A devastating explosion at the Accurate Energetic Systems facility in Bucksnort, Tennessee, has left at least 16 people dead. The blast, which occurred on October 10, was powerful enough to be felt several kilometers away. Initially, 18 workers were reported missing, but authorities later confirmed two were found safe. Sheriff Davis described the tragedy as a “deeply painful moment” for the local community, adding that DNA testing will be required to identify the victims. Rescue efforts have now shifted to recovery operations. Investigators from the FBI and ATF are working at the site, though the cause of the explosion remains unknown. The presence of large quantities of explosives has complicated recovery work. The company called the event a “tragic accident” but has yet to comment on possible causes.

Wall Street experienced a historic plunge as major U.S. stock indices suffered their largest drop since Donald Trump took office. The sudden market crash was triggered after President Trump announced the cancellation of a high-profile meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping during the APEC summit, citing escalating trade tensions. In addition, Trump hinted at imposing significant tariffs on imported Chinese goods, fueling fears of a renewed trade war between the world’s two largest economies. U.S. media reports indicated that by Friday’s close, all weekly gains were erased as investors reacted to the news with panic selling. Analysts attribute the rapid decline to growing uncertainty in global trade relations and potential economic repercussions. The announcement sent shockwaves across financial markets worldwide, creating heightened volatility and investor anxiety.

The United States has imposed sanctions on eight Indian citizens and nine companies involved in trading Iranian oil, petroleum products, and petrochemicals. Announced on Thursday, this move is part of Washington’s intensified economic pressure campaign on Iran. The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) also blacklisted an additional 60 individuals, companies, and vessels linked to transporting Iranian oil and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to international buyers, including entities from China and the UAE. Among the Indian entities sanctioned are Mumbai-based CJ Shah & Co., Chemovic, Modi Chem, Parichem Resources, Indisil Marketing, Haresh Petrochem, Shiv Texchem, and Delhi-based BK Sales Corporation. The State Department claimed these companies imported Iranian petrochemicals worth millions over recent years. Five Indian citizens, including directors of these firms, were also named, alongside three others connected to Iranian LPG transport.

U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled to visit Israel on Monday morning, arriving at Ben Gurion Airport shortly after 9 a.m. local time. Upon arrival, he will be welcomed with a formal ceremony and will travel directly to the Knesset in Jerusalem to deliver a speech ahead of the Simhat Torah festival, which begins Monday evening. The trip comes in the wake of a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement between Israel and Hamas. Channel 12 reported that the visit will be brief, with Trump returning directly to the airport and departing the country after his address. Originally planned to arrive on Sunday, the visit was shortened due to limited preparation time. According to reports, Trump will not be able to visit Tel Aviv’s “Hostages Square,” despite expectations from families of hostages held by Hamas for his presence there.

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that his administration will begin working with Iran to implement a peace agreement. During a recent cabinet meeting, Trump also commented on the future of Gaza, saying that the region will gradually be rebuilt by wealthier neighboring countries. He described the reconstruction efforts as “remarkable” and praised the initiative, noting he had not seen such enthusiasm before. Trump added that the release of remaining prisoners is expected “on Monday or Tuesday” and emphasized that at some point, ongoing conflicts must end. While Trump plans visits to Egypt and occupied Palestine, he will not travel to Gaza. Meanwhile, the U.S. Treasury Department imposed new sanctions on over 50 individuals, organizations, and ships involved in Iran’s oil and liquefied natural gas exports, including three Indian citizens, as part of efforts to disrupt key components of Iran’s energy export system.

The United States will deploy 200 troops to Israel to form a new task force aimed at supporting humanitarian and security coordination efforts in Gaza, officials confirmed. Known as the Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC), the task force will facilitate the flow of aid into Gaza, including both security assistance and humanitarian operations. U.S. personnel will remain in Israel and will not be deployed to any Palestinian areas. They will oversee planning, logistics, supply, and engineering aspects of relief efforts, working alongside international partners from Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and possibly the UAE. The CMCC will coordinate with Israeli forces and other security entities to prevent conflicts while monitoring the Gaza agreement. Officials emphasized that the mission is purely supportive and non-combat in nature, providing expertise and leadership to aid operations rather than engaging in military action.

US President Donald Trump has announced that the war in Gaza has officially ended, crediting the United States for successfully brokering peace in the Middle East. Speaking during a cabinet meeting on Thursday (October 9), Trump said, “The United States has stopped this war,” calling it a major diplomatic breakthrough. He expressed optimism that the region is now moving toward “long-term and possibly permanent peace.” Trump also stated that Israeli hostages held in Gaza are expected to be released on Monday or Tuesday, and that the US delegation will travel to Egypt to sign a peace agreement. Additionally, he urged wealthy Middle Eastern nations to contribute to Gaza’s reconstruction, saying that even a small portion of their resources could greatly help rebuild the war-torn area. Trump’s remarks come amid growing international efforts to restore stability and humanitarian aid in Gaza.

