JQJO — Your world, one story at a time · Page 1168

More than 150,000 people fled to higher ground in the eastern Philippines as Typhoon Kalmaegi approached, with warnings of torrential rain, destructive winds and storm surges up to 3 meters. Packing sustained winds of 140 kph and gusts to 170, it was about 95 km southeast of Guiuan and could make landfall late Monday or early Tuesday before sweeping west over central islands including quake-hit Cebu. Ferries and fishing boats were halted, some flights canceled, and rescue units put on alert. Displaced families would be moved to sturdier shelters; Negros villagers were warned of possible Kanlaon mudflows.

On the eve of Election Day, Zohran Mamdani marched across the Brooklyn Bridge to City Hall, flanked by elected allies and a crowd chanting 'Tax the Rich.' Casting himself as a trailblazing candidate with momentum among young, working-class and immigrant voters, he urged a break from what he called Mayor Eric Adams’s 'small ideas and scandal.' In a seven-minute speech, he pledged affordability and better transit, vowed to fight President Trump’s agenda, and criticized rival Andrew M. Cuomo after Trump endorsed him on 60 Minutes. Letitia James joined him as he decried a 'grave political darkness.'

Two U.S. citizens were arrested Friday in Michigan for allegedly plotting an ISIS-inspired Halloween attack they called "pumpkin day," court records unsealed Monday say. The complaint alleges Mohmed Ali and Majed Mahmoud bought a shotgun, an AR-15-style rifle and a forced reset trigger, practiced at firing ranges, and shared ISIS materials via encrypted apps. Searches found firearms and more than 1,600 rounds of ammunition. The probe began after a 2024 phone search of a co-conspirator. Messages referenced attacks in Paris and at Pulse. Attorney General Pam Bondi thanked the FBI for stopping it "before innocent lives were lost."

Marking her first year as Conservative leader, Kemi Badenoch told the BBC the party almost ran out of money after last year’s record defeat, with donors close to walking away and a real risk of bankruptcy. She said months spent shoring up finances delayed her public push, but claims the party is now steadier and advancing a policy agenda, including ending stamp duty and quitting the ECHR. Badenoch recast PMQs as “more theatre,” adjusted her approach, and brushed off plotting talk as backbenchers regain power to trigger a vote. Ahead of the Budget, she is tightening the economic message.

China flatly denied President Trump's claim that Beijing is secretly conducting nuclear weapons tests, after he told 60 Minutes that China and Russia are testing underground where 'you feel a little bit of a vibration.' The pushback came days after his nominee to lead STRATCOM told Congress neither country was conducting nuclear explosive tests. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said China follows a self-defense nuclear strategy and has suspended testing, urging the U.S. to support disarmament and nonproliferation. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said any U.S. plans involve system tests and 'non-critical' explosions, not atomic detonations.

Books call the 2025-26 men’s race wide open: Purdue and Houston sit around +850, with Duke, UConn and Kentucky next. Duke’s odds lengthened after losing all five starters, including No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg. Purdue surged on offseason buzz, and at BetMGM both Houston and Kentucky are liabilities while longshot San Diego State is the largest. Florida’s 2025 title from +6000 underscores volatility as BYU, UCLA and Arizona chase early momentum. For the Wooden Award, Purdue guard Braden Smith is the consensus favorite, trailed by freshmen Darryn Peterson and Cameron Boozer.

Russia moved quickly to showcase its alignment with China after U.S. President Donald Trump’s meeting with Xi Jinping, which he called amazing, dispatching a large delegation to Hangzhou. Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin met Li Qiang for two days of talks, signing agreements to deepen cooperation in trade, investment, energy, transport, agriculture and space. Both sides praised their partnership despite sanctions and external risks. The outreach followed Trump’s cancellation of planned talks with Vladimir Putin, which Moscow blamed on fake news, and amid unease over Beijing’s constructive dialogue with Washington.

Famine has reached el-Fasher in Darfur and Kadugli in South Kordofan, the IPC said, as Sudan’s war rages. El-Fasher, seized last week by RSF fighters after an 18-month siege, saw reported attacks that killed hundreds as communications falter; Kadugli remains besieged with tens of thousands trapped. Aid groups report people straggling into nearby towns with catastrophic malnutrition; in Tawila, all 70 children under 5 screened one day were acutely malnourished. The IPC estimates 375,000 people in famine, 6.3 million facing extreme hunger, and 21 million acutely food insecure, urging a ceasefire to stop further loss of life.

Half of Americans say the Trump administration isn’t committed to protecting rights and freedoms, an ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll finds. Majorities doubt his commitment to press, speech, a fair justice system and free elections, but 73% say he backs gun ownership. Slim majorities view Democrats as committed to press, speech, religion and elections, not gun rights. Most oppose Trump’s $230 million request from the Justice Department. Six in ten say judges enforce limits on his authority, and 64% say his administration avoids court orders; 58% say he goes too far against opponents.

Voters in New Jersey, Virginia and New York City head to the polls Tuesday, while Californians weigh a Democratic plan to redraw the congressional map. The results are seen as a pulse check on the country and a preview of the 2026 midterms, as an ABC News Washington Post Ipsos poll finds two thirds say the nation is on the wrong track. Majorities blame President Donald Trump for inflation and disapprove of his economic handling, while many view both parties as out of touch. With the federal government shut down, ballots could signal pressure to end the stalemate.