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Anastasia Marshall, 32, has been sentenced to one year, 11 months and 16 days in prison for helping her romantic partner, Johnathan Paul Parker, evade police after the death of her ex-wife, Krystal Marshall. Anastasia pleaded guilty to assisting Parker to escape apprehension or prosecution. Parker had set Krystal’s remains alight after her body was found at her Aldinga Beach home in October 2023. He pleaded guilty to destroying human remains but denied murdering Krystal and stood trial on that charge earlier this year; a verdict has not yet been delivered. A court has therefore not ruled whether Krystal was murdered. Justice Sandi McDonald imposed a seven-month non-parole period, making Anastasia eligible for parole in May next year. The judge stressed that Anastasia was not being punished for Krystal’s death, but said her conduct after the death had left Krystal’s family and friends feeling deeply betrayed. McDonald said Anastasia knew what had happened, chose to align herself with Parker, and had opportunities to contact police but instead lied and tried to help him cover up Krystal’s death. The judge also noted that Krystal had allowed Anastasia and Parker to live with her, unaware of the nature of their relationship. She described Krystal’s willingness to provide support as an expression of care, and said Anastasia and Parker had concealed their relationship because they knew how Krystal felt about Anastasia. The judge said they exploited that situation so Anastasia could continue living in Krystal’s house. She also described the household atmosphere as toxic and affected by heavy methamphetamine use. Outside court, Krystal’s mother, Maureen Brown, said she did not believe justice had been done, while expressing her Christian belief that justice would come after death. Holding a photograph of her daughter, she thanked those involved in the case for their kindness and understanding.

A glittering mosaic portrait of Australian drag performer Courtney Act has been unveiled at the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra, where it is now the first artwork visitors see when they enter. Created by artist Paul Yore, the portrait combines thousands of found objects, including sequins, discarded fingernails and eyelashes, broken jewellery, high heels, a beer can, a football, a dismembered Barbie doll and an old Nokia phone. Act supplied Yore with some of her personal items, while other objects evoke aspects of her life and Australian culture. Act, the drag persona of Queensland-born Shane Janek, has been a public figure for more than two decades as a performer, queer advocate and television personality. She said the portrait’s unveiling felt validating, recalling that as a queer teenager growing up in 1990s Brisbane she saw few people like herself represented in the media. The Nokia in the mosaic is the same model she used to come out to her parents. Yore said he admired Act and felt intimidated by the commission, which took about a year and was among the most challenging works he had made. He drew on the tradition of illuminated religious icons, including images of the Virgin Mary, reflecting his own experience of growing up queer in a Catholic household. National Portrait Gallery director Bree Pickering called the work a “monument to queer culture,” noting that its polished likeness reveals many small details on closer inspection. Act welcomed the portrait’s prominent position and said she hoped it would make visitors smile. She expressed gratitude that the work celebrates drag and queerness with joy and sparkle.

Former police officer Beau Lamarre-Condon’s murder trial has heard testimony from a friend who says Lamarre-Condon confessed to shooting two people and asked for help cleaning up. According to the witness, Lamarre-Condon said he had “killed people,” described shooting one person in the head and another through a door, and made a gun gesture while saying “Pew pew.” He allegedly said the second person was not meant to be shot and asked the friend to take a day off work to help move the bodies, which he said were heavy. The witness declined and later received a FaceTime call in which Lamarre-Condon claimed he had been joking. The friend testified that they later met for sushi in Cronulla, where Lamarre-Condon discussed disposing of bloodied clothes. They stopped at a skip bin; the jury has heard that belongings and clothes belonging to Jesse Baird and Luke Davies were found there. The witness also recounted Lamarre-Condon joking about the weight of bodies and discussing leaving them in water with cement to weigh them down. Earlier testimony concerned a 2023 trip to the Royal National Park, where Lamarre-Condon allegedly fired a police-issued pistol in bushland after asking his friend to listen for police movement. The Crown alleges Lamarre-Condon killed Baird, with whom he had a prior casual relationship, and killed Baird’s boyfriend, Davies, to eliminate a witness. Lamarre-Condon has pleaded not guilty to two domestic violence-related murders and aggravated break and enter, and says the deaths occurred during separate struggles involving the pistol. The bodies were found in surfboard bags near Bungonia eight days after the alleged killings. The trial is in its fifth week and is expected to last about three months.

A 21-year-old man has been arrested and charged after allegedly attacking a person who had arranged to sell a mobile phone through Facebook Marketplace in Canberra’s north. According to ACT Policing, the victim went to an address in Kaleen at about 5:30pm on Tuesday to meet a prospective buyer. Police allege an unknown man first spoke with the victim and inspected the phone. A 21-year-old then got out of a nearby Volkswagen Golf and threatened the victim with a knife. The accused allegedly forced the victim into the car, punched him and strangled him. The victim managed to escape and call for help, and the Golf drove away. Police located the vehicle in Belconnen at about 5:30pm on Thursday. Officers directed the driver to stop, identified him as the man allegedly involved in the incident and arrested him. Police said he was expected to appear in the ACT Magistrates Court on Friday. The charges include forcible confinement, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, possessing an offensive weapon with intent, and committing an act that endangers health by strangling. The report describes allegations and charges; it does not say that the accused has been found guilty.

Dame Judi Dench has said that worsening eyesight means she can no longer act on stage or in films. The 91-year-old British actress has lived with macular degeneration, a chronic eye disease, for more than a decade. She also said she can no longer read or reliably recognise faces, sometimes mistaking strangers for people she knows. Dench described having to adjust to these changes and make allowances for them, while trying not to dwell on them too much. The change marks a significant development after a career spanning seven decades in theatre, film and television. Dench has received widespread critical acclaim and major awards, including an Oscar, a Tony and seven Olivier awards. She played M in eight James Bond films, including several alongside Daniel Craig, and performed many major Shakespearean roles, among them Juliet, Lady Macbeth and Cleopatra. She spoke of her lasting affection for Shakespeare’s poetry, particularly the sonnets, which she praised for expressing human feelings simply. Looking back on her work, Dench said choosing roles involved taking risks and that performing had always been frightening. She described that fear as a source of energy she could use in her performances, and characterized acting as continual work in progress. The article presents her comments as a personal reflection on the practical effects of deteriorating eyesight and the end of her ability to perform, alongside an account of her long and celebrated career.

Tasmania’s Australian Education Union (AEU) is urging politicians and their representatives to stay away from public schools for the remainder of term four unless Premier Jeremy Rockliff apologises for a Facebook post about Christmas celebrations at a northern Tasmanian school. Rockliff said he had heard of efforts to remove references to Christmas from end-of-year school celebrations and had asked the Education Department to intervene. Although he did not name the school, it was quickly identified online, prompting a pile-on. The school had planned to rename its “Christmas on the Hill” event “End of Year Extravaganza,” while its calendar still listed several Christmas-themed activities. At an extraordinary meeting, the AEU’s Tasmanian branch discussed the distress and harm caused by the episode and called for a pause in political visits until Rockliff apologises. Branch president David Genford accused the premier of doubling down and described the public actions as dangerous and politically grubby. A parent from the school told ABC Hobart that she had written to Rockliff about the effects on the school community, especially students, teachers and other staff. She said leaders should acknowledge when they are wrong. Rockliff defended his right to express an opinion, said his public comments had been measured and rejected the union’s accusation that his actions amounted to bullying. He has also condemned attacks on individuals or schools. Treasurer Eric Abetz defended the premier, saying his remarks had resonated with the community, and said MPs would attend end-of-year school events. Abetz had also shared an AI-generated image concerning a cancelled nativity play. The premier’s posts drew more than 2,000 comments, many supportive of him. Labor leader Josh Willie backed the educators’ position and said Labor would respect their decision, adding that the premier could resolve the dispute by apologising, visiting the school and supporting its staff and students.

A women-led networking group in south-west Victoria has held a public forum in Warrnambool to answer questions about how politics and elections work, rather than promote a particular party or policy. The event was organised by the Good Company Collective and featured former Labor staffers Bindi Gove, a former chief of staff to a federal resources and tourism minister, and Sean Sammon, who worked under the Rudd-Gillard government. Organiser Gabrielle Toscan said the idea was to give the community access to people with expertise and build a connection with politics, though the group was initially concerned the event might be mistaken for a political gathering. Audience questions focused on transparency and the workings of government. Attendees asked why parties do not release all policies at once, whether political announcements are staged, how politicians prepare for press conferences, and how much influence staffers have over policy. Gove said the timing of policy announcements can be a tactical decision. Both speakers acknowledged that politics involves theatre. Sammon described how politicians may rehearse and rely on scripted messages, while noting that a more casual style can be risky for government figures who need to substantiate their claims. Gove said staffers’ influence varies, and that her private-sector background meant her policy input was often respected and considered. The forum also addressed preferential voting, electoral divisions, the differences between upper and lower houses and between state and federal seats, and where postal voters can find information. First-time voter Maisie Rentsch said the explanations helped her understand the system and her region. Other attendees, including Warrnambool resident Marie Bird and Emma Kavanagh, valued the opportunity to hear how decisions are made and gain insight into Parliament. Victorians are due to vote in the state election on November 28.

Grant Stevens has completed a 44-year career with South Australia Police, ending his tenure as commissioner at a farewell ceremony outside police headquarters in Adelaide. Officers and well-wishers formed a guard of honour as Stevens saluted, while a marching band and horses took part in the event. He joined the force in January 1982, aged 17, and rose through its ranks to become commissioner in July 2015. Stevens’s time as the state’s top police officer coincided with major challenges, including the Black Summer bushfires and the COVID-19 pandemic. As state coordinator during those periods, he held extraordinary powers and was involved in decisions about lockdowns and restrictions. His tenure was also marked by personal tragedy: his son Charlie was killed in a hit-and-run at Schoolies week in Victor Harbor in 2023. Stevens and his wife, Emma, received messages of support after Charlie’s death and after Stevens’s appointment as South Australia’s next governor. Stevens will be sworn in as the state’s 37th governor on December 9 and will move with Emma into Government House. He said he was looking forward to visiting communities and celebrating their achievements, rather than focusing primarily on policing issues such as community safety, road safety and crime. Ahead of the transition, Stevens also spoke about threats and civility in public life. He said a person who sent him a vile email shortly after his son’s death was prosecuted and convicted. Agreeing with Governor-General Sam Mostyn’s call for Australians to exercise their “muscle of decency” and learn to “disagree well”, Stevens said people with public platforms should express their views responsibly. He expects to maintain a balanced approach in his new role.

New South Wales has officially established the Great Koala National Park after state parliament passed legislation following more than 14 hours of debate and consideration of about 160 amendments. The 478,000-hectare park will stretch between Kempsey and Grafton on the Mid North Coast, making it the state’s second-largest national park. It combines existing national parks with more than 178,000 hectares of state forest and Crown Land. The move fulfills a key NSW Labor commitment made before the 2023 state election and is intended to protect koalas, their habitat and more than 100 other species of flora and fauna. Environment Minister Penny Sharpe described the legislation as a defining conservation achievement after years of assessment, consultation and planning. Conservationist Ashley Love, who began campaigning after hearing reports that local koalas were becoming less common, welcomed the decision as a significant step. He also cautioned that the park is fragmented, with gaps in connectivity, and said he would continue advocating for forest areas that were not included. Labor had taken the proposal to the 2015 and 2019 elections before winning government in 2023. The park’s creation is linked to federal approval for carbon credits in return for ending native forest logging in its state forest areas. The Clean Energy Regulator registered the project on Thursday, with more than 117,000 hectares designated for carbon protection. Logging had already been paused in the proposed park area, and a transition package was offered to affected workers. The change has drawn criticism from the timber industry. Timber New South Wales president Andrew Hurford said the logging ban had gradually affected businesses and workers across the region, including mills and firms providing engineering, transport, fuel and other services. In July, Forestry Corporation of NSW said it would cut more than 30 Coffs Harbour jobs related to the park’s impacts. The government said affected Forestry Corporation employees would be appointed to suitable roles with the National Parks and Wildlife Service.

The article explains how the Western Bulldogs have rebuilt their AFLW side from the 2023 wooden-spoon finish into a team that has qualified for finals for the first time since 2022 and is considered a genuine post-season threat. It argues that the turnaround is not just the result of off-field restructuring, but of deliberate changes to the playing list and the way the team plays. After winning only one of ten games in 2023, the Bulldogs changed key football staff, including appointing Tam Hyett as coach in 2024, and reshaped a list that now retains only 12 players from the 2022 finals team. Rather than relying on headline recruits, the club combined targeted trades and free-agent additions with draft selections. Players such as Mikala Cann, Vaomua (Mua) Laloifi and Ellie Gavalas have filled specific roles, while younger players have contributed to the list’s development. The article describes the resulting team as greater than the sum of its parts. The rebuild began with defence. The Bulldogs became more difficult to win possession against and to score against, using contest pressure and a willingness to make games scrappy. The article notes that this approach sometimes produced unattractive football, but provided a foundation for improvement. The team’s defensive results improved substantially from the 2023 figures, although some measures have varied as the Bulldogs seek a better balance between defence and attack. The next step was improving their attack. Hyett’s first season brought the club’s lowest scoring average in AFLW history, but the Bulldogs have gradually gained confidence and control through the middle of the ground. Their increased ball-winning and possession figures reflect a change in how they approach games. The supplied article text ends mid-sentence while describing this shift in ball use, so its further discussion of the attacking plan is not available.

Two of the three teenagers responsible for the 2023 murder of 14-year-old Ethan Hoac have been sentenced in the Supreme Court of Victoria to 17 years and 18-and-a-half years in jail. The third killer received a maximum sentence of 17 years in 2025. The attackers, who were 17 at the time and cannot be identified for legal reasons, targeted Hoac in a random, unprovoked assault in Melbourne’s north-west. Hoac was walking with two friends near Furlong Road and Bailey Street in St Albans on June 26, 2023, when the group drove past in a stolen car, circled back and struck him with the vehicle. Two masked passengers then got out and stabbed and kicked him. He suffered 30 machete wounds and died in an ambulance on the way to hospital. Justice Mandy Fox called the attack appalling and cowardly, emphasizing that Hoac and his friends posed no threat and that there was no connection between the groups. The driver, who showed no remorse and refused to attend court in person, received the longest sentence. He appeared by video link from a youth prison and received no sentence discount after pleading not guilty and being convicted by a jury. The other newly sentenced teenager pleaded guilty early and sent an apology letter to Hoac’s family; Justice Fox said she accepted his remorse as genuine. Hoac’s mother, Annie Huynh, described him as a sweet, positive boy who made people happy. She said she hoped the sentencing would be her last court appearance and wanted the killers to learn from what they had done. The court heard that all three killers had difficult childhoods involving domestic violence and drug abuse, left school early, and had criminal records. The article also notes alleged involvement in a youth-prison riot and violent rap lyrics written by the teenager sentenced in 2025.

