Tag: News

• A 36-year-old was charged with 17 counts of vandalism on Waymo robotaxis in San Francisco.
• It's not the first time Waymo's self-driving cars have been vandalized.
• The incidents indicate tensions persist between some in the city and the futuristic vehicles.

Over a dozen of Waymo's self-driving cars were vandalized in San Francisco.

A string of tire slashings and charges brought against the woman who police believe is responsible highlight that tensions remain within some in the city and the futuristic driving technology.

San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins announced Thursday that 36-year-old Ronaile Joshua Burton has been charged with 17 counts of vandalism on Waymo self-driving vehicles. Waymo, which was formerly Google's self-driving car project, is now a subsidiary of the tech giant's parent company, Alphabet.

The incidents, which each allotted damages exceeding $400, took place in the city's Tenderloin between June 24 and 26, according to the DA's office. Each instance was caught on cameras installed in the vehicles, the authorities said.

Prosecutors also alleged that Burton slashed the tires of a three-car Waymo caravan. Court records indicate Burton has been assigned a public defender. Burton's attorney, Deputy Public Defender Adam Birka-White, said in a statement that she chosen to plead not guilty.

"Ms. Burton is someone in need of help and not jail, which is why our social workers are actively working to identify and secure appropriate services," Birka-White said. "The District Attorney continues to prioritize punishing poor people at the behest of corporations."

Waymo said in a statement that it is "taking steps to recover the damages sustained, and mitigate the potential for future events."

"Waymo exists to make roads safer, and with that in mind we will always prioritize the safety of our riders and community," it added.

The arrest follows other reported incidents of vandalism against Waymo's self-driving cars in the last year. In February, a Waymo robotaxi was set on fire while driving through the city's Chinatown during Lunar New Year celebrations.

Although Mayor London Breed at the time had described the vandalism as "an isolated incident," Reuters reported that a passenger in a Waymo the day after the incident had fireworks shot at him.

San Francisco is one of the main test beds for self-driving tech, and incidents involving the vehicles — as well as traditional human-driven cars — are bound to come up. In addition to Waymo, Tesla tested its Full Self-Driving feature in the city earlier this year, and Amazon-owned Zoox took to the winding streets for the first time back in 2018.

Cruise, which is owned by General Motors, began operating driverless vehicles in the city in 2022 before suspending testing operations the following year following a collision with a pedestrian who was dragged beneath the vehicle. The company has begun operating again with human drivers behind the wheel, though it said its goal is to eventually resume driverless rides.

Some riders have marveled at Waymo's robotaxis — Business Insider's Lloyd Lee recently took a ride in one and wrote that the self-driving vehicle felt like a better driver than some human drivers in San Francisco.

However, the vandalism incidents and high level of scrutiny around the cars' safety over the last year demonstrate the challenges the companies behind the futuristic vehicles face — even in a techie city like San Francisco.

• Ukraine set out to produce more than 1 million small, attack drones by the end of the year.
• A top Ukrainian official said Kyiv will make "significantly" more than the original target.
• The country's defense-industrial base has taken off, as homemade weaponry skyrockets. 

A top Ukrainian official said that his country is on track to churn out "significantly" more small attack drones by the end of the year than it originally set out to make as it continues to expand its weapons production capacity.

Oleksandr Kamyshin, who serves as Ukraine's minister of strategic industries, shared in December that Kyiv planned to produce one million first-person-view, or FPV, drones by 2025. He said the country is also able to make over 10,000 mid-range attack drones capable of traveling hundreds of miles and more than 1,000 drones that can specifically reach targets more than 600 miles away throughout the year.

"This year we will produce significantly more than 1 million" of the FPV drones, Kamyshin told Business Insider this week, providing an update on the production efforts but declining to provide specific figures. "Mid-range strikers, long-range strikers — the goals will be outperformed as well," he said.

Throughout much of Russia's brutal war in Ukraine, FPV drones have been heavily featured in combat. Both sides have effectively managed to turn these systems — which are cheap and in abundance — into precision munitions by strapping explosives to them and using them to strike everything from armored vehicles to the soldiers in the trenches.

Kamyshin said during an interview with BI on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Washington, DC, that the FPV drones are a "significant share of the war in these days." He referred to FPV drones as "mortar drones" and "artillery drones" in a nod to their explosive potential that's similar to the ranged weapons.

Ukraine has other unmanned systems as well and regularly uses its medium- and long-range attack drones — which are larger than the cheap, hobby-style FPV ones — to carry out strikes deep inside Russian territory and target high-profile military and energy facilities.

These homemade weapon systems have given Kyiv the capability to greatly extend its reach beyond the border, especially as it continues to face restrictions on using Western-provided weapons for such purposes.

