SocietyI asked teens what gifts they really want — here’s what they told me
A gift guide for teenage girls and boys features teens’ recommendations for stylish, practical and personalized presents.

A gift guide for teenage girls and boys features teens’ recommendations for stylish, practical and personalized presents.

Peruvian authorities seized more than 3,000 tarantulas hidden in dirty socks inside three suitcases at Lima’s Jorge Chávez airport. Bound for Germany and potentially worth €1.5m, the spiders were carried by two Germans and a Polish citizen, who were detained and will face criminal proceedings.

Elections Alberta estimates that holding the province’s Oct. 19 referendum cost just over $84 million. It has also received additional funding from a legislature committee.
Trump told reporters at the White House that Washington will soon decide whether to go further in its conflict with Iran. He said he would prefer not to destroy the rest of the country but might have to. Axios reported that US officials are weighing a deal favorable to Washington, renewed military operations or a peace agreement, while the military prepares for possible major combat and Qatari mediators seek support for a draft deal.
Passengers gasp with delight as 47-year-old Ansar Lasimpala steers his glass-bottomed boat toward a large whale shark gliding beneath the water off an Indonesian beach.
After making a series of major changes to the Oval Office decor and launching landmark construction projects across Washington, Trump signed an order aimed at preventing future presidents from altering the office.

President Donald Trump moved on Thursday to shield the Oval Office and Cabinet Room, two of the White House’s most historic spaces, from major changes by future presidents, even as he leaves a golden imprint on the building.
President Donald Trump signed a proclamation that he says will stop future changes to the Oval Office and Cabinet Room, which he has redesigned.
US President Donald Trump signed a document on Thursday designating the White House's Oval Office and Cabinet Room as a national monument.
Russell Brand was found guilty of rape and sexual assault.
Russell Brand’s sex-crime conviction has renewed questions about how Britain’s entertainment industry has treated prominent performers accused of abusing their power. Some women say they worried that speaking out could hurt their careers.

British comedian and actor Russell Brand faced three rape counts, three sexual assault counts and one attempted indecent assault charge. He was convicted of one rape count and three sexual assault counts, and acquitted of the remaining charges.
Russell Brand was convicted of four sexual offences involving four women: one rape and three sexual assaults. The offences took place at different locations between 2005 and 2009.
A Thursday verdict convicted British comic Russell Brand of rape and three sexual-assault offenses.

Police say Russell Brand is being investigated following two further rape complaints. Det Supt Andy Furphy said he hoped the guilty verdicts would give other potential victims more “courage” and “confidence.”

A jury found Russell Brand guilty of one rape and three sexual assault charges, while clearing him of two other rape charges and attempted indecent assault. Prosecutors called him a sexual predator. A judge said he faced a significant prison term, with sentencing due Monday.

A jury at London’s Southwark Crown Court found comedian and actor Russell Brand guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault. He was acquitted of two other rape charges and attempted indecent assault. Brand denied the allegations, saying the encounters were consensual or the claims fabricated. He was taken into custody and is due to be sentenced on Monday.
Russell Brand was convicted on rape and sexual assault charges involving allegations dating back more than 20 years. The judge said Brand would receive a prison sentence.
British comedian and actor Russell Brand was found guilty of rape and sexual assaults in a London court on Thursday and was told he faces a lengthy prison sentence.

Russell Brand was found guilty in a UK trial. He had denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to three rape charges, three sexual assault charges and one charge of attempted indecent assault.
English comedian and actor Russell Brand was found guilty Thursday of one rape count and three sexual assault counts tied to allegations dating back more than 20 years. He was acquitted of two other rape counts and one attempted indecent assault count.

Russell Brand was found guilty of rape and sexual assault. BBC correspondent Sima Kotecha explains how the trial unfolded.
Russell Brand, a British actor and comedian, was found guilty of rape and sexual assault in a UK trial.

A London court found British comedian and actor Russell Brand guilty of several rape and sexual assault charges, while finding him not guilty of others.

