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Greg Lynn, 60, has applied for bail ahead of his scheduled mid-2027 trial over the alleged murder of Carol Clay in Victoria’s High Country in 2020. Clay’s companion, Russell Hill, also died at the campsite. Lynn testified in the Victorian Supreme Court that he had been targeted by other prisoners while in custody, including an incident in 2024 when a prisoner threw a bottle containing faeces and bodily fluids into his cell. He also described threats and confrontations at the Metropolitan Remand Centre in July, saying another prisoner threatened to kill him, called him a killer of older people, and later poked him in the chest and spat at him. Lynn said he felt unsafe and believed some inmates were police informers who might give false statements in exchange for sentence discounts. A Corrections Victoria manager, Anthony Calandro, told the court that staff reviewing footage of the July incident saw no evidence Lynn had been attacked. He said the complaint was reported to Victoria Police and that Corrections Victoria was willing to consider moving Lynn, but could not do so if he continued accusing other prisoners of being informers. Lynn also described conditions in one prison unit as “draconian,” saying he was locked down for 23 hours a day. Lynn’s barrister, Dermot Dann KC, argued that his client should receive the benefit of having been cleared of Hill’s death and cited the time Lynn has spent on remand, his confinement conditions and family support as reasons for bail. Lynn has been in custody since 2021, maintains his innocence and wants to live with his son Geordie. His wife Melanie and son attended court. The court must be satisfied that exceptional circumstances justify bail and that Lynn does not pose an unacceptable risk to the community. Dann said prosecutors would not allege that Lynn posed such a risk. Prosecutors were expected to address the court later that day.

Atlanta Dream defeated the Golden State Valkyries 97-71 in Game 3 of the WNBA Finals, taking a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. The home victory was led by Angel Reese, who scored 21 points and collected 12 rebounds for her third consecutive Finals double-double. Rhyne Howard added 16 points and Naz Hillmon scored 15. Australian guard Izzy Borlase contributed 12 points, five rebounds, two assists and a block in 26 minutes. Another Australian, Valkyries development player Miela Sowah, remained on the bench. Game 4 will be played in Atlanta on Sunday (AEDT), at the same NBA arena used for Game 3. Atlanta took control after the teams were tied at 49 in the third quarter, scoring eight straight points and then finishing the period with 12 of the final 14. Golden State briefly closed the gap to four points, but could not get closer. The Dream had also started strongly, opening with a 9-1 lead as the Valkyries missed their first eight shots. Golden State stayed within six at halftime, with both teams shooting well from three-point range. The game was moved from the Dream’s usual Gateway Center Arena to the Atlanta Hawks’ NBA home arena. More than 17,000 fans attended the sold-out game, and Game 4 at the venue was also sold out. Reese said reaching the Finals and leading her team to a win was what she had worked toward. Howard described protecting home court and giving fans a show as the team’s focus. The article also notes strong television audiences for the first two Finals games: Game 1 averaged 2.1 million viewers, a record for a Finals opener, while Game 2 averaged 1.33 million.

War veteran Ben Roberts-Smith has told 2GB presenter Ben Fordham that he does not regret any part of his military career and would do it all the same way, while awaiting a criminal trial over alleged war crimes. In a more than two-hour interview, the Victoria Cross recipient denied wrongdoing, said he had always followed the rules of engagement, and vowed to fight five charges of war crime murder in full. Prosecutors allege the deaths involved unarmed Afghan nationals who were not participating in hostilities, and that Roberts-Smith either shot them or directed other soldiers to do so. The case is due back in court in December. The interview also addressed the failed defamation case Roberts-Smith brought against Nine newspapers. The Federal Court found on the balance of probabilities that allegations linking him to the deaths of four detainees in Afghanistan were substantially true. Roberts-Smith described himself as naive about the civil court system and estimated that billionaire Kerry Stokes, who helped fund his case, spent upwards of $30 million on it. Roberts-Smith said he could not discuss the criminal proceedings or specific allegations, but wanted to put some facts before listeners and urged them to form their own views. He questioned whether a jury could be selected whose members had not already formed an opinion after extensive media coverage, noting that the trial might be more than five years away. He also criticised the public nature of his arrest at Sydney Airport and referred to what he characterised as strong public support. Despite his concerns about jury impartiality, he said he was comfortable with 12 ordinary people hearing the case, arguing that the evidence and explanations about military matters would allow them to understand what he described as weaknesses in the allegations.

Victoria Police are seeking witnesses after a motorcyclist was found dead on the Maroondah Highway near Parsons Road at Yarck in north-east Victoria. Emergency services were called to the scene at about 11:30am on Thursday, October 22, 2026, after the motorcyclist’s body was discovered on the road. Police believe the motorcycle may have collided with a white semi-trailer truck travelling west. The truck did not stop at the scene, and the incident is being treated as a suspected hit-and-run. The motorcyclist, described as male, died at the scene and has not yet been formally identified. Police are investigating to establish exactly how the crash occurred. They have appealed to anyone who witnessed the incident, or who may have relevant footage, to contact them and assist the investigation. The article does not provide further details about the truck, the motorcyclist’s identity, or the precise circumstances of the collision.

A loaded grain truck and an Aurizon freight train collided at the Goode Road level crossing in Ceduna, on South Australia’s west coast, on Tuesday. Two train crew members and the truck driver were treated at the scene. The collision overturned large wagons and scattered debris, and the road remains closed. Police and SafeWork SA are investigating; no charges have been laid. The crash has renewed questions about the crossing’s safety. Local landowner Mario Nicholls says he raised concerns with the District Council of Ceduna 16 months earlier, after a give-way sign was replaced with a stop sign. Because the sign is on an incline, he said, it can be difficult for road users—including road trains—to stop adequately. Nicholls says he had recently warned his brother, a train driver, that an accident might happen. Mayor Ken Maynard said other community members also considered flashing lights more appropriate. The council passed a motion on Wednesday to discuss possible sign upgrades with Aurizon. Aurizon said the sign change in June 2025 was intended to improve safety at passive level crossings, but referred questions about traffic controls and signage enhancements to the relevant road authority. The company said rail safety is a shared responsibility and urged road users to follow crossing signs and controls. The collision occurred as the region prepares for an unusually large harvest following record rains, after drought had made the previous season lacklustre. Nicholls said the new signage had not yet been tested in a busy harvest season and expressed concern that truck traffic will increase: the harvest was less than 2 per cent complete. He called for stop signs at the bottom of the incline and advocated gates or flashing lights. The article notes that Australia has more than 23,500 railway level crossings, of which only about one in five are active.

Damian Ellis Spohr, a 30-year-old former out-of-home care manager, has pleaded not guilty to 30 charges relating to five female colleagues. The alleged offences are said to have occurred between 2020 and 2025 in several parts of New South Wales, including the Hunter Valley, Lake Macquarie, the Southern Highlands and the North Coast. Spohr appeared by audio-visual link from the Hunter Correctional Centre at an arraignment in Newcastle District Court and denied each charge as it was read aloud by Judge Tim Gartelmann. The charges include multiple counts of sexual intercourse without consent, aggravated sexual assault causing actual bodily harm, sexual touching, and intentionally choking a person. Some choking charges allegedly involve rendering a victim unconscious or incapable of resistance. Spohr also denied a charge of intentionally suffocating a colleague without consent. The article consistently presents these matters as allegations, and reports that Spohr denies all charges. Crown prosecutor Adele Banks described the case as extensive, citing a large body of text-message evidence. Defence barrister Zoe Alderton estimated that a trial would take five to six weeks and called the matter voluminous and complex. The court adjourned proceedings until November 5, when it will consider whether the trial can be held in Newcastle as a special fixture or whether it should be moved to Sydney. Apprehended violence orders are in place for all five women. Spohr remains in custody, and a trial date is expected to be set next month.

Female regional politicians in Australia say the threats and abuse they face are making public life increasingly exhausting and unsafe. Their work often requires them to travel long distances through rural electorates, where phone reception can be poor and emergency services distant. Victorian MP Annabelle Cleeland says she shares her location with colleagues but remains constantly alert, and worries that threats directed at women can target their bodies and children as well as their work. She says the political climate has become more brazen and that existing systems have not adequately responded. The concerns have intensified after independent federal MP Helen Haines was attacked in Wangaratta and police charged a man accused of making threats while carrying a homemade nunchuck weapon at Western Australian MP Hannah Beazley’s electoral office. A Women for Election survey found that nine in 10 women in politics had experienced intimidation or abuse. Other politicians, including Georgie Purcell, Ged Kearney and Emma Kealy, describe feeling unsafe, receiving violent threats, using police protection or seeking intervention orders. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met with female caucus members shaken by the attack on Haines. Advocates say abuse of women in public life is part of a broader climate of misogyny and disrespect, amplified online and in public discourse. Our Watch chief executive Patty Kinnersly warns that threats can affect politicians’ families and undermine women’s ability to participate in public life. The article also cites Melbourne University research involving 3,429 Australians, which found that attitudes excusing violence against women were the strongest attitudinal predictor of violent extremism. Victorian Premier Ben Carroll says little progress has been made since Julia Gillard’s 2012 misogyny speech. The article frames the incidents as a warning about gendered violence, democratic participation and deteriorating public debate, and ends with Kinnersly’s hope that politicians will model respectful disagreement.

A 21-year-old man was shot by New South Wales police during an alleged domestic violence-related incident in Glen Alpine, in Sydney’s south-west, on Thursday, October 22, 2026. Police said officers were called to a home at about 12:25pm after receiving reports that a man had made threats. At the scene, officers encountered a man who was allegedly armed with a pistol. The shooting occurred during an alleged confrontation between the man and police. Officers provided first aid, and paramedics continued treating him before he was taken to hospital in a serious condition. The article does not identify the man or provide further details about the alleged domestic violence incident, the reported threats, or what occurred during the confrontation. It also does not report whether any officers or other people were injured. Following the shooting, police declared a critical incident and established a crime scene. The Professional Standards Command will conduct an independent review, overseen by the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (LECC). The report presents the events as allegations and attributes the account of the police response to NSW Police. It focuses on the shooting, the man’s serious condition, and the formal review process, without drawing conclusions about whether police acted appropriately. The article was published and updated on the morning of October 22.

The mother of Complainant A testified in Alan Jones’s criminal trial that she continued to contact the broadcaster after her teenage son told her that “something sexual” had happened during a visit to Jones’s property. She described herself as being in a “web of dependency” with Jones, who had provided substantial financial help and advice to her family. Complainant A, now an adult, alleges that Jones kissed him and touched his bottom when he was 17. Jones has pleaded not guilty to 21 counts of indecent assault and sexual touching. The court heard that Complainant A first contacted Jones at age 13 to seek help for his struggling single mother, and the two later kept in regular email contact while Jones assisted the family. The mother said her son wrote her a note about 10 days after the alleged assault. She also acknowledged emailing Jones that November to ask for help with her son’s unsuccessful university application. She said she continued seeking his advice when crises arose. Previous evidence described Jones contributing about $100,000 toward building the family’s home and using a connection at the Commonwealth Bank to help reduce their home loan by $600,000. Emails showed Jones raised concerns about the cost of his assistance. The mother said she felt berated and that she and her son offered to repay him, but he declined. During cross-examination, the mother agreed that she had sometimes helped draft emails sent from her son’s account, without identifying her contributions. She said it was unreasonable to expect a 14-year-old to know his mother’s mortgage details without her input. She said she found the note about the alleged incident in 2025 in a drawer she had avoided because it was “full of emotion.” Asked whether she encouraged her son to complain to police, she said she told him she would support whatever he decided. His 2018 statement had asked police not to pursue the matter at that time.

Reginold Toa, a 35-year-old seasonal worker from Vanuatu, has been sentenced in Bundaberg District Court for a crash that killed fellow seasonal worker Augustin Kalkandi. Toa pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death after driving through a stop sign without slowing or stopping at the intersection of Elliott Heads and Hummock roads on November 23, 2024. The van he was driving collided with another vehicle carrying a woman and her three children, and both vehicles rolled several times. Kalkandi died at the scene; the other occupants were not seriously injured, although six men, one woman and two children were taken to Bundaberg Hospital with minor injuries. The court heard that Toa had been asked to drive three workers staying at the same hostel to get kava that evening. Toa, who had been on bail since the crash, required a Vanuatuan interpreter when entering his plea. He appeared in court with friends and his pastor. Prosecutor Catherine Birkett said Kalkandi’s family, who live in Vanuatu and do not speak English, had been informed about the legal process, but no victim impact statement was provided. Defence barrister Kerala Drew told the court that Toa had a partner and a five-month-old baby, had remained employed since the crash, and would be deported to the Solomon Islands after his time in custody. Judge Michael Burnett considered Toa’s very early guilty plea, lack of prior criminal or traffic history, low risk of reoffending and expressed remorse. The judge also noted positive character references describing Toa’s work ethic. Toa was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment, suspended after he serves eight months, and his driver’s licence was suspended for two years.

A new exhibition at the National Gallery of Australia (NGA) in Canberra celebrates the career of Rosalie Gascoigne, an influential Australian artist known for turning found objects into abstract artworks. The exhibition opens on October 24 and runs until February 14. Gascoigne, who was born in 1917 and died in 1999, did not begin exhibiting her work until she was 57. She held her first solo exhibition in 1976, the same year the NGA acquired its first work by her, and was invited to a survey exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria in 1978. Curator Deborah Hart says Gascoigne emerged as the art world was embracing installation, minimalism and conceptual art. Much of Gascoigne’s work was rooted in the Canberra region. She collected materials—including stones, driftwood and objects from local dumps—and reshaped them into artworks. Hart describes the landscape as the foundation of Gascoigne’s art, recalling that the artist walked through it while living near Mount Stromlo Observatory, where her husband, astronomer Ben Gascoigne, worked. The exhibition includes textured pieces inspired by nature and works made from everyday objects. Gascoigne’s daughter, Hester, recalls seeing the works made over many years and says the exhibition is a chance to revisit them and see her mother’s artistic progression. Artmaking was part of family life: Gascoigne encouraged her children to notice nature, while trips to dumps were also serious occasions for collecting working materials. The family home was arranged with spaces for her work, though Hester marvelled at how Gascoigne could make large pieces in a crowded, confined area. NGA director Nick Mitzevich says Gascoigne’s art helped define art history and encouraged new ways of looking. Hart recalls that joining the gallery’s collection was a moment of great excitement for the artist, who had sometimes felt out of place. Gascoigne continued working late in life, and Hart says she seemed to grow younger as she became more fully herself.

