Hundreds of thousands of children in Gaza are experiencing psychological trauma as a result of Israeli attacks. To ease their suffering, a group of traditional Palestinian storytellers has organized musical entertainment for young people at a school in Khan Younis, in southern Gaza. 

Sderot

The U.S brokered ceasefire deal in Gaza is holding, after Hamas agreed to release all remaining Israeli hostages.

Middle East Conflict

Palestinian storytellers bring joy to Gaza's children amid war

These children have witnessed some of the most brutal attacks in a century. Many of them have lost friends and loved ones. But they are trying hard to hold on to life. Palestinian traditional storytellers, known as al-Hakawati, are coming together to ease their suffering and give children a chance to be happy, which is extremely rare but desperately needed nowadays. We provide entertainment and psychological support to displaced people in UN-affiliated shelters. We try to convey our message to children in a simple and entertaining way, using stories, particularly traditional ones. We use entertainment to distract them from the hardships in Gaza. This performance is being staged at a UN-linked school in Khan Yunus, which has become home to thousands of displaced Palestinian families. Organizers say adults are struggling to cope during the war, but children are especially vulnerable. Fear has gripped the children's soul, and they're scared of everything. For example, the microphone fell from my grasp and made a loud noise, causing all the children to panic and thinking it was the sound of bombing. Israeli attacks have killed and injured thousands of children. UN says 1.2 million displaced Palestinians are sheltering in its facilities across the Gaza Strip. Schools have been destroyed and education disrupted. They crave activities that bring them joy, taking them away from the stresses of the war and into a world of entertainment, which is so different from their actual experiences under Israeli bombing. Al-Hakawati storytellers, dressed in traditional Palestinian clothing, say they hope to remind children about what their grandparents wore, and evoke feelings of nostalgia and happiness, if not peace. Rasul Sardar, Al Jazeera.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro appealed Thursday for calm as tensions rose with Washington, saying in English: “No crazy war, please!” His plea followed US President Donald Trump’s announcement that he had authorised covert action against Caracas amid an expanding U.S. military campaign targeting alleged drug traffickers in the Caribbean and Pacific.

Caracas

'No crazy war, please!' Maduro pleads to Trump after covert action

U.S. President Donald Trump says that all trade talks with Canada are terminated in a post on his Truth Social platform. He cited a complaint by the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute about a 'selective' clip of Reagan talking about tariffs in an ad by the Government of Ontario.

Washington

Trump says all trade negotiations with Canada are terminated

Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups was charged in connection with a conspiracy to fix high-stakes card games. Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier was charged in a second fraudulent betting scheme and more than 30 people in total were arrested between the two cases.

Portland

NBA coach Chauncey Billups charged in rigged gambling scheme

An Alaska Airlines IT outage is causing a ground stop for flights nationwide.

Seattle–Tacoma International Airport

FAA issues ground stop for all Alaska Airlines flights due to tech issue

President Trump signaled the U.S. military is planning to go beyond just striking what the administration says are Venezuelan-linked drug boats, saying "land is going to be next."

Trump warns land strikes against alleged drug traffickers may be next

The European Union has imposed more economic sanctions on Russia, adding to U.S. President Donald Trump's new punitive measures against the Russian oil industry.

Brussels

EU joins U.S. in imposing more sanctions on Russia

President Trump announced Thursday that he has called off a plan to deploy federal agents to San Francisco after a conversation with the city's Democratic mayor, Daniel Lurie.

San Francisco

Trump reverses plan to send federal agents to San Francisco

President Trump has pardoned Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, who pleaded guilty to enabling money laundering through the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange.

Trump pardons Binance founder Changpeng Zhao

In a post on X, Lithuania's President Gitanas Nausėda slammed what he called a "blatant breach of international law and territorial integrity."

Vilnius

Russian aircraft enter NATO member Lithuania's airspace

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Andrew Cuomo were seen together at last night's Knicks game following the final mayoral debate.

New York

Adams to endorse Cuomo in NYC mayoral race

Several National Basketball Association stars have been charged in an illegal gambling scheme that involved multiple organized crime families. Among those taken into custody are Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups and current Miami Heat player Terry Rozier.

NBA stars linked to illegal gambling investigations

King Charles III met on Thursday with Pope Leo XIV during a state visit to the Vatican, where he made history as the first head of the Church of England to pray publicly with a pontiff in a service broadcast live on Vatican media.

