‘Sparks’ author Ian Johnson on Chinese ‘challenging the party’s monopoly on history’ Xi Jinping and China’s ruling Communist Party have displayed a dogged obsession with controlling the historical narrative. But there’s a group of underground historians fighting back. Read more on NPR

North Carolina radio station plans to reject broadcasts of ‘inappropriate’ Met operas WCPE says that six contemporary operas being presented this season by the Metropolitan Opera — including ones dealing with violence, race and LGBTQ issues — are “unsuitable” for broadcast. Read more on NPR

More than 2,500 migrants crossing the Mediterranean died or went missing this year The staggering toll increased more than 60% from last year, when fewer migrants attempted the dangerous journey to Europe. This year so far, the majority of migrants are arriving in Italy. Read more on NPR

Man tied to suspected gunman in killing of Tupac Shakur is indicted on murder charge A Nevada grand jury indicted Duane “Keffe D” Davis, one of the last living witnesses to the fatal drive-by shooting of the rapper in Las Vegas, prosecutors announced in court Friday Read more on NPR

What a shutdown would mean for student loan borrowers October loan payments will still be due, but an extended shutdown could impact customer service. Read more on NPR

Biden calls for up to 3 offshore oil leases in Gulf of Mexico, upsetting both sides The administration’s proposal seeks to strike a balance between energy companies seeking greater oil and gas production and environmental activists who want Biden to shut down new offshore drilling. Read more on NPR

House GOP hardliners block spending stopgap with shutdown looming House Speaker Kevin McCarthy rejected a bipartisan Senate proposal to keep agencies funded through November 17 and instead moved a GOP bill that linked another month of spending with border security. Read more on NPR

Despair flows after England’s Sycamore Gap tree is cut down. Could it regrow? The famous tree in northern England is believed to have been around 200 years old. Efforts are under way to salvage it through regrowth or grafting — or starting over from a new seed. Read more on NPR