A London jury convicted British comedian and actor Russell Brand on Thursday of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault.
Chilling surveillance footage shows a gunman ramming through a gate at a Citibank complex near Tampa, exchanging gunfire with a security guard and killing a woman who was having lunch. Authorities say they have revealed the motive.

Rubio denied plans to leave his current post to run for the White House.

A Reuters analysis found that Chinese companies’ profit margins are significantly behind those of global peers, weighed down by weak domestic consumer demand and a stronger yuan that has squeezed exporters’ margins.
Donald Trump said he met Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev at the White House, but did not meet with Ukrainian representatives.

US President Donald Trump said a Russia-Ukraine deal may be imminent after meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin’s special envoy Kirill Dmitriev at the White House. Trump gave no details, but said the agreement could involve more than Ukraine, possibly “all of Europe”.

Donald Trump said a major agreement to end the Russia-Ukraine war was close and could involve all of Europe. He made the remarks after an unscheduled White House meeting with Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev. Jared Kushner said the US, NATO and European partners held productive, substantive discussions on resolving the war.
US President Donald Trump confirmed that he met on Thursday with Kirill Dmitriev, Russia’s special presidential envoy. Trump declined to disclose what they discussed and said he had not met with Ukraine’s delegation.
This year's Rockefeller Center Christmas tree has been cut down and is on its way to New York City, marking the start of the city's holiday season.
Asian technology stocks fell sharply on Friday, following an overnight Wall Street sell-off that pushed the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite into correction territory.

Asian technology stocks came under selling pressure after the US market suffered its steepest rout since 2020.
A report says China has supported marine biodiversity conservation and sustainable use by sharing expertise and helping advance and implement the UN agreement on biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction. It cites access to research platforms, shared scientific findings, preserved microbial samples and cooperation with developing countries.
Trump indicated that the proclamation would need congressional approval.

U.S. President Donald Trump signed a proclamation on Thursday designating the White House Oval Office and Cabinet Room as national monuments.

Donald Trump signed a proclamation declaring the Oval Office and Cabinet Room national monuments, saying it would prevent future administrations from changing his designs. He defended his wider White House renovations and referred to Democrats’ gains and coming control of Congress after the midterms.
Trump said the proclamation he signed would give the White House’s Oval Office and Cabinet Room national-landmark status, with the goal of preventing future alterations.
BFM TV reported an initial Interior Ministry estimate of around 600,000 demonstrators across France on Thursday, while the CGT put the turnout at nearly 1.6 million, including 350,000 in Paris. Teachers, higher education institutions and state employees were also affected by strikes over salaries and purchasing power.

US Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Marco Rubio denied media reports that he planned to leave his posts to prepare for a presidential run in the next election. He said he had always meant to work for President Donald Trump until the end of Trump’s term.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio rejected reports on Thursday that he intended to leave the administration after Republican losses in the midterms. He told The New York Times he planned to remain in office through the end of President Donald Trump’s term, while declining to discuss his plans further.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday rejected reports that he would leave Donald Trump’s administration to run for president. In an interview with the New York Times, Rubio said working for Trump until the end of his term had “always been my plan.”
Organizers of the climate summit want countries to reach a deal on electrification to reduce global emissions.
Vladimir Putin signed a decree putting equity stakes tied to Japan Tobacco International’s Russian production operations under the management of Industrial Assets. JTI said it was assessing the situation and its options, with employees among its priorities. The move comes amid sharply heightened tensions between Russia and Japan; the Kremlin describes temporary administration of foreign subsidiaries as a countermeasure to Russian state assets being frozen or seized abroad.

Gate says cold reserves cover 104%, but its new hot-wallet loss test uses different measurement bases. Independent verification of current PoSEC data is still underway.

After voters voiced strong opposition to data center expansion in this week’s midterms, OpenAI pledged not to use NDAs with public officials in communities where it is pursuing projects. It says limited protections will remain for legitimate security information, trade secrets, and proprietary or competitively sensitive information.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog said he was stunned when President Donald Trump announced Tuesday, on the day of the midterm elections, that the United States would end aid to Israel.
In recent weeks, controversies labeled “insults to China” have surfaced in Chinese public discourse, involving Taiwanese entertainer Tsai Kang-yung, Japanese television drama VIVANT and French footballer Kylian Mbappé. Analysts told BBC Chinese that the varied official responses and public attention reflect differences in how authorities define each case.

