Iniaes

Housing and living-cost protests

Portuguese police dismantled affordable housing protest camps in Lisbon and Porto early Sunday, using dogs and batons and arresting more than 30 people. Officers cleared at least 100 tents in Lisbon and about 50 in Porto. Injuries among demonstrators were reported. The raids followed days of clashes with campaigners protesting Portugal’s deepening housing crisis.

In France, mostly peaceful protests over rising living costs and growing inequality saw outbreaks of violence for a second consecutive weekend, CNBC reports.

In the Middle East

Seven people were killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza, including three security guards killed in an airstrike on the Islamic University in Gaza City. The campus was hit in two attacks.

In Jordan, thousands mourned victims of a deadly church attack. The prime minister represented the king at a funeral for eight of those killed, while the search for the gunmen continued.

In Egypt’s Minya province, six young Christians, including a 17-year-old, were detained after posting a TikTok video recreating a comedy film scene. A rights group says the film had previously received official censorship approval.

In U.S. news

The Justice Department has demanded that California election officials set aside what it calls noncitizen ballots. The administration portrays noncitizen voting as a major nationwide problem, but its own investigations have found it is rare.

A Financial Times poll found about 69 percent of registered voters were concerned about corruption, self-dealing or conflicts of interest in President Trump’s second administration. Nearly half of his 2024 voters shared those concerns.

In Florida, police say 12 people, including multiple minors, were injured in a shooting outside Florida A&M University’s stadium after its homecoming game.

In Ukraine

Russian strikes killed four people and injured 28, Ukrainian authorities say. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia launched roughly 1,600 guided aerial bombs, 48 missiles and nearly 2,300 attack drones against Ukraine over the past week.

At the polls

Early reports suggest record turnout in Serbia’s elections, where a student movement is seeking to oust longtime leader Aleksandar Vučić. Brazil is also voting in a runoff between Lula and Bolsonaro, the son of imprisoned former President Jair Bolsonaro.

SpaceX and government access

Six former senior U.S. officials told Reuters that both the Biden and Trump administrations asked SpaceX to activate or disable Starlink service in different countries. Their accounts come amid a Starlink crisis in Ukraine that has highlighted Washington’s reliance on the company.

In Brazil

Voters are heading to the polls as President Lula seeks a fourth term. His challenger is Flávio Bolsonaro, the son of Brazil’s imprisoned former president.

In the Middle East

Israel has ordered West Bank crossings closed on election day as part of a wider clampdown in the occupied territory. The move follows the killing of two Israeli soldiers by Palestinian gunmen in Hebron earlier this week.

Separately, the Saudi-led coalition says it intercepted a drone and a missile launched toward Riyadh, along with ten missiles targeting southern Saudi Arabia, as fighting with the Houthis continues.

In the United States

President Trump announced that Audi will build its first U.S. factory in Macon, Georgia, according to the Wall Street Journal. Bloomberg reports that Trump made the announcement at a rally where he also defended his tariffs.

The Supreme Court declined three petitions asking whether the Fifth Amendment requires compensation when police seize or destroy private property. The cases involved a home damaged during a search at the wrong address, a printing business destroyed during a standoff, and cars seized over parking-ticket debts. Lower courts have taken different approaches to compensation requirements for police actions. Justice Sonia Sotomayor, joined by Justice Neil Gorsuch, urged courts not to let deference to police powers eclipse constitutional rights.

In England’s schools

Schools recorded 7,278 suspensions for sexual misconduct last year, up 12 percent from the previous year. That amounts to nearly 40 suspensions per school day. Children as young as five were among those suspended.

In Bulgaria

Bulgaria is voting for president after a campaign focused on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, rising energy prices and inflation. An increase in drone attacks on commercial vessels off the country’s Black Sea coast has also been a central issue.

In France

More than 1,300 people were arrested as clashes followed another day of mass protests. Hundreds of thousands took part in demonstrations across France, with protests also taking place in other European countries.

Storm warnings in Britain and Northern Ireland

Storm Boelo brought high winds to Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England overnight. The Met Office reported gusts reaching 80 miles per hour in exposed coastal areas and advised people in areas under an amber wind warning to stay indoors. Boelo was the second named storm in as many days, following Storm Austen on Friday.

