The News

Treasury sanctions North Korean and Russian facilitators of IT worker fraud

Force in Play

The Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) blocked the US assets of ten people and one entity on October 28. They ran North Korea's information technology worker fraud scheme—a state operation that places fake employees in US companies and funnels most of their pay to Pyongyang's weapons programs.

The Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) blocked the US assets of ten people and one entity on October 28. They ran North Korea's information technology worker fraud scheme—a state operation that places fake employees in US companies and funnels most of their pay to Pyongyang's weapons programs.

Updated 3 hours ago

Tommy Robinson convicted of harassing two Daily Mail journalists

Rule Changes

A London jury found far-right activist Tommy Robinson guilty on Wednesday of harassing two Daily Mail journalists and causing them to fear violence. The conviction stems from his response to August 2024 articles that showed him holidaying in Cyprus while riots swept England after the Southport murders.

A London jury found far-right activist Tommy Robinson guilty on Wednesday of harassing two Daily Mail journalists and causing them to fear violence. The conviction stems from his response to August 2024 articles that showed him holidaying in Cyprus while riots swept England after the Southport murders.

Updated 3 hours ago

New Zealand Parliament dissolved ahead of tight November election

Rule Changes

An RNZ-Reid Research poll on October 29 put National on 24.8%, below its 2020 election result, and Labour on 30.6% nine days before election day. Opportunity rose to 7.2%, a new high.

An RNZ-Reid Research poll on October 29 put National on 24.8%, below its 2020 election result, and Labour on 30.6% nine days before election day. Opportunity rose to 7.2%, a new high.

Updated 3 hours ago

Missiles strike Aden airport as Yemen's war reignites

Force in Play

Two Houthi ballistic missiles hit the perimeter of Aden's airport on October 28, wounding civilians and stopping flights, after the group told people at the site to leave. Government forces spokesman Majed Abdullah Al-Nazili called it the sixth attack on the airport this month.

Two Houthi ballistic missiles hit the perimeter of Aden's airport on October 28, wounding civilians and stopping flights, after the group told people at the site to leave. Government forces spokesman Majed Abdullah Al-Nazili called it the sixth attack on the airport this month.

Updated 3 hours ago

Russia's war on Ukraine's power grid

Force in Play

Russian forces have resumed broad aerial attacks on Ukraine's power grid after an informal pause collapsed, Ukrainian authorities said. The renewed bombardment follows an Oct. 19 strike that Zelenskyy said hit 28 critical energy facilities and cut power to 550,000 households.

Russian forces have resumed broad aerial attacks on Ukraine's power grid after an informal pause collapsed, Ukrainian authorities said. The renewed bombardment follows an Oct. 19 strike that Zelenskyy said hit 28 critical energy facilities and cut power to 550,000 households.

Updated 3 hours ago

Egypt approves Banque du Caire IPO after nine-year wait

Money Moves

Banque du Caire priced its initial public offering at EGP 5.30 a share, the top of the range, and retail investors ordered 27 times the stock set aside for them. The sale of 6.86 billion shares, 45% of the bank, raised about EGP 36.37 billion and values it at EGP 80.83 billion at listing.

Banque du Caire priced its initial public offering at EGP 5.30 a share, the top of the range, and retail investors ordered 27 times the stock set aside for them. The sale of 6.86 billion shares, 45% of the bank, raised about EGP 36.37 billion and values it at EGP 80.83 billion at listing.

Updated 3 hours ago

Justice Department sues California over alleged noncitizen mail-in ballots

Rule Changes

A Ninth Circuit panel heard the Justice Department's emergency request on Sunday, Oct. 25. Two of the three judges appeared skeptical, questioning the timing, constitutionality and authority of the demand that California set aside about 20,000 mail ballots from voters the government calls likely noncitizens.

A Ninth Circuit panel heard the Justice Department's emergency request on Sunday, Oct. 25. Two of the three judges appeared skeptical, questioning the timing, constitutionality and authority of the demand that California set aside about 20,000 mail ballots from voters the government calls likely noncitizens.

