The government shutdown is now the longest in U.S. history, entering its 36th day. The administration announced that the Department of Transportation might have to shut down airspace in parts of the country if it lasts into next week. President Donald Trump, meanwhile, threatened to defy a court order and block funds for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which provides food for millions. Senate lawmakers signaled some halting progress in negotiations to reopen the government yesterday, but no deal has been reached.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged the European Union to fast-track Ukraine鈥檚 accession 鈥渂efore 2030,鈥� after the European Commission鈥檚 enlargement report praised Kyiv鈥檚 progress despite war but warned of persistent corruption and rule-of-law risks. Yesterday鈥檚 report highlighted Montenegro as the most advanced candidate, while criticizing Serbia鈥檚 slowdown and rebuking Georgia over 鈥渟erious democratic backsliding.鈥� EU officials said enlargement by 2030 is 鈥渁 realistic goal.鈥�
Iran released French nationals C茅cile Kohler and Jacques Paris after more than three years in a Tehran prison, President Emmanuel Macron announced. Their release appears linked to the conditional freeing in France of Iranian student Mahdieh Esfandiari, detained earlier this year over anti-Israel social media posts deemed to promote terrorism. The pair, held since 2022 on espionage charges rejected by Paris, were freed on bail, according to Iranian authorities.
Brazilian police and Interpol conducted one of the Amazon鈥檚 largest crackdowns on illegal gold mining, destroying nearly 300 dredges on the Madeira River. Authorities say the raids dealt an estimated $193 million blow to organized crime groups. The operation involved officers from six countries across the region and comes before Brazil hosts the COP30 climate summit in the Amazonian city of Bel茅m.
Elon Musk鈥檚 $1 trillion pay proposal will get a 鈥渘o鈥� vote from Norway鈥檚 sovereign wealth fund, a big investor in Tesla. The CEO has threatened to quit if shareholders reject his salary plan at the automaker鈥檚 annual meeting Thursday. The sum would be paid only if he meets demanding goals. One analyst expects the plan to pass as the company moves to use artificial intelligence to create autonomous cars and advanced robots. Tesla鈥檚 car sales have been falling in many markets, including Europe and China.
Israel鈥檚 Holocaust memorial has recovered 5 million of the 6 million names of Jews killed in the Nazi genocide, it announced Monday. The milestone marks decades of research and information gathered from archives and testimonies, some with the help of the latest technology. AI and machine learning can help unlock the names of some of the 1 million or so victims who are not yet identified, an ever more urgent task, Yad Vashem officials say, as the number of living Holocaust survivors dwindles.
Alaska residents worked together to save cultural artifacts scattered by remnants of Typhoon Halong. Dozens in the fishing village of Quinhagak have collected an estimated 1,000 Yup鈥檌k artifacts since the storm swept thousands of items away from a nearby archeological site. The pieces include wooden masks, dolls, and jewelry. One elder told The New York Times the storm was a 鈥渨ake-up call,鈥� saying she wants to 鈥減reserve all the things we have, as much as possible.鈥�
鈥� From our staff writers around the world
