UK Trading Standards said tests of 50 seized counterfeit beauty products found potentially harmful substances, including mercury, lead, nicotine and methanol. Authorities reported that counterfeit cosmetics and toiletries are often bought online and announced a campaign to warn consumers about the risks.
Key Facts
Tests found 13,200 parts per million of mercury in one counterfeit skincare product.
Some counterfeit lipsticks, eyeshadows and contour products contained high levels of lead.
A counterfeit fragrance was about 80% methanol, a toxic alcohol that can cause serious poisoning.
The IPO tracker found that 20% of 18- to 24-year-olds who bought beauty products last year knowingly purchased counterfeits, up from 6% in 2023.
Trading Standards surveys found that nearly three in four people who bought counterfeit cosmetics and toiletries purchased them online.
Police and Greater Manchester police seized 1,666 counterfeit hair products in July.
A raid in Bolton uncovered counterfeit goods worth £2 million, including perfume, cosmetics, clothing and vapes.
The IPO is launching a campaign called Face the Fakes with content creators and the beauty industry.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A CBS News report says James Talarico is leading Ken Paxton in a new poll of the Texas Senate race. The report says Texas voters may be weighing immigration and other policies of President Donald Trump’s administration as they consider the candidates.
Key Facts
The poll shows James Talarico leading Ken Paxton in Texas.
The poll concerns the Texas Senate race.
CBS News correspondent Camilo Montoya-Galvez reported on the poll.
The report says voters may be weighing immigration policy.
The report also says voters may be considering other Trump administration policies.
The article excerpt does not provide the poll’s results by percentage, sample size or field dates.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Unison general secretary Andrea Egan said the UK government gives North Sea oil and gas jobs more political attention than jobs in public services. She criticized approval of the Jackdaw gasfield and called for investment in renewable energy jobs and services such as health care, education and local government.
Key Facts
Egan said public sector workers are often treated as an “afterthought” compared with North Sea oil and gas workers.
She cited job cuts in local government, the NHS and education in recent years.
The government approved the Jackdaw gasfield, while a decision on the Rosebank oilfield is expected before the end of the year.
Egan called the Jackdaw decision a serious misstep and said it sent the wrong signal about the UK’s climate commitments.
Unison supports moving from fossil fuels to renewable energy and creating secure, well-paid jobs in the sector.
Unite and GMB back more North Sea drilling licences, while Unison and the National Education Union oppose further drilling.
Unison recently secured a union recognition deal with Octopus Energy, the UK’s largest energy company.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Spain’s transport minister Óscar Puente said he would not resign after a high-speed rail collision killed at least 69 people. He said his focus was resolving the disaster and answering questions, while investigators examine the crash and calls for his resignation continue.
Key Facts
The collision happened near Urda in Toledo province on Wednesday morning.
A state-operated Renfe train struck the rear of a stationary train operated by Iryo.
A preliminary investigation found the Renfe train was travelling at 160 to 200 km/h when it collided.
Puente said a computer failure halted six moving trains before the crash.
Leaked audio appears to show a train being cleared to move while another train had stalled farther ahead.
Spain is observing three days of mourning for the victims.
Political rivals, a trade union and demonstrators have called for Puente to resign.
Spain’s prime minister said public trust in the high-speed rail network had been broken and noted that a similar crash killed 46 people in January.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Alaska Senate candidate Mary Peltola again denied knowing about an alleged effort by her campaign to recruit Dan J. Sullivan to run against Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan. Peltola made the denial during a speech in Juneau, according to The Associated Press.
Key Facts
Mary Peltola is a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate in Alaska.
Peltola again denied knowing about the alleged recruitment effort.
The alleged effort involved Dan J. Sullivan challenging incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan.
The article says the effort was intended to dilute voters’ support.
Peltola spoke in Juneau, Alaska.
The Associated Press reported her remarks.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin said his government plans to establish a body to study possible futures for Northern Ireland, including remaining in the United Kingdom or joining a united Ireland with some autonomy. He said he would bring the first steps to cabinet before the end of 2026 and argued that planning should hear from all communities rather than assume Irish unity is inevitable.
Key Facts
The proposed body would research models and challenges for different possible outcomes for Northern Ireland.
The 1998 Good Friday Agreement requires the British government to call a referendum on Irish unity if it appears likely that a majority of Northern Irish voters would support one.
Martin said he would bring the first steps of the proposal to cabinet before the end of 2026.
The article says opinion polls consistently show a majority favoring Northern Ireland remaining in the United Kingdom, though the gap has narrowed since Brexit.
Sinn Féin and other Irish nationalist parties have increased calls for a referendum on unity.
Fine Gael is expected to present a blueprint for a unified island at its annual conference the following week.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Ceilidh events are drawing more young people in London and elsewhere as attendees seek social, in-person activities. Organizers and participants say the group dances are welcoming, fun, and offer a way to meet people away from screens.
