According to MLB’s spectator interference rules, these situations can happen when someone reaches over, under or through a barrier and interferes with a live ball or a fielder. Depending on the circumstances, umpires can declare the batter out or change the outcome of the play.

What does the MLB rule say about fans interfering with a home run?

MLB says spectator interference occurs when a fan enters the field of play or reaches for a ball or a player through the barriers that separate the stands from the field.

One of the most common cases is when someone reaches over the outfield wall and prevents a fielder from catching a fly ball.

If the interference clearly prevents the player from making the catch, umpires can rule the batter out, even when the ball appeared to be headed into the stands.

However, the rule distinguishes this from another situation in which the fielder is trying to catch a ball that has already crossed the plane of the wall.

In that case, if the player reaches into the stands and a fan touches the ball, the action does not necessarily count as interference. If the ball had already crossed the boundary of the field as a home run, the run could stand.

When interference is ruled, the ball is dead, and umpires apply the rulings they deem necessary to nullify its effects.

What MLB games were changed by fan interference?

MLB cites several episodes in which fan involvement affected umpiring decisions during important games.

One of them came in Game 4 of the 2024 World Series, when a Yankees fan grabbed the glove of Dodgers player Mookie Betts as he tried to complete a catch. Umpires ruled Gleyber Torres out for interference.

Another case came in Game 1 of that same World Series. Torres hit a ball that initially looked like a home run, but a fan reached over the wall and caught it before it crossed into the stands.

Umpires ruled that there was interference and the play was scored as a double, since the umpires determined the fan had interfered with the ball.

These examples show that fan interference does not always lead to the batter being out. The ruling depends on where contact occurred, the path of the ball, and the defender’s chances of completing the play.

The Negligent Operator Treatment System (NOTS) can suspend these offenders’ driving privileges for six months and place them on one year of probation.

Who could face an extension of their driver’s license suspension?

According to California’s Vehicle Code, the department may impose a six-month driver’s license suspension and NOTS probation to keep the offender under supervision.

During the six-month suspension, the driver is prohibited from driving and if they do, they risk having the DMV extend the suspension period. Once driving privileges are restored, they must continue complying with the imposed conditions for another six months, until the one-year suspension period is complete.

The measure applies at the third level of the NOTS system, which is reached by accumulating four points in 12 months, six points in 24 months or eight points in 36 months.

How does the negligent operator treatment system’s point accumulation process work?

California’s Negligent Operator Treatment System (NOTS) assigns points to drivers’ records for certain traffic violations and crashes in which they are found at fault.

Violations can add between 0 and 3 points, depending on their severity:

• 1 point
• • Speeding.
  • Driving an unsafe vehicle.
• 2 points
• • Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
  • Leaving the scene of an accident (hit-and-run).
• 3 points
• • Violations committed while driving a commercial vehicle.

The system sets out four intervention levels:

• Warning letter: 2 points in 12 months, 4 in 24 months or 6 in 36 months.
• Notice of intent to suspend: 3 in 12 months, 5 in 24 months, or 7 in 36 months.
• 6-month suspension and 1-year probation: 4 in 12 months, 6 in 24 months or 8 in 36 months.
• New suspension or revocation: failure to comply with probation conditions.

What happens after the license suspension, and what precautions should be taken?

California’s DMV can impose one year of probation (NOTS Probation), which includes a six-month driver’s license suspension. Once the suspension ends, the driver may regain driving privileges but must continue complying with the stated conditions until the probation period is complete.

To avoid new penalties, the driver must:

• Obey traffic laws and avoid new violations.
• Not drive while the license remains suspended.
• Avoid crashes for which they could be held responsible.
• Appear in court when summoned for a traffic violation.
• Comply with any additional restrictions the DMV has set.

What happens if violations are committed during probation after the license is restored?

The DMV can impose additional penalties on those who fail to comply with probation conditions, even after they regain permission to drive.

The consequences depend on the number of violations:

• First violation: six-month suspension and extension of probation for one year from the date of the violation.
• Second violation: another six-month suspension and extension of probation for one year from the date of the violation.
• Third violation: revocation of driving privileges for one year.

Section 14252 of California’s Vehicle Code authorizes the DMV to take away a provisional license and order the suspension or revocation of driving privileges when a failure to comply with the established conditions is confirmed.

The recommendation is aimed especially at silver pieces that lose their shine and develop dark spots over time. According to Martha Stewart magazine, this combination allows for a homemade cleaning method through a simple process that does not require scrubbing the items.

The method has a chemical explanation, since a electrochemical reaction occurs between the aluminum and the silver that helps remove the tarnish.

How to clean silver items with aluminum foil, baking soda and hot water

A homemade method for cleaning silver items involves placing aluminum foil on the bottom of a container, adding hot water and baking soda, and submerging the pieces with dark spots. The process removes some of the tarnish without the need to scrub the surface with abrasive products.

Martha Stewart magazine explains this technique as an alternative for restoring the shine of silverware and other silver items. To do it, they recommend using a dish, lining it with aluminum foil, adding hot water, baking soda and salt, and stirring until the ingredients dissolve.

Once the container is prepared, the silver pieces should be placed inside and kept in contact with the aluminum, since during the process a chemical reaction occurs that helps remove the tarnish. When finished, remove the items, rinse them with water and lift them out carefully with a soft cloth.

What chemical reaction occurs between aluminum foil and silver

Silver tarnish forms when the metal comes into contact with sulfur compounds in the environment. That interaction creates silver sulfide, a dark layer that changes the appearance of silverware, trays and other items.

The University of California, Davis explains that contact between the silver and the aluminum triggers an electrochemical reaction in which the aluminum loses electrons and oxidizes, while the silver sulfide is reduced and turns back into metallic silver. In this way, the tarnish is transferred to the aluminum without needing to remove silver from the piece through abrasive polishing.

The baking soda and hot water help the reaction take place because they take part in a chemical exchange, while the temperature helps the process develop. It is worth noting that direct contact between the aluminum and the silver is essential for the electrochemical circuit to be completed.

The restrictions cover employment, certain types of study, and professional performances, among other activities. Some purposes require a different visa category, even if the visitor plans to stay in the country only temporarily.

Which activities are allowed with a US visitor visa?

According to the State Department, people entering the country with a B-1 or B-2 visa, or even a combined B-1/B-2 visa, cannot use these categories for the following activities:

• Studying: Enrolling in an academic program or a course that requires a student visa. Short recreational classes that do not count toward a degree, such as a two-day cooking class, are allowed.
• Working: Accepting employment or working in the United States without the appropriate authorization.
• Paid performances: Performing professionally or appearing before a paying audience for compensation.
• Joining a ship or aircraft crew: Arriving in the country to work as a crew member.
• Working in foreign media: Performing duties as a journalist or working in radio, film, print journalism, or other information media.
• Seeking permanent residence: Using a visitor visa to move to the United States permanently.

The department also specifically states that birth tourism is not permitted. This refers to traveling to the United States primarily to give birth so that the child can obtain U.S. citizenship.

What can visitors do with a B-1 or B-2 visa?

The two visitor visa categories cover different purposes. A B-1 visa is intended for certain temporary business activities, such as attending professional conferences, consulting with business associates, negotiating contracts, or settling an estate.

A B-2 visa is designed for tourism, vacations, visiting friends or relatives, and receiving medical treatment. It also allows participation in certain social events and unpaid amateur sports or musical activities.

Some exceptions and specific requirements apply. For example, the State Department allows certain personal or domestic employees to work in the United States under a B-1 visa in limited circumstances. Visitors should check the rules for their particular situation before making travel plans.

The department also warns that a visa does not guarantee entry into the country. U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers make the final decision at the port of entry.

The rulings were issued by the full bench of the high court on May 20, 2026, as it decided two cases related to criminal proceedings in the state of Nuevo Leon.

Specialized support in criminal proceedings

In the first case, the court reviewed a criminal proceeding for the offense of unlawful occupation of property against two older adults. The debate focused on whether the hearing to determine the penalties and restitution for damages could be held by a different judge from the one who had originally issued an acquittal.

The full bench ruled that another judge may preside over that hearing when an appeals court overturns the acquittal and finds that the offense and criminal liability have been proven. That is because the question of guilt has already been decided, and the next stage is limited to determining the applicable penalties and restitution for damages.

The ruling also reaffirmed the importance of respecting the principles of immediacy and impartiality during judicial proceedings. The first requires the judge to have direct contact with the relevant proceedings, while the second ensures that decisions are made without bias or personal interests.

The SCJN also highlighted that older adults must receive protection and specialized support during criminal proceedings , depending on the specific needs of each case. To that end, they have the right to assistance from an agent of the System for the Protection of Older Adults, with the aim of helping them understand the proceedings and ensuring an adequate defense.

For that reason, judges must inform them of the option to receive that support, taking into account each person’s circumstances and any possible vulnerability.

Finally, the full bench overturned the ruling by the appellate panel that had denied the amparo and ordered a new ruling that reflects these protection and adequate-defense standards.

The ban on punishing the same crime twice

In a second ruling, the Supreme Court reaffirmed that a person cannot receive a duplicate penalty when the same circumstance is used both to establish a crime and, at the same time, to increase the sentence.

The standard is based on the constitutional principle of non bis in idem, set out in Article 23 of the Mexican Constitution, which bars a person from being tried or punished more than once for the same acts.

The case stemmed from the conviction of a person for spousal rape, as defined in the Nuevo Leon penal code. During the proceedings, an aggravating factor tied to the marital relationship and domestic violence was also applied.

After reviewing the case, the full bench determined that it is not valid to use the marital relationship twice to establish criminal liability and then increase the sentence. That is because that condition was already included as part of the definition of the offense of spousal rape.

In August 2023, the agency stopped most unannounced visits by revenue officers, saying fraudsters had made home visits confusing and that the change would improve safety. But the shift changed how contact begins, not whether it happens: today a visit is arranged through an appointment letter (725-B) or a phone call that sets a date and place.

The agency still describes these visits as uncommon, and only four types of employees can make them: revenue agents, revenue officers, criminal investigation special agents, and fuel inspectors.

When visits with advance notice still happen

1. Collecting unpaid taxes: If you owe a balance or have unfiled returns, a revenue officer writes or calls to set up a meeting. Several notices go out first, and a visit follows when those attempts to reach you go unanswered. To confirm the appointment, call the number printed on your letter.
2. Payroll tax problems at businesses: When a business falls behind on employment taxes, it receives a Federal Tax Deposit (FTD) alert. The officer calls before a balance due notice goes out and mails Letter 5857 with a call time, and may schedule follow-ups.
3. Audits: A revenue agent reviews your financial records to verify what you reported. Contact starts by mail, and a phone call may follow. The meeting can take place at an IRS office, your home, your business, or your accountant’s office, and may include a tour of your premises or the presence of your authorized representative.
4. Questions to third parties: If the agent needs information from someone else, a letter goes out first, followed by a possible call. Sometimes a summons is issued by mail or delivered in person.

The IRS can also temporarily deploy officers outside their usual area, to regions with limited field presence or to handle priority cases.

The exceptions that still come without warning

A few narrow cases remain: serving summonses and subpoenas and sensitive enforcement actions involving the seizure of assets at risk of being moved out of reach. Criminal investigation special agents may show up unannounced during a criminal probe. They are the only armed IRS employees, and they neither handle civil cases nor demand payment. Fuel inspectors, who wear uniforms, make unannounced visits to refineries, terminals, and other regulated sites.

How to tell it’s the real IRS

Officers and revenue agents must carry an official credential and an HSPD-12 card, both showing a photo and serial number. You can ask to see them. If something feels off, call the number on the card or the letter, and dial 911 if you feel unsafe.

Be wary of any unexpected contact that rushes or threatens you, asks for personal or financial information, or demands immediate payment. The IRS says it never reaches out through social media direct messages.

For 2026, the figure came in at $1,200 per person, but the payment calendar causes confusion because the money doesn’t reach everyone on the same day. With November underway, the useful question isn’t whether Alaska pays, but which round you fall into and what to check so you don’t get left out.

One dividend, several payment dates

The 2026 PFD is $1,200 per person, and it includes a $200 energy relief payment. It doesn’t land all at once: the state pays it in rounds, depending on when each application is approved.

The first round went out on Oct. 1 by direct deposit for people cleared by Sept. 18. The second came on Oct. 22, with deposits and mailed checks.

What happens in November

If your application shows “Eligible-Not Paid” status on Nov. 11, payment arrives on Nov. 19. Anyone who misses that cutoff moves to the Dec. 17 run, which closes on Dec. 9.

Unpaid applications from earlier years are included too. The quickest way to check yours is myPFD, the official portal.

Who qualifies, and who doesn’t

This year’s dividend required living in Alaska for all of 2025 and intending to stay indefinitely. Absences longer than 180 days are only allowed for reasons the law specifically lists.

Applications are accepted only from Jan. 1 to March 31. Late filings are denied by law, with narrow exceptions for people with disabilities or service members in hazard zones. It’s too late to apply for 2026.

Details that prevent surprises

• If you moved, update your address: checks are never forwarded and aren’t sent to addresses where mail was returned.
• If your bank rejects the deposit, you’ll get a check instead.
• Garnishments can take part or all of the payment.
• If your name or Social Security number doesn’t match federal records, 24% is withheld for the IRS.
• Your 1099 tax form is available through myPFD.

It is the last formal warning before a levy, and the agency itself says anyone who receives it should get in touch right away.

A lien and a levy are not the same thing

The terms are often mixed up. A lien is a legal claim on your property that secures the debt. A levy goes a step further: the IRS actually takes the property to collect. It can reach:

• Wages, which are withheld on an ongoing basis, though a portion is protected.
• Money in bank accounts and other financial accounts.
• Retirement accounts, dividends, rental income, commissions and accounts receivable.
• Assets the agency can seize and sell, such as your car, a boat or a home.

The path the IRS must follow first

A levy doesn’t come out of nowhere. Generally, the agency acts only when four conditions are met:

1. It assessed the tax and sent you a formal bill for the debt.
2. You neglected or refused to pay.
3. It sent you the Final Notice of Intent to Levy at least 30 days before acting. The notice can be handed to you, left at your home or usual place of business, or sent by certified mail to your last known address.
4. It notified you that it may contact third parties about determining or collecting your tax debt.

There is one exception: if the levy targets your state tax refund, the notice with the right to a hearing can arrive after the action.

What happens when the levy reaches your bank

Once the IRS serves a levy on a financial institution, the funds in the account are held, and after 21 days they are sent to the agency. That gap is short but useful. It’s the window in which you can still object, which is why acting before the order reaches your bank matters.

What to do if you get the notice

First, don’t leave it in a drawer. IRS guidance points to several routes:

• Contact the agency promptly, as the notice itself instructs.
• Arrange a settlement, such as a payment plan, which is the most common way to avoid a levy.
• Exercise the hearing right the letter describes, before the IRS Independent Office of Appeals.
• If a levy has already been issued, ask for its release. It can be lifted if it causes immediate economic hardship or was issued in error.
• Turn to the Taxpayer Advocate Service or to Publication 594 on the collection process.

The takeaway is simple: that notice is an invitation to negotiate while there is still time. If the letter arrives, the 30-day clock is already running.

The measure was established in Decree 1324/2026, published Tuesday in the Official Gazette. The procedure says any possible disputes will be resolved under the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Arbitration Rules in proceedings based in Boston, Massachusetts, United States.

From Denmark to the United States: the background of the F-16 contracts

The new authorization follows earlier agreements tied to the fighter jets. In April 2024, Decree 315/2024 authorized an arbitration mechanism in Denmark for the original contract to buy the F-16s.

Later, Decree 423/2025 established a similar procedure for another agreement aimed at upgrading the aircraft’s avionics hardware and software.

What is different about the new decree is the venue and the institution chosen to resolve possible disputes: while the earlier agreements called for the Danish Institute of Arbitration, this time the International Chamber of Commerce, based in Boston, United States, will handle the case.

How many F-16 fighters Argentina has received and how the program is progressing

The new authorization comes as the Argentine Air Force continues bringing in the 24 fighter jets purchased from Denmark. On Sept. 29, 2026, with the arrival of a second batch at the Rio Cuarto Material Area in Cordoba, the country reached 12 aircraft received.

That means Argentina has now taken delivery of half of the fleet planned under the Peace Condor Program. It also has one aircraft designated for maintenance training, which will help prepare the technical teams responsible for working on this weapons system.

The addition of the F-16s also requires a range of adaptation, maintenance and technology upgrade work. That includes changes to the electronic systems and operational software needed to tailor the aircraft to the Air Force’s needs.

In March 2025, the U.S. government awarded Lockheed Martin a contract to update the operational flight program for Argentina’s F-16s and provide support during the aircraft transfer from Denmark.

F-16 Fighting Falcon: what are the fighter jet’s features

The F-16 Fighting Falcon is a multirole fighter jet designed to carry out both air defense missions and attacks on ground targets. According to the U.S. Air Force, it stands out for its high maneuverability, its ability to operate in a range of weather conditions and its navigation and target-detection systems.

One of its main features is its ability to perform different roles in a military operation. In air-to-air missions, it is designed to intercept and engage other aircraft. In air-to-ground operations, it can strike ground targets with precision weapons and return to base, even after traveling long distances.

The fighter jet also has an electronic flight control system known as fly-by-wire, which transmits the pilot’s commands through electrical signals. It also includes inertial and GPS navigation systems, radar and electronic countermeasure devices to respond to different threats.

As a reference, the U.S. Air Force fact sheet for the F-16C/D versions says these aircraft can reach a top speed of Mach 2, equivalent to about 2,400 kilometers per hour at high altitude, and can operate above 15,000 meters.

Its armament can include an M61A1 20-millimeter internal cannon and different types of air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles and munitions carried on external pylons. The configuration depends on the mission it must carry out.

Because of its combination of speed, maneuverability and ability to carry out different missions, the F-16 has become one of the most widely used multirole fighter jets by air forces around the world.

How the benefit works

The money doesn’t arrive as a refund or a check. The IRS deposits it directly into the retirement account you designate, where it keeps growing alongside your own contributions. For married couples filing jointly, the benefit is calculated separately for each spouse.

Eligible vehicles include workplace plans such as a 401(k), 403(b) and governmental 457(b), plus IRAs, both traditional and Roth. The program replaces the Saver’s Credit for those contributions, although ABLE accounts can still qualify for the older credit.

Who qualifies

Five conditions must be met at the same time:

1. You made contributions
2. You are 18 by the end of the tax year
3. You are not a student under the IRS definition
4. You are not claimed as a dependent on someone else’s return
5. You are a U.S. resident for tax purposes.

Residents of U.S. territories must file through their territory’s tax agency. You don’t need to owe taxes, either: you can qualify even if you pay little or nothing.

The match rate depends on your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI), which starts from adjusted gross income and adds back certain amounts, including pre-tax retirement contributions. The higher the income, the smaller the match:

The thresholds will be adjusted for inflation after 2027.

The IRS example

Contributing $20 a month during 2027 adds up to $240. With the full match, the government adds $120, so the first year ends with $360 saved. The agency notes that the effect grows over time and published a projection based on 6% annual growth.

What to do and when

There is nothing to do in 2026. The timeline looks like this:

1. 2027: contribute to an eligible plan, or open an IRA if you don’t have one. From that year, TrumpIRA.gov will list institutions offering IRAs compatible with the program.
2. Throughout the year: keep records of every contribution.
3. 2028: claim the benefit by filing Form 8880-A with your 2027 federal tax return.

The benefit is not automatic. If you don’t file the form, you don’t get the money. And as with any retirement account, withdrawals before age 59½ may trigger additional taxes and restrictions.

Among its most widely shared recommendations is a simple ritual: placing a glass of water and salt in the bedroom to carry out an energy cleansing.

According to its principles, the combination of both elements is associated with purification, protection and the symbolic removal of negative energy that can build up in a space.

What Is the Purpose of Putting a Glass of Water and Salt in the Bedroom, According to Feng Shui?

Within beliefs linked to Feng Shui, salt is considered an element associated with cleansing and energy protection. Water, for its part, represents purification, renewal and movement.

By combining both ingredients, those who practice this tradition seek to create a symbolic tool to neutralize negative energy and restore balance to the space.

Among the main purposes attributed to this ritual are:

• Absorb negative energy: according to this belief, the mixture would help gather the heavy energy that accumulates in the bedroom.
• Encourage harmony: it is used as part of a routine to create a calmer, more balanced environment.
• Promote energy renewal: it represents the intention of leaving negative situations behind and starting a new stage.
• Support rest: it aims to turn the room into a space of calm, relaxation and well-being.

How to Prepare the Glass-of-Water-and-Salt Ritual in the Bedroom

This practice does not require special products or hard-to-find items. The preparation is simple and uses ingredients that are usually found in any kitchen.

The items needed are:

• A clear glass.
• Drinking water.
• One or two tablespoons of coarse salt.

Once the ingredients are gathered, the process is:

1. Choose a clean glass: preferably a clear glass reserved exclusively for this ritual.
2. Add the salt: place one or two tablespoons of coarse salt in the bottom of the container.
3. Add the water: fill the glass until the salt is covered and let both elements combine.
4. Place it in the bedroom: choose a quiet corner where it cannot be knocked over accidentally.
5. Remove it afterward: some versions of this tradition recommend replacing the contents every so often and not reusing it.

Where Should You Place the Glass of Water and Salt to Attract Good Energy?

The placement of the container also has meaning within Feng Shui recommendations.

Those who follow this ritual usually advise placing it in a discreet area of the bedroom, preferably in a stable spot away from walkways.

Some of the chosen locations are:

• In a corner of the bedroom: to keep the container in a quiet area.
• On a side table: as long as it is kept away from objects that could contaminate the water.
• Near a window: in a space protected from direct sunlight and where it cannot be knocked over.

The main recommendation is to avoid placing it in spots where it could pose a risk or interfere with everyday activities.

How Often Should the Salt Water Be Changed?

In the different versions of the ritual, some people recommend changing the mixture every day, while others prefer to renew it after several days.

One popular custom is to remove the glass in the morning and prepare a new one when you want to repeat the practice.

It is also important to keep the container clean: the water used should not be consumed, and it should be kept out of the reach of small children or pets.

It is the largest submarine the country has ever built, designed to spend months hidden on the ocean floor and carrying missiles capable of reaching another continent.

What the SSBN-826 is

The USS District of Columbia is the first in a series of Columbia-class submarines the U.S. Navy is bringing into service. Its role is strategic: it will be the naval arm of the so-called nuclear triad (the combination of missiles launched from land, air and sea), and it will replace Ohio-class submarines, which are beginning to be retired. It is one of the central pillars of U.S. nuclear deterrence.

What it fires: 16 nuclear missiles from the water

Its main weapon is ballistic missiles. The submarine has 16 launch tubes, each with a Trident II (D5) missile with intercontinental range and capable of carrying nuclear warheads.

The key is that it can launch them while submerged, without surfacing: from the depths of the ocean, hidden, it can fire missiles that can hit targets thousands of kilometers away. That ability is, precisely, the heart of its deterrent power.

It never needs refueling

Another striking fact is its endurance. The submarine runs on nuclear power, and its reactor is designed to last the vessel’s entire service life, so it never needs refueling during its decades in service. In practice, its range is unlimited: what ends a mission is not fuel, but supplies and the crew’s endurance.

Why it is almost impossible to detect

In a strategic submarine, stealth is everything: its value depends on no one knowing where it is. That is why the Columbia class was designed to be the quietest submarine ever built by the United States, with technology intended to minimize the noise it emits and make it extremely difficult to track.

A submarine that cannot be found is precisely the one that guarantees a retaliatory capability: even if everything else failed, it would remain hidden and operational somewhere in the ocean.

When it will be ready

Building a submarine of this scale takes years. By early 2026, the USS District of Columbia was about 65% complete, with delivery scheduled for 2028 and entry into service planned for the following years. The keel was laid in 2022, so the vessel is moving forward, but it still has a way to go before it submerges for the first time on a real mission.

The adjustments are tied to inflation and affect certain fees established under the H.R. 1 law. Not every immigration application became more expensive, however, and some fees, including the initial asylum application fee, remain unchanged.

Which immigration fees will increase in 2027?

USCIS raised several fees by $3 to $30, depending on the type of application. The updated amounts include:

• Annual fee for pending asylum applications: increased from $102 to $105.
• Initial work permit for asylum applicants: increased from $560 to $570.
• Initial work permit for parole recipients: increased from $560 to $570.
• Initial work permit for TPS beneficiaries: increased from $560 to $570.
• TPS application fee (Form I-821): increased from $510 to $520.
• Immigration parole fee: increased from $1,020 to $1,050.

