New York City’s Council passed a law to end horse-drawn carriage rides by 2028. President Donald Trump expressed his sadness over the decision, calling the carriage rides a traditional part of New York City’s history.
Key Facts
The New York City Council voted 40-7 to pass Romanch’s Law, which will phase out horse-drawn carriages by June 1, 2028.
The law bans new licenses for horse carriage operations and forbids selling the horses to slaughterhouses.
The legislation names the industry’s end after Romanch Mahajan, a tourist who died in a horse carriage accident earlier this year.
The law requires the city to help carriage workers find new jobs through career counseling and referrals.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani supports the law and plans to ensure protection for workers and horses.
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals praised the law as a step to improve animal welfare and worker safety.
President Trump posted on social media that the carriage rides are a "quintessential New York experience" and regretted their end.
The law aims to balance public safety, animal welfare, and support for affected workers in the city.
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The Justice Department is investigating Corey Lewandowski, an ally of President Donald Trump who worked as a top aide at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The inquiry focuses on contracting activities at DHS during President Trump’s second term and began after a referral from the DHS Inspector General.
Key Facts
Corey Lewandowski served as a top aide to former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.
The investigation looks at government contracts managed by DHS in President Trump’s second year in office.
The referral for investigation came from DHS Inspector General Joseph Cuffari.
Lewandowski has not been contacted by the Justice Department and denies any wrongdoing.
Lewandowski acted in a voluntary government role as a special employee during Noem’s leadership.
Both Noem and Lewandowski were removed from their positions after a Congressional hearing about a $220 million DHS digital ad campaign.
President Trump said he was not aware of the specifics of the investigation but emphasized honesty and prosecution if dishonesty is found.
The probe is an unusual case of President Trump’s Justice Department investigating someone close to the president.
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Ohio GOP candidate Vivek Ramaswamy’s campaign released an attack ad featuring his Democratic opponent’s estranged mother, which caused a backlash. President Trump defended the ad, but some Republicans criticized it as inappropriate.
Key Facts
Vivek Ramaswamy is running for governor of Ohio as the Republican nominee.
His campaign shared an ad targeting his Democratic opponent using footage of the opponent’s estranged mother.
The ad has received backlash from some voters and members of the Republican Party.
President Donald Trump publicly supported Ramaswamy’s decision to run the ad.
Some Republican leaders and strategists have condemned the ad and urged its removal.
Political analysts Joe Borelli and Cameron French discussed the ad’s possible effects on the governor’s race.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine advised Ramaswamy to take down the attack ad.
The controversy is part of the wider political activity leading up to the midterm elections.
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A strong earthquake with a magnitude of seven struck Baqên County in Tibet, killing at least 16 people and injuring 32 others. Rescue teams have been sent to help, but damaged roads and power outages are making it hard to reach some areas.
Key Facts
The earthquake hit Baqên County in Nagqu region, 400 km northeast of Lhasa.
At least 16 people died and 32 were injured.
More than 300 homes collapsed due to the quake.
Power has mostly been cut off in the affected area.
Roads are closed because of rockfalls, making rescue efforts difficult.
Authorities have declared an emergency and deployed rescue teams.
Two months ago, Tibet and nearby Nepal suffered major floods and landslides that killed at least 1,400 people.
The recent earthquake adds to the region’s ongoing natural disaster challenges.
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A Mississippi police officer shot and killed a 1-year-old boy who was sitting on his mother’s lap during a police stop in June. The state attorney general said the officer was justified in using deadly force. The incident began after the mother was accused of shoplifting diapers, which she denies.
Key Facts
The shooting happened in Mississippi in June.
The police officer fired into a car where a 1-year-old was sitting with his mother.
The toddler was killed by the gunshot.
The mother was accused of shoplifting a pack of diapers.
The mother denies stealing the diapers.
The state attorney general reviewed the case.
The attorney general decided the officer was justified in using deadly force.
Bodycam footage of the moments before the shooting was recently released.
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Call of Duty is releasing Modern Warfare 4 after a poor reception last year. The publisher, Activision, is trying new marketing and gameplay changes to win back players as it faces strong competition, especially from the upcoming launch of Grand Theft Auto 6.
Key Facts
Last year's Call of Duty game had poor reviews and lower sales, ranking 7th in the US and 8th in the UK.
