The train arrived at the Pantaco rail terminal, north of Mexico City, and is part of the passenger rail recovery project promoted by the federal government.

“The first of the units that will run the Mexico City-Pachuca route is arriving in Mexico from China,” the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transport (SICT) said.

The new Mexico City-Pachuca line will serve nine stations: Buenavista Terminal, Xaltocan-Nextlapan, Sa Lucas Xolox, Hutzila, Tizayuca, Empalme el Rey, Platah, Jagüey de Téllez and Pachuca Terminal. “This route will meet a daily demand of more than 100,000 passengers and will cover the Buenavista-to-Pachuca trip in 1 hour and 15 minutes,” SICT Mexico said.

What the Mexico-Pachuca electric trains are like

The units were designed to provide modern, comfortable, and sustainable service. Each train will be 102 meters long and will be able to carry hundreds of people on a single trip. Its main features include:

• Propulsion: 100% electric.
• Top speed: up to 130 kilometers per hour.
• Capacity: 893 passengers per unit.
• Length: 102 meters.
• Features: priority seating, luggage space and bicycle storage.
• Safety: video surveillance system.

The agency said the goal is to bring thousands of people closer to their destinations and connect communities through modern transportation.

How long will the Mexico City-Pachuca train take?

The new line will run 58 kilometers between Buenavista station in Mexico City and Pachuca, Hidalgo.

According to official information, the trip will take about 1 hour and 15 minutes.

The project calls for 15 trains and aims to serve a daily demand of more than 100,000 passengers. “This is only the beginning. In all, 15 trains will be part of this new line, which will also create jobs and help drive regional development,” the federal government said.

According to the municipality of Wandlitz, the decision to build it was made in 1973, and work took place between 1978 and 1983. When it was completed, East Germany had underground a three-level facility with about 7,500 square meters of usable space from which the National Defense Council was supposed to coordinate the country’s response if war broke out. In the event of a nuclear attack, the complex could house about 350 people for roughly 14 days.

The government that was supposed to survive underground

The bunker was not meant to protect East Germany’s population but those who were supposed to keep the state and armed forces running if war began. According to Tagesspiegel, it was a command post from which Honecker would have directed the army alongside Soviet troops in the event of a crisis. The facility had, according to Subterranea Britannica, about 170 rooms, including dormitories, dining halls, ventilation and filtration systems, water supply and emergency power, decontamination areas, and a broadcast studio.

The structure had one feature that made that isolation possible. According to the same source, the power supply, telephone exchange, and ventilation were mounted on hydraulic systems or suspended on springs to withstand shock waves, and access was protected by airtight steel doors. The Brandenburg monuments register mentions four gas-tight, pressure-tight steel doors at the main entrance.

From the outside, the site was concealed: Subterranea Britannica says it was disguised as a weather-measurement center, and entry was through a long corridor from the basement of a nearby office building. The project was carried out by engineers from the National People’s Army with advice from Soviet specialists, according to the Brandenburg register. About 85,000 tons of concrete were used in its construction.

Until 1989, about 20 technicians kept the bunker on alert day and night, according to Süddeutsche Zeitung. The scenario its builders envisioned was simple and terrifying: while cities were destroyed and radiation made it impossible to stay on the surface, the leaders would enter the bunker and continue to exercise power from there. It follows the same logic as other Cold War installations, such as Camp Century, or the network of nuclear bunkers that Switzerland maintains to this day.

Honecker went inside only once

Erich Honecker was the very person the complex was meant to protect, since he chaired the GDR’s National Defense Council.

However, the leader visited the bunker only once. That was in December 1983, during the inauguration, and he stayed for only a short time, between 15 and 20 minutes.

After that visit, the man the complex had been built to protect returned to the surface and the bunker was left in the hands of the technicians assigned to keep it ready. Everything was prepared for a moment that never came.

The Wall fell and the bunker lost its reason for existing

The facility had been designed for a confrontation between blocs that never happened. When the Berlin Wall fell in November 1989, the world it had been built for began to disappear and, less than a year later, the German Democratic Republic ceased to exist.

According to the municipality of Wandlitz, the Bundeswehr operated the bunker between 1990 and 1993. Part of the facility was then dismantled and the entrance was sealed. Subterranea Britannica adds that in the years that followed, there were visits by enthusiasts, some of whom tried to get back inside, and that the site has protected status.

In 2008, something extraordinary happened: for the first time, the public was allowed inside on organized tours. According to RTVE, the GDR’s most important anti-atomic shelter opened to the public in August 2008 and remained open for about three months: some 20,000 people visited during that period.

After those visits, the entrance was closed again: by the end of 2008, it had been sealed with concrete. The municipality of Wandlitz now considers it a Cold War technical monument and says efforts are underway to reopen it to the public.

The warnings cover several areas in the South and Southeast, where weather conditions could affect crops, plants, and other surfaces exposed to the cold. According to official reports, some areas could see temperatures as low as 24°F (-4.4°C).

Which states are under freeze warning?

The National Weather Service’s national alert map shows freeze warnings in six states:

• Alabama: the warnings cover parts of central, northern, and southern Alabama. In some areas, temperatures are expected to dip to 27°F (-2.8 C).
• Mississippi: warnings are in place for several central areas of the state, with forecast lows of 28°F (-2.2 C).
• Georgia: the warnings cover parts of the north, central areas, and other regions. In some places, temperatures could fall to 24 F (-4.4 C).
• Florida: the warning covers Appling, Bacon, Coffee, and Jeff Davis counties, with temperatures forecast to drop to 31°F (-0.6°C).
• North Carolina: warnings are in place for locations in the central and eastern parts of the state, where temperatures are expected to range from the 20s to the low 30s F.
• South Carolina: the warnings cover central and southeastern areas, with temperatures near 30°F (-1.1°C).

How long will the freeze warnings remain in effect?

The alerts are in effect for different periods depending on the location. In several areas of Alabama and Mississippi, the warnings will begin around midnight Saturday, Nov. 14, and run through 8 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 15.

In Georgia and South Carolina, some warnings will remain in effect from 1 a.m. to 9 a.m. Sunday. In Florida, the warning for the affected counties will be in place from 2 a.m. to 9 a.m.

Meanwhile, in North Carolina, the timing varies by location, although some warnings will last until 8 or 9 a.m. Sunday.

What temperatures can damage crops and plants?

The NWS explains that a freeze warning is issued when temperatures are forecast to stay below 31 F for an extended period.

This threshold can damage certain commercial crops and household plants. The risk increases when temperatures fall below 28 F (-2.2 C) for several hours.

For that reason, the NWS recommends covering delicate plants, protecting exposed pipes and taking precautions before the coldest temperatures arrive.

South Florida is home to many of the green iguana colonies, an invasive cold-blooded species that does not tolerate low temperatures well and can temporarily lose mobility when the temperature drops, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).

Why does a rain of iguanas happen in Florida, and what precautions should be taken?

That is the case this weekend, when lows of 50 to 59°F (10 to 15°C) are expected across much of South Florida, the lowest since late March, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).

In Miami, the forecast high for Saturday is 23 degrees Celsius (73 Fahrenheit), compared with the usual 28 degrees (82 Fahrenheit) for this time of year.

When temperatures approach freezing, iguanas can enter a state of lethargy in which they temporarily lose muscle control.

In those conditions, they can fall out of trees and onto the ground, although they regain mobility once they warm back up, the FWC says.

Despite the new cold front, the FWC will not repeat the operation it carried out in February to collect ‘frozen’ iguanas.

Back then, during another cold snap, it allowed residents to pick up stunned iguanas from their property without a permit and set up five temporary drop-off centers at its offices, where it received more than 5,000 in two days.

In its recommendations, the FWC urges people not to take iguanas home or into a vehicle to warm them up, because once they recover they quickly become defensive and can bite, scratch and whip their tails.

It also notes that it is illegal to keep them alive without a permit, release them or move them elsewhere.

Why is the green iguana considered an invasive species in Florida?

The green iguana (Iguana iguana), native to Central America and tropical South America, arrived in Florida as a pet in the 1960s. In 1964, an exotic-animal dealer released more than 300 of them in the Miami area, according to University of Florida records.

