Lithuania shuts airports and Belarus border after weather balloon incursion
Vilnius and Kaunas airports closed down after balloons drift into country’s airspace for third time this month
News from October 24, 2025
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Business
Stock Market Today: Dow, Nasdaq Hit New Highs After Inflation Report — Live Updates - The Wall Street Journal
The delayed Consumer Price Index showed prices rose 3% in September. Follow along for live updates on the CPI report and how the Dow, Nasdaq and S&P 500 react.
Technology
The CEO of the Alamo’s historic site has resigned after a top Texas Republican criticized her - AP News
The CEO of the nonprofit managing the Alamo resigned after a powerful Republican state official criticized her publicly, suggesting that her views aren’t compatible with the history of the Texas shrine. Kate Rogers said in a statement Friday that she had resigned the day before, after Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick wrote a letter to the Alamo Trust’s Board of Directors suggesting that she either resign or be removed. Patrick criticized her over an academic paper questioning the GOP-controlled Legislature’s education policies and suggesting she wanted the historic site in Texas to have a broader focus. “It was with mixed emotions that I resigned my post as President and CEO at the Alamo Trust yesterday,” Rogers said in a statement texted to The Associated Press. “It became evident through recent events that it was time for me to move on.” Several trust officials did not immediately respond to email or cellphone messages Friday seeking comment. Patrick had posted a letter to the board Thursday on X, calling her paper “shocking.” She wrote it in 2023 for a doctorate in global education from the University of Southern California. Patrick posted a portion online. “I believe her judgment is now placed in serious question,” Patrick wrote. “She has a totally different view of how the history of the Alamo should be told.” It is the latest episode in an ongoing conflict over how the U.S. tells its history. Patrick’s call for Rogers’ ouster follows President Donald Trump’s pressure to get Smithsonian museums in Washington to put less emphasis on slavery and other darker parts of America’s past. The Alamo, known as “the Shrine of Texas Liberty,” draws more than 1.6 million visitors a year. The trust operates it under a contract with the Texas General Land Office, and the state plans to spend $400 million on a renovation with a new museum and visitor center set to open in 2027. Patrick presides over the Texas Senate. In San Antonio, Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai, the county’s elected top administrator, decried Patrick’s “gross political interference.” “We need to get politics out of our teaching of history. Period,” he said in a statement Friday. In the excerpt from her paper, Rogers noted the Texas Legislature’s “conservative agenda” in 2023, including bills to limit what could be taught about race and slavery in history courses. “Philosophically, I do not believe it is the role of politicians to determine what professional educators can or should teach in the classroom,” she wrote. Her paper also mentioned a 2021 book, “Forget the Alamo,” which challenges traditional historical narratives surrounding the 13-day siege of the Alamo during Texas’ fight for independence from Mexico in 1836. Rogers noted that the book argues that a central cause of the war was Anglo settlers’ determination to keep slaves in bondage after Mexico largely abolished it. Texas won the war and was an independent republic until the U.S. annexed it in 1845. Rogers also wrote that a city advisory council wanted to tell the site’s “full story,” including its history as a home to Indigenous people — something the state’s Republican leaders oppose. She said she would love the Alamo to be “a place that brings people together versus tearing them apart.” “But,” she added, “politically that may not be possible at this time.” Traditional narratives obscure the role slavery might have played in Texas’ drive for independence and portray the Alamo’s defenders as freedom fighters. Patrick’s letter called the siege “13 Days of Glory.” The Mexican Army attacked and overran the Texas defenses. But “Remember the Alamo” became a rallying cry for Texas forces. “We must ensure that future generations never forget the sacrifice for freedom that was made,” Patrick wrote in his letter to the trust’s board. “I will continue to defend the Alamo today against a rewrite of history.”