Eneasi Taumoefolau, a Tongan man deported from Australia in 2022 after multiple drug convictions, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for trying to establish a Tongan chapter of the Comancheros outlaw motorcycle gang. A Tongan court found him guilty of participating in an organised criminal group over his efforts in 2024. Justice Elisapeti Langi described the attempt as “a structural assault on the fabric of Tongan society” and warned that foreign criminal syndicates may use Pacific nations as transit hubs for organised crime. Taumoefolau was presented as the chapter’s president and leader. Evidence included Comancheros clothing and badges, a storage unit holding uniforms and rank insignia, his gang-related tattoo, and social media posts in which he called himself the “#comancheroboss.” In an ABC interview, he said the attempt was intended to anger the Australian government over his deportation. He denied that his TikTok activity meant anything more and has protested his innocence, indicating he will appeal the 12-year sentence. The conviction was the first time Tonga’s Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crimes Act had been tested in court. Taumoefolau is already serving a life sentence for a separate 2025 conviction for importing more than two kilograms of methamphetamine from the United States. The new sentence will run concurrently with that life term. The article places the case within a broader rise in drug smuggling through the Pacific, where criminal groups use the region as a route to the lucrative Australian and New Zealand markets. It notes that Australia’s demand for methamphetamine and cocaine is helping drive these routes. In response, Australia has announced $600 million for a Pacific anti-smuggling scheme and donated drone vessels to Fiji to help monitor maritime activity.

At 31, Tui Lolohea has become an unexpected but enduring figure in Tonga’s rise as a rugby league power. After coming off the bench to replace the injured Latu Fainu and help set up a try in Tonga’s 30–12 World Cup win over England, Lolohea was teased by younger teammate Demetric Vaimauga as “Mr I Ain’t Done Yet.” The joke reflects how few expected him to feature given Tonga’s growing depth in the halves, but Lolohea will play against Lebanon and earn his record-extending 23rd cap, the most in Tongan history. Lolohea and Jason Taumalolo are the only players to have appeared in all five of Tonga’s victories over Tier 1 nations. Lolohea’s international career began in 2015, when Tonga and Samoa drew modest crowds and relied on a mix of veterans, journeymen and young prospects. Since then, the team’s profile and talent have grown dramatically. Lolohea says the essential motivation has not changed: representing Tonga, its culture, families and people. He is the last active player from the early era of the team’s modern resurgence. He remembers Taumalolo’s decision to return to Tonga in 2017, the landmark win over New Zealand, a dramatic semi-final against England, and the team’s homecoming and honours. Though his club career included the Warriors, Wests Tigers and eight seasons in Super League, his greatest achievements have come in Tongan red. He has received unusual national honours, including trophies named after him and land granted by King Tupou VI. A new generation—including Isaiya Katoa, Robert Toia, Leka Halasima and Tolu Koula—has carried Tonga’s progress further, with wins over New Zealand and a close contest against Australia. The article portrays Tonga as now aiming to win the World Cup, not merely compete, and Lolohea as a continuing part of that ambition despite younger options being available in the halves.

Zubeda Habonimana, 43, will not be sent to prison when she is sentenced next month for a crash that killed her six-year-old daughter, Benita Ntihebuwayo. Habonimana had pleaded guilty to causing death and three counts of causing harm by dangerous driving. The crash occurred at the King and Penfield roads intersection in Virginia, Adelaide’s northern suburbs, on October 5 last year. Habonimana had become lost while driving her children to church and failed to give way to a ute. Benita died five days after suffering catastrophic injuries; two of Habonimana’s other children and the ute’s driver were also injured. In victim impact statements to the South Australian District Court, Benita’s father, Jason Birgirmana, described the family’s continuing grief and asked that Habonimana not be jailed, saying their other children still needed their mother’s care and support. The ute’s driver, Jason Pateman, described severe concussion and lasting emotional effects on his family. His four-year-old daughter was in the ute, and his wife said the child is now frightened by things that once seemed ordinary. Pateman said he could not forgive Habonimana but did not want her imprisoned; he believed she should never drive again. Habonimana’s defence counsel said she had suffered immeasurably and described how she had missed her usual turn while trying to find her way back to church. He also called the intersection notoriously dangerous. The prosecutor argued imprisonment was the only appropriate penalty, while accepting that any prison term could be suspended. At the end of the hearing, Judge Joana Fuller told Habonimana that she would not impose a sentence requiring her to go to jail or separate her from her children. The precise sentence will be decided in November.

In this episode of The National’s Culture Bites, hosts Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews explore what an ancient shipwreck can reveal about connections between early civilizations. Discovered underwater off Turkey’s Mediterranean coast, the vessel is believed to date to the early Bronze Age, nearly 5,000 years ago. Archaeologists have used pottery found at the site to help reconstruct its history. The ship may have been travelling from east to west, potentially carrying goods among the Levant, Egypt and Anatolia. The hosts consider how evidence from the wreck sheds light on trade and travel, as well as shared features in the crafts and architecture of different societies. The discovery suggests that ancient civilizations may have been more interconnected than people commonly assume. The episode also turns to television, discussing the planned revival of HBO’s series Girls. Five new episodes are expected to begin production in 2027, roughly a decade after the original show ended. Refaei and Andrews consider how a series once focused on women in their 20s might approach its characters as they enter their 40s. The article presents both topics as subjects of the podcast episode, linking an archaeological discovery that illuminates ancient exchange with a contemporary discussion about revisiting a television story and its characters at a later stage of life.

Abu Dhabi Finance Week (ADFW) plans to hold about half of its sessions behind closed doors at its December 7–10, 2026 event. Organisers say private, invitation-only discussions will give senior financial executives more opportunity for candid dialogue and practical outcomes than public stage sessions or general networking. The conference expects more than 40,000 attendees, including 8,000 senior executives, representing around $70 trillion in assets under management. ADFW editor-in-chief Chris Hughes said private meetings can let executives share information more openly, potentially shaping investment decisions and corporate strategies. He pointed to a closed-door leadership meeting involving the International Monetary Fund at last year’s event, where chief executives of major financial institutions took handwritten notes. Organiser ADGM reported 82 memorandums of understanding and partnerships at ADFW in 2025, nearly double the 44 agreements and announcements in 2024. The organisations involved included BlackRock, Franklin Templeton, Mubadala, Mastercard and Swiss Re. However, ADGM has not said how many agreements resulted directly from private meetings or disclosed their combined financial value. The event’s expansion comes as Abu Dhabi attracts international financial firms. Fourteen firms managing more than $5 trillion announced plans to establish a presence in Abu Dhabi Global Market during the first half of 2026. Organisers project that this year’s ADFW will feature more than 80 events and 400 content sessions, up from more than 70 events and 350 sessions in 2025. The conference is being prepared amid regional uncertainty. The Iran war has disrupted business, energy markets and travel, while Saudi Arabia postponed its Future Investment Initiative conference until 2027 after missile and drone attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels raised security concerns. Asked about contingency plans, Hughes expressed confidence in Abu Dhabi’s security and its preparations to welcome delegates in December.

The article previews the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony, scheduled for October 26 at London’s Palladium. It will be the first time in the award’s 70-year history that the event has been held outside France, with the move honoring inaugural winner Sir Stanley Matthews. Paris Saint-Germain lead the men’s shortlist with 10 nominees. The ceremony will be hosted by Kate Scott and Thierry Henry and streamed free worldwide through DAZN and the official Ballon d’Or website. The National’s predictions put Bayern Munich and England striker Harry Kane first for the men’s award. Kane’s 61 goals in 51 matches, Bayern’s domestic double and England’s third-place World Cup finish are cited in support. Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal is tipped to finish second after a productive club season and Spain’s World Cup victory, while Kylian Mbappé is third despite outstanding goal-scoring records, because neither Real Madrid nor France won a trophy. Lionel Messi is described in the introduction as an outsider. For the women’s award, Barcelona player Alexia Putellas is predicted to win, following a season in which Barcelona claimed four trophies. Ewa Pajor and Manchester City’s Khadija Shaw are ranked second and third. The article also predicts the winners of several other awards: Yamal for the men’s Kopa Trophy, Vicky Lopez for the women’s Kopa Trophy, and Arsenal and Spain goalkeeper David Raya for the Yashin Trophy. Pau Cubarsi and Warren Zaire-Emery are among the other men’s young-player contenders; Lily Yohannes and Clara Serrajordi are named among the women’s. Unai Simon and Joan Garcia complete the predicted top three for the goalkeeper award. The supplied article text ends partway through the description of Garcia.

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes publicly questioned Michael Carrick’s tactics after United suffered a 4-1 Champions League defeat to Como, extending the club’s winless run to seven games. Fernandes argued that the team’s approach—choosing not to press opponents man-to-man and allowing them space—gave Como confidence. He said United sometimes needed to take more risks by pressing higher. Asked whether Carrick had got the tactics wrong, Fernandes said that was for the manager and staff to assess. Carrick responded that no system could succeed if players failed to run both forward and back. The defeat and the exchange have intensified scrutiny of Carrick’s position. After the match, he apologised to the 700 travelling supporters and did not acknowledge his players, a scene likened to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s response after a 4-1 loss to Watford in 2021, shortly before Solskjaer was dismissed. Fernandes’s criticism follows recent comments by Lisandro Martinez, who attacked the club’s board over a lack of squad investment. The article also reports other Champions League results. Arsenal drew 2-2 away to Bayern Munich after Declan Rice scored a late equaliser. Bukayo Saka went off injured early, Eberechi Eze scored Arsenal’s opener, and Bayern took the lead through Harry Kane’s penalty before Rice levelled. Real Madrid beat Leipzig 4-1, with goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois making important saves before Real established control. Bernardo Silva, Arda Guler, Kylian Mbappe and substitute Yan Diomande scored for Real; Tidiam Gomis scored Leipzig’s goal. The roundup also records wins for Galatasaray, Inter Milan, Aston Villa and Real Betis, while LASK secured a 3-2 victory over Sporting in Lisbon.

The National’s October 22, 2026 opinion-cartoon page presents a cartoon by Shadi about oil shipments passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Its brief caption, “Shadi’s take on oil shipments getting through the Strait of Hormuz,” identifies the subject, while the accompanying topic labels connect it with the Strait of Hormuz, the United States, Iran, and the Middle East. The supplied article text does not include the cartoon image or any further explanation, so it is not possible to determine what argument, joke, or specific development the cartoon depicts. The page therefore offers a topical pointer rather than a reported account: it signals that oil transit through the strategically significant strait is the focus of the cartoon, without providing details about shipment volumes, disruptions, policy decisions, or the positions of the countries named in the tags. A list of related cartoons places this item among Shadi’s recent work on international and regional affairs. Those subjects include World Food Programme cutbacks, Syria and a proposed national recovery fund with the World Bank, the collapse of an energy truce between Ukraine and Russia, and US considerations regarding Iran. The page also links the cartoon to broader themes such as energy prices and US elections. These surrounding headlines establish the editorial context of an ongoing series, but they do not add reporting or evidence about the October 22 cartoon itself. Overall, the available content identifies the cartoon’s creator, publication date, and subject, but leaves its visual message unstated. Any interpretation beyond the stated focus on oil shipments moving through the Strait of Hormuz would require access to the cartoon image.

Como produced a historic Champions League performance against Manchester United on October 21, overwhelming the visitors in a result the article reports as a 4-1 victory. Cesc Fabregas’s side dominated throughout, with Nico Paz scoring twice and assisting another goal. Tasos Douvikas and Jacobo Ramon also scored for Como, while substitute Joshua Zirkzee supplied a late consolation for United. The article’s headline and opening account give the score as 4-1, although a subheading and some match details describe Como’s win as 4-0 before mentioning Zirkzee’s late goal. The result was Como’s biggest in club history and particularly notable because the club is competing in the Champions League for the first time. Paz was named man of the match after opening the scoring in the second minute, setting up Douvikas, and exploiting a Carlos Baleba error to make it 3-0. Ramon headed in the fourth. Como’s other players received strong ratings for their defensive work, energy and control of midfield. For Manchester United, the defeat intensified pressure on manager Michael Carrick. The article says United had gone seven matches without a win, their worst run since 2015, and had not won in any competition since beating Sabah FK on September 10. Captain Bruno Fernandes said the team began poorly, conceded early, and struggled to create pressure or build promising attacks. He also discussed the coaching staff’s decision not to press man-to-man. The supplied article begins United’s player ratings with goalkeeper Senne Lammens, but cuts off partway through his assessment. Fabregas, meanwhile, called the evening special while cautioning that Como needed to stay grounded with another match approaching.

Louvre Abu Dhabi has evolved from a museum that relied heavily on borrowed works into an institution increasingly able to lend its own collection internationally. A rare Mamluk carpet from its collection, for example, was shown at the Louvre in Paris last year in an exhibition on the Mamluk dynasty. Since opening in 2017, the Abu Dhabi museum has lent 42 works to exhibitions in the UAE, the Gulf and elsewhere, including at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Musée d’Orsay and the Galleria Borghese. Outgoing loans have more than tripled since 2021. Guilhem Andre, the museum’s director of scientific, curatorial and collections management, describes this change in an interview connected to Birth of a Collection, a new book he edited. Contributions from 42 scholars, curators and historians examine 240 objects, documenting a decade of collecting and curatorial work. The museum’s collection has grown from about 600 works at opening to more than 6,000, including pieces in storage or conservation. Works owned by the museum made up 56.8 per cent of those in its permanent galleries in 2025, compared with about 30 per cent when it opened. The museum has acquired more Asian, African and Oceanian art to address gaps in its earlier holdings. Andre emphasizes that its purpose is not simply to amass objects, but to show cultural encounters and relationships between works across more than 10,000 years of history. One example is a 16th-century ivory casket from the Kingdom of Kotte, in present-day Sri Lanka, which was acquired in 2024 and was originally sent as a diplomatic gift to the Portuguese royal court. Andre says collecting is an ongoing process because new gaps emerge over time. Looking ahead, he hopes the museum will eventually be able to present its permanent galleries entirely from its own collection, while lending more masterpieces abroad and sharing its story with international audiences.

Farah Al Qaissieh argues that people who stutter should be given time and fair opportunities to speak in classrooms, recruitment processes and workplaces. She opens with a memory from Grade 7, when a teacher stopped her reading aloud and told her to raise her hand again when she could “speak properly.” The experience showed her that participation could be welcomed only when speech sounded fluent—and, she says, such moments can teach children to stay silent. The article explains that stuttering affects about one in 100 adults and that up to one in 10 children experience it at some point. It is not caused by anxiety: research points to differences in how the brain produces speech, and stuttering often runs in families. Pauses, repetitions and blocks do not indicate that someone lacks knowledge, confidence or preparation. Nevertheless, people who stutter may spend considerable effort avoiding difficult words, rehearsing, or withholding contributions. Al Qaissieh urges institutions to distinguish fluency from competence. Schools can give advance notice before oral work, ask students what helps and provide flexibility without removing speaking opportunities. Employers can make interviews more accessible by allowing sufficient response time, written follow-ups or alternatives to phone screening when spontaneous speech is not essential. Job descriptions should specify communication requirements genuinely needed for a role, rather than treating “articulate” as a proxy for ability. In workplaces, agendas in advance, fewer interruptions and multiple ways to contribute can help people participate. She emphasizes that inclusion should be built into standard practices, rather than depending on disclosure or an unusually understanding teacher or manager. These changes do not lower standards; they help ensure that knowledge, judgment and ideas are assessed when those are what matter. Drawing on her work founding The Stutter Community, Al Qaissieh concludes that giving someone a moment to finish can make the difference between speaking and remaining silent.

