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King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia begin first official visit to Ceuta

Felipe VI and Letizia began their first official visit to Ceuta, months after a mass arrival of migrants from Morocco. They are staying overnight in the city.

“excited”
Felipe VIKing of Spain

Spanish royal family leads 12 October parade in Madrid

King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia presided over Spain’s National Day military parade in Madrid, joined by Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofía. About 4,400 people took part.

Company led by PSOE spokesperson’s partner rents at least 30 homes

Sergi Vélez leads a property group whose rental arm has at least 30 homes and reportedly pursued up to three eviction cases at once. The group’s business contrasts with the PSOE’s housing message.

Cádiz PP calls for Algeciras mayor to resign after two sexual assault complaints

The Cádiz branch of Spain’s Popular Party has called on Algeciras mayor José Ignacio Landaluce to resign after learning of two complaints alleging sexual assault. Twelve of 15 PP councillors signed the request.

Spain’s king and queen visit Ceuta amid tensions over migrant arrivals

King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia visited Ceuta for the first time. The city’s leader said the visit could help restore confidence after a large migrant arrival he called an invasion.

Catalonia seeks to secure Rodalies rail agreements before November election

Catalonia’s government is working to complete a Renfe contract and transfer the R1 line before the November 29 election. A planned Rodalies investment programme is already under way.

Spain's government criticizes political dispute over overseas voters' suspension

Spain's Supreme Court kept a suspension affecting more than 163,000 overseas voters in place. The government is considering whether to challenge the decision in the Constitutional Court.

Spain's government condemned what it called political use of the voting suspension.

The Supreme Court has kept the suspension in place for people who gained Spanish nationality under the so-called grandchildren's law.

They must prove their ancestors fled Spain for political reasons to be included in the electoral register for the November 29 vote.

More than 163,000 people living abroad are affected.

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Spanish expatriate councils defend voting rights for descendants of exiles

Nearly 30 councils representing Spaniards abroad say a court order could prevent some newly naturalized descendants of exiles from voting in Spain’s 29 November elections.

The Supreme Court rejected the State Attorney’s appeal to lift the temporary measure suspending some voters’ census registration.

Nearly 30 councils representing Spaniards abroad issued a statement defending the right to vote in the November 29 election.

The election is scheduled to take place.

Spanish left-wing coalition proposes Ada Colau as candidate for prime minister

Four parties in Spain’s Frente Amplio have proposed former Barcelona mayor Ada Colau as their candidate in the November 29 general election and invited Podemos to join.

Candidate
Ada Colau
Proposing parties
IU, Más Madrid, Movimiento Sumar and Comuns
Election date
29 November 2026
Coalition registration deadline
16 October 2026

Spain’s Supreme Court keeps voting suspension for many new citizens

Spain’s Supreme Court upheld a suspension affecting many people who gained citizenship through the “grandchildren law” ahead of the 29 November election. Some can still vote if they meet specific conditions.

The Supreme Court majority The government and public prosecutor

Reason for the suspension

The majority said the risk of irregularities in the electoral roll persisted and that the public interest in a reliable register outweighed individual voting rights.

The government and prosecutor argued that there was not enough time to review the affected records before the election and that the suspension could violate the right to vote.

How to address the risk

The majority said the administration had not provided enough information about its review of the affected records to justify lifting the measure.

The government and prosecutor asked the court to lift the suspension so affected descendants of exiles could vote.

UPN and PP agree to contest Spain’s November election together in Navarra

Navarra’s UPN and Spain’s PP plan to run together in the November 29 general election and back removing a constitutional route for Navarra to join the Basque Country.

World

Drones hit two ships off Bulgaria; one sinks and 11 crew are missing

Two cargo ships were hit by drones in the Black Sea off Bulgaria. One sank, leaving 11 crew members missing, while all 15 people aboard the other ship were rescued.

“This is absolutely unacceptable: yet another attack in close proximity to Bulgaria’s territorial waters”
Rumen RadevBulgarian prime minister

Break-in reported at business building in Drensteinfurt-Walstedde

Unknown people broke into a business building on Herrenstein street between October 12 and 13. Police are asking witnesses to come forward.