Technology
NFC Notes: Ben Johnson, Jordan Love, Aaron Rodgers, Bears, Lions, Packers
Bears HC Ben Johnson said that the team needed to be more efficient in the red zone and wants to minimize the negative yardage situations they put themselves in. “Throughout the season so far, we’ve been behind the sticks quite a bit,” Johnson said, via Bears Wire. “If we can just stay on schedule, stay on track, then this thing is going to come to life. We’ve got some really talented players in every position room. I would like to just be more efficient as an offense. I would like to throw more completions. And we have to be better in the red zone. That’s the other Achilles’ heel that we have right now. We’re making it down there, but we’re not scoring seven points. We’re just settling for field goals the last couple weeks. If we do those things on offense, I think you’ll see improvement.“ Due to injuries, Detroit was playing with multiple guys in the secondary making their first start in the Lions’ Week 7 win over Tampa Bay. Lions DC Kelvin Sheppard expressed his excitement in seeing how they will make the most of this great opportunity. “It’s a tremendous opportunity for these guys,” Sheppard said, via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. “These guys have been working for this moment, they’ve been waiting on this moment. And again, I just try to remind these guys it’s not pressure but this could be your one moment that makes or breaks your NFL career, that changes the trajectory of your family. So go make the most of it. Have fun with it. And I mean I honestly can’t wait to watch.” The Steelers will take on the Packers in Week 8, marking the first time QB Aaron Rodgers faces off with the franchise he spent 18 seasons with. Green Bay QB Jordan Love reflected on taking over for a franchise legend and talked about how he’s tuned out the noise from the beginning. “It was definitely difficult . . . understanding who you’re taking over for,” Love said Wednesday, via Mike Spofford of the team website. “The main thing for me was just trying to block all that out and understand that for me, this is a great opportunity, something I’ve been waiting for, for three years behind him, watching him.” “So I knew in the back of my head I was ready, and [I focused on] how best can I go out there and try to block all that extra noise out and just play my game, and make my own name here.”
Technology
Canadians pull tariff ad after furious Trump scraps trade talks
US President Donald Trump's global sectoral tariffs have hit Canada hard, forcing job losses and squeezing businesses. (AP pic) WASHINGTON: The Canadian province of Ontario said on Friday it would pull an anti-tariff ad featuring former US president Ronald Reagan that prompted current leader Donald Trump to scrap trade talks. Trump announced on his Truth Social network on Thursday that he had "terminated" all negotiations with Canada over what he called the "fake" ad campaign that he said misrepresented fellow Republican Reagan. Less than 24 hours later, Ontario premier Doug Ford said he was suspending the ads after talking to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney about the spiraling row with Washington. "In speaking with Prime Minister Carney, Ontario will pause its US advertising campaign effective Monday so that trade talks can resume," Ford said in a post on X. Ford added however that he had told his team to keep airing the ad during the first two games this weekend of baseball's World Series - in which a Canadian team, the Toronto Blue Jays, face the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Canadian ad used quotes from a radio address on trade that Reagan delivered in 1987, in which he warned against ramifications that he said high tariffs on foreign imports could have on the US economy. It cited Reagan as saying that "high tariffs inevitably lead to retaliation by foreign countries and the triggering of fierce trade wars," a quote that matches a transcript of his speech on the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library's website. The Ronald Reagan foundation wrote on X on Thursday that the Ontario government had used "selective audio and video" and that it was reviewing its legal options. Trump did not immediately react to the Ontario premier's decision to pull the ad. White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller told reporters that Trump had made his "extreme displeasure" known and was expected to respond later. A senior US official said that Trump would probably encounter Carney at a dinner on the sidelines of an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation in South Korea on Wednesday. "They will likely see each other," the official told AFP. 'Cheated and got caught' Trump had first vented his fury at the ad late on Thursday, saying it was designed to "interfere with the decision of the US Supreme Court," which is due to rule on his sweeping global tariffs. "CANADA CHEATED AND GOT CAUGHT!!!" he said in a new post as he doubled down earlier Friday. Carney had earlier sought to calm the situation, saying that his country was ready to resume "progress" on trade talks "when the Americans are ready". Canada has "to focus on what we can control, and realize what we cannot control," he added as he headed to Asia. The latest twist in relations between the US and Canada came just over two weeks after Carney visited Trump at the White House to seek a relaxation of stiff US tariffs. At that meeting, Trump described Carney as a "world-class leader" and said the Canadian would "walk away very happy" from their discussion. Trump's global sectoral tariffs - particularly on steel, aluminum, and autos - have hit Canada hard, forcing job losses and squeezing businesses. For now, the US and Canada adhere to an existing North American trade deal called the USMCA, which ensures that roughly 85% of cross-border trade in both directions remains tariff-free. But in a speech on Wednesday, Carney said that the United States has raised "its tariffs to levels last seen during the Great Depression." "Our economic strategy needs to change dramatically," Carney added, saying the process "will take some sacrifices and some time." White House National Economic Council director Kevin Hassett told reporters earlier that Canada had been "very difficult to negotiate with" and that "frustration has built up over time" for the president.
