International from Thursday, October 16th, 2025

US President Donald Trump signed an order on Wednesday directing the Pentagon to ensure active-duty military personnel are paid despite the federal government shutdown, the White House said, addressing one of the most sensitive issues in the bitter standoff over federal spending.

The detonation of explosive devices on two bridges in Ecuador early on Wednesday was retaliation for a major military operation against illegal miners, the country's interior minister said.

Aid trucks rolled into the Gaza border on Wednesday awaiting entry as Israel resumed preparations to open the main Rafah crossing, with an official announcing that 600 aid trucks would be allowed inside after Hamas handed over more bodies of dead hostages.

Five days after historic floods that killed at least 66 people and affected 100,000 homes, Mexico is still scrambling to get help to the worst-hit communities and locate 75 missing people amid criticism of the government’s handling of the crisis.