Police in Austin, Texas, found live grenades from World War II inside a box bought at an estate sale. The bomb squad safely removed the explosives, and authorities warned people not to touch old military weapons and to let experts handle them.
Key Facts
A person bought a box at an estate sale in Austin, Texas, that contained World War II-era grenades.
The grenades were live, meaning they could explode, according to the police bomb squad.
Police quickly secured the area and kept neighbors safe while removing the grenades.
Handling old explosives is very dangerous because their condition is unpredictable.
Police advised people to avoid touching or moving any old military weapons they find.
Unexploded military items from past wars are sometimes discovered in veterans' belongings.
Similar incidents have happened before, including a 3-year-old finding a live grenade in Washington state last year.
Bomb squads are trained to safely remove and dispose of these dangerous items.
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The XFG variant of COVID-19, also called "American COVID" or "Stratus," is spreading in the UK, United States, and other parts of the world. It causes symptoms similar to other COVID variants, with hoarseness being a common sign, but it is not causing more severe illness or deaths according to health authorities.
Key Facts
XFG is a COVID-19 variant that combines two earlier variants, LF.7 and LP.8.1.2.
The first known XFG case was found in January 2025, and the WHO began monitoring it in June 2025.
It is currently the most common COVID variant in the UK, with a 7% positive test rate and a 50% increase in hospital admissions during September.
Similar increases in COVID cases have been observed across Europe and the U.S.
XFG symptoms include common COVID signs like sore throat, cough, and fever, plus a hoarse or raspy voice.
Doctors cannot identify XFG by symptoms alone; genetic testing is used to confirm the variant.
The WHO and UK health agencies say XFG does not cause more severe illness or death than other variants.
The nickname "American COVID" comes from where the variant was first detected, not necessarily where it started.
XFG has been found in 38 countries and is spreading in multiple regions worldwide.
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Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is investigating pediatricians and organizations over vaccine practices, linking his actions to vaccine skepticism promoted by President Trump and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. This comes as Texas faces lower vaccination rates and new state laws that make it easier for parents to opt out of school vaccine requirements.
Key Facts
Ken Paxton is investigating pediatricians for allegedly cooperating with vaccine makers and insurance companies.
Paxton supports the Make America Healthy Again (Maha) movement and cites President Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s vaccine campaigns.
Texas has a new law allowing parents to more easily request vaccine exemptions for their children in schools.
Vaccination rates in Texas have dropped, with about 93.3% of kindergarteners fully vaccinated against measles.
Pediatricians say they often lose money giving vaccines because reimbursement does not cover their time and costs.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has earned millions from lawsuits related to vaccine side effects and is now Secretary of Health and Human Services.
Surveys show pediatricians and the American Academy of Pediatrics are highly trusted by the public.
Some experts view Paxton’s actions as politically motivated and damaging to public health efforts.
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The 2026 midterm elections in the United States will be more difficult for pollsters and voters to understand. Various factors are making it harder to predict election outcomes using traditional poll methods.
Key Facts
The 2026 midterm elections are expected to face new challenges for polling accuracy.
Pollsters may struggle to collect reliable data due to changing voter behaviors.
Public understanding of polls could be more confused than in past elections.
These challenges are described as unprecedented, meaning never seen before.
Factors causing difficulty include changes in who responds to polls and how they respond.
Polls are important because they help predict election results and inform voters.
The warning comes from Pew, a respected research organization focused on public opinion.
The situation means both pollsters and the public will need to be careful interpreting poll results.
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A 44-year-old woman jumped off a cruise ship into the Ionian Sea near Greece and was rescued after 20 hours in the water. Greek coastguard teams, a navy helicopter, and nearby ships searched for her, and a passing freighter found her alive in a life ring before she was taken to a hospital.
Key Facts
The incident happened early on a Friday near the island of Zakynthos in Greece.
The woman was a passenger on the Royal Caribbean ship Odyssey of the Seas.
She said she jumped because she wanted to leave the ship.
Rescue efforts included two coastguard boats, a navy helicopter, and the cruise ship itself.
A passing freighter found her floating with a life ring on Saturday morning.
She was taken to Katakolo port and then to a hospital in Pyrgos for medical and psychiatric tests.
The case is being investigated by local authorities.
