Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the UK should hold a structured dialogue with communities affected by the transatlantic slave trade and that he is open to calls for a formal state apology. He rejected financial reparations, saying people in Britain today should not be held liable for historical wrongs.
Key Facts
Burnham will attend a Commonwealth leaders summit in the Caribbean next week.
Caribbean nations have renewed calls for the UK to apologise and provide reparations.
Burnham called the transatlantic slave trade a brutal violation and said Britain must face its past.
The UK government has never formally apologised for slavery or paid reparations.
Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley welcomed Burnham's statement and said she would engage in good faith while continuing to seek reparatory justice.
The founder of The Repair Campaign said the statement fell short and called for a full formal apology.
Under the 1833 law abolishing slavery, British plantation owners received payments for the loss of enslaved people; the UK finished paying the resulting debt in 2015.
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Ebola has killed more than 5,000 people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where the outbreak has infected more than 10,000 since it was declared in May. The Bundibugyo strain has no approved vaccine or treatment, and the outbreak has spread to several African countries, prompting travel restrictions.
Key Facts
Government data released Friday put the DRC Ebola death toll above 5,000.
More than 10,000 people in the DRC have been infected since the outbreak was declared in May.
The outbreak has reached eight of the DRC’s 26 provinces.
The outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain, for which there are no approved treatments or vaccines.
Nigeria became the fourth African country to report an Ebola case last week; Kenya and Uganda have also reported cases.
The outbreak is the second largest on record, after the 2014–2016 epidemic in West Africa, which infected more than 28,600 people and killed more than 11,000.
Saudi Arabia suspended travel to and entry from Kenya on Friday, including visas for travellers from Kenya and entry for people who recently stayed in Kenya or another affected country.
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The article reports that hundreds of residents left Oleshky, which it describes as occupied by Russia, during a localized ceasefire. It says U.S. First Lady Melania Trump brokered the ceasefire and calls the evacuation a rare instance of humanitarian coordination between Russia and Ukraine.
Key Facts
Hundreds of residents were evacuated from Oleshky.
The article describes Oleshky as occupied by Russia.
The evacuation took place under a localized ceasefire.
The article says Melania Trump brokered the ceasefire.
The article characterizes the event as rare humanitarian coordination between Russia and Ukraine.
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Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is attending the Commonwealth heads of government meeting in Antigua and Barbuda, where he plans to discuss shared issues with other leaders. Analysts say the trip could help him shift attention from domestic pressures, but a likely interest rate rise while he is overseas may add to the government’s economic challenges.
Key Facts
Albanese is due to meet King Charles III and other leaders, including UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Albanese said the Commonwealth meeting would address climate change, ocean protection, trade, investment and artificial intelligence.
Markets expect the Reserve Bank of Australia to raise its interest rate to 4.85% on Tuesday.
The expected increase would be the fifth Australian interest rate rise in 2026, according to the article.
The meeting is expected to include debate about slavery’s legacy and calls from Caribbean nations for a British apology and reparations.
Burnham said he was open to listening to calls for a formal apology, but did not support reparations as the answer.
The article says Australian agriculture relied on blackbirding, which used coercion and other methods to bring more than 60,000 Pacific Islanders to work.
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Poland’s president cut short a trip to Senegal and joined protesters outside the Constitutional Court. The protest followed government moves to remove the court’s president and vice-president, which prompted accusations of a coup within the court.
Key Facts
Poland’s president ended a trip to Senegal early.
The president joined protesters outside Poland’s Constitutional Court.
Protesters faced off with police at the court.
The government moved to remove the court’s president and vice-president.
The moves prompted accusations of a coup within the court.
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The second series of BBC One’s The Celebrity Traitors ended on Friday. A video shows the final seven contestants revealing whether they were traitors or faithful.
Key Facts
The series began with 21 contestants.
Seven contestants remained before the final.
The contestants revealed their allegiances to one another.
The article includes a spoiler warning for the video.
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The US approved a sale of 500 Patriot PAC-3 missiles to Ukraine for an estimated $2.1 billion, but did not give a delivery date. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the approval while urging the US and European allies to provide interceptors from existing stockpiles, saying Ukraine needs them now to defend against Russian attacks.
