WorldThe TelegraphBelarusian workers stage sit-ins to demand president's resignation
Hundreds of factory workers and students across Belarus staged sit-ins and rallied outside their workplaces and universities on Monday, in a bid to pressure president Alexander Lukashenko to step down. Mr Lukashenko has come under growing pressure from protesters after he won the rigged August presidential elections, which plunged the former Soviet republic into a protracted political crisis. The industrial action began on Monday morning after Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, an exiled opposition leader, issued an ultimatum for Mr Lukashenko to stop police violence, release all political prisoners and resign.
WorldReutersMalaysia's king rejects emergency rule in blow to PM Muhyiddin
Malaysia's King Al-Sultan Abdullah rejected on Sunday a request by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin for him to declare a state of emergency in response to the coronavirus crisis, saying that he did not see the need. The king's rejection is a major setback for Muhyiddin, who is facing a leadership challenge from opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim and infighting within his ruling coalition. Critics have denounced his proposal for emergency rule as an attempt to maintain his grip on power as it would help him avoid a potential showdown in parliament.
PoliticsBusiness InsiderHarry Reid says that Biden should spend 'no more than three weeks' testing Republican cooperation before eliminating the Senate filibuster
Former Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada said that if Joe Biden captures the White House and Democrats win control of the Senate, then the former vice president should spend "no more than three weeks" testing the waters for bipartisanship before eliminating the filibuster, according to the Associated Press. Reid, a 30-year veteran of the Senate and for Majority Leader, said that Democrats will have big pieces of legislation that will encounter hurdles in reaching the 60 votes necessary to push through legislation. "We should give the Republicans a little bit of time, to see if they're going to work with him," Reid said.
WorldThe TelegraphFrance may be at 100,000 virus cases daily as Molotov cocktails thrown at German public health agency
Pressure in France for local lockdowns is increasing after the government's chief scientific advisor estimated that the country is seeing 100,000 new coronavirus cases every day. On Sunday, 52,000 new Covid-19 infections were reported in France, another daily record - but yesterday Jean-François Delfraissy, the government's chief scientific advisor, said the true figure was probably twice as high. Dr Delfraissy joined other senior doctors in urging the government to introduce local lockdowns or a weekend lockdown that would effectively extend the current 9pm curfew in force in much of the country to weekends in order to limit social contacts.
PoliticsThe WeekTrump reportedly doesn't 'want to help some' GOP senators amid warnings of 'potentially catastrophic' election
Josh Holmes, a top adviser to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), told Politico he thinks the Republican Party could win more Senate races than people expect on Nov. 3, but the fact that there are so many close contests means "you could have a whole bunch of scenarios play out on Election Day." The worst-case scenario for the GOP, he said, is "potentially catastrophic." As it turns out, the party may not get that much help from President Trump when it comes to avoiding such a fate.
WorldReutersBelgian hospitals could run out of beds in fifteen days: official
Belgium could run out of beds in intensive care units within two weeks if the number of people in hospitals continue to increase at its current rate, an official said on Wednesday. The nation of 11 million people has Europe's second highest infection rate per capita after the Czech Republic, with new cases doubling every thirteen days and hitting a peak of more than 18,000 on Oct. 20, almost a ten-fold increase from the peak of the spring wave of the pandemic. The number of patients in intensive care units (ICUs) is doubling every eight days - to 757 as of Sunday - with 4,827 people in hospitals.
WorldAssociated PressMalaysia's king rejects PM's proposal to declare emergency
Malaysia's king on Sunday rejected a proposal by embattled Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to declare a state of emergency to fight a new outbreak of the coronavirus. The plan by Muhyiddin, which involves suspending Parliament, has sparked national outrage, with critics slamming the move as an undemocratic means for him to hang on to power amid challenges to his leadership. The palace said in a statement that Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah “is of the opinion that there is currently no need for His Majesty to declare a state of emergency in this country or any part of Malaysia."
WorldThe TelegraphSingapore halts use of flu vaccines after 48 die in South Korea
Singapore has temporarily halted the use of two influenza vaccines as a precaution after some people who received them in South Korea died, becoming among the first countries to publicly announce a halt of the vaccines' usage. South Korea reported that 48 have died as of Saturday after getting flu shots, but said it would carry on with the state-run vaccination programme as they found no direct link between the deaths and the shots. No deaths associated with influenza vaccination have been reported in Singapore to date, but the decision to halt the use of SKYCellflu Quadrivalent and VaxigripTetra was precautionary, the health ministry and the Health Sciences Authority (HAS) said in a stateme...
