The recent ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Palestinian factions have resulted in the release of nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for 20 Israeli hostages. However, one name was conspicuously absent from the prisoner list: Marwan Barghouti, a prominent Fatah leader and Israel’s most high-profile Palestinian detainee. Barghouti, often regarded as a unifying figure in Palestinian society, has been imprisoned since 2002, serving five life sentences for his alleged involvement in attacks during the Second Intifada. His absence from the deal underscores his symbolic importance and the complexities surrounding his potential release. Born in 1959 in the West Bank village of Kobar, Barghouti’s political consciousness was shaped by the Israeli occupation and his early experiences with Israeli forces. Joining Fatah in his teens, he quickly rose through the ranks, becoming a key figure in the Palestinian resistance. Despite his imprisonment, Barghouti remains a potent symbol of Palestinian unity and resistance, with many viewing him as a potential leader capable of bridging divides within Palestinian society. His continued incarceration, marked by harsh conditions and alleged abuses, has drawn international condemnation and calls for his release. Barghouti’s case highlights the broader struggle for Palestinian rights and the ongoing tensions in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. As the region grapples with the aftermath of the recent ceasefire, Barghouti’s fate remains a contentious issue, emblematic of the deeper political and humanitarian challenges at play.
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Dubai Basketball continue dream run with hard-fought win
Dubai Basketball has continued their remarkable start to the season, securing a hard-fought 81:77 victory against Romanian newcomers U-BT Cluj-Napoca in the ABA League. This win extends their unbeaten run across competitions, further solidifying their status as a formidable force in European basketball. The match, held on October 20, 2025, showcased Dubai’s resilience and depth, particularly in the face of a late-game surge from their opponents. Despite Cluj-Napoca’s spirited comeback attempt led by Dušan Miletić, Dubai maintained their composure in the final minutes to clinch the win. Head Coach Jurica Golemac emphasized the team’s defensive prowess and the crucial role of the home crowd in energizing the players. Mfiondu Kabengele delivered a standout performance with a double-double of 18 points and 11 rebounds, while McKinley Wright and debutant Sertaç Şanlı contributed significantly to the team’s balanced offense. Şanlı, in particular, played a pivotal role in turning the tide during the final quarter. Looking ahead, Dubai Basketball will face LDLC ASVEL in Lyon before returning to their home court at Coca-Cola Arena on November 3 to take on reigning ABA League champions Partizan. Fans can expect an electrifying display of basketball as the team continues their quest for dominance in the league.
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Two-time champ Daiki Hashimoto of Japan tops all-around qualifying at world gymnastics championships
JAKARTA, Indonesia — Japanese gymnast Daiki Hashimoto emerged as the top qualifier in the men’s all-around event at the World Gymnastics Championships, showcasing his resilience and skill. The 24-year-old, who clinched gold in the all-around at the 2020 Olympics and the 2022 and 2023 World Championships, posted a total score of 83.065, narrowly edging out Switzerland’s Noe Seifert, who scored 82.499. Despite a shaky performance on the floor exercise, Hashimoto secured the third-highest scores on both vault and high bar, solidifying his position as a frontrunner heading into Wednesday’s finals. Zhang Boheng of China, the 2021 world champion and 2024 Olympic silver medalist, qualified in third place. Meanwhile, Hashimoto’s Japanese teammate Shinnosuke Oka, the reigning Olympic champion, advanced to the finals in 12th place despite errors in his floor routine. Notable absences included U.S. national champion Asher Hong, who withdrew due to an ankle injury sustained during training. The competition also saw top qualifiers in individual apparatus events, with Great Britain’s Jake Jarman leading on floor exercise, Kazakhstan’s Nariman Kurbanov excelling on pommel horse, and China’s Lan Xingyu dominating on still rings. Two-time Olympic gold medalist Carlos Yulo of the Philippines advanced to finals on both vault and floor, while China’s Zou Jingyuan and Japan’s Tomoharu Tsunogai topped parallel bars and high bar, respectively. The event finals promise intense competition as athletes vie for world championship glory.