Key Facts
The US State Department said the sale would strengthen Ukraine’s air and missile defenses.
Two people briefed on the decision said the missiles are not expected to arrive until a couple of years into the 2030s.
Zelenskyy said Russian forces were attacking Ukraine’s energy infrastructure daily and called for an interim supply of interceptors.
Zelenskyy said US and European allies had Patriot interceptors they could provide now and replenish later.
Canada, Germany and Norway are contributing to the purchase, alongside Ukrainian funds supported by an EU loan.
Lockheed Martin is the principal contractor for the sale.
Ukrainian officials reported that Russian strikes killed at least 14 people in Dnipro and others in two provincial cities and Kyiv on Thursday.
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The paper review highlights stories on an alleged $6 billion theft from Binance, UK plans to reduce payments for turning off wind turbines, and calls for welfare reform. Other front-page reports cover allegations against Thomas Markle, a possible UK apology for its role in the transatlantic slave trade, and public support for rejoining the EU.
Key Facts
The Financial Times Weekend reports that hackers from North Korea targeted Binance in what it calls a $6 billion theft.
The Times says Chancellor John Healey is seeking to reduce the cost of switching off wind turbines when the electricity grid cannot use their power.
The Guardian reports that Andy Burnham is open to calls for a formal state apology for Britain's role in the transatlantic slave trade and has offered formal talks.
The Daily Telegraph reports that Labour MPs want welfare reform and that Burnham could lose support in some constituencies if he does not consider benefit cuts.
The Daily Mail and The Sun report allegations that child abuse images were found in a storage unit rented by Thomas Markle in Mexico; Markle denies the allegations.
The Daily Express reports on increased mental health support for cancer patients following a campaign by the paper.
The i Paper reports polling showing growing enthusiasm in Britain for rejoining the European Union.
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People in Sweden, the United States and Japan describe preparing household emergency supplies in response to government advice, severe weather and past disruptions. Their kits range from basic food, water and radios to supplies for longer outages, and several people review or replace items regularly.
Key Facts
Sweden sent a preparedness booklet to every household, outlining what to stock and how to act in a crisis or war.
Andreas Wennerberg, who lives in Stockholm, keeps a crank radio, 10 litres of water and about €200 in cash.
Maryland resident Dan C says he has spent about $6,000 on emergency supplies since becoming a parent.
Dan keeps about three months of food for his family of four and rotates long-life pantry items so they do not expire unused.
Dan’s supplies include water, water-purification tablets, solar panels, a camping stove and medical kits.
Japan’s Tokyo government publishes a 68-page disaster-prevention guide for emergencies.
Tokyo resident Ayumi T keeps an emergency rucksack with clothing, towels, menstrual products, masks and a portable toilet.
Ayumi and her family check their emergency kits each New Year and replace expired food as needed.
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Delegates from nearly 200 countries agreed on key parts of a new nature action plan at talks in Yerevan, after negotiations ran past their scheduled end. Countries acknowledged they are falling behind on the 2022 global biodiversity targets, and funding remains a major obstacle to speeding up conservation efforts.
Key Facts
The 2022 Global Biodiversity Framework set 24 targets, including protecting 30% of the world’s land and seas by 2030.
The UN says the world is on track to meet only one of the 24 targets.
Scientists say human activity is driving species extinctions at 100 times the natural rate.
Countries have placed 252 million hectares of degraded land under protection, an area larger than Greenland.
The 2022 agreement included a goal of spending $30 billion on nature recovery by 2030 and mobilising another $170 billion from private sources.
More than $1 billion was pledged at the Yerevan meeting; half came from philanthropists, including Leonardo DiCaprio’s Re:wild organisation.
Delegates discussed cutting subsidies for industries that harm nature, including large-scale fishing.
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Three armed, masked men broke into a Toronto home early Thursday and attacked the family of real estate CEO David Morton, police said. Morton and his two adult daughters suffered gunshot wounds and remained hospitalized Friday; Morton said all four family members were also struck with a hammer. Police are searching for the suspects, who fled in an SUV.