Modern Warfare 4 will not include controversial character skins by default; players can turn these off.
Activision has created special events and partnerships, including with YouTuber Mr Beast, to promote the new game.
Grand Theft Auto 6 is launching just weeks after Modern Warfare 4 and is highly anticipated worldwide.
Call of Duty’s chief marketing officer says both games are major releases but sees them as opportunities rather than direct rivals.
Modern Warfare 4’s story is set in a conflict between North and South Korea.
Previous Call of Duty games were regular top-sellers since 2009 but faced challenges from competitors like Battlefield 6 and Arc Raiders.
Modern Warfare 4 will not appear on Xbox’s Game Pass subscription at launch, unlike last year’s version.
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Older women like 96-year-old Grandma Droniak and 82-year-old Viv Truran have become popular on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram. They share videos about their daily lives, fashion, and hobbies, gaining millions of followers and earning money from brand deals.
Key Facts
Grandma Droniak has 15 million followers and earns enough from social media to pay $12,000 monthly nursing home fees.
Social media helped her show younger people that aging can be fun and active.
Viv Truran from Cardiff has over 800,000 Instagram followers and posts daily fashion videos.
Both grandmothers are selective about the brands they work with for sponsored posts.
Older influencers often attract brands because their fans are loyal and have money to spend.
Grace Geramita, also known as Nonna Gracie, shares cooking videos and earns more now than from previous jobs.
These women started posting with help from family members and have found new purpose and audiences online.
Fans often stop them in public to share how their videos change views on aging.
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Hollie Sharman experienced severe health anxiety, causing her to frequently visit hospitals despite no medical problems being found. Health anxiety involves constant worry about being seriously ill, often leading to repeated checking of symptoms and seeking reassurance. Clinical psychologist Dr Kirren Schnack explains ways to recognize and manage this anxiety.
Key Facts
Hollie Sharman went to the emergency room 4 to 5 times a week with chest pain but had no health issues.
Health anxiety is a strong, ongoing fear of having a serious illness when one is actually healthy.
Common signs include frequent body checks, looking up symptoms online, and constantly asking others for reassurance.
Some people with health anxiety avoid doctors or ignore their body because they fear bad news.
Health-related obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) can occur alongside health anxiety.
Writing down symptoms and reviewing them later helped Sharman realize she was not dying.
Support from family and partners can improve outcomes for people with health anxiety.
Dr Schnack suggests checking trusted health websites and consulting a doctor if symptoms persist longer than two weeks.
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Private companies, including large US investors, are buying more care homes for older people in England. This shift raises concerns about higher costs and lower care quality, while smaller care providers are struggling or closing. The Care Quality Commission says clearer planning and better funding are needed to improve social care services.
Key Facts
The five largest companies now own about one in seven care homes in England, a 26% market increase in two years.
Many care homes are owned by US property investors.
There are worries this trend could lead to higher prices and worse care quality.
Home care services for people living at home have become fragmented, with many very small providers.
Small care homes, especially those combining care and nursing, have dropped by a quarter in 14 years.
Funding for care is unstable, with many users either paying themselves or relying on limited state help.
Some councils find it harder to buy care services for people depending on public funding.
Experts call for better government funding, clearer plans, and support for smaller care providers.
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Tom Skerritt, the actor known for his roles in the movies "Alien," "Top Gun," and the TV show "Picket Fences," has died at 93 from natural causes. He won an Emmy for his work in "Picket Fences" and was known for playing strong, authoritative characters in film and television.
Key Facts
Tom Skerritt died at age 93 of natural causes.
He won an Emmy Award in 1993 for outstanding lead actor in the TV drama "Picket Fences."
Skerritt played the captain in "Alien," a flight instructor in "Top Gun," and the sheriff in "Picket Fences."
He acted in many other films, including "Steel Magnolias" and "Contact."
Skerritt served four years in the Air Force before studying filmmaking.
His first film role was in the 1962 movie "War Hunt."
He was friends with Robert Redford, who cast him in "A River Runs Through It."
Skerritt also performed on stage, making his Broadway debut in 2013.