The mother of Complainant A has completed her evidence in the NSW Local Court trial of broadcaster Alan Jones, who has pleaded not guilty to 21 charges of indecent assault and sexual touching. Complainant A says he first contacted Jones when he was 13 to seek help for his mother, and that Jones later kissed and touched him when he was 17. The alleged assault is denied by Jones through his not-guilty plea. During cross-examination, defence barrister Claire O’Neill questioned the mother about continuing to contact Jones for help while encouraging her son to report the alleged assault. The court heard she had emailed Jones about a legal-services bill in 2017, after he connected her with a law firm to help recover money from her estranged former husband. Although she described herself as anxious and desperate about her finances, she agreed she had a house, a car and a job, could meet her mortgage repayments, and later travelled to Europe with her son. Asked whether she was financially desperate, she replied, “Sure.” The mother also acknowledged asking Jones to use his influence to expedite her son’s Sydney Cricket Ground membership application, and seeking his advice about a Land Rover repair bill. She denied implying that he should pay for the repairs and rejected the suggestion that she had taken advantage of his generosity. She maintained that she had been in a “web of dependency” with Jones and that “everything was run by him,” adding that he had helped get her home finished. The trial has previously heard that Complainant A wrote his mother a note about 10 days after the alleged incident at Jones’s Fitzroy Falls property, saying “something sexual” had happened. He asked police not to pursue the complaint in 2018, but renewed the allegation in a 2024 statement.

NSW politicians say they are increasingly concerned about threats and abuse directed at elected representatives and their staff, following an attack on independent MP Helen Haines at her electorate office in Victoria’s north-east. Haines has had both legs amputated and remains in critical condition after being struck by a car on Monday. The incident prompted NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon to brief state MPs on security. NSW Minister for Women and Charlestown MP Jodie Harrison recalled receiving two threatening letters at her electorate office nine years ago. The letters included threats to kill her. After reporting them to police, a man was jailed for 16 months and made subject to an anti-terrorism order; he also received sentences for weapons-related offences. Police found digital firearm blueprints and a 3D printer in his possession. Harrison says the experience still affects her, and she now conducts daily risk assessments and remains on guard. Gosford MP Liesl Tesch described a recent rise in abrasive abuse and threats. A man has pleaded guilty to using Facebook to threaten violence and indicate he intended to find and harm her in public, and is awaiting sentence. Tesch carries a personal duress alarm and says threatening graffiti appeared on a footpath outside her home. Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp has also allegedly been threatened, with a man awaiting trial over an alleged terror plot involving threats to kill. Tesch and Wallsend MP Sonia Hornery also voiced concern for electorate-office staff and volunteers, particularly ahead of the NSW election in March. Hornery said her staff are more vigilant after a man was charged over spitting on one of them. Premier Chris Minns said protecting MPs is a difficult issue: they cannot be completely insulated from the public or kept behind high fences.

A Supreme Court jury has found Steven Frederick Johnson, a 74-year-old former police officer, guilty of murdering Christopher Jarvis, a 38-year-old father who disappeared from his home in Wangoom, near Warrnambool, on June 13, 2006. Jarvis’s body has never been found. During Johnson’s 21-day trial in Warrnambool, the court heard that he attacked and killed Jarvis, who was his tenant, over $2,210 in unpaid rent. The prosecution case was that Johnson used a baseball bat, disposed of Jarvis’s body in bushland and later set fire to his car. The vehicle was found burnt out at a coastal tourist lookout near Warrnambool. Johnson pleaded not guilty to murder. After deliberating for four days, the jury returned a guilty verdict. Jarvis’s family members cheered and celebrated in court when the decision was announced, while Johnson’s relatives sat in shock. Johnson did not apply for bail. He is due to return to court for a plea hearing on December 14, with sentencing to take place later.

Western Australia Police Commissioner Col Blanch says John Lawrence Smart, the 56-year-old charged over alleged threats at state MP Hannah Beazley’s Victoria Park electorate office, was already known to police. Smart appeared in Perth Magistrates Court, charged with being armed to cause fear, making a threat and possessing cannabis. The court heard he had a schizophrenia diagnosis; bail was refused, and he is due back in court later this month. Police have not been told of prior concerns about Smart or an escalation in his behaviour relating to the incident. Blanch urged MPs not to withdraw from public life, while advising them to stay alert to their surroundings and to warning signs such as grievances, fixation, online messaging and repeated attendance. He described the Fixated Threat Assessment Centre’s approach, which can involve police and health professionals speaking with people in an effort to prevent violence. He said threats against public officials had risen significantly at the federal level in recent years, but that this increase had not been reported in WA. State MPs were due to receive a briefing on current threat levels and security practices. Beazley said she and her staff remained shaken by the incident and found it confronting to see the suspect taken into police custody. She also warned that threats sent by email and social media are difficult to monitor, adding that bots can generate hate speech and make such behaviour appear more legitimate. The incident followed an attack on federal MP Helen Haines outside her electorate office in Victoria. WA Greens MP Sophie McNeill called for an urgent review of security at electorate offices and said the volume of threats can make it difficult to report them all.

The National’s October 23, 2026 Feedback column presents readers’ responses to three recent stories. Most of the letters praise flydubai captain Smit Machchhar, reflecting on his courage and conduct during an attack in which he helped save passengers. Writers describe him as honest, resilient and grateful, and commend his calmness, quick decisions and commitment to protecting those on board. Several express affection and admiration, wish him a full recovery, and call him a real-life hero who represents the responsibilities and humanity of a pilot. A second group of letters celebrates Ali Alhosani’s appointment as the first Emirati executive director at the International Monetary Fund. Readers say the achievement brings prestige to the UAE and could inspire young Arab professionals in finance. They congratulate Alhosani and wish him success in the role, including in strengthening the country’s international standing and creating opportunities for future generations. The final letter responds to coverage of weight-loss medicines Mounjaro and Foundayo being packaged in the UAE. The writer describes obesity as a major global health concern and supports measures such as healthier lifestyles, access to appropriate treatment and greater awareness of long-term consequences. The letter also cautions that medication should be used only by eligible patients under qualified medical guidance, with attention to safety and individual needs. Overall, the column is a collection of personal, mostly celebratory and supportive reactions, with a measured public-health note on obesity treatment.

The National’s Opinion section presents a cartoon by Shadi dated October 23, 2026. Its caption describes the subject as “French rioters offering looted goods for sale online,” linking unrest in France with the online sale of stolen property. The page also tags the item “France” and “Crime.” The supplied text does not include the cartoon image or any accompanying explanatory article, so it is not possible to describe the illustration, identify particular people or locations, establish the circumstances of the riots, or determine how the cartoon visually frames the issue. The summary is therefore limited to the caption and publication details available in the text. The item’s format and brief caption suggest a topical editorial cartoon rather than a reported news story: it calls attention to rioters and the resale of looted goods, but offers no supporting facts or further commentary in the supplied material. Other cartoon headlines listed on the page concern unrelated topics and are not part of this item. Overall, the cartoon’s stated subject has a critical association with rioting and looting, while the available text alone does not reveal the artist’s specific argument beyond presenting that subject for commentary.

The article previews two Saudi Pro League matches and focuses on Al Qadsiah manager Brendan Rodgers and Al Nassr forward Cristiano Ronaldo. Al Qadsiah enter their Friday clash with Al Hilal as surprise league leaders, one point ahead despite Hilal having played one fewer match. Rodgers, whose team finished fourth last season, is also close to a club record: a late win over Al Taawoun brought his league-win total to 26, level with former manager Michel. A victory over Hilal would make Rodgers the club’s most successful manager by that measure. Qadsiah will need to improve after struggling to score against relegation-threatened Al Taawoun, before Tijjani Reijnders secured a stoppage-time winner. The article then describes a difficult week for Ronaldo. He was reportedly suspended for 30 days and fined €255 after leaving Portugal’s training base before a Nations League match against Denmark, amid disagreement over his role. In Al Nassr’s narrow win over Neom, he missed a penalty and a close-range opportunity, although the team still won 1-0. Ahead of Al Nassr’s match against Al Faisaly, manager Ange Postecoglou defended the team and called for collective support after mistakes. Ronaldo also faced criticism from former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag over his fitness and preparation during his second spell at the club. Despite the setbacks, the 41-year-old is presented as pursuing the milestone of 1,000 career goals, with 19 still to reach it.

The article explores how simulation games turn ordinary activities into absorbing, often relaxing forms of entertainment. Rather than relying on elaborate stories, open worlds or combat, these games focus on the satisfaction of learning and completing a craft. They let players experiment with activities such as sewing, pottery, cafe management, gardening, painting and cooking without the expense, mess or real-world consequences. The featured example is Dressmaker, a 2026 Steam release in which players run a sewing shop, select fabrics, arrange patterns, cut material and stitch garments. Its strong early reception is presented as evidence of the appeal of detailed creative simulations. Other games offer similarly hands-on experiences: Master of Pottery recreates stages of ceramic production; Espresso Tycoon combines custom coffee-making with cafe management; and Garden Life: A Cozy Simulator lets players restore and tend a community garden. SuchArt: Genius Artist Simulator gives players a space-based studio and unrestricted, physics-driven painting tools, while Cooking Simulator balances precise recipe work with comic kitchen mishaps. The article emphasizes that these games accommodate different approaches: players can pursue accuracy and skill, experiment freely, or embrace mistakes and chaos. They also provide virtual substitutes for hobbies that may be inaccessible or inconvenient in real life. The excerpt begins a section on Car Mechanic Simulator 2021, noting its thousands of parts and focus on vehicle repair and restoration, but ends before that section is developed. Overall, the piece is an informative, upbeat guide to games that make focused, everyday tasks enjoyable.

The article previews an episode of The National’s podcast Beyond the Headlines, focused on Israel’s October 2026 national election and the possible consequences of a change in government. Israelis are preparing to vote in the first national election since Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023, and the subsequent war in Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party may win, but polling also gives opposition candidates a strong chance. Because no party is expected to secure a majority, the winner is likely to need coalition partners to form a government. Security and the economy are identified as leading concerns for Israeli voters. The election also matters to Palestinians, who cannot vote but are watching to see whether a new government might be less right-wing. The article describes developments under Netanyahu’s government in both the West Bank and Gaza: increasing settler violence and land seizures in the West Bank, and a largely stalled post-ceasefire plan in Gaza. Israel has not withdrawn, while Hamas has not disarmed. Podcast host Nada AlTaher examines whether there is a meaningful alternative to Netanyahu and his party, and what another Netanyahu victory—or a different government—could mean for Israelis and Palestinians. Her guests are Shira Efron, RAND’s distinguished chair for Israel policy, and Palestinian political scientist Xavier Abu Eid. The article presents the election as uncertain and consequential, with coalition negotiations and unresolved security and political issues likely to shape what follows.

The supplied page presents a live Middle East news update dated October 23, 2026, focused on attacks involving Saudi Arabia and the Saudi-led coalition. Its headline says the coalition intercepted a wave of overnight attacks. The listed updates report that the death toll from an attack on Dammam airport rose to two, and that Yemen’s Houthi movement acknowledged launching attacks on Saudi Arabia’s Defence Ministry and an Aramco site. The page does not include the underlying reports or further details about the interceptions, the attacks, or the casualties, so their scale and circumstances cannot be established from the provided text. Other updates place the events in a wider regional and international context. They say Donald Trump accused Iran of pushing up oil prices ahead of US midterm elections; Saudi Arabia postponed a United Nations global data forum until 2027; and US Central Command marked 100 days since what it called a “steel wall naval blockade” against Iran. The US State Department also issued a departure order for non-emergency US government workers and their families in Saudi Arabia. The page includes links to related videos and stories about Gulf shipping, Iranian-linked threats, Saudi military action, regional leaders’ responses, and humanitarian conditions in Yemen. These are presented as related material rather than as detailed reporting within the supplied article text. Overall, the available content is a brief, developing-news roundup about attacks and security measures, alongside political, economic, and regional developments. Because the page extraction contains headlines and update labels but no full article body, the summary is limited to those statements and does not add unprovided context.

Gareth Cox previews the latest round of Premier League fixtures, giving a prediction for each match and assessing teams’ recent domestic and European form. Aston Villa’s strong run, including wins over Newcastle and Viking, leads Cox to predict a 2-2 draw against Manchester City, whose league-winning streak has continued through seven matches. Arsenal are tipped to beat Everton despite an injury concern for Bukayo Saka, while Coventry are expected to lose to Fulham, who recently earned their first league win of the season. The headline fixture is Chelsea against Tottenham Hotspur. Chelsea arrive after consecutive wins and are predicted to prevail 3-2 in the London derby. The preview also highlights Palace’s defensive struggles after a heavy defeat to Brighton, Brentford’s first loss of the season, and Brighton’s five straight wins, which have placed them third. Liverpool, coming off victories over Brentford and Villarreal, are forecast to draw with Brighton. The article describes a difficult period for Manchester United: they have gone seven matches without a win across competitions and suffered a 4-1 Champions League defeat to Como. Despite that form, Cox predicts they will beat Bournemouth 3-2. Bournemouth, meanwhile, have recently collected their first league win and beaten AC Milan in Europe. The remaining predictions are draws for Ipswich–Nottingham Forest and Hull–Brentford, wins for Newcastle at Crystal Palace and Leeds at Sunderland. Throughout, the preview uses league positions, recent results, injuries, suspensions and European fixtures to frame its forecasts.

