Singer Jade Thirlwall worked with composer Hans Zimmer to create the official song for the upcoming BBC documentary Blue Planet III. The series, narrated by Sir David Attenborough, will focus on oceans and sea life and is set to air this autumn.
Key Facts
Jade Thirlwall created the song "Into The Deep (Seas Cry)" for Blue Planet III.
Hans Zimmer, a famous film composer, collaborated with her on the track.
Blue Planet III is a BBC nature documentary about oceans, narrated by Sir David Attenborough.
The series will air in autumn, but no exact release date has been given.
Thirlwall is a big fan of the original Blue Planet series and Attenborough.
The song mixes her singing with orchestral music and celebrates ocean life and hope.
She was inspired by footage from the Blue Planet III crews while writing the song.
Jade Thirlwall is also working on her second music album after summer festival performances.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
In a by-election in Holborn and St Pancras, London, candidates from the Green and Liberal Democrat parties attended a local meeting organized by a Muslim group, while Labour and Conservative candidates did not. The election follows the resignation of Labour leader Keir Starmer from this seat, which Labour has held since 1983, and topics discussed included local issues and the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Key Facts
The by-election is for Keir Starmer’s former parliamentary seat in Holborn and St Pancras.
Labour’s candidate, Sagal Abdi Wali, did not attend a local meeting citing a prior obligation.
The Camden Muslim Network disputed Labour’s claim about the late invitation.
Green Party leader Zack Polanski is running and supports a full boycott of Israel.
The Liberal Democrat candidate, Patrick Stillman, supports Palestinian statehood but not a full boycott.
Labour has held the seat since its creation in 1983.
The Green Party criticizes Labour councillors for not signing a Palestine solidarity pledge or supporting pension fund divestment related to Israel.
Housing is a significant local issue, with over 8,000 households on the social housing waiting list in the borough.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A new survey shows that misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) is now the biggest threat to companies' reputations. Business leaders are urged to act quickly to protect their brands as public trust in AI decreases amidst concerns about safety, privacy, and legal risks.
Key Facts
Misusing AI ranks higher as a reputational risk for companies than issues related to child safety or the ongoing US-Israel war on Iran.
The survey was conducted by the Global Risk Advisory Council, surveying more than 150 public affairs leaders worldwide.
Respondents see AI as useful for improving efficiency but also worry about rising risks like data hacks, fraud, privacy problems, workforce disruption, and lawsuits.
Other top reputation risks include harming children, mishandling sensitive personal data, unethical behavior for profit, and poor business decisions.
Previous surveys showed that concerns about the US-Israel Iran conflict were top risks, but those worries have lessened over time.
The survey’s release came shortly after President Trump appointed Jay Clayton as the new AI czar to coordinate government AI efforts.
Clayton has described AI as a “gamechanger” with significant benefits but also serious threats.
The Global Risk Advisory Council warns companies to take immediate steps to prevent long-term damage from AI misuse.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
With 30 days left before the midterm elections, President Donald Trump and Republicans are working hard to keep control of Congress by spending large amounts on ads and campaigning. However, recent polls show Democrats leading in several key Senate and governor races, and President Trump’s approval ratings remain low, which may hurt Republican chances.
Key Facts
President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and other Republicans are campaigning to support lawmakers before the midterms.
GOP-aligned Super PACs have spent hundreds of millions of dollars on ads and plan to spend more.
Recent polls show Democrats leading in important Senate races in Alaska, Ohio, Texas, and close races in Kansas and Iowa.
Democrats are also leading in some governor races in traditionally Republican states.
Republicans may lose control of the Senate and House if current trends continue.
President Trump’s approval rating is at a career low of 32%.
Independent voters favor Democrats by a significant margin, affecting close races.
Issues like the economy, gas prices, relations with Iran, and immigration policies also influence voter sentiment.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The video "The Generational Money Showdown" discusses which generation in America is better off financially by looking at data. It also features unusual financial advice from a reality TV star, shared through TikTok.
Key Facts
The discussion compares different generations’ financial situations.
The goal is to see if the American Dream is becoming more expensive or if younger people, like Gen Z, feel more stressed about money.
Jill Schlesinger and Mark analyze data to answer this question clearly.
The video includes financial advice from a reality TV star shared on TikTok.
Other CBS News stories are mentioned but not related to this main topic.