This lizard, usually green but sometimes brown or olive, has a long tail and a row of spines along its back. Males can grow to more than 5 feet (1.5 meters), including the tail, and turn orange during mating season.

The FWC considers it an invasive species because it damages gardens, digs burrows that can undermine sidewalks, foundations, and retaining walls, and eats a plant that is essential to the survival of the endangered Miami blue butterfly.

The NWS issued a freeze warning for early Saturday in northwest Florida, where lows could fall to 1 degree Celsius (34 Fahrenheit). In Tallahassee, the state capital, the high will not top 16 degrees (61 Fahrenheit), compared with the usual 23 (73).

In Orlando, in the central part of the state, lows of 8 degrees Celsius (47 Fahrenheit) and highs of 18 (65) are expected, below the usual 15 (59) and 26 (79), respectively.

Source: EFE.

Authorities also warn that unsuitable photos are one of the main reasons passport applications are put on hold. That is why it is important to review the specifications before submitting the paperwork.

What are the allowed passport photo sizes?

According to the State Department, the printed photo must measure 2 x 2 inches, or 51 x 51 millimeters. It must also be in color, taken within the last six months and printed on high-quality photo paper, either matte or glossy.

The image must meet other requirements:

• Have good resolution and not be blurry, pixelated, or grainy.
• Have a white or off-white background, with no objects, textures, or shadows.
• Show the face straight on, with eyes open and mouth closed.
• Have even lighting and reproduce skin tones naturally.
• Be original, with no filters or digital alterations.

The agency also does not accept scanned photos, photocopies, or images damaged by stains, holes or wrinkles.

How large should the head be in the photo?

The head must take up a certain proportion of the image. According to the official specifications, the distance from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head must be between 1 and 1 3/8 inches, or between 25 and 35 millimeters.

That means the head cannot be taller than 35 millimeters or shorter than 25 millimeters. It must also be centered and fully visible within the frame.

What happens if an unsuitable passport photo is submitted?

The State Department warns that photos that do not meet the requirements are the main reason passport applications are put on hold.

As a result, an incorrect photo can keep the application from moving forward normally. Reasons for rejection include blurry photos, incorrect dimensions, unsuitable backgrounds, shadows on the face, or digital edits.

Why can passport processing be delayed?

One reason processing can be delayed is submitting a photo that does not meet the established standards. The agency must verify that the image allows the applicant to be properly identified and meets the required technical conditions.

Errors that can cause problems include:

• Submitting a photo in a different size than required.
• Having the head too close to or too far from the camera.
• Showing the face partially covered or off-center.
• Using filters, retouching or digital tools to alter the image.
• Submitting a photo with poor lighting, shadows or low resolution.

When the bidding stopped, Cage had won, paying $276,000 for the fossil. What he didn’t know was that the skull had been stolen and that years later, a call from the U.S. government would force him to give it up.

A bidding war between two stars

In March 2007, the skull of a Tyrannosaurus bataar, a close relative of the T. rex, was the star item at a natural history-themed luxury auction in Manhattan. It sold for $276,000 to an anonymous buyer.

That buyer was Cage, who purchased it through the Beverly Hills gallery I.M. Chait. According to reports at the time, he outbid another Hollywood star for it: Leonardo DiCaprio.

A fossil from the Gobi Desert

The Tyrannosaurus bataar was a large meat-eating dinosaur that lived about 70 million years ago. Its remains have been found only in Mongolia, which has banned the export of dinosaur fossils since 1924.

The call from Homeland Security

Cage received a certificate of authenticity from the gallery. But in July 2014, the Department of Homeland Security contacted him to warn that the skull might have been stolen, according to his publicist.

Once investigators confirmed that the fossil had been taken illegally from Mongolia, Cage voluntarily agreed to hand it over. In December 2015, the U.S. attorney’s office in Manhattan filed a court action to take possession of the skull and return it to Mongolia. Neither Cage nor the gallery was accused of wrongdoing.

A black market for dinosaur bones

The case was part of a wider effort. Since 2012, prosecutors had recovered more than a dozen stolen Mongolian fossils, many linked to a Florida dealer, Eric Prokopi, who was sentenced to three months in prison in 2014. It was never confirmed whether Cage’s skull was connected to him.

“Each of these fossils represents a culturally and scientifically important artefact looted from its rightful owner,” then-U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said.

Paleontologists have long warned that private sales hurt research. “We’re losing science, we’re losing education, we’re losing valuable specimens,” Kevin Padian of the University of California, Berkeley, told The New York Times after the 2007 auction.

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Connery was offered $30 million to play Gandalf in Peter Jackson’s trilogy. To convince him, the producers reportedly added the incentive of 15% of the films’ box office earnings.

The offer reflected Connery’s status in Hollywood at the time. He was the first actor to play James Bond on the big screen and led hits such as Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. By the late 1990s, he was still one of the most respected and bankable actors in the world, and in 2000 he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II.

How much money he left on the table

The three movies went on to earn about $2.98 billion at the global box office. A 15% share would have been worth roughly $447 million, which is why the decision is often described as one of the most expensive “no’s” in Hollywood history.

Connery’s reason was simple: he didn’t understand the story.

Why did Sean Connery say no to playing Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings?

“I read the book. I read the script. I saw the movie. I still don’t understand it,” he said years later, according to The New Zealand Herald. Even so, he praised the actor who took the part: “Ian McKellen, I believe, is marvelous in it.”

Gandalf wasn’t the only famous part Connery declined. According to Far Out Magazine, he also turned down the role of John Hammond in Jurassic Park and the Architect in The Matrix sequels, in both cases because he couldn’t connect with the material.

Instead, he starred in The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003), which was poorly received by critics. It became his last live-action film role.

Failure to provide accepted proof can lead to an application being denied. That is why it is important to know what documents can be submitted and what other conditions are needed to get a passport.

What documents can be submitted to prove U.S. citizenship?

The State Department requires physical proof of U.S. citizenship when applying for a first adult passport. To meet this requirement, applicants may submit one of the following documents:

• U.S. birth certificate: must be an official document proving birth in the United States.
• Previous U.S. passport: must be valid, full validity, and undamaged.
• Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA): document issued by the State Department to prove that a person acquired U.S. citizenship at birth outside the country.
• Certificate of naturalization: proves that a foreign national obtained U.S. citizenship through the naturalization process.
• Certificate of citizenship: shows that a person acquired or derived U.S. citizenship under immigration law.

Documents must be submitted in physical form, as the agency does not accept digital birth certificates or other electronic proof for this process.

Why are applications denied if applicants cannot provide valid proof of citizenship?

Proof of citizenship is a required step to get a U.S. passport. So if someone does not submit valid documents showing citizenship status, the State Department may delay or deny the application.

It is not enough to say you were born in the United States or acquired citizenship through a parent; that status must be backed by documents accepted by the authorities.

Those who do not have one of the usual documents should check the alternative proof of citizenship recognized by the State Department before submitting an application.

What other requirements must be met to get an adult passport?

In addition to proving citizenship, applicants over 18 must meet other requirements set by the State Department:

• 1. Complete Form DS-11: the passport application must be filled out and submitted in print, unsigned until the authorized agent instructs you to sign it.
• 2. Present a photo ID: it must be a physical, current document. A valid driver’s license is one accepted example.
• 3. Submit photocopies: a copy of the proof of citizenship and the front and back of the ID must be provided.
• 4. Include a photo: it must meet the official specifications for a U.S. passport photo.
• 5. Pay the applicable fees: the cost depends on whether a passport book, a card or both are requested.
• 6. Apply in person: those applying for their first adult passport or who do not qualify to renew it must appear at an authorized office.

The Mexican authority said the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) notified it that the restrictions had ended at 7:44 p.m. Mexico City time (1:44 a.m. GMT Saturday).

“Air operations to the different cities in the United States are expected to gradually resume in the coming hours,” AFAC said.

How many flights and passengers were affected by the air restrictions in Mexico?

At Mexico City’s International Airport (AICM), the tally at 10 p.m. (4 a.m. GMT Saturday) rose to 73 affected flights, with 29 delayed and 44 canceled, and 10,293 passengers impacted.

The capital’s airport said that was three more flights than the 70 initially expected to be affected and urged travelers to check flight status before heading to the airport.

