Politics

Congress to crush US record this week for longest shutdown

Congress is poised to preside over the longest U.S. government shutdown in history, reaching 35 days on Tuesday and surpassing the partial shutdown under President Trump in 2019. The stalemate threatens SNAP food aid, early education programs, air traffic control, and health care subsidies, while bipartisan talks among senators remain slow. Lawmakers’ return to Washington is delayed until after Tuesday’s elections in Virginia, New Jersey, … Continue reading Congress to crush US record this week for longest shutdown

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World News

Powerful 6.3 quake kills at least 20 in Afghanistan, hundreds injured

A 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck near Mazar-e Sharif in northern Afghanistan early Monday, killing at least 20 people and injuring more than 600, according to Afghan authorities. The quake, which hit at a depth of 28 kilometers, also damaged the city’s historic Blue Mosque and several nearby buildings. Rescue teams and local residents worked through rubble to free trapped victims as hospitals were placed on high … Continue reading Powerful 6.3 quake kills at least 20 in Afghanistan, hundreds injured

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World News

Israeli military’s ex-top lawyer arrested as scandal over video leak deepens

Former Israeli military chief lawyer Maj. Gen. Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi has been arrested amid a deepening political crisis over the leak of a video allegedly showing Israeli soldiers abusing a Palestinian detainee. Tomer-Yerushalmi, who resigned as Military Advocate General last week, admitted authorizing the video’s release to counter what she called “false propaganda” against the army’s law enforcement. The footage, broadcast in 2024, shows reservists allegedly … Continue reading Israeli military’s ex-top lawyer arrested as scandal over video leak deepens

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World News

UK police charge man with attempted murder over train stabbing that wounded 11

A 32-year-old man, Anthony Williams from Peterborough, has been charged with multiple counts of attempted murder after a mass stabbing on a train in England that injured 11 people. Police say Williams also attempted to kill another person earlier that day at a London transit station. The attack occurred Saturday evening on a train traveling from Doncaster to London, causing panic among passengers before the … Continue reading UK police charge man with attempted murder over train stabbing that wounded 11

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U.S. News

Trump administration faces Monday deadline on use of contingency funds for SNAP

President Donald Trump’s administration faces Monday deadlines to tell two federal judges whether it will comply with orders to keep funding SNAP, the nation’s largest food aid program, during the government shutdown. The USDA planned to halt SNAP payments starting November 1, leaving millions uncertain about how to afford food as benefits lapse. Judges in Rhode Island and Massachusetts ruled that the administration must continue … Continue reading Trump administration faces Monday deadline on use of contingency funds for SNAP

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Archaeology

Egypt set for lavish opening of grand museum

Cairo is set to inaugurate the long-awaited Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) on Saturday, a $1 billion project showcasing over 5,000 years of Egyptian history with a panoramic view of the Giza pyramids. The museum, more than two decades in the making, expects five million annual visitors and will display 4,500 of 5,000 funerary artifacts, including Tutankhamun’s iconic gold mask. Authorities have kept preparations and guest … Continue reading Egypt set for lavish opening of grand museum

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Space

China’s Shenzhou 21 docks with space station, sets the country’s own speed record

China’s Shenzhou 21 spacecraft successfully docked with the Tiangong space station at a record speed, completing the maneuver in about 3.5 hours—three hours faster than previous missions. The crew includes commander Zhang Lu, returning from Shenzhou 15, and two first-time astronauts: engineer Wu Fei, China’s youngest space traveler at 32, and payload specialist Zhang Hongzhang. During their roughly six-month mission, the team will conduct 27 … Continue reading China’s Shenzhou 21 docks with space station, sets the country’s own speed record

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World News

Despair spreads across historic seaport in Jamaica that Hurricane Melissa demolished

Hurricane Melissa devastated Jamaica’s Black River, leaving up to 90% of buildings without roofs and littering roads with shredded bamboo from the once-famous forest tunnel. The Category 5 storm has killed at least 19 people in Jamaica and 31 in Haiti, while leaving more than 60% of Jamaica without power and nearly half of water systems offline. Residents scrambled for food and supplies as helicopters … Continue reading Despair spreads across historic seaport in Jamaica that Hurricane Melissa demolished