"We proved that there are no red lines," Kamyshin said.

"Now, we can reach Russia by deep inside, like 1500 kilometers easily, and we showed that dozens and dozens — if not hundreds — of times," he said, noting that "that's the impact our industry is making in this war."

The increased drone output comes amid broader efforts to scale-up Ukraine's defense-industrial base. The country has gone from almost nonexistent production before Russia's full-scale war to now cranking out weapons at a breakneck pace, which is helping to grow the domestic economy.

Kyiv is also taking greater steps to integrate its growing defense industry with that of NATO and the West and just opened an office in Washington to achieve that goal.

Meanwhile, Ukraine is taking its homemade weapons and modifying them for other missions. For instance, the country has outfitted its naval drones with missile and rocket launchers, and it has turned one of its anti-ship cruise missiles into a land-attack weapon. These innovations have helped Kyiv to inflict losses upon Russia.

Kamyshin attributed this to Ukrainian "resilience — the capability to withstand under the pressure, under the fire."

Ukraine, however, is not the only side boosting its defense output in this war. Russia has placed its economy onto what experts say is a "Soviet-style" war footing and is rapidly producing its own weaponry, triggering alarm bells among some NATO allies.

• I paid $12 to take a luxurious sightseeing train in Japan from Nara to Kyoto.
• Because I was traveling solo, I had to purchase two twin seats, sold as a pair.
• The train had comfortable plush chairs, a café, a reading nook, and a bidet in the bathroom.

Japan may be known for its network of high-speed bullet trains, but one of the country's trendiest train trips takes around 35 minutes and screams luxury.

The Kintetsu Railway's Sightseeing Limited Express "Aoniyoshi" train connects Osaka, Nara, and Kyoto and makes train travel stylish and convenient.

While solo traveling in Kyoto this winter, I planned a day trip to Nara: a city known for its wild deer, Buddhist temples, and historic sake breweries.

Although I decided to take a basic train there, I decided to treat myself to a trip on the Sightseeing Limited Express Aoniyoshi train on the way back.

That decision came at a negligible cost — both in money and in time — and the ensuing ride encapsulated some of the best parts of Japan.

Here's what my trip on Japan's Aoniyoshi train was like.

The train required multiple tickets, which was a little confusing.

The Limited Express train requires all passengers to pre-book their tickets, so I bought mine online two nights before my trip.

Seating options ranged from salon chairs, which could fit up to four people, to twin seats that either faced the window or each other.

Because I was traveling solo, I had to purchase both twin seats, sold as a pair. I purchased an adult and child fare, which cost me 1,100 yen, or about $7 in total.

At the end of the day, though, I only would've saved a few dollars if I had split the cost of two adult tickets with a friend.

Kintetsu's website succinctly outlined how to buy an Aoniyoshi ticket, but the multi-step process still confused me.

Eventually, I realized that I also needed a basic-fare ticket to use my reservation, so I bought one at Kintetsu-Nara station for 760 yen (about $5) before my train left.

The boarding process was quick and easy.

Despite minor hiccups in securing a ticket, the trip itself proved seamless. After the train — in its purple, floral glory — clattered into the station, I boarded quickly, grateful for my pre-booked seat.

Once on board, I was delighted by the train’s interior and scenery.

With long windows, ample space, and a purple-and-green theme, each car's aesthetic evoked a combination of Wes Anderson and Willy Wonka — in the best way.

Archways bordered the salon seats in one of the cars, while rugs and ceilings throughout the train varied in patterns, surrounding me with details.

The external views proved equally breathtaking. As we wound between Japanese cities, the sightseeing windows offered glimpses of temples and towns alike.

The journey passed too quickly to enjoy all the amenities.

When we first boarded the train, I noticed lots of passengers flocking to Car Two, where a tiny café sold desserts that matched the train's purple interior. The café also sold beer in specialty bottles depicting the train's likeness.

Given the trip's length, however, I didn't have time for a snack. The couple seated across from me spent nearly the entire journey in the café line and had to chug their beers upon reaching the station in Kyoto.

Even so, the café car was a nice touch, and I appreciated the railway's focus on the passenger experience.

In the United States, the closest comparison is perhaps Florida's Brightline train, which offers great scenery, clean cars, and food and drink services. However, I found the Aoniyoshi train distilled even more amenities into a whirlwind of a ride.

For example, I noticed one car had both seating and a library nook with an adjacent sofa. The bathrooms were also spacious and clean, with — yes — bidets.

The train capped off an ideal day of sightseeing.