The National’s editorial argues that the United Nations needs renewed purpose and more effective leadership as it approaches a change of secretary-general. Founded in 1945 to help countries rebuild and cooperate after global conflict, the UN now faces a more fragile international environment, with multiplying wars, shifting alliances and doubts about whether its institutions—designed for a different era—can respond effectively. The approaching succession of Antonio Guterres presents an opportunity to give the organisation fresh impetus. The editorial highlights the candidacy of Lana Nusseibeh, the UAE Minister of State and former permanent representative to the UN. It describes her diplomatic experience, knowledge of multilateral negotiations and service representing the UAE on the Security Council in 2022–2023 as strong qualifications. Her candidacy merits serious consideration, the piece says, while acknowledging that other candidates also have strengths. The prospect of an Arab woman from the Middle East leading the UN is presented as significant, particularly amid growing regional security concerns and threats to shipping and stability. The article also identifies institutional weaknesses: divisions among major powers can paralyse deliberations, UN agencies have overlapping responsibilities and limited resources, and the organisation often fails to turn its convening role into action. The next secretary-general should therefore promote early intervention, effective mediation and better coordination among agencies, while setting clear priorities and measurable accountability. Nusseibeh’s stated aim of bringing countries together and achieving concrete results is described as welcome, but the editorial stresses that no secretary-general can reform the organisation alone. Member states—especially the permanent members of the Security Council—must accept the costs of failing to reach consensus and give the next leader room to act. The editorial concludes that the UN is too important to drift into irrelevance and that its success should be judged by practical results, not promises.

The UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment has confirmed an oil spill from a tanker affecting beaches in Umm Al Quwain. The ministry said the spill caused a strong fuel-like smell reported in Dubai and the northern emirates in recent days, but stated that the odour poses no health risk. It did not identify the vessel. International maritime agencies have reported that the 330-metre tanker Gem No.2 was struck in a suspected Iranian drone attack on October 9 or 10; 22 Indian sailors were rescued. The scale of the slick remains unclear, amid wider concern about environmental damage to the Gulf and Arabian Sea linked to the Iran war. Authorities began containment, cordoning, cleanup and remediation, and are continuing coastal surveys and monitoring. Umm Al Quwain’s beaches and coastal areas have been temporarily closed while technical teams assess conditions and determine safety measures. The ministry urged residents to avoid oil washed ashore and asked fishermen and other sea users to follow instructions and stay clear of affected areas. Environmental and air-quality experts explained how oil spills can produce persistent odours and how pollutants may travel. Dr Diana Francis of Khalifa University said oil can move with ocean currents, accumulate in rotating currents, and release fuel-like smells as it evaporates under the influence of heat and wind. Prashant Kumar of the University of Surrey said the distance odours travel depends on weather, wind speed and direction, and can reach tens of kilometres. Both experts’ comments were made before the ministry confirmed the spill.

Alexander Volkanovski and undefeated contender Movsar Evloev exchanged confident claims at the final press conference before UFC 333 at Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Arena. Volkanovski, 38, will defend his featherweight title against the 32-year-old Russian on Saturday. He arrived dressed as “Joe,” his character in the Hollywood film Street Fighter, and said he respects Evloev’s well-rounded abilities but believes they will not be enough to win. With a victory, Volkanovski would record his ninth featherweight title-fight win, passing Jose Aldo’s division record. The champion also said he intends to end Evloev’s unbeaten 20-fight run and suggested he would control whether the bout is fought standing or on the ground. Evloev responded that he can handle every aspect of the contest, including striking and takedowns, and promised to prove Volkanovski wrong. The co-main event is the third meeting between bantamweights Petr Yan and Merab Dvalishvili. Yan, the Russian champion, took the title from Dvalishvili last December and is expected to receive strong crowd support in Abu Dhabi. Dvalishvili, the Georgian challenger, won their first encounter and said he feels at home in the city, where he hopes to reclaim the belt. He expressed confidence in his mental strength and fighting style. Yan, meanwhile, called the bout a fresh contest rather than dwelling on their previous meeting and said his goal is to defend his championship. The article also notes Yan’s history in Abu Dhabi: he won the bantamweight title against Jose Aldo there in 2020 and later defended it against Cory Sandhagen.

The article examines whether the US decision to permit sales of sanctioned “dark fleet” tankers can ease the tanker shortage affecting oil markets during the Iran war. Its central conclusion is that the measure is unlikely to resolve the crisis. Many sanctioned ships are already working in Russian, Iranian or other restricted trades, so allowing them into mainstream markets would more likely shift existing capacity than add a substantial number of available vessels. In addition, some ships remain subject to UK or EU sanctions, which may still prevent them from serving European trades. The more immediate obstacle is the danger of sailing through the Strait of Hormuz and the wider Arabian Gulf. The International Maritime Organisation had confirmed 120 attacks on ships by October 22, with 22 seafarer fatalities since the conflict began in February. Owners are therefore reluctant to send vessels and crews into the region. A Financial Times report cited in the article says tanker owners are paying captains as much as $100,000 a month, plus $50,000 per voyage, reflecting the risks. US President Donald Trump’s administration authorised the sale of sanctioned tankers, hoping they could be refurbished and used to transport non-sanctioned oil. Energy Secretary Chris Wright described the plan as moving vessels from the “bad-guy fleet” to the “good-guy fleet.” However, analysts quoted by Bloomberg Intelligence and Vortexa doubt the move will lead to a significant return of these ships to mainstream trade. Their age is another constraint: about 70 per cent of OFAC-listed tankers are at least 20 years old, raising maintenance, inspection, insurance and charterer-acceptance concerns. Overall, sanctions relief may offer limited help, but it cannot by itself overcome security risks, overlapping restrictions and the condition of the vessels.

At 16, Afna Shanavas began experiencing pain, exhaustion and increasing difficulty writing during school exams. Doctors repeatedly attributed her symptoms to stress or possible psychosomatic causes, prescribing painkillers and rest despite her family consulting specialists in the UAE and India. At 17, a severe episode left her neck seized up and led to emergency hospital care because doctors feared she might be having a stroke; that possibility was later ruled out. The cause of her symptoms remained unclear for years. A finger cut that would not heal eventually prompted rheumatology tests in Sharjah. An antinuclear antibody (ANA) test was positive, though other markers were negative. Shanavas postponed further investigations during pregnancy, but her symptoms worsened afterwards. At 26, she was diagnosed with inflammatory polyarthropathy and ankylosing spondylitis. The first is an autoimmune condition involving inflammation in five or more joints; the second can affect the spine and pelvis, limiting flexibility. Shanavas said she had thought arthritis was a disease of older people and now wants others to know it can affect young people too. Now head of inclusion and well-being at The Oxford School in Dubai, she manages her condition with medication, including a biological injection every two weeks, as well as other treatments for flare-ups. She has kept a journal about her decade of experiences and hopes to publish it. She describes the invisible nature of pain and fatigue as one of the hardest aspects of living with the conditions, saying others may not understand why she needs time off. The article explains that arthritis is an umbrella term for more than 100 conditions and can begin at different ages. Rheumatologist Humeira Badsha says treatment is increasingly tailored to the inflammatory pathways involved, with medication reviews and monitoring important for patients on long-term drugs. Orthopaedic surgeon Usama Hassan Saleh notes that genetics can contribute to risk, but family history is not determinative. He advises seeking medical advice for symptoms such as joint pain, stiffness, swelling or difficulty moving, and says appropriate care and lifestyle measures can help people remain active and maintain quality of life.

A study by researchers from Imperial College London and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine estimates that Europe’s record-hot summer in 2026 caused 50,391 excess heat-related deaths across 30 countries. The researchers analysed 854 cities between June 1 and August 31, comparing this summer with the same period in years since 2000. The estimated toll is substantially higher than in 2022, when about 29,000 excess deaths were recorded, and in 2003, when there were around 18,000. Nearly a third of this summer’s deaths occurred during the exceptionally hot period from June 17 to July 1. An estimated 6,000 people under 65 also died as a result of heat, indicating that the danger was not limited to older people. Italy had the highest estimated number of excess deaths, at 13,303, followed by France, Spain, Germany and the UK. Comparing current temperatures with pre-industrial conditions, the researchers concluded that about two-thirds of the deaths were attributable to global warming, primarily from fossil-fuel use. The findings were published in two peer-reviewed papers in Nature Health. The researchers say their modelling estimates are consistent with national health authorities’ excess-death records from previous heatwaves. The article describes calls for both emissions reductions and practical measures to protect people from heat. Researchers urged governments to move away from fossil fuels and cities to adapt through more green space, less pollution and health care for people affected by extreme temperatures. The findings appeared amid debate over the UK government’s approval of the Jackdaw gasfield. Prime Minister Andy Burnham defended the decision as a pragmatic way to use domestic energy reserves and help protect consumers from rising costs, while acknowledging that oil and gas would remain part of energy supplies for decades. The heat also placed considerable strain on hospitals. An intensive care consultant said the demand was comparable to a severe winter virus season, and warned that patients, hospital buildings and equipment were vulnerable because many facilities were not designed for such temperatures.

US Congresswoman Ilhan Omar says she plans to move out of her Washington, DC, home because she no longer feels safe there following a search by federal agents. In an interview with MS NOW, she described the raid for the first time and said investigators arrived around 6am with a warrant, searched the property for four or five hours, and seized 17 items. Among them were phones, notebooks, a Somali-language children’s book, and a vintage camera her husband had received as a gift. Omar said the agents were intrusive but polite and returned other belongings to their places. The Justice Department said the search was conducted under a judicially authorised warrant as part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation. NBC News, citing a person familiar with the matter, reported that potential charges could include conspiracy and making false statements in immigration paperwork. Omar denies wrongdoing, calls the investigation political intimidation, and says she is confident she did nothing wrong. Omar was born in Somalia, came to the United States with her family at age 12 after they received asylum, and became a US citizen in 2000. She questioned the suggestion that she could have conspired as a child to defraud immigration authorities. A progressive Democrat from Minnesota and a frequent critic of President Donald Trump, she has also faced years of right-wing conspiracy theories about her immigration status, including a false allegation that she married her brother. Trump recently insulted Omar and her birthplace. The search has drawn condemnation from congressional Democrats, who questioned its timing so close to the November 3 midterm elections. The Justice Department has historically avoided overt investigative actions involving candidates immediately before an election. Omar is seeking re-election in a heavily Democratic Minneapolis district and is expected to retain her seat.

Al Jazeera reports that a 27-year-old Indian developer has created a satirical video game inspired by protests led by the Cockroach Party. The protests concern alleged irregularities in electoral lists. In the game, players take the role of protesters and face police efforts to stop them, including baton charges, tear gas and water cannons. The article presents the game as a creative response to a politically charged protest movement, using satire and an interactive format to depict the confrontations described in the report. The available article text does not name the developer, specify where the protests took place, describe the alleged electoral-list irregularities in detail, or provide information about the game’s title, release, or reception. It also does not include responses from authorities or other participants. The report is by Deepali Saxena and was published on 23 October 2026. Overall, the article’s stated focus is the connection between the Cockroach Party-led protests and the developer’s game, rather than a detailed account of the underlying political dispute. Because the supplied content is brief, no further claims about the developer’s motivations, the events’ wider context, or the game’s impact can be established from this text alone.

The supplied text does not contain the article’s live updates or reporting. It includes only the headline, the label “29 Updates,” and advertising prompts. The headline says that Donald Trump hinted at possible new strikes and claimed that the United States had “knocked ‘hell out’ of Iran.” It also frames the story as part of the US-Israel war on Iran. Without the article body, it is not possible to verify the context of Trump’s remarks, identify what events or military actions the liveblog reported, or summarize any reactions and developments. The headline establishes a subject and a strongly worded quotation, but it does not provide enough information to assess the full article’s reporting, tone, or conclusions. The summary and feature extraction below are therefore limited to the supplied headline and page text; no details beyond them have been inferred.

Israeli forces arrested 36 Palestinians in raids across the occupied West Bank, according to figures and reports cited by the Palestinian news agency Wafa and the Palestinian Prisoner’s Society. In Jenin governorate, 10 people were arrested on Thursday. In the Hebron governorate, forces detained former prisoner Shorok al-Badan and five others, while the Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission reported 14 arrests in Khirbet Jawaya, in Masafer Yatta. Wafa also reported three additional arrests elsewhere in Hebron. Three more Palestinians were arrested in raids in Burin, Awarta and the Qalandiya refugee camp, in Nablus and Jerusalem. The arrests occurred amid an increase in attacks on Palestinian farmers and farmland during the olive harvest. The Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission said it documented 17 incidents on Thursday involving Israeli forces and settlers across several West Bank governorates, including Hebron, Qalqilya, Nablus, Ramallah and el-Bireh, Jenin and Salfit. The reported incidents included assaults, preventing farmers from reaching their land, theft of crops and equipment, damage to or burning of olive trees, arrests, threats at gunpoint and live fire. The commission characterized the attacks as an escalation that obstructs the olive harvest and weakens Palestinians’ ability to access and cultivate their land and sustain their livelihoods. The article also notes international attention and condemnation of attacks on Palestinian farmers. On Wednesday, US Democratic congressional candidate Brad Lander was briefly detained by the Israeli military and warned while volunteering to help farmers harvest olives in the occupied West Bank.

The article follows the effort to improve the care and health of Madhubala, a 22-year-old African elephant in Karachi, and examines the failures of the system responsible for captive elephants. Animal caregiver Jude Allen became involved after caring for Noor Jehan, Madhubala’s sister, during her final illness. Noor Jehan died in 2023 after suffering from an infected tusk, malnutrition and stress. Her death helped spur the “I Am Noor Jehan” campaign for better treatment of captive animals in Karachi. Madhubala and three other elephant calves had been brought from Tanzania to Pakistan in 2009. Madhubala was later moved from Karachi Zoo to Safari Park so she could reunite with her sisters Sonia and Malika. The reunion took place in November 2024, but Sonia died soon afterwards. Four Paws later linked Sonia’s death to a severe bacterial infection and an advanced foot abscess, and said prolonged unsuitable living conditions and malnutrition contributed to her poor health. Madhubala and Malika were also diagnosed with tuberculosis, though recent examinations reportedly found Madhubala no longer testing positive. Madhubala has lost more than 200kg and was once too weak to rise safely. Four Paws veterinarian Amir Khalil says she has regained about 85 percent of her ability to walk and is responding to treatment, including medication and water massage for her leg. Allen describes building trust with Madhubala through patient training and football, while also expressing guilt that warnings about Sonia’s decline were not acted upon adequately. The deaths of Noor Jehan and Sonia raise broader questions about whether public institutions in Karachi have the resources, expertise and accountability to care for wild animals. The article presents Madhubala’s recovery as both an individual effort and part of a wider campaign for improved captive-animal welfare.

