A handful of states rolled out plans to use their own funds to provide benefits as the SNAP federal food aid program runs dry. The Trump administration says the federal government won’t fund the program for low-income households in November because of the prolonged federal shutdown. That could leave about 1 in 8 Americans scrambling to pay for food. Both Democratic and Republican governors are launching programs in states including Delaware, Louisiana, New Mexico and Vermont. The federal government says they won’t be reimbursed. It’s also not clear how quickly the benefits can reach recipients. Louisiana’s effort excludes “able bodied” adults who aren’t caring for children.

U.S. President Donald Trump has said he had an “amazing” meeting with China's top leader Xi Jinping that produced very important decisions. Trump met with Xi on the sidelines of a Pacific Rim summit in South Korea, where the two leaders agreed to dial back some of their trade measures and work to resolve others. The meeting's agenda appears not to have touched on some perennial problems such as tensions over the self-governed island of Taiwan. But Trump said China had agreed to buy large quantities of American farm products and to ensure steady supplies of rare earths elements used in many industries. No formal agreement was signed, suggesting more remains to be done.

Russia has launched another massive drone and missile attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, causing power outages across the country. Ukrainian Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko describes this as “systematic energy terror.” The strikes killed at least two people and injured 17, including children. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says over 650 drones and 50 missiles were used. These attacks aim to disrupt Ukraine’s power grid as winter approaches. The strikes have also damaged energy facilities in Ukraine's western Lviv region. The Polish military scrambled aircraft in response, closing regional airports to ensure military operations.

Geert Wilders' far-right Party for Freedom and the centrist D66 have tied in the Dutch general election with 98% of votes counted. Both parties have won 26 seats, with just over 2,000 votes separating them nationwide. This unprecedented tie is expected to delay the formation of a new coalition. Wilders’ party is forecast to lose 11 seats, while D66 gains 11. Votes from nine municipalities are still uncounted. Despite the close race, D66 leader Rob Jetten celebrates the party's gains. The election highlights deep polarization in the Netherlands, once known for its tolerance.

The Paris prosecutor says five more people have been arrested in the investigation into the theft of crown jewels from the Louvre Museum. The five were detained late Wednesday night in Paris and the Paris region, Prosecutor Laure Beccuau told RTL radio Thursday. She did not release their identities or other details. The jewels remain missing. Two suspects arrested earlier were given preliminary charges Wednesday and partially admitted their responsibility, according to the prosecutor. The prosecutor is appealing for anyone who has the jewels to return them.

A Palestinian government body says Israel has erected nearly 1,000 barriers in the occupied West Bank since Israel's war with Hamas began over two years ago. Israel’s military has long imposed movement and access constraints since it captured the West Bank in the 1967 Mideast war. But residents call the number of new barriers unprecedented. The official Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission says 916 gates, barriers and walls have been installed. The West Bank's 3 million Palestinians are affected. Israel’s military says the gates are not meant to restrict people but rather to “manage and monitor.”

Trey Yesavage set a World Series rookie record with 12 strikeouts, and the Toronto Blue Jays opened Game 5 with back-to-back homers in a 6-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers that moved them within one win of their first championship since 1993. Davis Schneider and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. connected on Blake Snell’s first and third pitches, the first consecutive home runs to start a Series game. Yesavage, a precocious 22-year-old right-hander who began his season pitching before 327 fans in Class A, broke the prior rookie record of 11 strikeouts set by Don Newcombe for the Dodgers in 1949. Toronto leads 3-2 in the best-of-seven matchup and can dethrone the defending champions back home when the Series resumes Friday night at Rogers Centre.

Austin Reaves rose up for a floater from 12 feet out and swished the winner for the Los Angeles Lakers right before the buzzer for a 116-115 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night. Reaves has taken on a heavy responsibility for the Lakers while stars Luka Doncic and LeBron James are injured and four other players are unavailable. Reaves had 28 points and matched his career high with 16 assists. He became the first Lakers player since Kobe Bryant 20 years ago to start a season with five consecutive games of 25-plus points.

The Los Angeles Dodgers shuffled their slumping lineup for Game 5 of the World Series. The changes did absolutely nothing to prevent another dismal offensive performance by their powerhouse lineup. The Dodgers managed just four hits against Toronto rookie Trey Yesavage and his bullpen during the Blue Jays’ 6-1 victory. Kiké Hernández’s third-inning homer was the Dodgers’ only extra-base hit, and they struck out a whopping 15 times. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts moved Mookie Betts down in the order for the first time in four years and benched Andy Pages.

TOKYO (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump is returning to Washington after a five-day tour in Asia, where he attended a summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, met the newly elected prime minister of Japan, and held a…

People across the northern Caribbean are digging out from the destruction caused by Hurricane Melissa as deaths from the storm climbed. Emergency relief flights began landing at Jamaica’s main international airport as crews worked to reach communities still isolated after they were directly hit by the Category 5 storm. Catastrophic flooding occurred in Haiti, where dozens were dead or missing. Eastern Cuba had blown-off roofs, downed power lines and crop damage. Melissa was still affecting the Bahamas overnight and was forecast to bring hurricane conditions to Bermuda later Thursday.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey faces more than a dozen challengers as the Democrat seeks a third term. His highest-profile challenger is state Sen. Omar Fateh, who describes himself as a democratic socialist. Under the city's ranked-choice-voting system, voters can choose three candidates, ranked in order of preference. Fateh has framed his campaign as a fight against the “status quo.” Beyond the mayoral race, voters will also fill two vacancies in the state Senate. One seat was previously held by a Democrat who resigned after a burglary conviction, the other by a Republican who died in office. Democrats currently hold a one-seat majority in the chamber.

Vice President JD Vance called for a significant reduction in legal immigration during an appearance at a Turning Point event at the University of Mississippi. Vance on Wednesday criticized President Joe Biden's immigration policies, claiming they allowed too many people into the country and threaten the social fabric of the United States. Vance said legal immigration should be brought “way, way down” until newcomers assimilate into American culture. He urged conservatives not to worry about how liberals might use President Donald Trump's unprecedented claims of executive power against them in the future.

President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping are meeting face-to-face today in South Korea. Tensions between the world's two largest economies have soared since Trump returned to office for a second term, and hiked import tariffs. China has retaliated by limiting exports of rare earth minerals, and shunning U.S. soybeans. The markets have been nervous but ahead of the meeting, officials from both countries signaled that there could be a detente. But the countries remain on a potential collision course as they compete to dominate manufacturing, develop AI technologies, and shape global affairs.

BEIJING (AP) — The Chinese government has blanketed the country with the world's largest network of surveillance cameras. Some cameras swivel, ensuring sweeping views of public squares. Others scan license plates of passing cars, allowing police to track vehicles in…