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Amazon services ‘recovering’ as Snapchat and banks among sites hit by outage
A significant disruption in Amazon Web Services (AWS) operations on Monday left numerous high-profile websites and applications inaccessible, highlighting the vulnerabilities of relying on a single cloud provider. Platforms such as Snapchat, Reddit, Roblox, and banking services like Lloyds and Halifax were among the more than 1,000 services affected, according to Downdetector, a platform outage monitor. User reports of issues surged to over 6.5 million during the outage, which began around 07:00 BST and persisted for much of the day. While Amazon later announced that the core issue had been resolved, some services continued to experience problems, underscoring the far-reaching consequences of such disruptions. The outage, attributed to a DNS resolution issue with the DynamoDB API endpoint in the US-EAST-1 region, exposed the fragility of the internet’s infrastructure. Experts like Professor Alan Woodward of the University of Surrey emphasized the interdependence of online services, noting that even minor errors in third-party infrastructure can have widespread impacts. Mike Chapple, an IT professor at Notre Dame University, likened the situation to a power outage, where initial fixes might address symptoms rather than root causes. The incident has reignited debates about the concentration of cloud computing power among a few dominant providers—Amazon, Microsoft, and Google—which collectively control an estimated 70% of the market. Critics, including Cori Crider of the Future of Technology Institute, argue that this reliance poses risks to security, sovereignty, and economic stability, advocating for greater diversification and local alternatives. Meanwhile, Ken Birman, a computer science professor at Cornell University, pointed out that companies using AWS must also take responsibility by implementing robust backup systems for mission-critical applications. The outage serves as a stark reminder of the need for resilience in the face of technological dependencies, as the fallout from such disruptions can have lasting economic and operational consequences.
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Bogota to present Shanghai Award, a first for South America
In a historic first for South America, Bogota, Colombia, has been chosen as the host city for the third Global Award for Sustainable Development in Cities, also known as the Shanghai Award. The ceremony will take place on October 31, coinciding with World Cities Day. This prestigious award, jointly presented by the UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) and the Shanghai government, honors cities worldwide for their innovative efforts and achievements in advancing the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the New Urban Agenda. Liu Qianwei, Chief Engineer of the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Housing, Urban-rural Development and Management, highlighted the significance of this year’s event during a recent press briefing. He noted that the award evaluates cities based on a comprehensive set of criteria, including economic vitality, urban prosperity, ecological construction, green development, urban safety, resilience development, and capacity building for sustainable development. Last year’s winners included Agadir in Morocco, Thiruvananthapuram in India, Doha in Qatar, Iztapalapa in Mexico, and Melbourne in Australia. The inaugural award in 2023 recognized Brisbane in Australia, Fuzhou in China, George Town in Malaysia, Kampala in Uganda, and Salvador in Brazil. Liu emphasized that the Shanghai Award’s global reach continues to expand, with last year’s ceremony held in Egypt, marking its first presentation outside of China. This year’s event in Bogota further underscores the growing international influence of China’s urban sustainable development practices and highlights the ongoing collaboration between China and the UN in this critical field.
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Dozens of pro-Palestine activists in prison threaten ‘historic’ hunger strike
A group of 33 activists detained in connection with Palestine Action activities is threatening to initiate a hunger strike to protest their deteriorating prison conditions. In a letter addressed to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, the campaign group Prisoners for Palestine (PFP) outlined a series of demands on behalf of the detainees, who claim they are unjustly imprisoned for their efforts to oppose what they describe as the genocide in Palestine. The prisoners include members of the Filton 24, arrested in late 2024 for targeting an Elbit Systems factory in Bristol, and the Brize Norton 5, who allegedly broke into an RAF air base and vandalized planes they claimed were used in military operations in Gaza and the Middle East. All have been denied bail, with some spending over a year in custody without trial on charges including criminal damage and aggravated burglary. Since July 2024, when Palestine Action was designated a terrorist organization by then-Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, prisoners linked to the group have reported worsening treatment, including increased restrictions on communication and recreational activities. One detainee, T Hoxha, a member of the Filton 24, began a hunger strike in August after her library work and mail privileges were suspended. The PFP letter warned that unless their demands are met, the 33 inmates will launch a coordinated hunger strike on November 2, the anniversary of the 1917 Balfour Declaration. The demands include an end to censorship of prisoners’ communications, immediate bail for those held on remand, and the release of all documents related to their cases. Audrey Corno and Francesca Nadin, PFP representatives and former detainees, delivered the letter to the Home Office on Monday, emphasizing that the prisoners feel they have no other recourse. Corno described the potential strike as historic, likening it to the 1981 Irish hunger strike led by Bobby Sands. The PFP also highlighted that prisoners have faced increasing restrictions on mail, phone calls, and visitations since the group’s proscription. Moiz Ibrahim, a Filton 24 member held in HMP Lewes, has reportedly had his family and friends’ contact details erased from his phone system, leaving him unable to communicate with them. The letter further accused the UK government of collaborating with Israeli officials and Elbit Systems in targeting activists. Corno and Nadin expressed confidence in gaining broader support from other prisoners, citing solidarity among inmates who understand their cause. The Ministry of Justice, HM Prison and Probation Service, and the Home Office have yet to comment on the matter.
