海角大神

This follows the return of 15 hostages鈥� remains since the ceasefire began, with 13 more to be recovered. The handover indicates progress in the fragile ceasefire agreement, despite Israeli strikes on Gaza overnight. Officials in southern Gaza report at least 40 people injured in the strikes. The Israeli army confirms it targeted terrorist infrastructure in Khan Younis. The ceasefire, which began Oct. 10, aims to end the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

As violations rock Gaza ceasefire, Hamas鈥� control of territory is thin

President Donald Trump said that would come 鈥渟oon鈥� after meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in South Korea on Thursday. Mr. Trump said China agreed not to restrict rare earth mineral exports. He also halved the fentanyl-related tariff on Chinese exports to 10 percent, saying Beijing would take 鈥渟trong action鈥� to curb illicit fentanyl precursors. Separately, Mr. Trump said the U.S. would resume nuclear weapons testing on an 鈥渆qual basis鈥� with other countries 鈥� ending a three decade hiatus.

Rare earth reserves are in global demand. Can Brazil change the playbook?

The new bill enshrines the principle of consent into the country鈥檚 rape law, joining nations including Spain, Germany, and Belgium. The law says consent must be 鈥渇ree and informed, specific, prior, and revocable.鈥� It comes a year after the trial of French woman Gis猫le Pelicot, whose husband repeatedly drugged and raped her and invited strangers to sexually assault her. Advocates called the bill a 鈥渉istoric step forward.鈥�

French women flock to Gis猫le Pelicot rape trial, 鈥榯o show her that she鈥檚 not alone鈥�

A Democratic candidate for Congress was indicted by a federal grand jury over an altercation last month near Chicago. Kat Abughazaleh, a progressive running for Illinois鈥� Ninth District, is accused, along with others, of impeding a federal agent. A video clip posted by Ms. Abughazaleh shows her placing hands on the front of a vehicle that proceeded. Other footage shows an agent throwing her to the ground. She鈥檚 the latest Democrat facing charges tied to sometimes violent protests against immigration authorities.

Portland鈥檚 ICE office is already federally protected. So why is the National Guard needed?

An Illinois jury on Wednesday found a former sheriff鈥檚 deputy guilty of second-degree murder in the fatal shooting of an unarmed Black woman in her home in a case that drew national attention. Sean Grayson, who was dismissed from his job with the Sangamon County Sheriff鈥檚 Office, had been charged with three counts of first-degree murder after firing three shots at Sonya Massey in her Springfield home in July 2024, according to the indictment. But the judge also gave the jury the option of finding Mr. Grayson guilty of the lesser charge.

Two boys died after they ran from police. 20 years later, this Paris suburb is still healing.

That鈥檚 for the second time this year and despite stubborn inflation and continued consumer spending. Wednesday鈥檚 move reflects concern that the bigger risk to the economy is a slowdown in job growth. Lower interest rates should help buoy the economy, making it cheaper for consumers to take out loans to buy homes and cars and for companies to borrow to expand their businesses. The Fed is closely watching the impact of artificial intelligence on company layoffs, Chair Jerome Powell told reporters.

Fed cuts interest rates in response to a slowing job market

The Valley Forge Military College sent a letter to the Department of Education saying participation would offer 鈥渧aluable opportunities for collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement,鈥� according to Fox News. The administration sent the compact to nine schools Oct. 1, promising access to federal funds in exchange for compliance with certain terms 鈥� a move critics say threatens academic freedom.

It is the country鈥檚 single largest home care payout since Holocaust reparations began in 1952. The government also earmarked $205 million to fund Holocaust education programs through 2029. The moves come as countries grapple with the spread of Holocaust misinformation online and spikes in antisemitism. About 220,800 survivors, spread across 90 countries, remain alive today.

Called to lead Europe, Germany weighs its national guilt. Is it time to move on?

An original manuscript and cover sketch by Ted Geisel, aka Dr. Seuss, was discovered in the archives of UC San Diego鈥檚 Geisel Library. 鈥淪ing the 50 United States!,鈥� a rhyme to teach readers the names of all 50 states, will be published early next year by Random House Children鈥檚 Books. Artist Tom Brannon completed new illustrations for the text in the style of Dr. Seuss and following the author鈥檚 notes on art direction. 鈥淯ncovering a new work from Ted is like finding a time capsule of his imagination,鈥� said Susan Brandt, president and CEO of Dr. Seuss Enterprises.

鈥楤ecoming Dr. Seuss鈥� opens up the author-illustrator鈥檚 world

After Hurricane Melissa made landfall Tuesday, most people on the island lost power and communications, making it hard to gauge the extent of the damage. Prime Minister Andrew Holness urged Jamaicans to remain hopeful amid the destruction, saying the country would rebuild 鈥渆ven better than before.鈥� U.S. President Donald Trump pledged humanitarian aid. Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of people evacuated in Cuba, where the storm arrived early this morning.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Hamas of violating the ceasefire by firing on troops in attacks that killed an Israeli reservist and delaying the return of deceased hostages. Hamas denied the charge and said it remained committed to the ceasefire. The strikes reportedly killed 100 Gazans. Mediators are scrambling to salvage the deal. U.S. Vice President JD Vance called the tensions 鈥渟kirmishes鈥� he expected would dissipate.