These adjustments are part of the annual inflation review required by H.R. 1. USCIS calculated the increases using the change in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers between July 2025 and July 2026.

Which immigration fees did not change?

Not all asylum-related costs increased for fiscal year 2027. The initial fee for filing an asylum application using Form I-589 remains $100, while the fee to renew or extend an asylum applicant’s work permit remains $275.

Comprehending this distinction is crucial because the annual asylum fee is separate from the initial application fee. People with pending asylum applications may have to pay the annual charge, but the amount they pay to file Form I-589 has not increased.

What happens if you submit an application with the old fee?

USCIS requires applicants to use the updated amounts for covered requests postmarked on or after October 16, 2026. Applications submitted with an incorrect payment may be rejected, according to the agency.

Before mailing an application, applicants should check the current fee for their specific form and category on the USCIS website. The adjustment does not apply to every immigration filing, so using a general fee amount instead of checking the requirements for the individual application could lead to a rejection.

The idea is to place a paper towel soaked in undiluted vinegar over the faucets.

This method is intended to help loosen the mineral deposits left by hard water on the fixtures, without having to use a more elaborate solution.

What Is the Purpose of Putting Vinegar-Soaked Paper on Faucets?

According to Utah State University Extension, vinegar can help loosen mineral deposits that build up on sink faucets. The recommendation is to take advantage of the product’s contact with the areas where these residues collect.

In its Quick Kitchen Tips guide, the institution includes this procedure among its cleaning tips. The instruction is specific: soak a paper towel in undiluted vinegar and place it over the faucet handles.

How Do You Apply This Cleaning Method at Home?

To put this recommendation into practice, the procedure involves the following steps:

• Soak a paper towel: use undiluted vinegar.
• Place it on the faucet: cover the areas where the mineral deposits are located.
• Apply it to the sink handles: the goal is to help loosen the residue left behind by hard water.

Utah State University Extension’s guide presents this as a recommendation for treating mineral deposits on sink faucets. Although it is a simple procedure, the institution’s specific guidance is limited to loosening these residues.

In the United States, the answer runs up against a longstanding legal doctrine known as the “Baseball Rule,” which generally protects clubs and stadiums from these kinds of claims.

The legal doctrine that shields teams and stadiums from lawsuits

The “Baseball Rule” is a principle that applies in many states and is based on one core idea: The risk of a ball reaching the stands is inherent to the game.

Under that logic, if the stadium uses netting to protect the most dangerous areas, especially the section behind home plate, where most impacts occur, fans sitting in the other seats are considered to have accepted the risk of being hit by a ball when they chose to sit there. As a result, a claim over that kind of injury usually has little chance of succeeding.

The rule protects the team and the stadium owner or operator, who are the ones an injured spectator could sue. It is not a protection for players: the baseball player who hits the foul ball or home run is not the one facing the claim.

What it is based on

The rule’s legal foundation is the doctrine of “assumption of risk”. That doctrine holds that when a person knows about a danger and still chooses to expose themselves to it voluntarily, they cannot later seek damages for harm caused by that danger.

Applied to baseball, teams argue that fans know balls can leave the field and still choose to attend and enjoy the game. That decision, under the doctrine, means accepting the risk.

Two factors reinforce that protection. The first is protective netting: Installing it behind home plate is standard in Major League stadiums, and in recent years MLB expanded that coverage down the baselines, beyond the dugouts, after a series of spectator injuries.

The second is the warning printed on the ticket: Tickets usually include a clause warning of the risk of being hit by a ball or bat.

If you were born between the 1st and the 10th, your November payment won’t arrive on the day you expect.

The Wednesday that isn’t

People who started collecting after May 1997 receive their Social Security benefits according to their birth date. Those born on the 1st through the 10th are paid on the second Wednesday of the month, which in November 2026 is the 11th, Veterans Day, a federal holiday.

SSA policy leaves no room for doubt: when a payment date falls on a weekend or holiday, the deposit is made on the business day before. That means people with birthdays from the 1st to the 10th will be paid on Tuesday, November 10, one day ahead of schedule.

The full November calendar

The 21st–31st group is paid the day before Thanksgiving, which doesn’t affect their date.

If the money doesn’t show up

The agency asks beneficiaries to allow three extra mailing days after the expected date before contacting it. With a payment arriving early this month, check your bank account on the 10th before assuming it’s late.

The SSN is used to report workers’ earnings to the federal government and determine whether they qualify for Social Security benefits.

Why do they have to present two documents to the SSA?

According to the SSA, foreign nationals authorized to work in the United States must submit at least two different documents to prove:

• Identity.
• Age.
• Immigration status with work authorization.

A single document can be used to prove more than one condition. All documents must be originals or certified copies issued by the agency that created them. The SSA does not accept photocopies, notarized copies or proof of document application.

What documents can be submitted to prove the conditions required by the SSA?

According to the SSA’s official publication, at least two different documents must be submitted.

To prove immigration status with work authorization and identity:

• Form I-551: permanent resident card, known as a Green Card.
• Form I-766: Employment Authorization Document (EAD).
• Form I-94: arrival/departure record showing work authorization granted by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
• Valid foreign passport: with an admission stamp showing the immigration category that allows work.

To prove age:

• The SSA asks for a foreign birth certificate or, alternatively, a passport or DHS-issued document.

International students with F-1 or M-1 visas and certain J-1 exchange visitors must provide additional documentation, such as Forms I-20 or DS-2019.

How do foreign workers apply for a Social Security number?

The SSA sets out different options for applying for a Social Security number, depending on immigration status and whether the applicant is inside or outside the United States.

• From abroad: those applying for an immigrant visa can request the SSN through the Enumeration at Entry (EAE) program, using Forms DS-230 or DS-260.
• Through USCIS: people lawfully in the United States can apply through the Enumeration Beyond Entry (EBE) program by completing the relevant questions on Forms I-765 or I-485.
• Directly with the SSA: those not using the options above can start the application online and schedule an appointment at a local Social Security office or Card Center to present the required documents.

Among the most popular choices for adding greenery are cala, umbrella papyrus and rush. These three varieties have characteristics that allow them to adapt to different light conditions and grow in pots or in areas with abundant moisture.

Cala, papyrus and rush: three plants that withstand excess water.

Umbrella papyrus (Cyperus alternifolius) has upright stems with thin leaves that fan out. It tolerates having its roots constantly wet and needs bright spaces to grow.

Cala (Zantedeschia aethiopica), meanwhile, stands out for its large leaves and funnel-shaped flowers. It grows in moist, organic-rich soil, in both sun and light shade.

As for rush (Juncus effusus), it forms clumps of cylindrical, upright stems. It is resistant to wet soils and can grow in areas with poor drainage.

How do you grow these plants in pots and on balconies?

Although the three species tolerate excess moisture, they need different conditions to grow properly.

• Cala: can be placed in sun or partial shade and needs moist soil.
• Umbrella papyrus: requires plenty of light, large pots and constant moisture at the roots.
• Rush: adapts to sun and shade, although it grows best with abundant light.

What care do plants need after rainy days?

It is worth remembering that on cloudy days, evaporation decreases and plants use less water. So before watering them again, it’s a good idea to check how wet the soil is a few inches below the surface.

It is also important to empty saucers under pots where water collects. Although these species tolerate moisture, other plants can deteriorate when the growing medium stays saturated.

In an interview with Entertainment Tonight at the 2024 SAG Awards, when he won for his role at The Last of Us, Pascal looked back on his early years. “My entry level lasted about 15 years,” he said.

During that time he struggled to pay basic needs, such as paying the rent to keep his home. “I had less than $7 in my bank account,” he recalled.

The check that saved his actor career

Just when he had almost nothing left, a residual payment arrived, the money actors receive when a show they once appeared in is aired again.

It came from a small role he had in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, where he played a college student in a 1999 episode, credited at the time as Pedro Balmaceda. He later adopted his mother’s last name, Pascal, after her death.

According to Pascal, that payment “literally is the reason I was able to stay in it and not give up.”

The long road Pascal had until reaching fame

Pascal’s breakthrough came in 2014, when he played Oberyn Martell in Game of Thrones. He then starred in Narcos and, in 2019, landed the lead role in The Mandalorian. In 2023, The Last of Us made him a global star.

He has reflected on how late success came for him. In a card to his The Last of Us co-star Bella Ramsey, he wrote: “How interesting that something so huge and life-changing should happen so early in your life and so late in mine.”

In the Senate, where Republicans held a 53-47 majority, the opposition took at least seven seats, including those in Kansas, Iowa, Texas, Ohio, Maine and both Carolinas. Counting continues, but it was enough to give them the majority.

They also won the House of Representatives and the governorships of Georgia, Ohio, Iowa and Texas. In Texas, Gina Hinojosa became the first woman and first Latina to prevail in that historic Republican stronghold.

Starting Jan. 3, 2027, the opposition Congress will control committees and be able to investigate the administration. Trump, however, retains veto power. In an interview with Fox News, he acknowledged the defeat, though he said he does not see it as a personal blow.

The opening was cautious and then improved. Tech stocks had fallen sharply in Asia and Nasdaq futures slipped on fears of tighter regulation of artificial intelligence, but investors turned more positive as the result was digested. The bet is that a divided Washington will limit abrupt policy changes.

Among the tech giants, Amazon was up 7.1%, Alphabet 3.4% and Meta 1.6%. But companies tied to the buildout of AI infrastructure moved the other way: IREN, Hut 8, Applied Digital and Core Scientific fell between 1.2% and 13%. The sector will remain under the spotlight because Democrats made gains in key data center states such as Texas and Georgia, where public opposition is growing to the industry’s rapid expansion.

Chipmakers were steady, even after AMD forecast stronger-than-expected growth for 2027, driven by data center sales. Its shares were up 4.8% in a volatile session.

Tesla and SpaceX, Elon Musk’s companies, were among the worst performers, falling 3.9% and 1.9%, respectively. The mogul had spent about $500 million backing Republican candidates, including efforts to preserve the party’s control in Texas, the state where both companies are headquartered.

The dollar was weakening against most currencies and long-dated Treasury yields were falling. The benchmark 10-year yield dropped 2.1 basis points to 4.9291%, and the 2-year yield fell nearly 1.2 basis points to 4.6017%. Earlier, both had hit their lowest levels in nearly two months, but they trimmed some of those losses as global stocks moved back into positive territory.

Overnight, the 10-year yield briefly fell to around 4.89%, its lowest level since early September. On Tuesday, by contrast, it had climbed toward 4.95% after a stronger-than-expected JOLTS job openings report. The 30-year yield eased to around 5.29%.

The market view is that the Democrats’ decisive win complicates Trump’s agenda in Congress. That limits the room for new tax cuts and more government spending, and eases concerns about federal borrowing.

In addition, tighter regulation of AI could slow growth and reduce the need for further rate hikes. The odds of the Fed raising rates by 25 bps in December are around 77%, down from 84% a week ago.

What is happening in Europe and the crypto market

European stocks were in the green: the STOXX 600 was up 0.5% at 0816 GMT, the DAX and the CAC 40 also advanced, and Italy’s FTSE MIB rose 1.2%. STOXX futures had fallen as much as 1.4% at the open, but rebounded once the Democratic majority was confirmed and Trump accepted the result.

Banks were up more than 2% and clean energy names, the hardest hit by Trump’s policies, led the gains: Vestas rose 5%, Orsted 7% and Nordex 4.7%. Novo Nordisk gained 4.6% after raising its full-year outlook, and European tech stocks rose 0.4% on AMD’s solid forecast.

Cryptocurrencies saw a brief drop: bitcoin hit a six-week low and then recovered to trade nearly flat at $78,070, while ether was trading at $2,292 (+1%). A Democratic Congress could be a setback for the sector, which spent more than $300 million backing pro-deregulation candidates. Tim Sun of HashKey warned that political changes could slow structural legislation on crypto assets.

Bitcoin is down 41% from its October 2025 peak above $122,000, and last week’s cyberattack on Binance, which stole $6 billion, also weighed on sentiment.

Argentine bonds: relief after days of pressure

The improved mood also spread to emerging-market debt. Argentine sovereign dollar bonds were up as much as 0.6%, led by the Bonar 2037 and Global 2038, the longer-dated maturities, in line with Brazil and Chile.

The rebound follows days of selling: the bonds had fallen more than 1% and the country risk premium topped 830 basis points. The country risk premium, meanwhile, edged down slightly to 827, although it remains at its highest level since October 2025.

If prices keep recovering, pressure on the JP Morgan index could ease, but its performance will also depend on U.S. Treasury yields.

The broader question is how U.S. trade, fiscal and financial policies will change, and what effect they will have on rates, the dollar and flows into emerging markets.

A more hostile Congress could complicate Trump’s agenda on tariffs, spending and the deficit, but the impact on emerging-market assets is not automatic: it depends on Treasury yields, inflation expectations and the dollar. In Argentina’s case, domestic factors still matter: reserve accumulation, fiscal sustainability and access to external financing.

How long is a license suspended for refusing a breath test

Section 1(b) of Section 322.2615 sets out two suspension periods, depending on the driver’s record:

• First refusal: suspension of the driving privilege for one year.
• Second refusal: suspension for 18 months if the license had already been suspended before for refusing this type of test.

The rule covers refusals to submit to lawful breath, blood or urine tests. It also makes clear that the suspension period begins on the date the official notice is issued.

Can the suspension be appealed?

Drivers who receive a suspension notice may request a formal or informal administrative review with the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV).

But there is a deadline they must keep in mind: the request must be filed within 10 days after the suspension notice is issued, according to Section 322.2615(1)(b)(3).

During that process, authorities may review the documents submitted and the arguments from both the officer and the driver to determine what to do with the measure.

It is worth noting that requesting review does not automatically stop the suspension.

What happens to the license during the first 10 days of suspension

When the officer issues the suspension, he or she must take the driver’s license and, if the person qualifies, give them a temporary driving permit. This document expires at midnight on the 10th day after the notice is issued.

That means the driver does not necessarily lose the ability to drive right away, but must pay attention to the permit’s expiration date. Once that period ends, they can no longer drive under that document.

The midterm elections were held this Tuesday, Nov. 3, in the United States. The full House of Representatives and a third of the Senate were up for election in a vote that determined control of Congress for the final two years of Donald Trump’s presidency, with a historic Democratic victory.

From doctor to Senate candidate

El-Sayed was born in 1984 in Rochester Hills, Michigan, and is the son of Egyptian immigrants. He studied at the University of Michigan, was a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford, where he earned a doctorate in public health, and received his medical degree from Columbia University. Although he is trained as a doctor, he does not practice medicine.

His professional career has been tied to public health administration: he led Detroit’s Health Department from 2015 to 2017 and later held a similar position in Wayne County. In 2018, he ran in the Democratic primary for governor of Michigan and finished second behind Gretchen Whitmer, with about 30% of the vote.

In April 2025, he launched his Senate bid after Democrat Gary Peters announced he would not seek reelection. His platform calls for a universal health care system, paid leave, greater unionization and the abolition of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). He also decided not to accept donations from political action committees.

A primary marked by divisions and accusations

To secure the Democratic nomination, El-Sayed faced Rep. Haley Stevens, a strong supporter of Israel. In that primary, the United Democracy Project committee, linked to the pro-Israel AIPAC lobby, spent $30 million to back Stevens. El-Sayed won the August primary and became the party’s nominee.

His critical stance toward Israel and his response to the March attack on Temple Israel synagogue led to accusations of antisemitism from Republican and Democratic leaders. El-Sayed condemned the attack, but a later remark about people’s suffering was interpreted as an attempt to justify it. In August, he admitted: “I made a mistake.”

The primary left wounds that deepened in the final stretch. On Sunday, Nov. 1, Stevens announced her support for Republican Mike Rogers after Democratic leaders excluded her from a unity event. The decision drew sharp criticism within the party, while El-Sayed dismissed the episode and said he was not focused on his former rival.

KFC and Taco Bell Confirm the Closure of All Their Locations in This U.S. Territory

Yum! Brands announced the simultaneous closure of all KFC and Taco Bell locations in Puerto Rico. The decision came after the company ended its business relationship with Encanto Restaurants, the local company that operated those brands on the island under a franchise arrangement. Once that tie was cut, the restaurants stopped operating.

According to reports, the shutdown is temporary: the chain is urgently seeking a new franchise partner to reopen and run the locations.

Part of the impact of the news lies in the brands’ long history. KFC opened its first restaurant in Puerto Rico in 1967, giving it about 59 years of uninterrupted presence on the island, a brand that several generations grew up with. Taco Bell, meanwhile, arrived later, in 1985, with just over four decades of local history.

How Many Locations Closed and How Many Workers Were Left Out of Work

As for the scale of the shutdown, reports say KFC had about 83 locations in Puerto Rico. The exact number of workers affected by the closure of both brands was not officially specified.

What is known is that Encanto Restaurants, the operator, employs more than 3,000 people, but across its four brands on the island. In addition to KFC and Taco Bell, it runs Pizza Hut and IHOP, so the direct impact of this shutdown affects only part of that total. In any case, it involves thousands of employees whose job status has been left in limbo.

“I think part of it had to do with Iran. But at the same time, people understood the importance of what I did with Iran,” Trump said. The president said his actions toward Tehran will have historical significance because, as he put it, “you can’t allow the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism to have a nuclear weapon”.

Trump said Iran is “the most dangerous country in the world” and claimed the United States has all but eliminated its ability to pose a nuclear threat. “I think, historically, it’s going to be much more important than tonight,” he said, referring to U.S. policy toward Tehran.

Trump acknowledged Democratic gains

The comments came after Democrats took control of both chambers of Congress in a midterm election that marked a sharp shift in the balance of power in Washington.

The president admitted the war with Iran may have hurt Republican candidates, though he said voters understood the importance of his foreign policy decisions. In this way, Trump avoided directly questioning the election result and also acknowledged his opponents’ performance.

“I think the Democrats did a good job. I really do. I think they did a good job. They fought hard,” he said. He added: “They’ve been fighting for a long time. They’ve been fighting me for a long time. This fight has been going on for a very long time.”

Earlier, he distanced himself from the defeat in a post on Truth Social, saying Republicans lost because his name was not on the ballot. “I wasn’t on the Ballot and if I was, we would have won IN A LANDSLIDE! Thank you for your attention to this matter.” he said.

The new landscape leaves Trump facing a Congress controlled by the opposition in the second half of his term. The president will have to negotiate with Democrats to advance his agenda, while opposition lawmakers will have greater ability to block White House initiatives and push their own bills.

Trump’s veto threat

In that context, Trump recalled that the president still has a tool to stop measures approved by Congress: the veto power. “They’ll send over things that are insane, and I’ll veto them,” he said during the interview.

The president, however, said vetoes will not necessarily prevent Republicans and Democrats from reaching deals. As he explained it, after a series of rejections, both sides could be forced to negotiate to break the deadlock on legislation.

“And after a couple of months of vetoes, they’ll go out and they’ll say, ‘How do we get this stuff done?’ And we’ll work together.” Trump said.

The president also sought to distance himself from a permanent confrontation with the Democratic Party and said he maintains personal ties with members of the opposition. “I have a lot of Democratic friends, believe it or not,” he said.

The new makeup of Congress opens a new period of greater political negotiation for the White House, while Trump will have to manage a more complicated relationship with an opposition that made gains in the legislative elections.

According to the U.S. Department of State, applicants must use Form DS-5504 and mail in the required documents. The agency also sets different validity terms for the new passport, depending on when the error is reported.

What errors qualify for a free replacement of a U.S. passport?

The State Department says citizens can request corrections to errors involving personal information or the passport’s printing.

Among the problems that can be corrected are:

• Name errors: incorrect information in the passport holder’s personal details.
• Sex errors: information that does not appear correctly in the passport.
• Place of birth errors: incorrect information about the citizen’s birth.
• Fading: printing defects that affect the document.
• Misaligned printing: problems with how the information was printed.
• Missing information: information missing from the passport’s biographical page.

The agency says these corrections are made free of charge as long as the passport is still valid.

In addition, if the photo has a printing error, the holder can also request a free correction through Form DS-5504.

How do you request a free passport correction with Form DS-5504?

To complete the process, citizens must gather the documents required by the State Department and mail them in.

The required documents are:

1. Form DS-5504, available in English, with the corresponding mailing instructions.
2. Current U.S. passport that contains the error.
3. A passport-size color photo.
4. Proof of the error, such as a U.S. birth certificate that can verify the correct spelling of the last name.

In addition, the date the error is reported determines how long the corrected passport will be valid.

If the citizen reports the problem within the first year after the incorrect passport was issued, the new document will be valid for 10 years.

If the error is reported after that period, the corrected passport will keep the expiration date of the original document.

The agency also says that people who have simply changed addresses do not need to update their valid passports.

The new amounts took effect on Oct. 16 and will remain in place through November. This is an inflation adjustment and affects people seeking certain immigration benefits, so it is important to know the updated prices before submitting documents.

What are USCIS fees for November 2026?

According to the official USCIS statement, the increases apply to fiscal year 2027 and were calculated taking into account inflation recorded between July 2025 and July 2026. The updated fees are as follows:

• Annual fee for pending asylum applications: from $102 to $105.
• Immigration parole, Form: from $560 to $570.
• TPS application, Form I-821: from $510 to $520.

Which immigration procedures are affected by the increases?

The increases announced by USCIS affect certain humanitarian protection procedures, temporary stay and work authorization in the United States:

• Asylum: annual fee for applications that remain pending.
• Immigration parole: fee for certain temporary stay permissions, linked to Form I-131.
• Employment authorization (EAD): initial Form I-765 applications for asylum seekers, parole recipients and people covered by TPS.
• Temporary Protected Status (TPS): applications using Form I-821.

What does H.R. 1 establish?

H.R. 1, known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, was enacted on July 4, 2025, and set new fees for certain immigration procedures, among other provisions.

Among its provisions, the law requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to update its fees year after year based on inflation, starting in fiscal year 2026.

To determine the adjustment percentage, the agency must consider the change in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U). This time, USCIS used the 3.36% change and applied the rounding rules set out in the law.

What happens if a request is filed with the wrong fee?

USCIS says all applications for covered procedures postmarked on or after Oct. 16, 2026, must include payment of the updated fee.

If the applicant submits the documents without paying the required amount, USCIS may reject the application.

In Florida, Law 322.27 includes a point system that penalizes different traffic offenses and allows a driver’s license to be suspended when certain thresholds are reached. The severity of the penalty depends on the violations on record and how much time passes between them.

But not all offenses carry the same weight, since some add more points than others and can bring drivers closer to a suspension.

What Law 322.27 says and when a driver’s license can be suspended

Florida Law 322.27 sets up a point system to penalize drivers who accumulate traffic violations. According to the official text of the Florida Statutes, the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles can suspend a license when its records show that a driver was convicted of offenses totaling 12 points or more.

The rule applies in Florida and provides different penalties depending on repeat offenses. To calculate the points, the department uses the date each violation was committed as the reference point, as set out in section 4 of the same law.

How many points does each traffic violation add to a driver’s license

Section 3 of Law 322.27 sets out how many points apply to different violations. Some of the offenses covered by the law are:

• Speeding: 3 points if you are not more than 15 miles per hour over the limit, and 4 points if you exceed it by more than that.
• Reckless driving: 4 points.
• Leaving the scene of a crash that caused more than $50 in property damage: 6 points.
• Passing a stopped school bus: 4 points, or 6 if the violation causes serious injury or the death of a person.
• Failing to obey a traffic signal: 4 points, with the exceptions provided by law.
• Driving illegally through a railroad crossing: 6 points.
• Other moving violations: 3 points, except where the law provides otherwise.

The law also says a traffic violation that causes a crash can add 4 points, except for certain offenses, such as speeding and the illegal use of wireless devices, which have a specific assignment. It also sets 2 additional points when a violation is committed, along with the illegal use of a wireless device in a school zone.

What happens when a driver reaches 24 points within a 36-month period

Law 322.27 establishes a progressive suspension scale in which a driver can temporarily lose their license before reaching the maximum point total covered by the one-year penalty.

The timeframes are:

• 12 points in 12 months: suspension of up to 30 days.
• 18 points in 18 months: suspension of up to 3 months. This includes the points that led to the previous suspension.
• 24 points in 36 months: suspension of up to 1 year. This also includes the points counted in earlier stages.