Key Facts
The suspects entered the five-bedroom home in Toronto’s Bridle Path neighborhood through a back entrance at about 3:40 a.m. local time.
Police said the suspects went to the second floor and demanded valuables from the family.
David Morton, 75, and his daughters, ages 28 and 26, were shot while trying to fight off the intruders.
Morton said his wife, Doriana, 64, and the other family members were attacked with a hammer.
Morton and his daughters were still hospitalized Friday; he did not give details about their conditions.
Police said the three male suspects are believed to be in their 20s and wore dark clothing.
Toronto police reported 119 home invasions so far in 2026, 32.2% more than by the same point last year.
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Qatari mediators held more than 12 hours of talks in Tehran on Friday to seek steps that would restart direct U.S.-Iran negotiations. The talks are set to continue in Doha, while U.S. officials and regional leaders weigh diplomacy against the possibility of further military action.
Key Facts
Qatari mediators remained in contact with the White House during Friday’s discussions, according to a diplomatic source.
Qatar is proposing reciprocal steps to bring the U.S. and Iran back to talks on Iran’s nuclear program and other issues.
The Trump administration wants Iran to make nuclear concessions before talks resume; Iran has called for the U.S. to lift its naval blockade, release frozen funds and allow oil sales.
Qatar is urging Iran to allow U.N. inspectors to visit bombed nuclear sites, potentially in exchange for some sanctions relief.
The article describes differing views within Trump’s circle: Pete Hegseth and Marco Rubio are skeptical of a deal, while Vice President Vance and envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner favor renewed negotiations.
Regional countries, including Egypt, Turkey, Iraq, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, have urged Iran to resume negotiations before the U.S. midterms.
A White House official said the midterm results would not affect Trump’s decision-making on Iran; Saudi and Turkish leaders have also urged him to give diplomacy more time.
The article says a renewed conflict could damage energy infrastructure across the region and worsen the global energy crisis.
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The State Department approved a possible $2.1 billion sale of 500 Patriot interceptor missiles to Ukraine. The purchase would be funded entirely by U.S. partners and allies.
Key Facts
The State Department announced the approval on Friday.
The proposed sale includes 500 Patriot interceptor missiles.
The possible sale is valued at $2.1 billion.
U.S. partners and allies would provide all the funding.
The approval allows the sale to proceed as a possibility; it does not confirm that the missiles have been delivered.
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France is preparing for another weekend of Yellow Vest protests, with 70,000 police and security personnel deployed after recent riots and looting. In Israel, an inconclusive election left Benjamin Netanyahu and Gadi Eisenkot without the seats needed for a parliamentary majority. The program also covers Donald Trump and Barack Obama trading remarks during the final days of the U.S. midterm campaign.
Key Facts
French Yellow Vest protesters plan rallies under the slogan “Act III – Halloween.”
France is deploying 70,000 police and security personnel for the protests.
The French government faces public grievances and mounting debt as it tries to restore order ahead of elections.
Neither Benjamin Netanyahu nor rival Gadi Eisenkot secured the 61 seats needed for an Israeli parliamentary majority.
Arab parties made gains in Israel’s election and could hold the balance of power.
Netanyahu challenged the legitimacy of the Arab parties’ result, while Eisenkot called for a Zionist government.
Donald Trump and Barack Obama traded barbs in public during the final days of the U.S. midterm campaign.
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U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio canceled the G20 foreign ministers’ traditional group photo in Atlanta after several countries, including Australia and the UK, said they would not appear alongside Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Ministers condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and faced disagreements over Ukraine, Poland’s bid to join the G20 and South Africa’s absence from the meetings.
Key Facts
Several European officials, the UK and Australia said they would boycott or leave a photo with Lavrov.
Rubio opened the meeting by saying countries faced interconnected economic and geopolitical crises.
Australia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine during the opening session.
Australia said it supported the decision to cancel the photo and would not normalize Russia’s invasion.
Russia opposed Poland’s membership in the G20, while Poland attended the meeting as a guest and sought membership with U.S. support.
Ukraine was not invited to this year’s meeting; U.S. officials said they chose to invite only formal G20 members.