Updated 3 hours ago

France closes up to 500 schools as student protests spread

Force in Play

On Monday, October 26, Education Minister Édouard Geffray and Higher Education Minister Philippe Baptiste presented the government's first school measures. Parcoursup, the university admissions platform students criticize, is to change from 2027 and be replaced in 2028. Five hundred high school posts and 1,264 technical higher-education (BTS) posts are to be created, and classes in the first year of upper secondary (seconde) will be capped at 28 students by 2028. The same day, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu met student and union groups at Matignon.

On Monday, October 26, Education Minister Édouard Geffray and Higher Education Minister Philippe Baptiste presented the government's first school measures. Parcoursup, the university admissions platform students criticize, is to change from 2027 and be replaced in 2028. Five hundred high school posts and 1,264 technical higher-education (BTS) posts are to be created, and classes in the first year of upper secondary (seconde) will be capped at 28 students by 2028. The same day, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu met student and union groups at Matignon.

Updated 3 hours ago

Deadly school roof collapse in Peshawar prompts building safety audit

Built World

A first-floor classroom roof caved in at Al-Khair Education Centre in Peshawar on October 15, killing 34 children and a teacher during morning lessons. An inquiry report presented to Governor Faisal Karim Kundi on October 28 found the building was a house built in 2011, with no approved plan on city records. It blamed the owner for substandard materials and pointed to negligence by government departments. The governor ordered the report sent to the provincial law department for a legal review.

A first-floor classroom roof caved in at Al-Khair Education Centre in Peshawar on October 15, killing 34 children and a teacher during morning lessons. An inquiry report presented to Governor Faisal Karim Kundi on October 28 found the building was a house built in 2011, with no approved plan on city records. It blamed the owner for substandard materials and pointed to negligence by government departments. The governor ordered the report sent to the provincial law department for a legal review.

Updated 3 hours ago

Latvia's United List wins parliamentary election amid Russian hybrid threat

Force in Play

Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs met United List members of parliament at an undisclosed location outside Riga on October 26 to finalise his reform plan. Formal coalition talks with the National Alliance (at 1 p.m.) and New Unity (at 3 p.m.) were scheduled for October 28. Reports so far do not say what came out of either meeting.

Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs met United List members of parliament at an undisclosed location outside Riga on October 26 to finalise his reform plan. Formal coalition talks with the National Alliance (at 1 p.m.) and New Unity (at 3 p.m.) were scheduled for October 28. Reports so far do not say what came out of either meeting.

Updated 3 hours ago

Claude designs protein binders against scorpion neurotoxins

New Capabilities

Anthropic's Claude designed small proteins that attach to scorpion neurotoxins, the molecules behind dangerous stings from Mexico to North Africa. Two contract labs tested 211 designs, and 17 bound to four of the five target toxins.

Anthropic's Claude designed small proteins that attach to scorpion neurotoxins, the molecules behind dangerous stings from Mexico to North Africa. Two contract labs tested 211 designs, and 17 bound to four of the five target toxins.

Updated 3 hours ago

Mauritius imposes curfew after police shooting sparks worst unrest since 1999

Force in Play

Mauritius lifted its overnight curfew on 19 October, and schools and roads reopened. Protests over water shortages and living costs had started on 7 October; the shooting of 27-year-old Elodie Thomas at a Camp-Levieux roadblock two nights later turned them violent.

Mauritius lifted its overnight curfew on 19 October, and schools and roads reopened. Protests over water shortages and living costs had started on 7 October; the shooting of 27-year-old Elodie Thomas at a Camp-Levieux roadblock two nights later turned them violent.

Updated 3 hours ago

Wenda Pharma's oral BET inhibitor shows responses in NUT carcinoma trial

New Capabilities

NUT carcinoma is rare, aggressive and has no approved targeted therapy. In a 40-patient Phase II trial reported at the European Society for Medical Oncology meeting in October 2026, Wenda Pharma's oral drug NHWD-870 shrank tumors in 30% of patients. Among 20 patients whose tumors started in the chest, 45% responded.

