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As October draws to a close, the month marks several defining moments in world history — from Muhammad Ali’s legendary victory in the “Rumble in the Jungle” to the Soviet Union’s detonation of the most powerful nuclear bomb ever tested, and Rosa Parks’ historic recognition in the U.S. Capitol. On this day, Oct. 30, 1974 — Muhammad Ali, 32, knocked out George Foreman, 25, in the eighth round of their heavyweight title bout in Kinshasa, Congo (then Zaire), reclaiming his world crown in a fight remembered as one of the greatest in boxing history. Throughout October: 1912 — U.S. Vice President James S. Sherman, running for re-election with President William Howard Taft, died six days before Election Day. Taft went on to lose to Democrat Woodrow Wilson. 1938 — Orson Welles’ radio drama “The War of the Worlds” aired on CBS, convincing some listeners that an actual Martian invasion was underway. 1961 — The Soviet Union tested the “Tsar Bomba,” a hydrogen bomb estimated at 50 megatons — more than 3,500 times the force of the Hiroshima bomb — making it the most powerful nuclear explosion in history. 1972 — A deadly train collision on Chicago’s South Side claimed 45 lives and injured hundreds when two Illinois Central Gulf commuter trains collided. 1975 — The New York Daily News published its iconic headline “Ford to City: Drop Dead,” after President Gerald Ford refused to support a federal bailout for a financially desperate New York City. 1995 — Quebec voters narrowly rejected a referendum calling for independence from Canada and the creation of a new partnership with the rest of the country. 2005 — Civil rights pioneer Rosa Parks became the first woman to lie in honor in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda, a tribute to her pivotal role in sparking the Montgomery Bus Boycott of 1955. 2018 — Infamous Boston mob boss James “Whitey” Bulger was found beaten to death at a federal prison in West Virginia, just hours after being transferred there. 2023 — The United Auto Workers reached a tentative deal with General Motors, concluding a wave of strikes that also involved Ford and Stellantis. The new contracts were later ratified by union members. October birthdays: Author Robert Caro turns 90. Rock legend Grace Slick is 86. R&B icon Otis Williams (The Temptations) is 84. Actor Henry Winkler celebrates 80. Journalist Andrea Mitchell is 79. Musician Timothy B. Schmit (The Eagles) is 78. Actor Harry Hamlin is 74. Country singer T. Graham Brown is 71. Actor Kevin Pollak is 68. Business executive Ivanka Trump is 44. Gymnast Nastia Liukin is 36. NBA star Devin Booker is 29, and NHL defenseman Cale Makar is 27.  

President Donald Trump said Thursday he had reached several agreements with China after meeting Chinese leader Xi Jinping, marking an attempt to steady relations between the world’s two largest economies following months of trade friction. Speaking aboard Air Force One on his return to Washington from a five-day, three-nation Asia tour, Trump said the U.S. would cut tariffs imposed earlier this year on Chinese chemicals used to make fentanyl, reducing the rate from 20% to 10%. That move lowers the overall average tariff rate on Chinese imports from 57% to 47%. “I’d say on a scale of zero to 10, the meeting was a 12,” Trump told reporters, describing his 100-minute discussion with Xi as highly productive. Trump’s renewed tariffs and China’s retaliatory curbs on rare earth exports had heightened the urgency for talks, as both sides sought to avoid further shocks to the global economy. China, U.S. to Pause Port Fee Measures for a Year China’s Commerce Ministry announced Thursday that both countries will suspend for one year the tit-for-tat port fees introduced earlier this month under the U.S. Section 301 investigation into Chinese shipbuilding and maritime practices. The U.S. had imposed new port fees on Chinese vessels entering American ports on Oct. 14, calling Beijing’s policies “unreasonable” and harmful to U.S. trade. China quickly responded with similar fees on American ships. The ministry also said it would “properly resolve” disputes over the social media platform TikTok with Washington. Atomic Bomb Survivors Condemn Trump’s Nuclear Testing Remarks In Japan, survivors of the atomic bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki denounced Trump’s comments suggesting the U.S. might resume nuclear weapons testing. Jiro Hamasumi, secretary general of Nihon Hidankyo — the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize-winning organization representing survivors — said any return to testing “vehemently opposes all efforts to achieve a nuclear-free and peaceful world.” The group urged the U.S. to uphold its commitment to nuclear disarmament and to lead international efforts toward peace. China Urges U.S. to Honor Nuclear Test Ban China’s Foreign Ministry called on Washington to abide by the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty after Trump hinted on social media that the U.S. could resume testing. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said Beijing hoped the U.S. would “fulfill its obligations” and continue its moratorium on nuclear tests. Trump’s post came shortly before his meeting with Xi in South Korea. China to Suspend Rare Earth Export Controls Beijing said it would suspend for one year its new export restrictions on rare earth minerals and refine the policy after further study. In exchange, Washington will pause for a year its expanded export controls on Chinese-owned subsidiaries listed under U.S. trade rules. The reciprocal moves, both announced earlier this month, had alarmed industries dependent on rare earth supplies. China Confirms U.S. Tariff Reduction China’s Commerce Ministry confirmed Trump’s announcement that the U.S. would reduce fentanyl-related tariffs by 10 percentage points. The ministry said both countries agreed to extend a temporary pause on broader tariffs for another year, a freeze first established in May. Xi Calls for Cooperation on AI, Immigration Xi emphasized that “dialogue is better than confrontation” and proposed expanding cooperation with the U.S. in areas such as curbing illegal immigration, tackling telecom fraud, combating money laundering, advancing artificial intelligence, and strengthening infectious disease response. He said both countries should demonstrate their global responsibilities through “positive interactions” and noted that China will host the APEC summit and the U.S. the G20 summit next year. Xi Urges Completion of Trade Consensus In China’s first official statement on the meeting, Xi said both negotiating teams had “reached a consensus,” referring to preparatory talks in Malaysia last weekend. He called for swift follow-up work to produce “tangible results” that would reassure both nations and the world. “Both sides should look at the long-term perspective,” Xi said, “focusing on the benefits of cooperation rather than falling into a vicious cycle of retaliation.” China’s Reaction to Tariffs Beijing did not immediately comment on the results of the meeting. Chinese officials have previously called the fentanyl-related tariffs an act of bad faith, noting their prior cooperation with the Biden administration to curb chemical exports tied to the drug’s production. Source: AP

