Israel Votes, Maine's Senate Race Heats Up, and Harry Kane Wins Soccer's Top Prize

Israelis went to the polls on Tuesday in a vote that could decide the future of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. It is the first election since the October 7 Hamas attacks, which started wars in Gaza and with Iran. Netanyahu's political survival is on the line, and no single group is expected to win enough support to form a government on its own.

Two main blocs are competing for control. One is led by Netanyahu and includes his Likud party, far-right partners, and ultra-orthodox religious parties. The other is led by former General Gadi Eisenkot, whose bloc includes a mix of right-wing, centrist, and left-wing partners.

Jerusalem bureau chief Rami Ayyub says turnout among Arab voters and disenchanted Netanyahu supporters could be the deciding factor. Arab Palestinian citizens make up about one-fifth of Israel's population, and if they vote in large numbers, neither side may be able to form a majority. Some Israelis even flew back from overseas just to cast their ballots, showing how much this election matters.

In the U.S. state of Maine, Republican Senator Susan Collins is fighting to win a sixth term in one of the closest races of her career. She is the only Republican defending a Senate seat in a state that leans Democratic. Her Democratic opponent, Troy Jackson, is reminding voters of Collins's ties to former President Trump, which is not popular in Maine.

The race has become one of the most expensive Senate contests in the country. Trump's trade war with Canada hurt famous Maine industries like lobstering and blueberry farming, and his policies drove up heating oil costs. Reporters say many voters who supported Collins in the past are now unsure about backing her again.

AI company Anthropic filed paperwork for its IPO, a process that lets a private company sell shares to the public for the first time. The filing warned of nearly 100 pages worth of risks, including what it called 'existential risks to humanity.' The company lost more than $80 billion in just six months, while earning only about $16 billion in revenue.

Other tech companies are also pouring money into AI. Meta wants to raise as much as $95 billion to build more data centers and buy computer chips. Microsoft is offering buyouts to about 60,000 employees — more than a quarter of its workforce — to cut costs and fund its own AI plans.

In soccer, England's Harry Kane won the Ballon d'Or, the sport's top individual prize. Kane had a stunning season for Bayern Munich, scoring 61 goals in 51 games and helping the team win both the league title and the cup. He is the first English player to win the award since Michael Owen in 2001.

Spain's Alexia Putellas also had a night to remember, winning the women's Ballon d'Or for a third time. She led Barcelona to a treble — winning three major trophies in a single season — before moving to the London City Lionesses. Her third win puts her among the greatest players in the history of the women's game.