ScienceBBC'Murder hornet': First nest found in US eradicated with vacuum hose
The first nest of Asian giant hornets found in the US has successfully been destroyed by scientists. The nest, in the state of Washington, was found by putting tracker devices on the hornets and it was sucked out of a tree using a vacuum hose. The invasive species insects, known as "murder hornets", have a powerful sting and can spit venom.
WorldAssociated PressThai Parliament holds special session as protests continue
Thailand's Parliament began a special session Monday that was called to address political tensions amid near daily pro-democracy protests demanding the prime minister's resignation, constitutional changes and reforms to the monarchy. Even as lawmakers debated, the student-led rallies were set to continue with an evening march through central Bangkok to the German Embassy, apparently to bring attention to the time King Maha Vajiralongkorn spends in Germany. The scrutiny and public criticism of the monarchy that has been displayed by some of the protesters is unprecedented in a country where the royal institution has been considered sacrosanct.
U.S.USA TODAYTropical Storm Zeta forms with sights set on Gulf Coast, could be a hurricane by late Monday
Tropical Storm Zeta formed on Sunday with its sights set on hurricane strength and the beleaguered Gulf Coast. The National Hurricane Center expects Zeta to reach weak Category 1 status in the warm belly of the Gulf of Mexico by late Monday before coming ashore somewhere between Florida's western Panhandle and western Louisiana later in the week. The previous record for earliest 27th named storm was Nov. 29, 2005, according to Colorado State University hurricane expert Phil Klotzbach.
PoliticsReutersFour in ten supporters of Biden, Trump would not accept election defeat: Reuters/Ipsos poll
More than four in ten supporters of both President Donald Trump and his Democratic challenger, Joe Biden, said they would not accept the result of the November election if their preferred candidate loses, Reuters/Ipsos poll found. The survey, conducted from Oct. 13-20, shows 43% of Biden supporters would not accept a Trump victory, while 41% of Americans who want to re-elect Trump would not accept a win by Biden. Smaller portions would take action to make their displeasure known: 22% of Biden supporters and 16% of Trump supporters said they would engage in street protests or even violence if their preferred candidate loses.
U.S.INSIDERA white woman yelled 'f--- Black Lives Matter' at a Starbucks barista after she told her to wear a mask
An unnamed white woman yelled at Alex Beckom, a 20-year-old Black barista, after Beckom told her she had to wear a mask in Starbucks. The woman yelled "f--- Black Lives Matter" at the barista, falsely claimed she was being discriminated against because she is a Trump supporter, and said the coronavirus was a hoax. Starbucks has required all customers to wear masks in its stores since July.
PoliticsThe IndependentRudy Giuliani caught up in anti-Trump protests in Manhattan
Rudy Giuliani was caught up in anti-Trump protests in New York City as opponents of the president and his supporters confronted each other. Mr Giuliani was confronted outside Trump Tower as he sat in the passenger seat of a car talking to police officers and gave his abusers a thumbs up. Anti-fascist protestors took to the streets of Manhattan on Sunday to counter a pro-Trump rally that was taking place in the city.
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Blackburn: Trump will ensure COVID recovery quicker than Biden
Senate Judiciary Committee member Marsha Blackburn offers insight on the election as early voting in Tennessee breaks records.
U.S.USA TODAY'An incredibly tragic day for Ocala': Florida police chief Greg Graham killed in plane crash
A Florida police chief who had recently earned his pilot's license was killed in a small-plane crash on Sunday morning. The death of Greg Graham, who became Ocala's 30th police chief in January 2012, according to the Star-Banner of the USA TODAY Network, stunned the central Florida city northwest of Orlando. "An incredibly tragic day for Ocala.
PoliticsAssociated PressHouse already won? Pelosi thinks so, and reaches for more
With control of the House hardly contested, Pelosi is working to fortify Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and win extra House seats in case Congress is called on to resolve any Electoral College dispute with President Donald Trump. Pelosi said she feels so confident Democrats will keep the House this election, she's already preparing to win the next one in 2022. This year, I'm trying to win it two years in advance — by being so substantial in this election that as soon as we start into the next year, people will see our strength,” Pelosi told The Associated Press in an interview.
WorldReutersIsrael to start COVID-19 vaccine human trials on Nov. 1
Israel will begin human trials for a potential COVID-19 vaccine developed by a research institute overseen by the Defence Ministry on Nov. 1 after receiving regulatory approval, the ministry said on Sunday. The Israel Institute for Biological Research (IIBR) began animal trials for its "BriLife" vaccine in March. The Health Ministry and an oversight committee have now given the green light to take it to the next stage.
