Meg Martin, 41, said doctors diagnosed her with chromophobe renal cell carcinoma, a type of kidney cancer, after severe back pain and fatigue sent her to an emergency room. Earlier symptoms included fatigue, brain fog, back pain and unexplained weight loss, but she attributed them to stress, parenting, diet and perimenopause, and her May blood tests had been normal. Doctors quoted in the article said early kidney cancer often causes no symptoms and may be found during scans done for other reasons.
Key Facts
Martin said her diagnosis came in June.
Emergency-room imaging revealed a large mass on her left kidney.
Martin reported back pain, fatigue, brain fog, night sweats, cold spells, itchy legs, unexplained weight loss and discomfort after eating.
Martin said her blood work in May was normal, including her white blood cell count and kidney function.
Urologic surgeon Eric Singer said early-stage kidney cancer typically causes no symptoms.
Doctors interviewed said kidney masses are often discovered incidentally during imaging for another reason.
Singer listed blood in the urine, lower back pain, unexplained weight loss and fatigue among symptoms that can occur.
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Flávio Bolsonaro said he would continue defending his father’s political agenda. He urged supporters to remain strong and backed Rogério Marinho to lead Brazil’s Federal Senate.
Key Facts
Flávio Bolsonaro pledged to continue his father’s political fight.
He said he would keep defending his father’s political agenda.
He urged supporters to remain strong.
He backed Rogério Marinho for president of Brazil’s Federal Senate.
The article identifies the Senate presidency as the role Marinho is seeking.
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The article describes record political spending by wealthy donors ahead of the U.S. midterms and growing public concern about billionaires’ influence. Elon Musk and Democratic donors including George Soros, Michael Bloomberg and Reid Hoffman are backing candidates and political groups on opposing sides.
Key Facts
A Politico poll cited in the article found that 72 percent of Americans think there is too much money in politics.
In the same poll, 61 percent said billionaires have too much influence, including 75 percent of Kamala Harris voters and 55 percent of Donald Trump voters.
The article says political ad spending is projected to reach $11.6 billion this cycle, above the $11.2 billion spent in the 2024 presidential race.
Elon Musk has contributed $446 million of his own money to the midterms, with most of it supporting Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's Senate campaign, according to the article.
The article reports that George Soros has given about $102 million this cycle and Michael Bloomberg contributed roughly $80 million in September and October.
The article says Reid Hoffman's money has gone to super PACs supporting candidates in Texas and Kentucky who oppose billionaire influence.
Federal law limits individual donations directly to a candidate to $3,500 per election, while super PACs can accept unlimited sums.
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The Old Farmer’s Almanac forecast calls for varied November weather across the United States, including periods of rain, snow, and changing temperatures. Its editor warned that a snowstorm could affect the northern Atlantic Corridor after Thanksgiving, while heavy rain may fall in the Pacific Northwest during Thanksgiving week.
Key Facts
The Almanac’s outlook describes broad regional trends, not day-by-day forecasts.
The Almanac says it draws on solar science, climatology, meteorology, climate data, and large-scale signals such as El Niño.
The Northeast forecast includes cold weather and snow early in the month, a milder rainy spell from November 8–14, and rain or snow later in the month.
The northern Atlantic Corridor could see a snowstorm in the final days of November; the south is forecast to remain sunny.
The Pacific Northwest may experience heavy rain at times during Thanksgiving week.
The Southeast forecast includes showers and cool weather early in November, warmer conditions later, and sunshine near the end of the month.
Florida is forecast to have warm, rainy weather November 1–4, followed by cooler, sunnier periods.
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Daniella Gray developed severe symptoms on her wedding day and married Connor in a small ceremony before going to the hospital. Doctors diagnosed a stroke caused by a tear in an artery in her neck; after about a week in hospital, she began rehabilitation.
Key Facts
Gray began feeling dizzy and lightheaded around noon on her wedding day.
By about 1 p.m., she could not move her legs or speak, and her vision and balance had worsened.
Gray and Connor held a small ceremony with close family and wedding party members, then went to the emergency room.
A CT scan and MRI led doctors to diagnose a stroke caused by a vertebral artery dissection, a tear in an artery in the neck.
Doctors later found that a blood clot near her brainstem had grown, and Gray lost movement in her left arm.
She received an injected blood thinner and is taking an oral blood thinner; doctors considered but ruled out placing a stent.
After about a week in hospital, Gray began physical and occupational therapy, spending three hours a day on rehabilitation.
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A Council on Criminal Justice panel of about four dozen researchers assessed 48 possible explanations for the U.S. homicide decline from 2022 through 2026. The panel gave support to several approaches, including community violence intervention, focused deterrence and proactive policing, while finding little support for some explanations commonly cited in political debate.
