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Biden tries again at student loan cancellation, this time for those with financial hardships

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Biden tries again at student loan cancellation, this time for those with financial hardships

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is moving ahead with a new path to student loan cancellation for Americans who face steep medical bills, child care costs and other types of financial hardship that prevent them from repaying their loans.

Announced Friday, the proposed rule is President Joe Biden’s third attempt at student loan cancellation as he faces repeated legal challenges from Republican states. His first plan was rejected by the Supreme Court last year, and his second plan has been temporarily halted by a federal judge in Missouri.

The new rule would have to clear a number of hurdles before it becomes official, and it’s unclear if it could be realized before Biden leaves office in three months. Like Biden’s other loan forgiveness proposals, it could face court challenges from conservatives who say it’s unconstitutional and unfair.

If finalized, the new rule would allow the Education Department to proactively cancel loans for borrowers if the agency determines they have an 80% chance of being in default on their loans within two years. Others could apply for a review to determine if they meet the criteria for cancellation.

It’s meant to help borrowers who are unlikely to ever be able to repay their loans. The Education Department estimates about 8 million Americans would qualify for cancellation.

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“For far too long, our broken student loan system has made it too hard for borrowers experiencing heartbreaking and financially devastating hardships to access relief, and it’s not right,” said Education Secretary Miguel Cardona.

Those who could be eligible include people with unexpected medical bills, high child care costs, heavy costs related to caring for relatives with chronic illnesses, and those struggling financially in the wake of natural disasters, the Education Department said.

Under the proposal, the department could use a range of factors to judge whether someone is likely to fall into default on their loans. It includes household income, age, whether they receive public benefits, and their overall debt — not just from student loans.

It also allows consideration of “any other indicators of hardship identified by the Secretary.” A loan is usually considered in default if no payment has been made in about nine months.

With about 1 million borrowers in default every year, Cardona said the new rule would prevent his agency from trying to collect money it’s unlikely to recoup.

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“Servicing and collecting on defaulted loans is not free, it costs taxpayer dollars,” Cardona said in a call with reporters. “And there’s a point when the cost of trying to collect on a defaulted loan just is not worth it.”

The proposal will enter a 30-day public comment period before it could become official. The administration said it plans to finalize the rule in 2025. It faces an uncertain future arriving less than two weeks before the Nov. 5 presidential election.

Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, has not detailed her plans for student debt cancellation if she wins the presidency. Republican nominee Donald Trump has called Biden’s cancellation proposals unfair and illegal.

Biden’s latest proposal is the result of a federal rules process that included experts from across higher education. Advocates pushed hard for the hardship provision, saying too many borrowers get trapped with debt they’ll never be able to repay.

The Biden administration said it has authority under the Higher Education Act, which allows the education secretary to waive debt in certain cases. It also noted that other federal agencies routinely waive debts owed to them, considering factors like “good conscience” and equity.

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It’s a similar legal argument used to justify Biden’s second attempt at student loan forgiveness, which proposes relief for groups of borrowers including those with large sums of interest and those with older loans. A federal judge in Missouri blocked that plan amid a legal challenge from Republican states.

Biden campaigned for the White House on a promise of new student loan cancellation, but his biggest plans have been halted by Republican opponents. Last year, the Supreme Court rejected a plan to forgive up to $20,000 for millions of Americans after several Republican states sued to block it.

Amid its legal battles, the administration has increasingly shifted attention to its work canceling student loans using existing programs, including one for public service workers. In total, the administration says it has now canceled $175 billion for about 5 million borrowers.

The hardship provision was originally discussed as part of the second-attempt plan that’s now on hold in Missouri, but the Education Department broke it off into its own proposal to spend more time on the details.

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The Associated Press’ education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

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Video: Dozens of Unidentified Palestinians Buried in Mass Grave in Gaza

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Video: Dozens of Unidentified Palestinians Buried in Mass Grave in Gaza

new video loaded: Dozens of Unidentified Palestinians Buried in Mass Grave in Gaza

The bodies of 54 unidentified Palestinians were laid to rest at a mass burial site in Gaza. The bodies were returned by Israel to Gaza as part of the cease-fire deal.

By Jorge Mitssunaga and Saher Alghorra

October 22, 2025

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Louvre director grilled on spectacular security failures, including camera pointing away from key balcony

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Louvre director grilled on spectacular security failures, including camera pointing away from key balcony

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The director of Paris’ iconic Louvre Museum is facing scrutiny over apparent security failures that allowed thieves to make off with more than $100 million worth of jewels.

In her first public address since the heist, Louvre Museum director Laurence des Cars acknowledged there was a “terrible failure” and said, “Despite our efforts, despite our hard work on a daily basis, we failed,” The Guardian reported.

Des Cars admitted that security around the Louvre’s perimeter was an issue and that the only camera monitoring the outside of the museum was facing away from the balcony that led to the gallery where the precious jewels were kept, according to reports. The Guardian also noted that des Cars confirmed all the museum’s alarms were functioning during the burglary.

