A contagious disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 that sparked a global pandemic starting in 2020
A 40-year-old Jefferson County resident has died of complications described as measles-related, the county coroner has announced, bringing Pennsylvania state officials' total to three deaths linked to this year's outbreak. The CDC's public tracker currently shows no measles deaths and federal officials are reviewing whether the Pennsylvania fatalities meet their criteria.
Investors have pushed new biotech winners — from Novo Nordisk’s semaglutide pill to startups tackling baldness and targeted autoimmune drugs — while market enthusiasm has cooled for some forecasts. Novo Nordisk has released a daily weight‑loss pill used by over 1.5 million people; hair‑loss startups have sent small caps soaring; India’s low‑cost GLP‑1 generics have underperformed expectations.
A UK study involving nearly 1 million adults has found that drinking beverages at very hot temperatures is associated with a higher risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). The risk rises with frequency, but overall numbers remain small. Experts urge cooling drinks before consumption and maintaining other protective habits.
Iranian hard-liners have driven a July strike on three vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, derailing a U.S.-backed ceasefire. Mojtaba Khamenei’s absence fuels internal power struggles as the regime confronts renewed conflict and scrutiny over written messages attributed to the supreme leader.
The Seoul court has ruled that North Korea must pay 44.6 billion won in damages over the destruction of the inter-Korean liaison office in Kaesong, a move the South regards as a symbolic judgment in a long-running diplomatic standoff.
Census data shows real median household income has risen to a record $87,460 in 2025, offset by continued disparities: top earners pull away while lower- and uninsured households see limited gains. Women’s pay climbs, but the gender gap remains wide. Health coverage holds steady despite ongoing affordability concerns.
The 81st UN General Assembly High-Level Week is under way as world leaders gather to assess climate action, pandemic preparedness, sea-level rise and progress on the SDGs. The week also marks milestones on development charters and anti-discrimination work, with diplomacy conducted largely behind closed doors.
Granit Xhaka has withdrawn from Switzerland’s Nations League squad after confirming a past vaccination certificate was obtained amid doubts about Covid vaccines. Investigations are ongoing into possible criminal proceedings. Switzerland will play North Macedonia, Scotland and Slovenia during the window.
Ohashi has secured multiple golds at the Asian Games, including a world-record 200m breaststroke and a series of freestyle titles, highlighting Japan and China’s ongoing supremacy in swimming as Tokyo hosts a broader sports programme.
Dolly Parton Day is being celebrated worldwide. Proclamations highlight Parton’s literacy advocacy, with events from Nashville to Manhattan, and charitable book donations through the Imagination Library continuing to broaden access to children’s reading.
Anthropic has expanded its biology lab in San Francisco and bought Coefficient Bio to explore AI-assisted biotech. Leaders say real-life lab work is essential to testing AI-driven theories, while the company faces pushback from customers and industry observers over potential competition and safety concerns.
A laboratory worker at the Irkutsk Anti‑Plague Institute has died after hospitalisation with severe pneumonia; regional officials have placed the hospital under quarantine and put nearly 200 contacts under medical observation. Authorities and Russia's consumer watchdog have said tests are negative so far; local leaders have cancelled public events.
Alberta has voted to remain a province of Canada in a nonbinding referendum held 19 October. Unofficial counts show roughly three‑quarters of ballots favoured staying; about one quarter voted to begin a legal process toward a future binding referendum on separation. Prime Minister Mark Carney and Premier Danielle Smith have welcomed the result; separatist leaders say their movement will continue.
A Russian lab worker has died amid reports of pneumonic plague in Irkutsk. The case has prompted quarantines and widespread monitoring as officials assess risk to the general population. U.S. and international health authorities are watching closely while cautioning that immediate threats remain limited.
Albertans head to a Monday vote on whether to remain in Canada or trigger a future referendum on independence. Premier Danielle Smith and Conservative challengers frame the vote as a test of national unity and economic resilience against U.S. tariffs and global pressures. Pro-independence voices warn of sovereignty loss, while Ottawa emphasizes cooperation with a minority Quebec government.
Multiple outlets report a 28-year-old Irkutsk lab worker has died amid a pneumonia of unknown origin, with authorities probing a suspected pneumonic plague case. International bodies say risk to the wider public remains low, while vaccination and monitoring measures are under way.
