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Tyler Forney, a veteran member of Adelaide’s Angels Baseball Club, permanently lost vision in his right eye after being struck by a foul ball during a game against Woodville on Saturday. The ball ricocheted off his own bat while he was in the batter’s box during the second game of a double-header. His close friend and former teammate Chris Congdon said Forney was taken to hospital by ambulance and underwent significant eye surgery that evening. Congdon described the incident as a “horrific freak accident” that left club members who witnessed it mortified. Forney joined the club in 2016 after moving to Adelaide from Arizona in the United States. Congdon praised his athletic ability, developed through college baseball, and recalled his standout plays at shortstop. He said Forney had been an important part of the team’s success over the past five years and was known for his toughness, including playing through a broken hand for part of last season. The baseball community has rallied around Forney as he recovers. A GoFundMe campaign had raised more than $16,200 by Friday afternoon to help cover his medical fees. Congdon said Forney was surprised and grateful to learn how much he meant to people in the club and the wider baseball community. Forney is being supported by his partner, two children and three stepchildren. Although the injury may end his playing career, the club is already considering how to help him move into coaching. Congdon said Forney had more to contribute as a player, but also described him as someone whose words carry weight with others.

Queensland Water Minister Ann Leahy says industrial growth in the Western Downs—including oil and gas exploration, agriculture and feedlots, and a proposed $32 billion data centre—could attract private investment in new water infrastructure. She argues that federal Murray-Darling Basin water buybacks have reduced water available to the region, limiting what can be traded to industry, and says the state must consider options such as the long-discussed Nathan Dam or Nathan Weir. The Crisafulli government says it will examine ways to secure new supplies for the area. The data centre’s developer, Zerra DC, says it plans to operate on a water-neutral basis using air cooling, rainwater harvesting and recycled water from coal-seam gas projects. It estimates that each of its four proposed buildings would use 21,000 litres daily and says it would not draw on groundwater or town water. The company’s modelling, based on a century of Dalby rainfall data, suggests its rainwater-first approach can meet demand even during drought; its fallback plan, according to planning documents, is to truck water in. Environmental accounting expert Michael Vardon questions whether annual rainfall averages adequately account for dry months. He also warns that powering the data centre with gas or coal could shift water use to power stations rather than eliminate it. The project is expected to connect to a major substation and three gas-fired power plants, while also using renewable energy and battery storage. The surrounding region contains about 12,000 coal-seam gas wells. At a forum in Dalby, Zerra chief executive David Cooper said the fast-moving AI industry presents both opportunities and risks, and that poor decisions could undermine Australia’s ability to develop the sector. Meanwhile, protesters from Western Downs Says Pause called for the project to slow down, arguing that appropriate rules and regulations are not yet in place.

Former CFMEU secretary John Setka has admitted in the Federal Court to breaching the Fair Work Act by trying to pressure the AFL to dismiss its head of umpiring, Stephen McBurney. Prosecutors say that in mid-2024 Setka used social media posts and media interviews over roughly two weeks to threaten disruption or delays to AFL construction projects unless McBurney was removed. McBurney had previously served as Australian Building and Construction Commissioner and had been involved in more than 50 court cases against the union between 2018 and 2023. Setka made hostile public remarks about McBurney, including calling him a “zealot,” and shared a mock “Wanted Dead or Alive” poster. Setka’s barrister, Margo Harris, argued that he should not face a severe penalty because he is retired, is going through a divorce, and spends much of his time caring for his elderly mother. Harris said Setka does not express remorse, although he has admitted his actions were wrong. She also disputed that he deliberately conducted a media campaign, arguing that some statements came in response to interview questions. The Fair Work Ombudsman’s barrister, Marc Felman, rejected that characterization, saying Setka was not compelled to give interviews and that the conduct plainly amounted to a campaign. Setka faces a possible fine of up to $18,730, while the CFMEU could face up to $93,900. The union has refused to indemnify Setka for his legal costs, potentially leaving him with a substantial bill. The CFMEU, now under administration, asked the court to moderate its penalty, arguing that a new culture of lawful unionism has replaced the Setka-era approach. The case comes shortly before hearings begin in Victoria’s Royal Commission into the government’s Big Build projects. Setka also faces separate criminal charges alleging harassment of the union’s administrators. Justice John Snaden will determine penalties for Setka and the CFMEU at a later date.

The City of Bunbury and Shire of Harvey have reached an in-principle agreement to dissolve the Bunbury Harvey Regional Council (BHRC), the joint authority that managed waste facilities in Western Australia’s South West. BHRC operated the region’s first food organics and garden organics (FOGO) system, but its Banksia Road processing facility near Dardanup stopped accepting waste in late 2024 after contamination levels breached composting standards. The closure left green-bin waste from the region going to landfill, or being trucked to a Perth processing facility under a state government subsidy. BHRC’s difficulties also include regulatory problems at the Stanley Road Waste Management Facility near Australind. In 2022, the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation stopped on-site landfilling there after concerns that full, unlined landfill cells were leaking contaminants and posing unacceptable risks to human and environmental health. Stanley Road became a transfer station. The authority was also cited in 2023 for storing 15,000 used mattresses in a way that created an extreme fire risk. In November 2025, the councils agreed to spend $2 million to remove 20,000 tonnes of contaminated FOGO waste. Financial reports show the councils have contributed $14.7 million to BHRC operations since 2022, including $7.7 million in 2022–23 for operating costs and remediation at Stanley Road. BHRC chairperson Wendy Dickinson said the money was needed to address compliance issues and was not wasted. Bunbury Mayor Jaysen Miguel rejected the description of the dissolution as a failure, while former councillor Brendan Kelly called the authority a “black hole” for ratepayer funds and said the region’s waste problems reflected a broader failure to plan. The councils will prepare a transition plan, expected early next year. The future of the authority’s staff, management and operations remains unresolved, and Kelly is urging councils and the state government to develop a long-term regional waste strategy.

Kaniva will have a polling booth for Victoria’s election after the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) reversed an earlier decision that would have required residents to travel to Nhill, an 80-kilometre round trip, to vote. The booth will be located at the Kaniva Senior Citizens Centre. The change followed complaints from residents and local representatives, including Mayor Helen Hobbs and Lowan MP Emma Kealy. Victorian Electoral Commissioner Sven Bluemmel said the commission had wanted to provide a voting centre in Kaniva and was pleased it could now do so. Kaniva ranked 12th among Lowan voting centres for votes cast in the 2022 election. Its usual venue, the Uniting Church Hall, could not be used because the volunteers who operate its op shop said dismantling and reassembling it would be too difficult. The ABC reports that the VEC had been told several times that the hall was unavailable and had been offered alternative locations, including the senior citizens centre, but initially judged them unsuitable. Bluemmel said a discussion with the council resolved the issue and the centre could be used without operational problems. Hobbs said she had initially been told the centre was not needed and described herself as shocked by the original decision. She welcomed the reversal, noting that about 600 voters were in the catchment population of 1,100. Resident Fleur Maddern called the initial decision confusing and rude, and urged people to make formal complaints rather than only voice concerns among themselves. She credited local residents who contacted the VEC by phone and email, saying their efforts helped secure the change. Maddern described the outcome as almost unbelievable and as an example of what a community can achieve by speaking up.

Former AFL players Dion Prestia and Steven May are being sued in the Victorian Supreme Court over an alleged assault during a brawl in Sorrento on the Mornington Peninsula on Boxing Day 2024. The plaintiff, whose name has been restricted by the court, is pursuing a personal injury claim. Medical expenses are understood to be among the damages sought, but the specific allegations and details of the claim have not yet been made public because the relevant court documents have not been released. Prestia and May were previously charged over an alleged streetside altercation involving another group. Prestia faced charges of recklessly causing serious injury and affray, while May was charged with affray. The charges were dropped in May 2026. The incident reportedly left two men in hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Both players had strongly denied involvement in the alleged incident. At a directions hearing on Friday, lawyers confirmed that two additional defendants would be added to the civil case. The players’ criminal matters remain before the court, so the civil case is unlikely to begin until those proceedings are finalised. Prestia played 254 games for Richmond and Gold Coast and is a three-time premiership player. He is due to join Hawthorn’s coaching staff as an AFL development coach for the 2027 season. May played 251 games for Melbourne and Gold Coast and was part of Melbourne’s 2021 premiership-winning squad. He retired shortly before the 2026 season. Prestia’s employer and May were contacted for comment.

Court documents show that a friend of Sam Wood offered a $1 million surety as part of Wood’s unsuccessful bail application. The friend, whose name is legally restricted, said they had known Wood for more than 20 years, owned a house in Tasmania outright and could make it available for him to live in. The affidavit also listed the friend’s superannuation, share portfolio and car. The friend stated that they understood they could be ordered to pay if Wood failed to attend court, and that nobody—including Wood—had offered to repay them if the surety were forfeited. Wood, a fitness influencer and former reality television personality, is charged with one count each of assault occasioning bodily harm and strangulation. Police allege the offences were committed against his wife, Snezana Wood, on the Sunshine Coast. He was previously arrested in Noosa. Several people close to Wood submitted affidavits in support of his bail application, including his father, Andrew Wood. His father described their relationship as very close and said they spoke frequently, often every fortnight. He proposed that his son stay at a property in Tasmania, where no one else lives. The house has internet and mobile phone coverage, allowing Wood to work remotely and stay in contact with his legal team. Andrew Wood also said he would be willing to move and live with his son for six months if bail were granted somewhere else. The house is owned by the friend who offered the surety. The Supreme Court rejected Wood’s bail application last Friday, following an earlier unsuccessful attempt to secure his release. On Monday, his lawyers indicated they intended to appeal. They formally filed paperwork with the Court of Appeal on Tuesday.

The owner of La Costa, a now-closed restaurant in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley, says a chef’s refusal to put pineapple on a pizza contributed to his dismissal but was not the sole reason. Italian chef Davide Tamburella was fired in May after a meeting with management and later lodged an unfair dismissal claim, arguing that making pineapple pizza was offensive to his culture. The Fair Work Commission rejected the claim this week because he applied more than 21 days after his dismissal and did not establish exceptional circumstances that would justify extending the deadline. Restaurant owner Elliot Ingram said the decision followed a “multitude of different factors.” He described the pineapple request as a reasonable customer request, made by someone celebrating a birthday, and said the incident contributed to the termination decision alongside other workplace concerns. The commission noted that Tamburella had refused the request on three occasions over four years. It also cited his acknowledged use of inappropriate language and ongoing concerns about his leadership behaviour and professionalism as reasons for the dismissal. Ingram contrasted Italian culinary tradition with Australian dining habits, saying pineapple on pizza is common in Australia and that the restaurant was operating in Australia, not Italy. The commission also heard that Tamburella injured his hand at work when he struck a metal handrail, fracturing two bones in his right hand. The article reports the parties’ explanations and the commission’s procedural ruling; it does not say that the pineapple incident alone caused the dismissal.

Natasha Lawton died after a fall at the Rosemont Hotel on Adelaide’s Hindley Street in the early hours of Sunday, November 1, while celebrating Halloween. Emergency services were called to the hotel at about 4:10am. Her parents and sister have described the incident as a “tragic and out-of-character” accident and said they are grief-stricken by her death. In a statement released by South Australia Police on the family’s behalf, Lawton was remembered as someone who “loved life and lived every minute”. She was a talented pianist and figure skater who also enjoyed skiing, travel, and spending time with family and friends. She was studying to become a primary school teacher, in her second year at university on a high achiever scholarship, and was described as studious and academically successful. The family said Lawton had been working two jobs, with the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and in hospitality, to pay for an upcoming trip to Japan. They spoke of the future she had ahead of her and their sadness that she would not be able to pursue the goals she had worked hard to achieve. Her parents, who are long-term employees of South Australia Police, thanked first responders, including a man who first assisted Lawton. They also expressed gratitude for the support of relatives and friends, who have rallied around her sister.

Qantas says it will raise fares and reduce flight capacity as the Iran war drives up jet-fuel prices, even though demand for domestic and international travel remains strong. In a market update released before its annual general meeting, the airline said Qantas and Jetstar domestic flights would be cut by a combined 4 per cent in 2027, and that fares would continue to be adjusted to reflect higher fuel costs. The company expects fuel costs of $3.8 billion in the first half of the new financial year and forecasts elevated prices through financial year 2027. It has extended hedging to cover about 85 per cent of its annual fuel bill, mainly using Brent crude oil. Brent crude is above $US100 a barrel, compared with about $US60 before the United States attacked Iran in February. The conflict has already affected Qantas’s results: high fuel costs reduced its latest annual profit by hundreds of millions of dollars. For 2025/26, the airline reported a net profit of $1.3 billion, down nearly 20 per cent, and an underlying pre-tax profit of $2.1 billion, down nearly 14 per cent. Revenue nevertheless rose 7 per cent to $25.5 billion. Qantas has also cancelled a planned $150 million share buyback. International travel demand is being supported in part by customers redirecting travel away from the Middle East. Corporate and government travel remains stable, according to the airline, and is being monitored. Qantas still expects revenue per available seat kilometre to rise by up to 10 per cent in the first half of 2026/27, largely because of international travel. Capital expenditure is expected to land at the lower end of its previously stated $4.3 billion to $4.6 billion range. The airline also forecasts that its Project Sunrise non-stop flights from Australia to Europe and North America will generate $400 million annually once all aircraft are operating by 2031.