The rule also authorizes the department to send a warning letter when a license holder reaches a risk zone, to let them know that additional traffic convictions could lead to a suspension of their driver’s license.

Through Form DS-82, the State Department authorizes mail renewal only for those who meet six requirements related to the age, condition, and features of the previous passport. If any of these conditions are missing, the applicant is excluded from the standard process.

In addition, the federal authority sets special rules for limited-validity documents and explains what those who do not qualify for this option must do.

What are the six conditions the U.S. government requires to renew a passport by mail?

The U.S. State Department sets six conditions citizens must meet to renew their passport by mail using Form DS-82. These rules determine who can use the mail-in process without having to appear in person at an authorized office.

The requirements include having the previous passport, not having reported it lost or stolen, that it was issued within the last 15 years, and was obtained after age 16. In addition, the document must have a 10-year validity period, show no significant damage, and be issued in the holder’s current name or accompanied by legal documentation proving the name change.

The six conditions are:

• Have the previous passport: the citizen must submit their most recent U.S. passport along with Form DS-82.
• Not have reported it lost or stolen: the document must not have been reported to authorities for either of those reasons.
• Have been issued less than 15 years ago: the issue date must fall within that period.
• Have obtained it after age 16: the passport must have been issued when the holder was already that age and have a 10-year validity period.
• Keep the same name or prove the change: if the current name does not match the one on the document, legal proof must be provided, such as a marriage certificate or court order.
• The passport must not be damaged: normal wear from use is allowed, but not damage that affects the document’s integrity.

Failure to meet any of these conditions prevents use of the standard mail renewal process.

What requirements do those with a limited-validity passport have to meet

The U.S. government also addresses a special case for citizens who have a passport with a validity shorter than the usual 10 years. In these cases, the State Department allows mail renewal only if three additional conditions are met.

According to the federal authority, the holder must previously have had a passport valid for 10 years, and the limited-validity document cannot have been issued because of repeated passport losses or repeated submission of damaged documents. These restrictions are meant to determine whether the citizen can use the mail process or must file another application.

What if you can’t renew your passport by mail?

Citizens who do not meet the requirements set by the State Department must apply for a passport in person. That means they cannot use the Form DS-82 mail-in process and must follow the instructions to submit a new application in person.

The authority also notes that passports for children under 16 are not renewed because they are valid for five years and, when a new document is needed, a new application must be submitted. Among adults who also cannot use mail renewal are those who lost their passport, reported it stolen, or have a document issued more than 15 years ago.

These services can reduce processing times, but they do not include mailing times, which can add up to two more weeks to the estimated time to complete the process.

How long does the standard passport process usually take?

According to the State Department, people applying for a passport through the standard service may face the following wait times:

• Your application can take up to 2 weeks to arrive if you mail it, unless you pay for faster delivery.
• Processing for regular service can take 4 to 6 weeks, during which a passport agency will review the application and supporting documents.
• Then, standard shipping can take up to 2 weeks, unless you pay a fee to have it returned in 1 to 3 days.

Who can use the expedited service to get a passport in 2 to 3 weeks?

The State Department offers an expedited service that cuts passport processing time to between 2 and 3 weeks.

This option is available to U.S. citizens who need the document faster, especially if they plan to travel abroad in less than six weeks.

How do you request expedited service to get a passport faster?

The service can be requested in two ways:

• People applying for a passport for the first time or filing a new application can go to an authorized acceptance facility.
• People who qualify to renew by mail can apply to renew by mail.

Processing time must always be added to mailing time.

How much extra does this service cost?

The expedited service costs an additional US$60, and it must be paid along with the passport application or renewal fee.

In addition, the State Department also offers an optional faster book delivery service that allows it to be received 1 to 3 days after issuance for an additional US$26.87.

Urgent travel: What does the State Department recommend?

In serious situations, the State Department recommends scheduling an appointment at a passport agency or center when a citizen needs to travel abroad in less than two to three weeks.

To use this option, there are two scenarios:

• Urgent international travel: You can request an appointment when you have 14 calendar days or less before travel, and if the destination requires a foreign visa, the window extends to 28 days.
• Life-or-death emergencies: People who need to travel within the next 14 days because of the death, a life-threatening illness, or a serious injury of an immediate family member who is abroad may request an emergency appointment.

The federal agency warns that appointments must be requested in advance and that slot availability is not guaranteed.

The clinical trial included 235 postmenopausal women ages 55 to 75 and compared the results of those who ate different amounts of prunes with those of a group that did not consume the fruit. Researchers found that a daily intake of 50 grams helped improve hip bone density compared with the decline seen in the control group.

The findings were published in 2022 in the scientific journal The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, under the title Prunes preserve hip bone mineral density in a 12-month randomized controlled trial in postmenopausal women: the Prune Study.

Why prunes help protect bones after 50

Scientific interest in prunes is tied to their phenolic compounds, bioactive substances that could play a role in the processes that regulate bone health.

According to the researchers, these components can support bone metabolism and act on certain inflammatory signaling pathways linked to bone loss.

This is especially important during postmenopause. At this stage, lower estrogen levels speed up bone deterioration and can contribute to the development of osteoporosis, a disease that reduces bone mineral density and weakens bone structure.

Penn State Distinguished Professor of Kinesiology and Physiology Mary Jane De Souza highlighted the importance of the trial results: “In our study, we observed that daily prune consumption affected factors related to fracture risk. That has incalculable clinical value.”

“We were able to maintain and preserve bone in the weight-bearing area, the cortical bone of the tibia, and maintaining cortical bone and bone strength are key to preventing fractures,” she added.

How many prunes should you eat a day to help protect bone density?

The study compared two daily amounts over 12 months:

• 50 grams a day: roughly equivalent to four to six prunes.
• 100 grams a day: roughly equivalent to 10 to 12 prunes.

Participants were randomly assigned to three groups: one that did not eat prunes, another that ate 50 grams a day, and a third that received 100 grams per day.

The most consistent results for hip bone mineral density were seen in the group that consumed 50 grams a day.

At the end of the 12 months, women in the control group had experienced a 1.1% decline in total hip bone mineral density. By contrast, those who ate 50 grams showed a change of just -0.3%, which researchers interpreted as a preservation of bone density.

The 100-gram dose was also studied, but it presented a major challenge: 41% of the women assigned to that group dropped out of the trial, a much higher rate than among those who ate 50 grams (15%) and participants in the control group (10%).

What to keep in mind

Adding prunes to the diet can be an interesting nutritional option, but it should not replace medical checkups or prescribed osteoporosis treatment.

Bone health also depends on a balanced diet, adequate calcium and vitamin D intake, and physical activity, among other factors.

It is worth noting that most of the participants were white women from a region of Pennsylvania, so the results cannot necessarily be applied to all populations. The researchers also said more studies are needed to better understand the mechanisms involved and confirm the possible long-term benefits.

In this regard, authorities provide specific instructions when completing this application, which must be followed to obtain the international ID without any issues.

How to Submit Form DS-11 to Apply for a Passport

The Form DS-11 must be used by people applying for a passport for the first time, as well as by those who need to renew their ID because they have:

• A passport issued more than 15 years ago
• A passport issued before age 16
• A stolen, lost, or badly damaged passport
• A name change that cannot be documented

To complete it, authorities say to use the form filler tool. “If you do not provide all relevant information on Form DS-11, we may pause your application,” Travel State warns.

The official instruction is to submit it printed on one side only because double-sided forms are not accepted.

In addition, it is important not to sign the form until a passport acceptance agent instructs you to do so.

All the documents needed to apply for a passport with Form DS-11

According to the official guidance, when submitting the application, you must:

• Bring the completed, printed Form DS-11
• Provide evidence that you are a U.S. citizen
• Bring a photo ID
• Provide photocopies and additional documents, if needed
• Find a location where the application can be submitted

I Can’t Go to a Regular Center: What Other Options Do I Have to Apply for a Passport?

Those who cannot go during the centers’ regular hours and days can check the Special Passport Acceptance Fairs.

“They are held in the afternoon and on weekends, or at special locations. The fairs are organized by passport application acceptance offices such as post offices, court clerks, and libraries,” authorities explain.

The monthly events are already scheduled and can be viewed by clicking here.

The decision puts on hold a lower court order that could have restored protections starting November 6.

On November 3, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit said it would issue a 14-day administrative stay beginning Friday. The move temporarily pauses the order while the legal fight over the termination of Venezuela’s TPS designation continues.

Why did the court delay TPS reinstatement?

The case stems from the Trump administration’s decision to end Venezuela’s TPS designation and cancel an extension granted under the previous administration.

A federal district court ruled in September 2025 that former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem had exceeded her authority when she took those actions.

Previously, the Ninth Circuit allowed the lower court’s order to move forward, denying the administration’s request to block it on October 30.

What happens to Venezuelan TPS holders now?

The new ruling means the lower court order will remain on hold during the 14-day administrative stay. TPS protections will not be reinstated on November 6 as previously expected.

Venezuelan immigrants affected by this case will have to wait for further court action to learn whether the protections will be restored. The appeals court’s temporary pause does not, by itself, settle the case.

What ESTA is and who it is for

ESTA, the Electronic System for Travel Authorization, is tied to the Visa Waiver Program, which allows citizens more than 40 eligible countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business, for up to 90 days, without applying for a visa.

In other words, it does not replace a visa for everyone: it works only for passports from those countries included in the program. And that is exactly where the restriction many people do not know about comes in.

The silent mistake that can get your ESTA denied for travel to the United States

The rule says that people who, even with a passport eligible for ESTA, traveled to or were present in a list of countries as of certain dates lose the ability to use ESTA and must apply for a regular visa. The reason for the trip does not matter, whether it is tourism, work, family visits, or humanitarian work: the simple fact of having been there triggers the restriction.

Visiting these countries means you have to apply for a visa: the full list

The countries and dates that count are the following:

• Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen: anyone who traveled to or was present in any of them on or after March 1, 2011 is disqualified.
• Cuba: This applies to anyone who traveled to or was present there on or after January 12, 2021, the date Cuba was designated a state sponsor of terrorism.

Added to this travel restriction is another based on nationality: people who, in addition to a passport from a participating country, have the nationality of Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Sudan, or Syria also cannot use ESTA, whether or not they have traveled to those places.

Lost or stolen passports are immediately canceled

When a passport is reported lost or stolen, the State Department invalidates it. It is a security measure aimed at preventing someone from using the document to impersonate the holder or commit fraud. The direct consequence is that the passport is taken out of service from that moment on, and the agency makes it clear: it cannot be used even if it is found.

One key detail is that how quickly the passport is canceled depends on how the report is filed. The fastest way is online, by completing Form DS-64 (statement regarding a lost or stolen passport). When it is reported this way, the State Department cancels the passport within one business day.

It cannot be used even if it turns up later

Many people report the passport, assume it is gone, and then days or weeks later find it in a drawer or a suitcase. The instinct is to think that once it is recovered, it works again.

That is not the case: once it has been reported and canceled, the document does not regain its validity. Trying to travel with a passport listed as lost or stolen can end at the worst possible moment, at immigration control or at the airline counter, with the risk of being unable to board.

That is why, even if it turns up, you should not use it or try to travel with it.

How to apply for a replacement

Because the document has been canceled, this is not a routine renewal: a new passport must be requested. Inside the United States, the process is done in person with Form DS-11, the same route used by people applying for a passport for the first time, and it cannot be handled by mail.

Abroad, you must contact the nearest embassy or consulate. In general, the loss report (DS-64) is submitted along with the replacement application.

Lawmakers are scheduled to return to Washington on Nov. 9, six days after Election Day, for a session expected to last until Christmas with a Thanksgiving break in between. Party control in that stretch doesn’t change, whatever the results mean for next year.

The same rules cover lawmakers who retired instead of running again. Until the clock runs out, every sitting member of the House and Senate can introduce bills, vote on them and confirm nominees, whether or not they’ll be back in January.

Can members of Congress who lost Tuesday still vote and pass laws?

Yes. The 20th Amendment to the Constitution sets the end of each congressional term at noon on Jan. 3 of odd-numbered years. Any time the outgoing Congress meets between the November election and that date is called a lame-duck session.

What sets these sessions apart is who votes: the sitting members of the current Congress, not the winners who will take over the next one. A defeated lawmaker’s vote counts exactly the same as it did before Election Day.

These sessions are now a fixture of every election cycle. Both chambers have reconvened after every election since 2000, according to the Congressional Research Service, and in seven of the eight Congresses before the report, the sessions stretched into the new year.

Major laws have come out of these weeks. The 2022 session produced the Respect for Marriage Act, and the 2018 session passed the First Step Act on federal sentencing. In 1998, the House used its post-election session to impeach President Bill Clinton.

What laws does the lame-duck Congress have to pass in its last 2 months?

The most urgent item is money to keep the government running. Federal funding expires Dec. 11 unless Congress passes the full-year spending bills or another stopgap measure. If lawmakers miss that date, parts of the government would shut down.

Several other bills are competing for the same short window:

• The National Defense Authorization Act, the yearly bill that sets Pentagon programs and spending.
• A farm bill covering federal food, agriculture and rural development programs.
• A renewal of a federal surveillance law that has already lapsed.

A debt-limit increase could also join the list. Senate Majority Leader John Thune has said one could come during the lame-duck session. Any such move would target a borrowing limit expected in 2027, not the December funding deadline.

Recent history suggests spending will dominate the calendar. In 10 of the 12 lame-duck sessions held from 2000 through 2022, Congress approved regular spending bills or stopgap funding to keep federal agencies open.

Do members of Congress who lost keep collecting their $174,000 salaries?

Yes, but only until their term ends. Members of Congress are paid only for the terms they were elected to serve, according to the Congressional Research Service. A defeated lawmaker’s paychecks stop when the new Congress takes over Jan. 3.

The $174,000 figure is an annual rate. It works out to $14,500 a month, so the remaining weeks are worth about $29,000 per member. Leaders earn more: the speaker of the House is paid $223,500, while the Senate president pro tempore and the majority and minority leaders of both chambers make $193,400.

That pay continues even if the government shuts down after Dec. 11. Congressional salaries come from a permanent appropriation, not the yearly spending bills, so a funding lapse doesn’t stop them. Members can choose to give part or all of their pay back to the Treasury.

The salary itself hasn’t moved in years. Congress last got a raise in January 2009, a 2.8% increase to $174,000, and has blocked every scheduled raise since. Adjusted for inflation, that pay lost roughly 33% of its value from 2009 through 2025.

The financial assistance is being provided through a partnership involving the Florida Disaster Fund, Volunteer Florida and the Florida Sheriffs Association. According to the governor’s announcement on October 19, 2026, the grants recognize the work of first responders who faced personal hardship while helping their communities recover.

Who will receive Florida’s $5,000 Hurricane Isaias assistance?

The $5,000 grants are specifically designated for eight first responders in two counties:

• Escambia County: emergency personnel personally affected by Hurricane Isaias.
• Santa Rosa County: first responders whose homes were impacted by the storm while they continued working.

The announcement does not establish a general $5,000 payment for every Florida resident affected by the hurricane. Instead, the assistance is restricted to the eight emergency personnel identified through the program.

The money comes through a partnership between the Florida Disaster Fund and Volunteer Florida, with coordination from the Florida Sheriffs Association. The grants are intended to provide additional financial support as these workers recover from the damage.

Florida also provides temporary housing to families displaced by the hurricane

The $5,000 grants are separate from another recovery initiative announced by DeSantis: temporary shelter trailers for residents whose homes sustained significant hurricane damage.

The program is being carried out through a partnership between the Florida Division of Emergency Management and Emergency RV, a nonprofit organization that provides temporary housing to people affected by disasters.

According to the governor’s October 19 announcement, the first two travel trailers had already been awarded to displaced families. At that time, the program had received nearly 300 applications.

Residents who need temporary shelter can submit an application through Emergency RV’s official website.

What other disaster assistance is available to Hurricane Isaias survivors?

Florida also requested a federal Major Disaster Declaration to obtain additional recovery resources for communities affected by the hurricane.

On October 29, 2026, FEMA announced that federal assistance had been authorized for eligible individuals in Bay, Escambia, Gulf, Holmes, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Walton and Washington counties.

Depending on individual eligibility and the programs authorized, this assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, as well as other disaster-related support.

Residents who experienced losses should first contact their insurance providers and then apply through DisasterAssistance.gov, call 1-800-621-3362 or use the FEMA mobile app.

The $474 million isn’t an official total. It’s a tally of Musk’s disclosed donations to federal and state political groups since Jan. 1, 2025, compiled from Federal Election Commission, IRS and state campaign finance filings.

The real number is likely higher. Federal records run only through Oct. 14, and some of his money went to dark-money groups, which don’t have to disclose donors. Other published estimates come in lower, depending on which donations and dates they count.

Among people who weren’t on the ballot, no one has spent more in a single U.S. election cycle. Democrats have secured at least 54 Senate seats, and 231 House seats to 144 for Republicans, with 62 congressional races, two in the Senate and 60 in the House, still uncalled as of Wednesday morning.

How much did Elon Musk spend to keep Congress Republican?

According to that tally, most of the money went to super PACs, committees that can raise and spend unlimited sums as long as they don’t coordinate with candidates:

• About $216 million to America PAC, the super PAC Musk founded.
• $168 million to the Senate Leadership Fund, the main super PAC backing Senate Republicans.
• $30 million to the Congressional Leadership Fund, its House counterpart.
• About $44 million to other Republican groups and candidates at the federal level.
• About $16 million to state efforts in Michigan, Texas and Wisconsin.

Musk spent about $290 million in 2024. In May 2025, he said he planned to do “a lot less” political spending, but after a brief public split with President Donald Trump that June, he ramped up again this year.

Which races did Elon Musk lose, including Texas?

Candidates in 106 House and Senate races had support from Musk or from groups he funded. As of Wednesday morning, 44 of them had lost and at least 19 had won, including Republican Sen. Pete Ricketts in Nebraska, with more than 40 races still uncalled. Money from a Musk-funded group doesn’t mean it decided a race, but the losses cut across the map.

Senate races Elon Musk lost

Republicans backed by Musk-funded groups lost Senate races in 10 states:

• Georgia
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Maine
• Michigan
• New Hampshire
• North Carolina
• Ohio
• South Carolina
• Texas

Two more Senate races, in Alaska and Mississippi, were still too close to call Wednesday morning.

Texas was by far his biggest bet. Musk put an estimated $212 million behind Paxton through direct donations and America PAC spending, and with $12.3 million more to Texas groups, his total there reached roughly $224 million.

It didn’t come close. Democrat James Talarico defeated Paxton 55.1% to 43%, with about 97% of the vote counted.

Outside Texas, America PAC’s biggest Senate spending went to Ohio ($9.7 million), Michigan ($9.2 million), Iowa ($3.3 million) and Maine ($2.3 million). Democrats won all four.

House races Elon Musk lost

Musk-backed candidates lost 34 House races, listed here by state and district:

• Alabama: 2nd
• California: 4th (the Musk-backed candidate was eliminated in the top-two primary)
• Colorado: 8th
• Florida: 14th, 22nd and 25th
• Iowa: 1st, 2nd and 3rd
• Kentucky: 6th
• Michigan: 8th
• Missouri: 2nd
• Nebraska: 2nd
• New Hampshire: 1st and 2nd
• New Jersey: 7th
• New Mexico: 2nd
• North Carolina: 11th
• Ohio: 1st, 7th, 13th and 15th
• Pennsylvania: 1st, 7th, 8th and 10th
• Texas: 15th, 23rd, 28th, 34th and 35th
• Virginia: 2nd
• Wisconsin: 1st and 3rd

Other races Elon Musk lost

Musk also gave $10 million to the Republican Governors Association, $2 million to the Republican Attorneys General Association and $5 million directly to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who lost to Democratic state Rep. Gina Hinojosa.

Republicans lost competitive governor’s races in Georgia, Iowa, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Texas and Wisconsin, and attorney general races in Georgia, Michigan and Wisconsin.

The losing streak started before this year. In 2025, America PAC spent about $47 million on a high-profile state judicial race in Wisconsin, and Musk’s candidate lost.

What could Elon Musk’s losses in Congress mean for him next?

Democratic lawmakers have signaled they plan to scrutinize Musk’s time leading the Department of Government Efficiency, his companies’ federal contracts and his role in the Russia-Ukraine war.

Starting in January, Democrats will run the committees that can hold hearings and issue subpoenas.

In cases where a child is considered emancipated, parents are no longer legally required to support them financially. There are different situations in which a child may be considered emancipated.

How old do parents have to support their children under state law?

In New York, both parents are required to provide financial support and health insurance coverage for their children until age 21. This obligation can be extended to age 26 when children have a developmental disability and remain financially dependent on their parents.

In the case of married parents, both are responsible for contributing financially to their children’s care. If one refuses to help cover expenses, the other can request a child support order.

When parents are separated, the custodial parent may receive support from the other parent, even if they have enough money to support the child without financial help.

If the child is in foster care, both parents must contribute financially to their support.

In what cases can child support end early?

Under state law, parents must financially support their children until they turn 21 or become emancipated.

A child is considered emancipated when they stop living with their parents and can support themselves. However, if they remain financially dependent on either parent, they are not considered emancipated.

In addition, an emancipated child can become financially dependent on their parents again before turning 21.

When is a child considered emancipated?

A child under 21 may be considered emancipated when any of the following situations occurs:

• Gets married.
• Enters military service.
• Is at least 18 and works full time. Summer or vacation jobs are not considered.
• Leaves the family home permanently and cuts ties with both parents without a valid reason. This does not apply when the child leaves home because of abuse by one of the parents or similar circumstances.

If the penalty is imposed, the taxpayer will have to pay extra on top of what was originally owed, with an amount calculated based on the balance they tried to pay without sufficient funds, and when the penalty is applied, authorities will notify them with an official notice.

The IRS will hit those who try to pay taxes without enough funds with extra charges

According to the tax agency, this penalty is known as the Dishonored Check or Other Form of Payment Penalty and is imposed when the bank account used to pay a tax does not have enough money to cover the amount owed.

The same thing happens if the payment was attempted by check. In both cases (check or electronic payment), the bank rejects the payment and reports the amount that could not be paid.

How the IRS calculates this penalty

The calculation the agency uses is as follows:

• When the amount owed is less than $1,250: the penalty will be the amount due or $25, whichever is less
• If the amount owed is more than $1,250: the penalty will be 2% of the amount owed

If the taxes and the penalty are not paid on time and properly, the agency says it will add interest to the fine.

“The date from which we begin charging interest varies depending on the type of penalty. Interest increases the amount you owe until you pay the full balance,” the IRS says.

When the penalty can be waived or reduced

The IRS explains that the fine is reduced if you can show that the payment was made in good faith and that there was a reasonable basis for believing there were enough funds to make the payment.

The steps to follow are:

• Submit a written statement explaining why the penalty should be reconsidered
• Include documents showing there was money in the bank account to cover the payment
• Sign and date the written statement and mail it to the address listed in the notice

“We will review your written statement and let you know whether we accept it as reasonable cause,” the IRS says.

The federal tax credit is intended for low- and moderate-income workers and can reduce the amount of federal income tax owed or increase a taxpayer’s refund. Its maximum value varies according to the number of qualifying children, with households supporting two or more children eligible for substantially higher amounts.

The credit applies to income earned throughout 2026, but taxpayers will have to file their federal income tax returns in 2027 to claim it. The IRS has already established the maximum amounts and income limits that will determine who qualifies.

Who qualifies for the IRS $4,427 tax credit?

The EITC is not exclusively available to parents with children. Workers without qualifying children may also receive a smaller benefit if they meet the program’s requirements.

According to the IRS, applicants must generally:

• Have earned income from employment, self-employment or another qualifying source.
• Have a valid Social Security number (SSN) issued by the due date of their tax return, including extensions.
• Be a U.S. citizen or resident alien throughout the tax year.
• Have investment income below the applicable limit.
• Not file Form 2555, which is used to report foreign earned income.

The IRS also establishes special rules for certain taxpayers, including married individuals who are separated from their spouses and do not file joint returns.

Workers without qualifying children must meet additional conditions. They must generally be between 25 and 64 years old at the end of the tax year, have lived in the United States for more than half of 2026, and not be claimed as another taxpayer’s dependent or qualifying child.

How much can the IRS pay through the EITC in 2026?

