Kratom is an herbal product used by some Americans to manage pain and other conditions. It has opioid-like effects and is legal in many US states but not regulated by the federal government, which raises safety concerns among health experts and officials.
Key Facts
Kratom is a tree native to Southeast Asia, used there for centuries as a stimulant.
It entered the US market around 2016, mainly sold as pills, powders, or liquids.
Kratom is often bought over-the-counter at stores like gas stations and vape shops.
It is not regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), so its content and safety are unclear.
Kratom's effects can include pain relief, stimulation at low doses, and opioid-like highs at higher doses.
Risks include addiction, withdrawal symptoms, hallucinations, and serious health problems like slowed breathing and heart issues.
Eleven US states have banned kratom, but it remains legal in others, including Mississippi.
Recent deaths involving kratom prompted officials to warn about its dangers, though kratom was not confirmed as the cause.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to continue working on a new immigration voter database before the upcoming midterm elections. Norm Eisen, a former White House ethics lawyer who often criticizes President Trump, advised people not to overreact to the court’s decision.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court made an emergency decision on Friday.
This decision lets the Trump administration keep building a new immigration voter database.
The timing is just before the midterm elections.
Norm Eisen, a former ethics lawyer in the White House, spoke about the ruling.
Eisen often criticizes President Trump but asked the public to stay calm about this case.
The ruling impacts how the government manages voter information related to immigration.
The database is part of the administration’s plan leading up to the elections.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
New Jersey Lieutenant Governor Dale Caldwell has resigned after a state investigation found he broke ethics and harassment rules. Governor Mikie Sherrill accepted his resignation following calls for him to step down.
Key Facts
Dale Caldwell was the Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey.
A state investigation found he violated ethics and harassment policies.
Governor Mikie Sherrill called for Caldwell to resign.
Caldwell submitted his resignation, which Sherrill accepted.
The resignation happened on a Friday, following the announcement by Governor Sherrill.
The investigation and resignation were related to misconduct in office.
Governor Sherrill made the resignation public during a press conference.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Many important companies and institutions are starting to prepare for quantum computers, which could break current security systems. They are working to upgrade to new types of encryption that quantum computers cannot easily break, even though the best methods are still being developed.
Key Facts
Quantum computers could break today's common encryption methods used for protecting money, identity, and communications.
Banks, payment companies, cloud services, and digital asset platforms rely heavily on cryptography for security.
Changing to quantum-safe encryption will be a long and complex process requiring early preparation.
Many large organizations don’t fully understand where cryptography is used in their systems, making upgrades difficult.
Early preparation helps companies find out which systems are most at risk and test new cryptographic methods.
The U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is working to create new encryption standards safe from quantum attacks.
Waiting too long can cause rushed and costly changes, so companies investing now gain a competitive advantage.
Quantum readiness involves mapping cryptographic dependencies, identifying risks, and working with vendors on upgrades.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
An independent review examined the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University (UVU) during a campus event in September 2025. The review found issues with security preparation and event location decisions but said no UVU staff acted with bad intent. The university and Kirk’s family responded with calls for improved safety and accountability.
Key Facts
Charlie Kirk was fatally shot on September 10, 2025, at a Turning Point USA event outdoors on the UVU campus.
The review highlighted several security and institutional issues related to the event’s safety.
Turning Point USA requested the event be held outdoors, which complicated protection efforts.
No UVU employee was found to have acted intentionally against safety or with bad faith.
The Kirk family criticized UVU security as severely understaffed and unprepared for the event’s risks.
Utah officials reportedly missed a specific tip warning of rooftop access risks before the shooting.
UVU’s president said the university is committed to learning from the report and improving campus safety.
The university has made progress in safety but will continue following the review’s recommendations.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Young French Catholics from the group Anuncio took to the streets of Paris during Pope Leo XIV's visit to share their faith in a country where church attendance is low. They used informal methods like paper fortune-tellers and friendly conversations to engage people and promote Christian culture.
