Consultant doctors in England plan a two-day strike starting on 25 November over pay and pensions. They will provide emergency cover only, after talks between the British Medical Association and the government failed to prevent the walkout.
Key Facts
The strike is scheduled to begin at 06:59 GMT on 25 November and last two days.
Consultants will provide emergency cover during the strike.
In a ballot earlier this year, 76% of participating consultants voted for strike action; turnout was just above the 50% threshold.
Consultants received a 3.5% pay increase this year.
The BMA says consultants’ pay has fallen by a quarter over 17 years after accounting for inflation.
Basic consultant pay ranges from £113,500 to £150,500, while the government says average total pay exceeds £150,000.
Health Secretary Yvette Cooper called the announced strike dates disappointing and said action would put more pressure on the health service.
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Japanese prosecutors indicted U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Devin Jacob Ballard on murder and robbery charges in the killing of 39-year-old Anna Yagi in Naha, Okinawa. The case has renewed debate over U.S. military conduct and the concentration of American forces on the island, while Japanese and U.S. officials review rules for troops’ off-duty activities.
Key Facts
A court spokesman said prosecutors filed the indictment on October 25.
Police arrested Ballard, 20, who is stationed at Futenma Air Station, after Yagi was found killed at a Naha hotel.
The indictment alleges Ballard strangled Yagi with a telephone cord on October 3 and stole her backpack and belongings.
Reports citing investigative sources said Ballard initially denied the allegations but later made statements implying involvement.
Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said Japan and the United States would review rules for U.S. troops’ off-base conduct, including patrols and curfews.
The U.S. military imposed a two-day operational pause after Ballard’s arrest, followed by a month-long curfew.
Okinawa hosts about 70% of U.S. military facilities in Japan and most of the roughly 54,000 U.S. troops stationed there.
Prefectural police said arrests involving U.S. service members and their family members exceeded 100 last year.
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Senior doctors in England plan a two-day strike in November, the British Medical Association said. The action is scheduled to start at 6:59 a.m. on 25 November, with emergency cover only.
Key Facts
The striking doctors are consultants.
The British Medical Association announced the planned action.
The strike is scheduled to begin at 6:59 a.m. on 25 November.
The action is planned to last two days.
Only emergency cover will be provided during the strike.
More than three-quarters of consultants who took part in the BMA ballot voted for strike action.
Consultants received a 3.5% pay increase this year.
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A 93-year-old woman in Japan suspected a caller who claimed to be a police officer and said her bank account had an unauthorized withdrawal. She consulted her son and police, then pretended to cooperate; officers arrested a 47-year-old man when he arrived at her home to collect her ATM card.
Key Facts
The woman lives in the Shiga region of western Japan.
The caller contacted her from Wednesday through Thursday last week and falsely claimed to be a police officer.
The caller said someone would visit to collect her ATM card for an account check.
The woman alerted her son and police before the visitor arrived.
Police officers were waiting at her home and arrested the 47-year-old man at the door.
Fraudsters stole about 325.7 billion yen, or $2 billion, from victims in Japan last year.
A local police official urged elderly residents who suspect fraud to consult family members.
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The article says thousands welcomed opposition leader Maria Corina Machado in Caracas after she returned to Venezuela from 10 months in exile. It claims she left last December, shortly before the United States abducted President Nicolas Maduro and backed his deputy, Delcy Rodriguez, as leader.
Key Facts
Thousands reportedly lined the streets of Caracas to greet Machado.
Machado returned to Venezuela after 10 months in exile, according to the article.
The article says Machado fled Venezuela last December.
The article claims the United States abducted President Nicolas Maduro.
The article says the United States backed Maduro's deputy, Delcy Rodriguez, as leader.
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Algeria’s two parliamentary chambers approved sending troops to Niger to protect energy facilities. The deployment would be Algeria’s first military deployment abroad since it sent troops to Egypt during the 1973 Arab-Israeli war, as the two countries expand security and energy cooperation.
Key Facts
Niger faces continuing attacks by armed groups, including near its border with Algeria.
Algeria and Niger share a 960-kilometre desert border and have agreed to cooperate against jihadist violence, cross-border crime and trafficking.
Algeria’s upper house said all 148 members present approved the proposal; the lower house reported approval by an absolute majority.
The countries are working on the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline, a project intended to carry Nigerian natural gas through Niger for export to Europe.
A 2020 constitutional amendment requires approval from two-thirds of Algeria’s parliament for troop deployments outside the country.
Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune said on October 3 that Algeria would protect Niger and referred to joint oil and mining agreements.
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The article argues that India’s rising economic and military influence makes its partnership important to U.S. power as competition with China grows. It describes recent U.S.-India trade and technology ties alongside tensions over tariffs, Russian oil, immigration, trade barriers and Washington’s engagement with Pakistan.
Key Facts
India has a population of nearly 1.5 billion and is forecast to record 6.4 percent GDP growth this year, according to the article.
The article says India has significant military capabilities and follows a policy of strategic autonomy, seeking to preserve its independence in foreign affairs.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Central Asia and India, where he met Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and toured Reliance Industries’ refinery in Jamnagar.
