President Donald Trump has supported Senator Susan Collins by promoting a new economic plan to help Maine’s lobster industry and by reducing tariffs on Canadian goods used by local farmers and businesses. Recent polls show the Maine Senate race between Collins and Democrat Troy Jackson is very close.
Key Facts
A Fox News Poll shows Senator Susan Collins and Troy Jackson tied at 49% among likely voters in Maine.
Earlier polls showed Jackson with a small lead, but recent data suggest the race has become closer.
President Trump’s administration introduced the America First Seafood Strategy to support domestic seafood processing and Maine’s lobster fisheries.
There is a $5 billion loan program to help modernize meat and seafood processing industries.
A new voluntary "U.S. Caught Seafood" label will help shoppers identify products caught in the U.S.
Tariffs have been reduced by 50% on some Canadian imports important to Maine farmers and businesses.
Senator Collins is using these changes to highlight her ability to deliver economic benefits despite President Trump’s unpopularity in Maine.
Democrats argue these tariff relaxations are a last-minute effort to aid Collins’ reelection campaign.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a military operation in the West Bank after Palestinian gunmen killed two Israeli soldiers. Israel imposed large-scale closures and displaced residents in the area around Hebron to contain the situation.
Key Facts
Two Israeli soldiers were killed in attacks by Palestinian gunmen in the West Bank.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the attack site near Hebron.
Netanyahu instructed security forces to immediately lock down the city of Hebron.
Israel imposed widespread closures across the occupied West Bank following the attacks.
Some residents in the area were displaced due to the security operations.
These actions come amid ongoing tensions between Israeli forces and Palestinians in the region.
The situation reflects continuing conflict in the Middle East involving Israel and Palestinian territories.
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Typhoon Champi hit Taiwan with strong winds and heavy rain, causing power outages for about 56,000 homes. The typhoon is now moving toward China and Japan.
Key Facts
Typhoon Champi struck Taiwan with winds up to 180 kilometers per hour.
The storm brought heavy rain across the island.
About 56,000 households in Taiwan lost electricity due to the typhoon.
After hitting Taiwan, the typhoon is heading toward China and Japan.
The event caused disruptions and damage but no specific casualties were reported in this article.
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French students have promised to continue protesting despite concerns about violence during demonstrations. The protests come amid ongoing social and political challenges in France, including recent clashes and unrest.
Key Facts
Students in France have committed to keeping up their protests.
There are worries about violence connected to the demonstrations.
People of all ages in France are debating whether to join the protests given the risks.
Recent protests have involved clashes and some looting.
French authorities have responded by banning certain student protests.
The protests reflect deeper social and economic problems in France.
President Emmanuel Macron has met with student union representatives during this period.
There was a recent shooting in a suburb of Paris causing casualties amid rising tensions.
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France’s far-right National Rally party is holding its yearly meeting in Orléans to start Marine Le Pen’s presidential campaign and re-elect Jordan Bardella as leader. At the same time, thousands of people are protesting against racism, fascism, and imperialism, with local police preparing for possible clashes.
Key Facts
The National Rally is a far-right political party in France.
Their annual congress is taking place in Orléans, south of Paris.
Marine Le Pen is officially launching her presidential campaign at this event.
Jordan Bardella is expected to be re-elected as party leader.
Thousands are attending the National Rally meeting.
A large counter-protest is organized against racism, fascism, and imperialism.
Local officials are preparing for potential conflicts between demonstrators and protesters.
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Paris police changed the route for a trade union protest at the last minute on October 24, 2026. Many protesters went to the old starting point and were confused because the march now starts somewhere else.
Key Facts
The protest route was changed just before the event by Paris police.
The new march route is from Place d’Italie to Porte de Vincennes.
Originally, the march was supposed to start at Place de la Bastille.
Many protesters arrived at Place de la Bastille and did not know about the change.
The protest was organized by trade unions.
The event is part of ongoing demonstrations in France.
France 24 journalist Elitsa Gadeva reported from the scene.
The changes caused confusion among some participants.
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Ukraine’s defense ministry announced that speed limits on the Starlink satellite system, used by its military, have been fully lifted after two weeks. The restrictions had hurt Ukraine’s ability to use drones for defense and supply missions. The issue caused tensions between the Ukrainian government, President Donald Trump, and Elon Musk.
Key Facts
The Ukrainian military uses SpaceX’s Starlink system to control reconnaissance and interceptor drones.
Speed restrictions on Starlink limited Ukraine’s drone operations for about two weeks.
The Ukrainian ministry of defense confirmed that Starlink speeds are now fully restored.
The restrictions affected Ukraine’s ability to stop Russian attack drones and supply troops.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky believed the restrictions were a form of retaliation linked to his refusal to stop strikes on Russian oil refineries.
President Donald Trump denied White House involvement in the restrictions and said he would talk to Elon Musk if the limits continued.
Ukraine uses two satellite systems: Starlink for communication and defense drones, and Starshield (US-controlled) for offensive operations.
The Ukrainian ministry said the restoration came after high-level talks led by Zelensky.
