Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, said hackers stole $6.3 billion in assets. The company said it froze about half of the assets, while the rest remained with the hackers; two analytics firms linked the attack to a North Korean hacking unit, but no one has claimed responsibility.
Key Facts
Binance reported a hack involving $6.3 billion in assets.
The stolen amount was also reported as £4.7 billion.
Binance said it froze about half of the assets.
The company said many of the assets remained in the hackers’ hands.
Two analytics firms attributed the incident to a North Korean hacking unit.
No one has claimed responsibility for the hack.
Binance did not directly answer questions about possible links to North Korea.
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France’s economy contracted by 0.1% in the third quarter of 2026, while annual inflation rose to 3.4% in October. Finance Minister Roland Lescure warned that France could face serious financial trouble if parliament does not pass a budget to reduce the deficit.
Key Facts
Insee reported that GDP fell 0.1% from July through September.
The economy had stagnated in the second quarter after shrinking 0.2% in the first quarter.
Annual inflation rose to 3.4% in October, up from 3.1% in September.
Household consumption grew 0.4%, while investment fell 0.6% in the third quarter.
Foreign trade reduced GDP growth by 0.6 percentage points.
Analysts said the figures put the government’s 0.5% growth forecast for 2026 at risk.
Lescure is seeking parliamentary approval for a 2027 budget that includes billions of euros in spending cuts.
Unions and the Yellow Vest movement called for nationwide protests on Saturday amid anger over living costs and inequality.
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The article examines whether President Donald Trump’s foreign policy could hurt Republicans in the November 3 midterm elections. Ukrainian Americans interviewed in Pennsylvania say his approach to Ukraine may affect their votes, while the article also points to the Iran war and tariffs as policies that could concern voters.
Key Facts
Irene Skulsky, a retired teacher in Pennsylvania, said she planned to vote against Republicans because of Trump’s actions toward Ukraine.
Skulsky said her son Darko survived a Russian attack on vehicles near Kyiv, while people in cars ahead of him were killed.
Skulsky linked the lack of an advance warning to a reported suspension of U.S. intelligence sharing; the Trump administration denied stopping intelligence sharing that month.
The article says Trump reached a deal with Vladimir Putin to buy nearly five million tonnes of diesel, overriding U.S. sanctions on Russia.
The article reports that Trump called for Ukrainians to replace President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and that his administration faced accusations of limiting Ukraine’s access to Starlink.
Ukrainian American advocate Eugene Luciw said foreign policy was a major concern for Ukrainian Americans and could matter to other voters.
The article identifies the Iran war and Trump’s tariffs on imports from much of the world as other policies that could affect Republican prospects.
The article says the Iran war, launched with Israel in February, showed no signs of ending at the time of publication.
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Yorkshire Water chief executive Nicola Shaw will leave her post on 1 January, one day after the company received the Environment Agency’s lowest environmental rating. Nicola Medalova will join the company during a transition period and take over as chief executive in the new year.
Key Facts
Shaw has led Yorkshire Water since 2022.
The Environment Agency gave Yorkshire Water one star out of four and classified it as a poorly performing company.
The agency said the company was responsible for 260 pollution incidents in 2025, its highest total since 2011.
Ofwat announced a £47 million fine for historic sewage leaks in 2024.
Shaw faced criticism for not disclosing £1.3 million in shareholder-funded payments made between 2023 and 2025.
Shaw said in December 2025 that keeping the payments secret was a mistake.
Medalova is a chartered environmental health officer who previously worked for National Grid.
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A Pakistani anti-terrorism court sentenced human rights lawyers Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha to 10 years in prison over an alleged security breach during England’s 2024 cricket tour. They denied removing road barriers and obstructing police; additional sentences for those alleged offenses will run at the same time as the 10-year terms.
Key Facts
The case concerns an incident on 25 October 2024 at Zero Point, a major road junction in Islamabad.
Prosecutors accused the couple of removing barriers on a road assigned to the cricket team’s security convoy and obstructing police officers.
The court also imposed one-year and two-year sentences for obstructing and using force against public servants; all sentences will run concurrently.
The court fined each lawyer 200,000 Pakistani rupees.
The couple have been in custody since January in connection with separate cases, including one involving social media posts critical of Pakistan’s military.
Pakistan’s Supreme Court suspended earlier prison sentences over the social media posts and granted the couple bail, but police arrested them again in another case.
Amnesty International said the couple were denied an open and fair trial and raised concerns about hearings held inside the prison.
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Hamed Mirzaei says a U.S.-Israeli attack on a residential building in Tehran on March 9, 2026, killed 12 members of his family. He describes returning to the destroyed building for 20 days to search for them, including his wife, Mohadeseh, who was 26.