Protests and clashes with police broke out Thursday in several parts of Tunisia after recent deaths involving civilians and security forces. In Ettadhamen, a suburb of Tunis, police fired tear gas to disperse demonstrators following the death of a man detained on suspicion of drug dealing. His family alleged that police abuse caused his death and demanded an investigation and accountability. Local media reported a different account, saying he died after swallowing drugs. Protesters blocked roads, burned tyres and threw stones, while security forces used tear gas and sought to secure a National Guard station, Reuters reported. In Jebiniana, in Sfax governorate, police also clashed with protesters after a man died in circumstances his relatives linked to a pursuit by security forces. Tunisian media said demonstrators set a vehicle alight and burned tyres, and police again used tear gas. Separately, students in the coastal city of Sfax protested the death of a female student who had suffered a cardiac problem. Her colleagues blamed the delay in ambulance arrival, cited a shortage of medical facilities and called for a strike at Sfax University faculties on Friday. The unrest comes amid worsening economic, social and political conditions and growing concern that anger over living standards and public services could lead to broader violence. The article also notes that thousands of Tunisians staged the largest protest against President Kais Saied in years on Saturday, accusing him of weakening democracy and mishandling the economy. On Wednesday, a military court sentenced opposition politician Olfa Hamdi to four years in prison on charges of plotting against state security and inciting the military to disobey orders, in another move against Saied’s opponents.

Thousands of people protested in more than 20 Polish towns and cities on October 23, the sixth anniversary of a court ruling that imposed a near-total abortion ban. Demonstrators called for free and legal abortion services and accused Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s government of failing to deliver on promises to liberalise the law. Abortion is currently legal only when a pregnancy results from rape or incest, or threatens the pregnant woman’s life or health. Although parliament recently passed two bills that would ease restrictions, they are expected to be vetoed by conservative President Karol Nawrocki. Zofia Marcinek of the reproductive rights group Abortion Dream Team described the bills as “token gestures,” arguing that the government knows they are unlikely to become law and is seeking to appear responsive before next year’s election. In Warsaw, about 1,000 people rallied outside parliament in the rain. Emilia Niemiec, who manages the AboTak abortion centre, said little had changed in six years. Poland has restricted abortion since 1993, and the law was tightened further in 2020 when the government of the national-conservative Law and Justice party banned abortions in cases of foetal congenital defects. Despite the restrictions, many abortions take place at home using pills obtained from abroad. Women who have abortions are not criminally liable, but people who assist them, including doctors and relatives, can face prosecution. Official figures show Polish hospitals performed 573 abortions in the first half of 2026, up from 452 in all of 2022. Activists say tens of thousands of abortions occur outside hospitals each year. Protest organisers argue that government statements suggesting access has improved can mislead women, who may discover that care is unavailable or difficult to obtain and seek help only when their circumstances have become more complicated and costly.

President Donald Trump publicly backed Ohio Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy in the controversy over an attack advertisement targeting his Democratic opponent, Amy Acton. In a social media post, Trump said Ramaswamy should continue running the ad, which features Acton’s estranged mother, Donna Arthur. In the advertisement, Arthur disputes Acton’s account of experiencing homelessness and sexual abuse by her stepfather during childhood and urges voters not to support her. Acton says she has not seen her mother since 1978. Her brother, Philip Stearns, has supported her account of childhood sexual abuse; the stepfather was charged with rape and died in 2004. Trump argued that a mother speaking about her daughter in this way would ordinarily prevent the daughter from serving in public office. He also criticized Republican Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, calling him disloyal to the party after DeWine urged Ramaswamy to withdraw the advertisement. DeWine referred to his past experience with rape victims as a prosecutor and attorney general, called the ad wrong, and renewed his appeal for the campaign to take it down. Acton’s brother described the ad as a desperate and disgusting attack. Her campaign spokesperson called Ramaswamy’s decision to promote it despicable and predictable. Vice President JD Vance, who campaigned with Ramaswamy and Ohio Republican Senator Jon Husted, dismissed Republican criticism of the ad as whining and characterized it as low and in poor taste. Ramaswamy’s campaign said it was spending $4 million to promote the advertisement. Opinion polls indicate Acton is narrowly ahead of Ramaswamy in the close race to succeed DeWine, who is term-limited.

The article reports on the response of UK Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch to an Al Jazeera investigation concerning Jack Ross, a former Conservative Party member and candidate. According to the brief, the investigation showed Ross discussing contract killers and offering to broker the services of a far-right activist. Badenoch said the party does not condone Ross’s conduct, thereby distancing the party from the actions described in the investigation. The article does not provide further details about the investigation, the context of Ross’s remarks, or any response from Ross. It is a short news update focused on the party leader’s public reaction rather than a full account of the underlying allegations. Published on 22 October 2026, the report presents the investigation’s claims and Badenoch’s statement in concise, factual terms. Its central point is the Conservative Party leader’s rejection of the conduct attributed to a former member and candidate.

Thousands of Venezuelans protested in Caracas and several other cities, demanding free elections and political change in the country’s first nationwide opposition demonstration in nearly two years. The protest was organized by Vente Venezuela, the movement of opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Corina Machado. Machado, who has been outside Venezuela for nearly a year after living in hiding following the disputed 2024 election, has said a new election should take place by July 2027. Although US President Donald Trump and interim President Delcy Rodriguez have both indicated elections will occur, no date has been set to choose a successor to former President Nicolas Maduro, who was captured by US forces in January. Protesters described hardship and expressed hope for political change. Eighteen-year-old Leosmary Hernandez said she wanted her voice heard and voiced confidence in Machado as a future leader. Government security forces had a limited presence at protest sites, and demonstrators in some smaller cities dispersed before dark. The ruling Socialist Party held a separate march in Caracas, with Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello attending. Rodriguez, of the long-governing United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), has led the country since January 3. The article says the PSUV has faced accusations of human rights abuses against dissidents, including arbitrary arrests, imprisonment and torture. The party remained in power after the US operation that captured Maduro, while the Trump administration has backed Rodriguez and continued to exert influence over Venezuela’s oil resources and press for reforms. US-backed talks between the interim government and part of the opposition are focused on changes to the top court and electoral council ahead of eventual elections. Machado’s movement is not part of the negotiations, though she has said she will not obstruct them. Her proxy, Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, says opposition vote tallies show he won the 2024 election; the government backed Maduro and did not publish full counts. Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, face drug and torture charges in the United States and have pleaded not guilty.

The article examines whether Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents could play a role in the November 3, 2026, US midterm elections, and why their possible presence has alarmed voting-rights and human-rights advocates. Since Donald Trump returned to office, ICE has expanded to about 22,000 officers and agents, a 120 percent increase, and become the country’s best-funded federal law-enforcement agency. The article notes that immigration agents have been involved in at least 25 shootings since the start of Trump’s second term, six fatal, while at least 60 people have died in ICE custody since January 2025. Federal law generally bars armed federal agents from election sites, with exceptions for maintaining peace or repelling armed enemies; other laws prohibit military interference and voter intimidation. During this year’s primaries, ICE agents reportedly conducted routine operations near polling places in San Antonio, Texas, and Ventura County, California, but left after local police asked them to. Separately, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), an ICE office, reportedly sent agents to at least nine states beginning in August to investigate voter eligibility. Some agents allegedly went door to door asking residents about their citizenship and voting plans. A federal judge ordered those investigations paused, citing the risk of citizens being wrongly targeted and the likelihood of errors in identifying non-citizens. The administration has not ruled out election-related deployments. Trump said he would do “anything necessary” to ensure honest elections, while Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said ICE would not patrol polling places but might be present in response to a threat or to serve a warrant. Attorney General Todd Blanche questioned objections to sending ICE to polling stations. The article also notes that experts say non-citizen voting is extremely rare, contrary to Trump’s claims that it is widespread. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have urged the administration to keep ICE away from polling sites, warning that agents’ presence and past abuses could intimidate eligible voters or deter them from voting.

US technology stocks fell sharply on Thursday as investors questioned whether the enormous sums companies are spending on artificial intelligence infrastructure can be sustained. The Nasdaq Composite dropped 2.6 percent, its steepest decline since June 5, while the S&P 500 fell 1.21 percent, its largest daily loss since July 29. The sell-off affected nearly all of the “Magnificent 7” technology companies: Meta fell nearly 7 percent after increasing its projected capital spending for the year to $135bn–$145bn and reporting net profit below expectations. Amazon, Nvidia, Tesla, Alphabet and Microsoft also declined, while Apple gained 1.2 percent. Intel and Advanced Micro Devices each lost about 8 percent, and Broadcom fell 4.3 percent. The Nasdaq ended about 5.8 percent below its October 6 record high. Rising oil prices added to the gloomy market mood. Brent crude rose 4 percent on Thursday and continued climbing on Friday, passing $114.20 a barrel, its highest level since May. Major Asian markets also opened lower, with Japan’s Nikkei 225 and South Korea’s KOSPI recording notable declines before or during morning trading. Seaport Research Partners analyst Jay Goldberg said market movements seemed to reflect investor sentiment more than any change in underlying fundamentals. He acknowledged legitimate concerns about AI investment but characterized the scale of the market shift as driven primarily by fear and uncertainty. The article places those concerns within a wider debate about whether AI spending is creating a bubble comparable to the one before the 2000 dot-com crash. Some analysts consider investment in data centres and graphics processing units unsustainable; others argue that AI’s potential societal impact could justify the expense. Gartner forecasts global AI investment will reach $2.7 trillion in 2026 and $3.6 trillion in 2027.

Apple began selling its first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo, on Oct 23, amid strong pre-order demand and limited supply. Estimated delivery dates moved to late January within minutes of pre-orders opening on Oct 16, and Apple described the customer response as “nothing short of extraordinary.” Queues formed at stores in Sydney and Macau, while availability for walk-in buyers varied by country; some markets, including China, France, Hong Kong, India and Japan, were limited to online orders. The launch is a significant test for Apple’s new chief executive, John Ternus, and could influence the growth of the foldable-phone market, where Samsung Electronics and Huawei Technologies have offered premium devices for several years. Early reviewers praised the Duo’s design and sturdy, unobtrusive hinge, which addresses a longstanding concern about visible creases on foldable screens. They also pointed to drawbacks: the phone lacks a telephoto camera, some third-party apps have not been adapted to its display, and its folded form may be less convenient for everyday quick tasks than a standard iPhone. Some reviewers characterized it as an impressive but unfinished product and suggested it would not suit many typical users. The device’s high price is another consideration. One Sydney customer paid A$3,899 for a 512GB model, while commentator Marques Brownlee said the phone could appeal to buyers who can afford its roughly US$2,000 price and are willing to adapt to its features and learning curve. Market researcher IDC believes Apple’s entry could introduce foldables to a wider audience. It forecasts that Apple will account for 44 per cent of foldable-phone market value and 31 per cent of units in 2026, then lead the category in both value and units shipped by 2027. The article frames the next challenge as converting launch excitement into broad availability, adoption and sustained change in the smartphone market.

Around 150,000 people rallied in central Belgrade on Oct 22 in support of Serbia’s student-backed Student List, the day before the country’s Oct 25 parliamentary election. The movement is seeking to end more than 14 years of rule by the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), led by Aleksandar Vucic, and is described as his most serious electoral challenge since the party took power in 2012. Its candidates, many from academia or outside established politics, campaign on a broad platform centred on fighting corruption. The movement grew out of student-led protests following the 2024 collapse of a canopy at the newly renovated Novi Sad railway station, which killed 16 people. The tragedy was widely blamed on corruption. What began as demands for a transparent investigation developed into calls for an early election and became one of Serbia’s largest protest movements since Slobodan Milosevic’s fall in 2000. At the Belgrade rally, participants marched to Slavija Square, waved flags, chanted, and heard candidate and university professor Jugoslav Gasic promise an end to years of “humiliation, chaos and betrayal.” The rally concluded with candidates carrying the Serbian constitution into the crowd and joining supporters in a traditional dance. Vucic, who called the student movement a foreign-funded coup attempt, urged his own supporters to defeat it. Civil society organizations warned that the campaign was marred by intimidation, arrests, attacks, misuse of public resources, and a distorted media environment. Prosecutors had questioned six people arrested on suspicion of plotting election-day violence, while reports of threats against student demonstrators had increased. The rallies had nevertheless remained largely peaceful. With no reliable independent polling and surveys giving widely differing results, the outcome was uncertain; one political scientist expected the Student List to win more than 40 per cent of the vote. Supporters at the rally called for peaceful change and urged one another to vote.

A Datafolha poll published on Oct 22 found Brazil’s presidential runoff race nearly tied, with Senator Flavio Bolsonaro narrowly ahead of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. The poll put Bolsonaro at 47% and Lula at 46% among respondents ahead of the Oct 25 runoff. The result is within the poll’s margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points, so the figures indicate a close contest rather than a clear lead. Five per cent of respondents said they would cast a blank vote, while 2% were undecided. Datafolha surveyed 2,154 people between Oct 20 and 22. The article notes that Bolsonaro, the eldest son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, had also led Lula in the first-round vote earlier in October. The previous week’s Datafolha poll had shown Bolsonaro at 47% and Lula at 45%, suggesting that the latest figures showed Lula narrowing the gap by one percentage point while Bolsonaro’s support remained unchanged. The report presents the polling figures and context without endorsing either candidate or predicting the election outcome.

