A federal appeals court ruled that President Donald Trump’s decision to send the National Guard to Los Angeles last year was illegal. The court said Trump did not have the right to take control of the troops from California’s governor during protests.
Key Facts
The decision came from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit.
The court ruling was 2 to 1, meaning two judges agreed and one disagreed.
The issue involved National Guard troops deployed to the Los Angeles area.
The deployment happened during protests against President Trump’s immigration policies.
President Trump took control of the National Guard away from California Governor Gavin Newsom.
The court said those actions were not lawful under current laws.
The case focused on who has authority over the National Guard in states during unrest.
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Netflix and eBay are cutting about 1,000 jobs each, reducing their workforces to control costs and focus on key projects. These layoffs add to a larger trend of many tech companies cutting jobs this year while overall job cuts in the U.S. have decreased.
Key Facts
Netflix is laying off around 1,000 employees, about 6% of its global workforce.
eBay is cutting about 1,000 jobs now, after cutting 800 earlier in 2026, totaling around 1,800 layoffs this year.
These layoffs mainly affect product, technology, legal, and human resources teams.
From January to September 2026, tech companies announced 165,925 job cuts, 54% more than the same period in 2025.
Tech accounted for 29% of all U.S. job cuts announced in that time, more than any other industry.
Overall U.S. job cuts declined 39% in 2026 compared to 2025.
Netflix said its business is strong and growing despite the layoffs.
eBay stated the cuts were made to align with its main priorities and operate from a position of strength.
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Scientists studied how crows make visual decisions using a test that is often given to monkeys. They found that crows can decide the direction of moving dots twice as fast as monkeys, even though their brains are structured differently.
Key Facts
The test used is called the random-dot-motion task, where subjects decide the direction of moving dots.
Crows do not have a neocortex like mammals, but use a different brain area called NCL for decision-making.
Two carrion crows were trained to peck at a screen to show their choice of dot movement direction.
The crows completed decisions in about 235 milliseconds, while monkeys take about 410 to 600 milliseconds.
Crows performed the task as accurately as monkeys and humans, with no loss of precision despite being faster.
Bird brains have a different structure from mammals, with clustered neurons rather than layered sheets.
This study suggests that the different brain structure in birds allows faster processing in some decision tasks.
The research was done by Andreas Nieder and Philipp Schmidbauer from the University of Tübingen.
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Meghan Markle, wife of Prince Harry, expressed that she feels very upset after reports that her father, Thomas Markle Sr., is being investigated for allegedly holding illegal child abuse material. The news about the 82-year-old has appeared recently in many newspapers.
Key Facts
Meghan Markle is the Duchess of Sussex and married to Prince Harry.
Her father, Thomas Markle Sr., is 82 years old.
He is under investigation for allegedly possessing illegal child sexual abuse material.
Meghan said she was "deeply distressed" by these reports.
The news has been widely covered by tabloids in recent days.
Meghan publicly responded to the allegations through a statement.
No official charges have been announced yet regarding Thomas Markle Sr.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered a full lockdown of the occupied West Bank after a shooting incident in Hebron. At the same time, Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir is increasing settlers’ access to guns. There are also concerns about the United Nations’ role at the Rafah crossing in Gaza.
Key Facts
Prime Minister Netanyahu announced a complete lockdown of the occupied West Bank.
The lockdown comes after a shooting in the city of Hebron.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir is allowing more settlers to carry firearms.
The West Bank is a territory under Israeli military control but claimed by Palestinians.
The Rafah crossing is a main border point between Gaza and Egypt.
Questions have been raised about how the UN operates at the Rafah crossing.
The situation involves tensions between Israel, Palestinian residents, and international actors.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered a large military operation in the West Bank. This action follows a shooting attack by two Palestinian men that killed two Israeli soldiers.
Key Facts
The attack involved two Palestinian men who shot and killed two Israeli soldiers.
Prime Minister Netanyahu announced a major military operation in response.
The operation targets the occupied West Bank area.
The attack and response have increased tensions in the region.