Key Facts
Eventbrite reported that UK ticket sales for ceilidh events rose 16% from 2024 to 2025, while global sales rose 15%.
A ceilidh event at the Ivy House pub in south-east London raised money for Link Age Southwark, a local anti-loneliness charity.
The South East London Folk Orchestra provided music at the Ivy House event.
Organizers said many attendees at recent ceilidhs have been under 30.
London Ceilidh Club founder Ed McCabe said the events had grown in popularity since the Covid pandemic.
Ceilidh comes from a Gaelic word meaning “visit” or “gathering” and originated in Scotland and Ireland in the 19th century.
Ceilidh the Musical began a tour at Shoreditch Town Hall in east London.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A report by Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee says women hold a smaller share of senior U.S. diplomatic and national security roles under President Trump’s second administration. It also says the administration has ended or cut programs supporting women overseas; White House and State Department officials defended its record and cited women in senior posts and domestic initiatives.
Key Facts
Women hold 17.4% of Cabinet and Cabinet-level positions, compared with 52% during the Biden administration, according to the report.
Eight of 201 candidates for senior military posts this year were women, and no women currently serve as active-duty four-star officers, the report says.
Fewer than 25 U.S. diplomatic missions are led by female ambassadors; 93 of 196 ambassadorships are unfilled, according to figures cited in the article.
Women account for 35 of 206 Trump nominees for State Department positions to date, or 17%, the report says.
The report says the administration eliminated offices responsible for advancing policies supporting women overseas and canceled aid and assistance; the article’s final sentence is cut off before giving further details.
White House and State Department officials defended the administration, citing women in senior leadership roles and saying the State Department prioritizes merit in Foreign Service appointments.
During Trump’s first administration, he launched a 2019 initiative that aimed to improve economic opportunities for 50 million women in developing countries by 2025.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The article comments on Missouri’s congressional elections and warns that legal maneuvering can backfire. The excerpt gives no details about specific elections, court cases, or people involved.
Key Facts
The article focuses on Missouri’s congressional elections.
The excerpt compares politics to a game.
The excerpt says the law is not a game.
The author warns that trying to be overly clever in court can backfire.
The excerpt identifies no specific court case.
The excerpt names no politicians or other individuals.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
An Emerson College Polling survey found Democrats leading Republicans by 10 points on a generic congressional ballot ahead of next week’s midterm election. Democrats received 52% support, compared with 42% for Republicans.
Key Facts
The survey was released Friday.
Democrats led Republicans by 10 percentage points on the generic congressional ballot.
The poll measured 52% support for Democrats.
The poll measured 42% support for Republicans.
The article says the parties are competing for control of Congress in next week’s midterm election.
The poll’s lead was slightly narrower than Democrats’ 11-point lead in an earlier comparison mentioned in the article.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A new Emerson College Polling survey found Democrat Adam Hamilton narrowly ahead of Republican Roger Marshall in the Kansas Senate contest. Hamilton received 48.7% support, compared with 45.2% for Marshall.
Key Facts
The poll surveyed voters in the Kansas Senate race.
Adam Hamilton received 48.7% support.
Roger Marshall received 45.2% support.
A Libertarian candidate received 2.9% support.
The poll included people who said they had already voted or planned to vote.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
U.S. News & World Report ranked Midland, Michigan, the top U.S. city for retirement for the second year in a row, followed by Homosassa Springs, Florida. The ranking assessed more than 850 cities using factors including quality of life, affordability, health care, taxes, jobs, and retiree migration.
Key Facts
The top 10 included Midland, Michigan; Homosassa Springs, Florida; Weirton, West Virginia; The Woodlands and Spring, Texas; Rio Rancho, New Mexico; Altoona, Pennsylvania; Paducah, Kentucky; Lynchburg, Virginia; and Palm Coast, Florida.
Seven of the 10 highest-ranked cities are in the South, according to the article.
Midland has a population of 42,828 and a median age of 39.1.
The article reports Midland's median home value as $206,176, compared with a national median of $359,870.
The reported median rent in Midland is $790.
Among the 250 best-ranked retirement cities, 41 were in Florida and 44 were in Texas.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Senior Rapid Support Forces commander Siddiq Ander says he has defected from the group, according to a video obtained by Al Jazeera. He is the latest RSF commander reported to have broken away.
Key Facts
Siddiq Ander is a senior commander in Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
Ander says he has defected from the RSF.
Al Jazeera obtained a video in which Ander announces his defection.
The article says Ander is the latest in a line of RSF commanders to leave the group.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Donald Trump is scheduled to speak in Daytona Beach, Florida, at about 7 p.m. Friday to support Republican Sen. Ashley Moody’s campaign. The rally follows the Republican National Committee’s announcement that Trump canceled weekend rallies in Kansas and Iowa.
Key Facts
Trump is scheduled to speak in Daytona Beach on Friday.