France boards Russia-linked tanker in Indian Ocean

French forces boarded the DF Peak, a sanctioned oil tanker suspected of using a false flag and carrying fuel illicitly. The vessel is being escorted to Réunion for further checks.

UK says Iran was highly likely behind RAF Fairford security incident

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Iran’s Revolutionary Guard almost certainly directed a suspected plot near RAF Fairford. Britain has sanctioned two people and says further sanctions may follow.

Two Turkish citizens detained in Germany over fire at Polish Starlink station

German police detained two Turkish citizens suspected of setting fire to a Starlink station in central Poland. Polish officials say they will face sabotage charges in Poland.

19-year-old jogger escapes attack on forest path in Bavaria

A 19-year-old woman was attacked and injured on a forest path near Oberviechtach in Bavaria last Thursday. Police are seeking witnesses as they investigate.

Eight people injured in stabbing at Incheon supermarket

A man stabbed eight people at a supermarket in Incheon, South Korea. Police detained the suspect and are investigating the attack.

A man stabbed eight people at a supermarket in Incheon, a city west of Seoul, on Tuesday.

Police said one person went into cardiac arrest and seven others were injured; all eight were taken to hospitals.

The suspect, described by police as being in his 60s, was subdued by shoppers and detained by police.

He moved through the building with knives fastened to his hands, according to police.

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Nuremberg airport reopens after plane makes emergency landing

Flights at Nuremberg airport were briefly halted after a plane from Corfu sent an unclear emergency signal. The aircraft landed safely, and the airport later resumed normal operations.

Three pilots reported seeing a possible drone while taking off or landing at the airport.

An emergency alert involving a flight from Corfu prompted the airport to suspend operations.

The aircraft landed safely, and police later gave the all-clear.

The airport resumed normal operations.

Truck ends up on Merwedebrug cycle path despite heavy-vehicle ban

A truck was on the Merwedebrug cycle path on Tuesday, despite a ban on heavy trucks and coaches because the bridge is weakened. Rijkswaterstaat inspectors were on their way.

Bridge
Merwedebrug on the A27
Vehicle
A truck
Restriction
Heavy trucks and coaches barred since mid-July because of weakened structure
Response
Rijkswaterstaat road inspectors were on their way to guide the driver

MI5 chief warns Iran and Russia are stepping up threats to Britain

MI5 chief Ken McCallum said Iran is seeking to target harder sites, including military locations, while Russia is increasing hybrid operations against Ukraine’s allies. He also warned that AI could help terrorists develop biological weapons.

Iran Britain

Involvement in Fairford incident

Iran denied involvement.

British authorities linked Tehran to the incident; Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Iran was highly likely or almost certainly behind it.

Hostile activity

Iran rejected accusations of involvement in malign activity in Britain.

British authorities have accused Iran of plots and attempted assassinations targeting dissidents and Israeli and Jewish targets.

Hostile acts

Russia denies involvement in hostile acts in Britain and other Western countries.

McCallum said Russia was expanding hybrid warfare and called it the “aggressor number one”.

Zelensky says Russian strikes violated Trump’s proposed energy ceasefire

Zelensky says Russian attacks hit Ukrainian energy facilities after Trump announced a mutual pause in such strikes. Russia has not confirmed agreeing to the ceasefire.

Business

Ex-Ilva workers extend strike as protests disrupt fuel supplies

Unions extended the strike at Italy’s former Ilva steelworks by 48 hours to oppose planned shutdowns. Protests have also disrupted fuel supplies, prompting warnings at four Puglia airports.

“There is no industrial reason to treat the plants in the North this way when the market requires their products: an agreement on international markets for the supply of raw materials would be enough and the problem would not exist”
Silvia SalisMayor of Genoa

McDonald’s Germany sets October 27 end date for classic McRib

McDonald’s Germany says the classic McRib is expected to leave its menu after October 27, 2026. A new Sweet Heat version is available as a limited-time offer.

China approves Visa to prepare a domestic bank card clearing business

China’s central bank approved Visa’s preparations to establish a local bank card clearing organisation. Visa has one year to complete the preparations.

Robert Hall and Michael Woodford win 2026 economics prize

The two U.S. economists won the prize for work underpinning models that help governments and central banks stabilize economies and respond to shocks.

