Apple held its "Awe Dropping" event on Tuesday, unveiling the iPhone 17 series, new Apple Watches, and updated AirPods Pro 3.

The launch included the standard iPhone 17, the new ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air, and the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max models, alongside refreshed Apple Watch 11, Apple Watch Ultra 3, Apple Watch SE 3, and the AirPods Pro 3.

The iPhone 17 Air, Apple's thinnest smartphone ever at 5.6mm, was the standout announcement. It features a single 48MP rear camera, a polished titanium frame, and is powered by the new A19 processor. It is available in black, silver, gold, and a new light blue finish, with a starting price of $999.

The standard iPhone 17 features a larger 6.3-inch display with a fast refresh rate, 256GB of base storage, dual 48MP rear cameras, and an upgraded front camera, priced at $799.

The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max models received a significant design refresh, including a new camera bar spanning the top third of the device and a switch from titanium to aluminum frames for improved heat dissipation. Both models feature 48MP telephoto cameras, a new A19 Pro chipset, and improved battery life, with prices of $1,099 and $1,199 respectively.

The Apple Watch 11 introduced new health features, including blood pressure monitoring and a new sleep score tool, with a battery life of 24 hours and 5G connectivity. The Apple Watch SE 3 also received the sleep score feature and an always-on display 

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 extended its battery life to 42 hours and added satellite messaging capabilities.

The AirPods Pro 3 feature improved audio quality, active noise cancellation, translation features, fitness tracking sensors, and a new, smaller charging case.

Apple has expanded its eSIM-only iPhone 17 lineup to include new countries, marking a significant shift from previous models.

The iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max will be eSIM-only in Bahrain, Canada, Guam, Japan, Kuwait, Mexico, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the United States, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, with the iPhone Air being eSIM-only globally, including in China.

The eSIM-only models in these countries eliminate the physical SIM card tray, allowing Apple to increase battery capacity, particularly in the Pro models, which gain up to two additional hours of video playback.

This expansion includes Canada and Mexico for the first time, alongside a broader rollout in the Middle East and Asia.

In contrast, the iPhone 17 series will still feature a nano-SIM card tray alongside eSIM support in regions like Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, and India.

In China, the standard iPhone 17 models support nano-SIM cards only, while the iPhone Air model is eSIM-only.

Lachlan Murdoch has secured control of his father Rupert Murdoch's media empire in a $3.3 billion deal finalized on Monday, resolving a years-long succession battle and ensuring the conservative direction of outlets like Fox News, The Wall Street Journal, and The New York Post will continue under his leadership.

The agreement, which ends litigation and dissolves the original 1999 family trust, sees Lachlan's three older siblings—Prue, Liz, and James—each receive $1.1 billion for their shares, while a new trust, which includes Lachlan and his two younger sisters, Grace and Chloe, will hold the controlling stake in News Corp and Fox Corporation until 2050.

The deal marks the culmination of a decades-long struggle over the future of the Murdoch media empire, which Rupert Murdoch had sought to steer toward a conservative legacy through his chosen heir, Lachlan.

The original plan to unilaterally change the irrevocable family trust, dubbed "Project Family Harmony," was rejected by a Nevada probate court in December 2024, which labeled the effort a "carefully crafted charade" and accused Rupert’s representatives of breaching fiduciary duties.

The legal battle intensified after James Murdoch gave an interview to The Atlantic in February 2025, where he criticized his father and Fox News, prompting demands for judicial sanctions and further escalating tensions.

Despite the court defeat, the legal pressure and the prospect of prolonged litigation brought the family back to the negotiating table, leading to the final settlement that allows Lachlan to consolidate control.

The financial structure of the deal involves loans, holding companies, and stock sales, though the exact funding mechanism remains unclear.

French Prime Minister François Bayrou has been ousted in a confidence vote in the National Assembly, with 364 deputies voting against him and 194 in favor, leading to the collapse of his minority government.

Bayrou, who was appointed in December 2024, will submit his resignation to President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday, marking the fifth prime minister change in less than two years and plunging France into a deep political crisis. The vote was a direct result of Bayrou’s gamble to secure parliamentary backing for his controversial 2026 budget plan, which aimed to cut $51 billion in spending to address France’s ballooning public debt, including scrapping two public holidays.

Bayrou’s government was defeated in a confidence vote, a rare move in French politics, as he called the vote himself to force support for austerity measures. This is the first time in modern French history that a prime minister has been removed via a confidence vote rather than a no-confidence vote.

The vote was triggered by Bayrou’s urgent warnings about France’s fiscal health, with public debt reaching $3.946 trillion (114% of GDP) by the end of Q1 2025 and a deficit of 5.8% of GDP in 2024, far exceeding the EU’s 3% limit. He argued that without drastic cuts, France risked becoming dependent on foreign creditors, describing the debt as an “unbearable hemorrhage” and a threat to national sovereignty.

Bayrou's downfall was facilitated by a rare alliance between left-wing and populist factions in the National Assembly, who united to oppose his government despite their ideological differences.

Populist leader Marine Le Pen seized the moment to demand new elections, calling for Macron’s resignation and claiming her party would win a majority in a new vote.

President Macron has stated he will appoint a new prime minister “in the coming days,” but no clear successor has emerged, leaving his domestic authority severely weakened.

The political instability has already impacted financial markets, with French government bond yields rising above those of Spain, Portugal, and Greece, once considered the epicenter of the eurozone debt crisis.

Meanwhile American conservative firebrand Candace Owens has launched season two of her controversial Becoming Brigitte docu-series. The first season drew lawsuit by Macron and his 'wife' Briggitte.

The series, which began in January 2025, is an investigative documentary focusing on Brigitte Macron, the First Lady of France, and her husband, President Macron. It explores the "murky, hidden background" of both Macron figures, including inconsistencies in Brigitte Macron's official biography, such as the lack of childhood photos and discrepancies in Emmanuel Macron's past.

Becoming Brigitte also delves into the claim that the Macrons' relationship is a carefully crafted public image, with Owens and her team alleging a pattern of coincidences and manipulated appearances. The series which has garnered millions of views, alleges that Brigitte Macron is transgender.