After a two-year war in Gaza, Israel has approved the first stage of a ceasefire and hostage release plan brokered by United States President Donald Trump. According to a statement from the Israeli Prime Minister's office, the government has given its approval to the deal. The agreement marks a significant development aimed at ending the protracted conflict, with Israeli leaders meeting to finalize the terms.

The US-backed plan is structured in phases, with both Israel and Hamas reportedly agreeing to the initial stage. This first phase is set to take effect on Friday, beginning with a 72-hour window to facilitate an exchange. A Hamas official, Khalil al-Hayya, confirmed that the group would "begin implementing a permanent ceasefire" as part of the deal, which also includes provisions for the Rafah crossing on the Gaza-Egypt border.

Despite the breakthrough, reports indicate that contentious differences between the two sides still need to be resolved as they move past the first phase. The path to a lasting peace is further complicated by recent history. A prior ceasefire agreement was broken on March 18, 2025, when, Israel launched surprise airstrikes on Gaza.

While the agreement on an initial phase represents a crucial step forward, the success of the broader peace plan will depend on navigating the remaining points of disagreement. As both sides prepare for implementation, the international community is watching to see if this ceasefire can hold and pave the way for a more permanent resolution to the conflict.

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Plus: Heavy Fighting Continues in Ukraine, New York Attorney General Letitia James Indicted, National Guard Deployed in Chicago, and more.

Heavy Fighting Continues in Ukraine

On August 3, Russian forces advanced 6 miles toward Dobropillia in what has been described as their biggest advance in a year. Ukrainian forces, including the First Corps Azov, launched a counter-offensive under a joint command and reconnaissance structure (The War Zone). Ukrainian Lt. Col. Dmytryk reported that the counter-attack resulted in 5,000 Russian troops killed and 80 captured, successfully disrupting the offensive. Russian forces are now targeting both Dobropillia and the nearby city of Pokrovsk (The War Zone). In a separate incident, Russia accused Ukraine of rupturing a defunct ammonia pipeline near Rusin Yar in the Donetsk region, causing a toxic gas release during a retreat (Insider Paper).

New York Attorney General Letitia James Indicted

New York Attorney General Letitia James has been indicted on two criminal counts of bank fraud, mortgage fraud, and making false statements by a federal grand jury in Virginia (Axios). The indictment follows a civil fraud lawsuit in which James secured a $367 million fine against President Trump, which was later reversed on appeal. The indictment also came after U.S. Attorney Erik Siebert, who reportedly declined to bring charges against James, was replaced (Axios). In a statement, James said, "We will fight these baseless charges aggressively, and my office will continue to fiercely protect New Yorkers and their rights" (Axios).

Government Shutdown Looms, National Guard Deployed in Chicago

With a potential government shutdown threatening the October 15 paycheck for active-duty troops, military relief organizations are reporting a sharp increase in requests for financial assistance (Task & Purpose). Speaker Mike Johnson has stated that Congress is prepared to authorize funds to ensure furloughed federal workers receive back pay, a position that contrasts with a White House memo suggesting such pay is not automatic without specific Congressional approval (Axios).

Separately, National Guard patrols have begun in the Chicago area, while two courts are currently reviewing President Trump's deployment orders (Reuters).

Dominion Voting Systems Sold

Dominion Voting Systems, which was used in 27 states during the 2024 election, has been sold to a new company called Liberty Vote. The firm is led by Scott Leiendecker, a former Republican election official, and is said to emphasize paper-based election systems (Axios).

Pentagon Announces Barracks Overhaul, New Tech at AUSA

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has launched a new Barracks Task Force aimed at overhauling living quarters for junior enlisted military personnel. The initiative will leverage private sector investment and self-help programs, with a Pentagon-wide plan due within 30 days (Task & Purpose).

At the upcoming AUSA conference, General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) will unveil several new technologies for the Army. These include the TRX Leonidas, a counter-drone robot; the tank-launched Switchblade munition (PERCH) for the M1A2 Abrams; and the NEXUS vehicle designed for next-generation command posts (Breaking Defense).