By the time I arrived back in Kyoto, I didn't care that I'd spent a few extra dollars and minutes securing my ticket. I only wished that the Aoniyoshi train ran more frequently — I left Nara with more artisan shops to visit, deer to feed, and mochi to taste, and would've liked to extend my afternoon there.

Yet even with limited operations, the ride captured Japan's attention to detail, hospitable nature, and love of whimsy — all in under an hour.

• A fourth "Captain America" is in the works, directed by Julius Onah and starring Anthony Mackie.
• The cast of "Captain America: Brave New World" includes Danny Ramirez, Carl Lumbly, and Shira Haas.
• The Marvel movie hits theaters on February 14, 2025.

After officially taking on the mantle of Captain America in the Disney+ show "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier," Anthony Mackie will star in his own film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

"It's amazing," Mackie said while onstage at Disney's D23 Expo in Anaheim, California in September 2022. "I've always come out as a secondary character in a movie. It's really humbling to come out as the lead character for the first time, in a movie, being in this universe for so long.

Julius Onah will direct the fourth Cap film, "Captain America: Brave New World" (previously titled "New World Order").

Here's what fans need to know about the movie. 

Anthony Mackie will be joined by familiar faces from the MCU and new additions 

The official cast was announced during Marvel's presentation at D23.

Carl Lumbly and Danny Ramirez, who joined the MCU in "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier" as Isaiah Bradley and Joaquin Torres, respectively, will return.

Tim Blake Nelson, who played Samuel Sterns in the 2008 film "The Incredible Hulk," will return. He's not the only "Hulk" actor set to appear in the film. Nelson's costar, Liv Tyler, will reprise her role as Betty Ross, the daughter of Thaddeus Ross.

Shira Haas will make her debut as the comic-book character Sabra. In January 2023, Deadline reported that "The Mindy Project" star Xosha Roquemore joined the cast, but her role is unclear. 

Sebastian Stan (Bucky Barnes), Mackie's longtime MCU scene partner, won't be part of "Brave New World." Instead, he'll return in an upcoming movie called "Thunderbolts," centered on a ragtag group that includes Florence Pugh's Yelena Belova, David Harbour's Red Guardian, and Wyatt Russell's US Agent.

"I need some time from Anthony because I need to sort of find my way back to me," Stan joked during an interview with Entertainment Tonight. "I know he has a lot of separation anxiety as we speak, but I try to reassure him that I'll be OK."

When asked if Chris Evans' Steve Rogers will return, Mackie told Variety, "I hope so, man. Chris is my boy. We all love and enjoy Chris. I'm highly upset that they put Sebastian in a movie with Wyatt and left me out. If Sebastian gets Wyatt, I should get Chris."

Harrison Ford will star as Thaddeus Ross, the president of the United States in the film

The MCU character was previously played by late actor William Hurt. In addition to "Brave New World," Ford will reprise the role for "Thunderbolts." 

"There's a dynamic between President Ross and Sam Wilson," Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige told Entertainment Weekly in February 2023. "They have a history together, but in this film, we'll be seeing the dynamic between Captain America and the president of the United States in a way that is just incredible."

Tim Blake Nelson's character, The Leader, will be the villain of the movie

In "The Incredible Hulk," Stern was last seen mutating after Bruce Banner's blood dripped and entered a cut on his forehead. The movie hinted at his change but didn't show it. His transformation will likely be addressed when he returns as The Leader in "Brave New World."

"The Leader is a man who operates from intellect, and so it's great to have an adversary who is working with this incredible intellect to really put Sam through the wringer in this story," Onah said during an interview with "Phase Zero" host Brandon Davis for ComicBook.com at D23.

"And again, as a paranoid thriller, it's this grounded adventure where I think that everything that happens in this film feels so real and intense, because of who this adversary is," the directors said, adding that Sam will be challenged because he'll be facing "an adversary who is so terrifyingly intelligent."

Giancarlo Esposito will make his MCU debut as a villain 

Esposito alluded to joining the MCU during a panel at CCXP in Brazil in May, telling fans that he'd be playing an original, new, and fresh character. His casting in "Brave New World" was announced just as Marvel began additional photography.

Details, including his character name, are unknown, but the "Breaking Bad" actor will reportedly play an antagonist. He told Deadline that audiences will see him as a "badass" in the Marvel movie. 

"Acting is using every part of your body — your emotions, your senses, your feelings — to portray something," Esposito said. "But you haven't seen me really use my body in the way that I'll be using it."  

Director Julius Onah described the movie as a 'paranoid thriller'

"It's gonna be a really, really incredible ride," Onah told Deadline. "It's a paranoid thriller with Sam in the center of it and he is now in this position where he is a leader and he has to deal with that challenge of what it means to lead a group of people that he really cares about."

