Sunday, September 20, 2026

World

Iran Sets Peace Terms as Houthis Strike Riyadh

Iran has laid out conditions for ending its war, demanding a halt to fighting on all fronts and the lifting of a US naval blockade, as the conflict spreads. Saudi Arabia's air defences intercepted a Houthi ballistic missile aimed at Riyadh — the first alert sounded in the capital since the latest escalation began — while Turkey's foreign minister pledged military backing for Saudi Arabia. Missile and drone strikes also hit fuel storage tanks near Riyadh's international airport, just five weeks before Delta Air Lines is due to launch nonstop service from Atlanta.

MarketIsrael x Iran ceasefire continues through December 31?64%

Tech

Trump Creates AI Force and Names AI Czar

Donald Trump announced he will establish an "AI Force" and appoint an AI czar to oversee the technology, offering virtually no operational details on either. The move comes as industry figures and members of his own party have urged caution, warnings Trump dismissed as a Democratic hoax. He also floated rebranding artificial intelligence under a new name entirely.

Politics

Newsom Signs Bills Blocking Federal Election Interference

California governor Gavin Newsom has signed a package of election security laws that make seizing ballots or election records a felony and extend drop-off hours for mail-in voting. The legislation is an explicit response to potential federal interference and arrives as tensions between California and the Trump administration remain high. The bills add criminal teeth to state protections that previously had no such enforcement mechanism.

MarketWill Xavier Becerra win the California Governor Election in 2026?95%

Health

DR Congo Rolls Out Ebola Vaccine Amid Rising Deaths

The Democratic Republic of Congo has begun vaccinating frontline health workers against a strain of Ebola as the death toll climbs. Around 50,000 workers are set to receive the jab, with 20,000 of them enrolled in a one-year clinical trial to test the vaccine's effectiveness against this particular strain. The outbreak marks another chapter in the DRC's long and recurring battle with the virus.

World

Israel's President Pardons Soldier in Divisive 2016 Killing

Israeli president Isaac Herzog has pardoned Elor Azaria, the combat medic convicted of manslaughter after shooting dead a wounded and incapacitated Palestinian attacker in the occupied West Bank. Azaria's 2017 conviction and his early release after serving two-thirds of an 18-month sentence already divided Israeli society, and the full pardon is likely to deepen that rift. The case has long been a flashpoint over military conduct and accountability.

MarketWill Gadi Eizenkot be the next Prime Minister of Israel?51%