The focus is on money, finances, and generational comparisons.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Democratic Senators Elizabeth Warren and Richard Blumenthal sent a letter to government officials seeking information about a diamond ring gifted to President Donald Trump by the Antwerp World Diamond Centre. They want to know where the ring is now and whether it was properly handled, especially since the gift came just before the Trump administration exempted European diamonds from tariffs.
Key Facts
The ring is made of 18-karat gold, set with 321 diamonds and 75 other gemstones, and is worth about $30,000.
The diamond ring was given to the U.S. Ambassador to Belgium, Bill White, in June 2026.
The senators say the White House confirmed the ring had not been given to President Trump as of July 2026.
The gift arrived weeks before the administration lifted tariffs on European diamonds.
The lawmakers want details on the ring’s location, who has had it, and how it was classified (as a personal gift or government property).
The Antwerp World Diamond Centre said the ring was a gift to the United States, not to President Trump personally.
The senators are concerned the ring might be part of a "quid pro quo" deal, meaning a gift given in exchange for a favor.
This inquiry follows other gift-related controversies involving President Trump, including a $400 million Boeing 747 gifted by Qatar in 2025.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Border Patrol agents removed a centuries-old cottonwood tree known as the "grandmother tree" near the U.S.-Mexico border in southern Arizona to continue building President Donald Trump’s border wall. Activists had been protesting and living in the tree for over 70 days before the tree was cut down and some protesters were arrested.
Key Facts
The protest lasted more than 70 days near Lochiel in the San Rafael Valley, Arizona.
Activists called the centuries-old cottonwood tree the "grandmother tree."
Earlier, three nearby cottonwood trees had also been removed for border wall construction.
Border Patrol agents raided the protest camp and cut down the "grandmother tree."
Several people were reportedly arrested during the operation.
The tree was close to an unfinished section of the border wall.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) says all four trees marked for removal have now been cut down.
CBP said illegal immigration causes environmental damage, but they try to protect nature during construction.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Singapore has sent eight civil servants to the police for investigation after suspects used private information to buy homes near future railway stations. The officials will be investigated to see if they broke any rules by using insider knowledge.
Key Facts
Eight civil servants in Singapore are under police review for possible misuse of confidential information to purchase properties.
The inquiry followed a study by a U.S. research group showing these officials bought homes near planned Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) stations more often than others.
The study found that civil servants in transport planning roles made these purchases and gained financially.
The government reviewed 191 civil servants' property transactions to find these eight individuals.
The Coordinating Minister for Public Services said a police investigation will follow, but no guilt is implied yet.
Singapore has strict anti-corruption rules and is known for clean governance, ranking third in Transparency International’s index.
The government has previously prosecuted high-ranking officials for corruption, including a former transport minister sentenced in 2024.
Officials must not use information from their jobs to benefit themselves or others.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Students and trade unions in France held nationwide protests to demand better conditions in schools, which are suffering from a lack of staff and poor maintenance. These demonstrations took place in Paris and other areas as part of a larger movement pushing the government to act.
Key Facts
The protests involved high school students blocking streets and union-led demonstrations.
Protesters want the government to fix understaffed schools and improve school buildings.
The protests are described as a nationwide event across France.
The government targeted is led by President Emmanuel Macron.
Some incidents during the protests have raised concerns about the police response.
The protests are part of ongoing tensions around education and social conditions in France.
Students are asking for respect, dignity, and better working conditions.
The demonstrations are connected to wider social issues beyond education.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order allowing the use of tax-free dyed diesel, normally for off-road vehicles, on public roads through the end of the year. The goal is to help reduce high gas and diesel prices, but experts say the change might not significantly lower fuel costs for most drivers.
Key Facts
Dyed diesel (red diesel) is the same as regular diesel but usually tax-free and for off-road use only.
The executive order lets people use dyed diesel on roads without paying the federal 24.4 cents per gallon tax.
The national average price for diesel is $6.31 per gallon, more than $2.50 higher than before the Iran conflict began.
Gas prices also remain high, with a national average of $4.37 per gallon, up from $3.13 a year ago.
States still have their own laws, so savings depend on how each state responds to the federal order.
Analysts say this temporary change might not increase diesel supply or significantly lower prices for most drivers.
The highest diesel prices are in California, Washington, and Hawaii, while the lowest are in Texas, Georgia, and Oklahoma.
Dyed diesel is red so authorities can easily spot unauthorized road use and impose fines.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Amanda Mathewson, a childminder from Dunfermline, pleaded guilty to neglect after leaving 27 children alone in her home. She was licensed to care for only eight children but had many more in her care, leading to unsafe conditions.