WorldThe TelegraphQatar airport accused of invasive passenger strip-search as it sought mother of newborn baby found in toilet
Australian officials have raised “serious concerns” with Qatari authorities after airline staff were accused of invasively strip-searching women, including 13 Australians, having taking them off a flight from Doha to Sydney. Flight QR908 to Sydney was due to leave Hamad International airport at 8.30pm but was delayed for four hours after a newborn infant, believed to have been prematurely born, was found in a terminal bathroom. A spokesperson for Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade told ABC it had raised the incident with Qatari officials.
PoliticsUSA TODAYYoung and progressive voters aren’t just ‘settling for Biden’ anymore. They’re going all in.
The general election is a week away and groups like Settle for Biden are hoping to be the push that gets young voters and progressives to the polls. Youth turnout jumps from 2014 to 2018 midterms Over the past several months, young and progressive voters have used social media to campaign amid the coronavirus pandemic and convince skeptical voters to support Biden. And Settle for Biden has gone from just an organization to a movement for many members of those key voting blocs.
PoliticsThe IndependentTrump news – live: President claims media is breaking ‘election law’ as ‘epic meltdown’ interview is released
Donald Trump is complaining on Twitter about “COVID, COVID, COVID” coverage in the media as he heads into the final week of campaigning, even suggesting reporting on a pandemic amounts to “election law violation” after the country recorded its highest number of new coronavirus infections so far over the weekend, reporting more than 84,000 cases on Friday and 79,000 on Saturday. The president's aborted interview with CBS show 60 Minutes was finally aired on Sunday night, with Mr Trump seen claiming his administration has done “maybe a great job” in fighting back against Covid-19 and losing his temper with presenter Lesley Stahl when she confronted with his own past comments on decrying “fake ...
BusinessBusiness InsiderAirbus created a remote-controlled aircraft with flapping wingtips to see how much it could increase efficiency
Airbus created the AlbatrossONE, a small-scale remote-controlled aircraft with wingtips that can flap like a bird during turbulence to better handle the strong gusts of winds. These hinged, flapping wingtips help reduce drag, therefore saving fuel and consequently decreasing carbon dioxide emissions. Airbus has completed two flight tests of the AlbatrossONE, and the most recent test in July used wingtips that were 75% longer than the ones used during the initial test.
WorldAssociated PressPope names 13 new cardinals, including 1st Black US prelate
Pope Francis on Sunday named 13 new cardinals, including Washington D.C. Archbishop Wilton Gregory, who would become the first Black U.S. prelate to earn the coveted red hat. In a surprise announcement from his studio window to faithful standing below in St. Peter's Square, Francis said the churchmen would be elevated to a cardinal's rank in a ceremony on Nov. 28. Francis asked for prayers so the new cardinals “may help me in my ministry as bishop of Rome for the good of all God's faithful holy people.”
WorldThe Daily BeastAttack Drones Dominating Tanks as Armenia-Azerbaijan Conflict Showcases the Future of War
Larger Turkish drones are also flying high above the disputed region and launching missile strikes. While the soldier in the ambulance has been unable to tell medics how he was so badly wounded, his head injuries and extensive burns are consistent with what they have seen with drone strikes, one doctor at the hospital in Stepanakert told The Daily Beast. He was damaged on the front line,” says one of the paramedics in the ambulance, “We see many of these injuries.
PoliticsReutersTrump asks Supreme Court to block deadline extension for North Carolina ballot
President Donald Trump's campaign again asked the U.S. Supreme Court on Sunday to block North Carolina's plan for counting absentee ballots that arrive after the Nov. 3 Election Day, the latest legal tussle in a wide-ranging fight over mail-in voting. The campaign initially filed the application on Thursday after a U.S. federal appeals court decision last week left in place North Carolina's plan, dealing a setback to Trump's re-election campaign. In a 12-3 decision, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last Tuesday denied a bid to halt the North Carolina State Board of Elections from tallying ballots postmarked by Nov. 3 that arrive before Nov. 12.
“Many are longtime Republicans wrestling with what they see as a choice between two lousy candidates.”
“Some undecideds turn out to be people who’ve long felt alienated from the two big political parties.”
“They’re not following the 24-hour news cycle. The election and politics are just not a high priority.”
“One common trait: at this stage of the game, the undecided voter doesn’t fit into an easy political profile.”
“More realistically...these voters may not be motivated to vote at all in the 2020 election.”