Technology
US sends world’s largest warship towards Caribbean as it ramps up military presence
The US is deploying the world’s largest warship towards the Caribbean, marking a major escalation in its military build-up in the region. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the USS Gerald R Ford aircraft carrier, which can carry up to 90 aircraft, to move from the Mediterranean on Friday. The US has been increasing its military presence in the Caribbean in recent weeks, sending other warships, a nuclear submarine as well as F-35 aircraft in what it says is a campaign to target drug traffickers. It has carried out ten airstrikes on boats it says belong to traffickers, including one on Friday when Hegseth said “six male narco-terrorists” had been killed. That operation took place in the Caribbean Sea, against a ship Hegseth said belonged to the Tren de Aragua criminal organisation. The strikes have drawn condemnation in the region and experts have questioned their legality. The Trump administration says it is conducting a war on drug trafficking, but it has also been accused by experts and members of Congress of launching an intimidation campaign that seeks to destabilise the government of Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro. Maduro is a longtime foe of Trump, and the US president has accused him of being the leader of a drug-trafficking organisation, which he denies. “This is about regime change. They’re probably not going to invade, the hope is this is about signalling,” Dr Christopher Sabatini, a senior fellow for Latin America at the Chatham House think tank, told the BBC. He argued the military build-up is intended to “strike fear” in the hearts of the Venezuelan military and Maduro’s inner circle so that they move against him. In its Friday announcement, the Pentagon said the USS Gerald R Ford carrier would deploy to the US Southern Command area of responsibility, which includes Central America and South America as well as the Caribbean. The additional forces “will enhance and augment existing capabilities to disrupt narcotics trafficking and degrade and dismantle TCOs”, or transnational criminal organisations, spokesman Sean Parnell said. The carrier’s deployment would provide the resources to start conducting strikes against targets on the ground. Trump has repeatedly raised the possibility of what he called “land action” in Venezuela. “We are certainly looking at land now, because we’ve got the sea very well under control,” he said earlier this week. It comes as CNN reports Trump is considering targeting cocaine facilities and drug trafficking routes inside Venezuela, but is yet to make a final decision. The aircraft carrier last publicly transmitted its location three days ago off the coast of Croatia, in the Adriatic Sea. Its deployment marks a significant escalation in the US military buildup in the region. It is also likely to increase tensions with Venezuela, whose government Washington has long accused of harbouring drug traffickers. The carrier’s large aircraft load can include jets and planes for transport and reconnaissance. Its first long-term deployment was in 2023. It is unclear which vessels will accompany it when it moves to the region, but it can operate as part of a strike group that includes destroyers carrying missiles and other equipment. The US has carried out a series of strikes on boats in recent weeks, in what President Donald Trump has described as an effort to curtail drug trafficking. The strike announced on Friday was the tenth the Trump administration has carried out against alleged drug traffickers since early September. Most have taken place off of South America, in the Caribbean, but on 21 and 22 October it carried out strikes in the Pacific Ocean. Members of US Congress, both Democrats and Republicans, have raised concerns about the legality of the strikes and the president’s authority to order them. On 10 September, 25 Democratic US senators wrote to the White House and alleged the administration had struck a vessel days earlier “without evidence that the individuals on the vessel and the vessel’s cargo posed a threat to the United States”. Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky, a Republican, has argued that such strikes require congressional approval. Trump said he has the legal authority to order the strikes, and has designated Tren de Aragua a terrorist organisation. “We’re allowed to do that, and if we do [it] by land, we may go back to Congress,” Trump told White House reporters on Wednesday. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio added that “if people want to stop seeing drug boats blow up, stop sending drugs to the United States”. The six deaths in the operation Hegseth announced on Friday brings the total people killed in the US strikes to at least 43. (BBC News)
Technology
Why is classical music being blasted on loud speakers in downtown Houston underpass?
