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Ministry says nearly 150 education staff hurt in student protests

France’s education ministry says nearly 150 staff have been injured since student protests began, including 20 on Monday. Those hurt include school heads, teachers and reception staff.

“I once again commend the remarkable quality and dedication of school leaders and all the staff who have been victims of attacks while protecting our most precious asset: the school.”
Édouard GeffrayFrance’s education minister

French magistrates’ council opposes Rachida Dati’s proposed return to judiciary

The council opposed a proposed judicial post for Rachida Dati, who faces corruption-related accusations. The justice minister will decide whether to follow its advice.

France’s 2027 budget could change taxes on pensions, donations and severance pay

France’s draft 2027 budget would raise income tax brackets with inflation and proposes other tax changes. Parliament is still debating the measures, which could be revised.

Lyon students continue protests, demanding more funding and better conditions

High school students in Lyon continued protesting over university admissions, school conditions and schedules. They want concrete government commitments and may march again on Saturday.

French high school students protest over school funding and Parcoursup

Students demonstrated in several French cities on 13 October, calling for €10 billion for high schools and the abolition of Parcoursup. Greta Thunberg joined students in Saint-Denis.

France puts public aid to businesses at €166 billion in 2024

France’s government says it provided €166 billion in public aid to businesses in 2024, using a broad definition. A narrower count totals about €60 billion.

French lawyers say police cannot seize student protest signs just for criticism

Lawyers say removing students’ protest signs in Paris because they criticize police can violate freedom of expression. They say a sign can be banned only on specific legal grounds.

French high school students held a fifth day of national protests on Tuesday, with about 200 schools blocked and demonstrations across the country.

The debate follows a protest in Paris the previous Thursday, where police checked students’ signs and took some away.

Lawyers consulted by franceinfo say police may ban a sign only if its message is an insult or offence covered by law.

Criticism of the police alone is protected expression, so removing signs for that reason can amount to censorship.

Read full story →

French finance inspectorate publishes confidential report on housing tax

France’s finance inspectorate published a previously confidential report on the housing tax reform. Its proposals could affect local authorities and may return to debate during the 2027 budget process.

France abolished the housing tax for primary residences while retaining it for second homes and vacant homes.

The IGF report was dated.

The IGF published the report, which had remained confidential until then.

Oxfam France challenges the state over tax inequality

Oxfam France has begun legal action against the state, arguing that its tax system fails to treat people equally. It says tax rules benefit the wealthiest.

Initial request
Filed 12 October 2026
Response period
Two months
Potential court
Administrative court
Dutreil Pact
Allows a 75% exemption from inheritance tax on qualifying business transfers

French students resume protests as a policing expert defends officers’ weapons

Students and high school pupils staged a fifth round of protests and blockades across France. A former gendarmerie general defended officers’ use of weapons while saying improper conduct is not excusable.

Student protesters Richard Caminade

Police response

Students denounced what they described as police violence.

Caminade said footage often did not show the context leading to violent behaviour and said non-compliant conduct was unacceptable.

Police weapons

Not stated.

Caminade said officers need weapons and intermediate force to respond to attacks and aggression.

French lawmakers vote to make grocery purchases with meal vouchers permanent

France’s National Assembly voted to let workers keep using meal vouchers to buy food in supermarkets. The bill also sets out a path to make the measure permanent from 2028, but must go to the Senate.

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

Nuremberg airport suspends flights after aviation emergency alert

Nuremberg airport in Germany suspended flights after an unclear aviation emergency was reported. Police said an aircraft landed safely, and the cause is under investigation.

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.

Court orders new hearing in case over passport error that stopped family’s Thailand trip

A passport error listing a child’s sex incorrectly stopped a Krasnodar family from travelling to Thailand. A court overturned earlier rulings and sent the compensation case back for a new hearing.

Hezbollah to offer up to $14,000 to Lebanese families with destroyed homes

Hezbollah says it will pay eligible Lebanese families whose primary homes were destroyed or made uninhabitable in the war with Israel, with payments spread over a year.

