söndag 4 oktober 2026
US recalls bombers
The US Air Force is recalling all bombers from a UK airbase following suspicions of a planned terrorist attack, an official told the AP.
Five men were arrested in an operation in late September, suspected of planning a terrorist attack against RAF Fairford airbase. Another man was arrested in London shortly thereafter.
The base has been used by US bombers during decades of conflict in the Middle East, including this year's war against Iran.
Latest news
Middle East Crisis Houthi Rebels
Yemen’s government declares all-out war against the Houthis
Yemen’s internationally recognized government has declared all-out war to retake the country from the Houthi militia. President Rashad al-Alimi announced the move in a televised address, according to the BBC.
"Today, I announce the start of military operations to retake the republic's territory and restore state authority across the entire country," he said.
The announcement follows the Iran-backed Houthis cutting off the main road between the city of Taiz—where the fiercest fighting is raging—and Aden, the interim capital of the Saudi-backed government.
The capital, Sanaa, which has been controlled by the Houthis for over a decade, has recently been the target of extensive attacks by government forces. Sources from both sides have told AFP that around 70 people were killed on Sunday alone.
This autumn, the Houthis have seized a large part of the Red Sea coast and the vital Bab al-Mandeb Strait in a lightning offensive.
Political situation in France
Hundreds of French schools to remain closed this week
Between 400 and 500 schools will remain closed on Monday amid ongoing student protests in France, official Édouard Geffray announced, according to The Guardian.
Twenty-four schools have been "burned or looted" since the protests began in Paris last week, he added. At least 5,000 people, mostly teenagers, have been arrested. Dozens of people have been injured, including teachers and students.
The teenagers are protesting against a range of issues regarding school conditions: grueling schedules, teacher shortages, dilapidated buildings, and an unfair university admissions system. In many places, the protests have spiraled into widespread violence and vandalism.
Extreme weather in Europe
At least two dead in torrential rain in Spain – one missing
At least two people have died and one is missing following torrential rains in Catalonia, northeastern Spain, AFP reports.
One of the fatalities occurred when a wall collapsed at a campsite, while another person drowned in a flooded garage. One of the deceased is a 102-year-old woman.
The heavy rains have battered Catalonia and the central region of Castile-La Mancha over the weekend; next in line is the northern region of Girona, bordering France.
Residents in Girona have been urged to stay indoors in areas near the Ridaura and Daro rivers, which have flooded.
The problems of mass tourism
Fries-eating was the last straw in Amsterdam: "Mayonnaise on the beautiful stonework"
Residents of one of Amsterdam’s upscale neighborhoods are demanding the closure of Fabel Friet, a fast-food restaurant that has gone viral on TikTok, reports *The Guardian*. Nineteen people have taken the matter to court, arguing that customers eating fries litter the picturesque street and attract vermin.
According to the residents, the restaurant’s popular fries generate long queues from morning until night, seven days a week. “Eating on the street is shameful behavior. It leaves food messes on our steps and mayonnaise on the beautiful stonework,” says resident Thomas van Leeuwen, describing the situation as a “war.”
The case went to court earlier this week, where a lawyer argued that Amsterdam’s local authorities have the right to revoke business licenses if restaurants fail to manage their operations properly.
Fabel Friet defends itself by pointing out that it has hired a cleaning service to work seven days a week.
Death penalty in the US
Christa Pike remains on a ventilator
Christa Pike remains unconscious and is being treated on a ventilator in the hospital, four days after the botched execution attempt. This was stated by her lawyer, according to the AP.
It may take several more days before the extent of her injuries is known, the lawyer added.
Pike, who was convicted in 1996 of murdering a classmate, survived a failed execution attempt involving the sedative pentobarbital. The cause is believed to be that her veins ruptured and the alkaline substance leaked into her body, resulting in tissue damage.
The warden of the Tennessee prison announced his resignation yesterday following the incident.
TOP NEWS
Terror plot against English airbase
US flies aircraft home from threatened English base
The US is flying all its B-1 bombers home from the English airbase RAF Fairford after six men were arrested on suspicion of plotting a terror attack against the base; the Pentagon confirmed this, according to the *Wall Street Journal*.
The Americans have used the base as a hub for air strikes against Iran and, until recently, had twelve B-1s stationed there.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has stated that there are "strong indications" that the terror plot was linked to Iran. One of the arrested men holds both British and Iranian citizenship.
The US military was reportedly also aware of a plot—linked to Iran—to blow up aircraft and kill personnel at the base.
The new space race
Major powers aim to be first to place a reactor on the Moon
The US, China, and Russia are competing to be the first to place a nuclear reactor on the Moon, the *New York Times* reports.
China and Russia plan to have one in place by 2036, prompting NASA to accelerate its schedule. In late August, the agency asked subcontractors to build a reactor by 2030 capable of withstanding space travel and operating without maintenance near the lunar south pole.
The goal is to provide power to a lunar base—a milestone all three nations aim to achieve first. From such a base, they could search for lunar ice and launch expeditions reaching even deeper into space than is currently possible. However, experts warn that the race is moving too fast. Many rockets explode during launch, which could trigger a devastating chain reaction if a nuclear reactor were on board.
Stock market sentiment
Interest rate rally sparks AI concerns: "Everything looks calm on the surface"
Unbridled optimism surrounding the AI economy has driven Wall Street to new record highs following the spring slump linked to the Middle East crisis. At the same time, however, market interest rates—which determine the cost of borrowing—have risen sharply, fueling growing concerns in the US about a potential stock market drop, according to Bloomberg.
"The S&P 500 index is like a duck on the water. On the surface, everything looks calm, but underneath, the feet are paddling furiously," says Chris Galipeau, market strategist at Franklin Templeton.
The yield on the 10-year Treasury note rose above 5.3 percent last week for the first time since 2002. It last climbed above 5 percent in 2023, a year in which Wall Street surged 24 percent. The difference now is that tech giants cannot rely on their cash reserves but must borrow to finance the expansion of AI, notes Bloomberg expert Robert Schiffman.
Brazil's presidential election
Early lead for Bolsonaro in Brazil's pivotal election
Right-wing challenger Flávio Bolsonaro—son of imprisoned former president Jair Bolsonaro—holds an early lead in the vote count for Brazil's presidential election. With approximately 20 percent of the votes counted, he has secured 51 percent, compared to 40 percent for the incumbent left-wing president, Lula da Silva. The other candidates have less than three percent.
If no candidate receives more than 50 percent in this weekend's first round of voting, the election will proceed to a second, decisive round.
Two dead in Spain – heavy rain warning issued
Catalan authorities have issued a warning for heavy rain in the region. The Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs is also urging Swedes in the area to exercise caution.
A man in the municipality of Tordera has died after a wall collapsed due to the storm, Spanish media report. Another person in the region has died and one is missing, according to the public broadcaster RTVE.
Residents living near the Besòs River, which flows through Barcelona, are being urged to avoid ground-floor rooms and basements. The river is at risk of overflowing due to the volume of water, and rain is expected to continue falling throughout Sunday, *El País* reports.
The Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs has also issued an advisory urging Swedes in the area to monitor the situation via Spain's national weather service (AEMET), as well as local authorities and emergency services.
The Ministry further advises people to stay away from watercourses, ravines, and other areas prone to flooding, and to seek higher ground if water levels rise.
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