Violent protests in Marseille, France, caused heavy damage to hundreds of businesses and injured many police officers over the weekend. Authorities banned gatherings and deployed many police officers to restore order and prevent further violence.
Key Facts
Over 500 businesses in Marseille were damaged, with many looted during the protests.
118 police officers were injured in the violence, which was described as very serious by police officials.
Authorities made 101 arrests in Marseille, including a significant number of children.
Demonstrations and gatherings were banned on Monday to stop more unrest.
An overnight curfew for minors is expected in some parts of the city.
The protests began over poor school conditions but expanded to issues like the high cost of living.
Police said far-left groups called "Black Blocs" provoked chaos, leading to looting and clashes.
Business areas impacted included the city center and several shopping malls.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu announced that new curfews may be set in some areas to restore order after protests about living costs and education turned violent. Officials are working with local leaders to decide where curfews are needed, following weekend riots that led to thousands of arrests.
Key Facts
Over 500,000 people protested in France about the high cost of living and education issues.
Some demonstrations became violent, involving looting and arson.
More than 2,500 people were arrested during the riots.
Authorities are considering curfews, with local officials deciding where to apply them.
The government is meeting to address the unrest and prevent further violence.
France’s Digital Minister is working with social media companies to remove online listings of stolen goods.
Main trade unions have not supported calls for more protests.
The protests come ahead of France’s presidential elections in April and May 2024, with far-right candidate Marine Le Pen leading in polls.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A Russian military satellite moved very close to a US-operated commercial radar satellite that provides intelligence to Ukraine, according to space tracking data. This is an unusual move because Russian satellites usually track Western military satellites, not commercial ones.
Key Facts
The Russian satellite Cosmos 2612 approached the US-registered ICEYE-X36 satellite, which provides radar images potentially used by Ukraine.
Cosmos 2612 came as close as about 500 meters to ICEYE-X36, after months of maneuvering.
ICEYE is a Finnish company whose satellite imagery has supported Ukraine since 2022.
In response, ICEYE moved its satellite, which led to further movements from the Russian side.
Similar close approaches have happened before but usually involved military satellites, not commercial ones.
Russian interference with Western space systems has increased since the start of the Ukraine conflict in 2022.
Russia has indicated it may consider some commercial satellites as legitimate targets due to their role in military operations.
Close proximity maneuvers in space are rare and can be seen as attempts to track or disrupt satellite operations.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Yemen conflict has lasted over a decade, with different groups controlling parts of the country at different times. The Iran-backed Houthi group took the capital Sanaa in 2014, leading to a Saudi-led military campaign to restore the government. Since then, alliances and control of territory have changed repeatedly, with no group fully controlling Yemen.
Key Facts
The Houthi group seized Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, in September 2014.
The Houthis allied with forces loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh until Saleh was killed in 2017.
President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi fled to Aden and then to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, after the Houthis advanced south.
Saudi Arabia started a military campaign in March 2015 to restore Hadi’s government.
Yemen has been divided into areas controlled by Houthis in the north and west, and pro-government forces supported by Saudi Arabia and the UAE in the south and east.
The Southern Transitional Council (STC), backed by the UAE, controls Aden separately from the government and has fought government forces despite being part of the anti-Houthi coalition.
The 2018 Stockholm Agreement stopped major fighting over the port city of Hodeidah, vital for food and aid.
Despite years of fighting and airstrikes, no side has managed to control the entire country or restore unified government authority.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A videographer captured a fin whale feeding off the coast of Wales, showing the whale taking in thousands of gallons of water and krill. The fin whale, the second largest whale after the blue whale, is known for its size and speed and is usually found in cooler ocean waters worldwide.
Key Facts
The fin whale can grow up to 24 meters (79 feet) long and weigh up to 70 tonnes.
It feeds by lunging and taking in up to 18,000 gallons of water and krill at once.
The video was taken by Rhys Morgan, who was using a drone while fishing near Pembrokeshire, Wales.
Fin whales are fast swimmers but hard to spot because they spend much time deep in open ocean waters.
These whales eat mainly krill, small fish, and squid, consuming up to 2,000 kilograms of food daily.
