U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is traveling to the Philippines for the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting-Plus, where officials will discuss regional security and defense ties. The talks come amid South China Sea tensions and questions about Washington’s commitment to the region after shifting some military assets to the Middle East during its conflict with Iran.
Key Facts
The meeting runs from Wednesday to Thursday in the Philippines and brings together ASEAN members and eight dialogue partners.
India, South Korea, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Russia, and China are among the countries expected to send representatives.
The agenda includes Myanmar’s civil war and maritime disputes involving China and Southeast Asian countries.
The Philippines is expected to press ASEAN to finalize a code of conduct with China for managing South China Sea disputes.
The Philippines, China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan have overlapping claims in the South China Sea.
The U.S. Naval Institute reported at least eight close encounters in the South China Sea and nearby Luzon Strait this month.
China has not confirmed whether Defense Minister Dong Jun will attend in person; analysts say a meeting with Hegseth is possible.
U.S. military asset moves from South Korea and Japan to the Middle East have raised questions in Asia about Washington’s regional commitment.
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A Phase 2b trial found that an investigational nasal spray containing 5-MeO-DMT, a short-acting psychedelic derived from Colorado River toad venom, reduced symptoms in people with treatment-resistant depression. The study reported higher remission rates among participants who received the active dose than among those who received an inactive dose, with benefits observed about a month after treatment.
Key Facts
The study included 193 people with treatment-resistant depression, defined as an inadequate response to at least two antidepressants.
Participants received an active or inactive dose of the drug through a nasal spray.
The eight-week trial took place at 38 sites in Australia, Germany, Poland, Spain, the U.K. and the U.S.
About a month after treatment, remission rates were 18 to 26 percent among participants who received the active dose, compared with 8 percent in the inactive-dose group.
Researchers said most participants could leave the treatment site within two hours of taking the drug.
The study was published in JAMA on October 26 and funded by Eli Lilly.
Eli Lilly said it plans to evaluate the investigational treatment in a Phase 3 program.
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Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre initiated a direct call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday morning. The call took place amid diplomatic efforts to end Russia’s war with Ukraine; the article excerpt does not include further details about what the leaders said.
Key Facts
Alexander Stubb is Finland’s president.
Jonas Gahr Støre is Norway’s prime minister.
Stubb and Støre initiated a direct call with Vladimir Putin.
The call took place on Tuesday morning.
The call came amid broader diplomatic efforts to wind down Russia’s war with Ukraine.
The leaders described the call in a joint press release.
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An unnamed celebrity is asking London’s High Court to stop ITN and The Guardian from publishing his identity and allegations of sexual misconduct involving girls and young women. He denies the allegations; the court is weighing his claimed suicide risk against the public interest in publication.
Key Facts
The celebrity is seeking an injunction against two news organisations.
The allegations say he used his celebrity status to pursue sexual relationships with girls and young women.
The celebrity denies abusing his position to contact young women and teenagers in an attempt to have sex with them.
His legal team told the court publication would be highly likely to lead him to suicide and said he feared trial by media.
ITN and The Guardian argued that his suicide risk could be reduced and that there was no proper basis to block public-interest reporting.
A medical report said inpatient treatment could reduce the risk, though not eliminate it.
Justice Nicklin said the case involved significant public interest and urged the press and public not to speculate about the celebrity’s identity.
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Oxford campaign groups, academics, alumni and members of the public have urged Oriel College to cancel a student-organised event featuring Nathan Cofnas, who made unproven plagiarism allegations against the late Cambridge professor Jason Arday. Oriel says it must uphold lawful free speech while also protecting students from discrimination and harassment, and says hosting a speaker does not mean the college endorses their views.
Key Facts
The event, titled “An evening with Nathan Cofnas: Is DEI undermining higher education?”, is scheduled for 17 November in Oriel College’s Harris lecture theatre.
Oxon Universities’ Reform Society, a student group formed to support Reform UK, organised the event.
An open letter asks Oriel to withdraw its facilities, citing concerns about the impact on ethnic-minority students and the college’s reputation.
Cofnas made unproven allegations of plagiarism against Jason Arday and questioned aspects of his biographical claims.
Arday, 41, was found dead in August after resigning from his Cambridge professorship.
Oriel says it considers student society events under its freedom-of-speech rules and also assesses security and member safety.
The Reform Society says it is committed to hosting Cofnas and argues that colleges have a legal duty to host events organised by registered student societies.
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Israelis voted on October 27, 2026, in an election described as pivotal for the country. The vote comes amid unresolved wars, the ongoing impact of Hamas’s 2023 attack, and divisions over Israel’s character and leadership.
Key Facts
Israel held a national election on Tuesday, October 27, 2026.
The article describes the election as pivotal.
Israel faces unresolved wars as voters cast their ballots.
