U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance has expressed hope that his wife, Usha Vance—who was raised in a Hindu cultural background—will one day embrace Christianity. Speaking at a Turning Point USA youth event in Mississippi on October 29, Vance said that Usha now accompanies him to church almost every Sunday and that he hopes she will be positively influenced by the Catholic Church as he was. However, he emphasized that her potential conversion is entirely her choice, acknowledging that “God has given everyone free will.” Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019, recalled that he considered himself an agnostic or atheist when he first met Usha. Despite their differing religious backgrounds, their children are being raised in the Christian faith and attend a Christian school. His comments have drawn attention to the couple’s interfaith marriage and Vance’s public expression of faith.

Following a high-level summit in Busan, South Korea, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a one-year trade agreement with China, aimed at easing ongoing trade tensions. Under the deal, tariffs on Chinese goods will be reduced from 57 percent to 47 percent. Trump emphasized that the agreement will automatically renew and described the negotiations as a major diplomatic success, stating, “Our deal is done.” Analysts see the tariff reduction as a significant step toward stabilizing U.S.-China economic relations. As part of the agreement, complex issues related to rare minerals have also been addressed. Trump confirmed he will visit China in April, while a visit by President Xi Jinping to the U.S. is expected later. Both leaders highlighted ongoing communication and the natural differences in national priorities between the world’s two largest economies.

In a dramatic policy shift, U.S. President Donald Trump has directed the Pentagon to resume nuclear weapons testing for the first time since 1992. Citing the need to keep pace with rival powers like Russia and China, Trump announced the decision on social media ahead of his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea. He claimed the U.S. nuclear arsenal remains the largest and most advanced in the world, followed by Russia and then China, which he described as “far behind.”

The United States halted nuclear testing in 1992 under President George H. W. Bush, marking the symbolic end of the Cold War era. However, Trump emphasized that he had already modernized America’s nuclear stockpile during his first term, arguing that the decision to resume testing was unavoidable despite acknowledging the “immense destructive power” of such weapons.

Trump’s announcement came shortly after he criticized Russia for testing a nuclear-powered missile, signaling a stark reversal from long-standing U.S. policy. Warning that China could achieve nuclear parity within five years, Trump said the testing process would begin “immediately,” though he provided no operational details. The Nevada Test Site, where the last U.S. test was conducted, remains under government control.

Elon Musk has unveiled Grokipedia, an artificial intelligence-based online encyclopedia designed to rival Wikipedia. Developed under his AI startup xAI, Grokipedia operates through Musk’s AI chatbot Grok, which verifies and compiles all content without human editors or volunteers. According to Musk, this new encyclopedia is “vital for civilization” and offers information that aligns more closely with his right-leaning worldview.

Reports from The Guardian suggest that much of Grokipedia’s content draws heavily from Wikipedia but reframes topics through a conservative perspective. For instance, articles discussing the January 6 Capitol Hill riot describe it as a “controversial protest” against alleged election irregularities, downplaying former President Donald Trump’s role in the violence.

Critics have accused Grokipedia of spreading misleading or biased information, such as claims that pornography worsened the AIDS epidemic—an assertion widely disputed by journalists. Musk attributes the concept of Grokipedia to David Sacks, a former Trump administration official involved in AI and cryptocurrency policy.

This launch reflects Musk’s ongoing criticism of mainstream media and Wikipedia’s editorial stance, promoting his social platform X as an alternative hub for “free thought” and information.

Amazon is reportedly preparing to lay off nearly 30,000 employees as part of a major cost-cutting and restructuring initiative. According to three reliable sources, the process could begin as early as Tuesday, October 28. The move aims to align workforce levels with current business needs and reduce operational overhead. With approximately 1.55 million employees worldwide—about 350,000 of them in corporate roles—Amazon could cut up to 10% of its corporate workforce, marking its largest layoff since 2022, when 27,000 workers were dismissed. The upcoming layoffs may affect departments such as Human Resources, Devices, Services, and Operations. Team managers reportedly received training on how to notify affected employees via email. CEO Andy Jassy has been working to eliminate internal bureaucracy and streamline company processes, implementing over 450 changes based on employee feedback. The final number of layoffs may vary depending on Amazon’s financial priorities and evolving business strategy.

In a shocking sequence of events, a U.S. Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter jet and an MH-60R Seahawk helicopter crashed within only thirty minutes over the South China Sea on Sunday afternoon. Both aircraft had launched from the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz, which is currently returning to Washington State’s Naval Base Kitsap after completing its final mission. According to the U.S. Pacific Fleet, the two pilots of the Super Hornet ejected safely, while three crew members from the Seahawk were quickly rescued. All five servicemen are reported to be in stable condition. The Navy has begun a detailed investigation into the causes of both incidents. The Nimitz, one of the oldest operational U.S. aircraft carriers, had previously been deployed to the Middle East in response to Houthi attacks on commercial vessels. This is not the first such accident aboard a U.S. Navy carrier.

U.S. President Donald Trump stated that efforts to bring stability to the Gaza Strip are progressing rapidly, with an international peacekeeping force expected to be deployed soon. He made the announcement on October 25 after meeting Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani during a refueling stop in Doha. Trump emphasized that the objective should be lasting peace and noted that Qatar is willing to contribute peacekeeping troops if needed. He issued a stern warning to Hamas, insisting that the bodies of hostages—including two Americans—be returned immediately, or there will be serious consequences. Trump highlighted that while returning some bodies may be challenging, others could be sent back easily, but Hamas is reportedly withholding them. He added that both sides will be treated fairly if they meet their responsibilities, and stressed close monitoring of developments in the next 48 hours.