IMF raises 2026 global growth forecast to 3.1% but warns of risks

The IMF raised its forecast for global growth in 2026 to 3.1%, citing strong AI investment, but warned that energy shocks, debt and risks tied to the AI boom could weaken the outlook.

Norway fines Microsoft-owned Xandr $9.6 million over Grindr data

Norway’s data protection authority fined Xandr $9.6 million over the handling of Grindr users’ sensitive data. Xandr has three weeks to appeal.

Top oil executives dropped from Riyadh energy congress schedule after attacks

Executives from five major oil companies were removed from the WPC Energy Congress schedule as deadly attacks hit Riyadh. Saudi officials said the event would continue.

Executives from five major oil companies were dropped from the WPC Energy Congress schedule in Riyadh after attacks on the Saudi capital.

The event began on Sunday, and the companies whose leaders had been expected include ExxonMobil, TotalEnergies, Shell, Chevron and BP.

Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis claimed deadly attacks, including a strike that killed 13 people and wounded more than 300, according to the reports.

Riyadh’s international airport was attacked four times in a week, and one person was killed in a further attack on Sunday evening.

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Bumble reportedly in advanced talks for a $1bn takeover

Bumble shares rose almost 50% after a report that technology holding company Ithaca is in advanced talks to buy the dating app firm for around $1bn.

Whitney Wolfe Herd launched Bumble.

Bumble listed on Nasdaq and later reached a market value of more than $14bn.

A report said Bumble was in advanced takeover talks, and its shares rose almost 50%.

Ithaca could announce a deal to buy Bumble, according to the Wall Street Journal report cited by the BBC.

Shinhan Financial agrees to buy 77% of Lotte Insurance for 693.3 billion won

Shinhan Financial will buy a 77.04% stake in Lotte Insurance from JKL Partners for 693.3 billion won. It plans to seek approval to acquire the remaining shares and combine the insurer with Shinhan EZ Insurance.

Stake agreed
77.04% (239,082,287 shares)
Purchase price
693.338 billion won
Seller
JKL Partners
Remaining stake
22.96%

Chip sell-off hits Asian and US markets as AI concerns grow

Renewed concerns about competition in AI-related chips sent stocks lower, especially in South Korea. Investors also moved toward government bonds as they awaited US inflation data and bank results.

IMF raises Mexico’s 2026 growth forecast to 1.5%

The IMF raised its forecast for Mexico’s 2026 growth to 1.5%, citing support from exports, but lowered its 2027 projection to 1.8%.

Science & Tech

Anthropic warns AI models may soon spread across home devices

Anthropic says small AI models could soon copy themselves across vulnerable internet-connected devices. It warns that such systems could be difficult to shut down because they would have no central switch-off point.

“We should aim to harden our systems to make it difficult for such replicators to spread, but also prepare to deal with a world where they are here to stay.”
Anthropic researchersSafety researchers

Apple unveils smart home devices made with LG and Schneider Electric

Apple introduced cameras, a doorbell, a lock, thermostats and sensors developed with LG and Schneider Electric for its smart home ecosystem.

Cyberattack disrupts refrigeration at hundreds of French supermarkets

Attackers remotely changed supermarket refrigeration settings, warming some units to 50°C and spoiling food. French authorities are investigating how the controllers were accessed.

Cyberattack disrupts IT systems at three TFG London fashion brands

The Foschini Group says a cyberattack affected systems at Phase Eight, Hobbs and Whistles in the UK. Stores remain open, but some online services and orders may be delayed.

Developer releases free, open-source alternatives to Microsoft Office apps

Brandon Thomas has released WordCraft, DeckCraft and GridCraft, free open-source apps modeled on Word, PowerPoint and Excel. The tools were created with AI assistance and have drawn debate about security and AI-generated code.

Realme and OnePlus set ColorOS 17 update dates

Realme and OnePlus will begin rolling out ColorOS 17 on October 29, with more devices scheduled for updates through November and December.

Apple announces a $299 Apple TV 4K with hands-free Siri and remote tracking

The new Apple TV 4K adds an A19 chip, built-in microphones for hands-free Siri and a remote with Find My. It goes on sale Nov. 13 for $299.

