A British-Hungarian Muslim woman and her husband have been restoring a farmhouse in southern Spain to create the House of Andalus, a project that connects people with the region’s Islamic history and nature. She finds living and practicing Islam in Spain easier and more welcoming than in Britain or Hungary, despite Spain also experiencing some political challenges.
Key Facts
The House of Andalus is located in the mountains near Alora, southern Spain.
The project includes a large olive grove with plans to plant up to 1,000 olive trees on 35 acres.
The region has a mild climate that supports growing oranges, figs, avocados, and mangoes.
Henrietta Szovati, a British-Hungarian Muslim, and her husband, Ajmal Masroor, have lived there for two years.
Henrietta feels a stronger sense of community and acceptance in Spain than she did in Britain or Hungary.
The area's name and history reflect its Islamic past, with some place names originating from Arabic words.
Southern Spain still faces challenges like wildfires and political shifts, including the rise of the far-right Vox party.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio encouraged Cubans to work secretly with the CIA to bring change to Cuba’s communist government. President Donald Trump and other U.S. officials have suggested military actions and increasing pressure on Cuba, which is already facing hardships due to a U.S.-imposed oil blockade.
Key Facts
Marco Rubio called on Cubans to partner discreetly with the CIA to help end Cuba’s communist rule.
President Donald Trump and senior U.S. officials have hinted at possible military intervention in Cuba.
Cuban officials mocked Rubio’s call, criticizing the CIA’s public recruitment efforts.
Cuba considers any U.S. military action an illegal and serious crime.
The CIA posted a video guiding people on how to safely contact U.S. intelligence, especially at U.S. embassies.
An ongoing U.S. oil blockade has caused fuel shortages and economic hardship in Cuba.
The United Nations has called the U.S. oil blockade a violation of international law.
The U.S. has maintained a trade embargo on Cuba for over 60 years.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Thousands of people across France are protesting for better school funding, housing help, and lower living costs. Authorities have increased police presence and restricted where protests can happen to prevent damage, as many shops and tourist sites have closed to avoid looting after recent violence.
Key Facts
Protests are taking place across France for the fourth weekend, involving students, unions, and "yellow vest" groups.
Recent protests led to hundreds of shops being damaged or looted in cities like Paris, Marseille, and Bordeaux.
Police and soldiers deployed have increased by 20%, with 70,000 personnel on the streets.
Many businesses, including opticians and supermarkets, are boarding up windows or closing to protect themselves.
Paris has closed metro stations and major museums and tourist sites due to protests.
There was a recent racist terrorist attack near Paris, increasing tensions in communities.
The far-right National Rally party is holding its national conference in Orléans, expected to draw counter-demonstrators.
Protests are also happening in other European countries including Italy, Spain, Austria, Portugal, Albania, and Ireland.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A large fire broke out on Friday at a chemical plant in Leon, Mexico. Firefighters worked to control the fire while officials evacuated hundreds of nearby residents to keep them safe.
Key Facts
The fire happened at a chemical plant in Leon, Mexico.
It began on Friday.
The fire caused explosions at the plant.
Firefighters responded quickly to put out the flames.
Civil protection teams evacuated hundreds of people living close to the plant.
The evacuation aimed to protect residents from possible harm caused by the fire.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The U.S. Department of Justice has sued to delay the certification of Alaska’s Senate election results if Senator Dan Sullivan loses narrowly to Democrat Mary Peltola. The lawsuit focuses on the presence of a second candidate also named Dan Sullivan on the ballot, which the DOJ says might confuse voters.
Key Facts
Alaska’s Senate election on November 3 includes incumbent Republican Dan Sullivan and Democrat Mary Peltola.
There is a second candidate named Daniel J Sullivan Jr, a retired teacher and former Forest Service worker, also on the ballot.
The Alaska Supreme Court allowed both candidates named Sullivan to remain on the ballot.
The ballot lists the incumbent as “Sullivan, Dan S (Registered Republican) Incumbent” and the other as “Sullivan, Daniel J Jr” with no party shown.
The Department of Justice argues that having two candidates with similar names could mislead voters and wants to delay certifying results if the incumbent loses by fewer votes than the second Sullivan receives.
Alaska election officials originally disqualified Daniel J Sullivan Jr, but courts overturned that decision.
Political experts disagree on how much the name confusion might affect voters and the election outcome.
