A ginkgo planted in Geelong Botanic Gardens in 1859 was named Victoria’s 2026 Tree of the Year. It won 27% of 4,435 public votes and is a popular wedding spot in the gardens.
Key Facts
The National Trust of Australia (Victoria) announced the award on Tuesday.
Geelong’s ginkgo beat eight other finalists.
A smooth bark apple myrtle in Prahran placed second, and an Apollo Bay myrtle beech placed third.
The tree stands 20 metres tall and may be the largest ginkgo in Victoria and Australia.
Its seeds were brought from China, possibly by a ship’s captain stopping at Geelong’s port.
The tree has stalactite-like growths found on older female ginkgos.
The National Trust is calling for stronger legal protection for significant trees and a planning approach that makes tree removal a last resort.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Global stocks rose as investors bought technology shares and awaited earnings reports from major companies investing in artificial intelligence. Asian markets also advanced, led by South Korea’s KOSPI, while oil prices climbed amid continuing conflict in the Middle East.
Key Facts
On Tuesday, the Nasdaq Composite rose 1.18 percent, the S&P 500 gained 0.6 percent, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average edged up 0.03 percent.
Tesla shares rose 4.04 percent; Amazon, Apple, and Alphabet also gained, while Meta and Microsoft fell.
Nvidia rose almost 1 percent after announcing a $3 billion investment in Meta’s equity offering.
On Wednesday, the KOSPI rose 5.84 percent, the Nikkei 225 gained 1.26 percent, and Taiwan’s TAIEX rose 1.32 percent.
SK Hynix reported third-quarter operating profit of 83.33 trillion won, up about 630 percent from a year earlier, and its shares rose more than 8 percent.
Microsoft and Alphabet were due to report results Wednesday, followed by Amazon on Thursday and Apple on Monday.
Anthropic reported a net loss of $80.7 billion on revenue of $16.3 billion in the first half of 2026 in paperwork filed ahead of a planned public offering.
Brent crude futures stood at about $115 a barrel, up 59 percent from before the US-Israel war on Iran began.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Donald Trump and Texas Senate candidate James Talarico held competing rallies in Texas on Tuesday, one week before the midterm elections. Trump held events in Corpus Christi and Lubbock to support candidates.
Key Facts
Trump held two rallies in Texas on Tuesday.
The rallies took place in Corpus Christi and Lubbock.
The events came one week before the midterm elections.
The article describes Trump and Talarico as presenting competing visions.
The trip was Trump's fourth visit to Texas to support candidates.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Syria will reopen the Nassib border crossing with Jordan on Wednesday, restoring regular passenger and commercial traffic after a brief closure. The countries agreed to investigate Jordanian airstrikes in southern Syria that killed at least seven people and to set up a security committee to coordinate responses to militant threats.
Key Facts
Nassib is Jordan’s only border crossing with Syria.
The crossing was briefly closed after Jordan carried out airstrikes in southern Syria on Monday.
The strikes targeted sites Jordan described as ISIL hideouts and killed at least seven people in Deraa and Suwayda.
Five of those killed were members of one family, including three children.
Syria and Jordan agreed to form a security committee to investigate the strikes and improve field and intelligence coordination.
Jordan said the airstrikes responded to a church shooting in Karak, Jordan, on Friday; ISIL claimed responsibility for the attack.
The church shooting killed at least nine people and wounded 34.
Jordanian security forces arrested two brothers and their brother-in-law on suspicion of carrying out the shooting.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Villa Vie Residences suspended the Villa Vie Odyssey’s around-the-world voyage in Cambodia, citing soaring fuel costs. The operator said it was arranging disembarkation and temporary housing for passengers while it spends 60 days on restructuring and recapitalisation; it said no outcome is assured.
Key Facts
The ship left Belfast in October 2024 on a planned 3.5-year voyage covering nearly 150 countries.
The operator said fuel costs per cabin in parts of Asia had risen to as much as $8,000 per month, from $1,800.
The company said it had slowed the itinerary and spent more time in port to reduce fuel use, but those steps were not enough to offset higher costs.
The nearly 200-metre ship can carry up to 650 passengers.
