Part of Brighton’s old West Pier collapsed into the sea during Storm Austen’s strong winds and rain. The pier, which opened in 1866 and was once popular, has been badly damaged by storms and fires over the years and has been closed since 1975.
Key Facts
A section of Brighton’s historic West Pier fell into the sea during recent bad weather from Storm Austen.
The pier first opened in 1866 and was a popular tourist spot, attracting two million visitors at its peak.
Its popularity went down after World War Two.
The pier was closed to the public in 1975.
Major parts fell into the sea during storms in 2002.
Two fires in 2003 destroyed much of what was left.
Storms since then have further damaged the pier’s iron frame.
The pier is located in Brighton, East Sussex, England.
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Israel has ordered its security forces to prepare for a full closure of the West Bank after a shooting in Hebron that killed two Israeli soldiers. The incident happened just days before Israel's general election, where Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces strong opposition.
Key Facts
Two Israeli soldiers were killed in a shooting near Hebron by two Palestinian gunmen.
The attackers were killed by Israeli forces after a 20-minute gunfight.
The gunmen appeared to be planning a larger attack but attacked a military checkpoint instead.
Prime Minister Netanyahu ordered security forces to prepare for a full lockdown of the West Bank.
Netanyahu said Hamas terrorists were behind the attack and that large amounts of weapons were found.
Palestinian group Hamas praised the attack but did not claim responsibility.
The shooting occurred shortly before Israel’s election, where Netanyahu is competing for re-election.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir called for dismantling the Palestinian Authority in response.
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Palestinian militants attacked and wounded five Israelis before being killed by Israeli soldiers in the West Bank. In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a lockdown in the occupied West Bank just days before Israeli elections.
Key Facts
Palestinian militants wounded five Israelis in an attack on Friday.
The militants were killed in a shootout with Israeli soldiers.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a lockdown in the West Bank.
The West Bank is an area occupied by Israel.
The lockdown was imposed shortly before Israeli elections.
The attack and lockdown are part of ongoing tensions between Israelis and Palestinians.
This event occurred on October 23, 2026.
The situation is significant for Israeli politics and security.
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Andy Burnham said he keeps a supply of beans, soup, and Twiglets at home in case of emergencies. The UK government launched a campaign asking people to have at least three days of water and long-lasting food ready for events like bad weather or cyber-attacks.
Key Facts
Andy Burnham has emergency food including beans, soup, and Twiglets.
The government campaign advises having three days' worth of bottled water and long-life food.
The campaign aims to prepare people for emergencies like weather disasters or cyber-attacks.
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting mentioned threats from foreign powers like Russia targeting infrastructure.
Burnham said the advice is about preparation, not panic buying.
Treasury minister James Murray has not fully prepared but said having supplies is a personal choice.
Other European countries like Ireland, France, and the Netherlands already recommend such emergency stockpiles.
The UK has not talked much about this kind of public preparation until now.
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At least seven people were killed and 10 injured when two gunmen opened fire at a funeral in a church in central Jordan. The attackers arrived by car, shot inside the church, and then escaped before security forces arrived.
Key Facts
The shooting happened at a church funeral in the Karak governorate of Jordan.
Two unidentified gunmen carried out the attack.
Seven people were killed during the shooting.
Ten others were injured.
The gunmen fled the scene in a car.
Jordanian security forces have been deployed to investigate and secure the area.
The government spokesman is Mohammad al-Momani.
The news is developing and more details are expected to come out.
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Greece’s parliament approved a law that bans people under 15 from using social media. The law will start on January 1, 2027, and requires social media platforms to check users’ ages and face penalties if they do not follow the rules.
Key Facts
Greece passed a law banning social media use for anyone under 15 years old.
The law was approved by the ruling party New Democracy; other parties did not support it.
It will become effective on January 1, 2027.
Social media companies must verify users’ ages to enforce the ban.
Companies that fail to comply will face strong penalties.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced the plan on TikTok in April 2024.
About 20 countries, including Australia, France, and the UK, have similar restrictions.
Critics worry about social media addiction in children and potential harm to mental health.