The lawsuit cited the National Voter Registration Act as the legal basis for intervention.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The US national intelligence director, Jay Clayton, warned that Iran has greatly increased efforts to target US personnel in the Middle East and other places. This warning comes as the US State Department adjusts staffing at embassies due to rising attacks by Iranian-backed Houthis against Saudi Arabia.
Key Facts
Iran is stepping up attempts to attack US citizens in the Middle East and other countries.
Jay Clayton sent a memo to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio about the threat.
The US ordered non-emergency embassy staff to leave Saudi Arabia because of repeated Houthi missile and drone attacks.
Houthis, who control parts of Yemen, have attacked Saudi airports since October, killing at least 21 people.
The Houthi attacks are a response to the Saudi blockade and air strikes on Yemen’s capital, Sanaa.
Yemen has been in a civil war since 2014, involving Houthis and a Saudi-led coalition.
The conflict is linked to wider tensions involving the US, Iran, and Israel in the Middle East.
Oil prices have gone up partly due to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route affected by this conflict.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Major museums in Paris closed and police prepared with a large force to manage new protests across France. The protests began with students but grew larger, focusing on rising living costs, leading to past violence and damage to stores.
Key Facts
Up to 70,000 police officers will be deployed across France, supported by helicopters, armored vehicles, and water cannons.
Major Paris museums like the Louvre and Orsay are closed during the protests.
Paris shops, especially on the Champs-Elysees, have barricaded themselves to prevent looting.
Over 3,000 shops in France were damaged or looted during last week’s protests.
The protests started with high school students demanding better conditions and quickly spread nationwide over high living expenses.
Demonstrations are planned in Paris and Marseille, while authorities banned rallies in some cities like Lyon and Nice.
Some cities outside Paris, including Limoges, experienced serious damage, including an alleged arson attack on city hall.
About 50 organizations plan a protest against Marine Le Pen's far-right party during its congress ahead of next year’s presidential election.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A fire started on Friday night at the Kehlsteinhaus, a building known as Hitler’s former Alpine retreat. Firefighters faced challenges because of the rough terrain, and the fire was still burning on Saturday morning. Authorities arrested a man in connection with the fire.
Key Facts
The fire began on Friday night at the Kehlsteinhaus.
The Kehlsteinhaus is historically known as Hitler’s former mountain retreat.
Rough and difficult terrain made it hard for firefighters to control the fire.
The blaze was still active on Saturday morning.
Police arrested a man linked to the fire.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Thousands of Palestinians in the West Bank have lost access to food aid after the UN's World Food Programme reduced assistance due to funding cuts. Many displaced families now face hunger and poor living conditions following Israeli military actions and ongoing conflict.
Key Facts
In January 2025, an Israeli military operation displaced tens of thousands from refugee camps in the northern West Bank.
The UN's World Food Programme cut food aid recipients in the West Bank by 50% in September 2025 because of reduced international funding.
Food needs in the West Bank have more than doubled since 2023 due to conflict and increased attacks.
Approximately 900,000 people in the West Bank are currently struggling with food insecurity.
Many displaced families live in unfinished houses or crowded school buildings with no income or aid.
Medical needs are often unmet due to lack of money and support.
Homes destroyed by the Israeli army have been replaced by roads for military use.
Some family members have been detained or lost jobs amid the conflict, worsening their financial situation.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Italy is preparing for protests on Saturday about budget cuts and high living costs in eight cities, including Rome and Milan. Authorities plan to use heavy security measures like drones and helicopters to monitor the demonstrations after last weekend's protests included some violence.
Key Facts
Protests will take place in eight Italian cities, including Rome and Milan.
The protests focus on concerns about budget cuts and high costs of housing and fuel.
Police will use drones, helicopters, and physical patrols to watch over the demonstrations.
The government wants to protect the right to protest but enforce the law strictly.
After last weekend’s protests, extra soldiers will patrol Milan’s city center.
Shops in Milan were encouraged to stay open despite risks of looting last weekend.
A group called the "October 17 Movement" organized the protests with secret meeting points.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government passed a security law making it easier to detain minors and fined parents for their children's protest-related damage.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un arrived in the Chinese border city of Dandong by crossing a newly opened bridge. This visit strengthens the connection between China and North Korea, following the official opening of a bridge that took 12 years to fully open.
