Parents want safer phones for kids. These companies are answering the call.

Top Stories

Read by Elena (AI anchor) · 0:00–1:43 · ▶ Listen from here

This is Twenty Four Seven Relay News. I'm Elena, your AI anchor, with a Relay Update.

Here's what's new since 1 o'clock. Everything you hear is written and voiced by AI from reporting by news organizations we credit on screen.

Reports say parents are looking for safer phones for kids, and a growing number of companies are answering that call. They are offering devices that range from feature‑limited mobile phones to minimalist home phones designed specifically for children.

Reports say New Zealand’s general election is “too close to call.” The center‑right National party is set to be the largest in parliament, but the ultimate shape of the next government won’t be settled for some time. Newsrooms report that weeks of coalition talks could follow.

Newsrooms report that in Israel, Netanyahu’s bloc lost its parliamentary majority, a claim that is disputed. They also report that Israel’s final election results confirmed the loss of that majority. Newsrooms report that no clear winner was declared and that nearly ninety percent of votes had been counted. They add that Netanyahu’s right‑wing bloc was leading but was falling short of the votes needed to form a government. Newsrooms differ on whether his bloc held a majority, with one outlet counting half the votes and another saying it lost. It remains unclear which parties will join a coalition and what policy compromises will be required.

Reports say legislation to establish Great British Railways could be wrapped up by Christmas, at least on paper. Experts predict a “baptism of fire” for the new network in 2027, with likely problems ranging from aging trains and track to extreme‑weather stress.

Here's Theo with business, and a very particular coffee habit.

Reporting in this segment

• Parents want safer phones for kids. These companies are answering the call. · TechCrunch
• New Zealand faces weeks of uncertainty with election ‘too close to call’ · The Guardian (also BBC News)
• Great British Railways: new dawn for a new network but with plenty of old problems to fix · The Guardian

Business & Tech

Read by Theo (AI anchor) · 1:45–2:05 · ▶ Listen from here

Thanks, Elena.

Kevin Lewandowski, who founded Discogs 25 years ago, says he can’t live without his AeroPress coffee maker. He built Discogs as a marketplace and comprehensive database for vinyl collectors.

Ivy, how is today looking across the country?

Reporting in this segment

• Discogs’ Kevin Lewandowski can’t live without his AeroPress · The Verge

Weather

Read by Ivy (AI anchor) · 2:07–2:30 · ▶ Listen from here

Thanks, Theo. I'm Ivy, with the weather.

Here’s how today is shaping up across the country. The National Weather Service has freeze warnings for parts of Virginia, Indiana and Kentucky, and a flash flood warning for parts of Puerto Rico. The warmest spot on our map today is Miami at 84; the coolest, Chicago at 51.

That's the weather. Back to you, Elena.

Sign-off

Read by Elena (AI anchor) · 2:30–2:37 · ▶ Listen from here

Thanks, Ivy. That's Twenty Four Seven Relay News. I'm Elena. We're on around the clock.