Polish foreign minister says a European army could form by 2030

Radosław Sikorski said a joint European force could be formed by 2030, possibly limited to the Baltic states and the eastern flank.

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.

MI5 chief Ken McCallum warned of growing state threats to Britain in a speech in London on Tuesday.

He said Iran had shifted towards targeting harder sites, including military locations, although he could not discuss an investigation into a suspected plot involving RAF Fairford.

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Tehran was highly likely to be behind that suspected plot, but Iran has denied involvement.

McCallum said Iran-linked operations had led to more than 50 arrests over the past year.

Read full story →

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 attacked people with knives while moving on an escalator in the supermarket building.

Shoppers subdued the suspect, and police arrested him.

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.

Vessel
DF Peak
Location
More than 450 nautical miles south of Réunion
Flag
Benin
EU sanctions status
Listed among the EU-sanctioned ships

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.

UK government Iranian government

Responsibility

Burnham said the incident was highly likely to have been coordinated in Iran and almost certainly directed by the IRGC.

Iran rejected any suggestion it was involved and called the accusation unfounded and malicious speculation.

Evidence

British authorities cited their assessment and said investigators found accelerants but no viable explosives in vans.

Iran called on Britain to present evidence supporting its allegations.

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

JP Morgan raises Apple price target to $360 despite iPhone demand concerns

JP Morgan raised its Apple price target from $340 to $360, saying reported iPhone 18 Pro production cuts may reflect normal adjustments. It expects the iPhone Duo to help offset a delayed base-model launch.

“there is nothing beyond the typical production adjustments Apple makes every year.”
JP Morgan analystsAnalysts

Apple reportedly cuts iPhone 18 Pro parts orders amid weaker demand

Apple has reportedly asked suppliers to reduce parts production for the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. One account puts October order cuts at 15% to 20%.

Mike Tomlin shares a 12-year Minecraft city project

The former Pittsburgh Steelers coach has launched a YouTube channel to show a sprawling city he built in Minecraft over 12 years.

Sushi-Con 2026 draws crowds to New York expo

More than 60 companies took part in Sushi-Con 2026 in New York, where visitors sampled Japanese foods and watched a bluefin tuna-cutting show.

AI Cited in Nearly 192,000 US Job Cuts Since 2023

Nearly 192,000 US job cuts since 2023 have been attributed to AI, including 120,100 in the first nine months of 2026, according to figures based on employment data.

IMF sees US inflation rising in 2026 before easing in 2027

The IMF forecasts US inflation at 3.6% in 2026 and 2.8% in 2027, with underlying inflation not returning to its 2% target until mid-2028.

UnitedHealth raises its profit forecast again as turnaround efforts advance

UnitedHealth raised its profit forecast again as its turnaround efforts gathered pace. No forecast figure or further details were provided.

UnitedHealth has raised its profit forecast again.

The company’s turnaround efforts are gathering pace, according to the headline.

A profit forecast is an estimate of how much profit a company expects to make.

The headline gives no new forecast figure or details about the changes behind the increase.

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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.

Warner Music sues Ray-Ban owner over alleged use of its music in ads

Warner Music Group sued Luxottica and affiliated companies, alleging they used at least 427 Warner works in social media marketing without licenses or payment.

Works cited
At least 427 Warner-controlled works
Defendants
Luxottica Group S.p.A. and five affiliated companies
Court
US District Court for the Southern District of New York
Followers
36.14 million combined social media followers, according to Warner’s law firm

Starbucks denies plans to buy Chipotle

Starbucks said it is not planning to buy Chipotle, contradicting a Financial Times report that it had been working on a possible offer. Starbucks shares rose after the denial, while Chipotle shares fell.

Starbucks Financial Times report

Takeover plans

Starbucks said it was not buying Chipotle.

The Financial Times reported that Starbucks had worked on a takeover offer.

