A new Reuters–Ipsos poll reveals that 58% of Americans disapprove of President Donald Trump’s performance, marking his lowest approval level since taking office. Conducted online over six days among 1,200 adults, the survey found Trump’s approval steady at around 40%, while disapproval rose from 52% in May to 58% in November. The poll also indicates growing enthusiasm among Democrats ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, with 44% of Democratic voters saying they are highly motivated to vote compared to 26% of Republicans. Recent Democratic victories in Virginia, New Jersey, and New York have fueled optimism within the party. The survey concluded just before Congress voted to end a record 43-day government shutdown by passing a temporary spending bill extending federal funding until January 30.

New research from William & Mary graduate student Bryce Donaghue suggests that solar farms can support local ecosystems if managed with biodiversity in mind. Donaghue studied bat activity around solar panels and found that vegetation supporting pollinators attracted more insects, which in turn drew bats to feed. Traditional solar farms often have cleared or turf-covered land, limiting insect and bat activity. However, Donaghue’s preliminary data, based on over 70,000 sound recordings, indicate that pollinator-friendly habitats under and around solar panels increase bat presence. The findings could reshape how renewable energy developers design and maintain solar farms, turning them into dual-purpose sites that generate clean energy while supporting wildlife. The study highlights the potential for solar infrastructure to coexist with and even enhance local flora and fauna.

Verizon Communications plans to eliminate about 15,000 jobs, or roughly 15% of its workforce, as part of a sweeping restructuring effort, according to a source familiar with the matter. The layoffs, the largest in the company’s history, will primarily target non-union management positions, affecting more than 20% of that group. The move follows the appointment of former PayPal CEO Dan Schulman as Verizon’s new chief executive in October. Schulman has emphasized the need for aggressive cost transformation and a leaner business model amid slowing subscriber growth and rising competition from AT&T and T-Mobile. Verizon also intends to convert around 180 corporate-owned retail stores into franchised operations. The company’s shares rose 1.7% following the news, reflecting investor optimism about the restructuring’s potential to improve efficiency and profitability.

During a White House meeting on November 10, U.S. President Donald Trump sprayed his own brand of perfume on Syria’s interim president Ahmad al-Shara, jokingly asking how many wives he had. The lighthearted exchange, captured on video, quickly went viral on social media, drawing mixed reactions—some calling it an awkward breach of protocol, others viewing it as Trump’s trademark humor. The meeting, the first between U.S. and Syrian leaders since Bashar al-Assad’s fall, focused on post-war stability, U.S. troop withdrawal, and reconstruction. Al-Shara, formerly known as Abu Muhammad al-Jolani and once labeled a global terrorist, now seeks international legitimacy. Analysts say the encounter marked a historic step in rebuilding U.S.-Syria relations, though the ‘perfume moment’ overshadowed the diplomatic agenda.

Former President Donald Trump defended the use of H-1B visas in a recent Fox News interview, arguing that the United States must bring in foreign workers with specialized skills that some American workers currently lack. He said that while the U.S. has many talented people, certain industries—such as automotive and artificial intelligence—require expertise that cannot always be sourced domestically. Trump’s remarks contrast with his previous hardline immigration stance, which included raising the H-1B visa fee to $100,000. The comments come amid ongoing debate among his allies, including Vivek Ramaswamy and Elon Musk, over balancing immigration restrictions with the need for global talent. Trump also reiterated support for temporary work permits for immigrant farmworkers, citing labor shortages in agriculture.

The United States has imposed new sanctions on 32 individuals and entities from several countries, including India, targeting networks that support Iran’s ballistic missile and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) programs. According to the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the sanctioned parties are based in Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, China, Hong Kong, India, Germany, and Ukraine. Washington accuses these networks of aiding Iran’s weapons production capabilities. Tehran, however, insists its missile and drone programs are purely defensive and that its nuclear activities are peaceful. The move comes amid indirect talks between Tehran and Washington and follows recent US and Israeli military actions against Iran, which Tehran has denounced as violations of international law.

A US federal judge has ordered the release of 615 people detained under the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown in Illinois. District Judge Jeffrey Cummings ruled in favor of the National Immigration Justice Center and the ACLU, which argued that US Immigration and Customs Enforcement violated a 2022 settlement by conducting warrantless arrests during 'Operation Midway Blitz.' The order applies to detainees without mandatory detention orders or significant public safety risks, requiring their release by November 21. The Department of Homeland Security condemned the decision, calling it dangerous and labeling Cummings an 'activist judge.' DHS has not yet confirmed whether it will appeal, though government attorneys have requested a stay. The ruling highlights ongoing tensions between federal immigration enforcement and local jurisdictions over alleged racial profiling and constitutional violations during mass arrests.