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- If you want to hear a stirring rendition of the classical composition "The Blue Danube", you may choose to attend the Houston Symphony or catch a visiting performer. You probably wouldn't think of finding it at a busy downtown underpass. "When I first came, it was good to listen to it, but after a while, you keep listening to the same thing, and sometimes I start humming it and I'm like, huh," Thomas, a man experiencing homelessness, said. It's mostly the unhoused you'll find spending significant time at the Pierce elevated underpasses at Main and Fannin. Those who spoke to ABC13 said they remember hearing the music for months, while others said years. What some could agree on is why it's classical music, loud, and on a loop. "Cause of the homeless. Cause of the homeless and all the other things that go on through the city, and they're right here under the bridge all the time," David, a man experiencing homelessness, said. ABC13 reached out to the Mayor's office, City Council, and METRO to determine who installed the speakers, whether the music is, in fact, intended to deter people from camping and sitting at these underpasses, and what other resources are being provided to those in need. No one has responded to our inquiries. David said he feels it does keep people on the move, and he believes dangerous activity, such as drug dealing, is lower. But he's not sure loud music is the answer either. "Just give us some help, if y'all come out and give us the right help that we need, we wouldn't have to sit out here all day," David said. David said he was approved for housing and will be moving in at the end of the month to get off the streets and away from the music, but he hopes more will be done for the people still living in the underpasses. ABC13 looked into whether other cities have started playing loud classical music in certain areas. The only reports found are coming out of Los Angeles, where city departments and business owners have acknowledged they play loud classical music to deter the homeless from being in certain areas. For more news updates, follow Lileana Pearson on Facebook, X and Instagram.
Technology
38 Newer Products So Good You’ll Be Like “Oh, They Made That Especially For Me”
YouCopia is a woman-owned small business that specializes in home storage solutions. Bonus — the top even functions as a little catch-all for jewelry! You can check out their hybrid toothbrush holder phone stand, too. Promising review: "SO useful! This item is well built! I love that it helps me save space in my very cramped desk. And, the added benefit is that I can always now find my phone. I also use it to do FaceTime calls. Love it!" —MJLVA Get it from Amazon for $16.99 (available in two sizes).
Leeds 2-1 West Ham: Premier League – as it happened
Goals from Brendan Aaronson and Joe Rodon did the damage as Nuno Espírito Santo’s winless start at West Ham continued
Tennessee man’s heart still active nearly two minutes after execution, lawyer says
Allegation raises further questions about death of Byron Black in execution lawyer says was ‘100% botched’
Technology
Leeds earn big win to heap more misery on West Ham
Leeds secure their first Premier League win at home since their opening game in August and pile on the problems for second-bottom West Ham. MATCH REPORT: Leeds 2-1 West Ham Available to UK users only.
This Quiz Will Reveal Which TikTok Group You Secretly Belong In
Really, Group 7 is meaningless — so if you're confused, don't worry about it. There is no further context; it's all vibe-based! Sooooo..... I thought it'd be fun to make a TOTALLY scientific quiz to sort you into your one true Group. Let's see — what group are you?