Last year, a similar case involved a man jumping from another Royal Caribbean ship to avoid debt.
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A civil servant named Kashim Chowdhury is on trial for allegedly working five full-time government jobs at the same time and earning about £350,000. He is accused of using sick notes and wearing makeup to appear ill during a video call with his manager, but he denies all charges of fraud.
Key Facts
Kashim Chowdhury held jobs at Tower Hamlets Council, the Home Office, Defra, UK Health Security Agency, and Department of Health and Social Care between 2020 and 2023.
He allegedly earned nearly £350,000 by working multiple government roles simultaneously.
Chowdhury wore white makeup during a video call to appear sick; the makeup peeled off, revealing his real skin.
He is charged with nine counts of fraud but denies acting dishonestly or planning to make a dishonest gain.
Prosecutors say he exploited the work-from-home culture that began during the Covid pandemic.
Chowdhury told employers he needed to work from home to care for his ill mother.
His workload reportedly became too much, leading to mixed anxiety and depressive disorder diagnoses, though he did not give all sick notes to his employers.
The fraud was discovered after the National Fraud Initiative alerted one of the employers about the overlap.
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Bank of America has been fined $1.21 billion by U.S. regulators for failing to detect and report over $5 billion in suspicious transactions. The penalty is one of the largest ever and will reduce the bank’s earnings in the third quarter.
Key Facts
The U.S. Treasury Department fined Bank of America $1.21 billion for poor anti-money laundering controls.
The bank failed to report more than $5 billion in suspicious activity, including $1 billion related to national security risks.
The bank relied too much on outside reports instead of its own checks.
Bank of America must hire an independent party to review past transactions and report missed suspicious activity.
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency also fined the bank $750 million for AML program failures.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control fined the bank $11.6 million for violating sanctions on countries like Russia and Iran.
The fines will reduce the bank’s third-quarter earnings by about 17 cents per share.
Bank of America’s shares fell after the fine was announced, and this may affect its future stock buybacks.
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Rapper Tinie Tempah has agreed to visit the town of Scunthorpe for the first time, 16 years after mentioning the town in his hit song "Pass Out." This decision came after a fan-led campaign asking for 5,000 pre-saves of his new album in exchange for his visit.
Key Facts
Tinie Tempah's 2010 song "Pass Out" mentioned he had never been to Scunthorpe.
A fan named Ben Johns led a campaign in Scunthorpe to get Tempah to visit.
Johns carried a cardboard cutout of Tempah around town with a QR code to pre-save the new album.
Tempah agreed to visit if the album "The Night’s Not Dead" reached 5,000 pre-saves.
Tempah plans to visit Scunthorpe soon and thanked Johns for his efforts.
The campaign involved local places like Scunthorpe United’s stadium and a local college.
Tempah described the visit as "long overdue" and expressed excitement to meet people there.
Tempah’s management said they are preparing something special for fans in Scunthorpe.
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A new documentary called "ICE: A Manhunt Named ICE" examines President Donald Trump's strict immigration policies and the actions of the agency Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The film includes interviews with ICE agents and people affected by ICE operations.
Key Facts
The documentary focuses on ICE’s role in enforcing immigration laws under President Trump.
It features interviews with ICE agents and migrants impacted by enforcement efforts.
The film’s title in French is "ICE : La chasse a l'homme," meaning "A Manhunt Named ICE."
The documentary is produced by France Télévisions, a French media outlet.
It highlights the experiences of families and individuals disrupted by ICE removals.
The film aims to show different perspectives on immigration enforcement in the U.S.
The article mentions related reports on deportation policies and conditions at ICE detention centers.
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The International Energy Agency (IEA) warns that diesel shortages and high prices will likely continue into 2027 due to lower exports from the Middle East and Russia and limited refinery capacity. Despite President Trump’s deal to buy Russian diesel, the IEA says this will not significantly ease the global diesel supply problems.
Key Facts
Diesel supplies are low because of disruptions in exports from the Middle East and Russia.
Diesel prices have reached record highs, partly because demand remains strong.
Governments have taken steps to help consumers cope with high diesel costs.
Oil refiners are earning higher profits due to the diesel price increase.
The IEA expects diesel inventories to recover only by the second half of 2027.
President Trump made a deal to buy diesel from Russia, but it likely won’t ease the shortage much.