The National’s editorial argues that a ceasefire in Gaza is not equivalent to peace while civilians continue to face severe hardship. It warns that a funding shortfall could force the UN World Food Programme to cut assistance to roughly half a million people, despite continuing need: about 1.4 million people in Gaza face acute food insecurity, and many depend on aid for basic necessities. For families who have lost homes and livelihoods, food parcels and cash payments are lifelines, not optional support. The editorial says the consequences of allowing aid to diminish extend beyond the immediate humanitarian crisis. Citing Nickolay Mladenov, the high representative of Gaza’s Board of Peace, it argues that leaving the territory in prolonged uncertainty is no substitute for a political settlement. Deepening despair, the piece warns, can encourage extremism and undermine regional security. With Israel’s general election approaching, the editorial notes that Gaza’s Palestinians have no vote in determining the result, although it could shape their prospects. Some have delayed marriage, rebuilding homes or restarting businesses while waiting to see whether a new Israeli government might change policy. The editorial cautions that new leadership would not necessarily alter Israel’s approach, but also argues that indefinite military pressure cannot deliver security while Gaza remains impoverished. It criticizes Palestinian officials for failing their people and notes that postponed elections offer little prospect of leadership renewal. The piece calls on donors to close the aid funding gap and on those controlling access to Gaza to allow essential supplies in. It concludes that humanitarian assistance alone cannot produce political progress, but that worsening hunger and despair will make progress less likely and may only postpone another crisis. It urges Israeli and Palestinian leaders, donors and regional partners to pursue a fair two-state solution, warning that the costs of neglecting it will endure.

The Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open will celebrate its fifth edition from January 30 to February 6, 2027, at the International Tennis Centre in Zayed Sports City. The WTA 500 event will feature 28 singles players and 16 doubles teams, with a $1.2 million prize fund and WTA ranking points available. Its 2026 edition drew more than 60,000 spectators, and Czech qualifier Sara Bejlek won her first WTA Tour title by defeating Ekaterina Alexandrova in the final. Organizers and Abu Dhabi sports officials describe the tournament as an event that contributes to the emirate’s sporting development as well as its tennis calendar. Abu Dhabi Sports Council Secretary General Aref Hamad Al Awani highlighted its engagement with young players, schools and the wider community. Homaid Al Shimmari of Mubadala Investment Company said the event aims to inspire young people, expand participation in sport and bring communities together. Tournament director Nigel Gupta cited the 2026 attendance as evidence of strong local interest in elite tennis and the fan experience. A new Village pass will be introduced in 2027, providing access to the 15,000-square-metre Mubadala Village. Activities will include live entertainment, tennis clinics, player question-and-answer sessions, food and drink, sponsor activations, children’s activities and merchandise. On January 30 and 31, the pass will also cover access to qualifying matches. Adult passes will cost Dh10 per day, while children under 12 can enter free during the opening weekend. Stadium ticket holders can also take part in Village activities, subject to valid entry requirements. The tournament has also staged a wheelchair tennis event, becoming the first WTA-only tournament to do so. Organizers say this reflects a commitment to inclusion and to expanding opportunities for people to engage with tennis.

Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, has begun an official visit to Greece aimed at strengthening the countries’ expanding relationship. He was welcomed at Athens International Airport by Greek Foreign Affairs Minister George Gerapetritis, according to the UAE’s state news agency, Wam. The visit was made at the invitation of Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and Sheikh Khaled is expected to hold key talks with him. The visit coincides with the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the UAE and Greece. The countries’ relationship has developed into a comprehensive strategic partnership involving economic co-operation, investment, energy and technology. The article also points to recent contact between President Sheikh Mohamed and Mr Mitsotakis as evidence of continuing engagement. In May, Sheikh Mohamed hosted the Greek prime minister in Abu Dhabi for discussions on areas including trade and investment, technology and artificial intelligence, renewable energy, sustainability, infrastructure and culture. Sheikh Khaled is accompanied by a senior UAE delegation. Its members include Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Adnoc’s managing director and group chief executive; Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Co-operation; Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Foreign Trade; and Mohamed Alsuwaidi, Minister of Investment. The article presents the visit as a diplomatic effort to build on established ties and advance co-operation across a range of sectors.

Two UAE-based researchers have received grants in the 2026 L’Oreal-Unesco For Women in Science Middle East Programme. Jawaher Al Hammadi, a PhD student at Khalifa University, is developing laboratory models of cell membranes to help researchers study how cells respond to disease and treatment. Her approach combines synthetic materials with extracellular vesicles—particles derived from cells—and electronic sensors. The aim is to create models tailored to particular cell types, diseases or patients, potentially supporting the evaluation of personalised treatments. Al Hammadi said the grant could raise the profile of her work and help her build international research connections. Dr Marieh Al Handawi, a researcher at New York University Abu Dhabi, studies how plants survive in salty, dry environments. She is investigating whether their natural adaptations could inspire low-energy ways to collect water from atmospheric humidity. One plant she has studied, the native Tamarix aphylla tree, excretes salt that forms crystals capable of capturing moisture from the air. Al Handawi hopes to translate insights from regional plants into practical materials and technologies that could help communities manage water in arid conditions. The grant will also support collaboration with researchers in other countries. The two are among six women in the Arabian Peninsula recognised in the programme’s latest round. Since its launch in 2014, the programme has supported 69 female scientists, including 25 in the UAE, and awarded Dh4 million for research in the region. UNESCO figures cited in the article show that women make up 41 per cent of scientists in the Arab world, a higher share than in several other regions, though below Central Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean. UAE Minister of Education Sarah Al Amiri said women are playing an increasingly prominent role in research and other fields, and stressed the importance of connecting education with research and real-world impact. The article presents the grants as recognition for the researchers and as support for women’s careers, visibility and opportunities in science.

The article reports that Will Murray, a journalist with Australia’s public broadcaster ABC, helped a bystander rescue a man from a four-wheel-drive vehicle that was being engulfed by floodwater in Morayfield, Queensland. Murray was reporting on flooding when the man became trapped in the vehicle. The brief account describes a rescue carried out by the reporter and the bystander, but provides no further details about the man’s condition, how the rescue was completed, or whether emergency services were involved. It also does not give information about the wider flooding, its cause or extent, or any other impacts in the area. The item is presented as an Al Jazeera video news report and is dated 22 October 2026. Its focus is the immediate danger posed by floodwater and the actions of two people who helped someone trapped in a vehicle. The report supplies only these basic facts, so additional circumstances or outcomes cannot be determined from the provided text.

Brazilian presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro has responded to President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s challenge to disclose personal records by making his agreement conditional. Bolsonaro’s campaign says it will release the requested information if Lula extends his own pledge to cover records belonging to his advisers and security staff, as well as records from companies held by Lula’s children. Lula had offered to share bank, tax and telephone records, including those of his family, if Bolsonaro did likewise. His campaign has submitted a conditional authorisation to Brazil’s electoral court for release of the president’s personal data. Senator Camilo Santana, representing Lula’s campaign, said Lula had accepted Bolsonaro’s additional conditions and that the campaign would file an official response with the court on Thursday morning. The dispute is unfolding days before the election run-off, amid the fallout from a major corruption scandal involving disgraced banker Daniel Vorcaro. The article reports that Bolsonaro, who narrowly leads Lula in polls, is under investigation over alleged corruption and money laundering connected to an investment he allegedly sought from Vorcaro. He is also the subject of a separate money-laundering investigation and denies wrongdoing. Lula is also linked to allegations involving his son Fabio Luis Lula da Silva, a businessman being investigated over claims that he unlawfully helped another businessman gain access to the government. Lula’s eldest son is separately being investigated over links to a businessman detained in a pension-fraud probe. The son denies the allegations, while Lula says his son should be treated like any other citizen. The article presents the records challenge and the investigations as part of a campaign shaped by mutual scrutiny and corruption allegations.

The article asks whether US President Donald Trump could deport Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, amid his statement that she could face jail or deportation. According to the supplied text, federal authorities are investigating allegations related to Omar’s US citizenship. The excerpt does not specify the nature of those allegations, the investigative steps underway, or any legal findings. Omar denies wrongdoing and characterizes the administration’s actions as political intimidation. The article places the dispute in the context of approaching midterm elections, raising the question of what may happen next. Al Jazeera’s Noor Wazwaz is identified as explaining the situation, but the provided text contains no further details about the investigation, the legal standards for deporting Omar, or the potential consequences of the case. It therefore presents the matter as an unresolved question rather than reporting a settled outcome. The central points are Trump’s stated possibility of jail or deportation, the federal citizenship-related investigation, Omar’s denial and accusation of intimidation, and the political timing. Based only on the supplied excerpt, no conclusion can be drawn about whether deportation is legally possible in Omar’s circumstances or what authorities will ultimately do.

Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella has launched what he calls a cultural “counterrevolution,” removing dozens of exhibits from the National Museum in Bogota. The exhibits addressed social movements, including feminist and LGBTQ activism, as well as Colombia’s history of political violence. De la Espriella, a conservative ally of US President Donald Trump, says he wants to stop cultural institutions from being taken over by “atheist social communism.” The removals have prompted protests by civil rights groups, artists and students, who accuse the government of censorship and warn that it is erasing important parts of Colombia’s history. Demonstrators gathered outside the museum on Wednesday as riot police guarded its entrance. Student Azul Riascos said the government was promoting an image of Colombia as exclusively white, Catholic and Spanish-speaking, excluding Black, Indigenous and LGBTQ communities. Observers connect the changes to wider political trends. Gimena Sanchez-Garzoli of the Washington Office on Latin America said Trump’s allies are adopting US political narratives and strategies. The article notes Trump’s criticism of Smithsonian museums and a White House report that accused leaders of the National Museum of American History of being radical activists. Museum director Anthea Hartig told Congress that the report did not fairly or accurately represent the museum’s work; signs ordered by the White House had still not been installed nearly three months after the report’s release. Anthropologist Arturo Sanabria described the Colombian government’s approach as “neocolonial intervention,” while political scientist Estefania Cardozo argued that the government is inventing a cultural battle to erase identities that already exist. Culture Minister Paola Holguin said the government is reviewing and redesigning exhibitions and curatorial practices at other ministry-run museums. The Foreign Ministry has also renamed a courtyard honoring an Indigenous leader, framing the change as part of the campaign against “woke” ideology.

North Korea says it plans to resume anti-South Korea propaganda broadcasts along the border, while South Korea is urging Pyongyang to discuss ways to reduce tensions and prevent an accidental military clash. Kim Yo Jong, a senior North Korean official and sister of leader Kim Jong Un, announced the plan after visiting border fortifications with senior military officials. She warned that South Korea could face “the most horrible and distressing situation” if it continued what Pyongyang describes as interference in North Korea’s internal affairs. In a statement the following day, Kim said new North Korean “counter means” would be put on alert and loudspeakers would be on standby within days, without specifying what the additional measures would be. Tensions have risen after a landmine blast in the Demilitarized Zone wounded three South Korean soldiers last month. Seoul accused North Korean troops of deliberately laying mines during fortification work, but Kim rejected the charge as fabricated. She also accused South Korean troops of broadcasting warnings and firing warning shots near the border; Seoul said the shots were legitimate defensive measures. North Korea has been reinforcing its side of the heavily militarized border with mines, barbed-wire fences, anti-tank barriers and other fortifications. It has pursued these measures since 2024 as part of an effort to establish what it calls a permanent border. Both Koreas have historically used loudspeakers to broadcast propaganda across the DMZ. South Korean broadcasts have included K-pop and news, which have angered Pyongyang and prompted reciprocal broadcasts. South Korea’s Ministry of National Defence called for discussions on easing border tensions. However, Pyongyang has cut off a military hotline and said it would no longer pursue dialogue or unification with South Korea, which it now describes as its foe. The DMZ was established after the 1950–53 Korean War ended in an armistice, leaving the two countries separated by a heavily fortified frontier.

Qatar and France called for the restoration of freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and for the implementation of ceasefire arrangements in Gaza, following a meeting in Doha between Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and French President Emmanuel Macron. A joint statement said navigation through the strait should resume without constraints or fees. The appeal comes amid regional tensions: Qatari mediator Ibrahim bin Sultan Al Hashmi said diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions and reopen the waterway were continuing, while Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran was prepared to give diplomacy another chance. The two leaders condemned Iranian military attacks on countries in the region as a serious breach of international law. On Gaza, they called for Israeli forces to withdraw according to agreed arrangements and for humanitarian aid to enter urgently, safely and without restrictions. The World Food Programme reported that around 1.4 million people in Gaza—roughly two-thirds of the population—face acute food insecurity at crisis levels or worse. Qatar and France also opposed annexation of the West Bank and called for an end to Israeli settlement policies and settler violence. The joint statement addressed Lebanon, backing implementation of the Trilateral Framework Agreement to restore Lebanese sovereignty, disarm Hezbollah and secure a complete Israeli withdrawal. The leaders warned of a possible security vacuum after the UN peacekeeping mission’s mandate ends and urged continued international support for Lebanon’s authorities and armed forces. Regarding Syria, they offered joint support for stabilisation and economic recovery projects in coordination with Syrian authorities. Beyond these regional issues, Qatar and France agreed to expand defence, security and economic cooperation. Macron’s regional tour, which also took him to Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, aimed to strengthen strategic and economic partnerships and support regional stability and freedom of navigation.

Mekelle is slowly returning to routine after Ethiopian federal forces and allied fighters retook the Tigray regional capital on October 4, but renewed fighting has left residents uncertain about security and the region’s recovery. Tigray is still coping with the damage of the 2020–2022 war between federal forces and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). Shops and banks are reopening, yet delayed public-sector salaries, depleted savings and rising everyday costs make it difficult for many households to afford food, rent and school expenses. Tigray’s interim administration said in March that it could not pay about 137,000 civil servants without expected federal transfers; the regional finance bureau later reported a substantial funding shortfall affecting salaries and development work. Students are also concerned that renewed conflict will interrupt education again. Some university students have travelled to Addis Ababa to seek placements elsewhere, while the Ministry of Education has offered temporary university placements to students from Tigray. More than 5,000 returning students had applied by mid-September. Students fear further delays to graduation and employment after already losing study time during the previous war. Along the Eritrean border, conflicting reports about troop movements have heightened concern that fighting could expand. The Associated Press reported claims of Eritrean troops in Adigrat and Idaga Hamus but could not verify them; ACLED reported a crossing at Zalambessa. Reuters reported Ethiopian forces had advanced into Zalambessa, while the presence of Eritrean troops or Tigrayan opposition fighters there remained unclear. Ethiopia accused Eritrea of sending troops into its territory, while Eritrea denied an invasion and accused Ethiopia of issuing a declaration of war. Their worsening relationship adds a regional risk to the renewed conflict. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced a six-month caretaker administration on October 16 to restore services, support displaced people’s return and prepare for elections. The federal government says it will restore stability, but the TPLF opposes the federal advance and the administration’s ability to operate across Tigray remains uncertain. Residents’ immediate concerns include salaries, functioning schools and health facilities, and safe returns for displaced families.