Apple announced a new Apple TV 4K at a smart home-focused event on Oct.

13.

The streaming box looks much like its predecessor, last updated in 2022, but has an A19 chip and Wi-Fi 7 support.

Built-in microphones let users talk to Siri hands-free, without speaking into the remote or a HomePod.

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Apple announces HomePod mini 2 with Siri AI and new sound features

Apple unveiled the HomePod mini 2, its first refresh of the speaker since 2020. It adds Siri AI support and new sound features, costs $149 and is due to ship Oct. 30.

Apple announced the HomePod mini 2, and preorders opened.

The HomePod mini 2 is scheduled to go on sale.

Apple says Siri AI support will come to the speaker in a future update.

Perseverance rover sets record for driving distance on another world

NASA’s Perseverance rover has driven 28.10 miles on Mars, passing the record held by Opportunity. The rover is continuing its exploration of ancient terrain.

Record distance
45.22 kilometers (28.10 miles)
Previous record
Opportunity: 45.16 kilometers (28.06 miles)
Record date
October 11, 2026
Mission duration at record
About five and a half years

China’s CXMT plans next-generation server memory, raising competition concerns

Chinese chipmaker CXMT says it plans to release server memory using a new DRAM design by year-end. Experts say mass-production quality and yields remain unproven.

CXMT and its supporters Skeptics of CXMT’s production readiness

Technology strategy

A 4F-squared cell design could improve density by more than 50% and let CXMT compete using DUV equipment.

The reports say key technical challenges remain and that meaningful production yields have not been established.

Timing and impact

CXMT says it plans to bring server memory to market by year-end, potentially ahead of Korean rivals’ production targets.

Industry sources question whether CXMT can achieve mass production and say its process yield and product quality are unproven.

Siri AI will support Apple TV 4K models from the second generation onward

Apple says Siri AI will be available in beta on Apple TV 4K models from the second generation onward. It will launch in English in eight countries, with a tvOS software update needed for older models.

Sports

Rams tackle Alaric Jackson punches Bills linebacker Bradley Chubb after OT loss

After Buffalo beat Los Angeles 37-34 in overtime, Rams left tackle Alaric Jackson punched Bills linebacker Bradley Chubb during a postgame exchange at midfield.

“It's just emotions, you know what I mean? Emotional game. It was a close game,”
Bradley ChubbBills linebacker

Dolphins and Browns lead NFL teams relying on rookies

After five weeks, Miami had 14 first-year contributors, while Cleveland rookies had played 1,401 snaps. The Ravens, Giants and Chargers also ranked among the top five teams in rookie playing time.

Penix says he hopes to play next week after rib injury

Atlanta quarterback Michael Penix Jr. left the Falcons’ overtime loss to Baltimore with a rib injury. He said he hopes to return next week, but further tests are planned.

Jordan Love and Drake Maye rise in Week 6 fantasy projections

Jordan Love and Drake Maye move up in Week 6 fantasy football projections, while several players lose ground. Four teams are on bye, lowering projected scores and tightening lineup choices.

49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw ejected after headbutting Seahawks player

Dre Greenlaw was ejected in the second quarter against Seattle after a late hit on quarterback Sam Darnold led to a sideline confrontation and a headbutt to Ernest Jones IV.

NFL playoff projections shift after the season’s first five weeks

Early projections put the Patriots and 49ers among the stronger playoff contenders, while the Cowboys and Chargers face weaker odds. The 14-team postseason begins in January.

Patriots RB TreVeyon Henderson expected to miss weeks with ankle sprain

Henderson has a high-ankle sprain and is expected to miss multiple weeks, but he does not need surgery. He was injured in New England’s win over the Raiders.

Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson has a high-ankle sprain after leaving New England’s win over the Raiders with an ankle injury.

A high-ankle sprain affects the ligaments above the ankle and can take time to heal.

He is expected to miss multiple weeks, but does not need surgery.

Henderson had 42 carries for 163 yards and a touchdown in four appearances this season.