Palestinian prisoner rights groups say abuses inside Israeli prisons have intensified over three years of war in Gaza, with hundreds of detainees dead and more than 9,000 still held in harsh conditions. Families report limited access to information and increasing use of video hearings, while activists call for international accountability.
PepsiCo has announced price hikes for certain snacks and beverages in the single-digit range to offset rising costs in fuel, aluminum, and agricultural inputs. Despite earlier price cuts ahead of the Super Bowl, third-quarter results show weaker North American soda sales and a shift toward international growth, with the company guiding modest earnings growth for the year.
Prosecutors have sought a 30-year term for Rohan Rane, head of the CVLT group, who is guilty of extortion and torture against underage victims. The case, linked to a Discord-based network, involves dozens of victims mainly from the US, with investigations stretching across France and the United States.
Florida Governor has withdrawn a death warrant for William Lee Thompson, 74, who was scheduled for execution, while another inmate, James Robertson, is set to be executed. The move comes amid ongoing debate over death penalty practices in the state and follows a botched Tennessee execution where Christa Pike survived lethal injections.
A 28-year-old technician at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute has died after severe pneumonia on Oct. 2. Russian authorities have told the WHO they found no dangerous pathogens in more than 5,000 tests of the worker and roughly 200 contacts, but they have not produced a confirmed diagnosis or released detailed lab results, prompting international requests for transparency.
Homeland Security Investigations has executed a court-authorised search of Representative Ilhan Omar’s Washington, D.C., home on 12 October as part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation. Agents have seized phones, notebooks, a passport and computers; grand jury subpoenas have been issued to some relatives. No charges have been announced.
The Covid inquiry's sixth report says the care sector was treated as an afterthought, with a so-called protective ring around homes not present. It documents more than 43,000 Covid deaths in care settings between March 2020 and July 2022, and warns visiting bans caused lasting harm.
The trial of seven healthcare professionals over Diego Maradona’s 2020 death has concluded, with prosecutors seeking up to 12 years for several defendants and the main doctor insisting he is a scapegoat. Defendants argue the death was not foreseeable and highlight Maradona’s private convalescence at home.
Switzerland has seen captain Granit Xhaka and Breel Embolo cleared to rejoin the national team for November Nations League matches after probation terms were considered; both players faced sanctions for obtaining fake vaccination certificates. The SFV says return is responsible and the coach will name the squad on 5 November.
The Refugee Olympic Team will compete at Dakar 2026 Youth Olympics, marking the first refugee team at the Youth Games. Led by a former refugee and track star, Biel, the team aims to inspire others while highlighting Africa's hosting milestone. The story follows athletes who fled conflict, trained in Kenya and Uganda, and now compete in judo, showing resilience and hope.
Scotland's finances face a forecast £5bn gap by 2029-30 as the Finance Committee calls for transparency; COPFS warns funding cuts could squeeze frontline services, victim support, and cold-case work, while new sexual offences courts are on the agenda.
A wave of partnerships and acquisitions is redefining who executes restaurant deliveries. Uber Eats now partners with McDonald’s in key markets, while Amazon and Walmart expand Prime perks with delivery tie-ins. The shifts intensify competition among DoorDash, Instacart, Uber, and others.
Prime minister Andy Burnham has appointed Dame Madeleine Alessandri as a special representative on climate security and will announce the post at COP31 in Antalya today. The role will task Alessandri with advising the government on national security risks from the climate crisis; Burnham will also back a 35% electrification target for 2035 and mobilise private finance for clean energy.
COP31 in Antalya is accelerating a push for electrification to 35% of global energy demand by 2035, with debates over whether electrification alone lowers emissions and how AI and renewables factor in. A new El Niño is intensifying extreme weather, underscoring the urgency for action.
An ongoing measles outbreak has led to multiple deaths in Wisconsin, New York, and Pennsylvania this week, with CDC tallies reaching the highest level since 1991. Officials warn that underreporting and vaccine hesitancy are shaping the crisis, as health authorities prepare for further developments.
The NHL faces rising streaming costs as Canadian rights shifts push games behind paywalls. Edmonton’s Connor McDavid continues to rack up assists while attendance and access become pain points for fans amid expanded platforms and a CBC broadcast shake-up.
The FAA has maintained a nationwide ground stop since Friday due to a telecommunications outage causing widespread cancellations and delays. Flights have started to resume, but schedules remain disrupted as airlines work to realign aircraft and crews.