Here are the AP’s top stories and promotable content. All times U.S. Eastern. For up-to-the minute information on AP’s coverage, visit AP Newsroom’s Coverage Plan.

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UPCOMING

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FBC--T25-MISSISSIPPI-GEORGIA

DESCRIPTION: ATHENS, Ga. -- No. 5 Mississippi will try to retain its share of the Southeastern Conference lead when the Rebels visit No. 9 Georgia on Saturday. By Charles Odum. UPCOMING: 600 words, photos. Game scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m. EDT.

UPCOMING: By 10/18/2025 7:30 p.m. EDT, DigitalPlans, Text

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NEW AND DEVELOPING

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INTERNATIONAL

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ML--MIDEAST-WARS-GAZA

Palestinian embassy in Egypt say Rafah crossing will reopen Monday for people returning to Gaza

SUMMARY: The Palestinian embassy in Egypt says the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt will reopen Monday for people returning to Gaza. The embassy announced the development in a statement Saturday. The cultural counselor at the embassy told The Associated Press that “the number of people registering to return to Gaza is very big” but didn’t give a number. There was no immediate comment from Israel. The crossing is Gaza’s only gateway to the outside world that wasn’t controlled by Israel before the war. It has been closed since May 2024, when Israel took control of the Gaza side.

WORDS: 898 - MOVED: 10/18/2025 11:14 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:4d13aaceec91c360449dd5fa737b192b&mediaType=text

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ML--MIDEAST-WARS-YEMEN

Burning ship loaded with gas abandoned in Gulf of Aden off Yemen as 1 mariner missing

SUMMARY: A Cameroonian-flagged ship has caught fire in the Gulf of Aden off Yemen. At least one mariner was missing Saturday and another still likely abroad the burning tanker after the rest of the crew abandoned the vessel. British and European Union officials offered differing opinions about what sparked the blaze aboard the Falcon, with the British suggesting a projectile hit it while the EU said it appeared to be “an accident.” They warned ships in the area the vessel could explode as it was “fully loaded” with liquefied petroleum gas. Yemen’s Houthi rebels have been attacking ships in the area.

WORDS: 496 - MOVED: 10/18/2025 10:34 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:25543875a66516c99ec937952542972f&mediaType=text

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AS--TAIWAN-OPPOSITION

Taiwan’s main opposition party elects new leader in a race clouded by claims of China meddling

SUMMARY: Taiwan’s main opposition Nationalist Party has chosen Cheng Li-wun as its new chairperson. Cheng, the only female candidate, defeated former Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin and four others on Saturday. Despite losing three consecutive presidential elections to the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, the China-friendly Nationalists, also known as the KMT, hold enough seats to form a majority bloc with allies in the legislature. Cheng, scheduled to take office in November, could influence Taiwan’s relationship with Beijing and other key policies. During her campaign, she pledged to transform the KMT and regain support from young people.

WORDS: 589 - MOVED: 10/18/2025 9:06 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:ec700a517f43c35b372a7e049646d74b&mediaType=text

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AS--AFGHANISTAN-PAKISTAN-VIOLENCE

Afghan and Pakistani delegations in Doha for crisis talks over cross-border violence

SUMMARY: Afghan and Pakistani delegations have met in Doha to address their deadliest crisis in years. The talks, led by defense ministers, are focusing on ending cross-border tensions and restoring peace. Fighting over the past week has killed dozens and injured hundreds. Each country blames the other for the aggression. A 48-hour ceasefire ended Friday, leading to Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan. Pakistan claims the strikes targeted militants, while Afghan officials report civilian casualties. Regional powers, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar, have called for calm. Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban criticizes Pakistan’s actions as provocative, urging mutual security over violence.

WORDS: 468 - MOVED: 10/18/2025 8:32 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:232bb8c59918af77a92b6d16e4adb52b&mediaType=text

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UNITED STATES

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US--BALCONY COLLAPSE-CINCINNATI

Third-floor balcony in Cincinnati collapses, sending 10 people to the hospital

SUMMARY: Officials say a balcony on the third floor of a building near the University of Cincinnati has collapsed, sending 10 people to the hospital. Cincinnati Fire Chief Frank McKinley says one person is in critical condition from the collapse Friday evening. He tells WKRC-TV that officials are investigating the collapse. Cincinnati Police Department Capt. Stephen Bower says five of the people had serious injuries, while four had minor. He says the building is a place where a lot of students live. It is not immediately clear the number of people on the balcony when it collapsed.

WORDS: 131 - MOVED: 10/18/2025 1:38 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:6a77a17bea578cb746cc4f738209a779&mediaType=text

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WASHINGTON/POLITICS

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US--NO KINGS PROTEST

‘No Kings’ protests against Trump planned nationwide, in what the GOP calls ‘hate America’ rallies

SUMMARY: Protesting the direction of the country under President Donald Trump, people will gather Saturday in the nation’s capital and communities across the U.S. They’re holding “No Kings” demonstrations, or what the president’s Republican Party is calling “Hate America” rallies. This is the third mass mobilization since Trump’s return to the White House. It comes against the backdrop of a government shutdown that not only has closed federal programs and services, but is testing the core balance of power as organizers warn of a slide toward American authoritarianism. Trump himself is away from Washington at his Mar-a-Lago home in Florida.

