Polls opened in Israel on Tuesday, October 27, in a national election widely viewed as a referendum on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s policies. After the vote, a key question is whether the divided opposition, which includes an Arab-Israeli majority bloc, can unite to form a government.
Key Facts
Polls opened in Israel on Tuesday, October 27, 2026.
The election is a national vote.
The vote is viewed as a referendum on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s policies.
FRANCE 24 reporter Noga Tarnopolsky reported from Jerusalem.
The opposition is described as divided.
The opposition includes an Arab-Israeli majority bloc.
A key post-election question is whether opposition groups can join together to form a government.
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A Spotlight on Corruption investigation found that UK officials involved in developing AI datacentre policy met 137 businesses from July 2024 to June 2026, but no environmental groups and only two community groups. The investigation also identified 38 ministers, senior civil servants and advisers who left government for jobs at AI companies between July 2024 and September 2026.
Key Facts
Spotlight on Corruption filed 40 freedom of information requests to 18 government agencies.
The meetings concerned the government’s AI growth zones and datacentre policy.
Nine of the 38 people who left government had worked at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.
The AI growth zone policy aimed to support large datacentre projects across five UK regions.
The article reports growing local opposition to planned datacentres, including campaigns in Scotland and east London.
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Retreating glaciers in Italy’s Dolomites exposed World War I munitions, which the Italian army says it recovered and defused. Experts say the ice loss is linked to global heating and warn that newly exposed explosives can be dangerous to hikers and climbers.
Key Facts
The Italian army’s Julia Alpine brigade recovered and neutralised 250 explosives in the Trentino-Alto Adige region.
The munitions included 18 Italian 75mm artillery shells and 37 French-made Thevetot mortar shells.
Hikers reported several sightings during the summer, mostly near Canal San Bovo in the Primiero Valley.
The weapons date to the White War, fought between Austro-Hungarian and Italian forces from 1915 to 1918.
A University of Bergamo professor said dangerous relics emerge from the ice at the end of each summer, with more found in recent years.
Authorities advise hikers not to touch suspected explosive devices and to report discoveries to police.
A White War museum is scheduled to open in Bormio in June 2027.
Eleven people died when part of the Marmolada glacier broke off in 2022.
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James Daniel says he has faced anti-social behaviour from successive neighbours for seven years despite reporting it to agencies and sharing evidence. Housing Ombudsman data show it upheld 609 complaints about social landlords’ handling of anti-social behaviour in 2025–26, up from 159 in 2021–22.
Key Facts
Daniel said he reported incidents to police and housing provider North Devon Homes and gave them video evidence.
The footage he shared with the BBC showed knives being thrown from a window, an argument outside his home, and a neighbour appearing to make gun gestures at a camera.
North Devon Homes said it takes reports seriously and works with residents and partner agencies to investigate concerns and provide support.
The Housing Ombudsman upheld 159 complaints about landlords’ handling of anti-social behaviour in 2021–22 and 609 in 2025–26.
The Ombudsman cited poor communication, poor record keeping, and failures to use tools such as risk assessments and action plans as common failings.
The Ombudsman can require a landlord to take action, apologize, or pay compensation when it finds a failure.
Daniel has referred his case to the Housing Ombudsman and is awaiting a decision.
Devon and Cornwall Police has increased its use of closure orders on residential properties to address anti-social behaviour.
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The United States, the European Union and 30 countries warned that food security in Sudan is worsening and called for urgent steps to prevent famine. They urged the army and the Rapid Support Forces to allow humanitarian aid, protect aid workers and avoid attacks on civilian infrastructure.
Key Facts
The joint statement was released by the U.S. State Department on Monday.
The signatories called on the parties fighting Sudan’s civil war to remove barriers to humanitarian assistance.
Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces have fought since clashes began in April 2023.
The war has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced more than 13 million, according to the article.
In June, the U.N.-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification said 5.1 million people in Sudan faced severe hunger.
The statement warned that without immediate action, the number of children suffering severe acute malnutrition could exceed 825,000.
The signatories called for aid access across front lines and borders, including air access to Darfur.
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At least 60 Orthodox Christians were killed in two attacks on October 20 and 24 in Ethiopia’s Oromia region, according to the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. The church said more than 20 people were seriously injured and 20 homes were burned; no group has claimed responsibility.
Key Facts
Fourteen people were killed in Gora Silingo, in Merti district, on October 20.
Forty-six people were killed in Tereta, Chole and Birbo villages, in Shirka district, on October 24.
Both districts are in the Arsi Zone of central Oromia.
The church called for stronger civilian protection and for those responsible to be brought to justice.