The maximum benefit depends on the number of qualifying children included in the tax return. For the 2026 tax year, the IRS established the following amounts:

These are maximum credits, not guaranteed payments. The final amount depends on the taxpayer’s earned income, adjusted gross income (AGI), filing status and family circumstances.

The income limits also vary according to the number of qualifying children and filing status. For taxpayers with one qualifying child, the credit is completely phased out once earned income or adjusted gross income reaches $51,593 for most filing statuses or $58,863 for married couples filing jointly.

For households with two qualifying children, those limits increase to $58,629 and $65,899, respectively. For taxpayers with three or more qualifying children, they reach $62,974 and $70,244.

Workers without qualifying children have lower limits: $19,540 for most filing statuses and $26,820 for married couples filing jointly.

The IRS also established a maximum investment income threshold of $12,200 for 2026. Taxpayers whose applicable investment income exceeds that amount cannot claim the EITC.

How to claim the Earned Income Tax Credit in 2027

Eligible taxpayers must file a federal income tax return to receive the EITC, even if their income is below the threshold that would otherwise require them to file.

An important change applies beginning with the 2026 tax year: the IRS requires taxpayers claiming the EITC to complete Schedule 3-A, Federal Public Benefit, in addition to their applicable tax return.

The agency recommends using its EITC Assistant, an online tool that helps taxpayers determine whether they qualify and estimate the amount of the credit they could receive.

The IRS also offers free tax preparation assistance through certified volunteers and free electronic filing options for eligible taxpayers.

Moody, a longtime high school and college basketball coach, found his son’s seventh-grade teammates inside playing video games instead of using the family court. “Why don’t you guys go outside on our court and play?” he asked them, according to what he recalled in an interview with Forbes.

Their answer was they’d rather keep playing. Moody walked into the next room and told his wife: “If I could build a gym like a video game, I think we’d have something special.” A few weeks later, he woke up, drew the first facility, and started working on the plan.

The basketball court idea that changed everything

From that starting idea, he launched Shoot 360 in 2012. The first location cost between $300,000 and $400,000, which he paid for with his savings and retirement money, cashing out his 401(k).

The company is a tech-powered, gamified basketball training franchise that now generates over $20 million in annual revenue, according to Entrepreneur.

How does the Shoot 360 “video game gym” work?

Shoot 360 uses big screens, sensors, and software to train shooting, passing, and ball handling. Players get instant feedback with progress tracking in an app and can compete in real life against people in other cities and countries.

“If you are in New York and I am in Portland, we can play each other in real time,” Moody explained. Members have to pay $120 to $160 a month, similar to a gym membership.

What started with one gym turned into a million-dollar franchise

After opening four company-owned locations over the years, Moody began franchising in late 2019. Today, Shoot 360 has about 60 locations and many more in development.

Opening a Shoot 360 franchise costs between $600,000 and just over $1 million.

For Moody, success comes down to effort. “You should be prepared to work harder than you ever have,” he said. “It is not really about the number of hours. It is about doing what needs to get done.”

According to AccuWeather, isolated heavy showers and thunderstorms will still be possible Wednesday, Nov. 4, especially in parts of Florida. However, the rain will be less widespread than it was Sunday and Monday.

The forecast also warns that the arrival of a cold front could bring more rain toward the end of the week, both in Florida and in areas farther north along the Atlantic coast.

Which areas could see more thunderstorms on Wednesday, Nov. 4?

The heaviest rainfall from the storm system was concentrated in parts of central and eastern Florida, where some communities recorded totals of between 127 and 254 millimeters from Sunday through Monday.

The highest amounts were seen in a band stretching from southeast Orlando to north of Fort Lauderdale. In the hardest-hit areas, rainfall totals over several days reached between 305 and 610 millimeters.

For Wednesday, the forecast still calls for rain and isolated thunderstorms in Florida. However, AccuWeather does not identify any specific cities that are certain to see new storms during the day.

Will the rain continue after Wednesday, Nov. 4?

Meteorologists expect humidity to rise again in Florida toward the end of this week, as a cold front moving in from the north brings moist air from the Gulf and the Atlantic Ocean.

Although there is still uncertainty about how much rain this system could produce, the rain is expected to be considerably less intense than what fell between Sunday, Nov. 1, and Monday, Nov. 2.

The agency also says areas farther north along the Atlantic coast could see heavy rain toward the end of the week, especially in places that have not had rain for several weeks.

Meanwhile, specialists identified a medium risk of a tropical or subtropical system developing between the Bahamas and Bermuda this week. Any possible formation would be gradual and, for now, does not amount to confirmation of a new tropical storm.

Rain in recent days caused flooding in both coastal communities and inland areas of Florida.

The situation came after exceptionally high tides and strong surf also caused flooding and beach erosion along the state’s Atlantic coast last week.

The holdouts won’t decide which party runs Congress. Democrats flipped both chambers Tuesday night and hold 54 Senate seats to Republicans’ 44. What’s still at stake is the size of those majorities, which will shape how much room party leaders have to pass bills starting in January.

Besides the two Senate contests, The Associated Press has yet to call 60 House races. The tallies are current as of Wednesday morning. They will keep shifting as election offices process ballots, and some of those ballots won’t be counted until next week or later.

Which uncalled races are still waiting on ballots in the mail?

The most closely watched holdouts are in three states. All three count mail ballots postmarked by Election Day even when they arrive afterward, as long as they come in before a state deadline.

Mississippi Senate: Scott Colom vs. Cindy Hyde-Smith

Democrat Scott Colom, a district attorney, led Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith by a few dozen votes early Wednesday, with about 96% of the vote counted. Independent Ty Pinkins drew about 2.1%.

Mississippi accepts mail ballots for five business days after Election Day, so the cutoff is Nov. 10. Thousands of affidavit ballots also remain to be reviewed. That’s the state’s term for provisional ballots, which are cast when a voter’s eligibility can’t be confirmed at the polls.

Mail voting surged this year. As of Monday, the secretary of state’s office had received 116,453 absentee ballots, well above the total from the 2022 midterms.

Alaska Senate: Dan Sullivan vs. Mary Peltola

Neither candidate has passed 50% of first-choice votes, the threshold for winning outright, with roughly 72% of the vote counted. Mail ballots sent from within the U.S. count if they arrive by Nov. 13. Ballots from overseas have until Nov. 18.

Geography explains the long window. More than 80% of Alaska communities aren’t on the road system, the state told the Supreme Court in a January filing. In 2024, poll workers in the northern village of Atqasuk had to mail their ballots and tally sheets to the state, which didn’t receive them until nine days later.

California House races

Eleven of the 60 uncalled House seats are in California. Nearly every voter there gets a ballot by mail, and ballots postmarked by Election Day count if they arrive within seven days, or by Nov. 10.

Each mail ballot also needs a signature check before it’s counted. Many voters drop off their ballots on Election Day itself, which leaves counties with a large backlog in the days that follow.

Why is it legal to count mail ballots that arrive after Election Day?

The Supreme Court settled the question in June. In Watson v. Republican National Committee, decided June 29, the justices ruled 5-4 that the federal laws setting Election Day don’t require mail ballots to arrive by that date. Justice Amy Coney Barrett wrote for the majority.

The case began with a challenge to Mississippi’s law. The Republican National Committee, the Mississippi Republican Party and the Libertarian Party of Mississippi sued in 2024. A federal appeals court sided with them before the Supreme Court reversed that decision.

That same law now governs the count in Mississippi’s own Senate race. After the ruling, Attorney General Lynn Fitch, a Republican, urged state lawmakers to scrap the grace period, but it remained in place for this election.

Mississippi is one of about 30 states that count at least some ballots arriving after Election Day, though some limit that to military and overseas voters. Others, including Florida, require ballots to be in hand by Election Day.

In these states, the postmark is what counts, and it doesn’t always match the day a ballot was mailed. In December 2025, the U.S. Postal Service said it can’t guarantee that ballots will be postmarked the same day they go into a mailbox. A ballot mailed on Election Day could therefore carry a later postmark and be rejected.

When will the last uncalled races for Congress be called?

Alaska won’t have a final answer before Nov. 18. If no candidate tops 50% once every ballot is in, the state runs a ranked-choice tabulation that day. Certification is targeted for Nov. 25.

Under ranked-choice voting, the last-place candidate is eliminated and those ballots move to each voter’s next choice. That process repeats until two candidates remain. On this ballot, it could matter that a retired teacher named Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. is also running. In the campaign’s final week, allegations surfaced that operatives tied to Peltola had recruited him, and Peltola’s team denied them.

Mississippi’s race won’t end in a recount, because state law provides neither an automatic recount nor a way for candidates to request one. A losing candidate could still go to court over whether specific ballots should be counted. The U.S. Senate could also take up a dispute, since the Constitution makes each chamber the judge of its own members’ elections.

California counties must report results for most ballots by Nov. 16, the 13th day after the election, and have until Dec. 3 to finish counting. Close House races there can take a week or two to call.

Under Section 318.18 of the 2026 Florida Statutes, failing to stop for a school bus can result in a $200 civil fine. In addition, a second offense or any later offense within five years carries a suspension of 180 days to a year.

When can your driver’s license be suspended for failing to stop for a school bus in Florida?

Under Section 318.18(5)(a), penalties depend on whether the driver has previously committed the same offense.

The law sets out the following consequences:

• First offense: $200 civil fine.
• Second offense or later within five years: fine and driver’s license suspension for at least 180 days and up to one year.

The suspension for repeat offenders must be imposed by the appropriate department. It is not a penalty that applies to all drivers for a first offense.

When are drivers required to stop for a school bus?

Section 316.172 of the Florida Statutes says drivers must come to a complete stop when approaching a school bus that is displaying its stop signal and is stopped.

They also may not continue driving or pass the bus until that signal is withdrawn.

However, the rule includes an exception. Drivers traveling in the opposite direction on a road divided by a physical barrier, a raised median, or an unpaved separation of at least five feet are not required to stop.

What fines apply for passing a school bus on the side where students board?

Florida law sets tougher penalties for drivers who pass a school bus on the side used by students to get on and off while the bus is displaying its stop signal.

Under Section 318.18(5)(b), when the offense is handled through the regular process, the consequences are:

• First offense: $400 civil fine.
• Second offense or later within five years: license suspension for at least 360 days and up to two years, plus the corresponding monetary penalty.

The same section sets specific amounts when these offenses are detected by camera systems installed on school buses.

Also, if any of these actions causes serious bodily injury or the death of another person, the law imposes a $1,500 fine and a license suspension of at least one year.

The world’s longest immersed tunnel is under construction: It will link two countries in minutes

The tunnel will connect the towns of Rødbyhavn, in Denmark, and Puttgarden, in Germany, two points now linked by ferry across the Fehmarn Strait. The project will replace that sea service and drastically cut travel times: a trip that now takes about 45 minutes by ferry will take about 10 minutes by car and around 7 minutes by train. On a larger scale, the train ride between Hamburg and Copenhagen will be cut by about two hours, a major boost for the link between Central Europe and Scandinavia.

Instead of boring through rock, the tunnel is being assembled from 89 huge prefabricated concrete sections. Each one is 217 meters long and weighs about 73,000 tons. They are being manufactured at a special plant in Rødbyhavn, floated into position, and lowered with millimeter precision into a trench that was previously dug in the seafloor, where they are joined one by one until the route is complete. The result is a tunnel that runs along the seabed, unlike tunnels bored deep into rock.

The Fehmarnbelt is not just a one-purpose tunnel. It will have a four-lane highway (two tubes for vehicle traffic) and a bidirectional, electrified rail line (two more tubes), where trains will be able to travel at up to 200 kilometers per hour, as well as a service gallery for maintenance and emergencies. In other words, cars, trucks, and trains cross the Baltic underwater, all within the same structure.

How much does it cost, and when does it open?

This is a project of historic scale, with an estimated cost of around 10,000 million euros. Construction is being carried out by Femern A/S (part of the Danish state-owned Sund & Bælt group) together with the consortium of contractors doing the work. Opening, for both vehicle and train traffic, is scheduled for 2029.

The traffic marking is known as a sharrow, and its two arrows serve a function related to the position cyclists should maintain to travel more safely.

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) sets out its use and explains how this roadway marking should be placed.

What the traffic marking with two chevrons and a bicycle painted on the pavement means

The roadway marking showing a bicycle accompanied by two white inverted-V chevrons is known in the United States as a “sharrow” or “shared-lane marking.” Its purpose is to indicate that cyclists and motor vehicles must share the same lane, so it does not represent a lane exclusively for bicycles.

According to the FHWA, this marking is meant to tell both drivers and cyclists that they must share the road space. It also helps indicate the recommended path for bicycles when there is no dedicated bike lane.

The marking is covered in section 9E.09 of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), the federal document that sets the standards for signs and markings used on U.S. roads.

What the two inverted-V chevrons are for

According to the FHWA, Sharrow markings help indicate the recommended position for bicycles and can help keep a safe distance from motor vehicles. This matters because a cyclist riding too close to a parked car could be injured if someone opens a door without noticing them.

The placement of the chevrons is key, since the MUTCD sets specific criteria for positioning them in relation to curbs, parking spaces, and lane width, with the goal of guiding cyclists and improving coexistence with motor traffic.

What drivers should keep in mind when they encounter this marking?

When drivers encounter a Sharrow marking painted on the pavement, they should watch for cyclists and share the lane safely. That means avoiding sudden maneuvers, respecting the space bicycles need, and passing with an appropriate distance.

The FHWA explains that these markings are meant to remind drivers that they may encounter cyclists riding in the roadway, especially on streets where there are no dedicated bike lanes.

For that reason, the agency also offers access to the Point and Insurance Reduction Program (PIRP), which can reduce up to four points for certain penalty calculations and provide other benefits.

Who can take part in the Point and Insurance Reduction Program?

The DMV allows drivers with a valid driver’s license to voluntarily participate in the Point and Insurance Reduction Program through defensive driving courses offered by authorized providers.

The courses last about six hours and can be taken in person or online. You do not need to have accumulated traffic violation points to take part, but it can help those who already have high totals.

The point reduction applies to points assigned during the 18 months before the course is completed. In addition, your total points cannot be reduced below zero.

If your license has already been revoked or suspended, taking the course will not affect that measure.

How does New York’s point system work?

The DMV uses a point system to identify drivers who commit traffic violations and determines when certain penalties apply. The most common include:

• 3 points: failing to stop at a stop sign or red light.
• 5 points: using a cell phone while driving.
• 5 points: texting while driving.
• 3 to 11 points: speeding, depending on how many miles per hour over the limit you were driving.

These points are always calculated based on the date the violation was committed.

How many points can cost you your driver’s license?

In New York, the DMV can suspend your driver’s license if you accumulate 11 points or more for violations committed over a 24-month period.

However, there are other consequences that can apply before reaching that limit:

• 6 points or more in 18 months: requirement to pay an additional fee called the Driver Responsibility Assessment.
• 11 points or more in 24 months: possible license suspension.
• Certain serious violations: can lead to mandatory suspensions or revocations, regardless of the point system.

What other benefits does it offer, besides reducing 4 points from your driving record over the last 24 months?

In addition to allowing a reduction of up to four points for certain suspension calculations, the program offers a 10% annual discount for three years on the base premiums for auto and motorcycle liability and collision insurance.

To access this benefit, drivers must complete a DMV-approved course and submit the corresponding certificate to their insurer.

If the certificate is submitted within 90 days of finishing the course, the discount applies retroactively to the date the training was completed.

When the rules are not followed, authorities can impose penalties that range from $100 to $500, depending on the case.

Section 402 of New York’s Vehicle and Traffic Law requires license plates to always be visible

All New York license plates must be clean and easily readable to avoid the financial penalties mentioned above; stains or serious damage are not allowed.

It is also illegal to cover them with plastic or any material that hides or distorts their image when they are recorded or photographed.

It also states an outright ban on covering them with any glass or plastic material that appears to be a legal license plate but was not properly issued.

If a driver uses another vehicle’s plates, authorities can seize the plates.

What happens if I have a tape or object covering the license plate?

The law also says the license plate cannot be obstructed by any other part of the vehicle or by objects carried on it, such as tapes, keychains, or other hanging items.

The only exception to the rule is if this happens because of a transponder issued by a public toll facility, as long as it is installed according to official instructions.

How often are license plates renewed in New York

To keep it valid, most vehicles must complete the process every two years.

“About 45 to 60 days before your registration expires, you should receive a renewal reminder by mail,” the DMV says.

But as children grow up, parents eventually face the challenge of stepping back to lead their own lives again. This moment came to Sloan when she was searching for a hotel for her 18-year-old daughter’s beach trip. She stopped and realized her daughter hadn’t asked for help.

That’s the starting point of the essay she wrote for Business Insider, which combines reflections on parental love, control, and the difficult moment when children no longer need their parents on a day-to-day basis.

Nicolle Sloane gave up a career to stay at home and raise her children

When her daughter was born in 2007, Sloane ended her writing career and became a full-time stay-at-home mom. Two years later, her son was born. “It wasn’t really a decision for me,” she wrote. Sloane’s choice came from the wish “to be the one guiding them.”

Her story is not entirely unusual in the United States. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2025 approximately 26.1% of mothers with children under age 18 are not in the labor force, meaning they don’t work for pay.

From mom to “CEO” of her own family

As her children grew, Sloane took charge of everything. School, teachers, activities, and, later, college planning were some of her responsibilities. “I wasn’t just a mom. I became the CEO of my children’s lives,” she wrote.

The turning point on Nicolle Sloane’s “job” as a mother

When it was time for her daughter to apply to college, Sloane discovered her daughter had found a college counselor on her own. When she asked about applying to Ivy League schools, her daughter answered: “We did not decide. I decided that I want to enjoy my life in college.”

Sloane admited it was hard to hear. But later it became a moment she was proud of and the proof that her daughter didn’t need her as much anymore.

The new chapter on Sloane’s life as her children grow older

Now that both children drive and have more independence, Sloane has taken that awaited step back, and now she is working as a freelance writer again.

“I’m learning that it may finally be time to take charge of my own life and resign as the CEO of theirs,” she wrote.

The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) distinguishes among three types of lines: solid lines, broken lines, and dotted lines. Each has a different meaning, which can vary depending on the color or possible combinations.

What do solid road lines mean?

According to Section 3A.04 of the U.S. MUTCD, solid lines are used to discourage or prohibit drivers from crossing them, depending on their specific application.

Solid lines help organize traffic and set restrictions in certain sections of the road.

When they appear as double lines, they indicate maximum or special restrictions on that stretch of road.

How are they different from broken lines?

Broken lines indicate that crossing them is allowed, as long as traffic conditions and traffic laws permit it. According to the MUTCD, these markings are made up of standard-width segments separated by predetermined gaps:

• Length of each segment: 10 feet (3.05 meters).
• Gap between segments: 30 feet (9.14 meters).

These dimensions can be adjusted while keeping similar proportions, depending on traffic speed and signage needs.

What are dotted lines and what do they indicate?

Dotted lines are marked by shorter segments and spaces than conventional broken lines.

According to the MUTCD, they serve two main purposes:

• To warn of upcoming changes in a lane’s function, such as when a lane ends or changes use.
• To guide drivers through intersections, transition areas and freeway entrance or exit ramp areas.

How are the different colors used?

According to the MUTCD, the color of painted pavement markings indicates their function, and knowing what they mean helps keep traffic moving in an orderly way:

• White: used to separate lanes traveling in the same direction and to mark the right edge of the roadway.
• Yellow: used to separate traffic moving in opposite directions and to mark the left edge of certain roads.
• Red: used in specific markings to indicate traffic restrictions or areas that should not be entered.
• Blue: used alongside white lines to identify parking spaces reserved for people with disabilities.
• Purple: may complement certain lane markings to identify routes used by vehicles with electronic toll collection systems.

How can these lines be found on roads?

The so-called “longitudinal markings” can be identified by their shape, color, and location on the pavement.

• Solid: an unbroken line.
• Double: two parallel lines separated by a gap. Both may be solid, both broken, or one of each type.
• Broken: relatively long dashes separated by wider gaps.
• Dotted: short dashes separated by short gaps.

According to the New York Department of Sanitation (DSNY), buildings with 10 or more units may leave trash bags directly on the sidewalk after 8 p.m. Those who do not follow the waste-disposal rules can face financial penalties that increase for repeat violations.

What time is trash allowed to be put out in New York?

DSNY sets different hours based on the number of units in the building and the type of container used.

• Buildings with one to nine units: trash may be put out after 6 p.m. using official lidded NYC Bins.
• Buildings with 10 or more units: waste may be put out after 6 p.m. if lidded containers of up to 55 gallons (about 208 liters) are used.
• Bags directly on the sidewalk: in buildings with 10 or more units where this method is allowed, they must be placed after 8 p.m.

As a general rule, waste must be set out by midnight before collection day, except where authorized exceptions apply.

What are the fines for putting out trash outside the allowed hours?

According to DSNY, putting waste out at the wrong time, on an unauthorized day or without following collection rules can lead to escalating fines.

The set amounts are:

• First violation: $50.
• Second violation: $100.
• Third and subsequent violations: $200.

Violations are counted within a 12-month period. So residents who rack up two violations and commit a third can be fined $200.

The rule does not set an automatic penalty for all residents. Enforcement depends on the recorded violation and the conditions that apply to each property.

The provision is laid out in the state’s Vehicle Code, Section 1380, and authorizes the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) to impose the penalty after receiving the proper notice from a toll agency.

When a car registration can be suspended

The law sets out two separate thresholds under which a vehicle can be subject to a registration suspension:

• Four or more unpaid toll bills: the debt does not have to reach $250.
• A debt of $250 or more: outstanding tolls, administrative fees and other costs are added together, regardless of how many bills are past due.

The rule also applies to drivers who break a payment plan agreed to with the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC). In that case, the default can trigger the start of the suspension process.

How drivers are notified before a registration is suspended

The suspension is not imposed without a prior process. The rules say the toll agency must send the vehicle owner written notice by first-class mail to inform them that it intends to request a registration suspension.

The driver has the right to respond and request an administrative hearing to contest the measure.

Under Section 1380(c), the toll agency cannot notify PennDOT until 30 days have passed since that notice was sent. If the owner does not respond or does not settle the debt, the commission can move ahead with the process.

How to get the registration back

To get the registration back, the owner must clear the outstanding bills and meet the administrative requirements set by PennDOT. The suspension will remain in place until the Turnpike Commission confirms that the issue has been resolved.

Section 1380(d) provides two options for lifting the penalty:

• Pay the outstanding bills, as long as there is no other obligation that would prevent the registration from being restored.
• Enter into an agreement with the toll agency to pay off the debt in installments and make the required payments.

In both cases, the applicable reinstatement fee must also be paid. If the driver defaults on a payment agreement again, the suspension can be imposed once more.

The complex, called the Governor Kay Ivey Correctional Complex, will cover 136 hectares and consist of 54 buildings. According to the Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC), the facility will have 192 maximum-security beds and a medical and mental health area with capacity for 750 inmates.

The project also has faced delays because the contractor missed the Oct. 15, 2026, completion deadline. In its latest update on Oct. 20, the ADOC said construction had passed 85% completion and work was continuing.

What the new 136-acre prison will look like and how many inmates it will hold

The Alabama government is moving ahead with construction of the Governor Kay Ivey Correctional Complex, a new prison complex in Elmore County. The facility will house 4,000 men and sit on a 136-hectare site. According to information published by the Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC), the project includes 54 buildings and about 133,500 square meters of built space.

The facility will be organized into different sections to house inmates according to their security level and care needs. The buildings will be divided among housing, medical facilities and support spaces for the operation of the complex. According to the agency, the goal of the project is to replace prison beds in older facilities with more modern correctional infrastructure, not to increase the state system’s total capacity.

The prison will have 192 maximum-security beds and a mental health center

One of the project’s main features is the distribution of its 4,000 beds across different custody levels and specialized areas. The Department of Corrections said the new facility will have 192 maximum-security beds, while the rest will be used for minimum- and medium-security inmates, intake and medical care.

The medical complex will include space for acute care, general nursing, long-term care, mental health and stabilization. It will also have rooms for confidential psychological treatment and areas for educational, recreational and rehabilitation activities.

The ADOC also said that within the medium-security beds, 256 were already set aside for mental health programs that can supplement the medical unit’s capacity if needed.

