With the government shutdown deepening in Washington, a federal judge has intervened to protect millions of Americans from losing access to food assistance, ordering the Trump administration to keep the program running despite the political gridlock.

Judge John J. McConnell of Rhode Island has directed the government to release $5 billion in emergency funds from the Department of Agriculture to ensure the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) remains operational. The program supports more than 42 million Americans who rely on it for daily meals.

Calling the suspension of aid  as a human tragedy waiting to happen, Judge McConnell reminded political leaders that hunger does not wait for budget approvals. His ruling guarantees grocery benefits will continue even as other federal operations freeze.

Advocacy groups welcomed the decision as a moral victory, highlighting the judiciary’s role in preventing political deadlock from worsening hardship among the vulnerable.

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump’s administration faces mounting criticism over the shutdown’s widening impact, from frozen paychecks to closed offices,  as spending disputes with Congress drag on.

For millions of families, however, the ruling offers a huge assurance that food will stay on the table, at least for now.

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President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump hosted the 67th annual White House Halloween celebration, offering cheer amid a government shutdown.

Children dressed as superheroes and mini-presidents joined in the fun.

Pumpkins from the event, donated by the International Fresh Produce Association, were later sent to DC Central Kitchen.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to hold bilateral talks with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on the sidelines of the APEC Summit in Gyeongju, South Korea, following his recent trade truce with US President Donald Trump.

The breakthrough understanding between Washington and Beijing has temporarily eased tensions over tariffs and rare-earth exports, offering global markets a brief sense of relief. Xi is now expected to use the momentum to stabilise China’s strained ties with key regional partners and reaffirm his call for an open cooperation and shared growth.

In his address to APEC leaders, Xi described the global economy as being at a crossroads of profound change, urging nations to reject protectionism and strengthen multilateral trade systems. His meetings with Carney and Takaichi are seen as part of a broader diplomatic outreach aimed at recalibrating China’s relationships during the shifting global alliances.

The meeting with Japan’s Takaichi will be closely watched, marking their first encounter since she took office. Tokyo and Beijing remain at odds over maritime boundaries, trade barriers, and the detention of Japanese citizens in China. Yet, both sides have signalled interest in restoring stability and maintaining open communication.

Xi’s talks with Carney also carry symbolic weight as Canada seeks to rebuild diplomatic and economic engagement with China after years of tension. Ottawa views China as vital to its goal of diversifying trade beyond the U.S., while Beijing is keen to assure partners of its continued openness despite economic headwinds.

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A personal remark by US Vice President JD Vance about his wife Usha’s religion has sparked a wave of criticism from Indian Americans and Hindu groups across the US and India.

Speaking at a faith gathering in Mississippi, Vance said he hoped his wife, who was raised Hindu, would one day join Christianity, though he added that she had full freedom to choose her path.

“Do I hope, eventually, that she is somehow moved by the same thing? Yeah, honestly I do wish that,” he said. “But if she doesn’t, then God says everybody has free will.”

The comment quickly triggered backlash online, with many calling it insensitive and politically calculated. Critics accused Vance of invoking his wife’s faith to appeal to Christian conservative voters, while others viewed it as disrespectful toward her Hindu identity.

Usha Chilukuri Vance, a lawyer of Telugu origin, has often spoken about her Hindu upbringing and the values she inherited from her family. The couple met at Yale Law School and married in 2014 in a ceremony that blended Hindu and Christian traditions. They have three children.

Vance, who converted from Protestantism to Catholicism in 2019, said both he and Usha were agnostic when they met. Their children, he added, attend a Christian school but are free to make their own spiritual choices.

Analysts believe the remark was aimed at reinforcing Vance’s Christian conservative image ahead of the 2026 elections. However, it has also reignited debate over cultural sensitivity and interfaith respect in political life.

Also Read: Jemimah’s Century Powers India To World Cup Final

Under the floodlights of a roaring stadium, Jemimah Rodrigues produced a batting masterclass for the ages. She stood tall with an unbeaten 127 that powered India into the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 final and brought in a zeal for celebration across the nation. Her thoughtful blend of timing, temperament and tenacity not only toppled defending champions Australia, but also reignited belief that Indian women’s cricket is ready for its golden chapter.

Chasing a formidable 339, India were in early trouble after losing quick wickets. But Jemimah, calm and composed at No. 3, steadied the innings with captain Harmanpreet Kaur (89). The pair added a brilliant 167-run partnership, taking India home with nine balls to spare, the highest successful chase in Women’s ODI history. Her cover drives and deft placements reflected not just form, but faith.

This was her comback story and she is is comeback queen deserving the highest applaud.  She was droped from the national team in 2022, then she fought through self-doubt to reclaim her place. “When I reached my hundred, I didn’t celebrate,” she later said. “The only thing that mattered was India winning.” Only after hitting the winning runs did Jemimah let the emotions flow, soaking in the cheers of a jubilant crowd.

The cricketing fraternity erupted in praise. Virat Kohli saluted her on social media, calling it a “stand-out knock” and lauding the team’s “great chase.” Former captain Mithali Raj described it as “the knock of a lifetime.”

For Jemimah, once seen as a player of promise, this was transformation in motion, from prodigy to match-winner, from potential to pillar. As India set sights on South Africa in the final, she stands as the heartbeat of a side brimming with belief.

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Seven people, including a child, were killed as Russia launched more than 650 drones and 50 missiles on October 30, crippling Ukraine’s power grid.

Energy facilities across several regions were hit, prompting Kyiv to impose power rationing as winter approaches and families took shelter in darkness amid renewed fear.

Samsung has expanded its Galaxy AI platform by adding Gujarati and Filipino, bringing the total number of supported languages to 22. This milestone underscores the tech giant’s focus on making artificial intelligence more inclusive and accessible to diverse linguistic communities around the world. With the latest update, Gujarati becomes the second Indian language after Hindi to be integrated into Galaxy AI, reflecting Samsung’s continued investment in India’s rapidly growing digital ecosystem.

The update, which began rolling out on October 29, allows users to download new language packs directly through the Settings app. It enhances a range of Galaxy AI tools, including Live Translate, Chat Assist, Interpreter, Note Assist, Transcript Assist, and Browsing Assist, that help users communicate, organize, and navigate effortlessly across different languages.

The new features were developed in collaboration with Samsung Research centres in India and Indonesia, both of which play a key role in localizing and refining AI experiences for regional markets. Samsung’s India R&D team, in particular, has been instrumental in integrating Indian languages into its global AI framework, ensuring that Galaxy devices cater to linguistic diversity while maintaining contextual accuracy.

According to Samsung, 91% of Galaxy S25 users in India actively use Galaxy AI features such as Live Translate and Chat Assist in their daily communication. On a global scale, more than 70% of Galaxy S25 owners engage with AI and Gemini features regularly, and nearly 47% rely on AI tools every day.

The addition of Gujarati and Filipino marks another step in Samsung’s mission to democratize AI to make intelligent, localized technology accesible to users worldwide.

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President Droupadi Murmu has appointed Justice Surya Kant as the 53rd Chief Justice of India.

Currently the Supreme Court’s second senior-most judge, he will assume office on November 24, succeeding Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud.

Renowned for integrity and balanced rulings, his tenure will continue till February 2027.