Oromia’s regional government pledged to pursue those responsible.
A local official reportedly accused a rebel alliance that includes the Oromo Liberation Army, but there was no immediate claim of responsibility; the OLA has previously denied attacking civilians.
The Ethiopian Human Rights Council reported that at least 432 civilians and four local militia members were killed in targeted attacks across East Arsi between 2021–22 and June 1 of this year.
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Australian Bureau of Statistics data recorded 188,421 deaths in 2025. Dementia caused 19,019 deaths, more than 10% of the total, while asthma deaths reached their highest level in a decade.
Key Facts
Dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, was the leading cause of death in Australia for the second year in a row.
Ischaemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, lung cancer and chronic respiratory disease were also among the leading causes of death in 2025.
An estimated 446,500 Australians live with dementia, and 1.7 million people are involved in their care.
Asthma caused 484 deaths in 2025, compared with 478 in 2024; women accounted for almost two-thirds of asthma deaths.
Drug-induced deaths rose to 2,063 in 2025 from 2,007 in 2024, with opioids and benzodiazepines the most common drug classes involved.
The ABS reported substantial growth in deaths after stimulant use, including methamphetamine.
Suicide was the leading cause of premature death for males and females; men accounted for almost three-quarters of these deaths.
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Caitlin Andrew, a Glasgow-based student from Midlothian, took up birdwatching at age 24 during a period of poor mental health. She says watching and listening to birds brought her calm and helped her feel more connected to her surroundings. RSPB research cited in the article estimates that the number of birdwatchers aged 16 to 29 in Britain rose from 61,000 in 2018 to 724,000 today.
Key Facts
Andrew first became interested in birdwatching during a family holiday on Islay about three years ago.
Islay is known for its wild birds, with more than 120 species to spot during spring and autumn migrations.
Andrew says birdwatching helped her feel peaceful and more connected to the environment.
Andrew met young women birdwatchers through an Inverness chapter of the Feminist Bird Club, founded in New York in 2016.
RSPB research estimates that Britain has more than four million birdwatchers, up from 2.7 million eight years ago.
The RSPB study estimates that the number of birdwatchers aged 16 to 29 rose from 61,000 in 2018 to 724,000 today.
Andrew's favourite birds include crested tits in the Cairngorms and gannets.
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Israeli forces imposed a lockdown and carried out raids and demolitions in the Hebron area after two Palestinian gunmen killed two Israeli soldiers and wounded three at a checkpoint. Residents and local sources reported thousands displaced, hundreds of homes searched and many arrests, while restrictions and sieges also affected other West Bank communities.
Key Facts
The shooting took place at a checkpoint on Hebron’s northern entrance on Friday; the two gunmen were killed afterward.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered Hebron isolated and said troops would search homes in the gunmen’s neighbourhood.
Hebron Municipality data cited by Wafa said at least 3,171 Palestinians from 488 families had been displaced by Monday.
Hebron Governor Khaled Dudin said forces searched more than 500 homes, arrested more than 70 people and closed 128 gates and 120 checkpoints.
The Palestinian Prisoner’s Society said those displaced included 127 infants, 81 pregnant women and 26 people with disabilities.
The article reported demolitions of a three-apartment building and several businesses in Farsh al-Hawa.
Residents described continuing restrictions and sieges in communities including Wadi al-Rakheem, Umm Safa and Madama.
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About 30 fans attended a midnight launch at The Secret Bookshelf in Carrickfergus, County Antrim, for Sarah J. Maas’s sixth A Court of Thorns and Roses book, A Court of Splintered Harmony. The event included crafts and fan discussions, while attendees described reading fantasy as a way to escape everyday pressures.
Key Facts
A Court of Splintered Harmony was released at midnight on Tuesday after a five-year wait.
The launch took place at The Secret Bookshelf, an independent bookshop in Carrickfergus.
About 30 fans attended despite torrential rain and high winds.
Activities included felting, friendship bracelet making and a dedicated area for fan discussions.
A Court of Thorns and Roses is a fantasy romance series set in the fictional world of Prythian.
The series’ first book was published in 2015, and the fifth book, A Court of Silver Flames, was published in 2021.
The article says the seventh book, A Court of Forgotten Melody, is due for release on 12 January 2027.
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The article says Palestinian citizens of Israel face a choice in the October 27 election between voting despite limited prospects for change and questioning whether participation can improve their situation. It describes threats to their rights, rising violence and land pressure, and argues that neither the governing right nor the anti-Netanyahu bloc appears likely to reverse these trends.
Key Facts
Palestinian citizens make up about 20 percent of Israel’s population and have the right to vote.
The article says Palestinian communities face discrimination, underfunded services, and political and economic marginalisation.