Construction topped 85% completion, but faced delays

The project had a contractual completion date of Oct. 15, 2026, but the company in charge of construction, Caddell Construction Co., did not meet that deadline. In an update published on Oct. 20, the Alabama Department of Corrections said the complex had passed 85% completion and work was still ongoing to finish the facilities and put them into operation.

Because of the missed deadline, the company faced contractual penalties of about $14.2 million. The agency also warned that another $7.1 million could be added if construction was not finished by Nov. 16, 2026. As of that update, officials had not confirmed a new opening date.

The specialist pointed out that there is a common prejudice about these animals. According to Edwards, people often think cats are not very sociable, but proper socialization can allow some felines to take part in therapeutic support activities.

“There is a myth that cats are unfriendly. But the truth is that, when they are well socialized, cats can help facilitate different therapies, for example, for people with motor disabilities or children with autism,’ Dr. Edwards said.

Animal-assisted therapy does not replace medical or psychological treatment, but it can be used as a complement in certain settings.

Claudia Edwards explains why cats can be good therapy companions

The veterinarian explained that cats can take part in different assistance activities, especially when they have a steady temperament, are sociable and tolerate human contact.

Among the possible settings Edwards mentioned are:

• People with motor disabilities, through interaction activities.
• Children with autism, as part of certain therapeutic processes.
• Nursing homes, where cats can provide companionship.
• Children with language difficulties, where the animal’s presence can help facilitate certain activities.

The specialist also stressed that not all cats have the necessary traits to carry out this kind of role and that their well-being must be protected. According to UNAM Global, the interaction should take place without forcing the bond.

Study finds cortisol drops after interacting with cats and dogs

The possibility that animals can help reduce stress was also studied by researchers at Washington State University. In a study published in 2019, 249 college students took part and were divided into different groups.

One group had a direct 10-minute interaction with dogs and cats, while other participants watched the animals, looked at pictures, or waited without interacting with them.

Researchers found that those who had direct contact with the animals showed a significant reduction in salivary cortisol, a hormone linked to the body’s stress response.

The result does not mean petting a cat is a treatment for anxiety or depression. But it does add evidence about the physiological effects a brief interaction with animals can have on some people.

Not all cats can take part in assisted therapy

Selecting the animal is one of the central points of this type of intervention. Studies on feline therapy indicate that some cats have behavioral traits that may make them better suited for assistance programs, while others do not tolerate certain environments or levels of contact.

That is why, before bringing a cat into a therapeutic activity, it is necessary to consider:

• Its sociability and behavior.
• Its tolerance for human contact.
• Its ability to function in different environments.
• Its well-being during the activity.
• The absence of forced interactions.

Research on cats as assistance animals is still developing. In March 2025, Washington State University reported on a study conducted with researchers in Belgium that found behavioral traits in certain cats that could favor their inclusion in animal-assisted service programs.

Next Tuesday, Nov. 10, will be a payment day for a specific group of retirees, pensioners, and people who receive disability benefits.

The SSA schedules transfers based on the birth date of the people whose work history determines their benefit.

Who gets Social Security retirement and pension benefits on Tuesday, Nov. 10

On Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026, Social Security beneficiaries whose birthdays fall between the 1st and 10th of any month will be paid. This date applies to those who began receiving benefits after April 30, 1997, and are included in the payment schedule organized by birth date.

The date follows the SSA’s usual schedule, which sets the second Wednesday of each month as payday for people who started receiving their benefits after April 30, 1997. However, in November 2026, the second Wednesday falls on November 11, Veterans Day, a federal holiday, so the deposit is moved up to Tuesday, November 10.

When other Social Security retirees and pensioners will get paid in November 2026

Retirees and pensioners who are not part of the first group will receive their benefits on two other dates, based on the birth date on file for the worker whose history determines the benefit.

The November 2026 schedule sets these dates:

• Wednesday, November 18: People whose birthdays fall between the 11th and the 20th of any month will be paid.
• Wednesday, November 25: People born between the 21st and the 31st of any month will receive their money.

These dates apply to those who began receiving benefits after April 30, 1997, and follow the SSA’s monthly distribution system.

“I guess I’ll become Mr. Veto,” Trump said on the New York Post’s “Pod Force One” podcast in an interview released Monday. He predicted Republicans would keep control. If they don’t, he said, he’ll keep rejecting legislation until Democrats come to him ready to deal.

It’s a pledge he has repeated for weeks. Talking to reporters on the White House South Lawn on Oct. 23, Trump said gridlock would simply mean “I veto everything.” In September, he told Fox News host Laura Ingraham he would act as a “blocker.”

Republicans now hold the House 218-214 and the Senate 53-47. Democrats need a net gain of four seats in each chamber to take over. Forecasters favor Democrats to win the House, while the Senate is considered a toss-up.

Can Congress overrule a Trump veto?

A veto is the president’s power to reject a bill after both chambers of Congress have passed it. Lawmakers can still make that bill law through an override vote. That requires a two-thirds majority in the House and a two-thirds majority in the Senate.

Neither party is expected to come close to those numbers. A Democratic majority would need dozens of House Republicans and well over a dozen GOP senators to vote against Trump. That kind of break from a sitting president of their own party rarely happens.

A veto also only matters once a bill clears both chambers. If Democrats win the House but not the Senate, Republicans there could stop Democratic bills long before they reach Trump’s desk. That’s the same setup he had in the last two years of his first term.

Trump has used the veto sparingly so far. He has issued two vetoes in his second term, after 10 in his first.

What happens if Democrats win Congress and Trump vetoes everything?

Trump has said the standoff wouldn’t last forever. He told the podcast he expects to veto bills for “a month or two.” After that, he said, Democrats would get tired of wasting time and come to the table to make deals.

Government funding is where that test would likely come first. Congress has to pass spending bills and the president has to sign them to keep federal agencies open, so both sides would have a reason to bargain.

The veto has limits, though. It can’t stop a Democratic House from investigating the administration through hearings and subpoenas. It also can’t stop a Democratic Senate from refusing to confirm Trump’s nominees, including federal judges.

The White House is also preparing for that scenario. According to people familiar with the plans who spoke to Reuters, officials have been lining up executive actions on immigration, tariffs, housing costs and spending that wouldn’t need congressional approval.

When will results start coming in? The first polls close at 6 p.m. EST in most of Indiana and the eastern part of Kentucky, so early returns could start appearing shortly after. Both states close at 6 p.m. local time, so their Central time zone counties close an hour later, at 7 p.m. EST. The last to close are Alaska and Hawaii, both at midnight EST: 8 p.m. local time in Alaska and 7 p.m. in Hawaii. Results reported tonight are unofficial.

The union behind Proposition 40 estimates the tax would raise $100 billion over five years. The state’s official fiscal estimate is lower, at tens of billions of dollars spread over several years.

Brin has given $102 million to Building a Better California, a committee he founded to fight the tax. As of Oct. 9, state campaign filings show the group was also the top donor to both countermeasures, with $58.3 million for Proposition 41 and $112.8 million for Proposition 42.

How could Propositions 41 and 42 block California’s 5% wealth tax?

California’s constitution settles clashes between ballot measures by vote count. When competing measures pass at the same election, the one with the most “yes” votes takes effect and its rivals are nullified. All three measures also include clauses spelling out that rule.

Proposition 41 bans any new state tax that is exempt from California’s spending limit, a cap on state spending that voters adopted in 1979. Proposition 40 keeps its revenue in a separate fund outside that cap, which puts the two measures in direct conflict.

Proposition 42 bans new state taxes on owning savings, investments, retirement accounts and other personal property. It also bans taxes based on where someone lived before the law took effect, and Proposition 40 applies to billionaires who lived in California on Jan. 1, 2026.

So a voter who backs the wealth tax but also says yes to either countermeasure is adding votes to both sides. If supporters of Proposition 40 dispute that the measures conflict, the question could end up in court.

What do the latest polls show for California’s 5% wealth tax?

The Public Policy Institute of California surveyed 1,086 likely voters Oct. 16-22. It found Proposition 40 trailing, 46% to 52%, after it led 52% to 46% in September. The margin of error was plus or minus 3.8 percentage points.

The same survey found Proposition 41 effectively tied, 48% to 49%. Proposition 42 led 51% to 47%, making it the only one of the three with majority support.

A Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll of 1,477 likely voters, taken Oct. 19-25, found all three measures behind. Proposition 40 trailed 42% to 50%, Proposition 41 trailed 38% to 47%, and Proposition 42 trailed 43% to 45%. Its margin of error was about 3 percentage points.

That poll also found that only 55% of likely voters knew Propositions 41 and 42 had been placed on the ballot by opponents of the tax. If Proposition 40 fails outright, the countermeasures won’t be needed to stop it.

Who would pay California’s 5% wealth tax, and where would the money go?

The tax would apply to people worth $1 billion or more who were California residents on Jan. 1, 2026, with net worth measured on Dec. 31, 2026. Real estate they own directly is left out of the calculation.

Billionaires could pay the full amount with their 2026 state income taxes. They could also split it into five yearly installments, with a 7.5% annual charge on the remaining balance.

Under the measure, 90% of the money would go to health care, mainly Medi-Cal, California’s version of Medicaid. The other 10% would go to public schools, from kindergarten through community college, and to food aid programs. Supporters argue the money is needed to offset federal health care cuts they expect to leave 2 million residents uninsured.

Gov. Gavin Newsom opposes the tax and has endorsed Proposition 42. He argues a one-time tax won’t fix the state’s budget problems and will push wealthy residents out. The California Democratic Party and the state’s main labor federation back Proposition 40.

Billionaires and business groups have spent $316.7 million to stop the tax, including money for both countermeasures. Brin has publicly moved out of state. The state’s fiscal estimate warns that billionaire departures could cut income tax revenue by less than $1 billion a year.

When will results start coming in? The first polls close at 6 p.m. EST in most of Indiana and the eastern part of Kentucky, so early returns could start appearing shortly after. Both states close at 6 p.m. local time, so their Central time zone counties close an hour later, at 7 p.m. EST. The last to close are Alaska and Hawaii, both at midnight EST: 8 p.m. local time in Alaska and 7 p.m. in Hawaii. Results reported tonight are unofficial.

Trump renewed the offer in a Truth Social video Oct. 3. He returned to it at an Oct. 27 rally in Texas, adding that recipients would have to spend the money in the U.S.

The pledge arrives as two smaller federal payments are already in motion. One is a one-time $90 payment for 20.8 million Medicare Part B enrollees, scheduled for October. The other is a $500 check for about 950,000 people who paid full price for Affordable Care Act coverage on HealthCare.gov.

How does Trump’s $5,000 promise compare with the 3 COVID checks?

During the pandemic, Congress approved three rounds of direct payments, officially called Economic Impact Payments. Two were signed during Trump’s first term: up to $1,200 in March 2020 and up to $600 in December 2020. The third, up to $1,400, came in March 2021 under President Joe Biden.

Combined, those checks came to as much as $3,200 per eligible adult, with smaller amounts for people above certain income limits. Trump’s proposal would be $1,800 more than that maximum in a single payment.

Sending $5,000 to every adult citizen would cost roughly $1.2 trillion.

What’s the real catch in Trump’s $5,000 promise?

A Republican win on Tuesday wouldn’t send anyone a check. The Constitution gives Congress control of federal spending. The House and Senate would have to pass a law authorizing the payments, and the president would have to sign it.

That’s how the pandemic checks worked: each round was written into legislation before any money went out. Trump hasn’t said who would authorize the $5,000 payments or how they would be paid for.

A Republican majority wouldn’t guarantee the votes. Some GOP lawmakers have raised concerns about the deficit and inflation. Rep. David Schweikert, R-Ariz., told reporters in September he would fight the plan with “everything of my heart and soul,” warning it could drive up interest rates.

Democrats oppose it too. Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., called it a “political bribe” in a Sept. 10 interview. Some economists have warned that a payment this size could add to inflation.

When will results start coming in? The first polls close at 6 p.m. EST in most of Indiana and the eastern part of Kentucky, so early returns could start appearing shortly after. Both states close at 6 p.m. local time, so their Central time zone counties close an hour later, at 7 p.m. EST. The last to close are Alaska and Hawaii, both at midnight EST: 8 p.m. local time in Alaska and 7 p.m. in Hawaii. Results reported tonight are unofficial.

The race in Alaska, the largest U.S. state by area but one of the least populous, has drawn national attention because its outcome could decide which party controls the Senate.

Polls show a virtual tie between Sen. Sullivan and former Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola, and the winner could be decided by a few hundred votes. That is why the presence of Sullivan Jr., a retired schoolteacher, has set off suspicion and investigations.

President Donald Trump and Republicans have said they fear voters will confuse the two Sullivans and end up casting their ballots for the wrong candidate.

According to CBS, the retired teacher left Petersburg, the town where he lives, last week. One of his former students told the network she saw him on a flight to Anchorage.

“The reason no one can find the FAKE Dan Sullivan is that lawyers have taken him and are keeping him hidden while they coach him, step by step, on what to say to avoid one of the biggest fraud prosecutions in American history,” Trump wrote Monday on Truth Social.

The controversy around the teacher grew after The New York Times published an investigation citing alleged text messages among members of Peltola’s campaign discussing the possibility of recruiting other people who shared the Republican senator’s last name.

The report, which cited at least 12 sources, also implicates senior advisers at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), who allegedly took part in recruiting the candidate.

Both the Peltola campaign and the DSCC have denied any involvement. The elementary school teacher has not commented.

The jailed candidate

But Republicans aren’t the only ones questioning the alleged election maneuvering. The Alaska Democratic Party has made a request of voters: don’t vote for the Democratic candidate in the race for the U.S. House of Representatives.

Eric Hafner, the only one of the four House candidates registered as a Democrat, though the party rejects his candidacy, is in federal prison after pleading guilty in 2022 to threatening federal officials. He is not expected to be released until 2036.

Hafner’s place on the general election ballot could trigger a new legal challenge, since the Constitution requires members of Congress to live in the state they seek to represent.

The leading candidates in the race are incumbent Republican Nick Begich and independent Bill Hill, an educator and businessman, whom Democrats have endorsed.

The campaign has put up signs across the state that read: “Don’t be fooled! Eric Hafner is in prison in New York.”

Source: EFE

What does spraying vinegar where ants pass does

Spraying vinegar where ants pass helps erase the trail they follow and drive them away from that area. It is not about killing them, but about breaking their “route”: by cleaning the surface they travel across, ants lose the signal that guides them and stop showing up along that path, at least for a while. It is especially useful for cutting off those lines that come in through a window or a crack and head straight for the food.

Ants do not wander aimlessly: when one finds food, it leaves a chemical trail on the way back, a pheromone that the others follow, which explains why a whole line suddenly appears moving back and forth along the same spot. That trail is literally a scent message on the floor.

Vinegar acts directly on that trail. By spraying it and wiping the path the ants use, the pheromone they left is cleaned away and masked, so the ones coming behind them no longer find the signal to follow. The acidity and strong smell of vinegar help cover that chemical trail.

In fact, ant-control guides recommend washing the path they travel as a first step to remove the scent they use to navigate: vinegar is one home way to do it. On top of that, the trail itself weakens over time, so cleaning it speeds up the ants losing the route.

Step by step: how to make the spray

The mix is very simple:

• Mix white vinegar and water in equal parts in a spray bottle (pure vinegar can be used for a stronger effect).
• Spray directly on the line of ants and, above all, along the entire path they travel.
• Wipe with a cloth or paper towel to pick up the ants and clean the surface so the trail is left behind.
• Apply it also at entry points, cracks, window frames and baseboards, wherever they come in.
• Repeat every time they reappear, until they stop using that route.

Why it’s recommended

The appeal of this trick is clear: it is homemade, cheap, made with a product almost everyone has and avoids spraying insecticides on kitchen surfaces where food is handled. Used wisely, to cut off trails and deter ants, and paired with prevention, it is a practical, low-cost tool for everyday use.

The other candidate, retired teacher Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., is under state and federal investigation. A New York Times report alleged that people linked to Peltola’s campaign recruited him to split the senator’s support, which Peltola and Daniel J. Sullivan both deny.

On Sunday, a federal judge dismissed a Justice Department lawsuit that tried to stop Alaska from certifying, or making official, the result if the senator loses. The department is appealing.

Who is the second Dan Sullivan on Alaska’s ballot?

Daniel J. Sullivan is a retired teacher and musician from Petersburg, a small Alaska fishing town reachable only by air or water. On the ballot, the senator appears as Dan S. Sullivan, labeled as the incumbent, and the newcomer as Daniel J. Sullivan Jr.

State election officials removed him from the ballot earlier this year, but the Alaska Supreme Court ruled in June that they had overstepped and put him back on.

The Times reported that people tied to Peltola’s campaign and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, which works to elect Democrats to the Senate, tried to recruit him as a spoiler, a candidate meant to draw votes away from a rival. Peltola’s former campaign manager backed that account after being fired, then retracted it.

The committee also denies any involvement. At an Anchorage rally Friday, Peltola told volunteers, “I know I can beat Dan Sullivan. I do not need any help winning this race.”

Could a second Dan Sullivan cost Republicans the US Senate?

A party needs 51 of the Senate’s 100 seats for a majority. RealClearPolitics counts 47 seats as safe or leaning Democratic and 45 as safe or leaning Republican, with eight toss-ups that either party could win. Democrats would need four of those eight, and seven of them, including Alaska, are held by Republicans.

Republicans argue the shared name could lead some of the senator’s supporters to mark the wrong Sullivan. President Donald Trump called it “voter fraud at the highest level” on Saturday.

The race is close either way. A New York Times/Siena poll of 610 likely voters, conducted Oct. 23–30, had Peltola ahead 48% to 46%, within the margin of error of plus or minus 4.8 percentage points. She has also led most polls since early this year, well before the recruitment report came out.

Alaska also uses ranked choice voting, in which voters list candidates in order of preference. If no one wins a majority, the last-place finisher is dropped and those ballots go to each voter’s next choice, so a voter unsure which Sullivan is which can rank both.

Why is the FBI knocking on doors in the Alaska Senate race?

U.S. Attorney Michael Heyman said federal investigators have been looking into the candidacy for months and sent significantly more agents to Alaska after the Times report.

Agents have contacted Daniel J. Sullivan’s donors in at least two remote Alaska towns and in Massachusetts, asking whether they knew which Sullivan they were giving money to. Donors who spoke publicly said they did. One of them, Charles Flint of Petersburg, gave $500 and told The Associated Press he plans to rank Peltola first and Daniel J. Sullivan second.

As part of its lawsuit, which Trump said he personally ordered, the Justice Department also asked the court to set aside some ballots for investigation. The judge refused, ruling there was no way to tell which Sullivan a voter meant without breaking ballot secrecy.

Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy has also ordered a state investigation.

When will results start coming in? The first polls close at 6 p.m. EST in most of Indiana and the eastern part of Kentucky, so early returns could start appearing shortly after. Both states close at 6 p.m. local time, so their Central time zone counties close an hour later, at 7 p.m. EST.The last to close are Alaska and Hawaii, both at midnight EST: 8 p.m. local time in Alaska and 7 p.m. in Hawaii. Results reported tonight are unofficial.

Regulation 18 DCMR 303.2 assigns 8 points to a driver’s license for those who turn off vehicle headlights in an effort to avoid being identified by a police officer. The measure is part of the district’s penalty system for recording violations committed by motorists.

Accumulating points can affect a driver’s license, including suspension or revocation.

When can 8 points be added to a driver’s license for turning off vehicle lights?

The rule in the point system says drivers will receive 8 points on their license when they turn off a vehicle’s headlights to avoid being identified by a police officer. The specific violation is described as “Turning off headlights of a vehicle to avoid identification by a police officer.”

This means the penalty does not apply to every situation in which a car is driven with its lights off, since the conduct covered is when the driver deliberately turns off the lights in order to avoid identification by authorities.

In this sense, the Department of Motor Vehicles (DC DMV) includes this violation in its official penalty table, along with other conduct that can add points to a driver’s record.

What happens when points add up on a driver’s license

The DC DMV system sets different consequences depending on how many points a driver accumulates over a two-year period. The 8 points for this violation can bring a driver closer to the threshold that triggers administrative penalties.

According to the agency:

• Between 10 and 11 points: the driver’s license is suspended for 90 days.
• 12 points or more: the license is revoked and the driver loses driving privileges until the DMV authorizes reinstatement. The agency sets a minimum waiting period of six months before an application can be filed.

Points remain on a driving record for two years. The DC DMV also says points can be assigned when a driver is found responsible at a hearing, pays the fine, which amounts to admitting responsibility, or fails to respond to the ticket within the required time.

The race comes against a very different backdrop than a year ago, with an open war, interest rates that won’t budge and a trade framework still being rebuilt. According to a report released by the Argentina Political Economy Center, or CEPA, what comes out of the ballot box will have effects that cross the border and reach Buenos Aires.

U.S. elections: A war that became part of the campaign

The conflict between the United States and Iran began on Feb. 28, 2026, and lasted far longer than expected. Since then, Brent crude has averaged $94 a barrel, and oil remains above $100.

The impact has hit voters’ wallets. Gasoline reached $4.27 a gallon on Oct. 26, 2026, up 52.7% for the year. Diesel has nearly doubled in price and is now above $6 a gallon. In addition, the war has a cost of $43.5 billion, and the White House has been blocked in Congress on an additional request for $87.6 billion.

On the legislative front, the House of Representatives has voted three times to end the conflict. In the Senate, the latest war powers resolution failed 50-49, with four Republicans joining the opposition.

The report lays out two possible readings. If Republicans lose, Donald Trump could deepen the conflict to offset the electoral blow with a military “victory”. If they do well, he could see it as validation of his strategy. CEPA adds that, because the U.S. is a net energy exporter and Europe and China are increasingly dependent on that supply, the United States has incentives to prolong the war regardless of the outcome.

For Argentina, the conflict is a double-edged sword. Higher oil prices have produced record terms of trade, which explain a large share of the $14 billion bought by the central bank and an energy balance that would add more than $5 billion by year-end. But that same backdrop is keeping global rates at levels that leave access to external financing closed off.

Rates at highs and a Congress that could weigh in

In September 2026, the Federal Reserve, led by Kevin Warsh, raised its benchmark rate by 0.25 percentage points to 3.75%, unanimously and with another increase projected.

The move did not calm markets: the 10-year Treasury yield reached 5.3%, the highest level since 2002. It is now hovering around 5.0% after companies tied to artificial intelligence reported revenue below expectations.

CEPA identifies three drivers behind the surge:

• Inflation linked to the war.
• A fiscal deficit near 6% of GDP, with debt rising from 125.8% to 128% of GDP by 2028.
• Huge credit demand for AI investments.

According to the report, an opposition-controlled Congress could limit new tax cuts and push fiscal consolidation measures, although the opposition has not yet made its proposals clear. It also notes that a Democratic victory reversing anti-immigration policy could add workers to the labor force.

The unemployment rate fell to 4.2%, but CEPA says that does not reflect a stronger labor market, only a drop in labor-force participation. Over time, more workers could push unemployment higher and nudge the Fed toward looser rates.

On AI, the report warns that tighter controls could reduce demand for financing and, with it, rates. But that would come with a sharp drop in global stock markets. For Argentina, that mix would not be a tailwind: the most likely outcome, CEPA says, is a rise in the country risk index.

Tariffs: Congress and the limits of vetoes

On Feb. 20, 2026, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA, does not authorize the president to impose tariffs. The current setup relies on other tools:

• Section 301 (forced labor): covers 60 economies as of July 24, 2026, with tariffs of 10% to 12.5%.
• Section 301 (Brazil): 25% for Brazilian goods since July 22, 2026.
• Section 232: up to 50% on steel, aluminum, copper, autos, lumber, semiconductors and pharmaceuticals.
• Section 338: up to 50% on selected Canadian products.

The effective average tariff on imports is 11.1%, with a year-end projection of 11.8%.

A Democrat-controlled Congress could propose limits, for example, making new tariffs expire after 60 days unless approved by lawmakers. But any law would need the president’s signature or two-thirds support in each chamber to override a veto, so the most likely outcome is that Sections 232, 301 and 338 stay in place, with tighter political oversight. What would be ruled out is any new delegation of tariff powers.

Globally, the report foresees a high but more fragmented system, with greater legal uncertainty and tariff refunds voided, estimated at $166 billion, adding further fiscal pressure. Argentina remains subject to Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum.

In addition, the trade deal signed with Washington, which CEPA says imposes 15 areas of commitment on Argentina and only two, and conditional ones, on the United States, could come under greater scrutiny from a Congress more attentive to U.S. producers.

