Latest News and Comment from Education

Sunday, October 19, 2025

MORNING NEWS UPDATE: OCTOBER 19, 2025

 


 MORNING NEWS UPDATE: OCTOBER 19, 2025


U.S. News
  • Massive Storm Hits Alaska: The largest airlift in Alaska's history is underway following a devastating storm surge and winds up to 100 mph, fueled by Typhoon Halong, resulting in at least one death and two missing persons.
  • Government Shutdown Impacts: Ongoing federal shutdown delays key announcements, including Social Security's 2026 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), now set for October 24, with projections of a modest 2.7% increase.
  • Protests Against Federal Policies: The second wave of "No Kings" protests unites demonstrators against President Trump's anti-immigration measures and federal program cuts.
  • "No Kings" Protests: Millions of people participated in "No Kings" protests across numerous U.S. cities, decrying what they view as a drift toward authoritarianism and opposing President Trump's policies.

  • Trump Administration Actions: Reports broke that President Trump commuted the prison sentence of former Congressman George Santos. The administration also asked the Supreme Court to allow the deployment of National Guard members in Illinois.

  • Controversial Dealings: An exclusive report alleges that former U.S. envoy Marco Rubio promised to betray U.S. informants to secure a deal for U.S. access to El Salvador’s notorious CECOT prison.

  • Higher Education Compact: Dartmouth College became the latest in a series of top universities to formally reject the Trump administration's proposed higher education compact, citing threats to academic freedom and institutional autonomy.

Politics
  • Trump's Federal Branding Push: Dubbed the "Brander in Chief," President Trump unveils initiatives to imprint his mark on the federal government, including a new monument on the National Mall featuring a neoclassical arch with eagles.
  • AI Deepfake Concerns in Campaigns: A National Republican Senatorial Committee video raises alarms as the first AI-generated deepfake attack ad, potentially opening the floodgates for similar tactics in elections.
  • Layoff Disputes Amid Shutdown: The Trump administration claims most announced federal layoffs are exempt from a court pause ordered for union-represented programs, sparking bipartisan backlash.
World Affairs
  • Israeli Attack on Gaza Tests Ceasefire: The Israeli military launches strikes on Gaza, blaming Hamas for violations, severely testing the fragile U.S.-mediated ceasefire that began on October 11.
  • Pakistan-Afghanistan Ceasefire Agreement: Mediated by Qatar and Turkey in Doha, the two nations agree to an immediate ceasefire, announced early Sunday, amid ongoing regional tensions.
  • Iran Rejects Nuclear Restrictions: Iran declares it is no longer bound by nuclear program limits under a landmark deal, escalating international concerns over its atomic activities.
  • Israel-Gaza Ceasefire Test: The U.S.-brokered ceasefire was tested as Israel struck targets in the southern Gaza Strip after its troops allegedly came under fire from Hamas militants. Tensions remain high, and the Rafah border crossing remains closed.

  • Russia-Ukraine Conflict: An exclusive report indicated that Russian President Vladimir Putin demanded Ukraine surrender key territory in the Donetsk region during a call with President Trump.

  • Louvre Museum Robbery: The Louvre Museum in Paris was closed after thieves broke in on Sunday morning, reportedly stealing valuable Napoleon-era jewels.

  • China's Five-Year Plan: China's ruling Communist Party began its Fourth Plenum, a closed-door meeting to map out the country's next five-year plan (2026-2030), which will outline economic and social blueprints.