"I love classic paranoid thrillers and that's a big part of the inspiration of this film," Onah echoed in another interview at D23 with ComicBook.com. "We want to find an action that is grounded and tactile and give [Sam] new things to do that we haven't seen in those other films."

'Captain America: Brave New World' is set for release on February 14, 2025

Onah confirmed to ComicBook.com that the movie, part of phase five of the MCU, began filming in spring 2023. In December, Deadline reported that Marvel hired Matthew Orton to write additional scenes and material. Then in May, The Hollywood Reporter said that "Brave New World" would undergo reshoots over the course of 22 days. 

A teaser released in July gave fans a first look at Esposito in action and showed Ford's transformation into Red Hulk. Additional details from Marvel revealed that Haas' character, Ruth Bat-Seraph, is a former Black Widow turned high-ranking member of the US Government.

"This movie is a clear reset. It really reestablishes the idea of what this universe is and what this universe is going to be," Mackie said at CinemaCon in April. "I think with these movies, you're getting a clear, new branding of what Marvel is headed towards the same way they did with 'Captain America: The Winter Soldier.'"

• Wimbledon is underway in London and will conclude on July 14.
• The Grand Slam tennis tournament draws an elite group of spectators in high fashion looks.
• David Beckham, Margot Robbie, and a number of "Bridgerton" stars have been spotted at the event.

Round one of Wimbledon, the oldest tennis tournament in the world and one of the four Grand Slam tournaments of the season, began on July 1.

With stars like Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, and Jasmine Paolini vying for championship titles in their pristine whites, the spectacle always draws a number of society's elites.

So far, the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club has seen everyone from legendary athletes David Beckham and Maria Sharapova to Foo Fighters front man Dave Grohl and "Bridgerton" stars like Golda Rosheuvel, Luke Thompson, and Hannah Dodd.

As the competition continues to heat up, here's a look at all the A-listers attending Wimbledon this year.

English soccer legend David Beckham was seen enjoying day one of the tournament with his mom, Sandra.

Also on day one, "Bohemian Rhapsody" star Lucy Boynton wore an embroidered babydoll dress by Celine, color-coordinated sunglasses, and gold hoops.

Source: Women's Health

Musician Arlo Parks was also in attendance on day one.

Couple James Blake and Jameela Jamil posed for pictures on club grounds.

Golda Rosheuvel, also known as Queen Charlotte on "Bridgerton," was seen on day one in a red and white striped dress.

"Boy's a Liar Pt. 2" singer PinkPantheress was snapped checking her phone.

British actor Kingsley Ben-Adir, who portrayed Bob Marley in "Bob Marley: One Love," was seen walking the grounds on day one.

Famed British broadcaster and biologist Sir David Attenborough was seen giving a standing ovation.

"Foo Fighters" front man Dave Grohl traded his usual rock 'n' roll style for a navy-blue suit and orange patterned tie as he watched day two's action with his wife, director Jordyn Blum.

Actor and producer Rebel Wilson was seen taking selfies with a fellow spectator in a bright floral blazer by Alice and Olivia.

The multitalented model, singer, and actor Grace Jones was spotted having a laugh in the crowd.

David Beckham's second oldest son, Romeo, was spotted in the crowd on day three of the tournament.

Five-time Grand Slam singles champion Maria Sharapova was seen with her fiancé, businessman Alexander Gilkes.

"Ted Lasso" fan favorite Hannah Waddingham stopped for pictures on day three in a lilac, floral-patterned dress by Elie Saab with white accessories.

Mel C's burnt-orange crop top reminded everyone why she's Sporty Spice.

Kim Cattrall posed in a dusty-pink suit, floral blouse, and metallic heels.

Michael and Carole Middleton, parents of Kate Middleton, were spotted at Wimbledon day four.

Tennis legends Martina Navratilova and John McEnroe attended Andy Murray's farewell presentation on day four.

British survivalist and TV personality Bear Grylls was spotted on the grounds in a navy-blue suit and tie.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was pictured with his wife, Brittany Mahomes, who wore a red, white, and blue look by Gucci.

Academy Award-winning actor Dustin Hoffman attended Wimbledon day five with his wife, Lisa Hoffman.

Actor Salma Hayek and her husband, Kering CEO François-Henri Pinault, enjoyed Wimbledon day seven from the Royal Box.

Source: People; Business Insider

The legendary British chef, baker, and TV host Dame Mary Berry attended day seven of Wimbledon in a bold multi-colored dress.

The second "Bridgerton" brother, Luke Thompson, right, was also seen in the crowd on day seven.