Backers of Milei and the 2027 “gap”

The impact on the country runs along two tracks: financial, through rates, and political, because Trump is Javier Milei’s main ally. His administration intervened before the October 2025 midterm elections with a $20 billion swap line and direct intervention by the U.S. Treasury in the foreign exchange market. Both Scott Bessent and Luis Caputo say that support could be repeated in 2027.

Democrats, however, introduced the “No Argentina Bailout Act” in both chambers to suspend the swap, and the “American Farmers First Act” to compensate U.S. producers hurt by Argentine competition. With a Democratic majority, these bills would not by themselves prevent new assistance, but they would make it harder and raise its political cost.

That is where the troubling number comes in. According to CEPA estimates, without Bonares issuance, the Treasury could need to buy about $12.5 billion from the central bank in 2027. On top of that are net payments to international organizations of $4 billion, of which $2.7 billion corresponds to the IMF. So far, tensions with the institutions have been resolved because they gave in to Trump’s pressure to keep financing Milei, and an opposition-controlled Congress with a weakened White House could change those priorities.

The paradox, CEPA concludes, is that a Democratic victory could improve global financial conditions, but weaken the political backing on which the economic program depends to make it through 2027. And since Trump cannot run for another term and could become a lame duck, the report does not rule out the possibility that he will radicalize his agenda knowing he has only two years left in power.

For decades, saving for retirement has been one of the main ways to ensure some financial stability in old age. However, the mogul argues that this habit could lose relevance in the future thanks to the development of AI and robotic systems, which, according to his forecasts, would allow levels of economic abundance never seen before.

The owner of companies such as Tesla and SpaceX believes that the arrival of an AI capable of surpassing human abilities will bring a profound transformation to the global economy. Among the possible effects he cites are higher production of goods and services and a significant drop in costs. Under those conditions, people could stop relying on their savings to maintain their standard of living over the long term.

Elon Musk Predicts the End of Retirement Saving

The conversation picked up after a user on the social network X shared some of his financial decisions in light of the possibility that humanity is approaching an era of economic abundance.

In his post, the user suggested that several current concerns could lose importance in the coming years, though he clarified that this should not be taken as an invitation to handle money irresponsibly.

In response, Elon Musk agreed with that view and said saving for a distant future could stop making sense because of the prosperity superintelligent AI would create.

This is not the first time the businessman has floated the idea. During an interview on the Moonshots podcast, hosted by Peter Diamandis, he also advised listeners not to worry about setting aside money for retirement in one or two decades.

“Don’t worry about saving money for retirement in 10 or 20 years. It won’t matter”, he said on X.

His argument is based on the idea that integrating advanced AI systems with robots will make it possible to:

1. Automate numerous tasks
2. Increase productivity
3. Produce a wide range of goods and services on an extraordinary scale

From this perspective, lower production costs and greater access to resources could radically change how the economy works and reduce the need to rely on traditional savings mechanisms.

However, this scenario is a forecast about technological development and its possible economic effects, not a guaranteed future.

Elon Musk Says AI and Robots Could Solve the National Debt

In another conversation with Walter Isaacson, the journalist and author of his biography, Elon Musk expanded on his views about technology’s impact on U.S. finances.

“I came to the conclusion that the only way to solve the national debt is with artificial intelligence and robots. We’re not going to fix it by trying to save”, he said.

From this perspective, the businessman believes economic growth driven by automation could reshape public finances, rather than relying solely on budget cuts and other conventional tools to control the deficit.

The possibility of reaching an abundance-based economy is not a new idea. For several decades, researchers and experts have studied how automation could increase the production of goods and services using fewer human and financial resources.

Why Could Stopping Retirement Saving Be Risky?

The entrepreneur’s comments reignite the debate over the difficulties millions of workers face in putting together enough money to support themselves after their working years.

In the United States, the evolution of private retirement systems shifted more responsibility onto workers themselves. Many have to manage their retirement accounts and take on the risks tied to their investments.

Adding to those difficulties are:

• The rising cost of living
• Wages that do not always keep up with that increase
• The inability to set aside a steady share of income for savings

For now, his comments should be understood as a projection about artificial intelligence’s potential, not as a guarantee of economic well-being. Until that transformation becomes real, giving up retirement savings remains an uncertain bet, not a financial recommendation backed by proven results.

The possibility was raised by Martín Arias, CFO of FEMSA, during the company’s third-quarter 2026 earnings call. Although the company did not confirm an implementation plan, the executive said it is studying technologies capable of tracking inventory and performing simpler tasks, such as cleaning.

What did FEMSA say about robots in OXXO stores?

During the third-quarter 2026 results call, Martín Arias, FEMSA’s chief financial officer, said the company constantly reviews its operating model and the possibilities for adding technology in its stores.

The executive said he had recently sent photos to Carlos Arroyo, CEO of OXXO Mexico, of a robot capable of counting inventory on the shelves.

“Just the other day, I was sending Carlos Arroyo some photos that had been sent to me of a robot that counts inventory on the shelves,” Arias said during the call.

The comment came after a Goldman Sachs analyst asked about OXXO’s operating expenses and the cost pressures it could face in 2027.

What tasks could OXXO’s robots do?

The CFO’s remarks point to two possible uses for the robotics technology in the convenience stores.

• Inventory control: a robot could move through the shelves to measure how many products are available, “which will give you quick data,” Arias said of stock levels.
• Store cleaning: small robots could spend “an hour or two” taking over part of the cleaning tasks during certain times of day.

He said that it would take over simple tasks from human employees, while people would handle the more difficult work. However, he said he still does not know when the technology would be viable in Mexico: “When will it be economically and technologically viable in Mexico? I really can’t tell you.”

Why is FEMSA considering adding robots in Mexico?

The review of these technologies comes amid greater pressure on labor costs.

During the call, Martín mentioned the minimum wage increase announced for 2027 and the shorter workweek as factors that will affect OXXO’s operations.

The executive said labor costs as a percentage of revenue could keep rising and explained that the company is constantly reviewing how to use technology to improve productivity.

“We are constantly reviewing the operating model and how we can apply technology in the store to make our colleagues more efficient,” he said.

The approval from U.S. authorities was announced by Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, the Indian drugmaker that manufactures the generic version of lenacapavir, and by Unitaid, an international initiative to supply medicines in low- and middle-income countries, reported DW and Noticias Argentinas learned.

What the approved HIV treatment is like and how much it costs

The treatment will cost $40 a year per patient and will be available in 120 countries, thanks to a pricing agreement announced in September 2025 between Dr. Reddy’s and Unitaid, the African health research institute Wits RHI, and the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI).

This treatment of two annual injections can cut the risk of HIV transmission by 99.9%, a small revolution in the field of medicine known as pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP. Other preventive treatments require taking a pill every day.

The importance of this treatment, according to its developers

“This is a moment of immense pride for all of us at Dr. Reddy’s,” Deepak Sapra, the company’s chief executive of Pharmaceutical Services, said in a statement. He added: “Developing and manufacturing a complex long-acting injectable like lenacapavir at an affordable price required strong scientific capabilities and manufacturing expertise to meet an urgent need for access.”

U.S. authorities approved lenacapavir, developed by Gilead, in June 2025. But its high cost — about $28,000 a year in the United States, though insurance plans apply discounts — was a major obstacle to turning it into a decisive tool against a disease that has killed more than 40 million people over four decades.

At the end of 2024, Gilead licensed six pharmaceutical companies, including Dr. Reddy’s, to make generic versions of lenacapavir. Even before the generics were available, more than 125,000 people in 10 African countries that were early adopters of the treatment had already started receiving lenacapavir.

The FDA’s official announcement in this link.

“There is definitely a right way and a wrong way to clean your glasses,” the university says, and it lists a series of tips to do the job as well as possible.

We’re All Doing It Wrong: Glasses Shouldn’t Be Cleaned This Way

Among the tips compiled by the institution, it says not to clean lenses using disposable tissues, paper towels or toilet paper. Although these materials are convenient and easy to find, they can scratch the lenses, leave marks and even shed lint that sticks to them.

Trying to clean this everyday item with your shirt is also very common, and the university is more flexible on this point. “It can work if you have nothing else,” it says. Even so, it is not recommended because the fabric can be abrasive to the lenses and, in addition, clothing often collects dust and oils that can cause scratches, especially if the lenses are dry.

Another no-no is the use of household cleaners because they contain ammonia, which can damage the lenses.

What is recommended for cleaning glasses

For cleaning, the advice is to wash the lenses and frames with liquid dish soap and use a dish towel to dry the water.

The use of microfiber cloths is also highly recommended because they are meant to be used dry and can help remove oils from the lens.

Finally, another option is cleaners sold at optical shops, which are specifically designed for glasses and do not damage the lenses.

According to the company in an official statement released Oct. 23, 2026, it is currently recruiting to fill 500 jobs and plans to create another 300 jobs through new expansion projects.

What are the four states where Bombardier will hire workers?

The company confirmed that the job opportunities will be spread across Kansas, Texas, Indiana and Connecticut, where it carries out work tied to the aerospace industry and plans to expand its facilities.

The states included in the announcement are:

• Kansas: the company’s main U.S. operations base is in Wichita, where it recently opened a new training center to strengthen worker training.
• Texas: will account for 150 of the 300 new jobs planned. The company also plans to expand its services operations in Dallas.
• Indiana: Bombardier announced a new maintenance center at Fort Wayne International Airport, with opening planned for November 2026.
• Connecticut: the maker plans to develop new facility expansion projects.

The company did not say how many of the 500 openings currently being filled are in each state.

What will Bombardier’s U.S. expansion look like?

The plan calls for an estimated initial investment of $270 million, aimed at growing the company’s infrastructure in the U.S.

Among the main initiatives is the new Fort Wayne, Indiana, service center, which will have about 5,990 square meters of space and room for up to six aircraft.

The facility will handle scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, modifications, avionics installations and support for aircraft that cannot continue operating because of technical problems.

The company also announced new expansion projects in Dallas and Connecticut, while in Wichita it opened a training center to develop its workers’ skills.

What jobs is Bombardier offering and how can people apply?

In its announcement, Bombardier said it is looking to add staff to its U.S. operations, especially as part of the growth of its aerospace services network.

Those interested in viewing the job opportunities can visit Bombardier’s official jobs portal, where the company posts its openings.

The company said its expansion is intended to strengthen its operational capabilities and continue building its presence in the U.S. aerospace market.

Those two days, combined with Saturday, Nov. 28 and Sunday, Nov. 29, will give students four straight days off, according to the official calendar of the New York City Public Schools (NYCPS).

Which November days will have no classes

The 2026-2027 school calendar sets aside the following days off in November:

• Wednesday, Nov. 11: no classes for Veterans Day (Veterans Day).
• Thursday, Nov. 26: Thanksgiving break begins.
• Friday, Nov. 27: Thanksgiving break continues.

Which four days in a row will be off

The longest break will come toward the end of November. Since Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, Nov. 26 and schools will also be closed Friday, Nov. 27, students will get four straight days off, as both dates will be combined with the weekend:

• Thursday, Nov. 26: Thanksgiving holiday.
• Friday, Nov. 27: second day of the school break.
• Saturday, Nov. 28: weekend.
• Sunday, Nov. 29: weekend.

Students will return to class on Monday, Nov. 30, according to the school calendar.

Which New York schools the calendar applies to

The dates apply to New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) and cover education programs from 3-K through 12th grade.

Private, parochial and charter schools, as well as early education centers and family child care programs, may have different dates. That is why the education authority itself recommends checking directly with each institution to confirm its school and break days.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that employment in this occupation will grow 9% from 2025 to 2035, a faster pace than the average for jobs nationwide.

The agency estimates there will be 72,700 annual openings for electricians during that period. Demand will be driven by both the replacement of workers who retire or change occupations and the creation of new jobs.

How much an electrician makes in the United States

The average annual salary for an electrician in the United States reached $63,190 in May 2025, according to the BLS. That equals about $30.38 an hour.

Pay is higher than in other fields: construction workers earned $58,150 a year, while the average across all occupations was $50,980.

However, earnings vary depending on experience, employer and industry:

• The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $42,640 a year.
• The median wage was $63,190.
• The highest-paid 10% earned more than $108,510 a year.

In manufacturing, the median wage was $74,550, while those working for electrical contractors earned about $61,570 a year.

Why the United States needs more electricians every year

Construction growth and the development of new technologies are increasing the need for electrical installations in homes, businesses, factories and data centers.

The BLS says these workers will be critical to connecting new energy sources, such as solar and wind, to homes, businesses and the power grid.

The growth of artificial intelligence is also a factor. Data centers that support this technology require large amounts of electricity, driving upgrades to the national grid and the construction of energy infrastructure.

How to become an electrician

To enter the profession, the usual educational requirement is a high school diploma or equivalent. A college degree is not required.

Most learn through hands-on training programs known as apprenticeships, which combine technical classes with supervised on-the-job experience. Another option is to attend a technical school.

What electricians do and why they matter for construction

Electricians install, maintain and repair power, lighting, communications and control systems.

Their work is essential for buildings to operate. On new construction projects, wiring is usually easier to reach. By contrast, maintenance work may require finding faults in tight spaces or repairing equipment that is hard to access.

Their main tasks include:

• Reading blueprints and technical diagrams.
• Installing wiring, lighting and control systems.
• Inspecting transformers, switches and other components.
• Troubleshooting and repairing electrical equipment.
• Following building and safety codes.

How many electricians work in the United States and how employment will grow

In 2025, the United States had about 821,000 electricians. Most worked for electrical contractors and wiring installation companies, which accounted for 66% of jobs.

The BLS projects that the occupation will grow 9% from 2025 to 2035, compared with 6% expected for construction workers and 3% for all occupations. In addition, about 72,700 average annual openings are expected. Many will be tied to workers leaving the field or retiring.

Over the years, the Terminator star has shared some of the principles that guided his financial decisions and his first investments. In an interview, he summed up his philosophy with a blunt line: “You have to know how to turn one dollar into two.”

His strategy was not just about making money, but about learning how to multiply it through business and investments.

What Arnold Schwarzenegger’s strategy was for turning one dollar into two

Arnold Schwarzenegger said that when it came to investing in real estate, he had two main goals: to multiply his money and to take part in projects he found interesting. In an interview with Tim Ferriss, the actor summed up that philosophy in one phrase: “You have to know how to turn one dollar into two.” He also said he was not interested in buying land and waiting years to sell it for a higher price.

Instead, he preferred to get involved in property development, since, according to the actor, his strategy was to buy land, design projects and build apartment buildings, office buildings or shopping centers. To carry them out, he looked for partners with whom he could move the investments forward, so he was not limited to waiting for the property value to rise, but was actively involved in creating new businesses.

How he used that philosophy to build his fortune before making it big in Hollywood

Schwarzenegger began investing in real estate in the 1970s, when he was still working in bodybuilding and had not yet achieved major success as an actor. To raise capital, he took business classes to learn how to manage his investments, saved money from his seminars, exhibitions and jobs, and also used income from a mail-order training program business.

In the interview with Cigar Aficionado, Schwarzenegger said he raised $27,000 and borrowed another $10,000 to buy his first building, which had six apartments and cost $240,000, and that he sold it two years later for $390,000. From that first deal, he kept buying properties and expanded his real estate investments.

In that sense, the actor said that this activity allowed him to become a millionaire before his film career took off, since his goal was to reach financial independence so he would not have to take just any role for the money.

The U.S. seeks nearly 400,000 farmworkers

The size of the program was clear in the latest official data. In fiscal 2025 (October 2024 through September 2025), 398,258 jobs were certified under the H-2A program, or nearly 400,000. And the trend is still climbing: in the first half of fiscal 2026, certifications were up about 17% from the same period a year earlier, with about 254,688 jobs in that half alone. At that pace, fiscal 2026 could approach 435,000, a new record.

The largest concentration of jobs is in states with heavy agricultural activity such as Florida, Georgia, Washington, California and North Carolina, which together account for about half the total. The vast majority of workers in the program come from Mexico.

What the H-2A visa is

The H-2A is a temporary visa that allows U.S. agricultural employers to hire foreign workers for seasonal jobs when they cannot find enough local workers.

It is an employer-driven program: it is not a visa a person can apply for on their own without a job offer, but rather the company initiates and carries out the process to bring in workers.

What jobs it covers

The program is designed for temporary or seasonal agricultural work. The most common jobs are those tied to planting, cultivating and, above all, harvesting fruits, vegetables and other crops.

Depending on the operation, it can also cover livestock work, dairy farms, greenhouse agriculture and related activities. The key requirement is that it be seasonal work, not a permanent year-round job.

How the program works

The H-2A process involves three agencies and always starts with the employer. First, the employer applies to the Labor Department for a labor certification, showing that there are not enough available U.S. workers for the job and that hiring foreign workers will not harm the wages or working conditions of local workers.

With that certification, the employer files a petition with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Once the petition is approved, the workers apply for the H-2A visa at a U.S. consulate in their home country.

The stay is temporary: in general, it is granted for the length of the season (up to about one year) and can be extended, up to a total of three years, after which the worker must leave the country before being able to apply again.

The rule took effect on September 15, 2026, and affects students with F visas, exchange visitors with J visas, and representatives of foreign media with I visas. Under the new system, those who need to stay beyond their authorized period must apply for an extension directly with US Citizenship and Immigration Services.

How long can international students stay in the US?

Under the previous system, F-1 students could generally remain in the country for as long as they continued to meet the requirements of their academic program or authorized practical training, plus the time allowed to prepare for departure. Their admission records did not include a fixed expiration date tied to a specific period of stay.

However, the new rule sets a fixed admission period based on the length of the academic program listed on the student’s Form I-20, with a maximum of four years.

This does not mean every student automatically receives four years: those enrolled in shorter programs will generally be admitted for the length of their program. Students who need more time to complete their studies or continue their authorized activities must request an extension of stay from USCIS.

How the new rule affects students already in the US

F-1 and J-1 students who were already in the United States and maintaining their status on September 15, 2026, do not have to apply immediately for an extension just because the new rule took effect.

Those who need to remain beyond their applicable deadline must request an extension from USCIS or take other steps to maintain lawful status. The change does not require all current international students to leave the country or file new applications immediately.

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue, couples who are not legally married could face a 15% tax on inherited assets.

What does Pennsylvania’s Tax Code say about unmarried surviving partners?

In Pennsylvania, couples who are not legally married can be subject to a 15% tax on the value of inherited assets when one partner dies.

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue, this tax rate applies to beneficiaries who do not fall into family categories.

As a result, living together for several years or being in a romantic relationship does not guarantee an exemption from the tax. However, the treatment may vary when there is a valid common-law marriage recognized under Pennsylvania law.

Common-law marriages: in what situations does Pennsylvania recognize this marital status?

According to the official instructions for Form REV-1500, Pennsylvania recognizes common-law marriages established through Jan. 1, 2005, as long as there is sufficient evidence.

What other tax rates are in effect depending on the legal relationship with the deceased?

The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue sets four inheritance tax rates, depending on the relationship between the beneficiary and the deceased:

• 0%: surviving spouses.
• 4.5%: direct descendants and other lineal relatives, such as adult children, grandchildren, parents and grandparents.
• 12%: siblings and half-siblings.
• 15%: other beneficiaries, including more distant relatives and people with no legal family connection.

These rates apply to the taxable value of transferred assets and not necessarily to the deceased person’s entire estate.

Other rules under Pennsylvania law: Who is exempt from the tax rates?

The rules include different exemptions that allow certain inherited assets to be received without paying the inheritance tax.

According to the Department of Revenue, some of the main cases include:

• Surviving spouses: inheritances between spouses are taxed at 0%.
• Parents of children who died at age 21 or younger: they may receive the assets without paying the tax.
• Children age 21 or younger: transfers of assets from their biological, adoptive or stepparents are exempt when legal conditions are met.
• Charities, exempt institutions and government entities: they may receive transfers without paying the tax.
• Certain agricultural properties: land and other assets used for farming may be exempt when transferred to eligible beneficiaries and if they meet the required conditions.

What assets are exempt from the tax?

It is established that certain assets and inheritance transfers are exempt from the inheritance tax, provided they meet the conditions set by state law:

• Property jointly owned by spouses: jointly owned assets between spouses are exempt, with certain exceptions.
• Life insurance: payouts from life insurance policies are exempt, whether paid to a named beneficiary or to the deceased’s estate.
• Farmland: certain properties used for farming may be exempt when transferred to eligible relatives and if they meet legal requirements.
• Assets left to charities: transfers to certain charities, exempt institutions and government entities are not subject to the tax.

Antonella Tosti, a dermatologist with the University of Miami Health System, explained in a university article the factors that can speed up the graying process and also debunked myths, including those related to the supposed effects of dyeing your hair.

Expert debunks myth: Antonella Tosti says hair dye does not affect gray hair

“Coloring or bleaching does not affect graying in any way. Go ahead and dye it. The best type of dye to use depends on how much gray hair you have,” the expert says.

In that regard, Tosti advises that people with less than 30% gray hair use natural products such as henna or semi-permanent dyes. When more than half the hair is gray, the recommendation for those who choose to cover it is to opt for a permanent dye.

Factors that can contribute to graying

One factor to consider is genetics: “There are genetic factors in when a person goes gray. Genes matter, just as they do in skin aging overall,” the specialist explains.

Ethnicity also plays an important role, according to Tosti, who explains that white people develop gray hair earlier than other groups, while Asians take longer and people of African descent go gray after age 45.

In addition, the specialist says that “many studies have shown that you can go gray because you experience a lot of stress. Environmental factors that raise your stress level encourage graying.”

Finally, diet can also have an effect. Tosti says the best diet for slowing aging is one rich in vegetables and anti-inflammatory foods.

Windows on many commercial airplanes are made up of several panels. According to aircraft manufacturer Airbus and the Smithsonian, the small hole helps equalize pressure between certain layers of the window and helps prevent moisture buildup.

What is the small hole in airplane windows for?

The hole allows air to circulate between the cabin and the space between the window panels.

Its main job is to equalize air pressure so the outer panel bears most of the pressure difference between the inside of the plane and the outside air.

This matters because, at high altitude, the outside atmospheric pressure is much lower than the pressure maintained inside the cabin.

In this way, the small hole helps the window system work as designed, built to withstand these conditions.

Why is this hole important during flight?

In addition to helping distribute pressure, the hole helps reduce moisture buildup between the panels.

This helps prevent condensation from forming in that space, which could make it harder to see through the window.

The Ministry of Welfare reminds beneficiaries that payments are direct and without intermediaries. The amounts each program will receive are as follows:

• Pensions for older adults will receive 6,400 pesos
• Mujeres Bienestar: 3,100 pesos
• People with Disabilities: 3,300 pesos
• Beneficiaries of the Working Mothers Program: 1,650 pesos
• Sembrando Vida: 6,450 pesos a month

Payment schedule for the 5 Welfare Pension programs

Attention, beneficiaries of the Sembrando Vida program: The government said you will receive your payment during the monthly payout scheduled for Nov. 11.

• Last names starting with A receive payment on Tuesday, Nov. 3
• Last names starting with B receive payment on Wednesday, Nov. 4
• Last names starting with C receive payment on Thursday, Nov. 5
• Last names starting with C receive payment on Friday, Nov. 6
• Last names starting with D, E, F receive payment on Monday, Nov. 9
• Last names starting with G receive payment on Tuesday, Nov. 10
• Last names starting with G (Sembrando Vida) receive payment on Wednesday, Nov. 11
• Last names starting with H, I, J, K receive payment on Thursday, Nov. 12
• Last names starting with L receive payment on Friday, Nov. 13
• Last names starting with M receive payment on Tuesday, Nov. 17
• Last names starting with M receive payment on Wednesday, Nov. 18
• Last names starting with N, Ñ, O receive payment on Thursday, Nov. 19
• Last names starting with P and Q receive payment on Friday, Nov. 20
• Last names starting with R receive payment on Monday, Nov. 23
• Last names starting with R receive payment on Tuesday, Nov. 24
• Last names starting with S receive payment on Wednesday, Nov. 25
• Last names starting with T, U, V receive payment on Thursday, Nov. 26
• Last names starting with W, X, Y, Z receive payment on Friday, Nov. 27

What happens to the money once it is deposited into a Banco del Bienestar account?

The Payment Schedule for Welfare Pensions is meant to guide and organize payments. Once the money has been deposited according to the first letter of the last name, day, and date, the pension recipient may use these funds whenever they want with their Bienestar Card.