Bison plans first drilling at Nevada’s Bald Peaks gold-silver target

Bison Resources has filed a notice for seven drill pads at Bald Peaks in Nevada. It is targeting a December 2026 start, after rock-chip assay results are due by the end of October.

Science & Tech

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.

“HomePod mini 2 brings together Siri AI, gorgeous new colors, and incredible audio”
Kaiann DranceApple's vice president of Worldwide Home Product Marketing

Apple reportedly plans HomeView smart home hub for November

Apple is expected to unveil its Siri-focused HomeView display on October 13 and begin shipping it around mid-November. A new Apple TV and HomePod mini are also expected.

GitLab fixes maximum-severity flaw that could let attackers run server code

The flaw could let attackers run code on affected GitLab servers without logging in. GitLab urges users of self-managed systems to install patched versions.

Ledger links CryptoBilis wallet implants to confirmed crypto thefts

Ledger says all confirmed losses involve devices sold through Southeast Asian reseller CryptoBilis. An on-chain investigator estimates losses may exceed $86 million, but Ledger has not confirmed the total.

NASA’s Perseverance rover sets record with 45.2km driven on Mars

Perseverance has driven 45.2km on Mars, surpassing the previous record held by NASA’s Opportunity rover. NASA says the rover’s autonomous navigation system handles more than 90% of its driving.

Scientists call for stronger safeguards against AI hacking

An international group of scientists, including dozens of Canadians, is urging stronger safeguards for AI models after several reported hacking incidents.

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.

Read full story →

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.

Apple unveiled the Apple Home Collection in collaboration with LG Electronics and Schneider Electric.

Availability of the lineup is scheduled to begin.

Some accessories are expected to launch.

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.

Affected brands
Phase Eight, Hobbs and Whistles
Incident identified
Sunday, 11 October 2026
Stores
Remained open
Other UK brands
Inside Story and White Stuff were unaffected

Honeybee stingers keep pumping venom after detaching from the insect

Researchers at Macquarie University filmed detached honeybee stingers pumping venom into a gel that mimics skin. Their findings reveal how the stinger’s tiny valves and lancets keep the venom flowing.

Sony Announces Japan-Only Midnight Black PlayStation 5

Sony will release a matte-black PS5 Digital Edition in Japan on Nov. 19 for ¥55,000. Buyers will need a separate disc drive to play physical games.

Sports

Bills beat Rams 37-34 in overtime for Josh Allen’s first OT win

Buffalo beat Los Angeles 37-34 in overtime after Josh Allen led a late drive and Tyler Bass kicked the winning field goal. It was Allen’s first career overtime victory.

“Guys kept chipping away, defense kept going out there making plays, special teams was big tonight”
Josh AllenBills quarterback

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.

Titans stick with Cam Ward as they face a 2027 quarterback decision

Tennessee coach Robert Saleh says Cam Ward will not be benched after the Titans fell to 0-5. His early numbers raise questions about whether the team may draft another quarterback in 2027.

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.

Rams lose to Bills and look to reset before facing Cardinals

The Rams lost 37-34 to the Bills, leaving them 2-3 despite gaining 454 yards. Puka Nacua said the team must regroup and define its identity before hosting Arizona.

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.

49ers lead Week 6 NFL power rankings as several 0-5 teams struggle

The 49ers remain No. 1 in one Week 6 ranking, while the Vikings rise and the 0-5 Chargers, Titans and Dolphins sit near the bottom.

Two Week 6 rankings assess the NFL after five weeks of the 2026 season.

One list keeps the San Francisco 49ers at No.

1, with the Kansas City Chiefs second and the Jacksonville Jaguars third.

The other ranking also puts the 49ers at the top and highlights the strength of the NFC West.

Read full story →

Jaguars left tackle Anton Harrison to have knee surgery

Anton Harrison will have arthroscopic surgery on his right knee after an injury against Philadelphia. His absence could last three to five weeks or the rest of the regular season.

