Firings of federal workers begin as White House seeks to pressure Democrats in government shutdown

October 11, 2025

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House budget office said Friday that mass firings of federal workers have started, an attempt by President Donald Trump’s administration to exert more pressure on Democratic lawmakers as the government shutdown dragged into a 10th day. Russ Vought, the director of the Office of Management and Budget, said on the social media site X that the “RIFs have begun,” referring to reduction-in-force plans aimed at reducing the size of the federal government. In a court filing, the budget office said well over 4,000 employees would be fired, though it noted ...

National Guard stands down in Illinois while troops patrol in Memphis with local police

October 11, 2025

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — National Guard troops patrolled in Tennessee’s second-largest city for the first time Friday while soldiers in Illinois were engaged only in planning and training after a judge handed a loss to the Trump administration and blocked their deployment to the Chicago ...

Fear and vigilance rise as attacks on houses of worship intensify worldwide

October 11, 2025

(AP) — Every week hundreds of millions of people around the world gather to worship in peace. But for some, there comes a day when deadly violence invades their sacred spaces and shatters that sense of sanctuary and safety. It happened recently at a synagogue in England and two churches in the U.S. Before that, there were high-profile attacks at mosques in New Zealand, a synagogue in Pennsylvania and a Sikh temple in Wisconsin. This violence can intensify anxiety and outright fear among clergy and worshippers worldwide. Security measures have been bolstered, congregants have been ...

Blast at a Tennessee explosives plant leaves 19 people missing and feared dead, sheriff says

October 11, 2025

McEWEN, Tenn. (AP) — A blast leveled an explosives plant Friday in rural Tennessee, leaving behind a mass of twisted metal, burned-out shells of cars and at least 19 people missing and feared dead, authorities said. “There’s nothing to describe. It’s gone,” Humphreys County Sheriff ...

Thousands of Palestinians return to what’s left of their homes as Gaza ceasefire takes effect

October 11, 2025

WADI GAZA, Gaza Strip (AP) — Tens of thousands of Palestinians headed back to the heavily destroyed northern Gaza Strip on Friday as a U.S.-brokered ceasefire came into effect in a deal that raised hopes for ending the Israel-Hamas war. All the remaining hostages were set to be released within days. Questions remain over who will govern Gaza as Israeli troops gradually pull back and whether Hamas will disarm, as called for in U.S. President Donald Trump’s ceasefire plan. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who unilaterally ended a ceasefire in March, hinted that Israel might renew ...

Two powerful quakes strike off southern Philippines, killing at least 7 people

October 11, 2025

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Two powerful offshore earthquakes struck the same region in the southern Philippines hours apart on Friday with the first 7.4 magnitude temblor killing at least seven people, setting off landslides and prompting evacuations of coastal areas nearby because of a ...