The article describes a wave of student and youth protests spreading across at least eight European countries, including Spain, France, Greece, Italy, Portugal and Albania. Demonstrators are responding to high rents, poor conditions in schools and limited job prospects. More broadly, young people fear a future marked by low wages, rising living costs and reduced welfare support. The protests take different forms and express a range of demands. Young people in Spain and Portugal have pitched tents in their capitals to draw attention to housing affordability, while French and Italian students have marched for better school conditions. The article says some demonstrators are calling for improved public funding and housing, as well as democratic change; others emphasize dignity and fair opportunities. Some demonstrations have been marred by looting. Although the current protests remain smaller than earlier anti-austerity movements, they are attracting attention as concerns about young people’s economic and social prospects gather force across the continent. The article also notes that far-right politicians are seeking to use the unrest to promote messages focused on security and opposition to immigration. Overall, it presents the protests as both a response to immediate pressures—especially housing, education and work—and a sign of wider anxiety about the future.

Microsoft researchers have developed an artificial intelligence system that works through a diagnosis step by step, in a manner intended to resemble a doctor’s clinical reasoning. A study published in the journal Science on October 22 reported that the system was more than twice as accurate as general physicians when working through complex medical cases. Unlike medical AI tools that assess a complete set of symptoms, test results and scans all at once, this system uses an “orchestrator” to coordinate a simulated panel of clinical experts. It determines what questions to ask about a patient’s history, what to examine, and which tests to order. It then considers the results, requests further tests when appropriate, and updates its diagnostic hypotheses and plans as it proceeds. In tests involving more than 300 unusual and difficult diagnostic cases, the orchestrator-based model was more accurate at conducting the work-up and reaching a diagnosis than general physicians using textbooks and the internet. It also outperformed physicians on scenarios drawn from a large database of emergency-room admissions. Researchers noted that previous comparisons of AI and doctors often rely on multiple-choice questions, which they say do not reflect how patients present in real clinical settings. The team also found that diagnostic work-ups designed by the AI cost less than those conducted by human doctors. Microsoft’s Dominic King said the goal is to assess more than diagnostic accuracy, including whether the system conducts a careful and judicious work-up. Harsha Nori similarly emphasized evaluating the process used to reach a diagnosis. The researchers say the tool is still being evaluated, and they plan to work with Boston’s Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center to test its ability to triage patients in emergency department waiting rooms. The article reports the study’s findings but does not describe the system as ready to replace clinicians.

New York City Council voted 40–7, with two abstentions, to ban horse-drawn carriages from city streets and Central Park starting in June 2028. The measure would end a longstanding carriage industry and a historic tourist attraction. Mayor Zohran Mamdani supported the bill and had said earlier in October that the industry would come to an end. Support for the ban increased after 18-year-old Indian tourist Romanch Mahajan died on June 17. He was thrown from a carriage after its horse bolted when the driver stepped away to take a picture of Mahajan’s family. President Donald Trump questioned the decision, arguing in a Truth Social post that car accidents do not lead to cars being barred from Central Park and describing the carriages as a “Great Tradition” and a piece of history that would be missed. The bill requires the city to create a workforce transition plan by April and consider compensating carriage operators for their businesses, as well as helping determine what happens to their horses. The proposal prohibits the horses from being slaughtered. The Transport Workers Union, which represents carriage business owners and drivers, said it would seek a temporary restraining order as soon as the bill is enacted. In a letter to the city’s Corporation Counsel, the union’s attorney argued that the measure would ban a previously licensed profession and deprive owners of the productive use of their property.

The supplied article excerpt describes Israeli citizens living abroad who are returning to Israel to vote in the October 27 election. Their participation may affect the outcome because the race is described as extremely close, and Israel’s electoral system can translate relatively small changes in votes into significant differences in parliamentary seats. The excerpt says many overseas Israelis are motivated by anger following the October 7 attacks and concern about Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. Most are expected to support the opposition, although some continue to back Netanyahu. Both political camps are therefore trying to influence turnout, including by helping voters travel home. The excerpt introduces Bar Luzon, an Israeli citizen living in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Luzon, an assistant professor of linguistics and philosophy at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, says she had not considered herself politically active and had not voted in an Israeli election since moving to the United States for graduate school eight years earlier. Her story is presented as an example of the overseas voters who may now choose to participate. The article’s headline and opening summary frame citizens abroad as a possible electoral “X factor,” while emphasizing uncertainty: their votes could matter in a tight contest, but overseas voters do not all share the same political preference. The supplied material ends after the opening paragraph about Luzon, so it does not include the article’s further reporting, supporting details, or the full accounts of overseas voters.

US President Donald Trump invoked part of the Cold War-era Defense Production Act on Oct. 22, designating petroleum production, refining and related activities as essential to national defence. The move gives the administration authority to offer financial incentives for oil-related activities, pipelines and liquid-fuel storage, potentially enabling federal support for fossil-fuel projects. The presidential memo did not identify particular projects, but said the country could not provide energy services quickly enough without action, citing financing constraints, long lead times, permitting and infrastructure bottlenecks, and supply-chain limitations. The decision comes amid sharply higher crude oil and diesel prices. The article attributes the pressure on global energy shipments to the conflict that began with US and Israeli attacks on Iran at the end of February, as well as Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries that have worsened fuel shortages. Higher costs could pose a political risk for Republicans ahead of the Nov. 3 elections, as they seek to retain control of both chambers of Congress. A Reuters/Ipsos poll that closed Oct. 19 found that 36 per cent of Americans approved of Trump’s handling of the economy. The United States produced an average of about 13.6 million barrels of crude oil per day in 2025, making it the world’s largest crude producer. The article also notes that Vice-President J.D. Vance said the previous week that the administration would use the Act to expand capacity at a Texas refinery owned by Delek US Holdings. In 2025, Trump signed legislation that included US$1 billion in Defense Production Act funding for energy projects considered critical to national security.

The US Department of Agriculture will provide US$34.1 million (S$43.55 million) to help the Philippines expand its purple yam, or ube, industry. According to a statement from the US embassy in Manila, the funding will come from proceeds from the sale of nearly 40,000 metric tons of US soybean meal. The five-year project is expected to support 12,500 Filipino ube farmers and will be implemented by the US-based non-profit TechnoServe. The funding comes as global interest in ube grows, in part because of the crop’s distinctive purple colour. The Philippines, however, has struggled to meet rising international demand because of limited production capacity. The government wants to increase domestic production and develop ube into a more significant export earner. The country has also taken steps to protect its limited planting stock from emerging competitors, including Vietnam and China. It recently suspended exports of fresh purple yam. The US embassy said the project would also strengthen economic ties between the United States and the Philippines, which has long been a military ally of Washington.

The article explains that newly reported vulnerabilities in PHP—a programming language that underlies roughly 70 per cent of websites—could allow attackers to take control of web servers, steal information, disrupt services or move through connected networks. The US National Security Agency warned about the risks as businesses and governments rushed to address the flaws. Experts say the main responsibility for fixing vulnerable systems rests with software providers and organizations, not individual users. The article also places the PHP flaws in a broader trend: increasingly capable and accessible large language models can help attackers find and exploit software bugs that were previously difficult to identify or weaponize, while organizations may struggle to patch every affected system quickly. The article offers five practical areas of advice. Individuals should use multi-factor authentication, create unique passwords for different websites, monitor transactions and consider passkeys where available. They should enable automatic updates on phones, computers and home routers, install app and device updates promptly, and check whether internet-connected household devices receive security support. Organizations, meanwhile, should keep an inventory of the software they use, apply patches quickly and investigate whether their systems have already been compromised. Readers are also urged to watch for scams that exploit attention around a major cyber incident. They should avoid unsolicited links and verify account-security instructions by opening an official app or entering a company’s web address themselves. A banking industry representative said banks have worked to reduce easy targets, but warned that the threat environment has changed and that random retailers or less-secure websites may pose greater risks. Overall, the article emphasizes that personal precautions help, but cannot prevent exposure when a service provider has not secured or patched its own systems.

Rob and Kel Warner have transformed the front yard of their home in Granada Hills, California, into a large Jurassic Park-themed Halloween display. The family spent about $4,000 and more than 200 hours planning, building, and testing the attraction, which recreates the look and atmosphere of the 1993 Steven Spielberg film. Its centerpiece is a pair of 13-foot wooden entrance gates, built with reinforced ground anchors to keep them stable in strong winds. The yard also features life-sized dinosaur figures, custom-made moving models, artificial fog, themed lighting, music, fake electric fencing, emergency warning lights, and tropical plants intended to evoke Isla Nublar, the film’s fictional island.

A limited-edition Kari Voutilainen 28Sport stainless-steel watch sold for $1.016 million at Phillips’ New York auction on October 9, 2026, far exceeding its estimate of $120,000 to $240,000. The watch, lot 22 in the online sale, was numbered 5 of 8 steel examples and had been consigned by its original owner. The price included the buyer’s premium and was $776,000 above the upper estimate. The complete offering included the watch’s certificate, instruction manual, polishing cloth, travel case, additional strap, packaging and fitted presentation box. Introduced in 2020 in limited steel and titanium runs, the 28Sport combines a sporty design with the detailed finishing associated with independent watchmaking. Its 39-millimetre steel case has teardrop-shaped lugs, while its dial pairs a black onyx centre with a blue guilloché hour track and orange indexes. Phillips said this particular dial configuration may be one of only two across the limited edition. The watch is powered by a manually wound, in-house calibre 28 movement, featuring a large balance wheel, a distinctive balance-spring arrangement, Côtes de Genève and perlage finishing. The article argues that the result reflects collector interest in rarity, craftsmanship and maker reputation, while cautioning against drawing too broad a conclusion from one sale. The owner reportedly bought the watch new in 2021, but the auction result alone does not establish a profit: the purchase price and costs such as fees, insurance and servicing are unknown. Nor does it predict what other Voutilainen watches will sell for. The particular example’s limited production, unusual dial and complete presentation distinguish it from other pieces.

A rare late-18th-century necklace from the Austral Islands in the South Pacific nearly went to a car boot sale marked at just £15. It was found during a house clearance and brought to Ewbank’s auctioneers in Surrey by the owner of the clearance firm, who initially did not know what it was. At the last moment, he chose to have the necklace assessed rather than take it to the nearby A3 car boot sale. Experts identified the object as a rare Polynesian necklace made from human hair and sperm whale bone. Its age, materials, scarcity and cultural significance made it valuable to collectors of tribal art. Although the auction house initially expected it to fetch only £60 to £100, collector interest suggested a much higher price, with pre-sale expectations later reaching £20,000 to £30,000. At auction, bidding climbed dramatically. After a room bidder stopped at £50,000, a French bidder on Ewbank’s online platform competed with an Australian bidder by telephone. The necklace ultimately sold for £99,000, far exceeding both its original estimate and the £15 price tag. The article reports that the sale was Ewbank’s highest in 2016 and a record result for its live bidding platform, launched earlier that year. The story highlights how specialist knowledge can reveal the worth and history of unusual objects that might otherwise be sold cheaply. It notes that provenance, materials and age can matter more than appearance, and suggests that people clearing homes consider having unfamiliar items assessed by auction houses, museums or experts before disposing of them. The necklace’s sale is presented not only as a striking financial windfall, but also as the rescue and recognition of a culturally important South Pacific object.

A 5,390-square-foot home at 108 Hampton Avenue in Goose Creek, South Carolina, is listed for $1.227 million. The property began as a ranch house in 1958 and has since grown into an unusual estate on 1.21 acres in the former Oaks Country Club community. Its four bedrooms, four full bathrooms, two half-bathrooms and three kitchens—including a small kitchen serving the upstairs primary suite—give it a flexible layout that could suit multigenerational living or, subject to approvals, multiple rental units. The home’s interiors retain the eclectic style established by earlier owners, with rooms decorated in African-inspired and Victorian themes. The current owner bought the property in 2023 and reportedly kept much of its existing furniture and décor rather than comprehensively modernising it. The most striking amenity is a two-storey indoor pool and recreation area of about 2,423 square feet, beneath ceilings rising 31 feet. The area includes space for games and exercise equipment, as well as a swing and slide. Outdoor features include mature trees, brick fencing, a storage shed and a covered three-bay area. The land originally consisted of three lots, and subdivision may be possible if county requirements and approvals allow it. The home is also advertised as a licensed short-term rental, though buyers are advised to verify the licence terms and any restrictions. The roof, pool pump and three HVAC systems have reportedly received more recent attention, but the property is being sold largely as is. The article presents the listing as an unconventional alternative to standard luxury homes, with its asking price reflecting its size, location and distinctive amenities.

JR Howard was close to selling his 27 sheep because farming in Texas was not providing a sustainable income. A solar project built near his property offered a different path: he contracted to graze sheep on the site, using them to control vegetation around the panels. That early deal helped Howard build Texas Solar Sheep into a large operation that now manages about 10,000 sheep across 40,000 acres of solar farms in Texas. The business earns revenue from vegetation-control contracts as well as livestock sales. Solar grazing, also called agrivoltaics, can benefit both farmers and energy developers. Sheep reach grass beneath and between solar panels, where mowing equipment may be difficult to use. Grazing can reduce maintenance costs and risks associated with diesel-powered machinery, while animal manure can improve soil. Enel North America, for example, hired Howard to provide 6,000 sheep across 10,000 acres. The company has reported a 200 percent increase in soil organic matter on earlier projects and says the approach supports both profitability and sustainability. The model also gives livestock farmers access to land without buying or renting expensive pasture. This is significant as Texas land prices rise and farmers age. Solar-panel shade can help soil retain moisture and keep sheep cooler, potentially reducing their water needs. The American Solar Grazing Association census cited in the article recorded more than 68,000 acres of solar installations being grazed in Texas. Expansion brings practical challenges, including animal health, transport, and watering sheep across dispersed sites. Howard has responded by making subleasing arrangements with nearby ranchers, who provide additional animals for large contracts. He says solar grazing requires farmers to treat their work as a service industry. With solar installations growing across the American West, Howard sees the sector as a major opportunity for the sheep industry.