The country continues to feel the effects of Hamas’s 2023 attack.
Voters are divided over the character of the state and who should lead it.
FRANCE 24’s International Affairs Editor Angela Diffley provided details in the video report.
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Gadi Eisenkot, a former Israeli military chief and leader of the centrist Yashar party, has praised President Donald Trump’s role in the Middle East while arguing that Israel should rely less on the White House. The article says Yashar narrowly led Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud in a recent poll, but neither party was expected to win enough support to govern alone.
Key Facts
Eisenkot served more than four decades in the Israeli military and was elected to the Knesset in 2022.
He founded the Yashar party about two months after leaving the Knesset and the National Unity Party in mid-2025.
Trump endorsed Netanyahu and said another candidate would be the wrong leader for Israel.
Eisenkot called the U.S.-led war with Iran courageous and credited Trump with an enormous contribution to securing the return of hostages from Gaza.
Eisenkot told the New York Post that the hostage agreement would not have happened without Trump’s involvement.
Eisenkot has also criticized Netanyahu for making Israel too dependent on the White House, according to the article.
Polling published Friday in Israeli media put Yashar slightly ahead of Likud, but neither party was projected to win enough votes to govern outright.
The article says Eisenkot’s son and two nephews were killed while fighting in Gaza.
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Court documents describe new evidence in the 2011 disappearance of Michelle Parker, including previously unanalyzed phone data and injuries investigators say may have been defensive wounds. Dale Smith Jr., Parker’s ex-fiancé, was arrested on a second-degree murder charge; Parker has not been found.
Key Facts
Parker, 33, disappeared on Nov. 17, 2011, the day an episode of “The People’s Court” about her dispute with Smith aired.
Parker’s car was found the next day, but she was never located.
Smith told police Parker had dropped off their two children and left, and he allowed officers to search his apartment.
Court records describe reports of domestic violence involving Smith and multiple women, including Parker.
Detectives’ photos show scratches on Smith’s face and left arm and abrasions on the backs of his elbows; the affidavit says police records do not show that investigators asked how he got the injuries.
Police examined phone data collected in 2011 but not analyzed at the time, including location information and messages from both phones.
The phone records showed dozens of texts between Parker and Smith in the days before she disappeared, including obscenities and insults.
The records showed Parker’s phone entered the cell service area nearest Smith’s home at about 3:15; the article’s account of this detail is cut off.
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House Speaker Mike Johnson said he believes polls showing Democrats ahead in the 2026 midterms underestimate Republicans. He expressed confidence in his party’s position one week before the elections, despite polling that showed Republicans in a difficult position.
Key Facts
Mike Johnson is the Republican speaker of the House from Louisiana.
Johnson made the remarks Monday in an interview with Fox News host Laura Ingraham.
He said polls showing large Democratic leads are underestimating Republicans.
The 2026 midterms were one week away when Johnson spoke.
The article says polling showed Republicans in a tough position.
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Canadian musician Peaches has turned 60 after a career spanning three decades in electroclash and dance-punk. In an interview with FRANCE 24’s Marjorie Hache, she discussed her career and legacy as she promotes her latest album, “No Lube So Rude,” and its tour.
Key Facts
Peaches is a Canadian electroclash artist.
Her career has spanned about three decades.
Her live shows feature elaborate costumes and crowd surfing.
The article describes her concerts as welcoming to people of all genders and sexualities.
Her latest album is titled “No Lube So Rude.”
She is touring in support of the album.
She spoke with FRANCE 24’s Marjorie Hache about her career and legacy.
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Prominent Republicans have endorsed Democratic candidates in races across several states ahead of the midterm elections. The article describes endorsements in Colorado, Kansas and Montana, citing disagreements with Republican nominees or dissatisfaction with the party’s direction under President Donald Trump.
Key Facts
Former Republican Congressman Ken Buck and 15 other prominent Republican leaders endorsed Colorado Democrat Phil Weiser for governor.
Weiser is running against Republican nominee Victor Marx, a first-time candidate and ministry leader.
Former Kansas governors Mike Hayden and Bill Graves endorsed Democrat Adam Hamilton for U.S. Senate against incumbent Republican Roger Marshall.
Hayden criticized Marshall’s support for Trump’s tariffs and the Iran war.
Former Montana governor and Republican National Committee chair Marc Racicot endorsed Democrat Sam Forstag in a congressional race against Republican Aaron Flint.
The article says Republicans are defending narrow majorities in the House and Senate in the midterm elections.
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Senate Majority Leader John Thune is working to maintain Republican control of the U.S. Senate. In an interview with CBS News, he discussed his leadership and behind-the-scenes efforts.
Key Facts
John Thune is the Senate majority leader.
Thune is working to keep Republicans in control of the Senate.
CBS News correspondent Kaia Hubbard spoke with Thune.