“It is not necessary to withdraw the payment on the day the deposit is made, because the funds remain available on the card,” the Government of Mexico said.

In the capital, this culture of prevention took on special importance after the magnitude of the earthquake on September 19, 1985, which claimed the lives of thousands of people. There were also more than 30,000 injuries and thousands of homes and buildings destroyed.

Still, preparation for possible contingencies has also spread to other countries. In recent days, more than 50 nations have recommended that their citizens prepare emergency kits to deal with different scenarios, from natural disasters and service outages to cyberattacks, geopolitical conflicts, and health crises.

What should an emergency go-bag include?

According to Mexico City’s Secretariat of Comprehensive Risk Management and Civil Protection, the emergency go-bag should be individual and adapted to the specific needs of each family member.

“Do you already have your #MochilaDeVida? Remember that it should contain basic supplies to survive the first 72 hours after an emergency or earthquake. 👉 Here we tell you how to prepare it. #PreventionIsOurStrength,” the Secretariat of Comprehensive Risk Management and Civil Protection posted on X.

Among the basic recommended items are:

• Family risk-prevention plan, with evacuation routes and meeting points.
• Portable radio with batteries.
• Bottled water.
• Blanket.
• Tissue paper and sanitary wipes.
• Flashlight and batteries.
• Cash, in case electronic payment systems fail.
• Baby food, when needed.
• Diapers.
• Duplicate keys to the home and vehicle.
• Toothbrush and toothpaste.
• Whistle.
• Lighter.
• Small notebook and pen.
• Nonperishable food that does not require refrigeration.
• A change of clothes.
• Backup eyeglasses, if needed.

Countries recommending an emergency kit

So far, more than 50 countries have issued recommendations for their citizens to have enough supplies to face emergency situations. The suggested timeframes vary by country:

Americas

• Peru: four days.
• Canada: 72 hours.
• Mexico: 72 hours.
• Colombia: 72 hours.
• Ecuador: 72 hours.
• Chile: 48 to 72 hours.
• United States: several days.
• Brazil: emergency kit.
• Argentina: emergency backpack.

Asia

• Taiwan: seven days.
• Japan: three days and, if possible, a week.
• Israel: three days.
• Kazakhstan: three days.
• Turkey: 72 hours.
• Georgia: 72 hours.
• Indonesia: 72 hours.
• Malaysia: 72 hours.
• Kuwait: two days.
• India: emergency kit.
• Philippines: emergency bag.
• Singapore: go-bag.

Oceania and Africa

• New Zealand: three days or more.
• South Africa: three days.
• Australia: emergency kit.

European Union

The general recommendation is that citizens have enough supplies to last at least 72 hours.

Concern grows over possible emergencies

The international recommendation comes in a context marked by different incidents and warnings. Recently, hackers hacked emergency alert apps in Ukraine and Russia to spread false messages about supposed nuclear attacks.

That was followed by remarks from political commentator Tucker Swanson, who hosted Fox News’ Tucker Carlson Tonight from 2016 to April 2023. On X, he said Donald Trump could be close to ordering a nuclear strike against Iran.

According to the journalist, the U.S. administration could make that decision under pressure from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and he identified the area known as Pica Mountain, in central Iran, as a possible target, where - according to his claims - Israel says the Iranian government would have resumed its nuclear enrichment program.

The IRS Has Copies of Everyone’s Income and Automatically Cross-Checks It Against Tax Returns

The IRS does not rely only on what each person reports. Third parties — whether employers, banks, platforms or other payers — are required to report the payments they make and send the IRS copies of the corresponding forms: the W-2 for wages, the various 1099 forms for independent work, bank interest, investments and other income. In other words, before the person files a return, the agency already has a record of much of what they earned.

To compare that information, the IRS uses an automated system called Automated Underreporter (AUR). That program compares what the taxpayer reported with what third parties reported. When it finds a difference — for example, income listed on a 1099 but not on the return — the case is flagged, and an examiner reviews it before any notice is issued. That means what many assume is “invisible” is exposed as soon as there is a form documenting that income.

How It Seeks the Difference When It Detects Unreported Income

The result of that cross-check, when there is a discrepancy, is a notice known as a CP2000. This is not a formal audit, but a proposed adjustment. The notice shows the taxpayer what they reported, what the third party reported and the change the IRS is proposing, which could mean more tax due — or, in some cases, even a refund. It is not an automatic penalty or a final bill, but a proposal that must be responded to.

Even though it is not an audit, the CP2000 has real consequences. If more tax is owed, interest is added, calculated from the original filing deadline and continuing until the debt is paid; penalties may also apply. The taxpayer generally has 30 days from the date of the notice to respond. If they do not respond, the IRS moves ahead with a formal notice of deficiency, a more serious step in the collection process.

The effectiveness of this method has also been the subject of scientific research. A study published in the scientific journal Insects analyzed the effect of different soaps against banana aphids, a pest that affects crops. Its results shed more light on the potential of these products to control insects and the conditions that should be considered when using them.

How soap works on aphids and other insects

Soaps used to control pests can work through direct contact with the insects. Their action affects the outer structures that protect them and can alter their cell membranes, causing death. For that reason, the spray must reach the specimens on the leaves and stems.

Aphids are one of the targets of this type of preparation. These small insects feed on plant sap, weaken growth, and can contribute to other problems, such as the spread of plant diseases. A mix of water and soap can help reduce their populations, although its effectiveness depends on the product used and how it is applied.

What the scientific study found about water and soap

The study, titled Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Plant Extracts and Soaps for Controlling Banana Aphid (Pentalonia nigronervosa, Hemiptera: Aphididae) Under Laboratory and Greenhouse Conditions, was published Dec. 23, 2025, in Insects.

The research team, led by Geofrey Ogwal, tested three types of soap - bath soap, laundry bar soap and liquid soap - along with different plant-based preparations made with garlic, chili pepper, neem and mint. The tests were carried out in both the laboratory and on banana plants grown under controlled conditions.

The results showed that the preparations caused mortality of between 28.6% and 100% of the aphids within 96 hours of application, compared with 3.3% in the group treated only with water.

In addition, some combinations of plant extracts and soap achieved more than 70% mortality in laboratory tests.

In tests on plants, certain mixtures cut populations to fewer than 20 aphids per plant, compared with more than 200 in the control group after eight weeks. In that context, these results support the potential of soaps to control this pest.

How to use this mixture without harming plants

Household detergents and soaps with perfumes, degreasers, or other additives can cause damage to plant tissue. To avoid problems, it is worth keeping a few precautions in mind:

• Choose a suitable product: It is better to use insecticidal soap formulated specifically for plants instead of conventional detergents.
• Check tolerance: First, test the mixture on a small part of the plant and watch for spots or damage.
• Apply directly to the insects: Spray the areas where aphids are concentrated, including stems and the undersides of leaves.
• Avoid the hottest hours: Apply the product when there is no strong sun to reduce the risk of leaf burn.
• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions: Use the recommended concentration and do not increase the amount of soap on your own.

The measure was unanimously agreed to with the country’s education authorities, following a consultation with the national teaching workforce, and promoted by the government of Claudia Sheinbaum.

Public Education Secretary Mario Delgado Carrillo said devices may not be used during the school day, including recess. The policy seeks to set rules for the use of digital tools inside schools.

When will students be allowed to use cellphones?

During a video message for the first ordinary session of the School Technical Council for the 2026-2027 school year, Delgado explained that there will be exceptions for certain situations.

Cellphones may be used when they are part of teaching activities that have been previously planned and guided by teachers, as well as in emergencies or other extraordinary cases related to the needs of the school community.

The agreement on regulating cellphone use in schools states that:

• In basic education, cellphones will not be used during the school day
• In upper secondary education, responsible and safe use will be allowed, with limits set by each school
• In higher education, responsible and safe use is encouraged.

“We want to thank the participation of more than half a million teachers in the consultation on this very important issue,” the official said.

What does the new cellphone policy at schools establish?

The policy includes restrictions on cellphone use throughout the school day, with the exceptions already mentioned:

• Teaching activities: when device use has been previously planned and directed by teachers.
• Emergencies: when phones need to be used in a situation of this kind.
• Extraordinary cases: when specific needs of the school community justify their use.

Delgado Carrillo also asked teachers to inform school communities about these measures through assemblies and meetings with families.

The secretary said more than 81% of the teachers consulted during the Intensive Phase of the School Technical Council supported setting rules to ensure safe, educational use of digital devices.

What is the goal of restricting cellphone use in schools?

The SEP wants schools to remain spaces for in-person learning and interaction, with clear rules for the use of technology in classrooms.

“The cellphone or the screens could only be used for an emergency or some specific issue involving the children. They can keep it in their backpack, but cellphones cannot be used in class or during recess. The goal is to restore creativity and prevent this indiscriminate use of screens that, particularly when tied to social media, can have very negative effects,” Sheinbuam said at a news conference.

“Starting Nov. 3, the cellphone can no longer be used as an educational tool at school, nor the screen, and not during recess either,” she said at the morning news conference “The People’s Morning Briefing.”

The measures were published on Sept. 22 in the Official Gazette of the Federation (DOF) and allowed 30 days for informational assemblies at schools about the content of the agreement, in order to begin implementation on Nov. 3.

For decades, thousands of children around the world died or suffered serious injuries after accidentally swallowing a pen cap.

In response, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) established ISO standard 11540, which requires pen caps to have a ventilation hole.

The hole serves a critical purpose: if the cap is swallowed and becomes lodged in the windpipe, the opening allows a small amount of air to pass through, buying time to get emergency medical care before complete suffocation sets in.

How the hole in pen caps works

The mechanism is simple. In adults, the human windpipe measures about 1.5 to 2 centimeters in internal diameter. A standard pen cap can block that space almost completely.

However, a hole just 5.08 mm in diameter - the minimum required by ISO - allows an airflow of 8 to 10 liters per minute, enough to prevent death from hypoxia.

This minimal oxygen flow is not enough to breathe normally, but it can buy the crucial minutes needed to get the patient to an emergency room.

In addition to its safety function, the hole has a secondary practical benefit: it equalizes the pen’s internal and external pressure. That prevents ink from leaking out when pressure changes.

What to do if a child swallows a pen cap

Even though the hole in the cap reduces the risk, choking remains a medical emergency. If a child swallows a pen cap, the first step is to stay calm and check whether the child can breathe. If the child is coughing, crying, or making sounds, that means air is still moving.

In that case, call emergency services immediately and take the child to the nearest hospital without trying to remove the object by hand, since the wrong maneuver can make the blockage worse.

If the child cannot make a sound or breathe, perform the Heimlich maneuver immediately while someone else calls emergency services.

The best measure in any case is prevention: do not leave pens near children under 3, and choose products that comply with ISO 11540.

These tests represent a step toward bringing so-called flying taxis to the United States, a technology that could transform passenger and cargo transportation, cut travel times and offer new mobility options in major cities.

How could these flying taxis transform transportation?

According to the FAA, the goal is to gradually integrate these technologies into U.S. airspace, for both passenger transport and cargo delivery. In Florida, the project calls for creating a network of air corridors linking different urban centers. In this way, passengers could travel between cities without relying solely on highways.

Joby Aviation representatives said a trip between St. Petersburg and Tampa, which typically takes about an hour by car in heavy traffic, could be completed in about 10 minutes by air.

What happened during these first test flights in Florida?

On Oct. 30, 2026, the Florida Department of Transportation held its first demonstrations with Joby Aviation and BETA Technologies. The tests recreated the route of the first regular commercial passenger flight, which took place in 1914 between St. Petersburg and Tampa.

During the demonstration, two electric aircraft took off from Albert Whitted Airport in St. Petersburg, flew in formation over Tampa Bay, then landed at Signature Aviation facilities at Tampa International Airport, and data were collected to assess how these technologies perform and how they could eventually be integrated into commercial transportation.

According to FDOT, these demonstrations will make it possible to study several factors, including aircraft noise, safety and integration into airspace. Testing will continue in November 2026, and both FDOT and Electra will conduct new flights in different locations in central Florida.

Which models were tested, and how are they different?

The tests conducted in Florida involved two electric aircraft models with major differences:

• Joby S4 from Joby Aviation: an electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (eVTOL) equipped with six tilting propellers. It is designed to carry one pilot and four passengers and does not need a conventional runway for takeoff or landing.
• ALIA CX300 from Beta Technologies: a fully electric conventional takeoff and landing aircraft (eCTOL). It does need a runway to operate and is designed to connect airports and provide regional passenger and cargo service.

What other benefits are expected from this new system?

Beyond reducing travel times, the FAA says the advanced air mobility program could create new economic opportunities and also expand access to essential services:

• Regional transportation to connect communities and cities through short-haul air routes.
• Building logistics networks to move goods between different locations.
• Making it easier to transport supplies and other health resources.
• Evaluating autonomous aircraft and advanced flight systems.
• Promoting new economic activity tied to aviation and airport services.
• Facilitating operations related to maritime activity and the energy sector.

The federal program includes eight projects spread across 28 states. Data gathered during the demonstrations could be used to develop new regulations that would allow these aircraft to be introduced safely.

It does not replace the other options or open the door to everyone: It works for people who meet a set of requirements and can complete each step online.

Trump administration keeps online passport renewals available

Online renewal is the digital version of the process many used to do by mail: Instead of filling out the paper form and mailing in the passport, everything is handled through an official account called MyTravelGov on the State Department website.

It is the electronic equivalent of renewing by mail, designed for people whose passports are eligible for renewal and who do not need to change any information.

These are the requirements to renew a passport online

To renew online, you must meet all of these conditions:

• Be 25 or older.
• Renew an adult passport, the 10-year kind, issued within the past 15 years (that is, close to expiring or expired recently).
• Have no changes to your personal information: It does not work if you need to change your name or other details.
• Still have the passport in hand and have it not be damaged, lost or stolen.
• Be in the United States (or have an APO/FPO military address).
• Have no international travel planned within eight weeks of the application.
• Be renewing a standard tourist passport, not an official or diplomatic one, and choose routine service, not expedited service.
• Be able to upload a digital photo and pay with a credit or debit card.

Step by step: How to complete the process from home

The process is done entirely online:

• Verify that you meet all the requirements.
• Create or sign in to a MyTravelGov account (access is through Login.gov).
• Start the renewal: You can save your progress, but you have 30 days to finish it.
• Enter the details from your most recent passport; the system checks the records and, if you do not qualify, tells you so.
• Provide your travel plans.
• Upload a digital .jpeg photo (selfies and photos of printed pictures are not accepted).
• Sign and pay with a card.
• Important: You must keep your current passport, but do not use it for travel, because it is canceled when the process begins. One week after submitting the application, it is a good idea to sign up for alerts to track the status of the process.

The fees are the same as by mail: $130 for the passport book, $30 for the passport card, or $160 for both. As for processing times, routine service takes six to eight weeks, not counting shipping time.

This fish is one of the largest in the U.S. and although it is no longer under a critical label, it is still not out of danger, so efforts to preserve it remain necessary.

Colorado River razorback sucker: the fish that is no longer endangered

In 1991, the razorback sucker, or razorback sucker, was placed on the endangered species list and had previously been considered at risk and protected under Utah law (1973) and Colorado law (1979).

Now, according to what authorities announced, it was reclassified as a “threatened species” under the Endangered Species Act thanks to population growth.

To achieve this, conservation measures were taken that included breeding and releasing fish, controlling nonnative species, monitoring river flows and restoring habitats, among other actions.

With the reclassification, limited capture of specimens was also authorized so conservation-related actions for the species can be carried out.

What the razorback sucker is like, now considered a threatened species

The fish is native to the Colorado River basin and is one of the largest fish in U.S. wildlife, with a length that can exceed 90 meters.

It can weigh up to 4.5 kilograms, and experts say it can survive in a range of temperatures and live in calm water. In the United States, it is usually found in Arizona, Colorado, California, New Mexico, Nevada and Utah.

The animal now has eight populations, and the largest of them reflects its return from 1990 to the present: At that time, there were only 100 specimens, but now there are about 36,000 adult fish.

In that sense, it is important to keep in mind that this permit has limitations on the activities it authorizes, and respecting them is essential to avoid any problems with authorities.

The list of activities the U.S. government allows foreigners to do on a tourist visa

When applying for a B-2 visa, intended for tourism, the activities allowed while visiting the country are:

• Tourism
• Vacations
• Visiting friends or family
• Receiving medical treatment
• Attending social events held by fraternal, social or service organizations
• Participating in musical, sporting or other competitions
• Enrolling in short recreational courses that do not lead to credits or a degree, such as a cooking class.

It is important to note that people with this type of visa will not be allowed to receive pay in the United States for any activity they carry out.

Some activities not allowed on a tourist visa

Consistent with the point above, the State Department says the following activities require other visa categories and, for that reason, cannot be carried out on a tourist visa:

• Study
• Employment
• Paid performance
• Arriving as crew on a ship or aircraft
• Working as foreign press, in radio, film, print journalism or other media
• Permanent residence in the United States

“Birth tourism (traveling primarily for the purpose of giving birth in the United States so that your child can obtain U.S. citizenship) is not allowed on a visitor visa,” the authorities explain.

What documents are needed to apply for this visa

Those interested in applying for a tourist visa to travel as a visitor to the United States will need to schedule a visa interview at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate and present:

• Valid passport that meets the requirements for their country
• Nonimmigrant visa application (Form DS-160)
• Application fee receipt (if payment is required before the interview)
• Acceptable photograph

The advice is to check the instructions at the Embassy or Consulate where you are applying, in case additional documents must be submitted.

The first reaction in the S&P 500 will be the most visible signal. After that, investors will need to watch bonds, expectations for Federal Reserve rates, jobs and inflation data, and finally corporate earnings.

The challenge for investors will be to determine how much of Wall Street’s move is driven by the election outcome and how much by the factors that were already shaping the market.

The first data point: what the S&P 500 does

The S&P 500 will be the first benchmark for measuring Wall Street’s reaction.

The index tracks the performance of 500 large U.S. companies and is one of the main gauges of the U.S. stock market.

The first trading session after the election will show how prices adjust to the outcome. A strong reaction can signal that the result surprised the market or that it changed an expectation investors had already built in.

LPL Financial calculated that, since 1970, the S&P 500 has posted an average return of 14.1% in the six months after midterm elections, a historical reference that helps put the result in context.

Bonds help show what’s behind stocks

After the S&P 500, it’s worth watching the yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note, an important benchmark for interest rates across the U.S. economy.

Its yield also affects how investors value stocks, which is why it’s best to look at stocks and bonds together.

If the S&P 500 rises while the 10-year Treasury yield falls, the market may be pricing in more favorable financial conditions. If stocks rise while yields also climb, the explanation may lie elsewhere: expectations for stronger growth, better corporate earnings or a favorable reading of the political outcome.

Bond yields can also reflect expectations for inflation, growth, government spending and the deficit.

The Federal Reserve: the link between rates and stocks

The Federal Reserve goes into the midterms with the federal funds rate in a range of 3.75% to 4%, after its Oct. 28 meeting. The central bank said at the time that economic activity continued to expand at a solid pace and that inflation remained elevated.

The election result could also change expectations for the Fed’s next moves. Rates are a key variable for stocks: higher rates for longer usually pressure valuations, especially for growth companies, while a lower-rate environment can support them.

U.S. employment data arrives three days later

The economic calendar adds an important release just three days after the election. On Friday, Nov. 6, the Bureau of Labor Statistics will publish the October U.S. jobs report. The report will include job creation, the unemployment rate, and wage trends.

The data could move Wall Street because it helps gauge the strength of the economy and also influences expectations for Federal Reserve rates.

The latest available report showed the creation of 29,000 jobs in September and an unemployment rate of 4.2%.

For investors, the report will be especially interesting because it will arrive while the market is still digesting the election outcome.

The focus will be on three numbers: jobs, unemployment, and wages. It will also matter how they compare with market forecasts.

U.S. CPI can shift rate expectations

The next major release will be the U.S. consumer price index (CPI) for October, which the Bureau of Labor Statistics will publish on Tuesday, Nov. 10.

The latest reading showed year-over-year inflation of 3.7% in September, while core inflation rose 2.6%.

For Wall Street, the report will have a concrete effect: It will help determine whether expectations for Federal Reserve rates stay on the path investors had anticipated.

In addition, trends in food, energy, housing, and other components can offer different clues about how persistent inflation remains.

After the election, earnings return to the spotlight

With the election result absorbed, the market returns to a basic question: what companies are earning and how much they expect to earn in the months ahead.

Earnings reports track revenue, margins, earnings per share, and each company’s outlook. For investors, those numbers help show whether stock prices are supported by business results.

This is especially important among the major technology companies.

During 2026, much of the focus was on huge investments in artificial intelligence. Now, the market is also looking for signs of how much of that spending can turn into higher revenue, productivity, and profits.

Nasdaq: What is happening with big tech

The Nasdaq offers a specific read on technology and growth stocks.

These companies are often especially sensitive to rate moves because a significant share of their valuation depends on earnings expected over the next several years.

That’s why if the Nasdaq moves very differently from the S&P 500 after the election, investors will need to look at what is happening at the same time with bond yields and earnings expectations.

For companies tied to artificial intelligence, investors will also need to track results and investment plans.

A drop in the Nasdaq can have very different causes: from higher rates to a reassessment of expectations for tech earnings.

The key is to find that explanation before drawing a conclusion about the market.

Does the move reach all of Wall Street?

The Russell 2000 can help answer another question. The index tracks smaller U.S. companies and makes it possible to see what is happening outside the group of large companies that carry significant weight in the S&P 500.

Comparing the two indexes shows whether the move is spreading across different groups of stocks or is concentrated in the largest companies.

Market breadth offers another clue. If many stocks rise along with the S&P 500, the advance is broad. If the index rises while a significant number of companies lag, the move has a narrower base.

VIX: How much nervousness is left in the market

The VIX measures expected volatility in the S&P 500 and serves as a reference for tracking the level of tension among investors.

After the election, a drop in the VIX together with a stabilization in stocks, may indicate that some of the short-term uncertainty is behind the market.

If the VIX rises, investors will need to look for the factor behind the added nervousness. It could be rates, economic data, corporate results, or another event.

A guide for the coming weeks

After the midterms, tracking Wall Street can be organized into four levels.

First, stocks and bonds

The S&P 500 will show the initial reaction, and the 10-year Treasury will help explain what the market is pricing in on financial conditions.

Second, the Federal Reserve

Expectations for the next rate decisions will be essential for interpreting stock moves.

Third, U.S. economic data

The Nov. 6 jobs report and the Nov. 10 CPI will be the first major tests for that view.

Fourth, companies

Earnings, margins, investment, and forecasts will show whether the fundamentals supporting stock prices are holding up.

Then come the additional signals: Nasdaq, Russell 2000, market breadth, VIX, the dollar, oil, and sectors.

What to watch the day after the midterms

The first signal will be in the S&P 500. After that, investors will need to watch what bonds and rate expectations do. In the days that follow, U.S. jobs and inflation will show whether the view of the Federal Reserve is changing. Later on, company earnings and forecasts will show whether stock prices are backed by results.

The key will be to connect the data points: a rise in stocks means something different if rates fall; a drop in the Nasdaq is read differently if tech earnings keep growing; a market decline may have a different source if the VIX also rises.

The midterms clear away part of the political uncertainty. From there, Wall Street will again show how much rates, the economy, and corporate earnings weigh on stock prices.

In an interview with El País, the essayist also reflected on freedom, the pressure to perform, writing, and his own contrarian way of living. His words take on new meaning in light of his latest essay, where he focuses on respect and how its loss affects relationships between people.

Without Respect, Byung-Chul Han’s new book on the social crisis

Without Respect is an essay published by Paidós on September 23, 2026. Across its 128 pages, Han takes aim at dehumanization and calls for a new culture of respect, a virtue he says is in danger of disappearing in a society defined by narcissism, competition and digital disinhibition.

The philosopher points to neoliberal meritocracy, which creates losers who come to despise themselves and others as well. He adds that on social media, attention takes the place of respect and public humiliation replaces courtesy.

But the book does more than condemn: it proposes a politics of friendship, a way of living together based on distance, attention and mutual recognition, which Han sees as essential to democracy and to a full life.

People walk around with their ears blocked and cut off from the world

Han’s concern about the inability to listen did not begin with Without Respect. In 2023, in an interview with El País, the philosopher was already talking about a society that had lost the patience to listen and to tell stories. “People now walk around with their ears blocked,” he said.