Iran quietly backs Gaza truce amid bid to hand off regional bad-guy image

It is the latest in a series of attacks the Trump administration frames as an operation against narcotrafficking, which has destroyed 14 boats and killed a reported 57 people so far. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Monday鈥檚 attack on Tuesday. The accelerating campaign has drawn condemnation from regional leaders, while lawmakers on both sides of the aisle in Washington have questioned the legal grounds for the attacks.

Amid 鈥榙rug boat鈥� strikes, US military ramps up presence near Venezuela. Why?

The 2,500-officer assault targeted leaders of the Comando Vermelho criminal group after a yearlong investigation, leaving at least 64 people, including four police officers, dead. That makes it the deadliest operation in the city鈥檚 history. The fighting forced schools, businesses, and transit to shut down. Governor Cl谩udio Castro called it a 鈥渨ar鈥� on organized crime. Some Brazilian experts say such tactics are necessary, while others warn they can deepen cycles of violence.

Cloud seeding involves spraying particles, such as salt-based compounds and silver iodide crystals, into moisture-heavy clouds to provoke rain. Tuesday鈥檚 trial was conducted in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur to clean pollution from the air. Home to more than 30 million people, New Delhi is the most polluted capital city in the world, though experts say the only cure for pollution is curbing it at the source.

Detected by Hawaii鈥檚 Pan-STARRS 1 telescope, the asteroid, named 2025 PN7, is the seventh known body to orbit the sun alongside Earth. Though not gravitationally bound to our planet, and at times drifting as far as 10.6 million miles away, it has been a friendly celestial companion since 1965 鈥� and is expected to hang around until 2083.

Forecasters predict Hurricane Melissa, the first Category 5 storm set to hit land in the Atlantic Basin since 2019, will bring up to 40 inches of rain to the island before making a second landfall in Cuba. Some 1,700 Jamaicans evacuated to shelters as the community came together. 鈥淧eople are communicating and making sure everyone is ready,鈥� Mateo Avalle Piber, a resident, told CNN.

They agreed to boost rare earths production as President Trump, in Tokyo, strikes another deal aimed at reducing U.S. reliance on China for the critical minerals. On trade, Mr. Trump and the new Japanese Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, agreed to a 15% limit on U.S. tariffs, while Japan buys more goods from and invests $550 billion in the U.S. The hawkish Ms. Takaichi has also pledged to advance a big defense buildup as part of strengthened U.S.-Japan military cooperation initiated under the Biden administration.

Rare earth reserves are in global demand. Can Brazil change the playbook?

Air traffic controller staffing shortages are causing disruptions, which are likely to increase as roughly 13,000 controllers go without their first full paycheck today, 28 days into the government shutdown. Around 50,000 TSA officers are also working without pay. Lawmakers ended the 35-day shutdown in 2019 following a surge in absences among air safety staff.

Government shutdown drags on as Republicans, Democrats dig in

That鈥檚 according to a new University of Arizona study. Analyzing 500 years of data, the researchers found species losses peaked about a century ago and have declined since, partly because conservation efforts are working. They caution that while biodiversity loss remains serious, many predictions rely on outdated assumptions, and a more nuanced understanding can lead to better action. In an unrelated memo today, Bill Gates also warned against a 鈥渄oomsday outlook鈥� on climate change.

The team played their first international match since fleeing the Taliban, taking the field Sunday as Afghan Women United. Though they lost 6-1 to Chad, the game marked an emotional return for players who hadn鈥檛 competed internationally since 2021. The team, scattered across Australia and Europe, says they鈥檙e playing not just for themselves but for Afghan girls back home. 鈥淲e鈥檙e showing them that their dreams are valid,鈥� goalkeeper Fatima Yousufi told Deutsche Welle.

That's close to 10% of its corporate employees. Layoff emails are reported to begin going out this morning, according to Reuters, in what would be the largest round of cuts since late 2022. CEO Andy Jassy said in June that artificial intelligence could make some jobs redundant.

Meet the students who are just saying no to AI

Russian forces have been coordinating drone strikes and deportations to drive Ukrainian civilians from their homes, according to a new report by the UN鈥檚 Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine. The findings, presented Monday to the General Assembly, document war crimes and crimes against humanity in Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and Dnipropetrovsk. Investigators drew on over 200 interviews and 500 videos. Commission chair Erik M酶se said his team managed just one trip to Ukraine this year amid a 鈥渟evere liquidity crisis.鈥�

As Russia hits energy grid, Ukraine tries to avoid a cold, dark winter

That comes as expectations of a trade deal fueled risk-taking at the start of a week dominated by Big Tech earnings and a likely Federal Reserve rate cut. Wall Street鈥檚 fear gauge, the VIX, hit a one-month low. Earlier this month, U.S. President Donald Trump鈥檚 revival of the trade war had sent the volatility index to its highest level since the April rollout of his 鈥淟iberation Day鈥� tariffs. President Trump and China鈥檚 Xi Jinping are set to meet on Thursday.

How China is making gains in the race for AI dominance

A federal judge in North Carolina widened a lawsuit over claims that teens at the 62-bed Cabarrus Regional Juvenile Detention Facility are locked alone in their rooms for 23 hours a day. The state argues the practice, banned for minors since 2016, isn鈥檛 punitive but stems from staff shortages and safety concerns. The judge refused to extend the case to all state juvenile facilities but ruled that any resulting reforms must apply to current and future detainees in the Concord facility.

