Researchers identified the Mauritian tidal trapdoor spider, a species native to two small islands in Mauritius, and formally described it in April 2026. The spider lives in coastal areas flooded by seawater and uses a material-covered trapdoor to keep its burrow dry.
Key Facts
The species, Idioctis marevallum, was discovered in 2023 and announced by the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust on October 27, 2026.
It belongs to the Barychelidae family, a group that includes tarantulas.
Researchers have found the spider only on Ilot Vacoas and Ile aux Fouquets in the Mauritian archipelago.
Recorded habitat covers 227 square meters on Ilot Vacoas and 686 square meters on Ile aux Fouquets.
The spiders dig burrows in coastal rock in the intertidal zone, the area between high and low tide.
Their tube-shaped burrows are about 12 centimeters long, and their trapdoors use rock, sand and algae.
In a test, seawater poured over a nest for about 20 seconds did not leave water inside the burrow.
Researchers observed the spiders eating small crustaceans called isopods, as well as crickets and moths.
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The U.S. economy grew at a 3.4% annual rate in the third quarter, up from 2.2% in the second quarter, according to the Commerce Department. Strong consumer spending and increased business investment, including investment tied to artificial intelligence, supported growth.
Key Facts
Gross domestic product grew at a 3.4% annual rate from July through September.
Growth accelerated from 2.2% in the April-through-June quarter.
Consumer spending increased at a 3.8% rate in the third quarter.
Business investment rose sharply, reflecting the AI boom.
The Commerce Department reported the figures on Thursday.
The article says the U.S. economy remained resilient despite higher energy prices linked to fighting with Iran.
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The opinion article argues that investment banks should use AI to make junior analysts more productive rather than mainly cutting entry-level jobs. It warns that reducing those roles could weaken the long-term supply of experienced bankers, and urges firms to help junior employees build both AI skills and senior-level abilities.
Key Facts
The article says AI tools such as Claude and Rogo can perform many traditional analyst tasks faster and with greater accuracy.
It notes that investment banking analysts at major firms can receive six-figure base salaries, with bonuses adding to total compensation.
The article describes analyst roles as a training path toward senior banking jobs involving client relationships, business judgment, and major negotiations.
It cites PwC’s 2026 Global AI Jobs Barometer as analyzing 2.4 million U.S. entry-level jobs.
According to the cited PwC analysis, entry-level roles most exposed to AI were seven times more likely than the least exposed roles to require skills such as leadership and interpersonal interaction.
The article says openings for those highly AI-exposed roles grew 35 percent from 2019 to 2025, while openings for other entry-level roles declined 10 percent.
The author argues that cutting junior staff may improve near-term profits but leave future bank leaders with less training and experience.
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Paleontologists have opened an excavation near Moab, Utah, at a fossil site estimated to be 138 million to 141 million years old. Researchers say the remains may include a previously unknown armored dinosaur, but no formal scientific description has been announced.
Key Facts
The site is near Arches National Park in eastern Utah.
The Utah Geological Survey opened the excavation in mid-October.
Researchers estimate the fossil-bearing rocks are 138 million to 141 million years old.
The survey says the site is geologically similar to Doelling's Bowl, about six miles east.
Utah State Paleontologist Jim Kirkland is working on a description and name for the possible armored dinosaur.
The proposed name is intended to honor Assistant State Paleontologist Don DeBlieux, who plans to retire at the end of 2026.
Earlier excavations at Doelling's Bowl uncovered sauropod and iguanodontid fossils, along with a large tooth believed to come from a new carnivorous dinosaur species.
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Andy Burnham said the government wants to reduce welfare spending quickly by helping people move into sustainable work, but he did not guarantee a cut before the next general election. The government has not set a timetable, and further proposals are expected after two reviews report in November.
Key Facts
Welfare spending is forecast to rise from £353bn this year to £431bn in 2031/32.
Burnham said the government wants to reduce the welfare bill as quickly as possible.
He warned that blunt cuts could leave people in crisis and increase public spending elsewhere.
The next UK general election must be held by August 2029.
The Treasury disputed that Chancellor John Healey had promised a reduction in the benefits bill before the election.
The government expects further proposals after reviews of disability benefits and young people not in education, employment or training report in November.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch criticized Labour’s approach to welfare and the Budget.
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The Justice Department said FBI and ICE personnel will not serve as poll monitors in the upcoming midterm elections. A court filing also named the Federal Bureau of Prisons, ATF and the Drug Enforcement Administration among agencies whose employees will not take part.
Key Facts
The Justice Department announced the decision on Wednesday.
FBI agents and employees will not serve as poll monitors.
ICE agents and employees will not serve as poll monitors.
The decision concerns the upcoming midterm elections.
