Tag Archives: China

THE GUARDIAN WEEKLY – OCTOBER 30, 2026

THE GUARDIAN WEEKLY: The latest issue features ‘KEEP LEFT’ – How Lula won a historic fourth term; Serbia celebrates defeat of Vučić; Competitive yoga – A stretch too far?

How many grinning faces, jubilant crowds and celebrating politicians can you fit into a single issue of the Guardian Weekly? That’s not a question that often troubles us, but the spectacular triumph of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, winning a historic second-round vote after losing the first to rightwing opponent Flávio Bolsonaro, and the victory of the student-led campaign against autocrat Aleksandar Vučić in Serbia gave me a happy problem to solve this week. In an era when the right seems to be riding high in the world, popular pushbacks against strongmen politicians is something to celebrate.

For our Brazil cover story, Tom Phillips and Tiago Rogero report on the reaction to Lula’s victory and how he pulled eventual success from the jaws of what, until the first results came on Sunday evening, seemed a probable defeat. As government health minister Alexandre Padilha said that evening: “It’s a massive victory – not just for Brazil. It’s also an important signal to the rest of Latin America and to the world.” But, as commentator Jordana Timerman cautions, Brazil has been an exception in Latin America in successfully resisting Donald Trump’s attempt to achieve hegemony over the region.

Spotlight | ‘Pure arrogance’
Google has been in the dock in Finland over the illegal felling of hectares of woodland for its datacentres, reports Miranda Bryant

Science | Out of the blue
Why are more planes encountering invisible air turbulence, what can they do about it and what effect will more frequent incidents have on travellers, asks Patrick Keneally

Feature | Bent out of shape?
Competitive yoga may sound like anathema to some devotees of the ancient practice but, as Anita Chaudhuri discovers, there is a movement among some yogis to make it an Olympic sport

Opinion | Lame duck presidents can be dangerous beasts
If Democratic midterm gains hamper Donald Trump at home, we should be very worried about what he might do abroad when foreign policy is his last bastion of power, says Steve Bloomfield

Culture | Stay faithful
As the second series of Celebrity Traitors draws to its conclusion, Michael Hogan meets the people who made it the world’s biggest TV show and finds out why Claudia Winkleman never wants to leave the castle

THE NEW YORK TIMES – WEDNESDAY, OCT. 28, 2026

Rivals in Israel Election Strike Tone of Triumph, but Outcome Is Far From Clear

Addressing supporters after midnight, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Gadi Eisenkot, who leads a bloc of opposition parties, both expressed confidence that they will lead Israel’s next government. Vote counting could take days.

Israel’s President, Isaac Herzog, Faces a Difficult Choice

The president has a largely ceremonial role, except after elections when it is his responsibility to pick a candidate for prime minister.

Heavily Republican South Carolina’s Senate Race Is a Tossup, Poll Finds

Senator Darline Graham is struggling to replicate her late brother’s success. Republicans lead in the Florida Senate race and Democrats are up in Minnesota.

What Our New Senate Polls Tell Us About the State of the Midterms

Flávio Bolsonaro Flees Brazil for the U.S. After Election Defeat

Officials in Argentina said Mr. Bolsonaro entered the country by land and then flew to Ecuador. Brazilian police had asked him to hand over his passports.

At Least 30 Killed in Train Crash in Spain, Official Says

One high-speed passenger train rear-ended another one near Toledo, months after a crash involving the same carriers killed dozens and stunned the country.

The Ocean ‘Was the Color of Chocolate.’ Mexico Declares War on Seaweed.

To protect Mexico’s tourism-reliant economy, the Navy is fighting a massive sargassum bloom that dumps thousands of tons of seaweed onto Caribbean beaches daily.

THE NEW YORK TIMES – TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2026

Early Turnout Appears Strong in Pivotal Israeli Election

Two Visions, Two Israels, One Nation in the Balance

As Israel votes, hard-right nationalism competes with the country’s founding ideals. The outcome could shape Israel’s identity for years.