Four members of a family were killed after a seven-storey apartment building collapsed early Wednesday in Gebze, a northwestern city in Turkey. State-run TRT News identified the victims as members of the Bilir family — father Levent, 43, mother Emine, 37, daughter Hayrunnisa, 14, and son Muhammed Emir, 12. Rescuers pulled out the eldest daughter, 18-year-old Dilara Bilir, alive from the debris, TRT reported. The bodies of the two younger children were recovered by Wednesday evening, while those of the parents were found overnight, Deputy Interior Minister Mehmet Aktas told reporters Thursday morning. A total of 627 rescuers were deployed to the scene. The cause of the collapse remains unclear, according to the state-run Anadolu Agency. However, Gebze Mayor Zinnur Büyükgöz told local media that it might be linked to nearby metro construction. Gebze lies along the North Anatolian Fault Line and was among the hardest-hit areas during the 1999 earthquake that killed an estimated 18,000 people across the region. Experts have repeatedly warned that weak enforcement of modern construction codes continues to endanger lives in Turkey’s earthquake-prone zones. Earlier this year, a four-storey building collapse in Konya left two people dead. Authorities later charged ground-floor shopkeepers for allegedly removing structural columns to expand their space — a risky but common practice. They could face up to 22 years in prison if convicted. Source: AP

President Donald Trump on Thursday appeared to suggest that the United States might resume nuclear weapons testing for the first time in three decades, saying it would be done on an “equal basis” with Russia and China. The comment, made minutes before his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Busan, marks a potential shift in long-standing U.S. nuclear policy. However, Trump provided no clear details, and there was no indication the U.S. planned to detonate warheads. “Because of other countries’ testing programs, I have instructed the Department of War to start testing our nuclear weapons on an equal basis,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “That process will begin immediately.” The White House did not respond to requests for clarification, and Trump avoided questions about the statement during his meeting with Xi. Later, speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, he appeared to blur the distinction between testing nuclear missiles and detonating nuclear warheads. “I see them testing and I say, well, if they’re going to test, I guess we have to test,” Trump said, without specifying when or where such tests would occur. The U.S. has not conducted nuclear detonations since 1992, though it routinely tests missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads. Pentagon officials did not immediately comment on the president’s statement. Trump’s remarks came days after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced tests of a nuclear-powered cruise missile and an underwater drone, but no actual nuclear detonations. Trump did not reference those developments directly, though he compared the nuclear stockpiles of the three powers, saying, “Russia is second, and China is a distant third, but will be even within five years.” The U.S. signed the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty in 1996 but never ratified it. Russia withdrew its ratification in 2023, saying it wanted parity with Washington and would only resume tests if the U.S. did so first. Despite the apparent escalation, Trump told reporters he still favored “denuclearization and de-escalation,” adding, “We are actually talking to Russia about that,” without elaborating further. Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Washington-based Arms Control Association, criticized the president’s remarks, calling him “misinformed and out of touch.” “By announcing his intention to resume nuclear testing, Trump risks triggering public backlash in Nevada, opposition from U.S. allies, and a dangerous chain reaction of nuclear testing worldwide,” Kimball wrote on X, formerly Twitter. Source: AP

