Strong Santa Ana winds are making wildfires in Southern California worse by spreading the flames more quickly. The winds are dry and fast, which helps fires grow and makes it harder for firefighters to control them.
Key Facts
Santa Ana winds are dry winds that blow from inland toward the coast in Southern California.
These winds increase fire danger by bringing low humidity and high speeds.
The winds are currently fueling several wildfires in the Southern California region.
Firefighters face challenges due to the fast-moving fires caused by the winds.
The Santa Ana winds happen mostly in the fall and winter seasons.
Authorities are monitoring the situation closely and warning residents of fire risks.
The wildfires threaten homes, roads, and people in affected areas.
People are advised to follow safety instructions and prepare for possible evacuations.
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Hurricane Trudy is moving toward Mexico’s western coast with strong winds and heavy rain expected to cause flooding and landslides. Authorities have issued warnings for parts of the coast and urged people to be cautious of dangerous waves and rising waters.
Key Facts
Hurricane Trudy had winds of 150 km/h (90 mph) and was about 305 km (190 miles) south-southeast of Manzanillo early Saturday.
The hurricane was moving at about 13 km/h (8 mph) and is expected to approach southwestern and west-central Mexico by Saturday night.
Hurricane warnings are in place from Manzanillo in Colima to Cabo Corrientes in Jalisco.
Trudy may bring 10 to 20 cm (4 to 8 inches) of rain, with some areas possibly receiving up to 38 cm (15 inches).
Heavy rain increases the risk of flooding and landslides, especially in hilly areas.
Coastal areas could face flooding from storm surge and large waves caused by onshore winds.
Dangerous surf and rip currents are expected along the southwestern and west-central coasts of Mexico.
Mexican authorities advise extreme caution due to the risks from high waves, heavy rain, flooding, and landslides.
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Welsh actor Tom Rhys Harries says wearing extensive, malleable prosthetics for his lead role in the DC film Clayface helped him portray the character’s discomfort and transformation. The film follows actor Matt Hagen after an attack disfigures him and an experimental treatment turns his face into living clay.
Key Facts
Rhys Harries plays Matt Hagen, the lead character in Clayface.
The actor spent about half his time on set with the special-effects makeup team.
The prosthetics were designed to create a clay-like appearance and let Harries interact with the changing material.
Harries described learning to work with the prosthetics as a steep learning curve.
The film is described as a body-horror psychological thriller.
Clayface first appeared in DC comics in 1940 as a Batman villain.
The film marks Rhys Harries’ first major studio movie role.
Clayface opened in cinemas on 23 October, according to the article.
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A new low-cost veterinary clinic started by the RSPCA in Medway West has treated 160 pets in 11 days. The clinic helps people with low incomes or benefits pay less for pet care, allowing them to keep and care for their animals even when money is tight.
Key Facts
The RSPCA’s Medway West branch opened a clinic offering reduced-price veterinary care.
160 pets received treatment in the first 11 days.
The clinic helps owners who struggle with vet bills due to low income or benefits.
Many pet owners say they prioritize their pets’ care over their own expenses.
The clinic aims to keep pets with their owners instead of being given up due to cost.
The branch provided nearly 19,000 food items and over 900 kg of pet biscuits in 2026.
Staff report that some pet owners cannot afford food or medical care for their animals because of rising living costs.
The RSPCA also supplies pet food and treats through its pet food bank to help owners.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized President Donald Trump’s decision to delay sanctions and tariffs on Russia, which were set to begin soon under new U.S. law. Zelensky said this action could have helped Ukraine because Russia had recently attacked Ukraine's energy sector.
Key Facts
President Donald Trump postponed sanctions and tariffs on Russia just before they were due to start.
The sanctions were part of a new U.S. law targeting Russia.
Russia had recently launched a significant attack on Ukraine's energy infrastructure.
Ukrainian President Zelensky expressed disappointment about the U.S. decision.
Zelensky said waiving the sanctions could have given important support to Ukraine.
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Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has asked the Egyptian parliament to allow him to approve military help for Saudi Arabia if it is needed. This comes after recent attacks on Saudi Arabia by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels, which have targeted airports and key facilities.
Key Facts
President el-Sisi wants parliament to approve his permission to give defense aid to Saudi Arabia if requested.
