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California is pushing for an unprecedented wealth tax as the state’s richest tech figures push their net worth to the moon.
Billionaires are facing down a one-off tax to help fund healthcare, and opponents have already raised more than $205 million (A$293 million) to fight it and promote rival ballot measures.
Google co-founder Sergey Brin (net worth $262 billion A$374 billion), is reportedly among those bankrolling the pushback, according to AFP.
It came as a report claimed US military has developed plans to potentially drop the “mother of all bombs” on Iran, as officials search for a way for Donald Trump to declare a definitive victory and leave the war to the history books.
Multiple US officials and sources familiar with military planning claim that options include using the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb, or MOAB, against energy infrastructure and nuclear sites, including Pickaxe Mountain.
'All options on the table': US discussing Iran MOAB
The US military has reportedly developed plans to potentially drop the “mother of all bombs” on Iran, as officials search for a way for Donald Trump to declare a definitive victory and leave the war to the history books.
CNN, citing multiple US officials and sources familiar with military planning, has today reported that options include using the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb, or MOAB, against energy infrastructure and nuclear sites, including Pickaxe Mountain.
The MOAB was first used in combat against Islamic State positions in Afghanistan in 2017, during Trump’s first term.
Unfortunately for the US military, the enormous weapon may serve as more more of a violent statement piece than something that can genuinely achieve the administration’s real goals in Iran. Trump has spent years signalling that the destruction of the country’s deeply buried nuclear facilities is paramount, but getting there has proven tricky.
One source offered a very blunt assessment on the weapon’s capabilities in that regard.
“The MOAB is a massive information operation type weapon that is great for huge area clearance but not much else,” the source told CNN.
“It is definitely not designed as a deep penetration warhead.”
The weapon produces a massive outward blast rather than burrowing deep underground. Sources have questioned whether it could destroy facilities protected by layers of granite, while warning of civilian casualties if used near populated areas.
Another source described some proposed military options as a “fireworks show”, intended to give Trump a way out even if the strikes failed to achieve his original objectives.
World 'stumbling from one crisis into the other': UN chief
About 130 million people could be pushed into poverty this year if soaring food and energy costs are passed on to households in full, the United Nations has warned.
Governments have been scrambling to cushion the economic blow from the disruptive Iran war for months, but repeated crises have left many struggling to afford the next round of help.
“You have to repair your roof while at the same time your home is on fire,” UN Development Programme chief Alexander De Croo told AFP at the IMF-World Bank meetings in Bangkok.
His comments coincide with the release of a report by the UN titled “No Time to Recover“, which covers compounding crises across the planet.
After the pandemic and wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, poorer countries have had little opportunity to rebuild their finances before another emergency arrives. The Red Cross counts around 130 active armed conflicts worldwide at the start of 2026, which is more than double the number 15 years earlier.
“Some countries have a well-insulated house with money in the bank. Other countries have a house without a roof and no money in the bank,” De Croo said.
In times of crisis, governments have traditionally leant on debt to dig themselves out of a hole. But borrowing more is becoming increasingly difficult.
The median developing-country government already spends about 9.5 per cent of its revenue on interest alone. It is the highest level since 2001.
Billionaires fight back against unprecedented wealth tax
California is pushing for an unprecedented wealth tax as the state’s richest tech figures push their net worth to the moon.
Billionaires are facing down a one-off tax to help fund healthcare, and opponents have already raised more than $205 million (A$293 million) to fight it and promote rival ballot measures.
Google co-founder Sergey Brin (net worth $262 billion A$374 billion), is reportedly among those bankrolling the pushback.
Proposition 40, which will be placed before voters on November 3, would impose a levy of up to five per cent on covered assets held by roughly 200 billionaires.
Shares, business interests and art would count, but real estate and some retirement accounts would not.
Under the official proposal, 90 per cent of the proceeds would go towards healthcare, with the remainder funding education or food assistance.
Elon Musk hits out at claim he imposed Starlink restrictions on Ukraine
SpaceX founder Elon Musk has hit back at claims he imposed Starlink restrictions on Ukraine.
On Wednesday, Mr Musk took to X to say Starshield, the military-grade satellite network that uses Starlink technology was “owned and controlled by the US government.”
“Any limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and ultimately POTUS,” he wrote on X, referring to Mr Trump.
He said Starlink should only be used for civilian or defensive purposes and not for offensive military action “as doing so would be inappropriate for a commercial company”.
Watchdog calls for probe into Katie Zacharia's law credentials
A non-for-profit watchdog has called on the State Bar of California to investigate the new White House press secretary over her claims to be a lawyer.
The Campaign for Accountability (CfA) filed a complaint with the legal body following reports Katie Zacharia is not licensed to practice law in any US state, according to reporting by The Hill.
The CfA’s complaint said claiming to be entitled to practice law with a license was a crime in California.
“Ms. Zacharia has represented herself as a lawyer repeatedly to buttress her reputation and credibility as a television legal commentator and now as the White House spokesperson, yet it seems it was all a lie,” CfA executive director Michelle Kuppersmith said in a statement.
“In California, calling yourself a lawyer without a license isn’t puffery; it’s a crime. The State Bar should investigate whether Ms. Zacharia has misled the public about her credentials and hold her accountable if she has,” she said.
Greenland calls BS on Trump's 'massive' oil and gas claims
Greenland has pushed back on Donald Trump’s claims on Wednesday the US was carrying out “massive” oil and gas exploration in the country.
Deputy mining minister Jørgen Hammeken-Holm said though there was some work being done by US companies, it was still “very far away from ‘massive exploration’.
“There are many smaller explorations underway but these could take years to become operational,” he told CNN.
Since returning to the White House, Mr Trump has repeatedly threatened to take control of Greenland and its natural resources.
Footage emerges of strikes that sunk two ships sink off Strait of Hormuz
Footage has emerged of the aftermath of an attack on a cargo ship crossing the Strait of Hormuz.
The Singapore-flagged GFS Pride, a small container vessel, and the Antigua and Barbuda-flagged Cape Dao sank in the past 24 hours after being targeted by projectiles, according to maritime security sources.
The Pride sank while sailing through the strait and the Cape Dao sank weeks after being struck on September 23. One crew member was killed. The rest were evacuated after the strike, maritime sources said. No crew members were injured on the Pride.
Suspected Chinese spies used LinkedIn to target government officials & former premier, investigation alleges
Alleged Chinese spies are said to have used two LinkedIn account to target Australian government officials.
According to an investigation carried out by the ABC, the alleged spies posed as employees of a think tank and promised their targets money in return for information.
The suspected spies allegedly targeted more than 100 individuals between 2016 and 2025, including former Queensland premier Steven Miles, an Australian Federal Police (AFP) commander and several high-ranking federal government officials.
Questions mount over Donald Trump's new press secretary
Questions are beginning to mount over the credentials of Donald Trump’s new White House press secretary, Katie Zacharia.
Ms Zacharia held her first White House press conference on Tuesday, October 13, where she spent much of her 14-minute appearance lavishing praise on her new boss.
Zelensky feels 'betrayed' by Trump after Russia deal
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he felt betrayed after US President Donald Trump announced a new deal to buy Russian diesel.
Asked by British broadcaster Piers Morgan if he had been “betrayed” by the Trump administration, Zelensky answered, “Yes.”