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EPA Ends 20-Year Effort to Monitor Air Pollution from Factory Farms
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has ceased its two-decade-long initiative to develop methods for monitoring air pollution from factory farms. This decision effectively ends the agency's attempts to regulate these facilities under the Clean Air Act, despite research indicating that emissions from concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) contribute significantly to air pollution and related deaths.
Reform UK Councillor Promoted Collapsed $1.9 Billion HyperVerse Crypto Scheme
A Reform UK councillor, Susan Lawrence, promoted the HyperVerse cryptocurrency scheme, which US court documents identified as an alleged "pyramid and Ponzi scheme" that defrauded investors of $1.89 billion. Lawrence, now on Wolverhampton City Council's audit and risk committee, continued promoting the scheme even after the UK's Financial Conduct Authority issued a warning.
Apple and Palantir Shares Decline Premarket After Earnings Reports
Apple and Palantir shares fell in premarket trading after their post-bell earnings announcements. Apple reported better-than-expected revenue but missed iPad sales estimates and issued a disappointing margin forecast, while Palantir exceeded third-quarter estimates with U.S. commercial revenue surpassing government revenue for the first time.
NY Fed Survey: Half of In-Office Workers Report No In-Person Meetings
A New York Fed survey found that nearly half of in-office workers (48.8%) had no in-person meetings on their most recent office days, despite corporate mandates for in-person work. This indicates a disconnect between employer expectations for collaboration and the actual experience of employees, who often commute to take virtual calls from their desks. The findings suggest that many in-office workers feel isolated, experiencing a form of "in-office remote work" due to dispersed teams and inconsistent mandate enforcement.
Third US Human Bird Flu Death Reported in Washington State Dairy Farm Worker
A person in Washington state died from bird flu after exposure at an infected dairy farm, marking the third human bird flu death in the US since the H5N1 strain began infecting dairy cows in March 2024. This incident highlights the continued risk of avian influenza transmission to humans, particularly for those with direct animal contact and underlying health conditions.
USPS Mail Service Reductions Lead to Soaring Ballot Rejections in Rural Counties
A ProPublica analysis found that ballot rejections due to late arrival doubled or tripled in rural areas affected by U.S. Postal Service cost-cutting measures during this year's primary elections. These delays stem from USPS consolidating mail processing and reducing mail pickups in rural post offices, adding a day or more to delivery times and delaying postmarking.
China details plan for crewed lunar landing before 2030
Chinese space officials publicly disclosed a detailed plan for a crewed lunar landing before 2030, involving a series of uncrewed and crewed missions. The plan outlines separate launches for crew and lander, docking in lunar orbit, similar to the Apollo program but without a single powerful rocket like the Saturn V.
New Data Shows Over 90% of Public Comments on Data Centers Are Negative
A new website, American Sentiment by Prophecy Gov, analyzed 10,202 public comments from 417 local government meetings, revealing that 90.5% of public feedback on data center proposals is negative. This data highlights growing public opposition to new data center construction across 48 US states, with concerns primarily focused on water usage, local quality of life, and transparency.
Proton to Re-Interview Staff on AI Use, Potentially Affecting Employment
Proton, known for its privacy-focused products, announced it will re-interview employees about their AI usage, with potential implications for continued employment. This initiative follows CEO Andy Yen's push for increased AI integration across the company and into new products.
Google UK Signs Union Access Agreement Following New Employment Rights Legislation
Google UK has signed an agreement with the Prospect union, allowing it to organize among approximately 7,000 workers, excluding DeepMind. This follows new UK employment rights legislation granting unions greater access to workplaces, and a similar agreement between Prospect and Meta.
Ryanair Considers Cost-Cutting Measures Amid Soaring Fuel Costs
Ryanair is evaluating cost-cutting measures, including potential pay freezes, reduced crew numbers, and increased AI use, to mitigate a projected €2 billion rise in jet fuel costs by March 2028. The airline anticipates European short-haul fares will increase significantly due to elevated fuel prices and expiring hedging deals, though this may not fully offset the increased fuel bill.
California's Prop 45 could allow data centers to bypass environmental scrutiny
California's Proposition 45, intended to fast-track essential infrastructure, may create a loophole for data center developers to avoid environmental reviews and public oversight. Environmental advocates warn that data centers could be classified as "essential projects," allowing them to benefit from shortened review timelines and limited public comment periods. This proposition would alter the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) by setting strict deadlines for environmental assessments and legal challenges, potentially reducing community input and tribal consultation.
French Lawmakers Approve $11.2 Billion Internet Tax Based on Data Usage
French lawmakers approved a new tax proposal that would charge content providers approximately $0.06 per gigabyte of data distributed to French users. This tax, estimated to generate $11.2 billion annually, targets major internet companies like Google, Netflix, and Meta based on their traffic volume rather than advertising revenue or subscriptions.
