Today's US political landscape features Trump's administration controversies, including a nominee's withdrawal due to racist texts and shelved talks with Putin, alongside congressional battles over appointments and redistricting, a White House ballroom demolition, and scrutiny over the President's competence.

• Trump nominee to lead whistleblower office drops out after racist texts surface — The Guardian -
• In a Reversal, Trump Will Not Meet With Putin in Coming Weeks — New York Times World -
• Arizona sues Mike Johnson to force swearing-in of Democrat who could sway Epstein vote — The Guardian -

• Deputy US marshal and man shot during Ice operation in Los Angeles — The Guardian -
• Trump says he did not want 'wasted meeting' after plan for Putin talks shelved — BBC World -
• Suspected explosive device prompts Wyoming capitol evacuation — The Guardian -
• North Carolina Republicans advance map to secure another seat in Congress — The Guardian -
• Elon Musk feuds with US transportation chief in social media posts: ‘2 digit IQ’ — The Guardian -
• ‘I’m not a secret Nazi’: Maine Democratic Senate candidate addresses tattoo — The Guardian -
• Speaker Mike Johnson says he won’t block House vote to release Epstein files — The Guardian -
• Arizona boy reportedly barred from team due to error on birth certificate — The Guardian -
• Albanese backs Rudd to keep role despite Trump criticism, saying ambassador ‘works his guts out’ in DC — The Guardian -
• Albanese hints US could still seek changes to Aukus agreement amid review — The Guardian -
• Latest Trump-Zelensky Meeting Yields No Progress Toward a Cease-fire in Ukraine — New York Times World -
• Trump’s nomination of Paul Ingrassia loses Republican support following racist text messages — The Guardian -
• January 6 US Capitol rioter arrested for alleged threat to kill Hakeem Jeffries — The Guardian -
• Fox News host Laura Ingraham joins business venture with Donald Trump Jr — The Guardian -
• Biden’s ex-press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre: ‘Why are Democrats not fighting back?’ — The Guardian -
• Scrutiny grows over Trump competence – but can an unfit president be removed? — The Guardian -
• General Motors lifts financial forecast as Trump tariff outlook improves — The Guardian -
• Trump EPA seeks to weaken scrutiny for some of US’s most toxic chemicals — The Guardian -
• Fears of heat-rationing for millions in US as shutdown delays energy aid — The Guardian -
• Santos’ release from prison felt like Trump ‘stuck me in the gut with a knife’, alleged fraud victim says — The Guardian -
• CIA playing ‘most important part’ in US strikes in the Caribbean, sources say — The Guardian -
• Can a U.S.-Australia Deal on Rare Earths Counter China’s Dominance? — New York Times World -
• China Has Another Lever to Pull in Showdown With Trump: Factory Lines — New York Times World -
• Tariffs Are Reshaping China’s Trade. This Tanzanian Sees an Opportunity. — New York Times World -
• White House begins demolishing part of East Wing for Trump ballroom — BBC World -
• White House begins demolishing part of East Wing for Trump ballroom — BBC World -
• US and Australia sign rare earths deal to counter China's dominance — BBC World -
• US and Australia sign rare earths deal to counter China's dominance — BBC World -
• University of Arizona becomes seventh US college to reject Trump’s ‘compact’ — The Guardian -

Key developments in global conflicts highlight ongoing efforts to stabilize the Gaza cease-fire, with US Vice President Vance's visit and Britain's troop deployment, while Hamas returns bodies of hostages and allegations of mutilated Palestinian bodies surface. Ukraine experiences a blackout after Russian assault, and Poland threatens to arrest Putin.