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Western diplomats in Moscow face high levels of surveillance and pressure amid the ongoing war in Ukraine. Many Western embassies operate with reduced staff after diplomatic expulsions, and diplomats report constant monitoring and isolation by Russian security services.
Key Facts
Western diplomats in Moscow are closely watched by Russian intelligence, with hidden cameras and listening devices reported.
Hundreds of Russian diplomats were expelled from Europe and the US after the war began in 2022, and Russia responded by expelling many Western diplomats.
Western embassies are short-staffed and face difficulties building relationships with Russians due to intimidation tactics.
Some embassy staff were pressured by Russia’s domestic security service (FSB) to spy, and those who refused risk prosecution.
Western guests at embassy events in Moscow have faced harassment and police questioning.
The pressure and uncertainty faced by diplomats in Moscow have led some to quit their jobs.
Former US Ambassador Lynne Tracy described her time in Moscow as more difficult than previous postings due to constant surveillance and unpredictability.
The situation for Western diplomats is compared to the Cold War era but with updated and intensified espionage methods.
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A BBC investigation found that Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF) attacked hospitals and healthcare workers in el-Fasher during their siege and takeover from 2024 to 2025. These attacks damaged the city’s health system, caused many injuries and deaths among medical staff, and may violate international law.
Key Facts
The RSF conducted at least 43 attacks on hospitals and healthcare sites in el-Fasher from May 2024 to October 2025.
During this period, 120 medical workers were injured, 55 were killed, and 10 were abducted or forcibly disappeared.
International law forbids attacking health facilities or staff during conflicts.
The RSF denies the allegations, calling them propaganda.
The UN rights chief called the attacks serious violations that could be war crimes.
One of the main hospitals moved its operations due to the fighting but was later shelled multiple times.
The conflict in el-Fasher is linked to ethnic tensions and has been described by UN investigators as showing signs of genocide.
The World Health Organization condemned bombings on hospitals and highlighted the severe impact of the conflict on healthcare in Sudan.
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Anthropic shared a draft bill about AI safety that lets the government stop AI tools only if they cause serious harm. The bill sets high limits, like killing or injuring 50 people or causing damage worth $1 billion, before action can be taken.
Key Facts
Anthropic proposed a draft artificial intelligence safety bill to lawmakers.
The bill allows the government to block AI models only under extreme harm conditions.
Blocking is allowed if AI tools kill or injure at least 50 people.
It also allows blocking if AI causes at least $1 billion in damages.
Nate Soares from the Machine Intelligence Research Institute provided analysis on the bill.
The bill aims to regulate AI safety but sets a high threshold for government intervention.
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A fire broke out at an assisted living facility in Mississippi, causing the deaths of two elderly residents in their 80s. Authorities responded to the emergency and are investigating the incident.
Key Facts
The fire occurred at an assisted living facility in Mississippi.
Two people, both in their 80s, died because of the fire.
Emergency responders attended the scene quickly.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Assisted living facilities provide housing and care for elderly people who need help with daily activities.
This incident highlights fire safety risks in homes for older adults.
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President Donald Trump said that people working for him who are dishonest should be punished by law. This comment came after reports that the Justice Department is investigating Corey Lewandowski for possible misconduct at the Department of Homeland Security.
Key Facts
President Trump wants honesty from people who work for him and said dishonest people should be prosecuted.
The Justice Department is reportedly investigating Corey Lewandowski, a close ally of Trump, over contract misconduct at DHS.
The probe started after a criminal referral from the DHS inspector general about contracting practices.
Lewandowski served as a top adviser to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem during Trump's second term.
Lewandowski's attorney denies any wrongdoing and says Lewandowski has not been contacted by the Justice Department.
Lewandowski had influence over department contracts, personnel, and operations despite being a voluntary adviser.
It is unclear what specific actions are under investigation or which U.S. attorney’s office is leading the investigation.
President Trump did not defend Lewandowski but said people working for him must be honest and face prosecution if they are not.
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A teacher injured in a school shooting in Oregon said she could not protect the students because the shooter was already inside the classroom when she arrived. The shooting killed three children and a teacher; a police investigation continues into how the shooter obtained his legally purchased shotgun.
Key Facts
The shooting took place last Thursday at Silver Rail Elementary in Bend, Oregon.
The attacker was a 16-year-old former student who used a pump-action shotgun to enter the classroom.
