hldays adds business-day calculations that respect local and municipal holidays

The author built the business-day endpoints of the hldays API to answer whether a date is a working day in a specific place. Whether a day counts as a working day depends on location, down to the municipality: 24 June is a normal Wednesday in 2026 nationally, but it is a closed day in Porto while remaining open in Lisbon. The API has two endpoints, one that checks whether a date is a business day and one that adds a number of business days to a start date. Both accept a jurisdiction and apply the place's own holidays along with those inherited from its region and country. The author illustrates this with England at Christmas 2026, where a substitute holiday moves Boxing Day to Monday 28 December.

Converting manufacturer CAD files to glTF for fast browser loading

Real manufacturer CAD files often fail to load quickly in a browser, even when the Three.js demo appears simple. Exported CAD models are typically very large, commonly 40 to 120MB per variant, and arrive with Z-up orientation, unit scale mismatches, CAD-specific materials, and thousands of separate parts. The author's pipeline first merges parts and removes hidden geometry in Blender, then fixes orientation and scale and assigns PBR materials by slot. Finally, Draco and KTX2 compression shrink files to roughly 2 to 5MB without visible quality loss. Because models change and each product line needs repeated processing, the author treats this pipeline as an ongoing project cost, automated with scripts or queue jobs.

Wikimedia Foundation urges courts to split AI copyright rulings on training versus outputs

The Wikimedia Foundation, the nonprofit behind Wikipedia, has filed an amicus brief in a group of landmark AI copyright cases. It argues that large language models should be legally protected when trained on copyrighted material, but not when chatbots reproduce that material for users. The foundation warns that an overly black-and-white ruling could either cut off useful AI tools for Wikipedia editors or threaten the open web. Its position is neutral, taking neither side in lawsuits brought by publishers including The New York Times against OpenAI and Microsoft.

Iran War Oil Price Surge Becomes Key Issue in Senate Races

Democrats are highlighting rising costs for diesel, heating oil, and fertilizer as a central campaign theme. They are linking these price increases to the Iran war, which is pursued by President Donald Trump and is unpopular with voters. The strategy aims to connect Republican candidates in competitive Senate contests to the war's economic effects. The article reports that the energy price pressure is shaping the political debate heading into those races.

Tech Workers With Pending Canadian Work Permit Extensions Face Status and Travel Limits

Canada's immigration department says a work permit extension or change application must be received before the current permit expires to maintain status. If it is filed on time and the permit expires during processing, the worker can generally stay and keep working under the original permit's conditions until a decision. Pending status does not automatically authorize a new employer, job or location, particularly for employer-specific permits, so those changes need separate review. Workers who leave Canada while on maintained status may lose the right to work on return until the extension is approved. The article advises keeping receipts, permits, extension letters and employer correspondence, and checking current IRCC guidance.

Slipmark 0.6 adds MCP server to bind Codex review verdicts to their instruction files

Slipmark 0.6 introduces an MCP server for Codex, motivated by the fact that coding agents read AGENTS.md, skills, and MCP configuration as inputs, which became targets of 2026 attacks such as Ghostcommit, Deadbugz, and poisoned skills. The server gives Codex two tools: slipmark_attest, which records a verdict along with SHA-256 hashes of the files read, and slipmark_verify, which checks those verdicts against the current file contents. A companion CI action blocks pull requests when files or agent instructions changed after a verdict, or when AGENTS.md changed without human approval or instructions hid text from reviewers. The MCP server is intentionally limited: agents cannot record human approvals, run commands, or overwrite existing verdicts. A demo repository presents each attack as an open pull request.

Musk warns Democrats could gain lasting control of Congress and presidency by 2028

Elon Musk has voiced concern that Democrats could secure dominance over Congress and the presidency by 2028. He cited three potential moves: granting statehood to Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico, legalizing undocumented immigrants, and expanding the Supreme Court. Musk argues these changes could entrench a permanent one-party system in the United States. The remarks were made ahead of the midterm elections.

Philippine volcano erupts for nearly six minutes, sending ash about 3 km into the sky

A volcano in the Philippines erupted for close to six minutes, releasing a plume of ash that rose roughly 3 kilometres into the air. The eruption was captured on video and circulated widely online. Authorities monitoring volcanic activity in the region are keeping a close watch on conditions. Ash emissions of this height can pose risks to aviation and nearby communities. The article's details on the exact location and any evacuations were not included in the source text provided.