• What’s Left to Be Done in the Gaza Cease-Fire Deal — New York Times World -
• With Israel-Hamas Cease-Fire, Some Pro-Palestinian Protesters Look Back at Their Movement, Ruefully — New York Times World -
• Britain sends small number of troops to monitor Gaza ceasefire — The Guardian -

• Israel receives two bodies Hamas says are dead hostages — BBC World -
• A Nepali Town Mourns a Native Son Who Died a Hamas Captive — New York Times World -
• Ukrainian city in total blackout after 'massive' Russian assault — BBC World -
• Gaza ceasefire deal going better than expected, Vance says — BBC World -
• Gaza ceasefire deal going better than expected, Vance says — BBC World -
• JD Vance insists truce is ‘durable’ and repeats Trump threat to ‘obliterate’ Hamas if group fails to comply – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Poland threatens Putin with arrest if he flies through its airspace on way to Hungary – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Israel's 'yellow line' in Gaza gives Netanyahu room for manoeuvre — BBC World -
• Europe's leaders back Trump call for frontline freeze but Russia says no — BBC World -
• At least 135 mutilated bodies of Palestinians had been held at notorious Israeli jail, say Gaza officials | First Thing — The Guardian -
• White House Works to Preserve Gaza Deal Amid Concerns About Netanyahu — New York Times World -
• Gaza Humanitarian Foundation Operations Unravel — New York Times World -
• Palestinian woman in hospital after being clubbed by masked Israeli settler — BBC World -
• Israel receives body of Hamas hostage Tal Haimi — BBC World -
• EU criticised for pausing sanctions on Israel in response to Trump Gaza efforts — The Guardian -
• Bob Vylan ‘not regretful’ about IDF chant at Glastonbury: ‘I’d do it again tomorrow’ — The Guardian -

Major international developments include France's former President Nicolas Sarkozy beginning a prison sentence, Japan appointing its first female Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, and Ireland facing violent protests over asylum seekers. Also featured are Ecuador's release of a drug trafficking suspect, Myanmar's crackdown on scam operations, and concerns over welfare cuts fueling populism.

• Dublin police condemn ‘thuggery’ after protest outside hotel housing asylum seekers turns violent — The Guardian -
• Kosovo offers to become first country to accept Britain’s refused asylum seekers — The Guardian -
• China, Xi and the S-word — New York Times World -

• Colombian court overturns former president's conviction — BBC World -
• Court overturns conviction of Colombian ex-president Álvaro Uribe — The Guardian -
• France Sends Former President Nicolas Sarkozy to Prison to Start 5-Year Sentence — New York Times World -
• Nicolas Sarkozy enters prison to begin five-year sentence over criminal conspiracy — The Guardian -
• Case of a single vote that decided a federal election in Canada sparks uproar — The Guardian -
• Haiti’s Last President was Killed in 2021. Why Is His Case Taking So Long — New York Times World -
• Ecuador releases survivor of US strike on alleged drug-trafficking submarine — The Guardian -
• Ecuador releases survivor of US strike on 'drug sub' in Caribbean — BBC World -
• Ecuador releases survivor of US strike on 'drug sub' in Caribbean — BBC World -
• Welfare cuts have fuelled rise of far right and populism, top UN expert says — The Guardian -
• CSL and Optus pay millions to executives despite paying no company tax in Australia — The Guardian -
• Albanese’s critical minerals deal isn’t good economics – but in Trump and Xi’s new world, bargaining chips matter — The Guardian -
• Companies could have profits from breaking environment laws stripped under Australian reforms — The Guardian -
• Slovak PM Fico's attacker sentenced to 21 years in prison — BBC World -
• Slovak PM Fico's attacker sentenced to 21 years in prison — BBC World -
• Meet Japan's drum-playing, Thatcher-loving first female prime minister — BBC World -
• Japan's first female leader: A historic moment with caveats — BBC World -
• Japan's first female leader: A historic moment with caveats — BBC World -
• Sanae Takaichi appoints just two women to cabinet after becoming Japan’s first female PM — The Guardian -
• Watch: A 'big moment' for France as Sarkozy jailed — BBC World -
• Belize agrees to host migrants seeking asylum in US — BBC World -
• A Trump visit, a creaking coalition and a cost of living crisis: Japan’s new PM needs a fast start — The Guardian -
• Jacinta Nampijinpa Price shouldn’t ‘just parrot’ claims without verifying, defamation trial hears — The Guardian -
• Don’t use AI to tell you how to vote in election, says Dutch watchdog — The Guardian -
• Sanae Takaichi makes history as Japan's first female prime minister — BBC World -
• Russia Pushes a State-Controlled ‘Super App’ by Sabotaging Its Rivals — New York Times World -
• Drone attack hits Sudan's capital ahead of planned airport reopening — BBC World -
• Drone attack hits Sudan's capital ahead of planned airport reopening — BBC World -
• Australian Christian Lobby says any new laws protecting people from cults could be ‘very dangerous’ — The Guardian -
• Pat Conroy says China’s claims RAAF aircraft illegally entered its airspace ‘factually incorrect’ – as it happened — The Guardian -
• ‘Ask your daughters’: Merz defends his call for large-scale deportations — The Guardian -
• More than 1,000 guns and parts seized in illicit weapon crackdown in Australia and New Zealand — The Guardian -
• Thousands detained as Myanmar military raids notorious KK park scam compound — The Guardian -