Technology
Today's NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints and Answers for Oct. 25, #397
Looking for the most recent regular Connections answers? Click here for today's Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle and Strands puzzles. Today's Connections: Sports Edition is a fun one. It helps if you're familiar with the athletes of the Pacific Northwest. If you're struggling but still want to solve it, read on for hints and the answers. Connections: Sports Edition is published by The Athletic, the subscription-based sports journalism site owned by the Times. It doesn't show up in the NYT Games app but appears in The Athletic's own app. Or you can play it for free online. Read more: NYT Connections: Sports Edition Puzzle Comes Out of Beta Hints for today's Connections: Sports Edition groups Here are four hints for the groupings in today's Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group. Yellow group hint: When you get hurt. Green group hint: Beaver State. Blue group hint: Not surnames, but... Purple group hint: Think oxygen. Answers for today's Connections: Sports Edition groups Yellow group: Worn after an injury. Green group: An Oregon athlete. Blue group: First names of USWNT players. Purple group: Air ____. Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words What are today's Connections: Sports Edition answers? The yellow words in today's Connections The theme is worn after an injury. The four answers are brace, cast, sling and splint. The green words in today's Connections The theme is an Oregon athlete. The four answers are Beaver, Duck Thorn and Timber. The blue words in today's Connections The theme is first names of USWNT players. The four answers are Lily, Rose, Sam and Trinity. The purple words in today's Connections The theme is air ____. The four answers are ball, bud, force and hockey.
U.S. kills six in latest strike on alleged drug boat, Hegseth says - The Washington Post
The operation marked the 10th known attack on suspected smugglers from Latin America, pushing the reported death toll to at least 43.
Blue Jays manager playfully requests Shohei Ohtani return team gifts from free agency meeting - Fox News
Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider joked that he wanted Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani to return the gifts he received during his visit with the team in free agency.
Technology
Charges dismissed against man accused of assaulting 11-year-old girl at bus stop in 2022, docs show
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- A judge has dismissed charges against the man accused of kidnapping and assaulting an 11-year-old girl in 2022, according to court documents. Court records show that Donald Farley was charged with aggravated kidnapping and indecency with a child in 2022. Records show that the Harris County District Attorney's Office asked the court to dismiss the charges in the case, saying in court documents that "they cannot prove it beyond a reasonable doubt" on July 2, 2025. The incident happened on Feb. 15, 2022, in the Greenspoint area near Northborough and Ruschcreek. The 11-year-old girl told authorities she was walking to her bus stop from her home when Farley grabbed her by force and took her to some nearby apartments, records state. Houston police say the young girl told investigators that Farley threw her on the ground, held a knife to her neck, and sexually assaulted her. She was able to get away, according to court documents. RELATED: Suspect on the run 10 months after young girl assaulted while walking to bus stop, records state
Napoleon’s soldiers who died in Russian retreat had unexpected diseases, study finds
Analysis of DNA from teeth of troops buried in mass grave suggests soldiers had paratyphoid fever and relapsing fever
‘I don’t care what Slot is saying’: Ruben Amorim hits back at Liverpool manager
Ruben Amorim said: ‘I don’t need anyone to evaluate my team,’ in reaction to Arne Slot’s comments about Manchester United’s style in their win at Liverpool
‘I’d still back Mo Salah to score to save my life,’ says Arne Slot about forward’s loss of form
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot insisted struggling Mohamed Salah will rediscover his form after the 33-year-old has failed to score for the club for more than a month
Technology
Big Ten Football Re-Rankings: Ohio State, Indiana, Oregon and then?
