US & World News

After battering the Philippines, deadly Typhoon Kalmaegi moves toward Vietnam

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has declared a state of emergency after Typhoon Kalmaegi left at least 114 people dead and more than 100 missing in central provinces. Authorities in Vietnam, meanwhile, braced Thursday as Kalmaegi approached. The typhoon’s onslaught, which affected nearly 2 million people in the Philippines, displaced more than 560,000 villagers, including nearly 450,000 who were evacuated to emergency shelters. Marcos’s emergency declaration, made during a meeting on Thursday with disaster-response officials to assess the typhoon’s aftermath, allows the government to disburse emergency funds faster and prevent food hoarding and overpricing.

Japan deploys the military to counter a surge in bear attacks

Japan has deployed troops to help contain a surge of bear attacks that have terrorized residents in the northern prefecture of Akita. Bears have been seen near schools, train stations and homes. Over 100 people have been injured and at least 12 killed in bear attacks across Japan since April. The troops will set traps and assist local hunters but won't use firearms. Akita has been the worst hit, with over 50 attacks since May. Experts say Japan's aging and declining population in rural areas contributes to the problem, as bears venture closer to residential areas in search of food.

FBI names third man accused of planning Halloween terror attack in Michigan

The FBI has announced Wednesday a third man has been arrested and accused of planning a Halloween terror attack in Michigan. 19-year-old Ayob Nasser was arrested Wednesday. He and his brother Mohmed Ali and Majed Mahmoud are facing charges of providing material support and resources to a designated terrorist organization, and receiving and transferring guns and ammunition for terrorism, according to court documents. Ali and Mahmoud were arrested Friday. Investigators say the men were inspired by the Islamic State and had scouted LGBTQ+ bars and an amusement park as possible locations of an attack. According to court documents, the men used the word “pumpkin” to reference a possible Halloween attack.

FAA reducing air traffic by 10% across 40 'high-volume' markets during government shutdown

The Federal Aviation Administration announced Wednesday that it will reduce air traffic by 10% across 40 “high-volume” markets beginning Friday morning to maintain safety during the ongoing government shutdown. The agency is confronting staffing shortages caused by air traffic controllers, who are working unpaid, with some calling out of work during the shutdown, resulting in delays across the country. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford says the agency is not going to wait for a problem to act, saying the shutdown is causing staffing pressures and “we can’t ignore it.” Bedford and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy say they will meet later Wednesday with airline leaders to figure out how to safely implement the reduction.

What to know after the Supreme Court arguments over Trump's tariffs

The Trump administration got a chilly reception at the Supreme Court, where a majority of the court questioned President Donald Trump’s novel use of an emergency powers law to impose worldwide tariffs. The court, with three justices Trump appointed and generally favorable to muscular presidential power, could find that he exceeded his authority. It’s the first Trump policy that is before the court for a final decision and the stakes are enormous, both politically and financially. The Republican president has made tariffs a central piece of his economic and foreign policy. The justices heard more than 2 1/2 hours of arguments on Wednesday.

Motion Picture Association tells Meta to stop using PG-13 to refer to Instagram teen account content

The Motion Picture Association is asking Meta to stop referring to content shown to teen accounts on Instagram as guided by PG-13 ratings, saying it is misleading. A lawyer on behalf of the MPA sent Meta Platforms a cease-and-desist letter asking the tech giant to “immediately and permanently disassociate its Teen Accounts and AI tools from the MPA’s rating system.” Meta said that its intent was never to suggest that it partnered with the MPA or that the material on Instagram had been rated by the movie association.

Conservative Supreme Court justices appear skeptical of Trump’s sweeping unilateral tariffs

Arguments at the Supreme Court have concluded for the day as the justices consider President Donald Trump's sweeping unilateral tariffs in a trillion-dollar test of executive power. Conservative justices seemed skeptical of Trump’s tariffs, potentially putting at risk a key part of his agenda in the biggest legal test yet of his unprecedented presidency. Challengers say Trump is illegally using an emergency law to claim nearly limitless tariff power and American small businesses are paying the price. Trump's administration says the law gives the president the power to regulate importation, including tariffs. The Republican president says a ruling against him in the case before the court on Wednesday would be catastrophic for the economy.

Shout-out for yodeling? Swiss seek recognition from UN cultural agency as tradition turns modern

The Swiss government is looking for a shout-out from the U.N. cultural agency to include yodeling on its list of intangible cultural heritage. Promoters insist the yodeling of yore is too stereotyped and the tradition is far more than mountain cries by falsetto-crying male herders in suspenders on verdant Alpine pastures. Yodeling has now become a popular form of singing and more women are taking it up. Yodeling is among dozens of nominees of arts, craftsmanship, rituals, knowledge and tradition being considered at a UNESCO committee meeting on intangible cultural heritage in New Delhi next month.

Jacob Frey fends off democratic socialist's challenge to win 3rd term as Minneapolis mayor

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has won a third term, defeating challenger Omar Fateh in the city's ranked-choice voting election. Frey, a mainstream Democrat, led Fateh, a democratic socialist, by about 10 percentage points after the first round of counting. The election featured 15 candidates, with Fateh, the Rev. DeWayne Davis, and businessman Jazz Hampton forming an alliance to challenge Frey. In neighboring St. Paul, Democratic state Rep. Kaohly Her defeated incumbent Mayor Melvin Carter, and will become the first woman and Hmong American mayor of the city. Minneapolis set a record for the most votes cast in a municipal election.

Trump pressures GOP senators to end the government shutdown, now the longest ever

President Donald Trump lashed out at Senate Republicans to end the government shutdown, now the longest ever. He blamed the record-breaking impasse for the party’s defeat in closely-watched elections. He repeated his demands for Republicans to end the Senate filibuster as a way to reopen the government.  But Senate GOP leader John Thune says that’s “not happening.” Emboldened by their election wins, Democrats dug in for a fight. Top Democrat Chuck Schumer says the election night results “ought to send a much needed bolt of lightning to Donald Trump that he should meet with us to end this crisis.”

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