Russia’s limited refinery capacity is a main reason why diesel exports are low.
The US-Russia diesel deal may help Russia’s economy but not reduce US diesel prices significantly.
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Eight candidates from different Israeli parties competing in the upcoming election all oppose creating a Palestinian state. None of these candidates support the idea of establishing an independent state for Palestinians.
Key Facts
There are eight Israeli candidates from various parties running in the upcoming election.
All eight candidates reject the creation of a Palestinian state.
The candidates come from different political backgrounds but share this common view.
The Palestinian state refers to an independent country for Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza.
This election is important for determining Israel's future policies toward the Palestinians.
The article does not mention support for any other solutions besides rejecting a Palestinian state.
Israeli elections impact the region's peace process and international relations.
The candidates' views reflect a unified position against Palestinian statehood among this group.
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A Saudi-led coalition intercepted a ballistic missile launched by the Houthi armed group toward Riyadh, Saudi Arabia’s capital. The Houthis also claimed responsibility for attacks on other targets in Saudi Arabia, including an oil company and airports, amidst ongoing conflict in Yemen that has escalated recently.
Key Facts
The Saudi-led coalition destroyed a Houthi missile aimed at Riyadh.
The missile attack followed earlier strikes on Riyadh’s King Khalid international airport that killed 14 people and injured hundreds.
The Houthis targeted Saudi Aramco facilities in Dhahran and Riyadh, as well as King Khalid airport.
Saudi Civil Defence issued early warnings for Riyadh and Al-Kharj governorate but later said the danger passed.
Saudi-backed Yemeni forces launched a counterattack near Yemen’s Bab al-Mandeb strait to retake territory from the Houthis.
Fighting resumed after a UN-brokered ceasefire broke down last month.
The Houthis have controlled northern Yemen, including the capital Sanaa, since 2014.
Analysts expect Saudi-led forces to intensify air strikes and possibly begin ground operations to reclaim land from the Houthis.
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The father of Summer Wells, a girl who disappeared in Tennessee in 2021, was arrested on October 12 for an alleged domestic violence incident involving his wife. Authorities have not linked this arrest to Summer’s ongoing missing person case, which remains unsolved.
Key Facts
Summer Wells went missing from her Tennessee home in June 2021 at age 5.
Her father was arrested after deputies responded to a reported domestic disturbance at their home.
The wife reported that he had assaulted her, and both showed injuries.
The father was charged with domestic assault and taken to jail.
Investigators have not connected this arrest to Summer’s disappearance.
The father previously pleaded guilty to driving under the influence in 2022.
His wife sought a protective order against him before Summer vanished, citing abuse.
The missing child investigation remains active, with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation continuing to seek information.
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German police seized a humanoid robot after it allegedly touched a 16-year-old girl inappropriately and made sexual gestures in Cologne. Two young men reportedly controlled the robot and livestreamed the event on social media. Police are investigating the incident to understand how the robot was operated and to determine possible legal actions.
Key Facts
The incident happened on the night of October 10 in Cologne, Germany near a busy nightlife area.
A red-and-gold robot about 4 feet tall was seen touching a 16-year-old girl's buttocks and making suggestive movements.
Two young men, aged 16 and 19, who owned and controlled the robot, livestreamed and commented on the incident.
Police seized the robot and the suspects’ smartphones as evidence shortly after being alerted.
The robot is a commercially available model costing around 5,000 euros (about $5,600).
Videos suggest the robot deliberately performed the gestures after some initial contact with the girl.
German sexual harassment laws require direct physical contact between people, complicating potential charges involving a robot.
Authorities are investigating the case as a sexually motivated insult and possible unauthorized publishing of images.
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French President Emmanuel Macron said student protesters in France have real concerns but are also being used by political groups as the country approaches presidential elections. The protests have led to clashes with police, causing injuries and ongoing investigations into police conduct.
Key Facts
Students in France have been protesting for three weeks, closing many schools.
President Macron said students have legitimate issues but are being "exploited" by political forces.
Around 160,000 people joined protests on October 13, according to the interior ministry; unions reported up to 480,000.
Some protests turned violent in Paris and Lyon, with police using tear gas.
Far-left candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon joined a Paris protest, while far-right candidate Marine Le Pen supported police actions.