Significant UK domestic matters cover legal reforms like denying parental responsibility to sex offenders and shifting family court presumptions in domestic abuse cases, alongside economic challenges such as rising borrowing and construction plunges. Also noted are ongoing inquiries into grooming gangs and calls to strip Prince Andrew of his dukedom.

• Sex offenders to be denied parental responsibility for children born of rape — The Guardian -
• Water firms in England could face harsher sewage fines under new Environment Agency powers — The Guardian -
• Family law shift hailed as victory for children facing domestic abuse — The Guardian -

• Grandchildren of Ruth Ellis, last woman to be hanged in UK, ask for pardon — The Guardian -
• Intelligence on ‘extreme’ Maccabi fans with history of violence led to Villa Park ban — The Guardian -
• MPs lodge parliamentary motion to strip Prince Andrew of dukedom — The Guardian -
• Lucy Powell urged ministers to rethink legal action against Labour donor’s firm — The Guardian -
• UK grooming gang inquiry faces further disruption as candidate for leader withdraws — The Guardian -
• Black History Month now year-round event at Fulham Palace as it addresses its past — The Guardian -
• Asylum seeker denies being at railway station where Walsall hotel worker was killed — The Guardian -
• Jenrick accused of being ‘anti-British’ after saying he would ‘probably’ ban burqa – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Former Northamptonshire police chief Nick Adderley to face criminal charges — The Guardian -
• Serial rapist who ran Plymouth teeth-whitening salon jailed for 26 years — The Guardian -
• UK office, shop and warehouse construction plunges to 11-year low as costs soar — The Guardian -
• Covid inquiry as it happened: children paid ‘huge price’ to protect rest of society in pandemic, says Johnson — The Guardian -
• Bank of England chief warns of ‘worrying echoes’ of 2008 financial crisis — The Guardian -
• All profits from Orkney windfarm will go to local services, says council — The Guardian -
• Repair bills could force hundreds of UK churches to close within five years — The Guardian -
• Two more men arrested over death of Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins — The Guardian -
• ‘World’s loneliest’ gorillas are doing just fine, say Bristol zoo bosses — The Guardian -
• David Blunkett backs proposal for skilled migrants to train British workers — The Guardian -
• Reeves has mountain to climb in budget after borrowing rise — The Guardian -
• Death of British overseas territories citizen prompts calls for reform of UK rules — The Guardian -
• Tuesday briefing: What the sidelining of Prince Andrew says about the future of the royal family — The Guardian -
• London museum identifies black Waterloo veteran in rare 1821 painting — The Guardian -
• Friedrich Engels ‘took creative liberties’ with descriptions of class divides in Manchester — The Guardian -

Notable crime, culture, and technology stories include the ongoing investigation into the Louvre jewelry heist, OpenAI launching a new AI-powered web browser 'ChatGPT Atlas', and Amazon Web Services experiencing a global outage. Also covered are celebrity legal troubles and quirky human interest stories like a giant pumpkin rowing race.

