In the Bihar 2025 legislative assembly elections, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi's party, the BJP, is set to win a majority. The NDA is leading in 204 out of 243 seats, while the opposition Grand Alliance is leading in just 33 seats.
Key Facts
The NDA, led by BJP, is likely to win a majority in the Bihar state elections.
Bihar is India’s third-most populous state, with 74 million registered voters.
The election is considered a test of Modi’s popularity, especially among younger voters.
The NDA has secured two seats and is leading in 204 seats out of 243.
The Grand Alliance, comprising the Indian National Congress and RJD, is leading in 33 seats.
BJP has a 20.5% vote share with leads or wins in 93 seats.
Key figures like Tejashwi Yadav and Maithili Thakur were in close races in their constituencies.
The BJP made significant outreach efforts to female voters, including direct financial transfers.
American YouTuber MrBeast has opened a theme park called Beast Land in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as part of the Riyadh Season 2025 festival. The park offers experiences and games like those seen in MrBeast's viral online videos, with participants competing for cash prizes. Saudi Arabia is using events like this to boost tourism and reduce reliance on oil exports.
Key Facts
MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, launched Beast Land in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The park is part of the Riyadh Season 2025, a large entertainment festival.
Visitors to Beast Land can participate in challenges and games inspired by MrBeast's YouTube content.
Participants compete for over $533,000 in cash prizes by collecting points in various games.
The park is open until December 27 and includes live shows, music, and more.
Saudi Arabia is focusing on tourism to diversify its economy away from oil.
The launch follows the UN Tourism General Assembly in Riyadh, which discussed future tourism strategies.
Saudi Arabia faces international criticism over human rights issues amid efforts to modernize.
Millions in Southern California are at risk of flooding due to a powerful storm called an atmospheric river. Evacuation orders have been issued for areas near recent fire zones because of the increased risk of floods and mudslides. These orders affect many residents across Los Angeles and nearby counties.
Key Facts
An atmospheric river is bringing heavy rain to Southern California, increasing flood risks.
Areas near recent burn scars are at the highest risk because fires make it harder for soil to absorb water.
Los Angeles County officials issued evacuation orders for homes at risk of mudslides and flooding.
Cities under flood watch include Los Angeles, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Long Beach, and Malibu.
The National Weather Service warns of life-threatening rain, with a break in weather expected between Friday afternoon and early Saturday morning.
The flood watch is expected to last through at least Saturday evening.
People in the affected areas are advised to follow all instructions from local emergency officials.
China advised its citizens not to travel to Japan due to comments made by Japan's Prime Minister about Japan's possible involvement in a conflict concerning Taiwan. China's Foreign Ministry stated that the situation is causing risks to the safety of Chinese citizens traveling to Japan.
Key Facts
China issued a travel warning to its citizens against going to Japan.
This warning comes after comments by Japan's Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi.
The comments were about Japan's potential role in a conflict involving Taiwan.
China's Foreign Ministry expressed concerns about the safety of its citizens.
The diplomatic disagreement between China and Japan has worsened.
The new series "Last Samurai Standing" is now available to watch on Netflix, with all six episodes released at once. It is a survival game set in post-samurai era Japan, where 292 samurai compete for a prize of 100 billion yen.
Key Facts
"Last Samurai Standing" is streaming on Netflix starting November 13, 2025.
The series has six episodes, all released at the same time.
The show takes place in Japan during the post-samurai period in 1878.
The series follows 292 samurai in a survival game with a prize of 100 billion yen.
The game begins at Tenryuji Temple in Kyoto and ends in Tokyo.
You'll need a Netflix subscription to watch the series; subscriptions cost between $7.99 and $17.99 per month, depending on the plan.
The release times vary by time zone, with it available at Midnight PT and 3 am ET on November 13.
Indigenous protesters blocked the main entrance of the COP30 climate conference in Belem, Brazil, for 90 minutes. They demanded discussions with Brazilian President Lula and protested against deforestation and commercial projects affecting their lands. The protest ended peacefully with conference president André Corrêa do Lago engaging with the protesters.
Key Facts
Around 100 Indigenous protesters blocked the main entrance of COP30 in Belem, Brazil.
The protest lasted 90 minutes and was peaceful, with no physical confrontations.
Protesters chanted "No one enters, no one leaves" and formed a human chain.
They sought a meeting with Brazilian President Lula and opposed agribusiness impacts on their land.
Munduruku Indigenous group leaders made demands, including the cancellation of a grain railway and clearer land boundaries.
Conference president André Corrêa do Lago spoke with the protesters, holding a protester's baby during discussions.
The protest highlighted ongoing frustrations with climate talks not leading to action.
Attendees were rerouted to enter the venue through a different entrance during the blockade.
A cat named River has been showing special care for his injured dog brother, Oakley. River's actions, like massaging Oakley, have touched many people online, making a video of their bond go viral.
Key Facts
River is a cat who comforts his injured dog brother Oakley.
River started to massage Oakley, imitating their owner's technique.
River was initially a foster cat but was adopted due to his close bond with Oakley.
The video of River caring for Oakley went viral on Instagram, with over 53 million views.