In Serbia

Serbia is holding an early parliamentary election after two years of student-led anti-corruption protests. The student movement is challenging longtime leader Aleksandar Vučić and campaigning against corruption and authoritarianism. Polls show a tight race, with the vote testing his grip on a political system he has dominated for more than a decade.

In the West Bank

Israel says it will close all land crossings with the occupied West Bank on Tuesday, when Israelis vote in a general election. The military has also announced restrictions on Palestinian workers’ movement ahead of the vote. A lockdown in Hebron continues.

Cocaine-linked crime in Britain

A Guardian investigation finds that police forces across Britain recorded a 10 percent increase in crime associated with cocaine since 2019, including assaults, domestic abuse and dangerous driving. Separately, the Home Office estimates that cocaine use at sites across England has risen 26 percent since 2021.

The shooting near Florida A&M

Police say twelve people, including six children, were injured Saturday night near Florida A&M University during Homecoming Week. Eleven suffered gunshot wounds. One victim was in critical condition and two were seriously injured. The youngest was eleven. Tallahassee police say preliminary information points to an altercation before the gunfire. No arrests had been announced as of their latest update.

Britain’s war preparedness

Wes Streeting says Britain must be ready for war within a thousand days amid fears of conflict with Russia. Labour’s “Be Ready” campaign advises people to keep three days of emergency supplies, including canned food and bottled water. The party has also outlined tougher criminal penalties for tampering with undersea internet cables or energy pipelines.

The U.S. flu season

The CDC says the 2026–2027 flu season is starting early, with infections growing or likely growing in 44 states as of October 21. National activity remains low, and H1N1 accounts for most cases. Johns Hopkins virologist Andrew Pekosz says a new mutation may help the virus evade existing immunity, but its effects on spread and severity are unclear. Doctors are urging vaccination.

New York’s archdiocese

The Archdiocese of New York is nearing an $800 million sexual abuse settlement covering about 1,300 survivors, according to The New York Times. The agreement would also require public identification of clergy members and lay leaders credibly accused of abuse.

Protests in France

Hundreds of thousands demonstrated across France, with nearly a thousand people arrested as clashes followed another day of mass protests.

In Turkey

Thousands of people have protested across Turkey against the arrests of journalists and restrictions on independent media.

In France

President Emmanuel Macron has condemned a shooting in the Paris suburbs as a “racist terrorist attack.” A gunman opened fire from a car, killing one man and wounding five people. A 12-year-old girl was among those wounded.

Separately, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu urged four telecommunications companies to block social media during urban violence, according to a letter first reported by French outlet Blast. The request named Snapchat, TikTok and Instagram. Local media reported that X was added later. Lecornu accused the platforms of helping coordinate violence. Nearly 1,000 arrests were reported, with around 70,000 police officers deployed as protests that began over education funding spread.

At the polls

Bulgarians are voting for president, with the two leading candidates differing over Russia’s war in Ukraine. In Israel, thousands rallied against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of Tuesday’s election. And Brazilians vote Sunday in a closely contested presidential runoff between a left-wing candidate and the son of a Trump ally.

In AI copyright

Anthropic faces a lawsuit alleging it infringed copyrights on 274 Elvis Presley songs by using them to train AI models. Billboard reports that the suit was filed Friday and includes “Can’t Help Falling in Love” and “Don’t Be Cruel.”

In New York

The Archdiocese of New York is set to pay $800 million to around 1,300 sex abuse survivors who agreed to a settlement. It is one of the largest clergy abuse settlements in the United States.

In Myanmar

Aung San Suu Kyi’s son says she sounded mentally alert and physically strong during their first phone call in more than five years. Kim Aris told the Guardian that his detained mother appears to have no contact with anyone outside the military or police, leaving her effectively in solitary confinement. He described the call as a public relations move by military leaders.

In Alabama schools

State Superintendent Eric Mackey has approved the official Ten Commandments poster that public schools must display starting January 1, 2027. Under a law enacted in 2026, schools must use that design to comply.

On Iran

NewsNation reports that the Pentagon is drafting plans for attacks on Iran as Tehran threatens aggressive retaliation. The New York Times reports that Trump administration officials fear Iran is in the “advanced stages” of planning attacks against U.S. officials.

