NASA’s Swift space telescope has re-entered Earth’s atmosphere over Indonesia, ending a mission that lasted 11 times longer than planned. The agency expected most of the 1.5-tonne observatory to burn up, although some fragments may have survived; reports differed on whether NASA had confirmed the exact amount of debris.
Óscar Puente has resigned six days after a high-speed collision near Urda killed 69 people, withdrawing from Spain’s 29 November election. His departure follows mounting opposition and union pressure after two fatal rail crashes in less than a year. The government has announced new safeguards, while investigations continue into the signalling failure and control-centre decisions.
Greenland’s parliament has ratified a security agreement with the United States and Denmark that would permit two new US bases and a missile-defence system while preserving Danish sovereignty and Greenlanders’ right to self-determination. The deal still requires approval by Denmark’s parliament, and Greenland’s pro-independence opposition says it delivers no economic benefit.
Americans will vote on Tuesday in elections that will determine control of the US House and Senate, as well as 36 governorships and thousands of state and local offices. Republicans hold narrow majorities in both congressional chambers, while Democrats need a net gain of four seats in each to take control. Close races may delay final projections.
North Korea has rejected US allegations that a state-linked hacking group stole more than $6 billion from Binance, calling the accusation a political provocation. The FBI attributed the attack to the North Korea-affiliated TraderTraitor group, while President Donald Trump publicly said US authorities did not yet know whether Pyongyang was responsible.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll found President Donald Trump’s approval rating at 32 per cent just before the US congressional midterm elections, close to his lowest recorded level. Democrats led Republicans by eight points on the generic congressional ballot, while cost-of-living concerns and voter enthusiasm emerged as important factors.
A Learjet 60 traveling from Austin to the Bahamas crashed near a residential area in Palm Beach County, killing all nine people aboard. The aircraft plunged near a busy road and created a crater, but officials reported no immediate deaths or injuries on the ground. Pilots had reported icing, precipitation and turbulence before the jet entered a steep descent; federal investigators are examining the cause.
The FBI has attributed a $6.3 billion cryptocurrency theft from Binance to the North Korean-linked group known as TraderTraitor, which it says was also behind last year’s Bybit hack. Binance says it has replenished about 90% of the stolen assets and will fully reimburse customers, while investigators seek to disrupt laundering.
Police have been deployed around Poland’s Constitutional Court after supporters of the former ruling Law and Justice party protested the suspension of its president, Bogdan Swieczkowski. Prime Minister Donald Tusk backed the move as necessary to restore judicial rule of law, while the court and conservative President Karol Nawrocki rejected the government’s position.
Victoria’s Court of Appeal has upheld Erin Patterson’s convictions for murdering three relatives with a meal containing death cap mushrooms and attempting to kill another. The court also replaced her previous non-parole period with life imprisonment without parole, leaving her with limited avenues for further legal challenge.
Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party says Arab-led parties stole Israel’s election through alleged bribery, threats and foreign-backed mobilisation, but police and election officials say they have found no evidence of systematic violations. Final results put Netanyahu’s bloc on 53 seats, the opposition on 48 and Arab-led parties on 19, leaving coalition talks unresolved.
Defeated Brazilian presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro has arrived in the United States after authorities ordered him to surrender his passport and has said he will lead the opposition from abroad. His declaration as Brazil’s “leader” prompted mockery and condemnation, while prominent conservative figures distanced themselves and called for the election result to be respected.
Dolores Huerta, who co-founded the United Farm Workers and helped win better conditions for agricultural labourers, has died at 96, her family said. A lifelong organiser and feminist, she remained active in progressive politics into her nineties. Her legacy included the slogan “Sí, se puede!” and the Presidential Medal of Freedom, alongside renewed public discussion of abuses within the movement she helped build.
Tal, Oren and Alon Alexander were each sentenced to 30 years in prison after being convicted of sex trafficking and accused of drugging and raping women over many years. Twelve victims addressed a New York court, while prosecutors sought life sentences and the brothers continued to deny wrongdoing.
Macklemore has begun a concert tour supporting Palestinian causes with a sold-out performance in Dublin, weeks after he was removed from Ed Sheeran’s tour following pro-Palestinian remarks. The rapper says proceeds will go to organisations supporting Palestinians. The dispute has drawn support from fellow musicians and renewed debate over artists’ political speech.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has used Donald Trump’s endorsement to argue that he is best placed to confront Iran, while suggesting further action could follow if he remains in office. The White House says the United States will not attack Iran before its November midterm elections, adding uncertainty to Netanyahu’s warning.
Brazil’s Supreme Court authorized voting to continue for up to two hours in locations affected by transport problems, after President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s campaign alleged bus shortages had prevented voters from reaching polling stations. The intervention disrupted the initial count in a close runoff against Flavio Bolsonaro, standing in for his barred father.
Ukraine says Starlink and Starshield satellite connections have returned to the operating speeds needed for frontline communications and drone defence after more than a week of restrictions. Elon Musk said SpaceX throttled Starlink because Ukraine allegedly used it for offensive drone strikes, while responsibility for Starshield changes remains disputed.