Harrison injured his knee during Jacksonville’s 19-17 win over Philadelphia in London.

Reports said Harrison was set to have arthroscopic knee surgery, with his recovery timeline still uncertain.

Harrison is expected to have surgery when the Jaguars return from London.

The Jaguars are scheduled to play Houston at Wembley Stadium, with Walker Little expected to start at left tackle.

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.

Suspension
One game without pay
Teams
San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks
Players involved
Dre Greenlaw and Ernest Jones IV
Game result
San Francisco won 32-29

Rams' limited investment in special teams faces renewed scrutiny

After another overtime loss, coach Sean McVay again criticized the Rams' special teams. The team has ranked near the bottom in several measures of investment in that unit.

Two players ejected after opening-kickoff fight in London

Jacksonville’s Bryan Thomas Jr. and Philadelphia’s Jeremiah Trotter Jr. were ejected after fighting during the opening kickoff. A 90-yard Jaguars return for a touchdown was called back because of penalties.

Entertainment

Van Gogh painting unseen in public for 60 years goes on display in Hong Kong

Hundreds queued in Hong Kong to see Van Gogh’s 1890 painting “Chestnut Trees in Blossom,” ahead of a New York auction on November 18 where it is expected to fetch about $180 million.

“This is a moment of extraordinary optimism, frenetic energy, enthusiasm, passion, and colour in the artist's body of work”
Scott NiichelSotheby’s modern and contemporary art department in New York

Reece Weaver Extends Her Broadway Run in Chicago Through Nov. 15

Reece Weaver will play Roxie Hart in Broadway’s Chicago for two more weeks, through Nov. 15. She will also join the musical’s 30th-anniversary celebration on Nov. 16.

Renata de Almeida’s book looks back on São Paulo’s film festival

Renata de Almeida’s memoir recounts her life with the São Paulo International Film Festival, from its early challenges to encounters with filmmakers from around the world.

Jacob Tierney’s Book Offers a Behind-the-Scenes Look at Heated Rivalry

The creator of Heated Rivalry has released a collection of annotated scripts and behind-the-scenes material, and discussed how he adapted the hockey romance for television.

Prado opens first exhibition of artist Ricardo de Madrazo's work

Madrid’s Prado Museum has opened an exhibition of drawings, watercolors and personal documents by Ricardo de Madrazo, long overshadowed by his famous artistic family. It runs until January 17, 2027.

Vari Caramés wins Spain’s 2026 National Photography Award

The Spanish Culture Ministry has awarded photographer Vari Caramés the 2026 National Photography Award and its €30,000 prize, recognizing his contribution to artistic photography and Galician culture.

‘Hétero Sigilo’ uses a personal attack to examine gay concealment and masculinity

In a one-man show, Brazilian actor Bernardo Dugin draws on a homophobic attack in Nova Friburgo to explore hiding one’s sexuality and the pressures of masculinity.

Brazilian actor Bernardo Dugin performs a one-man show about hiding his sexuality in “Hétero Sigilo.”

The show grew from a 2023 incident in Nova Friburgo, where a priest made homophobic remarks about Dugin and his partner during a church service.

That attack prompts a wider account of Dugin’s childhood in religious schools and the silence he used to protect himself.

The performance also mocks gay men’s dating-app language and the pressure to appear conventionally masculine.

Read full story →

Xosé López García wins Galicia’s 2027 Diego Bernal journalism prize

The Association of Journalists of Galicia unanimously chose Xosé López García for the 2027 prize, citing his nearly five decades in journalism, teaching and research.

López began coordinating the Novos medios research group.

The University of Santiago de Compostela awarded López one of its Insignias Fonseca.

López taught his final class at the university, according to El Correo Gallego.

The Association of Journalists of Galicia announced that its board had unanimously awarded López the 2027 Diego Bernal prize.

Robert Zandvliet moves from everyday objects to large nature paintings

Robert Zandvliet first became known for paintings that captured everyday objects. He now paints nature on very large canvases.