Mominul Haque replaced by Jaker Ali after head injury in Dhaka Test

Bangladesh batter Mominul Haque was forced out of the field after sustaining a head injury during the Dhaka Test against West Indies. The injury occurred while he was attempting a catch at short leg during the West Indies' first innings. Jaker Ali came on as his replacement. The incident was reported by ESPNcricinfo.

How India's first bullet train will get uninterrupted power for Mumbai-Ahmedabad route

India's first high-speed rail line, the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project, faces the question of how to secure a continuous electricity supply for its trains. The article examines the power arrangements the project depends on to keep services running without interruption. It explains the technical considerations behind feeding electricity to a high-speed network over a long corridor. The discussion centres on how the system is designed to maintain reliable operations for the planned service.

UCC in UP if BJP comes to power again: Amit Shah

Assam Minister's Praise of Banned ULFA Draws Clarification from Chief Minister Sarma

Assam minister Biswajit Daimary said the banned militant group ULFA had protected the state from outside forces for more than five decades. The remark drew attention because the United Liberation Front of Asom is a proscribed organisation. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma subsequently clarified the minister's comment. The source article provides only limited detail beyond the minister's statement and the clarification.

Binance hack stokes crypto jitters as Intel falls and AI spending fears weigh on tech

A reported $6.3 billion hack at Binance has added to unease across the cryptocurrency market. At the same time, weak earnings outlooks and growing worries about heavy spending on artificial intelligence pushed the Nasdaq-100 tracking fund QQQ down more than 2%. Intel shares plunged amid the broader tech selloff. The article presents these developments as a combined pressure on crypto and technology stocks in the same trading session.

Dalit trans woman Dr Ruth John Paul earns MD in Emergency Medicine at 31

Dr Koyyala Ruth John Paul, 31, has earned an MD in Emergency Medicine, becoming one of India's first Dalit transgender women to do so. She had been forced out of her home because of her gender identity, and she completed her training with support from her community. Along the way she faced hospital rejections and bureaucratic obstacles over her recognition. She eventually joined a government facility and has become an active advocate for better healthcare rights for transgender people in India.

Kenyans Among Those Charged in $130m US Ghost Student Aid Scam

A scheme that allegedly used stolen identities to fraudulently claim US student financial aid has resulted in charges against several people, including Kenyans. The case centers on roughly $130 million in misappropriated funds. The article's reporting describes how the operation exploited fake or 'ghost' student enrollments to collect the money. Details beyond these allegations are limited in the source text, so the full extent of the involvement remains unclear.

Rahul Gandhi raises 'vote theft' charges again

Joe's KC Becomes First Restaurant Certified Under Brittany Mahomes' Allergy Safety Program

Brittany Mahomes is leading an initiative to improve food allergy safety at restaurants in Kansas City, working with the 15 and FARE program. The program teaches restaurant staff and the public how to manage food allergies effectively. Joe's KC has become the first restaurant to earn the designation after making improvements to its safety practices. The certification marks the program's first approved restaurant in the city.

BITS Pilani alumni raise $52M for US AI startup Broccoli AI

Broccoli AI, a startup co-founded by AJ Jain and Aditya Ketkar, both BITS Pilani alumni, builds AI tools for service businesses. The founders developed the product after speaking with contractors across Northern California to understand the sector's specific problems. Marcelle Flowers joined as a partner and played a key role in guiding the company's direction and product choices. The firm has since extended its offerings to several home-service industries. It has also secured substantial funding, reported at $52 million.

Lapid says anti-Netanyahu bloc won Israeli vote as coalition talks begin

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid declared that the bloc opposing Benjamin Netanyahu has won the election, despite the outcome being short of a governing majority. According to the report, the anti-Netanyahu bloc took 67 seats in the Knesset, while Netanyahu's coalition secured 53 seats and has no clear route to forming a government. Lapid urged patience as discussions continue amid the current uncertainty. He told the public that negotiations are underway, though their progress may not be visible right away.

Varun Beverages' sales growth masks rising costs, analysts say

Varun Beverages has posted strong sales growth, but the figures obscure a significant cost pressure on the company. The article examines how expenses are eroding the benefit of higher revenue. Analysis of the company's performance suggests that the top-line gains do not fully translate into healthier profitability. The piece highlights the cost challenge as a key concern for investors watching the beverage maker.