Key Facts
Kim Jong Un traveled to Dandong, China, using the newly opened New Yalu River Bridge.
The bridge connects China and North Korea and was completed in 2014 but only opened recently due to missing roads and customs on the North Korean side.
This visit happened about a week after the bridge's official opening.
China is North Korea’s largest trading partner and provides important diplomatic and economic support.
Kim’s last trip to China was in September 2025 for the 80th Victory Day celebrations in Beijing.
Chinese President Xi Jinping visited North Korea in June, showing signs of improving relations.
The bridge has four lanes and is expected to deepen economic ties between the two countries.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A Norfolk couple, Tim and Geli Harris, won three important legal cases against government regulators for failing to stop pollution harming Catfield Fen, an internationally protected wetland. The high court ruled that Natural England did not properly protect the fen from harmful nitrates and phosphates washing in from nearby farmland.
Key Facts
Tim and Geli Harris own a 460-acre farm next to Catfield Fen, a special wetland habitat in Norfolk, England.
The fen is home to around 2,500 species, including rare orchids, ferns, bittern birds, and swallowtail butterflies.
Natural England, a government conservation agency, was found to have failed its legal duty to protect the fen from pollution since at least 2021.
Pollution from farming activities caused damaging nitrates and phosphates to enter the wetland waters.
The Harrises have spent 15 years and £1.5 million of their own money fighting to hold regulators accountable.
The court’s decision criticized Natural England for being slow and inactive despite clear evidence of harm.
The couple converted their farm’s arable land to pasture to reduce pollution runoff and maintain the natural environment.
The Harrises maintain a working relationship with Natural England but have taken legal action to push for stronger protection.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17) recently took place in Yerevan, Armenia, marking the first time the event was held in a former Soviet republic. Although Armenia was chosen to host the conference as a sign of its environmental ambitions, the country faces serious problems with pollution, waste management, and industrial mining that challenge its role as an environmental leader.
Key Facts
COP17 was held in Yerevan, Armenia, for the first time in a former Soviet republic.
Armenia ranks 75th out of 177 countries in Yale University’s 2026 Environmental Performance Index.
The country ranks very low in waste management (164th) and wastewater treatment (165th).
Mining, especially open-pit copper-molybdenum and gold mining, causes major environmental pollution in Armenia.
Mining operations have led to water contamination and reduced national park areas.
Forests cover only 11.1% of Armenia, and air pollution in Yerevan is five times above WHO limits.
Russian-linked companies have large stakes in Armenia’s mining industry and are major investors and taxpayers.
The Armenian government promoted the controversial Amulsar gold mine for economic benefit despite environmental concerns.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A fire broke out on Friday night at Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest mountain retreat in Germany. Police have arrested one person and are investigating the cause of the fire. No one was hurt, but the building was fully on fire when firefighters arrived.
Key Facts
The fire happened around 9:15 p.m. local time at the Eagle’s Nest on Obersalzberg mountain in Bavaria, Germany.
The Eagle’s Nest is also called Kehlsteinhaus and was built in 1938 for Adolf Hitler.
Firefighters found the building completely on fire but there were no injuries since no one was inside.
Fire trucks had trouble reaching the site due to difficult local conditions.
Police have detained a suspect and are investigating the fire as a possible crime.
The Eagle’s Nest survived World War II bombings mostly intact.
Today, it is a tourist spot with a restaurant and beer garden.
The site of the Eagle’s Nest is considered a historical monument from the Nazi era, highlighting the regime’s history.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Playwright James Graham talks about how culture in society seems to be stuck and not growing. He explains how this slow change in culture also affects politics, causing political ideas and actions to be stuck as well.
Key Facts
James Graham is a playwright known for works like "Dear England" and "Quiz."
He believes cultural stagnation means culture is not evolving or developing much.
This stagnation has political consequences, making politics feel stuck or unchanging.
Some say algorithms—computer programs that decide what content people see—are part of why culture is flat or repetitive.
Books like *Filterworld* by Kyle Chayka and *Blank Space* by W. David Marx offer different ideas on why culture is not growing.
Mark Fisher wrote about a "slow cancellation of the future," meaning people feel less hope or ideas for a new future.
The conversation is part of a podcast episode with James Graham.
