Ukraine carried out a large drone attack against Russia, targeting an oil export terminal in St. Petersburg. The strike caused big fires, killed one person, and injured five others.
Key Facts
Ukraine sent more than 1,000 drones in the attack on St. Petersburg.
The attack happened overnight on a Sunday.
It targeted an oil export terminal in the city.
The attack caused massive fires at the terminal.
One person died and five were injured.
This was one of the biggest aerial attacks by Ukraine since the war began.
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The Texas Senate race between Republican Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico is very close and depends on which party’s voters turn out more. Paxton benefits from Texas’s Republican majority and support for President Trump, while Talarico gains support because of concerns about the cost of living and voters’ views of his character.
Key Facts
The Texas Senate race is essentially tied, and voter turnout will decide the winner.
Ken Paxton draws most support from Republicans and voters who back President Trump.
James Talarico leads among voters worried about the cost of living and those who think he has good personal character.
Talarico gets some votes from Republicans and independents who might not usually vote Democrat.
Paxton is favored by voters who support President Trump’s deportation policies and view Talarico as very liberal.
Texas has more Republican voters, so Talarico needs strong turnout from independents, some Republicans, and young voters.
Latino voters in Texas mainly support Talarico and are concerned about rising prices.
For governor, Republican Greg Abbott has an advantage over Democrat Gina Hinojosa.
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Bristol Old Vic is bringing theatre performances into secondary schools in Bristol for free. This project aims to give more young people access to live theatre, especially those from diverse communities and schools with tight budgets.
Key Facts
Bristol Old Vic’s MIB260 company tours plays directly to schools at no cost.
The plays focus on current social topics, like British identity and culture.
The performances take place in school halls to avoid the costs and complications of trips.
The initiative aims to reach up to 4,000 students in 19 secondary schools.
Many students in these schools come from multicultural backgrounds and face financial challenges.
Schools often can’t afford theatre trips due to costs, transport issues, and safety rules.
Drama teachers value the project for making theatre accessible and inspiring for students.
The plays engage students by combining familiar cultural references with thoughtful questions about identity.
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A woman in her late 40s decided to change her career by going to law school after many years working in creative fields like photography. Despite challenges such as failing the bar exam twice and personal hardships, including the loss of her sister, she stayed determined to become a lawyer and help others.
Key Facts
The author moved to Spain in 1994 to find her purpose, which took many years to discover.
She originally studied Fine Art Photography and worked as a wedding photographer for 10 years.
In 2013, she joined AmeriCorps to work with immigrants, which inspired her to pursue law.
She started law school at Elon University at age 47.
She faced difficulties like depression and feeling out of place being older than most classmates.
Her sister died by suicide during her first year of law school, nearly causing her to quit.
Despite failing the bar exam twice, she continued her efforts to become a lawyer.
The author views her law school journey as a way to find purpose and honor her sister’s memory.
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CBS News Sunday Morning on October 18 featured a variety of stories including California’s Proposition 40, profiles of singer Rosalía and actor John Turturro, and the legacies of artists Jackson Pollock and Lee Krasner. The program also covered topics like consumer sentiment before the midterm elections, a frog-jumping contest in Ohio, and the 100th anniversary of Winnie the Pooh.
Key Facts
The show included a report on California’s Proposition 40, a tax measure on billionaires.
Singer Rosalía was featured, focusing on her music and dedication.
Actor John Turturro was highlighted in a profile segment.
The legacies of painters Jackson Pollock and Lee Krasner were discussed.
Consumer mood ahead of the U.S. midterm elections was examined.
A frog-jumping contest took place in Valley City, Ohio.
The character Winnie the Pooh celebrated its 100th anniversary.
Other features included new Broadway shows "Other Desert Cities" and the 30th anniversary of "Rent."
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FIFA awarded the new Peace Prize to President Donald Trump in 2023 but now considers stopping the award. Some FIFA officials question the prize's value and want to either scrap it or change how it is given. A committee will review the award and advise FIFA's Council before the next meeting in December 2024.
