Commonwealth state in New England, a center of history, policy, and industry.
Harvard has staged a dramatic comeback in Cambridge, rallying from a 17-14 deficit with four seconds left to beat Colgate 20-17. Teigan Pelletier caught a late pass at the 5 and pitched to Nate Bailey for the game-winning score. Bailey finished with 197 receiving yards and a touchdown on 16 receptions.
The government has extended the autopay-driven interest reduction through June 2028, expanding relief for borrowers on the Save plan and others returning to repayment. Auto pay enrolment by Dec. 31 is required for the 1% reduction; for those already enrolled, the discount remains in place. Default and forbearance-related risks persist as millions face repayment.
States are debating and enacting taxes on high earners amid a broader shift in tax policy. Massachusetts has already seen revenue from a millionaire tax, while California and other states consider or challenge wealth taxes. Ballot measures in November could reshape where high earners live and how much they pay.
Margaret Hamilton has died at 90. The MIT computer scientist has led development of the onboard flight software for NASA's Apollo program, coined the phrase "software engineering," and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016. Her daughter has confirmed she died on 30 September in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Prosecutors and courts are advancing cases tied to the 1994 genocide. An Ohio-based suspect faces perjury and obstruction charges in the United States, while UK and French investigations pursue other figures linked to killings of Tutsi minorities. Trials are scheduled or upcoming, with witnesses expected from Rwanda.
Democrats and civil rights groups have raised alarms about a proposed Trump administration rule that would exclude noncitizens from the census count, potentially altering representation and federal funding. The rule, posted in September, invites public comment until Nov. 2 and is expected to face litigation as opponents warn it could shift power to areas with fewer immigrants.
Police say a gunman killed nine people in Erie, Pennsylvania, before dying from an apparent self-inflicted wound. Two women and two children were among the victims. Police say the shooter barricaded inside a home and a standoff ensued; investigators say all deaths occurred before officers arrived. The mayor and governor have offered support as the city mourns.
A guest died after being ejected from the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia. Nine similar rides have been temporarily closed across North America as officials review restraints and safety protocols. The cause remains under investigation, with authorities examining park operations and ride design.
President Trump has cancelled plans to livestream the Dec. 3 firing‑squad execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Malik Hasan after bipartisan domestic and international outrage. The administration has said the execution will proceed at Fort Hood and that immediate family members of victims may attend in person; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has faced criticism for announcing the broadcast plan.
Suspicious letters containing a white powder have been sent to more than three dozen congressional and election offices across the United States, triggering evacuations and security alerts ahead of the 2026 midterms. Federal agencies are investigating; initial tests show no hazardous material, and officials warn more letters may still be circulating.
The Patriots have announced the death of Jon Morris, a defining early center for the franchise who played from 1964 to 1974 and later contributed as a broadcaster. His passing, confirmed by the team and reported by multiple outlets, marks the loss of a key figure in Patriots history.
Harvard University’s endowment has posted a strong fiscal year 2026 performance, driven by a 27.1% return and a new SpaceX stake, while federal policy changes threaten future funding. The endowment totals near $68 billion, surpassing the S&P 500 in its period gains.
Massachusetts city councilor Shawn Oliver, running mate to GOP gubernatorial hopeful Mike Minogue, has suspended his campaign after a DUI arrest following a late-night crash. Oliver is on restricted duty as investigators review the case; Minogue denounces the DUI and calls for accountability as the race nears the November election.
AI trained on over 40 million facial images and 35,000 cancer patient photos estimates biological age and survival chances from a face photo. Studies suggest potential to inform treatment but offer no definitive predictions; experts caution about bias and the need for broader testing.
The US midterm elections are shaping the final years of Donald Trump’s term, with control of Congress and key states at stake. Democrats seek to seize the House and Senate, while Republicans defend majorities. Early voting and spending highlight intensity as voters prepare for November 3.
BioWare has closed and EA has cancelled early development on the next Mass Effect game while cutting about 400 jobs across the company, including roughly 50 roles at BioWare. EA has narrowed its studio focus after a $55bn takeover that left the company carrying roughly $20bn in debt, industry reporting says.
The Department of Justice has dropped two appeals of a June ruling on the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, with both sides agreeing to cover their own fees. Advocates say the move preserves a program that forgives loans for government and nonprofit workers after a decade of qualifying payments.
Shark Bukangi, a three-meter female dusky shark, has been guided toward open water after weeks in Busan’s canal. Authorities report health concerns due to cooler waters; a final attempt to ensure safe release is underway as the animal remains near the canal mouth. The incident has drawn millions of visitors and raised questions about warming seas.
A scholar has drawn parallels between Israeli Haredi and Amish communities after decades of fieldwork. The work highlights shared religious rigidity, insularity, and evolving use of technology, underscoring how small communities adapt within modern life.
Drugmakers Merck and Moderna have announced that a personalised mRNA vaccine, intismeran, has reduced the two-year risk of melanoma recurrence or death by 42% when added to standard pembrolizumab therapy in a 1,137-patient phase III trial. Two-year recurrence-free rates were 82% with the vaccine combination and 70% with immunotherapy alone.
A concise summary of the developing story based on the provided articles, noting that the sources are Business Insider UK and The Guardian, focusing on author interviews and personal reflections around reading habits and literary culture.
Astronomers have released the Lumina model, a large-scale simulation of the universe’s formation in its first two billion years after the Big Bang. The effort uses Frontier supercomputing to map how dark matter and gas shaped the first galaxies, with Webb Observatory data serving as a cross-check. The work aims to test if the laws of physics have the same implications across cosmic time.
A distant icy body in the Kuiper Belt, named 2026 ED138, has emerged as a strong candidate for a new dwarf planet. Rubin Observatory data, supported by past imagery, shows a slow-moving object whose orbit lies within Pluto’s distance from the Sun. This discovery adds to evidence that hidden worlds await in the outer solar system.