Fin whales often feed near the surface but usually migrate, so seeing one in coastal waters is unusual.
Scientists know little about fin whale migration, but it varies with seasons and locations.
Marine expert Dr. Marianna Chimienti described the filming as a rare and lucky event.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A project in the Peruvian Amazon gave about £2 a day to 211 Indigenous people without conditions, helping them protect the rainforest and improve their living conditions. The study found that most participants used the money to support the environment, reduce forest burning, and stay in their communities instead of moving away for work.
Key Facts
The project gave cash payments totaling about £2 per day for two years to Indigenous people in Peru’s Asháninka region.
Almost 90% of participants took actions like planting trees and restoring water sources.
Food insecurity dropped from 73% to 26%, meaning fewer people struggled to afford nutritious food.
The number of people leaving their homes to find work fell from 43% to 18%.
The payments were unconditional, meaning people could spend the money however they wanted.
The project included extra education on finance, conservation, and climate change.
Some experts say more research is needed, as cash payments have sometimes increased deforestation elsewhere.
Indigenous lands face threats from miners, loggers, farmers, and land grabbers, making conservation efforts challenging.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
San Francisco’s boarded-up San Francisco Centre mall is being considered as a site for a new AI datacenter project. The plan involves creating a public space combining AI exhibits, culture, retail, sports, and education rather than a traditional server facility, but city officials have imposed a temporary halt on new datacenter developments to study their community impact.
Key Facts
The San Francisco Centre mall has been closed and boarded up since January 2024.
A Maryland-based firm, KG Growth Partners, is exploring AI-related redevelopment options for the mall.
The proposed project is described as an “AI-controlled living space” featuring public areas, a rooftop garden, and spaces for culture, sports, and education.
The firm says the project is not a traditional datacenter with large server farms but a community-focused AI exhibit.
San Francisco’s mayor recently imposed a 45-day pause on datacenter permits to study their effects on neighborhoods.
Local business owners near the mall report significant declines in customers and revenue since the closure.
The AI boom in the Bay Area has brought investment to the region, but it has not yet helped businesses around the shuttered mall.
The project aims to be environmentally friendly by recycling power and water, rather than using large amounts of energy like typical datacenters.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Different weather forecasts show mixed predictions for snowfall across the United States this winter due to a strengthening El Niño, a climate pattern involving warmer Pacific Ocean waters. Some forecasts expect less snow in the northern U.S., while others predict more snow in regions like the West and parts of the Northeast.
Key Facts
El Niño is a climate pattern caused by warmer waters in the Pacific Ocean and can affect weather worldwide.
AccuWeather forecasts below-normal snowfall in much of the northern U.S., with warmer conditions reducing snow in the Northeast and Great Lakes.
AccuWeather expects above-average snow in parts of the Western states and some areas of the central U.S. like New Mexico and Colorado.
The Old Farmer’s Almanac predicts above-average snowfall in central New England, the Appalachians, the Intermountain region, the Pacific Northwest, and Alaska.
The Farmers’ Almanac forecasts bursts of snow and cold in the North, mixed winter weather in the Northeast, and favorable mountain snowfall in the southern Rockies.
NOAA’s winter outlook predicts more precipitation in many western and eastern U.S. regions but drier conditions in parts of the Midwest and Northwest.
Snowfall amounts can vary, and one big storm can change expected totals, especially in East Coast cities.
Precipitation includes rain, snow, sleet, or ice falling to the ground.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Protests and riots in France have become a topic in U.S. Republican discussions as they approach midterm elections. Republicans are using the events to connect Democrats with issues like immigration and socialism.
Key Facts
Protests in France began earlier this month, mainly involving high school students.
The protests started as demands for better school conditions.
The unrest later included riots and broader social unrest.
U.S. Republicans use these events in their political messages.
They aim to link Democrats to immigration and socialism.
This political strategy is part of the lead-up to U.S. midterm elections.
The focus is on appealing to voters concerned about these issues.
The situation in France is being used to influence American political debates.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Between October 11 and October 18, 2026, President Trump made several decisions that attracted criticism. These included choosing a new press secretary, suggesting televised executions, altering a sanctions deal with Russia, and sharing an AI-made video featuring a tiger.
