen just before the 12-day conflict with Israel in June 2025. Reports suggest Tehran is on track to field roughly 2,000 missiles capable of reaching Israel within the next few months. Much of the earlier arsenal was tucked away deep in tunnel networks and survived pre-emptive strikes. That has allowed Iran to rebound more quickly than many expected. Israeli analysts say Iran has adopted two key lessons from the June war: relying more on underground storage and reducing reliance on precision targeting. The reconstruction and production effort appears to be underway around the clock. One element of concern is that Iran may be shifting toward quantity over accuracy.

In the heart of Tel Aviv, thousands gathered at HaBima Square to demand the creation of a full-state commission of inquiry into the October 7 2023 attack. The rally featured bereaved families, hostages’ relatives and opposition figures who argued that only a formal, high-level investigation can hold government and military officials accountable.During the demonstration protesters placed a “Wall of Truth” in the square and invited visitors to write unanswered questions—such as “Who knew?” and “Which commanders ignored warnings?”—that they say only a state commission can address.Despite mounting public pressure, the government has so far proposed only a ministerial-level committee rather than the independent commission demanded by the protesters. The gathering symbolizes continued frustration over perceived lapses in security and leadership during the devastating attack.

In Lakewood, New Jersey a person was shot and sustained non-fatal injuries. According to police, the incident occurred in the afternoon and appears to have involved a vehicle. Local law enforcement say they are actively investigating the scene, gathering evidence and reviewing surveillance footage. No arrests have been made yet, and authorities have asked anyone with information to come forward. The injured individual was transported to hospital for treatment and is reported to be in stable condition.

Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces of Ukraine say they have used a long-range strike drone to down a Russian Mil Mi-8 helicopter over the Rostov region of Russia. According to their statement, the mission reached about 190 km behind the front line and ended with the helicopter shot down in mid-air. The drone, identified as the FP‑1 strike drone, is described as a deep-strike unmanned aerial system. It locked onto the helicopter, launched the attack, and completed the mission successfully, the forces claim. In their announcement, the Ukrainian Special Operations Forces noted this was a “first-of-its-kind” strike of a helicopter by a drone. “For the first time, a Russian Mi-8 helicopter was shot down in the air by a deep-strike drone,” they wrote. The helicopter’s downing highlights the growing reach of Ukraine’s unmanned systems into Russian territory. It may signal a shift in how the war is being fought from behind the lines. The claim has not been independently verified from Russian sources at this time.

Early today, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced it intercepted a missile launched by the Houthi movement in Yemen that was headed toward Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv. Air-raid sirens sounded across central Israel and surrounding regions shortly before the interception. The missile reportedly triggered warnings, sending people to shelters, but no casualties or damage have been reported so far.The Houthis claimed responsibility, saying the airport was their target in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. Israeli officials dismissed the claim of damage and highlighted their air-defense system’s swift action.

At the Elon Musk-led panel at the U.S.–Saudi Investment Forum on November 19, 2025, Musk made a bold forecast: advancements in artificial intelligence and humanoid robotics could make work “optional” within the next 10 to 20 years. Musk compared future employment to optional activities today — like playing sports or video games — rather than as a necessity. “My prediction is that work will be optional,” he said. He also suggested that money might lose its relevance in a world where production is handled by machines and resources become abundant. Presenting his vision, Musk pointed to his company’s developments in humanoid robotics — such as the Tesla Optimus robot — as a stepping stone toward this future. He argued that AI and robots could free people from routine work and help address global challenges like poverty. How long it will take until work truly becomes optional depends on how fast AI and robotics evolve — and how society adapts.

A group of roughly 200 protesters gathered late Wednesday evening outside the Park East Synagogue in Manhattan, chanting slogans like “Globalize the Intifada,” “Death to the IDF,” and “Take another settler out.” The crowd had assembled to oppose a gathering inside the synagogue hosted by Nefesh B’Nefesh, which assists Jewish immigration to Israel. Jewish communal leaders quickly condemned the scene, calling it evidence of rising antisemitic intimidation in New York. One rabbi, himself a Holocaust survivor, described the chants as echoing historical violence. The city’s police maintained a buffer between the protesters and the synagogue attendees, and no major injuries were reported.

A 27-year-old Israeli citizen from Kiryat Yam has been arrested and formally indicted on charges of spying for Iranian intelligence, Israeli security officials announced today. The accused allegedly maintained contact with Iran’s agents for more than a year, during which he obtained and passed on photos, locations and other sensitive data related to several Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and Air Force sites. This espionage is said to have been aided by his partner, an Air Force reservist, who accessed internal military information and delivered it to him. The investigation by the internal security service and Israel Police revealed the accused was paid and directed by Iranian operatives. The arrest highlights ongoing concerns in Israel about Iranian attempts to recruit or exploit individuals with access to military assets. The case now moves into court where prosecutors will seek to determine the extent of the breach and proposed damage to national security.

The White House is preparing a draft executive order that would give federal agencies the power to challenge and potentially override state laws regulating artificial intelligence (AI). The proposal would direct the Department of Justice to create an “AI Litigation Task Force” tasked with suing states whose AI-laws conflict with federal policy. Under the draft, the Department of Commerce would review state statutes and publish a list of laws deemed burdensome or conflicting with federal priorities. States that pass or enforce certain AI regulations could risk losing federal grants or broadband-deployment funding. The administration argues that a patchwork of 50 different state rules hurts U.S. leadership in AI and stifles innovation, especially as global competition intensifies. Some state officials and civil-liberties groups warn that bypassing state oversight could weaken protections against discrimination, deepfakes and opaque algorithms. Legal experts say the approach is aggressive and faces constitutional questions, because only Congress can clearly preempt state laws. The draft order is still under review and no final text has been signed yet. This move signals a shift in how AI might be governed in the U.S. Instead of each state setting its own rules, a single federal standard could soon become the baseline—or the battleground.