Author: Andrew Rogers

US Supreme Court allows the Trump administration to extend a pause on $4 billion in federal food aid, leaving millions of Americans relying on SNAP benefits in uncertainty. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program supports 42 million people nationwide. The court issued an administrative stay on Tuesday, allowing the administration to delay a lower court ruling that would have required the distribution of the $4 billion in SNAP funding. The freeze has been extended for two more days and will remain in place until Thursday night. Congress is preparing to vote on a package that could end the longest government shutdown…

Typhoon Fung-wong struck the northern Philippines on Sunday, leaving at least 18 people dead and causing widespread floods, landslides, and power outages. The storm has since weakened into a tropical storm over the South China Sea and is moving northwest toward Taiwan, where it could arrive by Thursday. The super typhoon, with maximum sustained winds of 185 kph (115 mph) at landfall, hit Aurora province before moving through mountainous northern provinces and agricultural plains. More than 1.4 million people were evacuated to emergency shelters or relatives’ homes ahead of the storm, with about 240,000 still in evacuation centers on Tuesday.…

Longtime Democratic Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman of New Jersey announced she will not seek reelection next year, saying it is “time to pass the torch.” The 80-year-old lawmaker has represented New Jersey’s 12th District since 2015, becoming the first Black woman from the state to serve in the House of Representatives. Before Congress, Watson Coleman held a leadership role in the state Assembly and chaired the New Jersey Democratic Party. She cited careful reflection and discussions with her family as key to her decision. “I am confident it is the right choice for me and my family,” she said. A…

President Donald Trump on Monday downplayed concerns about air traffic controllers who have been working without pay for more than 40 days amid the record-long government shutdown. In a Fox News interview, Trump said many controllers had taken temporary second jobs and reassured that “the money was coming.” He emphasized that those who reported to work would be rewarded while criticizing those who complained or were absent. Air traffic controllers, classified as essential federal workers, must continue working during a shutdown despite not receiving pay. Military personnel, also deemed essential, have continued to receive paychecks during the funding lapse. Trump’s…

A small plane on a hurricane relief mission to Jamaica crashed into a pond in Coral Springs, Florida, killing two people shortly after takeoff. The aircraft narrowly missed homes in the gated neighborhood where it went down, authorities said. The Coral Springs Police Department confirmed the deaths Monday afternoon but gave no additional details about the victims. Emergency crews responded within minutes after the crash was reported. Fire officials said no homes were damaged, though debris landed near the pond and a broken fence was visible at a nearby property. “There was no actual plane to be seen,” said Mike…

Japan and China are in a growing dispute after Tokyo signaled possible military action in a Taiwan conflict. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said an attack on Taiwan could trigger the deployment of Japan’s self-defence forces if the situation threatened the nation’s survival. Takaichi, Japan’s first female prime minister and a conservative with hawkish views on China, told a parliamentary committee that Tokyo must “anticipate a worst-case scenario” in the Taiwan Strait. She emphasized that any emergency involving warships or the use of force could constitute a threat to Japan’s survival. Beijing reacted angrily to Takaichi’s remarks. The Chinese consul general…

The US Senate approved a bill on Monday to end the longest government shutdown in US history. The measure passed in a 60-40 vote, with nearly all Republicans supporting it and eight Democrats joining them. The Democrats had tried to link government funding to health subsidies set to expire at the end of the year, but their effort failed. The bill now moves to the House of Representatives, which is expected to vote on it on Wednesday. Lawmakers are urged to return quickly to Washington after shutdown-related travel delays. House Speaker Mike Johnson called on members to resume work immediately.…

The final stop of Charlie Kirk’s TPUSA tour sparked protests at the University of California, Berkeley, as students and residents voiced strong opposition to the rightwing group’s message. The event, held Monday evening at Zellerbach Hall, marked the last stop of the American Comeback tour, which began shortly before Kirk’s death in September. Turning Point USA (TPUSA), the influential college conservative group founded by Kirk, has continued to draw attention following the founder’s fatal shooting. Kirk’s death has been widely discussed in American politics, with prominent conservative figures highlighting his impact. Some political leaders, including former President Donald Trump, have…

Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy has described his prison sentence as “gruelling” and “a nightmare” during a court hearing where he requested to serve his term at home. Sarkozy appeared via video link from La Santé prison on Monday, dressed in a navy suit and seated at a table with his lawyers. “I want to pay tribute to all the prison staff, who are exceptionally humane and have made this nightmare bearable,” Sarkozy said. He added that the ordeal was difficult and left a lasting mark, emphasizing that it was imposed on him without his prior expectation. Sarkozy entered prison…

Israeli soldiers have spoken about killings of civilians in Gaza, describing a breakdown in military rules and the targeting of civilians at the discretion of commanders. Their testimony appears in a new documentary, Breaking Ranks: Inside Israel’s War, which will air on ITV in the UK. Daniel, a tank unit commander, said, “If you want to shoot without restraint, you can.” Several soldiers spoke on the record, while others remained anonymous. They highlighted how standard codes of conduct regarding civilians had largely disappeared. Some soldiers said the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) regularly used human shields, despite official denials. Others described…