The Trump administration has asked the US Supreme Court to let it restart plans for a border barrier project in the Big Bend region of West Texas. The Justice Department filed an emergency request seeking to pause or overturn a federal judge’s injunction, which stopped construction while a lawsuit challenging the project proceeds. The Department of Homeland Security’s plans include vehicle barriers, patrol roads, lighting and detection technology in and around Big Bend National Park. The region has about 805 kilometres (500 miles) of border. Opponents say it accounts for only about 1 percent of migrant arrests and argue that the project would harm the area’s landscape and wildlife. The lawsuit was brought by the Center for Biological Diversity, a Big Bend-area river guide and other challengers. They seek to protect the landscape and a historic church, and contest the government’s use of waivers to bypass environmental and historical laws. The proposed project is valued at $1.7 billion. Former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and current Secretary Markwayne Mullin issued the waivers between February and July, asserting that the region was an area of high illegal entry. US District Judge Kathleen Cardone ordered construction halted on October 2 until the government complied with applicable laws. In a subsequent opinion, she found that the secretaries’ waivers exceeded their authority. The Justice Department argues that Congress clearly empowered the secretary to build border barriers and waive legal requirements to speed construction. The Supreme Court had not responded to the request at the time of publication. Construction had been paused in August after bipartisan criticism over potential effects on the park’s landscape and wildlife. The dispute therefore centers on both the administration’s border-security plans and whether federal officials can waive legal protections to expedite the project.

The article traces the anti-Tutsi ideology associated with the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), drawing on interviews with four former senior officers who defected, returned to Rwanda and underwent rehabilitation. They say hostility toward Tutsis was taught through Rwanda’s political and military institutions before the 1994 genocide and continued among former soldiers and officials who fled to Zaire, now the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The article places this ideology in a longer history of politicised ethnic identity. Belgian colonial authorities formalised Hutu, Tutsi and Twa classifications on identity cards in the 1930s. After the 1959 Hutu uprising and the end of the monarchy, violence and displacement drove many Tutsis into exile. Later attacks by exiles and retaliatory killings in Rwanda produced further refugee flows. In 1988, exiles in Uganda formed the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), which attacked Rwanda in 1990. Former officers recall being taught to regard Tutsis as enemies, including through labels such as “Inyenzi”, or cockroaches, and discriminatory practices within the army. The officers say military personnel trained Interahamwe militia members and that their battalion participated in the 1994 genocide, which began after the plane carrying Rwandan President Juvenal Habyarimana and Burundian President Cyprien Ntaryamira was shot down. Following the RPF’s victory in July 1994, former government forces and militia members fled to Zaire, where they reorganised in refugee camps and later fought under different names. The FDLR was established in 2000, following an alliance with Congolese President Laurent-Desire Kabila, according to one former officer. Its stated aim, he says, was to overthrow Rwanda’s post-genocide, Tutsi-led government. The article also notes that FDLR leaders have sought to distinguish the organisation from the perpetrators of the genocide, while acknowledging allegations against individual members; the supplied article ends as it begins to discuss legal action against the group’s leadership.

Neil Bush, brother of former US President George W Bush, says he voted for Democrat James Talarico in Texas’s closely contested race for an open US Senate seat. In a social media post, Bush explained that his decision reflected concerns about Republican candidate Ken Paxton’s judgment and conduct. He cited Paxton’s impeachment by the Republican-controlled Texas House, followed by his acquittal in the Texas Senate, and criticized Paxton’s efforts to challenge the results of the 2020 presidential election in other states in support of Donald Trump. Bush described those efforts as an affront to democratic institutions and the peaceful transfer of power. The endorsement highlights divisions among Texas Republicans. Bush belongs to a prominent Republican family: his brother George W Bush and their late father, George H W Bush, both served as president. George W Bush, who was also Texas governor before becoming president, has largely withdrawn from political life and has not endorsed candidates in recent elections. His daughter Barbara Bush has separately supported Talarico by donating to a political action committee backing the campaign. Talarico and Paxton are competing for a seat that will be decided in the November 3 midterm elections, when 35 of the Senate’s 100 seats are on the ballot. Democrats hope to gain control of the chamber, but Texas has long been a Republican stronghold; Democrats have not won a Senate race there since 1988. Polls indicate a close contest. A Marist poll released October 14 put Talarico at 47 percent and Paxton at 45 percent. Paxton won the Republican primary runoff against incumbent Senator John Cornyn on May 26, after Trump endorsed him on May 19. Trump criticized Cornyn and praised Paxton as a “MAGA Warrior.” Some Republicans have questioned Trump’s intervention, citing Paxton’s impeachment and other scandals as potential vulnerabilities.

Anthropic asked a California federal judge to rule that its use of millions of song lyrics to train its Claude chatbot is protected by the fair use doctrine, seeking to end a copyright lawsuit brought by Universal Music Group (UMG), Concord and ABKCO. At a hearing in San Jose, US District Judge Eumi Lee did not issue a ruling but questioned both sides about whether the training is fair use and whether Claude’s ability to generate lyrics threatens publishers’ markets. Anthropic lawyer Sonal Mehta argued that training produces transformative new content and that the publishers had not identified specific market harm. She also pointed to UMG’s statement that AI is “overwhelmingly a net positive” for the music industry. The publishers’ lawyer, Matt Oppenheim, argued that Claude uses copyrighted lyrics to create competing material that could harm human songwriters. He said the chatbot received nearly 120,000 requests for “synthetic” lyrics in six months and warned that AI-generated content could readily overwhelm the market. The dispute is part of a broader wave of lawsuits over the use of copyrighted works to train AI systems. The article notes that two Northern California judges have reached differing conclusions: retired Judge William Alsup ruled in Anthropic’s favor in a 2025 case involving books, while Judge Vince Chhabria ruled for Meta in a similar case but cautioned that AI training would not be fair use in many circumstances. The outcome of the music publishers’ case could therefore influence other lawsuits brought by authors, news organizations and visual artists against technology companies. The publishers sued Anthropic in 2023, alleging infringement involving lyrics from hundreds of songs by artists including Beyoncé, the Rolling Stones and the Beach Boys. Anthropic says its use of lyrics helps Claude understand human language and supports progress and productivity in science, business and education.

The article reports a dispute over the disclosure of personal and business records between Brazilian presidential candidates Senator Flavio Bolsonaro and President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, days before their runoff election. Lula’s campaign challenged Bolsonaro to release bank, tax and telephone records, and submitted a document to the electoral court authorizing the release of Lula’s own records, those of his family, and information about legal entities in which the candidates are partners or directors, if Bolsonaro did the same. Bolsonaro’s campaign responded that it would authorize the requested disclosures only if Lula widened his own commitment to include advisers, security staff and companies held by his children. Camilo Santana, a senator representing Lula’s campaign, said Lula had agreed to those conditions and that the campaign would submit its formal response to the court on Thursday. The records dispute has become another campaign battleground, with both sides emphasizing transparency and questioning their opponent’s integrity. Polls described the contest as close, with Bolsonaro narrowly ahead. The article also outlines investigations involving both candidates’ families and associates. Bolsonaro is under investigation over alleged corruption and money laundering connected to an investment he reportedly sought from a banker to help finance a film about his father, former president Jair Bolsonaro. The banker is jailed and accused of fraud. Flavio Bolsonaro acknowledges seeking funding but denies wrongdoing, and is also the subject of a separate money-laundering investigation. Separately, Brazil’s Supreme Court authorized an investigation of Lula’s son Fabio Luis Lula da Silva concerning alleged influence peddling and corruption linked to Health Ministry dealings, as well as a pension-fraud probe. He denies the allegations, while Lula has said his son should be treated like any other citizen.

Newly declassified MI5 documents show that British intelligence monitored Nye Bevan, the Labour politician credited with founding the National Health Service, from 1933 until his death in 1960. The surveillance covered his parliamentary activities as well as his movements and meetings outside Parliament. MI5’s interest stemmed partly from Bevan’s socialist politics, his criticism of the British government during World War Two, and suspicions that he sympathised with communism. The documents, released by the National Archives, indicate that MI5 ultimately found no significant cause for concern. A 1955 note said that, since 1943, Communist Party members and Trotskyists had tried at times to enlist Bevan’s cooperation, but had failed. A review of his case file two years after his death described it as “remarkably tame,” especially given how controversial he had been. Bevan, a former Welsh coal miner known for his oratory, became health minister after the war. He is credited with establishing the state-funded NHS in 1948. The article notes that he was divisive both within the Labour Party and in the country more broadly, despite being widely admired as the health service’s architect. The newly released material also includes MI5 files on Wolfgang zu Putlitz, a German diplomat who passed information about Hitler’s plans to Britain, and on Soviet agents or suspected operatives. One named figure, Frank Bossard, was jailed for 21 years for passing defence material to Russian spies. The article presents the Bevan surveillance as part of a broader release of historical intelligence files, while emphasising the comparatively uneventful conclusion of his case.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is visiting Turkey for talks with President Tayyip Erdogan, in the first bilateral visit to Turkey by a Canadian leader. The visit is part of Carney’s effort to expand trade with countries beyond the United States and reduce Canada’s dependence on its largest trading partner, amid US tariffs and President Donald Trump’s questioning of Canadian sovereignty. Carney and Erdogan are expected to sign a declaration to deepen cooperation in defense, energy and two other areas. Canada-Turkey trade remains modest, totaling C$4.34 billion, or less than 0.3% of Canada’s merchandise trade, but it has grown nearly 50% in five years. Carney’s office says the visit is intended to establish Canada as a key trade and investment partner. Canada has signed more than 20 trade deals in the past year as Carney seeks to double non-US exports over the next decade. Nevertheless, nearly 70% of Canadian exports still go to the US. Recent efforts include a January visit to Beijing and an agreement reducing tariffs on electric vehicles and canola, despite concerns about Chinese interference in Canadian elections. Turkey is seeking investment in its defense industry, nuclear power and mining sectors. The two countries began negotiating a free-trade agreement at a NATO summit in July, when Turkey also agreed to join Canada’s Defence, Security and Resilience Bank as a founding member. Turkey has discussed potential nuclear power plant projects with Canadian, South Korean and Chinese companies. Canada also removed weapons-export controls on Turkey in 2024, including controls on optical technology used in drones. The visit also raises questions about the balance between economic engagement and human-rights concerns. Turkey’s crackdown on opposition figures and arrests targeting LGBTQ+ people have drawn criticism. Experts say Carney must pursue economic opportunities while maintaining Canada’s stated role in promoting equality. Ankara maintains that its judiciary is independent and denies that legal proceedings are politically motivated.

China and Djibouti have called for all countries to enjoy freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, expressing concern about worsening security in the area. Their foreign ministers issued the position in a joint statement after meeting in Beijing. The statement said merchant ships’ rights to navigate under international law should be respected and that the sovereignty, territorial integrity and wishes of Red Sea coastal states should be taken into account when the region is governed and secured. It also cautioned against actions that increase regional security risks. The statement said China supports Red Sea littoral states in maintaining the safety and smooth flow of international shipping lanes. It added that outside powers should respect regional countries’ sovereignty and territorial integrity and avoid using force or imposing unilateral sanctions. The article does not identify specific measures either country will take to secure shipping. The call comes amid fighting in Yemen between Iran-backed Houthi forces and Saudi-backed government forces. The Houthis have sought control of Yemen’s Red Sea coast, and the conflict has disrupted some shipping. Djibouti lies across the Bab el-Mandeb Strait from Yemen and is strategically situated near the Red Sea entrance. China opened its first overseas military base there in 2017; the country also hosts US, Japanese and French bases. The article connects the statement to a wider escalation in regional conflict, reporting that the US State Department ordered some diplomats and family members to leave its missions in Saudi Arabia following an escalation of fighting in Yemen. The statement reflects the two governments’ stated preference for protecting maritime navigation while avoiding a further increase in regional tensions.

Microsoft reported that a Chinese-linked hacking group it tracks as Storm-0940 used ARTEX, an open-source penetration-testing framework with AI automation capabilities, in a global campaign targeting hundreds of organisations. The activity involved compromising ConnectWise, an IT services company, and was linked to its Cloud Backup service. ConnectWise chief executive Manny Rivelo said that, based on Microsoft’s analysis and evidence available to the company, a China state-aligned group appeared responsible. ConnectWise contained affected application connections and began restoring services in controlled phases. Rivelo cautioned that these measures would not remove unauthorised access that may already have been established in individual customer environments; those tenants require separate review. Microsoft said ARTEX can work with different AI models and automate penetration-testing tasks, including reconnaissance and data exfiltration. Although penetration testing can be legitimate, the framework can be configured to perform autonomous operations. The reported targeting spanned a broad range of industries and institutions, including aerospace, defence, finance, government, manufacturing, technology, media, energy, legal services, think tanks and non-profits. Microsoft said most of the targeting was unsuccessful. Nevertheless, Storm-0940 obtained privileged cloud persistence at many organisations in a short period. This means the group gained high-level access that could remain in place even after cleanup efforts, raising the possibility that affected organisations may need to investigate their own environments beyond the remediation of ConnectWise’s service. The Chinese Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Beijing regularly denies conducting or condoning cyber-enabled data theft.

Managers at the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southeastern Ukraine said a driver at the station was killed on Wednesday after two consecutive days of Ukrainian drone attacks. According to a statement posted on Telegram, buses transporting employees to and from the facility were attacked on both days. The managers described the strikes as deliberate and said they posed a direct threat to the staff responsible for keeping the plant operating. Russian forces seized the plant, which has six reactors and is Europe’s largest nuclear power station, in the early weeks of Russia’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Since then, Russia and Ukraine have repeatedly accused each other of military activity that could endanger nuclear safety. The report presents the latest claim from the plant’s Russian-installed management; it does not include a response from Ukraine. Russia has in recent months accused Ukraine of targeting sites and services connected to the facility, including transport. Russia’s state nuclear corporation, Rosatom, said that a Ukrainian drone attack on a service car in July killed the plant’s chief engineer and the car’s driver. Enerhodar, the nearby city where most plant employees live, has also frequently been targeted. The managers’ report of the driver’s death comes as the plant and its supporting infrastructure remain exposed to conflict-related risks. Rosatom said the previous week that a truce mediated by the United Nations’ International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was in place to permit repairs to a thermal power station that supplies electricity to the nuclear plant. The article reports the managers’ account and the Russian allegations without independently establishing responsibility for the attacks.

NATO will allow Ukraine to purchase weapons, ammunition and other military equipment through the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA), according to a report by the Financial Times. The arrangement could help Kyiv obtain defence supplies more quickly and at lower cost by giving it access to NATO’s established procurement system and industrial base. Jacqueline Borsboom, the NSPA’s director of support to operations, said the agency could offer Ukraine a more structured procurement framework, expertise and support services. The reported move comes as relations between Ukraine and the United States have worsened. The article attributes the deterioration to US President Donald Trump’s announcement of a diesel export deal with Russia in October, intended to lower US fuel prices. Ukraine has also complained of disruption to some intelligence sharing and to its use of the Starshield satellite system. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said those issues may be resolved following a meeting in Oslo on October 20. The article presents the procurement arrangement as a potential way to improve the speed and affordability of Ukraine’s military supply access, while noting it occurs amid uncertainty in Kyiv’s relationship with Washington. It does not provide further details about the arrangement’s implementation, the types or quantities of equipment Ukraine may buy, or when purchases could begin.