Key Facts
The attack struck a residential building in Tehran on March 9, 2026.
Mirzaei says 12 members of his family died in the attack.
Those killed included Mirzaei’s wife, Mohadeseh, his parents, grandparents, and other relatives.
Mirzaei and his wife had married a year earlier and were preparing to start a family.
Mirzaei said he was about five minutes from home when he heard the first missile strike.
He said five more missiles struck the building after the first impact.
Neighbours trapped under rubble were rescued with help from the Red Crescent.
Mirzaei said he returned to the rubble for 20 days to search for his family.
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Video game remakes can reconnect players with cherished memories while introducing older titles to new audiences. Analysts say updating an existing game can also be a lower-cost strategy for companies, though remakes may disappoint fans with high expectations.
Key Facts
Kacey Doran says footage of a redesigned The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time brought back memories of playing the original with her sister as a child.
The original Ocarina of Time was released in 1998, and the remake is due to arrive on the Switch 2 later this year.
Doran teaches an esports course at Rowan University in New Jersey and hopes to share the game with her sister’s children.
Tim Wulf of the Centre for Advanced Internet Studies says games can evoke nostalgia by letting players return to familiar environments and use skills they learned before.
Piers Harding-Rolls of Ampere Analysis says remakes and remasters can help companies build on established audiences and may cost less than creating a new game.
The article cites recent remakes of Resident Evil 4 and Assassin’s Creed Black Flag as titles that found large audiences.
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Australia’s Supreme Court of Victoria dismissed Erin Patterson’s appeal against her convictions for murdering three people with a meal containing death cap mushrooms and attempting to murder a fourth. The court ruled that she will serve life in prison without the possibility of parole; she can still seek to appeal to Australia’s High Court.
Key Facts
Patterson was convicted of murdering Gail and Donald Patterson and Heather Wilkinson.
She was also convicted of attempting to murder Heather Wilkinson’s husband, Ian, who survived the meal.
The court rejected her lawyers’ arguments about evidence, cross-examination and the jury’s accommodation arrangements.
The judges said the crimes involved “shocking criminality” and did not warrant a parole period.
Patterson had received a life sentence with a 33-year non-parole period.
The High Court is Patterson’s final appeal option.
The article says Patterson is the second woman in Australia to receive a life sentence without the possibility of parole.
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Mayon Volcano in the Philippines erupted, sending ash plumes 3,000 metres above its summit. Authorities raised the alert to Level 3, which signals that the volcano has entered a new phase of eruption.
Key Facts
Mayon Volcano is in the Philippines.
The volcano erupted.
Ash plumes rose 3,000 metres above the summit.
Authorities raised the volcano alert to Level 3.
The alert level signals a new phase of eruption.
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U.S. authorities are investigating an alleged scheme that used stolen identities to enroll fictitious students in colleges and divert federal student aid. A Kenyan man, Francis Mogambi, has been indicted in Nebraska; investigators have identified potentially fraudulent aid accounts linked to nearly $130 million, which is not a confirmed loss amount.
Key Facts
Prosecutors allege Francis Mogambi worked with associates in Kenya from November 2025 to May 2026 to steal U.S. citizens’ identities and enroll fictitious students.
Mogambi faces five counts of theft of government money and five counts of aggravated identity theft.
Prosecutors allege that Mogambi diverted financial aid payments, kept 30%, and sent the rest to associates in Kenya.
Mogambi was arrested after the indictment and is being held pending trial.
The Justice Department’s Operation Ghostbusters has resulted in five indictments, with 40 additional investigations still open, according to U.S. authorities.
Authorities say hundreds of people may have had personal information stolen and used to access federal student aid.
Investigators identified 830,840 potentially fraudulent Federal Student Aid identification numbers associated with nearly $130 million in September and October 2026; that amount is not confirmed losses.
Authorities say identity theft can leave victims facing unexpected student loan debts and damage to their credit.
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Russia said it struck energy infrastructure in and around Kyiv, as well as facilities in the Odesa and Dnipropetrovsk regions. An aid convoy carrying food and medical supplies began moving toward Russian-held Oleshky, where a local ceasefire had held for a third day. The developments followed a Russian drone strike on a Dnipro train station that killed at least 14 people.
Key Facts
Russia’s defence ministry said its forces struck energy infrastructure in and around Kyiv.
Russia also reported strikes on port facilities in the Odesa region, the Dnipropetrovsk region, and cargo vessels it said were used by the military.
An aid convoy carrying food, medical supplies and other items began traveling toward Russian-held Oleshky overnight.
Officials from Ukraine and Russia said a local ceasefire in Oleshky held for a third day.