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France is preparing for new large protests across the country against poor school conditions and rising living costs. Authorities will deploy over 70,000 police officers and have banned many demonstrations in city centers to avoid violence seen in recent protests.
Key Facts
More than 70,000 police officers and gendarmes will be deployed during Saturday’s protests in France.
Last weekend’s protests included looting, vandalism, and clashes, with over 2,000 arrests.
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez increased police presence by 20% compared to previous protests.
The elite police unit RAID will support operations but not directly manage crowds.
Many city centers, including Montpellier, Rouen, Nice, Lyon, and parts of Paris and Marseille, have banned protests or restricted routes.
Businesses and cultural sites like the Louvre closed or boarded up for safety.
President Emmanuel Macron met student representatives and promised more teachers and changes to the university admission system.
The protests started over school issues but now also cover cost of living and wider social concerns ahead of France’s presidential election.
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Tom Kean Jr., a Republican congressman from New Jersey, disappeared from public view for over three months, missing 100 votes without explanation. He returned in late June, citing hospitalization for depression, and is now in a close re-election race against Democrat Rebecca Bennett in a district that has recently been rated as favoring Democrats.
Key Facts
Tom Kean Jr. is a Republican congressman from New Jersey’s 7th congressional district.
He had a strong start with over $2.4 million in campaign funds and an endorsement from President Donald Trump.
Kean was missing from Congress and public appearances for over three months, missing 100 votes.
Kean said he was hospitalized for depression during his absence.
The district was redrawn in 2022 to favor Republicans but is now rated as leaning Democratic by the Cook Political Report.
Kean faces a tough race against Democrat Rebecca Bennett, a political newcomer.
Kean’s campaign has been criticized for avoiding the media and refusing to answer some reporters’ questions.
The Republican Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, expressed sympathy for Kean’s health struggles but suggested Kean should have been more open about his absence.
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A man named Ebro Ahmed stopped a school bus in Minnesota after its driver had a medical emergency. He was inspired to act by a verse from the Qu’ran about saving lives and successfully used the bus’s emergency brake to stop it without anyone getting hurt.
Key Facts
The bus driver experienced a medical emergency, likely a seizure, while driving with 19 students on board.
Ebro Ahmed noticed the emergency while outside his family’s store in Saint Paul and quickly jumped onto the moving bus.
Ahmed threw his phone and glasses to the children in the front to free his hands and pulled the emergency brake to stop the bus.
The students were safely transferred to another bus, and the driver was treated at the hospital and released.
Ahmed said he was inspired by a Qu’ran verse meaning saving one life is like saving all humanity.
Ahmed is US-born, and his parents are immigrants from Eritrea; their store faced challenges during President Trump’s immigration policies.
Local media shared surveillance video of the event, which gained widespread attention.
Ahmed received public recognition and a $1,000 donation from a local company for his quick action.
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Catherine Breed, a 33-year-old swimmer from the San Francisco Bay Area, became the first person to swim the entire coastline of California, completing the journey in 111 days. She faced challenges such as sharks, storms, big waves, and unusual Pacific Ocean weather, but finished her swim at a beach in San Diego.
Key Facts
Catherine Breed swam from the northern tip of California to the border with Mexico.
The swim took her about 111 days to complete.
She was supported by a team on a sailboat named Catalyst.
The swim faced difficult conditions like 6-8 foot waves, sharks, hurricanes, and unusual El Niño weather.
Breed swam 4 to 5 hours daily during the journey.
She used mental strategies to stay focused and manage energy while swimming.
Dolphins often accompanied her during the swim, and she could hear them despite wearing earplugs.
Breed has done other long swimming swims, including a shorter swim down the California coast in 2022.
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Democrats are generally favored in the upcoming midterm elections because of problems like rising gas prices and low approval ratings for President Trump. However, in Minnesota’s Senate race to replace Senator Tina Smith, the race is close, with Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan narrowly leading.
Key Facts
Nationally, Democrats have an advantage in the midterm elections.
High gas prices and President Trump’s low approval rating are challenging for Republicans.
Minnesota has an open Senate seat because Senator Tina Smith is retiring.
Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan, a Democrat, is running for the Senate seat.
The race in Minnesota is unexpectedly close despite national trends favoring Democrats.
The competitiveness shows that local factors can influence election outcomes.
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Early voting is rising sharply in important states where elections are closely contested. Democrats are currently outpacing Republicans in the number of early votes submitted, which could give them an advantage in the November midterm elections.
Key Facts
Early voting has increased significantly in key battleground states.
In North Carolina, over 1.2 million early ballots have been accepted so far.
This number is 37% higher than at the same time before the 2022 midterm elections.
Democrats are currently casting more early votes than Republicans.
Higher early voting turnout can impact overall election results in these states.
Battleground states are areas where both major parties have a close chance of winning.
The data suggests Democrats may have a turnout advantage this year.
Early voting allows voters to cast ballots before Election Day.
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A charity in Shropshire, called Little Stars, is preparing for its Christmas gift campaign to help families who are struggling. They ask people to donate new, unwrapped toys, which will be wrapped and given to children and pregnant women in need.