The court filing also named the Federal Bureau of Prisons, ATF and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
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King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia visited injured people at Toledo University Hospital on Thursday after a train accident in Urda, Spain. At least 69 people died in the crash, and 15 of the injured being treated at the hospital were in intensive care.
Key Facts
The royal couple arrived at Toledo University Hospital on October 29, 2026.
They planned to meet with medical staff and visit several injured people.
The patients were accompanied by their families.
The crash occurred in Urda, Spain.
At least 69 people died in the accident.
Fifteen injured people at the hospital were in intensive care.
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Israeli politicians and media outlets accused Qatar of funding Arab parties’ get-out-the-vote efforts, but Qatar denied the claims. Israel’s election official said the vote was conducted lawfully, while partial results showed Netanyahu’s bloc short of a Knesset majority and Arab lists winning a record number of seats.
Key Facts
Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari denied that Doha funded or interfered in Israel’s elections.
The article says Likud and media outlets associated with it made the allegations without providing evidence.
Acting Central Elections Committee director Dean Livine said the elections were lawful and polling-station integrity was protected.
Partial results indicated that Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc would not win a Knesset majority.
The two Arab lists secured a record number of seats, according to the partial results.
Major Israeli parties rejected the idea of partnering with the Arab lists.
Qatar is a mediator in Israel-Palestinian talks and is leading mediation efforts between Washington and Tehran, the article says.
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Republican strategist Karl Rove said he expects President Donald Trump to resume U.S. strikes against Iran after the midterm elections. Rove made the prediction Wednesday in an interview with Fox News host Brian Kilmeade.
Key Facts
Karl Rove is a Republican strategist.
Rove said he expects Trump to resume U.S. strikes against Iran.
Rove expects the strikes to resume after the midterm elections.
Rove made the prediction on Wednesday.
Rove spoke with Brian Kilmeade on Fox News’s The Brian Kilmeade Show.
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Tens of thousands of U.S. citizens have left the country since Donald Trump returned to power two years ago, according to the report. Ireland has become a popular destination for Americans seeking an alternative, in part because of shared language and history.
Key Facts
The report says tens of thousands of U.S. citizens have left the United States since Trump returned to power.
Ireland is among the top destinations for Americans leaving the United States.
The report cites a shared language and history as reasons Ireland attracts Americans.
The article is a France 24 video report.
The report was issued on October 29, 2026.
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The U.S. removed Army Lieutenant General Brett Sylvia from his role leading strategy, plans and policy on the Joint Chiefs of Staff, according to The Atlantic. The report describes his departure as part of a series of high-profile military exits since President Donald Trump returned to office; it also says Trump appears to be preparing to resume large-scale strikes against Iran.
Key Facts
The Atlantic reported Sylvia’s removal on Wednesday.
Sylvia is an Army lieutenant general.
He led strategy, plans and policy on the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The report says Sylvia was removed from the role this week.
The article describes his departure as the latest in a series of high-profile military departures since Trump returned to office.
The report says Trump appears to be preparing to resume large-scale strikes against Iran.
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The article says 9/11 families continue to seek a court hearing for their claims 25 years after the attacks. Congress changed the law a decade ago to give them a way to bring those claims to court, where they may or may not succeed.
Key Facts
The article focuses on 9/11 families seeking to have their claims heard in court.
The families are still pursuing their claims 25 years after the attacks.
Congress changed the law 10 years ago.
The law change aimed to give the families a path to test their claims in court.
The article notes that the claims may not prevail in court.
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Dartmouth Provost Santiago Schnell resigned after a university committee released findings from an investigation into his use of AI. The university said the investigation, opened in September, concerned allegations that he violated its AI use policy by using AI to meaningfully alter his writing.
Key Facts
Dartmouth announced Schnell’s resignation on Wednesday.
Schnell was the university’s provost.
A university committee investigated his use of AI.
The investigation began in September.
The allegations concerned a violation of Dartmouth’s AI use policy.
The university said AI meaningfully altered Schnell’s writing.
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The National Links Trust said it will stop operating East Potomac Golf Links on Nov. 15. The decision comes as President Donald Trump considers redevelopment of the property.
Key Facts
The National Links Trust announced that it will end operations at East Potomac Golf Links on Nov. 15.
East Potomac Golf Links is described in the article as Washington’s most popular public golf course.
The trust said it did not reach a new long-term lease with the Interior Department and National Park Service.
The proposed lease would have covered management and operation of the course.
President Donald Trump is considering redevelopment of the property.
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The USDA confirmed the first New World screwworm case in an Arizona dog after testing samples from a wound found in Cochise County. The dog is receiving veterinary care, and state and federal officials are responding as the parasite is detected in three states.
Key Facts
A veterinarian found a wound heavily infested with maggots on the dog on October 26.
Laboratory testing confirmed New World screwworm in the dog, according to the USDA.