What steps did Aeromexico, Volaris and Viva Aerobus take in response to the air restrictions?

AFAC explained that the airlines would inform passengers of departure times, while Mexican international airports would be on hand to receive aircraft arriving from the United States.

During the disruption, Aeromexico had announced the suspension of its operations to and from that country.

The airline also set up a passenger protection policy for trips scheduled for Nov. 13 and 14.

According to the published terms, it allows a date change at no cost and with no fare difference, as long as the route and cabin are kept the same, with rebooking and a new flight through Nov. 21, subject to the stated requirements.

Volaris had warned of possible delays or cancellations and asked passengers to check its official channels, including its app, before going to the airport.

Viva Aerobus also warned of possible delays or schedule changes and recommended checking flight status on its website or app.

The restrictions were a response to failures in communication systems at several U.S. air traffic control centers.

As a precaution, aircraft bound for the United States had been asked to remain on the ground at Mexican airports.

AICM and Grupo Aeroportuario Marina announced operational assistance to help restore service and recommended staying in touch with airlines.

Source: EFE

Schwarzenegger was born on July 30, 1947, in Thal, a small village near Graz, in Austria. He grew up in a modest home, and as a teenager he discovered bodybuilding, the sport that would take him around the world. At 20, he won his first Mr. Universe title.

In 1968, he moved to the U.S. with very little money and limited English. Over the following years, he became a legend of the sport, with five Mr. Universe and seven Mr. Olympia titles. But bodybuilding prizes were not enough to live on.

The business that made Schwarzenegger a millionaire before Hollywod

Together with his friend and fellow bodybuilder Franco Columbu, he started a bricklaying business in Los Angeles, and he saved the money he earned.

But the advice that changed everything for Schwarzenegger came in the 1970s, when a real estate agent named Olga gave him the tip that would make him rich. Schwarzenegger described her as a woman from Lebanon who was about “Danny DeVito’s height.”

Her advice was simple: instead of buying a house or a condo, he needed “income property,” a building that would pay for itself with rent. She found him a six-unit apartment building listed for $240,000. He put down only $27,500, and two years later he sold it for $400,000.

His success in real estate investments came before Hollywood

He kept buying. “Buildings that I would buy for $500,000 within the year were $800,000,” he told author Tim Ferriss in the book Tools of Titans. He went on to buy apartment and office buildings on Main Street in Santa Monica. “I became a millionaire from my real estate investments,” he said.

“I was a millionaire before I ever did Conan or Terminator,” he said at a business conference in 2023. His plan was intentional. He had seen actors who had no money and had to accept any role. “I did not rely on my movie career to make a living,” he told Ferriss.

That freedom paid off. “I was making money from real estate, and that gave me the power to wait for the roles I wanted,” he wrote in his newsletter. His big break came in 1982 with Conan the Barbarian.

The investment is part of a broader strategy to speed up the study of psychedelic drugs and other therapeutic alternatives that could be used to treat mental illnesses that significantly affect the quality of life of those who suffer from them.

What is the project the government will invest $4.9 million in?

The project seeks to advance the development of ibogaine as a possible treatment for these mental health conditions. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said that veterans fulfilled their commitment to the country and that the government must do the same.

According to Kennedy Jr., this substance has shown favorable results in different cases, so its effects “demand” rigorous scientific research.

Ibogaine is a psychoactive alkaloid extracted mainly from the roots of the African shrub Tabernanthe iboga, native to countries such as Gabon and the Republic of the Congo.

In recent years, it has drawn the interest of the scientific community for its potential to treat addiction, especially because of its possible effects on withdrawal symptoms and compulsive cravings for substances.

What kinds of conditions is this project aimed at treating?

The research will focus mainly on PTSD, a condition common among war veterans. The goal is to expand knowledge about ibogaine’s potential to treat other serious mental illnesses. The conditions included in current and future research lines include:

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): one of the main goals of the new projects funded by ARPA-H.
• Substance use disorders: researchers plan to study ibogaine’s potential to treat addiction.
• Opioid use disorder: ARPA-H is also working on a specific initiative to evaluate the substance in people with opioid dependence.

What type of substances will be studied?

The $4.9 million project focuses on ibogaine. Researchers will specifically study ibogaine hydrochloride, a single-molecule formulation of the substance.

The work will be divided into two main lines:

• Beond Inc.: will collect clinical data to assess the safety, doses, efficacy and duration of ibogaine’s possible effects.
• Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company: will develop the regulatory, clinical, chemical and engineering foundations to manufacture pharmaceutical-grade ibogaine in the United States, with a view to its possible use against PTSD.

Separately, the Health Department announced an independent $20 million call to study other fast-acting compounds such as:

• Ketamine: an anesthetic with psychedelic properties at certain doses and in therapeutic settings.
• Esketamine: a compound related to ketamine, used in specific treatments for depression.
• Psilocybin: a psychoactive compound found in certain species of mushrooms.

What other projects are underway in drug research?

The investment in ibogaine is part of a broader U.S. government strategy to speed up research into psychedelic substances to develop fast-acting treatments for mental illnesses.

Among the main initiatives are:

The agreement between the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), which calls for increased veteran participation in clinical trials, training for health professionals and the collection of information on the effectiveness and costs of these therapies.

National Institutes of Health (NIH) research on ibogaine and opioid addiction, which aims to study whether new doses and ways of administering it can reduce its potential therapeutic risks.

And finally, ARPA-H’s ASCENT-IBO program, which seeks to advance phase 1 and 2 clinical trials to evaluate the safety and potential of ibogaine in treating opioid use disorder in order to move on to phase 3.

China has set up its largest electric car factory outside Asia in this Latin American country

BYD, the world’s largest electric car maker, chose Brazil to build what it describes as its largest industrial plant outside China. The complex, built in Camaçari, Bahia, covers 4.6 million square meters, a vast area that underscores the scale of the project. There the company produces electric and hybrid vehicles for the Brazilian market and, in the future, for the region.

It is already producing vehicles

The factory was inaugurated in 2025 and began assembling cars shortly afterward; by mid-2026, with about nine months in operation, it had already produced 100,000 electrified vehicles. In other words, it has moved beyond the construction phase and become a plant producing at scale. That 100,000-unit milestone is the clearest sign that the operation is up and running and growing.

On the path to full local production

In this first stage, much of the production is based on assembling vehicles that arrive partially from China. The major next step is localization: bringing the stamping, welding and painting processes to Brazil, which were expected to begin operating around August 2026.

Once those lines are fully operational, the plant will reduce its reliance on imported parts and shift to much more local production. The company plans to produce up to eight models in its first full year of operation.

How much was invested and how many jobs it creates

BYD’s investment in Brazil is estimated at about 5.5 billion reais for electric and hybrid vehicles. The plant’s capacity is projected at 150,000 units a year, with the possibility of scaling up to 300,000 in a second phase.

On employment, the operation employs about 5,500 direct workers, the vast majority from Bahia, and with the new phase at full capacity, it is expected to create up to 20,000 direct and indirect jobs.

This Chinese move is reshaping the electric vehicle map in Latin America

Beyond the numbers, the case marks a new stage: China is no longer just exporting cars to the region, but making them there. Having its largest plant outside Asia producing in Brazil reshapes the electric vehicle map in Latin America and is a concrete example of how global industrial competition reaches everyday life, in this case through the vehicles beginning to appear on the streets.

U.S. District Judge Beryl A. Howell of the District Court for the District of Columbia handed down the sentence after Oseguera pleaded guilty last July to conspiring to traffic drugs on behalf of the Milenio Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel over two decades.

Howell reduced the 30-year sentence sought by prosecutors, citing the defendant’s age, 68, and his chronic medical conditions, including cardiovascular problems and an immune system disorder that causes “confusion,” according to the defense.

The drug trafficker’s attorney also argued that the conditions of Oseguera’s confinement in isolation were contributing to his “mental and physical decline.”

The judge also noted that the defendant had helped bring cocaine and methamphetamine into the United States and had been involved in criminal organizations. In her view, these offenses had a “destabilizing effect” on the country.

Prosecutors had requested the 30-year sentence to ensure that “the defendant never has another opportunity to harm the United States.”