Bloomberg reported, citing the operator’s founder, that around 200 passengers were on board when they were told to disembark in Cambodia.
The voyage was more than 750 days underway when the operator announced its suspension.
Cabin residencies cost between $120,000 and $440,000, and rentals start at $3,500 per month.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Human rights groups urged countries to oppose UAE diplomat Lana Nusseibeh’s bid to become UN secretary-general, citing allegations that the UAE supports Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The UAE denies the allegations, while Nusseibeh says ending the war and supporting accountability for abuses would be priorities for a new secretary-general.
Key Facts
Nusseibeh, 48, is seeking to become the first woman to lead the United Nations.
The UAE has been accused of funding the RSF, which has fought Sudan’s army since 2023; the UAE denies the accusation.
Human Rights Watch head Ken Roth criticized Nusseibeh’s responses to questions about the UAE’s alleged support for the RSF.
Protection Approaches co-director Kate Ferguson questioned whether Nusseibeh would be independent of the UAE government.
Nusseibeh said she had taken leave from her UAE minister-of-state post to respect the independence expected of a secretary-general.
Nusseibeh said the RSF’s abuses should be addressed and called for the conflict to end.
A candidate needs at least nine votes on the 15-member UN Security Council and must avoid a veto by any of its five permanent members.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Israeli television exit polls showed a close race between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc and an opposition bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot, with neither projected to reach the 61 seats needed for a Knesset majority. The article says voters considered Netanyahu’s leadership and his government’s response to the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attacks; official results were still pending and could differ from the exit polls.
Key Facts
Channel 12’s exit poll projected 52 seats for Netanyahu’s bloc and 49 for Eisenkot’s opposition bloc.
Channel 13’s earlier exit poll projected 51 seats for each bloc.
The polls projected Likud as the largest single party, with about 27 seats, compared with 21 for Eisenkot’s Yashar party.
Arab parties were projected to win 19 seats collectively.
Israeli voters elect parties, which then form coalitions; a governing majority requires 61 of the Knesset’s 120 seats.
Eisenkot said the vote signaled a desire for change, while Netanyahu called for a right-wing government and said his bloc had a majority.
Bezalel Smotrich said his party was projected to win seven seats and pledged to continue expanding settlements in the occupied West Bank.
The exit polls were unofficial; preliminary official results were expected the following day.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Donald Trump joked at a midterm rally in Lubbock, Texas, that he would nominate Sen. Ted Cruz for the next Supreme Court vacancy. Trump said Cruz could win unanimous confirmation because lawmakers from both parties would welcome his departure from Congress.
Key Facts
Trump spoke at a midterm rally in Lubbock, Texas.
Trump named Sen. Ted Cruz, a Republican from Texas, as a possible choice for the next Supreme Court vacancy.
Trump framed the nomination as a joke.
Trump said lawmakers in both parties could support Cruz’s confirmation.
Trump suggested lawmakers would welcome Cruz leaving Congress.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Neil Young has filed a $10 million copyright lawsuit against the Trump 47 Committee, alleging it played his song “Rockin’ in the Free World” without permission at a rally in Youngstown, Ohio, on October 12. Young also sued Trump’s campaign over use of the song in 2020; the new lawsuit says that case settled shortly after it was filed, with a promise not to use the song without permission.
Key Facts
Young filed the new lawsuit through his company, Silver Fiddle Music.
The lawsuit alleges that playing the song at the Ohio rally was an unauthorized public performance.
Young says he did not grant the required license and alleges the song was played at other rallies as well.
The suit says Trump knew a license was required to play the song at rallies.
In 2020, Young sued Trump’s campaign over “Rockin’ in the Free World” and “Devil’s Sidewalk.”
The new lawsuit says the earlier case settled shortly after it was served and that the campaign promised not to use the song without permission.
The Republican National Committee had not provided comment to the BBC at the time of the article.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A federal grand jury in Washington, D.C., declined the Justice Department’s attempt to indict Cassidy Hutchinson over her testimony to lawmakers. Her testimony concerned President Donald Trump’s actions during the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.