Key Facts
FIFA created the “FIFA Peace Prize – Football Unites the World” to honor people who promote peace.
President Donald Trump was the first and only winner of this prize, awarded in 2023.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino supports Trump and believed he deserved a Nobel Peace Prize.
The award ceremony took place in Washington, D.C., at the 2026 World Cup draw event.
Critics pointed out the prize was controversial because it was given soon after deadly U.S. military actions.
FIFA Council members want to reconsider or stop the Peace Prize, especially giving it to politicians.
FIFA’s Football Social Responsibility Committee is reviewing the prize and will report by December 16, 2024.
FIFA has not made a final decision yet and awaits the committee’s proposal.
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Paris saw violent protests on Saturday that caused a lot of damage. The police arrested over 1,000 people during riots and looting. Many residents of Paris expressed their disappointment about the destruction.
Key Facts
Protests in Paris on Saturday turned violent.
Riots and looting occurred during these protests.
French police arrested more than 1,000 people.
Local residents spoke to Al Jazeera about their dismay at the damage.
The damage affected shops and public property in Paris.
The protests disrupted normal life in parts of the city.
Police had to take strong action to control the situation.
The cause or reason behind the protests was not mentioned in the article.
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The European Union and other countries have condemned violent attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinians and foreign diplomats in the West Bank during the olive harvest. These attacks have increased this year and have caused concern about impunity, as Israeli authorities have not taken strong action to stop the violence.
Key Facts
Israeli settlers have attacked Palestinians and EU diplomats in the occupied West Bank during the olive harvest season.
The number of attacks in 2024 has already surpassed the total from 2025.
The EU expects Israel to hold attackers accountable and to take steps to prevent further violence.
Countries like Belgium, France, Poland, and the US have condemned the attacks and called for stronger action.
An American photojournalist was attacked by settlers, drawing attention from the US Secretary of State.
Critics say Israeli authorities provide settlers with protection or do not restrict their actions enough.
Observers argue that mere condemnations without consequences do not stop ongoing violence and settlement expansion.
Calls for sanctions or serious measures against settlers and those enabling the violence were discussed but not agreed upon by the EU.
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Microsoft has stopped its planned involvement in a large AI datacentre project in Essex, UK, due to problems with power supply. The project, led by British company Nscale and supported by the UK government, now lacks its main public customer and faces delays.
Key Facts
The AI datacentre was planned to open in Loughton, Essex, and was called the largest UK sovereign AI datacentre.
Microsoft was expected to be the main tenant but pulled out because of power supply concerns.
Power issues mean the project will take a long time to become operational.
Nscale is a UK-based company backed by tech firms like Nvidia.
Losing Microsoft as a customer may affect Nscale’s plan to go public on Wall Street with a valuation of $35 billion.
Nscale says it is still committed to the Essex project and is looking for new power sources.
Microsoft continues to work with Nscale on another AI project in Norway.
The UK government had promoted the Essex datacentre as key to its AI strategy.
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Hurricane Trudy brought heavy rain and strong winds to Mexico’s Pacific coast, especially in Michoacán, Colima, and Jalisco. Officials warned of flooding and mudslides and urged people to prepare, while another powerful typhoon, Champi, threatened Guam and nearby islands.
Key Facts
Hurricane Trudy had winds of 105 mph, making it a Category 2 hurricane as it moved near Mexico’s western coast.
A hurricane warning was in place from Manzanillo, Colima to Cabo Corrientes, Jalisco.
Officials warned of life-threatening flooding and mudslides due to heavy rain of 4 to 12 inches in some areas.
The Mexican Navy urged caution because of high waves, heavy rain, and rising river risks.
Typhoon Champi was near Guam with 150 mph winds, a strong Category 4 storm, possibly reaching Category 5 soon.
Guam and Northern Mariana Islands requested emergency disaster declarations due to typhoon damage.
President Donald Trump approved an emergency declaration to help Guam recover from Typhoon Champi.
Guam’s airports, harbors, and some health facilities closed; aid delivery could take 3-5 days.
