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Following similar events in June 2025, all 50 U.S. states once again erupted in anti-Trump “No King Day” demonstrations on the 18th. Over 2,600 marches were held nationwide, with millions taking to the streets of major cities including Boston, Washington, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Austin, and Seattle to express discontent over the administration’s handling of the rule of law, human rights, and immigration policies. The Republican Party blamed the protests on far-left group Antifa, condemning them as “anti-American gatherings.”

In New York City, the largest in the country, participation reached an estimated 100,000 people, with around 20,000 crowding the area around Times Square and Seventh Avenue alone. From early morning, the streets and subway entrances were filled with demonstrators holding signs and chanting slogans such as “Democracy is not a monarchy” and “The Constitution is not optional.” The scene was filled with creative posters and costumes, including caricatures depicting Trump as a Soviet leader, mocking his alleged authoritarian tendencies.

Similar scenes unfolded in Boston, Washington, Chicago, Atlanta, Austin, Seattle, and Los Angeles. Protesters focused on issues such as alleged illegal detentions by immigration enforcement agencies, federal National Guard interference in local affairs, cuts to healthcare subsidies, and the potential consequences of recent redistricting efforts.

Meanwhile, Trump was at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, attending a MAGA fundraising gala reportedly priced at $1 million per table. In an interview with Fox Business, he remarked, “They say I’m a king — but I’m not.” However, just hours after the protests began, he posted an AI-generated video on his social media platform depicting himself wearing a crown, piloting a fighter jet, and dropping excrement on protesters — a move that quickly sparked a fresh wave of controversy.

Foreign media reported that Nobel Physics Laureate and renowned physicist Yang Chen-Ning passed away in Beijing on the 18th at the age of 103. Yang, a celebrated figure in the world of physics, jointly won the 1957 Nobel Prize in Physics with Tsung-Dao Lee for their groundbreaking work on parity nonconservation. However, he is perhaps best known to the public for marrying 28-year-old Weng Fan in 2004 at the age of 82 — a union often described by the media as a “grandfather-granddaughter romance.”

According to a press release cited by foreign outlets from Tsinghua University in Beijing, Yang passed away on the 18th. The statement recounted his life and achievements. Born in 1922, Yang went to the United States in 1945 for graduate studies and, together with Tsung-Dao Lee, proposed the theory of parity violation, earning them the Nobel Prize. His research made outstanding contributions to statistical mechanics and particle physics. Yang was also an academician of several prestigious institutions, including Academia Sinica, and held honorary doctorates from more than twenty leading universities worldwide. He received numerous honors, such as the U.S. National Medal of Science and the Franklin Medal.

Despite his towering status in the field of physics, Yang was not without controversy, particularly regarding his personal life and his falling-out with Tsung-Dao Lee. The two famously parted ways in 1962, and although both have spoken publicly about the incident, differing accounts have left the true cause uncertain.

As for his personal life, Yang’s 2004 marriage to Weng Fan drew widespread attention. The relationship often made headlines, but Yang repeatedly stated that their marriage was founded on genuine affection and mutual understanding, despite public skepticism.

On the 16th, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that he had a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin and that, in an effort to end the Russia-Ukraine war as soon as possible, the two sides will meet in Hungary at a later date. The exact date of the meeting is still under negotiation.

Trump wrote on his social media platform *Truth Social* that he recently received a call from President Putin. At the beginning of the conversation, Putin congratulated the United States on achieving a major peace breakthrough in the Middle East. Trump said he believes that this experience will help advance negotiations with Russia and become a key milestone in efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war.

This marks the eighth conversation between Trump and Putin this year. The phone call lasted approximately 2.5 hours and included discussions on Middle East peace, post-war economic cooperation between the U.S. and Russia, and plans for a meeting in Budapest, Hungary, within the next two weeks to discuss an end-of-war proposal for the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Trump stated that the call achieved significant progress and could be a major turning point in promoting peace talks to end the war.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other members of the American delegation are scheduled to hold preparatory talks with Russian officials next week to arrange the upcoming summit and lay the groundwork for the meeting between the two leaders.

According to media reports, due to a sharp rise in job scam, kidnapping, and detention cases involving South Korean nationals in Cambodia, the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced a Level 4 travel alert—*the highest level*, effectively banning travel to Cambodia starting October 16. This comes after a 30-year-old South Korean woman was recently found dead near the Vietnam-Cambodia border. The South Korean government also plans to accelerate the repatriation of Korean scam suspects stranded in Cambodia.

