U.S. Passes Shutdown Deal, BBC Chiefs Resign, Magdeburg Trial

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🗞️ FRONT PAGE​​

The Manila-based daily Pilipino Star Ngayon lends its front page to the one million people who were forced to evacuate as Typhoon Fung-wong swept through the Philippines, killing at least two.

🌎 7 THINGS TO KNOW RIGHT NOW

• U.S. Senate passes deal to end shutdown. The U.S. Senate passed a bipartisan deal to end the nation’s longest government shutdown. The agreement, led by Republican John Thune and supported by some Democrats, funds government operations and guarantees back pay for federal workers. It still requires House approval before full restoration of services. This could spell the end of a six-week impasse that disrupted federal employees and services, with U.S. airlines canceling more than 3,300 flights on Sunday.

• BBC executives step down over Trump bias accusations. BBC Director General Tim Davie and Head of News Deborah Turness have both resigned following accusations of “serious and systemic” bias in the broadcaster’s coverage of topics, including Donald Trump and Gaza. Their departures come amid political pressure and controversy over an edited Jan. 6, 2021 Trump speech that allegedly overstated his role in inciting the Capitol riot in Washington.

• Israeli airstrikes kill two in Gaza. IDF strikes have hit Gaza City and Khan Younis, killing at least two, including one child. Meanwhile, as part of the ceasefire deal, Hamas has returned the body Lt. Hadar Goldin, an Israeli soldier killed in 2014 in Gaza. Read more about the “built-in fragility of the Gaza ceasefire” here.

• Typhoon Fung-wong kills two in Philippines, weakens as nears Taiwan. A weakened Typhoon Fung-wong has moved over the South China Sea toward Taiwan after killing at least two people in the Philippines and forcing more than one million residents to evacuate. Fung-wong follows closely after Typhoon Kalmaegi, which killed more than 220 people across the central Philippines last week.

• Syria’s al-Sharaa heads to White House for historic talks. U.S. President Trump will host Ahmed al-Sharaa at the White House, marking the first visit by a Syrian president to Washington. Trump has praised Sharaa’s leadership and supports lifting remaining sanctions against Syria.

• Former South Korean president Yoon indicted over martial law order. South Korea’s ex-president Yoon Suk Yeol has been charged with “aiding an enemy state” as well as abuse of power for allegedly ordering drone flights over North Korea to justify martial law, in late 2024. Yoon denies wrongdoing, calling his actions a defense of democracy.

• News Quiz! After winning the WTA Finals in Riyadh — claiming a record prize of $5.23 million — why did Kazakh champion Elena Rybakina refuse to pose for a photo with WTA Tour boss Portia Archer during the trophy ceremony?

A. She was protesting that the men’s tournament prize money was higher
B. Over too few rest days between matches
C. In protest over a ban targeting her former coach
D. She didn’t recognize Archer
[Answer below]

📣 VERBATIM

“The right to clean air is a basic human right.”

— Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi criticized the Indian government after police detained protesters demanding action on Delhi’s worsening air pollution. Gandhi said citizens peacefully seeking clean air were being treated “like criminals” and urged decisive action. This comes as world leaders are gathered in Brazil for the COP30 climate conference, from which India, the United States and China, — the world’s three biggest polluters — are notably absent. For more, we offer this piece from Indian daily The Wire.

📰 IN OTHER NEWS

📱The photos of Gaza or the U.S. bombings of Venezuelan boats at sea continue to affect us — but not enough to shake us from our lethargy. Why is that? 
— VOLCÁNICAS

🇺🇦 Pavlo Barbul, a former defense industry insider once praised for exposing corruption, stands accused of the same abuses. His accuser was recently murdered.
— GLOBAL PRESS JOURNAL

🦾 The arrival of OpenAI in Patagonia marks the beginning of a new hub: a southern location combining clean energy, scientific talent, and political stability.
— CLARIN