Vatican City

British royals at Vatican for historic visit with Pope Leo

The U.S. struck two more alleged drug vessels, this time on the Pacific side of Latin America – totaling nine strikes in less than two months.  Videos released by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday show boats destroyed in two separate military strikes.

U.S. strikes two alleged drug vessels in the Pacific, Hegseth confirms

U.S. President Donald Trump is imposing new sanctions against Russia as violence against civilians in Ukraine continues. CBS News' Nancy Cordes reports.

Ukraine Invasion

Trump imposes new Russia sanctions

US Vice President JD Vance is in Israel to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. A US-brokered Gaza ceasefire has come under pressure over the weekend as both sides, Israel and Hamas, accused the other of not abiding by the ceaesfire's conditions.

Jerusalem

U.S. VP Vance meets Israeli PM Netanyahu in Jerusalem

The director of the Louvre admitted to inadequate camera surveillance of the museum's outside walls, three days after thieves robbed it of prize jewels in a brazen daytime heist. But Laurence des Cars said that a diamond- and emerald-studded crown that the burglars damaged and dropped as they fled could be restored.

Paris

Louvre director admits 'insufficient' camera coverage after heist

Testimony has begun in the murder trial of former Sangamon County Sheriff's deputy Sean Grayson, who shot and killed Sonya Massey in her home last year after she had called 911 for help.

Springfield

Testimony begins in murder trial of ex-deputy who killed Sonya Massey

The International Court of Justice has ruled that Israel is legally obligated to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza, amid growing concerns over the worsening crisis in the enclave.

The Hague

UN court rules Israel legally obligated to allow aid into Gaza

The U.S. hit another alleged drug vessel with a military strike Tuesday night, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed Wednesday. CBS News senior national security correspondent Charlie d'Agata has more.

U.S. carries out eighth strike on alleged drug boat

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte is expected to present U.S. President Donald Trump with a plan to end the war between Russia and Ukraine. CBS News' Charlie D'Agata has more details.

NATO chief to present Russia-Ukraine peace plan to Trump

Russia attacked Ukraine's second-largest city of Kharkiv on Wednesday, hitting a kindergarten with children in attendance. Ukraine’s president said all children have been evacuated, with many “experiencing acute stress reactions”.

Kharkiv

Russian strike hits Kharkiv kindergarten

Colombia has recalled its ambassador to the U.S. amid rising tensions between the two countries. Following U.S. military strikes on suspected drug boats, President Donald Trump imposed new tariffs and suspended aid to Colombia, while Bogota accused Washington of violating Colombian sovereignty.

Feud escalates between U.S., Colombia leaders

President Donald Trump could demand the government pay him $230 million. It would be taxpayer dollars, approved by the DOJ, that he says he deserves for past cases. CBS News' Scott MacFarlane explains.

Trump may demand the DOJ pay him $230 million

The Louvre Museum in Paris reopened Wednesday for the first time after Sunday's heist. The thieves are still on the run. CBS News' Elizabeth Palmer reports on the latest in the investigation and how much the stolen jewels are worth.

Louvre reopens amid search for heist suspects

AccuWeather forecasters are warning that the western Caribbean could face extreme impacts from Tropical Storm Melissa as the storm will barely move for nearly a week.

Santo Domingo

Tropical Storm Melissa expected to stall, potentially deadly

A French government minister insisted the security system at the Louvre was working as it was supposed to when burglars easily made off with $102 million worth of jewels. The Paris prosecutor says 100 investigators are on the case.

Fallout grows in France over Louvre crown jewels heist

Vice President JD Vance visited Israel, calling for patience as the fragile ceasefire, in place for 11 days, continues to hold amid ongoing tensions between Israel and Hamas.

Tel Aviv-Yafo

In visit to Israel, Vance urges patience as fragile ceasefire holds

A planned summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin was put on hold on Tuesday, as Moscow's rejection of an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine cast a cloud over attempts at negotiation.

Moscow

Russian demands on Ukraine jeopardize Putin-Trump summit

A posthumous memoir by Virginia Giuffre, who accused Britain's Prince Andrew of sexually abusing her as a teenager, went on sale in London on Tuesday (October 21, 2025), days after the disgraced prince gave up his Duke of York title.

London

More scrutiny piles on Prince Andrew as new Giuffre book released

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy began his five-year prison sentence in Paris on Tuesday (October 21) for conspiring to raise campaign funds from Libya, in a stunning downfall for a man who led the country between 2007 and 2012.

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