Walmart is preparing to let customers use third-party AI agents to shop on its website, taking a more open approach than rival Amazon. Announced on Oct. 21, the retailer’s “Agent Profiles” will allow each AI assistant to be registered as a separate profile in a customer’s Walmart account, keeping its purchases distinct from the customer’s own orders. Customers can require approval for every purchase or authorize an agent to buy independently up to a spending limit, such as US$50, US$100 or US$200. Profiles can be deleted at any time. Walmart compared the setup to adding an authorized user to a credit card and said the feature would launch within a month. AI agents can perform multi-step tasks, including product searches, price comparisons and purchases, rather than simply answering questions like chatbots. Major technology companies—including OpenAI, Google, Anthropic and Meta—are investing in agents, which many in the industry view as a potential next phase of the AI boom that followed ChatGPT’s 2022 launch. Meta’s Muse, available in the United States and Canada, had been downloaded more than 10 million times, according to Sensor Tower analysis of third-party data. Anthropic introduced a preview of Claude Duet, an agent that works across connected apps and can make purchases with user approval; OpenAI launched its always-on Dots agents in September. Amazon has chosen a contrasting strategy. It blocks outside shopping agents, including Meta’s Muse, while promoting its own tools, such as Alexa for Shopping and Buy for Me. Amazon has also moved to restrict agents from Google and OpenAI. In a separate legal action, it sued Perplexity in November 2025, alleging the startup used its Comet browser agent to make purchases covertly on Amazon’s marketplace. The article presents Walmart’s move as part of a broader contest over how AI agents will participate in online shopping.

The Straits Times’ “While You Were Sleeping” roundup covers five international stories published on Oct 22, 2026. First, analysts say a deal announced by US President Donald Trump for Russian diesel exports is unlikely to reduce high global prices because the promised supply is too limited to ease a broader shortage. Diesel prices have risen during the US-Israeli war on Iran, creating a political challenge for Trump and Republicans ahead of US midterm elections. Critics also warn that easing sanctions could provide revenue to Moscow while doing little for consumers. Second, Russia released Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old retired American teacher who had been detained since 2022. The release followed talks involving Trump envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian President Vladimir Putin, but Witkoff’s praise of Putin drew criticism from lawmakers in both US parties because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The third story reports that Pope Leo will not need additional treatment after surgery to remove the lower lobe of his right lung. Doctors said the tumour had not spread, though it remained uncertain whether he would make a planned November visit to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru. Fourth, PHP developers released four patches addressing two critical vulnerabilities after the security flaws caused concern among website operators and contributed to government websites going offline. The developers also acknowledged delay in addressing another previously identified flaw. Finally, Manchester United lost 4-1 to Como in the Champions League. United captain Bruno Fernandes said the team failed to apply sufficient pressure and displayed a “mood of defeat” after conceding in the second minute. The result intensified scrutiny of manager Michael Carrick. Together, the brief reports highlight energy markets and geopolitics, diplomacy, health, cybersecurity and football.

A NewsGuard study says X’s Community Notes system failed to flag most false claims about the US midterm elections. The watchdog identified dozens of election-related posts containing falsehoods, including bogus allegations of election fraud, but only 13 received Community Notes. NewsGuard calculated that 93.1% of the false claims it identified went unflagged, and said the uncorrected posts had attracted millions of interactions ahead of the Nov 3 elections. Among the examples was a post by a conservative commentator falsely claiming that New York and California had made it illegal for voters to show identification or for officials to ask to see it. NewsGuard also said Elon Musk, who has 241.5 million followers on X and has promoted Community Notes as an effective system, had advanced at least four false election-related claims that received no notes. X did not respond to AFP’s request for comment. The article places the findings in a wider debate over crowdsourced fact-checking. Research suggests Community Notes can help address some misinformation, such as false claims about vaccines, but may be less effective on contentious topics without broad agreement. Researchers have also warned that contributors’ partisan beliefs could lead them to target political opponents. Social media companies increasingly see community-driven notes as an alternative to professional fact-checking. Meta ended its US third-party fact-checking programme in 2025, with CEO Mark Zuckerberg citing concerns about excessive censorship—a claim professional fact-checkers reject. Meta has since begun testing its own Community Notes-style system in 16 Spanish-speaking Latin American countries, without announcing when it might become official. Meta’s Oversight Board has said such notes are not an adequate replacement for fact-checking.

The Bank of Korea kept its policy rate unchanged at 3% on Thursday, as economists had expected, following two consecutive rate increases. The central bank said it would assess the effects of those hikes and monitor domestic and international risks, including uncertainty related to the Middle East conflict and the monetary and fiscal policies of major economies. The decision does not necessarily indicate that the tightening cycle has ended. Inflation remains above the BOK’s 2% target: consumer prices rose 2.9% year over year in September, marking the 13th consecutive month at or above target. Governor Shin Hyun Song has said the central bank will maintain restrictive policy until it is confident inflation is returning to target, noting pressure from both rising costs and demand. The BOK also highlighted continued growth in housing-related loans and a renewed acceleration in home-price increases in Seoul and surrounding areas, as President Lee Jae Myung calls for a major effort to expand housing supply. Economist Gareth Leather of Capital Economics expects the BOK to raise rates once more at its next meeting, pointing to a strong economy and persistent inflation. South Korea’s growth has been supported by semiconductor exports amid demand linked to the artificial-intelligence boom. September exports rose a record 83.7% from a year earlier, while semiconductor shipments increased 263%. The IMF forecasts full-year 2026 growth of 3.3%; GDP grew 3.8% in the first quarter and 3.7% in the second, both above expectations. Following the decision, the Kospi fell 1.23%, while the won strengthened slightly against the dollar to 1,326.1.

China’s benchmark CSI 300 index entered bear-market territory on Thursday, falling 20% from its June peak. The index, which tracks 300 large companies listed in Shanghai and Shenzhen, has declined for 10 consecutive weeks and was down 2.6% for the week at the time of publication. The prolonged sell-off reflects continuing pressure on Chinese equities. Market commentators point to structural and economic challenges. Jordan Cvetanovski of Pella Funds cited years of overinvestment and excess capacity, which have contributed to intense competition and shrinking corporate profit margins, even in globally competitive sectors such as batteries. China recorded its weakest industrial-profit growth of the year in September, while second-quarter economic growth was the slowest in more than three years. The property downturn and persistently weak consumer demand are among the pressures on the economy. Shaun Rein of China Market Research Group expects additional selling as geopolitical uncertainty, worries about an artificial-intelligence bubble and falling consumer confidence weigh on investors. He also noted that retail investors account for a much larger share of trading in China than in major markets such as the United States, potentially increasing volatility when individuals rush to sell. With property and labor markets weak, Chinese investors are increasingly seeking wealth preservation through safer assets such as time deposits. However, Rein described the sell-off as excessive, citing resilient exports and signs of property-price recovery in major cities. He characterized the moment as a crisis of confidence rather than an economic crisis and forecast a strong rebound in Chinese equities in 2027. Daniel Gerard of State Street Markets also pointed to potential upside, saying China’s developing artificial-intelligence capabilities could attract global investors before company earnings recover.

India plans to introduce a national data center policy as U.S. technology companies invest billions of dollars in digital infrastructure across the country. The move follows growing public opposition to some projects over concerns that data centers could compete with households and businesses for electricity and water, and place pressure on land and local infrastructure. Amazon’s project near Mumbai has drawn residents’ objections over fears it might receive priority access to resources during shortages. In Visakhapatnam, environmental activists are seeking cancellation of permissions for Google’s planned $15 billion AI and data center project. The government says it wants India to remain attractive to hyperscalers while avoiding higher electricity costs for consumers. Amazon says it is engaging with local communities, does not use water for cooling, and does not draw electricity from the local distribution network serving homes and businesses. Google did not respond to CNBC’s request for comment. Experts see the proposed policy as a shift from simply encouraging investment toward weighing investment against infrastructure readiness and sustainability. A framework issued by government think tank Niti Aayog calls on local authorities to assess projects according to grid readiness, water availability, local safeguards, and public value, with faster approvals reserved for projects that meet those conditions. Industry representatives say national rules could make approvals more consistent and help address land acquisition and fragmented state-level processes. Although the central government has offered tax incentives, including 20-year tax breaks, state governments ultimately make decisions about land, water, and power. Experts caution that states should direct projects to locations with reliable electricity, water, cooling infrastructure, and connectivity, rather than competing to announce large investments in places already facing resource constraints.

Meta reported a strong third quarter in its first earnings period since launching the Muse AI agent. Revenue rose 26% year over year to $64.6 billion, beating analyst expectations by more than $1 billion. Diluted earnings per share were $3.83, but included a $9.89 billion legal settlement charge related to teen addiction litigation; excluding that charge, EPS would have been $7.40. The article says the unusual range of analyst EPS estimates makes comparisons difficult, while investors appeared more encouraged by the revenue result and company guidance. Meta shares rose 2% after hours. The main focus is Muse’s early adoption and potential to generate revenue. CEO Mark Zuckerberg said more than 10 million people in the U.S. and Canada had set up personal agents within six weeks, and roughly a quarter of those users used Muse on a given day. Shopping is its leading use case, with more than 25% of users engaging in agent-led shopping. The article views retention and early payment activity as encouraging, while emphasizing that Meta must scale the service, grow revenue, and improve compute efficiency. Its planned monetization includes transaction fees from e-commerce, paid tiers for power users, and business services. Meta also plans to sell high-margin AI inference through its Enterprise Platform and related products. Zuckerberg expects compute cost-efficiency to improve more than tenfold over the next year. Meta’s existing advertising business is presented as a financial foundation for continued AI investment. Facebook and Instagram saw record engagement, Threads reportedly surpassed X in monthly active users, and WhatsApp recorded a high in messages sent. Ad prices increased 14%, though ad impressions grew more slowly and daily active people missed expectations. Reality Labs lost $4.13 billion; the article notes the loss was below expectations but greater than a year earlier, and cites a forecast of $15 billion in operating losses in the year ahead. Overall, the piece is optimistic about Muse and Meta’s prospects while acknowledging execution, cost, and forecasting uncertainties.

Southeast Asia’s generative AI adoption has grown rapidly, reaching about 243 million people in under three years, or 58% of the region’s working population, according to a report by Google, Temasek and Bain & Company. Adoption has moved four times faster than mobile internet did, but only 1% to 2% of the population pays for personal AI subscriptions. Bain partner Florian Hoppe argues that this gap does not mean AI lacks commercial value: companies can monetize it indirectly by improving business operations and the products and services they offer. Businesses are using AI to increase e-commerce conversion, answer routine customer questions and let employees concentrate on other work. The technology can also influence purchases even when consumers do not pay for AI directly. Shopee, for example, handles about 80% of customer queries with AI chatbots, reducing its cost per customer contact by 30% year on year. Early business examples cited in the report include conversion rates rising 10% year on year and average spending per order increasing by as much as 75%. AI-powered advertising is also improving targeting and increasing clicks and conversions. The report describes consumers in the region as experimentally minded and pragmatically optimistic about AI. Seventy-five percent of users would let AI agents find the best prices and complete purchases, while 62% say they trust AI tools more than they did a year ago. However, individual AI use remains well below U.S. levels, at about 10% per person. These trends accompany growth in Southeast Asia’s digital economy, projected to reach $368 billion in gross merchandise value this year and exceed $1 trillion by 2035. AI-related opportunities span e-commerce, travel, digital advertising, streaming, ride-hailing and food delivery. The report forecasts growth across these sectors, suggesting that AI’s regional economic impact may come chiefly through enhanced services and business productivity rather than paid consumer subscriptions.

Sovereign wealth fund investments in mainland China and Hong Kong rebounded sharply in the first nine months of 2026, reaching $14.2 billion—nearly 190% more than the $4.9 billion invested during all of 2025. The recovery follows a 54% decline in 2025, when geopolitical tensions and worries about China’s economic outlook discouraged investors. Gulf funds were central to the rebound: Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund invested $6 billion, Abu Dhabi Investment Authority $2.5 billion, Mubadala $800 million and Qatar Investment Authority $600 million. Together, the four accounted for nearly 70% of sovereign fund investment in the two markets. Investors are looking for opportunities in Chinese technology, biotechnology, consumer businesses and advanced manufacturing, while reassessing whether geopolitical concerns have overshadowed the potential returns. Granite Asia’s Jenny Lee said investors increasingly ask whether they are missing out. She cited China’s manufacturing base, research facilities and biotechnology capabilities as possible advantages in developing practical AI applications such as robotics and drug discovery. Mubadala sees China as a priority for Asian consumer investments, citing lower valuations, the scale of the consumer market and the potential for household spending and Chinese brands to grow. In September, it made a minority investment in Luckin Coffee as part of a roughly $1 billion deal with Centurium Capital. Qatar Investment Authority and Norway’s sovereign fund participated in Alibaba’s $10.2 billion share offering, while Temasek has highlighted biotechnology, consumer brands and AI hardware. Temasek also invested in optical-components maker Zhongji Innolight’s July IPO. Indonesia’s Danantara is exploring deeper cooperation with China in AI, robotics, healthcare and energy efficiency, building on existing links in nickel processing and battery manufacturing. Despite the rebound, China and Hong Kong remain a modest destination for sovereign capital compared with Western markets: the U.S. attracted $132.4 billion in the first nine months of 2026, while Europe and the U.K. received $44.6 billion.

Tesla reported third-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of 48 cents per share and revenue of $28.05 billion, exceeding LSEG analyst estimates of 43 cents and $27.9 billion. Despite the beat, its shares fell more than 3% in extended trading; the stock was down 14% for the year and lagging other megacap technology stocks. Revenue was roughly flat year over year. Automotive revenue declined 3% to $20.56 billion, while energy revenue fell 16% to $2.88 billion. Services and other revenue rose 33% to $4.61 billion. Tesla attributed pressure on automotive revenue and profits to lower average selling prices and difficulty obtaining enough batteries to meet orders. Net income attributable to common shareholders fell 29% to $787 million. Tesla connected the weaker profitability and cash flow to increased investment in Optimus humanoid robots and other AI projects: capital expenditures more than doubled to $3.73 billion, while free cash flow dropped 62% to $1.53 billion. The report also covered Tesla’s autonomous-driving and robotaxi plans. Active FSD subscriptions rose 67% year over year to 1.74 million, and the company said FSD was helping drive demand where available. Tesla expects to give some customer cars access to FSD (Unsupervised) around the second quarter of next year. Its driverless Robotaxi fleet includes Model Y vehicles and Cybercabs authorized for driverless operations in Texas; Elon Musk expects the business to begin affecting company finances in 2027 and become more significant later that year. Musk offered no new details about a possible Tesla-SpaceX merger, after saying the companies’ boards had formed special committees to consider a tie-up. Tesla also described progress and remaining technical challenges with Optimus, and cited record auto sales in several markets. Its competitive position faces pressure from Chinese EV makers, while deliveries were about 2% below the year-earlier level.

