PEACEHAVEN, UNITED KINGDOM - OCTOBER 03:  (EDITORS NOTE: Retransmission with alternate crop.)  Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex make an official visit to the Joff Youth Centre in Peacehaven, Sussex on October 3, 2018 in Peacehaven, United Kingdom. The Duke and Duchess married on May 19th 2018 in Windsor and were conferred The Duke & Duchess of Sussex by The Queen.  (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
Meghan Markle expecting first child with Harry
01:29 - Source: CNN
CNN  — 

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    The Nasdaq topped 10,000 for the first time ever, proving that during this period of economic uncertainty, America still has faith in tech stocks like Apple, Facebook, Amazon and Netflix.

    1. Sears

    Sears filed for bankruptcy early this morning, after the once-dominant retailer couldn’t make a $134 million debt payment that was due today. Sears, which also owns Kmart, says it will stay in business and keep open profitable stores as well as its online shopping sites. But it will close at least 142 more stores this year, on top of the 46 store closings it had already planned for next month. Sears, a 132-year-old company, changed how Americans shopped, but it has struggled in the era of big box stores and internet shopping and has been drowning in debt.

    sears buggy
    When Sears sold cars
    00:57 - Source: CNNMoney

    2. German elections

    German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s fragile coalition government just got a lot more fragile. A political party allied with her in the state of Bavaria lost its majority in Bavaria’s parliament in an election yesterday. The party, the Christian Social Union, had pretty much ruled Bavaria since the end of World War II, but the refugee crisis in the country fueled the rise of far-right, anti-immigration parties that gained seats in parliament for the first time. Bavaria bore the brunt of the 2015 refugee crisis; at its peak, thousands of asylum seekers were crossing into the state every day. Since then, both Merkel and her CSU allies have been criticized for their management of the influx. The outcome of the election further weakens Merkel’s coalition, which took four months to form and almost imploded over refugee issues.

    BERLIN, GERMANY - JULY 18:  German Chancellor Angela Merkel listens during a news conference with Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra at the German federal chancellory on July 18, 2012 in Berlin, Germany. Yingluck, Thailand's first female prime minister, is on her first state visit outside of Asia since she took office in August of last year.  (Photo by Adam Berry/Getty Images)
    Watch highlights from Angela Merkel's career
    03:16 - Source: CNN

    3. Hurricane Michael

    Five days after Hurricane Michael slammed into the Florida Panhandle, dozens of people are still missing. About 30 to 35 people remain unaccounted for in hard-hit Mexico Beach. Conditions are dire for survivors, with long lines for food and bottled water. There’s also some reports of looting. And local schools are scrambling to get students back in class. The misery extends beyond Florida, with more than 250,000 customers still without power in seven states from Florida to Virginia. Later today, President Trump and first lady Melania Trump visit to survey the damage.

    Chief David Collier
    Battalion chief: We have to put emotions aside
    02:55 - Source: CNN

    4. Saudi Arabia

    International pressure has been mounting on Saudi Arabia for days for an explanation into the disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Turkey. The UK, Germany and France demand an investigation. Businesses are pulling out of conferences there. Politicians in the US have talked of sanctions. Over the weekend the Saudis pushed back, threatening to retaliate if the US imposed sanctions. Saudi Arabia’s King Salman spoke with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, which resulted in talk of the two countries possibly putting together a “working group” to deal with the matter.

    WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 14: U.S. President Donald Trump (R) meets with Mohammed bin Salman, Deputy Crown Prince and Minister of Defense of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in the Oval Office at the White House, March 14, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
    Saudi Arabia denies killing journalist
    04:25 - Source: CNN

    5. Affirmative action

    A lawsuit that could spell the beginning of the end of affirmative action goes to trial today in a federal court in Massachusetts. The suit was filed by a group of conservative advocates on behalf of Asian-American students who failed to gain admission to Harvard. The group wants Harvard’s racial admissions practices, that traditionally benefit African-American and Latino students, overturned. This case is all but certain to reach the Supreme Court, where the group’s ultimate hope is that the court’s new conservative majority will be more inclined to reverse the landmark 1978 Supreme Court case that upheld race-based admissions policies.

    On April 5th, 2017 students at Harvard start the first day of Resistance School -- a 4-week course in anti-Trump activism created by progressive students at the university's Kennedy School of Government.
    Historic affirmative action trial set to begin
    01:26 - Source: CNN

    NUMBER OF THE DAY

    The number of people killed after a snowstorm hit a group of mountain climbers’ camp on Nepal’s Mount Gurja

    In this grab taken from video provided by SIMRIK AIR, a helicopter lands close to a storm site after searching for missing mountaineers on the Gurja Himal mountain, in Nepal, Saturday, Oct. 13, 2018. Seven people, including South Korean climbers, were killed and two more are missing on Gurja Himal mountain after a strong storm swept through their base camp, Nepalese police said Saturday. (SIMRIK AIR via AP)
    Officials: 9 climbers dead after snowstorm
    00:29 - Source: CNN

    BREAKFAST BROWSE

    People are talking about these. Read up. Join in.

    Not so sweet

    Looks like things have turned sour for “Sweetener” singer Ariana Grande and “SNL’s” Pete Davidson. Their engagement is off.

    Davidson Grande Split
    Ariana Grande and Pete Davidson split
    00:47 - Source: CNN

    Go your own way

    Fleetwood Mac is known as much for its drama as its hits. Now ex-member Lindsey Buckingham is suing over getting kicked off the band’s latest tour.

    Lindsey Buckingham

    Road warrior

    She’ll visit her 50th state this week – and she’s just 5 months old. What are you doing with your life again?

    20181011-baby-states-card
    Baby takes cross-country trip to all 50 states
    00:48 - Source: CNN

    Let her rest in peace

    So there’s going to be an Amy Winehouse hologram tour next year. We all miss Amy but bringing her back via hologram is just too creepy.

    Amy Winehouse

    Got eyes for you

    Some prankster put googly eyes on a historic monument in Savannah, Georgia, but city officials don’t find it funny at all.

    01 Googly eyes Savannah Statue Nathanael Greene trnd

    AND FINALLY …

    Smash mash

    These elephants at the Oregon Zoo get into the fall spirit by smashing up some giant pumpkins. (Click to view)