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Russia, Ukraine, and the United States have planned talks for November in the United Arab Emirates to try to end the war between Russia and Ukraine. The meeting will be in a three-way format, but progress is expected to be limited due to serious disagreements.
Key Facts
Trilateral talks involving Russia, Ukraine, and the US are scheduled for November in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Previous talks this year did not achieve significant progress and had stopped during President Donald Trump’s focus on the war with Iran.
Russia wants these talks to focus on long-term peace and security, not just a short ceasefire.
Russia demands Ukraine give up large territories and agree not to join NATO.
Relations between Kyiv and some US officials are tense, while President Trump has shown signs of improving ties with Russia, including easing sanctions.
Trump criticized Ukraine for attacks on Russian energy supplies and made a deal to buy Russian diesel fuel.
Russia and Ukraine recently exchanged 270 prisoners of war, continuing rare contacts amid the conflict.
The prisoner exchange happened in Belarus, with freed Russian soldiers receiving medical and psychological care before returning to Russia.
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Cameroonian President Paul Biya, aged 93 and Africa’s longest-serving leader, recently returned to Cameroon after being away for 74 days. His long absences have raised questions about his health and ability to govern. Despite being re-elected for an eighth term, he has yet to announce a new government or appoint a vice president, while the country faces ongoing security challenges and economic stagnation.
Key Facts
Paul Biya has ruled Cameroon since 1982 and is Africa’s oldest and longest-serving president.
He recently returned after 74 days abroad, one of his longest absences from the country.
His extended absences have sparked rumors about his health and reports of possible hospitalization denied by officials.
Biya was re-elected in October 2025 for an eighth term amid disputed elections and protests.
Security issues continue, including Boko Haram attacks in the north and separatist conflicts in the west.
The economy has remained mostly stagnant despite the country’s oil wealth.
Opposition protests after the election were met with violent government repression, resulting in at least 48 deaths.
Many Cameroonians hope for a government reshuffle and the appointment of a vice president who stays in the country.
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Brazil is holding a close presidential run-off election between President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and challenger Flavio Bolsonaro. Both candidates are using social media and digital campaigns heavily as they try to win undecided voters before the final vote.
Key Facts
The election run-off takes place in Brazil with President Lula da Silva, a leftist pro-union leader, facing far-right challenger Flavio Bolsonaro.
Both candidates' supporters hold rallies, but the mood is tense and competitive.
Lula’s campaign created a WhatsApp channel called “Lula’s army” to mobilize young activists and anti-Bolsonaro voters, gaining over 8 million followers quickly.
Flavio Bolsonaro’s campaign uses AI-generated content to attack left-wing rallies and mobilizes his own large social media following.
The digital battle has led to legal disputes, including accusations of platform bias and requests to the electoral court regarding candidate treatment on social media.
Meta (formerly Facebook) has been pressured by Brazil's electoral court and pledged to treat both campaigns fairly on its platforms.
Polls show a very tight race, with Bolsonaro slightly ahead from the first round but Lula gaining ground.
The campaigns target undecided voters, especially young people, who could influence the election outcome.
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The minaret of the Shahi mosque in Ujjain, India, fell down during construction to widen a road for a Hindu pilgrimage. Local Muslims are now trying to fix and protect the mosque, which is about 600 years old.
Key Facts
The Shahi mosque in Ujjain is around 600 years old.
Its minaret collapsed during road widening work.
The construction was done to make way for a Hindu pilgrimage.
The mosque is an important historical and religious site for local Muslims.
Indian Muslims in Ujjain are working to repair the mosque now.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a large military operation in the West Bank city of Hebron after two Palestinian gunmen attacked a junction, injuring five people including soldiers. The Israeli military killed the attackers and began evacuating residents to search houses for weapons and dismantle terrorist networks.
Key Facts
Two Palestinian men attacked near Hebron, wounding five people, including Israeli soldiers.
The Israeli military killed the attackers, who used an M16 rifle and a handgun.
Israeli forces cordoned off Hebron, a city with over 200,000 residents, to conduct searches.
Prime Minister Netanyahu ordered evacuation of residents from the attackers’ neighborhood.
Weapons and ammunition were found in the attackers’ vehicle; officials said a bigger attack was planned.
Netanyahu linked the attack to attempts to influence the upcoming Israeli elections.