The event is planned for about 7 p.m.
Trump plans to support Sen. Ashley Moody, a Republican, in her race.
The Republican National Committee announced that Trump canceled his weekend rallies in Kansas and Iowa.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Nearly 45 million people had voted early by October 30, 2026, four days before the midterm election. The early-voting total was higher than the number recorded at the same point in the 2022 midterm election.
Key Facts
The article was published on October 30, 2026.
The midterm election was four days away when the article was published.
Nearly 45 million people had already voted.
Early-voting turnout had surpassed the total recorded at the same point in the 2022 midterm election.
The article focuses on the state of the midterm race.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Justice Department is seeking new subpoenas as it investigates potential confusion involving Dan Sullivan in the Alaska Senate race. The report says the department is pursuing legal avenues over concerns about the ballot but does not specify who the subpoenas would target.
Key Facts
The Justice Department is seeking new subpoenas related to the Alaska Senate race.
The probe concerns Dan Sullivan and potential voter confusion.
The department alleges that the ballot may have caused confusion.
The Justice Department continues to pursue legal avenues in the matter.
CBS News reporter Olivia Rinaldi reported on the investigation.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Binance says hackers stole about $6.3 billion from its wallets across 10 blockchains, in what could be the largest cryptocurrency heist on record. Blockchain analysis firms linked the attack to a North Korean hacking unit, but Binance says its investigation has not assigned responsibility; the company says it will cover user losses and has suspended deposits and withdrawals.
Key Facts
TRM Labs reported that about $6.36 billion was moved from Binance wallets across 10 blockchains.
The theft unfolded over about 20 minutes, according to TRM Labs and Chainalysis.
Binance said about $3 billion of the stolen assets had been frozen, including more than $2.3 billion by Tether and Circle.
Binance warned that the estimated stolen amount could rise as it traces and freezes assets.
TRM Labs and Chainalysis attributed the attack to North Korea; TRM linked it with high confidence to the TraderTraitor hacking unit.
Binance co-CEO Richard Teng said the company had not attributed responsibility to any individual.
Binance said it would cover all losses and that user funds were safe.
Binance said it found no evidence that wallet private keys had been leaked, while a former Mt Gox executive told Reuters attackers may have accessed keys for at least two wallets.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Swedish academic Andreas Malm says the UK Home Office barred him from entering the country, telling him his presence was “not conducive to the public good.” Malm suspects the decision relates to a planned London panel with Huda Ammori, a co-founder of Palestine Action, but also said earlier remarks about the 7 October 2023 attacks could have played a role.
Key Facts
Malm is a senior lecturer in human ecology at Lund University in Sweden.
The Home Office did not give Malm further details about its decision and said it does not comment on individual cases.
Malm said he is not a member of Palestine Action and has not publicly endorsed or financially supported the group.
Palestine Action is a proscribed terrorist organisation in the UK; the group’s legal challenge to that designation is ongoing.
The UK Supreme Court is due to review the ban, and the Home Office says it will defend the decision.
More than 3,700 people are believed to have been arrested in the UK over alleged support for Palestine Action, and about 2,500 have been charged.
Malm previously described the Hamas-led 7 October 2023 attacks as “fundamentally an act of liberation,” while also condemning the killing of civilians.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The article argues that AI can help construction firms by automating tasks such as checking worker hours, locations, job codes and required breaks. It says this could reduce payroll errors and administrative work without replacing payroll staff, while noting that construction faces labor shortages and still relies on paper time sheets.
Key Facts
The Construction Industry Institute estimates labor makes up 30% to 50% of construction project spending.
The article says nearly four in 10 contractors still record work hours on paper time sheets.
A 2026 CBIZ survey found that labor shortages and rising wages were the top concern for 32% of contractors.
Associated Builders and Contractors estimates the construction industry is short about 349,000 workers, a gap it projects will reach 456,000 by 2027.
The author describes payroll staff collecting hours by text, entering them into spreadsheets and checking rates and cost codes.
The article proposes using AI to check time records against worker locations, allocate hours to jobs and flag missed clock-outs or breaks.
The author argues that automation could give payroll staff more time for work that requires human judgment.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The article reports that actor Sir Patrick Stewart died at 86 at his home in Los Angeles on Wednesday, after living with Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia. Friends and people in Yorkshire remembered his acting career, his ties to the region and his support for Huddersfield Town.
Key Facts
Stewart was born in Mirfield, West Yorkshire, in 1940.
He was known for playing Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek and Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men films.
Stewart said producers rejected the idea of using his Yorkshire accent for Picard.
He became chancellor of the University of Huddersfield in 2004 and held the role until 2015.
The university named its drama building after Stewart in 2016.
Stewart supported Huddersfield Town from childhood.
Ian McKellen said Stewart never forgot his Yorkshire roots.
Stewart left school at 15, worked as a reporter and obituary writer, then won a scholarship to Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