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World News

At least 700 dead in Tanzania’s post-election protests

Tanzania has seen at least 700 people killed in three days of election-related protests, according to opposition party Chadema, amid an ongoing internet blackout and curfew. Violence erupted after President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s virtually uncontested election, with major challengers jailed or barred, as crowds protested in Dar es Salaam, Mwanza, and other cities. Security forces have responded with heavy police and army presence, and multiple … Continue reading At least 700 dead in Tanzania’s post-election protests

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World News

Blood visible from space in Sudan shows evidence of Darfur genocide

Satellite imagery and verified videos reveal mass killings in Darfur, Sudan, as Rapid Support Forces (RSF) seized a key city, El Fasher. Yale’s Humanitarian Research Lab documented clusters of objects 1.3–2 meters long—consistent with human bodies—spread across hospitals, residential areas, and military bases, with discoloration indicating blood. Reports suggest RSF carried out door-to-door killings, separating men from women and children, and executed civilians at locations … Continue reading Blood visible from space in Sudan shows evidence of Darfur genocide

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Politics

Dutch centrist Rob Jetten claims victory in neck-and-neck election race

Centrist liberal leader Rob Jetten has claimed victory in Wednesday’s tight Dutch election, narrowly edging out anti-Islam populist Geert Wilders. Jetten’s D66 party holds a slim lead of roughly 15,000 votes, giving them 26–27 seats in the 150-seat parliament, while Wilders’ Freedom Party trails closely. If confirmed, Jetten, 38, would become the youngest Dutch prime minister, though forming a coalition will require support from at … Continue reading Dutch centrist Rob Jetten claims victory in neck-and-neck election race

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Politics

Trump says he’s not considering strikes within Venezuela

President Trump on Friday denied reports that he was considering military strikes in Venezuela, calling the claims “not true.” The Wall Street Journal had reported that his administration identified Venezuelan military facilities used for drug smuggling as potential targets, though no final decision had been made. The administration has recently taken a more aggressive stance in the region, sending the USS Gerald R. Ford and … Continue reading Trump says he’s not considering strikes within Venezuela

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Politics

Republicans quickly push back on Trump’s call to nix filibuster

Republicans are pushing back against President Trump’s call to eliminate the Senate filibuster as a way to end the 31-day government shutdown. Key GOP senators, including Majority Leader John Thune and John Barrasso, insist the 60-vote threshold is a crucial Senate safeguard and reject changing the rules. Trump proposed using the “nuclear option” to pass legislation without Democratic support, but Republicans lack the votes to … Continue reading Republicans quickly push back on Trump’s call to nix filibuster

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Politics

Opposition, activists accuse Ukraine’s leaders of using lawfare to silence critics.

Volodymyr Kudrytskyi, former head of Ukraine’s state-owned power company Ukrenergo, was abruptly forced to resign in 2024 despite successfully keeping the country’s power grid operational during nearly four years of Russian attacks. Last week, he was arraigned on embezzlement charges related to a seven-year-old infrastructure contract that was never completed, with no evidence he personally benefited. Critics—including opposition lawmakers and anti-corruption activists—say the prosecution is … Continue reading Opposition, activists accuse Ukraine’s leaders of using lawfare to silence critics.

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U.S. News

Dangerous radiation levels detected in San Francisco

San Francisco health officials are demanding answers from the U.S. Navy after learning that elevated radiation levels were detected at the decommissioned Hunters Point Naval Shipyard in November 2024. Plutonium-239 was found in an air filter at the site during asphalt grinding, with levels more than double the EPA’s “action level,” but the city was not notified until nearly a year later. Health experts warn … Continue reading Dangerous radiation levels detected in San Francisco

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U.S. News

Unknown object crash near Area 51 fuels cover-up claims

A mysterious object crashed just outside Nevada’s secretive Area 51 on September 23, prompting a swift and secretive military response. Witnesses reported that the base and surrounding Tiikaboo Valley were locked down as armed patrols blocked roads and helicopters moved in to recover debris. The Air Force later claimed the wreckage belonged to an unmanned aircraft from Creech Air Force Base, but independent observers and … Continue reading Unknown object crash near Area 51 fuels cover-up claims

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U.S. News

Mystery as more than 300 piles of human remains discovered in desert outside Vegas