South Africa, a G20 founding member and its only African member, was not invited to the meeting.
Participants said disagreements could prevent the foreign ministers from issuing a joint statement when the meeting ends.
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President Donald Trump said Friday that the U.S. war against Iran would end “soon.” The article says he is considering authorizing military strikes on Iran after the November midterm elections.
Key Facts
Trump made the statement on Friday.
Trump said the U.S. war against Iran would end “soon.”
The article describes the conflict as a U.S. war against Iran.
Trump is considering authorizing military strikes on Iran.
The potential strikes would come after the November midterm elections.
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Germany and France are preparing for protests over the Halloween weekend, with large police deployments and steps to protect businesses. Demonstrators have raised concerns including the cost of living, school conditions and young people’s prospects, while French officials warn of a high risk of disorder.
Key Facts
About 150,000 people have registered for Saturday protests in around 30 German cities, including Berlin, Frankfurt and Cologne.
German police plan to deploy thousands of additional officers, and some shops have boarded up their windows.
The German protests are led by a group called “GenZ regelt!” and focus on the cost of living, school conditions, spending cuts and political decisions affecting young people.
France is deploying 70,000 police officers nationwide for another weekend of possible protests.
More than 40 Paris metro stations will close, and authorities have said face-covering masks will not be allowed at demonstrations.
French cities have seen protests for three consecutive weekends, including looting, riots and clashes with police.
France’s interior minister warned of a “very high risk” of disorder over the weekend.
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High pressure is expected to bring much of the UK a calm, largely dry spell lasting up to 10 days after storms Austen and Boelo. Fog may slow travel during mornings, and forecasters say wetter, windier weather could return around mid-November.
Key Facts
The Environment Agency said England had its wettest week in two years after Storms Austen and Boelo and another low-pressure system brought rain.
High pressure is expected to remain over or near the UK for at least 10 days.
Most areas are forecast to have light winds and little rain during the settled spell.
Dense morning fog could clear slowly and reduce visibility, causing travel disruption.
A few showers could affect Scotland’s Western Isles on Halloween evening.
Temperatures are expected to edge lower, especially overnight and in the early morning.
Forecasters say Atlantic low-pressure systems may bring wetter and windier conditions from around mid-November.
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After her fiancé experienced a medical emergency and their relationship ended, Bridget Devaney invited women she had never met to Northern Ireland to mark the wedding that did not happen. Eleven strangers from the United States, Canada and Wales joined her for a trip that the participants described as a source of friendship and connection.
Key Facts
Devaney’s planned elopement was postponed after her fiancé had a medical emergency.
After the couple separated, Devaney decided to organize a trip instead of holding the postponed wedding.
A friend suggested that Devaney invite women to join a female-only group trip through an anonymous social media profile.
Devaney received hundreds of inquiries about the invitation.
Eleven women from the United States, Canada and Wales travelled to Northern Ireland.
Participants Janae Pettit and Shana Johnson said they joined for personal reasons that included travel, friendship and supporting Devaney.
The group is planning a reunion.
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Australia’s Administrative Review Tribunal ruled that unclassified parts of a late-November hearing about records linked to alleged Australian spying on Timor-Leste must be open to the public. Rex Patrick is seeking 2004 cabinet documents, while the government and its intelligence agency will neither confirm nor deny whether the spying occurred or whether related records exist.
Key Facts
The alleged bugging took place in 2004, before negotiations over control of oil and gas resources in the Timor Sea.
The negotiations covered the Greater Sunrise gasfields, whose resources are estimated to be worth more than $50 billion.
Patrick requested 2004 cabinet documents held by the National Archives of Australia.
The government and the Australian Secret Intelligence Service say confirming or denying whether records exist could harm national security and Australia’s relations with other countries.
The Commonwealth argued that even unclassified parts of the hearing should be closed to prevent officials from accidentally revealing sensitive information.
The tribunal ruled that unclassified sections of the three-day hearing in late November must take place in public.
Parts of the hearing will remain closed so participants can discuss top-secret information.
An Australian intelligence official and a Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade deputy secretary are expected to testify at the hearing.
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