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.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
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.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
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.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
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.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
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.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
India’s food system feeds more than a billion people, but rising cases of food adulteration and poor hygiene are raising public health concerns. The report examines the difficulty of overseeing the country’s large and complex food industry and notes that adulterated food can have fatal consequences.
Key Facts
India’s food industry serves more than a billion people each day.
The article reports a rise in food adulteration cases.
Food adulteration can have fatal consequences.
Concerns about poor hygiene are also growing.
The scale and complexity of India’s food system make regulatory oversight difficult.
Food safety has become a growing public concern in India.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Israeli attacks across Gaza killed at least six Palestinians and wounded dozens over the 24 hours reported by Gaza’s Health Ministry. The ministry renewed its call to open the Rafah crossing so patients and wounded people can leave Gaza for medical care.
Key Facts
An Israeli drone strike on a car in the Maghazi refugee camp killed two Palestinians and wounded others, according to Al Jazeera reporting.
An Israeli strike in Jabalia wounded one Palestinian, who was taken to al-Shifa Hospital.
Four Palestinians were buried at Nasser Hospital after a drone strike in al-Mawasi near Rafah; Al Jazeera reported they were Ministry of Economy employees monitoring aid trucks.
More than 30 people were wounded in the al-Mawasi attack, according to Al Jazeera.
Emergency services said 11 people, including women and children, were wounded when Israeli artillery struck a house east of Gaza City.
Gaza’s Health Ministry said six Palestinians were killed and 38 wounded in the previous 24 hours.
The ministry said 21,468 patients and wounded people need to travel outside Gaza for treatment, including 6,430 priority cases.
The ministry said 3,056 patients and wounded people have been evacuated for treatment abroad since February: 2,614 through Rafah and 442 through Karem Abu Salem.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Pentagon inspector general declined to investigate recent Starlink and Starshield disruptions in Ukraine, saying the matter concerns the military’s contract with SpaceX. The office said the Air Force and Space Force are better placed to address it, while a senator who requested the inquiry called for an independent review.
Key Facts
Inspector General Platte Moring told lawmakers that his office would not investigate the disruptions.
The inspector general’s office said the reported interruptions were a contractual matter.
The Air Force and Space Force oversee the U.S. military’s contract with SpaceX for Starlink.
The disruptions drew criticism as Ukraine faced Russian attacks.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said limits on the satellite networks were imposed by the U.S. government.
U.S. and Ukrainian officials later said the services had returned to normal conditions.
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen said the decision not to investigate was concerning and urged the inspector general to conduct a full review.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Reform UK has launched a free, monthly newspaper called the Reformer as part of a plan to build a national publishing operation. The first edition features party leader Nigel Farage prominently and promotes Reform policies, party activities and membership.
Key Facts
The paper’s front page shows Farage with a labrador and carries the headline “Nigel Farage: we will fix broken Britain”.
Farage is the only person credited as a reporter in the first edition, although the party is advertising 12 journalism roles.
Reform says it has sent the paper to 15 million people across Britain.
The publication includes Reform’s proposal to use the Royal Navy to return migrants crossing the Channel to France.
The first edition promotes Reform membership and invites readers to apply as candidates for the May 2027 local elections.
Reform insiders described the first edition as rushed and said later monthly editions would include more news and features.
Printweek reported that Walstead Group printed the paper; the publication is reportedly led by former Spiked editor Mick Hume.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
After losing Brazil’s presidential runoff to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva by 4.4 million votes, Flávio Bolsonaro left Brazil for the United States and said he would lead the opposition from there. He has not conceded and alleged electoral fraud without evidence; Brazil’s electoral authority said voting followed the law, and BBC analysis found about 34,000 people voted during extended hours.
Key Facts
Lula defeated Bolsonaro in Sunday’s runoff by 4.4 million votes.
Bolsonaro described himself as “leader of Brazil” in a letter posted on X, after deleting an earlier version that called him the “rightful president.”
Bolsonaro alleged that extended polling hours amounted to electoral fraud, but offered no evidence.
