JQJO — Your world, one story at a time · Page 1230

Leaked screenshots hint Google’s next Pixel Feature Drop could arrive November 4, earlier than expected, with “theme packs,” Pixel Studio animations, and upgraded Pixel VIP alerts. Images posted by Mystic Leaks show a Pixel Tips rundown: one-tap “Wicked: For Good” themes that apply matching wallpaper and icons—and claim to change sounds and GIFs—plus tools to turn any image or text‑generated creation into GIFs or animated stickers. Pixel VIP would highlight WhatsApp and Google Messages from chosen contacts in yellow with status‑bar photos. The timing and a typo suggest caution.

An Australian Murray cod nicknamed Arnie has stunned researchers by completing a 530-mile journey through the Murray River system—believed to be a species record. Tagged in early 2022 at Mullaroo Creek, the four-year-old fish surged 470 miles upstream in under two months as barriers were removed to let floodwater pass, then later turned to swim about 60 miles back downstream. Scientists only pieced together the trek after swapping data recently. The scale eclipses previous tracked movements of about 100 miles and will help guide water-flow management for the vulnerable species and its riverine ecosystem.

ICE detained British political commentator Sami Hamdi at San Francisco International Airport and is holding him after the State Department revoked his visitor visa, federal officials said. A senior U.S. official linked the action to Hamdi’s Middle East remarks but did not cite specific comments. CAIR, which hosted him at a Sacramento gala, demanded his immediate release. The detention is the latest in the Trump administration’s push to remove foreigners it says back unrest over Gaza, a campaign civil rights groups say violates free-speech protections. Hamdi denies praising Hamas.

OnePlus is rolling out its latest flagship in China ahead of a global launch, revealing flat edges, a left-mounted camera bump, and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. A 7,300mAh battery headlines the spec sheet, though it’s unclear if that capacity will reach other regions. The phone packs three 50MP cameras, including a new 3.5x telephoto, and lacks Hasselblad’s imaging engine. Its 6.78-inch FHD+ AMOLED display is smaller and lower-res than last year’s model, yet brighter at 1,800 nits. The author notes the OnePlus 13’s 6,000mAh cell already delivered multi-day life.

Week 8’s Bye‑mageddon brought frustration and fresh injuries, with Bijan Robinson the week’s biggest letdown. Cam Skattebo is out for the season, vaulting Tyrone Tracy into RB2, must‑add territory. Saquon Barkley and Quinshon Judkins carry injury concerns on byes; stash Tank Bigsby and Dylan Sampson. Usage stayed limited for TreVeyon Henderson and RJ Harvey, while Rico Dowdle outperformed in a split. Samaje Perine is the next man up. Jayden Higgins scored, and Elic Ayomanor stands as Tennessee’s clear No. 2.

Santa Barbara County detectives searching for 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard released surveillance images that appear to show her in a gray hoodie and a dark, straight wig at a car rental business on Oct. 7. Investigators say her mother, Ashlee Buzzard, rented a white Chevrolet Malibu that day and took a three-day trip from Lompoc to the Nebraska area, returning via Kansas; Melodee was not in the car on return. Authorities began the search Oct. 14 after school reported her extended absence. The sheriff urged public tips as Buzzard offered no verifiable explanation for Melodee’s whereabouts.

Four New Yorkers sued in State Supreme Court in Manhattan on Monday, alleging New York’s congressional map dilutes Black and Latino votes in the 11th District spanning Staten Island and southern Brooklyn. The complaint, filed by Elias Law Group, cites a rise in Staten Island’s Black and Latino population from 11% to 30% and says current lines sideline their influence. The seat is held by Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, the city’s lone Republican; her office didn’t comment. The case pushes New York into a widening redistricting fight ahead of 2026, even though Democrats approved the current map last year.

As the shutdown grinds on, Rep. Kevin Kiley keeps reporting to his Capitol Hill office, bucking Speaker Mike Johnson’s move to send most House members home. The California Republican criticizes the recess, citing stalled committees, flight delays, and lost food assistance as costs to the public. He rejects Johnson’s claim that staying home pressures the Senate on a seven-week funding bill and urges talks, including on expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies. Kiley also supports seating Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva without delay.

With paychecks halted for about 1.4 million federal employees, confusion deepened over retroactive pay as a draft White House budget memo cast doubt on guarantees. The Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019 says furloughed and “excepted” workers will receive full back pay at the earliest possible date after the shutdown ends, a point underscored by legal experts despite shifting OPM guidance. Contractors aren’t covered. Some federal workers may claim unemployment, later offset by back pay. Many cut spending after missing their first full paychecks Friday, as the shutdown hit day 27.

Stocks climbed toward fresh records Monday as Wall Street braced for a crowded week. The S&P 500 rose 1%, the Dow added 248 points, and the Nasdaq gained 1.7%, extending Friday’s highs. Optimism grew ahead of a U.S.-China leaders meeting and the Federal Reserve’s rate decision, with traders largely expecting another cut. Big Tech earnings loom. Qualcomm jumped on AI news, while bubble worries simmered. Keurig Dr Pepper matched profit expectations. Deal headlines lifted Cadence Bank and Avidity Biosciences. Overseas markets rallied as Japan’s Nikkei topped 50,000. Treasury yields eased, and gold pulled back from recent records.