Key Facts
Amanda Mathewson is 55 years old and has been a self-employed childminder for 30 years.
She admitted to neglect and abandoning children in her care at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court.
Mathewson had up to 27 children at once, far exceeding her license limit of eight.
Her license allowed her to care for a maximum of six children under age 12, with restrictions on how many could be of certain age groups.
Parents became suspicious when their children were missing during a school run and found unattended children in Mathewson’s home and garden.
Police found children aged from under one year to primary school age alone, upset but not physically harmed.
Ring doorbell footage showed this neglect happened twice in one day.
The court delayed sentencing to November 6 for further reports; Mathewson remains on bail.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Saudi Arabia reported that three people were injured in attacks on two airports near its border with Yemen. The attacks were claimed by Yemen’s Houthi group amid ongoing fighting between Yemeni government forces, backed by Saudi Arabia, and the Houthis.
Key Facts
Airports in Jazan and Najran, near Yemen, were attacked on Monday evening.
Three people suffered minor injuries, and there was material damage.
The Houthi armed group said it targeted southern Saudi Arabia, including airports and military sites.
Saudi Arabia’s Civil Aviation Authority responded quickly and is protecting passengers and staff.
The Gulf Cooperation Council and Kuwait condemned the attacks and called for international action.
Fighting in Yemen has increased, with Yemeni government forces reclaiming the port of Mocha and the Bab al-Mandeb strait.
The Saudi-led coalition is providing air and naval support to Yemeni government forces.
Turkey, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia agreed to activate defense measures and deploy forces to counter Houthi attacks.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Authorities in the UK seized 25 inflatable boats destined for people smugglers trying to move migrants across the English Channel. The boats were found in an air freight shipment traveling from Turkey to the Netherlands via East Midlands Airport, marking the first time such an interception happened in air freight.
Key Facts
25 inflatable boats around nine meters long were seized at East Midlands Airport.
The boats were being shipped from Turkey to the Netherlands.
If used, each boat could transport about 70 people, potentially moving up to 1,700 migrants.
This is the second large boat seizure in the UK in 2026; the first was in July at Felixstowe port.
The boats are intended for use by criminal gangs involved in illegal Channel crossings.
Over 1,600 boats and engines have been seized so far, disrupting smuggling activities.
Investigations into about 100 gangs linked to immigration crime are ongoing.
UK agencies are working with international partners to stop supplies to smugglers.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Richard Morecroft, a former news presenter for ABC, has died at age 70 after being diagnosed with cancer earlier this year. He was known for presenting ABC’s 7pm news bulletin for nearly 20 years and passed away peacefully with his long-term partner at his side.
Key Facts
Richard Morecroft was 70 years old when he died.
He presented ABC's 7pm news bulletin until 2002.
Morecroft was diagnosed with cancer earlier in the year.
He died peacefully on the south coast of New South Wales.
His partner of 36 years, Alison Mackay, was with him when he died.
Morecroft was born in England in 1956 and moved to Adelaide at age 10.
He graduated from the University of Adelaide before starting his career with ABC.
Colleagues described him as a warm, generous person and a skilled professional.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A merchant ship sank after a drone attack in the Black Sea near Bulgaria, and its crew is missing. Another grain ship was also hit, but its crew of 18 was rescued. The attacks happened during ongoing Russian strikes related to the war in Ukraine.
Key Facts
One merchant ship flying the Togo flag sank after a drone attack about 70 miles off Bulgaria’s coast.
The crew of the sunken ship is missing, with a search operation underway.
A second ship carrying grain was attacked in Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone; all 18 crew members were rescued.
The grain ship crew included 11 Turks and 7 Indians; two were injured in a fire.
The Bulgarian Prime Minister called the attacks a violation of maritime law.
Russia has not commented on these specific attacks, but it has increased strikes in the Black Sea region related to the war with Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Zelensky accused Russia of striking a civilian vessel carrying corn a day before this incident.
A separate attack near Odesa killed one crew member and injured seven on a ship flying the Marshall Islands flag.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A U.S. Marine stationed in Okinawa was arrested for allegedly murdering a Japanese woman and stealing her belongings. This crime has increased local anger about the large U.S. military presence in Okinawa and brought attention to ongoing tensions related to U.S. bases on the island.
Key Facts
Lance Corporal Devin Jacob Ballard, 20, was arrested for allegedly strangling Anna Yagi, 39, in a hotel in Naha, Okinawa.