A Russian drone struck a railway platform in Dnipro on Thursday, killing at least 14 people and wounding 14 others.
Six people wounded in the Dnipro strike were reported to be in severe condition.
Russia’s Interfax news agency reported that Russian air defences shot down 1,043 Ukrainian drones overnight, citing Russia’s defence ministry.
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Amazon and Google have signed long-term agreements to buy nuclear power as AI and data centre electricity demand grows. Companies are also backing reactor upgrades and restarts, but new nuclear capacity takes years to deliver, creating a timing gap between electricity supply and rapidly changing technology demand.
Key Facts
Amazon contracted for 690 megawatts from Constellation’s Calvert Cliffs plant in Maryland, including 190 megawatts of added capacity expected between 2030 and 2032.
Google signed an agreement for 890 megawatts of additional nuclear capacity in the United States.
Neither the Amazon nor Google agreement involves building a new reactor; both rely on existing reactors or added output from them.
Constellation plans to invest more than $4.3 billion to upgrade 11 reactors in Illinois, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Microsoft has a 20-year agreement to buy electricity from the undamaged reactor at Three Mile Island as it is brought back into service.
The U.S. Department of Energy is offering up to $4.4 billion in loans to support restarting three closed nuclear plants, with a goal of restoring about 2.25 gigawatts of capacity.
The International Energy Agency estimates that global data centre electricity use will more than double to about 945 terawatt-hours by 2030.
A new large nuclear reactor can take a decade or more to begin generating electricity, while several small modular reactor projects are not expected to deliver power until the early 2030s.
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The article argues that the UK should impose sanctions not only on Israeli settlers but also on Israel and companies that support or profit from settlements. Its author says UK sanctions should take effect quickly and target the wider settlement economy, while also raising concerns about arms sales and components for F-35 jets.
Key Facts
The author says Israeli forces detained a delegation that included three British parliamentarians for nearly eight hours and then barred them from entering the West Bank.
The visit was organised by Global Justice Now, according to the article.
The UK has announced new sanctions related to Israeli settlements in the West Bank, the article says.
The author calls for the sanctions to take effect rapidly and to cover the Israeli state as well as settlers.
The article says UK sanctions rules could cover companies that profit from or support settlements.
The author says sanctions should target companies providing finance, insurance, or surveillance technology to settlements and related infrastructure.
The article says components for F-35 jets remain permitted despite a UK commitment to stop arms sales that materially contribute to the occupation.
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Al Jazeera reports that an Israeli military operation has displaced 4,969 people in Hebron and closed 10 entrances to the southern West Bank city. The operation began after two Palestinians killed two Israeli soldiers; Israeli officials say it aims to thwart terrorism, while the article describes displacement and damage to homes and businesses.
Key Facts
Al Jazeera's analysis of municipal and human rights data put the number of displaced people at 4,969, from 780 families.
The displaced group includes 441 elderly people, 336 infants under two, 312 people with chronic illnesses, more than 200 pregnant or nursing women, and 44 people with disabilities.
The 10 closed entrances surround Hebron, with closures reported to the north, northeast, northwest, east, and south.
The military operation began on October 23, after two Palestinians killed two Israeli soldiers and injured three others; Israeli forces killed the two attackers.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he ordered Hebron closed and called for a full lockdown across the occupied West Bank; Defence Minister Israel Katz said residents would not return until Hamas infrastructure was dismantled.
The Israeli army said the operation aims to thwart terrorism through searches, arrests, and weapons seizures; Ynet reported that the army described weapons-search results as limited and cited legal difficulties with prolonged displacement.
The municipality said the targeted eviction area covers 0.35 square kilometres and houses more than 500 families; it classified 266 tracked families' current locations as unsafe.
In Farsh al-Hawa, Israeli forces demolished a three-apartment building, targeted local businesses, and bulldozed about 7,000 square metres of land, according to the article.
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Ministers from other UK departments say Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has not provided detailed estimates of how her asylum reforms could affect homelessness and rough sleeping. Mahmood’s allies say the impact cannot yet be quantified because the proposals are not final, while the Home Office says the reforms will not leave people homeless and that the changes have saved taxpayers more than £1 billion since the election.
Key Facts
The proposed asylum reforms include ending permanent leave to remain and the government’s duty to support people who would otherwise become destitute.
A Home Office impact assessment says reduced disposable income could cause hardship or destitution and increase demand for homelessness services and rough-sleeping support.
Ministers responsible for housing and other policy areas have sought more information about the reforms’ possible effects.
Sources say Ali McGovern and Miatta Fahnbulleh raised concerns while serving as ministers under Keir Starmer, with support from then housing secretary Steve Reed.