WORDS: 910 - MOVED: 10/18/2025 11:07 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:4baa5de2fab057a0e6ab726f5d7747fd&mediaType=text

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US--ELECTION 2025-NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR

Republican nominee for New Jersey governor puts some distance from Trump on immigration

SUMMARY: Jack Ciattarelli has been endorsed by Donald Trump in next month’s New Jersey governor’s election and is a strong supporter of the Republican president and his agenda. But the former business owner and state legislator is also diverging Trump on the key issue of immigration. Ciattarelli says he’d back a “pathway to recognition” for some people who are living in New Jersey illegally. Ciattarelli is hoping to make inroads with Latino voters. It’s an important group of voters in the November election against Democrat Mikie Sherrill, a four-term congresswoman.

WORDS: 1277 - MOVED: 10/18/2025 9:51 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:4802fd86c36b7d9d0e804efd6368ed05&mediaType=text

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US--GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN-IMPACT

Shutdown impact: What it means for workers, federal programs and the economy

SUMMARY: The federal government shutdown is approaching the second longest on record and there’s no end in sight. Some lawmakers predict it could surpass the 35-day shutdown from President Donald Trump’s first term. The nation’s 1.3 million active-duty service members have gotten a temporary reprieve. But hundreds of thousands of federal civilian employees are being furloughed and facing financial stress. The travel economy is taking a big hit with tourist sites such as Smithsonian museums in the nation’s capital closed. There have been air controller shortages in some cities and flight delays. The longer the shutdown lasts, the more it could be a drag on the economy.

WORDS: 1083 - MOVED: 10/18/2025 8:30 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:efced4c32282087c8c53aeab535230a0&mediaType=text

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US--TRUMP-GEORGE SANTOS

Trump commutes sentence of former US Rep. George Santos in federal fraud case

SUMMARY: President Donald Trump has commuted the sentence of former U.S. Rep. George Santos, who was slated to serve more than seven years in federal prison after pleading guilty to fraud and identity theft charges. One of Santos’ lawyers told the New York Post late Friday that the former lawmaker was released from the Federal Correctional Institution in Fairton, New Jersey, around 11 p.m. The New York Republican was sentenced in April after admitting last year to deceiving donors and stealing the identities of 11 people — including his own family members — to make donations to his campaign.

WORDS: 950 - MOVED: 10/18/2025 12:52 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:8ae46d6351cefe01d79f74920521b7a2&mediaType=text

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HEALTH/SCIENCE

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SCI--BE WELL-MUSIC-PAIN

Music could help ease pain from surgery or illness. Scientists are listening

SUMMARY: Hospitals and doctors’ offices are inviting singers and musicians to help patients manage their pain, as music’s ability to reduce pain is gaining attention. No one is suggesting that a catchy song can completely eliminate serious pain. But several recent studies have suggested that listening to music can either reduce the perception of pain or enhance a person’s ability to tolerate it. The key is letting patients choose the music and encouraging active listening. Scientists say one aspect of music’s power is simple distraction, but it’s more than that. It changes the perception and experience of pain, and the isolation and anxiety.

WORDS: 922 - MOVED: 10/18/2025 9:04 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:495a90c22ca196da0e95ffe515fb4cbd&mediaType=text

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LIFESTYLE

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EU--BRITAIN-ROYALS

One scandal too many forces UK monarchy to sideline Prince Andrew after years of tabloid fodder

SUMMARY: Prince Andrew has been banished from the royal whirl after emails emerged this week showing that he had remained in contact with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein longer than he previously admitted. The House of Windsor has finally moved to insulate the monarchy from years of tawdry headlines about Andrew’s dodgy friends and suspicious business deals. Buckingham Palace on Friday released a statement from Andrew saying that he had agreed to give up use of his last remaining royal titles so that continued allegations about him “don’t distract from the work of His Majesty.”

WORDS: 1058 - MOVED: 10/18/2025 10:37 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:91c4bec9a5cf3de8fcb16f9c1fe52e60&mediaType=text

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SPORTS

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BBO--DODGERS ADVANCE

The champion Dodgers are dominating October again. There’s more behind their success than money

SUMMARY: During the Los Angeles Dodgers’ October rampage to the NL pennant, the defending World Series champions have actually been the dark eminence that many baseball people have long feared they would become. The Dodgers are 9-1 in the postseason, with near-flawless starting pitching and a deep, resilient lineup producing key hits and electrifying highlights. They swept the Milwaukee Brewers out of the NL Championship Series with a 5-1 victory featuring an iconic three-homer, 10-strikeout performance by Shohei Ohtani. Naysayers think the Dodgers’ success is bad for baseball, but the players and coaches wearing the uniform simply don’t care.

WORDS: 1106 - MOVED: 10/18/2025 11:35 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:e2d09450d49cb9f3cc9ef652c7544d14&mediaType=text

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