More than 300 piles of cremated human remains were discovered scattered across the Nevada desert near Searchlight, about an hour from Las Vegas. Authorities believe a funeral home illegally dumped the ashes, though no specific business has been named. Palm Mortuaries and Cemeteries has since collected the remains and plans to place them in a crypt so families may one day identify their loved ones, … Continue reading Mystery as more than 300 piles of human remains discovered in desert outside Vegas

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U.S. News

Judges say government must continue paying SNAP food stamp benefits during shutdown

Two federal judges ruled Friday that the Trump administration must use contingency funds to continue payments for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) during the ongoing government shutdown. The decisions came from cases in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, where judges ordered the USDA to access emergency funds and report back by Monday. Judge Indira Talwani rejected the administration’s claim that the $5 billion contingency fund … Continue reading Judges say government must continue paying SNAP food stamp benefits during shutdown

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U.S. News

Travel chaos intensifies with 10,000 flight delays

Severe weather and staffing shortages caused by the ongoing government shutdown are leading to widespread Halloween travel disruptions across the U.S. Thousands of flights have been delayed or canceled, with major impacts at Orlando, Austin, and Nashville airports. The FAA reported a lack of certified controllers at Orlando Airport, temporarily halting landings and stranding passengers, the Daily Mail has reported. Since the shutdown began on … Continue reading Travel chaos intensifies with 10,000 flight delays

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U.S. News

FBI thwarts ‘potential terrorist attack’ in Michigan

The FBI has foiled a potential terrorist attack planned for Halloween weekend in Michigan, FBI Director Kash Patel announced. Several suspects aged 16 to 20 were arrested or detained after allegedly plotting a violent attack linked to international terrorism. Authorities intervened after undercover agents tracked online communications referencing “pumpkin day,” believed to mean Halloween, ABC News has reported. Officials confirmed law enforcement activity in Dearborn … Continue reading FBI thwarts ‘potential terrorist attack’ in Michigan

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Technology

1X’s first robot housekeeper is available to pre-order in the US

Palo Alto-based robotics company 1X is preparing to launch its Neo humanoid robot next year, designed to assist with household chores and other tasks. Neo can move around the home, climb stairs, fetch items, answer questions, and autonomously handle chores while charging itself when needed. Users can schedule tasks via a companion app or give general commands, with “Expert Mode” allowing a human operator to … Continue reading 1X’s first robot housekeeper is available to pre-order in the US

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Archaeology

Archaeologists unearth 1,500-year-old synagogue

Israeli archaeologists have uncovered a 1,500-year-old synagogue in the Golan Heights at the Yehudiya Nature Reserve, after decades of surveying the site. The basilica-style building, roughly 13 by 17 meters, features two rows of columns, benches along the walls, and architectural elements including a tabula ansata and stones engraved with a menorah. Many items from the synagogue had previously been reused in houses across the … Continue reading Archaeologists unearth 1,500-year-old synagogue

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Business

Federal Reserve cuts rates to lowest level in three years

The Federal Reserve lowered its benchmark interest rate by 0.25 percentage points on Wednesday but did not provide a clear outlook for its December decision. Central bankers are making policy decisions without key economic data, such as inflation and jobs reports, due to the government shutdown. The lack of data complicates assessing the health of the U.S. economy, CNN has reported. If the shutdown continues, … Continue reading Federal Reserve cuts rates to lowest level in three years

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Business

Eli Lilly blows past estimates, hikes guidance

Eli Lilly reported third-quarter earnings and revenue above expectations, driven by strong sales of its weight loss drug Zepbound and diabetes treatment Mounjaro. Shares rose more than 3% following the results. The company raised its full-year 2025 revenue guidance to $63–63.5 billion and adjusted profit to $23–23.70 per share, up from prior estimates, CNBC has reported. Quarterly sales for Mounjaro reached $6.52 billion, up 109% … Continue reading Eli Lilly blows past estimates, hikes guidance

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Business

Meta stock drops 10%

Meta Platforms’ stock fell more than 10% despite strong third-quarter results, as investors worried about the company’s aggressive AI spending plans. The company raised its 2025 capital expenditure guidance to $70–72 billion to build advanced AI tools and prepare for future superintelligence opportunities. CEO Mark Zuckerberg emphasized confidence in returns from core business and stressed the importance of heavy AI investment, including $14.3 billion in … Continue reading Meta stock drops 10%

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