Key Facts
The charity Little Stars gives free essential items to families who need help.
Their Christmas campaign is called Santa's Little Stars and runs from October 24 to December 4.
People can donate new, unwrapped toys at specific places in Shrewsbury's Darwin shopping centre.
Gifts are given to children from birth up to 17 years old and to pregnant women referred to the charity.
In 2023, it was the charity’s biggest campaign year so far.
Since 2020, the campaign has given out over 8,000 presents to more than 2,100 children.
Donation points include shops like The Collective, The Entertainer, Home Bargains, and Clarks Shoes.
The charity expects high demand this year because many families still face money problems.
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Ukraine’s defence minister said the connection to the Starlink and Starshield satellite internet systems is now stable again after being disrupted for over a week. These systems are important for the Ukrainian military to communicate and defend against attacks.
Key Facts
Starlink and Starshield satellite systems are made by SpaceX.
Ukraine experienced slower connection speeds and disruptions starting around October 14, weakening its military operations.
The connection speed has returned to over 400 kilometers per hour, considered normal by Ukraine’s defence ministry.
The Ukrainian military uses these systems to stop Russian attack drones and maintain frontline communication.
Neither SpaceX CEO Elon Musk nor the US government has admitted controlling the service slowdowns.
Reports suggest the order to reduce Starshield service came from inside the White House.
President Donald Trump said he would fix the Starlink access issues if they continue.
The disruptions occurred after President Trump announced a deal to buy Russian diesel and waived some sanctions on Russia.
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A 36-year-old British woman died in the Bahamas after trying to save her two sons who were caught by a strong current while snorkeling. The children were rescued, but the woman was swept away and later died despite resuscitation efforts.
Key Facts
The woman was snorkeling with her husband and two sons near Bimini island in the Bahamas.
A strong current swept both children away from the shore.
The woman attempted to rescue her sons and was also swept away.
The children were rescued from the water.
The woman was taken to a local clinic but was pronounced dead.
Police do not suspect foul play and are investigating the death.
An autopsy will be done to find the exact cause of death.
The British Foreign Office is in contact with local authorities and supporting the family.
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A multi-storey building under construction collapsed in Nairobi, Kenya, leaving seven people missing and trapped under the rubble. Rescue teams are searching for survivors while officials examine the cause and whether construction rules were followed.
Key Facts
The building, estimated to have 16 to 18 floors, collapsed on Friday afternoon in Nairobi's Eastleigh area.
Seven people are missing and feared trapped, mostly in shops on the bottom floors that had already opened.
66 of 67 construction workers escaped unharmed; one worker was slightly injured.
Rescue efforts have paused use of heavy digging machines to avoid cutting off air to trapped people.
Officials are investigating if the building met safety and planning regulations.
Nairobi’s governor said the owners lacked the necessary paperwork to occupy the building.
Building collapses in Nairobi often happen due to poor construction or weak regulation enforcement.
Kenya’s National Construction Authority has identified the developer, architect, and engineer involved.
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A 36-year-old British woman died in the Bahamas while trying to save her two sons, who were caught in a strong ocean current during a snorkelling trip near Bimini island. The boys were rescued, but the woman was swept away and later pronounced dead at a local clinic.
Key Facts
The incident happened near the southern point of Bimini island in the Bahamas.
The woman was snorkelling with her husband and two sons when a strong current swept the children away.
She tried to rescue her sons but was also carried away by the current.
The children were rescued from the water.
The woman was taken to a local clinic where she was declared dead despite CPR efforts.
The Royal Bahamas police force is investigating the case and does not suspect foul play.
An autopsy will be done to find the exact cause of death.
The UK Foreign Office is in contact with the woman’s family and offering support.
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Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and his rival Flavio Bolsonaro debated their plans just before the final round of the presidential election. They discussed issues like the economy and public spending, while also exchanging personal criticisms.
Key Facts
Lula and Bolsonaro debated two days before Brazil’s presidential run-off election.
The debate focused on topics such as Brazil’s economy, infrastructure, and regional development.
Bolsonaro plans to cut public spending drastically, similar to Argentina’s president Javier Milei.
Lula accused Bolsonaro of allowing crime to grow and not addressing the rising cost of living.
Bolsonaro called Lula by a nickname "Nine Fingers," referencing an old accident, and later apologized.
Lula called Bolsonaro a vigilante due to alleged ties to paramilitary groups.
Bolsonaro defended a policeman he once represented who was involved in a fatal shootout.
Polls show both candidates tied at about 50% support just before the election.
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Three people arrested in connection with a fatal house fire in Waterford, Ireland, have been released without charges. Four family members died in the fire, and one suspect remains in custody.
Key Facts
Four family members, Philip and Kim English and their two children, died in a house fire in Waterford, Ireland.
The fire happened earlier this month on Birch Avenue, on the outskirts of Waterford.
A man in his 20s and a woman in her 30s were previously charged related to the fire.
Three people, two women in their 30s and a man in his 50s, were arrested on Tuesday and released without charges on Saturday.
A man in his 20s, arrested on Thursday, is still in custody.
The Irish police (gardaí) are handling the investigation.
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