On tournament day eight, British Vogue hosted its annual Wimbledon Lunch with Ralph Lauren. In attendance were editor in chief Chioma Nnadi, left, and actor Nathalie Emmanuel, middle, both wearing Ralph Lauren, of course.

Source: British Vogue

"Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story" actor Corey Mylchreest was also present for the event, wearing a chocolate-brown set by Ralph Lauren.

Source: British Vogue

"Sex Education" star and the newest Doctor on "Doctor Who" Ncuti Gatwa wore a navy-blue pinstripe three-piece suit by Ralph Lauren for the occasion.

Source: British Vogue

British actor Jodie Turner-Smith opted for a more colorful look from Ralph Lauren, pairing a floral bomber jacket with silky patterned pants.

Source: British Vogue

Amelia Dimoldenberg of "Chicken Shop Date" fame also attended British Vogue's luncheon, giving her pinstripe suit a more relaxed feel by leaving her white button-down untucked.

Source: British Vogue

"The Gentlemen" actor Kaya Scodelario attended Wimbledon day eight in Ralph Lauren as well.

Source: British Vogue

"The O.C." actor Mischa Barton, left, attended day eight of Wimbledon in a cream blazer and jeans.

"You" actor Tilly Keeper was also spotted in the crowd on day eight.

Actor and singer Nicole Scherzinger wore a cream midi dress by Emilia Wickstead and accessorized with gold jewelry and a black purse.

Source: Daily Mail

Australian actor Isla Fisher cheered in the crowd on Wimbledon day eight.

Academy Award-winning actor Mark Rylance was spotted cheering in the crowd on day eight.

Princess Beatrice of York and her husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, were seen in the Royal Box on day nine of the tournament.

Kingsley Ben-Adir made another appearance on day nine wearing an all-black outfit.

Actor Sienna Miller and partner Oli Green were spotted sharing a laugh. Miller wore a two-piece polka-dot set comprised of a button-down shirt and pleated midi skirt with Prada accessories.

Source: Vogue

British comedians Michael McIntyre and Stephen Fry also watched the action from the Royal Box on day nine.

American writer and director Lena Dunham thanked Fry on Instagram for this "once in a lifetime joy," to which she wore Bottega Veneta.

Source: Instagram

Alexa Chung and Joe Alwyn were spotted in the crowd on Wimbledon day 10. Vanity Fair reported the pair were invited to attend Wimbledon Wednesday by Ralph Lauren.

Source: Vanity Fair

Zara Tindall and her husband, Mike Tindall, were also spotted on Wimbledon day 10 in a section reserved for Rolex ambassadors.

Source: InStyle

Meanwhile, Queen Camilla and her sister, British interior designer and antique dealer Annabel Elliot, were spotted in the Royal Box.

British celebrity chef Jamie Oliver and his wife, Jools Oliver, were seen lounging in the crowd.

Carole and Michael Middleton also made a repeat Wimbledon appearance on day 10.

"The White Lotus" actor Leo Woodhall and "The Little Mermaid" actor Jonah Hauer-King wore tailored suits and sunglasses.

Actor and Chanel ambassador Keira Knightley attended in a one-shoulder white dress with a black bow detail from the brand's Resort 2020 collection.

Source: British Vogue

She attended with her husband, British musician James Righton.

Breakout star of "Bridgerton" season three, Hannah Dodd, wore a lemon-yellow ruffled maxi dress by Ralph Lauren.

Source: Ralph Lauren

British rappers Central Cee and Stormzy attended Wimbledon's semifinal matchup between Jasmine Paolini and Donna Vekić.

Source: Daily Mail

Tennis greats and spouses Ilana Kloss and Billie Jean King were spotted on Wimbledon day 11.

The "Empress of Soul," Gladys Knight, posed for pictures on club grounds in a tan matching set.

Adjoa Andoh, known to "Bridgerton" fans as Lady Danbury, also posed for pictures on tournament day 11.

Wimbledon has officially achieved "Brat" status thanks to Charli XCX's attendance in a black crocheted mini dress, Gucci sunglasses, and a Saint Laurent bag.

Source: W Magazine

India Amarteifio, also known as Queen Charlotte in "Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story," wore a cherry-red drop-waist maxi dress with a cutout.

"Barbie" actor Margot Robbie also participated in the polka-dot trend, wearing an asymmetrical one-shoulder dress by Alaïa alongside her husband, Tom Ackerley.

Source: Vogue

Meanwhile, "Barbie" director Greta Gerwig attended Wimbledon day 12 in an oversized suit.

"Billions" actor Damian Lewis attended day 11 in a bright-blue suit with a textured navy-blue, polka-dotted tie.