James Talarico, the Democratic nominee for a U.S. Senate seat in Texas, publicly challenged Elon Musk after the billionaire posted on X, “There is something deeply wrong with Talarico.” Talarico replied that the problem was a political system in which a trillionaire could effectively buy a senator. Earlier Wednesday, during a campaign speech at the University of Houston, Talarico accused Musk of funding attack ads and messages against him and argued that Musk wanted Texas land, water, taxpayer money, and political influence. He urged voters to reject those efforts in the Nov. 3 election, declaring that “Texas is not for sale.” The exchange followed reports that Musk donated $158 million in September to the Senate Leadership Fund, a Republican super PAC. The funds went to Texas PAC, which supports Republican nominee Ken Paxton, the state’s attorney general. Musk also contributed $10 million to Lone Star Liberty PAC, another group backing Paxton. The article notes that polls showed Paxton trailing Talarico when Musk made the donations. Talarico’s campaign reported raising $64 million in the third quarter, which it described as a record third-quarter total for a Senate candidate. Paxton’s campaign raised $18 million during the same period. Paxton defeated incumbent Republican Sen. John Cornyn in the party primary earlier in the year. Paxton’s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The article presents the dispute as part of a closely watched Texas Senate contest shaped by prominent outside spending and sharp personal attacks.

British Indian property developer Nirpal Singh Riat has had his OBE revoked by King Charles, following allegations about the condition and legality of properties he rented out in west London. The Cabinet Office said the honour was forfeited for “bringing the honours system into disrepute.” Riat received the OBE in 2011 from Queen Elizabeth II for services to charity and the Punjabi community. In 2023, Hounslow Council described Riat as a rogue landlord in connection with his management of 22 properties. The council alleged that tenants were living in appalling conditions and that he had illegally converted a property into flats and rented out an outbuilding without permission. The council took him to court, and judges imposed a fine of £300,000, approximately Rs 3.8 crore. Riat told The Times of India that he disputes some of the allegations and considers them fabricated. He said a Hounslow councillor had lobbied the honours forfeiture committee, which operates within the Cabinet Office, to withdraw his honour. After being notified of the matter, his lawyer wrote to the committee to challenge the claims, but Riat said he received no response. He also said he had not pursued the matter vigorously because he did not expect the decision to go this far. Riat’s case follows the 2024 removal of honours from two other British Indians: Anil Bhanot, managing director of Hindu Council UK, and Tory peer Rami Ranger. Like Ranger, Riat regards the forfeiture process as unfair and opaque. Ranger recently won the right to a judicial review of the decision to strip him of his CBE. Riat said he is planning to seek a judicial review as well. Born in Nairobi, he attended school in Jalandhar from ages 11 to 14 before moving to the UK.

A 650-acre ranch on Lake Palestine in Henderson County, East Texas, is set to become a state park after the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation purchased it for more than $10 million in October 2026. The Pollard family had owned the property since 1940, and it has been associated with their Texas Pecan Nursery business as well as generations of family gatherings, pecan growing, hunting and fishing. The sale will convert a privately held landscape into a public destination, though the land will not immediately be transferred to the state or opened as a fully developed park. The property is about 18 miles west of Tyler and 20 miles east of Athens. It features roughly 2,000 feet of lake frontage, pine forest, native grasses, a pecan orchard, a lake reaching about 58 feet deep and approximately 10 ponds. Wildlife includes white-tailed deer, bobcats and waterfowl. Officials see potential for boating, paddling, swimming, fishing, hiking, camping and day-use facilities, while also protecting the site’s habitat and other ecological features. The foundation will hold the property until the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department can acquire it, a transfer anticipated for late 2027. This interim ownership gives the state more time to prepare and allows money in the Centennial Parks Conservation Fund to earn interest. Voters approved the $1 billion fund in 2023 to support park acquisition and development. The foundation’s role also helped secure the land while the state’s process continued. Once the state takes ownership, access is expected to begin gradually with guided visits, followed by day-use facilities and eventually overnight stays. The department plans habitat restoration and public consultation on development. The sale gives the Pollard family a way for a place tied to its history to serve the wider public, while offering Texas an opportunity to preserve a large, largely undeveloped stretch of lakefront.

Actor Emma Stone bought a Spanish-style home in the Comstock Hills area of Westwood, Los Angeles, for $2.3 million in 2019. Built in 1926, the two-storey residence covers about 3,276 square feet and has four bedrooms and four bathrooms. Stone renovated the property, expanding the kitchen and adding a detached guesthouse while retaining architectural details associated with the home’s period design. The house was listed for $3.995 million in January 2024 and reportedly attracted a buyer in less than 10 days. Realtor.com later reported that it sold for $4.3 million—$305,000 above asking—in February 2024. That sale price was about 87% higher than the reported 2019 purchase price, but the article cautions that the difference is not a confirmed profit because renovation costs, taxes, transaction expenses and other costs are unknown. The home combines Spanish Colonial influences and contemporary design. Features include a cream exterior, green gate and shutters, arched doorways, hardwood floors, exposed beams, a curved staircase and a tiled courtyard. The renovated kitchen has white cabinetry, a farmhouse-style sink, a turquoise range and vaulted ceilings. A detached guesthouse adds a living room, kitchen, bedroom suite and laundry facilities, providing a separate space for visitors or other uses. The property’s gated setting, outdoor areas and proximity to the Los Angeles Country Club and UCLA were also highlighted in listing coverage. The article places the sale among Stone’s other real-estate transactions, noting her Malibu home purchase and its later sale. It presents the Westwood transaction as an example of an older home gaining market appeal through renovation and added living space, while distinguishing the increase in sale price from the owner’s net financial return.

A relative of the late Subway co-founder and philanthropist Peter Buck has purchased the former Dandy Foods warehouse on Mill Plain Road in Danbury, Connecticut, for $6.75 million. The 4.8-acre property was developed by entrepreneur Albert Salame and remained in his family for three generations. After Salame died in 2023, his family began selling portions of his real estate holdings. Swampfield LLC, which is connected to a private member of the Buck family, completed the warehouse purchase in March 2025. The new owners plan to spend a further $1.8 million restoring the warehouse, which they intend to keep in use for warehousing rather than redevelop for another purpose. Danbury’s planning and zoning department has approved plans for a 10,000-square-foot office building attached to the warehouse. The offices will support Buck family charities, land holdings and related enterprises, as well as property management. Site improvements include landscaping, a sidewalk and formalized parking; the city also requires the owner to remove six empty semi-trailers from the front lawn. No tenants have yet been announced for the warehouse’s larger space. The project is presented as a continuation of Peter Buck’s ties to Danbury. Buck, who co-founded Subway with Fred DeLuca in 1965, was a major local philanthropist and died in 2021. The transaction is also part of the broader sale of the Salame family’s properties: in 2025, the family sold the nearby Maron Hotel for $5 million and a building housing Stop & Shop for $16 million. Mill Plain Road is a busy commercial corridor, carrying an average of 14,000 drivers daily. Local economic development adviser Farley Santos described the investment as a sign of confidence in Danbury’s economy. The article characterizes the combined $8.5 million purchase and renovation as a plan to modernize an established commercial property while preserving its industrial function.

During a visit to Pakistan, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu called for an early resumption of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) summit process. Speaking in Islamabad, he said the Maldives was ready to consult with other member states and work toward restarting Saarc, arguing that sustained dialogue, trust and understanding could strengthen regional cooperation. His remarks came during the first visit by a Maldivian president to Pakistan in more than a decade. The Saarc summit process has been stalled since the 2016 meeting planned for Islamabad was cancelled following the Uri terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir. The last summit took place in Nepal in 2014. India has said regional cooperation through Saarc requires an environment free of terror and has placed responsibility on Pakistan to help create those conditions. Indian officials have also accused Pakistan of obstructing regional integration. In a response to Muizzu’s earlier remarks in July, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India supports strong regional cooperation but that the causes of Saarc’s stagnation are clear to South Asian countries. Muizzu has previously advocated reviving Saarc. In his independence day speech that year, he offered to mediate between India and Pakistan to help advance talks for an early leaders’ summit. The article notes that the Maldives, Bangladesh and Nepal have periodically called for the summit’s revival. The Pakistan visit also produced the signing of 20 memoranda of understanding between the two countries, including agreements on defence and maritime cooperation—areas the report says may concern India. The article presents Muizzu’s call against the backdrop of long-running regional tensions and the opposing positions of India and Pakistan on restarting Saarc.

A Texas dispute over a $1,950 security deposit followed Blake Vaughn’s family’s departure from a rental home in Tarrant County. Vaughn had paid the rent and deposit, although the occupants were his mother and two brothers. Landlord Albert Li claimed the property needed repairs and sent Vaughn an itemized list of deductions, including carpet, painting, locks, landscaping and fixture work. The claimed charges exceeded the deposit by $1,649.35, but Vaughn and his mother disputed responsibility for several items, particularly the carpet and pre-existing damage. The disagreement also concerned events on the final day of the tenancy. Li said he found the home open with belongings inside and discovered that its locks had been changed. He changed a lock himself and moved some possessions outside while preparing the home for prospective renters. Vaughn’s mother said she returned to retrieve belongings, including a medical device, but could not enter; messages also raised concerns about missing or damaged possessions. Li arranged for the remaining items to be collected on May 3, 2022. The case proceeded through a justice court and then Tarrant County Court at Law No. 3. Vaughn asserted, among other claims, improper withholding of the deposit, retaliation and unlawful lockout. Li pursued contract and smoke-alarm claims. The trial court allowed Li to keep $1,069.68 and ordered him to return $880.32 to Vaughn. It found insufficient evidence of bad faith and awarded court costs to Li. Vaughn appealed, contesting the denial of attorney’s fees and costs, the award of costs to Li and the ruling on his statutory lockout claim. The article reports that the Second Court of Appeals of Texas upheld the judgment in June 2026. The supplied article text ends mid-sentence before giving the appellate court’s full reasoning.

Welsh explorer Ash Dykes’s support team briefly lost contact with him during a 434-mile journey through the Congo Basin, prompting concern among supporters. Dykes, 35, is travelling from Nola in the Central African Republic to Mossaka in the Republic of Congo through a remote region where reliable communications are limited. On Wednesday, October 21, a team member named Matt posted on Instagram that more than 16 hours had passed since the team last heard from Dykes and his companions. The team said it would share news when available. About five hours later, the team reported that it had reached Dykes through a Garmin satellite device. The interruption followed the loss of power to his Starlink connection and power bank. The Garmin could support only short messages when a signal was available, so videos and regular detailed updates were not possible until the equipment could be recharged and a stronger connection restored. The renewed contact offered some reassurance, but did not eliminate the practical risks or communication constraints of the expedition. The Congo Basin trip is part of Project Six, Dykes’s larger undertaking comprising six expeditions. He has shared online footage of the physical demands of his journeys, including long-distance kayaking and encounters with large insects. The article notes that preparation cannot prevent equipment failures, sudden changes in conditions, or the difficulty of obtaining help in unfamiliar, isolated terrain. Dykes has previously spoken about the uncertainty of adventure travel. In comments to People, he acknowledged that anything could happen, while saying his experience helped him anticipate situations and that he believed he could bring the group back safely. The article concludes that the expedition remains demanding and that supporters will be looking for further updates as he continues through the Congo Basin.

Ireland’s lower house of parliament, the Dáil, voted 79 to 71 to approve legislation removing the United Nations approval requirement for overseas deployments of Irish military peacekeepers. The change would eliminate the UN step in the country’s “triple lock,” which currently requires approval from the government, parliament and the UN before more than 12 members of the Defence Forces can be sent abroad. The bill would also raise from 12 to 50 the number of soldiers who could be deployed without parliamentary approval. The government says Ireland needs to be able to respond to international crises without waiting for the UN Security Council, whose five permanent members—China, France, Russia, Britain and the United States—can exercise vetoes. Prime Minister Micheál Martin described the Security Council as “paralysed” and said the changes are intended to let Ireland continue its peacekeeping tradition, not weaken its military neutrality. Ireland is not a NATO member, and its small Defence Forces have traditionally taken part in international peacekeeping missions. Opposition parties argue that the triple lock is a cornerstone of Ireland’s longstanding military neutrality and that removing it could bring the country closer to NATO and other military structures. Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald accused the government of dismantling important safeguards and warned that Ireland could be drawn into EU military structures, alliances and further NATO alignment. She called for a referendum, saying that proceeding without public consent would be a “profound betrayal.” The legislation passed despite these objections, making the vote a significant and controversial change to the rules governing Irish overseas deployments.

Real Madrid beat RB Leipzig 4-1 on Wednesday to record their third consecutive victory in the Champions League league phase and extend their winning run across all competitions to four matches. Bernardo Silva opened the scoring late in a closely contested first half, finishing after Arda Guler’s attempt was blocked. Guler then doubled Madrid’s lead in the 52nd minute, turning in Kylian Mbappé’s header after Jude Bellingham’s cross. Mbappé scored the third with a curling finish, and Yan Diomande completed the victory with a powerful volley into the top corner. Leipzig’s Tidiam Gomis scored their only goal between those two finishes. Mbappé has scored in all three of Madrid’s European matches this season and has 12 goals in 12 appearances overall. He said he was in a good moment but believed he could still do more, while emphasizing the importance of winning enough matches to finish among the league phase’s top eight. The result gives Madrid a perfect European record so far and confidence ahead of Sunday’s La Liga Clasico against Barcelona. Manager Jose Mourinho nevertheless played down the relevance of confidence in such a fixture and noted that Madrid would have 24 fewer hours of rest than Barcelona. The article also describes Vinicius’s role and mood after being substituted for Diomande with 20 minutes remaining. Vinicius is serving a four-match La Liga ban and will not be available again until November 4. Mbappé encouraged him to stay calm and confident, while Mourinho said he was happy with the Brazilian’s performance. Leipzig had threatened early, but Thibaut Courtois made an important save. Madrid controlled the scoring late in the match, with Diomande’s goal marking his third in four appearances.

The France 24 program “Eye on Africa” previews several major stories across the continent, led by the continuing war in Sudan and its growing regional consequences. The description reports that a drone strike in Abyei reportedly killed 153 people, underscoring the conflict’s devastating toll. The program also features an interview with the UN envoy for Sudan, conducted after an emergency international meeting on the escalating crisis. The supplied text does not identify the envoy or provide details of the meeting, the strike, or the conflict’s wider effects. The broadcast also turns to public health concerns. Health authorities are preparing to coordinate a response after Ebola cases emerged in Nigeria and cases increased in Kenya. No further information about case numbers or specific response measures is included in the provided article text. A third segment revisits Cameroon’s deadliest railway disaster, ten years after the event. Families of the 79 victims are still seeking justice and say their suffering has not been acknowledged. The program description does not name the disaster or explain the status of legal proceedings. Overall, this is a short program preview rather than a full report: it outlines three stories—Sudan’s war, Ebola cases in Nigeria and Kenya, and ongoing calls for recognition and justice in Cameroon—and indicates that the broadcast will address them through reporting and an interview with the UN envoy. The page lists Georja Calvin-Smith and Guillaume Gougeon as producers and credits them, along with Bastien Renouil, in its byline.