Key Facts
President Trump appointed a new press secretary during this period.
He proposed the idea of broadcasting executions on television.
The President modified a sanctions deal related to Russia.
An AI-generated video showing a tiger was released under his direction.
These actions led to criticism from various groups and individuals.
The events all happened within one week in October 2026.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Flutter, the company that owns Paddy Power, plans to cut up to 1,400 jobs. The company says it cannot fully handle recent increases in taxes on the gambling industry.
Key Facts
Flutter owns the betting company Paddy Power.
Up to 1,400 jobs will be cut across the UK, Ireland, Portugal, and Romania.
The job cuts will affect staff in these countries, but specific roles have not been shared.
The UK government raised taxes on online casino and sports betting last November.
Horse racing betting was excluded from these tax increases.
Flutter’s CEO, Kevin Harrington, said the tax change has greatly affected the betting business model in the UK.
He also said the tax rise may have helped illegal and unregulated gambling grow.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A 65-year-old woman died after a shark attacked her while she was swimming at Orient Beach in South Africa. Authorities closed nearby beaches and warned people to stay out of the water following the incident.
Key Facts
The attack happened at Orient Beach in KuGompo City (formerly East London) on a Tuesday morning.
The woman was swimming in a group and was a regular swimmer at that beach.
Witnesses saw a shark’s tail and fin before the attack.
The woman suffered severe injuries to her arm and leg and died at the scene.
South Africa has a history of deadly shark attacks due to its long coastline.
Worldwide, there were 65 unprovoked shark bites in 2025, with 9 deaths.
Other recent attacks include a fatal one in Western Australia about a month earlier.
Researchers link shark attacks to factors like larger coastal populations and environmental changes.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Many critically ill people in Yemen cannot get needed medical care abroad because airports in the country are closed or damaged due to ongoing conflict. This blocks flights for patients needing treatment outside Yemen, worsening health problems for thousands.
Key Facts
Sanaa International Airport, the main airport in Houthi-controlled northern Yemen, has been mostly closed to commercial flights since 2016 because of a Saudi-led coalition blockade.
A short-lived UN truce in 2022 allowed some flights, but damage from attacks in 2025 and July 2026 kept the airport closed.
Aden airport, used by the government-controlled south, has also been attacked multiple times recently.
About 400,000 patients, including 250,000 needing treatment abroad and over 125,000 cancer patients, have been affected by the airport closures.
Medical supplies shortages include more than 1,600 types of medicine, such as 12 cancer drugs and treatments for blood diseases like thalassemia and anemia.
The conflict between the Yemeni government and Houthis has increased recently, limiting the movement of aid and people.
Some war prisoners have been released by the Houthis as part of ongoing negotiations.
The lack of medical flights forces patients to take long, unsafe, and expensive overland trips to find alternate airports outside the conflict zones.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
France is experiencing protests and unrest, raising questions about how the government handles social movements and public order. Expert Joseph Downing says the French government and police need to rethink their approach to managing violence and legitimate concerns of the people.
Key Facts
France is facing protests and violent unrest in some areas.
The government has imposed targeted curfews in places affected by violence.
Police are reportedly exhausted and struggling to manage the situation.
There is concern about the relationship between citizens and the government becoming more confrontational.
France has a centralized policing system and a history of revolutionary movements.
The unrest highlights political and economic challenges in the country.
Experts warn that foreign information campaigns, particularly from Russia, may influence the unrest.
The events have led to worries about impacts on tourism and political opinions.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
France has set curfews in some areas after violent protests against rising living costs. Different French newspapers and international media have varied views on whether the government's response is too strict, too weak, or balanced.
Key Facts
France introduced curfews after weekend riots linked to protests about the high cost of living.
Left-wing French newspapers say the curfews are too strict and criticize the government’s handling of law and order.
A central French newspaper notes police policy aims to avoid deaths by keeping a safe distance from protesters.
A conservative French paper says the government is not doing enough and questions why no state of emergency has been declared.
British media quotes President Macron saying France will not accept thieves or extreme-left troublemakers.
The New York Times highlights the unity of French students protesting but warns about the risk of violence.
German media points out unusual solidarity between poor and wealthy students and criticizes the government’s approach.