The request is linked to attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on Saudi Arabia, including strikes on airports near Riyadh.
The Houthis are backed by Iran and have attacked several airports in Saudi Arabia, killing and injuring many people.
Yemen’s internationally recognized government, supported by Saudi Arabia, is fighting the Houthis to regain control of territory.
Egypt views the security of Saudi Arabia and Gulf states as part of its own national security.
The Houthis recently gained control over part of Yemen’s Red Sea coast near an important shipping route, the Bab al-Mandeb strait.
Saudi Arabia has defense agreements with Pakistan and Turkiye to help protect the kingdom against Houthi attacks.
Egypt relies on the Suez Canal, which is connected to the region, and wants to prevent control of the Red Sea by Iran and its allies.
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Large protests happened in many cities across France, with some turning violent. Police used tear gas and arrested many people as demonstrations focused on rising costs and school conditions.
Key Facts
Protests took place nationwide on Saturday, including in Paris, Marseille, and Lyon.
Police used tear gas and deployed riot police in key areas like Place de la Republique in Paris.
Around 32,800 people joined 140 protest events recorded by midday.
Authorities arrested 166 people across France during the protests.
Some protesters damaged property, including looting shops and setting fire to a tourism office.
Protests were sparked by rising prices for fuel and food and ongoing complaints from high school students.
Some students reported serious injuries from police, including a 15-year-old girl who lost a hand.
French “yellow vest” protesters, known from 2018 cost-of-living protests, planned to join the demonstrations.
President Emmanuel Macron called for calm and respect for people and property while acknowledging the right to protest.
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Pope Leo was released from a hospital in Rome after surgery to remove a lung tumor. Doctors say he is recovering well but are waiting for tests to see if more treatment is needed.
Key Facts
Pope Leo, 71 years old, had surgery to remove a cancerous tumor from his right lung.
He was in Rome's Gemelli hospital since Tuesday and walked out on Saturday.
The tumor was a common type of lung cancer called adenocarcinoma.
Doctors say his recovery is going normally so far.
The pope celebrated mass in his hospital room before leaving.
He plans to say the Angelus prayer from his apartment window on Sunday.
The Vatican is unsure if he will keep his planned South America trip in November.
Pope Leo made a phone call to Russian President Putin from the hospital, urging peace in Ukraine.
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A 71-year-old man named Steve Hamilton was killed by a nearly 12-foot alligator while fishing near a pond in Winter Garden, Florida. This is the second fatal alligator attack in Florida this year, as these attacks, while rare, have caused 32 deaths since records began in 1948.
Key Facts
The attack happened around 5 p.m. at Dr. Bradford Memorial Park, which connects to Lake Apopka, an area known for many alligators.
The alligator involved was 11 feet 8 inches long and was captured after the attack.
Steve Hamilton was fishing on the shore when the alligator pulled him into the water.
In 2025, there were two other fatal attacks in Florida involving a woman canoeing and another woman near a residential pond.
Although there are hundreds of thousands of alligators in Florida, attacks on humans are unusual.
On average, about a dozen alligator attacks happen each year, with fewer than three being fatal.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission tracks alligator attacks since 1948, recording 32 fatal incidents in total.
Another recent fatal attack involved a 31-year-old woman swimming near Orlando who lost an arm during the attack and later died.
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Pope Leo XIV was released from the hospital after surgery to remove a cancerous part of his lung. Doctors say he is healthy enough to leave, allowing him to continue his upcoming travel plans.
Key Facts
Pope Leo XIV had surgery to remove a cancerous nodule in his right lung.
The surgery involved removing the lower lobe of the right lung.
Doctors declared him fit for discharge after blood tests and chest X-rays showed good results.
His recovery included walking around and eating normally.
Lung adenocarcinoma, the type of cancer he had, is common but has a high survival rate if detected early.
The Vatican has not announced if he needs more treatment.
Catholics worldwide, including groups in Chicago, prayed for his recovery and sent get-well gifts.
His discharge removes worries about leadership gaps at the Vatican and supports his travel plans.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that President Trump’s decision to pause new sanctions on Russia will encourage Russia’s war against Ukraine. Trump delayed a law that would add penalties on Russia’s oil buyers and financial sector, while Russia continues attacks on Ukraine’s power plants.
Key Facts
President Trump paused a new sanctions law called the Lindsey Graham Act that targeted Russia’s economy.