Academy Award-winning actor Daniel Kaluuya was spotted in the crowd on Wimbledon day 12 in a white jacket and black shirt.

Actors Rami Malek and Hugh Grant chatted on Wimbledon day 12.

Malek was also spotted shaking hands with actor Stanley Tucci.

Pink brought her signature punk style to Wimbledon in a white sleeveless maxi dress and black statement belt with a metallic bow buckle, black stiletto boots, and a coordinating bag.

• Alec Baldwin's trial took a twist on Friday.
• Alec Baldwin's lawyers accused prosecutors of hiding evidence in the involuntary manslaughter case.
• The judge sent the jury home following the surprise motion to dismiss.

In a shocking moment on Friday, Alec Baldwin's lawyers accused prosecutors of hiding evidence in a surprise motion to dismiss his involuntary manslaughter case.

The evidence in question? Bullets that Baldwin's lawyers said prosecutors did not disclose and put under a different case number, The New York Times reported.

Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer donned latex gloves to examine the ammo before sending the jury home for the day.

"The State affirmatively concealed evidence … because the evidence would be favorable to Baldwin," the motion to dismiss reads.

Baldwin's lawyers argued the evidence could explain how live ammo ended up on the set of the movie "Rust," while lead prosecutor Kari Morrissey argued the bullets had "no evidentiary value whatsoever," according to The Times.

Following the defense's request, during a break in court, Baldwin and his wife Hilaria shared a lengthy embrace, People reported.

Baldwin is on trial in New Mexico for the shooting that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins during a rehearsal for "Rust," a Western film he was bankrolling and starring in.

Baldwin's lawyers have said he didn't know there was a live bullet in the gun when it fired.

This is the second time Baldwin has faced charges in Hutchins' death. Prosecutors dropped an earlier case against Baldwin, but the case was reopened earlier this year.

The movie's armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, was already convicted of involuntary manslaughter and is serving an 18-month sentence. She is expected to be called as a witness in the case against Baldwin.

• Congress ordered the US Navy to look into new ships and weapons platforms amid shipbuilding delays.
• The requested study is in direct response to the delays of a new frigate class.
• Lawmakers are concerned the US Navy is at risk of being unable to China in the Indo-Pacific region. 

Congress has requested that the US Navy conduct a study looking into other ships it can arm with missiles given the pressing need to maintain US naval power amid ongoing shipbuilding delays.

The potential short-term solutions, it said, are key to keeping up US strength in the Indo-Pacific region, especially as China continues building up its naval forces.

In a report accompanying a new draft of the annual defense policy bill for the 2025 fiscal year, the US Senate Armed Services Committee wrote that it was "concerned with the number of Navy battle force ships" and vertical launch platforms for missiles over the next two years.

"Given the ongoing naval buildup by the People's Republic of China, the committee believes these projected declines increase risk to US forces in the US Indo-Pacific Command area of responsibility," lawmakers wrote.

The committee report added that it doesn't believe the Navy is adequately preparing to meet requirements for those capabilities in the near-term.

The request comes in response to delays on the first new Constellation-class guided missile frigate, which won't be delivered until at least 2029, three years behind schedule, per a Navy report earlier this year. The second ship in the class is also delayed.

Congress' push for short-term naval combat solutions is also linked to the slow procurement of new large, unmanned surface vessels, which is not expected to begin until 2027.

With this in mind, "the committee believes the US Navy needs to focus more on supplementary options for increasing ship numbers and missile-launching capacity in the nearer term."

By April 2025, Congress expects the Navy to pursue a number of solutions, including a crewed version of the LUSV, more missile-launching capacity, "foreign, commercial, or US government ship designs" that could be adapted for the Navy, and existing Navy platforms "that could be quickly modified into missile-firing ships through the addition of VLS (vertical launch system), bolt-on, or containers missile launchers."

In its report, the committee acknowledged its concerns that these near-term solutions are needed to keep the US Navy in fighting shape should conflict in the Indo-Pacific region arise, especially considering the massive naval buildup seen in China.

Back in April, a 45-day review showed major delays for most of the Navy's big shipbuilding projects, including its Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine program, a top priority for the Department of Defense. Due to plans to retire previous ships, the delay will likely keep the Navy from meeting its obligation of having 10 ballistic missile submarines ready to deploy at all times. But this isn't the only problem.

Other ships, like the Navy's next Ford-class carrier, are also notably delayed. At the time of the review, Navy officials attributed the issues to the lingering effects of COVID-19 on the workforce and supply chain, though some issues have long been around.