The Arizona case is the state’s first confirmed detection of the parasite.
As of October 28, the USDA had reported 71 confirmed animal cases nationwide since June, with 18 still active.
Confirmed animal cases in the current outbreak have been reported in Arizona, Texas and New Mexico.
New World screwworm larvae feed on living tissue in warm-blooded animals and can cause serious wounds.
The parasite was last eradicated from the United States in 1966, according to the Texas Animal Health Commission.
The FDA authorized generic ivermectin injection for use in cattle to help prevent infestations in specified situations.
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The New York Times reported that U.S. intelligence agencies believe Alice Huang, a Megaspeed executive, acted as a Chinese intelligence asset and developed a close relationship with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang. Nvidia said Jensen Huang’s meetings with customers are routine and that they do not involve sensitive trade secrets or information relevant to national security.
Key Facts
Alice Huang, also known as Huang Le, is an executive at Singapore-based data center company Megaspeed and is not related to Jensen Huang.
U.S. officials previously suspected Alice Huang of helping smuggle Nvidia chips to China, according to the article.
The Times reported that officials concluded Alice Huang passed commercial information to Beijing, citing unnamed sources.
U.S. officials reportedly found during surveillance that Alice Huang had developed a close relationship with Jensen Huang.
The Trump administration has restricted exports of advanced AI chips to China, citing national security.
The Times reported that White House officials were concerned about Alice Huang’s access to Jensen Huang and his relationship with President Donald Trump.
Nvidia said its CEO meets with thousands of customer executives and that customers receive ordinary business information, not sensitive trade secrets or national security information.
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Utah has filed criminal charges against prediction market company Kalshi and two executives, alleging they illegally promoted and offered online gambling in the state. The case names CEO Tarek Mansour and chief operating officer Luana Lopes Lara and includes 13 felony counts and one misdemeanor count.
Key Facts
Utah filed charges against Kalshi, CEO Tarek Mansour, and COO Luana Lopes Lara.
The charges allege the company illegally promoted and offered online gambling in Utah.
The defendants face 13 felony counts and one misdemeanor count.
The article describes the case as part of a legal showdown over prediction markets.
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New UK rules taking effect on Sunday will bar offshore workers who weigh more than 124kg in civilian clothes and footwear from flying to platforms covered by the regulations. Offshore Energies UK says the number of workers above the limit has dropped from about 2,200 to fewer than 250, with some workers using weight-loss medication amid concerns that the rules could affect their jobs.
Key Facts
The weight limit is 19st 7lb (124kg), including civilian clothing and footwear.
The rules apply to helicopter flights to offshore platforms covered by UK safety regulations.
Offshore Energies UK says fewer than 250 workers now exceed the limit, down from about 2,200 when the rules were announced last year.
The industry body said that on one platform, 60% of staff had been using weight-loss drugs, and extra refrigerator space was provided to store the medicines.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency warned that rescue winches could not safely lift people above the limit, which accounts for the rescuer, stretcher and other equipment as well as the person being lifted.
Offshore Energies UK says employers have also used gym equipment and healthier food options to help workers manage their weight.
The RMT union criticized the policy, saying there had been too little consultation and experienced staff could be excluded from offshore work.
Industry health and safety manager Graham Skinner said some employers might offer alternative onshore roles, but workers who do not meet the limit could lose their jobs.
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The UK government has removed a two-year deadline that could make some pension lump-sum death benefits taxable when payments were delayed. The change aims to prevent bereaved families from facing tax bills because of delays outside their control, though wider duties to process claims promptly remain.
Key Facts
Under the previous rule, some lump-sum death benefits were tax-free only if paid within two years after the pension scheme learned of the death.
The government announced the rule change in Wednesday’s Budget.
The change removes the two-year deadline as a reason for taxing these payments.
Capita took over administration of the Civil Service Pension Scheme in December 2025 and said it inherited a backlog of more than 86,000 cases.
The backlog had grown to 120,000 cases by February, according to the article.
As of 30 September, 1,643 bereavement or death-in-service cases had been outstanding for more than 100 days.
Rob Wassell waited more than two years for a lump-sum payment after his brother’s death and was taxed at 45%; he is awaiting the outcome of a complaint review.
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President Donald Trump is campaigning in South Carolina on Thursday ahead of next week’s midterm elections. He is expected to rally for Republican Sen. Darline Graham, who faces a competitive challenge from Democrat Annie Andrews.
Key Facts
Trump took his midterm campaign tour to South Carolina.
The rally was scheduled for Thursday afternoon.
Trump aimed to strengthen Republican support before next week’s midterms.
He was expected to campaign for Sen. Darline Graham.
Graham is a Republican.
Democrat Annie Andrews is challenging Graham.
The article describes the race as unexpectedly competitive.
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