President Donald Trump on Thursday hailed his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea as a major success, announcing plans to cut tariffs on Chinese imports while Beijing agreed to resume soybean purchases and ease export restrictions on rare earth elements. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said the United States would lower tariffs imposed earlier this year on China—from 20% to 10%—for exporting chemicals used in fentanyl production. The change reduces the total tariff rate on Chinese goods from 57% to 47%. “On a scale of 0 to 10, with 10 being the best, I’d say the meeting was a 12,” Trump said. He added that he plans to visit China in April, with Xi expected to visit Washington later. The two leaders also discussed the possible export of advanced computer chips, with U.S. firm Nvidia expected to begin talks with Chinese officials. Trump said a trade deal with China could be signed “pretty soon,” noting there were “not too many major stumbling blocks.” Tensions remain despite optimism The 100-minute meeting in Busan, South Korea, was seen as an attempt to ease months of economic tensions between the world’s two largest economies. The U.S. and China have been competing for dominance in manufacturing and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, while also clashing over geopolitical issues, including Russia’s war in Ukraine. Trump’s aggressive tariff policy during his second term and China’s retaliatory restrictions on rare earth exports added urgency to the talks. Both sides now appear eager to avoid further economic disruption. Xi, reading from prepared remarks at the start of the meeting, said through a translator that it was “normal” for two major economies to have disagreements but emphasized a willingness to cooperate. Finding common ground The meeting was held at a small military facility near Busan’s international airport, ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit set to begin Friday. In the days before the meeting, U.S. officials hinted that Trump would not follow through on his recent threat to impose an additional 100% import tax on Chinese goods. Meanwhile, China signaled flexibility on rare earth export rules and pledged to resume buying American soybeans. Earlier in the week, negotiators from both countries met in Kuala Lumpur and reached what Chinese trade envoy Li Chenggang called a “preliminary consensus.” U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described it as “a very successful framework.” The meeting has already boosted investor confidence, with U.S. stock markets rising on hopes of a trade breakthrough. Pressure points persist Despite signs of progress, experts warn the underlying rivalry between Washington and Beijing remains intact. “The proposed deal fits the pattern we’ve seen all year—short-term stabilization dressed up as strategic progress,” said Craig Singleton, senior director of the China program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. Trump’s pressure tactic has largely been tariffs, while Xi has wielded control over rare earth exports—a vital resource for global industries ranging from defense to electric vehicles. Trump’s latest announcement effectively replaces his earlier plan to raise tariffs to 145%, which he dropped following market backlash. On Oct. 10, he had threatened a 100% import tax, but Thursday’s meeting instead led to a reduction to 47%, effective immediately. Xi is expected to remain in South Korea to meet regional leaders during the APEC summit after Trump returns to Washington. “Xi sees an opportunity to position China as a reliable partner and strengthen ties with nations frustrated by U.S. tariff policies,” said Jay Truesdale, CEO of TD International and a former U.S. State Department official. Source: AP

Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday reaffirmed the Catholic Church’s condemnation of antisemitism and pledged to combat it, amid rising tensions linked to Israel’s war in Gaza. Speaking during a general audience marking the 60th anniversary of the landmark Vatican document Nostra Aetate, the pope acknowledged past misunderstandings and conflicts with Jews but stressed the church’s ongoing commitment to friendship with the Jewish community. The document, issued in 1965, repudiates the “deicide” charge that blamed Jews collectively for Christ’s death and condemns antisemitism in all forms. Leo quoted Nostra Aetate, emphasizing that the church “does not tolerate antisemitism and fights against it, on the basis of the Gospel itself.” The anniversary comes as antisemitic incidents linked to the Israel-Gaza conflict surge worldwide. In the United States, the Anti-Defamation League reported a record 9,354 incidents last year, with 58% connected to Israel, including chants and protests at rallies. Leo called for continued dialogue, noting that political circumstances and injustices should not disrupt the special relationship between Christians and Jews. He said, “Even today, we must not allow political circumstances and the injustices of some to divert us from friendship, especially since we have achieved so much so far.” Rabbi Noam Marans, director of interreligious affairs at the American Jewish Committee, welcomed the pope’s acknowledgment and urged the Vatican to actively use its moral influence to combat antisemitism. The pope’s remarks contrast with recent tensions surrounding comments by Pope Francis, which some Jewish and Israeli leaders viewed as drawing a moral equivalence between Hamas attacks and Israel’s military response in Gaza. Leo’s address highlighted the church’s ongoing effort to strengthen interfaith dialogue and reaffirm its historic stance against antisemitism.  