Three children, ages 5, 8, and 11, and one teacher died in the attack.
Teacher Becky Drury was shot in both arms and pretended to be dead to avoid more shots.
Another teacher helped stop the attacker by throwing a phone and wrestling him before a civilian shot the attacker.
Police said the shotgun was legally bought, possibly by the attacker’s mother, and are still investigating how it was accessed.
Schools in the district reopened except for Silver Rail Elementary; many police officers are present to support students.
Investigators are searching the attacker’s home and looking into his electronic devices and social media.
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Leaders from the Caribbean have asked King Charles III to support talks on reparations for slavery at the upcoming Commonwealth meeting in the Caribbean. They are also urging the king to apologize for the historical harms caused by slavery and to help make the Commonwealth work for justice.
Key Facts
Professor Hilary Beckles, head of the Caribbean Community Reparations Commission, called on King Charles III to help with reparations talks between Britain and the Caribbean.
Beckles appealed to Charles as a family member who has inherited wealth linked to slavery.
Caribbean leaders want King Charles to formally apologize for slavery during his visits to Guyana and the Bahamas before the Commonwealth meeting.
Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey said an apology would help start serious discussions on reparations.
Guyana’s reparations committee also supports the idea of the king promoting dialogue and apology.
Jamaica has filed a legal petition for slavery reparations to be heard in the UK Privy Council in 2027.
A draft statement for the 2026 Commonwealth meeting mentions reparations discussions but some parts about advancing talks lack full agreement among leaders.
Reparations campaigners plan to raise the issue at the Commonwealth leaders' meeting in Antigua and Barbuda next month.
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A group of UK Members of Parliament (MPs) recommends that more people in England should get the weight-loss injection Mounjaro through the NHS. They say the current plan to provide it to 220,000 people by 2028 is too small and slow, causing many to pay privately or turn to unsafe black market options.
Key Facts
The NHS plans to offer Mounjaro injections free to 220,000 people by 2028, which covers only about 6% of those eligible.
Over a million people have bought weight-loss injections like Mounjaro privately.
The NHS’s 12-year rollout is slow mainly because of costs and reliance on general practitioners to monitor treatment.
MPs suggest using digital platforms like private providers to reduce costs and speed up access.
Full immediate access for all 2.8 million eligible people would cost the NHS around £15.2 billion over five years.
The committee wants better NHS support for obesity, including diet programs and surgery.
They call for a crackdown on black market weight-loss drugs and a public campaign about their dangers.
NHS England says it is prioritizing treatment for people with the most severe obesity cases.
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Britain’s electricity system operator, NESO, says the power supply will remain stable and reliable this winter despite concerns raised by some engineers. An independent investigation found stress among control room staff due to challenges in managing renewable energy and gas power, but NESO and the gas network company expect to meet demand.
Key Facts
NESO manages Britain’s electricity network and says the system is prepared for winter.
Engineers expressed stress and worries about ensuring enough power supply, especially because renewable energy is less flexible than gas-fired power.
NESO expects power supply to be secure but warns of some "tight days" when extra electricity generation notices may be issued.
National Gas, a separate company, expects enough gas supply and predicts more gas will be used during peak times due to renewables’ intermittent nature.
Britain’s power comes from renewables like wind and solar, as well as gas and nuclear; wind was the largest power source last year.
An independent investigation found a gap between NESO leaders and control room staff, with reports that leadership may not fully understand frontline challenges.
The probe was started after whistle-blower claims that NESO hid information about grid security and altered records during a heatwave.
The article mentions rising energy prices and supply concerns linked to wars in the Middle East and Eastern Europe.
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A report shows that many children in England are waiting much longer for NHS health care than adults. The number of children waiting over a year for appointments has greatly increased, especially for community health services, causing concerns about worsening health conditions.
Key Facts
Thousands of children in England face very long waits for NHS healthcare.
80,000 children and young people have waited over a year for community health appointments.
Children’s health problems are getting worse due to these long waits.
Adult waiting times have improved in some areas, but not for children.
The number of health visitors and school nurses has decreased.
There are big differences in health care quality depending on where children live.
Some children have high rates of hospitalization for illnesses like asthma and diabetes.
The government acknowledges challenges but promises to work on improving care and wait times.
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