Amazon’s autonomous vehicle subsidiary Zoox has launched its robotaxi service in San Francisco, offering free rides in select neighborhoods as part of its strategy to compete with Google’s Waymo. The service, currently limited to users on a waiting list, features Zoox’s distinctive steering wheel-free vehicles. This marks Zoox’s second major rollout after debuting in Las Vegas earlier this year. Amazon acquired Zoox in 2020 for $1.2 billion and has since invested heavily in scaling production, including converting a former bus factory in Hayward, California, into a robotaxi manufacturing plant capable of producing up to 10,000 vehicles annually. While Waymo already operates paid robotaxi services in several U.S. cities, Zoox is awaiting regulatory approval to begin charging fares in California. The launch underscores Amazon’s growing ambitions in autonomous mobility, positioning Zoox as a key player in the expanding self-driving transportation market dominated by Waymo.

At its Ignite 2025 conference, Microsoft introduced new AI agents for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, expanding its Copilot ecosystem. These agents, powered by Anthropic models, can generate and refine documents, spreadsheets, and presentations through conversational prompts in Copilot Chat. Users can issue simple instructions, receive preview outputs, and iteratively adjust content within chat or directly in Microsoft 365 apps. Initially available to commercial customers through the Frontier early access program, the feature will soon reach Personal, Family, and Premium subscribers. Microsoft also announced several Copilot upgrades, including Agent Mode for PowerPoint, AI voice summarization for Outlook, and integration of OpenAI’s Sora 2 video model into Copilot’s Create feature. The company continues to strengthen its AI-driven productivity tools to compete with ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini, aiming to unify its applications under a single intelligent interface for seamless workflow automation.

Google has unveiled Gemini 3 Pro, its most intelligent AI model to date, designed to enhance coding, multimodal understanding, and agentic development. Available through the Gemini API in Google AI Studio and Vertex AI, the model outperforms previous versions in benchmarks and coding tasks, achieving 54.2% on Terminal-Bench 2.0 and topping the WebDev Arena leaderboard with 1487 Elo. Gemini 3 Pro introduces new capabilities such as 'vibe coding', where natural language serves as the only syntax, enabling users to build apps from a single prompt. It also supports advanced multimodal reasoning across text, image, and video, with a 1 million-token context window for complex tasks. The release includes Google Antigravity, a new agentic development platform that lets developers collaborate with autonomous AI agents across editors, terminals, and browsers. Gemini 3 Pro is available in preview for enterprises and free with rate limits in Google AI Studio, marking a major step in AI-driven software creation.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Besent has described Saudi Arabia as the United States’ most important ally in the Middle East, expressing support for the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Riyadh. In an interview with Fox News on October 18, Besent said Washington relied on Saudi military support during the recent 12-day Iran-US conflict, praising the kingdom’s role as a key regional power. His remarks coincided with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s official visit to Washington, where both nations signed a joint declaration on nuclear energy cooperation. The White House confirmed that the agreement lays a legal foundation for a multi-billion-dollar nuclear project while adhering to non-proliferation commitments. Additionally, President Donald Trump approved a major defense deal that includes the future delivery of advanced F-35 jets to Saudi Arabia. During his visit, the Crown Prince pledged a $1 trillion investment in the US, reaffirming Saudi confidence in America’s economic future.

Meta has won a landmark antitrust case brought by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which sought to force the company to divest Instagram and WhatsApp. U.S. District Judge James Boasberg ruled that the FTC failed to prove Meta currently holds monopoly power in social networking. The decision contrasts with recent rulings against Google, which was found to have monopolized search and advertising markets. The FTC argued Meta maintained dominance through anticompetitive acquisitions and policies, citing CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s 2008 remark that it was 'better to buy than compete.' However, the court found that the social media landscape has evolved significantly since the FTC filed its 2020 lawsuit, with TikTok emerging as a major rival. Meta welcomed the ruling, saying it reflects the intense competition it faces. Analysts noted that while the verdict is a major victory, Meta still faces upcoming regulatory challenges, including trials over social media’s impact on children’s mental health.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has stated that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had no knowledge of the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Speaking at the White House while welcoming the crown prince, Trump dismissed suggestions of his involvement, calling Khashoggi a 'controversial figure' and saying there was no need to embarrass their guest. His remarks contradict a 2021 U.S. intelligence report released under President Joe Biden’s administration, which concluded that the crown prince approved a plan to capture or kill Khashoggi inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. The crown prince has consistently denied the allegations, describing the killing as 'painful' and asserting that Saudi Arabia conducted a proper investigation. This visit marks his first trip to the United States since the murder, which had strained U.S.-Saudi relations and led to sanctions against several Saudi officials, though not against the crown prince himself.

U.S. President Donald Trump has officially designated Saudi Arabia as a major non-NATO ally during Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to Washington. The announcement followed the signing of a strategic defense agreement aimed at strengthening long-term military cooperation between the two nations. According to the White House, the two sides also signed accords on civilian nuclear energy and defense collaboration, including a joint declaration that will establish a legal framework for multi-billion-dollar partnerships over the coming decades. The agreements are said to comply with nuclear non-proliferation standards. Trump also approved an arms deal involving F-35 fighter jets, reaffirming earlier commitments. Saudi media described the move as a significant step toward enhancing regional peace, security, and prosperity. The meeting marked the first time in over seven years that the Saudi crown prince was hosted in Washington.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has announced plans to increase Saudi Arabia’s investment in the United States from $600 billion to nearly $1 trillion. The announcement came during a joint appearance with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington. The Crown Prince said the expanded investment would cover multiple sectors, including technology and artificial intelligence, and would create significant new business opportunities between the two nations. President Trump expressed surprise and appreciation for the scale of the investment, calling it a sign of strong Saudi-U.S. relations. Saudi Ambassador to the U.S., Princess Reema bint Bandar Al Saud, described the meeting as a landmark moment for bilateral relations, noting that several major agreements had been signed, though details were not disclosed.