Netanyahu's statement came shortly after the shooting incident.
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FBI Director Kash Patel announced charges against two former senior FBI officials, Nikki Cole Floris and Bradley Benavides, for lying to Congress about their knowledge of investigations related to Hunter Biden’s laptop. The officials allegedly denied that the FBI Foreign Influence Task Force was involved in these investigations, but evidence shows otherwise.
Key Facts
Nikki Cole Floris and Bradley Benavides were charged with making false statements to Congress in 2023.
Both surrendered to authorities following the criminal complaint.
The charges relate to their testimony about the FBI Foreign Influence Task Force (FITF) and Hunter Biden’s laptop investigations.
Floris led the FITF as a Deputy Assistant Director from 2019 to 2022; Benavides was the FITF Section Chief from 2019 through the 2020 election.
Both testified that the FITF was not involved in the Hunter Biden laptop investigation, but documents and witness reports contradict this.
Hunter Biden’s laptop was found at a repair shop in 2019 and has been linked to investigations on tax and money laundering.
The laptop’s content became a political issue in the 2020 election due to emails related to Hunter Biden’s business activities and drug use.
The Justice Department alleges Floris and Benavides discussed the laptop and FBI’s reaction but misled Congress about this involvement.
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Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, has explained why she distanced herself from her father, Thomas Markle, saying it was to protect her family after she learned of serious allegations against him in 2018. Their relationship had already cooled, with little contact since her 2018 wedding, as Thomas often spoke publicly about their estrangement.
Key Facts
Meghan and her father, Thomas Markle, were once close but grew apart before her engagement in 2017.
Thomas Markle moved to Mexico after retiring in the US and gave many media interviews.
Thomas withdrew from Meghan and Harry’s 2018 wedding due to heart surgery but continued to speak publicly afterward.
Meghan says she first heard about disturbing allegations against her father in 2018, after marrying Prince Harry.
Since then, Meghan and Thomas have had very limited contact; she wrote to him after his surgery late last year.
Thomas Markle denies the allegations mentioned by Meghan.
Meghan said she kept her children from having contact with Thomas to protect them.
The public views of Meghan and her family relationships have been influenced by media stories and personal opinions.
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President Donald Trump praised UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham for approving production at the North Sea's Jackdaw gas field, saying it will help make the UK richer. The project faced debates over environmental and economic impacts but could provide gas to heat millions of homes starting this month.
Key Facts
The UK government approved drilling at the Jackdaw gas field, located 150 miles east of Aberdeen.
Jackdaw is operated by Adura, a partnership between Shell and Norwegian company Equinor.
Gas from Jackdaw could start flowing by the end of June and supply gas for about 11 years.
The gas field might meet around 1.6% of the UK's gas needs from 2026 to 2036.
Environmental groups say the project harms efforts to fight climate change and won’t improve energy security much.
Prime Minister Burnham said climate commitments have to be balanced with energy needs.
Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh said Jackdaw’s gas will not lower energy bills this winter.
President Trump called Burnham “getting it done” and encouraged further North Sea energy development.
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US consumer sentiment dropped to near a record low in October, showing that many Americans feel worried about their finances before the midterm elections. This decline is mainly due to rising prices for everyday items like food and gasoline, affected by tensions between the US and Iran.
Key Facts
The Consumer Sentiment Index fell to 48.0 in October from 48.1 in September, making it the second-lowest reading ever.
The lowest sentiment was 44.8 points in May 2023.
The survey measures how people feel about their money, the economy, and whether it is a good time to buy big things.
Political independents showed the largest drop in confidence, reaching 42.4 points in October.
Since January, more people across all political groups say inflation is harming their finances, especially Republicans (52% increase).
Inflation expectations for the next five years increased slightly to 3.5%.
Gasoline prices remain high but are slightly lower than a month ago, averaging $4.29 per gallon.
The Federal Reserve is likely to keep interest rates steady at 3.75–4.00% in its upcoming meeting before the elections.