River's actions challenge common perceptions of cats being aloof.
The story highlights the strong bond between River and Oakley, bringing joy to many.
Recently released emails and documents from Jeffrey Epstein’s estate show that he kept in touch with several well-known figures in politics, academia, and media after his 2008 conviction as a sex offender. The records highlight interactions with people like Noam Chomsky, Ehud Barak, and David Blaine, raising questions about how Epstein continued to be part of elite circles despite his criminal history.
Key Facts
The documents were released by a congressional committee and include over 20,000 pages.
Epstein's communications involved well-known individuals like Noam Chomsky, Ehud Barak, and David Blaine.
The interactions happened years after Epstein's conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor in 2008.
The released files do not show any criminal actions by the people mentioned.
The records highlight Epstein's access to high-profile networks despite his criminal record.
Emails show Barak and Epstein discussed Middle Eastern politics and coordinated meetings.
Chomsky communicated with Epstein on politics, linguistics, and world affairs from 2015 to 2017.
The article discusses how much alone time different dog breeds need and the factors that influence this need. Veterinarian Crystal Heath explains that a dog's need for "me time" can be influenced by breed, early experiences, and temperament. Some breeds handle being alone better than others, while certain dogs need more companionship to avoid stress-related behaviors.
Key Facts
Dogs' need for alone time varies based on breed, early experiences, and temperament.
Dogs often develop separation-related behaviors if left alone without human company, like barking or destructive actions.
Consistent routines can help dogs cope better with being alone.
Breeds bred for independent work tend to tolerate solitude better.
Breeds like Border collies, Australian shepherds, and Labradors may show more anxiety when left alone due to their history of close human partnership.
Owners are advised to increase alone time gradually to prevent anxiety.
Providing dogs with choices, novelty, and mental enrichment can improve their well-being during alone times.
A woman bathed her dog, which then caused a mess in the house by dragging soil and leaving dirty paw prints. The incident sparked online comments and discussions. The owner mentioned the dog's separation anxiety as a contributing factor to its behavior.
Key Facts
A woman shared a photo of a messy dog after it dragged soil across her home.
The post received 429,000 views on Threads, a social media platform.
Online commenters joked and speculated about the dog's behavior.
The dog was tied up because the owner was following training advice due to its separation anxiety.
Separation anxiety in dogs can cause behaviors like chewing and howling when left alone.
Some users shared humor and offered advice about handling a dog's anxiety.
Newsweek could not verify all the details of the situation.
Readers are encouraged to share pet videos and stories with Newsweek.
A woman named Ashanti posted a video that became popular where she suggested that marriage makes women focus too much on themselves and pull away from single friends. Ashanti believes that married women don't support their single friends as much as single women support married ones. A therapist suggests this might be due to "cognitive overload," meaning married women are too busy managing their own lives to spend as much time with friends.
Key Facts
Ashanti shared her views on TikTok, where she has 27,700 followers.
Ashanti thinks married women become absorbed in their roles as wives and mothers, neglecting single friends.
She says single friends support married friends but don't get the same energy back.
Ashanti calls single friends "emotional placeholders" during the dating phase.
There is a perceived hierarchy where married life is seen as more worthwhile.
Therapist Lisa Rabinowitz suggests that the issue might be due to cognitive overload, not intentional neglect.
Rabinowitz mentions that many women in therapy feel overwhelmed by new responsibilities when married.
Rabinowitz advises that communication can help maintain friendships during these changes.
Ukraine is facing heavy battles with Russian forces in the towns of Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad. Russia has concentrated a significant number of troops in these areas, and both sides are engaged in intense fighting for control over key regions. Ukraine continues to resist, but Russia is slowly making advances.
Key Facts
Ukraine's eastern towns, Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad, are currently central to heavy fighting with Russian forces.
Russia has deployed approximately 150,000 troops in an effort to capture these towns.
Russia views Pokrovsk as important for gaining control over remaining unoccupied parts of Donetsk.
Ukrainian troops experience shifts in control, frequently gaining and losing ground in close combat.
Russia claims to have captured the center of Pokrovsk and is working to expand control.
Both Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad are surrounded by Russian forces on three sides, with only one escape route.
Ukrainian forces use drones for reconnaissance and targeting, slowing Russian advances.
Chinese car company Chery Automobile tried to perform a stunt with their new SUV on Tianmen Mountain in China. The SUV couldn't climb the 999 steps, causing it to roll back and crash into a guardrail. The company apologized, stating that a failure in safety measures led to the accident.
Key Facts
Chery Automobile attempted a public stunt on Tianmen Mountain's steps with their Fengyun X3L SUV.
The SUV failed to climb the steep steps and slid back, damaging a guardrail.
The staircase was closed for two days after the incident for safety reasons.
The crash occurred due to a safety rope detaching and wrapping around a wheel, stopping the engine.
Chery Automobile apologized and acknowledged insufficient risk assessment.
No people were injured, and the natural environment was not harmed.
The event was meant as a promotional effort for the SUV.
The U.S. has sent troops to Panama for jungle warfare training, marking a renewed military presence in Latin America. This training program, taking place at Base Aeronaval Cristóbal Colón, includes activities like weapons drills and survival exercises. The program ties into broader U.S. military activities in the Caribbean during President Trump's second term, particularly against drug trafficking near Venezuela.