The law included tariffs on countries importing Russian oil and sanctions on Russia’s energy and financial systems.
Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy said this pause will help Russian President Putin and make the war worse.
Russia recently launched heavy strikes on Ukraine’s power stations to cut electricity before winter.
Trump’s administration plans to buy diesel fuel from Russia to lower global prices.
Zelenskyy urged the US and Europe to keep pressure on Russia and not ease sanctions.
The Lindsey Graham Act sanctions were set to start within days before Trump delayed them.
Russia’s envoy welcomed the suspension of the sanctions law as historic and positive.
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Protests took place across France against rising living costs and in support of high school students. The demonstrations led to clashes with police, damage to property, and many arrests, with large police forces trying to control the situation in cities like Paris and Marseille.
Key Facts
Protests happened nationwide on October 17, 2026, including in Paris, Marseille, Rennes, Toulouse, and Angers.
Demonstrators were responding to calls to revive the "yellow vest" movement, which began in 2018 against social injustice.
Around 30,000 people participated in over 140 protest actions outside the Paris area by midday.
Police used tear gas and arrested at least 166 people across France during the protests.
Some protesters wore masks and threw fireworks or objects at police, leading to scuffles and damage to shops, police stations, and government buildings.
President Emmanuel Macron called for calm and reminded people to respect others and property during protests.
The CGT, a major French labor union, supported the protests, demanding higher wages, pensions, lower prices, and better public services.
Police suspended the use of certain riot-control weapons after a 15-year-old protester lost a hand. Climate activist Greta Thunberg also showed support by joining students at a Paris suburb school.
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Protests by students in Tirana, Albania, have continued for five days. The protests, focused on poor education, rising living costs, and government corruption, turned violent as clashes broke out between police and protesters.
Key Facts
Students gathered outside the Ministry of Education in Albania's capital, Tirana.
They protested against bad education facilities, higher living costs, and alleged corruption.
The protests lasted for five days.
Some protesters threw molotov cocktails at police officers.
Police responded with tear gas and water cannons to break up the crowd.
Protesters want Prime Minister Edi Rama to resign.
Prime Minister Rama is resisting calls to step down.
The clashes involved riot police and led to violent confrontations.
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Chilean-American author Isabel Allende won Spain’s €1 million Premio Planeta literary prize under a fake name for her new book, a sequel to her famous novel *The House of the Spirits*. The story follows the granddaughter of the original characters and deals with political events similar to those Allende experienced during Chile’s Pinochet dictatorship.
Key Facts
Isabel Allende is 84 years old and won the 75th Premio Planeta award with her book *La hora antes del alba*.
The new book is a sequel to her 1982 novel *The House of the Spirits*, focusing on Alba, a character recovering from torture under Pinochet’s rule.
Allende wrote the sequel to answer readers’ questions about what happened to Alba and to highlight political issues like rising extremism.
The Premio Planeta is one of the world’s richest literary prizes and allows submissions under pseudonyms; Allende used the name Luz Ventura.
The award ceremony took place in Barcelona and was attended by Spain’s King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia.
Isabel Allende has sold over 80 million books worldwide, and her works have been translated into more than 40 languages.
The Premio Planeta prize requires winners to publish their work with Planeta, a major Spanish-language publisher.
Past winners have included well-known authors and TV personalities, and the prize sometimes faces criticism for its choices.
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People in Totnes, Devon have been protesting to stop a school from selling a local field called Lower Field. The school wants to sell the land to raise money for building repairs, but community members say the field is important for outdoor activities and local wellbeing.
Key Facts
The school, King Edward VI Community College (KEVICC), has government permission to sell Lower Field, which is about 1.5 hectares in size.
The community has used the field for sports, fitness classes, and casual outdoor activities for many years.
Campaigners worry that selling the field will reduce safe, open green space, especially for women, girls, and families who cannot afford sports clubs.
A group called Friends of Lower Field is trying to raise money to buy the land from the school to keep it as a community space.
The field was originally gifted about 100 years ago by the Elmhirst family, who were known for supporting education and farming projects.
There is uncertainty about whether the land was given with legal protections for community use.
The field is expected to be put on the market in January, creating urgency for fundraising efforts.
Research shows nearly half of UK residents have lost access to community spaces since 2023, highlighting a national concern.