NUT carcinoma is rare, aggressive and has no approved targeted therapy. In a 40-patient Phase II trial reported at the European Society for Medical Oncology meeting in October 2026, Wenda Pharma's oral drug NHWD-870 shrank tumors in 30% of patients. Among 20 patients whose tumors started in the chest, 45% responded.

Updated 3 hours ago

US consumer confidence drops to second-lowest on record as gas prices jump

Money Moves

The Conference Board's consumer confidence index rose to 91.7 in October from 84.2 in September as gasoline prices eased, beating forecasts of 81. The University of Michigan's separate survey, released October 23, held near its record low at 48.0.

The Conference Board's consumer confidence index rose to 91.7 in October from 84.2 in September as gasoline prices eased, beating forecasts of 81. The University of Michigan's separate survey, released October 23, held near its record low at 48.0.

Updated 4 hours ago

UK to charge universities for each international student from 2028

Rule Changes

Every international student at an English university will carry a £925 annual charge from August 2028. Universities pay it, not students, and each provider's first 220 overseas enrolments are exempt.

Every international student at an English university will carry a £925 annual charge from August 2028. Universities pay it, not students, and each provider's first 220 overseas enrolments are exempt.

Updated 4 hours ago

Britain declines to join Canada-led defence bank

Money Moves

Britain will not join the Canada-led Defence, Security and Resilience Bank (DSRB), ending talks to merge the two countries' defence financing efforts. Reuters reported the sides could not agree on the bank's headquarters, the level of joint procurement, lending to members, or rules for new members.

Britain will not join the Canada-led Defence, Security and Resilience Bank (DSRB), ending talks to merge the two countries' defence financing efforts. Reuters reported the sides could not agree on the bank's headquarters, the level of joint procurement, lending to members, or rules for new members.

Updated 4 hours ago

Federal Trade Commission and 20 states sue Dollar General over alleged overcharging

Rule Changes

The Federal Trade Commission and 20 states sued Dollar General on Oct. 26, accusing the chain of charging more at the register than its shelves and fliers advertised. The 95-page complaint, filed in federal court in Nashville, says the company logged 29,265 complaints about marked prices that were not honored between January 2023 and March 2026, across all 48 states where it operates.

The Federal Trade Commission and 20 states sued Dollar General on Oct. 26, accusing the chain of charging more at the register than its shelves and fliers advertised. The 95-page complaint, filed in federal court in Nashville, says the company logged 29,265 complaints about marked prices that were not honored between January 2023 and March 2026, across all 48 states where it operates.

Updated 4 hours ago

South Korea test-launches first domestically developed hypersonic glide vehicle

New Capabilities

South Korea launched its first domestically developed hypersonic glide vehicle on October 8, with President Lee Jae-myung watching from the test site. The weapon separated from its booster at altitude, dropped low, and maneuvered at more than five times the speed of sound before striking its target.

South Korea launched its first domestically developed hypersonic glide vehicle on October 8, with President Lee Jae-myung watching from the test site. The weapon separated from its booster at altitude, dropped low, and maneuvered at more than five times the speed of sound before striking its target.

Updated 4 hours ago

Power Grid acquires Lakadia II transmission SPV for 7,500 MW Gujarat renewables

Built World

Power Grid Corporation of India now owns all of Lakadia II Power Transmission Limited, the company building a 7,500-megawatt transmission link for Gujarat's Lakadia renewable energy zone. The state-run utility paid about Rs 18.43 crore for the project company, and its winning bid set annual transmission charges at Rs 1,152.49 crore, pending approval by the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission.

Power Grid Corporation of India now owns all of Lakadia II Power Transmission Limited, the company building a 7,500-megawatt transmission link for Gujarat's Lakadia renewable energy zone. The state-run utility paid about Rs 18.43 crore for the project company, and its winning bid set annual transmission charges at Rs 1,152.49 crore, pending approval by the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission.

Updated 4 hours ago