James D. Watson, who co-discovered the double-helix structure of DNA in 1953, has died at 97, according to his former research lab. The Chicago-born scientist, only 24 at the time of the discovery, shared the 1962 Nobel Prize with Francis Crick and Maurice Wilkins for revealing DNA’s twisted-ladder shape — a breakthrough that revolutionized genetics, medicine, and forensic science.

Israel carried out heavy airstrikes on southern Lebanon on Thursday, targeting areas it said were used by Hezbollah to rebuild its military capabilities. The strikes followed evacuation orders for several towns, including Aita al-Jabal, Al-Tayyiba, and Tayr Debba, located 4 to 24 kilometers from the Israeli border. According to Lebanon’s health ministry, one person was killed and another wounded in the bombings.

Veteran actress Diane Ladd, a three-time Oscar nominee celebrated for her roles in Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Wild at Heart, and Rambling Rose, passed away at 89 at her home in Ojai, California. Her daughter, actress Laura Dern, confirmed the news with an emotional tribute, calling Ladd her “amazing hero” and “greatest gift.” Ladd’s illustrious career spanned film, television, and theatre, earning her acclaim for portraying strong, unforgettable women.

Nearly half of America’s 30 busiest airports are facing severe air traffic controller shortages, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported Friday, as the federal government shutdown entered its 31st day. The crisis has led to nationwide flight disruptions, with New York among the hardest-hit regions—losing 80% of its controllers.

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN DE MODE Article Published on: 31ST OCT 2025 | www.demodemagazine.com Hurricane Melissa’s confirmed death toll has risen to 49 after devastating much of the northern Caribbean and accelerating toward Bermuda. Haiti, though not directly struck, endured days of torrential rain, resulting in at least 30 deaths and 20 people missing. In Petit-Goave alone, 23 residents, including 10 children, perished when a river overflowed, destroying roads, homes, and far

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has ordered a crackdown on the use of H-1B visas in the state’s higher education institutions, directing universities to prioritize hiring qualified American workers over foreign labor. DeSantis criticized universities for relying on H-1B visa holders for positions such as professors and coordinators that could be filled by U.S. citizens.

A strong magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck western Türkiye on Monday night, centered in Sindirgi, Balikesir province, at a depth of nearly six kilometers, according to AFAD. The quake, felt across Istanbul, Bursa, Manisa, and Izmir, caused at least three previously damaged buildings and a two-storey shop to collapse. Fortunately, no fatalities have been reported so far. However, 22 people sustained injuries due to panic-related falls, authorities said. Interior Minister Ali Yer

Hurricane Melissa rapidly strengthened into a major Category 3 storm late Saturday, posing a severe threat of catastrophic flooding across the northern Caribbean. The slow-moving hurricane, with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph (185 kph), was centered approximately 125 miles south-southeast of Kingston, Jamaica, and 280 miles west-southwest of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, moving west at just 3 mph.

Queen Mother Sirikit of Thailand, revered for her dedication to rural development, traditional craft preservation, and environmental protection, passed away on Friday at the age of 93. The mother of King Vajiralongkorn and wife of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, she had been hospitalised since 2019 and succumbed to a blood infection at Chulalongkorn Hospital in Bangkok.

The United States intensified its pressure on Venezuela by flying two B-1 Lancer bombers near the country’s airspace. According to The Wall Street Journal, the long-range bombers departed from Dyess Air Force Base in Texas and remained in international airspace throughout the mission. While President Donald Trump dismissed the report as “inaccurate,” he acknowledged Washington’s dissatisfaction with Venezuela.

The US military carried out its eighth strike against an alleged drug vessel on Tuesday night in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing two people, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Wednesday. The previous seven strikes targeted vessels in the Caribbean, bringing the total death toll from all operations to at least 34. Hegseth shared a brief video showing a small boat loaded with brown packages before it exploded into flames.

North Korea fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles early Wednesday, South Korea’s military reported, marking Pyongyang’s first missile launch since May. The missiles, detected from near Pyongyang and traveling about 350 km, appeared to have fallen inland.