Ballard denies the charges, but security footage matches his appearance.
Okinawa hosts about 70% of all U.S. military facilities in Japan, despite being less than 1% of Japan's land area.
Many locals oppose the heavy U.S. military presence because of crime, noise, and accidents linked to the bases.
Crimes involving U.S. military personnel have risen from about 40 in 2020 to 101 in 2025.
Okinawa's economy benefits from the bases, which provide around 5% of local income.
The 1960 Japan Status of Forces Agreement limits Japan's legal control over crimes committed by U.S. military members.
This case has renewed calls to rethink the U.S.-Japan agreement governing military personnel.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A researcher in Siberia died under unclear circumstances possibly linked to the plague, causing some concern, although Russian officials say there is no proof of an outbreak. Authorities have quarantined dozens of people and are taking steps to control the situation. Meanwhile, the article also discusses ongoing protests by French high school students and remembers the killing of Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya.
Key Facts
A 28-year-old lab worker in Siberia, Darya Shipilova, died amid reports suggesting plague exposure from a broken test tube.
Russian authorities deny evidence of a plague outbreak but have quarantined dozens at an anti-plague institute.
The pneumonic plague spreads through close contact and can be treated with antibiotics if caught early.
French high school students plan a third wave of protests against poor learning conditions amid government concern.
The protests in France have been described as more violent than usual by school officials.
The student protest movement is gaining attention in Europe, with similar actions starting in Belgium.
October 7 marks 20 years since journalist Anna Politkovskaya was assassinated in Moscow.
Politkovskaya was known for her investigative work and early warnings about Russian politics and conflicts.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders released a campaign ad showing a White, unemployed man receiving Medicaid benefits without working, which caused controversy among some conservatives. The ad aimed to promote stricter work requirements for Medicaid but sparked debate about race and stereotypes connected to welfare recipients.
Key Facts
The ad features a White man named Brad, a gamer, depicted as not working but receiving Medicaid.
Some conservatives criticized the ad for not showing a Black person, linking it to old “welfare queen” racial stereotypes.
Medicaid provides low-cost or free health insurance for low-income people, not direct welfare cash payments.
Most Medicaid recipients in Arkansas are White, reflecting the state’s demographics.
The “welfare queen” stereotype began with Ronald Reagan’s 1976 campaign story but was exaggerated and misleading.
Critics of the ad say it oversimplifies poverty and ignores real challenges faced by low-income people of all races.
Sanders is running for reelection and supports the ad, emphasizing the need for work requirements for Medicaid recipients.
The debate connects to broader discussions within the Republican Party about race and public assistance.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Drax plans to build a datacentre that could produce nearly twice the carbon emissions of all flights from Gatwick airport each year. The datacentre would burn 4.9 million tonnes of wood annually to generate power, raising concerns about its environmental impact and alignment with the UK’s climate goals.
Key Facts
Drax wants to convert part of its biomass power plant in North Yorkshire into a datacentre.
The datacentre would need 4.9 million tonnes of wood every year to produce energy.
This wood-burning could release about 8.6 million tonnes of CO2 annually.
The estimated emissions are almost double the 4.79 million tonnes of CO2 from all Gatwick flights in 2024.
AI datacentres use a lot of electricity to run servers and cooling systems.
There is debate about the environmental impact of burning wood for energy, with some scientists saying it could take 150 years to show climate benefits.
The UK government has not paused datacentre development but some areas like Scotland have started temporary planning pauses.
Critics call for clearer government rules on datacentres to prevent high pollution and protect climate targets.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Bulgarian authorities are searching for missing crew members after drones attacked two ships in the Black Sea, causing one vessel to sink. These attacks are part of increasing dangers to shipping in the area linked to the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.
Key Facts
Two merchant ships were hit by drones in Bulgaria’s economic zone in the Black Sea.
One ship sank, and its crew members are missing; another ship caught fire but crew members were rescued.
The attacked ships were registered in Togo and Palau, and the rescued crew included Turkish and Indian nationals.
The Bulgarian Prime Minister called the attack a serious breach of maritime law and unacceptable.
These incidents follow a recent drone attack near Romania that resulted in one death and one missing crew member.
The attacks are related to the wider conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which began in February 2022.
Turkey reported over 200 civilian and commercial vessel attacks in the Black Sea since the war started.
The incidents have complicated navigation and increased insurance costs for ships traveling through the Black Sea.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