The article reports that U.S.-India trade in goods and services reached a record $239.6 billion in 2025.
The two countries are pursuing technology cooperation through the TRUST initiative, and Google has begun construction of a $15 billion AI hub on India’s eastern coast.
In August 2025, President Donald Trump imposed tariffs of up to 50 percent on Indian goods and criticized India’s purchases of discounted Russian oil.
The article identifies India’s location on Indian Ocean shipping routes and its disputed border with China as factors in its strategic importance to Washington.
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Thousands of Israeli Americans face elections in both the United States and Israel in the coming days. They can vote in U.S. elections by absentee ballot, but Israel requires voters to cast ballots in person, prompting some to travel there.
Key Facts
The article focuses on people who hold citizenship in both the United States and Israel.
Elections in both countries are approaching within days, according to the article.
U.S. citizens can vote absentee.
Israel requires voters to vote in person.
An estimated 67,000 Israelis living abroad are expected to travel back to Israel to vote.
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Drone strikes hit five power stations in Sudan’s army-controlled states of Al-Jazira, Gedaref and White Nile, causing widespread outages, a government official said. The cuts threaten residents’ access to refrigerated medicine and food, as well as farmers’ irrigation, amid a war that has damaged essential services across the country.
Key Facts
The Rapid Support Forces were accused of launching the coordinated drone attack.
Two power stations were hit in Al-Jazira, two in Gedaref and one in White Nile.
A resident in Gedaref said the power outage put his diabetic son’s refrigerated insulin at risk.
Residents also reported concerns about spoiled food and disrupted irrigation pumps.
A UN tally found that drone strikes killed more than 300 people and injured hundreds in the first three weeks of October.
The war between the RSF and Sudanese army began in April 2023.
Aid workers estimate that the conflict has killed more than 200,000 people; at least 8 million children are out of school.
Sudan is facing high inflation, and its currency lost more than 25% of its value in recent weeks.
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Celebrations took place in Belgrade and other Serbian cities late Sunday, October 25, after a student-backed movement defeated Aleksandar Vucic’s party in a snap parliamentary election. The result ended the party’s hold on power, according to the article.
Key Facts
Celebrations erupted in several Serbian cities late Sunday.
People celebrated the defeat of Aleksandar Vucic’s party in a snap election.
A student-backed movement led the election challenge.
The vote was a parliamentary poll.
The video report was issued on October 26, 2026.
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Algeria’s two parliamentary chambers approved a proposal to send troops to neighbouring Niger, a rare step for a country whose military doctrine has traditionally opposed deployments abroad. Officials have not disclosed the force size or deployment date; reports say the troops may protect Algerian energy facilities and support wider security cooperation in the Sahel.
Key Facts
The People’s National Assembly ratified the deployment proposal after the Council of the Nation approved it unanimously.
Algerian authorities have not announced how many troops would be sent or when they would deploy.
Nearly two months earlier, Algeria sent four Su-30 fighter jets, a transport aircraft and a refuelling aircraft to Niamey after authorities said Niger’s military-led government faced an attempt to destabilise it.
Algeria’s ties with Niger have improved, including visits to Algeria by Niger’s President Abdourahamane Tchiani and Defence Minister Salifou Mody.
The Associated Press reported, citing Algerian Senator Belkacem Boulghiti, that the troops are intended to protect Algerian strategic and economic interests, particularly Sonatrach oil facilities in Niger.
A 2020 constitutional revision allows the president to authorise overseas troop deployments if at least two-thirds of each parliamentary chamber supports them.
SIPRI reported that Algeria spent more than $25 billion on its armed forces in 2025, the largest military expenditure in Africa.
Algeria severed diplomatic relations with the United Arab Emirates in September, accusing it of hostile and provocative actions without publicly detailing them.
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Some young adults in China are raising bricks by watering them and waiting for moss to grow, describing the hobby as inexpensive, low effort and emotionally comforting. The trend has drawn millions of views on Weibo, while experts have warned that moss may cause mould and allergy symptoms.
Key Facts
A social media hashtag about raising bricks has received more than 5 million views on Weibo.
Brick owners spray their bricks with water and wait for moss spores in the air to grow.
A brick owner said the hobby gave them a sense of accomplishment similar to completing a long-term project.
Some Chinese commentators connect the hobby to young people seeking low-effort ways to find meaning and companionship.
The article says nearly one in five Chinese people aged 16 to 24 who are not students are unemployed, according to official statistics.
China’s birthrate fell to a record low last year, according to the article.
Experts have cautioned that growing moss can encourage mould and may cause itchy eyes or a runny nose.
Retired moss professor Xuedong Li advised handling mossy bricks with disposable gloves and a mask, preferably in an enclosed environment.
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Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won a fourth term as Brazil’s president in a close runoff against Flávio Bolsonaro on October 25, 2026. His new term begins amid a divided country, an unfriendly Congress, weak public finances and challenges involving U.S. President Donald Trump.
Key Facts
Lula won a fourth presidential term in the October 25 runoff.
