Ouster

A local official in Palmyra says war damage in the ancient Syrian city is so extensive that archaeological excavation missions could wait years before permits to resume work are granted. The announcement comes as residents and tourists slowly begin returning to the city following the ouster that ended years of conflict there. The fate of the UNESCO World Heritage site, heavily damaged during the war, remains a concern for heritage experts.

Automattic has confirmed that Matt Mullenweg is back as chief executive of the company behind WordPress, following an attempted removal by the board. The news fuels ongoing debate in tech circles about the leadership disputes surrounding WordPress and what they mean for the open-source project's future. Commenters remain divided over whether the turmoil damages trust in the platform or marks a consolidation of Mullenweg's control.

A federal judge has reinstated Seattle's top federal prosecutor, who had been removed from the post by President Trump. The ruling puts the US attorney back in charge of the Western District of Washington and adds to the ongoing legal battles over the administration's authority to dismiss and replace federal prosecutors. The case has drawn attention because of questions over whether the White House followed proper procedures in the ouster.

The Israeli military has named the Gaza Division intelligence officer who served on October 7, as the army moves toward removing him from his post. The officer is being identified amid ongoing accountability proceedings over the failures that allowed Hamas's surprise attack. The move is the latest in a series of disciplinary steps against senior figures connected to the October 7 intelligence and operational lapses.

A federal watchdog has concluded that the Federal Reserve mishandled the costly renovation of its Washington headquarters, the project President Trump cited this summer as grounds to try to remove Chair Jerome Powell. The finding gives partial vindication to Trump's criticism while stopping short of justifying the attempted ouster, which drew alarm over Fed independence. Officials and lawmakers are weighing what the report means for oversight of the central bank.

Israel is set to hold an election in less than a month that could remove Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from power. Public sentiment in Jerusalem is described as sharply divided between supporters of the government and those seeking change, with uncertainty dominating the run-up to the vote.

Sensor maker Ouster has announced a partnership with Seneca to develop autonomous drone technology for wildfire response operations. The collaboration aims to improve how drones detect and monitor wildfires, supporting emergency crews with better sensing and autonomy capabilities. Details on the scope of the partnership and deployment timeline were not immediately provided.