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England romp home after Brook-Salt assault sinks New Zealand
England delivered a commanding performance in the second T20 International against New Zealand, securing a 65-run victory in Christchurch on Monday. Captain Harry Brook and opener Phil Salt were the architects of the win, combining for a devastating partnership of 129 runs off just 69 balls. Brook’s explosive 78, featuring five towering sixes, and Salt’s aggressive 85 laid the foundation for England’s imposing total of 236-4, the highest T20 International score at Hagley Oval. New Zealand, in response, crumbled to 171 all out in 18 overs, with all dismissals coming via catches. Brydon Carse set the tone early by removing two key batsmen, while Adil Rashid (4-32) and Liam Dawson (2-38) dismantled the middle order. Despite a valiant 36 from captain Mitchell Santner, New Zealand never gained momentum. England now leads the series 1-0 heading into the final match in Auckland on Thursday.
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Annexation, death penalty, elections: The bills on the menu for Israel’s parliament
Israel’s Knesset commenced its winter session on Monday, marking the final legislative period before the next general elections, tentatively set for October 2026. The session unfolded against a backdrop of escalating political tensions, with coalition lawmakers targeting the Supreme Court and judiciary, igniting fierce opposition from rival parties. Yair Lapid, leader of the centrist Yesh Atid party, declared during a parliamentary debate that Israel is grappling with its most severe political crisis in history, accusing the government of losing control. A pivotal issue on the agenda is whether to adhere to the scheduled election date or call for early polls, a decision Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has yet to finalize. The session is anticipated to be highly contentious, with several divisive bills poised for debate. Among them are proposals to extend Israeli sovereignty over the occupied West Bank, including one from National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir’s Jewish Power party and another from opposition leader Avigdor Lieberman, focusing on the settlement of Ma’ale Adumim. Other significant legislation includes a bill advocating the death penalty for convicted terrorists, championed by Ben Gvir, and measures addressing ultra-Orthodox military conscription exemptions, a topic that has sparked intense public discourse. Additionally, the government aims to advance a bill splitting the attorney general’s role, perceived as part of a broader effort to weaken the judiciary. These developments have reignited concerns over democratic principles and freedom of religion, with critics warning of potential overreach by the right-wing coalition.
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White House begins demolishing part of East Wing for Trump ballroom
The East Wing of the White House has commenced a significant transformation as demolition work began on Monday, paving the way for the construction of a new ballroom envisioned by former US President Donald Trump. The $250 million project, described as a ‘modernization’ effort, aims to add a state-of-the-art ballroom adjacent to the existing structure without altering its historic integrity. Trump emphasized that the new addition would ‘pay total respect’ to the White House, a building he holds in high regard. The construction, funded by private contributions from ‘generous Patriots,’ has sparked mixed reactions. While some onlookers expressed curiosity, others, like a masked protester, voiced their disapproval of the changes. The East Wing, built in 1902 and last modified in 1942, remains a symbol of presidential history. The project, announced by Trump on social media, is expected to fulfill a long-standing presidential aspiration for a dedicated ballroom to host grand events and state visits.
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Concacaf members join USA’s 2031 World Cup bid
In a significant development for women’s football, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Jamaica have joined the United States in a collaborative bid to host the 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup. This expanded 48-team tournament promises to be the largest and most impactful edition in the event’s history. FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed in April that the United States, alongside potential Concacaf members, had submitted the sole bid for the 2031 competition. The joint effort aims to inspire a new generation of fans and elevate the women’s game globally. US Soccer President Cindy Parlow Cone emphasized the bid’s potential to create a lasting legacy, stating, ‘We’re excited to drive lasting progress for women’s soccer by creating a legacy that reaches far beyond 2031 and sets a new global standard for the sport.’ Concacaf, the governing body for football in North America, Central America, and the Caribbean, has fully endorsed the bid. Victor Montagliani, Concacaf President and FIFA Vice-President, highlighted the confederation’s commitment to women’s football, noting that hosting the 2031 World Cup would build on this momentum and inspire future generations across the region. Meanwhile, FIFA has already announced Brazil as the host for the 2027 Women’s World Cup, with the 2031 and 2035 hosts set to be confirmed at the FIFA Congress in Vancouver, Canada, next April. The United Kingdom has emerged as the sole valid bidder for the 2035 tournament. This news follows the recent success of Spain, who triumphed in the 2023 Women’s World Cup by defeating England in the final. The United States, Canada, and Mexico are also co-hosting the 2026 Men’s World Cup, further solidifying North America’s role as a global football hub.