British news agency owned by Thomson Reuters, global reach
Ukraine has reported that SpaceX has imposed speed limits on its Starlink/Starshield terminals, disrupting drone and missile-defence operations during fresh Russian strikes. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged Elon Musk to restore full service; Musk has said the US government controls military Starshield limits and that any curbs are decided by the US military and the president.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have returned to the UK, visiting Nottingham for a series of charity engagements. The couple, now private citizens, are engaging with community groups and raising concerns over security and media attention as they resume public life from California. The visits mark a renewed public profile while highlighting ongoing tensions with Buckingham Palace over status and protection.
Jeffrey Donaldson, once a leading Northern Ireland politician, has been sentenced to 15 years for 18 counts of sexual abuse against two women who were children at the time. The conviction, in June, includes one rape. The case triggered political fallout and emboldened scrutiny of party conduct.
A Washington Post photographer has been attacked by masked settlers while covering olive harvesting near Abu Falah and Turmus Ayya in the central West Bank. Heidi Levine has been hospitalised with broken vertebrae and other injuries after assailants reportedly kicked and robbed her. Israeli forces and police have opened investigations and international bodies have condemned the assault.
Thousands of students and supporters have taken to Tirana's streets since Tuesday, demanding Prime Minister Edi Rama's resignation over alleged corruption, high education costs and a Kushner-linked coastal development. Riot police have used water cannon and tear gas, hundreds have been injured, and authorities have detained scores of people as unrest spreads to other Albanian cities.
Mauritius has shortened its overnight curfew to 10 p.m.–4:30 a.m. after days of protests over water shortages and the cost of living that escalated when a police officer shot and wounded a 27‑year‑old woman. Authorities have arrested the officer, detained dozens of people and closed schools and public transport as they increase deployments and checkpoints.
President Trump has announced that Russia will immediately release 300,000 tonnes of diesel to global markets, followed by further shipments in November and beyond. The White House has temporarily licensed Russian diesel exports and suspended related sanctions until April, triggering bipartisan criticism, questions about legal conflicts with recent sanctions and doubts from analysts about the deal's ability to lower U.S. pump prices before the midterms.
The United States has announced sweeping sanctions that bar transactions with the International Criminal Court, freeze any ICC assets in US jurisdictions and give US companies six months to wind down business. The measures follow earlier targeted sanctions on ICC judges and officials and come as Nobel judges awarded Navi Pillay the 2026 Peace Prize.
FIFA has fined Spain $20,000 and ordered 15% of seats at Spain’s next home friendly to be closed after Spain fans chanted “Whoever doesn’t jump is Muslim” during a World Cup warm-up in Barcelona. The chants were condemned, and measures were taken to identify those responsible.
Brand, a 51-year-old British entertainer and former husband of Katy Perry, faces multiple rape, sexual assault and indecent assault charges involving six women from 1999 to 2009. He denies the allegations and the trial at London’s Southwark Crown Court is expected to last six weeks, with all victims granted lifelong anonymity.
Iran is bolstering defenses around sensitive sites and mobilising civilian support in the run-up to potential renewed US strikes after the November midterms. Reports say Tehran has warned regional actors of retaliation and is preparing its population for war, while the US and allied forces position for possible renewed hostilities.
The United States has struck a deal to receive hundreds of thousands of tons of Russian diesel to the global market, while U.S. diesel prices stay elevated ahead of midterm elections. Analysts warn the move will not guarantee relief at the pump, as global markets and refinery capacity shape prices. Zelensky condemns the plan as a gift to Putin.
Measles has surged nationwide with thousands of cases reported this year. Pennsylvania leads with over 1,000 cases and several deaths. The CDC is coordinating investigations while states expand vaccination outreach and seek federal aid to bolster surveillance and immunization efforts.
Thousands of young protesters, led by the Cockroach Janta Party and student groups, have staged near-daily rallies demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar resign after a Special Intensive Revision of voter rolls removed about 130 million names. Authorities have deployed tens of thousands of police in New Delhi, detained movement leaders and opposition figures, suspended mobile internet and closed rail and metro links to block access to protest sites.
Latvia has declared a persona non grata a Russian commentator based on material from authorities, with officials citing national security reasons. The move follows prior expulsions of Russian cultural figures and signals intensifying scrutiny of Russia-linked voices in Latvia’s public sphere.
Global AI semiconductor stocks have surged on AI infrastructure demand, but fresh data show a pullback in memory-chip names as CXMT’s advances raise questions about yield, scale and margins. Investors are reassessing pricing power and the durability of AI-driven demand.
Trump has asserted productive discussions with Iran and says the US will not attack Iran before the US midterm elections. Oil prices fluctuate as Gulf tensions persist. Iran signals it will respond in coming days to a new US proposal on reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
SpaceX has clarified that Starshield is a government-owned military network built on Starlink’s satellite backbone, while Starlink remains a civilian commercial service. The Pentagon is a major customer for Starshield, and Britain and New Zealand are evaluating the system. SpaceX warns that not sharing orbital data by other operators increases collision risk as global satellite constellations expand.
Lisa Cook’s lawyers have told the White House that a November 5 hearing cannot proceed because she will be performing Federal Reserve duties in Europe and preparing for the December FOMC meeting. Attorney Abbe Lowell has also warned that the White House committee is biased, citing members’ prior comments and unspecified additional allegations that must be disclosed before any fair hearing.
Kenya has confirmed its first Ebola case linked to the Bundibugyo strain from the Democratic Republic of Congo. A Kenyan national who traveled from DRC via Uganda to Nairobi has died. Authorities are tracing contacts and strengthening border screening as the outbreak expands across the region.
