Karl Bushby, 57, is nearing Hull after walking for 28 years from Punta Arenas, Chile, as part of a journey spanning about 36,000 miles and four continents. He says he is unsure how he will adjust when the mission ends; his family plans to meet him in Hull, where his mother is waiting at his childhood home.
Key Facts
Bushby set off from Punta Arenas in 1998, aged 29, aiming to reach his home city of Hull on foot.
He set two rules for the journey: not to return to the UK before completing it and not to use transport to advance.
His route included crossing the Darién Gap and the frozen Bering Strait.
Bushby swam the English Channel to Dover a few weeks before the report, then continued toward Hull on foot.
He uses a heavy-duty handcart called The Beast to carry supplies; it got a puncture during the reported walk in Lincolnshire.
His son Adam, granddaughter, father and brothers are expected to meet him at the end of the journey.
Bushby says he expects to face an identity and purpose change after the journey ends.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Brazil summoned Argentina’s chargé d’affaires, Maria Emilia Cortes, for questions about Flavio Bolsonaro’s departure from Brazil through Argentina to the United States. The move comes amid tensions between Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Argentine President Javier Milei after Bolsonaro lost Brazil’s presidential election and left while facing legal scrutiny.
Key Facts
Brazil’s Foreign Ministry called in Cortes on Thursday, according to sources cited by Reuters.
Argentine Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno said his government had received no formal request for explanations.
Flavio Bolsonaro travelled with his family from Brazil through northern Argentina and Ecuador before arriving in Miami on Wednesday.
Brazilian officials had ordered Bolsonaro to remain in the country and surrender his passports after the election, as part of an ongoing legal case.
Investigators are examining an alleged multimillion-dollar payment from former Banco Master head Daniel Vorcaro to Bolsonaro for a film about his father.
Bolsonaro denies wrongdoing and has called the case politically motivated.
Lula won the election with 51.8 percent of the vote; Bolsonaro has refused to concede, while his Liberal Party has acknowledged Lula’s victory.
Bolsonaro thanked Milei for assistance with his journey but did not describe what help he received.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Some UK MPs and opposition parties are discussing the possibility of an early general election after Chancellor John Healey’s Budget, which included temporary help with energy bills and a housing scheme for young buyers. Prime Minister Andy Burnham has ruled out an election in the next 12 months, and the article says the weak economic outlook and the political cost of reversing that promise weigh against an early vote.
Key Facts
The next general election must be held by August 2029.
Healey’s Budget included £100 toward energy bills for many households and extended VAT cuts on electricity bills.
The Budget also included the Your First Home scheme to help young people buy a home.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch questioned why some of the Budget’s voter-friendly measures would end in the summer.
The Liberal Democrats said there was a 30% chance of an election on 10 December and put the party on a snap-election footing.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said he thought an election could take place in May.
Burnham explicitly ruled out an election in the next 12 months, but some Labour MPs have reportedly told staff to prepare for one in the first half of next year.
The article cites a weak economic outlook and difficult upcoming decisions on defence, welfare and government spending as reasons an early election may not happen.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The BBC Newscast episode examines the future of the Green Party of England and Wales amid rising membership and debate over the party’s direction. Former co-leader Adrian Ramsay says the party is at a “crossroads” following a motion described in the episode summary as “Zionism is racism.”
Key Facts
The episode was published on 31 October 2026 and runs for 39 minutes.
It focuses on the Green Party of England and Wales.
The programme says the party’s popularity has brought many new members.
Some party members have concerns about the party’s direction.
Former co-leader Adrian Ramsay joins the programme and warns that the party is at a crossroads.
Laura Kuenssberg and Paddy O’Connell present the episode.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Al Jazeera spoke with fans at the final night of Macklemore’s “Free Palestine” tour about why they attended. The tour was organized after Macklemore was dropped from Ed Sheeran’s U.S. concerts following his public support for Palestine.
Key Facts
The concert was the final night of Macklemore’s “Free Palestine” tour.
Al Jazeera interviewed fans attending the concert.
The fans discussed why they came to the event.
The tour was organized after Macklemore was dropped from Ed Sheeran’s U.S. concerts.
The article links Macklemore’s removal from the concerts to his public support for Palestine.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Toronto police are searching for three masked suspects after a family was attacked in a home invasion early Thursday. The four family members who were inside were wounded and remain in hospital.
Key Facts
Police say three masked suspects allegedly forced their way into the home.
The suspects were armed with guns and a hammer.
All four family members inside the home were wounded.
The injured family members remain hospitalized.
The attack happened early Thursday in Toronto.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A Bangkok court sentenced Thai human rights lawyer Arnon Nampa to two years and eight months in prison for violating the country’s lèse-majesté law, which covers perceived insults against the monarchy. The sentence brings the total imposed on him across 14 cases to more than 34 years; two case verdicts are still pending.
