JQJO — Your world, one story at a time · Page 1205

Liverpool manager Arne Slot admitted the team’s run is "not good enough" after a 3-0 Carabao Cup defeat to Crystal Palace at Anfield, but said the result hasn’t increased pressure. With 10 changes from the Brentford loss, goals from Ismaïla Sarr and Yeremy Pino sealed Liverpool’s sixth defeat in seven. Slot noted the fans’ backing even at 2-0 and expects strong support on Saturday. Liverpool could be boosted by Ryan Gravenberch’s return for this weekend’s Premier League clash with Aston Villa, while Alexander Isak remains a doubt after a groin issue on Oct. 22.

National Guard troops will remain mobilized in Washington, DC, at least through February 2026 after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth extended orders that were expected to lapse at November’s end, a move not previously reported, people familiar said. The deployment—2,387 troops as of Wednesday from DC and several states—faces a legal challenge from DC’s attorney general seeking a judge-ordered removal of roughly 2,000 troops. While Trump said in August the Guard would fight crime under Title 32 authority, members have mostly done city beautification work. The mission costs about $1 million daily, with pay at risk amid the shutdown.

After years in development, Warner Bros. Animation and New Line Cinema have set the Hello Kitty feature film for July 21, 2028, revealing the date in a studio Instagram post. The movie marks Hello Kitty’s Hollywood theatrical debut, directed by Leo Matsuda with a recent draft by Dana Fox. Producer Beau Flynn secured rights with Sanrio founder Shintaro Tsuji after nearly a decade; Shelby Thomas will oversee for FlynnPictureCo. It’s not yet known whether Kitty White will speak. Sanrio has also licensed rights to Gudetama, My Melody, and Little Twin Stars.

After a truck overturned on Interstate 59 near Heidelberg, Miss., sheriff’s deputies shot and euthanized five of 21 rhesus monkeys that escaped, acting on a driver’s mistaken claim the animals carried Covid-19, hepatitis C and herpes, authorities said. Three monkeys remained loose Wednesday as photos showed crates scattered across the median. Hours after warning the public, deputies were told by Tulane University the monkeys had not been exposed to any infectious agent and were not being transported by the university. Animal welfare groups, including PETA, criticized the response and demanded necropsies.

Liverpool crashed out of the 2025-26 League Cup after a 3-0 home defeat to Crystal Palace, Arne Slot’s sixth loss in seven across competitions. Rotating all but Alexis Mac Allister and Milos Kerkez before a looming league date with Aston Villa, Slot’s youthful XI were overrun by a lightly rotated Palace. Ismaila Sarr struck twice just before halftime, in the 40th and 45th minutes, and Yeremy Pino sealed it in the 87th. Trailing by two, Slot withdrew his senior pair and introduced three more youngsters.

In one month of a DOJ-led Memphis Safe Task Force, authorities made more than 1,700 arrests in Memphis, including 126 known gang members, and seized 293 firearms. Seven dozen missing children were located. Attorney General Pam Bondi praised the city’s cooperation. The federal presence will remain with no set end date, a person familiar with the operation said. A city dashboard shows serious crime down 46% since Sept. 1. One resident said she hasn’t heard a gunshot in two weeks and, for the first time, her kids can play in the backyard.

Viral infections, including Covid-19, flu and shingles, are linked to heightened heart and stroke risks, according to a large review in the Journal of the American Heart Association. The analysis of 150+ studies found heart attack risk triples after Covid and quadruples after flu; stroke risk rises fivefold in the month after flu. Chronic infections like hepatitis C, HIV and varicella zoster also raise long‑term risk. Researchers cite inflammation and clotting as key drivers. Doctors urge vaccination and attention to modifiable risks, noting traditional factors still dominate overall risk.

Michael R. Bloomberg put $1.5 million into Fix the City, a super PAC backing Andrew M. Cuomo’s mayoral bid, and urged New Yorkers to vote for the former governor. The group has run anti-Mamdani ads and a get-out-the-vote push. It is Bloomberg’s first move since spending more than $8 million on Cuomo’s failed primary bid, as super PAC spending against Mr. Mamdani rises before Tuesday’s vote. After a September meeting described as "candid and productive," Bloomberg reaffirmed his endorsement and said he had voted for Cuomo, praising his experience and toughness for a difficult job.

Lawyers for Sean “Diddy” Combs moved to fast-track his appeal, arguing his 50-month prison term should be sharply reduced, according to court papers filed Wednesday. Defense attorney Alexandra Shapiro said prosecutors agreed to an expedited schedule with arguments before a judge in April. A New York City federal jury in early July convicted Combs on two counts of interstate prostitution and acquitted him of racketeering and sex trafficking. He pleaded not guilty and maintains his innocence. Combs has served 14 months; his release is listed as May 8, 2028.

The Supreme Court asked the Trump administration and Illinois officials for more information as it weighs whether the president can deploy hundreds of National Guard troops in the Chicago area. The justices set a Nov. 17 deadline and requested briefs on what “regular forces” means under federal law. The case stems from a plan to post Guard units outside an ICE facility in Broadview, where protesters have gathered; DOJ cites prolonged, coordinated, violent resistance, while Illinois and Chicago dispute any obstruction. A Seventh Circuit panel previously blocked the deployment.