After inconclusive elections in Israel, opposition candidate Gadi Eisenkot said he was confident he could secure the mandate to form a government. President Isaac Herzog was preparing to nominate the first candidate, while Eisenkot said he was making progress toward replacing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Key Facts
Israel's recent elections did not produce a conclusive result.
Gadi Eisenkot is seeking the mandate to form a government.
Eisenkot said he was confident he could secure the mandate.
President Isaac Herzog was preparing to name the first candidate to try to form a government.
Eisenkot said he was making progress in efforts to oust Benjamin Netanyahu.
Netanyahu is described in the article as Israel's long-serving prime minister.
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Kenyan cult leader Paul Mackenzie was sentenced to 200 years in prison over the deaths of 190 children in Shakahola Forest. Prosecutors said he ordered followers to fast to reach heaven before the apocalypse; the wider investigation has identified 448 confirmed bodies and about 500 suspected victims.
Key Facts
Mackenzie was sentenced in Kenya to 200 years in prison.
The case involved 190 children who prosecutors said were starved to death on Mackenzie's orders.
Prosecutors said Mackenzie urged followers to fast to reach heaven before the apocalypse.
Some victims were reportedly beaten, buried alive or dumped in latrines.
Twenty-eight accomplices were also jailed.
The wider investigation has found 448 confirmed bodies and about 500 suspected victims.
The case has raised questions about authorities' response to warning signs dating back to 2017.
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A missile strike on a market in Taiz governorate killed dozens on Friday, and Yemen’s government and Houthi rebels blamed each other. The government’s month-old “Dawn of Yemen” offensive has made reported territorial gains, but fighting and displacement continue, and an expert cited in the article said government forces are not close to retaking Sanaa.
Key Facts
Yemen’s internationally recognised government launched Operation Dawn of Yemen on October 5 under Presidential Leadership Council head Rashad al-Alimi.
The operation aims to retake Houthi-held areas, including Sanaa, and weaken the group’s military capacity.
The campaign has used Saudi-led coalition air support alongside ground operations by government forces and allied units.
The government says its forces regained positions near Dhubab and Bab al-Mandeb and in parts of Taiz and Lahij; the article says the extent of some claimed gains could not be confirmed.
The Houthis captured the port city of Mocha in September, and securing the Bab al-Mandeb strait is a stated government objective.
The article reports that hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced as the humanitarian crisis worsens.
A University of Aberdeen expert said government forces are spread across multiple fronts and are not likely to retake Sanaa soon.
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The article says Paraguay’s Congress impeached President Santiago Peña after a banking collapse left nearly 3 million people without access to their money. It reports that Peña was placed under house arrest and that Vice President Pedro Alliana took over as president through August 2028.
Key Facts
The article links the banking crisis to the collapse of digital lender Ueno, which it describes as one of Paraguay’s largest banks.
It says nearly 3 million people, or about 60 percent of Paraguay’s adult population, lost access to their money.
Impeachment charges reportedly accused Peña of conflicts of interest, misuse of pension funds and cover-ups tied to Ueno.
The article says lawmakers rejected Peña’s attempted resignation and voted unanimously to impeach him.
Peña was reportedly placed under house arrest at his residence in Asunción after the impeachment vote.
Prosecutors planned to question Peña over alleged breach of trust, influence peddling and misappropriation of funds.
Vice President Pedro Alliana was sworn in and is expected to serve until the presidential term ends in August 2028.
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A flash flood of rock and ice struck Nepal on August 26, 2026, destroying homes, villages and bridges. Rescuers are searching for missing people as aid workers provide shelter and support to affected families and children.
Key Facts
The flood came from a high Himalayan mountain and swept through Nepal’s valleys.
At least 1,400 people were killed, according to the article.
More than 5,000 people remain missing.
The disaster destroyed homes, villages and bridges.
Rescuers are searching for missing people despite risks to their own lives.
Aid workers are helping affected families and children with refuge and support.
The article describes the flood as the latest in a series of natural disasters to hit Nepal in recent years.
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Heavy rain and strong winds flooded thousands of tents sheltering displaced Palestinians across Gaza on Saturday, leaving families exposed to cold and waterlogged belongings. Gaza’s emergency services reported about 1,500 distress calls in 10 hours, while officials and aid groups warned that shortages of tents and other supplies leave more than one million displaced people vulnerable as winter begins.
Key Facts
Water levels at several shelter sites rose by 30–40 cm, according to Gaza’s Civil Defence agency.