How new federal rules on solitary confinement could be just the start

Yesterday鈥檚 national legislative elections gave new life to a free-market economic reform agenda that had lost steam in recent months. Voters appeared willing to overlook a summer of financial crisis and scandals that had tarnished President Javier Milei鈥檚 clean-outsider reputation. The results pave the way to a pro-reform coalition in Congress and should boost relations with U.S. President Donald Trump, who had threatened to withdraw $40 billion in financial support if Mr. Milei lost.

In Argentina midterms, a make-or-break referendum on the Milei revolution

That paved the way for an expected meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping in South Korea on Thursday. Officials hailed progress on contentious topics such as export controls including on rare earth minerals, curbing the illegal fentanyl trade, and extending a truce on reciprocal tariffs set to expire Nov. 10. Meanwhile, Mr. Trump said Saturday he was raising tariffs on Canada by 10% in response to a critical TV ad in Ontario.

China鈥檚 five-year plans date back to Mao. A new one has the world鈥檚 attention.

Catherine Connolly, a veteran lawmaker on the far left of the Irish political spectrum, was elected president by a wide margin on Saturday in a stinging rebuke to the recently re-elected centre-right coalition. A long-time critic of the European Union in overwhelmingly pro-EU Ireland, she is backed by the left-dominated opposition. Ms. Connolly was not a household name and was underestimated by many at the start of the contest for the largely ceremonial role.

In long-welcoming Ireland, racist violence rears its head

Tens of thousands of Canadians marched 30 years ago today in Montreal to convince Quebecers to reject independence. The 鈥渘o鈥� vote narrowly won the 1995 referendum, with 51% opting to keep the French-speaking province in Canada. There was a small protest in Montreal on Saturday in support of independence, but surveys show two-thirds of Quebecers would vote against it today. While Canadian unity is still sometimes tested, opposition to the Trump administration has given the federation a boost 鈥� as has the Blue Jays鈥� World Series run this week.

Canadians had been feeling gloomy about their country. Trump changed that.

For residents of 鈥楥anada鈥檚 Texas,鈥� a sense of 鈥榳estern alienation鈥�

Three decades ago, just 5% of Kenyans had access to electricity. That figure now stands at 76%, according to Our World in Data. The expansion ranks among the fastest in sub-Saharan Africa, bringing with it everyday benefits such as refrigerated food and evening study time.

A keystone species of coral is now functionally extinct in the state鈥檚 southern waters, according to Science. The report pinpoints the extinction event to 2023, when the world experienced a marine heatwave so severe, researchers coined the term 鈥渟uper-marine heatwave鈥� to describe it. Acropora coral colonies are an essential building block of Florida鈥檚 reefs, providing an important habitat for marine life.

Reefs are in trouble. Can scientists nurture more resilient coral?

The U.S. Department of Agriculture said on Saturday that food benefits under one of the country's biggest social assistance programs will not be issued next month amid the ongoing federal government shutdown. The shutdown is now in its 26th day, with Republicans and Democrats in Congress remaining at an impasse over how to fund and reopen the federal government. More than 41 million depend on the monthly payments, according to the USDA. Governors in Louisiana and Virginia declared states of emergencies this week to make funds available to help with hunger relief in anticipation of SNAP benefits not being issued next month.

Government shutdown drags on as Republicans, Democrats dig in

The New York attorney general is accused of lying on mortgage papers to secure favorable loan terms in a case pushed by President Donald Trump. Ms. James left the courthouse Friday smiling to cheers from supporters, who chanted, 鈥淲e stand with Tish!鈥� Ms. James says the case is about 鈥渁 justice system which has been used as a tool of revenge.鈥� She faces bank fraud and false-statements charges in connection with a 2020 home purchase in Norfolk, Virginia. 

鈥楲awfare鈥� hits new levels, as Trump pursues those who pursued him

The president blamed an ad that features former U.S. President Ronald Reagan in 1987 warning about the dangers of tariffs. His announcement on social media complicates Prime Minister Mark Carney鈥檚 push to lower Mr. Trump鈥檚 levies on Canadian goods, including 50% on steel and 25% on auto parts. Mr. Trump called the TV ad, paid for by the province of Ontario, 鈥渇ake鈥� and 鈥渆gregious.鈥�

How a mine in the Yukon could help patch US-Canada distrust

The new class of freshmen has fewer Black and Hispanic students for the second year since the Supreme Court ended affirmative action in college admissions. Black students make up less than 12% of the new class, down from 18% before the ruling, according to demographic data released yesterday. Hispanic enrollment fell to 11% from 16%, while Asian American students rose to 41%. Admissions practices and diversity initiatives have faced heightened scrutiny under the Trump administration.

A year after affirmative action ban, how students are pitching themselves to colleges

The Department of Defense must 鈥渋mmediately鈥� return some 600 books to the shelves of elementary and high school libraries on U.S. military bases, a federal judge ruled this week. Their removal followed a Trump administration executive order prohibiting material that promotes 鈥渄iscriminatory equity ideology.鈥� A motion filed by U.S. military parents with the American Civil Liberties Union in April said the decision violated the First Amendment and made students 鈥渇ear being silenced by teachers.鈥�

Some military parents say DEI purge hurts their kids鈥� schools. They鈥檙e suing.

A high school team near Dallas found out their custodian sometimes stayed at school until 1 a.m. waiting for a ride home. So, they started a fundraiser. Last week, the team called Abel Rodriguez outside for an 鈥渆mergency鈥� 鈥� and surprised him with a new car. Teary-eyed, Mr. Rodriguez told reporters he planned to use the SUV to visit his family in Mexico. 鈥淚 love you forever, guys,鈥� he told the team. 鈥淗e鈥檚 our biggest cheerleader,鈥� one player said.

