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.

A long-standing pillar of American conservative politics—the unwavering support for Israel among Christian evangelicals—is showing signs of erosion. The ongoing Gaza war and public criticism from influential conservative figures such as Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens, and Marjorie Taylor Greene have fueled growing anti-Israel sentiment within right-wing circles. Surveys indicate that negative views of Israel among conservatives under 50 have risen from 35% to 50% in three years. Experts warn that this generational shift could reshape US foreign policy and affect military and economic aid to Israel. Researchers note that only 32% of evangelicals aged 18–34 now express sympathy for Israel, signaling a significant change in attitudes that once defined conservative identity.

After 40 days of the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, the Senate has voted to advance a stopgap funding package aimed at reopening federal operations through January. The deal comes after centrist Democrats agreed to back the plan in exchange for a commitment to vote on healthcare subsidies by December. The package secures funding for government sectors including food assistance and the legislative branch until the fiscal year’s end. With around eight Democrats supporting it, the Senate reached the 60-vote threshold to break the impasse. While some, like Senator Tim Kaine, praised the measure for protecting federal workers and ensuring back pay, others, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Bernie Sanders, criticized it for failing to directly increase healthcare subsidies. President Trump expressed optimism and continues pushing to replace ACA subsidies directly to individuals.

A U.S. intelligence report from last year revealed that Israeli military lawyers had warned there was enough evidence to raise allegations of war crimes during Israel’s Gaza operations, which heavily relied on U.S. weaponry. Former officials described the report as one of the most alarming presented to top U.S. policymakers, showing internal doubts within the Israeli military about the legality of their actions, contrasting with public government statements. Rising civilian deaths prompted concerns that Israel could be violating international human rights and war laws, though the report did not cite specific incidents. Despite this, the Biden administration concluded there was no proof that Israel intentionally targeted civilians, allowing arms and intelligence cooperation to continue. The situation has drawn international scrutiny, including ICC and ICJ investigations, while Israel maintains its operations targeted Hamas, not Gaza’s general population.