Charles Stevens and his family chose to protect Wilmot Orchards, their 164-acre fruit farm near Newcastle, Ontario, rather than accept a developer’s reported C$16 million offer. Working with the Ontario Farmland Trust, they have placed nearly 29 acres under a conservation easement that restricts development for 999 years, and plan to protect the rest of the property in the future. The easement does not transfer ownership, but it limits future uses so the land can remain available for agriculture. Stevens bought the land in 1975, and the farm has grown into a multigenerational operation known for its apple orchards and pick-your-own blueberries. It sits on Class 1 soil, among Canada’s most fertile and rarest farmland. Because it is near Highway 401, Lake Ontario and the expanding Greater Toronto Area, the property has faced development interest. Stevens says development is not inherently wrong, but argues that communities should be more careful about building on scarce, high-quality farmland. The family’s decision is presented as both a commitment to local food production and a response to barriers facing future farmers. Removing the land’s development premium could make it more attainable at a farm price for a young or beginning farmer. The article places this choice against the broader loss of Canadian farmland and concerns about food security near growing cities. Wilmot Orchards is the Ontario Farmland Trust’s first protected farm in Durham Region and its 25th protected property. The trust says it has protected more than 2,700 acres and aims to reach 10,000 acres by 2029. The article describes the easement as a voluntary, long-term model for preserving agricultural land, while noting that it does not resolve all the financial pressures facing farming. The farm continues to grow fruit and welcome visitors, with its future legally tied to agriculture rather than development.

Rob Nachbar began reworking the 800-square-foot backyard of his Portland, Oregon, home after an earlier landscaping attempt left it covered in pea gravel—an impractical surface for a family with a young child. During the pandemic, he and others removed the gravel by hand, levelled the ground and installed artificial turf. Over five years, the yard developed into Pong Springs, a colourful, Palm Springs-inspired space with four covered areas: a hot tub, fire deck, ping-pong pavilion and grill deck. Roofs make the yard usable through much of Portland’s rainy weather, while cedar walls and bamboo planters improve privacy. The project cost $48,412, paid for in cash over several years. The hot tub was the largest expense, at $11,900, followed by $10,990 for structures and carpentry. Nachbar did much of the work himself, though he hired help for some electrical work and relied on a friend’s expertise. He says taking on the work personally saved money, despite mistakes along the way. After a neighbour introduced him to Swimply, a platform for hourly rentals of private pools and outdoor amenities, Nachbar listed the backyard. Guests use it for gatherings such as date nights, bachelorette parties, football events and “Love Island” watch parties. A two-hour minimum applies; a busy weekend can bring two bookings a day, while a typical month has 10 to 15. Nachbar blocks off dates so his family can continue using the space. He reported about $85,000 in rental income by 2025, and told Realtor.com the yard had earned $106,000 over five years—roughly $20,000 to $21,000 annually. He described the income as steady side earnings that essentially pay the household mortgage. The article places the project within a wider trend of renting out private amenities. Swimply has expanded into winter rentals, including its Igloos category, and reported strong earnings among some hosts. Pong Springs illustrates how a small, distinctive, weather-resistant backyard can become both a family amenity and a modest hospitality business, though the income followed years of work and investment.

Actor Jason Momoa has purchased a 4.92-hectare estate in Dalefield, near Queenstown, for NZ$15 million (about £7.1 million). The property previously belonged to the late actor Sir Sam Neill and was later passed to Neill’s former wife. According to records reported by OneRoof, the sale was NZ$3.5 million above its official rating valuation and was the second-highest residential sale in the Queenstown-Lakes district this year. Momoa bought it after several months of looking for a permanent home in Central Otago, a region he has frequently visited. The sale illustrates the strength of Queenstown-Lakes’ luxury property market. OneRoof analysis indicates that average property values in the district have increased by more than NZ$300,000 in three years, reaching nearly NZ$2.2 million. Market observers attribute high prices to limited land for development, the surrounding mountains, and continued interest from overseas buyers, particularly from the United States and Australia. New Zealand’s revised Active Investor Plus visa rules have also renewed international interest in high-end residential properties. Momoa has described a strong personal connection to New Zealand, saying he felt unusually connected to the country when he first visited at about age 20. His business interests there have also grown: his company Āriki Group, co-founded with Taika Waititi and Cliff Curtis, purchased Studio West, a production facility in West Auckland. Momoa has said he hopes to support local film crews, develop talent, and help bring stories to international audiences. He is also involved in Queenstown’s entertainment scene, with a financial stake in the venue Upstairs at The Bunker and appearances there for live music and DJ sets. Local real estate experts say the area’s landscape and discreet atmosphere appeal to celebrity buyers. The district’s highest-priced sale of the year was a Speargrass Flat luxury lodge, which sold for NZ$16.5 million.

Donald Trump has publicly backed a controversial advertisement from Vivek Ramaswamy’s campaign for Ohio governor, telling him to keep running it despite criticism from Republican leaders and Amy Acton’s family and campaign. The ad features Acton’s estranged mother, Donna Arthur, disputing her daughter’s account of childhood homelessness and sexual abuse and urging voters not to support her. Trump’s Truth Social post attacked Acton but did not directly address the abuse allegations. Acton says she has not seen her mother since 1978. Her brother, Philip Stearns, supports her account that she was sexually abused by her stepfather, who died in 2004 after having been charged with rape. Stearns called the ad a “desperate, disgusting attack,” while Acton spokesperson Addie Bullock condemned Ramaswamy’s decision to promote it. Ramaswamy’s spokesperson, Connie Luck, said the campaign did not know what had happened between Acton and her mother but accused Acton of being a “serial fabulist.” Ohio Republican Governor Mike DeWine called the ad wrong and said he would urge the campaign to withdraw it. Senatorial candidate Jon Husted also said he would not have run it. Vice President JD Vance, who appeared with Ramaswamy and Husted at a campaign event, had brushed aside the backlash. Ramaswamy’s campaign says it is spending $4 million to promote the advertisement. The controversy may have consequences beyond the governor’s race. Political scientist David Cohen described the ad as “campaign malpractice” and warned it could alienate Republican voters or discourage them from voting. The dispute comes as Acton is narrowly ahead of Ramaswamy in polls and as Husted faces Democrat Sherrod Brown in a Senate contest that could affect control of the chamber. Analysts warn that an ad intended to damage an opponent could instead harm the party behind it ahead of the November 3 midterm elections.

The article examines how YouTube creator Jimmy Donaldson, known as MrBeast, has transformed his enormous online audience into a diversified business empire valued at about $5 billion. Beast Industries spans products, media, financial technology and other ventures, with Feastables—launched in 2022—presented as a particularly successful example. The chocolate brand reportedly generated about $250 million in sales and more than $20 million in profit in 2024, converting creator-driven attention into retail purchases. The article contrasts Feastables’ results with the economics of MrBeast’s media operations. Beast Games, a high-cost reality competition on Amazon Prime Video, became the platform’s most-viewed unscripted series in its first season, but Donaldson said production cost tens of millions of dollars. Beast Industries’ media business reportedly brought in roughly $250 million in 2024 sales while losing nearly $80 million. The company treats content partly as promotion for its other ventures, making profitability across the wider enterprise important. The company has attracted major investment, including a 2024 round led by Alpha Wave that valued it at approximately $5 billion, and a further $200 million investment from Bitmine in January 2026. It has also acquired fintech app Step, with access to around seven million users, and announced a creator-advertising marketplace. However, the article emphasizes that expansion and a large audience do not guarantee durable success. MrBeast Burger drew quality complaints, Lunchly faced reports of moldy cheese, and an AI thumbnail tool was withdrawn in 2025 after creators objected to its similarity to their work. The article concludes that lasting success will depend on turning attention into reliable, profitable businesses and maintaining consumer trust—not merely on MrBeast’s personal fame or the company’s valuation.

Albanian opposition and ruling-party lawmakers scuffled in parliament on Thursday after parliamentary leaders rejected opposition demands to debate ten days of student demonstrations in the capital, Tirana. Opposition MPs held up photographs of students injured by police and blocked the podium, but the assembly continued voting on legislation. Outside parliament, large crowds of students gathered as the protests entered their tenth consecutive day. The demonstrations have included repeated clashes in Tirana’s city centre. Protesters have thrown rocks, flares, firebombs and fireworks, while police have used batons, water cannons and tear gas. Students are calling for lower tuition fees, increased public investment in education and an end to corruption in the education system. The protests have also become part of a broader anti-government movement seeking the resignation of Socialist Prime Minister Edi Rama. Rama has said he will resist attempts to change the government through violence. He described the unrest as an effort to overthrow the government and argued that people were deliberately exploiting legitimate complaints to incite violence. The protests follow months of demonstrations by the Flamingo movement, which opposes a luxury tourism development on Albania’s southern Adriatic coast linked to an investment firm founded by Jared Kushner, Donald Trump’s son-in-law. The article places Albania’s unrest within a wider European context, noting that governments elsewhere face street protests over rising fuel costs, deteriorating public services, underfunded schools and the housing crisis. Similar demonstrations have taken place in France and Italy, housing-related tent camps have appeared in Spain and Portugal, and demonstrations were planned in Greece.

Milipol Qatar brought together around 280 companies from 33 countries at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center for a three-day exhibition of security, emergency-response and industrial-safety equipment. About 70% of participating companies came from outside Qatar. The event featured drones, robots and AI systems and took place as Qatar reviews its defences in light of lessons from the Iran war. Exhibitors and officials described growing attention to security among governments and businesses, and the exhibition gave governments a chance to assess technologies tested elsewhere. West Bay Petroleum general manager Alexandros Lakatamitis discussed how drones can help search for missing people by using software to analyse flight photographs, and inspect suspected industrial gas leaks without exposing workers to danger. Alongside the exhibition, the second Doha International Conference on AI & Security addressed responsible AI use, autonomous systems and critical infrastructure. At a cybersecurity seminar, Qatar National Cyber Security Agency official Khalid Al Nasr argued that resilience planning must protect the continuity of essential government services, not just restore IT systems. He called for cybersecurity to be integrated into disaster recovery and crisis-management plans with clearly assigned responsibilities. The event coincided with broader security initiatives. Qatar’s Defence Minister Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said the country was using lessons from the Iran war to strengthen protection against ballistic missiles, drones and cyberattacks, while pursuing a local defence production hub and closer partnerships. Qatar and France signed a 2027–2030 interior-ministry cooperation plan focused on coordination and expertise-sharing in homeland security and civil protection. Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani also launched the sixth Watan exercise, which brings security, military and civilian agencies together to practise emergency responses.

An analysis by the Global Climate and Health Alliance finds that major emitting countries often refer to health in their climate plans without committing to emissions cuts ambitious enough to protect populations. The alliance’s 2026 NDC Scorecard assessed 132 countries across eight areas, including climate-related health impacts, air pollution, health-sector action, financing and implementation. The EU ranked 12th; Colombia, Nigeria and Cambodia placed first, second and third. Although the EU and several other major emitters scored relatively well on health, the report says their emissions reductions do not match the scale of the threat. Among high-emitting economies with mid-range health scores, the EU was the only one with a specific air-pollution reduction target, concerning the phase-out of hydrofluorocarbons by 2050. None in that group set specific targets for black carbon, nitrous oxide or ozone. Alliance representative Jess Beagley argues that governments cannot credibly claim to prioritize health while continuing dependence on fossil fuels, which contribute to climate change and pollution. Those harms can lead to respiratory illness, cancer and neurological disorders, leaving healthcare systems to deal with consequences shaped by decisions across the wider economy. The article also cites reported impacts including more than 1,400 deaths and over 6,600 people missing in Nepal, eight million children at risk of hunger in Eastern and Southern Africa, and tens of thousands of deaths associated with European heatwaves. Beagley says wealthy countries with high historical emissions should cut pollution fastest and provide financial support to developing economies implementing their Paris Agreement commitments. The alliance also identifies limited involvement by health ministries: they helped develop national climate plans in only 15% of countries assessed. The upcoming COP31 meeting in November is presented as an opportunity to see whether worsening health impacts from extreme weather lead to more ambitious policy.

A new ranking by travel company IgluCruise names the world’s top destinations for autumn foliage, assessing 40 popular places using factors including broadleaf tree density, daily autumn sunshine, local tour options and increases in online searches. Québec City, Canada, takes first place, attributed to its tree density, range of excursions and growing search interest. Kyoto, Japan, ranks second, reflecting the popularity of momijigari, the tradition of viewing autumn leaves. The Japan Meteorological Corporation forecasts that Kyoto’s red maple leaves will be at their best around 11 December 2026, while its gingko leaves are expected to turn yellow around 27 November. Burlington, Vermont, is third. The United States has four destinations in the top 10: Burlington, Portland, Maine, Jackson, New Hampshire, and Bar Harbor, Maine. Canada also has four entries when Québec City is included: Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Saguenay, Québec, join the top-ranked city. Japan has a second destination, Hiroshima, in eighth place. The Wachau Valley in Austria is the only European destination on the list, ranking sixth. About an hour by train from Vienna, the UNESCO World Heritage Site is known for the Danube, river cruises and vineyards. Visitors can take in the fall foliage and later relax in traditional wine taverns. The full ranking is led by Québec City and Kyoto, followed by Burlington, Portland, Jackson, Wachau Valley, Bar Harbor, Hiroshima, Halifax and Saguenay.

The Japanese village of Nanmoku, home to approximately 1,300 people, is seeking ways to address its ageing population and shortages of workers in essential local services. The shortages affect schools, public transport and care facilities, putting pressure on the community’s ability to maintain these services. Local officials hope a new partnership with Belén, a district in Peru’s Amazon region, could attract young Peruvians to move to Nanmoku and help sustain village life. The proposal is intended to benefit both communities, though the article does not detail the specific arrangements or support that would be provided to newcomers. Two Peruvian students have already visited Nanmoku and expressed interest in settling there, offering an early indication of potential interest in the initiative. However, a key practical issue remains unresolved: it is unclear how prospective migrants would qualify for or obtain residency in Japan. The report presents the partnership as a possible response to Nanmoku’s demographic and workforce challenges, while noting that its success depends in part on addressing immigration and residency arrangements. It does not say that a migration plan has been finalized or that the students have decided to move.

Euronews presents its morning news bulletin for October 23, 2026, updated at 7:00 GMT+2. The bulletin is described as a brief roundup of significant stories from Europe and elsewhere, covering world affairs, business, politics, culture, entertainment and travel. Euronews says its newsroom provides context to help viewers understand developments during a fast-moving news day, and emphasizes its editorial independence and European perspective. The page does not include a transcript, video narration, or details of the individual stories covered in this particular bulletin, so the specific news events cannot be established from the supplied text. The page also displays links to other videos and articles, including reports about an earthquake in Tibet, protests and fuel shortages in Italy, political developments in France, Ukraine, and technology. These appear as related content rather than as confirmed items in the October 23 morning bulletin. Overall, the supplied article is primarily a brief description of a recurring news video and its intended coverage, not a report on one particular event.