The legislative elections are seen as make-or-break for President Javier Milei鈥檚 libertarian revolution. The iconoclastic economist took office two years ago promising to take a chainsaw to a bloated welfare system and runaway inflation, but even he admits he鈥檚 only been partially successful and needs a friendlier Congress to finish the job. The campaign has been marked by President Trump鈥檚 $40 billion rescue plan for the teetering currency 鈥� and his vow to withdraw support if Mr. Milei loses.

鈥業 eat the elite for breakfast!鈥� Argentina鈥檚 Javier Milei wants radical disruption.

Fiery Gizzard State Park offers 20 miles of hiking trails, and Head of the Crow State Park protects 4,200 acres of public lands renowned for their biodiversity. Both were announced this week. Republican Gov. Bill Lee is set to add a record 14 new state parks before the end of his term. 鈥淲hen you serve in this role, you think about what you hope lasts,鈥� he told Axios earlier this year. 鈥淲e do have a duty to generations that will come.鈥�

Moscow responded with a diplomatic shrug. A government spokesperson said the measures from Washington targeting major Russian oil companies would be 鈥渃ounterproductive鈥� for U.S.-Russia dialogue 鈥� and would have little impact because the country has already developed a 鈥渟trong immunity鈥� to such restrictions. She said the E.U.鈥檚 19th package of sanctions would similarly fail as a futile attempt to curb Russia鈥檚 war effort.

If US ends sanctions on Russia, will Russia welcome back US businesses?

That鈥檚 even as disagreements deepened over who will take part in an international military force to provide security in the Strip. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Wednesday rejected the participation of the Palestinian Authority or Turkish troops as part of a proposed International Stabilization Force, even as U.S. Vice President JD Vance said Ankara would play a 鈥渃onstructive role.鈥� Islamic Jihad, the hardline Palestinian group that took part in Hamas鈥� Oct. 7 attacks, confirmed for the first time yesterday its commitment to the U.S.-brokered ceasefire. The International Court of Justice ruled on Wednesday in a non-binding measure that Israel cannot obstruct UN aid efforts in Gaza and must ensure 鈥渂asic needs鈥� of Gaza鈥檚 population.

For Israelis, a legacy of the war in Gaza is international ostracism

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced the strikes yesterday. The eighth and ninth such strikes were the first to take place beyond the Caribbean Sea, in the eastern Pacific. They brought the total reported death toll to 37. Mr. Hegseth compared drug smugglers to Al Qaeda terrorists and vowed 鈥渏ustice,鈥� while lawmakers have pressed for legal justification for the attacks.

As US targets drug boats, Venezuelans wonder whether Maduro might be next

The 鈥渃ompact鈥� offers preferential funding to schools that adopt policies aligned with the Trump administration鈥檚 values. The University of Virginia, the first public school to decline, said research should be based on merit alone. Vanderbilt鈥檚 chancellor said the school would continue a dialogue with the administration, while the University of Texas at Austin has not responded.

How intertwined are the federal government and US colleges?

Rob Perez, a Washington, D.C.-based content creator and Navy veteran, is running an extra mile for each day of the government shutdown. He talks viewers through a different aspect of the shutdown while he runs, such as how it affects federal workers. About 1.4 million government employees have been furloughed or are working without pay. Mr. Perez ran 22 miles Wednesday to mark the 22nd day of the shutdown.

Government shutdown drags on as Republicans, Democrats dig in

That鈥檚 a popular sport and eating fish whose stocks have rebounded in recent years. 鈥淪outh Carolina knows its waters, its fishermen, and its economy better than any federal agency ever will,鈥� the state鈥檚 attorney general wrote in a letter to the U.S. Commerce Department. The state joins Florida and Georgia in a growing effort to localize regulation. Leaders blame bureaucratic inaction and flawed data for limiting access to the species.

Clarke Casey and Michelle Anne Ng, from Newfoundland and Singapore respectively, first corresponded in 1983 as children. They haven鈥檛 stopped. At their first meeting in Canada, the besties sifted through decades of letters, laughing and reminiscing. The friendship will continue until 鈥渨e grow old together,鈥� Ms. Ng told CBC. 鈥淣othing鈥檚 going to stop us from writing to each other.鈥�

Instead of a Web search, it can scan a user鈥檚 files and anticipate what else users might want to know. And rather than merely displaying information, it uses data to accomplish tasks. The software could help OpenAI earn ad revenue from Web search, but challenges remain. Still in startup phase and losing money despite ChatGPT鈥檚 success, OpenAI must compete with Google, which dominates search and is also transforming it with AI. Privacy concerns remain an issue.

That all but guarantees the state will gain Republican representation in next year鈥檚 midterm election. It鈥檚 part of a White House-led effort to secure as many GOP seats as possible ahead of an election Democrats hope could return them to power in the U.S. House. Twice as many Republican-led states as Democratic-led ones are scheduled to debate redrawn maps this year.

In Texas redistricting fight, are hardball politics proving a winning strategy?

On Monday, Illinois and the city of Chicago filed a brief arguing that the justices should not hear a Trump administration challenge to a lower court ruling barring National Guard deployment in the state. Later that day, a panel of appeals court judges said President Trump can deploy the National Guard in Portland. The Oregon attorney general has urged the full appeals court to review the decision.