Crypto Industry Invests Over $200 Million in 2026 Midterms to Influence Legislation
Cryptocurrency groups have contributed over $200 million to the 2026 midterm election cycle, making them the largest single-issue super PAC spenders. This funding aims to elect pro-crypto lawmakers and influence favorable regulations, following a similar effort in the 2024 cycle.
FDA Proposes Withdrawal of Tavneos Drug Approval Citing Data Manipulation and Liver Injury
The FDA has proposed withdrawing its approval for Tavneos, a drug for a rare autoimmune vasculitis, citing newly uncovered evidence of data manipulation in the original trial by ChemoCentryx and reports of serious liver injuries. This action comes after the drug was approved in 2021 despite initial FDA concerns and an advisory committee's narrow recommendation, leading to ChemoCentryx's acquisition by Amgen and significant sales.
New Martian Meteorite Teghaza 001 Discovered, Formed 4.1 Billion Years Ago
Scientists identified Teghaza 001, a Martian meteorite found in Mali, as forming at least 4.1 billion years ago. This discovery adds a third genuinely ancient Martian meteorite to Earth's collection, offering insights into Mars' early crust.
Worker electrocuted at Google data center in Belgium, highlighting safety concerns
A worker at a Google data center in Saint-Ghislain, Belgium, suffered severe burns from an arc flash electrocution after being told power lines were de-energized. This incident, which occurred while the worker was performing electrical tests without required protective gear, points to broader issues of worker exploitation and unsafe conditions within Europe's data center industry.
Meta Discussed "Whisper Strategy" to Discredit Social Media Critic Jonathan Haidt
Internal Meta documents, revealed in court filings, show discussions among staff about a "whisper strategy" to undermine academic Jonathan Haidt. The discussions aimed to get the academic community to "disavow Haidt" and "debunk" his work, which advocates for stricter social media regulations for young people.
Trump Declares Foreign Robot Imports a National Security Threat, Threatens Tariffs
President Trump issued a proclamation declaring foreign-made factory robots a national security threat, citing risks to the US industrial base and potential cybersecurity vulnerabilities. The directive orders negotiations with trading partners to adjust robot imports within 180 days, with the possibility of imposing tariffs if no agreements are reached.
FTC Orders Major Companies to Disclose Personalized Pricing and Pay Algorithms
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has ordered nine major companies, including airlines, ride-sharing, food delivery, and retail firms, to provide detailed information on how they use personal data to set individual consumer prices and employee compensation. This action aims to assess whether pricing and pay vary based on personal data analysis and loyalty programs, and to scrutinize the methodologies used for these decisions.
Ofcom Recommends Age Verification Methods for UK Social Media Ban on Under-16s
Ofcom has outlined recommended methods for age verification ahead of the UK's social media ban for users under 16, set to begin in March next year. The recommendations include photo ID matching, banking-based checks, face age estimation, and digital ID services, aiming to prevent underage access to major platforms.
U.S. Worker Engagement Drops to Lowest Level Since 2011, Gallup Poll Finds
A recent Gallup poll indicates that U.S. worker engagement fell to 29% in Q3 2026, the lowest level since 2011. This decline was concentrated among remote and hybrid employees, particularly in organizations adopting AI, and represents a decrease of approximately 3.2 million engaged workers quarter-over-quarter.
Stack Overflow Receives Under 1,000 New Questions Monthly
Stack Overflow is now receiving fewer than 1,000 new questions per month, a significant decline from its peak. This reduction in user engagement indicates a shift in how developers seek and share technical information.
RFK Jr. Administration Proposes FDA Ease Access to Unproven Peptide Drugs
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), under Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s proposed Health Secretary role, is reportedly planning an "Interim Access Policy" for unproven peptide drugs. This policy would grant the FDA "enforcement discretion," allowing specialty pharmacies to produce these drugs despite FDA scientists previously finding insufficient safety and efficacy data and potential risks. The move would reverse a 2023 decision to remove these peptides from the list of drugs compounding pharmacies can make.
Federal Appeals Court Strikes Down West Virginia's Daniel's Law Restricting Public Officials' Data
A federal appeals court ruled West Virginia's Daniel's Law unconstitutional, stating it unlawfully restricts content-based speech and holds data brokers liable too broadly. This decision allows data brokers to continue publishing personal information of public officials without prior consent, impacting similar laws in other states.
FCC Bans Expand to Consumer Gadgets, MSI Receives Conditional Router Waiver
The US government has expanded its ban on Chinese technology from telecom equipment to consumer gadgets like drones, routers, and robotic vacuums, citing national security concerns without public evidence. Taiwan's MSI received conditional approval for two specific router models, while other companies like Netgear and Asus obtained blanket approvals, and TP-Link faces restrictions on its new Wi-Fi 8 routers.
