Top Stories
TOP STORY
TOP STORY
Trump hands out fries, Harris visits churches
The presidential campaign saw Kamala Harris go to two churches on Sunday and Donald Trump hand out french fries at McDonald’s.
Both candidates were scrambling for votes in the most competitive states, with Harris, the US vice president, appealing to early voters in Georgia and Trump, the former president, campaigning in Pennsylvania ahead of the Nov. 5 election.
Harris contrasted her vision for America with the harsh political climate but did not mention Trump by name. She was more direct with MSNBC when asked to comment on Trump calling Harris a “shit vice president” at a rally in Pennsylvania. She said: “The American people deserve so much better.”
At a McDonald's in suburban Philadelphia, Trump removed his suit jacket, donned a black and yellow apron and cooked batches of french fries, something he said he wanted to do “all my life.”
Trump said the McDonald's visit was partly intended as a jab at Harris, who says she worked at the fast-food chain during her college years in California. Trump claims Harris never worked there but has provided no evidence to back that up.
The Harris campaign said Trump's visit belied his opposition to an increase in the federal minimum wage and his support for a rule that could make it more difficult for workers to win legal claims against the parent company if a franchise owner violated minimum wage and overtime laws.
WORLD
WORLD
Anger mounts over Ghana’s gold problem
Illegal small-scale gold mining in Ghana, known as galamsey, has become a contentious issue ahead of its December election.
Galamsey is causing environmental destruction and health issues but provides livelihoods and economic benefits. Protesters highlight severe water pollution, with over 60% of water sources contaminated by mercury and heavy metals.
Legal small-scale mines produced 36% of Ghana's gold in the first half of the year, but many mines operate illegally and unregistered. Illegal mining practices degrade arable land and pollute water sources, making water treatment difficult and affecting communities.
Government interventions, including deploying soldiers and seizing equipment, have not significantly curbed illegal mining activities. Public anger has forced some legal small-scale miners to halt operations, fearing government-imposed bans.
A significant portion of gold from small-scale miners is smuggled out of Africa, with Ghana being a major hub. Ghana is Africa’s top gold producer and the sixth largest in the world.
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SOCIETY
SOCIETY
Older Americans voice big regrets in life
Over 1,000 Americans aged 48–90 shared their biggest life regrets in a survey that highlights challenges in retirement planning.
Common regrets include not saving enough for retirement and taking Social Security benefits too early. Respondents described retirement planning as a trial-and-error process, often lacking guidance on saving, investing, and managing finances.
Many older Americans need help absorbing financial shocks and meeting daily needs, with nearly 50% of those 60 or older having insufficient household incomes.
Many respondents regret not being taught financial planning basics and wish they had saved more for retirement. Many believed they could rely on Social Security alone but found it insufficient, leading some to work part-time or move into low-income housing.
Common regrets included mistakes during the retirement process, such as claiming Social Security too early or retiring without enough savings. Career-related regrets include not pursuing higher-paying roles, staying in dead-end jobs, and not keeping skills up-to-date.
Educational regrets were also prevalent, with many wishing they had pursued higher education or managed student loans better.
HEALTH
HEALTH
Detecting MS signs before symptoms appear
Research has identified genetic features that may signal the onset of multiple sclerosis (MS) before symptoms appear.
MS is an autoimmune disease causing inflammation in the brain and spinal cord, leading to symptoms of pain, fatigue, numbness or weakness, and problems with vision or movement.
A study of 12 pairs of identical twins, where one twin had MS and the other did not, provided insights into the immune systems of those likely to develop MS. When one twin has MS, the second has about a 1 in 4 chance of developing the disease.
High levels of cytotoxic T cells, which normally kill cancer and infected cells, are found in MS patients. The more advanced a person's disease stage was, the more T cells they had that showed these genetic changes. This lends weight to the hypothesis that T cells drive inflammation in MS.
A neurologist not involved in the research said, “Having insight into the earliest indicators of MS may help us make a diagnosis and initiate therapy long before any significant neurologic damage can occur.” An illustration showing the damage MS can cause neurons is pictured.
TECHNOLOGY
TECHNOLOGY
AI camera recycling trucks raise concerns
Recycling collection trucks using AI-powered cameras to detect improperly recycled items are raising privacy concerns.
East Lansing, Mich., partners with Prairie Robotics, a Canadian technology company that develops AI to sort landfill waste. Recycling trucks with cameras video monitor the items residents recycle and collect household-by-household data.
The AI detects improperly recycled items and logs the information. Personalized educational postcards with information on recycling practices are generated and sent to residences.
Households that received educational postcards “coaching” them about recyclable materials reduced contamination by 23% and “set out their carts 45% more often compared to a control group,” an Ohio State University statistical analysis of the project found.
With any new technology comes privacy concerns. The Center for Long-Term Cybersecurity said, “Trash has a lot of sensitive information that not only could lead to identity theft [through items] such as credit cards and financial records that people might throw out but also about how people live their lives.”
The Center said cities should assess whether improvements to recycling are worth “potentially revealing very sensitive, very personal information about residents.”
OTHER NEWS
OTHER NEWS
Sailer ‘Lt. Dan’ arrested in Florida
“Lt. Dan,” whose determination to ride out Hurricane Milton in a sailboat earned him Internet fame, has been arrested in Florida.
The Tampa Police Department said Joe Malinowski remained in jail in Hillsborough County on Saturday after being arrested for failing to appear in court for previous cases and trespassing in a city park after a warning to leave.
The 54-year-old, whose occupation in his arrest record is listed as “TikTok star,” told officers he didn't have an accessible marine sanitation device aboard his unregistered vessel and did not have a record of proper waste disposal, creating a public health hazard.
Marine sanitation devices are equipment that receives, retains, treats or discharges sewage. They are required under the Clean Water Act on boats with installed toilets.
Malinowski was told to leave the park and arrested after he remained there the following day. His failure to appear charges relate to operating an unregistered vehicle and not having a valid driver's license.
Malinowski got the nickname Lt. Dan after the character from the movie Forrest Gump, who also rode out a hurricane on a boat. Like the movie character, Malinowski is missing his lower left leg.
OFFBEAT
OFFBEAT
Airport bans farewell hugs over 3 minutes
An airport in New Zealand has banned prolonged goodbye hugs at drop-off, restricting last embraces to just three minutes.
A sign at Dunedin Airport reads “max hug time 3 minutes” and suggests, “For fonder farewells, please use the car park.” Commenting on Facebook, one person said: “I love it. It shows warmth and compassion. Another said: “I love Nice airport — they have ‘Kiss and Fly.’”
Others thought the limit was “inhumane,” adding: “You can’t put a time limit on hugs.”
One post showed deeper thinking: “Who are the people I would hug for three minutes? There are few, mostly family and a dear long-time friend. Life is short.”
Otherweb Editorial Staff
Alex FinkTechie in Chief
David WilliamsEditor in Chief
Angela PalmerContent Manager
Dan KriegerTechnical Director