From LA to Portland: Tracking Trump鈥檚 expansive use of the National Guard

The new $100,000 fee for highly skilled workers that President Trump announced last month won鈥檛 apply to those already in the U.S. or recent college grads on F-1 visas, according to the latest guidance from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, representing 300,000 businesses, sued last week over the H-1B visa fee.

Why India may be the winner from Trump鈥檚 H-1B price hike

Energy ministers approved the plan Monday. The European Union likes to act unanimously both as a symbol of unity and to prevent divisions. The decision comes over the objections of Hungary and Slovakia, who import Russian oil and are among the most pro-Russia voices in the bloc. The goal is two-fold: sanctioning Russia and building European energy independence. France and Belgium are among the countries still importing Russian gas.

As Russia hits energy grid, Ukraine tries to avoid a cold, dark winter

It鈥檚 a sign that peace between the neighboring countries is 鈥渘o longer on paper, but in practice,鈥� said Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev. Transit had been banned for nearly four decades during conflict over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. A spokeswoman for the Armenian government praised the development as a step toward 鈥渋nstitutionalizing the peace established鈥� in a U.S.-brokered agreement in August.

As Armenia seeks peace with old foes abroad, civil unrest grows at home

That鈥檚 according to a new report by Northwestern University鈥檚 school of journalism. Nearly 40% of local newspapers have shuttered in the last 20 years, leaving 50 million Americans with limited or no access to a local news source. Some 300 outlets, mostly digital-only, have launched in the last five years to fill that gap, but these remain concentrated in urban areas. Thirty-nine states have fewer than 1,000 journalists.

About 80 percent of the additional 10 gigawatts requested by Georgia Power, the utility, is set to go to power new data centers circling the capital of Atlanta. The state leads the nation in new AI data centers. Its public utility commission will have to balance business interests in the Republican state with rapidly rising costs for consumers, who pay higher rates for their lights than industry. The public hearings are a microcosm of a growing debate around the power demands of Big Data.

Yes, AI is power-hungry. But there鈥檚 more to surging electricity prices.

Republicans say they want energy dominance. But will 鈥榖ig bill鈥� deliver?

In her third attempt to lead the country, Ms. Takaichi won a parliamentary vote Tuesday, breaking a historic glass ceiling in Japan, where women still lag behind men in gender equality. Yet the conservative politician is not known as a strong promoter of women鈥檚 rights or diversity. She is expected to prioritize Japan鈥檚 defense buildup and fighting inflation.

In Japan, too, voters want their country to be 鈥榞reat again鈥�

They hope to move the 12-day-old peace deal onto its even trickier subsequent phases. Both Israel and Hamas recommitted to the ceasefire after weekend violence threatened to derail it. Underscoring his commitment to the deal, President Donald Trump dispatched envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to the region. The two met yesterday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Vice President JD Vance is also headed to Israel.

With ceasefire and hostage deal, Gaza clears a hurdle. Taller ones remain.

Communist Party leaders are meeting in Beijing to set strategic economic priorities for 2026-2030. Faced with growing 鈥渆xternal shocks鈥� 鈥� a reference to the U.S.-China trade war 鈥� they plan to stress modern manufacturing and innovation, state-run media reported today. Despite U.S. tariffs, China鈥檚 gross domestic product is expected to grow by about 5% this year, buoyed by strong industrial output and exports.

Soybean bailout? Hard-hit farmers want China trade more than Trump aid.

Former President Yoon Suk Yeol championed the experiment 鈥� and hefty investment 鈥� as a way to personalize learning and reduce teacher workload, reports Rest of World. But after one semester and complaints ranging from privacy concerns to factual inaccuracies, the government reclassified the textbooks as 鈥渟upplementary material,鈥� meaning schools can choose whether to use them. Many have not.

Meet the students who are just saying no to AI

The American pianist earned first prize at the Warsaw contest, which honors Poland鈥檚 beloved composer Fryderyk Chopin. Inspired by the Olympic Games when it was founded in 1927, the International Chopin Piano Competition is held once every five years and is among the world鈥檚 most prestigious 鈥� and one of the few devoted entirely to a single composer鈥檚 music. This year鈥檚 event drew 84 pianists from 19 countries, all under 30.

We reviewed a biography of Fryderyk Chopin in 2018. 

Mortgage lending has picked up after regulators eased stress tests and income restrictions, The Financial Times reports. At Lloyds Bank, 11,000 have qualified for mortgages who would not have previously. While easing standards carries risks, mortgage defaults ticked down last quarter for the first time in three years, suggesting the market can absorb the new loans. 

That鈥檚 more than the entire school populations of cities like Denver or Baltimore. The number includes children sleeping in shelters or crowded apartments, where families double up to make rent. More than half of these students are also chronically absent from school. While some schools had no homeless children, roughly 30 schools had more unhoused students than housed ones.

Santa Clara鈥檚 new way to stop homelessness: Keep people in their homes

The issue began around 3 a.m. Eastern Time, affecting Amazon鈥檚 own services like Ring and Alexa as well as many online services like Snapchat, Roblox, and Signal. Amazon blamed the problem on its domain name system, which translates web addresses into IP addresses. By around 6 a.m., Amazon reported recovery across most services. This isn鈥檛 the first time AWS has faced such issues, with previous outages in 2023 and 2021. Experts say these disruptions highlight the internet鈥檚 reliance on a few major cloud providers.