The article outlines which fruits and vegetables are in season in Australia during November, with advice from growers, retailers and cook Phoebe Thorburn on availability, prices and ways to enjoy the produce. Seasonal shopping, Josh Ball of Farmers Pick says, can mean fresher, tastier and cheaper food, an important consideration amid cost-of-living pressures. Warm, sunny weather can increase supplies of brassicas such as broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage, bringing prices down; their year-round growing season continues, but they grow faster with more sunshine. Asparagus and broad beans are nearing the end of their season. White and green asparagus should remain available for a few more weeks. Buyer Hamish Franklin recommends choosing larger spears for a deeper, richer flavour, while Thorburn is keen on baby asparagus in a warm potato salad. Broad beans, also known as fava beans when dried, have a short season and are expected to be available until the end of November. Corn is reasonably priced and may become cheaper as supply increases. Zucchini supplies in southern Australia are also expected to grow. Thorburn suggests charred corn kernels in salads or salsa and sautéed zucchini as a side dish. Mangoes are moving from Northern Territory supply to Queensland and are expected to become more affordable in the coming weeks. Kensington Pride mangoes are recommended for eating, while firmer R2E2 fruit works well in salads. Victorian strawberries are becoming less expensive, and raspberries, blackberries and mulberries are also coming into season. Cherries are already available, though weather events such as rain and hail can damage crops and make supply unpredictable. Nectarines, peaches and apricots are expected later in November, ahead of their more abundant summer season. Other produce listed for the month includes avocado, garden peas, snow peas and fresh garlic.

A 14-year-old boy has been refused bail by the Perth Children’s Court after being charged over an alleged group attack on a 13-year-old in Ellenbrook, in Perth’s north-east. The alleged victim was reportedly attacked at two locations on Sunday by a group of six to eight people. The court heard that he was punched and kicked, threatened with a knife during a second assault lasting between five and 10 minutes, and forced to say derogatory things. The 14-year-old accused allegedly kicked him in the face. The victim later walked home and attended Midland Hospital, where he was treated for a concussion, swelling and lumps on his head, black eyes and bruising. Video of the incident was shared on social media and shows several people attacking a teenager who tries to protect himself; at one point, someone is seen holding a knife. The accused has been charged with aggravated armed robbery and causing bodily harm. Magistrate Joanne Andretich said the alleged offending was extremely serious and the prosecution had a very strong case, despite the boy having no criminal record. He is due back in court later in November. Police say their investigation is continuing and that they have identified other persons of interest. Detective Inspector Gary Butler described the incident as an escalation involving mob mentality and said the victim and his family were receiving support. Police have urged the community not to retaliate or publish identifying information about people believed to be involved. Education Minister Sabine Winton said the attack was hard to watch and that the Education Department was supporting the victim, his family and schoolmates. Police Minister Reece Whitby condemned the attack, warning that the knife could have had fatal consequences. Proposed laws that would criminalise sharing video of the incident are before parliament.

The article describes an alleged wire-tapping scandal that has intensified political tensions in Indonesia. Police say former police chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo, later appointed presidential chief of staff, and two other senior police generals illegally monitored President Prabowo Subianto and a range of other prominent people from 2025 into 2026. The allegations include deletion of collected files, and investigators have named the three officials as suspects. Authorities have raised the possibility of treason, while stressing that the allegation concerns an attempt to incapacitate the president rather than assassinate him. The investigation has not yet established a motive or who may have received the information. Analysts connect the scandal to a widening rift between Prabowo and his predecessor, Joko Widodo (Jokowi). The two were electoral rivals before Prabowo joined Jokowi’s government as defence minister. Jokowi later supported Prabowo’s 2024 presidential campaign, which included Jokowi’s son Gibran Rakabuming Raka as vice-president, in return for a government expected to continue Jokowi’s legacy. Analysts say Prabowo’s cuts to funding for Jokowi’s new capital project, the perceived sidelining of Gibran, and Jokowi’s renewed political activity have strained the relationship. The dispute unfolds amid controversy over Gibran’s educational qualifications, calls for him to resign or face impeachment, economic pressures, falling approval ratings, market turmoil, and anger over extensive forest and land fires. More than 20,000 military personnel have been readied or deployed in Jakarta, raising questions about the government’s response and the political significance of the move. Former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has expressed alarm at what he sees as increasingly unrestrained politics. The article’s supplied text ends while discussing speculation about the military deployment, so it does not provide the remainder of the report.

A woman and two men were injured in a stabbing at a home on Woodlee Street in Dandenong, in Melbourne’s south-east, on the morning of November 6, 2026. Emergency services found the three people with stab wounds at about 11:30am. Police said the 28-year-old woman was taken to hospital with potentially life-threatening injuries. The two men, aged 26 and 35, were also taken to hospital with serious injuries that were not considered life-threatening. Acting Inspector Rebecca Hall said the three people involved were known to one another, and police were not seeking anyone else in connection with the incident. Detectives from the family violence investigation unit are responding. Dandenong North Primary School, located nearby, was briefly locked down while emergency services attended. Hall said children were inside and were prevented from going out to the street, so they did not witness the incident. Parents were told how to collect their children after school. In a letter to parents, principal Paul Hilton said the school activated its safety procedures because of an incident opposite its grounds, then resumed normal operations after police advised it was safe. A crime scene guard remained on Woodlee Street. Police asked witnesses and anyone with relevant footage to contact Crime Stoppers.

The collapse of Paraguay’s Ueno Bank has triggered a banking and political crisis, leaving many customers unable to access their money and putting President Santiago Peña’s position in jeopardy. Regulators took control of the digital lender after alleging that it had made excessive loans to companies linked to its controlling shareholder, Grupo Vázquez, and had incorrectly counted expenses as assets. The bank reportedly held more than $800 million in public deposits, including funds connected to state pensions, health services and operators of the country’s hydroelectric dams. Authorities issued arrest warrants for eight executives, and the bank’s president, Miguel Vázquez, turned himself in to police. Peña had defended Ueno and previously held shares in its controlling group. The central bank president, Carlos Carvallo, who had led Ueno’s predecessor and was appointed to his regulatory post by Peña, stepped down at the president’s request. As protests grew, Peña passed a law intended to return most deposits within five days. Lawmakers then moved to impeach him, and his own Colorado Party leader, Horacio Cartes, backed the move. Peña announced his resignation just before the Chamber of Deputies unanimously approved the impeachment motion. Both houses of Congress subsequently declined to accept his resignation and continued toward a trial. Opponents argued that accepting it could preserve Peña’s eligibility for a lifelong Senate seat and legal protections against prosecution. Attorney General Emiliano Rolón Fernández ordered three criminal investigations into the bank’s failure, regulatory oversight and placement of public funds, including allegations involving Peña and other officials. Ueno had grown rapidly from a fintech company into a widely used bank, claiming more than three million customers. Its collapse has prompted protests, with demonstrators demanding their money back. If the presidency remains vacant, Vice President Pedro Alliana would serve out the term through 2028.

The article reports that Palestinians in Gaza have built wind turbines from scrap recovered from the rubble of destroyed buildings. Residents of al-Mawasi camp developed the turbines as a way to generate electricity after the war on Gaza destroyed reliable power sources. The account presents the project as a locally engineered response to the loss of dependable electricity and the scarcity of intact materials: components found among the ruins are being repurposed to produce power. The article’s supplied text does not identify the people involved, describe the turbines’ design or output, or explain how widely they are being used. It also provides no further detail about the camp’s electricity needs or the project’s limitations. Its central point is the contrast between the destruction caused by the war and residents’ practical effort to create an alternative source of electricity from what remains. The report is dated November 6, 2026. Overall, it is a brief news item about resourcefulness under severe conditions, rather than a detailed technical account or an assessment of Gaza’s wider energy situation.

California Governor Gavin Newsom says he will commute the sentences of all 548 people on the state’s death row, converting their punishment to life imprisonment without parole. The move would clear California’s death row and represents the largest mass clemency in US history. The state has not executed anyone for 20 years, and about two-thirds of the commutations require review by the California Supreme Court because the prisoners have multiple felony convictions. Newsom said he considers state-sanctioned killing incompatible with California’s values and damaging to the legal system. The article places his decision within a broader debate over capital punishment: national support has fallen since the 1990s, but a recent Pew Research Center poll found that 66 percent of Americans still support the death penalty for people convicted of murder. At the same time, 73 percent acknowledged the risk of executing an innocent person. Twenty-three states have abolished the practice, while President Donald Trump has promoted expanding federal executions, including through firing squads. Supporters and critics also dispute the punishment’s effectiveness and cost. The Death Penalty Information Center says California has spent $6 billion on capital punishment since 1978 while carrying out 13 executions. Critics point to racial disparities and botched executions; the center reports that at least 203 people sentenced to death in the US since 1973 were later exonerated. Criminal justice advocates praised Newsom’s action as a landmark change, while noting that California’s history also includes punitive policies such as three-strikes laws. The decision will reduce the national death-row population by nearly 30 percent. It comes as Newsom approaches the end of his term and amid speculation about his possible 2028 presidential ambitions. The article also notes that his record has drawn criticism from criminal justice groups, including vetoes of proposed limits on solitary confinement and restrictions on cooperation between state prisons and federal immigration authorities.

The report describes an effort in Gaza to prepare for winter flooding by repurposing damaged cooking pots as makeshift seawalls. As winter approaches, aid groups are using the discarded household items to help protect shelters and schools from water coming in from the sea. Al Jazeera correspondent Tareq Abu Azzoum reports on these attempts to hold back the sea and reduce the risk of flooding around the vulnerable buildings. The brief article presents the work as a practical response to the seasonal threat, making use of materials that would otherwise be discarded. It identifies the groups carrying out the effort, the structures they are trying to protect, and the hazard they face: flooding as winter approaches. However, the supplied text does not provide further details about where in Gaza the seawalls are being built, how many pots are being used, how the barriers are constructed, or whether they have already been tested. It also does not describe the scale of the threat or report on the outcome of the project. The report’s central point is that damaged cooking pots are being turned into an improvised protective measure for shelters and schools. Its focus is on the local effort to hold back the sea, rather than on broader political or military developments.

Al Jazeera reporter Nils Adler reports from Exarchia, a neighborhood in Athens described as a pro-Palestinian heartland, where residents say short-term rentals—many of them Israeli-owned—are contributing to rising rents and changing the area’s character. The report frames the issue as a local housing and community concern intersecting with the neighborhood’s political identity. Residents’ account links the growth of short-term accommodation to pressure on rents and a perceived erosion of what makes Exarchia distinctive. The brief article description does not provide residents’ names, specific rental or property figures, examples of individual transactions, or responses from Israeli buyers, landlords, or officials. It therefore presents the residents’ concerns without enough detail to assess the scale of the trend or establish the extent to which Israeli ownership, specifically, is driving housing changes. The report’s central point is that some residents see short-term rentals, many reportedly Israeli-owned, as a source of resentment amid rising rents and changes to the neighborhood. It does not state that all Israeli buyers or rentals are involved, nor does it describe any specific dispute or policy response.

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi told US President Donald Trump in a Thursday phone call that Iraq would not allow its territory to be used to launch attacks on neighbouring countries. According to al-Zaidi’s office, the leaders discussed regional developments and security, while al-Zaidi reiterated the need to respect state sovereignty and use diplomacy to protect regional stability. The call came as efforts intensify to prevent renewed US attacks on Iran. Iraq is trying to avoid being drawn into the conflict while balancing relations with both Washington and Tehran. Since taking office in May, al-Zaidi has made disarming armed groups in Iraq a priority, including powerful groups aligned with Iran that have carried out attacks in support of Tehran during the war. Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein warned that renewed US military action against Iran is a real possibility and urged Iraqi armed groups not to join any Iranian retaliation. He said Iraqi society and the armed forces are unprepared for war, and that pulling the country into the conflict would be disastrous. Hussein said Iraq had already become a battlefield after the United States struck Iran, with attacks involving the US, Iran and armed groups inside Iraq. He stressed that Iraq does not belong to any regional “axis” and wants to maintain good relations with both the United States and neighbouring Iran. The conflict has also imposed a heavy economic cost on Iraq. The country has lost more than $60 billion in oil revenue since the war began, as roughly 90 percent of its oil exports normally travel through the Strait of Hormuz. Those exports were largely interrupted after Tehran closed the waterway. Oil provides about 90 percent of Iraq’s federal budget. Iraq is among the few countries Iran has allowed to pass through the strait freely.