Before the start of the college football season, I predicted the order of finish in the Big Ten. Very, very badly, I might add. On brand, you say? Yeah, yeah. Now, with five regular-season games to go (not counting the championship game) for each team in the conference, it’s time for my annual Big Ten Re-Rankings column — a tradition so rich and illustrious, I forget to write it roughly every other year. Let’s use the looming College Football Playoff as a means of separating these teams (current records and my preseason rankings are in parentheses): 1. Ohio State (7-0; 1): With no game this weekend, the Buckeyes can kick their feet up Saturday before resuming their reign of terror. Quarterback Julian Sayin for the Heisman Trophy? 2. Indiana (7-0; 11): Eleventh? Sheesh, that’s embarrassing. Not only won’t the Hoosiers regress to the 5-4 conference record I predicted for them; they have a great shot at running the table. CFP good bet 3. Oregon (6-1; 4): The Ducks still go to Iowa and Washington and host USC. There’s a good bit of green left in this putt. CFP long shots 4. USC (5-2; 7): Yes, Illinois fans, you nipped the Trojans in Champaign. You also lost by 47 billion at Indiana. The Trojans aren’t likely to get to 10-2, but doing so would put them very much in play. 5. Michigan (5-2; 6): Freshman QB Bryce Underwood is coming off his best game, against Washington, and his team will be favored in its next four contests. The Wolverines wouldn’t dare beat Ohio State for the fifth time in a row, would they? 6. Illinois (5-2; 5): If the Illini can find a path to victory Saturday in Seattle, they’ll have a pretty straight shot at 10-2. But would they be a playoff team at 10-2? Maybe — if things were to fall entirely in their favor. 7. Iowa (5-2; 8): There are at least a few losable games left on the Hawkeyes’ docket, but they’re a solid team that played Indiana on nearly equal terms. Oregon still comes to Iowa City, an opportunity to make a big move. 8. Washington (5-2; 3): What happened to the Huskies being this year’s Indiana? Maybe that was just my dumb idea. All the rest 9. Nebraska (5-2; 10): The Huskers’ best win came against Maryland. Even at 10-2, their résumé wouldn’t be much to look at. 10. Minnesota (5-2; 9): The Gophers looked tough as nails last time out, against Nebraska, but eight wins and a mid-tier bowl seems like the best-case scenario. 11. Northwestern (5-2; 12): A tip of the beer helmet to the Wildcats for exceeding all outside expectations to this point. Emphasis on “to this point,” because finding a sixth win, let alone more than that, won’t be easy. 12. UCLA (3-4; 16): The Bruins are 3-1 since firing Deshaun Foster. Unfortunately, the remainder of the schedule is diabolical. 13. Maryland (4-3; 17): Nobody’s talking about the Terrapins, whose three conference losses came by a total of 10 points. A season of “almosts.” 14. Penn State (3-4; 2): Raise your hand if you saw this disaster coming. Oh, stop, you did not. 15. Rutgers (3-4; 13): If the Scarlet Knights can summon any shreds of dignity after losing at home by 46 to Oregon, they might turn themselves into a moderately tough out down the stretch. 16. Michigan State (3-4; 14): Four straight losses have wiped out any and all momentum. A bowl team, this is not. 17. Purdue (2-5; 18): There are vague signs of life in Season 1 on Barry Odom’s watch. Or are there? It’s hard to tell. 18. Wisconsin (2-5; 15): My alma mater won nine games during my four years as a student. The doormat Badgers are almost making me feel young again. Week 9 picks All games are Saturday. Northwestern (+7½) at Nebraska (11 a.m., FS1, 720-AM): The Wildcats have won four games in a row and are just nutty enough to believe they can go to Lincoln and make it five. I wouldn’t put it past them, but I’ll take the Huskers to hang on 27-21. No. 8 Ole Miss (+5½) at No. 13 Oklahoma (11 a.m., ABC 7): The Rebels lit up the scoreboard and led much of the way in last week’s 43-35 loss at Georgia, but OU’s defense is at a higher level. Boomer, 30-24. No. 23 Illinois (+3½) at Washington (2:30 p.m., BTN, 890-AM): The Huskies weren’t physical enough to finish drives against Ohio State or Michigan. Is Illinois the same kind of animal defensively? It doesn’t seem so, though a bye week should have the Illini nice and fresh. UDub, 31-24. No. 3 Texas A&M (-2½) at No. 20 LSU (6:30 p.m., ABC 7): In the proverbial best-of-seven series on a neutral field, I’d take the Aggies 4-3. In Death Valley? Tigers, 31-27. No. 25 Michigan (-14½) at Michigan State (6:30 p.m., NBC 5): The gap between these rivals is large, but Little Brother will have something to say in this one. Wolverines keep the Paul Bunyan Trophy, though, 27-20. My favorite favorite: No. 10 Vanderbilt (-2½) vs. No. 15 Missouri (2:30 p.m., ESPN): Last year’s double-overtime loss at Mizzou still sticks in the Commodores’ craws. It’s payback time. My favorite underdog: Minnesota (+9½) at Iowa (2:30 p.m., CBS 2): The last five Floyd of Rosedale games in Iowa City have been real hogfights, decided by one score. Hawkeyes eke one out by a kick, but the Gophers cover. Last week: 4-3 straight-up, 3-4 against the spread. Season to date: 36-20, 27-29.