Tillis Retirement Shakes Up Republican Party | JQJO

Senator Thom Tillis's surprise announcement that he will not seek reelection in 2026 has sent shockwaves through the Republican Party. His decision, following clashes with President Trump over the 'Big Beautiful Bill', is seen as a significant setback by Mitch McConnell. The North Carolina seat, previously considered safe for Republicans, is now considered a toss-up, raising concerns about a Democratic takeover. Another Trump adversary, Representative Don Bacon, also announced his retirement, further fueling Republican anxieties about the upcoming midterms.

Wyze released the BodyScan Plus scale, syncing with Google Health and Android Health Connect. The new model moves the display to the sensor bar, improving readability. It tracks weight, BMI, body fat, muscle mass, water, visceral fat, protein, bone mass, and basal metabolic rate. The scale requires no subscription or Bluetooth; built‑in Wi‑Fi syncs with the Wyze app and health platforms. Priced at one hundred forty‑nine dollars, it follows the original BodyScan launched in late twenty‑twenty‑five.

The Supreme Court on Monday rejected an appeal by Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two other alleged 9/11 plotters seeking to enforce a plea deal. The men had agreed to life sentences in a 2024 deal signed by a military commission judge. Days later, then-Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin rejected the proposal, claiming authority to override it. Military courts said Austin had no such power, and an August ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit favored the government. The Supreme Court’s decision removes a barrier to Mohammed’s trial before a military commission in 2028, where the death penalty is possible. Mohammed has been held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, since 2006.

The 2026 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show took place on Sunday at Sony Pictures Studios in Los Angeles, marking the first time the runway has been held in the city in nineteen years. Adam Selman served again as creative director. The event featured a star‑filled lineup, including the Hadid sisters, Paloma Elsesser, Alex Consani, Irina Shayk, Alessandra Ambrosia, Anok Yai, Precious Lee, Ashley Graham, Joan Smalls, and Liu Wen. Kylie Jenner returned the iconic Fantasy Bra, first worn in 2018, for her debut appearance. After the show, attendees continued the celebration at the Bird Streets Club after‑party.

Federal officials carried out a major voter‑fraud operation in Commerce, California, on Monday morning, arresting more than two dozen people accused of registering to vote as noncitizens. The action is part of the Department of Justice’s statewide "Operation Protect the Vote" initiative, which involves all four U.S. attorney districts in California. The operation follows a recent DOJ warning that processing ballots from suspected noncitizens could expose election officials to criminal investigation. The arrests come amid heightened tensions between the Trump administration and California over election administration and noncitizen voting allegations ahead of the midterm election.

Independent MP Helen Haines was struck by a car and severely injured outside her office in the regional Victorian town of Wangaratta. Police arrested a 43‑year‑old man at the scene and seized a knife, but have not confirmed that Haines was hit deliberately. The suspect was briefed by federal police, whose counter‑terror squad is assisting state officers, and told the national broadcaster that the incident was not an accident. The attack comes amid growing concerns among Australian politicians about rising threats and violence, with 1,067 reports of harassing and threatening behaviour against high‑office holders recorded in the year to June, an increase on last year.

Ugreen’s lineup of travel accessories includes a 20,000 mAh wired power bank, a 10,000 mAh wireless power bank, over‑ear headphones, and AirTag‑like tracker tags, all available on Amazon. The Nexode 20,000 mAh power bank can charge an iPhone 16 Pro 3.7 times, a Galaxy S25 Ultra three times, and heavier devices such as an iPad Pro or MacBook Air more than once. It delivers 100 W through its main USB‑C outlet, enough to bring a phone from 0 % to 50 % in under 30 minutes, and includes a USB‑C cable that supports 100 W fast charging. The unit is priced at $59.99 and holds a 4.4‑star rating from over 5,500 reviews. Ugreen’s range also features noise‑cancelling headphones and location trackers to keep passengers’ devices powered, quiet, and secure during long flights.

Housemarque’s PS5 shooter Saros has launched a Zenith update that introduces a slow‑motion option, a boss‑rush mode, New Game Plus, and new difficulty modifiers. The update allows players to slow the game speed manually or automatically, giving more time to react. New modifiers let players choose easier protection or harder trial challenges. The New Game Plus, called Eclipse Layers, unlocks after completing the game and adds new story visions. Overlord Rush offers a ten‑minute boss gauntlet for quick play.

General Motors announced that its Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC brands will support Apple Wallet car keys. The rollout began in late September and expanded through October, with all listed models receiving support before year’s end. Vehicles include Cadillac Vistiq, Optiq, Lyriq, Escalade, and ESCALADE IQ/IQL; Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe; and GMC Yukon and Yukon XL. GM said the rollout will continue across additional vehicles over time, notifying customers via the vehicle’s app.

Tyler Shultz, a former Theranos employee, said he was shocked by the portrayal of Elizabeth Holmes in the documentary "You Can See Everything." Shultz, who helped expose the company’s fraud, described Holmes as a "broken woman" onscreen, contrasting her former commanding presence. He also accused Holmes of misleading the film’s director about the company’s blood‑testing device. Holmes, convicted in 2022 of defrauding investors, was living in San Diego in 2023 before beginning an eleven‑year prison sentence. The documentary shows Holmes with her partner and children, highlighting her personal life amid legal consequences.

Dallas‑based Colossal Biosciences reports progress toward resurrecting the extinct dodo, the flightless bird that vanished from Mauritius in the seventeenth century. The company has filled its dodo genome to ninety‑five percent and used its GenoMorph AI platform to pinpoint genetic changes linked to the bird’s distinctive beak and facial structure. Colossal plans to edit these traits into the cells of the Nicobar pigeon, the dodo’s closest living relative. No timeline for hatching a dodo has been announced, but the firm remains committed to de‑extinction research.