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Israeli tanks and jets launched a major assault on Gaza City, prompting mass displacement amid ongoing conflict. The offensive, condemned internationally, involves extensive air and ground strikes, including the use of remotely operated bomb vehicles. The situation remains dire with thousands of casualties and a humanitarian crisis deepening.
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Chicago Costume is ordering 40% fewer costumes this year due to US tariffs on Chinese imports, impacting Halloween sales. The business is repurposing old inventory and shifting production to Mexico amid market pressures and increased costs, with fewer promotions planned for 2025.
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On October 23, 2025, King Charles III and Pope Leo XIV prayed together in the Sistine Chapel, marking the first joint worship between an English monarch and a Catholic pope since 1534. The ecumenical service, emphasizing environmental conservation, symbolizes a historic rapprochement between the Church of England and the Catholic Church after nearly five centuries of separation.
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Multiple school kidnappings in Nigeria continue to dominate headlines. Over 250 students and staff remain in captivity after recent attacks, prompting international calls for their release. The government has responded with security measures, but the crisis highlights ongoing insecurity and threats to education in the region.
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President Trump pardoned turkeys Waddle and Gobble during a Thanksgiving event, but the ceremony was marked by political insults, jokes about crime, and attacks on Illinois Governor Pritzker. Trump claimed Biden's pardons were invalid and criticized Chicago's crime, continuing his combative tone.
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On December 2, 2025, Pope Leo XIV visited Beirut to pray at the site of the devastating August 4, 2020 port explosion that killed over 220 people. He met survivors and families still seeking justice amid political obstruction. The pope urged Lebanese leaders to pursue truth and reconciliation, offering hope amid ongoing economic and regional crises.