France 24 host François Picard speaks with former US Assistant Secretary of Defense Jim Townsend and Michael (Mikey) Weinstein, a former Air Force officer and founder of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, about the direction of US foreign and defense policy under the Trump administration. The discussion connects three concerns: reported limits on Ukraine's access to Starlink satellite communications, the administration's engagement with Vladimir Putin, and the growth of Christian nationalist ideology in the Pentagon and armed forces. Townsend argues that disrupting satellite communications is not merely a technology dispute but a means of putting pressure on Ukraine. He questions whether Elon Musk acted independently of the White House and characterizes the relationship between Trump and Putin as one in which two strongmen flatter one another to pursue their own aims. In his view, their transactional dealings increase pressure on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and put Ukraine's sovereignty at risk. Weinstein warns that promoting Christian nationalism within the military could undermine cohesion, constitutional principles, and the Pentagon's institutional integrity. He says the damage is generational, while Townsend adds that removing experienced senior officers has deprived the department of expertise that may take a generation to replace. Weinstein says his organization represents more than 100,000 current and former service members and describes the administration's ideological project as an attempt to replace the constitutional democratic republic with an autocratic form of Christian nationalism. The guests' assessments frame a broader question: whether these policies are simply changing US strategic priorities or are also altering the foundations of American military power and challenging the constitutional principles that the military is meant to defend.

The France 24 live report, issued on October 22, 2026, says French police banned protests in parts of Paris as officials prepared for possible further demonstrations after severe street unrest. The restrictions followed clashes during protests over the cost of living and rising fuel prices, which the article describes as among the worst street unrest in years. The report also says President Emmanuel Macron appeared to accuse US President Donald Trump of using the violence for political gain ahead of the US midterm elections. The brief “key developments” section says France was bracing for another weekend of protests involving high school students and the Yellow Vest movement. Paris police had prohibited a student protest planned for Thursday, with a police source telling AFP that organisers were unable to prevent violence and vandalism. Separately, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu was due to meet mayors from cities badly affected by the weekend’s riots, including Paris, Marseille and Lyon. The supplied page content is incomplete: after the brief report and source attribution, it displays a “Page not found” notice rather than the promised liveblog updates. As a result, it provides no further details about the protest ban’s precise boundaries, the number of arrests or injuries, the planned meetings, or Macron’s remarks. The article’s central focus is the authorities’ response to unrest and the prospect of renewed demonstrations, with a secondary political dimension involving Macron’s criticism of Trump. The available text is a short news update rather than a complete liveblog.

Airbnb has changed its house-rule policies to limit the cleaning and other tasks hosts can require of guests. Under the revised guidelines, hosts may set seven standard house rules and add other reasonable requests, but guests who pay a cleaning fee should generally not be expected to do work normally handled by a cleaner. Examples include stripping beds, taking rubbish offsite, and washing and putting away dishes. The rules apply to reservations booked on or after 20 November. Airbnb said it redesigned house rules after hearing that guests found them confusing, burdensome, and difficult to manage. The company says property rules will be shown more prominently and included in reservation reminders. Contracts between hosts and guests will be permitted only in limited situations, such as where required by law or homeowners association rules. Hosts cannot impose fines under the policy, though they retain control over their rules and requests. Airbnb may flag requests it considers non-compliant, and hosts will be able to appeal decisions. Exceptions may be allowed in circumstances such as local drought-related water restrictions, when guests might be asked to limit shower time. The policy responds to long-running guest complaints about demanding checkout chores, particularly when guests are already charged cleaning fees. The article also describes viral TikTok videos by Georgia-based Airbnb hosts Cassie and Jon, who film detailed inspections of their rental after guests leave. One video criticized guests for leaving a television remote out of place. The couple faced criticism for strict rules and high standards, but said their content had been misinterpreted. Their videos have also prompted other creators to parody overly stringent hosts.

New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez has filed a civil lawsuit against Jeffrey Epstein’s longtime lawyer, Darren Indyke, and accountant, Richard Kahn. The suit accuses the men of helping conceal sexual abuse and trafficking connected to Epstein’s Zorro Ranch near Santa Fe, and of profiting from the operation. Indyke and Kahn, who are co-executors of Epstein’s estate, deny knowing about or facilitating his crimes. Their attorney, Daniel Weiner, said they emphatically reject the allegations, have cooperated with investigations, and expect to prevail. He also criticized the prosecutor for not speaking with them before filing what he called a baseless lawsuit. Filed on Wednesday under the federal Trafficking Victims Protection Act and New Mexico Racketeering Act, the case is separate from the state’s criminal investigation into Epstein, which was reopened in February. Torrez said the defendants are obstructing survivors’ efforts to obtain compensation from Epstein’s estate, valued at about $635 million when he died. He argued that the remaining assets should go to survivors rather than people alleged to have enabled the abuse. Epstein named Indyke and Kahn co-executors in August 2019, two days before his death in jail while awaiting trial on child sex-trafficking charges. He had revised his will to place his wealth in a trust administered by the two men. As executors, they agreed to fund compensation packages for survivors, but those who accepted payments were barred from taking further legal action against Indyke and Kahn personally. Other claims remain unresolved. The men may also receive tens of millions of dollars each as trust beneficiaries, depending on what remains after claims are settled. Torrez said Epstein’s crimes required assistance from handlers and professional advisers, and that his death does not end efforts to hold alleged enablers accountable. The defendants maintain that the allegations against them are false.

Starbucks China will require customers to buy something before sitting in its cafés, a policy taking effect Thursday across its approximately 8,000 stores. The company says the rule is intended to improve the in-store experience, amid reports of people occupying seats without ordering. Images and videos of “purchase to sit” signs circulated on Chinese social media, where many users welcomed the change, saying non-paying customers can make it difficult for purchasers to find seats. The policy comes as Starbucks faces competition from Chinese coffee chains, especially Luckin Coffee, which sells cheaper products and has a strong app-based ordering system geared toward takeaway. Luckin overtook Starbucks as China’s largest coffee chain in 2023. The article places the new rule in a broader context of Starbucks stores addressing customer behavior: a Sichuan location drew attention after chaining up outdoor tables and chairs, while Starbucks in South Korea has asked customers not to bring bulky items that occupy seats. In North America, the company also reversed its open-door policy, which had allowed people to use stores and toilets without buying anything, saying it wanted to prioritize paying customers. China is Starbucks’ second-largest market, having become a major part of the business since the chain opened its first Chinese store in 1999. Starbucks has also announced plans to sell a 60% stake in its China business to investment firm Boyu Capital in a $4bn deal. Separately, Starbucks China said it plans to invest in additional staffing and improved digital systems so customers receive timely, welcoming service during busy periods.

Vice-President JD Vance has defended a controversial campaign advertisement targeting Amy Acton, the Democratic candidate for Ohio governor, and criticized Republicans who have objected to it. The ad features Acton’s estranged mother, Donna Arthur, accusing her daughter of lying throughout her life. It does not disclose that Arthur’s husband, Cledith Arthur, was charged with raping Acton when she was a child. Acton and her brother were removed from their mother’s custody after the arrest in 1978; the family later left Ohio, and Cledith Arthur was never prosecuted. He died in 2004. Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy’s campaign initially released the ad without identifying its sponsor, then confirmed responsibility and pledged $4m to air it. The ad has provoked criticism from both parties. Acton’s brother, Philip Stearns, condemned the use of the family’s alleged abuse as a political issue in a response ad. Republican figures including former presidential candidate Nikki Haley, Senator John Husted and Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose also criticized or distanced themselves from the spot. Asked about its appropriateness, Vance said it was not his concern and described himself as disgusted by Republicans who were focusing on the ad rather than Democratic policies. At a rally, he defended Ramaswamy’s decision to call Acton a liar. Donald Trump said he knew little about the advertisement, while commenting on the mother-daughter conflict. Political science professor David Lublin told the BBC that political attacks have grown more intense and that this ad crossed a line because the estrangement concerns a rape allegation rather than policy. He said attack ads often aim to discourage opponents’ supporters from voting, rather than persuade them. Lublin expects the advertisement could backfire and may reflect a campaign trying to shift momentum. The race has become increasingly competitive: the Cook Political Report moved it from “leans Republican” to “toss up,” although Ohio has not elected a Democratic governor in more than two decades.

Two women from Austria and Switzerland who were abducted in Niger in 2025 have been freed after more than a year in captivity, according to multiple reports. They were reportedly flown to Benghazi, in eastern Libya, on Thursday. Austrian authorities identified their citizen as Eva G., who is in her 70s. The Swiss woman, identified by media outlets as 69-year-old Claudia Abbt, had not been publicly named by Switzerland’s foreign ministry. Eva G. was abducted in the central Nigerien desert town of Agadez in January 2025, while Abbt was taken in April. Reports did not establish who held the women or what demands the captors made. Libya’s al-Masar TV released a video showing the two women after their release. They appeared physically weakened and thanked Khalifa Haftar, deputy commander-in-chief of Libya’s armed forces, and his son Saddam. Haftar reportedly oversaw the operation that secured their freedom. In the video, Eva G. said she had been held hostage for “a year and nine months,” while Abbt said she was “happy to be free.” DW noted that it had not independently verified the footage. The report places the release in the context of Libya’s political and geographic circumstances. Libya and Niger share a long border through the Sahara, with Algeria and Chad bordering the area on either side. Libya has remained politically unstable since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that toppled Moammar Gaddafi. Two administrations currently contest authority: a UN-recognized government led by Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah and a rival eastern administration backed by Haftar.

The youth initiative “Gen Z regelt” (roughly, “Gen Z’s Got It”) has called for mass demonstrations in 21 German cities on Saturday, October 31. The planned protests include Berlin, Cologne, Hamburg and Munich, and thousands of people are expected to attend. Organizers say the demonstrations will address a range of concerns: struggling schools and austerity, the cost of living, social injustice, military conscription and climate change. The plans come amid unrest in France, where protests that began with student frustration over the national school system grew to include unions and other groups voicing grievances on multiple issues. Those demonstrations were marked by violence and extensive damage to public and private property. The article notes that images of unrest in France, Italy and Spain have prompted concern among German policymakers and police that protests in Germany might also be disrupted or taken over by extremists. Gen Z regelt’s website says the initiative opposes all violence, including violence against people or property. Police have described themselves as “vigilant and relaxed” and say they intend to protect the right to assemble and express opinions. Andreas Roßkopf, head of the German Federal Police’s GdP union, nevertheless warned that police would respond firmly to riots. He also cautioned that radicals or extremists might join demonstrations to attack police or cause destruction. The article therefore presents the planned protests as a largely peaceful initiative while highlighting authorities’ concerns about possible escalation.

Pope Leo XIV will not need additional cancer treatment after surgery to remove a tumor from the lower lobe of his right lung, according to his doctors and the Vatican. Final histopathology and molecular tests found that the tumor was a lung adenocarcinoma and that the disease was localized. A subsequent oncological assessment concluded that no further treatment was necessary, confirming earlier indications that the cancer had been detected at an early stage. The pope, 71, underwent surgery at Rome’s Gemelli hospital on October 13 and was discharged on Saturday. He has said he will resume his activities gradually. His surgeon also said there was no clinical reason to cancel a planned November 6–17 visit to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru. The demanding trip is expected to involve a dozen flights, two helicopter rides and stops at high altitude. The diagnosis had caused concern within the Catholic Church because prolonged treatment, such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy, could have affected Leo’s ability to lead the church. The article also notes that the pope’s public disclosure of his illness marked a departure from the tradition of secrecy around papal health. He first told followers during the traditional Sunday blessing on October 11 that a lung nodule would be surgically removed.

Paris police have prohibited gatherings on Thursday near several major sites, including the presidential palace, the Bastille, parliament buildings, the Louvre and the Champs-Elysees. The restrictions apply from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time, as France prepares for further demonstrations following violent unrest the previous weekend. The protests began with students objecting to high prices and calling for education reform, but escalated when masked rioters looted shops and clashed with police. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez acknowledged that authorities had “lost control” and had not anticipated the scale of the violence. More demonstrations are expected in Paris over the weekend, and Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu has promised a large security deployment. The unrest has become a subject of political dispute in France and abroad. US President Donald Trump blamed “migrants, jihadists, and communists” and said they had devastated the country. He also claimed he had warned French President Emmanuel Macron about immigration, but that Macron had refused to close France’s borders. Macron, speaking during a visit to Qatar, accused unnamed leaders of campaigning at France’s expense and suggested that Trump and possibly Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were seeking political advantage from the crisis. Macron also said information about the unrest had been manipulated, including through AI-generated images showing events that never occurred. He rejected claims that France had been invaded by migrants and Islamists, calling those claims false and criticizing comments by foreign leaders as unacceptable and “stupid.” Marine Le Pen, Macron’s far-right rival, rejected his explanation as conspiratorial. She argued that images of the protests showed the “sad reality” of France after ten years of Macron’s rule. Le Pen is described as the favorite for the 2027 presidential election, with far-left candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon following her.

The article compares the European Union proposals of Marine Le Pen’s French National Rally (RN) and Alice Weidel’s Alternative for Germany (AfD). Both leaders oppose deeper integration, want to reduce the authority of EU institutions, reject common EU debt, seek lower national contributions to the EU budget, and oppose continued financial support for Ukraine. Neither party currently advocates leaving the EU; instead, they describe a future bloc organized around sovereign nation-states. The article notes that both parties are in strong electoral positions, with the AfD leading polls in Germany and Le Pen polling strongly ahead of France’s 2027 presidential election. Their proposals diverge most sharply on fiscal policy. Le Pen supports EU-level tax harmonisation and wants the European Central Bank to give greater consideration to growth, employment and innovation. The AfD rejects transferring fiscal authority to EU institutions and insists that the ECB focus on price stability. On energy, both criticise the Green Deal and support nuclear power, but Le Pen backs a carbon border tax and linking EU budget contributions to countries’ emissions. The AfD argues that states should have unrestricted freedom to choose their energy mix, including coal, gas, nuclear and renewables. Both parties would curtail the European Commission’s authority. Le Pen would also abolish two advisory bodies, while the AfD questions the European Parliament’s legitimacy and proposes replacing direct elections with delegates appointed by national parliaments. Their strategies differ as well: Le Pen anticipates a broader political realignment after elections in several European countries, whereas the AfD identifies the 2029 European elections as a pivotal opportunity. If institutional reform fails, the AfD proposes German opt-outs from EU policies, including free movement, migration, defence and taxation. The article concludes that these competing plans could weaken the Franco-German partnership and significantly reshape the EU.