Beyond the Navy's shipbuilding woes, other US military deficiencies have prompted lawmakers and other national leaders to raise concerns about how the Pentagon is prioritizing its military capacity in the Pacific in order to counter and deter China. In May, 13 members of Congress wrote to Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall and Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro about the glaring vulnerabilities of US Pacific air bases and aircraft in the face of a missile barrage from China, for example.

With China's current missile strike capabilities," the lawmakers wrote in their letter, "China can attack all US bases in the region, targeting US service members from Okinawa to those on US territories of Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands."

• Through the years, LGBTQ+ people have been in the background of history. 
• There have been many turning points on the road to liberation, including trans athletes in sports.
• Many LGBTQ+ people are now becoming politicians to fight for their rights. 

Queer people have long existed in the background of history. Still, LGBTQ+ activities have long been criminalized — often rooted in religion, science, or socio-political factors, leaving queer individuals largely estranged.

And while erasure is prevalent in marginalized communities, LGBTQ+ people in the US have experienced some important turning points in history.

These photos show landmark events in the fight for freedom of sexuality, identity, and love.

Despite their pivotal role in queer liberation, transgender people are often written out of LGBTQ+ history.

For example, in 1952, years before the Stonewall Riots, American actor and singer Christine Jorgensen was introduced to America as the first woman to have gender-affirming surgery. At a time when public cross-dressing and gender-nonconforming activities were illegal, her transition paved the way for transgender visibility.

While the inclusion of transgender people in sports has been a hot topic in recent years, the conversation dates back to 1976.

After the United States Tennis Association barred Renée Richards from competing in the US Open as a woman, she sued the USTA for gender discrimination. Richards won the lawsuit a year later and became one of the first trans woman athletes to play professionally.

Her feat changed the game for many transgender and queer athletes.

Despite progress, the rate of transgender homicide continues to soar decades later.

On November 20, 1999, the first Transgender Day of Remembrance vigils were held to honor Rita Hester, a 34-year-old Black trans woman who was murdered in Boston a year earlier.

Five years later, on June 25, 2004, a few hundred people set foot on the first Trans March during Pride weekend in San Francisco.

One of the most famed moments of LGBTQ+ liberation was the Stonewall Riots.

On June 28, 1969, police raided a gay club in New York City called the Stonewall Inn, which led to six days of protests from the community and violence from law enforcement.

Four transgender and gender non-conforming women of color led the uprising, built on a string of similar protests at private businesses that began a decade earlier: Cooper Do-nuts in 1959, Compton's Cafeteria in August 1966, and The Black Cat in 1967.

They're acknowledged as a catalyst for the Gay Liberation Movement, allowing many LGBTQ+ people to enjoy a new sense of sexual freedom in its wake.

The first Pride marches were held in the '70s.

In June 1970, one year after the riots started, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco held the first Pride parades, formerly known as Pride Marches.

In 1978, Gilbert Baker designed the first rainbow flags for the parade in San Francisco.

"A Rainbow Flag was a conscious choice, natural and necessary," Baker said in his memoir "Rainbow Warrior: My Life in Color," explaining that the rainbow symbolizes cultural diversity in the LGBTQ+ community. "Now the rioters who claimed their freedom at the Stonewall Bar in 1969 would have their own symbol of liberation."

The 'unspoken' epidemic began in the '80s, killing many LGBTQ+ people.

In June 1981, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published news of five cases of pneumonia among previously healthy young men in Los Angeles. They were described as "homosexuals."

The cases were later attributed to a virus known as HIV. It wasn't until September 17, 1985, four years after the first reported cases, that then-president Ronald Reagan publicly addressed the virus. By then, thousands of people were either living with or had died from HIV.

In a pre-PrEP world, stigma and discrimination led to a public health crisis that disproportionately impacted people of color in the community. It quickly became an epidemic, with tens of millions of reported cases and deaths from the virus.

The AIDS Memorial Quilt honored the lives that were lost.

A community art project known as The NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt honored the lives of people lost by AIDS. It debuted on October 11, 1987, during the National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights in Washington, DC.

LGBTQ+ people slowly started making their way into politics.

Two years ago, over 450 LGBTQ+ candidates ran for office. The 2022 midterm elections made history for having the most wins for openly queer candidates during an election period. But 50 years ago, one small victory was a huge step for the community.

On April 2, 1974, Kathy Kozachenko was elected to the Ann Arbor City Council in Michigan. She became the first openly LGBTQ+ person to run for political office in the US successfully.

Kozachenko's win is lesser known than Harvey Milk's.

Milk was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors on November 8, 1977, and, alongside San Francisco's then-Mayor George Moscone, was an early gay rights advocate.