His opponent was Flávio Bolsonaro.
The article describes the runoff as tight.
Lula is nearly 81 years old.
Brazil is politically divided.
Congress is described as unfriendly to Lula.
The article identifies weak public finances as a challenge.
The article cites U.S. President Donald Trump as a challenge Lula will face.
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Israeli forces imposed a lockdown and launched an assault in Hebron after two Palestinians attacked a military checkpoint, killing two soldiers and injuring others. More than 2,000 Palestinians have been displaced, while residents and local officials have organized emergency help and opened homes to families who fled.
Key Facts
Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said he ordered the demolition of a three-story building and industrial facilities in Farsh Al-Hawa.
The checkpoint attack on Friday killed two Israeli soldiers and injured others; the attackers were also killed.
Israeli forces have displaced more than 2,000 Palestinians, according to the article.
Hebron officials say nearly half of those displaced are children and babies; the group also includes 81 pregnant women and 204 elderly people.
Palestinian authorities declared a state of emergency and formed a crisis group to coordinate the response.
A property owner in Dura opened apartments to three extended families, including 30 children, and other property owners followed his example.
Movement restrictions have shifted schools and universities to online learning, including for Hebron’s 18,000 university students.
Israeli soldiers closed the entrance to Fawwar refugee camp, home to nearly 8,000 Palestinians, preventing residents from entering or leaving.
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Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won a fourth term after defeating Flávio Bolsonaro in a close runoff on Sunday, October 26. Official results gave Lula 51.7% of the vote and Bolsonaro 48.2%. Bolsonaro rejected the result and said he would seek to annul the vote.
Key Facts
Lula is nearly 81 years old.
Lula won 51.7% of the vote, according to official results.
Flávio Bolsonaro received 48.2% of the vote.
The runoff took place on Sunday, October 26.
Flávio Bolsonaro is the son of former president Jair Bolsonaro.
Bolsonaro said he would seek to annul the vote.
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Serbia’s Aleksandar Vucic conceded defeat in a snap parliamentary election held on October 25, 2026. The election followed nearly two years of student-led demonstrations over perceived corruption and authoritarianism after a deadly canopy collapse in Novi Sad.
Key Facts
Vucic conceded defeat after the election.
The snap parliamentary election took place on Sunday, October 25, 2026.
Turnout was nearly 70%, according to the article.
Student-led demonstrations had continued for nearly two years.
The protests began after a train station canopy collapsed in Novi Sad in 2024.
The collapse killed 16 people.
Protesters raised concerns about perceived corruption and authoritarianism.
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Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won a fourth term in a close presidential runoff on Sunday, October 25, 2026. His far-right challenger, Flávio Bolsonaro, rejected the result and said he would seek to have the vote annulled.
Key Facts
Lula won Brazil’s presidential runoff on October 25.
The victory gives Lula an unprecedented fourth term, according to the article.
Lula faced Flávio Bolsonaro, a far-right candidate and son of former President Jair Bolsonaro.
Flávio Bolsonaro refused to accept the results.
Bolsonaro said he would seek to annul the vote.
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Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic conceded defeat after a closely contested parliamentary election, saying a student-led opposition movement had won. He blamed alleged foreign interference, including what he called the “American deep state,” but provided no evidence for the claim.
Key Facts
Vucic said the Students’ List had won the election.
The election pitted Vucic’s Serbian Progressive Party against a student-led opposition movement.
The student movement had accused the government of corruption.
Vucic projected that the Students’ List would win 135 to 140 of the 250 parliamentary seats.
He projected that his coalition would win about 105 seats.
Vucic blamed Serbia’s independent media and alleged interference by unnamed European countries.
He also alleged support from the “American deep state” opposing President Donald Trump, without providing evidence.
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Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado returned to Venezuela after more than 10 months in exile. Supporters welcomed her at a church in Lara state and along her route through Caracas.
Key Facts
Machado announced her return in a post on X on Sunday.
She attended Mass at a church in Lara state, where supporters gathered around her.
Large crowds lined Machado’s route through Caracas.
The article says earlier attempts by Machado to re-enter Venezuela had failed.
Machado left Venezuela to accept the Nobel Peace Prize in Norway.
The article says U.S. forces seized President Nicolás Maduro in January.
The Trump administration backed Maduro’s deputy, Delcy Rodríguez, as interim leader.
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World leaders congratulated Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva after Brazil’s electoral court said he won re-election in a runoff. Leaders from France, Spain, China and the European Union issued messages, while Lula’s opponent, Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, refused to accept the result and said he would seek to annul the election.
Key Facts
Brazil’s electoral court announced that Lula won the runoff election, giving him an unprecedented fourth term.
Flávio Bolsonaro, Lula’s opponent and the eldest son of former president Jair Bolsonaro, refused to accept defeat.
The article says Lula led Bolsonaro by more than four million votes.
French President Emmanuel Macron congratulated Lula and called for stronger ties between France and Brazil.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called Lula’s win a “progressive comeback.”
China congratulated Lula and said it respected the choice of the Brazilian people.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described Lula’s victory as a win for democracy and multilateralism.
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