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Vice President Vance said on Saturday that the United States has, in some ways, clearly won its conflict with Iran. However, he also acknowledged that Iran continues to respond, meaning the situation is ongoing and not fully settled.
Key Facts
Vice President Vance spoke about the U.S. conflict with Iran on Saturday.
He stated the U.S. has "decisively won" in some respects.
Vance also noted that Iran continues to act and respond to U.S. actions.
This suggests the conflict is still active and evolving.
The exact details of what "winning" means in this context were not specified.
The comments reflect current views on U.S.-Iran relations and ongoing tensions.
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In this midterm election, Democrats are running close races in states that usually vote Republican, such as Kansas, Texas, and South Carolina. These tight races put long-standing Republican winning streaks at risk. Some Republican candidates also face close contests in states that often vote Democratic.
Key Facts
Democrats are competitive in Kansas, Texas, and South Carolina Senate races, where Republicans have held seats for decades.
In Kansas, no Democrat has won a Senate seat since 1932; the race is currently a tossup.
Texas last elected a Democratic senator in 1988, but the race this year is close, rated as a tossup.
South Carolina has voted Republican for Senate since 1998, but the current race is close, with the Republican candidate new to politics.
Democrats may win a Maine Senate seat for the first time since 1988 if Troy Jackson wins.
Democratic candidates are also competing for governor’s races in Texas, Georgia, and Alaska, with some races rated as tossups or leaning Democratic.
In House races, Democrats have chances to win seats in Nevada and Montana, areas they haven’t won for several decades.
Republicans are competitive in some races in states usually voting Democratic, like Michigan and Oregon.
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Israeli leaders hoped to change the Middle East and remove Palestine as a political issue. However, instead of success, their actions have caused countries in the region to work more closely in opposition to Israel.
Key Facts
Israeli leaders wanted to reshape the Middle East.
Their goal included removing Palestine from the political map.
Israel has engaged in wars aimed at expanding its territory.
These wars have caused other Middle Eastern countries to unite against Israel.
The region has not been redrawn as Israel planned.
Cooperation among regional countries increased in response to Israel’s expansion efforts.
The situation reflects ongoing tensions in the Middle East.
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Ukraine launched a large drone attack on Russia’s city of Saint Petersburg, causing fires at an oil refinery and depot. One person was killed, five were injured, and there was damage to buildings and power supplies during the strikes.
Key Facts
The attack targeted Saint Petersburg, Russia’s second-largest city and President Vladimir Putin’s hometown.
Fires broke out at an oil terminal, the Ruchyi oil depot, and industrial warehouses.
One person died and five others were hospitalized, according to the city governor.
Air defense in the region reported shooting down 144 Ukrainian drones during the attack.
Power outages affected about 20,000 people in the nearby town of Yanino due to damage to a substation.
The attack follows an "energy ceasefire" announced by U.S. President Donald Trump that quickly fell apart.
Ukraine said its strikes were in response to repeated Russian attacks on its energy infrastructure.
The strikes also caused damage to a data center of VKontakte (a Russian social network) and a logistics center of Ozon, a major Russian retailer.
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Mehrdad Akhlaghi Ketabchi has been appointed as Iran’s new defence minister during ongoing conflict involving the US and Israel. He has over 42 years of experience in military technology and will focus on rebuilding Iran’s military industry and expanding its missile and drone capabilities.
Key Facts
Mehrdad Akhlaghi was approved by Iran’s parliament with 237 votes in favor and 15 against.
He replaces the former defence minister, Aziz Nasirzadeh, who was killed on the first day of the war.
Akhlaghi has worked for more than four decades in missile technology, aerospace, and military production.
He was previously head of several major Iranian defence organizations linked to missile and aerospace development.
He is under sanctions by the US and the United Nations due to his role in Iran’s weapons programs.
Iran aims to improve both the quality and quantity of its strategic weapons like missiles and drones.
Akhlaghi has met with top military leaders to understand their needs during the war.
The Iranian government says its weapons continue to be effective despite US and Israeli attacks on its military factories.