Democrats and civil rights groups have raised alarms about a proposed Trump administration rule that would exclude noncitizens from the census count, potentially altering representation and federal funding. The rule, posted in September, invites public comment until Nov. 2 and is expected to face litigation as opponents warn it could shift power to areas with fewer immigrants.
Witnesses say Eritrean troops have crossed into Ethiopia’s Zalambessa, aiding rebels as fighting heightens along the northern border. Addis Ababa denies incursion and has urged UN action. The conflict has reignited a war that left hundreds of thousands dead in 2020-22, with regional powers and sea access at stake.
A 17-person team from Purdue University and ALI is conducting a five-day search at Nikumaroro to locate the Taraia Object, suspected to be Amelia Earhart’s Electra wreckage. The mission faces threats from large coconut crabs and extreme weather as it advances to map a potential site, with plans to return next year if evidence is found.
Ukrainian drone strikes have knocked out several major Russian data centers, disrupting services across Russia as Kyiv’s response to Russian attacks intensifies. Yandex experiences outages, with European-style AI centers and supercomputers affected; Moscow and regional authorities report ongoing disruption containment and retaliation efforts.
The Federal Trade Commission and seven states have asked a federal judge to hold ex-pharma executive Martin Shkreli in contempt for allegedly violating a 2022 lifetime ban by trading pharmaceutical stocks and discussing the industry in livestreams since his release from prison.
Leaders push for stronger domestic funding as Africa faces fiscal strain and a shift toward locally led health systems. Amref calls for predictable aid and primacy of primary care to protect services amid climate shocks, conflict and disease in 2026.
President Trump has posted that "massive" oil, gas and mineral exploration is "getting ready to begin" in Greenland after a security agreement between the US, Denmark and Greenland. Danish and Greenland authorities have said the deal did not change resource rules and that large-scale drilling or mining is not authorised.
William Chapman, 23, has died after entering a tiger enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park. President Trump has shared footage of the incident and an AI-generated video, drawing sharp criticism from Chapman's family and other commentators. Authorities are investigating the incident; the park remains closed.
Netflix has announced a major round of job cuts, affecting its product, tech, legal and human-resources teams. The company says it remains on track to meet its full-year forecast, with around 16,000 employees at year-end and renewed emphasis on high-impact areas amid a competitive streaming landscape.
Inflation has accelerated, driven by energy prices tied to the Iran war. The CPI rose 3.7% year over year in September, with core CPI at 2.6% and a 0.6% monthly gain. Gasoline costs jumped sharply, while shelter and other services show persistent strength. Markets anticipate further Fed actions.
The UN has set up a taskforce to move fertilisers through the Strait of Hormuz. Moreira da Silva says activation could come within seven to 10 days if Washington and Tehran agree. Five vessels per day could keep fertiliser flowing to countries in need, while a broader deal on navigation remains pending.
A six-seat Piper plane traveling from Kenosha to Menomonie has crashed near Mirror Lake State Park in Dellona, Wisconsin. All six occupants have died. Weather concerns included rain and a thunderstorm; investigators will examine icing reports and descent communications to determine the cause.
The Justice Department has filed a lawsuit to prevent California from counting mail-in ballots of individuals flagged as likely noncitizens, arguing citizenship status must be verified before ballots are counted. California officials say the department provided no verifiable methodology and demand “unprecedented measures” risk voter rights ahead of the midterms.
Lula da Silva’s campaign has accused Meta of restricting content and limiting reach on Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp ahead of Brazil’s October 25 runoff. Lula’s team cites disappearing profiles and reduced view counts, while Meta denies any political interference and says it complies with electoral rules.
Multiple states have filed lawsuits alleging OpenAI’s ChatGPT poses safety risks to children, including dangerous medical guidance and coercive behaviors. The actions seek changes to how the product works for young users and to surrender profits tied to minors’ usage. OpenAI says safeguards are in place and is engaging with states.
OpenAI alleges a former employee sent Apple confidential files on their last OpenAI day; Apple disputes the claim and says investigations show no evidence. The case, filed in San Jose, is extending into October 2027 with possible countersuits.
US military planners have drawn up options to deploy the GBU-43/B MOAB against Iranian energy infrastructure and underground sites, according to CNN. No decision has been announced; the White House says all options remain on the table. The MOAB’s use would be a major escalation, with uncertain strategic value and significant civilian risk.
A three-story Al-Khair Education Center in central Peshawar has collapsed, killing a teacher and injuring dozens of students. Rescue teams have recovered several bodies and are treating the injured; authorities say the building was structurally weak and an investigation is underway. The incident follows concerns about building safety and regulatory enforcement in the city.
Researchers have published evidence that Israeli ad firm Discover-Tech has sold programmatic ad placements that directed millions of devices to spyware operators, including Candiru. Citizen Lab and Confiant have shown adverts reached hundreds of thousands of sites and apps and were used to identify, track and in some cases infect devices, including at Al Jazeera between 2024 and 2025.
The Justice Department has filed a federal suit in Los Angeles to block counting ballots until citizenship verification is complete after identifying thousands of alleged noncitizens who received mail-in ballots in California.
KFC US restaurants will switch from PepsiCo to Coca‑Cola beverages starting in January, with full rollout expected by Q1 2027. International locations keep PepsiCo. The move aims to refresh the brand’s appeal and support Yum Brands’ US comeback amid shifting consumer tastes and on‑premise beverage competition.
China opens the New Yalu River Bridge linking Dandong and Sinuiju, signaling a revival in Sino-North Korean trade relations. Trade has already rebounded to pre-pandemic levels, with 2025 figures at about $2.7 billion as Beijing eyes deeper economic and people-to-people ties.
The Lions have been shaken by the death of an unnamed player during their stay on Île de Ré. Authorities are investigating, and kickoff ceremonies will honor the player as the team assesses the impact on their European campaign.