Key Facts
The Anuncio movement is a French Catholic group mainly made up of young people aged 18 to 35.
Anuncio focuses on sharing Christianity in creative ways in public spaces, including street evangelism.
During Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Paris, Anuncio members organized a mission to spread the gospel to the crowds.
Paris streets near the event were heavily secured with police vans and metal fences.
Anuncio holds workshops to teach members how to talk about their faith effectively and respectfully.
Catholicism in France has traditionally spread through schools, hospitals, and parishes rather than direct street outreach.
More people are being baptized in France recently, with 13,000 adults and 8,000 teenagers baptized last Easter, increasing from about 4,000 per year before.
Anuncio is active in several cities including Lyon, Marseille, and Toulouse and meets monthly to organize evangelism.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Two U.S. trauma surgeons, Dr. Feroze Sidhwa and Dr. Michael Samotowka, work in dangerous war zones like Gaza and Ukraine to help people. Despite facing violence and attacks on hospitals, they plan to continue their medical aid work due to the critical need for trauma care in these areas.
Key Facts
Dr. Feroze Sidhwa was working at Nasser Hospital in Gaza when it was hit by an Israeli airstrike on March 23, 2025.
The airstrike killed two people, including one of Dr. Sidhwa’s patients, reportedly a Hamas spokesperson.
Dr. Sidhwa has also worked in the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Ghana, Burkina Faso, and Ukraine.
More than 1,000 aid workers have been killed worldwide in the past three years, with violent attacks on aid workers increasing by over 1,500% since 2000.
Gaza, Sudan, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo saw most attacks on aid workers last year.
Dr. Michael Samotowka travels frequently to Ukraine to provide trauma care and was present near a missile strike in a hospital operating room.
Both doctors emphasize the importance of following international laws, such as the Geneva Conventions, which protect medical workers and civilians during conflicts.
They urge governments to take action by stopping weapons supply to parties who attack doctors and aid workers.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Many countries left the United Nations General Assembly hall or did not attend when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave a speech about Israel's war in Gaza. Their absence was a form of protest against Israel's actions in the conflict.
Key Facts
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke at the UN General Assembly.
Several countries’ representatives walked out or were not present during the speech.
The absent or walking-out countries were protesting Israel’s war in Gaza.
The empty seats of these countries were noticeable during the speech.
Some countries’ delegations stayed and listened to the speech.
The walkouts signal international disagreement with Israel’s military actions.
This event highlights tensions at the UN over the Gaza conflict.
Protests like this at the UN are a way countries show their political positions without direct confrontation.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Police say Tasia Fortune was already dead before her body was hung from a tree in Jackson, Mississippi. Authorities have arrested two men on murder charges and believe the killing was related to a drug dispute.
Key Facts
Tasia Fortune’s body was found hanging from a tree behind an abandoned home on August 3.
Investigators say the hanging was staged after she had died.
The medical examiner ruled the death a homicide but has not shared the exact cause of death.
Two men, Jarques Ratliff and Earnest Lloyd Jr., have been arrested and charged with murder; a third person is wanted.
Police say the killing appears to have resulted from a disagreement over drugs.
Ratliff has pleaded not guilty and is in jail without bond.
Fortune’s mother said her daughter struggled with homelessness but wanted to start a cleaning business.
The case has drawn attention due to the image of a Black woman hanging, recalling historical racial violence in the South.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave a speech at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) that included strong statements about Israel’s policies. Many countries’ delegations left or were not present during his speech, and the timing of the speech is close to Israel’s upcoming elections.
Key Facts
Netanyahu spoke at the UN General Assembly.
His speech contained bold claims about Israel’s policies.
Many countries’ delegations left the room or were absent during the speech.
The speech happened just weeks before Israel’s national elections.