Israeli settlers seized eight Palestinian homes in Ein a-Duyuk a-Tahta, on the outskirts of Jericho in the occupied West Bank, on Wednesday afternoon, displacing dozens of people, according to the United Nations and the Israeli settlement watchdog Peace Now. UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said settlers reportedly used live ammunition, physically assaulted residents and threw stones, prompting families to flee. Some displaced people lack adequate shelter. The Israeli military declared the area a closed military zone, which has prevented humanitarian workers from reaching those affected. The UN condemned the settlers’ actions. Peace Now said about 30 settlers took part in the seizure. It reported allegations that the settlers assaulted and robbed two Israeli activists and shot a Palestinian man in the leg. The settlers said they had legally purchased the houses. Hanan Greenwood, a representative associated with the right-wing Nachala organisation, told AFP that Nachala had bought them with his help. Palestinian officials dispute the claim: Jericho regional governor Hussein Hamayel said the land belongs to the Palestinian Authority and cannot be sold, and described the sale documents as forged and the claims as settler propaganda. The homes are in Area C of the West Bank, which has been under Israeli control since the Oslo Accords of the 1990s. Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967, and more than 500,000 Israelis live in settlements there, which are illegal under international law. The article reports that settler attacks in the West Bank have approached record levels this year and that Palestinian communities around Jericho have already been displaced. Residents fear the new settlers will increase attacks and bring a heavier military presence. Peace Now cites Hebron as an example of settlement presence contributing to friction, violence, severe movement restrictions and Palestinian displacement.

The Al Jazeera Newsfeed item reports that Israeli settlers set fire to olive trees belonging to Palestinian farmers in Burqa, a village near Ramallah. According to the brief report, the farmers said Israeli forces subsequently prevented them from putting out the fires. The item therefore describes both damage to agricultural property and an alleged obstruction of farmers’ efforts to respond. It does not provide further details about the scale of the fire, the number of trees affected, injuries, the identity of those involved, or any response from Israeli authorities. The report is dated November 6, 2026, and is presented as a short video/newsfeed item. Its central focus is the reported burning of a Palestinian olive grove and the farmers’ account of being stopped from extinguishing the flames. Because the source text is brief, the summary is limited to the facts it states and does not establish additional context or independently verify the claims.

US President Donald Trump said a deal between Russia and Ukraine may be close after meeting at the White House with Kirill Dmitriev, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s special envoy. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Thursday, Trump declined to give details of their discussion but predicted an agreement involving more than Ukraine and potentially “all of Europe.” He has made similar predictions before, though negotiations have gathered pace in recent weeks. Trump said he did not meet the Ukrainian delegation that day. The meeting followed a diplomatic event hosted by First Lady Melania Trump, who brought Russian and Ukrainian representatives together at the White House. The gathering was intended to build on a six-day local truce she helped broker in Oleshky, a Russian-occupied city in Ukraine’s Kherson region. The ceasefire ran from October 27 to November 1, enabling nearly 800 civilians to be evacuated and critical food and medical supplies to be delivered. Participants included Dmitriev and Russia’s human rights commissioner, Yana Lantratova, as well as Ukrainian parliamentarian David Arakhamia and Ukraine’s parliamentary human rights commissioner, Dmytro Lubinets. Melania Trump called for the humanitarian truce to become the basis for something more lasting, describing it as a possible “spark in a world of darkness.” She also gave Putin’s and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s representatives personal letters to deliver to their leaders. Dmitriev presented her with a painting by an 11-year-old girl, while Zelenskyy sent her Ukraine’s Order of Princess Olga in recognition of her role in the ceasefire.

Turkiye’s parliament has ratified the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, a pact that includes a collective-defence commitment. The agreement passed on Thursday with 279 votes in favour and 119 against; 398 of the parliament’s 592 lawmakers participated. Turkiye signed the pact in August and submitted it to parliament for ratification the previous month. The 16-article agreement says members will use “all necessary means” to address threats to one another’s territorial integrity. Article 2 provides for immediate assistance if a member suffers an armed attack or military aggression, using the parties’ available mutual-assistance measures. The provision resembles Article 5 of NATO’s founding treaty, which treats an attack on one member as an attack on all. Because Turkiye belongs to both alliances, critics have questioned whether the commitments could create competing demands on its military resources. Turkish officials have rejected those concerns. Other provisions cover defence-industry cooperation, military coordination, joint training, technological innovation, and sharing logistics and intelligence. The pact commits members for 10 years, allows withdrawal after that period, and leaves open the possibility of additional members with existing members’ approval. Syria has expressed interest in joining. Ratification does not automatically mean Turkish troops will be deployed to Saudi Arabia amid attacks by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis; further legislative steps would be required. Defence Minister Yasar Guler said the extent of potential support would be determined after ratification and described the goal as strengthening deterrence, not entering a conflict with the Houthis. The report places the agreement against a backdrop of renewed Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, including deadly strikes on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport, and wider regional tensions related to the US-Israel war on Iran. Saudi Arabia also said it intercepted a drone near Medina. Riyadh has repeatedly accused the Houthis of targeting Mecca and Medina, allegations the group rejects.

The US Department of Justice has sued Pennsylvania State University, alleging that its policy allowing some undocumented students to pay in-state tuition violates federal law by giving them a benefit not equally available to US citizens. The lawsuit, filed Thursday, seeks a court order barring Penn State from continuing the policy and from adopting similar policies in the future. Under current university requirements, non-citizen applicants can qualify for in-state rates if they attended an accredited Pennsylvania high school for at least four years and graduated from one. Penn State said it was aware of the complaint and was reviewing it. The Justice Department argues that federal law prohibits states and public institutions from granting undocumented immigrants tuition benefits based on state residency unless citizens from other states can receive the same benefits. It cites the 1996 Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act and says such public benefits cannot encourage undocumented immigration. Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate said Congress had deliberately prohibited unequal tuition benefits. In-state tuition is generally less expensive at public universities for residents than for students from other states. Supporters say residency-based rates reward taxpayers and help keep students in their state, while advocates for undocumented students argue that access to these rates can reduce educational barriers for people often brought to the US as children. The case is part of the Trump administration’s wider effort to challenge state policies providing reduced tuition to undocumented students. The Justice Department says it has filed 27 lawsuits over such policies, with court orders permanently blocking similar policies in six states: Texas, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Illinois and Kansas. The department describes Penn State’s policy as unconstitutional, while the lawsuit centers on its interpretation of federal restrictions on higher-education benefits.

Republican Jace Yarbrough won Texas’s redrawn 32nd Congressional District, becoming the only Republican to flip a Texas House seat in the 2026 midterms, despite a broad Democratic wave that cost Republicans ground across the state. He defeated Democrat Dan Barrios by just three percentage points, 51.5 to 48.5 percent. Southern Methodist University professor Matthew Wilson attributes the result to two factors: Yarbrough shifted from emphasizing cultural and social issues during the primary to focusing on prices and other economic concerns in the general election, and the redesigned district was made substantially more Republican. Even so, the narrow margin reflected a uniform Democratic swing across congressional districts. Texas Republicans had redrawn congressional boundaries in 2025 at President Donald Trump’s urging, aiming to gain five seats. The changes altered the 32nd District, which had included left-leaning Dallas neighborhoods and substantial Latino, Black, and Asian communities. Its new boundaries cover only part of Dallas and extend east into Republican-dominated counties, reducing the district’s share of those demographic groups. The broader redistricting effort largely failed. Democrats held the four other districts Republicans had targeted, and Latino voters—about 40 percent of Texas’s population—shifted back toward Democrats after supporting Trump in 2024. Experts cited economic concerns and opposition to Trump’s immigration policies as factors in renewed turnout. In Houston’s 9th District, Democrat Leticia Gutierrez won nearly 58 percent after emphasizing Spanish-language outreach and household economic issues. Democrats also won contests in South Texas: Johnny Garcia, Henry Cuellar, and Vicente Gonzalez retained or won seats, while Bobby Pulido unseated Republican Monica De La Cruz. The article frames Yarbrough’s victory as a limited exception to a statewide Democratic surge and a setback for the Republican mapmaking strategy.

The report says Paraguay’s lawmakers have voted to impeach President Santiago Pena amid a banking collapse that has unsettled the country. The crisis centers on the collapse of Ueno Bank, for which prosecutors have opened three criminal investigations. The report says the investigations include allegations involving the president, but it does not specify what those allegations are, identify the other subjects of the investigations, or describe any evidence or charges. It also provides no details about the bank’s financial difficulties, the effects on depositors or the wider economy, the impeachment vote’s margin, or what happens next in the political process. The article’s central point is the overlap between a major banking crisis and serious political and legal consequences for Paraguay’s president. Its brief account establishes that lawmakers have taken action and that prosecutors are investigating the bank collapse, while leaving the underlying circumstances and the president’s response unstated. Because the supplied article is a short newsfeed item, it offers no further background or resolution.

US President Donald Trump signed a proclamation designating the Oval Office, the adjacent Cabinet Room and the Outer Oval Office as a national monument. The ceremony took place on November 5, shortly after Republicans suffered sweeping losses in the midterm elections, which are expected to give Democrats control of Congress in January. Trump said the designation would protect the rooms from being demolished or substantially altered by future officials. The proclamation directs the interior secretary to manage the monument through the National Park Service. It requires documentation, review and consideration of alternatives before any action that would substantially alter or demolish the protected spaces. However, it does not prevent a future president from changing the decor, furnishings or appearance of the Oval Office. A successor can also revise or revoke the proclamation through a new executive action. The article notes that Trump used such actions during his first and second terms to reduce the size of national monuments in Utah, before Joe Biden restored them. The signing came amid controversy over Trump’s White House construction and renovation projects. These include demolishing the East Wing for a nearly $1bn ballroom, proposing a 250-foot triumphal arch near Arlington National Cemetery, and a failed renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool that cost more than $14m. The projects have drawn criticism from opposition lawmakers and members of the public, while polls indicate dissatisfaction with the administration’s spending choices and economic priorities. Since returning to office in 2025, Trump has added several personal touches to the White House, including new flagpoles, a stone patio replacing the Rose Garden lawn, a granite helicopter pad, extensive gold decoration in the Oval Office and a West Wing display of presidential portraits with partisan descriptions of some predecessors. His administration has also faced lawsuits alleging that beautification projects proceeded without required approvals. Trump did not specify what threat the monument proclamation was intended to prevent, but said he would intervene if anyone tried to knock down walls.

The National reviews Apple’s 14-inch MacBook Pro with the new M6 chip, finding meaningful internal improvements within a design that is unchanged from the M5 generation. The laptop retains the same ports, finishes and 1.55kg weight, while the larger 16-inch version weighs 2.15kg. Its display is crisp, and the reviewer appreciates its animated wallpaper, but argues that the exterior could use a more visible update and that the machine is heavy compared with some MacBook Air models. The M6 increases the CPU and GPU core counts from 10 to 12. Apple has also added four performance cores, while the chip has two super cores and six efficiency cores. In everyday use, the reviewer describes speed gains as subtle but noticeable when opening applications and files. Apple says the M6 runs large language models up to 13 times faster than the M5, and gaming, coding and 3D rendering have also improved. Configurations offer up to 32GB of memory and 4TB of storage, with an optional glare-reducing nano-texture display. Battery life is rated at up to 24 hours; in the reviewer’s mixed-use, nine-hour workday test, the battery fell to just under half, suggesting more than 17 hours of use. Apple’s Creator Studio software suite adds AI features for creative and productivity applications, including tools to generate images in Final Cut Pro and Motion, and an AI assistant for Pages, Numbers, Keynote and Freeform. The subscription will cost Dh49.99 monthly or Dh499 annually. The M6 MacBook Pro starts at Dh8,499, the same price Apple raised the M5 model to in June 2025, though above its earlier Dh6,899 starting price. The reviewer considers that a high cost, but recognizes it may reflect the new market norm. The verdict is that the M6 offers useful upgrades for everyday work and creative tasks, but buyers should weigh the price, unchanged design and heft, particularly if upgrading from a recent model.

The UAE cricket team’s three consecutive wins to finish its Cricket World Cup League Two campaign—two victories over Oman and one over the Netherlands—improved its form but raised a difficult question for players and franchises. A 15-member UAE squad is expected to travel to Kathmandu for the eight-team World Cup Qualifier Play-off, where the team’s status as a full One Day International side is at stake. The tournament overlaps with the DP World International League T20 (ILT20), which offers UAE cricketers some of their largest paydays. Players selected for the national team may miss much of their franchise season and, if contracts are paid pro rata, a substantial share of their salaries. Muhammad Waseem’s $210,000 MI Emirates contract is highlighted as a particularly large potential loss. The clash also affects Kuwait players because each ILT20 team must select one, and Kuwait will be involved in the play-off as well. The article assesses which UAE players are most likely to travel and how that could affect their franchise earnings. Khuzaima Tanveer, Aayan Khan and Mohammed Rohid appear likely to be in the national squad, putting most or part of their ILT20 contracts at risk. Waseem and Junaid Siddique are less certain, while several others—including Haider Ali, Ali Naseer, Ibrar Ahmed and Tanish Suri—could either be selected or remain available to play in the league. Players such as Alishan Sharafu, Vriitya Aravind and Zuhaib Zubair appear more likely to take up their franchise contracts because they have been overlooked by the national side. The article presents the situation as a conflict between national-team selection and the financial opportunities of franchise cricket, compounded by uncertainty over UAE team selection.

Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) has announced details of the 31st International Symposium on Electronic/Emerging Art, ISEA2026 Dubai, which will run from 6 to 15 November 2026. Held under the theme “ELYAH: Constellating Place, Data and Identity,” the symposium will explore connections among art, science and technology, and is presented as supporting Dubai Culture’s Digital Arts Roadmap and the growth of the digital and emerging arts sector. The event will use a hybrid format: an in-person artistic programme at venues across Dubai alongside an online academic programme. Organisers say this will connect international exchange among artists, researchers and practitioners with public experiences around the city. The programme drew more than 1,000 artistic submissions, with over 100 artworks shortlisted, and more than 150 academic submissions shortlisted. It includes over 140 academic papers, more than 40 artist talks and sessions, over 15 workshops, more than 10 panel discussions, seven Eco Labs and four special-track exhibitions and sessions. Academic highlights include the New Media Art Summit, which will consider how digital networks, immersive environments, interactive media and artificial intelligence are shaping artistic practice. Eco Labs will address relationships between ecological systems, technology and art. The citywide artistic programme includes exhibitions at 20 locations, including Al Safa Art & Design Library, Etihad Museum, Kanvas and Foundry Gallery; experiences at ARTE Museum; performances at TODA; and projection mapping at Al Wasl Dome. A special track, “Evolving Calligraphy, Letter Art, Typography,” includes “Calligraphy to Code,” on the reinterpretation of writing and calligraphic traditions through digital and computational media. Dubai Culture’s Maitha Ali Al Blooshi said the symposium would strengthen Dubai’s international cultural presence, foster exchange and help local talent build links with international networks. The theme is organised around four academic tracks: Celestial Dialogues, Charting Constellations, Eco-Tech Futures and Starlinked Worlds, addressing cosmic imagination, mapping and identity, ecological and technological responsibility, and the effects of AI and digital environments on cultural connection and creation.

LIV Golf will begin an orderly wind-down after Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) decided to withdraw its financial support following the 2026 season. The fund had invested more than $5 billion in the breakaway league, which launched in June 2022 with guaranteed prize money, no cuts and large signing bonuses to attract leading players from established tours. LIV said it would remain open to third-party offers during the liquidation process in an effort to secure greater value from its assets. A proposed $300 million rescue package from BC Partners might have allowed the circuit to continue into 2027, but it fell apart after several prominent players declined to commit to LIV’s future. The league’s board special committee described winding down as the most responsible option, while BC Partners said the parties could not agree on mutually acceptable terms. The announcement followed a period of uncertainty and high-profile departures. Former world No 1 Jon Rahm has announced that he is leaving LIV and plans to return to the DP World Tour in 2027. The PGA Tour, meanwhile, has said players who competed in LIV events will face a one-year ban from their final LIV appearance. LIV’s launch drew major champions including Bryson DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka and Phil Mickelson, deepening divisions in professional golf and prompting suspensions and litigation. A 2023 framework agreement between the PGA Tour and PIF raised hopes of a unified commercial entity, but negotiations stalled. The PGA Tour rejected a $1.5 billion PIF investment proposal that was conditional on LIV remaining intact and PIF governor Yasir Al Rumayyan becoming co-chair of PGA Tour Enterprises. Former PGA Tour player director Peter Malnati said LIV’s financial model was not viable. Chief executive Scott O’Neil nevertheless characterized the project as rewarding despite its challenges.

Abu Dhabi is partnering with OpenAI as part of a Dh13 billion digital strategy to become the world’s first AI-native government by the end of 2027. Although the agreement was announced this week, work began earlier in the year, according to Faisal Al Hawi, director of the AI Factory at the Department of Government Enablement (DGE). The initiative is intended not only to automate transactions but also to change how officials research, make decisions and deliver public services. An initial pilot at the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority uses AI to interpret thousands of policy documents related to food imports. Al Hawi says procedures that could take several days or up to a week can now be completed in minutes, with AI handling preliminary analysis while people retain responsibility for judgment and decisions. The DGE plans to extend the approach to services such as building permits, business licences and inspections, building on the existing Tamm digital-services platform. The department, which has about 1,200 employees, is also developing a model in which officials work with specialised AI agents for research, data analysis, document writing and software development. Al Hawi says the agents can generate a day’s equivalent of code produced by 30 developers, while emphasizing the need for human oversight. AI is also being used in recruitment and procurement. The partnership provides access to OpenAI’s advanced models through computing infrastructure hosted in the UAE. Abu Dhabi says government and citizen data will remain in-country, and that the government will retain intellectual property ownership of applications and systems it develops. The arrangement forms part of wider sovereign AI investment, including Stargate UAE. The article also places the deal among four agreements announced after Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed met OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman, covering government services, energy, investment, business and education. Cybersecurity is another area of work: DGE has reportedly gained access to OpenAI’s Daybreak Blue programme.

Khartoum has experienced a serious crime wave since Sudan’s armed forces (SAF) retook the capital from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in late 2024. Residents blame armed groups allied with the SAF—including former Darfur rebels, Islamist fighters and RSF members who changed sides—for robberies, vehicle and phone thefts, and burglaries. The presence of armed groups in residential areas raises concerns that they may operate beyond state control, while power cuts that leave streets dark add to residents’ fear. The article follows Abdel Rahman Tareq, a 31-year-old engineer who returned from Saudi Arabia in May to repair his family home and assess whether his relatives could come back. He encountered high prices and long fuel queues, then was robbed and carjacked by three armed men who tied him up. He returned to Saudi Arabia with his family rather than resettle in Khartoum. His experience reflects the concerns of displaced people who are reluctant to return while security remains uncertain. Authorities offered limited information in response to questions. A local security report described crime as stable and reported 539 arrests, but did not state the period covered or the offences involved. The government’s claims of safety in areas controlled by the SAF are politically important because they support efforts to encourage returns and portray the SAF as the lawful authority. Yet both sides in the war face accusations of war crimes and obstructing aid. The conflict has left 25 million people facing hunger and displaced at least 13 million. Residents report some recent reduction in crime and fewer armed groups in the city, but say the threat remains high. One resident’s 17-year-old cousin was killed resisting a robbery. Retired army colonel and analyst Jaafar Abbas says armed groups’ continued presence undermines confidence in the authorities and could create areas of influence beyond state control. He argues that security cannot be sufficient while weapons remain with groups not fully controlled by the state.

The National reports on The Perfect Lie, a Korean drama starring Yoo Yeon-seok and Seo Hyun-jin, who reunite on screen roughly a decade after appearing together in the popular medical series Dr Romantic. The new series begins with a seemingly promising date between a heart surgeon and a school teacher and librarian. Afterward, the woman says the surgeon assaulted her, while he maintains that their encounter was consensual. Their conflicting accounts become the focus of a police investigation, as those around them face the question of whom to believe. Yoo plays Joon-ho, a single father and surgeon whose standing among people around him makes his character’s ambiguity central to the story. To prepare, he watched footage of criminal profiling, real suspects being interviewed, and people undergoing lie-detector tests. He describes the role as a meaningful opportunity to portray someone whose morality is difficult to judge. Seo says she worked with director Jo Young-min to shape her character’s emotional development, including a past that will be revealed as the series unfolds. She also reflects that she encountered the role at a point in her life when she could understand it. Both actors acknowledge that viewers may compare their new pairing with their earlier romance in Dr Romantic, but say the dynamic this time is different. Seo considered how longtime fans might respond, while Yoo expects the reunion to bring a different kind of tension. They also express interest in working together again, whether by returning to their previous characters or taking on another project. The drama releases two episodes weekly on Disney+ across the Middle East, with its run concluding on December 5.

Nick March argues that the Binance heist should be understood not merely as a crypto-industry crisis but as a warning about the cybersecurity vulnerabilities embedded in systems people rely on every day. The attack, initially described as a security incident, led Binance to freeze deposits and withdrawals after hackers reportedly used a compromised engineer’s laptop to submit unauthorized transactions. The theft was valued at $6.3 billion, and North Korean hackers were alleged to be responsible, though officials denied the claim. March cautions against conflating the incident with the FTX scandal. FTX involved fraud and conspiracy, while the Binance event was a major theft by hackers; treating them as equivalent obscures what happened. He also notes that the story quickly faded from headlines, partly because Binance responded with unusually detailed crisis communications. The exchange explained the breach and its response, promised to cover losses, warned users about scams, and restored withdrawals. It said it had covered about 95 per cent of the affected amount and that user funds remained safe. Markets reacted relatively calmly. Bitcoin, Ether and Binance’s BNB token fell or fluctuated, but the article describes their movements as restrained given crypto’s volatility; all remained substantially above mid-year levels. March, who identifies as a crypto sceptic, nevertheless considers Binance’s transparency and the prospect of investors recovering their holdings notable, contrasting it with traditional investment losses that can involve prolonged suspensions and partial payouts. The article’s larger concern is that the hack illustrates a broader threat: cyberattacks on ordinary infrastructure. Recent incidents included attacks on French blood banks and on refrigeration systems at shops in several European countries, causing food losses. Because the Binance breach began with a compromised laptop and attackers are using increasingly sophisticated methods, March concludes that cyber insecurity may pose a more enduring threat to the public than this particular crypto heist.

Dubai filmmaker Faisal Hashmi has launched Spine Drop Pictures, a production company focused on making horror and thriller features for less than $1 million each. Its first slate comprises Off Plan, an anthology of six linked stories set across Dubai during one night; Cinder, a supernatural thriller developed from Hashmi’s 2020 short Amber; and Latching, a possession-revenge story set in Karachi. All three are written and planned to be directed by Hashmi, and are designed around contained locations, high-concept premises and controlled costs. Hashmi says regional films can grow far more expensive than their concepts require, making it difficult to recoup costs and discouraging further investment. He hopes a slate of several films can spread investor risk: one successful release might help offset another that merely breaks even. His model takes inspiration from Blumhouse Productions and its low-budget horror hits, including Insidious and Paranormal Activity. He also points to the extraordinary performance of Curry Barker’s Obsession, while stressing that such returns cannot be guaranteed. Hashmi’s approach reflects more than 15 years of resourceful independent filmmaking in the UAE. Born and raised there to Pakistani parents, he taught himself filmmaking after studying business and completed 10 short films, including Amber, Wicken and Skipped. Learning many production roles firsthand, he says, gave him the practical skills to work efficiently. He is also set to write and direct Fractal, an English-language time-loop thriller being produced by Austria’s Pont Pictures and planned to film in Serbia in 2027. Beyond launching his own projects, Hashmi wants to challenge the perception that genre films are less culturally important than socially conscious dramas. He argues that horror can address politics, race and gender while reaching mainstream audiences, as Jordan Peele’s Get Out demonstrates. He cautions, however, that low budgets do not make horror easy: suspense and effective scares require skill. After years of waiting for funding and development opportunities, he says Spine Drop lets him work on his own terms and test a model he hopes others in the region will adopt.

Ken Fisher argues that fears of an imminent global debt catastrophe are misplaced because headline debt totals and large round-number milestones obscure how debt compares with economic output and who holds it. He says total worldwide government, corporate and household debt is now 246 per cent of global GDP, down from a 2020 peak of 285 per cent and roughly back to its 2016 level. Inflation since 2020, although painful for consumers, has reduced the relative burden of existing debt and expanded tax bases. Public, corporate and household debt have each fallen as a share of global GDP from their 2020 levels. Focusing on the US, Fisher acknowledges that federal debt has risen to around 100 per cent of GDP, compared with about 60 per cent in 2010. But he says this view leaves out the decline in household debt, from nearly 100 per cent of GDP to 67 per cent, and the comparatively stable level of corporate debt. He considers government borrowing less risky than household or corporate borrowing because governments can raise taxes or allow inflation to reduce debt burdens, whereas households and businesses can default. State and municipal debt, which cannot be inflated away, has also declined from 21 per cent of US GDP in 2010 to 11 per cent today. Fisher further argues that rising government interest payments are manageable: US tax receipts cover federal interest payments five times over, and France spends only 10 per cent of tax revenue on interest. He notes that current bond yields are close to historical averages and that much higher yields in the 1980s did not prevent economic and stock-market growth. While he opposes excessive government borrowing and criticises politicians’ spending choices, he concludes that predictions of a global debt catastrophe are unfounded and should not drive people’s decisions.