Intense fighting broke out late Tuesday between Pakistani security forces and the Afghan Taliban along the Kurram border, according to state broadcaster PTV News. The report said Afghan Taliban and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) fighters, referred to as “Fitna al-Khawarij,” opened unprovoked fire, prompting a strong retaliation from the Pakistani Army. Several Taliban positions reportedly sustained heavy damage, with multiple tanks destroyed and fighters fleeing their posts

U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday signed a landmark document on the Gaza ceasefire, marking what the White House hailed as a “truly historic” breakthrough for Middle East peace. The signing took place during an international summit hosted by Egypt in the Red Sea resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh, with mediators Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey joining the accord.

US President Donald Trump announced sweeping new trade penalties against China, declaring a 100% tariff on all Chinese goods—on top of existing duties—effective November 1, 2025, or sooner if Beijing takes further “aggressive” actions. He also revealed plans to impose export controls on all critical software beginning the same day. Posting on Truth Social, Trump accused China of taking an “extraordinarily aggressive” stance by allegedly sending a hostile letter to nations wor

A powerful 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck Mindanao, Philippines, on Friday, prompting initial tsunami warnings and mass evacuations. The quake, originally recorded at 7.6, hit off the coast of Manay town in Davao Oriental at a depth of 20 km, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).

A deadly paramotor attack struck a Thadingyut festival celebration and protest in Chaung U township, central Myanmar, on Monday evening, killing at least 24 people and injuring 47, according to the exiled National Unity Government. Around 100 people had gathered for a candlelight vigil opposing the military junta when a motorised paraglider dropped two bombs on the crowd. Witnesses described horrific scenes, with victims—including children—torn apart.

US President Donald Trump has announced a 25% tariff on medium- and heavy-duty trucks imported into the United States, effective November 1, 2025. Shared on his platform Truth Social, Trump said the move aims to protect American truck manufacturers from “unfair outside competition,” benefiting companies like Peterbilt, Kenworth, Freightliner, and Mack Trucks.

The 2025 Nobel Prize announcements will take place from October 6 to October 13, recognizing achievements in Physiology or Medicine, Physics, Chemistry, Literature, Peace, and Economic Sciences. The ceremonies will be live-streamed on official Nobel channels.

At least three people were injured in Gorlovka, a frontline city in Ukraine’s Donbas region, after Ukrainian drone strikes on Friday night, local officials reported. Mayor Ivan Prikhodko said UAVs first struck in the afternoon, damaging vehicles and energy infrastructure, before hitting a school and apartment block later in the evening. Separately, Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) head Denis Pushilin confirmed that two teenagers were injured by an explosive device.

The UK is preparing for severe weather this weekend as a powerful storm system threatens destructive winds and heavy rainfall. Forecasts from WXCharts suggest gusts could reach up to 88mph, particularly across western parts of England and Wales late Friday night into early Saturday.

US President Donald Trump announced a 100% tariff on imported branded or patented pharmaceuticals effective October 1, 2025, unless the exporting company is actively building manufacturing facilities in the US. He clarified that “IS BUILDING” refers to projects that have broken ground or are under construction, exempting such companies from the tariff. Trump also imposed new tariffs: 50% on kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities, 30% on upholstered furniture, and 25% on heavy

Fierce winds, torrential rain, and rough seas lashed southern China on Wednesday as Typhoon Ragasa slammed into Guangdong province with gusts reaching 145 km/h (90 mph). The storm, deemed the strongest in the northwestern Pacific this year, hit the coastal city of Yangjiang, where debris and ripped billboards littered streets. Earlier, Ragasa devastated Taiwan, killing at least 14 people and injuring 46 after a decades-old barrier lake burst in Hualien County.

The Trump administration unveiled a proposal to reshape the H-1B visa process, prioritizing higher-skilled and better-paid foreign workers. According to a Federal Register notice, the plan would alter the existing lottery system if applications exceed the 85,000-visa cap, giving preference to employers offering higher wages through a tiered selection system. This initiative follows a White House proclamation requiring companies to pay a $100,000 annual fee for new H-1B visas,

Lionel Messi once again proved decisive as Inter Miami defeated D.C. United 3-1 at Chase Stadium, keeping their Supporters’ Shield hopes alive. The Argentine maestro set up Tadeo Allende with a sublime pass in the 35th minute to give Miami the lead. D.C. equalized through Christian Benteke early in the second half, but Messi quickly turned the tide.