Israeli settlers burned olive trees owned by Palestinian farmers in Burqa, near Ramallah. Farmers said Israeli forces then prevented them from putting out the fires.

Artists say brands are embracing traditional art forms and making a point of showcasing the human work behind their campaigns.

Blue Origin announced two upgrades to its New Glenn rocket on Thursday, aiming to cut manufacturing costs and increase payload capacity to geostationary orbit and the Moon. The company ultimately wants the rocket to launch more than 1,000 times a year.

Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine has better prospects of obtaining additional aid with Democrats set to control both chambers of Congress in 2027. He called for renewed bipartisan engagement and efforts to secure $16 billion previously agreed but not delivered. Kyiv’s top priority is more Patriot missiles, alongside F-16s and ammunition, as Russia attacks Ukrainian infrastructure.

Inflation publicly humbled President Donald Trump in the midterm elections. Voter anger over rising prices fueled a series of crushing Republican losses.

The mood at a Washington Republican election-night gathering collapsed as results showed the party losing control of both chambers of Congress. One businessman blamed Donald Trump’s broken promises, especially his pledge to end Russia’s war in Ukraine within 24 hours of taking office. Others discussed the Iran war’s effect on voters and the party’s failure to broaden its appeal.
Turkiye’s parliament has approved a defence agreement with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan that requires mutual assistance if a member is attacked. The move sets the stage for deeper Turkish involvement in Saudi Arabia’s conflict with the Houthis.


Türkiye’s parliament has ratified the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, a defence pact involving Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye.
US lawmakers are seeking to impeach embattled Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth as soon as next week. The effort has gained momentum after the Iran war he championed partly contributed to Republicans losing control of Congress in the midterms.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth released a new video as a potential impeachment battle loomed.
Jared Kushner said the United States held productive, substantive discussions in Brussels with Ukraine, NATO and European partners on security guarantees for Ukraine and a broader European security architecture. He said Washington sought a framework that would prevent a new crisis after the Ukraine conflict is resolved.
Airbnb says it plans to launch an AI agent in the first half of 2027 to help users plan and book trips. The travel-focused experience will assemble elements such as maps, photos, comparisons, calendars, and itineraries to help guests explore options, make decisions, and act directly on Airbnb.


Airbnb says its planned AI agent will help travelers plan trips, compare options and manage bookings, while providing assistance throughout their stays.
Pope Leo, who had part of a lung removed last month, is set to visit Uruguay, Argentina and Peru.

Blackstone’s BXPE will penalize clients in Singapore and Hong Kong who withdraw funds within the first four years.
Devon Energy exceeded Wall Street’s third-quarter profit expectations on Thursday, aided by a sharp rise in crude prices and increased production.
Mining companies backed by billions of dollars in Trump administration support face heightened scrutiny after Democrats swept the midterm elections.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker led the Atlanta Hawks with 26 points in their 120-105 win over the Washington Wizards.
New Zealand is heading into one of its tightest elections in years. The incumbent conservative coalition has an uncertain route to power, while polls suggest a millennial newcomer could hold the balance in determining who governs.
US apparel retailer Levi Strauss & Co says it is optimistic about China and plans more investment and store openings, citing strong growth driven by young shoppers. Though many multinationals face a difficult consumer market there, Levi’s says it is an exception and expects China to make up a much larger share of its global business.

Trump said the US might have to “destroy” the rest of Iran, adding that people would “know soon enough”.

Costco has finally bounced back and is aiming for the record high it set in May.