Both campaigns requested the extension, according to the article, and Brazil’s electoral authority said the vote proceeded normally and in line with the law.
BBC Brazil and BBC Verify found that about 34,000 people voted during the extended hours.
Bolsonaro left Brazil for the United States after failing to surrender his passports as ordered by the Supreme Court in connection with a money-laundering investigation.
Bolsonaro has not been charged in the money-laundering probe and denies wrongdoing.
His party recognized the election result, and party leader Rogério Marinho said there was no evidence of electoral fraud.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A train crash in Spain’s Toledo province on Wednesday killed 69 people, the country’s second deadly rail crash this year. The crash has hurt Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s campaign ahead of a national election and renewed claims that the government has underinvested in rail infrastructure.
Key Facts
The crash occurred in Toledo province on Wednesday.
The accident killed 69 people.
It was Spain’s second deadly train crash this year.
The crash happened nine months after another deadly crash on the same rail line.
Experts and members of the public have accused Sánchez’s government of underinvesting in railway infrastructure.
The accusations come after years of rapid expansion of Spain’s rail network.
Spain began three days of mourning after the crash.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
France is considering raising the minimum wage one month earlier than planned and adding an extra increase. The government is weighing the move as it seeks to ease cost-of-living concerns before demonstrations planned for the weekend.
Key Facts
The minimum wage increase was scheduled for January 1, 2027.
Officials are considering moving the increase to December 2026.
The government is also considering an additional boost to the increase.
The proposals come ahead of planned weekend demonstrations over the cost of living.
The government says it is seeking ways to calm social unrest.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
France 24’s Perspective program examines a deadly train collision in Spain that killed at least 68 people on Wednesday. The program features Nicholas Kingsley, executive editor of Railway Gazette International, discussing questions raised by the crash.
Key Facts
The collision happened in Spain on Wednesday.
At least 68 people died in the collision.
France 24 published the program on October 29, 2026.
The report is part of the Perspective program.
Nicholas Kingsley, executive editor of Railway Gazette International, joined the program.
The segment focuses on questions raised by the collision.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
At least 69 people died when a Renfe high-speed train rear-ended a stopped Iryo train near Toledo, Spain. Investigators will examine the signaling failure, the controller’s instruction to resume at normal speed, and the technical and human factors that allowed the collision.
Key Facts
Both trains had stopped after a signaling system failed.
A controller told the Renfe driver to restart the journey under normal operating conditions, according to audio released to Spanish media.
The front carriages of the Renfe train and the rear of the Iryo train were destroyed, and other carriages derailed.
Investigators will seek to establish why the Renfe train proceeded while the Iryo train remained stopped.
The article says Spain’s government will want to show the crash was unrelated to a January head-on collision on the same line near Adamuz.
Railway unions had planned a drivers’ strike to protest what they describe as under-investment in railway staff and infrastructure.
The article says rail fatalities in Europe have generally fallen since 2010.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Kylian Mbappé, Real Madrid and Spain’s La Liga apologized after a past remark about a “Chinese dictator” prompted backlash in China. Chinese companies canceled some of Mbappé’s deals, and state television suspended broadcasts of Real Madrid and La Liga matches, highlighting the financial stakes for the athlete and the organizations.
Key Facts
Mbappé said in an old interview that his favorite meme showed his face on the body of a “Chinese dictator”; the article says he did not recall Mao Zedong’s name.
Mbappé apologized, saying his comment had hurt many people in China.
At least three Chinese companies canceled brand deals with Mbappé, according to the article.
China’s state television group suspended broadcasts of Real Madrid matches and La Liga matches.
An estimate cited by Chinese media put at least one-third of Mbappé’s $30 million annual commercial income in China.
The article says Real Madrid earns up to 15 percent of its international merchandising revenue from China, where Mbappé’s No. 10 shirt is its top-selling item.
La Liga’s financial report showed that media rights generated more than $1.7 billion, nearly a third of its income in the 2024–2025 season.
The article also cites past apologies by John Cena, James Harden and Marriott International after incidents involving Chinese political sensitivities.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Getty Museum is bringing works from its collection to six façades in Paris. The outdoor displays will offer residents and visitors a chance to see the art in public spaces across the French capital.