LOUVRE HEIST ADDS TO HISTORY OF HIGH-PROFILE MUSEUM BREACHES, LEAVES OTHER GALLERIES ON EDGE

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Louvre Museum director Laurence des Cars made her first public remarks since the recent jewelry heist at a press conference on Oct. 22, 2025, in Paris, France. (Edward Berthelot/Getty Images)

“We failed these jewels,” des Cars said, according to the BBC. The outlet also quoted the director as saying that no one is safe from “brutal thieves — not even the Louvre.”

On Sunday, burglars appeared to use a truck-mounted electric furniture lift to conduct the heist, Laure Beccuau, the Paris prosecutor, said in an interview with RTL radio, according to The New York Times. She added that the thieves obtained the lift by pretending it was for a move. Additionally, Beccuau noted that it would not be easy for burglars to sell the stolen jewels for what they’re worth if they tear the pieces apart or melt them, according to the Times.

Police and moving lift outside the Louvre Museum following jewel heist in Paris.

Police secure the area outside the Louvre Museum in Paris, where burglars used a truck-mounted moving lift to reach a second floor window and steal royal jewelry valued at more than $100 million. (Dimitar DILKOFF / AFP)

HOW LOUVRE BURGLARS OBTAINED TRUCK-MOUNTED LIFT TO MAKE OFF WITH JEWELS WORTH MORE THAN $100M

The thieves got away with a total of eight objects, including a sapphire diadem, necklace and single earring from a set linked to 19th-century queens Marie-Amélie and Hortense. They also stole an emerald necklace and earrings tied to Empress Marie-Louise, Napoleon Bonaparte’s second wife, and a reliquary brooch. Empress Eugénie’s diamond diadem and her large corsage-bow brooch — an imperial ensemble of rare craftsmanship — were also part of the loot.

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“The theft committed at the Louvre is an attack on a heritage that we cherish, for it is our history,” French President Emmanuel Macron said in an X post on Sunday. “We will recover the works, and the perpetrators will be brought to justice. Everything is being done, everywhere, to achieve this, under the leadership of the Paris prosecutor’s office.”

Forensic police officers arrive at the Louvre

Forensic police officers arrive at the Louvre Museum after reports of a robbery in Paris, France, on Oct. 19, 2025. (Gonzalo Fuentes/Reuters)

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The heist has prompted a national reckoning, with some officials comparing the shock to the 2019 burning of Notre Dame cathedral. Beccuau told RTL radio that the team investigating the heist had grown from 60 investigators to 100, underscoring the importance of the case on national and international levels.

Fox News Digital’s Michael Dorgan contributed to this report.

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Amid severe mental health strains, how are EU countries responding?

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Amid severe mental health strains, how are EU countries responding?

One in five adults across OECD and EU countries experiences mild-to-moderate depressive symptoms, according to the OECD’s Mental Health Promotion and Prevention report.

The symptoms often go unrecognised and untreated, increasing the risk of progression to more severe conditions and raising overall societal costs.

Czechia, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, and Portugal report a higher prevalence of moderate or severe depressive symptoms among native-born individuals.

Women are more vulnerable to mental illnesses during turning point events, such as pregnancy and postpartum.

The prevalence of postpartum depression was estimated at 16.6% for Central-Eastern Europe, 16.3% for Southern Europe, and 13.8% for Northern Europe, according to the study.

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The total cost of mental health problems was estimated at 4% of GDP across the 27 EU countries and the UK in 2015.

The medical cost of treating mental illnesses may be as much as 20 times higher, depending on the level of severity.

A German study found that in 2019, the six-month treatment cost of mental disorders was estimated at €511 for mild symptoms, €2,417 for moderate symptoms, and €10,485 for severe symptoms.

The cost of treatment, travelling long distances, and waiting times to see a medical professional are major barriers for people seeking help for mental health issues.

On average, two-thirds of individuals who need mental health care are estimated to lack access to treatment in OECD countries and the 27 EU member states.

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Mental health initiatives across the EU

However, some EU countries have initiatives for access to mental health support that can reduce the severity and duration of symptoms by up to 87%.

By the end of 2023, 14 out of 27 member states had mental health services that can be accessed directly without referral at the national or regional level.

For example, the Netherlands has created youth walk-in centres, such as the programme @Ease, which trains students and front-line professionals to help young adults with mental distress.

Meanwhile, in Belgium, there has been a reduction in access barriers by reimbursing the cost of psychological therapy either in part or in full, as well as the establishment of networks for mental health professionals across schools, workplaces, and social services.

These interventions have resulted in a rise in school attendance and reduced work absenteeism, with reported gains ranging from 50% to 61%.

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Some other examples are post-partum depression screenings in Poland and online tools in Germany.

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