US & World News

South Korea trade deal appears elusive as Trump seeks $350B investment

After a charm offensive in Japan that culminated in $490 billion in investment commitments, President Donald Trump is set to meet with South Korea’s leader on Wednesday as a trade deal with that country appears more elusive. The main issue is Trump's demand for South Korea to invest $350 billion in the U.S. Korean officials prefer loans and guarantees instead of direct cash, fearing economic destabilization. This disagreement could overshadow the meeting between Trump and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. Meanwhile, South Korea faces a 25% tariff on automobiles, putting them at a disadvantage compared to Japanese and European competitors.

Huge raid on Rio gang leaves at least 10 people dead and 80 under arrest

About 2,500 Brazilian police and soldiers have launched a massive raid on a criminal gang in Rio de Janeiro and arrested 80 suspects while sparking shootouts that left at least 10 people dead. Authorities called it the biggest such raid in history and said it targeted drug trafficking ring Red Command in the low-income favelas of Complexo de Alemao and Penha. Police did not confirm any deaths, but local media reports said scores of people were believed killed. An Associated Press journalist saw at least 10 bodies arrive at the Getulio Vargas hospital in Penha, two of them police officers.

Ex-thief says he warned Louvre of security weaknesses around crown jewels

Days after eight pieces of the French crown jewels were stolen from the Louvre, a former bank robber who once toured the now-infamous Apollo Gallery for a Louvre podcast says he warned a museum official of weaknesses in security. David Desclos, a reformed career burglar, told The Associated Press on Tuesday that he warned a Louvre representative years ago that the Apollo Gallery’s street-facing windows and nearby vitrines left treasures exposed to anyone bold enough to climb in. The robbery has led to increased scrutiny and questions about museum security.

Federal judge blocks the Trump administration from pulling funding for sex ed on gender diversity

A federal judge has blocked President Donald Trump’s administration from pulling sexual education funding over curricula mentioning diverse gender identities. U.S. District Court Judge Ann Aiken in Oregon issued the preliminary injunction on Monday. The order came in a lawsuit filed by 16 states and the District of Columbia against the Health and Human Services Department. The department wants to prohibit the inclusion of what it describes as “gender ideology” in lessons funded by two federal grant programs used to teach about abstinence and contraception. The lawsuit alleges that the new grant conditions violate the separation of powers and federal law.  The health department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Consumer confidence dips modestly in October with Americans concerned about the future

Consumer confidence weakened slightly in October as Americans remain anxious about their future financial prospects. The Conference Board said Tuesday that its consumer confidence index fell by 1 point to 94.6 in October from an upwardly revised September reading of 95.6. Analysts were expecting the reading to come in unchanged from the previous month. One year ago, the reading was 109.5. A measure of Americans’ short-term expectations for their income, business conditions and the job market dipped by 2.9 points to 71.5, remaining well below 80, the marker that can signal a recession ahead. However, consumers’ assessments of their current economic situation rose 1.8 points to 129.3.

Affidavit: Former NFL star Adrian Peterson was asleep in SUV before DWI arrest in Texas

Court records say former NFL running back Adrian Peterson was asleep behind the wheel of his SUV at a suburban Houston gas station before he was arrested on charges of driving while intoxicated and unlawfully carrying a weapon. According to a probable cause affidavit, a Sugar Land police officer found Peterson around 9 a.m. Sunday asleep as his vehicle was running and parked near a gas pump. According to the affidavit, Peterson told the officer he didn’t know where he was and later failed a field sobriety test. Peterson was released from custody on Monday after posting bond. The 40-year-old Peterson was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving in Minneapolis in April.

A newly discovered Dr. Seuss manuscript will celebrate America’s 250th anniversary

A newly discovered Dr. Seuss manuscript featuring the Cat in the Hat will be published next year. The book, titled “Sing the 50 United States,” celebrates the United States and is set for release just in time for America’s 250th anniversary. This is the first full manuscript by Dr. Seuss, born Theodor Geisel, to be found since 2015. The manuscript was discovered earlier this year at the Geisel Library in California. New illustrations in the style of Dr. Seuss were created by artist Tom Brannon. Random House Children’s Books plans to publish the book on June 2, 2026.

A federal judge in Tennessee warns Trump officials over statements about Kilmar Abrego Garcia

A federal judge in Tennessee has warned of possible sanctions against top Trump administration officials if they continue to make inflammatory statements about Kilmar Abrego Garcia that could prejudice his coming trial. U.S. District Judge Waverly Crenshaw filed an order late on Monday instructing local prosecutors in Nashville to provide a copy of his opinion to all Justice and Homeland Security department employees. The opinion cites court rules that prohibit public statements about a defendant's “character, credibility, reputation, or criminal record.” His order specifically includes Attorney General Pam Bondi and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

Carson Wentz shows his toughness after playing 2 1/2 games with a major shoulder injury

Carson Wentz dislocated his left, non-throwing shoulder, tearing his labrum and fracturing the socket, in the first half of a game for the Vikings in London on Oct. 5 and kept playing, according to two people with knowledge of the injury. Wentz threw a game-winning 12-yard touchdown pass. and then started the next two games. Both people, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team hasn’t announced the severity of the injury, said the decision to start Wentz was mutual because the team’s medical staff determined he wasn’t at risk of further damaging the shoulder and it was a matter of pain tolerance.

UPS cuts 48,000 jobs in the year to date as its turnaround continues

United Parcel Service posted third-quarter results that handily beat Wall Street’s expectations and gave details about its turnaround efforts, including approximately 48,000 job cuts. UPS said in a regulatory filing that it has cut about 34,000 operational positions and closed daily operations at 93 leased and owned buildings during the first nine months of this year as part of its turnaround plan. The company also announced approximately 14,000 job cuts, mostly within management. It said that it is still looking to identify additional buildings to close.

When the government shutdown will affect SNAP, Head Start and military pay

The federal government shutdown is nearing the one-month mark, causing widespread effects for millions of Americans. On Friday, funding for the food assistance program SNAP, which helps 42 million people, is set to run out. The Trump administration has rejected using contingency funds to continue the program. Also on Friday, 1.3 million active-duty service members risk missing paychecks unless a funding deal is reached. On Saturday, over 130 Head Start preschool programs may not receive grants.

Kelsey Grammer, 70, announces the birth of his 8th child: 'Isn't that lovely?'

Actor Kelsey Grammer and his wife Kayte Walsh have a new son named Christopher. The 70-year-old “Frasier” star announced his baby news on Monday’s edition of the “Pod Meets World” podcast. Christopher is Walsh and Grammer's fourth child. The actor also has four older children. Grammer was on the podcast to discuss his recent book, “Karen: A Brother Remembers,” about the murder of his sister when she was 18.

UnitedHealth tops 3Q forecasts as it resets coverage prices to deal with rising costs

UnitedHealth has returned to better-than-expected growth after starting the year swamped by medical costs and withdrawing its forecast for 2025. Leaders of the health care giant say care use is now climbing at rates they expected, and the company envisions annual growth next year that accelerates in 2027. In the meantime, UnitedHealth is resetting health insurance prices and trimming unprofitable parts of that business. That includes a drop in individual health insurance enrollment and losing about 1 million customers from its Medicare Advantage business. That involves privately run versions of the government’s coverage program mainly for people age 65 and over.

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