MORNING NEWS UPDATE: NOVEMBER 13, 2025
- Government Shutdown Ends After 43 Days: President Trump signed a funding bill late Wednesday, concluding the longest U.S. government shutdown in history, which disrupted services for millions and nearly canceled food assistance programs.
- New Epstein Emails Reference Trump: Newly released emails from Jeffrey Epstein have renewed scrutiny on Trump's past associations, with Democrats highlighting references to the president in the documents.
- Health Insurance Subsidies Remain Uncertain: Despite the shutdown's end, ongoing issues with health insurance subsidies persist, affecting access for low-income Americans.
- SNAP Benefits Nearly Disrupted: The shutdown put food assistance for 40 million Americans at risk, with advocates warning of long-term impacts even after funding is restored.
Government Shutdown Ends: President Trump signed a funding bill, ending a record 43-day government shutdown that had caused significant disruptions, including financial stress for federal workers and impacts on services like SNAP benefits and air travel.
Epstein Documents Released: Further details from Jeffrey Epstein's estate documents were published by the U.S. House oversight committee, with new emails casting doubt on former Prince Andrew's account of when he cut ties with Epstein.
The House is set to vote next week on releasing the full tranche of files. Chicago Immigration Crackdown: A judge signaled that hundreds of people detained during an immigration crackdown in Chicago could be released on bond.
U.S. Mint Stops Penny Production: The U.S. Mint is pressing the final pennies as production ends after more than 230 years.
- Trump Signs Bill, Blames Democrats: President Trump ended the 43-day shutdown by signing the funding bill but accused Democrats of causing "massive harm" through the impasse.
- Epstein Files Fracture GOP: The latest Epstein revelations have put the White House on the defensive, deepening divisions within the Republican Party.
- House Votes to End Shutdown: Lawmakers in the House passed the measure to reopen the government, averting further economic fallout but leaving border wall funding unresolved.
- Trump's Shutdown Legacy: Analysis shows the shutdown as a political loss for Trump, with public approval dipping amid furloughs and delayed services.
Shutdown Deal Fallout: While the shutdown is over, deep partisan divisions were exposed, and California Governor Gavin Newsom voiced disappointment with Democrat senators who voted to end the shutdown.
Federal Reserve Official to Retire: The President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Raphael Bostic, plans to retire at the end of his current term in February.
Controversy Over Trump's White House and Epstein: The White House called the release of an Epstein email, which claimed President Trump "knew about the girls," a "Democratic smear," highlighting the intense political focus on the documents.
ACA Tax Credit Dispute: A key dispute during the government shutdown centered on the proposed extension of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credit.
- Serbia's Vucic Heads to France: Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic is set to meet French counterparts in Paris to discuss bilateral ties and regional stability.
- Russian Oil Exports Stalled by Sanctions: A third of Russia's seaborne oil shipments are delayed due to U.S. sanctions, per JPMorgan, impacting global energy markets.
- Bangladesh Faces Rising Extrajudicial Killings: Under the new Yunus administration, reports of unlawful deaths have surged, drawing international human rights concerns.
- Super Typhoon Fung-Wong Devastates Taiwan: The strongest storm of the year caused widespread damage in Yilan, with military aiding in debris cleanup and recovery efforts.
- U.S.-Mexico Target Transnational Crime: Treasury and Mexican officials announced joint actions against criminal organizations, focusing on fentanyl trafficking and money laundering.
South Korea Truck Crash: A truck hit pedestrians in a market in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, killing two people and injuring 18 in what is reported as a tragic accident.
Pakistan-Afghanistan Tensions: Pakistan's Interior Minister stated that Afghan nationals carried out a recent suicide attack in Islamabad, which killed 12 people, further increasing tensions between Pakistan and the Taliban.
France Marks Bataclan Anniversary: France marks 10 years since the Bataclan massacre and other Islamic State attacks that continue to impact Paris.
Ukraine Corruption Scandal: A $100 million energy sector graft investigation rocked Kyiv, leading to the detention of five people and the resignation of top Ukrainian ministers amid the ongoing war with Russia.
- College Accreditation Turns Political: Once a routine process, accrediting U.S. colleges is now a battleground, with Trump using it as a tool against perceived liberal biases.