It reports that violence linked to organised crime has claimed hundreds of lives in Palestinian communities, while law enforcement has largely ignored the problem.
The article says organised crime groups have obtained advanced weapons reportedly stolen from Israeli army stockpiles or smuggled across borders.
It describes expanding settlements and land seizures near Palestinian communities, including in mixed cities since 2021.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich proposed adding one million Jewish residents to the Naqab and northern Israel, creating 40 settlements and dozens of farms, and expanding housing.
The article says the anti-Netanyahu bloc offers little prospect of reversing policies affecting Palestinian citizens.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has advocated a National Guard, whose possible role in policing Palestinian towns and villages is a source of concern.
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Palestinian citizens of Israel in Majd al-Krum protested after settlers from the occupied West Bank began building an outpost on village land. The Jewish National Fund ordered the tents removed after nearly a week of demonstrations, but residents fear the attempt could signal future efforts to expand Jewish settlements in the Galilee.
Key Facts
Settlers began building an outpost on a pine-covered hill above Majd al-Krum in early September.
The settlers said they had a Jewish National Fund permit to graze livestock, but villagers said no livestock was present.
The encampment grew to about 25 to 30 people and included a kitchen, toilet, water line and electricity, according to villagers.
Palestinians from Majd al-Krum and nearby communities held daily protests, with hundreds attending.
The Jewish National Fund ordered the tents removed, and the site was cleared by September 16.
Residents said local committees and political parties helped keep young protesters from confronting Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich when he campaigned in Majd al-Krum.
Smotrich campaigned on a promise to “Judaise” the Galilee and said he would repeat there a policy he pursued in the occupied West Bank.
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Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese conceded that he was wrong to tell Parliament a A$6 million grant to Marrickville Golf Club would fund work to stop raw sewage entering the Cooks River. Officials said sewerage work was not part of the federal grant, which is under scrutiny as part of a A$560 million grants scheme.
Key Facts
The grant went to Marrickville Golf Club in Albanese’s Sydney electorate.
Infrastructure department assistant secretary Jacinta McDonald told a Senate hearing that sewerage was not part of the grant.
Albanese had previously told Parliament that the funding would help stop raw sewage entering the Cooks River during floods.
Albanese acknowledged that his statement about the grant funding sewerage work was incorrect.
He said the project could include clubhouse improvements, stormwater harvesting, a new toilet and landscaping.
Albanese said the New South Wales government had committed to addressing sewerage infrastructure at the club.
Transparency advocates have questioned the A$560 million invitation-only grants scheme, saying it largely funded projects promised at the 2025 election in Labor-held seats.
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The UK government has proposed making Land Registry ownership information free to access, saying greater transparency could help public bodies plan homes, infrastructure and environmental projects. The eight-week public consultation has drawn support from campaigners and concerns from landowners about privacy and security.
Key Facts
The government opened an eight-week public consultation on its plans on Tuesday.
Public sector bodies, including government departments and local authorities, would get free access to Land Registry information.
A proposed free public dataset would identify owners of significant land holdings across most of England and Wales, but exclude ordinary homeowners.
Investigators, civil society groups and regulators could access more sensitive information if they show a clear public interest.
The government says at least 10% of land ownership is currently unknown.
Campaigners say easier access could help councils find land for homes, schools, hospitals, transport, water infrastructure and nature protection.
The Country Land and Business Association warned that publishing more personal information could expose families to fraud and identity theft.
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Supporters of Serbia’s Student List and municipal workers cleaned Pioneers Park in Belgrade after the movement won the parliamentary elections. The park had been occupied by a pro-government camp, and the article says the camp’s barriers were removed after Aleksandar Vučić acknowledged his party’s defeat. The Student List has no formal leader and has campaigned on anti-corruption measures and reforms in several public services.
Key Facts
The Student List defeated the governing Serbian Progressive Party in the parliamentary elections, according to the article.
Aleksandar Vučić told supporters that his party had suffered a comprehensive defeat and said he did not want unrest.
A pro-government camp called Ćaciland had occupied Pioneers Park, opposite Serbia’s national assembly building.
Police stood by during reported violence by people at the camp, according to the article.
After the election, riot police stood aside and barriers around the park were removed.
Hundreds of volunteers joined municipal workers to take down tents, remove rubbish and clean playground equipment.
The Student List has no formal hierarchy or leader; student assemblies selected its candidates.
Its 11-point plan includes anti-corruption measures, judicial reform, media freedom, affordable housing and improved healthcare access.