The government said the ban was motivated by concerns that the game allowed direct communication between users in ways that exposed children and adolescents to attempts of exploitation or cyber-extortion, and that its content was 鈥渋ncompatible with social values and traditions.鈥� The move places Iraq among several Middle East countries tightening regulation of online gaming and interactive platforms over child safety and moral concerns. Turkey blocked access to Roblox in August 2024, also citing child abuse risks.

The Federal Aviation Administration said late Sunday that travel was delayed at airports in Dallas, Chicago, Atlanta and Newark as a U.S. government shutdown hit its 19th day. FlightAware said more than 5,800 flights had been delayed. Some 13,000 air traffic controllers and about 50,000 Transportation Security Administration officers must work during the government shutdown, but are not being paid.

Government shutdown drags on as Republicans, Democrats dig in

Israeli forces launched a wave of deadly strikes Sunday, saying Hamas militants had killed two soldiers. The military later said it resumed enforcing the ceasefire and that aid deliveries would resume Monday. U.S. President Donald Trump said the ceasefire remained in place.

On Gaza鈥檚 streets, Hamas wages violent fight to reassert control

Centrist Rodrigo Paz was elected as president, marking a shift to the right. His victory comes amid the worst economic crisis in a generation, and he鈥檒l face immediate challenges like securing fuel and forging alliances in a legislature where his party lacks a majority. Many say his win reflects a popular rejection of the Movement Toward Socialism party but a desire to preserve the social and economic inclusion of the past 20 years.

Bolivia runoff shows why there is no longer an 鈥業ndigenous vote鈥�

Thieves carried out an early morning heist at the Paris museum Sunday, breaking into one of its most ornate rooms and stealing eight pieces of jewelry. France鈥檚 interior minister said the 鈥減riceless鈥� jewels, which included an emerald and diamond necklace given by Napoleon to his wife, were of 鈥渦nmeasurable heritage value.鈥� While investigators hunt for the thieves, the French government faces scrutiny over the relative ease of the break-in.

Q&A with with James Gardner, author of 鈥楾he Louvre鈥�

Protesters denounced what they view as the authoritarian tendencies of President Trump. Saturday鈥檚 demonstrations were meant to build on momentum gained from more than 2,000 such protests on June 14. They were boisterous but orderly, with police largely keeping a low profile.

Troops in the streets and political violence: Americans grapple with a charged moment

Levels of depression, anxiety, and loneliness have all improved since 2022, when mental health hit the lowest point in nearly two decades of tracking during the pandemic. Daniel Eisenberg, a co-principal investigator on the Healthy Minds Study, told LAist that 鈥渃oncerted efforts to improve support for students [seem] to be working.鈥�

Supporting students: What鈥檚 next for mental health

The ban applies to veils worn for gender or religious reasons. The measure, proposed by the far-right Chega party, is seen as targeting coverings like burqas and niqabs worn by some Muslim women. The bill, approved on Friday, allows face veils in airplanes, diplomatic premises, and places of worship. It includes fines ranging from 200 to 4,000 euros for violations. President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa must still approve the bill. The issue of face coverings has become controversial in Portugal, even though few women in Portugal wear them.

The national security hawk and former adviser to President Donald Trump was indicted Thursday. He is accused of sharing sensitive information with two of his relatives for possible use in a book he was writing, including notes on intelligence briefings and meetings with senior government officials and foreign leaders. Mr. Bolton is the third of Mr. Trump鈥檚 prominent critics to face prosecution in recent weeks.

An international maritime meeting ended Friday without adopting new regulations. The world鈥檚 largest maritime nations had been discussing ways to move the shipping industry away from fossil fuels. On Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump urged countries to vote against the regulations. The proposed rules would have set a marine fuel standard and imposed fees for emissions above allowable limits. Shipping emissions have grown to about 3% of the global total, prompting calls for action.

The statement, released in the early hours Friday, follows a warning from U.S. President Donald Trump that he would green-light Israel to resume the war if Hamas doesn鈥檛 live up to its end of the deal. That includes a pledge to hand over the remains of all dead Israeli hostages. Hamas has also defended the killings in Gaza of alleged gang members who one official accused of causing death and destruction. Meanwhile, the U.N. says a large infusion of aid into Gaza is still being held up.

On Gaza鈥檚 streets, Hamas wages violent fight to reassert control

Adm. Alvin Holsey鈥檚 job involved overseeing recent strikes on small boats in the Caribbean Sea that the Trump administration has said are running drugs for Venezuela-based cartels. He was one year into a three year term. His departure after more than 37 years in the military 鈥渟ends an alarming signal,鈥� said Sen. Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Trump opens a military campaign against drug cartels. It鈥檚 not an easy fight.

Amid Russian provocations, including recent airspace violations, the bloc is working to boost its capacity, from an anti-drone system to an air and missile defense shield. The goal is to 鈥渃redibly deter鈥� military threats by the end of the decade. The document does not mention the United States, which has pressured Europe to take charge of its own defenses. 鈥淓uropeans must take more responsibility,鈥� German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said yesterday.

Will Europe鈥檚 rising defense budgets come at the cost of welfare?

Senate Democrats rejected for the tenth time a stopgap spending bill that would reopen the government. They are insisting they won鈥檛 back away from demands that Congress take up health care benefits. While some bipartisan talks have been ongoing about potential compromises on health care, they haven鈥檛 yet produced any progress toward reopening the government.