Potential investors are questioning whether Anthropic can hold its planned roadshow next week and meet a November listing target, amid concerns about backlash against AI, people familiar with investor discussions said.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom said in an open letter that he will reduce every death sentence in the state to life in prison without the possibility of parole, in what NBC describes as the broadest such commutation in modern U.S. history.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom is commuting the death sentences of more than 500 inmates to life in prison without parole. He says state-sanctioned killing conflicts with California’s values, undermines the legal system and “diminishes each of us.”
California Gov. Gavin Newsom said he plans to replace every death sentence in the state with life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has commuted all death sentences in the state, saying he opposes “state-sanctioned killing.”
California Governor Gavin Newsom commuted the sentences of all 548 prisoners on the state’s death row, describing the punishment as “morally objectionable.”

California’s governor will commute the sentences of all 548 people on death row. The state has historically had the largest death-row population in the US.
California Governor Gavin Newsom said Thursday he would commute the death sentences of all 548 people currently condemned to execution in the state, which has the largest death row in the Western Hemisphere.

California Governor Gavin Newsom said he will change the death sentences of all 548 people on the state’s death row to life in prison without parole. He cited his longstanding opposition to capital punishment; some commutations still require approval from the state’s high court.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has commuted the sentences of every prisoner on the state’s death row to life in prison without parole.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom said he plans to replace every death sentence in the state with life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.

California Governor Gavin Newsom said Thursday he would commute all 548 death sentences in the state to life imprisonment without parole. The move marks a major shift away from capital punishment as he prepares to leave office after eight years.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom commuted all death sentences in the state on Thursday, saying state-sanctioned killing conflicts with the values of America’s most populous state.

California governor Gavin Newsom commuted the death sentences of more than 500 people on the state’s death row on Thursday, changing them to life without parole and preventing future administrations from executing them. The move followed the failed execution of Christa Pike in Tennessee.
Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang urged countries to work together toward balanced trade through greater market openness, deeper investment cooperation, innovation and the removal of barriers. He spoke at the opening of the China International Import Expo and Hongqiao International Economic Forum in Shanghai.

Democratic Socialists of America-backed Nithya Raman defeated incumbent Karen Bass with 52 percent of the vote. She is set to become the first South Asian mayor of the United States’ second-largest city, pledging to expand affordable housing, improve city services and change the city’s approach to homelessness.


Democratic socialist Nithya Raman defeated incumbent Karen Bass in the Los Angeles mayoral race. The results mean the two most populous US cities, New York and Los Angeles, will be led by democratic socialists.
Little-known Los Angeles City Council member Nithya Raman, backed by the Democratic Socialists of America, defeated Mayor Karen Bass. The upset is set to alter the trajectory of the nation’s second-largest city.

Nithya Raman defeated Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass in a heated race. Raman spoke to supporters at an election-night watch party in Los Angeles.
Little-known Los Angeles City Council member Nithya Raman defeated embattled Mayor Karen Bass and will lead the nation’s second most populous city.

Urban planner and political outsider Nithya Raman defeated Karen Bass in a close race to become Los Angeles mayor. She has close ties to Hollywood progressives but a complicated relationship with the local Democratic Socialists of America chapter. Her priorities include housing, homelessness and tenants’ rights.

Los Angeles councilmember Nithya Raman narrowly defeated incumbent Karen Bass to become mayor, in a major local political upset. Once seen as a long shot, Raman’s victory reflects growing dissatisfaction with the direction of the city.

NBC News projects that City Council member Nithya Raman defeated incumbent Karen Bass in the Los Angeles mayoral race. The progressive challenger’s rapid rise culminated in a campaign railing against the “broken status quo” in the country’s second-largest metropolis.
HVAC pipe fitter Christopher Donisi will soon be the first voice travelers hear when they arrive in Boston.

The New York Times reports that its parent company is in exclusive negotiations to acquire film-focused social network Letterboxd for around $330 million. The talks have considered keeping Letterboxd’s co-founders in charge while reporting to a Times Company executive. Letterboxd would likely remain standalone for the foreseeable future and integrate the company’s ad technology.