The Issues Dividing Israelis as They Vote

The question of accountability for the government’s failures in the Hamas-led attacks on Oct. 7, 2023, looms over the election.

The U.S. Fed Is Expected to Hold Rates Steady. Warsh Will Have to Explain Why.

Inflation is moving in the wrong direction and the labor market remains stable, a combination that bolsters the case for higher interest rates.

A Rare Cease-Fire, Brokered by Melania Trump, Begins in a Besieged Ukrainian City

Many people left in Oleshky, where bombardment is constant, have run out of food. A truce that began Tuesday is supposed to allow aid in and civilians out.

A.I.’s Rogue Behavior Starts With Its Training

We built an A.I. model and trained its agents to be persistent. They went rogue.

THE NEW YORK TIMES – MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2026

‘Pull Out the Sick Trees’: Xi’s Constant Purges Pave Way for Next Term

The Chinese leader Xi Jinping, who is likely preparing to secure a fourth term in power in 2027, has complained that officials cannot be trusted.

Lula Wins Re-election in Brazil as Bolsonaro Rejects Result

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s win ended a string of conservative victories in Latin America. Flávio Bolsonaro called for the election to be annulled.

To Work With P.O.W.s, Ukrainians Suppress Feelings About the Enemy

Much has been said about how Ukraine should treat Russian prisoners of war. Less attention has been paid to the emotional struggle for the Ukrainians tasked with that work.

Israeli Jews Across the Spectrum Face an Election of Fears

Supporters and opponents of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have expressed intense anxieties about isolation abroad, security at home and the future of Israel’s identity.

María Corina Machado, Venezuela’s Leading Opposition Figure, Returns Home

After nearly 10 months in exile, the return of Ms. Machado, a Nobel laureate, could intensify calls for democratic elections.

Lula Wins Brazil’s Presidency, in Stunning Blow to Latin America’s Right

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva triumphed over Flávio Bolsonaro, the eldest son of the right-wing leader he defeated four years ago.

THE NEW YORK TIMES – SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2026

A New Level of Threat and Fear Risks Pushing the U.S. and Iran Back to Full War

With new intelligence and the possibility of all sides seeking pretexts for action, the war in Iran is entering a dangerous phase.

Four Ways Israel’s Election Could End. Eventually.

No party is expected to achieve a clear victory, which means the election will likely only be the first step in determining who will form the next government. Here’s how that might unfold.

A Day After Renewed Street Clashes in France, Relief and Anxiety Mix

While the police kept a lid on vandalism, the huge number of protesters, and France’s fraught politics, suggest unrest could grow.

Saudi Arabia Reopens Riyadh Airport After Weeks of Houthi Attacks

The Houthis, an Iran-backed Yemeni militia, launched several deadly attacks on the airport this month and have threatened to strike it again.

Here’s What to Know About Brazil’s Election

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the leftist incumbent, and Flávio Bolsonaro, the right-wing challenger, face off in a narrow race that could redefine the future of Latin America.

BARRON’S MAGAZINE – OCTOBER 26, 2026

BARRON’S MAGAZINE: The latest issue features ‘HOW THE MIDTERMS COULD REMAKE MARKETS’ – A divided government would put some industries in the crosshairs. What to expect in AI, and beyond.

What a Blue Wave Would Mean for Wall Street

The midterm elections will put some industries in the crosshairs. What to expect in AI, healthcare, and beyond.

5 Telecom Stocks That Can Survive the Musk Threat—and 1 Reason to Buy SpaceX

Shares of T-Mobile, AT&T, and others look attractively priced.

The Trump Economy in 7 Charts

The president has repeatedly promised to bring Americans lower prices, higher growth, and more jobs. His administration has produced mixed results.

Homeownership Helped Make America. It’s Slipping Away for Millions.

Homeownership rates surged in the 1940s and 1950s. But high home prices and interest rates are putting the American dream at risk.