A strong 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck off the east coast of Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula early Friday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The quake was recorded at 6:58 a.m. local time, with its epicenter located 127 kilometers (79 miles) east of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky at a shallow depth of 19.5 kilometers.

France is heading into deeper political turbulence as Prime Minister François Bayrou faces a crucial confidence vote in parliament on Monday—one he is almost certain to lose. The veteran centre-right politician is the country’s fourth prime minister in just three years, underscoring the fragility of French politics since President Emmanuel Macron’s snap election in 2024 produced a hung parliament.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has dismissed Russian President Vladimir Putin’s proposal for peace talks in Moscow, calling it unrealistic and proof that Russia lacks genuine interest in negotiations. Speaking to US media, Zelenskyy said, “I can’t go to the capital of this terrorist,” stressing that Ukraine remains under constant missile and drone attacks. Instead, he invited Putin to Kyiv.

A powerful 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan late Sunday, devastating remote mountainous regions and leaving over 800 feared dead. The quake, which hit at 23:47 local time (19:17 GMT), had its epicentre 27 km from Jalalabad in Nangarhar province and was shallow at just 8 km deep. Tremors were felt as far as Kabul, 140 km away, and in neighbouring Pakistan.

The US Department of Health and Human Services has confirmed the first human case of New World screwworm, a flesh-eating parasite, in Maryland. The patient had recently traveled from El Salvador and has since been treated and fully recovered, according to Reuters. Health officials, including the CDC, confirmed there’s been no spread to other people or animals.

A deadly strike on a hospital in southern Gaza on Monday claimed at least eight lives, including four journalists. Among those killed was 33-year-old freelancer Mariam Dagga, who had been reporting for the Associated Press since the start of the Gaza war. Dagga had recently covered the worsening humanitarian crisis, documenting Nasser Hospital doctors’ struggle to save starving children. Al Jazeera confirmed the death of its journalist Mohammed Sa

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has linked his renewed push to mediate the Russia-Ukraine conflict with a deeply personal goal—earning a place in heaven. Speaking to Fox & Friends on August 19, Trump explained that his motivation extends beyond politics. “If I can save 7,000 people a week from being killed, I think that’s pretty… I want to try to get to heaven if possible,” he remarked, adding humorously that he currently sits “at the bottom of the totem pole.

In Anchorage, Alaska, former U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed Russia’s Vladimir Putin with an unusually warm reception for a leader condemned for unleashing Europe’s largest land war since 1945. The two met at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, greeting each other with a prolonged handshake on a red carpet before riding together in the presidential limousine, “The Beast.” Overhead, American B-2 and F-22 aircraft flew in a symbolic reminder of Cold War tensions.

Britain’s Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has banned two Zara adverts after ruling they portrayed models who appeared “unhealthily thin,” calling the images “irresponsible.” The ads, featured on Zara’s website in May, prompted a complaint that triggered the investigation.

The Czech Republic is facing one of its worst hepatitis-A outbreaks in 15 years, with the National Institute of Public Health (SZU) reporting 1,053 cases between January and July 2025. This marks a sharp rise compared to 636 cases recorded in all of 2024. The worst-hit regions include Prague (370 cases), the Central Bohemian Region (181), and the Moravian-Silesian Region (113).

Over the weekend, Israeli ground and air forces struck more than 130 Hamas targets throughout Gaza, executing a coordinated assault backed by real-time intelligence. A key highlight was the July 24 airstrike that eliminated Salah al-Din Za'atra, deputy commander of Hamas’s al-Furqan Battalion, who had orchestrated attacks against Israeli civilians and troops.

In a landmark case that has deeply divided Colombia, former President Álvaro Uribe was sentenced to 12 years of house arrest on charges of witness tampering and bribery. The 73-year-old conservative leader, who governed from 2002 to 2010 with U.S. backing, was also banned from public office for eight years and fined approximately $776,000.

On the occasion of the Italian Grand Prix, the two worlds unite their creativity and their demands around an exclusive, daring fashion capsule resolutely focused on performance. A series of ten limited-edition pieces, inspired by the raw energy of motorsport, to be previewed at the Alpine Atelier in Milan, before an official launch on September 8.

