The Pacific hurricane region east of the international date line has set a new record for strong and long-lasting storms this year. Scientists link this increase to a strong El Niño weather pattern and unusually warm ocean water.
Key Facts
Since September 20, 2026, Pacific storms have lasted longer and become more powerful than usual.
A key measure called accumulated cyclone energy, which looks at storm strength and duration, has surpassed the old record from 2018.
Warm ocean water and El Niño reduce wind shear, allowing storms to grow stronger in the Pacific.
In contrast, the Atlantic hurricane season is weaker this year due to wind patterns caused by El Niño.
Five consecutive Pacific hurricanes have reached major hurricane status, with winds over 111 mph.
Hurricane Polo spent a record two and a half days at Category 5 strength, the highest level.
A weather pattern over Central America contributed to the formation of storms in both the Atlantic and Pacific.
Scientists note that climate change is also warming Pacific waters, adding energy for storms.
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A man died after falling from the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia on October 12, 2026. Witnesses said the man's safety restraint came loose, causing him to be ejected and hit other riders before falling to the ground. Authorities are investigating the incident.
Key Facts
The man who died was 42 years old and named Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem.
The accident happened shortly before 4 p.m. at Six Flags Over Georgia in Austell, near Atlanta.
Witnesses described the man flipping and hitting the roller coaster cars before falling off.
The ride involved is called Goliath, which goes up to 200 feet high and reaches speeds of 70 mph.
Several other people were injured during the incident.
The park temporarily closed similar rides at their other locations as a safety precaution.
Police and park officials are working together to investigate what caused the accident.
The Cobb County Board chairwoman expressed sympathy for the victim’s family and noted the tragedy at a popular local attraction.
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Hackers increased the temperatures inside refrigerators at hundreds of supermarkets in France. This caused fires and spoiled food, and French investigators are trying to find those responsible.
Key Facts
Hackers raised temperatures in supermarket fridges across France.
This cyber attack led to fire outbreaks in some places.
Many food products spoiled due to the warmer temperatures.
French authorities have launched an investigation.
The affected supermarkets numbered in the hundreds.
The cause of the attack appears to be digital tampering.
Food loss and safety risks increased because of the attack.
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Saudi Arabia has powerful American-made weapons but has struggled to stop missile and drone attacks by the Houthi rebel group from Yemen. The Houthis have grown stronger and use their weapons to target key sites in Saudi Arabia, causing damage and fatalities, while Saudi Arabia looks for ways to respond.
Key Facts
Saudi Arabia spends billions on military equipment, mostly from the U.S., including F-15 warplanes and Patriot missile systems.
The country is very large, with a long, difficult border to defend against attacks from Yemen.
The Houthi rebels, backed by Iran, have advanced weapons like missiles and drones that can travel over 1,000 miles.
Houthis aim to weaken Saudi Arabia by disrupting its economy and causing fear among its people.
Saudi Arabia has a defense deal with Pakistan and Turkey, but these countries have limited involvement so far.
President Donald Trump is considering whether the U.S. should support Saudi Arabia with strikes against the Houthis.
The Houthis have learned from attacking Israel and have gained experience in defeating advanced missile defenses.
Saudi Arabia is running low on missile interceptors to defend against the frequent attacks.
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Cornell University has banned all fraternity parties for the rest of the school year following a lawsuit alleging a sexual assault at a fraternity party in 2024. The university also announced new support measures for survivors and changes to how sexual assault investigations are handled on campus.
Key Facts
A woman, Jane Doe, filed a lawsuit claiming she was drugged and raped by several men at a Cornell fraternity party in 2024.
Cornell's president, Michael Kotlikoff, apologized for the assault and banned fraternity parties for the rest of the school year.
Violating the new party ban could lead to suspension from the university.
The university will add more staff to help sexual assault survivors report incidents and get support.
New York State Police officers trained in trauma will investigate sexual assault cases on campus if survivors want to press charges.
Cornell faced criticism for how it shared information with local prosecutors about the assault.
The New York governor appointed the state attorney general to investigate the case.
Cornell plans to bring in experts on sexual violence prevention to recommend further changes.