Key Facts
Nampa, 42, called for public scrutiny of Thailand’s monarchy at a Harry Potter-themed protest in Bangkok in 2020.
A court issued the latest sentence on Friday, according to the article.
Thailand’s Article 112 sets prison terms of three to 15 years for defaming, insulting or threatening the king, queen, heir-apparent or regent.
The article says 294 people, including 20 under 18, have been prosecuted under the law during the past six years.
Dozens of people charged under the law remain on trial, and many are denied bail, the article reports.
Nampa has been held in Bangkok Remand Prison for three years and has written letters to his children from his cell.
Two verdicts in Nampa’s cases are still pending.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Trump administration approved a proposed sale of 500 Patriot missiles to Ukraine, subject to congressional review. President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that deliveries could take years and urged the United States and European allies to provide missiles from existing stockpiles in the meantime.
Key Facts
The State Department said the sale would improve Ukraine’s air and missile defenses.
Congress must review the proposed sale.
The State Department did not say when the missiles could be delivered.
Zelensky said deliveries might not begin for several years.
Zelensky proposed that allies lend Ukraine missiles from their current stockpiles and replace them later.
Ukraine’s allies would fund the purchase; the United States would not use its own funds.
Ukraine has said its supplies of Patriot interceptor missiles were dwindling.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Polish police entered the grounds of the Constitutional Tribunal in Warsaw after demonstrators gathered to protest the suspension of its head, Bogdan Swieczkowski. The suspension is part of a wider dispute over judges’ appointments and the court’s independence.
Key Facts
Police said they entered the court grounds after objects were thrown at officers.
Police detained three people over what they described as dangerous projectiles.
Swieczkowski was suspended after blocking judges elected by the current parliamentary majority from taking up their duties.
Justice Minister Waldemar Zurek said he had asked for Swieczkowski’s and his deputy’s immunity to be lifted over their conduct.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk said restoring the rule of law was the government’s duty.
President Karol Nawrocki said he was returning to Poland from a trip to Senegal after the suspension was announced.
Nawrocki has refused to swear in three of six judges nominated by parliament.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Hundreds of residents left the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky on Friday during a four-hour humanitarian ceasefire. The ceasefire was brokered by U.S. First Lady Melania Trump; some residents reportedly stayed despite a lack of power and water.
Key Facts
Hundreds of Oleshky residents were evacuated on Friday.
The city is under Russian occupation.
Residents had four hours to leave during the ceasefire.
The ceasefire was brokered by U.S. First Lady Melania Trump.
Some residents stayed in the city.
The area lacked power and water.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Democrats on Capitol Hill had mixed reactions to Israel’s election results. They welcomed high voter turnout and declining support for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, while the shape of the next governing coalition remained uncertain.
Key Facts
The article says Israel held elections this week.
Democrats on Capitol Hill expressed mixed emotions about the results.
Lawmakers welcomed the high voter turnout.
They noted declining support for conservative Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Retired Gen. Gadi Eisenkot, Netanyahu’s leading opponent, could influence the next governing coalition.
The article excerpt does not say what coalition will form.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said a disruption to Starlink may have contributed to civilian deaths during Russian drone attacks. The report examines the effects of the service disruption and the political response in Washington.
Key Facts
Zelenskyy gave his clearest indication yet that the Starlink disruption contributed to civilian deaths.
The report links the disruption to a period when Russian drones hit a Ukrainian city.
Elon Musk said last week that he ordered a slowdown of Starlink service.
The disruption hindered Ukrainian defenses, according to the article.
The disruption prompted bipartisan anger in Washington.
The report was produced by Simon Ostrovsky and Katia Patin.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Donald Trump said the war with Iran would end “soon.” Qatar is pushing for a deal between the United States and Iran, according to the CBS News report.
Key Facts
Trump said the war with Iran would end “soon.”
Qatari mediators are pushing for a U.S.-Iran deal.
The report said the effort comes days before the midterm elections.
CBS News senior national security correspondent Charlie D’Agata discussed the developments.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said he expects negotiations on a deeper Canada-EU partnership to conclude in June. The effort follows trade tensions with President Donald Trump and is part of Canada’s plan to reduce its economic reliance on the United States.
Key Facts
Carney said Canadian Cabinet ministers and European commissioners would meet in March to advance the negotiations.
The proposed partnership would stop short of EU membership and could make Canada the bloc’s first associate member, a status with no precedent in EU treaties.
At a two-day summit in Montreal, Canada and the EU launched an Alliance for the Future to expand economic, technological and security cooperation.
The two sides said they had concluded substantive negotiations on a digital trade agreement.
Canada and the European Investment Bank concluded negotiations on an agreement intended to encourage European investment in Canadian critical minerals.
Canada will take part in a European supercomputing initiative, and the two sides will explore linking their instant-payment systems.
Trump called the associate-member idea “laughable” and threatened tariffs or limits on trade with Europe if he considered it hostile.