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A nearly one-kilometre stretch of London’s Oxford Street has been closed to traffic and opened to pedestrians ahead of the Christmas shopping season. Shoppers interviewed welcomed the extra space, while a kiosk owner said it was too early to know how the change would affect his business; a larger £150 million redesign is due to begin in spring 2027.
Key Facts
The pedestrianised section lies west of Oxford Circus.
The closure excludes buses, bicycles, taxis, e-scooters, pedicabs and private cars from the section.
Shoppers said the extra walking space made the street more pleasant and encouraged them to visit.
Some visitors and the mayor acknowledged that traffic changes could make nearby streets busier or journeys less convenient.
Kiosk owner Abbas Shigival said the morning seemed busier than usual but that the effect on his business remained uncertain.
The planned £150 million redesign includes trees, seating and level plazas for events.
The larger transformation is scheduled to begin in spring 2027, with permanent plans dependent on feedback and testing.
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King Charles is set to visit the Bahamas, Guyana, and Antigua and Barbuda before attending the Commonwealth heads of government meeting. Campaigners say the tour could affect the monarchy’s standing in the Caribbean as they press for an apology and reparations for Britain’s role in the transatlantic slave trade; the British government has ruled out both a formal apology and reparations payments.
Key Facts
The nine-day tour is scheduled to begin on Tuesday.
Charles is expected to give three speeches during the trip.
The king will follow government advice not to issue a formal apology for Britain’s role in the slave trade.
Campaigners expect protests and renewed demands for an apology and reparations.
A UN resolution proposed by Ghana declared the transatlantic slave trade the gravest crime against humanity and called for reparatory justice.
Jamaica has filed a slavery reparations petition to the king, which is due to be heard by the UK Privy Council next March.
Campaigners have proposed a national truth and reconciliation commission to examine Britain’s role in slavery.
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Pakistan has strengthened ties with the Trump administration after years of strained relations, including through cooperation on security and a role in US-Iran diplomacy. The article says Pakistan would prefer Republicans to retain control of Congress in the November 3 midterm elections, as they are expected to lose seats in both chambers.
Key Facts
Trump thanked Pakistan in March 2025 for helping arrest a suspect in the 2021 Abbey Gate bombing at Kabul airport.
India and Pakistan fought a four-day war in May after an attack killed 26 tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir.
Trump said he helped secure the May 10 ceasefire; India says the fighting ended through bilateral talks.
Pakistan’s leaders have visited the White House, and the United States has cut tariffs on Pakistani exports.
Pakistan has mediated between Washington and Tehran during their ongoing war.
Trump hosted Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, for lunch at the White House and called him his “favourite field marshal.”
Pakistan nominated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize.
The article says Republicans are expected to lose critical seats in the House and Senate in the November 3 midterm elections.
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Israelis are voting in a closely contested election, with polls placing incumbent Benjamin Netanyahu near neck and neck with Gadi Eisenkot. Neither political bloc is projected to win the 61 seats needed for a majority, so forming a government may require extended coalition talks.
Key Facts
Eisenkot leads the newly formed Yashar Party and is the main figure in the bloc seeking to remove Netanyahu from power.
Netanyahu is seeking to return to office through an alliance with far-right and ultra-Orthodox parties in his current coalition.
The opposition has criticized Netanyahu over the security failure before the Hamas-led attacks on 7 October, which killed nearly 1,200 people and saw 251 people taken to Gaza as hostages.
Opposition leaders have called for an independent inquiry into the attacks; Netanyahu has opposed that proposal, saying the inquiry would be biased against him.
Netanyahu faces a corruption trial, whose charges he denies, and is pursuing proposed judicial reforms that previously prompted mass protests.
About 70,000 Israelis reportedly returned from abroad to vote, and about half a million people are voting for the first time.
Israel has two Arab party blocs; most leading Jewish parties have ruled out working with them.
Israeli broadcasters are scheduled to publish exit polls at 22:00 local time on Tuesday, though the article notes that exit polls can vary from final results.
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A 16-year-old boy was found guilty of attempted murder after stabbing a 15-year-old pupil at Thorpe St Andrew School near Norwich on 11 March. His father said he believes extreme online material influenced his son, while acknowledging he had not known about the boy’s searches or plans before the attack.
Key Facts
The boy wore black clothing and a face mask and used a kitchen knife in the attack.
The victim spent one night in hospital and was not seriously injured.
Police found the boy had searched online for information about mass shootings and serial killers, including the night before the attack.
Police also found notes at the family home that described plans for a wider attack.
The boy’s father said parental controls on his devices mainly limited screen time.
The father apologized to the victim and her family and called for tighter controls on online material.
The government cited its Prevent scheme and the Online Safety Act in response to concerns about online radicalisation.
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