He explained it with a scene from his own life: “Since I don’t orient myself well spatially, when I go somewhere, I ask people where a certain street is, but their ears are blocked by headphones.”

For Han, that everyday image captures a bigger problem. “They can’t hear, and that means they’re disconnected from the world, from others; they only hear themselves talk, wrapped up in their ego,” he said.

Individual freedom as capital’s cunning

In the same conversation, the essayist questioned whether freedom can be understood through the individual. “As Marx said, individual freedom is capital’s cunning. We think we’re free, but deep down we’re producing, increasing capital,” he said.

He carried the argument to its conclusion: “That means that with our individual freedom, we are only the sexual organs of capital.” He also returned to one of his central ideas: “Under the compulsion to perform and produce, there can be no freedom. I force myself to produce more, to perform more, I optimize myself to death; that is not freedom.”

Byung-Chul Han, the South Korean philosopher and author of The Burnout Society

Born in Seoul in 1959 and based in Germany since age 22, Byung-Chul Han studied German literature and theology in Munich and philosophy in Freiburg, where he earned his doctorate with a dissertation on Heidegger. In 2025, he received the Princess of Asturias Award for Communication and Humanities.

He became known for The Burnout Society, in which he portrayed people worn down by self-imposed demands, and since then, his work has explored themes such as technology, work, transparency, and power, in titles including Psychopolitics, Infocracy, and Nonthings.

More than 500 years later, Paso de Cortés retains its historical significance and continues to draw travelers who want to see this high-mountain landscape, located in a region that spans parts of the State of Mexico, Puebla, and Morelos.

What is Paso de Cortés and what are its features?

Paso de Cortés is a mountain pass located between the Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl volcanoes, within Iztaccíhuatl-Popocatépetl National Park. It sits at approximately 3,660 meters above sea level.

According to the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (CONANP), the park includes territory in the State of Mexico, Puebla, and Morelos. The pass is one of its access points and offers views of the volcanic peaks that define this region of central Mexico.

The strategic reason Hernán Cortés crossed this route in 1519

On November 1, 2026, it had been 507 years since Cortés left Cholula with more than 4,000 men. His goal was to advance toward Mexico-Tenochtitlán, so he chose a rough route between the two volcanoes.

According to archaeologist Ismael Arturo Montero García, in his research published by Arqueología Mexicana, the choice had a strategic purpose: to move through rugged terrain, where the Mexica did not expect an incursion of that kind, and to reduce the risk of ambushes.

But the pass was important even before the Spanish arrived. It was a trade and ritual corridor used by pre-Hispanic communities and was known as Cuauhíchcac, meaning “eagle slit,” according to historical references cited by the researcher.

During that expedition, Diego de Ordaz also climbed Popocatépetl, a feat that carried political and symbolic weight for the conquistadors.

Can you visit Paso de Cortés today?

More than five centuries after that expedition, Paso de Cortés remains a destination for tourists, hikers, and outdoor enthusiasts.

CONANP provides official information for planning visits to Iztaccíhuatl-Popocatépetl National Park. One of the main access routes starts in Amecameca, about 23 kilometers from the pass.

There are also ways to get there from Puebla and Morelos, by private vehicle or through public transportation connections.

What risks does the route pose for travelers?

Altitude is one of the main challenges. At more than 3,600 meters above sea level, the lower availability of oxygen can cause discomfort, especially for those not used to high elevations.

Cold temperatures, strong winds, fog, and sudden changes in weather conditions can also occur. That is why visitors should bring appropriate clothing and check access conditions before setting out.

There is also one key restriction: climbing Popocatépetl is prohibited because of its eruptive activity. CONANP has maintained that ban since 1994 and says mountaineers must respect the authorized areas.

According to the U.S. Navy in an official statement, the decision came after the first phase of sea trials was completed. Each vessel will cost an average of $40 million, and the first deliveries are scheduled before the end of fiscal year 2027.

How will the 30 autonomous boats the U.S. Navy is adding work?

The vessels fall into the category known as Medium Unmanned Surface Vessels (MUSV), which are medium-sized unmanned surface ships.

During the first phase of testing, the Navy evaluated three main capabilities:

• Environmental sensing: identifying and interpreting maritime conditions.
• Autonomous navigation: moving in compliance with international rules to prevent collisions at sea.
• Extended missions: testing their ability to operate for long periods.

These tests are part of the development of systems that would expand naval operations and adapt the vessels to different military needs.

How much will the autonomous boats cost and when will they be delivered?

The U.S. Navy awarded procurement contracts to three companies: Galliano Marine Services, HII and Saronic Technologies.

Each company received a contract to provide 10 vessels, for a total of 30 units, at an average cost of $40 million per ship.

At that price, the purchase amounts to about $1.2 billion, although the statement does not present that figure as a final, all-inclusive budget.

The first units are scheduled for delivery before the end of fiscal 2027, which in the United States ends on September 30, 2027.

The Navy also announced a second phase aimed at expanding the options for integrating sensors, weapons and other equipment, depending on the needs of future missions.

The State Department rules say those passport holders do not qualify for routine renewal using Form DS-82, which is used for certain adult renewal applications. Instead, they must file a new application with Form DS-11, even if they are now adults, and complete the process in person.

To complete the process, they must also provide proof of U.S. citizenship, a valid physical ID and a photo that meets official requirements, and pay the required fees.

Why the United States bars passport renewals through the usual process for people who got theirs before age 16

The State Department says one requirement for using Form DS-82, which is used to renew a passport by mail, is that the most recent passport must have been issued when the holder was 16 or older. That is why people who got that document before that age cannot use the mail-in renewal process, even if they are now adults.

In those cases, they must file a new application using Form DS-11 and complete the process in person at an authorized office. The difference is also tied to the documents’ validity, since passports issued to minors under 16 are valid for five years, while those issued at 16 or older last 10 years.

Which U.S. citizens must apply for a new passport using Form DS-11

Citizens whose most recent passport was issued before they turned 16 must apply for a new one when they need to replace the old one. That means they cannot use the standard mail-in renewal process, even if the child’s passport has expired and the holder is now 18, 25 or 30.

For example, someone who got their first passport at 12 and is now 25 will need to complete Form DS-11 to get another one. Current age does not change the requirement, because the State Department uses the age the holder was when the document they are trying to replace was issued.

How to apply for a new U.S. passport with Form DS-11 and what documents to submit

To get the new document, applicants must complete Form DS-11 and submit it in person at an office authorized to accept passport applications. The form can be filled out and printed in advance, but it must not be signed until the agent receiving the documents instructs the applicant to do so.

The requirements include:

• Proof of U.S. citizenship.
• A valid physical photo ID and a photocopy of both sides.
• A photocopy of the proof of citizenship.
• A photo that meets the official specifications.
• Payment of the required fees.

Acceptable proof of citizenship can include, among other documents, a previous U.S. passport that meets the official requirements, even if it has expired.

Once the documents are ready, the citizen must go to the authorized office, submit the forms and complete the process in person. The State Department recommends reviewing the official instructions before going to avoid mistakes in the application or delays in issuing the new passport. If the applicant is outside the United States, they should check the instructions from the relevant embassy or consulate, since the process may vary by country.

It also sets different requirements for each application, so not everyone who already has a passport will be able to renew it. Likewise, not everyone can renew online unless they meet the specific eligibility conditions for that option.

How much does it cost to renew a U.S. passport?

Eligible U.S. citizens can renew online or by mail without having to pay an additional acceptance fee, unlike first-time applicants.

Current prices are:

• Passport book: $130.
• Passport card: $30.
• Passport book and card: $160.

According to the State Department, those who choose to renew online must pay by credit or debit card, while those applying by mail must use a check or money order.

Who can renew a passport online?

According to the State Department, U.S. citizens can renew their passport online as long as they meet the following requirements:

• Be 25 or older.
• Have a passport issued for a 10-year validity period.
• Have a passport that expires within the next year or expired less than five years ago.
• Not need to change personal information, such as name or sex.
• Not plan to travel for at least six weeks after submitting the application.
• Be physically in a U.S. state or territory when completing the application.
• Have the previous passport in hand, undamaged and not reported lost or stolen.

This option is limited to routine service, not expedited service.

What should people who do not meet the requirements for online renewal do?

People who do not meet the conditions to renew a passport online will need to review other options, depending on their individual situation.

• Renew by mail: They can use Form DS-82 if they meet the other requirements for this process.
• In-person application: Those who do not qualify to renew must apply for a new passport using Form DS-11 at an authorized acceptance facility.
• Urgent application: Those who need to travel soon can look into other in-person options at passport agencies or centers.

Other passport application costs

The State Department sets the following passport-related fees:

• First adult passport book: $130.
• Adult passport card: $30.
• Adult passport book and card: $160.
• Acceptance fee for applicants filing Form DS-11: $35.
• Passport book for minors under 16: $100.
• Passport card for minors under 16: $15.
• Expedited service: $60 extra.
• 1-to-3-day delivery service (after processing): $26.87.
• File search fee (when the applicant cannot provide the required documentation): $150.

The measure took effect on October 14, 2026, and applies to refugees who receive a formal Notice of Intent to Terminate (NOIT). This does not mean that every refugee in the US must answer to a new review or face an automatic deadline.

Who could receive the new 10-day notice?

The rule applies when USCIS determines that a person did not meet the legal definition of a refugee at the time they were admitted to the US. Under immigration law, refugee status is available to people who have experienced persecution or have a well-founded fear of persecution because of their race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group.

A NOIT must explain why the agency believes the person did not qualify. Examples listed in the rule include failing to show that past harm amounted to persecution, not establishing that the harm was linked to a protected ground, or providing testimony USCIS considers not credible.

Important: what refugees can do with the deadline

From now on, refugees only have 10 days to respond to the USCIS notification. During that time, recipients can submit documents to challenge the allegations or to request an interview to provide oral testimony.

The deadline generally begins when the notice is personally delivered or mailed. Weekends and federal holidays count, although a deadline that falls on one of those days moves to the next business day. For notices sent by mail, three additional days are added to the response period.

What happens after USCIS ends refugee status?

If a refugee does not respond within the deadline, the agency considers that person to have given up the right to challenge the allegations in the notice and will terminate their refugee status. The termination also ends the work authorization that comes with that status.

People whose refugee status is terminated may still seek other forms of protection or relief from removal during the applicable immigration proceedings. The rule does not automatically mean they will be deported immediately; their cases may be handled under the relevant provisions of immigration law.

The measure was issued as an interim final rule and took effect on October 14, 2026. DHS is accepting public comments through November 13, but the comment period does not delay the rule’s effective date.

The combination, known as a mixed yellow line, sets a rule that depends on which marking is closest to the vehicle. The difference matters because a maneuver allowed for motorists traveling in one direction may be prohibited for those coming the other way.

What it means to find a solid yellow line next to a broken one

This road marking combination is used to regulate passing on two-way roads, where vehicles travel in opposite directions. Unlike a double solid yellow line, which bars passing from both sides, the mixed line sets different rules for each direction of travel.

The main rule is simple: the line closest to your vehicle is the one you should look at to know whether you can pass. It is not enough to see that one of the two markings is broken; you must also check which side of the road you are driving on.

The Virginia Driver’s Manual explains that passing is allowed from the side of the broken line, but not from the side of the solid line.

When you can pass if the broken yellow line is on your side

If you are driving and the broken yellow line is the one closest to your lane, you may cross it to pass a vehicle ahead of you. However, that does not mean you can do it in any situation. If you cannot confirm that the road is clear, you must stay behind the vehicle.

In this regard, the Virginia Driver’s Manual says that you may pass on the left when the way is clear.

Before starting the maneuver, you must check that:

• No vehicles are approaching in the opposite lane.
• You have enough visibility to see the road.
• There is enough room to pass the other vehicle and return to your lane.
• There are no traffic signs prohibiting passing.
• The maneuver can be completed without forcing other drivers to slow down or swerve.

What happens if the solid yellow line is on your side

The situation changes when the solid yellow line is the one next to your lane. In that case, you cannot cross the marking to pass another vehicle or use the opposite lane to get around traffic.

Even if you do not see cars coming toward you, the ban still applies. The solid line means that part of the road is not open for passing from your direction of travel.

The ship, built in Virginia, is 333 meters long, displaces about 100,000 tons and is designed to operate with F-35C stealth fighters and electromagnetic aircraft launch systems.

On Sept. 29, the military said it had granted preliminary aircraft carrier acceptance after successfully completing acceptance trials in August. That step allows the crew to continue training at sea while the remaining technical checks are finished.

The vessel is being built at Newport News Shipbuilding, a division of the U.S. company HII, and is the second aircraft carrier in the Gerald R. Ford class, developed to gradually replace older Nimitz-class ships.

When will the new aircraft carrier be finished?

The USS John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) entered the final phase of construction after receiving preliminary acceptance on Sept. 29, 2026, a recognition that marks the move toward its final operational tests.

The Navy said this progress will allow the aircraft carrier to be used for navigation drills and crew training, without waiting for all the shipyard checks to be completed.

Capt. Mark Johnson, director of the Gerald R. Ford-class new aircraft carrier construction program, highlighted the importance of the process: “Receiving preliminary acceptance marks a new phase for the ship and its crew, allowing them to move ahead with testing and training at sea”.

The ship’s main systems are now complete. However, technical testing is still under way, including for four advanced weapons elevators designed to move munitions between the carrier’s different levels.

Delivery is scheduled for spring 2027, although that does not necessarily mean it will enter operational service immediately.

How long is the CVN 79 aircraft carrier and what military technology will it have?

The new U.S. aircraft carrier stands out for both its size and the systems it includes for conducting air operations at sea:

• 333 meters long: a length comparable to three 110-meter football fields placed end to end.
• 100,000-ton displacement: a size that puts it among the largest warships in the world.
• More than 23 new technologies: related to propulsion, electrical generation, weapons handling and air operations.
• Nuclear propulsion: designed to sustain long operations without relying on conventional fuel to power the ship.
• Compatibility with F-35C fighters: fifth-generation stealth aircraft developed to operate from aircraft carriers.
• Electromagnetic launch system: technology that allows aircraft to accelerate during takeoff from the flight deck.

One of its main innovations is the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS), which uses electromagnetic energy instead of traditional steam catapults to launch aircraft. This system allows for more precise control of aircraft acceleration and is designed to support operations with different types of carrier-based aircraft.

Why the aircraft carrier will be able to operate stealth fighters

One of the most important changes to CVN 79 is its preparedness to operate F-35C Lightning II fighter jets, fifth-generation aircraft that use stealth technology to reduce detection by certain radar systems.

These aircraft are designed to take off from and land on aircraft carriers, so they have specific features to withstand the demands of naval operations.

The project also includes the new Enterprise air surveillance radar, developed to improve threat detection and tracking capabilities.

Through a change implemented by USCIS, the employment authorization document (EAD) went from lasting up to 5 years to having a maximum validity of 18 months in several of the largest categories, including asylum applicants, people waiting for a green card and TPS recipients. The change means the permit must be renewed much more often.

From 5 years to 18 months: USCIS slashes work permit validity

Until recently, USCIS issued work permits valid for up to 5 years for certain categories, in order to reduce the number of renewals. Under the new rule, that validity is cut to a maximum of 18 months for those groups. In practice, it means someone who previously could go five years without renewing will now have to do so in less than two, with the cost and paperwork each renewal requires.

The change applies to applications filed on or after Dec. 5, 2025, and covers both new permits and renewals. One important point: 5-year cards already issued remain valid until their expiration date; the new 18-month limit applies only at the next renewal.

It affects millions of immigrants with pending cases

The cut affects several of the largest categories of holders, which together involve a huge number of people with cases pending. They include:

• Asylum applicants with pending cases, including dependents who receive the permit based on that case.
• Refugees and asylees.
• People with a pending green card application (adjustment of status).
• Beneficiaries of withholding of removal or those with a pending cancellation of removal case and similar forms of relief, such as NACARA.
• TPS and parole beneficiaries, although in these cases the limits can be even shorter (many are tied to one year or to the period of authorized stay).

The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration released the report Aug. 26. It covers the federal budget year that ended Sept. 30, 2025. In that year, audits of people earning more than $400,000 fell 27%, and the money audits brought in dropped 35%, to $6.5 billion.

The job losses came during the federal downsizing push led in early 2025 by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency. The IRS went from 27,217 auditors and collectors to 19,612 in one year, and the number kept falling afterward.

If you owe the IRS, can it still take your paycheck?

Yes. The IRS can garnish wages, meaning it takes part of each paycheck. It has to send a final warning letter first and wait at least 30 days. After that, the garnishment repeats every payday until the debt is paid or the IRS stops it.

The staff cuts didn’t slow down collection of unpaid bills. The IRS collected $81.8 billion in fiscal 2025, about the same as the year before. Most of it came in through automated letters that need few workers.

Tuesday’s election won’t change what you owe. If an IRS letter arrives, you can pay the balance or set up a payment plan on IRS.gov. After a final warning letter, you have 30 days to request a hearing, which puts the garnishment on hold.

How much did IRS audits of the wealthy fall?

The sharpest drop was in audits of partnerships, businesses whose profits pass straight to their owners’ personal tax returns. New audits of partnerships fell 76% from 2023 to 2025. Part of that drop came from an internal IRS reorganization that started before the layoffs.

Audits matter beyond the money they recover. The IRS estimates that about $696 billion in taxes went unpaid in 2022, mostly from income people left off their returns. The inspector general noted that audits also push people who aren’t audited to report honestly.

The IRS says it’s making up the difference with technology. In April, IRS Chief Executive Officer Frank Bisignano told senators that data tools and new technology had raised enforcement revenue 12%. Overall tax collections hit a record $5.3 trillion in fiscal 2025.

Could the next Congress cut IRS funding even deeper?

It could. The Trump administration asked Congress to cut the IRS enforcement budget 18%, to $4.1 billion. A House Republican bill goes further, to $3.6 billion, down from nearly $5 billion this year.

Current funding runs out Dec. 11. Congress could pass a full budget before then or push the decision into 2027. If it waits, the lawmakers elected Tuesday will decide after they take office Jan. 3.

The cuts would land on top of losses that have already happened. Extra enforcement money from the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act ran out at the end of 2025, and the inspector general warned that the full effects of the staff losses will show up over time.

Stevens lost the Democratic nomination to El-Sayed by less than a percentage point in the Aug. 4 primary and had endorsed him afterward. She announced the switch after attending a Sunday service with Rogers, a former congressman, at a Black church in Detroit. She then repeated it in a video on X.

Democratic leaders condemned the move within hours. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called it “a despicable betrayal.” Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel said Stevens is not a member of the state party and won’t be in the future.

Republicans celebrated. President Donald Trump called Stevens “very brave” at a rally in Iowa and said he’d like her to join the GOP. Most of her congressional staff quit after learning of the endorsement on social media.

Why did Haley Stevens endorse Republican Mike Rogers?

Stevens said El-Sayed’s campaign made it clear she wasn’t wanted. On Saturday, he told reporters he didn’t want her at a Sunday church event in Detroit, saying he wanted to avoid distractions.

Party leaders had set up that event to show unity. Rep. Debbie Dingell arranged for Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina, one of the party’s most influential figures, to invite both of them. It would have been their first joint appearance since the primary.

I am endorsing Mike Rogers for the United States Senate today. https://t.co/pQgfSBuhOJ

— Haley Stevens (@HaleyforMI) November 1, 2026

The bigger divide is over support for Israel. El-Sayed is one of his party’s sharpest critics of Israel’s actions in Gaza and wants to end U.S. military aid to the country. Stevens has defended Israel. The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), a pro-Israel lobbying group, spent heavily against El-Sayed in the primary.

The breaking point was an ad from an outside group backing El-Sayed that blamed U.S. aid to Israel for high grocery prices. Stevens called it antisemitic and demanded he denounce it, and he did on Saturday. In her video, she also criticized his past appearances with Hasan Piker, a live-streamer whose remarks about jewish people have been widely condemned.

Could Haley Stevens’ endorsement cost Democrats the US Senate?

Democrats need a net gain of four seats Tuesday to win the Senate majority. Michigan’s seat is held by a retiring Democrat, so losing it would push that number to five.

That margin leaves little room for error. RealClearPolitics rates eight Senate races as toss-ups, Michigan among them, and its polling averages point to a Democratic gain of exactly four seats. That’s the bare minimum, with no cushion for losing a seat they already hold.

The state is a true swing state. It voted for Joe Biden in 2020 and Donald Trump in 2024, although no Republican has won this Senate seat since 1994.

Stevens did best in the primary among Black and Jewish Democrats, two groups where El-Sayed has had trouble. Rogers has predicted he could win as much as half of the Jewish vote.

For now, the numbers favor El-Sayed, though nearly all of those polls were done before the endorsement. The most recent survey, by The New York Times and Siena, was conducted Oct. 23 to Nov. 1 and showed him ahead 53% to 42%. Even so, RealClearPolitics still rates the race a toss-up.

His campaign said he raised $2.4 million on Sunday, his best fundraising day of the race.

Could Haley Stevens become Democrats’ scapegoat if they lose the Senate?

The party moved quickly to put the turmoil on her. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who had criticized El-Sayed’s views on Israel only days earlier, said Stevens had betrayed Michigan families and urged voters to back him.

Some of her friends turned on her too, and several pointed to her fiancé, Michigan lawyer Jason Turkish, an AIPAC donor who endorsed Rogers last week. Her mother, Maria Marcotte, told CNN that Stevens made the decision on her own.

Privately, though, Democratic officials told CNN there was blame to go around, notably for El-Sayed. One longtime official said he acted as if he’d won the primary in a landslide, when his margin was under a point.

Stevens says she was never invited to a single campaign event after the primary, and El-Sayed had little contact with her after their August race.

El-Sayed has dismissed the fight, telling reporters Sunday that none of it matters and that he is focused on the problems facing Michiganders. Tuesday’s results will show whether the defection moved any votes and, if El-Sayed falls short, how much of the blame lands on Stevens.

If these changes take effect, Colleges would have to pay up to $70,000 for each student they recommend. This would make it harder for foreign students and graduates to gain work experience in the United States.

The Department of Homeland Security also includes a $30,000 fee for subsequent OPT participation. According to authorities, the new policy will prevent immigration fraud and protect American workers.

New OPT fee for colleges recommending international students

The proposal would require colleges and universities certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) to pay $70,000 when they recommend an F-1 student for OPT for the first time. The fee would apply whether the student wants to work while studying or after graduation.

For any subsequent OPT recommendation for the same student, the institution would have to pay an additional $30,000. This includes the 24-month STEM OPT extension available to eligible graduates in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields. The fee would not be triggered by a change of employer.

Why the Trump administration wants to charge universities

According to DHS, new fees are intended to combat immigration fraud and prevent employers from using OPT to avoid requirements for employment-based visas, such as the H-1B program. The agency also argues that this policy would encourage colleges to review student applications more carefully before recommending them for work authorization.

Although universities would be formally responsible for paying the fees, the proposal allows them to pass the costs on to students or employers. The American Immigration Council warns that this could increase tuition, reduce international student enrollment, and limit opportunities for foreign graduates.

When could the new OPT fees take effect?

The measure is still a proposal and is not yet in effect. The DHS published it in the Federal Register on October 8, 2026, and is accepting public comments through November 9.

If finalized, the rule would take effect 60 days after its publication. The new fees would apply to students whose universities submit their first OPT recommendations on or after that effective date.

Students already participating in OPT or with recommendations submitted before that date would not be subject to the new fees for those existing authorizations.

In that sense, it is important to keep in mind that official results can take days to be known, even though the first projections may start coming in today.

How long it will take to count the votes

The time needed to carry out the count varies by state and by the number of voters, since the greater the number, the longer it will take, so there is no fixed, set time when it will be available.

The U.S. Election Assistance Commission explains that preliminary election results are sent by local jurisdictions to state election officials once the polls have closed.

“The unofficial results are then posted on the state election website and reported to the media,” it says.

When election results become official

Preliminary results can change as the hours pass, as the rest of the votes are counted, including mail ballots and those cast by military and overseas voters.

At the local level and then at the state level, the canvass is conducted, where the total vote is reviewed and any discrepancies that may have been detected are resolved. Different states also conduct audits to ensure the accuracy of the total vote.

Once the process is complete, the results are certified and reported. According to officials, this can take several days.

The results can be found on this site once they are available.