Shutdown hits government workers already reeling from Trump鈥檚 cuts

Last week鈥檚 rains caused landslides and left at least 200 communities cut off from roads. Electricity has returned in some areas, but government assistance has been slim. Despite sky-high approval ratings in her first year in office, President Claudia Sheinbaum has faced hostile crowds during visits to affected areas. 鈥淗ere we no longer ask, 鈥楬ow are you?鈥� We just say, 鈥楥ourage鈥�,鈥� one resident told El Pa铆s.

As cities seek ways to prevent floods, a California town has a success story to share

Electric vehicles made up more than 95% of new car sales this year, up from 89% in 2024, driven by tax breaks and incentives such as free tolls. Oslo plans to begin phasing out some of those benefits over the next two years. 鈥淲e can say that the goal has been achieved,鈥� Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg said.

The EV tax credit is ending. How could that affect the US car market?

There is broad public approval for the legislation, which surpassed 80% approval in 2020 when it was initially proposed. Although assisted dying is a divisive issue in many parts of the world, the debate has broadened to include questions around mercy and compassion. Regardless of one鈥檚 posture on euthanasia, 鈥渨hat is needed in the conversation is more empathy,鈥� Uruguayan Florencia Salgueiro, whose father had sought assistance in dying, told the Monitor in 2023.

As assisted dying broadens, countries wrestle with new ethical lines

Hansen Village, a modular settlement near Kyiv, houses 2,000 people displaced from war-torn and occupied territories. It includes a school, health clinic, and sports facilities. It鈥檚 funded by Utah developer Dell Loy Hansen, who has invested over $140 million in housing and aid for Ukraine since 2022. His efforts, however, can鈥檛 match the scale of the deepening national housing crisis. With more than 100,000 people evacuated from war since June, Ukraine is struggling to pay for emergency housing as it faces hundreds of billions in reconstruction costs.

In Ukraine, swarms of Russian drones and missiles are transforming combat

Officials and families warned Hamas to hand over the bodies of those still held. Amid a fragile truce that paused the two-year war, Palestinians were awaiting a long-promised surge of aid into Gaza, and plans for an international force to deploy there were beginning to take shape. In exchange for the release of the hostages, Israel freed around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees Monday. Since then, Hamas has returned 10 bodies, nine of which Israel鈥檚 military has identified as hostages. Israel said there were 28 total in Gaza before the exchange.

With ceasefire and hostage deal, Gaza clears a hurdle. Taller ones remain.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned of consequences if Russia does not come to the peace table soon, at a meeting at NATO headquarters in Brussels Wednesday. The statement was one of the Trump administration鈥檚 clearest signals yet of support for Kyiv. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is now headed to the White House, where he is expected to ask for long-range Tomahawk missiles. President Trump suggested earlier this week that he may provide them 鈥渋f this war is not going to get settled.鈥�

How Ukrainian drones are slowing Russia鈥檚 advance in the east

The president confirmed the new authority Wednesday, marking a sharp escalation in U.S. efforts to pressure President Nicol谩s Maduro鈥檚 government. It would allow the CIA to carry out lethal operations in Venezuela and conduct a range of operations in the Caribbean, the New York Times first reported. Venezuela鈥檚 government said Mr. Trump鈥檚 remarks constituted a violation of international law.

Trump sends ships off Venezuela鈥檚 coast. What鈥檚 behind the show of force?

The Trump administration is looking to provide an additional $20 billion in financing for Argentina through a mix of financing from sovereign funds and the private sector. That would come on top of the $20 billion credit swap line the U.S. Treasury pledged to President Javier Milei this month to bolster the Argentine peso. President Trump has suggested the money could be pulled if Mr. Milei鈥檚 party does not prevail in upcoming midterm elections.

Inflation has improved in Argentina. Why consumers don鈥檛 feel a difference.

Fatalities are down by almost two-thirds since 1980, reports Vox, with the total number of reported fires dropping by half. That鈥檚 in large part because buildings have become safer, from the prevalence of fire alarms and automatic sprinklers to smolder-resistant upholstered furniture and electrical safeguards. Plus, less smoking has meant fewer cigarette-related fires.

The advances came after a dispute threatened to derail the fragile ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas. Israel had threatened to keep Rafah shut and reduce aid supplies because Hamas was returning the bodies of dead hostages too slowly. Hamas returned four bodies confirmed as dead hostages on Monday and another four bodies late on Tuesday, though Israeli authorities said one was not that of a hostage.

鈥楥losing a circle of sadness鈥�: Euphoric homecomings in Israel and Gaza

Wednesday鈥檚 agreement came after an airstrike and ground fighting sent tensions between the South Asian neighbors soaring. The fighting along the contested frontier shattered a fragile peace after weekend clashes that killed dozens, the worst between the two Islamic countries since the Taliban seized power in Kabul in 2021. Both Pakistan and Afghanistan will make sincere efforts through dialogue to find a solution, Pakistan鈥檚 foreign ministry said in a statement. 鈥� Reuters

All U.S. colleges and universities can reportedly now receive extra federal funding if they agree to a list of 10 terms. Those include banning the consideration of sex, race, ethnicity, political views, sexual orientation, and religious association for financial aid decisions, as well as capping foreign visas at 15% of the student population. The White House initially sent the compact to nine highly selective schools on Oct. 1. Critics say the conditions strip schools of their independence, and MIT was the first to reject the offer.

How intertwined are the federal government and US colleges?

The move allows country officials to provide rent relief for tenants who have fallen behind as a result of the crackdown on immigrants. The immigration raids that ramped up over the summer have spread fear in immigrant communities, prompting many to limit their outings. The local state of emergency can also funnel state money for legal aid and other services.