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Southern California faced heavy waves and flooding after Tropical Storm Rachel moved through the area. The storm caused damage to homes, flooded streets, and forced some residents to leave their houses. Cleanup efforts have started, and officials warn of more severe weather ahead due to a strong El Niño.
Key Facts
Tropical Storm Rachel hit Baja California in Mexico, southern California, and Las Vegas.
Rachel weakened before reaching California but still caused flooding and strong waves.
In Long Beach, at least nine homes were declared unsafe and residents could not return inside.
The city of Long Beach spent over $1 million from emergency funds to respond to the storm.
Newport Beach declared a local emergency and closed piers temporarily due to high surf.
Las Vegas set a record for the most rain in one day in October with 1.08 inches (2.74 cm).
The Pacific Ocean is experiencing intense storms fueled by a strong El Niño weather pattern.
Scientists say this winter could bring heavy rain, flooding, and high tides to California and other regions worldwide.
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Disney has offered $20 million to buy some technology from Character.AI, a chatbot company facing legal and public controversies. Character.AI is in bankruptcy, but plans to keep its platform online while seeking buyers.
Key Facts
Disney wants a "non-exclusive perpetual license" for some of Character.AI's technology.
Character.AI faced criticism and legal troubles for using Disney characters without permission and for harmful chatbot content.
Disney previously sent a cease-and-desist letter to Character.AI in 2025 over misuse of its characters.
Disney hired former Character.AI executive Karandeep Anand as its chief technology officer.
Character.AI has over 20 million monthly users but is now in bankruptcy and being sold.
The sale is expected to finish by late 2026, but the platform will stay online for now.
Lawsuits against Character.AI include claims that chatbots encouraged self-harm and impersonated doctors.
Disney may be interested in chatbot tech to boost its AI-related business after a deal with OpenAI ended.
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Student protests in France have continued for four weeks. Students are demonstrating against poor school conditions like old buildings, teacher shortages, and crowded classrooms, which have led to many school closures.
Key Facts
The protests involve students from lycées, schools for 15 to 18-year-olds in France.
Demonstrations focus on issues such as outdated school buildings and lack of enough teachers.
Many schools had to close due to the ongoing protests, affecting education nationwide.
Students say they have not achieved their goals yet.
Protesters believe stopping now would count as a loss.
The protests have gained new energy and are ongoing in Paris and across France.
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Melania Trump’s yearly student competition in artificial intelligence is being renamed the Presidential Super Intelligence Challenge. The 2027 event was introduced with a video featuring the First Lady, focusing on preparing the next generation for advances in technology.
Key Facts
The competition focuses on artificial intelligence (AI) for students.
It is now called the Presidential Super Intelligence Challenge, using President Trump’s preferred term “super intelligence.”
The 2027 challenge was launched with a video featuring Melania Trump.
The event aims to prepare young people for future technology developments.
This competition is described as one of the largest education initiatives in the U.S.
It has been held annually before being renamed for the upcoming 2027 challenge.
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Texas Senate candidate Ken Paxton was seen celebrating New Year's Eve in Dubai with two Americans, Anosh Ahmed and Sameer Suhail, who were indicted on federal charges related to embezzlement from a Chicago hospital. Both Ahmed and Suhail have returned to the U.S. to face the charges, which they deny, while Paxton has received campaign donations from Ahmed.
Key Facts
Ken Paxton, a Republican Texas Senate candidate, was in Dubai for New Year's Eve with Anosh Ahmed and Sameer Suhail.
Ahmed and Suhail were indicted in 2024 for allegedly embezzling $15 million from Loretto Hospital in Chicago.
Ahmed was the hospital’s chief financial officer; Suhail was a business partner who ran companies receiving hospital contracts.
Prosecutors say Ahmed and Suhail used fake companies to get payments for services not provided, involving bribery and fraud.
Ahmed donated $190,000 to Paxton’s campaign, including $25,000 after his indictment.
Both men have returned voluntarily to the U.S. to face multiple federal charges including wire fraud, embezzlement, and money laundering.
Paxton’s opponent in the Senate race criticized his association with Ahmed and Suhail.