Before the sentence was read, Oseguera addressed the court in Spanish and offered a “public apology” for his “serious actions,” expressing regret for his “actions and the harm caused,” as EFE witnessed in the courtroom.

He also asked the court to ensure that, while he understood he had to “face the consequences,” the length of his sentence would allow him not to “die far away” from his family, one of his “greatest fears,” according to a letter he had prepared and read aloud.

Oseguera showed no visible reaction throughout the hearing to what he heard through an interpreter, as he does not speak English. He was wearing a green prison jumpsuit.

El Mencho, the founder and leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, died on Feb. 22, 2026, after being wounded during a Mexican Army military operation in Tapalpa, in the state of Jalisco.

His son, Rubén Oseguera González, known as El Menchito, was sentenced in March 2025 to life in prison plus 30 years in the United States for drug trafficking and firearms offenses. He is serving his sentence at ADX Florence, a federal supermax prison in Colorado.

SOURCE: EFE.

It also warns that if there have been major changes in a person’s physical appearance, such as surgery, injuries, or a significant weight loss or gain, and the person can no longer be recognized in their current passport photo, they must apply for a new one.

What are the seven requirements for a passport photo?

On its official website, the State Department lists the following photo requirements:

1. Lighting and shadows: The face must be evenly lit and show no shadows.
2. Size and position: The head and shoulders must be centered in the photo, and the person must be positioned several feet from the background. The printed image must measure 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm). The head must measure between 1 and 1 3/8 inches (25 to 35 mm), from the chin to the top.
3. Resolution and quality: The photo must be in color and high resolution and cannot be blurry, grainy, or pixelated. It may be printed on matte or glossy photo paper. It must not have red-eye, damage, or alterations from a digital scan.
4. Digital changes: the original photo must be submitted, with no edits, filters, or any kind of digital alteration.
5. Pose and expression: the person must face the camera, show their full face, and keep their head upright. The eyes must be fully visible, and exaggerated facial expressions should be avoided.
6. Clothing, hats, and glasses: Glasses, hats, and face masks must be removed, unless there are properly documented medical or religious reasons. In those cases, the supporting documentation must be provided and the face must remain fully visible. Uniforms, camouflage clothing, headsets, and hands-free devices are also not allowed. Jewelry and facial piercings are allowed as long as they do not cover the face.
7. Background: it must be white or off-white, plain, and free of shadows, textures, objects, or lines.

When can a passport application be rejected because of the photo?

The State Department may delay the application or reject it if the photo does not meet official requirements. Among the most common reasons are submitting a blurry, pixelated, dark photo or one with shadows, among other errors.

Where does the State Department recommend getting passport photos taken?

The State Department recommends three options for getting a valid photo for a U.S. passport: go to an authorized acceptance facility that offers photo service, use a commercial photo studio for documents, or ask a family member or friend to take the picture.

The agency clarifies that authorized facilities and photo service providers may charge different fees. That’s why, before submitting the application, it’s important to make sure the image meets the dimensions and conditions required by U.S. authorities.

What applications require a new passport photo?

The photo is required both when applying for a U.S. passport for the first time and when renewing one.

In both cases, the image must meet State Department requirements and must have been taken within the past six months.

According to his parents, they decided not to go to a health center right away because they found no bites, scratches or visible injuries on the boy’s face. They also said the animal was not behaving aggressively, so they did not realize the risk that contact posed.

How the illness progressed to a fatal outcome

Just under three weeks after the incident, the boy began vomiting repeatedly, lost sensation in his face and felt tingling. As the hours passed, his condition quickly worsened and prompted his emergency transfer to a hospital.

While waiting for medical care, other symptoms appeared, including a high fever, trouble swallowing, confusion and hallucinations. Once they learned about the contact with the bat, doctors began intensive rabies treatment.

However, the infection had already reached the central nervous system and, despite more than two weeks of efforts by the medical team, the boy died.

Why specialists insist on getting checked immediately

Doctors explained that bites from these animals can go completely unnoticed because their teeth are very small and do not always leave visible marks on the skin. For that reason, they recommend seeking medical attention after any direct physical contact, even when there are no apparent wounds.

Although human rabies is extremely rare in Canada (where only 28 cases have been recorded since 1924 and this was the first locally acquired case in Ontario since 1967), specialists note that once clinical symptoms appear, the disease is almost always fatal.

After the tragedy, the family decided to make what happened public to raise awareness about the importance of receiving post-exposure prophylaxis immediately after any contact with a bat.

During the drills, personnel tested their weapons systems against fixed ground targets and aerial targets in a series of maneuvers aimed at improving military readiness.

The activities were part of a training exercise by the argentinian Marine Infantry Amphibious Brigade. The training was also tied to preparations for the UNITAS 2027 Multinational Exercise, a military cooperation effort involving forces from different countries.

What the live-fire tests with the 40 mm Bofors guns were like

The exercise included two types of drills: on one hand, the Base Defense Battery carried out simultaneous firing with four Bofors 40/70 mm guns against fixed ground targets. The maneuver allowed crews to work on the coordinated use of these artillery pieces.

On the other hand, the training included specific air defense drills. For this, parachute-suspended targets were used after being dropped from a Sea King helicopter belonging to the Second Naval Helicopter Squadron.

The exercise tested the accuracy of the shots and the coordination needed to use the defense systems.

According to the Argentine Navy, the exercise also focused on the organization of the batteries, fire control and carrying out the various procedures involved in the operations.

Which units took part in the Argentine Navy operation

The deployment required the involvement of different components of the Marine Infantry Amphibious Brigade. The activity received support from the No. 1 Field Artillery Battalion, the Command and Logistics Support Battalion, the No. 1 Communications Battalion and the No. 2 Marine Infantry Battalion.

Also taking part were the Amphibious Engineers Company, the Barracks Services Group, the Weapons Workshop, the Baterías Marine Infantry Base, the Second Naval Helicopter Squadron and the Amphibious Commandos Group.

Coordination among the different components is important in operations that require integrating weapons systems, communications and specialized personnel.

UNITAS 2027: Why the Argentine Navy is training its personnel

One of the goals behind this exercise is preparation for the UNITAS 2027 Multinational Exercise. These types of events allow the participating forces to train common procedures and test their ability to act in a coordinated way in naval and amphibious operations.

In that context, the training aims to ensure crews can operate their weapons systems and respond in a coordinated way to different training scenarios.

In this way, the exercise made it possible to put the Bofors 40/70 mm guns through their paces, while also reinforcing the training of the personnel who make up the Argentine Navy’s air defense setup.

Space Force Gen. Michael Guetlein, who runs the program, outlined the plan Sept. 17 at the Ohio Space Forum in Cleveland. He said the Pentagon will put much of what it already owns into the field to “deter a coercive decapitation or rogue nation attack against the homeland.”

Guetlein calls this first stage Epic 1. A second stage, Epic 2, is set for 2035 and would add technology that isn’t ready yet, such as directed-energy weapons, quantum systems and new sensors and communications.

A program spokesperson declined to give more detail, citing operational security.

What is a ‘decapitation’ strike, and why does Golden Dome start there?

A decapitation strike is a surprise attack on a country’s top decision-makers. The goal is to kill them or cut them off before they can order a response, which leaves the rest of the military without direction.

Defending against that scenario is a much smaller job than the one Trump laid out in his January 2025 executive order. The order called for protection against every kind of missile attack, from major powers such as China and Russia as well as from rogue states such as North Korea.

Guetlein told senators in April that the fastest way to build a credible defense is to upgrade and connect systems the military already runs. He also said that firing multimillion-dollar interceptors at cheaper incoming threats can’t work over the long term, which is why the cheaper technology is planned for later.

Is Golden Dome on track for 2028, and how much will it cost?

Guetlein estimates Golden Dome will cost about $185 billion through 2035. Congress had appropriated roughly $22.9 billion as of April. The Congressional Budget Office priced a system that fully meets Trump’s order at $1.2 trillion over 20 years.

Funding is the biggest risk to the timeline. Trump asked Congress for $18 billion more for Golden Dome in fiscal 2027 through a party-line budget bill.

Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, told The Washington Times on Wednesday that Golden Dome may not be adequately funded. He pointed to a roughly $350 billion gap in defense funding for fiscal 2027.