Statistics Canada reported that the United States received 71.7 percent of Canadian merchandise exports in 2025, down from 75.9 percent in 2024.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The article reports that actor Sir Patrick Stewart died at age 86 at his Los Angeles home after living with Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia. It recounts his theater career and his best-known roles as Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Charles Xavier in the X-Men films.
Key Facts
Stewart’s representatives said he died at home in Los Angeles, surrounded by family and friends.
The representatives said he had Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia.
Stewart was born in Yorkshire, England, in 1940, and became interested in acting at age 12.
He began his professional acting career in 1959 in a production of Treasure Island.
A television producer noticed Stewart while he was teaching Shakespeare at UCLA and recommended him for Star Trek: The Next Generation.
Stewart played Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation, which ended in 1994.
He played Professor Charles Xavier in the 2000 film X-Men and reprised the role in six more films.
His family asked that memorial contributions go to the Johns Hopkins Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center Fund or the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America Caregiver Resources.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The US approved a proposed $2.1 billion sale of 500 Patriot PAC-3 missiles to Ukraine. European allies and Canada will fund the purchase, with no US funds involved, but the missiles are new builds and are unlikely to arrive quickly.
Key Facts
The US State Department approved the proposed sale of 500 Patriot interceptor missiles to Ukraine.
The missiles are PAC-3 models, designed to intercept incoming threats including ballistic missiles.
The State Department put the sale price at $2.1 billion.
Canada, Germany and Norway will contribute through the JUMPSTART program, alongside funding tied to the European Union’s Ukraine Support Loan.
Lockheed Martin will be the principal contractor.
Ukraine has said it is critically low on Patriot missiles and has been waiting for deliveries.
The article says the order is for newly produced missiles, not existing stock, and gives US production at about 600 missiles per year.
The State Department said the sale would not use US funds.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Three masked suspects entered real estate executive Derek Morton’s home in Toronto’s Bridle Path neighborhood early Thursday, shot Morton and his two daughters, and struck his wife with a hammer. The family members received emergency care, and police are searching for the suspects, whom they believe are men in their 20s.
Key Facts
Toronto police said the suspects entered the home through a rear door at about 03:44 EST on Thursday.
Morton said the attackers were armed with handguns and a hammer and demanded valuables.
Three family members were shot, and all four were attacked with a hammer, according to Morton.
Police said two victims remain in hospital.
Police listed the victims’ ages as 75, 64, 28 and 26 but did not identify them.
Investigators said they believe the family was targeted because they lived in an affluent neighborhood.
Police have not said whether the suspects took anything from the home.
Toronto police said residents should expect increased patrols in the area.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A U.S. Treasury Department report says the Trump administration’s economic pressure campaign is severely damaging Iran’s economy. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called the campaign successful during a Wednesday appearance on CNBC.
Key Facts
The Treasury Department released the report on Friday.
The report says U.S. economic isolation is decimating Iran’s economy.
The Trump administration began the campaign, called Operation Economic Outcast, at the end of August.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent discussed the campaign on CNBC on Wednesday.
Bessent said the effort had been very successful.
The article title reports that Iran’s inflation has reached 90 percent.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Residents left Russian-occupied Oleshky on October 30 during a U.S.-brokered ceasefire. Ukrainian official David Arakhamia said evacuees and a Ukrainian delegation were traveling to Anapa, Russia, then planned to fly to Belarus and return to Ukrainian-controlled territory by bus.
Key Facts
Russia captured Oleshky in 2022, and the town lies near the front line in southern Ukraine.
The article reports months of food and medicine shortages in Oleshky.
Ukrainian and Russian officials visited the town and helped deliver aid and organize departures.
Russia said the operation ended without incidents; its human rights ombudsman said 25 buses and nine ambulances were used.
Neither side disclosed how many people left Oleshky.
The ceasefire was due to end on Sunday evening, October 31, according to the article.
Oleshky's population fell from about 24,000 before the war to about 2,000.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Switzerland’s Federal Supreme Court upheld Alieu Kosiah’s 20-year prison sentence for war crimes committed during Liberia’s first civil war, but overturned his conviction for crimes against humanity. The court said Swiss law did not recognize that offense until 2011, so it could not apply to acts from 1993 to 1995.
Key Facts
Kosiah, a former Liberian rebel commander, was convicted in 2021 of war crimes committed between 1993 and 1995.
The court upheld the maximum 20-year prison sentence for violations of the laws of war.
It acquitted Kosiah of crimes against humanity under the principle that criminal laws cannot apply retroactively.
Switzerland introduced the crime of crimes against humanity into its law in 2011.
The 2021 court ruling found that Kosiah ordered or took part in killing 17 civilians and two unarmed soldiers.
The court also found him guilty of crimes including rape, deploying a child soldier, looting and mistreating civilians.
Kosiah settled in Switzerland in the late 1990s and was arrested in 2014.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
