The twin crises at the heart of the government shutdown fight in Washington are coming to a head. The federal food assistance program is facing delays and uncertainty. Meanwhile, millions of Americans are set to see a dramatic rise in health insurance bills. The Trump administration’s plans to freeze payments to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program have been halted by federal judges. But a delay in payouts will still likely leave millions of people short on their grocery bills. The shutdown is the second longest in history and entered its second month on Saturday, yet there's little urgency in Washington to end it.
Thousands of furloughed federal workers are trying to navigate the unemployment system, in a sharp increase that is still a fraction of the 670,000 furloughed during the shutdown. About 26,000 federal workers filed initial claims from Sept. 28 through Oct. 18. The unemployment process presents those workers with some challenges. It generally takes two to three weeks to receive payments once approved in normal times. And now, the Labor Department has warned of delays. Recipients receive different amounts state by state. If they receive back pay as expected when the shutdown ends, they will need to repay the unemployment money.
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President Donald Trump will host Ahmad al-Sharaa for talks, a first-ever visit by a Syrian president to the White House, an administration official said Saturday.
Day of the Dead commemorations in early November are a crucial religious, family and community celebration for most Mexicans and many other Latin Americans. This year in the United States, they are taking on a special significance because of the increase in immigration enforcement raids and other actions targeting Latino communities. Some organizers had worried that fear of deportation would cast a pall on public celebrations. But participants turned out in droves in cities big and small, saying the rituals brought a much-needed sense of resilience and community pride.
Former President Barack Obama is urging voters to use Tuesday's elections in Virginia and New Jersey to rebuke President Donald Trump and candidates loyal to him. Governor's races in those states may signal the national mood 10 months into Donald Trump’s second presidency. Republicans also are campaigning Saturday, but without national star power. On the west coast, California advocates are making a final push for a statewide referendum to redraw the state's congressional map in Democrats' favor. This effort is part of a national redistricting battle.
Shohei Ohtani will start Game 7 of the World Series for the Los Angeles Dodgers against the Toronto Blue Jays, showcasing the two-way star on the mound in the sport’s biggest game. Starting Ohtani makes more sense for the Dodgers than using him in relief. Under a rule adopted for the 2022 season, pitchers who start games in the batting order can remain in the game as a designated hitter after leaving the mound. If Ohtani would start the game only as a DH and then would take the mound, the Dodgers would lose their DH and pitchers would have to bat in that slot if Ohtani was relieved.
U.S. President Donald Trump says he’s ordered the Pentagon to begin planning for potential military action in Nigeria. The warning posted Saturday on social media was an escalation of his allegations that the government is failing to rein in the persecution of Christians in the West African country. The threat came after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu pushed back against Trump's designation of Nigeria as a "country of particular concern" for alleged persecution of Christians. On Saturday, Tinubu stated that Nigeria values religious freedom and opposes persecution. Trump, in a social media post on Friday, claimed Christianity faces an existential threat in Nigeria due to radical Islamists.
It wasn’t so long ago that President Donald Trump spoke of building a legacy as a peacemaker. In his inaugural address, he said he would in part measure his success by “the wars that we end — and perhaps most importantly, the wars we never get into.” But nine months into his second term, Trump is beating a curious path to executing his “peace through strength” foreign policy agenda. That's a phrase he borrowed from Ronald Reagan, who saw building a strong military and economy as the bedrock to Soviet deterrence. Trump's update on the Cold War doctrine includes sharper threats, bombings and no shortage of bravado.
Tanzania's President Samia Suluhu Hassan has won a disputed election with over 97% of the vote, according to official results announced on Saturday. Her main opponents were prevented from running, leaving her virtually unopposed. Critics and opposition groups have raised concerns about the election's fairness. Protests erupted across Tanzania, leading to violence and a military response. The government postponed the reopening of universities due to unrest. The United Nations and foreign ministers from the U.K., Canada, and Norway have expressed concern over the situation. Hassan's victory extends the ruling party's long-standing grip on power.
Egypt has inaugurated the Grand Egyptian Museum, the world's largest museum dedicated to a single ancient civilization and an effort aimed at boosting the country's tourism industry and troubled economy. Located near the Giza Pyramids on the edge of the Egyptian capital, it showcases over 50,000 artifacts, including the complete collection of King Tutankhamun's treasures. The museum, a project championed by President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, has faced delays since construction began in 2005. The government has improved infrastructure around the site, including roads and a new metro station. Officials hope the museum will attract more tourists, helping to stabilize Egypt's economy.
The Paris prosecutor says two new suspects have been handed preliminary charges for their alleged involvement in the crown jewels heist at the Louvre museum. Laure Beccuau, the prosecutor, said in a statement Saturday that a 37-year-old suspect was charged with theft by an organized gang and criminal conspiracy. The other, a 38-year-old woman, is accused of being an accomplice. They were both incarcerated. They both denied involvement, the prosecutor said. Officials said the jewels have not been recovered.
