Botswana has so many elephants it approved the killing of 23 this week for independence celebrations

The Independent - Oct 2, 2026

Botswana’s government has authorized the killing of 23 elephants for its independence day celebrations this week

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Oct 2, 2026

A 558-acre Wyoming ranch sat unsold for 14 months; auction plan drew a buyer before bidding began

A 558-acre Wyoming ranch sat unsold for 14 months despite a price cut from nearly $20 million to $15 million. When the owner planned a no-reserve auction, about 40 prospective bidders visited the property in 36 days, prompting one buyer to make an offer before the auction began.

Oct 2, 2026

Riot police clash with students as education protests rage in France

About 735 schools have faced disruption as violent protests over standards and lack of teachers continue.

Oct 2, 2026

Hawaii's iconic 550-year-old Hōlei Sea Arch collapses

The lava rock formation protruding from the rocky cliffs of Volcanoes National Park crumbled some time last weekend.

Oct 2, 2026

US murderer Christa Pike unconscious and on ventilator after failed execution, lawyers say

As of Thursday night, Pike remained critically ill and is being treated at a hospital in Nashville, Tennessee.

Oct 2, 2026

G7 to release 100 million barrels of oil and diesel after Trump export ban threat

The coordinated release is aimed at heading off further price spikes and avoiding a ban on US diesel exports.

Oct 2, 2026

In 2022, loggers cut 1,299 trees on Mississippi couple's land; tally helped secure $41,920 award

In a significant logging error, 1,299 trees were cut down on Gerald and Rhonda Smith's property in Mississippi. The Smiths meticulously recorded the extent of their loss through photographs and measurements, leading to legal proceedings. A court recognized the logging company's blatant negligence, awarding the couple $41,920. Expert surveyor J.T. Strickland confirmed the boundary lines, and the appeals court reaffirmed the lower court’s ruling, validating the Smiths' claims for damages.

Oct 2, 2026

US official says Trump does not view talks with N. Korea as 'concession'

WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump does not view talks with North Korea as a "concession" and is willing to engage Pyongyang if doing so serves U.S. national interests, the State Department spokesperson said Friday. Tommy Pigott, spokesperson for the State Department, made the remarks when asked how the U.S. government is supporting Trump's stated willingness to meet Kim amid renewed attention to the prospects of diplomacy between Washington and Pyongyang. "The determination comes from a president who doesn't believe talking to someone is a concession," Pigott said during a meeting with foreign reporters in Washington. "If it's in our national interest to talk to someone, he's going to talk with them." Trump has recently expressed his intention to meet Kim later this year, with the White House reiterating that the president remains open to talks with the North Korean leader "without any preconditions." Pigott also said the U.S. remains committed to the "complete" denuclearization of North Korea. "Our policy regarding the complete denuclearization of North Korea remains the same,"

Oct 2, 2026

White House official stresses shipbuilding cooperation with S. Korea, need to reward investors

WASHINGTON — A senior White House official on Friday underscored the need for shipbuilding cooperation with South Korea and Japan, as U.S. President Donald Trump's administration strives to rebuild the United States' shipbuilding industry and its Navy. Russell Vought, director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, made the remarks during a forum in Washington, also highlighting the need to reward companies that come to the United States and make investments there. "We're going to be doing ... with the Japanese and South Koreans," he said during the forum hosted by the Hudson Institute. "We want to learn from them. We want to see how they make ships and then apply it here." Vought mentioned "major investments" by South Korea's Hanwha Group to acquire Philly Shipyard in Philadelphia, stressing the need to open up federal contracting opportunities to other companies rather than just "prioritizing the primes," firms that the U.S. government has traditionally worked with. In addition, the official called for rewarding companies that invest in the U.S. "I think we need to reward

Oct 2, 2026

Here's why experts say now is an ideal time to protect yourself from flu

It’s October and time for flu shots. Medical experts urge getting a flu vaccination soon, before influenza starts spreading widely — and to get up to date on protection against other fall respiratory viruses, too. Updated COVID-19 shots are available now, plus shots for people especially vulnerable to another winter risk called RSV. While these infections make many people feel miserable for a few days before they recover, every year flu alone causes hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations in the U.S. and kills tens of thousands. Vaccination isn’t “a guarantee that we’re going to prevent illness. But just like the seat belt in your car, it decreases risk” of the worst outcomes, said Dr. Ryan Stanton of the American College of Emergency Physicians. Fall vaccine advice usually comes from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and its independent advisory panel. But this year that panel, which influences state and insurance vaccine policies, is caught in a court battle and the CDC hasn't updated its flu advice. Now doctors’ groups are filling the gap: the American Acad

Oct 2, 2026

NY governor says Cornell rape accuser 'failed' by people obligated to protect her

NEW YORK — The woman who accused members of a Cornell University fraternity of gang rape was “failed” by people obligated to protect her, including campus police and the county prosecutor, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said Friday. Hochul said at a news conference that she decided to appoint Attorney General Letitia James as a special prosecutor to take over the investigation after learning “troubling details” about how authorities have handled the woman’s claims thus far, including that the district attorney closed the case without having anyone interview the accuser or anyone else involved in the alleged attack. “In what world does the district attorney not even interview her, or anyone else involved, or even request the full transcript?” Hochul said. “This woman, this young woman, had already endured something that is utterly unspeakable. And then at every turn, she was failed by people and institutions with an obligation to protect her.” She also assailed the Cornell University Police Department for not fully conveying the woman’s story to prosecutors. “After thi

Oct 2, 2026

US stocks rise near record after latest jobs report calms rattled bond market

NEW YORK — U.S. stocks are rising near their all-time high on Friday after the latest jobs report cooled worries that a potentially hot U.S economy could make inflation much worse. The S&P 500 rose 0.7 percent and pulled within 1 perce. of its record set in August . The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 164 points, or 0.3 percent, as of 11:45 a.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 1.2 percent higher. All of Wall Street got a jolt after the U.S. government said employers across the country added 29,000 jobs to their payrolls last month. That was fewer than economists expected and a slowdown from August’s hiring rate of 133,000. More importantly for financial markets, it tamped down concerns that the U.S. economy could be so strong that it could fuel inflation even higher. Inflation has remained much worse than anyone would like, and the Federal Reserve recently raised its main interest rate for the first time in three years to try to rein in the painful increases for the cost of living. Even though Americans are feeling more frustrated about inflation and their finances, th

Oct 2, 2026

G7 nations will release 100 mil. barrels of oil and diesel fuel after prices soar

WASHINGTON — The Group of Seven industrial nations said Friday that they plan to release 100 million barrels of oil and fuel products in the coming weeks, starting with “substantial” amounts of diesel after the fuel recently hit record high prices in the United States. President Donald Trump said the diesel release would happen “immediately," while a G7 statement promised a “frontloaded substantial release” of diesel within the next 20 days. Trump and his Republican Party face pressure to address surging prices ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections , and Trump announced the action Friday on social media. The president's approval ratings on the economy hit a new low, according to an AP-NORC poll , as the Iran war and his trade battles have increased U.S. prices for oil and other goods. Gas prices in the U.S. and abroad have soared during the eight-month-long war , a cost Trump has repeatedly said is worth it for making sure Iran does not obtain nuclear weapons. The national average for a gallon of diesel in the U.S. was $6.37 on Friday, according to AAA, after hitting a recor

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