Key Facts
The project is titled “L'art dans la ville.”
The Getty Museum is bringing works from its collection to Paris.
The works will appear on six city façades.
The displays will create an open-air art experience across Paris.
The program features David-Hervé Boutin, curator of “L'art dans la ville.”
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A high-speed train crash near Urda in Spain killed at least 69 people, and survivors described scenes of injury and death. Leaked recordings from a rail control room have fueled public anger as investigators examine a possible computer failure followed by human error, putting pressure on the government during an election campaign.
Key Facts
The crash happened Wednesday on the Madrid-Seville line, about 140 km south of Madrid.
A stationary Iryo train was struck from behind by a Renfe train, according to the article.
Spain began three days of mourning after the crash.
Residents brought first aid supplies, blankets, food and water to help survivors.
A separate collision on the same route killed 46 people in Adamuz nine months earlier.
Transport Minister Óscar Puente said a computer failure followed by human error was a likely cause.
Leaked audio appeared to support that explanation; the train drivers' union Semaf condemned the leak as irresponsible and slanted.
The crash has increased pressure on Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's government during an election campaign.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The photo roundup shows events and daily life in the United States and around the world. Images include Mount Semeru erupting in Indonesia, Barack Obama at a midterm campaign rally, and the aftermath of a deadly train collision in Spain.
Key Facts
Mount Semeru in Indonesia spewed volcanic ash as thick clouds covered the area.
Children in Lumajang, Indonesia, traveled to school by motorcycle across a stream of cold lava from Semeru.
Donald Trump spoke at a campaign rally at Ohio University Chillicothe in Ohio.
Barack Obama attended a rally in Georgia before the midterm elections.
Rescuers searched for victims after two trains collided in Spain’s Toledo province.
Palestinians inspected a vehicle wrecked by an Israeli airstrike at the Maghazi refugee camp in Gaza.
A protester was detained by New York police while blocking the Brooklyn Bridge during a demonstration for Oscar Belgal.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Australia’s Sax Institute has launched the 18 and Up study, which aims to recruit 100,000 people aged 18 to 45 and track their health over time. Researchers will examine factors linked to mental health disorders and cancers diagnosed before age 50, using participant surveys and, with consent, linked health records.
Key Facts
The study is Australia’s largest intergenerational study of wellbeing and ageing, according to the article.
Recruitment is scheduled to begin in November.
Researchers will invite children and grandchildren of participants in the institute’s 45 and Up study.
Participants will be asked about their health, lifestyle, social circumstances and background.
With participants’ consent, researchers will link their information to records such as cancer registries and Medicare.
The study will include age-relevant questions and may adapt to emerging health conditions or pandemics.
The project has a $4.5 million grant from Australia’s National Health and Medical Research Council.
The institute says the earlier 45 and Up study has more than 267,000 participants aged 45 to over 100.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Two lawyers from Carroll & O’Dea have been subpoenaed in an Australian civil case involving alleged abuse by Marist Brother Kostka Chute. The subpoenas concern a 2009 letter in which the firm advised the Marist Brothers to keep Chute away from legal processes; Carroll & O’Dea said it would have to stop representing the order, halting the trial.
Key Facts
The survivor, identified as CQ, alleges Chute abused him at Marist College Canberra in 1985 and 1986.
CQ alleges the Marist Brothers knew of complaints against Chute and concealed them; the order denies the allegation.
Chute was in jail in 2009 for abusing six children, according to the article.
In a 2009 letter, Carroll & O’Dea described Chute as honest and said he was candid about discussions with senior Marist leaders.
The letter warned that Chute could create problems for the order’s insurance indemnity and advised keeping him away from legal processes after his release.
CQ’s lawyers subpoenaed two Carroll & O’Dea lawyers to give evidence about the letter.
The court heard the subpoenas could raise issues involving possible professional misconduct; no finding of misconduct is reported.
Carroll & O’Dea told the court it would have to stop representing the Marist Brothers, bringing the trial to a halt.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