Trump DOE Loans $5B to Constellation Energy for Nuclear Plant Expansion Powering Data Centers
The Trump administration's Department of Energy is providing $5 billion in loans to Constellation Energy to expand nuclear generating capacity by 1.1 gigawatts across eight power plants. Most of this additional power has already been secured by Google, Meta, and Amazon to support their data centers, indicating a direct government subsidy for hyperscaler energy needs.
Antarctic Sea Ice Decline Causes Rapid Salinity Increase in Southern Ocean
Scientists documented a sharp increase in salinity in the Southern Ocean's Antarctic Intermediate Water layer since 2016, reversing decades of freshening. This change, linked to the rapid decline of Antarctic sea ice, could alter how the ocean distributes heat, carbon, and nutrients globally.
Silicon Valley Parents Seek Reduced Screen Time in Schools, Public and Private
Parents in Silicon Valley, many of whom work in tech, are increasingly enrolling their children in screen-free private schools and advocating for reduced screen use in public schools. This trend reflects growing concerns about the impact of technology on children and follows similar rollbacks in major US school districts.
Rockstar UK Workers to Vote on Union Recognition During GTA 6 Release Window
Rockstar Games' UK employees will vote on union recognition from November 12-26, coinciding with the Grand Theft Auto 6 launch. This vote follows a legal case alleging union-busting after layoffs of union-affiliated workers in October 2025.
EPA to Weaken Methane Leak Regulations for Oil and Gas Industry
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is set to reduce regulations on methane leaks from oil and gas infrastructure, reversing previous efforts to cut emissions. This change is part of the Trump administration's deregulatory agenda, aiming to save oil and gas companies $45 billion.
YouTube Leads US TV Streaming in July 2026; Free Services Outperform Paid Platforms
In July 2026, YouTube captured 14.2% of US television viewing time, surpassing Netflix's 7.8%, according to Nielsen's The Gauge. Free streaming services like The Roku Channel and Tubi also outperformed several paid platforms, including Peacock and Warner Bros. Discovery's services. This data indicates a shift in TV viewing habits towards ad-supported and user-generated content platforms.
Sucker Punch Productions, developer of Ghost of Yōtei, lays off 24 employees
Sucker Punch Productions, the studio behind "Ghost of Yōtei," laid off 24 workers, citing market challenges and team needs for its next project. This follows a trend of significant layoffs across the video game industry, impacting numerous studios and thousands of employees.
EPA Plans to Decommission Online Web Archive, Removing Public Environmental Resources
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced plans to decommission its online web archive by the end of the year, which would remove tens of thousands of public environmental resources. This move follows previous attempts to close the archive and has drawn criticism from environmental groups who state the information is irreplaceable.
US Designates Helium as a Critical Material
The US government has officially designated helium as a critical material, a move that could lead to increased domestic production and supply chain security. This designation highlights helium's essential role in various high-tech industries and national security applications.
Microsoft offers mass buyouts to approximately 25% of its workforce
Microsoft has offered voluntary severance packages to roughly a quarter of its employees. This move aims to reduce the company's overall headcount and operational costs.
Eugene Police Charge Local News Outlet $2.5M for Records on Officer Misconduct
The Eugene Police Department quoted Double Sided Media $2.5 million to fulfill a public records request regarding officer Justin Peckels, citing 44,816 hours of staff time. This cost is seen as an attempt to obstruct the release of information concerning community complaints against the officer, including an alleged assault.
Meta Accused of Ignoring Brazilian Court Order on Election Favoritism
Meta is facing new accusations in Brazil for allegedly favoring Liberal Party candidate Flávio Bolsonaro over Workers’ Party candidate Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Instagram and WhatsApp. This comes despite a prior electoral court order for Meta to ensure equal conditions for both candidates. The Superior Electoral Court has been asked to enforce a daily fine and compel Meta to explain its search ranking and AI result generation.
Meta's Facebook link posting test impacts government and nonprofit pages
Meta is testing a new policy that charges pages for posting more than two links per month, despite stating that government and nonprofit entities would be exempt. This change is forcing affected organizations to alter their communication strategies on Facebook and consider alternative platforms.
US Regulators Warn Holtec International Over Safety Issues at Palisades Nuclear Plant
The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issued a warning to Holtec International regarding a "chilled work environment" at the Palisades nuclear power plant, where staff fear reporting safety concerns. This follows incidents including a worker falling into a reactor cavity and a fuel rod bundle nearly tipping over, raising concerns about safety as the plant aims to be the first reopened nuclear reactor in the US.