US News

Microsoft has laid off a senior Xbox engineering leader credited as the architect of the Xbox Backwards Compatibility program and Xbox Cloud Gaming, according to a report from Windows Central. The report identifies the employee as a longtime member of the Xbox organization whose work was closely associated with two of Microsoft’s most visible gaming…

Iran launched strikes targeting sites in Bahrain and Kuwait following a wave of U.S. strikes on Iran, according to Reuters. The moves marked a rapid escalation across the Gulf after the latest round of U.S. military action. Reuters reported that Iran’s targets included locations in Bahrain and Kuwait. NBC News similarly reported that Iran struck…

Iran accused the United States of violating a peace agreement after U.S. strikes targeted sites around the Strait of Hormuz, escalating tensions in one of the world’s most critical shipping corridors. The U.S. military announced it launched fresh strikes against Iran, saying the action was a response to Iranian attacks on three commercial vessels transiting…

A new fact-check report has identified five false claims made by President Donald Trump during a single meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, according to CNN. The CNN report centers on statements Trump made in the presence of Erdogan and describes them as false based on the outlet’s review. CNN’s account frames the meeting…

Previously unseen video shown during a court hearing involving conservative commentator Charlie Kirk’s case appeared to show a man on a rooftop near the scene of the shooting, according to published reports. The footage was presented during a hearing tied to the investigation and prosecution stemming from the shooting, with the video described by outlets…

A murder suspect accused of killing activist Charlie Kirk stopped at a Chick-fil-A and changed clothes before the shooting, an investigator testified, as prosecutors presented surveillance video and other evidence in court. The testimony came during a hearing in the case against Tyler Robinson, who has been charged in Kirk’s killing. An investigator said video…

Microsoft is moving to cut the cost of powering its AI products by leaning more heavily on its own in-house models, as the company continues to expand features across Copilot and other services. The shift was reported as part of a broader effort inside Microsoft to reduce spending tied to third-party AI systems. In recent…

The United States has revoked an authorization that had allowed Iranian oil sales after attacks on commercial tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, according to U.S. officials. The move ends a U.S. license that permitted those oil transactions and follows a series of incidents targeting shipping in and around one of the world’s most important…

The threat level in the Strait of Hormuz has been raised to “severe” after attacks on oil tankers in the vital shipping corridor, including vessels traveling along a route used by the U.S. Navy, according to published reports. The escalation follows a series of incidents in and near the strait, one of the world’s most…

Pressure intensified Friday on Graham Platner to end his bid for the U.S. Senate in Maine after a sexual assault allegation prompted a growing list of Democratic leaders and allies to call for him to withdraw from the race. Platner, a Democratic candidate, is facing public demands to step aside from Maine and national party…

Louis Vuitton has won a court case against a Chinese tea chain, a decision that is now fueling broader debate about the reach of copyright protections and how far brands can go to safeguard their intellectual property. The case centered on Louis Vuitton, the French luxury fashion house known for its distinctive branding, and a…

Oil prices edged higher after a report said Iran attacked commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz, a key chokepoint for global energy trade. The move came as traders weighed the risk of disruption in the narrow waterway that links the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. The Strait of…