Just a day after announcing a landmark energy partnership with Pakistan, U.S. President Donald Trump imposed a 19% tariff on Pakistani goods as part of his expanded "Liberation Day" tariff initiative. Though Pakistan had earlier faced a 29% duty, a last-minute trade agreement saw it reduced to 19%. On Tuesday

A powerful 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck far-eastern Russia, triggering widespread tsunami warnings across the Pacific. The quake caused flooding and minor injuries in Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, where waves up to 4 meters (13 feet) hit the coast. Tsunami advisories quickly followed in Japan, prompting evacuations of over 1.9 million people from Hokkaido to Wakayama. In Hokkaido alone, 10,500 people were ordered to evacuate. Northern Japan has already seen 30 cm waves, wi

A tragic shooting unfolded Monday inside a Midtown Manhattan skyscraper at 345 Park Avenue, home to major firms like Blackstone, KPMG, Deutsche Bank, and the NFL headquarters. A 27-year-old man from Las Vegas, reportedly wearing a bulletproof vest and armed with an AR-style rifle, opened fire inside the tower, critically injuring a police officer and a bystander. Law enforcement sources later confirmed that five people, including the NYPD officer and the suspected gunman, wer

High-level peace talks between Thailand and Cambodia are set to begin Monday in Malaysia, following the deadliest border clashes in over a decade. The violence, reignited on July 24 after the killing of a Cambodian soldier in May, has claimed over 30 lives and displaced more than 150,000 civilians. Thailand’s acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai will lead the negotiations, beginning at 3 p.m. local time.

Tensions flared on Thursday as Thailand deployed F-16 fighter jets along its northeastern border with Cambodia following reported attacks by Cambodian forces on Thai military bases. According to the Royal Thai Army, clashes erupted at six locations along the disputed border, prompting an airstrike on a Cambodian military target. One of the six F-16s reportedly crossed into Cambodian territory to carry out the strike, then returned safely.

On July 22, Pakistan’s test of the nuclear-capable Shaheen-III ballistic missile reportedly ended in failure, raising serious safety concerns. Fired from the Rakhshani region of Dera Ghazi Khan, Punjab, the missile deviated from its trajectory and crashed in the Matt area of Dera Bugti district, Balochistan. The wreckage landed barely 500 meters from civilian settlements, near the Loop Seharani Levy Station in Grapevine Ravine, triggering a massive explosion heard 20–50 kilom

The devastating monsoon in Pakistan has claimed over 200 lives, with the death toll reaching 216 and 580 injured since June 26, according to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). On Monday alone, 13 fatalities were reported—12 in Punjab and one in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP)—including four children and three women. Punjab has emerged as the worst-hit province, accounting for 135 deaths, while KP reported 42.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s ruling coalition suffered a major setback in the latest parliamentary election, losing its majority in the 248-seat upper house, NHK reported on Monday. Ishiba’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its coalition partner, Komeito, required 50 additional seats beyond their existing 75 to retain control but secured only 47, with one seat still undecided.

Seven months after the overthrow of Bashar Assad, Syria’s fragile transition has erupted into new bloodshed that exposes the volatility of its postwar order. In Sweida province, a local dispute last Sunday spiraled into lethal clashes between Druze militias and Sunni Bedouin tribes. Government troops—under a former al-Qaida affiliate turned interim ruler who pledges to shield minorities—entered claiming to restore calm, yet moved to dislo

A rare but deadly case of pneumonic plague has claimed the life of a resident in northern Arizona, marking the first confirmed fatality from the disease in Coconino County since 2007. The patient died at Flagstaff Medical Center shortly after arriving at the emergency department, according to Northern Arizona Healthcare. Despite immediate medical intervention and life-saving resuscitation efforts, the patient could not be saved.

Over 2,145 senior-ranking NASA employees are expected to depart following the Trump administration’s proposal to slash nearly 25% of the agency’s funding. According to Politico, which cited internal documents, the move is part of a broader effort to streamline federal operations and reduce government spending.

More than 100 people have been confirmed dead after catastrophic flash floods struck central Texas, with search and rescue teams still working around the clock to locate missing persons. Heavy rains north of San Antonio early Friday caused the Guadalupe River to rise over 8 meters in just 45 minutes, triggering one of the worst flash floods the U.S. has seen in decades.