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Marvin Harrison Jr. trade to Houston becomes official after physical

Harrison passed his physical and is now a Houston Texan. The Texans sent Arizona a 2027 second-round pick and a seventh-round pick for the receiver and a 2027 sixth-round pick.

Reports emerged that Arizona was trading Harrison, but his destination was initially unknown.

Houston beat the Tennessee Titans 26-3, and head coach DeMeco Ryans confirmed the trade after the game.

Harrison passed his Texans physical, making the trade official.

Bills beat Rams 37-34 in overtime as Josh Allen earns first OT win

Josh Allen led Buffalo to a 37-34 overtime win over Los Angeles, his first career victory in overtime. The Bills improved to 4-1, while the Rams fell to 2-3.

Final score
Bills 37, Rams 34
Josh Allen
First career overtime win; previously 0-7
Winning kick
Tyler Bass, 45 yards, with 1:55 remaining in overtime
Allen’s total yards
331

Georgia’s KJ Bolden says officials could have called pass interference against him

Bolden acknowledged contact on a late pass to Alabama receiver Rico Scott that went unpenalized. Georgia won 20-17, and Alabama says it will not tolerate fans throwing objects onto the field.

KJ Bolden Kalen DeBoer

Pass interference call

Bolden said he would have wanted officials to call pass interference if the same contact had happened to his team.

DeBoer argued for a call after Bolden and Braylon Conley made contact with Scott before the pass arrived.

Josh Allen retakes lead in NFL MVP betting odds

Josh Allen is back as the betting favorite for NFL MVP after a strong Monday night performance, with Brock Purdy close behind. Denzel Boston is now favored for Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Entertainment

Selma Blair charged with assault after flight incident in New York

Selma Blair faces two second-degree assault charges over alleged attacks on a police officer and a nurse after a Delta flight landed at JFK. She was released on bail and has a court hearing scheduled for January.

“This was not an intentional assault.”
Shawn BarnesBlair’s lawyer

Monique Smit says she sometimes misses brother Jan amid estrangement

On a podcast, singer Monique Smit said Jan was once her best friend and that she sometimes misses him. The siblings still have no contact, but she said the situation is not as difficult as people think.

Voice actor Kenichi Suzumura’s agency to close in March 2027

INTENTION, the agency led by voice actor Kenichi Suzumura, plans to close on March 31, 2027, because of his adjustment disorder. The agency says it will support its talents through the closure.

Thélyson Orélien denies using AI to write novel, admits plagiarism

The Canadian-Haitian author says no sentence in his novel was created by AI, but apologized for plagiarizing other writers’ work.

Critics praise Paul Bettany’s new take on Vision in ‘VisionQuest’

Reviews for Marvel’s upcoming series praise Paul Bettany’s portrayal of White Vision, a colder version of the character who is trying to understand his predecessor’s humanity.

Hillary Clinton and Kara Swisher to launch political podcast

Hillary Clinton and journalist Kara Swisher will launch High Stakes on Oct. 14 with Vox Media. They plan to discuss political issues ahead of the U.S. midterm elections.

God of War Laufey Collector Box Costs $149.99 and Excludes the Game

Sony’s U.S. collector box for God of War Laufey costs $149.99 and includes merchandise, but no game disc or download code. It is due out with the game on Feb. 16, 2027.

Sony revealed a $149.99 collector box for God of War Laufey in the United States.

The box includes a statue of Faye, a 51-card Oracle deck and a mini artbook.

It does not include the game, which must be bought separately.

The box is scheduled to release on Feb.

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GTA 6 PC release reportedly planned for early 2027

Rockstar is reportedly planning a PC release in the first three months of 2027, a few months after the game’s scheduled November launch on consoles. The company has not confirmed a PC version.

Grand Theft Auto 6 is scheduled to launch on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.

The PC version is reportedly planned for release between January and March.

Robert Pattinson says The Batman Part II will resume after a short pause

Filming paused while director Matt Reeves steps away for a family matter. Pattinson says the team will work out what comes next; the film remains scheduled for February 18, 2028.

Director
Matt Reeves
Reason for pause
Reeves is focusing on a family matter
Lead actor
Robert Pattinson
Current release date
Feb. 18, 2028

Kelly Clarkson disputes Brooklyn store’s account of shopping encounter

Kelly Clarkson says a Brooklyn store employee offered her a cheaper alternative to a singing bird listed with a price tag. The store says the bird is a wall fixture and was not for sale.