Key Facts
The article says the U.S. homicide rate fell to its lowest level since 1900.
Researchers from criminology, economics, public health and other fields reviewed evidence and anonymously rated 48 possible factors.
Community violence intervention, which engages people at high risk of shootings, received broad support from the panel.
Focused deterrence, which combines targeted law enforcement with offers of support and services, ranked among the leading explanations.
Researchers also identified proactive policing, easing pandemic-era disruption, greater local government capacity and more concentrated public safety resources as possible contributors.
The panel found almost no support for increased incarceration, pretrial detention, the immigration crackdown or National Guard deployments as drivers of the decline.
Researchers were divided on federal gun policy: 43 percent saw at least a limited contribution, while 55 percent saw little or none.
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Most of the United States is scheduled to return to standard time on November 1, when clocks move back one hour. The House passed the Sunshine Protection Act of 2025, which would make daylight saving time permanent, but the bill remains in the Senate, where its prospects are uncertain.
Key Facts
Clocks are scheduled to move back one hour at 2 a.m. local time on November 1 in most of the United States.
The Sunshine Protection Act of 2025 would keep most of the country on daylight saving time year-round.
The House passed the bill on July 14 by a vote of 308 to 117.
The bill was referred to the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune said there was no clear path or consensus for the bill in the Senate.
Some lawmakers oppose permanent daylight saving time because it would mean darker winter mornings.
President Donald Trump urged Republican senators to pass the bill.
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An October Harvard CAPS/Harris poll found that 52 percent of registered voters viewed socialism unfavorably, while 25 percent viewed it favorably. The poll’s findings came as Republicans attacked Democratic candidates over socialism ahead of the midterm elections; political scientists said the messaging may have contributed to the decline, but voters weigh other factors in races.
Key Facts
The poll surveyed 2,700 registered voters from October 24 to 26 and had a margin of error of plus or minus 1.9 percentage points.
Socialism’s net favorability rating was minus 27 points, its lowest reading since August, according to the article.
In August, 26 percent viewed socialism favorably and 48 percent unfavorably; in September, the figures were 29 percent and 47 percent.
Democratic Socialists of America-aligned candidates are running for Congress after primary victories this year.
The article says Zohran Mamdani was elected New York City mayor a year ago and that candidates he endorsed won three New York congressional primaries in June.
President Donald Trump and other Republicans described Democrats as communists at a party midterm convention in Dallas in September.
Political scientists interviewed by Newsweek said Republican attacks may have affected views of socialism and could influence some races, but other considerations also shape election outcomes.
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Poll-based forecasts three days before the midterm elections favor Democrats to win the House, while the Senate race appears closer. The article says several Senate contests could decide control, and notes that forecasts vary because they use different assumptions about polls and uncertainty.
Key Facts
Silver Bulletin gave Democrats a 95.1 percent chance of winning the House and a 77.7 percent chance of controlling the Senate.
Decision Desk HQ gave Democrats an 80 percent chance of winning the House and a 60 percent chance of controlling the Senate.
VoteHub gave Democrats an 89 percent chance of controlling the House and a 63 percent chance of controlling the Senate.
Silver Bulletin projected an average of 240 Democratic and 195 Republican House seats, and 53 Democratic and 47 Republican Senate seats.
Democrats need a net gain of four Senate seats for outright control because Vice President JD Vance can break a 50-50 tie for Republicans.
The article reported that eight Senate races were within four points in at least one polling average it examined.
In Alaska, a RealClearPolling average gave Democrat Mary Peltola a 1.2-point lead over Republican Senator Dan Sullivan; Decision Desk HQ rated the race a tossup.
In Iowa, a RealClearPolling average gave Republican Ashley Hinson a 0.5-point lead over Democrat Josh Turek, while Decision Desk HQ gave Republicans a 53 percent chance of winning.
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The author reflects on how the Spice Girls’ five exaggerated personas shaped her childhood and considers whether a group built around those identities could emerge today. She argues that fans once treated the personas as playful possibilities, while noting that the group’s names, especially “Scary” for its only Black member, raise questions about race and stereotypes.
Key Facts
The Spice Girls are preparing a 30th-anniversary collection.
The group sold more than 100 million records worldwide, according to the article.
The five Spice Girls personas were Posh, Baby, Ginger, Sporty and Scary.
The author says she identified with different members at different times.
The article notes that Melanie Brown was the group’s only Black member and was called Scary.
The author describes the nickname as carrying both a stereotype and a sense of fearless confidence.
The author says she has urged the group on Instagram to reunite at the Sphere in Las Vegas.
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The article argues that an international protection force should be deployed to protect Palestinian civilians and essential services in Gaza, the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem. It describes widespread damage and displacement, pressure on healthcare and education, and loss of livelihoods since October 2023, citing figures from aid groups and other sources.