Privacy concerns in professional tennis have resurfaced after a livestream at the WTA Finals captured Jessica Pegula discussing Mirra Andreeva with her coach, Mark Knowles. Pegula called the Russian teenager “a diva” and criticized her attitude and coaching, unaware that microphones on the practice court were broadcasting the conversation. The WTA accepted full responsibility, apologizing for failing to tell players and their teams that microphones were active. Pegula’s representative said she had no knowledge the discussion was being streamed and that she had contacted those involved to apologize. The tour said the microphones were intended to capture ambient sound, described the incident as a communication failure, and plans to continue practice livestreams without audio. The incident echoes a dispute at the Australian Open earlier in the season, where cameras recorded Coco Gauff breaking her racquet in an area she believed was private after a defeat by Elina Svitolina. Gauff and other players, including Iga Swiatek and Pegula, criticized the extent of off-court filming and the feeling of being constantly monitored. Swiatek compared the scrutiny to being observed “like animals in the zoo,” while Pegula said cameras and even zoomed-in footage of players’ phones represented an invasion of privacy. After the Australian Open incident, WTA chair Valerie Camillo supported players’ right to private spaces for recovery and said the tour was committed to listening and acting on their concerns. The latest incident is especially awkward because the WTA itself runs the WTA Finals, unlike the Australian Open, which is organized by Tennis Australia. The Finals were moved from Riyadh to Indian Wells and were scheduled to begin on Sunday.

The article marks seven years since the Zayed Centre for Research into Rare Disease in Children (ZCR) began treating patients in London. Opened in October 2019 beside Great Ormond Street Hospital and the UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, the centre brings researchers and clinicians together to develop treatments for children with rare and complex conditions. More than 13,300 children have attended appointments there. The facility was made possible by a £60 million gift from Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak; the article also says the purpose-built facility opened in 2014, a date that conflicts with its later account of the centre opening to patients in 2019. A central example of ZCR’s work is Professor Paolo De Coppi’s research into growing mini-organs inside a mother’s body for implantation in a child, with the aim of preventing life-threatening complications before or soon after birth. This work relies on collaboration between surgeons, stem-cell biologists, geneticists and bioengineers. De Coppi describes using spatial transcriptomics to examine gene expression in individual cells in three dimensions and understand how cells function within tissue. He says involving families and patients in the research process helps them see the work and raise concerns. The article profiles six other researchers and their work: Manju Kurian and Amy McTague investigate genetic causes of childhood neurological disorders and epilepsy; Francesco Muntoni studies neuromuscular conditions including Duchenne muscular dystrophy and spinal muscular atrophy; Waseem Qasim engineers immune cells, including CAR-T therapies, for cancer and immune disorders; Sara Ghorashian researches cellular immunotherapy for childhood leukaemia; and Claire Booth leads gene-therapy trials for rare immune deficiencies and inherited disorders. The article says AI is accelerating laboratory analysis and progress toward diagnoses, treatments and cures, and presents the centre’s work as a collaborative effort with potential to improve outcomes for seriously ill children.

One police officer was killed and three others were wounded during a shootout with a suspect in Lakewood, a suburb of Denver, Colorado, on Thursday evening. Police said officers went to a public bus at about 6:30 p.m. after receiving a report of a suspicious person attempting to board. According to police spokesperson John Romero, the man opened fire as officers arrived. Authorities had not determined whether the gunfire occurred inside the bus or nearby. The suspect was fatally shot by police during the exchange. The three wounded officers were taken to hospital, but officials had not disclosed their conditions. A fourth person was also injured; police had not explained how that injury occurred. Investigators said the suspect may have been involved in a hit-and-run earlier that day, though they had not confirmed the connection or released his identity. The identities of the deceased officer and the injured officers also had not been made public. Lakewood Police were investigating and urged members of the public to stay away from the area. The Regional Transportation District, which operates public transportation locally, said its personnel responded promptly and were cooperating fully with the police investigation. The report leaves key details unresolved, including the circumstances of the additional person's injury, the precise location of the shooting in relation to the bus, and whether the suspected earlier hit-and-run was connected to the violence.

Archaeological research at Las Minillas, an ancient copper mine in Spain’s Badajoz region, has revealed evidence of substantial Late Bronze Age mining and possible long-distance trade. Excavations and underground surveys uncovered hundreds of stone tools, including 735 grooved stone hammers thought to have been used to break copper-bearing rock, as well as fragments of handmade pottery. Charcoal samples and 17 additional radiocarbon dates place the mine’s activity broadly between about 1350 and 750 BC, with copper production likely occurring from around 1300 to 800/700 BC. The researchers describe it as the largest securely dated Late Bronze Age copper mine excavated in Iberia to date. Las Minillas may have belonged to a wider network of 84 mining sites extending from southern Portugal to southeastern Spain, although it is not yet known whether these sites operated simultaneously. To investigate where the copper went, the team compared ore and metalworking evidence from Las Minillas with existing chemical and lead-isotope records for Bronze Age objects. Eleven Scandinavian bronze objects had signatures consistent with copper from the Spanish mine. This suggests Iberian copper could have reached northern Europe through a chain of communities and trading networks, rather than being transported directly from Spain to Scandinavia. The study places this possibility within changing patterns of European copper supply. As some established mining centres, including sites in Wales and the Austrian Alps, declined, southern Iberia may have become more important during the Late Bronze Age, particularly from around 1300/1200 BC. Researchers estimate Las Minillas may have produced between 49 and 738 tonnes of copper, while favouring a more cautious estimate of about 197 tonnes. Maritime routes along the Atlantic coast may have helped carry the metal to distant markets. The authors stress that many Iberian mines remain unexplored or poorly dated, so additional research is needed to establish the network’s scale and chronology.

For years, residents of Pamarawan, a low-lying fishing village in Bulacan province on Manila Bay, faced flooding when monsoon winds, typhoons and high tides sent waves over a concrete breakwater and into the community. The village has since adopted a nature-based coastal defence project using interconnected bamboo structures, discarded oyster shells and coconut husks. The bamboo cribs reduce wave energy and trap sediment; oyster shells placed in coconut-fibre mesh bags, known locally as cocomesh, are intended to help weaken waves and support oyster reef recovery. As sediment builds up, the seabed may rise enough to allow mangroves to be planted, adding further natural protection. Local officials say Pamarawan has gone almost two years without flooding since the project began, including during severe flooding in nearby communities in August 2026. They report that sediment has accumulated by about 0.3 metres in some places and expect suitable areas for mangrove planting to emerge within two years. Residents have also seen shrimps, crabs and oysters around the structures, which fishers can collect, and say less Manila Bay waste reaches the shore. The village’s former mangrove forests once absorbed wave energy, but many were lost as coastal areas were converted to fishponds and reclaimed land. Bulacan lost 52.9% of its mangrove forests between 1990 and 2002, while sea-level rise, land subsidence and groundwater extraction have added to flood risks. Developed by Dutch engineering firm Haskoning, approved in 2023 and built from 2024, the 14-hectare pilot received 130 million Philippine pesos from the Malolos city government, with engineering-design support from the Netherlands Enterprise Agency. Philippine officials have considered it as a potential model for other coastal communities. Haskoning cautions, however, that the approach cannot simply be copied: each location’s ecological, geological and social conditions must inform its design.

Gadi Eisenkot, leader of Israel’s Yashar party, received recommendations from 67 Knesset lawmakers during consultations with President Isaac Herzog, giving him a clear lead over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who received 46 recommendations. Eisenkot’s total exceeds the 61 lawmakers needed for a parliamentary majority, and the support of the Arab-led Joint List proved decisive. The party, which had considered abstaining, backed Eisenkot to prevent Netanyahu and his Kahanist allies from returning to power. Eisenkot says he wants to form a “national emergency government” to restore political stability, but stressed that negotiations are far from over. The recommendations do not guarantee a viable governing coalition. Only 48 of Eisenkot’s 67 recommenders are currently willing to work together without conditions, while the Joint List has ruled out formally joining his government and has significant policy differences with some of the Jewish-led opposition. It may instead support the government from outside. Yisrael Beiteinu leader Avigdor Liberman has rejected a government dependent on Arab-party support, further narrowing Eisenkot’s options. The ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism party, which declined to recommend either candidate, could potentially matter in coalition negotiations, but its demands regarding military-service exemptions for Haredi men conflict with positions held by parties in Eisenkot’s camp. Netanyahu’s tally fell below the 53 seats previously expected after United Torah Judaism withheld its recommendation. His allies may also seek to weaken Eisenkot by challenging the legitimacy of a government that relies on Arab parties. Eisenkot has political momentum, but he has less experience in coalition bargaining than Netanyahu, who has a long record of navigating such negotiations. Herzog has not yet formally given Eisenkot the mandate to form a government. He plans further consultations with political parties before deciding on Sunday whom to task. Herzog also explored the possibility of a national unity arrangement, but Eisenkot’s camp indicated it would not share power with Netanyahu.

August Wilson House, the Pittsburgh childhood home of playwright August Wilson, was restored after falling into disrepair and reopened in August 2022 as a 6,000-square-foot arts and community centre. A $5 million fundraising campaign launched in 2018, with actor Denzel Washington helping lead the effort. Washington had directed and starred in the 2016 film adaptation of Wilson’s play Fences. Other supporters included Oprah Winfrey, Tyler Perry, Shonda Rhimes, Spike Lee and Samuel L. Jackson; Winfrey and Perry each contributed $1 million. Wilson, born Frederick August Kittel Jr., lived in the Bedford Avenue home with his mother, Daisy, and five siblings from 1945 to 1958. The Hill District neighborhood later became a significant influence on his writing. Wilson’s nephew, Paul Ellis, bought the property shortly before the playwright’s death in 2005, seeking to preserve it. Ellis and architect Rob Pfaffmann established the nonprofit Daisy Wilson Artist Community to guide the restoration. The property received Pittsburgh historic landmark status in 2008, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2013, and underwent emergency stabilization from 2010 to 2016. The broader restoration was delayed by the pandemic after initially being expected to finish in 2020. The complex combines the original 1840s house, an 1880s upper expansion and a contemporary addition, with elevators providing accessibility. It is intended as an active cultural space rather than solely a museum. Its facilities include four studios, two galleries, a rooftop terrace for performances, a landscaped garden and an outdoor theatre. The outdoor space can host productions of Wilson’s ten-play American Century Cycle, which explores African-American experiences across the 20th century. The restored upstairs apartment preserves the rooms where Wilson grew up, including the living room, kitchen and bedrooms. Details such as replica wallpaper, vintage appliances and Hill District photographs evoke the family’s original surroundings. Workers also found shoes hidden inside the walls, believed to have been placed there for good luck. The project preserves Wilson’s roots while providing space for future artists and community programming.

Ranjeev Puri, a 42-year-old Democratic state representative from Canton, Michigan, has been elected Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives for the 2027–28 legislative term. He is set to become the first Indian-American to hold the position. Democrats chose Puri as they prepared to take control of the 110-member chamber with a 63–47 majority. Their victories also give the party control of the governorship and state Senate, forming a Democratic trifecta. After his election, Puri said he was humbled by his colleagues’ trust and looked forward to working with the incoming state leadership to deliver on campaign promises. He also reflected on the milestone’s significance for his family, whose roots are in Punjab, saying his immigrant parents could not have imagined that he would one day lead the Michigan House. Puri was previously the first Sikh American elected to the state House, in 2020, and became the leader of the Democratic caucus in 2025 while Republicans held the majority. He is preparing to begin his fourth term as a representative. Before entering the legislature, Puri worked on Barack Obama’s presidential campaigns in 2008 and 2012. He later earned an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and worked in Michigan’s automotive industry. Chintan Patel, executive director of Indian American Impact, congratulated him and highlighted Puri’s focus on reducing household costs, including healthcare and housing expenses. Patel also said Puri would be expected to advocate for South Asian communities amid rising hate and oppose Trump administration policies. The article places Puri’s election within a wider rise in Indian-American political representation following the November 3 midterm elections. It lists several other Indian-American candidates who won or retained offices at the federal, state, and local levels.

Researchers led by Curtin University report evidence of red-blood-cell-like structures and biological molecules in a fossil from a dinosaur that lived about 115 million years ago. The study examined limb bones of Aratasaurus museunacionali, a theropod from what is now northeastern Brazil. The fossils were discovered in a Brazilian mine in 2008. Tiny oval structures found inside bone vascular canals looked like red blood cells, but the team used chemical and imaging methods to investigate their composition rather than relying on appearance alone. High-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry detected heme B and altered forms of heme, an iron-containing component of haemoglobin. Raman spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy also revealed chemical signatures associated with heme, including iron, nitrogen and carbon. The researchers identified hausmannite, a manganese oxide mineral, and also reported collagen-related traces. The findings, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), provide evidence that blood-derived molecules and collagen-related material can persist in a fossil over geological timescales. The researchers suggest preservation may have depended on the dinosaur being rapidly buried in a low-oxygen environment rich in microbial mats, which could have slowed decomposition. Mineralisation by hausmannite may also have helped protect and stabilise the microscopic structures and their chemical components. The article stresses that the proposed explanation involves a combination of burial conditions and early mineralisation. The discovery could broaden what scientists can learn from fossils. Beyond bones, teeth and footprints, preserved biological traces may offer additional information about ancient organisms. The researchers’ findings also raise the possibility that fossils contain more biological evidence than investigators have been able to detect with earlier approaches.