The interview covered Thune’s leadership.
The interview also covered Thune’s behind-the-scenes work.
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Sudan’s war has disrupted education for millions of children through school closures, damage to facilities and repeated displacement. Aid workers and officials warn that children who stay out of school face greater risks, including child labour, recruitment by armed groups and early marriage.
Key Facts
UNICEF estimates that eight million of Sudan’s 17 million school-age children are out of school.
In Darfur, about 80 percent of schools remained closed, and 70 percent of children were not attending classes.
Save the Children estimates that children in Sudan have missed an average of about 484 days of classroom learning since the conflict began in April 2023.
Nearly half of Sudan’s school buildings no longer function as classrooms, according to UNICEF’s head of advocacy and communication in Sudan.
A drone attack on two warehouses in North Kordofan in September 2026 destroyed more than 330,000 school textbooks and other learning materials.
Nine-year-old Abkar Mohammed, displaced from Khartoum to Port Sudan, cleans and repairs shoes to help support his family and does not attend school.
Officials and aid workers say school closures and displacement leave children exposed to risks including child labour, recruitment by armed groups, sexual violence and early marriage.
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Israeli voters went to the polls on October 27, 2026, in the country’s first national election since the October 7, 2023 attack. Turnout was reported as unusually high, with a deeply divided electorate weighing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s leadership.
Key Facts
The election took place on Tuesday, October 27, 2026.
It was Israel’s first national election since the October 7, 2023 attack.
The article described turnout as unseen in decades.
The electorate was deeply divided.
The vote was presented as a verdict on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
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Israelis vote for parties, not directly for prime minister. Because no major party is expected to win the 61 seats needed for a Knesset majority, the next prime minister will depend on coalition talks, which could take weeks or months and may lead to another election.
Key Facts
Israel's polling stations are scheduled to close Tuesday evening.
Voters choose parties rather than individual prime ministerial candidates.
The Knesset is Israel's parliament.
A party needs 61 seats for a majority in the Knesset.
No major party is expected to win close to 61 seats on its own.
The next prime minister will need to assemble a coalition of parties.
If coalition talks fail, Israel could hold another election.
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Israelis are voting in the country’s first national election since the October 7, 2023, attacks. Former Israeli ambassador to the United States Michael Oren said the election’s outcome is unlikely to change the wars involving Iran and Gaza.
Key Facts
Israel is holding its first national election since the October 7, 2023, attacks.
Former Israeli ambassador to the United States Michael Oren discussed Israel’s political landscape.
Oren said the election results are unlikely to change the wars involving Iran and Gaza.
The article does not report the election results.
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A remark by Barack Obama comparing the White House’s gold decor to a Cheesecake Factory opened a political spat between Republicans and Democrats. The exchange came during a campaign stop in Cleveland as the competitive midterm election cycle neared its end.
Key Facts
Obama made the remark at a campaign stop in Cleveland.
He said the White House looked as if Saddam Hussein had opened a Cheesecake Factory, with gold everywhere.
The comment sparked a dispute between Republicans and Democrats.
The article describes the exchange as taking place near the end of a competitive midterm election cycle.
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Supporters of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gathered outside a polling station in Jerusalem as he voted on Tuesday. The election is Israel’s first since the Hamas attack of October 7, 2023, and is widely seen as a referendum on Netanyahu.
Key Facts
Benjamin Netanyahu voted in Israel’s election on Tuesday.
Netanyahu supporters gathered outside the polling station where he voted.
The report was filed from Jerusalem.
This is Israel’s first national election since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack.
The election is seen as a referendum on Netanyahu.
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ICE arrested Samuel Sey, a Ghana-born Christian blogger and podcaster who lives in Ohio, at Columbus airport on October 21. DHS says he overstayed his authorized admission and has no pending applications; Sey’s family says he entered legally and was working with a lawyer to obtain permanent status.
Key Facts
Sey has lived in the United States since 2022, according to the article.
A DHS spokesperson said Sey accepted voluntary departure and would remain in ICE custody until he is removed from the United States.
Sey’s wife said the family is trying to understand what went wrong with his immigration process.
His wife said he had been working with a lawyer to obtain permanent legal status.
Sey is the author of the blog SlowToWrite and co-hosts the podcast The Narrative.
Sey has publicly supported ICE and criticized illegal immigration.
Sey was being held for ICE at Butler County Jail, according to the article.
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The article focuses on how beauty businesses are contributing to high streets, with Wolverhampton as its location. The supplied text does not include the video or details about the businesses involved.
Key Facts
The article is titled “How the beauty industry is boosting High Streets.”
The article is associated with Wolverhampton.
The article discusses hairdressers and beauty salons.
The page lists UK high streets as a related topic.
The supplied article text contains a video player, but no transcript or further reporting.
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