Tom Emmer nominated as speaker candidate
The Republicans in the US House of Representatives have voted for Tom Emmer as the new candidate to become speaker, US media reports.
Minnesota Republican Emmer is thus the third person to try to be elected by the House since Kevin McCarthy was ousted in a historic vote three weeks ago.
Emmer needs at least 217 votes to be elected speaker, but the question is whether he can get it given that he received the support of only 117 of his party colleagues in the internal vote. Opposing candidate Mike Johnson received 97 votes.
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China's foreign policy
After months of silence - the defense minister is fired
Months after China's Defense Minister Li Shangfu disappeared from public view, the government has announced that he has been fired, state-run media reports.
Former foreign minister Qin Gang is also forced to leave the government.
Both Li and Qin were reportedly handpicked for their posts by President Xi Jinping.
According to experts, today's announcement means that the uncertainty surrounding the Chinese leadership is growing.
Neil Thomas, an expert on Chinese politics at the Asia Society Policy Institute, told AFP that the turmoil "suggests widespread flaws in how the party congress last year vetted candidates, possibly because lower-ranking party members did not want to take a stand against Xi's favored candidates."
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The election in Poland
Team Tusk ready to take over: "Can't waste a second"
Former EU leader Donald Tusk is the Polish opposition's candidate for prime minister, the parties announced at a joint press conference, according to Polish Onet. Now they are urging President Andrzej Duda to quickly give Tusk the task of forming a government.
- We appeal to President Duda not to waste a second of our time. The time of Polish women and men is priceless, says Szymon Hołownia, party leader of the center party Poland 2050.
At the press conference, they assured the parties that they will work together as equal colleagues. Negotiations on the policy itself will continue.
Nationalist Law and Justice has ruled Poland for the past eight years. The party was also the largest in this year's elections, but lost the majority, which paves the way for the more EU-friendly opposition.
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The development of AI
Government officials used AI to help with grant decisions
British civil servants have used AI technology to make decisions on everything from grants to marriage licenses, according to an investigation by The Guardian.
The newspaper has produced several examples of uncontrolled use. Among other things, the Department for Work and Pensions DWP has used an algorithm that may have caused people to be wrongly deprived of their benefits.
The review also shows that London police used a facial recognition tool that could discriminate against non-whites.
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Icelandic women strike for a day - schools empty
A widespread strike against unequal wages and gender-based violence has begun in Iceland, several media write. Women stay at home for a day from work in, among other things, care, service and transport - which has led to closed schools, slimmed-down TV selection and uncleaned hotel rooms, according to AP.
Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdóttir is participating in the strike and has urged her female employees to stay at home as well.
Icelandic salaries are ranked as the most equal in the world. At the same time, women- and immigrant-dominated jobs in tourism, housekeeping and childcare are falling behind.
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Suspected sabotage in the Baltic Sea
Large anchor found - may have damaged gas line
A two-meter anchor may have been the object that damaged the Balticconnector gas pipeline, reports Yle.
It was on October 8 that it was discovered that the line between Estonia and Finland had been damaged due to a sudden drop in pressure. The Finnish Central Criminal Police, the border guard and the navy have found a several kilometer long tow trail on the seabed that also runs over the wire.
Pictures of one of the ships that is of interest in the investigation - the Hong Kong-flagged "Newnew Polar Bear" - show how one anchor is missing.
The Russian vessel that was included in the investigation is now written off.
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