After Republicans suffered a major setback in the 2026 midterm elections, Donald Trump may seek a foreign-policy success by restarting talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Analysts cited by Reuters say such an effort could become part of Trump’s attempt to shape his legacy before leaving office, particularly as diplomacy on the wars in Ukraine and Iran has produced no breakthrough. The White House says Trump’s decisions are not politically motivated and are made in the interests of Americans and national security. A renewed summit would face a very different landscape from Trump and Kim’s three meetings during Trump’s first term. Their 2019 summit ended without agreement on North Korea’s nuclear program or sanctions relief. Since then, Pyongyang has expanded its nuclear and missile capabilities and strengthened ties with Russia and China, giving Kim less reason to negotiate. North Korea has not responded to Washington’s outreach ahead of a potential meeting at a regional summit in China. Kim’s sister, Kim Yo Jong, says dialogue is possible but argues that Pyongyang has no current reason to negotiate while the United States maintains what she calls a hostile policy. The central obstacle is whether Washington would be willing to set aside its demand that North Korea give up its nuclear weapons. Kim has suggested that talks might be possible if that demand were dropped, but such a change could alarm South Korea and Japan. Officials in both countries worry that Trump might negotiate directly with Kim without adequately consulting them. Experts warn that accepting North Korea’s nuclear status could dramatically alter Asian security and weaken regional deterrence. Any significant concessions could also face opposition in Congress. With Trump’s time in office limited, Kim may doubt that the president can secure support for or deliver on an agreement. Former US negotiator Stephen Biegun likewise sees little immediate benefit for Pyongyang in meeting with Trump.

Two Iowa families donated adjoining parcels totaling 21 acres south of Pocahontas in Pocahontas County. John L. Pascal, Jr. and Sally J. Pascal gave 10 acres to the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation (INHF), while Gail Ewan donated an adjoining 11 acres. The combined property was transferred to Pocahontas County Conservation, which will manage it for public recreation while preserving habitat for local wildlife. Bringing the adjacent parcels together creates one conservation area rather than leaving them as separate properties. The donations were part of INHF’s broader conservation work in 2025. The nonprofit worked with 22 individuals, families and organizations to protect 2,247 acres across 15 Iowa counties through land donations, contributions toward land value and conservation easements. These arrangements can transfer ownership to a conservation organization or public body, or restrict development while allowing land to remain privately owned. Donors were recognized at a ceremony at the Iowa State Capitol on March 24. The article also highlights a separate 52-acre donation near Rolfe, in Pocahontas County, from Fork Creek Farms, LLC and Richard C. Rastetter, Jr. The property, divided by the North Branch of Lizard Creek, includes open land and perennial vegetation. Planned prairie restoration is intended to improve water quality and create feeding, resting and nesting habitat for migratory birds and other wildlife. Rastetter had long wanted to protect and restore the property; after his death in 2023, his family helped carry out that goal. The 21-acre donation is a smaller contribution to Iowa’s statewide conservation efforts, but it gives the land a lasting role in public access and wildlife habitat.

Wendy’s has rejected a $1.4 billion, all-cash takeover proposal from an investor group led by Nelson Peltz, saying the $7.35-per-share offer undervalues the company and does not reflect the potential of its turnaround plan, Dave’s Way. The group includes Peltz’s Trian Fund Management, Flynn Group, BlueFive Capital and Sixth Street Partners. Wendy’s independent directors unanimously rejected the unsolicited, non-binding proposal after consulting financial and legal advisers. The board also adopted a one-year shareholder rights plan, or “poison pill,” effective November 4. It can be triggered if an investor or group acquires 15% or more of Wendy’s shares without board approval, or if an existing holder above that threshold buys additional shares. Other eligible shareholders could then purchase shares at a discount, diluting the stake of the investor that triggered the plan. Peltz’s group already owns about 16.3% of Wendy’s and declined to sign a customary standstill agreement. The plan is due to expire November 3, 2027, but the board may end it earlier. The dispute unfolds amid considerable business pressure. Wendy’s closed 240 US restaurants in 2024 and plans to close as many as 358 more in 2026. It faces weaker customer traffic, rising costs including beef prices, aging locations, affordability concerns and competition from McDonald’s, Burger King, In-N-Out and Five Guys. Its share of US burger-chain sales fell from 11.5% in 2019 to 10.4% in 2025. A major franchise operator, Meritage Hospitality Group, filed for bankruptcy protection in September. CEO Bob Wright, who joined in May, is leading Dave’s Way, focused on food quality, marketing, simpler operations and digital ordering. Wendy’s is testing menu changes and letting franchisees make breakfast optional. For the July–September quarter, revenue was $547 million, above expectations, while same-store sales fell 5.2%. Peltz previously chaired Wendy’s for 17 years, departing in 2024, and considered taking it private in 2022. Founded by Dave Thomas in 1969, Wendy’s had 5,969 US restaurants and 1,428 elsewhere at the end of 2025.

Australia has deployed a C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft and support personnel to assist Indonesia’s efforts to contain wildfires in East Kalimantan, on the island of Borneo. The aircraft departed Jakarta on Nov 5 and joined local water-bombing operations amid continuing fires and numerous hotspots. It can release 15,000 litres of water per sortie, or slightly more than 100,000 litres a day. Australia is also providing a Cessna Citation guide plane and 20 personnel, including pilots, flight crew and paramedics. The operation is scheduled to run from Nov 6 to 12. The fires have burned large areas for months, producing toxic haze that has crossed national borders, damaged public health and strained Indonesia’s relationships with neighbouring countries. Indonesia’s disaster agency chief, Kristomei Sianturi, said monitoring and consultations with the Australian technical team had identified many remaining hotspots in East Kalimantan. Australian Ambassador Rod Brazier described the two countries as “enduring friends” and noted that Indonesia had previously helped Australia fight its devastating bushfires in 2020. Nusantara Atlas, a deforestation monitor, estimates that fires consumed more than 1.9 million hectares during the first nine months of the year. Experts link much of the destruction to slash-and-burn land clearing, often connected with expanding timber, palm oil and mining operations. Indonesia’s health ministry reported that more than 400,000 people had been treated for acute respiratory ailments caused by the haze. The article also notes that Japan sent around 350 Self-Defence Forces personnel and three helicopters to assist firefighting in West Kalimantan in September.

Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever is due to meet King Philippe on Friday to decide whether he will resign or remain in office after budget negotiations collapsed and triggered a government crisis. De Wever offered his resignation during a meeting with the king on Monday. The palace said the king would consider the offer and consult coalition-party leaders before meeting the prime minister again. Speaking in parliament on Thursday, De Wever suggested he was more inclined to stay. He said he still hoped to secure a budget that would stabilise the country’s finances in the coming years, while insisting he wanted to lead only a government committed to addressing past mismanagement and acting responsibly. He did not rule out renewed negotiations with the existing coalition. A year earlier, he had also raised federal budget difficulties with the king before giving coalition partners a deadline to reach an agreement. Belgium needs to find €10 billion (US$11.23 billion) to stabilise its finances. Coalition parties disagree on how to do so: some favour spending cuts, while others argue for tax increases. The political dispute is unfolding amid increased pressure in financial markets and rising yields on government bonds from Belgium, France and other European countries viewed as having weak public finances. The European Commission forecast in May that Belgium’s debt-to-GDP ratio would reach 110.5% in 2026, among the highest in the euro zone, and that its general government deficit would be 5.2% of GDP. Belgium’s 10-year government bond yield stood at 4.25% late Thursday, compared with 4.79% for France and 3.24% for Germany. Belgium’s yield had been 3.48% four months earlier.

German automakers Volkswagen, BMW and Mercedes-Benz have lost substantial ground in China, where sales and profits have fallen as domestic brands have gained market share. Volkswagen reported a €5.8 billion loss for the three months to the end of September, with its China difficulties contributing to a restructuring that could eliminate as many as 120,000 jobs by the end of the decade. The three German companies have also announced job cuts and issued profit warnings in 2026. The article attributes the decline to a rapid shift in Chinese consumer demand toward electric vehicles and other new-energy vehicles, supported by government subsidies and charging infrastructure. German manufacturers were slow to respond, in part because they trusted their engineering heritage and experience improving combustion engines, while underestimating Chinese competitors such as BYD and Xpeng. Chinese brands’ share of their home market rose from 37.8 per cent in 2019 to 65.3 per cent, while deliveries by the German trio fell by about a third between 2019 and 2025. Although Volkswagen remains a leading seller of petrol and diesel cars in China, that strength is increasingly vulnerable: new-energy vehicles accounted for a record 67.8 per cent of sales in October. The article compares the German brands’ difficulty establishing themselves as electric-vehicle makers to Nokia’s struggle to be seen as a smartphone company after Apple introduced the iPhone. In response, the German manufacturers are moving engineering and vehicle development to China, hoping to better compete locally and incorporate Chinese-developed technology into vehicles sold elsewhere. Volkswagen says its Hefei centre can develop cars from start to finish, and Volkswagen and BMW are considering exports from China to other Asia-Pacific markets. Mercedes-Benz also plans to overhaul its China strategy. Despite the setbacks, the companies say they cannot afford to abandon the country, the world’s largest and one of its most demanding automotive markets.

Pope Leo is beginning a 12-day tour of Uruguay, Argentina and Peru, his first major return to South America since becoming pope and a homecoming to the region where he spent decades as a missionary. The 71-year-old, born in Chicago and later a Peruvian citizen, is scheduled to travel about 31,000 km, visit 10 cities and deliver 36 speeches before the trip ends on November 17. The tour is expected to draw large crowds, including an estimated seven million people at events in Argentina. The trip comes about a month after Leo underwent surgery for localized lung adenocarcinoma. The Vatican says he has recovered fully and needs no special precautions or further treatment. Medical experts cited by Reuters said clearance to fly suggests a low risk of complications, though the demanding schedule and high-altitude visits in the Peruvian Andes could require rest breaks and possibly supplemental oxygen. Leo is expected to address governments in all three countries and speak about issues including environmental destruction, arms trafficking and regional political instability. His itinerary includes outdoor Masses, a visit to an Argentine prison and travel by helicopter to remote Andean communities. He will also meet survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy, although the Vatican has not provided details. In Argentina, he is due to address President Javier Milei, who is described as a close ally of US President Donald Trump; Trump criticized Leo earlier in the year after the pope spoke against the Iran war. The tour comes as Catholicism faces declining influence in Latin America, where evangelical denominations are growing and the Church is challenged by changing social attitudes and more individualized worship. Local Catholic leaders hope the visit will renew faith and help restore the Church’s reputation, which has been damaged by abuse scandals. The article also notes that Leo’s predecessor, Pope Francis, visited Peru in 2018 but never returned to Argentina, and that no pope had visited Argentina or Uruguay since the late 1980s.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree placing the Russian assets of Japan Tobacco International (JTI) under temporary state-linked management, making the company the latest foreign business to lose control of its operations in Russia. The decree, signed on Nov. 5, assigns stakes in four JTI businesses to Russian company Industrial Assets. JTI is part of Japan Tobacco (JT) and is described as Russia’s largest tobacco manufacturer. The decree did not explain the seizure, although the Kremlin has associated similar measures with countries it considers “hostile.” Japan protested the move through diplomatic channels and asked Russia to withdraw it. Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama said Tokyo had consistently called on Moscow to protect the interests of Japanese citizens and companies. JTI said it was assessing the situation and its options, with employees and other stakeholders a priority. Japan Tobacco shares faced a sharp fall in Tokyo, with sell orders overwhelming buyers. The Russian business contributes about 10% of JT Group revenue and approximately 25% of its operating profit. The seizure comes amid a broader Russian campaign to place foreign companies’ assets under temporary management. In September, Russia took control of assets belonging to Nestle, Metro AG and Auchan; in October, it assumed control of assets belonging to four more European companies. Moscow has cited support for Ukraine and alleged illegal seizures of Russian property in some of those cases. Japan-Russia relations have worsened since Japan joined other countries in imposing sanctions after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Recent sources of tension include Putin’s August visit to a disputed island near Japan, the detention of a Japanese journalist in Sakhalin on suspicion of espionage, and Russia’s warning that it would respond harshly to a Japanese company’s drone sale to Ukraine. Japanese firms in Russia had largely maintained their positions, while Japanese officials travelled to Moscow in 2026 to help communicate with Russian authorities and protect company assets.

