Topic, event or source
1369 stories
NHS England has issued new guidance under which transgender patients must be placed in hospital wards and use sanitary facilities according to their biological sex rather than their gender identity. The guidance follows the UK Supreme Court ruling of April 2025. Human rights organisations have expressed concerns about the practical implementation of the document.
High school student protests continue in France: more than 6,800 people have been detained, 86% of them minors, and the IGPN has opened 36 investigations. The government announced measures, including 3,000 substitute teachers and an additional €1 billion education budget, but student unions consider them insufficient. A nationwide action against the rising cost of living is planned for October 17.
St. Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov has expanded the list of activities for which hiring foreign workers on patents is prohibited until the end of 2026. The list now includes retail trade, beauty salons, hairdressing, massage parlors and sanatoriums, as well as certain areas of medicine. The restrictions do not apply to EAEU citizens and foreigners with work permits. Businesses have been given time until December 15.
The Committee for the Development of Competition and Protection of Consumer Rights reported violations of legislation in public procurement worth about 10 billion soums. Violations were identified in organizations of six regions, including road and medical institutions, a boarding school, and forestry. Cases have been initiated, mandatory instructions issued, and in certain cases materials were sent for legal assessment.
Bengaluru-based startup Scimplify raised $25 million in a round led by Hitachi Ventures at a $250 million valuation. The company uses its AI platform Scinode to speed up the development and production of specialty chemicals and critical materials, helping clients reduce dependence on Chinese suppliers. Annual revenue reached ~$200 million, and the company plans expansion into the US and Japan.
US President Donald Trump announced that the execution of former army psychiatrist Nidal Hasan, who shot dead 13 people at Fort Hood in 2009, will take place on December 3, 2026, but will not be streamed online. The decision followed widespread criticism in the US and abroad, including from the UN, lawmakers from both parties and dozens of retired military commanders.
Elon Musk said that speed restrictions on the Starshield satellite system, which the Ukrainian army uses for battlefield communications, are set by the US government, not SpaceX. He was responding to a post by former defense minister Mykhailo Fedorov. Kyiv suspects Washington of slowing terminals and of failing to warn about missile strikes; Trump denies this. Amid the dispute, Russia accused Ukraine of attacks on oil refineries, Kyiv called it fake, and Giorgia Meloni criticized the US-Russian diesel deal.
The National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change of Uzbekistan reported proposals from greenhouse operators in Tashkent and the Tashkent region to transition to 'greenhouses' using gas, electricity, and alternative energy sources; if not feasible, coal heating with filters would be permitted. Tests of filters based on Chinese technology conducted on September 30 and October 8 showed non-compliance with emission standards. Subsidies and tax incentives are being prepared for 'greenhouses,' while the ban on greenhouses without eco-friendly heating in the capital region will remain.
According to Reuters, which examined satellite images, construction of a large base for launching Geran-4 and Geran-5 jet-powered drones in the Rostov region is nearly complete. The DroneSec expert estimates its capacity at about 100 drones per day and suggests it could become operational in the coming weeks.
Saudi Arabia has approached Pakistan for assistance in air defense amid escalating attacks by Yemeni Houthis, The Wall Street Journal reported citing sources. The kingdom faces a shortage of interceptor missiles and is redistributing air defense batteries between royal palaces and energy infrastructure. According to the publication, the United States is currently cautious regarding Riyadh's requests for military aid, having sent only military advisors.
Bluesky executives — CEO Tony Schneider and COO Rose Wang — told TechCrunch Disrupt that the company will introduce payments in the coming months. This is the first step of an ad-free monetization strategy aimed at simplifying commerce, fundraising, and user support that already exist across the network.
Ireland's police detained a man aged around 20 and a woman aged around 30 over the suspected arson of a house in Waterford in which Kim and Philip English and their two children — 9-year-old Jayden and 12-year-old Callum — died. Two other children remain in critical condition in a hospital in Dublin.
EU leaders gathered at the European Council for a two-day summit on energy prices, the union's seven-year budget, support for Ukraine and deteriorating relations between the US and Europe. EU High Representative Kaja Kallas gave an exclusive interview to Euronews about the summit and Ukraine. Austrian minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger proposed giving candidate countries access to the Single Market as they carry out reforms, and Jordan's investment minister discussed cooperation with Brussels beyond the EU's commitment to provide around €3 billion.
A group of retired American generals appealed to the president and Congress to cancel the live broadcast of the execution of Nidal Hasan, sentenced to death for the 2009 shooting at Fort Hood base that killed 13 people. The execution is scheduled for December 3, 2026. According to CBS News, Trump has not yet made a final decision.
According to the Israeli TV channel N12 and Axios, over the past two weeks Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu have discussed the possibility of joint strikes on Iran several times due to concerns about the restoration of its nuclear program. Trump has not made a final decision: part of his circle favors military action, while most advisers favor sanctions. The US and Israeli militaries are on heightened readiness.
Anthropic has given six researchers from the nonprofit METR employee-level access — laptops, office space, and internal tools — for an independent evaluation of the company's models and safety practices. METR will be able to publish its findings without company veto, with limited exceptions for redaction.
Dr Lesel Dawson of the University of Bristol explained that when supporting a person in grief, what matters most is not words but presence itself. She shared her personal experience — the stillbirth of her sister when she was eight years old, and her mother's sense of guilt. According to Marie Curie research, 70% of people feel comfortable talking about death, but far from everyone has had such conversations with loved ones.
EU leaders gathered in Brussels for a two-day summit. The agenda includes rising energy prices amid the Middle East conflict, the trade imbalance with China and contentious negotiations on the 2028–2034 budget. Kaja Kallas called the US-Russia diesel deal a 'gift to Putin', Zelensky spoke of a feeling of 'betrayal' by Trump, and the FT reported a rejected American plan for frozen Russian assets.