US President Donald Trump has organized a state dinner at the White House on Tuesday in honor of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, marking the prince’s first visit to the United States since the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The meeting aims to strengthen long-standing cooperation between the two nations in energy and security sectors. According to Punchbowl News, Tesla CEO Elon Musk and golfer Tiger Woods were invited to the dinner, though it remains unclear whether Musk accepted the invitation. Once close allies, Trump and Musk’s relationship soured after disagreements over a tax and spending bill in June, leading Musk to resign from his government post as head of the Department of Government Efficiency. The dinner is seen as both a diplomatic gesture and a test of Trump’s ability to rebuild personal and political alliances.

Former US President Donald Trump has hinted at the possibility of launching a military strike in Mexico as part of his proposed war on drugs. According to NBC and Reuters, Trump has already prepared a draft plan for the operation, which would target drug labs and cartel members using drone strikes. Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump questioned whether he could attack Mexico to stop drug trafficking, later asserting that he could. His remarks have triggered widespread criticism in both the United States and Mexico. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has strongly opposed any such action, warning that she would not tolerate attacks on Mexican territory. Analysts, including Jeff Garmany from the University of Melbourne, have noted that such a move could face legal challenges and may not yield significant results, given the entrenched power of Mexico’s drug cartels and the country’s long-standing struggle in its own war on drugs.

U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly linking ongoing trade negotiations with Thailand to the fragile ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia. Analysts suggest Trump views the Thai-Cambodia truce as a diplomatic achievement and intends to use trade policy, including a 19 percent tariff on Thai imports, to maintain regional stability and assert U.S. influence. Although Washington and Bangkok announced a framework trade pact last month, the agreement remains unfinished, and a reported letter from the U.S. suspending trade talks has not been publicly confirmed. Experts argue that separating trade discussions from border security issues would contradict Trump’s broader foreign-policy approach, which often merges economic and geopolitical objectives. The White House and the U.S. Trade Representative’s office have not commented publicly on the matter, while tensions along the Thai-Cambodian border continue to simmer following recent military exchanges.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that Washington may open discussions with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, signaling a potential shift in U.S. policy toward Caracas amid heightened regional tensions. The remarks came as the U.S. expanded its military presence in the Caribbean, deploying the aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford and additional warships as part of an anti-narcotics campaign. Trump also indicated that the U.S. would designate the alleged Venezuelan drug organization Cartel de los Soles as a foreign terrorist group, accusing Maduro of leading it—an allegation he denies. The administration has reportedly held internal meetings to consider possible military actions against Venezuela. Despite suggesting openness to dialogue, Trump emphasized continued pressure on Maduro, citing efforts to curb drug trafficking into the U.S. Human rights groups have criticized recent U.S. strikes on suspected drug boats as unlawful, while allies express concern over potential violations of international law. A recent poll showed limited American support for military intervention in Venezuela.

Newly elected New York Mayor Zohra Mamdani has called for a public boycott of Starbucks in solidarity with striking workers demanding a fair union contract. In a post on social media platform X on November 14, Mamdani stated that Starbucks employees are fighting for fair treatment and that he would refrain from purchasing from the chain until the dispute is resolved. The strike, dubbed the 'Red Cup Rebellion,' coincided with Starbucks’ busy Red Cup Day, when customers typically line up for free holiday cups. Organized by Starbucks Workers United, the walkout involved employees from over 25 U.S. cities. The union claims the company has refused to negotiate, warning that the strike could expand if talks stall. Starbucks, however, rejected the union’s demands, asserting that its workers already receive competitive pay and benefits, averaging $19 per hour and over $30 with additional perks.

The United States is reportedly preparing for a potential military strike against Venezuela, according to NPR. The Pentagon has announced a five-day naval exercise in Trinidad and Tobago, while the world’s largest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford, is set to arrive in the northern Caribbean Sea on November 16. Although President Donald Trump has not officially declared a direct attack, reports suggest that military preparations are nearly complete, involving 15,000 troops and 2,000 marines. Trump has hinted at having made a 'mental decision' regarding Venezuela but has not elaborated. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has condemned the U.S. exercises, accusing Washington of preparing for war. The Pentagon insists the operations are aimed at intercepting drug trafficking vessels, though officials have hinted at possible ground operations targeting Venezuela.

New York City’s newly elected mayor, Zohran Mamdani, has appointed former U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chair Lina Khan as vice chair of his transition team. Khan, a Pakistani-British-born Democrat known for her tough antitrust stance, previously led the FTC from June 2021 to January 2025 under President Joe Biden, becoming the youngest chair in the agency’s history. During her tenure, she pursued aggressive antitrust enforcement, challenged major tech mergers, and sought to limit non-compete agreements. As part of Mamdani’s transition team, Khan is reviewing the scope of mayoral powers and helping shape economic and administrative strategies ahead of Mamdani’s assumption of office in January 2026. Her inclusion signals a potentially reformist and regulatory approach to city governance. Analysts suggest that major tech firms with large New York operations, such as Amazon, Meta, and Google, may view her appointment as a warning of stricter oversight or policy scrutiny in the city’s economic environment.