The Department of Justice also charged Ahmed in connection to a separate $195 million alleged COVID-19 testing fraud, which he denies.
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Tens of thousands of people across France joined protests supporting high school students who are upset about poor school conditions and police actions. These protests add to growing public discontent with President Emmanuel Macron’s government ahead of upcoming demonstrations about the rising cost of living.
Key Facts
About 480,000 people rallied nationwide on Tuesday, according to unions, with the official count at 161,500 by the interior ministry.
The protests support high school students who have been striking to demand better school resources and treatment.
Clashes occurred in Paris and Lyon, including cars set on fire and police using tear gas.
Swedish activist Greta Thunberg participated in one of the protests near Paris.
University students, teachers, unions, and the far-left party France Unbowed joined the demonstrations.
Protesters want dialogue with the government instead of police repression.
The protests come six months before France’s presidential election, with Macron completing his final term.
The government is facing challenges passing a cost-cutting budget amid concerns about rising national debt.
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The U.S. Supreme Court will hear a case about public access to records from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a government agency linked to President Trump’s second term. The case involves a legal debate over whether DOGE must share its documents under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
Key Facts
The Supreme Court agreed to hear a lawsuit by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics (CREW) seeking DOGE records.
DOGE operated during the early part of President Trump’s second term.
CREW argues DOGE is a federal agency and must follow FOIA rules to release records.
The Trump administration says DOGE is an advisory group that does not have to follow FOIA.
A lower court and an appeals court ruled in favor of CREW, ordering DOGE to release records.
The administration claims these rulings ignore separation of powers and protect presidential advisers' confidentiality.
The courts are also debating whether DOGE officials must give sworn testimony.
DOGE reported cutting government spending by tens of billions of dollars, but auditors found some claims were unverified or inaccurate.
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A new artificial intelligence data center project in Nevada has sparked debate because it was approved on federal public land without local community input. The project is paused due to legal and environmental review issues, and it has become an important topic in Nevada's governor race, with candidates divided on supporting data centers on public land.
Key Facts
The Townsite AI data center was the first in the U.S. approved on federal public land but is currently stalled after a judge ruled the government can’t use an old environmental review.
Developers withdrew their initial application on private land and sought approval for adjacent federal land, which was granted by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management.
Local residents in Boulder City oppose the project, concerned about damage to the environment and lack of community input.
President Donald Trump supports the AI industry, seeing it as important for economic growth and global competition, especially with China.
Nevada’s governor, Joe Lombardo (Republican), supports data centers if they have local approval; his opponent Aaron Ford (Democrat) opposes data centers on public land and prioritizes affordable housing.
Both gubernatorial candidates want data centers to follow state rules like covering their own energy costs and protecting water supplies to qualify for tax breaks.
Data center projects have become a prominent issue in the 2024 elections, prompting some states like Texas and Pennsylvania to pause or tighten approvals.
Nevada voters from different political views—liberal and conservative—generally unite in opposition to the data centers in their communities.
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President Donald Trump said that both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy want to stop the war between their countries but do not know how to make a deal. He also said the United States is still sharing information with Ukraine and explained why he eased limits on Russian diesel exports for a short time.
Key Facts
President Trump stated that both Putin and Zelenskyy want to end the war in Ukraine.
He mentioned they do not know how to reach an agreement yet.
The US continues to provide intelligence support to Ukraine.
Trump defended his decision to temporarily relax rules on exporting Russian diesel fuel.
The focus is on ending the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
The statement reflects the US government's current position on the war.
This news involves President Trump’s views and policies regarding the war.
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Jean-Luc Melenchon, a left-wing candidate for the French presidency, has expressed support for ongoing school protests in France. These protests are continuing strongly with six months left before the presidential election.
Key Facts
Jean-Luc Melenchon is running for president in France.
He is a left-wing political figure.
There are current protests happening in French schools.
These protests have been going on for several months.
The protests show no signs of stopping as the election approaches.
Melenchon publicly supports the protesting students.
The presidential election in France is six months away.
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A mother and her teenage son have pleaded not guilty to charges related to the death of the son's girlfriend, who was found stabbed in her car in Pennsylvania. The son faces murder charges, and the mother is accused of helping him avoid arrest and tampering with evidence.
