Microsoft Tests AI-Powered Windows Search in Insider Builds

Microsoft has begun testing a new AI-powered search feature for Windows 11, which allows users to find local files using more casual language. The feature is available on dev channel builds for Windows 11 Insider testers and requires a Copilot Plus PC. The search functionality can be used across multiple interfaces, including Settings, File Explorer, … Read more

US Sees Rise in Viral Sickness Amid Quad-Demic

The number of people contracting viral illnesses has increased in the US amid an ongoing “quad-demic,” a term referring to three respiratory viruses and one gastrointestinal disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). COVID-19, influenza, Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and norovirus cases have risen. Emergency department visits are high for RSV … Read more

US Lifts TikTok Ban After Trump’s Last-Minute Intervention

The United States temporarily lifted its ban on the popular video app TikTok, allowing it to operate again after President-elect Donald J. Trump vowed to stall the implementation of the ban. On Saturday night, users in the US found that their TikTok accounts were unavailable due to a new law banning ByteDance’s apps in the … Read more

Bitcoin Sees 5.3% Surge Amid Trump’s Crypto-Friendly Agenda

Bitcoin (BTC) experienced significant gains on Friday, rising as much as 5.3% from Thursday’s market close. This surge is largely attributed to the incoming Trump administration’s commitment to crypto-friendly policies. The most notable beneficiaries of this trend include stocks and funds closely tied to Bitcoin, such as Canaan (CAN), MARA Holdings (MARA), Coinbase Global (COIN), … Read more

Assumable Mortgages Offer Lower Rates Amid Rising Interest Rates

With 30-year fixed mortgage rates surpassing 7 percent for the first time since May, securing a lower-rate mortgage may seem impossible. However, assumable mortgages can provide an alternative solution for homebuyers. These mortgages allow buyers to take over a seller’s existing loan, often with lower interest rates and reduced closing costs. Assumable mortgages are typically … Read more

Two Iranian Supreme Court Judges Killed in Planned Assassination

Two veteran Iranian Supreme Court judges, Mohammad Moghiseh and Judge Ali Razini, were shot dead inside the Tehran court where they worked, according to state-affiliated media reports. The judiciary described the attack as a “planned assassination” carried out by an assailant with no pending cases. Judge Moghiseh had faced sanctions from the US and EU … Read more

Stand Insurance Sees Surge in Interest After California Wildfires

A month after launching its first funding round and debut insurance product, Stand has seen a significant surge in interest due to the recent LA wildfires. The company’s CEO, Dan Preston, said that inbound demand for the insurance service increased by 5-10 times overnight as the fires began. Preston, who co-founded Stand last year, aims … Read more

Tech Firm Tracks IP Addresses for Request Limits

A recent incident has highlighted the growing trend of companies tracking internet protocol (IP) addresses to enforce rate limiting and prevent abuse on their services, such as APIs. The exposed information includes client_ip: 37.27.54.14, a unique identifier assigned to devices accessing a service’s API endpoint. The request_id: 1058466897 is a timestamp indicating the time of … Read more

Egg Prices May Rise by 20% Due to Bird Flu Outbreak

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the average price of a dozen Grade A large eggs increased from $2.51 in December 2023 to $4.15 in December 2024, marking a significant rise. Experts predict that egg prices could surge by up to 20% before the end of 2025, with the average price potentially reaching … Read more

Trump Launches Meme Coin Worth $9 Billion Amid Inauguration

US President-elect Donald Trump has launched a meme coin worth around $9 billion, called $TRUMP, in celebration of his upcoming inauguration. The cryptocurrency was announced on Friday and rapidly rose by over 300% before paring back some gains. The digital asset is hosted on the Solana blockchain and has a limited supply of 200 million … Read more