Trump in Israel as hostages freed, prisoner exchanges begin
President Donald Trump arrived in Israel on Monday morning as Hamas released the 20 living hostages held for more than two years. The visit marks a critical moment in the peace process, as Trump works to solidify the first phase of his ceasefire deal.
Meanwhile, the federal government shutdown continues further into October. Offices remain closed, paychecks are on hold and hundreds of thousands of workers are sidelined as lawmakers struggle to end the deadlock.
And in South Carolina, a gunman opened fire at a popular bar during a high school reunion, leaving four people dead and 20 injured.
These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Monday, Oct. 13, 2025.
Hamas frees final hostages as world leaders gather for peace summit
Hamas has handed over all 20 living hostages, marking a crucial step in the new Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement. Israel’s military confirmed the hostages are now back on Israeli soil.
The remains of 28 others are expected to be transferred on Monday as part of the first phase of the peace deal.
In return, Israel is releasing hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
President Donald Trump is in the region for the official signing of the ceasefire agreement, a deal he helped broker.
He addressed Israel’s parliament early Monday morning before heading to Egypt, where the agreement will be formally signed.
World leaders from across the globe are attending the ceremony, including Egypt’s president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Officials previously announced that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would attend the summit. However, in a last-minute shift, it was reported that he would not be attending.
4 dead, 20 injured in St. Helena Island, South Carolina, shooting
A gunman opened fire at Willie’s Bar and Grill on South Carolina’s St. Helena Island on Sunday morning, killing four people and injuring at least 20 more.
Deputies said the suspect shot at a large crowd that was gathered.
When law enforcement arrived, they found people running to nearby homes and businesses for cover. Authorities pronounced four people dead at the scene.
Of the 20 injured, four remain in critical condition.
Authorities said they’re investigating persons of interest, but have not released names or a motive. There was a high school class reunion taking place at the time of the shooting.
South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace, who represents the district, said she’s “completely heartbroken” by the shooting. She said her prayers are with the victims and their families.
Shutdown stalemate deepens as blame game grows
The government shutdown has entered day 13, and there’s still no end in sight. The Senate isn’t set to reconvene until Tuesday, after failing for a seventh time last week to pass a spending deal.
In a controversial move by the Trump administration, federal employees began receiving notices on Friday that they would be laid off in 60 days.
Over the weekend, Vice President JD Vance warned that “deeper” cuts to the federal workforce could come if the shutdown continues.
“This isn’t a deal-making, this isn’t a negotiation, this is hostage taking,” Vance said. “Chuck Schumer has not said to us, ‘This is what we need.’ He’s said that ‘Unless you give us what we need, we’re gonna shut down the government.'”
Vance added, “We don’t negotiate with a person who has taken the entire federal government hostage over a health care policy dispute.”
Vance said the administration is willing to negotiate on health care policy, but only after Congress passes a bill to reopen the government.
Democrats argue that Republicans are the ones to blame, refusing to accept a short-term bill that would fund the government through October, restore Medicaid cuts and extend Affordable Care Act subsidies.
So far, neither side is budging.
Glitch causes mistaken layoff notices at CDC
Vance claimed the government shutdown has caused “chaos,” especially at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Hundreds of employees at the CDC discovered that the Trump administration had mistakenly laid them off.
A Trump administration official told ABC News that a “glitch in the system” caused the mess and that none of the affected staff were actually separated from the agency. Each has been informed that they still have a job.
But the news is not as positive for others.
Up to 1,200 employees at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) received accurate layoff notices on Friday as part of the mass federal workforce cuts unfolding during the shutdown.
Smithsonian museums, National Zoo close amid funding stalemate
The Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo have closed until further notice due to a lack of funding from the federal government caused by the ongoing shutdown.
After using reserve funds since Oct. 1, the Smithsonian said it has run out of money.
A notice on its Instagram page said, “Due to the government shutdown, Smithsonian museums are temporarily closed beginning Sunday, Oct. 12.”
The National Zoo is also closed, but officials reassure the public that the animals will still be fed and cared for. However, the popular live animal cams won’t be available until funding returns.
Thousands of tourists were turned away at the National Mall this weekend, with some saying they had flown from Canada and Australia only to find locked doors.
The museums and zoo will remain closed until Congress reaches a deal, and for now, there’s no end in sight.
New species of Jurassic-era ‘Sword Dragon’ found in England
Scientists in England have identified a new species of ancient “Sword Dragon.”
The “Sword Dragon” is a type of large marine reptile known as an ichthyosaur that lived approximately 190 million years ago during the early Jurassic period.
The fossils were first unearthed in 2001 along England’s Jurassic Coast, a well-known fossil site by the English Channel.
For years, the specimen sat on display at the Royal Ontario Museum in Canada — until researchers took a closer look last year and discovered it was something entirely new.
The team described the discovery as “incredibly rare” and a reminder that even fossils — found decades ago — can still rewrite history.
More from Straight Arrow News:
Rethink your drink: Even one can of soda per day can increase liver disease risk
Soda and other artificially sweetened drinks are linked to an increased risk of liver disease, an unpublished study presented recently for United European Gastroenterology Week showed. Researchers said having one soda a day can lead to a higher chance of developing metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, or MASLD.
The study followed 123,788 United Kingdom Biobank participants without liver disease who took multiple questionnaires about what they ate in a 24-hour period. It lasted for about a decade.
What researchers found was that drinking sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) was associated with a 50% elevated risk of developing MASLD, and low- or non-sugar-sweetened beverages (LNSSBs) like diet soda were associated with a 60% higher risk. Read the full story now >
Editor’s Note: A previous version of this story stated that Benjamin Netanyahu was expected to attend Monday’s peace summit. Recent reports indicate he will not join, with his office citing scheduling conflicts.
The post Trump in Israel as hostages freed, prisoner exchanges begin appeared first on Straight Arrow News.
Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