Key Facts
Karoline Heintz was found dead in her car in August in Washington County, Pennsylvania.
Royce Moser, 18, is charged with criminal homicide (murder) and other related offenses.
Rachel Moser, 56 and Royce’s mother, faces charges including hindering apprehension, tampering with evidence, and abuse of a corpse.
Police say Heintz met Royce outside his home, where he allegedly stabbed her with a large kitchen knife.
After the stabbing, Royce allegedly placed Heintz in the back of a Jeep and drove to his mother’s home.
Rachel Moser is accused of helping clean the vehicle, providing gloves, and instructing Royce to leave the vehicle near a university library.
Both mother and son have not admitted guilt and are awaiting psychological evaluations.
Their court appearances are scheduled for November 30, and both cases may be combined for trial.
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Thousands of French students, supported by teachers, parents, and unions, have been protesting to demand better school conditions and actions for their future. The student movement began in a Paris high school and has grown amid worries about cost cuts, the impact of COVID, climate change, and AI. Some political leaders, especially Jean-Luc Mélenchon, have openly supported the students ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Key Facts
The student protests started about three weeks ago in a Paris area high school.
Around 480,000 students nationwide joined recent protests for better school conditions.
Teachers, parents, and labor unions support the student movement.
The protests reflect broader concerns about cuts to public services and fears about the future.
Far-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon is the main politician backing the students.
Mélenchon’s support could strengthen his position for the 2027 presidential election runoff.
The younger generation is influenced by recent crises like the COVID pandemic, climate change, and rapid AI advances.
Mainstream political parties seem less connected to the youth vote so far.
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Cyberattacks hit hundreds of European supermarkets, disrupting refrigeration systems mainly in France and forcing some stores and websites to shut down. Authorities are investigating the attacks, which caused food spoilage but did not threaten overall food supplies.
Key Facts
About 700 supermarkets in France were affected by the cyberattacks.
Groupement Mousquetaires, a large French grocery group, had 300 stores impacted.
Cooperative U reported 80 stores affected, with some food thrown away.
Other chains like Carrefour and Monoprix also experienced problems.
Danish company Danfoss, which provides refrigeration software, said older systems were targeted.
Ahold Delhaize, a Dutch supermarket owner, closed some systems and websites but kept stores open.
There is no evidence that customer or employee data was stolen in the attacks.
The Paris prosecutor’s office is investigating the cybercrime and any damage caused.
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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced plans to execute Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan by firing squad in December and to livestream the event. This would be the first public execution in the U.S. in about 90 years, but the plan has raised concerns, including from President Trump.
Key Facts
Nidal Hasan was convicted of killing 13 people in the 2009 Fort Hood shooting.
The execution is scheduled for December 3 at Fort Hood, Texas, at 1 pm CT.
The method planned is a firing squad, a rare form of execution used only six times since 1977 in the U.S.
Military executions are governed by Army Regulation 190-55, which sets rules for method, date, and place.
The U.S. military last used a firing squad in 1945 and last executed anyone in 1961 by hanging.
The procedure usually involves the prisoner strapped to a chair with shooters firing simultaneously at the heart.
Hasan uses a wheelchair, which may complicate the execution process.
Details about the livestream, including the platform and audience access, have not been released.
Some social media platforms have policies that would bar livestreaming the execution.
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The Trump administration is offering $3,000 to unaccompanied migrant children in government custody who are 14 years or older, have no gang ties, and agree to leave the United States voluntarily. This payment is meant to encourage these children to return to their home countries without going through formal deportation.
Key Facts
Migrant children who are alone and in custody may get $3,000 to self-deport.
The children must be at least 14 years old and not affiliated with gangs.
This amount is $500 more than the $2,500 offered last year.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is leading efforts to protect these children from exploitation.
The government recently hired lawyers to represent these children in court after ending partnerships with some immigration groups.
Some advocacy groups worry the government should not represent children it is trying to deport.
DHS says some children were placed with dangerous sponsors like smugglers and traffickers.
The administration says it is working to safely reunite children with their families.
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