Civil Defence said some shelter centres were completely flooded and their occupants had to leave.
Premature babies, older people and people who are sick face particular risks, Civil Defence spokesperson Mahmoud Basal said.
Civil Defence said rescuers evacuated residents from a partially collapsed building in Nuseirat; Wafa reported that two people were injured when a wall collapsed in northern Gaza.
Gaza’s emergency committee said more than one million displaced people face winter risks and the territory needs about 200,000 tents and heating supplies.
A Palestinian NGO Network director said 180 to 200 trucks were entering Gaza daily, compared with 600 under the humanitarian protocol, and that about 40 carried aid.
The NGO Network director said 50,000 tents were waiting on the Egyptian side of the border.
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Andy Burnham said the government should examine how rape trials are conducted so complainants do not feel they are on trial. His comments followed Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mark Rowley’s criticism of remarks reported from Russell Brand’s trial; the government has no current plan to change the law, according to BBC News.
Key Facts
A jury found Russell Brand guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault after a four-week trial in London.
The jury found Brand not guilty of two other rape counts and one count of attempted indecent assault.
Brand was refused bail and was due to be sentenced on Monday.
Rowley said reported comments by Brand’s defence barrister came close to victim blaming.
Rowley backed a proposal for judges to address rape myths and misconceptions in every rape trial.
Burnham said he would study the case and would not rule out changes, while stressing the need to encourage reporting and raise conviction rates.
The Victims’ Commissioner and the Centre for Women’s Justice called for trials to challenge myths about sexual violence.
Former Conservative MP and barrister Anna Soubry said judges already give juries directions on these issues and urged people to trust juries.
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A British soldier was court-martialed after he ignored an order to remove his phone’s SIM card before a deployment in Estonia. His phone was hacked, and attackers used stolen nude photos to blackmail him; an appeals court rejected his challenge to his sentence in August 2026.
Key Facts
Corporal Daniel Barton-Kennedy served with the 1st Battalion of the Duke of Lancaster Regiment.
His unit deployed to Tapa, Estonia, for Exercise Eastern Warrior in January 2026.
Before deployment, soldiers were ordered to remove SIM cards, disable location settings and use a trusted virtual private network on personal devices.
On January 19, Barton-Kennedy told his platoon commander that an unknown party had stolen nude photos from his phone and identified him on social media.
He initially agreed to pay £100 but declined when the demand rose to £250.
Barton-Kennedy pleaded guilty to disobeying a lawful command at a hearing on July 30 and received a 10-month detention sentence and a reduction in rank.
He said he had wanted to contact his daughter on her birthday and his pregnant partner, and he expressed regret for the incident.
A British appeals court denied his appeal in August 2026.
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Monty Don presented his final episode of the BBC gardening series Gardeners’ World after joining the show in 2003. He will appear in two winter specials and remain part of the presenting line-up for next year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show; the BBC has not yet named his successor.
Key Facts
Don signed off from Longmeadow garden, where the show has been based for 16 years.
He thanked viewers and his dog Ned, calling it a privilege to share his gardening experiences.
Don said the current series would be his last in September, saying it was the right time for a change.
He replaced Alan Titchmarsh as presenter in 2003.
The BBC said it will announce details of the next series later; Don’s successor has not been named.
Don will feature in two winter specials expected to air before Christmas.
He will remain part of the presenting line-up for next year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
Don received an OBE in 2018 for services to horticulture, broadcasting and charity.
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Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of France Unbowed and a candidate in the 2027 French presidential election, has attracted support from many young voters. His climate, wealth-redistribution and political-participation proposals, along with his party’s outreach to young people, help explain his appeal, though he remains a polarising figure among the wider electorate.
Key Facts
Mélenchon won the support of voters aged 18 to 34 in the 2022 presidential election, according to the article.
Recent polls cited in the article suggest he could reach the 2027 election’s second round.
The article says Marine Le Pen is leading polls ahead of the 2027 election.
Mélenchon’s platform includes proposals to fight climate change, redistribute wealth and increase public participation in government.
The France Unbowed youth group reaches voters online and in person.
The party holds an annual summer gathering for people under 26; this year Mélenchon attended a meeting there.
Young supporters say the party takes their political concerns seriously.
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Police arrested two men after a 17-year-old boy suffered a superficial wound in a suspected sword attack in Tuffley, Gloucester. Two nearby schools went into lockdown, and both men remain in custody for questioning.
Key Facts
Police attended the incident on Chalford Road at 08:50 GMT on Friday.