- Trump's Orders Reshape Higher Ed Funding: Executive actions have cut or redirected funds from programs like TRIO and GEAR UP, despite congressional approval, altering access for underserved students.
- Ed Dept Layoffs Reversed Amid Fears: Recent staff cuts at the Department of Education were undone, but employees worry about ongoing instability post-shutdown.
- Kansas Hits Record Graduation Rate: The class of 2025 achieved over 90% graduation statewide for the first time, signaling progress in K-12 outcomes.
Classroom Cell Phone Bans: New studies suggest that classroom cell phone bans positively impact schools.
University Accreditation Issue (India): The National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) issued a notice to Al Falah University over a "fake" A-Grade accreditation claim.
Schools to Include Current Events: Education boards in India have directed schools to include major national and international developments in daily morning assemblies to boost civic awareness.
- Shutdown to Drag on GDP Growth: The 43-day closure is projected to shave points off U.S. GDP, with delayed data releases complicating economic forecasts.
- Markets Rally on Shutdown End: U.S. futures and global stocks rose as government operations resume, boosting investor confidence in recovery.
- Mortgage Rates Dip Below 6%: Average 30-year fixed rates fell under 6% for the first time in months, creating opportunities for homebuyers amid cooling inflation.
- Oil Prices Drop on Supply Glut Fears: Crude futures declined due to oversupply concerns, exacerbated by the shutdown's impact on U.S. production data.
Fossil Fuel Emissions High: A report suggests that fossil fuel emissions are set to reach an all-time high this year.
Trade Talks with India: President Donald Trump stated the U.S. is "pretty close" to finalizing a trade deal with India and may lower tariffs on several Indian goods.
Investor Warning: The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) cautioned investors about potential risks in trading digital gold, citing a lack of regulatory oversight.
- Counter-Drone Startup Raises $510M: Chaos, a radar firm specializing in anti-drone tech, secured massive funding amid surging defense sector investments.
- OpenAI Releases GPT-5.1 to All Users: The upgraded AI model is now widely available, promising enhanced conversational abilities and broader applications.
- Russian Humanoid Robot Fails Spectacularly: In a high-profile demo, Moscow's AI-powered bot toppled during its debut, highlighting challenges in robotics development.
- Alibaba Revamps AI App: The tech giant is preparing a major update to its AI tools, aiming to compete in the booming generative AI space.
- Zuckerberg Tackles AI Data Center Overbuild: Meta's CEO is exploring solutions for excess AI infrastructure, as costs soar with new hyperscale projects.
- U.S. Cities Fail to Reduce Traffic Fatalities: Despite efforts, pedestrian and cyclist deaths remain high, with advocates calling for better urban planning.
- Global Access to Weight-Loss Drugs Questioned: New pills like Mounjaro raise equity issues—who in low-income countries will afford them amid rising obesity?
- Zealand Halts Early Obesity Drug: The pharma company paused development of a promising candidate, citing an overcrowded market dominated by giants like Novo Nordisk.
- Household Toxins Triple Liver Risk: Studies link common chemicals to a sharp increase in liver disease, urging regulatory reforms.
- Philanthropies Pledge $300M for Climate-Health: Major foundations commit funds to combat heat-related deaths, up 23% globally per recent reports.
Waymo Expansion: Waymo is expanding its robotaxi service, hitting the highway as part of its service expansion.
Identifying AI-Generated Text: The Washington Post published an analysis of ChatGPT's writing style to help people spot AI-generated content.
- Giants Fire Coach Brian Daboll: New York dismissed the head coach after a dismal 2-8 start, sparking a midseason overhaul.
- Antonio Brown Pleads Not Guilty: The former NFL star entered a not guilty plea to attempted murder charges in an ongoing legal saga.
- Tarik Skubal Wins AL Cy Young: The Tigers ace claimed the American League pitching award for his dominant 2025 season.
- Paul Skenes Takes NL Cy Young Unanimously: Pittsburgh's rookie sensation swept votes for National League pitcher of the year.
- USA Sports Inks Pac-12 Deal: The network signed a five-year partnership to broadcast the revamped conference's college games.
Cricket Test Match: Young wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel was cleared to play in the upcoming Kolkata Test against South Africa.
MS Dhoni's Future Role: Chennai Super Kings is discussing a potential future mentorship role for MS Dhoni following his expected retirement.