In Hebron

Israeli forces have demolished homes in Hebron, displacing Palestinian families. The crackdown follows the killing of two Israeli soldiers by two Palestinian gunmen on Friday and comes just days before Israel’s election.

In oil shipping

The Iran war has disrupted tanker voyages and reduced vessel availability, pushing freight costs to record highs and nearly eliminating the financial incentive to ship U.S. crude to Asia. Transporting a tanker of crude from the U.S. Gulf Coast to China cost as much as $80 million earlier this month, ten times the prewar average. Rates have eased from their early October peak but remain around $60 million.

In UK weather

Storm Boelo is disrupting travel and forcing event cancellations as amber weather warnings take effect. The Met Office says winds will peak from Saturday evening, with gusts of 60 to 70 miles per hour across the warning zone in Scotland, parts of Northern Ireland and the far north of England. Exposed coastal areas could see gusts of 80 miles per hour. The storm follows strong winds from Storm Austen on Friday.

In Nigeria

Police say gunmen killed at least 10 people in Binnari village in Taraba State, in eastern Nigeria. Police describe the attackers as a large group.

In immigration detention

An immigrant detained at the D. Ray James facility in Folkston, Georgia, died Friday, local and federal officials confirmed. Detainees there are refusing food to protest prolonged detention and poor conditions. A detained hunger striker, his wife, attorneys and advocates say federal immigration officials and private contractors have threatened hunger strikers with force-feeding.

In France

French officials confirmed nearly 1,000 detentions during nationwide protests marked by clashes, tear gas and water cannons. Authorities deployed about 70,000 officers, backed by armored vehicles and helicopters. President Emmanuel Macron announced that only rallies organized by officially recognized trade unions would be permitted going forward.

In New York

The Catholic Archdiocese of New York is finalizing an abuse settlement worth at least $800 million, according to an attorney for the plaintiffs. The agreement would cover more than 1,300 people who say clergy members and lay leaders sexually abused them, resolving a lengthy legal battle.

In China

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited China for the first time in more than a year to inaugurate a bridge linking the countries and thank China for its support. Separately, Chinese officials urged the U.S. Treasury to reconsider proposed restrictions on American technology investment in China, arguing they would disrupt trade relations. The proposed expansion includes restrictions covering hypersonic systems.

At Six Flags

Six Flags plans to reopen its Goliath roller coaster in Georgia with seatbelts after a rider died earlier this month. Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, a 42-year-old father and educator, was thrown from his seat. The park closed the coaster after his death.

In U.S. elections

The New York Times reports that the Justice Department is intensifying efforts to intervene in the midterms, including an effort to invalidate any potential Democratic victory in Alaska’s Senate race. The newspaper says President Trump is pushing the department as Republicans face the possibility of losing control of Congress.

Meanwhile, early ballots from registered Democrats and unaffiliated voters are increasing faster than those from registered Republicans in several states. Figures reported October 23 put the nationwide early-ballot total above 23 million, including more than 1.2 million accepted in North Carolina.

In drinking water research

A study in Cell Reports Sustainability suggests common calculations may undercount PFAS concentrations in U.S. drinking water by more than half. Researchers analyzed more than 1.8 million measurement records. Their model estimated average concentrations at more than twice the level calculated when results below laboratory reporting limits were treated as zero. Those results mean concentrations cannot be reliably quantified, not that PFAS are absent. The researchers stress that their models do not directly measure those concentrations or establish additional health risks.

In Israel

Thousands rallied against Benjamin Netanyahu’s government days before an election. Opposition figures joined protesters in Tel Aviv demanding an independent inquiry into October 7.

In France

More than 400,000 people protested nationwide in a challenge to President Macron. Clashes broke out as a Paris march ended Saturday. The government accused France Unbowed and Jean-Luc Mélenchon of stoking violence. The party denied the accusation.

In Albania

Thousands gathered for another antigovernment rally. In Tirana, more than 300 protesters and police officers were injured in the fiercest clashes in days.

In Brazil

Tens of thousands rallied for President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in Rio de Janeiro ahead of Sunday’s presidential runoff against Flávio Bolsonaro. Polls show the candidates tied after Bolsonaro won the first round with 47 percent to Lula’s 45 percent. Nearly 159 million Brazilians are set to vote.