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Romania has accused Russia of attacking a cargo ship near its coast in the Black Sea, causing the ship to sink, killing one crew member and leaving three missing. This attack is part of a recent increase in drone strikes on commercial ships in the Black Sea region, which has raised concerns about the ongoing conflict related to Russia’s war on Ukraine.
Key Facts
A drone struck the cargo ship Khoryv about 24 km off Romania’s port of Constanta, sinking the ship.
The ship had 13 crew members from Ukraine and Azerbaijan; one died, three are missing, and nine were rescued.
The Khoryv was traveling from Turkey to Romania’s Sulina port, a key route for Ukrainian exports.
At least seven cargo ships have been attacked by drones near NATO members Romania and Bulgaria in the last two weeks.
These attacks have resulted in about 30 sailors killed or missing.
Romania and neighboring countries have asked NATO to quickly increase surveillance and protection for ships in the Black Sea.
NATO plans to send more patrol aircraft, radar systems, and drones to monitor the area.
Romanian, European, and Moldovan officials blame Russia for these attacks, while Russia has denied responsibility.
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Scientists at Weill Cornell Medicine are testing a new male birth control pill that works by temporarily blocking a key enzyme in sperm, preventing them from moving to fertilize an egg. The pill is designed to be taken 30 minutes before sex and provide about six to eight hours of protection, after which fertility returns to normal.
Key Facts
The pill targets an enzyme called soluble adenylyl cyclase (sAC), which sperm need to swim and mature after ejaculation.
Inhibiting this enzyme temporarily stops sperm from traveling inside a woman’s reproductive tract, preventing fertilization.
The pill is designed for short-term use, with contraception lasting six to eight hours after a single dose.
The research team received a multimillion dollar grant from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) to test the pill’s safety in humans.
This is the third grant Dr. Jochen Buck and Dr. Lonny Levin have received since 2020 for developing this male contraceptive.
Currently, male contraception options are limited to condoms and vasectomies.
Around 40 percent of pregnancies in the U.S. are unplanned, partly due to the side effects and challenges women face with hormonal birth control methods.
The new pill aims to provide men with an option that does not involve continuous hormone use but shares responsibility for birth control.
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The UK government has started a new public campaign called "Be Ready" to advise people on how to prepare for emergencies like severe weather or cyber-attacks. The campaign suggests keeping a three-day supply of water, food, and basic supplies at home, which has led to a calm response from the public and increased interest in emergency preparedness.
Key Facts
The original 1980 "Protect and Survive" campaign on nuclear attack survival was met with skepticism and political backlash.
The new "Be Ready" campaign recommends storing three days' worth of bottled water, non-perishable food, a torch with batteries, a wind-up FM radio, a first aid kit, and a copy of a passport.
The advice encourages gradual stocking to avoid panic buying.
Emergency supply stores reported a surge in orders since the campaign launch.
Experts say there is little evidence that emergency preparedness messaging causes public panic.
Accurate and open communication helps people prepare proactively and reduces risks.
The campaign reflects a growing public interest in practical emergency planning after recent disruptions like Covid-19.
Three days of supplies is considered realistic, affordable, and manageable for most households.
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The olive harvest in the West Bank began on October 15, 2026, with a rise in violence against Palestinians by Israeli settlers and soldiers. Despite this, some settlers use social media to show peaceful and nationalistic scenes of olive picking, promoting these actions as part of their presence in the area.
Key Facts
The olive harvest lasts from mid-October to the end of November in the West Bank.
Violence linked to the harvest has increased, with nearly 200 attacks recorded by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in 2026.
This year’s attacks have already surpassed the 185 incidents reported in 2025.
Palestinian farmers often start harvesting early to avoid clashes during the official harvest period.
Israeli settlers post photos and videos on social media showing olive picking at illegal settlements and invite others to join them.
These social media posts often include nationalist messages encouraging Jewish presence and claiming the land.
Some settlements have their own olive oil mills and promote making oil as part of their activities.
The violence includes bodily harm and damage to Palestinian crops and property during the harvest season.