Key Facts
The grand jury was in Washington, D.C.
The grand jury rejected the Justice Department’s attempt to indict Hutchinson.
Hutchinson is a former White House aide.
The proposed indictment concerned her testimony to lawmakers.
Her testimony addressed Trump’s actions during the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.
Justice Department attorney Neville Hedley told U.S. Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui about the grand jury’s decision.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said forming a government with Arab parties would be “a disgrace and a shame.” Exit polls indicate that neither his party nor the opposition is projected to win the 61 Knesset seats needed for a majority.
Key Facts
Netanyahu is Israel’s prime minister.
Netanyahu called the prospect of governing with Arab parties “a disgrace and a shame.”
Exit polls project that Netanyahu’s party will not secure a majority.
Exit polls also project that the opposition will not secure a majority.
A majority in the Knesset requires 61 seats.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Exit polls in Israel’s general election show no clear majority for either Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc or the opposition bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot. Arab parties may hold the balance of power, and official results and coalition talks will determine who can form a government.
Key Facts
Two broadcasters projected 51 seats each for Eisenkot’s bloc and Netanyahu’s bloc; a third gave Netanyahu’s bloc a three-seat lead.
Later exit-poll updates showed the blocs tied at 51 seats or gave Netanyahu’s bloc a narrow lead.
The Knesset has 120 seats, and a governing coalition needs at least 61 to hold a majority.
The United Arab List and Joint List were projected to win a combined 18 or 19 seats.
Turnout was 77.7% when polls closed, the highest at that hour since 1999, according to the Central Elections Committee.
About 600,000 absentee ballots, mostly cast by military personnel, were not expected to be fully counted until Thursday.
After final results, Israel’s president will consult political factions and invite the leader considered most likely to form a coalition.
If a candidate fails to form a government, Israel may hold another election.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, a Republican from Alaska, endorsed Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins for governor on Tuesday. She praised his commitment to working across party lines and backed him over three Republican candidates.
Key Facts
Murkowski endorsed Kreiss-Tomkins in Alaska’s governor’s race.
Kreiss-Tomkins is a Democrat and a former state lawmaker.
Murkowski is a Republican U.S. senator from Alaska.
Her endorsement crosses party lines.
Murkowski said Alaska needs a governor who will work with lawmakers from both parties.
Kreiss-Tomkins’ campaign released Murkowski’s endorsement statement.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Spokeo ranked all 50 states for trick-or-treating using measures of households with children, housing density, detached homes and Halloween weather. Utah ranked first, followed by Texas, Oklahoma, California and Mississippi; the article highlights Utah’s high share of households with children and California’s scores across several measures.
Key Facts
Spokeo based its index on Census and weather data, including National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration climate normals.
The index measures the share of households with children under 18, housing density in populated census tracts, the share of detached homes, and typical October 31 temperature and rain probability.
Each category receives a score from 0 to 100, and the four scores are weighted and combined into a total state score.
Utah ranked first, with Texas second, Oklahoma third, California fourth and Mississippi fifth.
The article reports that 38 percent of Utah households have children under 18, compared with 35 percent in Texas.
California ranked well in three index components: households with children, housing density and weather.
The National Retail Federation estimated Halloween spending at about $13.5 billion, including $4.1 billion on candy.
The article estimated per-person Halloween spending at $115.14 and said 96 percent of shoppers planned to buy candy.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Donald Trump announced that his administration would end Biden-era methane rules for oil and gas companies. The EPA says its proposed changes could save consumers and businesses $45 billion and increase oil and gas production, while the 2024 rules required operators to limit leaks, flaring and venting.
Key Facts
Trump made the announcement at a rally in Lubbock, Texas.
The EPA estimates the changes could add 210 million barrels of oil and 1.41 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.
The 2024 rule required oil and gas operators to reduce methane leaks, flaring and venting, and included a program for investigating major leaks detected with approved remote-sensing technology.
The 2024 rule set nationwide requirements for methane emissions from existing oil and gas facilities.
The EPA announced in March 2025 that it was reconsidering the Biden-era regulations.
