Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced on Monday that the U.S. is softening its position on Israeli settlements in the West Bank, the latest in a series of Trump administration moves that weaken Palestinian claims to statehood. Pompeo said the Trump administration will be reversing the previous government's "approach" on the settlements issue and returning to a version of the Reagan policy of the 1980s, which is likely to anger Palestinians and put the U.S. at odds with other nations working to end the conflict. read more
The eyes of the world's aerospace and defence industries will be on Dubai this weekend as one of the industry's biggest air shows takes off. All the major names will be among the 1,300 exhibitors showing up this week, including Britain's BAE Systems, France's Dassault, and the biggest defence firm of all, America's Lockheed Martin, will all be out in force. read more
Bloodhound has now joined the exclusive club of land speed racers that have gone faster than 600mph (965km/h). Running across its dry lakebed track on Saturday, the British car's GPS sensors clocked 628mph (1,010km/h). Only seven vehicles in the history of the land speed record have previously driven beyond 600mph. Bloodhound's achievement is notable because it's been running with only the thrust of a jet engine. The car's design allows for a rocket motor, too. When this is fitted next year, as planned, the arrow-shaped machine should be in a very strong position to smash the current world record of 763mph (1,228km/h). read more
Protests have erupted across Iran after the government unexpectedly announced it was rationing petrol and increasing its price. At least two people have been killed. read more
A court in Texas has halted the execution of Rodney Reed, convicted for murder, in a case that has attracted huge public attention in the US. Reed has been 21 years on death row for a 1996 murder. He was due to die by lethal injection on 20 November.
Obama was in office for 8 years, Trump 3.
I know. As I said, he's got work to do.