A Nov. 4 report from the Congressional Research Service noted that lawmakers could use defense legislation to decide how far the project goes. The report also asked how Russia and China might respond and what the shield could mean for arms control.

What ESTA is

ESTA stands for Electronic System for Travel Authorization. It is not a visa or a traditional form: it is an electronic authorization requested online that determines whether a person qualifies to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program, or VWP. It replaces the visa application process, but only for those who qualify.

Who it is for

Only citizens of countries in the Visa Waiver Program can use ESTA, and there are 42 today. They are:

• Andorra
• Australia
• Austria
• Belgium
• Brunei
• Chile
• Croatia
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Ireland
• Israel
• Italy
• Japan
• Republic of Korea
• Latvia
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• Monaco
• Netherlands (citizens of Curacao, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, Saba and Sint Maarten cannot travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program if they apply for admission with passports from these countries)
• New Zealand
• Norway
• Poland
• Portugal
• Qatar
• San Marino
• Singapore
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Taiwan (this refers only to people who have unrestricted permanent residence rights in Taiwan and hold an electronic passport with a personal identification number)
• United Kingdom (British citizens who have unrestricted permanent residence rights in the United Kingdom: England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man)

What it allows and what it does not

The ESTA allows stays of up to 90 days per trip for tourism, business or transit to another country. It does not allow you to work for a U.S. employer or receive a salary from a source in the U.S. It also does not allow formal academic study, and the stay cannot be extended or changed to another immigration status once in the country.

The authorization allows travelers to board a trip and present themselves at a port of entry, but the final decision on admission is made by the officer of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) upon arrival. In other words, it is a travel authorization, not a guaranteed entry.

Requirements to apply

To apply for ESTA, generally speaking, you need:

• To be a citizen or national of one of the 42 countries in the Visa Waiver Program.
• To have a valid electronic passport (chip-enabled, machine-readable) that remains valid throughout the stay.
• To travel for tourism, business, or transit for a maximum of 90 days.
• To complete the online application by answering the eligibility questions (criminal history, immigration history, and travel history, among others).
• To have a valid email address, a payment method, and contact details in the U.S.
• To submit one application per traveler, including infants.

When Ledger signed his will in April 2003, he was 24 years old, and he had not yet met actress Michelle Williams. His daughter, Matilda Ledger, would not be born for another two years.

But that document was never updated and left everything to his parents, Kim Ledger and Sally Bell, and his three sisters, Kate, Olivia, and Ashleigh.

Ledger and Williams met while filming Brokeback Mountain, and Matilda was born in New York on October 28, 2005. The couple separated in 2007.

The fortune Ledger left when he died

When Ledger signed the will, it listed only about $118,000 in assets and cash. But his career took off in the following years, with an Oscar nomination for Brokeback Mountain and his role as the Joker in The Dark Knight.

When he died, at 28, his estate was estimated at more than $16.3 million.

The family’s final decision involving Matilda and Ledger’s will

Because the will left everything to his parents and sisters, many expected a legal battle. There was speculation that Williams would go to court to claim a share of the fortune for Matilda, but that fight never happened.

“Our family has gifted everything to Matilda,” the actor’s father, Kim Ledger, said in 2008. “There was never any question about the fact that Heath’s estate would go to Matilda. Never a question.”

Ledger’s family quickly made it clear that the money belonged to his daughter. By September 2008, the family had confirmed that Matilda would receive the estate. The executor, Adelaide accountant Mark Dyson, never revealed the exact amount she inherited.

The three stars that donated their paychecks to Matilda Ledger

Ledger was filming Terry Gillam’s The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus when he died. To finish the movie, Johny Deep, Jude Law, and Colin Farrell each played a version of his character, Tony.

The three actors reportedly donated their fees to Matilda. The film was finally released in 2009.

Those vehicles aren’t tanks or armored trucks. They’re the sedans, SUVs, vans and trucks that move people and supplies around bases every day, which the military calls nontactical vehicles.

The Army and the Defense Innovation Unit, a Pentagon office that adapts commercial technology for military use, launched the contest in May. It’s called ROADS, short for Robotic Operation for Autonomous Delivery and Sustainment.

Five teams made the cut for on-base testing at Fort Benning and at Fort Hood, Texas, according to the innovation unit. Tests are scheduled to run through the end of the year.

Why does the Pentagon want robotaxis on US Army bases?

The Defense Innovation Unit says the fleet runs without modern tools for dispatching and coordinating vehicles. As a result, many vehicles sit idle, the military keeps more of them than it needs and the risk of crashes goes up.

There’s a staffing cost, too: soldiers often leave training to drive troops or haul supplies around post. Alex Miller, chief technology officer to the Army chief of staff, said in May that automating those runs would free soldiers for their core duties.

The model is the driverless ride service civilians already use in cities like Phoenix and Atlanta. Forterra and May Mobility, which entered as one of the selected teams, say soldiers would book rides through an app.

The idea isn’t entirely new to the military. Forterra says it has already run robotaxi service for soldiers at Womack Army Medical Center at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Which companies are testing self-driving tech on Army bases, and what happens next?

The five teams are Applied Intuition, Bot Auto, Perrone Robotics, Forterra paired with May Mobility, and Overland AI paired with Gatik.

For the first few weeks, human drivers will operate the vehicles to map approved routes, Army officials said. Those routes leave out sensitive sites such as the airfield and ammunition supply points.

Each vehicle will carry a safety driver during testing before any switch to fully driverless operation, according to the Army. Forterra says the schedule includes a monthlong pilot at Fort Benning.

Teams that perform well could share in the prize money and qualify for follow-on production contracts. Those contracts would open the door to a wider rollout across military installations.

The new rules took effect on February 16, 2026. They also extend the period used to calculate accumulated points, meaning some drivers could face administrative action based on violations committed over a longer period.

How does New York’s driver violation point system work?

New York uses a point system to track traffic violations and identify drivers with repeated offenses. The DMV assigns a specific number of points to certain violations, and the total can lead to additional requirements or action against a driver’s license.

The agency considers violations committed within a 24-month period, up from 18 months. Drivers who accumulate 11 or more points during that period may be required to attend a formal hearing, where their license could be suspended or revoked. Those who accumulate between 7 and 10 points may be required to attend a driver improvement clinic.

Which traffic violations now carry more points in New York?

The updated system increased the point values for several offenses. The current penalties include:

• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (DWI/DWAI): 11 points.
• Driving with a suspended or revoked license (aggravated unlicensed operation): 11 points.
• Passing a stopped school bus: 8 points.
• Speeding in a construction zone: 8 points, regardless of how far above the posted limit the driver was traveling.
• Driving a vehicle that exceeds height limits or striking a bridge or highway structure: 8 points.
• Leaving the scene of an accident involving personal injury without reporting it: 5 points.
• Failing to exercise due care: 5 points.
• Facilitating aggravated unlicensed operation: 5 points.
• Taking part in a speed contest or illegal race: 5 points.

These are among the violations specifically affected by the 2026 changes. Other offenses also carry points under the state’s existing rules.

How many points do other driving violations carry?

The state also assigns points to other common traffic offenses. Under the current schedule, the values include:

• Reckless driving: 5 points.
• Using a mobile phone or portable electronic device while driving: 5 points.
• Railroad crossing violations: 5 points.
• Following another vehicle too closely: 4 points.
• Speeding between 10 and 20 mph over the limit: 4 points.
• Speeding between 20 and 30 mph over the limit: 6 points.
• Speeding between 30 and 40 mph over the limit: 8 points.
• Speeding more than 40 mph over the limit: 11 points.
• Failing to yield the right of way: 3 points.
• Disobeying a traffic signal or stop sign: 3 points.
• Improper passing or changing lanes unsafely: 3 points.
• Leaving the scene of an accident involving property damage without reporting it: 3 points.
• Certain child seat belt or safety restraint violations: 3 points.

The piece belonged to a private collection, and the current owners were unaware of its true historical value. However, the discovery made a major impact on the art market and changes the foundations of Baroque painting, particularly that of the famous artist.

How Caravaggio’s lost painting was found

Art historian Maria Cristina Terzaghi located the original canvas in the back room of a Paris gallery. The work had only been known through four old copies preserved in different European museums.

