20251101-news-a02briefs

Trump: Senate should scrap the filibuster to end shutdown

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is calling on the Senate to scrap the filibuster so the Republican majority can bypass Democrats and reopen the federal government. Trump on social media called getting rid of the 60-vote threshold in the Senate the “nuclear option.” From coast to coast, fallout from the dysfunction of a shuttered federal government is hitting home. Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska says, “People are stressing,” as food options in her state grow scarce. There is no end yet in sight to settling the political standoff with negotiations.

Unidentified remains of 3 people transferred to Israel

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — The Red Cross says it has transferred the unidentified remains of three people to Israel but an Israeli military official says they were still being examined and may not be those of missing hostages. The official, who spoke Friday on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to speak to the media, said the remains had been turned over to the Red Cross by Hamas in Gaza. The handover follows Israel’s return earlier Friday of the bodies of 30 Palestinians to authorities in Gaza. That completed an exchange after militants turned over remains of two hostages, in a sign that the tense Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement is edging forward.

FBI: Multiple people have been arrested in attack plot

DEARBORN, Mich. — FBI Director Kash Patel says federal officials have arrested multiple people in Michigan who had allegedly been plotting a violent attack over the Halloween weekend. Patel announced the arrests in a social media post, saying they took place Friday morning. FBI and state police were in a neighborhood near Fordson High School in Dearborn and also in Inkster. Two people briefed on the investigation told The Associated Press that authorities believe the plot was inspired by Islamic State extremism.

Trump declines to clarify statement on nuclear tests

ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE — President Donald Trump has declined to say whether he plans to resume underground nuclear detonation tests. He had seemed to suggest that was a possibility in a social media post this week. The post raised concerns the U.S. would begin testing nuclear weapons for the first time in three decades. The president told reporters, “You’ll find out very soon” when he was asked about it. Trump said, “We’re going to do some testing” and “Other countries do it. If they’re going to do it, we’re going to.” But he refused to offer more details. He spoke aboard Air Force One as he headed to Florida on Friday for the weekend.

Attack on hospital in Darfur came in waves, WHO says

CAIRO — The World Health Organization reports that gunmen who reportedly killed at least 460 people at a hospital in Sudan’s Darfur region returned three times to the facility during their assault. The attack happened Tuesday, the same day the Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary group, captured the provincial capital after a long siege. Witnesses describe waves of violence, including house-to-house assaults and summary executions. The Rapid Support Forces deny the hospital killings, claiming they are caring for patients. Since the capture of El-Fasher, humanitarian access has been blocked, and many residents have fled. The U.N. migration agency estimates over 62,000 people have fled the area.

Ohio, Virginia move forward with redistricting plans

A Republican-led panel in Ohio has adopted new U.S. House districts, potentially boosting the GOP’s chances of gaining two seats in next year’s elections. The new map approved Friday comes as President Donald Trump pushes for Republican states to reshape districts for electoral advantage. Ohio’s redistricting was mandated by the state constitution because the current districts were enacted without bipartisan support. Meanwhile, Virginia’s Democratic-led General Assembly on Friday advanced a proposed constitutional amendment to allow redistricting ahead of the midterm elections. Democrats nationally need to gain three seats to control the House and counter Trump’s agenda.