Key Facts
The article says more than 74,000 people have been killed in Gaza and that tens of thousands more may die from indirect effects of the war.
It reports that about 81 percent of structures in Gaza have been destroyed and 1.9 million people displaced.
The article says 19 of Gaza’s 36 hospitals and 73 of its 158 primary health centres remain partially functional.
It cites UNICEF data saying 98 percent of Gaza’s schools were destroyed or damaged during the war.
According to Al-Haq, 46 Palestinian communities were forcibly displaced by Israeli forces and settlers between 2023 and mid-2025.
The article says at least 84 schools in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, faced pending demolition or stop-work orders.
It reports that Israeli movement restrictions and settler violence have limited access to schools, farmland and livelihoods.
The article says the World Food Programme announced cuts to monthly food rations for hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.
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A shooting at a Spirit Halloween store in Fairfield, California, left one person dead and six injured on Friday evening, police said. Three of the injured victims are in critical condition.
Key Facts
Police responded to the store at Solano Town Center at about 8:30 p.m. local time.
Officers found seven people with gunshot wounds.
One victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
The other six victims were taken to hospitals.
Three injured victims remain in critical condition.
Police have not released the victims’ names.
Investigators asked anyone with information to contact the Fairfield Police Department.
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Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has harmed Black Sea wildlife through military noise, naval mines, pollution and disrupted fishing, according to researchers and environmental groups cited in the article. A Ukrainian researcher estimated that more than 120,000 dolphins and porpoises had died by 2026, though observers in other countries said they could not determine the cause of every stranded animal’s death.
Key Facts
Fishing and poaching along Black Sea coasts fell after Russia’s 2022 invasion, which included an effort to occupy Ukraine’s Black Sea coast.
Ivan Rusev, a researcher at Ukraine’s Tuzly Lagoons national park, estimated that about 50,000 dolphins died in 2022 and more than 120,000 had died by 2026.
Rusev said military explosions, missile launches and sonar can disrupt cetaceans’ echolocation, which they use to navigate, communicate and hunt.
The article links dolphin deaths to starvation, pollutants accumulated in blubber and respiratory infections caused by morbillivirus.
The 2023 destruction of the Kakhovka dam released water contaminated with fertiliser runoff, heavy metals and machine oil into the Dnipro River system.
Environmental groups in Bulgaria, Romania and Turkiye also reported increased dolphin deaths, but said decomposition often made the cause difficult to establish.
The article says naval mines, fishing restrictions and pollution have contributed to declines in fish such as mullet and bluefish.
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The State Department approved a $2.1 billion sale of 500 Patriot missiles to Ukraine, with funding from Canada and European allies and no U.S. funds. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the decision but said delivery could take years and urged allies to provide missiles from their current stockpiles while awaiting the new purchase.
Key Facts
The State Department announced the approval on Friday.
Canada and European allies, including Germany and Norway, will fund the purchase.
The department said the sale would not adversely affect U.S. defense readiness.
Lockheed Martin is the agreement’s principal contractor.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine had faced more than 30 Russian strikes on energy infrastructure in the preceding two weeks.
Ukraine uses Patriot missiles to intercept Russian attacks and has warned that its supplies are dwindling.
Zelenskyy asked the United States and European allies to transfer Patriot systems from their own stockpiles and replenish them with the purchased missiles later.
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RSF senior commander Siddiq Ander says he has defected from the paramilitary group, accusing the family of leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo of controlling its finances, weapons, troop movements and promotions. His departure follows several other senior defections this year as Sudan’s war continues to displace millions and cause civilian deaths.
Key Facts
Al Jazeera published video footage on Friday showing Ander announcing his defection and making accusations about the RSF leadership.
Ander said people who speak out within the RSF risk expulsion, imprisonment or death.
Hemedti’s brother, Abdul Rahim Hamdan Dagalo, is the RSF deputy commander.
Other senior RSF members who left this year include Mohammed Azraq al-Fanjari, Al-Tayeb al-Wahidu, Ali Rizqallah and al-Nour Ahmed Adam.
The war between Sudan’s armed forces and the RSF began in April 2023 after a power struggle that included disputes over integrating the RSF into the regular military.
The conflict has displaced about 13 million people and pushed parts of Sudan into famine.
Drone strikes hit a market and residential area in Nyala on October 26; a Sudanese rights group reported more than 100 deaths, while other medical organizations recorded lower figures.
The United Nations says drone strikes have become the leading cause of civilian deaths in Sudan’s war.
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A report by Geneva-based AURORAH GeoSignal Intelligence says Russian government and military satellites observed areas targeted in 40 Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia between July 1 and October 19. The firm says Russian intelligence may have supported Houthi targeting, including attacks on Saudi oil infrastructure, but the article presents these as the investigation’s findings and assessments.