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A former UK national security adviser warned that Russia is increasing "hybrid attacks" on European countries, which use non-military methods like hacking and misinformation to cause harm. He called on the UK government to spend more on defending key systems like energy and transport to protect people and infrastructure.
Key Facts
Hybrid attacks use things like hacking, sabotage, and spreading false information instead of traditional warfare.
Russia is believed to be behind many such attacks in Europe since the war in Ukraine began.
MI5's chief said threats from countries including Russia and Iran have grown four times over the last ten years.
The former adviser said these attacks are becoming more dangerous and could lead to fatalities.
European leaders, including those in Germany and France, have warned about increasing Russian attacks.
The UK government is urged to boost its defense budget and improve protection for key services.
The adviser suggested the UK focus on working with allies rather than trying to influence President Donald Trump regarding Ukraine.
Russia denies responsibility for hybrid attacks despite widespread suspicion.
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Several Palestinians, including a child and four women, were injured during attacks by Israeli settlers in different parts of the occupied West Bank. Israeli forces also arrested Palestinian farmers and sometimes protected settlers while preventing Palestinians from harvesting olives.
Key Facts
Six Palestinians were injured in Ma’in village after attacks by Israeli settlers.
Israeli forces fired on Palestinian farmers in Deir Ammar and Tuqu, forcing them to leave their land.
Settlers raided a farm in Kafr Malek, killing about 20 sheep and causing a house fire with tear gas.
Olive trees were destroyed by settlers across the Beit Furik plain in the northern West Bank.
Settlers, protected by the Israeli army, fired live ammo to stop Palestinians from harvesting olives in Deir Jarir.
Around 300 attacks by settlers have been documented since the start of October, affecting the olive harvest season.
Rabbi Dov Lior issued a religious ruling supporting settlers taking over land and harvesting olives to claim ownership.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been criticized for not taking strong action to stop the violence ahead of October 27 elections.
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Pope Leo XIV will leave the hospital in Rome after surgery to remove a cancerous tumor from his right lung. He is expected to return to the Vatican and will lead a prayer from his apartment window on Sunday.
Key Facts
Pope Leo XIV had surgery to remove a cancerous tumor from his right lung.
He was treated at Rome’s Gemelli University Hospital.
Doctors said he is well enough to leave the hospital.
The surgery lasted about 90 minutes and went without complications.
Pope Leo XIV resumed some work just days after the operation.
He will recite the Angelus prayer from the Vatican on Sunday.
The tumor was lung adenocarcinoma, the most common type of lung cancer.
His hospital stay was expected to last about a week before discharge.
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A fast-moving wildfire called the Norte fire destroyed and damaged several homes in Southern California, leading to evacuation orders for thousands of residents. Firefighters are working to control the blaze, which has spread over hundreds of acres, while officials continue to investigate its cause.
Key Facts
The Norte fire started near Portico Del Norte and Eminencia Del Norte in San Clemente around 11:30 a.m. on Friday.
Strong Santa Ana winds, dry plants, and warm temperatures helped the fire spread quickly.
The fire grew from 10 acres to 570 acres with zero containment as of Saturday morning.
About 4,000 homes were under evacuation orders, affecting around 13,000 people.
Multiple homes on Via La Mirada in San Juan Capistrano were burned or damaged.
Firefighters are working overnight to control hotspots and keep the fire from spreading.
Evacuation shelters opened in San Juan Capistrano and San Clemente for displaced residents.
Two firefighters were hospitalized due to heat-related injuries during the firefighting efforts.
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Pope Leo XIV will leave the hospital four days after lung cancer surgery and plans to appear in public on Sunday for a prayer and blessing. His doctors say he is improving, but further tests are needed to see if the cancer has spread.
Key Facts
The Pope had surgery on Tuesday to remove a cancerous part of his right lung.
The surgery lasted about 90 minutes.
Blood tests and chest X-rays show steady improvement in his health.
The Pope will give the Angelus prayer and blessing in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday.
He spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin to urge peace amid the Ukraine conflict.
The Pope called for a humanitarian ceasefire in a Russian-occupied Ukrainian city to help evacuate people and deliver aid.
His public schedule is cleared until October 20 to allow for recovery.
He hopes to travel to Latin America in early November but it is unclear if he will be well enough.
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