NTD Good Morning

Amazon Web Services reported a major outage on Monday morning, affecting a number of major companies. According to Downdetector.com, platforms like Venmo, Facebook, and Prime Video were among a number of sites affected. Amazon Web Services issued a statement, saying the root cause of the outage had been identified and that they were working to “accelerate recovery.”

The cease-fire is holding in Gaza after a deadly flare-up on Sunday. Israeli forces resumed the truce after retaliating in the wake of a Hamas attack that killed two IDF soldiers. President Donald Trump confirmed that the cease-fire remains in place. Special envoy Steve Witkoff and former senior Trump adviser Jared Kushner have arrived back in Israel, according to a U.S. embassy spokesperson. Vice President JD Vance said he might return to Israel in the coming days.

Authorities in France are investigating after the Louvre Museum in Paris was robbed in broad daylight on Sunday. Four suspects made off with several priceless items of jewelry in what officials called a “highly professional operation.” The sapphire necklace of Queen Marie-Amélie and the emerald necklace gifted by Napoleon to his second wife Marie-Louise as a wedding present are among the pieces missing. French President Emmanuel Macron responded to criticism over the Louvre's lack of protection for the art pieces. He announced a $1 billion plan to renovate the museum over the next six years.

NYC Mayoral Candidates Face Off in Debate; Trump to Meet with Putin | NTD Good Morning (Oct. 17)

Court Blocks Trump's Layoffs; Hamas: All Accessible Remains Returned | NTD Good Morning

A federal judge in California halted President Donald Trump's federal layoffs on Wednesday, with the government shutdown now entering day 16. Amid the gridlock between the two parties, a high-profile debate is set to take place between Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-La.) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.). Meanwhile, Senate leader John Thune (R-S.D.) is expected to hold a procedural vote on Thursday to fund the Pentagon for the full 2026 fiscal year. The move is in line with Trump's emergency measures to ensure U.S. troops are paid. Democrats have not yet said how they plan to vote on the bill.

Israel says it has identified two more hostages among the bodies returned from Gaza so far, namely 27-year-old Inbar Hayman and 39-year-old Sgt. Muhammad al-Ataresh. In a phone call to CNN, Trump said he would consider allowing Netanyahu to resume military operations in Gaza if the Hamas terrorist group failed to meet the terms of the cease-fire agreement. Hamas said it has handed over all hostage remains it can access, claiming it needs special equipment to recover the rest of the bodies.

Trump has confirmed that he authorized covert CIA operations in Venezuela, and said U.S. land strikes there are now under consideration. Venezuela is calling the actions a violation of international law. Some members of Congress from both parties say the president’s actions, including strikes on drug boats, effectively amount to acts of war without congressional authorization. Meanwhile, the Coast Guard says it has seized over 100,000 pounds of cocaine since August as part of Operation Pacific Viper.

Israel Identifies 3 More Hostages; Senate Rejects Funding Plan Again | NTD Good Morning (Oct. 15)

Government Shutdown Enters 14th Day; Trump Set to Meet with Zelenskyy | NTD Good Morning

Senators are returning to Capitol Hill on Tuesday with no deal in sight to reopen the government as the shutdown enters the 14th day. The Treasury Department said it’s adjusting payment processes to ensure active-duty service members can continue to be paid during the shutdown. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said on Monday that this could yet become the longest shutdown in history. Democrats remain insistent that Republicans must negotiate on health care policy before they’ll cast the votes needed to end the deadlock.

President Donald Trump is set to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Washington on Friday. The two leaders are expected to discuss air defense. Kyiv has been pressing the United States for Tomahawk missiles, but Trump said he may speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin before making a final decision. The president also confirmed plans to meet with China’s Xi Jinping at the APEC summit later this month.

A powerful nor’easter has battered the East Coast for three days, killing at least one person and flooding coastal towns from New York to Delaware. In Alaska, the remnants of Typhoon Halong have left a trail of devastation, sweeping homes away and killing at least one person. In Arizona, storms have turned streets into rivers, leaving one dead and tens of thousands without power.

President Trump Addresses Knesset; Government Shutdown Enters 3rd Week | NTD Good Morning

President Donald Trump is in Israel on Monday as hostages held for more than 700 days return to their families. A huge sign on a Tel Aviv beach thanked him as Air Force One approached the Israeli coast. The president met with relatives of freed hostages and addressed the Israeli Knesset. He will next head to Egypt for a summit to formally end the war in Gaza.