Martha Layne Collins, the first and only woman elected governor of Kentucky, has died. She was 88. Her most visible legacy is a sprawling Toyota auto assembly plant — arguably the biggest industrial plum of its day and the linchpin of the Democrat's economic-development strategy. A former teacher, Collins served as governor from 1983 to 1987, at a time when Kentucky governors were limited to single terms, and was interviewed by Democratic presidential nominee Walter F. Mondale as a potential running mate. Years after she left office, her husband was convicted in 1993 for extorting money from underwriters who handled state bond issues.
Warren Buffett’s company’s profits improved 17% thanks to a relatively mild hurricane season and more paper investment gains this year as Berkshire Hathaway continues to prepare for the legendary 95-year-old investor to relinquish the CEO title in January. But last month’s $9.7 billion investment in OxyChem won’t do much to diminish the $381.7 billion cash pile that Berkshire was sitting on at the end of September even though it is the biggest deal the company has made in years. The biggest thing on most investors’ minds right now is that Buffett Vice Chair Greg Abel is set to succeed Buffett as CEO in January although Buffett will remain chairman
Ukrainian forces have hit a crucial fuel pipeline in the Moscow region that supplies the Russian army, according to Ukraine's military intelligence. The operation, carried out late Friday, targeted the Koltsevoy pipeline, which provides gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel to the Russian military. Meanwhile, Russia's Defense Ministry claims its forces have defeated Ukrainian special forces in the eastern city of Pokrovsk. Conflicting reports from both sides highlight ongoing battles in the region. Additionally, Russian strikes have killed a civilian and injured others in Ukraine's Mykolaiv region, as Moscow continues its attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure.
Heidi Klum has revealed her latest Halloween costume, donning green scales and squirming snakes to transform herself into Medusa. Klum says she loves the Greek myth in which a goddess turns a beautiful woman into a monster with serpents for hair, the sight of which turns living things around her to stone. Klum said she spent 10 hours getting into costume for her annual Halloween party. Klum’s husband dressed as a man turned to stone. The supermodel-turned-TV personality went viral in 2022 when she arrived at her party on the end of a fishing line, encased in a slithering worm costume.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A multi-state carbon capture pipeline began operating in September, reducing emissions from Midwest ethanol plants and carrying that carbon dioxide gas to be forever buried underground in Wyoming — an achievement after years of complaints, lawsuits and legislation block…
Pope Leo XIV has bestowed one of the Catholic Church’s highest honors on St. John Henry Newman, declaring him a doctor of the church. Newman, a 19th-century British convert and theologian, joins the ranks of figures like St. Augustine and St. Therese of Lisieux. This title recognizes his universal appeal and contribution to understanding the Christian faith. On Saturday, Leo also declared Newman a co-patron of Catholic education. Newman is admired for his writings on doctrine and truth, and he remains a unifying figure cherished by both Anglicans and Catholics.
A crowd surge at a Hindu temple in southern India has left at least nine people dead and dozens injured. The incident happened at the Swamy Venkateswara Temple in Andhra Pradesh on Saturday during the sacred day of Ekadashi. Authorities say an iron grille meant to control the crowd broke, causing chaos. Most of the deceased are women, and one is a child. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and state officials have expressed their condolences. The privately built temple was overwhelmed by a crowd of 25,000, far exceeding its capacity. An inquiry into the incident has been ordered.
The closest supermoon of the year is approaching in November. It happens when a full moon is closer to Earth in its orbit, making it appear slightly bigger and brighter. Wednesday’s event is the second of three supermoons this year and also the closest. The moon will come within just under 222,000 miles of Earth. The change in the moon’s size can be tough to discern with the naked eye. Supermoons happen a few times a year. A supermoon in October made the moon look somewhat larger. The last supermoon of the year will rise in December.
Britain’s monarchy holds prestige but not power and is subject to public sentiment. This is evident with Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, who was stripped of his title and home by King Charles on Thursday. This move aims to protect the monarchy from scandals related to Andrew's ties with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The British monarchy has faced crises before, like the 1917 Titles Deprivation Act and Edward VIII’s abdication in 1936. The monarchy also faced public backlash after Princess Diana's death in 1997. More recently, Prince Harry's estrangement from the family has added to the royal drama.
A recent FBI-led raid at an Idaho race track shows how immigration is driving federal law enforcement under the Trump administration. More than 200 officers from at least 14 agencies, including U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol, detained around 400 people. The Oct. 19 operation resulted in just four gambling-related arrests, while 105 people were arrested on suspicion of immigration violations. Local police also participated. Witnesses reported aggressive tactics, including zip-tying children. It's unclear which agency the officers who detained the children were from. The FBI initially said no aggressive tactics were used on children but later amended that statement to say “young children.”
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Saturday urged Southeast Asian nations to stand firm and strengthen their maritime forces to counter China’s increasingly “destabilizing” actions in the South China Sea.
As Mexican families prepare for Day of the Dead celebrations, altars are set up to welcome back loved ones under the belief that they return home for one night each Nov. 2. Among the offerings are sugar skulls known as “calaveritas,” which capture how Mexicans remember their dead with celebration rather than sorrow. In Mexico City, the Chavarría family has crafted these sweets for generations. They see their “calaveritas” not just as a seasonal trade but as a way to keep their ancestors’ memory alive.
Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a Mexican celebration of life by honoring the dead, and residents from all over the county are invited to partake in the custom at Redwood City’s Courthouse Square Nov. 2.
A South San Francisco initiative that provides support and connects small businesses with vacant, city-owned parcels has secured its first tenant, however, the city has scaled back on two other properties it was going to include as part of the program.
The citizens’ initiative in Redwood City for rent control has gained a second life and was resubmitted to be considered for the November 2026 election, a year after it failed eligibility requirements.
When the Spanish began colonizing the San Francisco Peninsula in the 1770s, the Franciscan fathers were in control of the operation. Their goal was to Christianize the natives and prepare them for living a “civilized” life. Within 10 years, the natives were to be given land on which they cou…
Elton John may not be the typical sort of music playing in a classical Indian dance or ballet performance, but two dance companies are fusing numerous styles and cultures during a performance that addresses some of the most mysterious topics — evolution, humanity and Planet Earth.
November 10th marks the 50th anniversary of the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, perhaps the most famous of all the estimated 6,500 ships that have gone down in the Great Lakes. The Fitzgerald is remembered while others are forgotten, thanks in large part to Gordon Lightfoot’s 1976 haunting folk ballad memorializing the wreck. The Fitzgerald was the largest ship ever to sink on the Great Lakes. All 29 members on board died. Family members of the crew and those still fascinated by the historic sinking gather each year for ceremonies at cities around the Great Lakes.
An Arcata resident pleaded no contest to vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated for an October 2023 car crash off the intersection of Pescadero Creek Road and Highway 1 and into the ocean that resulted in the death of one of her passengers, San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said.
A Daly City woman pleaded no contest to bringing drugs into the county jail after the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office was unable to prove the driving under the influence charge with which she was originally hit, San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said.
MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Manchester City striker Erling Haaland looked the part as the Joker, but he probably won't take home any awards for his acting.
A drone sighting at Berlin’s airport prompted flights to be suspended for nearly two hours. That's according to German news agency dpa. Air travel through the German capital returned to normal by Saturday morning. Flights were suspended between 8:08 p.m. and 9:58 p.m. on Friday night at Berlin Brandenburg Airport. The Tagesspiegel newspaper says police confirmed a witness' report of a drone sighting. Representatives for the airport and Brandenburg police did not immediately return requests for comment. Europe is on high alert after drone intrusions into NATO’s airspace reached an unprecedented scale in September.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto beat Toronto for the second time in a week, slumping Mookie Betts hit a two-run single in a three-run third inning and the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers held off the Blue Jays 3-1 to force the World Series to a decisive Game 7. Yamamoto was not quite as sharp as in his Game 2 four-hitter. He lasted six innings and allowed an RBI single in the third by George Springer, who returned after missing two games with an injury to his right side. Rookie relievers Justin Wrobleski and Roki Sasaki combined for six outs before starter Tyler Glasnow came out of the bullpen to escape a ninth-inning jam and rescue the Dodgers.
Max Scherzer is set to start a winner-take-all World Series Game 7 for the second time. His Toronto Blue Jays face the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday night. The Dodgers aim to become the first team to win consecutive titles since the Yankees' streak from 1998 to 2000. Tyler Glasnow is expected to start for Los Angeles, but Shohei Ohtani might also be an option as an opener. Scherzer, a three-time Cy Young Award winner, hopes to win his third World Series ring after previous titles with Washington and Texas. Toronto will play a World Series Game 7 for the first time and is looking for its third championship to go with back-to-back crowns in 1992 and '93.
Continued staffing shortages in air traffic control facilities are causing delays at airports as the government shutdown nears the one-month mark. Controllers have been working without pay since the shutdown began on Oct. 1, and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has been warning that travelers will see more flights delayed or canceled the longer they go without a paycheck. The Federal Aviation Administration reported staffing-related delays on Friday at airports in Boston, Nashville, Houston, Dallas, and Newark, New Jersey. Most controllers are continuing to work mandatory overtime six days a week during the shutdown. Duffy says that leaves little time for a side job to help cover bills, mortgage and other expenses unless controllers call out.
Shohei Ohtani might start Game 7 of the World Series on Saturday. Tyler Glasnow might pitch on back-to-back days. For Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, the only certainty is that Yoshinobu Yamamoto won’t pitch. The Dodgers survived a wild ninth inning to hold off the Toronto Blue Jays 3-1 in Game 6, forcing the winner-take-all showdown Saturday night. Three-time Cy Young Award winner and former Dodger Max Scherzer is expected to start for the Blue Jays.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping told Asia-Pacific leaders his country would help to defend global free trade as U.S. President Donald Trump snubbed an annual economic regional forum. Xi took center stage at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit that began Friday in the South Korean city of Gyeongju, as Trump left the country a day before the summit opened after reaching some deals with Xi meant to ease their escalating trade war. This year's two-day APEC summit has been heavily overshadowed by the Trump-Xi meeting that was arranged on the sidelines.
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