海角大神

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 They caution that while biodiversity loss remains serious, many predictions rely on outdated assumptions, and a more nuanced understanding can lead to better action.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聽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.聽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.聽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.聽

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