Experts analyzed the quality of the chiaroscuro, the naturalism of the figure and the detailed reflections in the water in Boy with a Rosebush. The researchers thus confirmed the technical traits characteristic of the painter during his early years in Rome.

In this way, based on these features, the famous Caravaggio artwork that resurfaced in Paris changes everything we know about the Baroque painter after nearly 200 years, especially the style of his early period.

The importance of this painting for art history

The canvas dates to between 1596 and 1597 and portrays a pensive young man accompanied by flowers. In this way, the depiction redefines the concept of love and melancholy in the early Baroque period.

The composition is directly linked to the series on the senses that the artist developed in his youth. The piece thus provides a key insight into the Italian master’s artistic evolution in his view of love and the senses, according to specialists.

Gates linked that possibility to rising productivity and the need to rethink how much time people spend on the job.

Bill Gates explained why the workweek could be cut back

During the conversation with Trevor Noah, which took place in November 2023, Gates said work should not be seen as life’s only purpose and sketched out a scenario in which technology could take over a large share of production.

“If you zoom out, the purpose of life is not just to do jobs. So if you eventually get a society where you only have to work three days a week or something, that’s probably OK if the machines can make all the food and the stuff and we don’t have to work as hard.”

The businessman also said that, even with fewer working hours, demand for labor would still exist for certain activities.

“The demand for labor to do good things is still there if you match the skills to it, and then if you ever get beyond that, then, OK, you have a lot of leisure time and will have to figure out what to do with it.”

Gates’ idea was tied to a future in which technology makes it possible to boost productivity without necessarily keeping the same work schedules.

What Gates said about artificial intelligence and jobs

Gates also acknowledged that new technologies can displace workers. To explain that process, he pointed to the drop in the number of people working in agriculture compared with earlier generations.

In his view, the impact could be manageable if new technologies are adopted gradually and workers are supported in learning new skills.

“So if it proceeds at a reasonable pace, and the government helps those people who have to learn new things, then it’s all good.”

The businessman added that boosting productivity through software could be especially important in the face of population aging.

The debate over AI’s impact on jobs also took on greater importance in 2023, as different companies began adding artificial intelligence tools to their processes. In that context, Gates had defended the technology’s potential to improve productivity, health care and education.

In March of that year, he also called for rules governing the development of artificial intelligence, with the goal of ensuring its benefits outweighed the possible negative effects.

Starting in 2027, applicants under 21 years old will have to complete a 30-hour driver education course or a shorter driver awareness program before they can obtain the permit.

What is Colorado’s new requirement for young drivers?

The new requirements are part of House Bill 24-1021, a law that updates Colorado’s driver education standards for people under 21. The policy expands mandatory training to age groups that previously did not have to complete an educational course before taking the written permit test.

Applicants between 18 and 20 will have two options:

• Complete a 30-hour driver education course.
• Or take a four-hour driver awareness program. The shorter program must be completed in person.

The new standards will affect people applying for a Colorado instruction permit on or after January 1, 2027. They will not apply to drivers who already have a learner’s permit before that date.

• Applicants aged 16 and 17: Previously, they did not have to complete a driver education course before obtaining a learner’s permit. Starting in 2027, they will have to complete 30 hours of training.
• Applicants aged 15 to 15 and a half: They already had to complete a 30-hour driver education course, and that requirement remains unchanged.
• Applicants aged 15 and a half to 16: They could previously choose between a 30-hour course and a four-hour driver awareness program. Starting in 2027, the shorter option will no longer be available.

Other requirements Colorado drivers have to meet

The new law also establishes additional training requirements for people under 21 who want to obtain a motorcycle instruction permit or endorsement. They will have to successfully complete a motorcycle safety training program approved by the Colorado State Patrol.

Other requirements for young drivers will remain in place. Permit holders under 18 must still complete at least 50 hours of supervised driving before becoming eligible for a driver’s license.

Additionally, those who obtain their licenses before turning 16 and a half must complete six hours of behind-the-wheel training with a professional instructor.

Section 78B-5-202 of the Utah Code sets how long a court judgment can be enforced, when it can be renewed, and what measures can be taken against the debtor parent’s real estate.

What are the legal deadlines for claiming overdue child support payments?

In Utah, child support debt can be claimed within two legal deadlines, as provided in Section 78B-5-202, which is part of Chapter 5: Judgments, Orders, and Appeals of Title 78B (Utah Judicial Code).

On the one hand, the law allows payment to be enforced up to four years after the child reaches adulthood. On the other, it also sets an eight-year period from the date a court enters a judgment establishing the exact amount of the accumulated debt.

The law says the longer period applies. In addition, judgments setting a specific debt amount can be renewed to extend their term.

Once the legal deadlines to claim overdue child support have passed, the ability to enforce the judgment is lost and, therefore, so is the ability to collect payment.

How long is a court judgment valid in Utah?

Utah law says court judgments are generally valid for eight years from the date they are entered by a court.

During that period, the person in whose favor the judgment was entered may seek to enforce it. However, the deadline can change if:

• The debt is paid.
• A court renews the judgment.
• Enforcement is suspended under the law.

What happens when a judgment is renewed?

Renewal extends the period during which a judgment can be enforced. For child support debt, Section 78B-5-202 expressly allows this when there is a judgment establishing a fixed amount of overdue payments.

Renewal has three main effects:

• It preserves the original date: the judgment keeps the date it was first entered as the reference point.
• It preserves collection priority: it does not lose its standing against other claims because it was renewed.
• It starts a new legal period: unless there is a different legal or contractual provision, the period to begin court action based on that judgment starts over.

Renewal does not create a new obligation; it keeps alive the ability to enforce the judgment.

Collection measures: what happens if the person who owes child support has property in their name?

Utah law allows a court judgment to create a lien on the real property of the person who has a debt recognized by a court.

That means the creditor can obtain a legal claim on the debtor’s property to secure collection of the debt.

For the lien to take effect, the judgment or an abstract of it must be recorded with the county recorder’s office in the relevant county.

But John Travolta has said the main role on Forrest Gump was offered to him first, and he said no. Other actors were also considered to play Forrest, including Bill Murray, Chevy Chase, and Sean Penn, according to Far Out Magazine.

The movie Travolta chose instead of Forrest Gump

By the early 1990s, Travolta needed a hit movie. After his success in the 1970s with Saturday Night Fever and Grease, he spent much of the 1980s in movies that failed with critics and audiences.

When Forrest Gump’s offer came, Travolta had another option on the table: a mid-budget film by a young director named Quentin Tarantino. The movie was Pulp Fiction, and the role was the iconic Vincent Vega.

Travolta’s decision was a hit and boosted his career. Pulp Fiction turned him into one of the most in-demand stars of the 1990s and led to movies such as Get Shorty and Face/Off.

The Oscar night twist

Both films were released in 1994, and both competed at the Academy Awards in March 1995. Travolta earned a Best Actor nomination for Pulp Fiction, his first in 17 years.

But the winner in his category was Tom Hanks for the role Travolta had turned down. Forrest Gump won six Oscars, including Best Picture, and earned about $678 million worldwide. Pulp Fiction won one award, for Best Original Screenplay.

Does Travolta regret turning down Forrest Gump?

Travolta has said he doesn’t regret his decision. When he was asked about it by MTV in 2007, he answered, “No, because if I didn’t do something Tom Hanks did, then I did something else that was equally interesting or fun... But I feel good about some I gave up because other careers were created.”

Forrest Gump wasn’t the only time their paths crossed. Travolta has said he also turned down the lead role in Splash (1984), which became one of Hanks’ first big hits. In a conversation with Kevin Hart, Travolta said the character had been written for him.

Hanks, meanwhile, reportedly accepted Forrest Gump about an hour and a half after reading the script.

For this reason, preschool, elementary, and high school students will have -counting the weekends- nine straight days without classes to rest and enjoy one of the most anticipated holidays in the United States.

Confirmed by Education: LAUSD schools will close from Nov. 23 to 27

The Los Angeles Unified School District is the second-largest in the U.S., with more than 520,000 students enrolled.

The official calendar says all of these students will have fall break from Nov. 23 to 27, when public schools in the district suspend classes.