Key Facts
American troops are training in jungle warfare in Panama at Base Aeronaval Cristóbal Colón.
The training program began earlier this year and is not linked to any specific mission.
Images of the training show troops doing weapons drills, water purification, and building shelters.
The program is part of a broader U.S. military buildup in the Caribbean.
The U.S. is focusing on countering drug trafficking, especially activities linked to Venezuela.
President Trump has shown interest in reasserting U.S. influence in Latin America.
46 individuals have graduated from the training, including U.S. Marines and Panamanian security personnel.
Plans are in place to expand the training to include larger troop groups.
Emails reveal that Jeffrey Epstein maintained connections with many wealthy and powerful individuals even after he became a registered sex offender. These emails show that people from various fields, such as politics, business, and media, kept in touch with Epstein despite his 2008 conviction.
Key Facts
Jeffrey Epstein was convicted in 2008 for soliciting prostitution from an underage girl.
Despite this conviction, Epstein stayed in contact with many influential people.
Thousands of emails were released by the House Oversight Committee this week.
The emails date from 2009 to just before his 2019 arrest on sex trafficking charges.
Epstein's network included a wide range of individuals from different political backgrounds.
Some people in the emails asked for Epstein's advice on various topics.
Epstein was charged with sex trafficking in 2019 and died by suicide in jail that same year.
The emails do not show that his contacts were involved in his criminal activities.
Alaa Abdel Fattah, a British-Egyptian activist recently freed from an Egyptian prison, was stopped from flying to the UK. His family reports that while attempting to board a flight in Cairo, Egyptian officials would not let him travel. The UK government is working with the Egyptian government to address the situation.
Key Facts
Alaa Abdel Fattah is a British-Egyptian pro-democracy activist.
He was Egypt's most well-known political prisoner until his release seven weeks ago.
President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi granted him a pardon, leading to his release.
Abdel Fattah tried to fly to London with his sister but was stopped by Egyptian authorities.
The reason for not allowing him to fly has not been clearly explained.
Abdel Fattah holds both a British and a newly renewed Egyptian passport.
The UK government is urging the Egyptian government to allow him to travel to be with his son in the UK.
Abdel Fattah's family received the 2025 Magnitsky Award on his behalf for "Courage Under Fire".
Rescue teams in Indonesia are looking for people who might be trapped after a landslide affected three villages in Java. The landslide happened after several days of heavy rain, and several people have died.
Key Facts
A landslide occurred in the Java region of Indonesia.
Heavy rainfall over several days caused the landslide.
Three villages in Java were affected by the landslide.
Rescue teams are searching for survivors in the affected areas.
Several people have been reported dead due to the landslide.
Iran conducted a test of its mobile phone emergency alert system to prepare for potential future conflicts. This comes after a recent war, during which Iran realized it needed better ways to warn the public. The test involved sending trial alerts to selected users to assess the system's effectiveness.
Key Facts
Iran tested its emergency alert system by sending trial warnings to selected mobile users.
The alert was visible or audible on users' devices but required no action.
The test highlights Iran's focus on improving communication during emergencies.
The exercise follows a recent conflict that revealed weaknesses in Iran's public alert system.
Iran plans to expand future tests to cover a wider area and involve more mobile operators.
The country has been criticized for a lack of sufficient civilian shelters.
Tehran aims to strengthen its emergency preparedness by improving the alert system based on test results.
Venezuela has announced a large-scale military mobilization in response to increasing U.S. naval activity nearby. The U.S. has also launched an operation called Southern Spear, focusing on combatting drug trafficking in the region. This has heightened tensions, with Venezuela's leaders worried the U.S. may intend to remove President Nicolas Maduro from power.
Key Facts
Venezuela has deployed its military nationwide due to U.S. naval forces near its coast.
The U.S. initiated Operation Southern Spear, aiming to target drug traffickers.
Venezuelan officials fear the U.S. could use this as a reason to remove President Maduro.
Foreign Minister Yvan Gil stated that Venezuela is prepared for any U.S. action.
Recent tensions include U.S. strikes on boats suspecting them of smuggling drugs.
80 people have reportedly died in these operations.
The U.S. has not provided evidence for its claims about drug smuggling from Venezuela.
The USS Gerald R. Ford, a powerful U.S. aircraft carrier, is operating in the region.
A woman named Yuliia discovered that her kitten, Masi, had not grown since she brought it home. The vet indicated that Masi likely has dwarfism, a rare condition that affects the cat's size but not its overall health. Masi has gained popularity on social media due to its small size.
Key Facts
Yuliia adopted a kitten named Masi in Ukraine and took her to Germany.
Masi has not grown much and likely has a condition called dwarfism.
Dwarfism in cats is rare and affects their growth but not necessarily their health.
Masi is healthy but has a weaker immune system and can get cold easily.
Masi is very small, weighing only 2 pounds at 3 years old.
The kitten has become popular on TikTok, where videos of her have gone viral.
Masi enjoys cuddles and is friendly with Yuliia’s other cats.