Italy is also facing violence during cost-of-living protests and plans to send 500 army troops to affected cities.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
North Korean state media released recent photos showing leader Kim Jong Un healthy, responding to online rumors that he had died from a brain hemorrhage. These rumors began with an unverified claim by a Chinese dissident living in the US but lack support from intelligence agencies or visible signs of instability.
Key Facts
North Korean media published photos of Kim Jong Un touring a clothing and footwear exhibit with his daughter, showing him in good health.
A Chinese dissident living in the US claimed Kim suffered a brain hemorrhage, was hospitalized in Beijing, and died, but provided no proof.
North Korea is a secretive country, so rumors about its leader’s health are common due to limited facts.
South Korean intelligence and other observers found no signs of Kim’s illness or death, such as increased security or diplomatic activity.
Similar rumors appeared in 2020 but were proven false when Kim appeared publicly.
The rumors often connect to questions about succession, as Kim’s daughter may be groomed to take over leadership, but she is very young and not officially named as heir.
The leadership transition in North Korea has been unstable compared to previous generations, adding to uncertainty and rumor circulation.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
In Texas, early voting has set new records in two large counties, Harris and Dallas, both known for supporting Democrats. This strong turnout is important because Texas has not elected a Democrat statewide in 32 years, but recent polls show close races for Senate and governor.
Key Facts
Harris County had over 70,000 voters on the first day of early voting, breaking its previous record.
Dallas County saw 76,069 voters on the first day, also breaking its record.
Both counties have more registered voters now than in previous election years.
El Paso County had the second-highest early voting turnout for a midterm election.
Democratic candidate James Talarico is leading Republican Ken Paxton in recent polls for the Senate seat.
Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican, is in a close race with Democrat Gina Hinojosa.
Republicans are focusing on getting rural and suburban voters to vote to maintain their lead in Congress.
President Donald Trump won Texas by nearly 14 points in 2024 but faces lower approval ratings due to economic and foreign issues.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Donald Trump’s approval rating dropped to a new low of 31 percent ahead of the November midterm elections. This rating is down by one point from two weeks earlier, raising concerns about the Republican Party’s chances in the upcoming elections.
Key Facts
President Trump’s approval rating is now at 31 percent.
This rating is the lowest recorded so far during his current term.
The rating dropped by one percent compared to two weeks ago.
The midterm elections are in two weeks.
Republicans face the risk of losing control of both the House and Senate.
The data comes from a Reuters/Ipsos poll.
Approval ratings measure how many people support the president’s job performance.
Midterm elections often affect which party controls Congress.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Storm Austen is forecast to hit southern parts of the UK with strong winds and rain by the end of the week. The Met Office issued weather warnings as the storm could cause disruption, especially in coastal areas.
Key Facts
Storm Austen is the first named storm of the season in the UK.
Winds could reach up to 60 mph widely, with gusts over 70 mph on exposed coasts.
The storm is expected to hit southern UK on Friday.
A yellow warning for strong winds covers southwest England, southern Wales, and parts of the south coast.
The storm is caused by an area of low pressure in the Atlantic strengthened by the jet stream (a fast air current high in the sky).
Rainfall of 20 to 30 millimeters is expected in many places.
Storm Austen will move eastward through Friday and into the North Sea by the evening.
More rain and wind are likely over the weekend and early next week, especially in western areas.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The United Kingdom will send Typhoon fighter jets to help protect Saudi Arabia from attacks by Yemen’s Houthi group. These jets will fly defensive missions to guard Saudi cities and important sites but will not attack the Houthis.
Key Facts
The UK will deploy Typhoon warplanes in a defensive role over Saudi Arabia.
The jets will protect Saudi cities and critical infrastructure from aerial attacks like drones and missiles.
The Typhoons will not carry out offensive strikes against the Houthi group.
The UK will also extend air-to-air refueling support to Saudi air operations.
The Houthis, supported by Iran, have recently launched missiles and drone strikes on Saudi targets, including Riyadh’s airport.
Saudi Arabia leads a coalition backing Yemen’s internationally recognized government in fighting the Houthis.
The UK Defence Secretary described the Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia as serious threats that require increased UK military support.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
