JQJO — General news · Page 44

For two months, the US has amassed warships, bombers, fighter jets and drones in the Caribbean—the region’s largest build-up in decades—while authorising CIA activity in Venezuela and carrying out lethal strikes on small boats it says carried narcotics, without offering evidence. Critics across the region question the legality and see an intimidation campaign to pressure President Nicolás Maduro’s inner circle, not a conventional drug war. BBC Verify tracked 10 US ships and advanced aircraft, including B-52 "bomber attack demonstrations". A $50m bounty and sanctions have yet to prompt defections, leaving Trump’s endgame—and the duration of the buildup—uncertain.

Ahead of Sunday night’s Steelers-Packers game, Aaron Rodgers told Green Bay reporters he will retire as a Packer, the team that drafted him, and one day see his No. 12 join Lambeau Field’s retired numbers. The 41-year-old quarterback, now with Pittsburgh, rejected any “revenge” talk, calling his 18 years in Green Bay some of his best and recalling pranks, plane rides, and friends he still cherishes. Rodgers, who has 14 TDs and five interceptions through six games, said the matchup is special and hopes to swap jerseys with Jordan Love.

Customs and Border Protection Commander Gregory Bovino is accused of violating a restraining order after video showed him tossing tear gas at protesters during an immigration operation in Chicago's Little Village. Journalists and First Amendment advocates notified Judge Sara Ellis, arguing the act, and alleged uses of force and dispersal orders, breached her Oct. 9 limits on riot-control weapons and treatment of media. Ellis extended deposition time for Bovino and other officials and ordered both sides to include recent Little Village use-of-force incidents ahead of a Nov. 5 hearing. Separately, Gov. JB Pritzker created an Illinois Accountability Commission.

Ford’s third-quarter profit more than doubled to $2.4 billion as strong truck and SUV sales offset tariffs, but a September fire at a key Novelis aluminum plant will slow pickup output and cut fourth-quarter pretax profit by up to $1 billion. The company halted F-150 Lightning production, shifted workers, and lowered its 2025 EBIT outlook to $6–$6.5 billion. Revenue rose 9% to $50.5 billion on 1.2 million vehicles. To plug gaps, Ford will boost large pickup output in Michigan and Kentucky, adding 1,000 jobs.

The Athletic’s stadium rankings explain why U.S. college football venues dwarf most others: early 20th-century building booms, postwar southern expansion, and relentless competition for seats. Programs from Michigan to Tennessee prioritized capacity, while NFL teams pursued amenities and Europe faced land, cost and safety limits. The result: college stadiums account for eight of the world’s 10 largest. Visitors like actor Stephen Fry and Australia-born Georgia punter Brett Thorson marvel at the size and deafening noise, a spectacle echoed by writer George Somerville after visits to Alabama and LSU.

Outer Banks co-creator and director Jonas Pate has been accused of grabbing and shaking a young production assistant while shouting in her face. A source tells Variety that star Chase Stokes witnessed the physical and verbal aggression and immediately intervened, with Madelyn Cline stepping in afterward to help de-escalate the confrontation. The Netflix series is currently in production on its fifth and final season in Dubrovnik, Croatia; Netflix did not respond to Variety’s request for comment. The show debuted in 2020 and was renewed for its concluding season in November 2024. TMZ first reported the news.

Archbishop Stephen Wood, the highest-ranking prelate of the Anglican Church in North America, has been formally accused by former employees of sexual harassment, plagiarism and bullying, amid continuing turmoil in the small denomination. In a document submitted Monday, former staff member Claire Buxton alleges Wood gave her an "intimate" hug, tried to kiss her in his church office in April 2024, provided $3,500 in unexpected payments, used a pet name, and offered a luxury resort stay, according to The Washington Post. The presentment is not public. Wood was elected in June 2024 and remains rector and bishop.

Microsoft’s Copilot is getting a “human-centered AI” makeover in its Fall Release, including Mico — an optional, expressive face that listens, reacts, and changes color. The company, which recently said it wanted better voice controls, is also rolling out Copilot Groups for chats of up to 32 people, new Memory & Personalization settings to carry context, and Copilot for health, grounding answers in sources like Harvard Health and helping match users with doctors. Microsoft says the updates are live in the US and will reach the UK, Canada, and beyond in the coming weeks.

Target will cut 1,800 corporate jobs—about 8% of its corporate workforce—in its first major layoffs in a decade, the Minneapolis-based retailer said. In a memo, incoming CEO Michael Fiddelke said the move is meant to simplify operations and speed decisions as the company battles a sales slump and expects annual sales to fall. The cuts combine roughly 1,000 layoffs with 800 unfilled positions; affected staff will be notified Tuesday and receive pay and benefits until January 3 plus severance. Store and supply-chain roles are unaffected. Fiddelke, now COO, becomes CEO February 1.

A four-year study in Southern California found that 18% of more than 2,300 urinary tract infections were linked to E. coli strains also detected in local grocery meat, especially turkey and chicken, with pork and beef trailing. Framing UTIs as a food safety issue, researchers reported a 60% higher risk of foodborne UTIs in low-income areas and called for attention to social determinants of health. Until stricter safeguards are in place, they advise careful handling of raw meat: thorough handwashing, avoiding cross-contamination, and cooking meat properly.