A year into their term, former supervisor Dan White shot and killed Milk and Moscone. White was known for having political disagreements with the duo.

Fast forward to the 21st century, the LGBTQ+ community witnessed many wins.

On June 26, 2003, same-sex sexual activity was legalized in Lawrence v. Texas. The Supreme Court of the United States held that criminalizing consensual, same-sex sexual conduct violates the due process clause of the 14th Amendment.

Then-President Barack Obama announced the repeal of former President Bill Clinton's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, ending years of secrecy and silence for queer members of the US military.

On June 26, 2015, exactly 12 years after Lawrence v. Texas, the United States Supreme Court ruled that same-sex marriages are recognized under the 14th Amendment in the Obergefell v. Hodges case.

While the US has witnessed much progress for the LGBTQ+ community in the past century, some states' support for LGBTQ+ rights has wavered.

More recently, on June 28, the Texas Supreme Court upheld its 2023 ruling that bans transgender minors from receiving gender-affirming medical care. Texas is only the largest of 25 states with laws restricting or banning gender-affirming care for transgender and nonbinary minors.

Momo Takahashi contributed to this piece.

• On Friday, Rep. Mike Levin became the 18th House Democrat to call for Biden to drop out.
• The California Democrat reportedly said it directly to Biden during a call with other lawmakers.
• Levin issued a statement saying that "the time has come for President Biden to pass the torch."

Rep. Mike Levin on Friday became the 18th House Democrat to publicly call on Joe Biden to drop out of the race

The California congressman said it directly to the president during a Congressional Hispanic Caucus call, according to several media reports.

Levin then issued a statement saying that "the time has come for President Biden to pass the torch," referencing feedback that he's received from constituents since Biden's disastrous debate against former President Donald Trump in June.

Levin represents a relatively competitive San Diego House district and campaigned alongside Biden in 2022.

The number of congressional Democrats calling on Biden to exit the race continues to grow by the hour: Five have done so just since the end of the president's press conference yesterday.

Though that press conference went smoothly overall, it is unlikely to assuage other Democrats who are concerned about their own reelection prospects.

• Southwest Airlines and Archer Aviation are developing electric air taxi operations in California.
• Southwest plans to use Archer Midnight eVTOL aircraft to cut customer travel time to the airport.
• Archer is working to obtain FAA certification for the Midnight eVTOL over the next 18 months. 

Southwest Airlines and Archer Aviation plan to develop an electric air taxi network for California airports.

The two companies signed an agreement on Friday that would allow Southwest Airlines customers to use Archer's Midnight electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft as a speedy means of getting to and from airports in the future.

"This is a pretty huge deal for us and the industry," Archer Aviation chief commercial officer Nikhil Goel told Business Insider. "This is the first time Southwest has done anything like this, and so at this point, we're working with two of the biggest airlines in the US and three of the five largest airlines in the world by market cap."

Archer has also been working with United Airlines, which ordered $1 billion worth of the company's Midnight eVTOL aircraft for similar use in 2021.

The firm has inked deals internationally, as well. Interglobe Enterprises, the parent company of India's largest airline, IndiGo, signed an agreement in late 2023 with Archer that includes the purchase of 200 Midnight eVTOL aircraft for air taxi service in India.

The Southwest deal aims to shorten airport commutes for customers flying through any of the 14 California airports where the airline operates.

For example, let's say someone in Los Angeles wants to fly to Napa — but skip traffic to and from the airport.

With Archer, they would go to the Archer Vertaport, under development in Santa Monica, for a short hop to Burbank Airport. There, they would board an 80-minute Southwest flight to San Francisco International Airport and then a 15-minute Archer flight to Napa. (For context, Napa is roughly 60 miles from SFO).

Goel said this route could shave one to two hours off customers' travel time.

Beyond the new partnership with Southwest, Archer said it is focused on completing the development and certification process and building up the manufacturing infrastructure to support the Midnight eVTOL, which is at the heart of the deal.

"For us at Archer, the next 18 months are almost solely dedicated to certifying and manufacturing the aircraft," Goel said.

Archer received FAA certification to commence commercial operations in June, allowing the company to refine its systems before launching customer service.

However, the Midnight eVTOL, a four-seat electric tilt-rotor aircraft, has not been certified.

Archer is also working to complete its 350,000-square-foot production facility in Covington, Georgia, which will be operated in partnership with Stellantis. When fully operational, the factory is expected to be able to produce up to 650 aircraft a year, with room to expand capacity to 2,300 aircraft annually.

Archer isn't the only player in the eVTOL business that's working with major airlines.

Delta and Japan's All Nippon Airways are working with fellow mobility startup Joby Aviation for future air taxi services.