McGovern and Fahnbulleh met Alex Norris, then a Home Office minister, but believed their questions were not adequately answered.
A planned formal letter requesting details was not sent after Fahnbulleh resigned from government.
The Home Office says the reforms followed the usual cross-government process and says asylum seekers will be moved to more suitable accommodation as asylum hotels close.
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The UK will raise its tax-free trading allowance for side-hustle income from £1,000 to £3,000 a year in April 2027. The government estimates that up to 1.4 million people could benefit, including some who will pay less tax or no longer need to report their trading income to HMRC.
Key Facts
The allowance will increase from £1,000 to £3,000 in April 2027.
The change was announced in the budget by the chancellor.
The government estimates that up to 1.4 million people could benefit.
About 400,000 people are expected to see their tax bill fall, with an average saving of £380.
About 100,000 people are expected to no longer need to report their trading income to HMRC.
People earning more than £3,000 can choose whether to use the allowance or deduct eligible business expenses and capital costs when calculating taxable profit.
Selling personal belongings for less than their original purchase price is not taxable because the seller has not made a profit.
Online platforms must report seller information to HMRC when a seller makes 30 sales or earns €2,000, about £1,700, in a year.
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France will deploy about 70,000 police officers and gendarmes across the country for protests planned on October 31. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez warned of a very high risk of disorder and said authorities would ban Halloween gatherings promoted online as calls for a “revolution.”
Key Facts
The deployment will match the number of officers mobilized the previous week.
The Yellow Vest movement and student unions called for a new day of protests.
Nuñez said demonstrations could take place but would not be allowed in city centres where authorities see a risk of disorder.
The government plans to strengthen security measures to protect shops.
Protests on October 17 led to rioting, looting and damage to public property.
Student groups said government proposals on learning conditions and school renovations did not meet their demands.
Youth organization representatives met Nuñez on Thursday and criticized the meeting and the police response.
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Victoria’s Court of Appeal dismissed Erin Patterson’s appeal against her convictions and removed the minimum prison term that could have made her eligible for parole. The judges ruled that the crimes were so serious that she must remain in prison for life, though she can ask Australia’s High Court to review the convictions and sentence.
Key Facts
Patterson was convicted of murdering three relatives of her estranged husband and attempting to murder a fourth.
The victims ate a meal at Patterson’s home in Leongatha, Victoria, in July 2023.
The three murder victims were Don Patterson, Gail Patterson and Heather Wilkinson; Ian Wilkinson survived after weeks in hospital.
Patterson said she added death cap mushrooms to the meal by accident.
The appeals court upheld her convictions and granted prosecutors’ request to remove her 33-year nonparole period.
Justice Stephen McLeish said the court found the crimes involved “shocking criminality” and were extraordinarily cold and calculated.
Patterson can apply to Australia’s High Court, her last appeal option.
Patterson is the second woman in Australia sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
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The UK Home Office revoked Swedish academic Andreas Malm’s Electronic Travel Authorisation, saying his presence in the country was not conducive to the public good. Malm believes the decision is linked to a planned London panel about Palestine, but the Home Office had not responded to requests for clarification at the time of publication.
Key Facts
Malm was due to speak at a panel organised by the magazine Tribune in London the following week.
The panel was also set to include Huda Ammori, cofounder of Palestine Action, and be chaired by Hala Hanina of Palestine Deep Dive.
The Home Office email told Malm to apply for a visa if he wishes to visit the UK.
The UK government website lists three weeks as the processing time for a standard visitor visa.
Malm said he had visited the UK regularly for decades and last travelled there in May.
Malm said he had asked the Home Office to explain the cancellation but had not received a response.
The UK proscribed Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation last year; rights groups, including Amnesty International, have condemned the move.
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Survivors of three deadly train crashes in Spain are urging authorities to improve rail safety and maintenance. The article says an initial investigation linked the January 2026 Adamuz crash to a broken rail, while the causes of the latest crash near Urda remain uncertain.
Key Facts
The 2013 Angrois crash near Santiago de Compostela killed 80 people and remains Spain’s deadliest rail accident.
At least 69 people were killed in a train collision near Urda, close to Toledo, on Wednesday, according to the article.
A January 2026 collision near Adamuz killed 46 people.
An initial investigation into the Adamuz crash found that a broken rail caused one train to leave the track and enter the path of an oncoming train.
The article says investigators had not established the cause of the Urda crash; a survivor cited possible human error and a control-system problem.
Angrois survivor Cristobal Gonzalez said he still struggles with post-traumatic stress and called for more investment in rail safety.
The article cites European Commission data showing Spain spent an average of about $1.67 billion a year on high-speed lines from 2018 to 2022, with 16 percent going to maintenance or repairs.
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