Artist
Robert Zandvliet
Earlier subjects
Everyday objects, including a hairpin and chocolate
Current subject
Nature
Work
Stage of Being II

A roundup examines 14 inaccurate adaptations of Greek mythology

A new roundup names 14 films, books, games and shows it says depart from Greek myths, while noting that inaccuracy does not necessarily make them bad.

Kolkata paints roads with alpona designs ahead of Durga Puja

Kolkata’s roads and crossings are being decorated with traditional alpona designs as part of a city beautification drive ahead of Durga Puja.

Health

Early research links GLP-1 drugs to signs of slower biological aging

Early research suggests GLP-1 drugs may affect biological aging, but experts say the evidence is not strong enough to use them solely in hopes of living longer.

“My concern is that people could overread some of this stuff.”
Dr. James Kirklanddirector of the Center for Advanced Gerotherapeutics at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

UCLA specialists outline how doctors can choose between two MASH drugs

A UCLA-led review offers an algorithm to help doctors choose between resmetirom and semaglutide, the first two FDA-approved drugs for adults with MASH and moderate to advanced fibrosis.

Bimatoprost eye lens shows early promise for cataracts and glaucoma

A lens containing the glaucoma drug bimatoprost showed early promise in a randomized comparison with standard glaucoma therapy for people with cataracts and glaucoma.

Italian Registry Study Finds Avacopan Appeared Effective for AAV

An Italian registry study found that avacopan appeared strongly effective for ANCA-associated vasculitis, though the finding may not settle concerns about the treatment.

Inclisiran lowered LDL cholesterol more than bempedoic acid in a trial

In a study of 402 adults at high cardiovascular risk, inclisiran reduced LDL cholesterol more than bempedoic acid after 150 days. Similar overall rates of side effects were reported in both groups.

European groups issue guidance on two MASH treatments

Three European medical groups recommend considering resmetirom or semaglutide for some adults with non-cirrhotic MASH and significant liver fibrosis, alongside lifestyle changes and careful monitoring.

Syndax ends Niktimvo development for lung disease after Phase 2 failure

Syndax is ending development of Niktimvo for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis after the treatment failed a mid-stage trial.

Syndax is ending development of Niktimvo as a treatment for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, or IPF.

IPF is a rare lung disease.

The treatment failed a Phase 2 trial, a mid-stage study of a medicine.

The result means Syndax will not continue developing Niktimvo for this disease.

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Experts raise safety concerns about Neurocrine’s Prader-Willi drug

Vykat XR has been linked to seven deaths and nearly 100 hospitalizations since its approval, though case reports do not prove the drug caused them. Some experts are urging its withdrawal.

Vykat XR was approved to treat Prader-Willi syndrome.

An open letter about potential safety issues tied to the drug was released.

STAT reported growing alarm among patient advocates and some experts.

US FDA supports planned trial of StemSmart therapy for Crohn’s disease

The FDA supported most elements of NeuroScientific Biopharmaceuticals’ proposed phase two trial of its StemSmart cell therapy. The company aims to start the study in Australia and the US by the end of 2026.

FDA response
Positive responses to six of seven Pre-IND questions
Earlier study
18 patients; 78 per cent overall clinical response rate
Remission
44 per cent of patients in the earlier study
Planned trial
Phase two, in Australia and the US

Bristol Myers lung drug succeeds at lower dose, but higher dose misses target

Bristol Myers Squibb said admilparant slowed lung function decline in a Phase 3 trial of people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, but only the lower dose met the main goal.

Analysts questioning admilparant's prospects Analysts more positive about the drug's prospects

Dose response

The high-dose result was confounding and the lack of dose response raised questions about the drug's profile.

The lower-dose success could open a major commercial opportunity despite lingering questions.

Mirum reports late-stage trial success for Livmarli in rare liver diseases

Mirum Pharmaceuticals said Livmarli significantly reduced cholestatic pruritus in a late-stage trial involving ultra-rare liver diseases.