Students and rights groups accuse police of brutality; one 15-year-old lost a hand due to a police stun grenade.
Police investigations are open into 36 cases of alleged officer violence; one police officer was charged following a student’s injury.
President Macron has asked his government to propose solutions to the unrest in the coming weeks.
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The article discusses how sanctuary city policies affect immigration enforcement in different areas. It argues that government treatment varies by location and may favor illegal immigrants over citizens, which challenges the idea of equal justice under the law.
Key Facts
Sanctuary cities limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
Policies differ depending on the city or ZIP code.
These differences lead to inconsistent enforcement of immigration laws.
Some believe this results in unfair treatment of citizens compared to illegal immigrants.
Equal justice under law means all people should be treated fairly by the government.
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Many of the top buyers competing for seats at President Trump's upcoming meme coin dinner used cryptocurrency exchanges that do not allow U.S. customers. This suggests that many participants are from outside the United States. The event, scheduled for November 22, will feature President Trump speaking to the largest holders of the $TRUMP meme coin.
Key Facts
The dinner will be held on November 22 at Trump National Golf Club near Washington, D.C.
Only the top 185 holders of the $TRUMP meme coin are invited; the top 29 get special VIP access.
Over half of the top 100 holders used crypto exchanges like Binance, Bybit, and MEXC, which do not allow U.S. users.
Using these exchanges suggests the holders are likely outside the U.S. since U.S. customers are banned.
President Trump earned at least $635 million last year from a licensing deal linked to the $TRUMP coin.
An affiliate of the Trump Organization earns money every time the $TRUMP coin is traded.
The $TRUMP token’s value has dropped by more than 95% since its highest point in January 2025.
Binance’s co-founder was pardoned by President Trump in 2025 after pleading guilty to violations, including money laundering failures.
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Mauritius experienced its worst riots in decades after a woman was shot by police during protests that began over water shortages and the high cost of living. The government imposed a curfew to control the violence, which included roadblocks, burning tires, and damage to public buildings.
Key Facts
Protests started peacefully about water shortages and high living costs but became violent after a woman was shot by police.
The police officer involved in the shooting was arrested and is in custody.
Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam ordered a curfew to stop the unrest.
Protesters damaged public property, including police stations, and blocked roads.
Schools and public transport were closed due to the riots.
Foreign embassies warned their citizens to be careful during the unrest.
Despite the curfew, some violent incidents and arrests continued overnight.
The government provided more water when protests began but water shortages are expected until the rainy season in December.
The cabinet planned to meet to discuss the situation and next steps.
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The head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said the United States and other wealthy countries must urgently control rising global debt. High debt levels and inflation are making it harder for poor countries to pay their debts and maintain essential services.
Key Facts
IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva warned that growing national debt is harming poorer countries the most.
The U.S. national debt is over $40 trillion, and simply relying on economic growth will not fix the debt problem quickly enough.
Rising global inflation and interest rates are partly driven by high energy costs due to the war in Iran.
Many low-income countries are paying a large portion of their revenue in interest, limiting their ability to fund public services.
The IMF calls for "fiscal consolidation," which means reducing government deficits and controlling spending.
The U.K. Foreign Secretary called for a new debt deal to help developing countries manage repayments with better terms.
Developing countries pay about three times more in interest on debt compared to wealthy countries on average.
Higher costs for fuel, food, and borrowing combined with climate events are worsening the financial struggles of poor nations.
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Iran has increased its military surveillance and operations around the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial passage for global oil transport. There has been a rise in attacks on ships, causing oil flows through the strait to drop again, amid rising tension between Iran and the United States.
Key Facts
Iran’s navy deployed new units east of the Strait of Hormuz and across nearby waters to monitor shipping activities.
The Iranian navy warned ships not to turn off their transponders and to communicate with Iranian forces for safe passage.
Iran started using more aggressive tactics against ships it sees as violating its rules about 10 days ago.
Attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz have reached their highest levels since the war involving the US and Israel against Iran began.
Between late September and mid-October, at least 25 attacks on ships were recorded, including tankers and container ships.
Iran says these attacks are for national security and responding to US and Israeli actions.
The US Navy-led Joint Maritime Information Center rated the threat to ships in the strait as “severe,” the second-highest level.
Iranian forces use drones and radio communications to monitor and harass merchant ships in the area.
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