Education
  • Federal Shutdown Hits Schools: The U.S. Department of Education monitors widespread impacts on schools, including delays in special education funding and civil rights enforcement due to staff furloughs.
  • AI Integration in Classrooms: Educators experiment with AI tools to balance opportunities and risks, while a new study highlights the enduring role of traditional basal readers like Reading Street in American classrooms.
  • National Assessment Board Updates: Secretary of Education Linda McMahon appoints new members and names the next chair for the board overseeing student assessments.
Economy
  • Global Growth Slows Amid Tariff Threats: The IMF forecasts world economic expansion at 3.2% for 2025, down from 3.3% in 2024, with U.S. inflation expected to rise in late 2025 due to tariffs passing costs to consumers.
  • U.S. Job Growth Accelerates: Payroll additions averaged 150,000 per month in Q2 2025, up from 111,000 in Q1, supporting a stable unemployment rate around 4% despite slowdowns.
  • EU Inflation Rises: Eurozone consumer prices increased 2.2% year-over-year in September, the highest since April, driven by energy costs, while core inflation holds steady at 2.3%.
  • U.S.-China Trade War: International finance leaders expressed concern over the escalation of the U.S.-China trade war, which now includes the U.S. reimposing 100% tariffs on certain Chinese exports and China imposing new controls on rare earth minerals.

  • Gold Prices: Gold and silver prices dropped from their recent record highs as investors engaged in profit-taking ahead of the Indian festival of Diwali/Dhanteras, which historically drives significant gold buying. The overall rally in precious metals continues, fueled by economic uncertainty

Technology
  • NVIDIA CEO's Asia Push: Jensen Huang heads to South Korea for the APEC CEO Summit to meet global leaders and executives, focusing on AI chip advancements.
  • Huawei's 5G-Advanced Surge: Huawei forecasts 100 million 5G-A compatible smartphones by year-end, accelerating despite U.S. restrictions, with trials hinting at Wi-Fi 8's early arrival.
  • xAI Funding Boom: Elon Musk's xAI raises $10 billion at a $200 billion valuation, led by Middle Eastern investors, intensifying the AGI race with OpenAI and Google DeepMind.
  • Broadcom Layoffs and AI Partnership: Chipmaker Broadcom laid off employees in various non-core departments just days after announcing a major strategic partnership with OpenAI to develop custom AI accelerators. This move underscores a focus on high-margin AI chip business growth.

  • Nvidia Valuation Doubts: There are increasing "bear bets" and analyst warnings suggesting that Nvidia's $4.4 trillion market cap may be unsustainable, predicting a potential steep stock correction.

  • SpaceX Launch: SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral to deploy another batch of Starlink satellites.

Health
  • Stress as Anti-Aging Ally: New research suggests moderate stress activates cellular defenses, potentially key to healthier aging by maintaining cell vitality over time.
  • Alzheimer's-Protective Protein Twist: Amyloid beta, linked to Alzheimer's, may boost T-cell energy and immune responses, offering a surprising protective role against cancer.
  • Finasteride's Hidden Risks: The hair-loss drug is tied to depression and suicide in global data, with critics accusing Merck and the FDA of ignoring warnings for years.
  • Breakthrough Cancer Therapy: Scientists at the Francis Crick Institute reported a new therapy that stops tumor growth without harming healthy cells, using a compound that blocks a specific mechanism in the cancer.

  • Alzheimer's Microscopic Link: Johns Hopkins scientists discovered that microscopic "nanotubes" between brain neurons may be spreading toxic Alzheimer's-related proteins like amyloid-beta.

  • Diet Soda-Liver Link: A new, large-scale study linked the consumption of both regular and "diet" sodas to an increased risk of liver damage.

Sports
  • Cristiano Ronaldo Hits Billionaire Status: The soccer icon becomes the first billionaire athlete, per Bloomberg, thanks to endorsements and business ventures amid his Al-Nassr tenure.
  • World Series Kicks Off: MLB's postseason peaks with the Fall Classic, headlining a packed October alongside NFL Week 7 and the return of NBA and NHL seasons.
  • WNBA Finals and NFL Highlights: The Las Vegas Aces eye a repeat amid playoff drama, while Falcons RB Bijan Robinson earns "best player in football" praise after topping the Bills.
  • College Football Upset: In a clash of SEC heavyweights, the Georgia Bulldogs earned an impressive victory against the Mississippi Rebels, with the analysis suggesting Georgia demonstrated it's still a top contender.