In the Middle East

Israeli raids have forced more than 2,000 Palestinians from their homes in Hebron. The city is closed, and Israeli forces have arrested dozens across the West Bank. The operation follows the killing of two Israeli soldiers by militants at a checkpoint. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the large-scale operation days before closely contested Israeli elections.

The United States is reducing staffing at four Middle East embassies over threats from Iran. A reported October 23, 2026, intelligence memo to Secretary of State Marco Rubio warns that Iranian plots to kill Americans have reached advanced stages. The memo names no targets or attack dates.

In Jordan, gunmen attacked a funeral at a Greek Orthodox church Friday, killing nine people and injuring 40. State television footage showed three attackers approaching the church and opening fire. Authorities described the attack on the country’s Christian minority as a terrorist act by extremists.

Brazil’s presidential race

A poll shows Lula and Bolsonaro nearly tied ahead of Brazil’s presidential runoff, with the race tightening in recent days.

U.S. voting access

Mississippi election officials have changed 138 polling places since the 2024 election, according to the Mississippi Free Press. The changes include relocating voting sites for 112 precincts, closing 21 precincts and opening five. The outlet reports that consolidations have left the state with 16 fewer precincts.

In California, the Justice Department has ordered some counties to set aside ballots from people suspected of being noncitizens. The letters escalate a legal battle between the state and the Trump administration ahead of the midterm elections.

Britain’s nuclear test monitoring

Britain has commissioned an independent review of ways to reduce wind turbine vibration reaching Scotland’s Eskdalemuir seismic array, which helps detect underground nuclear tests. Options include putting sensors in boreholes and changing digital signal processing. Defense Minister Luke Pollard told Parliament that evidence considered so far has not shown the proposed alternatives provide viable protection for operational use.

Facial recognition in London

London’s Metropolitan Police plans permanent live facial recognition cameras on Oxford Street as early as December. Liberty is urging a pause until clear laws, safeguards and independent oversight are in place. The Met says a six-month Croydon pilot helped reduce crime by 10 percent and led to 173 arrests. Police say officers will be present when the cameras operate, with signs alerting the public.

Building collapse in Nairobi

Seven people have been reported missing after a building under construction collapsed in Nairobi’s Eastleigh district Friday. Rescue teams are searching the rubble amid concerns that people may have been inside occupied shops on the ground floor and in the basement.

In France

Police fired tear gas to disperse about 150 protesters outside Lyon 3 University, where demonstrations were banned. Separately, thousands marched in Orléans against a congress of Marine Le Pen’s hard-right National Rally. Left-wing politicians and trade union leaders joined that protest as the party gathered ahead of France’s 2027 presidential election.

In Russia and Ukraine

Ukraine says its Starlink and Starshield satellite connections are stable and operating at much higher speeds after a week of slowdowns that affected military and drone operations. The improvement followed a reported call from President Donald Trump asking Elon Musk to lift restrictions. Defense Minister Yevhen Khmara said on October 24 that equipment maintained stable connections while traveling faster than 249 miles per hour.

In Russia’s Oryol region, local authorities say three people were killed and five others seriously wounded in a reported Ukrainian attack on a factory.

Alaska’s Senate election

The Justice Department has filed a lawsuit seeking to block certification of Alaska’s Senate election if Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan narrowly loses, The New York Times reports. The filing came more than a week before Election Day. Election law specialists told the Times that the case lacked a legitimate legal basis. Law professor Richard Pildes said it should have no realistic chance of succeeding in court.

Fire at the Eagle’s Nest

German police detained a person they described as suspicious after a fire engulfed Adolf Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest retreat in the German Alps. Around 200 emergency personnel were deployed to fight the blaze. No injuries were reported at the building.

U.S. environmental rules

President Trump has exempted 202 industrial facilities across 39 states and Puerto Rico from clean-air regulations that were taking effect, according to The New York Times. The facilities include chemical manufacturers, copper smelters and coal-burning power plants. The newspaper reports that about 3.3 million people live within three miles of at least one affected site.

A separate administration rule reverses a 2024 ban on bear baiting on federal lands in Alaska. Hunters may again use food to lure bears for close-range kills. Opponents say the practice will make bears more aggressive around people.