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NHS England has introduced new rules that require people to use hospital wards, toilets, and changing rooms based on their biological sex, not their gender identity. An internal NHS report warns this could cause delays and possible discrimination for transgender people, affecting their health and willingness to seek care.
Key Facts
The new policy requires single-sex hospital spaces to be used according to biological sex, not gender identity.
Trans people might face delays and “corridor care” (being cared for in hallways) if side rooms are unavailable.
The policy could cause some trans patients to fear discrimination by being identified as transgender in hospital wards.
NHS reports potential conflicts between the needs of cisgender and transgender patients due to the policy.
Some women who do not appear to fit societal expectations may be questioned about their sex to access single-sex wards.
The policy is based on a 2025 UK Supreme Court ruling defining “woman” and “sex” as biological terms in the Equality Act.
NHS England says clinical need should be prioritized and decisions about placement should be made case by case.
The policy does not apply in emergency (A&E) or intensive care units.
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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) changed its website to say that two harmful chemicals, Pfoa and Pfos, are still made and used in the U.S. This update came after reports showed that a company in Houston, Inhance, produces plastic containers that release Pfoa, a chemical linked to cancer and other diseases.
Key Facts
Pfoa and Pfos are types of chemicals called PFAS, which are harmful even in tiny amounts.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer says Pfoa causes cancer in people and Pfos might cause cancer.
The EPA used to say these chemicals were phased out in the U.S., but now admits they are still made and used.
Inhance, a Houston company, produces about 200 million plastic containers yearly that contain Pfoa, which can leak into their contents.
The EPA made this change after a nonprofit called Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (Peer) complained about misinformation.
Pfoa and Pfos have been linked to health problems like cancer, heart, liver, and kidney diseases.
The EPA never banned these chemicals but only arranged for some producers to stop making them in 2015.
Testing in 2020 found high Pfas levels in plastic containers, leading to EPA investigations and warnings to the plastics industry.
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New federal rules starting January 1 will require some Medicaid adults to work or participate in activities for 80 hours a month to keep their health coverage. Some conservative states are choosing not to use special hardship exemptions that protect people in places with high unemployment, likely due to political and administrative reasons.
Key Facts
Medicaid work requirements apply to adults who got coverage through the Affordable Care Act expansion.
These adults must work, go to school, volunteer, or do other approved activities for 80 hours a month to keep Medicaid.
The federal government allows states to exempt people in areas with high unemployment or other hardships.
New York City used the exemption for the Bronx, benefiting about 200,000 people.
Missouri and Iowa have counties that qualify for the exemption but are not using it.
Experts say states may refuse exemptions due to political views or fear of extra paperwork.
Conservative states often prefer to tie health insurance to work or community involvement.
Past examples, like Arkansas, show work requirements have caused many people to lose Medicaid without increasing employment.
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Small businesses in the United States employ about half the workforce and contribute half of the GDP. While many small business owners remain confident about their current situation, they have concerns about inflation, labor quality, and slowing hiring, with mixed job growth reports for September.
Key Facts
There are 34 million small businesses in the U.S., employing around half the workers.
The National Federation of Independent Businesses reported a slight decrease in small business optimism.
Inflation and labor quality are the top concerns for many small business owners.
Surveys show mixed hiring results: some report job gains, especially in healthcare and social assistance, while others note declines in smaller businesses.
Revenue for small businesses increased in September, according to Intuit and Fiserv data.
Small businesses have stable or slightly improving cash flow but are cautious about the overall U.S. economy.
Employment data from companies like ADP and Paychex indicate that small-business hiring is stable but not growing rapidly.
Consumer behavior remains selective, with fewer shoppers but potentially higher spending per visit.
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The current administration argues that policies designed to help groups who have faced discrimination in the past are now unfair to others. This view is different from earlier approaches when both major political parties supported civil rights efforts.
Key Facts
The administration believes some civil rights policies can be seen as discriminatory.
These policies are meant to help groups that have been treated unfairly for a long time.
This position marks a change from past bipartisan support for civil rights.
Previously, both Democrats and Republicans worked together on civil rights issues.
The administration’s stance challenges the idea that such policies promote equality.
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