Hurricane Melissa slammed into eastern Cuba early Wednesday near Chivirico, in Santiago de Cuba province, as a Category 3 storm, after devastating Jamaica as one of the most powerful Atlantic hurricanes ever recorded, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC). Hundreds of thousands of Cubans were evacuated to shelters ahead of the storm. Hurricane warnings remained in effect for the provinces of Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantánamo, Holguín, and Las Tunas, as well as parts of the southeastern and central Bahamas. As of early Wednesday, Melissa carried maximum sustained winds of 115 mph (185 kph) and was moving northeast at 12 mph (19 kph), the NHC said. The hurricane’s center was about 60 miles (97 km) west of Guantánamo and 230 miles (370 km) south of the central Bahamas. Authorities warned residents to remain indoors, while preparations in the Bahamas were urged to be “rushed to completion.” The NHC forecast the storm to weaken slightly as it moved across Cuba on Wednesday morning, but remain a strong hurricane as it passed over the southeastern and central Bahamas later in the day. By late Thursday, Melissa is expected to approach Bermuda, where a hurricane watch is already in place. Meteorologists warned of life-threatening floods and landslides from the torrential rains accompanying the storm. Melissa had struck Jamaica on Tuesday with winds peaking at 185 mph (295 kph), toppling power lines and trees, and submerging large areas under floodwaters. Forecasters said the storm could produce a storm surge up to 12 feet (3.6 meters) and rainfall reaching 20 inches (51 cm) in eastern Cuba. “Numerous landslides are likely in those regions,” said Michael Brennan, director of the National Hurricane Center in Miami. Officials warned that the storm could worsen Cuba’s deepening economic crisis, already marked by fuel and food shortages and prolonged power outages. “There will be a lot of work to do — we know there will be extensive damage,” Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel said in a televised address. He promised that “no one will be left behind” and pledged all available resources to protect lives. Díaz-Canel also urged citizens not to underestimate the storm, calling Melissa “the strongest hurricane ever to strike national territory.” Classes were suspended Monday across provinces from Guantánamo to Camagüey, as authorities braced for impact. In Jamaica, officials began damage assessments Wednesday after the hurricane’s direct hit. Severe flooding was reported in Clarendon and St. Elizabeth, with the latter parish described as “underwater,” said Desmond McKenzie, deputy chairman of Jamaica’s Disaster Risk Management Council. Four hospitals were damaged — one left without power, forcing the evacuation of 75 patients, McKenzie said. More than 500,000 customers lost electricity across Jamaica late Tuesday, as fallen trees, power poles, and widespread flooding crippled the island’s infrastructure. The Jamaican government said it hopes to reopen airports by Thursday to speed up the delivery of emergency aid. So far, seven deaths across the Caribbean have been linked to Hurricane Melissa — three in Jamaica, three in Haiti, and one in the Dominican Republic, where one person remains missing.