Senator Richard Blumenthal, the top Democrat on the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, has asked major technology companies that donated to US President Donald Trump’s ballroom project to provide records voluntarily. He also requested documents from Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chair Brendan Carr concerning the agency’s handling of media investigations and its 2025 approval of the Paramount Skydance merger. Blumenthal criticized Carr’s actions, including an early license review of Disney’s eight company-owned ABC stations, saying they threatened freedom of speech and the press and raised concerns about media-consolidation laws. The requests are an early indication of how Democrats intend to use investigative and subpoena powers after taking control of the subcommittee in January. Blumenthal warned that if the recipients do not provide the documents, the panel may consider subpoenas or other measures to compel compliance. Carr and the companies had not immediately responded to requests for comment. The inquiry focuses on donations by businesses that have interests before the Trump administration. The Washington Post reported that Apple and Nvidia each committed US$25 million toward the ballroom, part of US$333 million in private donations. Other reported donors included the Adelson family and Dish Network co-founder Charles Ergen, each of whom also reportedly committed US$25 million. Federal contractors including Lockheed Martin, Microsoft and Palantir Technologies reportedly gave US$10 million apiece. Blumenthal’s letters also went to companies such as Meta, Google, Amazon, Comcast, BlackRock, Cisco Systems and Salesforce. Separately, he sent letters to cryptocurrency firms and the Department of Homeland Security in connection with other investigations.

Wisconsin health officials reported that an infant died in connection with the state’s ongoing measles outbreak. The coroner identified measles as the immediate cause of death, but the Wisconsin Department of Health Services withheld further details to protect the family’s privacy. As of Nov. 3, Wisconsin had recorded 431 cases across 13 counties, and nine people had been hospitalised with severe symptoms. State epidemiologist Ryan Westergaard described the outbreak as the largest in Wisconsin in more than 35 years and cautioned that the reported case count is likely an underestimate because some infected people are never tested or reported to public health authorities. State and local officials, including Tribal health departments, are responding through case tracking, testing and vaccination efforts. The death comes amid the highest US measles case levels in decades, with outbreaks in multiple states and declining childhood vaccination rates in some communities. Pennsylvania reported its sixth measles-associated death of 2026 on Nov. 4, while New York state reported its first measles-associated child death earlier in the week. The CDC has recorded four measles-related deaths in 2026, but has not identified the states involved. The article attributes the discrepancy between CDC and state figures to a policy shift under US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.: the CDC now uses mortality data from the National Center for Health Statistics rather than relying on figures from state health departments.

As Türkiye prepares to host COP31 in Antalya, the country is promoting its renewable-energy expansion while facing criticism for continuing to rely heavily on coal. The Kalyon Karapınar solar farm in Konya, operational since 2023, has more than three million panels and produces enough electricity to meet about 0.7 per cent of Türkiye’s annual demand. Its director says it prevents roughly 1.75 million tonnes of carbon emissions each year. Solar and wind together supplied nearly 23 per cent of the country’s electricity last year, but coal remained the largest source at 33 per cent. Türkiye’s total greenhouse-gas emissions reached 584.5 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent in 2024. Climate campaigners say renewable-energy plans lack a roadmap for phasing out coal or other fossil fuels, making them inconsistent with Türkiye’s pledge to reach net-zero emissions by 2053. The country is also pursuing nuclear power, with its first plant under construction. COP31 takes place amid energy-security concerns, rising oil and gas prices linked to the Iran war, and recent summits that have made limited progress on emissions reductions. Türkiye’s environment minister, Murat Kurum, says the summit should focus on implementing existing commitments, including through a proposed “climate implementation bridge” connecting countries to finance, technology and other support. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government has presented Türkiye as committed to environmental protection, while the Climate Action Tracker rates its climate targets and policies “critically insufficient.” Environmental disputes continue: a court overturned an assessment for one planned coal-plant expansion, but another expansion has been proposed. Türkiye is also exposed to climate-related threats, including heatwaves, drought, water scarcity, wildfires and flooding; severe floods in Istanbul recently killed eight people. COP31 was awarded to Türkiye after a contest with Australia, which will lead agenda consultations. Despite criticism of both hosts’ fossil-fuel ties, UN climate chief Simon Stiell said the host country’s fossil-fuel status does not determine a summit’s success.

Kerala is encouraging international visitors to look beyond its famous backwaters and consider the Indian state for wellness tourism, locally run homestays and cultural experiences. At the World Travel Market in London, Kerala Tourism and Culture Minister P.C. Vishnunadh described the destination as offering something for visitors with varied interests, including forests, beaches, food and culture. A particular focus for 2027 and beyond is ayurveda, a traditional Indian system of medicine practiced for thousands of years. The article explains that ayurvedic stays may include consultations with doctors, individually designed treatment plans, diets, meditation and other therapies, not just massages. It also describes Kerala’s efforts to make tourism more beneficial to local communities. The state supports residents who provide homestays with subsidies and training, helping them earn steady income and connect with the tourism network. A directory of these accommodations is planned, though it is not yet ready. Kerala is also seeking to introduce Onam, a 10-day harvest festival, to international visitors. In 2027, the festival begins on 12 September. Its celebrations include the Athachamayam parade, decorated floats, elephants, tiger-painted dancers and snake boat races on the Pampa River. Food is another highlight: the traditional Onam sadya is served on plantain leaves and typically includes nine courses of seasonal vegetables, curries, soups, dal and desserts. Overall, the article presents Kerala as a varied destination where wellness, community-based tourism and cultural traditions can complement the better-known houseboat and backwater experience.

The Tax Justice Network estimates that EU countries lose €59.3 billion a year in corporate tax revenue when multinational companies shift profits across borders. About €8 billion, or 13.6% of the EU total, is linked to the UK and its Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. The analysis concerns multinational companies, not individuals, and uses country data for 2022, the latest year available. France has the largest estimated loss, at €13.1 billion, followed by Germany at €11.8 billion; together they account for 42% of the EU total. Several other large economies also face losses of multiple billions, while estimated losses in five EU countries are below €100 million. The report says France and Germany also have the largest losses linked specifically to the UK network: €2.8 billion for France and €1.4 billion for Germany. The Tax Justice Network’s Corporate Tax Haven Index assesses how jurisdictions’ laws, regulations and financial activity may enable multinational companies to reduce taxes elsewhere. Four British jurisdictions—the British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Bermuda and Jersey—rank in the index’s top ten. The UK and six associated jurisdictions account for 31% of the global corporate tax abuse risk measured by the index; adding four other British Overseas Territories raises the share to 33.3%. The article notes that the UK is also estimated to lose £12.8 billion (€14.7 billion) annually to profit shifting to tax havens worldwide, based on an average for 2018–2022. Tax Justice Network representative Moran Harari argues that the findings expose the UK’s large role in global tax-abuse risk and criticises the continued promotion of tax competition. The organisation also says international efforts have not ensured that companies disclose basic information needed by tax authorities. Finally, the article distinguishes corporate profit shifting from a broader estimate that includes wealthy individuals’ offshore tax evasion: global losses from both sources are estimated at €416 billion a year, with companies accounting for about 71% of the total.

The page introduces Euronews’ morning news bulletin for 6 November 2026, updated at 07:00 GMT+1. It describes the bulletin as a short roundup of important stories from Europe and elsewhere, covering world affairs, business, politics, culture, entertainment and travel. Euronews says its newsroom provides both the latest and breaking news, along with context intended to help viewers understand developments during a fast-moving day. The page also presents the bulletin as an independent overview shaped by a European perspective and intended for audiences wherever they are watching. The supplied page text does not include the video’s transcript or identify the specific stories covered in the 6 November morning broadcast. It mainly contains the bulletin’s introductory description, followed by advertisements, navigation elements and a long list of other videos and news headlines. Those listings include subjects such as Ukraine, European politics, protests in France, US elections and travel, but they are separate recommendations and cannot be treated as confirmed contents of this particular bulletin. Accordingly, the article’s central message is about the purpose, scope and editorial framing of the news roundup rather than any one news event.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appealed to Latin American leaders at the 30th Ibero-American Summit in Madrid to help Ukraine obtain equipment needed to repair and maintain its electricity grid. He said every Ukrainian power plant had been damaged by Russian attacks and urged leaders to connect Ukraine with companies able to supply compatible equipment quickly. His list included transformers, power cables, electronic equipment, and diesel and gas generators. The summit brought together representatives of 22 mainly Latin American Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking countries. Attendees included Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo, Honduran President Nasry Asfura, UN Secretary-General António Guterres, and European Council President António Costa. Zelenskyy said Ukraine was attending for the first time and had been working to build communication and seek diplomatic support in Latin America and Africa. He noted that Latin American countries were increasingly voting in support of Ukraine at the UN General Assembly. Zelenskyy also urged regional leaders to condemn what he called Russian “mass killings” carried out through bombings and drone attacks. Recent strikes on energy infrastructure have intensified concern about another difficult winter. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko described the capital’s supplies as “extremely difficult.” During the visit, Zelenskyy thanked Spain for its support, met Prime Minister Sánchez, and met King Felipe VI. He offered condolences over a train collision in Toledo and discussed the consequences of Russia’s attacks, as well as Ukraine’s need for stronger air defenses. The visit comes as US-led efforts to restart peace negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow continue, with trilateral talks scheduled to resume the following week in the United Arab Emirates.

Costco shares rose nearly 2% on Thursday, making the retailer one of only three stocks in the CNBC Investing Club portfolio to finish higher during a difficult market session. The gain brought the stock closer to its May record of $1,094; shares have climbed more than 19% since reaching a low in mid-September, after spending time below $900. The article attributes the rebound to both a broader rotation toward defensive stocks and strong company performance, focusing particularly on the latter. Costco reported October net sales of $24.5 billion, up 12.6% year over year. Comparable sales increased 11.1%, or 7.3% after excluding gasoline and currency effects, exceeding expectations cited by Goldman Sachs analysts. The stock’s advance accelerated after strong fiscal 2026 fourth-quarter results and signs of improvement in membership growth and renewal rates. Jim Cramer argues that Costco succeeds through competitive prices and high sales volume, while membership fees contribute substantially to its business. He also highlighted the role of low-priced gasoline in attracting shoppers: CEO Ron Vachris said Costco’s fuel pricing saved members an estimated $3.2 billion compared with average local pump prices, and the company expanded 26 existing U.S. gas stations. The article also cautions that Costco is expensive, trading at nearly 47 times estimated fiscal 2027 earnings. Cramer says the late Charlie Munger believed Costco was an unusual case in which investors should not focus as heavily on the price-to-earnings ratio, reflecting confidence in its business model, competitive moat, and customer loyalty. The authors share that admiration but warn that a premium valuation leaves little room for operational mistakes. A prior decline in membership renewal rates was therefore concerning; the sequential improvement reported with fourth-quarter results helped support the share price. Overall, the article is cautiously bullish: it sees strong fundamentals and improving membership trends, while acknowledging valuation and execution risks.

The article examines whether Indian equities could attract international investors as a hedge against a global sell-off in artificial-intelligence-related stocks. India’s benchmark Nifty 50 has recently outperformed markets with greater exposure to AI hardware, while Indian indexes have relatively little direct exposure to that segment and are weighted toward financial services, consumption, energy, industry and other services. Strategists at JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs say India’s domestic-demand-driven economy, improving corporate earnings, falling oil prices and lower U.S. Treasury yields could support relative outperformance. JPMorgan estimates that foreign investors returning merely to neutral positions in Indian equities could generate about $115 billion in potential net inflows. After selling more than $31 billion through October, foreign investors reportedly bought over $2.3 billion in Indian shares across four days. September-quarter earnings have also improved, with listed-company earnings growth tracking above 20% and analysts revising estimates upward for 2026 and 2027. However, the hedge argument is contested. Bernstein says India is neither an AI beneficiary nor an anti-AI trade, and warns that its valuations remain expensive compared with markets such as China and Brazil. Other market participants note that India has historically traded at a premium because of durable earnings and domestic growth, while some quality large-cap valuations have become more attractive. India’s recent underperformance and improving earnings may help its case, but its appeal still depends on valuation, a sustained recovery in earnings, and favorable conditions such as softer crude prices and weaker growth elsewhere. The article presents India’s potential as conditional rather than assured.