Key Facts
AURORAH examined 40 Houthi missile and drone attacks against Saudi Arabia between July 1 and October 19.
The firm reported a pattern of Russian satellite observations before and after each of the attacks it studied.
AURORAH identified Russian systems including Bars-M, Persona, Lotos-S1, Pion-NKS and Kondor-FKA satellites, as well as the EKS/Tundra early-warning constellation.
The firm’s founder said the investigation found Russian intelligence supporting an Iran-led intelligence network assisting Houthi operations in Yemen.
The report linked Russian-derived intelligence to Houthi operations along Yemen’s western coast and assessed it was relevant to attacks on Saudi Arabia.
The article says three pumping stations on Saudi Arabia’s East-West oil pipeline were struck last month: PS8 at Afif, PS9 at Al-Dhekra and PS11 at Al-Mesba’ah.
The article describes the conflict between the Houthis and the Saudi-backed Yemeni government as ongoing since July, with the Houthis taking control of Yemen’s Red Sea coast in September.
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A plan to pedestrianise nearly 1km of London’s Oxford Street reminded Helen Davey of her father, John, who took part in a 1971 protest against traffic and pollution. Dressed as Father Christmas, he and fellow campaigners briefly chained off the road before police arrested them; his family says he would have welcomed the street’s transformation.
Key Facts
John Davey and his wife, Lizzie, were members of the youth wing of the Liberal Party.
In the early 1970s, Oxford Street had four lanes of traffic, and police used loudspeakers to keep shoppers from spilling into the road.
The Daveys and other campaigners formed the Oxford Street Action Committee.
On 18 December 1971, campaigners staged a protest on the last Saturday before Christmas.
John Davey, celebrating his 28th birthday, wore a Father Christmas outfit and carried a pole with balloons.
A campaigner disguised a heavy chain and padlocks in a pram, then used them to block the road at traffic lights.
Police removed the chain and arrested campaigners, including John, on suspicion of obstruction.
Nearly 1km of Oxford Street has now been pedestrianised.
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Russell Brand denied all charges as he gave evidence in his trial at Southwark Crown Court, while acknowledging that he had misused his fame to facilitate sexual activity. His wife, Laura Brand, testified about their relationship, and jurors heard extracts from his book and past media appearances. The article describes changes in Brand’s manner during cross-examination and reports on evidence presented in the trial’s third week.
Key Facts
Brand faces three rape charges, three sexual assault charges and one attempted indecent assault charge involving six women; he denies all charges.
The allegations cover a period of 10 years, from 1999.
Brand told the court that consent was essential and said he was innocent of the charges.
Brand said he had misused his fame and success to facilitate sexual activity with women.
Laura Brand testified that they began a relationship in 2006, split in 2007, reunited in 2015 and married in 2017.
Laura Brand described her husband as a wonderful father and attentive husband.
The article says Brand used florid language in his evidence and paused for long periods during cross-examination.
The prosecution presented extracts from Brand’s 2007 book, My Booky Wook, and comments he had made in media appearances.
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Mouria, a historic cafe in Athens’ Exarchia district, is closing after its lease expired and the building’s owners declined to renew it. The cafe has served as a gathering place for generations, while the neighborhood undergoes gentrification.
Key Facts
Owner Christos Vanas has run Mouria for 44 years.
Vanas has opened the cafe at 7 a.m. every day.
On Saturdays, he arrives at 5 a.m. to serve street-market stallholders.
The cafe will close on Sunday after a farewell gathering.
The closure followed the expiry of the premises’ lease last summer.
More than 7,500 people signed an online campaign asking Greece’s culture ministry to protect the cafe as a heritage site.
The culture ministry did not intervene.
Exarchia is known for its leftwing and countercultural history and is undergoing gentrification.
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Eliza Karazah says her son Sabar became intensely interested in dinosaurs after his father gave him toy models when he was two and a half. A child development expert says strong interests in topics such as dinosaurs are common in young children and can help them learn categories and feel knowledgeable.
Key Facts
Sabar’s father gave him 15 miniature dinosaur models when he was sick.
Sabar soon carried the toys around the house and wanted dinosaur-themed clothes and media.
His viewing included dinosaur films, documentaries, YouTube videos and dinosaur specials on Sesame Street.
A 2020 study monitored 33 children aged 4 to 8 and found doll play activated a brain region linked to empathy and social information processing.
A 2007 study found nearly one in three children develops an extremely intense interest in a topic; vehicles and dinosaurs were common subjects.
The 2007 study found these intense interests were more common among boys, though girls also developed them.
Parents in the 2007 study reported these interests lasted from six months to three years, and most faded once children started school.
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