Some believe the speech was aimed more at Israeli voters than the international audience.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Police in Jackson, Mississippi, say Tasia Fortune was already dead before her body was hanged from a tree. They believe the hanging was staged after she died in a dispute related to drugs, and two men have been arrested on murder charges.
Key Facts
Tasia Fortune’s body was found hanging from a tree on August 3, 2026, in Jackson, Mississippi.
Investigators say she was dead before being hanged, meaning the hanging was staged after her death.
Police have not released the exact cause of death but ruled it a homicide.
Two men have been arrested on murder charges, and a third person is wanted.
The killing appears to be connected to a drug dispute.
Jarques Ratliff, one of the arrested men, has pleaded not guilty and is in jail.
Fortune’s mother said Tasia struggled with homelessness and was trying to improve her life.
The case reminds people of the painful history of racial violence in Mississippi.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Pope Leo XIV visited Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, the first pope to do so since the cathedral reopened in 2024 after a major fire in 2019. During the visit, he praised the restoration of Notre-Dame and led an evening prayer service called Vespers.
Key Facts
Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris was severely damaged by a fire in 2019.
The cathedral was restored and reopened in 2024.
Pope Leo XIV visited Notre-Dame for the first time on this occasion.
The pope led a Vespers evening prayer service at the cathedral.
He described Notre-Dame as holding "the heart of a people."
This visit reflects the pope’s religious focus during his time in Paris.
The pope also made appearances around Paris, including riding in the popemobile.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
There are no ads, so there is no reason to bait you. Readers who chip in keep it that way. Most choose $3.99/month, and get the daily digest every morning.
Researchers found that Google ads were used to deliver a tech support scam that freezes users’ computer screens on both Windows and Mac. The ads instructed users to call fake support centers and pay fees or share personal information, but security firms blocked many attacks before harm could happen.
Key Facts
The scam ads appeared on popular websites like maps, weather, sports, and real estate sites.
When clicked, the ads froze the browser, hid the cursor, and showed fake infection warnings.
The scam urged users to call a bogus support number to fix the problem.
Calls to the fake centers could lead to paying fees, giving remote access, or sharing personal data.
Security firm Netskope blocked the scam on devices in 619 customer organizations between August 31 and September 14.
About 62% of affected organizations were in the United States; Japan and Australia also had significant exposure.
The scam ads were hard to detect because they encrypted their code and disabled normal browser exit keys.
Google said it is investigating and removing offending ads but did not explain how the scam bypassed its filters.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A group of senators, including seven Republicans, wrote an open letter to President Trump asking why he invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to the upcoming Group of 20 Summit in Miami. The senators are concerned because Russia is currently involved in a war with Ukraine.
Key Facts
Seven Republican senators, along with others, signed a letter to President Trump.
The letter questions the invitation of President Putin to the G20 Summit.
The G20 Summit is set to be held in Miami later this year.
The concern arises because Russia is engaged in a war with Ukraine.
The senators want President Trump to explain the reason behind the invitation.
The letter was made public as an open letter on Friday.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Authorities in Idaho reopened a cold case and identified a man named Dr. Mathew Francis Betkouski, who died by cyanide poisoning over 40 years ago, as a possible suspect in the unsolved 1982 Tylenol poisonings in the Chicago area. These poisonings led to the deaths of seven people and the introduction of safety caps on medicine bottles.
Key Facts
Dr. Mathew Francis Betkouski was found dead in an Idaho church and identified years later through photos and DNA.
Betkouski died from cyanide poisoning more than 40 years ago and was buried anonymously.
Authorities suspect him in the 1982 Chicago-area Tylenol poisonings, which killed seven people.
Betkouski worked in drugstores and had a history of volatile behavior and interest in “perfect crime” theories.
Cyanide found in Betkouski’s desk was homemade and different from that used in the Tylenol poisonings.
Betkouski lived in five states but never near Chicago, though he visited the area a year before the murders.