This break includes Thanksgiving, a federal holiday observed nationwide on Thursday, Nov. 26. As a tradition, families share a dinner centered on the typical turkey.

Other holidays listed in the LAUSD 2026-2027 calendar

The official calendar shared by LAUSD includes:

• Jan. 18, 2027: Martin Luther King Jr. Day
• Feb. 15, 2027: Presidents Day
• May 31, 2027: Memorial Day
• June 18, 2027: Juneteenth

Which schools are covered by the LAUSD calendar

According to authorities, the district covers much of the city of Los Angeles and another 25 cities and unincorporated areas, some in part and others entirely.

It specifies that the public schools in the following cities are part of LAUSD:

• Gardena
• Huntington Park
• Lomita
• Maywood
• San Fernando
• Vernon
• West Hollywood

Partially, schools in the following cities also fall under LAUSD:

• Bell
• Bell Gardens
• Beverly Hills
• Carson
• Commerce
• Cudahy
• Culver City
• Hawthorne
• Inglewood
• Long Beach
• Los Angeles
• Lynwood
• Montebello
• Monterey Park
• Rancho Palos Verdes
• Santa Clarita
• South Gate
• Torrance

Those who want to see the full school calendar and the different special dates can do so by checking this link.

The test ran Nov. 2-6 at the Ustka Training Area on Poland’s Baltic coast, according to an Army report published Nov. 9. It was led by the 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, part of U.S. Army Europe and Africa, under the name Operation Audacious Fury.

The FD-1 is made by Mountain Horse Solutions, a subsidiary of Global Ordnance. The company announced Oct. 12 that the Army had ordered more of the interceptors, but neither side has disclosed the number of units or the contract’s value.

The Army has not released results from the exercise. That includes how many FD-1s were used, how many targets were hit and what each interception cost.

Why doesn’t the US Army want to fire pricey missiles at cheap drones?

It comes down to math. An attack drone that costs a few thousand dollars can force a defender to fire an interceptor that costs millions. Repeat that across hundreds of drones, and the attacker wins on cost even when every drone is shot down.

Then-Army Secretary Dan Driscoll pointed to that imbalance in May. He noted that Patriot missiles cost millions of dollars each, while a Shahed attack drone, the type Russia has fired at Ukraine in large waves, costs about $4,000.

Brent Ingraham, an assistant secretary of the Army, made the same point later that month at a Pentagon briefing. He said the service needs to stop relying on Patriot missiles to take down inexpensive drones.

The battalion behind the Poland test is working from that same logic. Its commander, Lt. Col. John Verwiel, said in the Army’s account that the unit wants affordable options against mass drone attacks so it can save its most advanced munitions for the threats that need them.

How do the US Army’s drones that hunt other drones work?

The FD-1 is a first-person-view drone. The operator flies it through a live camera feed, as if sitting in the cockpit, and steers it straight into an enemy drone to physically take it out.

During the test, soldiers also launched the FD-1 from an SGT Stout, a Stryker armored vehicle the Army uses for short-range air defense. That pairing suggests the drones are meant to add a cheaper layer to existing air defenses, not replace them.

Much of the exercise focused on people rather than hardware. The unit set out to build the playbook and certification steps that can turn a soldier with no drone experience into a qualified pilot. Staff Sgt. Felix Aguilar said his soldiers, who enlisted to run air defense systems, are now certified and flying drones out over the Baltic Sea.

Verwiel wants to standardize both the training and the way troops engage targets, then roll the method out widely. The soldiers who ran the test are expected to become the instructors who teach it to other units across U.S. Army Europe and Africa.

A law signed by Governor Gavin Newsom in July 2026 expanded access to the state’s mobile driver’s license program, allowing more residents to add their credentials to a digital wallet.

However, the digital version does not replace the physical driver’s license. The California DMV requires participants to keep their physical cards with them, even if they have already downloaded the mobile version.

What changed with California’s new driver’s license law?

On July 13, 2026, Newsom signed Senate Bill 169 (SB 169), which increased the participation limit for California’s Mobile Driver License Pilot Program from 15% to 60% of the state’s licensed drivers.

The expansion makes the digital identification option available to millions more Californians. The program is voluntary and allows participants to access a digital version of their driver’s license or state identification card through their smartphones.

The mobile driver’s license is free, but participation remains subject to the program’s enrollment limit.

How can California drivers get a digital driver’s license?

Residents who want to join the program can download the CA DMV Wallet app from the Apple App Store or Google Play. They must then sign in to their MyDMV account or create one and follow the instructions to verify their identity.

The process requires users to scan their physical driver’s license or identification card. Once approved, they can access their mobile credentials through the DMV Wallet app or add them to Apple Wallet, Google Wallet, or Samsung Wallet.

The mobile version can be used at participating TSA airport security checkpoints, select retail locations for age verification, and certain online government services. However, not every agency, business, or law enforcement authority accepts digital identification.

To do so, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) uses Form I-90, a standard procedure that also allows the card to be replaced if it was stolen, lost, damaged, or contains incorrect information.

Who must file Form I-90 to renew a green card?

USCIS sets out different situations in which a lawful permanent resident must apply to replace their card. There is no need to reapply for permanent residence or start over in the process that granted it.

The cases covered by the agency include:

• Residents whose Green Card has expired or will expire within the next six months.
• People whose card was stolen, lost, destroyed, or damaged.
• Immigrants who received their card before turning 14 and have now reached that age, under USCIS rules.
• Residents who legally changed their name or other biographic information.
• People who received a card with incorrect information.
• Immigrants who never received the Green Card USCIS sent them.
• Residents who need to update their document because of changes in their residency status or because they have an older version that no longer proves their immigration status.

How to renew an expired Green Card with Form I-90

The standard process begins with filing Form I-90, called Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card. Applicants can complete the process online or mail the printed paperwork.

USCIS explains that by filing online, immigrants can use a computer, phone, or tablet to complete the application. In addition, an online account allows them to:

• Pay the required fee.
• Check the status of the case.
• Receive notifications and updates.
• View personalized estimates for when the process will be completed.
• Respond to requests for evidence.
• Update contact information and address.

Those who prefer to file on paper can also do so. However, they must send the package to the appropriate USCIS address to avoid processing delays.

The property stands out for its four-bedroom configuration and two full bathrooms, distributed between its two levels. Its design also incorporates large glass surfaces and outdoor areas, giving the structure a more open feel than traditional small homes.

Four bedrooms and two bathrooms across two floors

The main attraction of this two-story tiny house is how it distributes its living spaces. Rather than concentrating everything on a single level, the floor plan separates the bedrooms and common areas to provide greater flexibility.

The first floor includes one bedroom, a living room, a kitchen and a full bathroom. This arrangement creates an independent living area that can accommodate everyday activities without requiring residents to use the upper level.

A spiral staircase connects the two floors. Upstairs, the layout provides three additional bedrooms, another area for relaxing and a second full bathroom.

This configuration brings the total to four bedrooms and two bathrooms, making the property an option for households that need multiple sleeping areas while maintaining shared spaces.

Large windows, two patios and a customizable design

Another feature of the model is its emphasis on natural light. The ground-floor bedroom includes floor-to-ceiling windows, while the entrance features insulated glass doors.

The house also has two outdoor patios, one associated with each level. These spaces can be used for outdoor seating, a small dining area or a place to relax.

Its modular construction is another distinguishing feature. According to the product description reported by Travel + Leisure, buyers can work with the manufacturer to customize aspects of the structure according to their preferences.

The listed construction features include a stainless steel frame, galvanized steel support beams, a waterproof roof and reinforced, fire-resistant floorboards. These elements are intended to provide structural support and protection.

How much does Amazon’s two-story tiny house cost?

The home is listed for $42,000 on Amazon, placing it in the prefabricated housing category rather than the traditional real estate market.

However, the purchase price should not be confused with the total cost of establishing a home. Buyers will need to have land available for the structure, and should confirm directly with the seller what is included in the purchase, including delivery, installation and any additional requirements.

Northwood Space, the company she co-funded in 2022, raised $375 million in a new funding round that valued it at $2 billion, as Axios reported.

The funding round that defined Northwood Space as a $2 billion company

The round in which Northwood achieved the $2 billion mark was led by Andreessen Horowitz and DJF Growth, and investors such as In-Q-Tel also participated.