A recent report by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has raised serious concerns over religious freedom in Pakistan, highlighting increasing persecution of the Ahmadiyya community, forced conversions, and violent attacks against religious minorities. Pakistan has been designated a “Country of Particular Concern” due to its systematic discrimination against Ahmadis and the government’s failure to curb related violence. The report notes that Pakistan’s Penal Code openly discriminates against Ahmadis, restricting their ability to identify as Muslims or practice their faith publicly. In 2025, violence escalated with three Ahmadi mosques demolished in Punjab in February, followed by an attack in April where over 400 people assaulted another Ahmadi mosque, brutally killing Ahmadi worker Laiq Chima. Forced conversions of Hindu and Christian girls continue in Sindh and Punjab. The USCIRF urges increased awareness and action by policymakers to protect religious minorities in the country.

A 13-year-old student in Florida was arrested after using a school computer to ask OpenAI’s ChatGPT how to kill his friend. The incident occurred at Southwestern Middle School, where the school’s monitoring system, Gaggle, detected the alarming query and immediately alerted authorities. Following standard security protocol, campus police quickly identified and detained the student. During questioning, the boy claimed he was joking, but law enforcement took the threat seriously, citing the long history of school violence in the U.S. The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the teen has been sent to a juvenile detention center. Officials urged parents to talk with their children about responsible technology use, emphasizing the potential consequences of such behavior. This case follows an earlier incident in California, where a 16-year-old’s death was allegedly linked to harmful chatbot interactions, leading to legal action against OpenAI.

The U.S. Senate has once again failed to pass a key spending bill required to end the ongoing government shutdown, marking the fifth consecutive deadlock. Both Democratic and Republican proposals were rejected—Democrats’ bill fell short with 45–50 votes, while Republicans’ plan was defeated 52–42, leaving federal operations paralyzed for the fifth straight day. Democrats seek to prioritize healthcare funding and restore Medicaid subsidies, while Republicans demand a “clean” bill without new spending commitments. President Donald Trump expressed willingness to negotiate but insisted that the government must first reopen. Meanwhile, thousands of federal employees continue to work without pay. The White House has begun procedures for potential layoffs if the impasse persists. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer denied claims of ongoing talks with Trump, deepening the political standoff as uncertainty grips Washington.

Elon Musk has unveiled plans to create Grokipedia, a new open-source digital encyclopedia designed as an alternative to Wikipedia. Built on XAI’s chatbot Grok, the platform aims to provide “more neutral, intelligent, and limitless” knowledge, according to Musk. He invited users on the X platform to contribute, promising a collaborative space where information is free from political bias. Musk has often criticized Wikipedia for left-leaning tendencies and even offered $1 billion to acquire it in 2023. The announcement comes amid renewed controversy around Wikipedia, as co-founder Larry Sanger called it “a propaganda machine” and accused administrators of censoring conservative and libertarian perspectives. With Grokipedia, Musk seeks to position his platform as a major competitor in the global knowledge and technology space, sparking curiosity and debate among tech enthusiasts and information seekers alike.

A new report from Brown University’s Cost of War Project reveals that the United States has spent nearly $34 billion on military operations and aid in the Middle East over the past two years. Of this, Israel alone has received more than $21 billion in support—fueling its continued offensives in Gaza, Yemen, and tensions with Iran. Analysts argue that without U.S. funding, weapons, and political backing, Israel could not sustain prolonged conflicts across multiple fronts. The report, titled “U.S. Military Aid and Arms Transfers to Israel, October 2023–September 2025,” underscores Washington’s central role in the region’s instability. Critics in the U.S. note growing frustration among taxpayers, who bear the cost of these wars. Meanwhile, public opinion among American Jews is shifting, with many acknowledging Israel’s actions in Gaza as war crimes. Experts warn this support may reshape U.S. politics ahead of the 2028 elections.

U.S. President Donald Trump has urged Hamas and Israel to take swift action as both parties hold emergency peace talks in Egypt to end the Gaza conflict. In a Truth Social post on Sunday, Trump said discussions with Hamas had been “positive” and involved several Arab and Muslim nations working toward a ceasefire and the release of hostages. He noted that strategic teams would reconvene Monday to finalize terms, hoping to conclude the first phase this week. Speaking to reporters in Washington, Trump hinted that hostages could soon be freed, describing his plan as a “great deal” for Israel, the Arab world, and global peace. Meanwhile, Israel continued airstrikes in Gaza, including on Al-Mawasi, killing at least 24 people, despite Trump’s proposed peace roadmap.

A treasure-hunting company, 1715 Fleet-Queen’s Jewels LLC, has recovered more than 1,000 silver coins and five gold coins from a shipwreck off Florida’s coast. The ship, which sank in 1715, has long been associated with Spanish treasure fleets lost to storms. Experts estimate the market value of the recovered treasure at around $1 million (approximately 12.17 crore Bangladeshi taka). The discovery adds to ongoing efforts to locate more artifacts from the same wreck, believed to contain a much larger cache of valuable items. The coins’ excellent condition and historical significance have sparked fresh excitement among archaeologists and collectors.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury has revealed a draft design for a one-dollar coin featuring former President Donald Trump, as part of plans to commemorate the 250th anniversary of American independence in 2026. The proposed design shows Trump’s profile on the front, with the word “Liberty” above and the years “1776–2026” below. The draft image was first shared on social media platform X by U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beech, later officially confirmed by the Treasury Office. This proposed coin would be part of a limited-edition series recognizing figures linked to the nation’s political and historical legacy. The idea has sparked both interest and debate across political circles, as Trump’s inclusion on currency would mark an unprecedented move in modern U.S. history.