Singapore Airlines (SIA) is investing more than S$2 billion (about US$1.6 billion) in onboard products, including redesigned first- and business-class seats for long-haul travel. The new premium seats are expected to enter service on Airbus A350 long-haul and ultra-long-range aircraft from mid-2027, and will also be installed on Boeing 777-9 aircraft when those join SIA’s fleet. First-class seats will include 32-inch 4K screens and Bang & Olufsen noise-cancelling headphones. Passengers in adjoining seats will be able to configure them for face-to-face dining or, in selected arrangements, as a double bed. SIA says the double bed will be the largest in commercial aviation. Business class will have 22-inch 4K screens, wireless charging and Bluetooth audio connectivity. The airline also plans smaller cabin updates: premium economy will gain an extra inch of recline, while economy and premium economy on incoming 777-9s will receive new 4K seatback screens. The decision to bring the products to the A350 reflects continuing uncertainty around the 777-9’s delivery schedule. Boeing has said the first aircraft will not be delivered to customers until 2027. SIA executives have described the program as long-delayed, with the plane not expected in the airline’s fleet during the financial year ending March 2027. The seat rollout forms part of broader improvements to the passenger experience. SIA has announced plans to add Starlink connectivity to almost all its Airbus aircraft, with the A350 medium-haul variant excluded, beginning in the first quarter of 2027. It has also introduced new dining menus, beverages and premium-cabin Christofle serviceware, alongside Sisley first-class and BYREDO business-class amenity kits. Business-class passengers will receive sleepwear for the first time. Separately, SIA is spending S$130 million to renovate its Silverkris lounges and enhance the airport journey for Suites and first-class passengers at Singapore Changi Airport. The announcement follows SIA’s recognition as Skytrax’s 2026 World’s Best Airline and best economy-class airline, although Qatar Airways and Air France took the business- and first-class category awards, respectively.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has commuted the death sentences of all 548 people on the state’s death row, replacing them with life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. He said he was acting under his constitutional clemency authority and argued that state-sanctioned killing conflicts with California’s values, weakens the legal system, and cannot be administered fairly. Newsom also acknowledged that the decision would anger and hurt some Californians, and accepted personal responsibility for its consequences. The move is largely symbolic: California has not executed anyone since 2006, and only 13 people have been executed there since voters reinstated the death penalty in 1978. However, experts say commuting the sentences could reduce millions of dollars in annual court costs. Newsom had already imposed a halt to executions in 2019. His term is ending, and the article notes that he has been discussed as a possible 2028 presidential candidate. Columbia law professor Bernard Harcourt says a prospective presidential candidate’s opposition to capital punishment can be an ethically appealing position to voters. The article places the decision amid renewed attention to executions, including a botched execution in Tennessee and an increase in executions nationally. It reports that the commutations require approval from at least four California Supreme Court justices, and notes uncertainty about their impact on individual prisoners, including Keith Doolin, who maintains his innocence. Doolin’s mother welcomed the prospect that California would not rebuild its execution chamber, while the ACLU praised the decision as a response to an unjust and error-prone punishment. Los Angeles County’s top prosecutor countered that only voters or the legislature can abolish the death penalty, which Californians have twice voted to retain. The article also contrasts California’s action with President Donald Trump’s support for capital punishment and explains that executions remain legal in 27 states and under federal law.

Pope Leo XIV is beginning a 12-day tour of Uruguay, Argentina and Peru only three weeks after surgery to remove a cancerous growth and the lower lobe of his right lung. The Vatican says the cancer had not spread and is treating the operation as a short episode rather than a continuing medical condition. Officials say Leo has returned to work with strong stamina and personally approved the demanding itinerary, which includes extensive travel from the Amazon to the Andes. The visit begins in Uruguay, where Catholic numbers have fallen and no pope has visited for 40 years. In Argentina, Leo will pay tribute to his predecessor, Pope Francis, who never visited his homeland as pope. The trip may also carry political sensitivities: Argentina’s bishops have criticised President Javier Milei’s austerity measures, while Milei previously attacked Francis over his advocacy of social justice. Milei has nevertheless welcomed Leo’s forthcoming visit, and large crowds are expected. Peru, where Leo spent nearly 20 years as a priest and holds citizenship, is described as the tour’s “homecoming” and its highlight. He will return to Chiclayo, where he served as bishop, and visit Cusco and Pucallpa. In each country, he is also due to meet survivors of clerical sexual abuse, an issue that affected Francis’s 2018 visit to Chile and Peru. The article presents the journey as a way for Leo to strengthen the papacy’s ties with Latin America after Francis, while noting the region’s political challenges and Leo’s interest in the unity of the Americas. It also raises the possibility of a future visit to the United States, potentially while Donald Trump is president.

US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order designating the Oval Office and some nearby rooms as a national monument, saying the measure will prevent future presidents from destroying or substantially altering the historic space. The order directs the National Park Service to protect its historic character and architectural integrity. However, it explicitly allows presidents to redecorate, choose furnishings and make ordinary operational or security changes, provided these do not substantially impair the office’s historic structure or character. The move follows Trump’s extensive renovations during his second term, including prominent gold decorations in the Oval Office, a gold sign outside it, changes to the Rose Garden and the addition of a helicopter pad. Trump has described the White House as badly damaged and said repairs were needed. His administration has also demolished the East Wing to make way for a ballroom, a project that has faced legal challenges and received congressional approval. The article explains that the White House already has National Historic Landmark status, while presidents retain latitude to make changes under an exemption in historic-preservation law. The current Oval Office dates to the early 1930s and was conceived during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency. Historic-preservation lawyer Greg Werkheiser says presidents generally have discretion over furniture and decor so long as permanent art and architecture are not damaged. Werkheiser calls Trump’s order hypocritical, arguing that it offers little legal protection while Trump pursues other Washington projects and challenges preservation laws. The article also notes Trump’s proposed renovation of the Kennedy Center and a planned triumphal arch. Democrats have criticized his White House redesigns; Barack Obama mocked the gold decoration by comparing the result to a Cheesecake Factory opened by Saddam Hussein. The article places the order amid broader disputes over Trump’s approach to historic preservation and the use of presidential authority.

Macau’s first publicly known national security prosecution has ended with former lawmaker and pro-democracy campaigner Au Kam San sentenced to 12 years and six months in prison. The 69-year-old was convicted of several offences, including “subversion against the political power of the State.” Prosecutors accused him of supplying false information to anti-China organizations outside Macau to encourage hostility toward the city’s government and Beijing. A court statement said Au had, over an extended period, helped external organizations collect, prepare and distribute images and information containing political claims it characterized as subversive. It also said he sought to stir hatred toward China’s central government and undermine the country’s political system. Au was detained in July 2025. His prosecution was the first publicly known case under Macau’s national security law, introduced in 2009. His trial was held behind closed doors and concluded in September after three days. A judge had rejected an open trial, citing the protection of national security. Critics raised concerns about the fairness of the proceedings and said the case reflects China’s prioritization of security and intolerance of dissent. The European Union had previously criticized Au’s arrest, warning that it added to concerns about the erosion of political pluralism in Macau. Au served for two decades in Macau’s legislature, which is dominated by pro-China loyalists, and left office in 2021. He also co-organized vigils commemorating the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown. Macau, a former Portuguese colony that returned to Chinese rule in 1999, is a special administrative region, as is neighboring Hong Kong.

US President Donald Trump said a major agreement involving Russia and Ukraine may be close, following an unscheduled White House meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s special envoy, Kirill Dmitriev. Speaking to reporters, Trump described the prospective deal as “big” and “beautiful,” said it could involve more than Ukraine and possibly all of Europe, and predicted that everyone would be pleased. He did not disclose details of his conversation with Dmitriev. Trump also said he had not met with Ukrainian officials who were at the White House that day. Separately, Trump’s son-in-law and US envoy Jared Kushner said that the United States, NATO and European partners had held “productive and substantive discussions” on ending the war. Kushner said the aim was to address all sides’ security concerns through practical arrangements agreed by the parties, in order to reduce the risk of future conflict. Further discussions involving Kyiv and Moscow were expected the following week in Abu Dhabi. The article notes that Trump has previously made promises of a swift end to the war, including his pre-presidency claim that he could end it in one day. The White House gathering also honored First Lady Melania Trump for her role in brokering a recent six-day ceasefire in Oleshky, a war-affected city. Dmitriev praised her humanitarian contribution and said Putin had personally given instructions connected to the operation. Ukrainian representatives, including Davyd Arakhamia and human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets, also praised Melania Trump. Arakhamia urged her to continue helping Ukrainians and supporting de-escalation. The article reports the statements and planned talks but provides no terms for the proposed broader agreement or independent confirmation that a settlement is imminent.

Nearly 90 million forcibly displaced people—about three-quarters of the global total—live in countries highly exposed to climate hazards, according to a report from the UN refugee agency, UNHCR. Ahead of the COP31 climate summit in Turkey, the agency urged governments to protect displaced people and include them in climate plans and funding. It said droughts, floods and extreme heat are making it harder for people who fled conflict, violence or persecution to find lasting solutions. UNHCR described the situation as a “double injustice”: displaced people are forced from their homes by crises they did not cause, then face climate risks to which they have contributed least. More than two-thirds of refugees who returned home during the first half of 2026 went back to countries highly vulnerable to climate hazards. In Syria, declining groundwater and climate shocks threaten recovery for communities among the nearly four million displaced people who have recently returned. Flooding along the Euphrates River in May damaged homes and displaced thousands again. The agency also warned that extreme heat could endanger refugee settlements: by 2050, one in three settlements in sub-Saharan Africa could experience at least 100 days of dangerous heat each year. Weather-related disasters have caused more than 255 million internal displacements worldwide over the past decade—about 70,000 a day. A strong El Niño was expected to add to displacement, with severe flooding potentially displacing up to three million people in Somalia, Kenya, South Sudan and Uganda by the end of 2026. UNHCR said only 10 percent of global climate finance reaches fragile and conflict-affected countries that host large numbers of climate-exposed displaced people. At COP31, it plans to urge governments and climate finance institutions to include refugees and other displaced populations in national climate plans and financing mechanisms.

Dolly Parton's longtime manager, Danny Nozell, has moved to withdraw a Tennessee court complaint against Bryan Seaver, Parton's nephew and former head of security, and Seaver's company, Squadron Augmented Protection Services (SAPS). Nozell had obtained a temporary restraining order in September and was seeking a permanent injunction, alleging that Seaver threatened Parton's estate and its employees. A filing submitted Thursday says the case is to be dismissed without prejudice, which means it could be brought again. The filing gives no reason for the withdrawal. A court document filed the previous day said the parties had reached an agreement but did not disclose its terms. The move ends, at least for now, a public dispute that began while Parton was ill with cancer and became public in the weeks following her Aug. 25 death. She's Alive, the entity Nozell runs to manage and protect Parton's estate, terminated Seaver and SAPS in early September. Its petition alleged that Seaver had made threats shortly before and after Parton's death, including a written vow to “destroy the entire brand.” It also cited statements in which Seaver allegedly described himself as an international arms dealer and mercenary and said people should worry about what he might do. When granting the temporary restraining order, Chancellor I'Ashea L. Myles referred to Seaver's claimed access to weapons, experience with violence and stated intention to retaliate. The case was due to have its first hearing on a proposed permanent injunction the following Tuesday. The Associated Press sought comment from lawyers for She's Alive, Seaver and SAPS. The article also describes Parton's career as a celebrated singer, songwriter and philanthropist, and notes that her business empire, much of it based in her Tennessee hometown, employed many of her friends and relatives.

Tens of thousands of workers across France joined a nationwide strike and protests over low wages and the rising cost of living. Government employees, teachers, transport workers and other union members took part in nearly 200 rallies, which organizers described as a national day of action. Estimates of turnout differed sharply: the General Confederation of Labour (GCL) said about 1.6 million people demonstrated, while the Interior Ministry estimated roughly 600,000. The rallies briefly closed the Eiffel Tower. GCL leader Sophie Binet said workers’ salaries no longer allow them to live comfortably and urged protesters to continue demonstrating. She criticized President Emmanuel Macron, accusing him of serving wealthy interests rather than working people. Bally Bagayoko, mayor of the Paris suburb of Saint-Denis, also faulted Macron for failing to offer solutions and described a society marked by growing inequality. Protesters told CBS News they want the government to reduce military and law-enforcement spending and increase support for social services. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu called for a meeting with unions, but another demonstration was scheduled for Saturday. While many rallies began peacefully, some became violent. Police used tear gas to disperse protesters; a car was set alight in Lyon, and objects were burned in Paris. The protests began in late September with students demonstrating over poor school conditions, teacher shortages and infrastructure problems, then spread to attract broader public support. Local surveys indicated that nearly six in ten people in France supported the demonstrations. The article also notes a history of escalating disorder during the protests, including vandalism, fires, clashes with police, thousands of arrests and curfews in several cities.

French authorities say an “ultra-left” environmentalist faction based in the remote village of Bussière-Boffy helped fuel recent riots that left more than 1,000 police officers and protesters injured, led to 2,700 arrests, and saw at least 3,000 stores looted in a single day. The investigation focuses on Hodei Ciarra Docampo, who is charged in connection with a fire that gutted Limoges’s historic city hall. Officials allege video shows him throwing a burning trash can into the building; he faces a charge of attempted murder of a public official, which could carry a life sentence if he is convicted. Authorities are also examining Ciarra Docampo’s family and associates. His father, Fernando Ramirez, is described in court papers as a Spanish-born anarchist with ties to the Basque separatist movement. Ramirez and his wife have allowed people without fixed addresses to stay on their land in vans and yurts, a practice that has upset some residents but earned support from others. The family has opposed development and technology projects, including airports and smart electric meters. Ramirez was convicted earlier in the year of setting fire to trucks used to install the meters, which the family views as instruments of government control and sources of harmful electromagnetic waves. Investigators have also linked the group to alleged arson attacks on regional television antennas that disrupted communications. Ramirez has been accused locally of involvement with ETA, the Basque separatist organization responsible for more than 800 deaths during its campaign for independence, but he denies the allegation and his own involvement in the attacks. Police transcripts quote him defending the arson as a message against population control. A neighbor, however, rejects the portrayal of the family as criminal and says they have helped travelers and young people in need of shelter.