Records obtained by the watchdog group Fieldnotes show that oil and gas companies and trade groups met with the EPA about methane rules at least 38 times during the administration’s first year.
The article says the United States emitted more methane from its oil and gas sector last year than any other country.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Naveed Akram’s case over his alleged role in the Bondi Beach attack has been adjourned until 24 February. Prosecutors say they need more time to consult victims and their families and complete the formal process of confirming which charges will proceed to trial.
Key Facts
Akram, 24, faces 78 charges, including 15 counts of murder and one count of committing a terrorist act.
He has not entered a plea.
The attack at a Hanukah festival on 14 December killed 15 people and injured 40, according to the article.
Akram’s father, Sajid Akram, was shot and killed by police at the scene.
Prosecutor Danielle New said the case brief includes thousands of witness statements, medical and financial records, purchase records, and video footage.
The judge granted the adjournment after the defence did not oppose the prosecution’s request.
Prosecutors allege the attack may have been inspired by Isis; police also alleged the pair planned it for months and visited Bondi two days beforehand.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Thick fog is forecast in parts of the UK, with poor visibility likely to disrupt Thursday morning commutes. High pressure and lighter winds are expected to bring further mist and fog into next week, while rain will be limited in many areas.
Key Facts
Wednesday will bring showers mainly to southern Scotland, northern England and north Wales before drier weather and sunny spells develop.
Temperatures on Wednesday are forecast to reach 12 to 16C, slightly above average.
Fog is expected to develop overnight into Thursday, especially in east Wales and central and southern England.
The fog could be dense and may persist in some places until lunchtime Thursday.
Rain is likely on Friday and Saturday across Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern parts of England and Wales.
Mist and fog may also form in eastern and southern England on Friday and Saturday.
High pressure is expected to bring light winds and further morning fog through much of the first week of November.
The article says some reservoirs remain exceptionally low despite England and Wales receiving around average October rainfall.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said there will be a peaceful transfer of power when newly elected members join the House on Jan. 3. He said Republicans expect to retain their majority.
Key Facts
Johnson made the remarks on Tuesday.
New House members are scheduled to join the chamber on Jan. 3.
Johnson said the transfer of power would be peaceful.
Johnson said Republicans expect to keep their House majority.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
AI is increasingly used in scientific research, but a dispute over OpenAI’s claimed solution to a major maths problem has raised questions about whether AI tools could compromise research and trust. Researchers and science publishers also face concerns about AI-generated errors and how to verify scientific work.
Key Facts
Basecamp Research is collecting DNA data to develop AI systems trained on biological information.
OpenAI said its AI agents solved a longstanding problem involving the Navier–Stokes equations in 88 hours.
The organization that oversees a prize for solving the problem said it appeared to have been settled but would take time to review the work.
Mathematicians Tristan Buckmaster and Levent Alpöge questioned whether research they stored in OpenAI’s Codex tool could have influenced the company’s work.
OpenAI said no one at the company saw the other team’s work before publication and later said the team’s Codex prompts could not have influenced its system.
The article says AI chatbots can produce false information and raises concerns that similar errors could enter scientific research.
Science journalist Dalmeet Singh Chawla said scientific publishers may need to greatly expand efforts to screen research for accuracy and reliability.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Alex Pretti’s parents asked the Justice Department to release evidence about the January 24 shooting and provide more accountability. The department said it generally does not communicate with families while an investigation is underway; no one has been charged in the case.
Key Facts
Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old Veterans Affairs nurse, was shot and killed by federal immigration agents in Minnesota on January 24, 2026.
His parents, Susan and Michael Pretti, made their appeal at a Minneapolis news conference on October 27.
The parents said they had received no updates, information, or support from the federal government.
The Justice Department said family communications typically come later in a case, such as after an indictment or during court proceedings.
No charges have been filed in connection with Pretti’s killing.
Videos reviewed by ABC News show Pretti recording a confrontation, appearing to help a woman, and being wrestled to the ground.
The videos show an officer removing Pretti’s legally permitted firearm while he was on the ground, before about 10 shots were fired.
Then-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem called Pretti a domestic terrorist hours after the shooting and later said she did not have all the information at the time.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