Washington museums and the National Zoo remained closed over the weekend as the government shutdown heads for its 3rd week. The Trump administration has initiated mass firings for federal employees. The president has also directed War Secretary Pete Hegseth to use all means to ensure troops are paid this week. Trump says he's open to negotiating on health care after Democrats reopen the government. However, Senate Democrats are insisting that talks come first.

All 16 victims have now been identified after a massive explosion destroyed a military explosives plant west of Nashville. Authorities said there were no survivors, while rescue crews are continuing to search the volatile site. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee has vowed a full investigation. Federal agents from the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives are working to determine what caused the blast.

Israel Says Ceasefire Now in Effect in Gaza; New York State Attorney General Letitia James Indicted | NTD Good Morning

Israel and Hamas Agree to Cease-Fire Plan; Hundreds of National Guard Troops Arrive in Chicago | NTD Good Morning

Israel and the Hamas terrorist group have both signed off on the first phase of President Donald Trump's peace plan. Israel said its government will convene on Thursday to ratify the agreement. Trump said the first phase will involve the release of all remaining hostages and the partial withdrawal of Israeli troops. The president said that a body he called the “Board of Peace” will oversee a temporary transitional committee after Hamas gives up control of the Gaza Strip.

Hundreds of National Guard troops have arrived in Chicago under Trump’s plan to curb violent crime. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker is accusing the Trump administration of politicizing the National Guard. Trump defended the move, criticizing state leaders for failing to protect ICE agents. Meanwhile, a federal court has ruled that Trump can keep control of the Oregon National Guard, though can’t yet deploy them.

Federal and local officials have announced the arrest of 29-year-old Jonathan Rinderknecht in connection with January's Palisades fire in California, which killed 12 and destroyed 6,800 structures. Rinderknecht stands accused of intentionally starting the fire along a hiking trail just after midnight on Jan. 1. Officials say the allegations are supported by his phone data, false statements made to law enforcement, and AI-generated images depicting a burning city. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to twenty years in federal prison.

House Speaker Weighs Paying Troops as Shutdown Continue; Trump, Canadian PM Talk Trade at WH Meeting | NTD Good Morning

The government shutdown has entered day 8 as lawmakers remain at an impasse on a budget bill. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said on Tuesday that he's considering proposing a bill that would provide pay to military troops and air traffic controllers, but Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said it's not needed yet. Also, a White House draft memo that had been circulated has led to controversy after questioning whether 'non-essential' federal employees currently furloughed are entitled to back pay.

President Donald Trump met with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at the White House on Tuesday. The two leaders praised each other while acknowledging the natural business and industrial competition that arises from the two countries' proximity to each other. The United States still has a 50 percent tariff on Canadian steel and aluminum, as well as other tariffs on some cars, lumber, and copper. Trump said the two countries are now working on a formula for a potential tariff deal.

Federal officials are in Portland and Chicago this week. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem visited Portland, where she warned that more federal troops could be sent there if local leaders don't provide additional security. In Chicago, FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche highlighted a coordinated federal effort on crime and immigration. Officials in both cities have pushed back against the federal government.

Gaza Ceasefire Talks Underway on Anniversary of October 7 Attack; Government Shutdown Enters Day 7 | NTD Good Morning 

Negotiations are underway in Egypt to finalize a cease-fire between Israel and the Hamas terrorist group. The two sides are discussing a deal based on the 20-point peace plan unveiled by President Donald Trump during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in late September. The talks are taking place as Israel marks the 2nd anniversary of the Oct. 7 attack.

It's day 7 of the government shutdown, and U.S. airports are reporting delays as an increasing number of air traffic controllers call in sick. While the essential workers are expected to be at work, they aren't guaranteed a timely paycheck. Meanwhile, senators are not making progress in getting a funding bill across the finish line, with another two votes failing on Monday.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is visiting the White House on Tuesday for a meeting with President Trump. The Prime Minister’s Office said the two leaders will focus on the economic and security relationship between the two countries during the meeting, including Trump's tariffs. The president recently ramped up tariffs on Canadian products not covered by the U.S.–Mexico–Canada Agreement. Trump's use of tariffs will be heard by the Supreme Court soon to determine whether the president can use emergency powers to issue tariffs at all.