James Graham’s new film *INK* will come out in UK cinemas in January 2027.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The article explains that global politics today faces big challenges because no single country controls world events. New technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) make threats bigger and harder to manage, while countries form competing groups instead of working together. The article says that strong international rules and cooperation are the best ways to keep the world safe in this new situation.
Key Facts
The world is moving toward a "multipolar" order, meaning no one country dominates global power.
Artificial intelligence is creating new risks and making old problems harder to solve.
Powerful countries find it harder to control smaller states or manage conflicts, shown by examples like Iran and Ukraine.
New threats could come from cyberattacks, disease outbreaks, or dangerous technology spreading unnoticed.
Countries acting only in their own interest and focusing on military strength will not solve these problems.
Some leaders want to compete for AI dominance instead of cooperating internationally.
Global risks, even if small each year, add up to a high chance of major problems over time.
Strong international laws, organizations, and cooperation are needed to manage these threats.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Arif Patel, a UK businessman who stole more than £33 million through a complex tax fraud scheme, has been living in Dubai since 2011, avoiding his 20-year prison sentence. He was convicted in his absence for leading an organized crime group involved in a VAT carousel fraud, which tried to steal up to £90 million from the UK tax system.
Key Facts
Arif Patel ran a textile business in Preston, UK, but secretly organized a large-scale VAT carousel fraud.
VAT carousel fraud involves pretending to buy and sell goods many times to illegally claim tax refunds.
Patel’s fraud cost taxpayers over £33 million, with attempts to steal as much as £90 million.
He fled the UK in 2011 and was convicted in 2023 without being present in court.
A judge called Patel and his brothers high-level organized criminals.
Patel has not served any prison time due to living outside the UK, specifically in Dubai.
Investigations by HM Revenue and Customs took years to uncover and prove the fraud.
Patel appeared as a wealthy businessman and investor before being exposed.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A fire broke out at the Eagle’s Nest, Adolf Hitler’s former mountain retreat in Bavaria, Germany. Police detained a suspect, and firefighters worked through difficult conditions to control the blaze, with no injuries reported.
Key Facts
The fire occurred at the Eagle’s Nest, located at 1,834 meters (6,000 feet) high on Obersalzberg in southern Germany.
About 200 firefighters responded but found the building fully on fire when they arrived.
A suspicious person was taken into temporary custody related to the fire.
The fire alarm went off around 9:50 p.m. local time on Friday.
Firefighters had trouble reaching the site and needed special breathing gear due to the altitude and conditions.
There were no people inside the building when the fire started.
Authorities suspect the fire may have been caused by arson but have not confirmed the cause yet.
The Eagle’s Nest was built in 1937-1938, survived World War II without damage, and now serves as a historical exhibition and restaurant.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Republican Ohio governor candidate Vivek Ramaswamy released an attack ad against Democrat Amy Acton, featuring Acton's estranged mother accusing her of lying about her childhood. The ad caused controversy within the Republican Party, with some leaders calling for its removal, while President Trump supports it.
Key Facts
The ad shows Amy Acton’s mother accusing Acton of lying about her past and mental health.
Acton and her mother have been estranged since 1978 after Acton was removed from her mother’s custody due to abuse by her stepfather.
Court records and reports back Acton’s story, contradicting her mother’s claims in the ad.
Ramaswamy’s campaign confirmed the ad and plans to spend $4 million promoting it.
Acton’s campaign responded with a video of her brother describing the abuse Acton faced as a child.
Some senior Republicans, including Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, find the ad troubling and want it withdrawn.
President Trump and Vice President JD Vance support the ad and Ramaswamy’s decision to continue it.
The controversy highlights a split within the Republican Party between Trump supporters and traditional members.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Most "levelling up" projects in the UK have not been completed years after money was given to local councils. Data shows that 821 out of 1,347 projects were still unfinished by May 2024, delaying promised improvements to towns and regions.
Key Facts
821 out of 1,347 levelling up projects are unfinished as of May 2024.
73 UK council areas with approved projects have not completed any.
Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland have slower project delivery despite fewer projects overall.
The Future High Streets Fund, Town Deals, and Levelling Up Fund are the main sources of levelling up money.
Initial deadlines for these funds ranged from March 2024 to March 2026 but were extended to March 2028.
Inflation has caused councils to reduce or pause projects because costs increased.
Labour’s new Pride in Place program offers longer-term funding with local decision-making.
Some areas like Blackburn with Darwen and Leeds have no completed levelling up projects yet.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