Air Force Plans for Drone Wingmen and New Leadership

The U.S. Air Force plans to create independent squadrons for its collaborative combat aircraft (CCA), or drone wingmen, rather than integrating them into existing fighter units. Air Force Chief of Staff nominee Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach stated that the Air Force Reserve and National Guard may also form their own CCA squadrons (Defense News). During his nomination hearing, Gen. Wilsbach also deferred a decision on the "reoptimization" overhaul and did not explicitly commit to Congress's intent for the $150 billion "One Big Beautiful Bill," stating only that he would follow the law (Breaking Defense).

New Missile and Counter-Drone Systems Unveiled

Northrop Grumman is developing its jet-powered, modular Lumberjack missile to be deployed from XQ-58 Valkyrie drones. The missile, which can carry smaller munitions, is being tested in surface-launched configurations and is scheduled for air-launch tests next year (The War Zone). Additionally, L3Harris has unveiled a full family of its VAMPIRE counter-drone system, expanding from the initial rocket-based version for Ukraine to include maritime, airborne, and electronic warfare variants capable of defeating Group 1-3 drones (The War Zone).

U.S.-China Tensions Rise Over Minerals and Airspace

China announced it will restrict exports of vital minerals, a move that threatens the current trade truce and raises tensions ahead of a planned meeting between President Trump and President Xi. The restrictions, which begin in November, follow U.S. controls on chip exports (Axios). In another development, President Trump suggested he may ban Chinese airlines from using Russian airspace on flights to and from the United States (Reuters). The U.S. also sanctioned a Chinese refinery for purchasing Iranian oil (Reuters).

Japan and Australia Bolster Defense Capabilities

Japan is enhancing its long-range strike capabilities, contracting Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to develop new submarine-launched cruise missiles and to upgrade its Type 12 anti-ship missiles. The move is designed to boost standoff defense against China and North Korea (The War Zone). Meanwhile, Australian Space Command is exploring "space control" capabilities as part of its National Defence Strategy, with a multi-billion dollar investment planned to secure space assets and disrupt adversaries (Breaking Defense).

Global Headlines

• Pope Leo XIV: The new pontiff's first encyclical, "Dilexi te," centers the Catholic Church's mission on social justice, with a focus on defending migrants and the vulnerable (Axios).
• EU/Hungary: The European Union will investigate allegations that Hungary's intelligence service pressured its citizens working at EU institutions to spy on the bloc (Insider Paper).
• Belgium: A plot to attack the prime minister of Belgium has been foiled (Reuters).
• Indonesia: Israeli athletes have been barred from competing in the world artistic gymnastics championships in Jakarta in a show of support for Palestinians (Insider Paper).

Business & Technology

• Wall Street: Wall Street's record-setting rally paused and closed lower as the market awaits the upcoming earnings season (Reuters). Some analysts note that high U.S. stock valuations are reminiscent of the dot-com era (Reuters).
• Federal Reserve: Fed officials appear divided on monetary policy, with Governor Williams expecting rate cuts while Governor Barr urges caution (Reuters).
• Microsoft: Microsoft 365 experienced an outage that affected thousands of users (Reuters).
• Google/Oracle: Google reported that a hacking campaign linked to Oracle has "likely affected over 100" entities (Reuters).
• Airlines: Turkish Airlines' chairman stated the carrier may switch its Boeing 737 order to Airbus if engine negotiations prove unsuccessful (Reuters).
• Energy: The U.S. has granted a license to Shell and Trinidad to develop a Venezuelan gas field (Reuters).
• Healthcare: U.S. pharmacies and drug discounters are reportedly in discussions with the Trump administration about a potential 'TrumpRx role' (Reuters).

Society

Roy Lee Ward, 53, is scheduled to be executed by lethal injection in Indiana this Friday for the 2001 rape and murder of 15-year-old Stacy Payne (Insider Paper). Although nearly 75% of countries have abolished the death penalty, its use has reached record levels in nations where it is still practiced (Insider Paper).

Today's VA Mortgage Rates

30-Year Fixed VA Loan Rates:

• 5.375% - Veterans United Home Loans (As of October 9th, 2025, down from 5.382% last week)
• 5.375% - Navy Federal Credit Union
• 5.625% - Service Credit Union (with 0.375% points, resulting in a 5.856% APR)
• 5.750% - Service Credit Union (with 0.500% points, resulting in a 5.994% APR)
• 5.875% - Service Credit Union (with 0.000% points, resulting in a 6.073% APR)

15-Year Fixed VA Loan Rates:

• 4.875% - Navy Federal Credit Union (5.558% APR)

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