Netanyahu announced a broader military operation will take place in the West Bank, called Judea and Samaria by Israel.
The operation involves house-to-house searches to remove weapons and weaken terrorist groups.
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Researchers are exploring a 15th-century shipwreck called Vrak 5 off the coast of Sweden, believed to be the oldest warship found in the area. The ship was built using a special technique and sank possibly during a battle around the 1480s, but the exact cause is still unknown.
Key Facts
Vrak 5 is a large ship, about 40-45 meters long, found near Haringe Castle south of Stockholm.
The shipwreck dates back to the 1480s or possibly even the 1460s.
It is the oldest warship found off Sweden or Denmark, two countries united with Norway in the 15th century.
The ship was built using the carvel technique, where planks are laid edge-to-edge for stronger hulls.
Researchers are studying the wreck to learn how it was built and why it sank.
Divers found signs of a galley (kitchen), rigging parts, and evidence of the crew’s food and drink habits.
It is unclear if the ship is Swedish or Danish, but timber came from southeastern Sweden.
The ship may have sunk during an attack on Haringe Castle in 1501 or due to a fire on board.
Other historic shipwrecks have recently been found in the Baltic Sea near Sweden.
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Protests by students and workers over costs and government cuts have caused riots and damage in France and Italy. Italy has introduced new laws holding parents financially responsible for damage caused by their children during protests, including fines and legal penalties.
Key Facts
Student protests started in France over poor school conditions and teacher shortages.
Protests in France grew to include public workers and those upset about the cost of living.
Riots involving looting and clashes with police happened in several French and Italian cities.
Italy sent 500 soldiers to Milan to help control the unrest.
Italy’s new rules can sentence protesters in groups of five or more to prison and fines.
Italian laws now allow detaining teenage protesters if they are seen as dangerous.
Parents in Italy can be fined or held responsible for damage caused by their children during protests.
France considers fines on parents whose children damage property, following Italy’s example.
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Denmark will stop mink farming by August 2029 after the government decided not to seek a special exemption from an EU ban on keeping mink. This decision comes after the mink industry faced decline due to animal welfare concerns, global fur bans, and a Covid-19 outbreak in the animals.
Key Facts
Denmark was once the world’s largest producer of mink fur.
The government had planned to seek an exemption from an EU-wide ban on mink farming but reversed this decision.
The EU banned mink farming by listing mink as an invasive species effective from 2025.
Denmark will enforce the ban starting August 7, 2025, followed by a two-year transition to end mink farming.
The mink industry suffered a big crisis when the government culled about 15 million mink after a mutated Covid-19 strain appeared in them.
About 15,000 mink remain on Denmark’s seven mink farms.
The government has not yet finalized the cost to close the farms, but estimates suggest it could be around £1.56 million.
Animal welfare concerns and economic factors influenced the decision to end mink farming.
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Typhoon Champi hit Taiwan with strong winds up to 191 km/h and huge waves along the northeast coast. The storm caused one death, injured 163 people, and forced thousands to evacuate as many parts of Taiwan closed down.
Key Facts
Typhoon Champi had winds reaching 191 kilometers per hour.
Large waves struck Taiwan’s northeastern coast.
One person died because of the typhoon.
A total of 163 people were injured.
Thousands of people were evacuated from their homes.
Many areas of Taiwan shut down for safety.
The typhoon caused serious disruption to daily life on the island.
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Ukraine plans to build its own satellite communication system by working with Finnish companies. This decision comes as Ukraine faces ongoing problems with the United States-operated Starshield satellite service, which is important for its military defense.
Key Facts
Ukraine announced a partnership with Finnish firms Nokia and ICEYE to develop an independent satellite system.
President Zelenskyy said this system is important for Ukraine’s defense and resilience during the war.
The Finnish companies signed a letter of intent with Ukraine’s Defense Ministry.
ICEYE satellites can provide reconnaissance (information gathering) any time of day and in any weather.
Ukraine has experienced sudden restrictions and connection problems with the Starshield system, used for military communication.
There has been disagreement between Elon Musk and U.S. officials about who restricted Starlink access to Ukraine.