Israel’s military announced Wednesday that the ceasefire in Gaza has been reinstated after a night of intense airstrikes that killed 104 Palestinians, including 46 children, according to local health authorities. The overnight bombardment — the deadliest since the ceasefire began on October 10 — has raised serious doubts about the durability of the fragile truce. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he ordered the “powerful strikes” after accusing Hamas of breaching the agreement by returning what Israel described as partial remains of a hostage from earlier in the war. Netanyahu called the handover a “clear violation” of the truce, which requires Hamas to promptly return all remaining hostages. Israeli officials also accused Hamas of orchestrating the discovery, releasing a 14-minute drone video they said showed the incident. In retaliation for the Israeli attacks, Hamas said it would delay the return of another hostage’s body. While traveling in Asia, U.S. President Donald Trump defended Israel’s response, claiming it was justified following an alleged incident in which Hamas militants killed an Israeli soldier during an exchange of fire in Rafah, Gaza’s southernmost city. Hamas denied involvement, instead accusing Israel of violating the ceasefire terms. Hamas has said efforts to recover hostage remains have been hampered by widespread destruction in Gaza, while Israel claims Hamas is intentionally delaying the process. Thirteen hostages’ bodies are still believed to be in Gaza, slowing progress on the next phase of the truce — discussions on Hamas disarmament, international security deployment, and post-war governance of the territory. Rising Death TollThe Palestinian Health Ministry confirmed that 104 people were killed and 253 injured, most of them women and children. Shifa Hospital in Gaza City reported 45 critical cases, including 20 children, and received 21 bodies overnight. Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah, Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, and Al-Awda Hospital in central Gaza all reported dozens of additional casualties, many of them children. Trump Defends IsraelSpeaking aboard Air Force One, Trump said Israel “has the right to hit back” when attacked, though he expressed confidence the truce would hold, adding: “Hamas is a very small part of the overall Middle East peace. And they have to behave — or be terminated.” An Israeli military official, speaking anonymously, said the soldier killed in Rafah — Master Sgt. Yona Efraim Feldbaum, 37, who also held U.S. citizenship — died when his vehicle came under “enemy fire.” Israeli forces were reportedly targeting tunnels and Hamas infrastructure in the area at the time. Hamas reiterated that it had no role in the Rafah shooting and called Israel’s airstrikes a “blatant violation of the ceasefire.” According to U.S. officials, Israel informed Washington before launching the air raids. The Israeli military claimed to have struck 30 senior militant targets in Gaza but maintained it would continue to honor the ceasefire while responding “firmly” to any breach. Gaza Hospitals OverwhelmedHospitals across Gaza struggled to handle the influx of bodies and wounded. At Deir al-Balah, stretchers and makeshift carts carried victims into overcrowded facilities. “They struck right next to us — rubble fell over us and our children,” said one woman outside a hospital. At dawn, displaced residents searched through debris at a destroyed camp and recovered the body of a small child, wrapped gently in a blanket. “What kind of ceasefire is this?” asked survivor Amna Qrinawi. At Al-Awda Hospital, mourners gathered for funeral prayers over dozens of white-shrouded bodies — nearly half of them children. Among the grieving was Yehya Eid, who lost his brother and nephews. Holding a blood-stained shroud, he wept:“Why? These were children — what did they do wrong? They’re just like any children in the world.”  

New Zealand’s resident population grew 0.7 percent to 5.3 million in the year ending June 2025, with growth slowing across all 16 regions, Stats NZ said on Wednesday. The increase was smaller than in the previous two June years — 2.3 percent in 2023 and 1.7 percent in 2024 — according to a statement from the statistics agency. “Lower net migration gains in the June 2025 year led to slower population growth across all regions,” said Victoria Treliving, Stats NZ’s population estimates, projections, and coverage spokesperson. Stats NZ noted that natural increase (births minus deaths) was the main driver of growth, marking a shift from recent years when net migration was the dominant factor. Among regions, Canterbury in the South Island recorded the fastest growth at 1.1 percent in the June 2025 year. Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city, grew 1 percent to over 1.8 million, with a net migration gain of 6,300.

The Lawrence Bishnoi crime syndicate has asserted that it was behind the killing of Indian-origin entrepreneur Darshan Singh Sahsi in British Columbia. Gang member Goldy Dhillon posted on social media that Sahsi was targeted over alleged links to the drug trade and for refusing to pay the gang. The Punjabi-Canadian industrialist was gunned down outside his Abbotsford home on the morning of October 27. Originally from Rajgarh village in Punjab’s Ludhiana district, Sahsi migrated to Canada in 1991. After working several small jobs, he invested in a failing textile recycling company, Canam International, later turning it into a globally recognized enterprise. Sahsi served as the president of Canam International—a major name in the textile recycling sector—promoting sustainable and transparent business practices. According to the company website, Canam handles close to half a million pounds of textile materials every day through re-use, downcycling and mechanical recycling, contributing to a circular textile economy. The company employed a significant number of Punjabi-origin workers, and Sahsi also expanded business operations to Kandla in Gujarat. Beyond his business success, he was known for supporting social and charitable causes. Early findings from law enforcement indicate the gunman was lying in wait as Sahsi approached his car parked outside his residence. Once he got inside the vehicle, shots were fired from another car positioned across the road, and the attacker quickly escaped. Police in Abbotsford responded to reports of gunfire at around 9:22 am and found Sahsi gravely injured. Despite efforts by emergency crews, he did not survive. As a precaution, three nearby schools temporarily went into a ‘shelter-in-place’ lockdown, though no children were harmed. Authorities have launched a homicide investigation into the killing. With inputs from NDTV