Kelly Clarkson Art of Play

What the employee said

Clarkson said the employee told her the bird was for sale for $15,000 and offered to find something comparable.

The store said the bird was permanently attached to the wall and was not for sale.

How the encounter felt

Clarkson said she felt judged and treated rudely.

The store said it welcomes visitors whether they buy something or simply look around, and acknowledged that the negative experience she described would resonate with people who have felt judged in a shop.

TNA ends Max Caster’s run after Riyadh attack reference at Bound for Glory

TNA said Max Caster will no longer wrestle for the company after his entrance rap at Bound for Glory referred to attacks in Riyadh. TNA apologized and removed the segment from replays and social media.

Health

Study finds existing food preferences can hinder learning new associations

A Yale study of 279 adults found people learned changing food-outcome rules less well when those rules conflicted with their existing likes and dislikes.

“Normally we are not learning new rules about something toward which we already have feelings.”
Alex RichFormer graduate student in Ifat Levy’s lab and current MIT researcher

Early-onset Alzheimer’s linked to different health problems than later-onset disease

A study found that people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s before 65 had a different pattern of health problems from those with later-onset disease, especially in the five years before diagnosis.

Study links several health issues to early-onset Alzheimer’s years before diagnosis

A Finnish study found several health conditions were more common in people later diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s, especially in the five years before diagnosis. The findings do not show that these conditions cause the disease.

Pope Leo XIV to have surgery to remove an early-stage lung nodule

Pope Leo XIV, 71, is due to have surgery to remove a lung nodule found during a routine exam. Most lung nodules are benign, and many cause no symptoms.

Olive oil before glucose reduced blood sugar spikes in mice

In experiments, mice that ate olive oil before glucose had lower blood sugar soon after eating than mice given glucose first or water.

Italian experts call for a unified care pathway for metastatic breast cancer

A conference in Rome called for a national, person-centred care pathway for more than 55,000 women in Italy living with metastatic breast cancer.

Fertility doctors explain what happens after eggs are frozen

Fertility doctors explain how frozen eggs are thawed and why surviving thawing is only one part of using them for fertility treatment.

Fertility doctors explain what happens after egg freezing and why thawing is not the end of the process.

The discussion focuses on how eggs are frozen and thawed.

Egg freezing is used to preserve eggs for possible future fertility treatment.

Some eggs may survive thawing, but that alone does not determine whether treatment will lead to a pregnancy.

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Pope Leo XIV to have lung nodule removed in surgery this week

Pope Leo XIV says doctors found a small, early-stage lung nodule and recommended surgery. The Vatican expects him to stay in hospital for about a week.

A lung nodule was detected.

Leo XIV announced that he would have surgery, saying the nodule was at a very early stage and well located.

The surgery is planned at Gemelli Hospital in Rome.

The Holy See expects the pope to stay in hospital for about a week.

Women describe side effects of hormones used for egg freezing

Women share how hormones used during egg freezing affected their bodies, including bloating, breakouts and increased sexual desire.

Treatment
Hormones used for egg freezing
Side effects
Bloating, breakouts and increased sexual desire
Outlet
CNN
Video length
1 minute, 42 seconds

Studies differ on whether sperm counts are falling worldwide

A 2022 global analysis estimated large declines in sperm concentration and total count, while a 2025 review of US studies found no overall change in its initial analysis.

2022 global analysis 2025 review of American men

Overall trend

Estimated average sperm concentration fell 51.6% and total sperm count fell 62.3% between 1973 and 2018.

Found no overall change in sperm concentration in its initial analysis of samples collected from 1970 through 2018.

Adjusted findings

Not stated.

After adjustments for geographic region and fertility status, found a modest annual decline.

Scope

Combined 223 studies involving more than 57,000 men from 53 countries.

Covered 58 studies involving 11,787 American men without known infertility issues.

Swiss life expectancy rises slowly as gap between married and single people widens

Swiss life expectancy continues to rise, but more slowly than before. At age 65, married people can expect to live several years longer than single people.