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Many families in China are buying a lot of gold, but not mostly for making jewelry. A reporter visited China’s largest gold market to see why this is happening.
Key Facts
Chinese families are increasing their gold purchases.
Most of the gold bought is not for jewelry use.
The trend is significant enough to be called a "gold rush."
The report was made by Katrina Yu from Al Jazeera.
The focus is on China’s biggest gold market.
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A serious bug was found in the PHP programming language, which is used by many websites. Experts say this flaw could put about 70% of the websites on the internet at risk of being attacked.
Key Facts
PHP is a programming language used to build websites.
A security vulnerability has been discovered in PHP.
This bug could affect up to 70% of websites worldwide.
The flaw could allow hackers to exploit many sites.
Cybersecurity reporter Raphael Satter shared information about this risk.
The bug is described as very serious and dangerous.
Immediate attention from website owners and developers is needed to fix the issue.
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Foreign ministers from European and Middle Eastern countries met in Istanbul to warn the US and Israel against new military strikes on Iran. They said a new conflict would spread violence and raise oil prices. The group also called for an end to attacks on Saudi Arabia and for Iran to open the blocked Strait of Hormuz.
Key Facts
Eight countries from Europe and the Middle East held a summit in Istanbul.
They formed a new group seeking to prevent more war in the region.
The ministers warned that military action against Iran would worsen the conflict and increase oil prices.
The strait of Hormuz, crucial for global oil shipping, is currently blocked by Iranian forces.
The meeting included talks on Yemen, the Palestinian conflict, and the Russia-Ukraine war impact.
Ministers urged diplomacy and dialogue rather than military solutions.
Countries at the summit included Turkey, Egypt, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, France, the UK, Germany, and Italy.
The group also condemned Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and called for freedom of navigation in the Gulf.
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Intel asked the US government for permission to keep using some foreign-made robotic vehicles in its US chip factories, due to confusion about a new government ban. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) granted Intel a one-year waiver to continue using these robots, which are important for moving materials in semiconductor production.
Key Facts
The US FCC banned certain foreign-made robots but allowed Intel a waiver to keep using some in its chip factories.
Intel’s robots are automated guided vehicles that move materials on factory floors, made mostly by Japanese companies.
Intel said it was unclear if these robots were covered by the ban but requested the waiver to avoid production problems.
The FCC allowed Intel to also make some hardware and software updates to maintain the robots.
Intel has no US-made robot alternatives that meet its needs for factory work.
The FCC approved Intel’s waiver quickly, within a week of the request.
The US owns a significant $8.9 billion stake in Intel and is aiming to boost domestic chip manufacturing.
The wider US robotics industry faces challenges from the ban since China is a leading supplier of robots and parts.
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Barclays, a large bank, announced it will cut 5,000 jobs worldwide as it increases the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in its operations. The company expects AI to help lower costs and improve productivity but says not all job cuts are only because of AI.
Key Facts
Barclays plans to reduce its workforce by about 5 percent, cutting 5,000 jobs globally.
About 1,000 of these job cuts have already happened.
The bank expects to save around £1.1 billion ($1.5 billion) in costs next year due to these changes.
Sixty percent of the job reductions will be in support roles like developers, where AI will make employees more productive.
Barclays has invested heavily in modernizing its systems to better use AI.
The bank also invests in employee training, pledging £150 million ($201 million) to develop skills by 2030.
The union for banking workers criticized Barclays for using AI as a reason for job cuts and urged focus on retraining staff.
Experts say AI will greatly affect banking jobs but cost cuts and tech updates are also factors in the job reductions.
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A Florida police officer is accused of stealing the identity of a dead man and moving into the man's home. Prosecutors say the officer used the dead man’s identity without permission.
Key Facts
The incident took place in Florida.
The accused is a police officer.
The officer allegedly stole the identity of a dead man.
After stealing the identity, the officer moved into the dead man’s home.
Prosecutors are handling the case.
The case involves identity theft, which means using someone else's personal information without permission.
The man whose identity was stolen had already died before this happened.
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