Yann LeCun, Meta’s chief artificial intelligence scientist and a pioneer in deep learning, is reportedly preparing to leave the company to start his own AI-focused venture, according to the Financial Times. LeCun, who joined Meta in 2013 to lead its Facebook Artificial Intelligence Research (FAIR) unit, is said to be in early talks to raise funds for the new startup. His planned departure comes as Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg restructures the company’s AI initiatives under a new division called Superintelligence Labs, led by Alexandr Wang, former CEO of Scale AI. LeCun, a Turing Award winner and professor at New York University, is known for inventing convolutional neural networks, a foundational technology in modern AI. Meta has recently pledged to invest $600 billion in U.S. AI infrastructure over the next three years.

The United States has decided to stop producing the one-cent coin, known as the penny, ending a tradition that began in 1793. The final batch will be minted at the Philadelphia Mint, marking the end of over 230 years of continuous production. Although pennies will remain legal tender, their circulation is expected to decline as businesses adjust prices to round figures. The Treasury Department estimates the move will save about $56 million annually, as each penny currently costs around four cents to produce. The decision follows the growing dominance of digital transactions and the declining practical use of small coins. However, analysts warn that consumers may face an additional $6 million in annual costs due to price rounding. Attention is now turning to the nickel, which costs nearly three times its face value to manufacture.

The US House of Representatives voted to end the longest government shutdown in American history after 43 days of partial closure. The measure passed with 222 votes in favor and 209 against, with six Democrats joining Republicans to approve the deal. The Senate had already passed the funding bill earlier in the week. President Donald Trump signed the bill into law shortly after the House vote, officially reopening government operations. The shutdown had forced thousands of federal employees to work without pay or take unpaid leave. With the new law, federal workers are expected to return to work and receive back pay, while essential services such as food assistance and air traffic control begin resuming normal operations. However, the timeline for full restoration of all government services remains uncertain.

The United States has imposed sanctions on five officials and three entities based in Myanmar and Thailand for their alleged involvement in online investment scams and forced labor operations. According to US government data, Americans lost at least $10 billion to Southeast Asia-based online fraud schemes in 2024, marking a 66% increase from the previous year. Washington said these criminal networks increasingly target US citizens online, posing a serious threat to the nation’s economic security. The sanctions reinforce efforts by the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, the FBI, and the Secret Service’s Scam Center Strike Force to investigate and prosecute scam networks operating in Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos. The US reaffirmed its commitment to using all legal and diplomatic tools to protect its citizens from cyber fraud.

HBO is developing a live-action television adaptation of the iconic comic series 'V for Vendetta,' according to Variety. The project is in early development, with writer Pete Jackson attached to create the series. Warner Bros. Television will produce the show, joined by DC Studios executives James Gunn and Peter Safran as executive producers, alongside Ben Stephenson and Leanne Klein from Warner Bros. Television Studios UK. The original comic, created by Alan Moore and David Lloyd, depicts a dystopian future Britain ruled by a totalitarian regime, with a masked vigilante named V leading a rebellion. The adaptation follows HBO’s growing slate of DC live-action series, including 'The Penguin.' The 2005 film version of 'V for Vendetta' was a critical and commercial success, and Warner Bros. plans to re-release it in theaters in November 2026 to celebrate its 20th anniversary.

Recently released emails from convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein suggest that former and current U.S. President Donald Trump may have been aware of Epstein’s victims. The emails, disclosed by Democratic members of the House Oversight Committee, include a 2011 message in which Epstein told Ghislaine Maxwell that Trump spent hours with one of the victims at his home. Another 2019 email to journalist Michael Wolff claimed Trump knew about the girls and had asked Maxwell to stop. The White House and Trump have dismissed the revelations as politically motivated, accusing Democrats of selectively releasing documents to tarnish his image. The emails are part of 23,000 documents from Epstein’s estate, followed by an additional 20,000 pages released by Republicans. The disclosures have reignited debate over Trump’s past ties with Epstein, an issue that has resurfaced multiple times since Epstein’s death.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has said he feels an 'obligation' to sue the BBC, accusing the British broadcaster of misleading the public by editing his January 6, 2021 speech in a Panorama documentary. The BBC has already apologized, admitting the edit gave the impression that Trump directly called for violent action. The controversy has reportedly contributed to the resignations of BBC Director General Tim Davie and BBC News head Deborah Turness. Trump’s legal team has filed a billion-dollar claim in a Florida court, though legal experts doubt its success due to the state’s liberal libel laws and the limited broadcast reach of the program. The BBC faces a dilemma over whether to fight the case publicly or settle, as any payout could be politically sensitive given its public funding.

U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to sue the BBC, accusing the broadcaster of airing a misleading Panorama documentary that allegedly edited his speech to make it sound like he urged supporters to attack Capitol Hill. The documentary was broadcast ahead of last year’s U.S. election. The BBC confirmed receiving a legal warning from Trump, while Chairman Samir Shah said the organization is preparing for potential litigation, describing Trump as “a very litigious man.” The controversy has deepened as BBC Director-General Tim Davie and Head of News Deborah Turness both resigned on Sunday, intensifying scrutiny on the network’s editorial practices. Several of Trump’s previous lawsuits against U.S. media outlets have already been dismissed, but his latest threat has drawn global attention and raised questions about press freedom, accountability, and political influence in journalism.