Oil prices climbed to their highest levels since May as attacks in Saudi Arabia and fears of a wider war involving Iran raised concerns about disruptions to global energy supplies. Brent crude traded at $113.73 a barrel early Friday after rising 4% the previous day, while US West Texas Intermediate reached $100.08. Shipping costs have also surged, and European natural-gas futures rose above €90 per megawatt-hour, adding to inflation worries. At the same time, a sell-off in artificial-intelligence-related shares weighed on global markets. The S&P 500 fell 1.2% on Thursday, its worst daily performance since July, and the Nasdaq dropped 2.6%. Investors are questioning whether the large costs of borrowing to build data centres and buy AI chips can be justified, despite continued company growth. Meta shares fell 7% despite stronger-than-expected revenue, Tesla lost 3.1%, Nvidia dropped 4.4%, and debt-laden AI cloud provider CoreWeave declined 10.1%. Microsoft, Amazon and Alphabet are due to report earnings the following week, alongside the Federal Reserve’s next rate decision. Bond markets reflected competing concerns over government debt, inflation and risk. France’s 10-year bond yield remained elevated at about 5.07%, above Germany’s 3.34%, amid political pressure for increased spending. However, investors sought the relative safety of US Treasuries as technology shares fell, pushing the 10-year Treasury yield down to 4.97% from 5.13% the previous day. The move came despite data showing US jobless claims at their lowest level since July. Investors were also awaiting business activity surveys from the eurozone, UK and US for clues about the effects of higher energy prices and borrowing costs on economic growth.

A new study estimates that Europe’s summer 2026 heat caused more than 50,000 excess deaths in urban areas, making it the deadliest summer for heat on record in the regions studied. Researchers attribute about 65 per cent—roughly 32,000 deaths—to human-caused climate change, chiefly driven by fossil-fuel burning. That share is higher than the estimated 40 per cent earlier in the century. The analysis covered 854 urban areas across the EU, the UK, Norway and Switzerland, representing about 40 per cent of the population across 30 countries. It used temperature records and models based on historical links between heat and mortality, while accounting for factors including geography, socioeconomic conditions, healthcare access and age. Because heat deaths are often not directly recorded as such, the estimates help reveal a toll that may otherwise be undercounted. The most intense period was a heatwave from 17 June to 1 July, when temperatures averaged 5.3°C above normal; nearly one-third of the estimated deaths occurred then. Western European temperatures from June to August averaged 2.9°C above the 1991–2020 norm, with some days reaching as much as 12°C above it. Italy had the highest estimated death toll, at 13,303, followed by France (7,268), Spain (6,824), Germany (6,340) and the UK (4,354). Southern Europe experienced more heat-related deaths than Northern Europe, though local factors such as air pollution, green space and access to healthcare also affected risk. People aged 85 and over accounted for about half of estimated deaths, but younger people were also affected: around 800 deaths among people aged 20–44 and approximately 6,000 among people under 65. Researchers and health experts warn that heat puts particular pressure on vulnerable people and public services. They call for rapid emissions reductions and measures including green-blue urban spaces, climate shelters, heat-resilient building upgrades, heat alerts and community check-ins. The study’s modelling may also help health services prepare for future extreme heat.

Wealthy Chinese individuals are increasingly moving offshore assets from Singapore and Hong Kong to U.S. bank accounts amid Beijing’s expanded scrutiny of overseas wealth. The shift accelerated after China announced in July that income and gains from offshore trusts owned by Chinese tax residents would face a retroactive 20% tax. Advisers report a surge in inquiries, with some clients opening U.S. accounts within weeks. Large private banks tend to serve wealthier clients, while smaller accounts go to regional banks and online brokers. The United States is attractive partly because it is not part of the OECD’s Common Reporting Standard (CRS), which enables more than 100 jurisdictions to automatically share financial-account information. Singaporean and Hong Kong banks are expected to report China-linked accounts to Beijing, whereas U.S. banks have no equivalent automatic reporting obligation. Some nonresident account holders may also access investment structures with limited U.S. tax-filing requirements. Chinese families with U.S. green-card-holding relatives have used foreign grantor trusts, and advisers cite Nevada and Florida as popular low-tax jurisdictions. However, lawyers emphasize that moving money to the U.S. does not erase Chinese tax obligations. Chinese tax residents remain required to declare worldwide income, and transfers from CRS-reporting jurisdictions may already have left records visible to authorities. The transfer itself could help tax officials identify assets, and undisclosed offshore income may still violate the rules. Advisers characterize the strategy as concealment rather than legitimate tax planning and warn that its effectiveness may be temporary. The article also notes that moving existing offshore funds is easier than taking substantial new capital out of mainland China, where capital outflows have become increasingly difficult. A private banker expects the offshore industry to be constrained to serving capital that is already outside China.

CNBC’s Daily Open reports a sharp U.S. market sell-off driven by renewed concerns about artificial-intelligence spending and rising geopolitical risk. The Nasdaq fell more than 2%, its worst session since June, while the S&P 500 dropped 1.2%, its largest decline since July. Meta fell nearly 7% after reporting negative free cash flow of $2.12 billion for the quarter and increasing the lower end of its 2026 capital-spending forecast. The company now expects full-year capital expenditures of $135 billion to $145 billion. Meanwhile, investors moved toward Treasury bonds: the 10-year yield fell more than 17 basis points to 4.972%, its first move below 5% in about a month and its steepest daily decline since March 2023. Oil prices rose amid reports that U.S. and Israeli forces had drawn up plans for possible renewed strikes on Iran after the midterm elections. Brent settled at $113.17 a barrel, its highest level since May 4, while West Texas Intermediate closed at $99.47. The newsletter also examines Elon Musk’s political and business activity. SpaceX had secured at least $6.78 billion in federal work through October 1, nearly twice its 2024 total. Musk had committed roughly $366 million to the 2026 election cycle, much of it to Republican groups and his America PAC, and reportedly invested about $1 billion in Skydance. Pershing Square CEO Bill Ackman argued that the Iran and Ukraine wars, inflation and high interest rates are holding back markets. He predicted an “amazing 2027” if the conflicts end and energy prices fall. Finally, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said he sees no sign of a memory-chip glut by 2029, arguing that demand for memory, including high-bandwidth memory, can continue to grow. The edition also announces that Daily Open is ending and that Morning Squawk will replace it.

Etsy is banning AI-generated functional guides—including recipes, crochet and sewing patterns, and other instructions—from its marketplace. The company says sellers of these products must show an actual item made by following the instructions, rather than an AI-generated or simulated result, so buyers can better understand what they are purchasing. The rules are part of a broader effort to clarify how artificial intelligence may be used on the platform. Etsy also plans to prohibit sellers from creating listings entirely through bots without human involvement and will require at least one unedited photo of the actual item for sale. AI-generated art will remain permitted if sellers play a clear role in creating it and disclose the use of AI. Etsy says sellers may not portray AI-generated work as handmade or claim it is entirely their own creation. The company cited trust and transparency concerns. Etsy says many active buyers cannot distinguish items involving AI-generated content, and that uncertainty has become one of the three biggest barriers to shopping more often on the site. Sellers have also expressed concern that their work is appearing alongside misleading AI content and that buyers may struggle to identify their contributions. The policy comes as Etsy seeks to reinforce its identity as a marketplace for craft makers and artisan goods while facing generic mass-produced products, resellers, and competition from Amazon, Walmart, TikTok, Temu, and Shein. AI-generated products and images add to those marketplace challenges. The article notes that Etsy has struggled to control AI-made crochet patterns and other low-quality AI content, even as it increasingly uses AI itself to personalize shopping and improve search. Etsy has also partnered with OpenAI on product-discovery features, including a ChatGPT app.

Japan’s core inflation rose to 2.1% in September, its highest level this year, accelerating from 1.7% in August and exceeding analysts’ expectations. The measure excludes fresh food. Headline inflation was also 2.1%, while the Bank of Japan’s preferred “core-core” measure, which excludes both fresh food and energy, reached 2.4%. The rise came despite a sharp slowdown in fresh-food inflation and continued energy-price deflation. Rice prices fell 20.6% year over year, but overall goods inflation increased to 2.8%, partly as higher energy costs continued to pass through to other industrial products. Inflation in that category reached a 13-month high of 3.9%. Durable goods and public utility charges also contributed, while services inflation edged up from 1.2% to 1.5%. A weak yen has made imports, including oil, more expensive. Japan has also been buying energy from higher-cost U.S. sources and shifting away from Middle Eastern suppliers amid the Iran conflict. Government subsidies have helped keep consumer energy prices lower; they fell 0.6% in September. Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama said Japan may be approaching sustained inflation driven by wage growth, while recognizing the role of import costs. The inflation data may strengthen the case for another Bank of Japan rate increase after its September hike of 25 basis points, which brought the benchmark rate to 1.25%, a three-decade high. Capital Economics’ Abhijit Surya expects another increase in December, arguing that underlying inflation above the BOJ’s 2% target supports further tightening. Meanwhile, Japan’s Lower House began debating a proposal to reduce the food consumption tax from 8% to 1% for two years and provide income-based support payments. The article also notes that the Nikkei 225 fell 1.62% on Friday and the yen strengthened to 156.15 per dollar.

SK Hynix shares rose 3.2% on Friday after recovering from an earlier decline of as much as 3%. The rebound followed the company’s decision to stop reviewing potential pre-IPO fundraising and U.S. IPO options for Solidigm, its U.S. subsidiary. According to eToro analyst Josh Gilbert, the reversal suggests investors had been concerned about the listing. He said abandoning the review removes a governance concern and keeps Solidigm’s value within SK Hynix, while leaving the parent company with the challenge of financing Solidigm’s growth without undermining dividends and share buybacks. SK Hynix had considered a listing to help fund Solidigm’s expansion and provide more flexibility for shareholder returns. But increased market volatility and a broader correction in semiconductor stocks led it to reassess whether an IPO would benefit existing shareholders. The company said Solidigm’s investment needs have not changed and that it will continue exploring alternative financing. Its existing facilities have limited capacity to meet rising demand for AI memory, making additional U.S. manufacturing capacity important. The decision also came after South Korean regulatory scrutiny. The Financial Supervisory Service reportedly said a U.S. listing could conflict with South Korea’s restrictions on dual listings, and its governor said regulators were examining whether the proposal would require review under rules intended to protect minority shareholders. The news arrived amid pressure on technology and AI-related shares. The Nasdaq Composite fell 2.6% on Thursday, while Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices also declined. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said he did not expect a memory-chip oversupply by 2029. Meanwhile, AI data-center companies faced concerns about financing risks and the pace of infrastructure expansion: CoreWeave fell sharply, and Australia’s NextDC dropped after lowering its earnings forecast.

SpaceX reported an unrealized $561 million investment gain from its stake in The Boring Co. for the third quarter, according to a quarterly filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The gain made up more than half of SpaceX’s “other income” and contributed to net income of just over $4 billion. The Boring Co. began inside SpaceX in 2017 and became a separate company the following year. It describes its mission as improving transportation through underground tunnels and passenger stations. In September, it raised $3 billion at a reported valuation of $23 billion, with investment from the United Arab Emirates and other longtime supporters of Elon Musk’s businesses. The company has announced around a dozen projects, but its only tunnels open to the public are in Las Vegas. There, passengers ride in Tesla vehicles between the convention center and casino resorts. A separate project, the Music City Loop in Nashville, is planned to connect downtown with the airport using about 20 miles of tunnels. The project has drawn political controversy and renewed safety concerns about sinkholes. In the UAE, The Boring Co. plans more than 150 kilometers of tunnels, including the Dubai Loop project. SpaceX’s filing also disclosed that it bought $151 million worth of Tesla Megapack energy-storage systems during the quarter. On an earnings call, Musk said a merger between SpaceX and Tesla could be a “good idea.” Both companies have formed special committees to discuss a possible transaction. The article reports these financial and corporate developments alongside the status and concerns surrounding The Boring Co.’s projects.

L’Oréal says the growing use of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs is affecting demand in the beauty industry, particularly for skin care, and is shaping how some of its brands develop products. Chief executive Nicolas Hieronimus described GLP-1 use as a significant phenomenon for the company, while saying the broader beauty market remained resilient despite a challenging global environment. L’Oréal reported that sales rose 7.7% in the three months to September, exceeding analysts’ expectations. Drugs including Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro were developed to treat diabetes but have become widely used for weight loss because they suppress appetite. Rapid weight loss itself can leave some people with loose skin, including on the face; the article notes that this is not a direct effect of the drugs. Hieronimus said L’Oréal brands SkinCeuticals and Kiehl’s offer products designed to complement GLP-1 use and address skin sagging and other effects associated with rapid weight loss. L’Oréal is also expanding its presence in clinical aesthetics. It raised its stake in dermatology company Galderma to 20% last December. Reuters reported that the two companies have separately tested products on GLP-1 users concerned about loose skin. Galderma sells aesthetic treatments including Sculptra, an injectable intended to stimulate collagen production, and Restylane, a dermal filler. The company has also reported on increased GLP-1 use and concerns about facial changes; its survey found that most weight-loss medication users noticed changes in their facial appearance after taking the drugs.