Reports indicate that the South Korean government has identified over 1,000 of its nationals suspected of engaging in fraudulent activities in Cambodia. Between January and August of this year alone, 330 South Koreans went missing after entering the country. On October 14, President Lee Jae-myung stated that the government would mobilize all available resources and take strong diplomatic action to protect its citizens. A task force, led by officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will be dispatched to Cambodia.

The report also explained that South Korea’s travel advisory system consists of four levels: Blue (Exercise caution), Yellow (Reconsider travel), Red (Advised to evacuate), and Black (Travel prohibited). The newly issued travel ban on Cambodia will be in effect for 90 days. Cambodian police have recently ramped up crackdowns and have arrested hundreds of suspects, including 63 South Korean nationals.

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At the end of September, the South Korean government began allowing visa-free entry for groups of three or more travelers from mainland China, permitting a stay of up to 15 days. However, repeated incidents of disorderly conduct have triggered a rise in anti-China sentiment across South Korea. In response, many Taiwanese tourists visiting the country have taken to wearing a "Taiwanese badge" — featuring the words "I am Taiwanese" and an image of the national flag (Blue Sky, White Sun, and a Wholly Red Earth) — on their chests to identify themselves and avoid misunderstandings. This move has sparked heated discussions on Korean social media.

South Korea’s decision to open its borders to Chinese tour groups is aimed at stimulating its economy. Nevertheless, anti-China sentiment persists, especially in major tourist areas like Myeong-dong, where anti-China protests have been seen near city government buildings. As tensions rise, Taiwanese citizens have also become unintended targets. In April of this year, a South Korean man in his 30s attacked two Taiwanese tourists with a soju bottle at a bus stop, mistakenly believing they were Chinese after hearing them speak Mandarin in a restaurant.

According to statistics from the Korea Tourism Organization, as of August, one in every three foreign tourists in South Korea was from China. To avoid being mistaken for Chinese nationals, many Taiwanese travelers have started wearing Taiwan badges to distinguish themselves. While the badge may seem like a small measure of protection during travel, it also serves as a reminder that prejudice and hatred often affect more than just a single group — they can spread across an entire society. As we rush to draw boundaries, perhaps what we should consider most is how to calm the hatred. What the world truly needs is peace and love.

After two years of conflict, U.S. President Donald Trump officially announced the end of the Gaza War on the 13th. According to the ceasefire agreement, Hamas released the final group of Israeli hostages, while Israel released a number of Palestinian prisoners. Families on both sides reunited with their loved ones in Tel Aviv and Gaza, creating emotional scenes.

According to foreign media reports, the Israeli military confirmed that 20 hostages were safely returned across the border by the Red Cross. Thousands of people gathered in Tel Aviv’s "Hostage Square" to celebrate—waving national flags and shedding tears of joy. Similar crowds gathered in Gaza, where around 2,000 freed prisoners arrived at hospitals. Locals chanted slogans such as “Freedom” and “The war is over.”

In a speech before the Israeli parliament, Trump declared: “The skies are calm, the guns are silent, the sirens have stopped, and the sun rises over a land returning to peace.” He described the agreement—brokered by the United States, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey—as “one of the greatest peace deals in history.”

The agreement includes the release of hostages by Hamas, the release of prisoners by Israel, and the suspension of certain military operations. Following the announcement, Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi hosted a summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, the Red Sea resort city, bringing together more than 20 world leaders to discuss the future governance, security, and reconstruction of Gaza. However, neither Israel nor Hamas attended the summit, and notable absences included Saudi Arabia and the UAE—raising concerns over the agreement’s long-term viability.

Since the war broke out in October 2023, over 68,000 people have died in Gaza during the two-year conflict. The 20 hostages released were the last surviving captives from the 251 Israelis abducted during Hamas’s initial assault. An additional 26 hostages have been confirmed dead, with two still missing.

International humanitarian organizations warn that Gaza is facing extreme shortages of food, medical supplies, and fuel, putting hundreds of thousands of residents at risk. Major unresolved challenges remain, including whether Hamas will disarm, the future governance of Gaza, and ongoing tensions between Israel and Palestinians in the West Bank. These issues will deeply impact the trajectory of the peace process.

Israeli media reported that on the 13th, the Palestinian militant group Hamas released the last 20 surviving hostages held in the Gaza Strip, handing them over in batches to representatives of the Red Cross. All of the released hostages are men. The first group of seven has safely returned to Israel, while the remaining 13 were transferred in Khan Younis in southern Gaza. This release is part of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas brokered by the United States, signaling that the two-year-long Gaza war may be nearing its end. The conflict has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians and saw several Israelis taken hostage.

