Americas

Also drops Kenya electric motorcycle pilot to focus on e-bikes and autonomous vehicles

• Also ended its early-stage Kenya electric motorcycle project.
• It is prioritising e-bikes and small autonomous vehicles.
• The Shell Foundation grant is intended to follow the project.

Also, the micromobility company spun out of Rivian in 2025, began an electric motorcycle pilot in Kenya and then dropped it to concentrate on its consumer e-bike and autonomous vehicle plans. The decision matters because the project was intended to explore a locally integrated vehicle platform for a…

Will ranked choice voting affect timing of Maine and Alaska’s Senate race results? Here’s what we know

• Ranked choice voting may affect projections in close races.
• Candidates need more than 50 per cent to win.
• Alaska has four candidates on the Senate ballot.

Maine and Alaska use ranked choice voting for their competitive US Senate races, which could influence how soon news organisations project winners. The voting system does not automatically delay results, but in close contests forecasters may need more official vote totals before calling a race. Voters rank candidates…

Go foldable or go home: All the gadgets you can own that fold

• Foldable designs now span phones, laptops, mice and headphones.
• High prices and unusual designs hold back adoption.
• Large book-style foldable phones cost at least $1,800.

Foldable designs are appearing across several types of technology, from phones and laptops to mice and headphones. The article surveys these products and concepts, arguing that devices which change shape can be useful for travel and compact storage, though unusual designs and high prices limit their appeal. Foldable…

Election officials brace for possible Trump interference in the midterms

• State officials fear federal interference in election administration.
• Courts rejected many Justice Department voter-data cases.
• Around 1,000 federal monitors are planned for polling places.

State election officials are preparing for possible interference by President Donald Trump’s administration in the US midterm elections. They fear federal action could disrupt voting, challenge ballot counts or obstruct certification of results that go against the president’s preferences, although the Constitution gives states primary responsibility for administering…

Ukraine and allies to align positions before proposed Russia talks

• Ukraine and allies are coordinating positions in Brussels.
• US envoy Steve Witkoff announced talks planned for 10 November.
• Moscow continues to demand Ukraine cede Donbas.

Ukraine, its allies and US representatives are due to meet in Brussels on 4 November to coordinate their approach to efforts to end Russia’s war. The meeting is intended to prepare for planned trilateral negotiations between Ukraine, Russia and the US, as Washington seeks to restart peace talks.…

U.S. Billionaire Leads Swap Plan to Buy Lukoil’s Overseas Assets, Sources Say

• Todd Boehly’s consortium is leading a bid for Lukoil’s overseas assets.
• The plan swaps frozen securities for oilfields, refineries and petrol stations.
• The portfolio was initially valued at $22 billion, but some assets have stalled.

A consortium led by US billionaire Todd Boehly is preparing to acquire Lukoil’s overseas oil and fuel assets through a swap of frozen securities, with a deal expected within weeks, according to people familiar with the process. If completed, it would end a sale effort lasting more than…

CPS faces scrutiny, data centres threaten net zero, and scientists probe the zeptoverse

The bulletin also covers a David Bowie exhibition in Dundee, The Wiggles joining 5 Seconds of Summer onstage in Melbourne, and instrumental band Long Distance Runner’s rising profile.