AirAdvisor has ranked the world’s most extravagant airline experiences for 2026, looking beyond conventional first-class seats to amenities available in the air and before boarding. Its assessment considered only experiences that could be verified through official airline or airport sources, and excluded private aviation, discontinued or not-yet-public offerings, and standard perks such as lounge access and lie-flat seats. Experiences were scored out of 100 for extravagance (35%), rarity (25%), privacy and exclusivity (20%), scarcity of access (10%), and features that go beyond the seat (10%). The research was based on information available in September 2026 and allowed no more than two experiences per airline. Etihad Airways’ The Residence took first place with 98 points. The three-room suite includes a bedroom, an ensuite shower and a separate living room. Before departure, guests can also receive home or hotel check-in, chauffeur transfers and a personalised airport welcome. Emirates’ A380 Shower Spa ranked second (91), offering first-class passengers a dedicated shower room with a vanity, changing area and heated flooring. SWISS’ First Grand Suite placed third (88); created by combining two adjoining first-class suites, it provides a private space for up to three people that can be used as a bedroom, office or meeting room. The remaining top ten are Air France’s La Première, a private 45-square-metre suite before boarding; Singapore Airlines’ Suites, with separate seating and a double bed; Lufthansa’s Allegris Suite Plus, which converts into a double bed for two; Japan Airlines’ A350-1000 First, featuring a 1.23-metre-wide suite, minibar and 43-inch screen; Emirates’ A380 Onboard Lounge, a cocktail bar in the sky; Qatar Airways’ Al Safwa First Lounge, which offers a thermal jacuzzi before boarding; and Virgin Atlantic’s Retreat Suite, where up to four people can dine together. AirAdvisor’s CEO describes luxury travel as an “arms race,” while noting that many of the most distinctive amenities remain rare and are restricted to particular aircraft or routes.

Euronews presents its morning news bulletin for 22 October 2026, updated at 7:00 GMT+2. The page describes the video as a brief roundup of important stories from Europe and elsewhere, covering world affairs, business, politics, culture, entertainment and travel. It says the newsroom aims to provide context for understanding a fast-moving news day and characterizes its reporting as independent and informed by a European perspective. The page itself does not give details of the bulletin’s individual reports, so it is not possible to determine from the supplied text which specific stories were featured in the video. The surrounding webpage lists other videos and news headlines, including coverage of fighting near Taiz in Yemen, protests in Greece, a storm in eastern Spain, a Revolut outage, energy policy, and political developments in Europe. These appear as related or recommended content rather than as a transcript or confirmed contents of the morning bulletin. The central purpose of the page is to introduce and provide access to Euronews’s daily video news roundup.

El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele says his country has launched a military operation to rescue four Salvadoran aviation technicians kidnapped in Haiti. The men disappeared on Sunday after gangs attacked an armoured vehicle in the Santo area of Croix-des-Bouquets, near Port-au-Prince. They escaped from the burning vehicle but have not been seen since. The incident is described as the first major attack on the international gang suppression force since it began operating in Haiti. Bukele warned Haitian gang leaders that the attack would be followed by a much stronger response if the four technicians were not returned alive and unharmed. He said El Salvador would take no further action if they were safely released, but did not clarify which forces might be involved in any escalation. He also emphasized that El Salvador’s contingent is assigned to medical evacuations and consists of pilots and technical personnel, not combat forces. Haiti’s government called the rescue an “absolute priority,” saying officials had met to review operations and coordinate with the Gang Repression Force. It said all necessary resources were being mobilized, although authorities had not confirmed whether the hostages were alive. The force’s spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment. The kidnapping highlights the security challenges in Haiti, where gangs are estimated to control about 70 percent of Port-au-Prince, as the country prepares for its first general election in more than a decade. El Salvador is among several countries contributing to the multinational force, alongside Chad, Jamaica and Guatemala. The force has more than 2,000 troops in Haiti. The UN authorized a mission of up to 5,550 security personnel and over 50 civilian staff in 2025, and the Security Council extended it for at least six months, through March 2027. El Salvador also passed a law in early October extending its participation by a year and broadening its mandate beyond medical evacuations to allow personnel to be deployed according to the mission’s needs.

An Irish public service announcement encouraging grandparents to seek consent before hugging their grandchildren has prompted criticism from Councillor Gavin Pepper and mixed reactions online. The 25-second video was released by We-Consent, a project of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre supported by Ireland’s Department of Justice and Department of Children, Disability and Equality. Its message is that not everyone wants a hug, even from loved ones, and that asking first may be awkward but important. The video contrasts a child who welcomes a hug with another who appears uncomfortable as her grandparents approach. Pepper said children should learn about personal boundaries and should never be forced into physical contact. However, he argued that the campaign lacked common sense and risked portraying a loving hug from a grandparent as strange or suspicious. He also criticized what he described as government and nonprofit efforts to change traditions, emphasizing the importance of Irish culture and family relationships. The campaign’s circulation on social media drew sharply negative comments from some users, who questioned the use of public funds and the decision to approve the advertisement. The article says the video does not appear on We-Consent’s social media platforms, though it is unclear whether it was removed or when that might have happened. Councillor Lorraine Hall defended the ad, saying critics were interpreting a figurative advertising message literally and arguing that creative advertising can be effective. We-Consent and the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre did not immediately respond to the newspaper’s request for comment.

El Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele says his government has launched a military operation to rescue four Salvadoran aviation technicians abducted in Haiti. The men disappeared after fleeing an armored vehicle that gangs attacked in the Santo area of Croix-des-Bouquets, near Port-au-Prince. Bukele demanded that they be returned alive and unharmed, warning that El Salvador would mount a more forceful operation if they were not. It remains unclear whether he meant further action by Salvadoran troops or by the wider international security force operating in Haiti, and there has been no confirmation that the hostages are alive. Haiti’s government called the abducted soldiers’ release an “absolute priority” and said officials met to assess operations and coordinate with the Gang Suppression Force. The U.N.-backed force is continuing operations in the area and has advised residents to remain indoors. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, which is the first major assault since the international force began its work. The incident highlights the reach of gangs, which control an estimated 70% of Port-au-Prince, as Haiti prepares for its first general election in more than a decade. El Salvador is one of several countries contributing to the force, which has more than 2,000 troops in Haiti. El Salvador initially sent 5,550 security personnel and over 50 civilian staff in 2025. A law passed in early October extended its participation for a year and authorized military and civilian deployments according to the mission’s needs, beyond the medical evacuation role previously specified. The U.N. Security Council extended the multinational force’s mandate by at least six months, through March 2027. The article cites U.N. figures showing nearly 1.5 million people displaced by gang violence in recent years, more than 5,700 killed or injured from January to mid-September, and over 230 kidnapped. Gangs active in the area include Chèn Méchan, Kraze Barye, and 400 Mawozo; their leaders have been sanctioned by the U.N. and the United States.

United Nations and Swiss officials met in Geneva on Wednesday with representatives from nearly two dozen countries to discuss a plan for ending Sudan’s war. Neither side in the conflict—the Sudanese military nor the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces—was represented. The meeting was the sixth effort to identify a path toward a ceasefire and a transition to a peaceful government. Swiss State Secretary of Foreign Affairs Alexandre Fasel said the conflict, which began in April 2023 and has entered its fourth year, has changed significantly. He described it as increasingly a drone war that kills mostly civilians, and warned that famine-like conditions continue in Darfur, Kordofan and other parts of Sudan. Fasel also expressed concern about cross-border effects and the conflict’s potential to destabilize neighboring countries and the wider region. UN special envoy for Sudan Pekka Haavisto said efforts must focus on ending the war, reducing the suffering of Sudanese people, and protecting their right to peace, security and dignity in a united Sudan. He said Sudanese people, both inside the country and across the region and beyond, have consistently called for the fighting to end. The war has caused what the UN describes as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. More than 34 million people need support, tens of thousands have been killed, and about 11 million have been displaced. The talks focused on finding a political and humanitarian pathway forward, but the absence of the warring parties means the article does not report any agreement or ceasefire outcome.

Yemeni government forces and allied Popular Resistance fighters clashed with Houthi fighters on the western outskirts of Taiz on Wednesday, 21 October, near the old airport and Jabal Han mountain. The internationally recognised government said its forces repelled the attack and reported air strikes against Houthi positions, vehicles and a missile launchpad in areas west, south and east of the city. Video footage showed a government tank firing towards Houthi positions as gunfire sounded nearby. The fighting adds to pressure on Taiz, Yemen’s third-largest city, which Houthi forces have largely encircled. Key supply routes have been cut, including the main road connecting the city to Aden, the interim capital of the internationally recognised government. The restrictions have also prevented access to Taiz’s main landfill. Sanitation workers say clashes have kept them from reaching the site, so they have been burning rubbish in the streets. Footage showed waste burning alongside busy roads, smoke over neighbourhoods and goats feeding among the rubbish. Aid agencies said fuel shortages were disrupting water pumps, hospitals and waste collection, compounding concerns about disease outbreaks. The article describes how military pressure and interrupted services are affecting daily life and public health in the city. One resident summed up the dangers facing people in Taiz: “If we don’t die from Houthi shelling, we’ll die from this rubbish.”

The article examines Ukraine’s dependence on SpaceX’s Starlink and Starshield satellite networks, particularly for operating drones in its war against Russia. Starlink provides civilian and general military internet access, while Starshield is a more secure, military-grade service licensed by the U.S. government. Both use SpaceX’s large constellation of low-Earth-orbit satellites, and the article says Ukraine has no comparable alternative at present. Ukraine reported that Starshield equipment began imposing speed restrictions on October 13. Dishes on drones traveling above certain speeds reportedly lost their connections, causing aircraft to fall and disrupting missions. Ukrainian officials said they had not been warned. The restrictions affected drones used for mid-range strikes and for intercepting Russian Shahed attack drones; a Ukrainian drone analyst estimated the losses at tens of millions of dollars. Reports about whether the limits were lifted have conflicted, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy saying the service remained limited and that Secretary of State Marco Rubio would work to address the problem. The article describes the networks’ broader battlefield role: they support drone communications, connect sensors and weapons, and provide general communications for Ukrainian forces and civilians. SpaceX has supplied Starlink service since Russia’s 2022 invasion, and U.S. contracts have expanded Ukraine’s access to Starlink and Starshield terminals. Russia had also used Starlink until SpaceX cut off its access in February, after which Ukraine reportedly gained territory. Responsibility for the restrictions remains disputed. CBS News reported that Musk was behind the disruption, but the article says it is unclear how any decision was implemented. Musk denied controlling the military network and said limits are decided by the U.S. military and the president. Trump and Pentagon officials denied ordering a deliberate slowdown, while Rubio said the government does not control private-company decisions, distinguishing Starshield’s U.S. military contract from ordinary commercial service.

Pope Leo XIV will not need additional treatment for lung cancer, the Vatican announced Wednesday, after follow-up tests on tissue removed during surgery confirmed that the cancer was localized and had not spread. The 71-year-old pope had the lower lobe of his right lung removed the previous week. The operation, the first major health event of his 17-month pontificate, confirmed adenocarcinoma, the most common form of lung cancer. Leo was discharged from Rome’s Gemelli Polyclinic four days after the surgery and said he would gradually return to his duties. The pope’s physician, Dr. Luigi Carbone, and surgeon Dr. Stefano Margaritora said the final post-operative tests confirmed the diagnosis and found no evidence that the cancer had spread. A subsequent oncology assessment determined that no further treatment was necessary. In general, additional treatment may be considered if tests show spread to lymph nodes or other signs that a cancer could be particularly aggressive. Surgery can be sufficient when a tumour is detected very early. Margaritora said the lung nodule was discovered by chance during routine abdominal examinations, and that Leo had no symptoms. Dr. Stephen Liu, a lung cancer expert at Georgetown’s Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, said the information suggested stage I cancer, for which surgery is often highly effective and expected to be curative. Leo continued conducting business while hospitalized, including a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Since surgery, he has appeared at two public events at the Vatican, including the traditional Sunday blessing and a longer Wednesday audience, where he thanked people for their prayers. His next major engagement is a Nov. 6–17 trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru. Margaritora said there was no clinical reason to prevent the trip, despite its flights, helicopter rides and high-altitude stops. Leo had disclosed the planned surgery during a televised Sunday blessing on Oct. 11, departing from the customary secrecy around papal health.

AIPAC, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, says it will stop endorsing political candidates, making direct contributions from its political action committee, and earmarking funds for candidates. The pro-Israel organization will nevertheless continue influencing elections by mobilizing individual donors and supporting its affiliated super PAC, United Democracy Project, which can raise unlimited amounts and make independent expenditures. AIPAC began direct political involvement five years ago. Its growing role has drawn mounting resistance, especially during the current midterm election cycle. The article links that backlash to criticism of the group’s positions on the wars in Gaza and Iran, shifting public opinion about the U.S.-Israel relationship, and opposition from both the political left and right to candidates who accept AIPAC support. Some candidates endorsed by the organization have said they would not accept its money. In a letter to members, AIPAC said the challenges it faces will grow and described a plan to increase organized contributions from individual Americans. The group also said it intends to support Republicans and Democrats advancing policies that strengthen the U.S.-Israel alliance and oppose what it calls anti-Israel legislation. Spokesperson Deryn Sousa told NPR that AIPAC’s mission and strategy remain unchanged, noting that members gave candidates more than $90 million directly during the cycle and that such giving will continue and increase. Federal Election Commission filings show AIPAC contributed nearly $25 million to candidates and political committees through September 30, 2026. United Democracy Project contributed $13 million and spent another $53.5 million on independent expenditures. The super PAC has backed pro-Israel candidates and opposed candidates critical of Israel. Its recent spending includes efforts against Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed; in the primary, it supported his opponent, Representative Haley Stevens. The Michigan contest is one of several high-profile races in which AIPAC has spent to support politicians it considers pro-Israel or oppose others.

North Korea says it is preparing to resume propaganda broadcasts along the entire border with South Korea, with loudspeakers potentially operating within days. The warning was issued by Kim Yo-jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, after she inspected border fortifications. Her latest statement, carried by state media on Thursday, followed an announcement a day earlier that the broadcasts would resume sometime in October. Both Koreas have used large border loudspeakers for propaganda. North Korea has broadcast unsettling animal-like sounds, while South Korea has used K-pop and news critical of Pyongyang. A resumption would be the first exchange of loudspeaker broadcasts in 16 months. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung halted the South’s broadcasts shortly after taking office in June 2025, and the military dismantled the speakers that August. Seoul’s defence ministry said it would respond proportionally if the North restarted its broadcasts, though it had made no decision. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff had observed routine maintenance of North Korean loudspeakers. Relations have worsened since a landmine explosion south of the military demarcation line injured three South Korean soldiers in September. Seoul and the UN Command, which oversees the 1953 armistice, attributed the mine to North Korea and called it an armistice violation. Pyongyang denied responsibility and described the incident as a “self-staged farce.” The dispute is unfolding alongside North Korea’s broader border fortification campaign. Since Kim Jong-un described the two Koreas as “two states hostile to each other” in December 2023, North Korea has laid mines, installed barbed wire and built anti-tank barriers. Kim Yo-jong said the border had been transformed into a more complete fortress and quoted her brother as saying it should remain a permanent line that must never be crossed. Seoul says North Korean troops have repeatedly crossed the demarcation line during construction, prompting South Korean warning broadcasts and shots. North Korea has condemned those responses as provocations.