On the same day, U.S. President Donald Trump arrived in Israel aboard Air Force One to a warm public welcome. Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu personally greeted Trump on the tarmac as a military band played. Before landing, Air Force One flew over Tel Aviv’s Hostage Square, where tens of thousands had gathered waving flags and cheering. The square became a symbol of protest during the Gaza war, and Trump’s visit is widely viewed as a sign of emerging peace.

After his arrival, Trump proceeded to the Israeli Knesset, where he is expected to present his Middle East peace plan. Under the agreement, Israel will also release more than 1,900 Palestinian prisoners as part of the hostage exchange. The seven hostages released earlier have reunited with their families and undergone medical examinations. The move brings hope for humanitarian relief and opens a new window for Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations.

As the Israel-Hamas conflict marks its second anniversary, both sides reached a first-phase ceasefire agreement on October 8, local time, under the mediation of U.S. President Donald Trump. The truce officially took effect on October 10. As part of the agreement, Hamas handed over the first group of seven Israeli hostages to the Red Cross on the 13th in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.

According to the first phase of the agreement, Hamas must release the remaining 48 Israeli hostages within 72 hours—including 20 survivors—in exchange for 250 Palestinian prisoners and 1,700 detained Gaza residents. The released hostages will first be taken to military bases for reunions with their families. Since the truce took effect, about 600 trucks per day have entered the Gaza Strip, delivering food and medical supplies. Although more than 500,000 Palestinians have returned to Gaza, residents continue to face severe shortages and hardships due to the extensive destruction caused by the war.

President Trump arrived in Israel on the 13th and is expected to meet with the families of the hostages and possibly visit the released captives in person. Before his departure, he told reporters, “The war is over.” Trump will next travel to Egypt, where he and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi will co-host the Gaza Peace Summit. The summit is expected to include more than 20 international leaders, among them Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, and aims to end the war in Gaza, strengthen peace and stability in the Middle East, and usher in a new era of regional security.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced that starting November 1, his administration will impose a new 100% tariff on Chinese goods and introduce export controls on “critical software” in retaliation for China’s latest restrictions on rare earth exports. The move marks a renewed escalation in U.S.–China tensions after several months of tariff truce.

On October 9, Beijing unveiled two new regulations imposing export controls on rare earth materials and related technologies. Under the new rules, any product containing more than 0.1% of Chinese-produced rare earth materials must obtain export approval, while companies linked to foreign militaries will be denied permits in principle. The measures are seen as China’s counter to U.S. chip export restrictions and could disrupt global supply chains for AI, semiconductors, and electric vehicles.

The announcement triggered market turmoil, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average plunging nearly 900 points. Tech stocks led the decline, as Nvidia fell about 5% and AMD dropped 8%. Over the past six months, the U.S. and China have continued to impose various non-tariff barriers, with Washington expanding its export blacklist and Beijing launching investigations into U.S. firms such as Qualcomm and Nvidia.

Trump had been scheduled to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping during the upcoming APEC summit, but he hinted on social media that the meeting could be canceled after criticizing China’s new export restrictions. However, he also noted that the new tariffs could still be withdrawn before taking effect. Analysts say Beijing’s move may be aimed at strengthening its leverage ahead of the summit. While both sides remain open to dialogue, the latest clash highlights the fragility and high volatility of U.S.–China relations.

The 2025 Nobel Peace Prize was announced on the 10th of October and was awarded to 58-year-old Venezuelan opposition leader **María Corina Machado**, in recognition of her being a "brave and mission-driven woman" dedicated to helping the people of Venezuela fight for their democratic rights and for her tireless struggle for democracy.

Machado, a member of the opposition party, ran for president in 2024 but was disqualified by the Supreme Court. She ultimately supported an alternative candidate, **González**. However, after the incumbent president **Nicolás Maduro** declared re-election and González was forced into exile in Spain, Machado chose to remain in the country. Despite the harsh political climate and constant surveillance, she went into hiding and continued her fight for Venezuela’s freedom.

The Nobel Committee stated that Machado inspired millions, uniting deeply divided opposition parties and fostering consensus, all while promoting the common goal of “free elections and popular sovereignty.” This, they noted, is the essence of democracy—and particularly valuable in an era when democratic values are under threat worldwide. Nobel Committee Chair **Berit Reiss-Andersen** emphasized that the selection was based on Nobel’s will: "on courage and integrity, not political lobbying or media attention."

Upon learning she had won, Machado admitted she was shocked, and quickly thanked the committee, saying: *“This is an achievement of an entire society. I am just one person—I am absolutely unworthy.”*

In response to former U.S. President **Donald Trump** not receiving the prize, White House spokesperson **Steven Cheung** commented on social media that the committee had “once again proven they prioritize politics over peace,” and emphasized that Trump would continue to work toward peace and ending wars.