Tennessee’s failed execution

Medical experts say IV procedures described in Christa Pike’s failed execution would amount to malpractice in another setting. Her lawyer, Randy Spivey, who witnessed the September 30 attempt inside the death chamber, says the team spent almost an hour trying to establish an IV line in her arms. Pike survived a normally fatal dose of pentobarbital. Spivey’s account was released Thursday in legal proceedings.

In France

France is preparing to deploy more than 70,000 police officers for protests expected to draw hundreds of thousands of people, a week after nationwide riots. During the October 17 unrest, fire largely destroyed Limoges Town Hall. Images released by the city council show extensive damage inside the historic building, which dates to 1883.

In U.S. defense spending

The Air Force has detailed a $20.7 billion sole-source contract with Raytheon for AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles. The award covers seven production lots and keeps the Tucson production line operating through mid-2033.

Separately, L3Harris says it received a three-year Army contract worth up to $60 million to develop a longer-range missile against small and medium drones. The Navy has also added $2.4 billion to Fluor Marine Propulsion’s contract for work at the Naval Nuclear Laboratory, which supports reactors powering Navy submarines and aircraft carriers.

In European economies

British retail sales fell more sharply than expected in September, followed by the steepest monthly decline in consumer confidence since the early pandemic. In France, Moody’s left the country’s sovereign credit rating unchanged. Economists described the decision as a brief reprieve while warning about mounting debt risks and worsening political and social tensions.

In the West Bank

Palestinians displaced by Israeli military operations face growing hunger after the United Nations World Food Programme cut food aid in half. The reduction adds to hardship for people already struggling after losing their homes.

Protecting Catfield Fen

A Norfolk couple has won a third legal victory in a decade-long effort to protect Catfield Fen. The High Court found that Natural England failed in its legal duty to protect the wetland from pollution after nitrates and phosphates washed in from farmland. The fen supports 2,500 species.

Spain’s deepfake election ad

Spain’s conservative People’s Party released an ad using AI-generated likenesses of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s wife and others linked to his Socialist party. The video falsely depicts them admitting to wrongdoing, including kickbacks and soliciting prostitutes. Its release on party social media has sparked outrage ahead of next month’s general election.

Safety-tip data exposed

Nevada officials are demanding answers from Navigate360 after a cybersecurity breach exposed data from approximately 8.3 million safety and crime tip records across the United States and Canada. The exposed information included confidential reports submitted through SafeVoice, Nevada’s anonymous school safety reporting service.

Iranian threats against U.S. personnel

A declassified U.S. intelligence memo sent to Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday warns that Iran has substantially increased efforts to target American personnel. The memo says lethal plots have reached advanced stages in the Middle East and other countries. A U.S. official confirmed the memo’s authenticity to Scripps News.

Officials say Iranian threats and Houthi attacks are informing embassy staffing decisions. On Wednesday, the U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia ordered all non-emergency personnel to leave.

A mosque faces eviction in India

The imam of a century-old mosque near the Indian prime minister’s residence says he has received an eviction notice. Muslims in India fear the historic mosque could be demolished.

Rubio’s appeal to Cubans

Rubio is also publicly inviting Cubans to pursue a discreet partnership with the CIA. In a Friday social media post, he said “now is the time” for those seeking to “create positive change.” He cited what he described as failed promises, corruption and privileged lives for only a few.

A cryptocurrency fraud prosecution

A Chinese national has been extradited to the United States in a case involving an alleged $36.9 million cryptocurrency investment scam. The defendant is accused of helping launder millions of dollars stolen from U.S. victims.

Storms threaten the UK and China’s coast

An amber weather warning covers much of Scotland, parts of Northern Ireland and northern England as Storm Boelo approaches. More wind and rain are expected, with thousands still without power ahead of the second storm.

In Taiwan, Typhoon Champi killed one person and injured more than 500 on Saturday. The storm uprooted trees, knocked out power and forced flight cancellations. Large parts of Taiwan, including Taipei, remained mostly closed. Champi weakened from super typhoon strength as it headed toward China’s coast, but Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration said gusts near its center were still reaching about 78 miles per hour.

Funeral shooting in Jordan

Authorities say gunmen killed seven people and wounded 40 during a funeral at a Greek Orthodox church in Karak on Friday. The city is about 110 miles south of Amman. Footage broadcast on state television showed two gunmen approaching the church and firing what appeared to be pistols.