Chicago police are still investigating the connection but have not confirmed Betkouski as a suspect.
Another man, James Lewis, was long considered a suspect but never charged; he died in 2023.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned attacks by the Houthi group on Saudi Arabia, especially threats against holy sites, calling them unacceptable. Pakistan and Turkey are sending their top military leaders to Riyadh for urgent talks related to the situation.
Key Facts
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif spoke at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session 81.
He condemned attacks by the Houthi group on Saudi Arabia.
The Houthi threats targeted Saudi Arabia’s holy sites, which the Prime Minister called a "red line."
Shehbaz Sharif is a signatory to the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, which involves protecting Saudi Arabia.
Pakistan and Turkey are sending their military chiefs to Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, for urgent meetings.
The meetings aim to address the security threats from the Houthis against Saudi Arabia.
The Houthis are a group involved in conflict in Yemen and have launched attacks into Saudi territory.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The new iPhone 18 Pro is similar to last year’s model but includes some important upgrades. It has a better camera with new settings, a faster chip, improved battery life, and a smaller screen cut-out called the Dynamic Island that houses the front camera and sensors.
Key Facts
The iPhone 18 Pro mostly looks like the iPhone 17 Pro but with small design changes.
It introduces a variable aperture camera, giving users more control over photography.
The phone uses a new chip for faster performance.
Battery life is improved compared to the previous model.
The phone’s cooling system is better, making it feel cooler to touch during use.
The Dynamic Island, the screen cut-out area for the front camera and sensors, is smaller this year.
Apple moved the infrared (IR) camera under the OLED screen, allowing the smaller cut-out.
The smaller Dynamic Island can now display up to three live activities at once, offering more information on the screen.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Costco is giving $60 shop cards to some members who meet certain conditions. Customers need to check their receipts to see if they qualify and learn how to get this offer.
Key Facts
Costco is offering $60 shop cards to qualifying members.
The offer applies only to certain Costco shoppers based on specific requirements.
Members need to look at their receipts to find out if they are eligible.
The shop card can be used for purchases at Costco stores.
Details on how to claim or use the card are available to qualifying customers.
This promotion is aimed at rewarding some Costco members.
The offer is part of Costco’s ongoing member benefits.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
New Jersey Lieutenant Governor Dale Caldwell resigned after a state investigation found he violated ethics rules and sexually harassed a staffer. Governor Mikie Sherrill announced the findings and gave Caldwell a day to step down, which he did.
Key Facts
Dale Caldwell was the Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey.
An investigation found Caldwell committed serious ethics violations.
The probe confirmed Caldwell made a romantic advance toward a staffer's friend.
After being rejected, Caldwell made inappropriate sexual comments to the staffer.
Governor Mikie Sherrill demanded Caldwell's resignation based on the report.
Caldwell resigned from his position shortly after the governor’s announcement.
Caldwell has not made a public comment about the situation yet.
This event took place in September 2026.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Israeli authorities in the West Bank use a team called the Blue Line team to redraw maps and declare some land as "state land," which is then used to expand Israeli settlements. Palestinian families, like Bilal Abu Alia’s in al-Mughayyir, have lost access to large parts of their land due to these reclassifications and military actions.
Key Facts
The Blue Line team was established in 1999 to officially mark land boundaries in the West Bank.
The team includes surveyors, map experts, and legal advisors who use modern technology to redraw land maps.
Land reclassified as “state land” can be used to build Israeli settlements, which are considered illegal under international law.
The United Nations says the Blue Line team’s work has expanded Israel’s claim to land beyond earlier limits.
In 2025, Israeli forces declared some Palestinian land a military zone in al-Mughayyir and uprooted thousands of olive trees there.
After the land was declared off-limits, settlers began working on it under army protection, despite Palestinian objections.
Palestinians trying to gather wood from the uprooted trees were arrested and held for three days.
Israeli authorities have not responded to requests for comment about these actions.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