It is the company’s second big round this year. The first was in early 2026, when Northwood raised $100 million and won a contract worth nearly $50 million with the U.S. Space Force to help modernize its satellite control network.

Two years earlier, in 2024, Northwood Space had raised $6.3 million in its first funding round.

What does Bridgit Mendler’s company build?

Northwood does not build rockets but instead builds the ground stations and antennas that let satellites send data back to Earth.

The need for their products is growing fast. In 2020 there were about 3,500 operational satellites. Today there are more than 17,000, according to the American Enterprise Institute.

Traditional ground stations use large dishes that move mechanically and take months to build. Northwood’s antennas can track several satellites at once without moving parts and can be set up in hours.

The Northwood Space growth

The company, based in Torrance, California, has 140 employees and plans to hire 400 more. It is also building a 180,000-square-foot facility in El Segundo, California, designed to produce hundreds of antennas, according to Northwood.

Northwood already operates five ground sites. Mendler has explained that the company often places them at data centers to provide them with everything they need.

From Disney to Harvard and MIT

Before space business, Mendler was a familiar face on Disney Channel, with roles in Good Luck Charlie and Wizards of Waverly Place. She later left acting behind, studied at Harvard and MIT, and co-funded Northwood with her husband and two technical partners.

Her past still draws attention, but she is focused on a hard problem. “Space is just hard, and executing against missions is really technically complex,” she told Fortune in August.

Mendler sees a big opportunity in a market where the number of satellites keeps growing: “If you can accomplish how hard it is, it’s like there’s this pot of gold at the end of some rainbow,” she told Fortune.

However, meeting that deadline does not guarantee approval: applicants must also meet other requirements and pass the required screening.

What are the requirements to apply for U.S. citizenship after five years

USCIS sets out a series of conditions for lawful permanent residents seeking to become U.S. citizens:

• Be at least 18 years old when filing Form N-400.
• Have been a lawful permanent resident for at least five years.
• Have maintained continuous residence in the United States for the 5 years prior to applying.
• Have been physically present in the country for at least 30 months of that period.
• Have lived for at least three months in the state or district where the USCIS office handling the case has jurisdiction.
• Demonstrate good moral character during the five years before filing.
• Accept the principles of the U.S. Constitution.
• Be able to read, write, and speak basic English, unless an exemption applies.
• Pass the civics test unless an applicable exception applies.
• Take the Oath of Allegiance to the United States.

Who can apply for citizenship without waiting five years

Five years as a permanent resident is not the only path to naturalization. USCIS recognizes other categories that allow applicants to begin the process under specific conditions:

• Spouses of U.S. citizens may apply for naturalization after 3 years as permanent residents, provided they meet the requirements.
• Members of the armed forces: active-duty service members and certain veterans may be eligible for special pathways to citizenship.
• Children of U.S. citizens: they may acquire citizenship if they meet the conditions set by law, which depend on age, residence, and family status.

How to apply for citizenship with Form N-400

The naturalization process begins with filing Form N-400 with USCIS. The process includes:

• Confirming that naturalization requirements are met.
• Completing and filing Form N-400.
• Attending a biometrics appointment, if USCIS requests one.
• Appearing for the naturalization interview.
• Taking the English and civics tests when required.
• Receiving USCIS’s decision.
• Attending the ceremony and taking the Oath of Allegiance.

It is worth noting that applying does not mean automatic approval. USCIS reviews applicants’ records and the information submitted before making a decision.

What test do you have to pass to get U.S. citizenship

Most applicants must take the naturalization test during the interview. The exam has two parts:

• English: The test checks the ability to read, write, and speak the language.
• Civics: This section includes questions about U.S. history, government, and core principles.

There is one important point to keep in mind about the civics test:

• Those who filed Form N-400 before Oct. 20, 2025, must take the 2008 civics test. For this group, there is a list of 100 questions and answers, as well as practice tests.
• Those who filed on or after Oct. 20, 2025, must take the 2025 test. For them, there are 128 questions and answers, as well as an official study guide.

When that happens, the agency may send letters, emails, and even call by phone to request the necessary information.

“You must respond to the letter or email within 90 days so we can continue processing your application,” authorities say.

What to check in the letter or email sent by the State Department

The communication will include the application number, essential for those who need to call with any questions.

The body of the message will specify what additional information must be sent and may include an illustration for visual support.

Authorities say it will also include a date, and the 90 days to respond begin on the day shown in the communication. A QR code may sometimes appear among the elements, with instructions for review.

Until there is a response, the State Department may put the application on hold. Each letter or email will indicate whether the recipient can respond by email or must send physical documents.

Important information for everyone who receives these notices

Travel State will send updates to the email address each applicant provided in the application. If more information is needed, there will be two notices: the first indicating the issue and the second stating that the required information has been received.

This second update, which indicates that the application can move forward without issues, will say “Information Received, In Process Again”.

Common reasons the agency may contact you

As detailed, some of the common reasons are:

• Applying for a passport while still having a valid one
• There is a problem with the most recent passport
• Having unpaid child support or overdue federal taxes
• Submitting an unacceptable photo
• Needing to submit a new U.S. birth certificate
• When applying for a minor’s passport, the relevant adult did not appear in person
• The documents submitted with a minor’s application cannot prove that the person is actually their parent or legal guardian
• Form DS-82 was mailed in, but something is missing to move forward
• Another photo ID needs to be submitted
• The applicant changed their name and did not provide enough information
• Form DS-5513 or DS-5520 must be completed, and more proof of citizenship and identity must be submitted

Those who want to learn more about each of these situations can do so by clicking here.

Authorities may fine people for this behavior on the street, as well as those who leave a vehicle door permanently open on the traffic side after passengers have gotten in.

What Statute 316.2005 says about carelessly opening and closing car doors

According to the state law set out in Statute 316.2005, “No person shall open any door on a motor vehicle unless and until it is reasonably safe to do so,” which means that before making this move, it is essential to check that no other vehicle is coming and that the action will not disrupt traffic. Careless opening and closing of doors is grounds for a fine.

The code also says no vehicle door on the side of moving traffic may be left open longer than necessary for passengers to get in or out.

What is the fine for not being careful when opening and closing car doors?

Failing to comply with these provisions will result in a fine known as a “noncriminal traffic infraction,” which is punishable as a “nonmoving violation.”

These fines refer to offenses that are not moving violations but rather a failure to comply with another type of rule related to vehicle use.

Under Chapter 318 of the Florida Statutes, this type of penalty carries a $30 fine.

The extended forecast, published Tuesday, Nov. 10, forecasts the arrival of severe weather starting Saturday, Nov. 14, and details which regions will be affected by these conditions.

What dangers is the National Weather Service warning about?

The main risk is the combination of heavy precipitation, snow in higher elevations and temperatures well below typical November readings.

The NWS also warned about the following conditions:

• Moderate to heavy rain in parts of Texas and Oklahoma.
• Snow in areas of the Great Lakes, West Virginia and western Maryland.
• The season’s first widespread frosts in parts of the South and the Tennessee and Ohio river valleys.
• Temperatures 5 to 15 degrees F below average in the Southeast, the Mid-Atlantic and the central Appalachians.

What is expected for Saturday, Nov. 14, and Sunday, Nov. 15?

On Saturday, Nov. 14, the low-pressure system will continue affecting the Northeast. Precipitation is expected in New England, and snow in higher elevations of the Great Lakes, West Virginia, and western Maryland. Moderate to heavy rain is also forecast in parts of Texas and Oklahoma.

On Sunday, Nov. 15, the rain will continue in those two states before moving into the Gulf Coast. Meanwhile, the Northwest will remain cold and windy.

How will the weather evolve through Wednesday, Nov. 18?

Between Monday, Nov. 16, and Tuesday, Nov. 17, temperatures are expected to gradually moderate in the eastern U.S. as the low-pressure system moves away. However, precipitation will continue in areas near the Great Lakes.

By Wednesday, Nov. 18, the NWS forecasts new rain in California and southwest Oregon, along with snow in mountain areas.

Heavy snow could also hit parts of the Sierra Nevada, the Klamath Mountains, the Wasatch Range and the central and southern Rocky Mountains.