• Louvre Robbery: What Was Stolen — New York Times World -
• Stolen Louvre Jewelry Worth Over $100 Million, Paris Prosecutor Says — New York Times World -
• Watch: Dozens of giant pumpkins hit the water for rowing race — BBC World -

• ChatGPT Atlas: OpenAI launches web browser centered around its chatbot — The Guardian -
• Stolen Louvre jewellery worth €88m, prosecutor says — BBC World -
• Louvre Robbery Raises Questions About Security — New York Times World -
• Louvre heist losses put at almost €90m as museum’s head prepares to face MPs — The Guardian -
• Eight Shows to See While Art Basel Paris is On — New York Times World -
• Cartier, Vuitton and Pinault Use Private Money for Public Art Shows — New York Times World -
• ‘Significant exposure’: Amazon Web Services outage exposed UK state’s £1.7bn reliance on tech giant — The Guardian -
• Warner Bros Discovery considers sale as potential buyers show interest — The Guardian -
• The Louvre Heist — New York Times World -
• US chess grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky dies aged 29 — BBC World -
• Sean 'Diddy' Combs says he plans to appeal sentence and conviction — BBC World -
• Suspect Charged in Paris Museum Heist (No, Not That One) — New York Times World -
• US pilots make emergency landing after mistaking static sound for plane invasion — The Guardian -
• Woman charged after 1.5m euros of gold stolen from Paris museum — BBC World -
• ‘Pirate Lizards’ Can Get Around on 3 Legs — New York Times World -
• Kevin Federline has held off writing about Britney Spears. Until now — BBC World -
• Can France retrieve its priceless crown jewels - or is it too late? — BBC World -
• Can France retrieve its priceless crown jewels - or is it too late? — BBC World -
• How the Louvre Thieves Did It — New York Times World -
• Amazon outage 'resolved' as Snapchat and banks among sites impacted — BBC World -
• Amazon outage 'resolved' as Snapchat and banks among sites impacted — BBC World -
• Woman trying to kill cockroach sets South Korea apartment block ablaze — BBC World -
• Amazon’s AWS Disruption Creates Outages for Hundreds of Websites for Hours — New York Times World -
• Louvre Museum Remains Closed After Jewelry Robbery: What to Know — New York Times World -
• What to Know About Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights — New York Times World -

Crucial updates on environment and health focus on severe air pollution in Delhi following Diwali, Australia experiencing record October heat, and critical wildlife news, including a slow increase in North Atlantic right whale populations. The first discovery of mosquitoes in Iceland highlights climate crisis impacts, and concerns are raised over Trump EPA's weakening of toxic chemical scrutiny.

• With Diwali Comes the Start of Air Pollution Season in New Delhi — New York Times World -
• Scientists say North Atlantic right whale population slowly increasing — The Guardian -
• Mosquitoes found in Iceland for first time as climate crisis warms country — The Guardian -

• Tornado hits Paris suburbs leaving one dead — BBC World -
• Delhi awakes to a toxic haze after Diwali as pollution season begins — The Guardian -
• From Industry to E.P.A.: Lobbyist Now Oversees Pesticide Rules — New York Times World -
• October heat records broken across Australia as Sydney braces for temperatures way above the norm — The Guardian -
• Toxic haze in Delhi despite 'green' Diwali — BBC World -
• Toxic haze in Delhi despite 'green' Diwali — BBC World -
• Deadly Tornado Hits Suburbs of Paris — New York Times World -
• Almond-sized crab and tiny lantern shark discovered in Australia — BBC World -
• One dead after rare tornado topples construction cranes near Paris — The Guardian -