A BBC investigation has documented at least 43 attacks on hospitals and other healthcare sites in el-Fasher between May 2024 and October 2025, during the Rapid Support Forces’ (RSF) siege and eventual takeover of the Darfur city. The investigation also records a severe toll on medical workers from April 2023 to October 2025: 55 killed, 120 injured and 10 forcibly disappeared or abducted. UN human rights chief Volker Türk called the findings deeply disturbing and said attacks on civilian health facilities may constitute war crimes. The RSF rejects the allegations, calling them propaganda; its health minister, Dr Alaa Eldin Nugud, claimed that the South Hospital was used as a military base. The BBC says it found no independent evidence for that claim, while doctors disputed it. Doctors interviewed by the BBC described repeated attacks on facilities and said they believed the targeting was deliberate. The South Hospital was shelled and raided in June 2024; staff fled, equipment was destroyed, and its director, Dr Izzeldin Ahmed Dawaud Asow, said RSF fighters beat him and used ethnic slurs. After the hospital closed, services and equipment moved to the Saudi Maternity Hospital, which was repeatedly struck. Other hospitals and clinics were also attacked, including after relocating. By the RSF’s seizure of el-Fasher in October 2025, the Saudi Hospital was the city’s only functioning health facility. The article places the findings within Sudan’s civil war, which began in April 2023, and notes that both sides have been accused of attacking health facilities. The World Health Organization described el-Fasher as among the clearest and most severe examples of the conflict’s impact on healthcare. UN investigators have said the fighting bore the hallmarks of genocide, amid attacks on non-Arab communities. The RSF’s account and the competing claim about military use of hospitals are presented alongside the BBC’s evidence and doctors’ testimonies.

A US judge has ordered President Donald Trump to sit for a deposition by 11 December in his defamation lawsuit against the BBC. The suit concerns a Panorama episode that edited together two sections of a speech Trump delivered before the 6 January 2021 Capitol riot. Trump cancelled an earlier deposition scheduled for 16 October, citing “matters of national importance.” A BBC lawyer told the court that Trump was campaigning in Georgia that day and had prioritised the campaign instead. Trump’s lawyers dispute that he is avoiding the deposition and said in a filing that he could answer questions between 11 and 22 January next year. The lawsuit is in the discovery phase, when parties exchange records and other potential evidence. BBC lawyer Charles Tobin told a court in Miami that Trump had not completed a deposition with two months remaining in discovery. US Magistrate Judge Enjoliqué Lett ordered Trump to appear by 11 December or face sanctions, potentially including dismissal of the suit, unless the discovery period is extended. The article explains that depositions are recorded statements under oath, and their transcripts may be used as evidence in court. Trump’s Florida lawsuit accuses the BBC of deliberately and deceptively editing his speech. The BBC apologised, saying the programme gave the mistaken impression that Trump directly called for violence, but it has asked the court to dismiss the case. The broadcaster argues the programme does not meet the legal standard for defamation and was not available in the United States. Trump’s lawyers conceded in July that they had no evidence it was available through several US platforms they had cited. Trump has also agreed to drop the suit against BBC Studios, the BBC’s commercial arm, after the BBC argued it had no role in producing the documentary.

Airbnb is introducing new rules that limit the checkout chores hosts can ask guests to perform. Under the policy, hosts may not require tasks that take significant time or effort, or that would normally be handled by a cleaner. Examples of prohibited requests include stripping beds, taking rubbish offsite, and washing and putting away dishes. The changes respond to guest complaints about checkout demands, particularly when guests are also charged a cleaning fee. Airbnb says guests generally expect a simple checkout and that unexpected chores can harm their stay and hosts’ reviews. Some modest requests will remain permissible. Hosts may ask guests to leave dirty dishes in a sink or dishwasher, gather used towels, separate rubbish and recyclables, and place rubbish in animal-proof containers in areas where bears are active. They may also ask guests to limit shower time when local drought-related water restrictions apply. The rules also restrict hosts from banning guests from using amenities advertised in a property listing, such as air conditioning, or imposing fines. For damage, hosts must instead seek compensation through insurance provided by Airbnb. The policy applies to bookings starting on November 20. The announcement comes amid wider disputes over short-term rentals and housing availability. Protesters in many European cities argue that platforms such as Airbnb have contributed to housing shortages and displaced residents. In September, the European Commission proposed further restrictions on short-term rental companies in tourist destinations. The article presents Airbnb’s policy change as a response to friction between hosts and guests, while situating it within broader concerns about the effects of short-term rentals.

Tens of thousands of people rallied in central Belgrade on Thursday in support of Serbia’s student-led protest movement, ahead of a pivotal election on Sunday. The independent crowd-monitoring group Archive of Public Gatherings estimated that about 150,000 people attended. Protesters, many chanting “victory,” hope the election will end the rule of President Aleksandar Vucic and his Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), which has been in power since 2012. The protests began after a canopy collapsed at the newly renovated Novi Sad railway station in 2024, killing 16 people. What started as a demand for an independent investigation grew into a broader anti-corruption movement and calls for early elections. The movement’s electoral vehicle, the leaderless Student List, has become the strongest challenge to Vucic’s party, with polling suggesting the two are neck and neck. Supporters say the students have restored their hope of living in a normal country. Student List candidate and university professor Jugoslav Gasic told the crowd that the movement would end years of “humiliation, chaos and betrayal.” Vucic, who has dominated Serbian politics for more than a decade, called a snap election as protest pressure mounted. He has resigned as president, a move critics see as potentially tactical because he may seek the prime minister’s office. He has accused the student movement of being a foreign-funded coup and urged his supporters to defeat it. The election is taking place amid concerns about fairness and possible unrest. A joint statement from 24 civil society organizations said conditions for a free and fair vote were lacking, citing documented findings. Analysts warn that a close result could prompt instability if both camps claim victory. Vucic has said he would suppress unrest. Observers describe the contest as almost a referendum between Vucic and the student movement, potentially sidelining smaller parties in parliament.

Australian Broadcasting Corporation reporter Will Murray and bystander Daniel Hainey rescued a man whose four-wheel-drive truck stalled and began sinking in floodwaters at Morayfield, Queensland, north of Brisbane. Murray was reporting on heavy rainfall on Thursday when he saw the vehicle enter the water and begin floating downstream. After calling emergency services, he lost sight of the driver and decided to swim out. Hainey, who had also seen the danger, swam toward the truck with him. Murray handed his phone to camera operator Liz Pickering, who recorded the rescue. The men first tried to open a nearby door, then considered breaking a rear window. Hainey instead braced his feet against the vehicle and pulled at a passenger-side rear door until it opened. The driver was pulled from the truck moments before it vanished beneath the water. Murray said the rising water may have helped force the door open. The three men hugged after reaching safety, relieved that everyone was unharmed. Pickering said the rescuers had saved the driver’s life. More than six inches of rain had fallen in the Brisbane region that morning. The rescued driver reportedly said he had not seen the warning signs and did not realize how deep the water was. Murray described the incident as terrifying, noting that the floodwater did not look especially severe even though the truck disappeared completely. Drawing on what he had witnessed, he used national television to urge people not to drive into floodwaters.

Fans are mourning Manuel Otto, the German creator of the Facebook game Stick Run, after his death at age 30. Otto reportedly died by suicide during a livestream on Twitch. He had created the game when he was 14, and players recalled spending many hours playing it and collecting upgrades. Some described being children when they first played and paid tribute to Otto as a gaming “legend.” Otto also played Stick Run under the username “Mwni,” which helped connect him with the game’s community. Local outlet PNP reported that Otto’s body was found after a fire at a property in Bavaria, southeast Germany. A neighbor noticed the fire and tried to extinguish it. German prosecutors, according to Bild, said they did not believe another person was involved in his death. Stick Run’s official account posted that it was aware of the livestream and that Twitch had removed it and associated video. The account urged people not to spread unverified information or speculation, and asked anyone with relevant information to contact the company or local law enforcement. In a later statement, it confirmed Otto’s death and described him as the game’s creator, developer, and a fellow Stick Runner. Twitch said it had removed Otto’s channel and video, called the event horrible, and emphasized the importance of community members’ mental health and wellbeing. It encouraged people who may be struggling to seek support and pointed to tools for finding local mental health resources. The article also provides suicide-prevention and crisis-support contacts.

The World Health Organization’s Africa regional director, Mohamed Janabi, warned that the continent is facing a more complex Ebola outbreak after Nigeria confirmed its first case in the current outbreak. The case, announced Tuesday, is an imported infection with the Bundibugyo strain, which is associated with a major outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The patient is a woman and diplomat who had travelled to Uganda. Nigeria is the fourth African country affected, while Kenya has reported nine cases since October 6, extending the outbreak across eastern and western parts of the continent. The new case has revived memories of the 2014 Ebola outbreak, which affected several West African countries and killed more than 11,000 people between late 2013 and 2016. However, Nigeria successfully contained Ebola during that earlier crisis, a record that has bolstered confidence in its ability to respond to new public-health threats. The article also describes the scale of the outbreak in the DRC, where health authorities report more than 9,000 confirmed cases and 4,381 deaths since mid-May. A trial is underway in eastern Congo to determine whether Ervebo, a vaccine approved for the Zaire strain, can protect against the Bundibugyo strain driving the current outbreak. The WHO said in August that 70,000 doses had been approved for use in the country: 50,000 for frontline and health workers, and 20,000 for the clinical trial. Bundibugyo currently has no licensed vaccine or treatment.

A court filing by Christa Pike’s attorney, Randy Spivey, provides the most detailed account yet of Tennessee’s failed attempt to execute her on Sept. 30. According to the filing, the execution team struggled to establish the two IV lines required by state protocol, using about 10 needles and trying several sites on both arms. Pike reportedly helped identify a possible vein in her upper arm, but placing the line in her left arm took nearly an hour. She winced as staff moved needles, and team members questioned whether veins had “blown,” or ruptured. The team ultimately said it had placed the second IV, though staff later asked repeatedly for checks of Pike’s left arm. Pike complained that her arm hurt and burned after the lethal drug was administered. Her attorney described her as later straining, flinching, moving her head, and appearing to struggle to breathe. Spivey said he sought to stop the execution because state protocol does not authorize a third dose, and then urged officials to obtain immediate medical care. Pike was taken to hospital, placed on a ventilator for several days, and eventually recovered enough to return to prison. She had survived two doses of pentobarbital. The protocol provides for a second dose if the first does not cause death but does not specify what to do if a person survives the second. The failed execution has intensified scrutiny of Tennessee’s lethal-injection procedures. An attorney representing other death-row prisoners said the incident confirmed warnings about the risk of botched executions.

The live report describes escalating conflict and economic disruption connected to the Iran war, with a focus on the Strait of Hormuz, oil prices, and attacks in the Gulf. President Donald Trump accused Iran of fabricating reports of attacks and sea mines to push oil prices higher ahead of U.S. midterm elections. Iran's Revolutionary Guard said it had attacked four vessels near the strait and that three others had struck mines. Brent crude rose to around $112–$113 per barrel, its highest level since May, amid continuing instability and the expense of U.S. naval escorts for oil shipments. The report says the U.S. military has quietly reduced its presence at some Middle Eastern posts because of threats and attacks attributed to Iran and its Houthi allies in Yemen. Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree claimed the group had conducted four operations in Saudi Arabia in 48 hours, targeting locations including the Defense Ministry in Riyadh, King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, an Aramco facility in Yanbu, and Abha airport. Those claims were not independently verified by CBS News. The report also says an attack on the Dammam airport killed at least two people and injured eight. Other updates cover Saudi Arabia's expanded use of its East-West pipeline, whose capacity was reported to have risen from 2 million to 7 million barrels per day, and the U.S. blockade of Iranian maritime trade. CENTCOM said the blockade had prevented $25 billion in Iranian crude exports over 100 days. Secretary of State Marco Rubio thanked Qatar for mediation and discussed maritime navigation and regional security. The International Monetary Fund said Houthi attacks had so far had a limited impact on Saudi Arabia's economy, but forecast contractions for Saudi Arabia and the wider region in 2026, citing the effects of the war and continuing uncertainty.

NPR reports that the United States and Israel are developing plans for a possible strike on Iran as early as November, according to a person briefed on the matter. The plans reportedly follow Israeli elections and the U.S. midterm elections. Israel had initially considered striking Iran in mid-October, but the United States ruled out that timing, according to the source. The reporting was first published by the Financial Times and The New York Times; Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has denied it. Nevertheless, Netanyahu has publicly raised the prospect of further military action. President Donald Trump endorsed Netanyahu for reelection, saying the United States may need to “finish the job in Iran” and would need Israel’s support. Netanyahu has since campaigned on a promise to strike Iran, accusing its new supreme leader of pursuing nuclear weapons and saying that overthrowing Iran’s regime is the only way to eliminate the threat. Some Israeli analysts challenge the case for another war. Danny Citrinowicz, a former head of Israel’s military intelligence Iran branch, argues that additional attacks are unlikely to persuade Iran to abandon its nuclear or ballistic-missile programs. He warns Iran could retaliate more severely, with consequences for global markets, and questions what another campaign would accomplish after previous rounds of conflict. The U.S. is reportedly moving a third aircraft carrier, the Theodore Roosevelt, to the region, where it is expected next month. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also met Netanyahu in Israel. Estrin cautions that preparations may be intended to pressure Iran into a diplomatic agreement rather than signal an imminent attack, and notes that war rhetoric is also central to Netanyahu’s reelection campaign as he trails his main challenger in polls. Iran’s foreign minister says the country is ready for diplomacy as well as war. Iranian officials have reportedly warned that attacks on civilian infrastructure could prompt strikes on U.S. interests, data centers, and undersea internet cables in the Gulf. These threats have alarmed Gulf countries, whose economies, according to a new International Monetary Fund report, were seriously affected by previous U.S. and Israeli attacks.

The Guardian podcast preview focuses on the implications of Brazil’s presidential runoff for the Amazon rainforest and the communities that live there. Latin America correspondent Tom Phillips travels to Roraima, Brazil’s northernmost state, to speak with voters, preachers and politicians. The region strongly supported far-right candidate Flávio Bolsonaro in the first round of voting. Phillips reports that people he meets are hopeful Bolsonaro will restore mining, an industry his father, former president Jair Bolsonaro, encouraged while in office. That administration oversaw the felling of 11 million acres (4.5 million hectares) of rainforest, according to the article. The report also features Indigenous activists who say they are prepared to resist even if the Bolsonaro family returns to power. Their presence highlights the competing interests at the center of the election: hopes among some residents for renewed mining, and efforts to protect Indigenous communities and the rainforest from further damage. Presenter Helen Pidd considers what the outcome could mean not only for Brazil but for the climate crisis more broadly. The article frames the runoff as a consequential contest for the Amazon, linking national electoral choices to deforestation, Indigenous activism and global climate concerns. It does not provide the election result; instead, it previews a podcast episode examining local perspectives and the possible environmental consequences of the vote.