Starshield, part of Elon Musk’s Starlink service, is crucial for Ukraine’s defense against Russian attacks, especially drone warfare.
President Trump stated that Elon Musk restored Ukraine’s satellite internet access after disruptions.
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Ukrainian forces say their Starlink satellite internet is still slowed down, despite President Donald Trump’s statement that Elon Musk lifted the restrictions. This slowdown started after Trump and Musk criticized Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy and is affecting Ukraine’s military communications and drone operations. Meanwhile, Russia continues attacks and plans new peace talks with the US and Ukraine.
Key Facts
Ukrainian troops are experiencing slow Starlink internet speeds, around 100 Mbps, which limits their military equipment's connectivity.
President Trump said Elon Musk restored Starlink service speeds, but Ukrainian officials say the restrictions remain.
The slowdown began after Trump and Musk criticized Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy for attacking Russian oil refineries.
The reduced internet speed hampers Ukraine’s use of drones, both for attacks and defense against Russian strikes.
Ukraine-US relations have become tense, partially due to the Starlink issue and a temporary drop in US intelligence sharing.
The US recently allowed imports of Russian diesel, aiming to lower US energy prices before midterm elections.
Russia continues shelling Ukraine while preparing for another round of peace talks in Abu Dhabi in November.
Russian President Putin denies Ukraine’s sovereignty over some lands and insists Russia will achieve its war goals.
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The UK government has advised people to keep three days’ worth of tinned food and bottled water at home to prepare for emergencies like storms, cyber-attacks, or other crises. Prime Minister Andy Burnham emphasized the importance of being ready for unexpected events, while also mentioning having some comfort items like wine.
Key Facts
The government recommends storing nine liters of water and non-perishable food such as tinned meat, vegetables, and dried fruit for three days.
Other suggested emergency items include a battery or wind-up FM radio, hand sanitizer, wet wipes, pet food, baby supplies, a torch, blankets, a charged power bank, cash, a first aid kit, and important documents.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham spoke at a wildfire resilience summit amid ongoing storm damage and power outages in parts of the UK.
The National Audit Office warned that the UK’s food supply chain is at risk due to cyber-attacks and climate change, and said government efforts need to improve.
Cyber-hackers, including from Russia, are reportedly targeting weaknesses in the UK’s food transportation system.
Burnham said the government has not failed but is encouraging the public to be better prepared for emergencies.
Housing Secretary Angela Rayner humorously mentioned including wine and comfort foods like baked beans in an emergency box.
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A Paris-based orchestra called the Orchestre du Nouveau Monde (ONM) plays classical music at protests to support social and environmental causes. During recent demonstrations at Place de la République, police used teargas near the orchestra, but the musicians continued playing until directly targeted by the gas canisters.
Key Facts
The Orchestre du Nouveau Monde (ONM) was co-founded in 2022 by conductor Étienne Jarrier.
The orchestra includes hundreds of volunteer musicians who mix classical music with activism.
ONM supports causes like anti-racism, feminism, environmentalism, and social justice.
During protests, the orchestra plays music to raise awareness and engage younger audiences.
At a recent protest, riot police fired teargas near the orchestra, forcing them to stop playing when musicians were targeted.
The orchestra has performed at places like melting glaciers and outside far-right political headquarters.
Police used teargas, stun grenades, and flash-balls during street demonstrations in Paris.
The protests included high school students and unions demanding changes to education and government policies.
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Singapore is developing a large industry focused on helping people live longer and stay healthier. Companies there use advanced technology like genetic tests and body monitoring to try to slow aging and improve health. The global market for healthy aging is growing quickly and could become much bigger by 2035.
Key Facts
Singapore has many high-tech clinics and companies working on ways to slow aging.
Services include metabolic monitoring, genetic testing, supplements, and oxygen therapy.
Some clients aim to reduce their biological age by 20 years. Biological age means how old the body seems based on health, not actual birth date.
The worldwide healthy aging market was worth around $19 billion to $20 billion in 2023.
This market is expected to grow to more than three times its current size by 2035.
Singapore’s approach may show a future where healthcare works like a subscription service.
Technologies used aim to measure, improve, and fix cells of the body.
The industry reflects growing global interest in extending health and lifespan.
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