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced an additional 10% tariff on goods imported from Canada, citing anger over a controversial “anti-tariff” advertisement featuring former President Ronald Reagan. The decision follows Canada’s alleged failure to remove the advertisement, which Trump called misleading and hostile. On social media, he emphasized that the new tariff would be added to existing duties due to what he described as Canada’s distorted information and unfriendly behavior. Earlier, Trump withdrew from trade negotiations with Canada, prompting Ontario Premier Doug Ford to suspend the ad’s broadcast in the U.S. while keeping it on air during the World Series games between the Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers. Currently, U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods average 35%, with 50% on metals and 25% on automobiles. The new measure is expected to add an extra 10 percentage points to these existing tariffs.

The Trump administration has deployed the United States’ most advanced aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, to the Caribbean Sea as part of its expanding campaign against drug cartels. According to the Pentagon, the move strengthens U.S. military presence and deterrence capabilities in the Western Hemisphere. The supercarrier, accompanied by stealth fighters, surveillance planes, and several warships, signals a potential escalation in military operations near Venezuela. President Donald Trump has hinted that the next phase of his campaign may involve strikes on land-based targets, though he has not specified any countries or locations. Pentagon officials say the deployment will enhance U.S. ability to detect and disrupt illicit activities threatening national security. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro condemned the move, accusing Washington of creating a “war-like situation.” Analysts suggest the deployment reflects growing U.S. pressure on Venezuela and its regional allies amid tightening anti-narcotics operations.

U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly considering launching military strikes against suspected cocaine production sites and trafficking routes inside Venezuela, according to three senior American officials quoted by CNN. The move is part of Washington’s broader anti-narcotics strategy, though no final decision has been made. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has already ordered the deployment of a U.S. Navy carrier strike group to the Caribbean, alongside thousands of troops, as tensions rise in the region. Intelligence sources confirm the CIA has been granted authority to conduct covert operations in Venezuela. While the Trump administration has suspended direct diplomatic talks with President Nicolás Maduro, officials insist that diplomatic solutions remain on the table. Some advisers view potential strikes as a way to weaken Maduro’s hold on power. However, large-scale military action would likely require consultation with Congress, amid growing international concern about possible escalation in Latin America.

U.S. President Donald Trump has abruptly canceled all ongoing and future trade talks with Canada, citing a recent advertisement that featured former President Ronald Reagan criticizing tariffs. Trump announced the decision on Truth Social, calling Canada’s actions “disgraceful.” The move marks a sharp escalation in tensions between the two nations, which are major trading partners. During his previous term, Trump had imposed a 35% tariff on Canadian imports, with exemptions for products under the USMCA—his landmark free trade deal with Mexico and Canada. He also levied 50% tariffs on metals and 25% on automobiles imported from Canada. This latest decision threatens to destabilize North American trade relations and could have significant economic repercussions for both sides if maintained in the long term.

The United States and Australia have signed a major $8.5 billion agreement to expand cooperation in the mining and processing of rare and critical minerals. The deal aims to strengthen both countries’ mineral supply chains while reducing their reliance on China, which currently dominates around 70% of global mineral extraction and 90% of processing. Under the framework, both nations will invest $1 billion in new projects over the next six months. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the agreement will elevate bilateral ties to new heights. U.S. President Donald Trump also confirmed progress on the AUKUS submarine pact. The new minerals deal is part of a broader U.S. effort to secure critical resources needed for defense technology, electric vehicles, and semiconductors, amid escalating trade tensions with China and shifting global economic alliances.

U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed that Russia currently controls about 78 percent of Ukraine’s territory and urged both sides to immediately stop fighting. Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Trump stated that “both parties should stop the war now” and focus on negotiating a long-term territorial settlement instead of continued bloodshed. His remarks were reported by Al Jazeera on Monday, October 20. Trump emphasized the futility of ongoing violence, saying that continued warfare would make any future peace talks harder to achieve. Referring to the war-torn Donbas region, he suggested keeping current territorial lines “as they are” for now, asserting that Russia already occupies most of Ukraine’s land. This marks a notable shift from Trump’s earlier stance, when he suggested Ukraine could regain all its territories, including Crimea. Trump is also expected to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Hungary in the coming weeks, though no exact date has been confirmed.

Amazon Web Services (AWS), the cloud computing arm of Amazon, experienced a massive global outage that disrupted online services across multiple industries. The outage caused significant downtime for popular platforms including Fortnite, Snapchat, and Duolingo, as well as several major banks. AI startup Perplexity, cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase, and trading app Robinhood all reported service interruptions, citing AWS’s technical failure as the main reason. AWS confirmed that it was gradually restoring operations after identifying the issue. As one of the world’s largest cloud infrastructure providers, AWS powers the backend of countless apps, websites, and corporate systems. The incident highlighted the world’s heavy dependence on a few major cloud providers like AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure. Analysts noted that such outages can have ripple effects across global digital ecosystems, temporarily halting essential services, business operations, and user access to online platforms.

U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to consider accepting Russian President Vladimir Putin’s conditions to end the ongoing war in Ukraine. According to the Financial Times, the meeting escalated into shouting matches, with Trump warning that refusal to compromise could lead to Ukraine’s destruction. Officials said Trump repeatedly referenced Putin’s statements and pressured Zelensky to surrender the Donbas region to Moscow. Trump also claimed that Ukraine is “losing the war” and emphasized that Putin could destroy the country if he wished. At one point, Trump reportedly pushed aside battlefield maps, expressing frustration and saying he did not understand the “red lines.” The discussions highlighted the intense diplomatic pressure on Ukraine as the conflict continues, reflecting Trump’s controversial approach to the war.