US shale producer EOG Resources reported third-quarter profit above Wall Street estimates on Thursday, supported by elevated crude prices and record production volumes.
Serbia’s Republic Electoral Commission certified the results of the October 25 parliamentary election. The Student List is expected to take 140 seats, enough to form a government, while former President Aleksandar Vucic’s United Serbia coalition will hold 103. The new parliament is expected to convene within 30 days.
Chen Lifeng, who runs a Chinese company exporting dresses to Europe, says the yuan’s recent strength has made its products too expensive and nearly wiped out its profit margins.
Nearly 90 million forcibly displaced people—three-quarters of the global total—live in countries highly exposed to climate hazards, the UN refugee agency said Friday. It called for action ahead of the COP31 climate summit in Turkey, saying droughts, floods and extreme heat make lasting solutions harder to find.

As a panel prepares to give final approval to Trump’s proposed “triumphal arch,” the Vietnam veteran leading a lawsuit to stop it called the project “frankly blasphemous.”

First-time homebuyers are older than ever and are increasingly turning to family wealth to afford a home.
A panel of New York appellate justices heard Trump’s legal challenge on Thursday to his conviction for falsifying business records to conceal hush-money payments intended to influence the 2016 presidential election.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler looks ahead to Jacksonville’s clash with Baltimore, focusing on the Ravens’ quarterback injuries and Trevor Lawrence’s impressive opening stretch of the season.

Follow live vote counts and maps for New York’s U.S. House and governor races in the 2026 midterm election.
Cramer said investors are finding it tougher to pin down what AI shares are worth.


Jim Cramer warned that the sell-off in AI stocks is likely to continue, while saying it is not another dot-com crash.
Maverick Lyon, a college lacrosse player, has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit alleging that the city of Albany and Benton County used excessive force and were negligent. He had escaped after his brother held him at knifepoint, according to the headline.

The US Treasury bought back $6 billion in older government bonds on Nov. 4, reaching the cap for its latest operation. While the program aims to make Treasury trading easier, one bond made up $4.9 billion, or 82%, of the total.

Deutsche Telekom CEO Tim Höttges doubts SpaceX can make Starlink Mobile a major US carrier without spending at least $200 billion on spectrum and network infrastructure. He said he takes the prospect seriously, citing the company’s potential to create a new kind of communications service.

Beau Lamarre-Condon returned to the witness box for a second day in his Sydney double-murder trial. He has pleaded not guilty to murdering Jesse Baird and Luke Davies and told the court his relationship with Baird was not exclusive.

Delhi’s government has announced a four-month winter action plan, but experts say it will not be enough to tackle pollution.

Goldman Sachs Group promoted 109 employees to partner, its largest class of new additions to the Wall Street firm’s top ranks since 2010.
The Justice Department says an FBI agent struck a pedestrian with an agency vehicle in New York one February morning, moved the man to a nearby bench and drove away without calling for help.
Unity Software, a provider of gaming software, has discussed a possible acquisition by an investor consortium that includes private equity firm Silver Lake Partners and Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund PIF, according to two people familiar with the matter.
A public relations expert says author Steven Galloway had an opportunity to repair his reputation. Galloway, a former writing professor at the University of British Columbia, is suing several people who published sexual assault allegations against him.
A decade-old flaw affects devices running certain Alpine Linux configurations and may also affect other distributions using the same setup. It stems from an interaction between OpenSSH and musl, and exploitation also requires specific password-hashing and passwordless-account settings.

ABC News’ Rocsi Diaz surveys what is drawing attention, including Bob Dylan meeting Pope Leo at the Vatican and Prince William and Prince Harry joining together to honor their mother.

Documents show Audi, Volkswagen’s luxury unit, will receive hundreds of millions of dollars in Georgia tax incentives and grants for a $4 billion assembly plant. The company is considering a second phase that could expand the project.
The A$915m Powerhouse Parramatta opens on Saturday with five exhibitions and a 23-day festival. The project has faced criticism over its cost and allegations about governance and procurement, while dissenters say it has diverted attention from the Ultimo site and the museum’s core work.

The Minutes Reader extension turns the original page into a focused reading view and translates articles and video subtitles on demand. It is in limited beta.