Police said two males, one carrying a sword, were seen chasing two boys.
A 17-year-old boy suffered a superficial wound believed to have been caused by a sword.
The second boy was not injured.
A 19-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and affray.
An 18-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possessing an offensive weapon, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and affray.
St Peter's High School and Willow Primary Academy were placed in lockdown.
A woman previously arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender was released on police bail.
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Sudan’s war, displacement and economic hardship are worsening child malnutrition, with health workers reporting rising admissions and crowded treatment wards. Food and disease risks are also compounded by environmental conditions, while an IPC estimate projects that 825,000 children under five will suffer severe acute malnutrition in 2026.
Key Facts
The conflict between Sudan’s armed forces and the Rapid Support Forces began in April 2023.
The IPC estimates that 825,000 children under five will suffer severe acute malnutrition in 2026, 7 percent more than in 2025.
UNICEF and its partners treated 174,700 children for severe acute malnutrition across Sudan in the first six months of 2026.
Port Sudan Teaching Hospital recorded 433 malnutrition cases from January through August 2026.
The hospital’s 17-bed malnutrition unit has at times placed three children in one bed, raising concerns about disease transmission.
The hospital provides therapeutic milk and other nutrition supplies free with support from WHO and UNICEF, but families often struggle to pay for intravenous fluids and medicines.
A hospital nutrition counsellor said flies can contaminate food and water, while mosquitoes spread malaria; malnourished children face particular risks from disease.
Displacement and economic hardship have also limited pregnant women’s nutrition, putting babies at risk of poor growth and malnutrition.
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Paraguay’s Senate voted to remove President Santiago Peña over alleged misconduct after regulators seized Ueno Bank, leaving customers unable to access their accounts. Peña was placed under house arrest pending a court appearance on charges he denies, while the bank’s collapse has disrupted businesses and shaken markets.
Key Facts
The Senate voted to impeach Peña, making him the second Paraguayan president removed since the end of Alfredo Stroessner’s dictatorship in 1989.
Regulators seized Ueno Bank three days before the Senate vote.
Lawmakers accuse Peña of directing public funds to Ueno and allowing risky insider lending; Peña denies wrongdoing.
Prosecutors are investigating Peña for breach of trust, influence peddling, and using public office for personal gain.
More than 1 million Paraguayans reportedly opened their first bank account at Ueno, whose customers lost access to withdrawals, savings, and card payments after the seizure.
The bank’s collapse shut down a ride-hailing app, leaving 3,000 drivers without work, and trapped $21 million in loans for public works.
Some depositors began recovering funds on Thursday; deposits are insured up to about $35,000, which the central bank says covers 97% of Ueno customers.
Paraguay’s bonds fell sharply and the guaraní weakened against the dollar amid the crisis.
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The article says President Donald Trump may pursue renewed talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as a foreign-policy legacy project. It reports that Trump has spoken warmly about Kim, while Kim has said talks could resume if Washington drops its demand for denuclearization and ends what Pyongyang calls a hostile policy.
Key Facts
The article says Democrats gained control of both chambers of Congress in the midterm elections.
Trump has publicly described Kim as a friend and praised their relationship.
Trump said he was unsure whether anyone was seeking a meeting, but did not rule one out.
Kim said in September 2025 that he had a good memory of Trump.
Kim has said he would consider talks if the United States abandoned its pursuit of denuclearization and sought peaceful coexistence.
Kim also said North Korea could get along with the United States if Washington respected its constitution and ended its hostile policy.
Victor Cha of the Center for Strategic and International Studies said Trump might seek a deal to formally end the Korean War, though denuclearization would remain uncertain.
The article says South Korean President Lee Jae Myung is preparing new overtures toward North Korea.
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Arab parties won a record 19 seats in Israel’s October 27 election after strong turnout among Palestinian citizens of Israel. The article reports that politicians and media figures accused Arab parties of election fraud, while Israel’s Central Elections Committee and police said they found no evidence of organized tampering.
Key Facts
Palestinian citizens of Israel turned out in large numbers in the October 27 election.
Arab parties won 19 seats in the Knesset, a record for them.
The article says the 19 seats could help the opposition bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot cross the 61-seat threshold needed to form a governing coalition.
Israeli politicians, including Likud figures and Itamar Ben-Gvir, accused Arab parties of election fraud and other wrongdoing.
The Central Elections Committee and Israeli police said they found no sign of organized election tampering.
