Island state of the United States in the Pacific
Villa Vie Residences has suspended the Odyssey’s voyage as fuel costs surge amid the Iran war. Passengers are disembarking in Cambodia while the operator seeks restructuring; earlier reports noted dramatic fuel-price increases and cash-flow pressures.
A UK study involving nearly 1 million adults has found that drinking beverages at very hot temperatures is associated with a higher risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). The risk rises with frequency, but overall numbers remain small. Experts urge cooling drinks before consumption and maintaining other protective habits.
A guide to lesser-known fall landscapes across the United States, highlighting offbeat spots from the Midwest to New England and beyond, with practical tips on crowds, reservations, and hidden gems.
Iranian authorities have carried out the execution of Hossein Pedaran, who allegedly provided information on missile sites to Mossad. The judiciary says the sentence was upheld by the supreme court, with the case not previously reported by media. The move comes as Iran faces ongoing conflict and domestic protests.
US ambassador to China David Perdue has said President Donald Trump asked Xi Jinping whether China would like to buy US weapons. The State Department has reiterated that US law prohibits arms sales to China and there is no plan to sell. The comments come as Washington has paused a roughly $14bn arms package to Taiwan.
Tropical Cyclones Polo and Nolo are intensifying and threatening Mexico’s Pacific coast and Hawaii, with warnings of life-threatening flooding, mudslides, and widespread damage. Governments are mobilising evacuations, shelters, and power restoration efforts as forecasts shift.
A hurricane is tracking toward southwestern Mexico as it fuels on record-strong El Niño waters. NOAA says Polo remains an extremely dangerous Category 5 storm, with potential for heavy rain, flooding and dangerous surf along the Pacific coast; no landfall is expected but residents face urgent warnings.
Heavy, near‑continuous rain since late September has dumped roughly 300–330mm across Bangkok, forcing the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration to declare all 50 districts disaster zones. Major roads and canals have flooded, thousands of households have been affected and airports and businesses have suffered disruptions as authorities pump water and open shelters.
Nolo has strengthened toward a dangerous hurricane off Hawaii, while Polo threatens Mexico’s Baja California as forecasters warn of heavy rain, flooding and power outages. Authorities have activated emergency responses and urged precautions as the storms loom.
Polo has strengthened into a Category 3 hurricane with winds around 125 mph. It is moving toward the Baja California peninsula and mainland Mexico, bringing heavy rain, flooding and storm surge risks. Authorities say embankments in San Carlos and San Juanico face breach threats, prompting evacuations and shelter preparations. The storm could also trigger heavy rain and flooding in the U.S. Southwest as it tracks north.
SpaceX has flown Starship into low‑Earth orbit for the first time during its 14th test flight from Starbase, Texas, and has deployed 26 Starlink V3 satellites. The Super Heavy booster has returned to the Gulf of Mexico; the upper stage has completed multiple orbits before a planned reentry and splashdown west of Chile during a roughly 10‑hour mission on Monday.
Ground-level metals linked to respiratory harm persist in residents for months after wildfires, with new Hawaii study showing elevated arsenic, cadmium, copper and antimony in urine up to 18 months post-blaze, underscoring long-term health risks beyond immediate smoke exposure.
President Donald Trump has signed a voluntary accord with executives from OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Meta, xAI and Nvidia committing companies to four layers of internal and external AI controls, including auditors and board oversight. The pact is non‑binding, leaves disclosure and enforcement to companies, and says the measures could later be codified into law.
The America.gov platform has used AI to answer government-service questions and has debunked some of Trump’s past claims, but responses have varied and sometimes refused to address political questions. The rollout shows guardrails influencing outputs, with later replies avoiding political commentary while still contradicting some claims in other instances.
As Brazil heads to a high-stakes presidential vote, Lula da Silva and Flávio Bolsonaro remain the leading contenders. Voters will decide whether Lula secures a fourth term or Bolsonaro returns his family to power. The race also shapes Brazil’s stance on the Amazon and relations with the United States, with a broad field of other races on Sunday’s ballot.
The Holei Sea Arch, a 90-foot-tall lava rock formation at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, has collapsed between Sept. 23 and Sept. 27, possibly during Tropical Storm Nolo. The National Park Service warns of ongoing instability and hazards for visitors; the arch formed about 550 years ago and was a major tourist sight.
SpaceX has achieved an orbital Starship flight, deploying 26 Starlink V3 satellites and signaling a new era of high-frequency, reusable launches. The mission faced an early engine issue but proceeded to orbit with a Pacific splashdown and a rapid return-to-flight plan taking shape for future missions.
President Donald Trump has approved a U.S. Army firing‑squad execution for Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, convicted for the 2009 Fort Hood shootings that killed 13 and wounded more than 30. The Pentagon has said the Army will set the time and place; officials have indicated the execution will be livestreamed and scheduled for December 3.
El Niño is strengthening, bringing risks of floods, heat and rising seas. California officials warn of a potentially historic winter as climate pressures strain infrastructure and communities prepare for extreme weather and food impacts.
Hurricane Isaias has struck near Destin, Florida as a Category 2 storm and has weakened as it moved inland through Alabama. The system has cut power to hundreds of thousands, caused at least four storm-related deaths from fallen trees and a generator, and is producing heavy rain and flash-flood risks across the southeastern US.
A 17-member team from Purdue University and the Archaeological Legacy Institute is conducting a five-day expedition to Nikumaroro in Kiribati to investigate the Taraia Object. Researchers aim to determine whether the object is Amelia Earhart’s Lockheed Electra 10E tail and fuselage, or another natural/man-made feature, while braving giant land crabs and El Niño conditions.
Federal authorities have expanded an ongoing criminal probe into Rep. Ilhan Omar’s immigration paperwork, seizing items from her Washington, D.C., home and issuing grand jury subpoenas to relatives. Omar’s lawyers call the operation politically motivated, while investigators say it complies with court orders. The case remains active ahead of the November elections.
Health officials say the Ebola outbreak, which began in the Congo, has spread to Uganda and Kenya. Kenya has reported its ninth case, with quarantines expanding as authorities push containment measures. The Congo outbreak remains the largest on record with thousands dead and tens of thousands affected. Vaccines are in trials but not yet available.
Meta has created a new class of non‑voting Class C shares and agreed a deal with Mark Zuckerberg that will let him sell a portion of those shares to cover a potential California one‑time billionaire tax (Proposition 40) without losing voting control. The company has said the move will also raise capital for AI investment and keep Zuckerberg working near Meta's headquarters.
Kristaps Porzingis remains out indefinitely due to a health issue, leaving the Warriors to navigate a troubling frontcourt gap. The team is exploring options, including potential trades, while Draymond Green and others step into larger roles amid Porzingis's absence. The latest reports indicate the organization is prioritizing health and future flexibility as the season opens.