Amid immigration enforcement, migrant farmworkers鈥� numbers are falling

The court will hear oral arguments today on a case that could deal the latest blow to the Voting Rights Act, a 60-year-old law enacted to prevent racial discrimination in voting. The case, focused on Louisiana鈥檚 congressional map, examines whether it鈥檚 constitutional to consider race in redistricting. If the court says it isn鈥檛, Republicans in some states may be able to redraw congressional and state legislative maps in ways that boost their party鈥檚 chances, at the expense of Black- and Latino-majority districts.

Trump has opened up 鈥榓 nuclear arms race鈥� on gerrymandering

The strike killed six 鈥渘arcoterrorists,鈥� President Donald Trump said Tuesday. The administration said U.S. intelligence indicated the small boat was carrying drugs for 鈥渘arcoterrorist networks.鈥� It was the fifth such strike by U.S. forces, which have killed 27 people in total. Lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle are demanding legal justification for the strikes as well as evidence the vessels carried drugs.

Trump sends ships off Venezuela鈥檚 coast. What鈥檚 behind the show of force?

Those willing include European and Arab nations, Canada, and the United States. 鈥淲e鈥檝e had very good indications already,鈥� said UNDP鈥檚 Jaco Cilliers, who estimated that the two-year Israel-Hamas war had generated at least 55 million tons of rubble. Since a ceasefire deal came into effect in Gaza, many Palestinians have returned to the ruins of their homes. 

鈥楥losing a circle of sadness鈥�: Euphoric homecomings in Israel and Gaza

The announcement by the Department of Homeland Security, which includes the Coast Guard, follows President Donald Trump鈥檚 directive to the Pentagon to keep troops paid. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said Coast Guard members have halted flows of illegal drugs and migration while 鈥淒emocrats have played politics with military pay to fight for illegal aliens.鈥�

The shutdown stresses military families, even if they get a paycheck

In April, Cody Balmer scaled a security fence in the middle of the night and set fire to the governor鈥檚 occupied mansion. He was sentenced to 25 to 50 years in prison. Gov. Shapiro said he and his family support the plea deal and that it provides real accountability.

In aftermath of Minnesota shootings, tracking a disturbing rise in political violence

The pop singer and her extensive fandom launched her latest and 15th album, 鈥淭he Life of a Showgirl,鈥� to the No. 1 slot this week. She is second only to The Beatles, who secured 19 No. 1 albums. Ms. Swift also broke the record for the number of albums sold with 4 million units, shattering a previous record set by Adele in 2015 for 鈥�25,鈥� which sold 3.378 million copies in its first week in the United States.

OK, she鈥檚 worth $1 billion, but can Taylor Swift write poetry? We ask the experts.

They agreed Tuesday to establish an oversight body for a potential permanent ceasefire. That鈥檚 an important step toward a peace deal, after efforts to end decades-long fighting in eastern Congo stalled in recent weeks. The monitoring body will include representatives from Congo, the Rwanda-backed rebel group M23, and the 12-country International Conference on the Great Lakes Region. 

Senseless deaths mount in Congo. Dignified mourning helps salve the pain.

Israel delayed aid into Gaza and kept the enclave鈥檚 border shut on Tuesday, while re-emergent Hamas fighters demonstrated their grip by executing men in the street. Three officials said that was because Hamas had been too slow to turn over bodies of dead hostages. The militant group has said locating the bodies is difficult. President Trump has given his blessing to Hamas to reassert some control of Gaza, at least temporarily. Israeli officials, who say any final settlement must permanently disarm Hamas, have so far refrained from commenting publicly on the reemergence of the group鈥檚 fighters.

鈥楥losing a circle of sadness鈥�: Euphoric homecomings in Israel and Gaza

鈥淲e have taken the power,鈥� said Colonel Michael Randrianirina, who led a mutiny of soldiers joining anti-government Gen Z demonstrators, on national radio Tuesday. That came after President Andry Rajoelina fled abroad. Mr. Randrianirina added that the military was dissolving all institutions except the lower house of parliament or National Assembly, which voted to impeach Mr. Rajoelina minutes earlier.

Abdel Fattah el-Sisi spoke to a summit of world leaders Monday in the Egyptian town of Sharm el-Sheikh. The summit was aimed at supporting the ceasefire reached in Gaza, ending the Israel-Hamas war, and developing a long-term vision for governing and rebuilding the devastated Palestinian territory. In his address, President Donald Trump called for a new era of harmony in the Middle East.

With ceasefire and hostage deal, Gaza clears a hurdle. Taller ones remain.

Outlets from both sides of the political aisle, including the New York Times and Newsmax, have refused to agree to the new restrictions. Reporters have until today to sign a document agreeing to be escorted in unclassified areas and allowing their credentials to be revoked if they publish any information not approved for release. Many say the rules violate constitutional freedoms and hinder reporting on the U.S. military, which risks troops鈥� lives and is funded by some $1 trillion in taxpayer dollars.

CNN out, Breitbart in: Our reporter on what the new Pentagon 鈥榬otation鈥� means

Nicolas Sarkozy will begin serving a five-year prison sentence at Paris鈥� La Sant茅 Prison on Oct. 21, prosecutors announced yesterday. Last month, a court found him guilty of criminal conspiracy over a scheme to obtain campaign financing from late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi. Mr. Sarkozy becomes the first postwar leader and former head of a European Union country to go to prison. He has said he plans to appeal the judge鈥檚 ruling.