Lama Yassin, a resident of Arrabeh, said she felt hope as she watched families go to the polls.
Omar Siksik said Palestinian residents of Jaffa have long struggled for basic existence; before 1948, the city had about 100,000 Palestinians, and fewer than 4,000 remained after the Nakba.
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Pope Francis began a three-country tour of Latin America with a visit to Uruguay. Three weeks after lung cancer surgery, he said he felt better than he looked and urged healthcare for all.
Key Facts
The trip is a three-country tour of Latin America.
Uruguay is the first stop on the tour.
The report describes Uruguay as the continent’s most secular country.
Francis underwent surgery for lung cancer three weeks before the trip.
Francis said he felt better than he looked.
The article says he urged healthcare for all.
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At least 30 people were reportedly killed in an attack on a market in Yemen’s Taiz province. Houthi rebels blamed Saudi airstrikes, while government forces and local authorities accused the Houthis of firing indiscriminately.
Key Facts
The reported attack took place at a market in Taiz province, Yemen.
At least 30 people were reportedly killed.
Houthi rebels blamed Saudi airstrikes for the attack.
Government forces and local authorities disputed the Houthi account.
Government forces and local authorities accused the Houthis of indiscriminate fire.
Taiz province has seen intense clashes in recent weeks.
Around half of the more than 300,000 people displaced by the latest fighting are in Taiz province.
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Jeddah Tower is expected to reach 500 meters and its 125th floor around Thanksgiving, then continue toward a planned height of 1,000 meters. The project team projects it will surpass Dubai’s Burj Khalifa around the third quarter of 2028, though strong winds associated with a forecast El Niño could slow construction.
Key Facts
The planned Jeddah Tower height is 1,000 meters, or about 3,281 feet.
The Burj Khalifa is 828 meters tall and is currently the world’s tallest building.
The project team expects Jeddah Tower to reach its 500-meter halfway mark around Thanksgiving.
The tower’s planned sky terrace is at about 630 meters.
Project director Ian Norman Miller said wind slowed construction during part of the summer, but work accelerated when winds eased in mid-August.
NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center said a strong-to-very-strong El Niño was likely through January–March 2027, with odds above 83 percent.
The team projects Jeddah Tower will surpass the Burj Khalifa around the third quarter of 2028, while noting that weather and construction work make exact timing uncertain.
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The3million has filed a High Court claim against the UK Home Office, alleging that its policy of revoking pre-settled status from nearly 1,500 EU citizens breaches protections in the Brexit withdrawal agreement. The group says affected people should receive a fair assessment and a right of appeal before losing rights, while the Home Office has reversed some decisions involving Italian citizens who acquired citizenship by descent.
Key Facts
The3million lodged its legal claim at the High Court on Friday.
The group says the Home Office told nearly 1,500 EU citizens that their pre-settled status had been granted in error.
The claim argues that removing rights without an appeal or an assessment of proportionality breaches the Brexit withdrawal agreement.
One affected person is a Brazilian-Italian engineer who has lived in London since 2018; the Home Office recently reversed a decision concerning his status and his Brazilian wife.
Another person who raised her case with the3million works for the NHS and is studying for a PhD in dentistry.
In October 2026, the Home Office said it would accept evidence of Italian citizenship acquired by descent as proof that a person was Italian from birth.
The group is asking the court to declare the Home Office's grant-in-error policy unlawful and to require changes to the published policy.
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UK officials are assessing how the Democrats’ midterm gains and control of Congress could affect President Donald Trump’s actions and the UK. They see possible constraints on Trump but warn that he retains wide authority over foreign policy, tariffs and military action; the article says the Iran conflict and resulting energy-price shock have weighed on economies worldwide.
Key Facts
Democrats took control of Congress in the midterm elections, according to the article.
Andy Burnham said he wanted countries to unite around the cost-of-living issue and called for de-escalation in the Middle East conflict.
The article links the Iran war to an energy-price shock and higher interest rates that have affected economies worldwide.
UK officials are also examining possible effects on Russia and Ukraine, tariffs and broader political shifts.
A UK government insider said Trump’s interpretation of the election results could matter more than how other world capitals view them.
Sarah Elliott said a Democratic-run Congress could occupy Trump with domestic issues and accountability efforts.
David Miliband said a bipartisan congressional majority supporting Ukraine might gain influence, but warned that the presidency retains broad foreign-policy power.
Kim Darroch said Trump can engage in conflict without a formal declaration of war, impose tariffs and affect relations with allies and other leaders.
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