JQJO — Your world, one story at a time · Page 1281

Vice President JD Vance visited Israel as a Gaza ceasefire nears two weeks, saying the deal is advancing while U.S. officials push next steps and open a coordination center outside Gaza. In Washington, the government remains shut down, with House Democrat Hakeem Jeffries predicting pressure on Republicans over health insurance subsidies as President Trump praises budget cuts and planned grant cancellations. At the White House, demolition for a $250 million ballroom sparked preservation worries and ethics questions amid donor ties. Also today: Karine Jean-Pierre’s new book, fall lifestyle tips, and headlines on peanut allergies, Sundance and base libraries.

Vice President Vance said the Israel-Hamas ceasefire is holding after talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, even as a difficult Phase 2 looms. A U.S. team is in Israel to keep the truce, in place since Oct. 10, on track; in a rare exception, envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met Hamas leaders in Egypt to finalize it. Despite a flare-up Sunday, Vance prioritized aid and security and visited a coordination center built by 200 U.S. troops. Plans call for Hamas to decommission weapons, Israeli pullbacks, and a still-undefined international force, while Gaza’s interim technocrat government lacks a timetable.

A federal raid on Canal Street in NYC’s Chinatown led to the arrest of nine West African migrants accused of selling counterfeit goods, and four protesters, officials said. DHS described violent obstruction, noting one arrest for assault on a federal officer. ICE said detained protesters have criminal histories. An advocacy group claimed many more vendors were arrested. City Hall said it did not cooperate and opposes targeting undocumented New Yorkers. A mayoral candidate denounced the raid as aggressive and reckless.

Apple plans to ship a new iPhone form factor each year, a Naver post by yeux1122 claims, citing domestic trend and component research firms. The roadmap points to a 2026 book‑style foldable with a flexible LTPO+ OLED near iPad mini size, a structural glass mid‑frame to reduce creasing, and possible under‑display Face ID and camera. A 20th‑anniversary model in 2027 reportedly features a zero‑bezel wraparound display with hidden sensors. In 2028, a compact clamshell foldable adds an external screen for notifications and AI‑powered Shortcuts. The push, foreshadowed by this year’s iPhone Air, mirrors other reports.

Russia launched a sweeping barrage across Ukraine, hitting power plants and a kindergarten and killing six, hours after President Trump postponed a planned meeting with Vladimir Putin, calling it a likely “wasted” effort. Footage from Kharkiv showed rescuers carrying children from a burning kindergarten; one person died there and several were wounded. The strikes triggered industrial power curbs and rolling blackouts in multiple regions, including Kyiv. Ukrainian analysts accused Moscow of stringing out talks, and President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia feels too little pressure to stop prolonging the war. The Kremlin also announced nuclear drills, including intercontinental missile tests.

A federal marshal and Carlitos Ricardo Parias, 44, were wounded by gunfire during a Homeland Security enforcement stop in Los Angeles, officials said. After agents boxed in his car, Parias — described as an undocumented Mexican national — tried to flee, ramming vehicles; an agent fired, hitting Parias in the elbow, and a ricochet struck the marshal’s hand. Both were hospitalized; the marshal was stable and Parias was expected to recover. Parias, known online as “Richard LA,” was charged with assault on a federal officer and faces up to eight years if convicted. LAPD handled traffic control only.

On the edge of Wyoming’s capital, two roadside ads told competing stories: a nonprofit touting money for college, and Walmart promising more than $30 an hour. The contrast captures a national rift sharpened in the Trump era over whether college is necessary. Despite years of encouragement, rising debt and dropout rates have deepened skepticism, especially where most jobs don’t require degrees. Wyoming embraced a push for postsecondary credentials but made limited gains. Laramie County Community College president Joe Schaffer both championed the effort and cautioned against the lure of immediate wages.

Assa Diawara, 30, was taken into custody early Wednesday in Queens on charges of abandonment of a child and endangering the welfare of a child, police said, after a newborn girl was found wrapped in a blanket on the southbound 1 platform at 34th Street-Penn Station during Monday’s rush hour. The infant was hospitalized in stable condition, which New York City Transit President Demetrius Crichlow called "the miracle on 34th Street." Investigators used surveillance footage to track Diawara to Jamaica, Queens; a neighbor recognized her, and police said she admitted abandoning her daughter when confronted Tuesday.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation urged the Trump administration to pause demolition of the White House East Wing while plans for President Trump's proposed ballroom undergo legally required public review. In a Tuesday letter to the National Capital Planning Commission, National Park Service and Commission of Fine Arts, the Trust warned the annex's size could overwhelm the mansion. The Society of Architectural Historians and the American Institute of Architects echoed scale concerns, though none has statutory authority. The White House dismissed "manufactured outrage," called the addition "privately funded," and said presidents have long sought a larger event space.

Family health insurance for most American workers averaged $27,000 this year, with little relief expected next year, a KFF survey found. Employers covered roughly three-quarters, while employees paid $6,850—about $600 a month—and face steeper deductibles that can mean thousands out of pocket after illness or accidents. Employer coverage costs, once tracking overall inflation, jumped sharply this year and are expected to rise again in 2026. About 180 million people under 65 rely on job-based plans. 'It’s looking more and more bleak,' said Lisa Hunter, who warned workers are 'left holding the bag.'