Options ETFs Are Booming. Beware the Trade-Offs.

These pricey, complex strategies appeal to income-hungry and skittish investors—but some can cap your upside and leave you exposed to market downsides.

THE NEW YORK TIMES – SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2026

Iran Is in ‘Advanced Stages’ of Planning Attacks Against Americans, Officials Say

The U.S. government has ordered diplomats and other federal employees to leave Saudi Arabia. It is also drawing down staff at other missions in the region.

France Deploys Vast Security Force in Effort to Prevent More Riots

About 70,000 police and security officers, mobilized ahead of mass protests, will try to avert the arson and looting that shocked the country last weekend.

Israel Launches Crackdown in West Bank City After Deadly Attack

The military demolished buildings and erected roadblocks in Hebron, the biggest city in the territory, a day after Palestinian gunmen killed two soldiers.

Ukraine’s Feeling of Moral Whiplash at the Hands of Trump

The United States once declared that Ukraine’s fight was the front line in a global battle for freedom. Now the Trump administration is sending money to Moscow.

On Trump’s Order, Justice Dept. Seeks to Block Alaska Vote if Republican Loses

In a highly unusual court filing, the Justice Department argued that confusion over candidates with similar names could taint the election results.

Trump’s ‘Smart Wall’ Is Watching the Border, and More Than a Million People

The administration is planning a vast expansion of the surveillance program. Here’s how much it can see.

THE NEW YORK TIMES – FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2026

Palestinian Gunmen Open Fire on Israelis in the West Bank, Officials Say

Five people were wounded in the attack, days before national elections, health workers said. The Israeli military said its soldiers had killed two assailants.

Gadi Eisenkot Couldn’t Be Less Like Netanyahu. Can He Beat Him?

Mr. Eisenkot, an ex-military chief, is leading in the polls against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. But his campaigning style is worrying supporters.

Trump Asked Musk to Reverse Limits on Ukraine’s Military Internet Use

President Trump called Elon Musk, who owns the Starshield network, after officials in Ukraine reported that they found new limits on the use of military drones

How Long Will Russians Put Up With War? Here’s What They Told Us.

“Everything is fine” is a common refrain in a country used to adapting to a new normal.

He Put the Billionaire Tax on the Ballot. It Could Be His Last Stand.

The tax initiative is the most ambitious proposal that Dave Regan has ever qualified for the California ballot. Some Democrats hope it will be his final one.

The Bukeleization of Latin America Has Arrived

Nayib Bukele’s notoriously harsh and wildly popular security crackdown in El Salvador is spawning imitators and remaking the region.

BIG THINK MAGAZINE ——– FALL 2026 PREVIEW

BIG THINK MAGAZINE: The latest issue features ‘MADE IN OUR IMAGE’ – The philosophies of AI and what they reveal about us….

Made In Our Image

The philosophies of AI and what they reveal about us.

We can’t predict the future of artificial intelligence, but we do know its origin: us. The models we use today were trained on unfathomably huge sums of human-generated text: our books and blogs, our science and myths, our jokes and lies. In the output of language models, we see glimpses of ourselves refracted through a strange new form of intelligence we’re only beginning to understand. This issue is an attempt to make sense of those refractions — to use philosophy to turn over hard questions until we start to see them more clearly.

10 perspectives that divide the AI world

AI will likely impact everything from the economy to the battlefield, but exactly how remains to be seen.

In November 2022, I took on a writing assignment that, looking back, may have had a bigger impact on my life than any other: interview ChatGPT. It was the first day that OpenAI’s tool was available to the public, and my goal was to try to make sense of the tech — and then help readers make sense of it — by asking it questions about itself.

Why the AI boom is creating a hunger for human connection

As AI makes life more efficient, people are seeking out real-world community — and all its messiness.

China is mass-producing slop at a scale the world has never seen

I thought China’s AI video boom was driven by creativity, innovation, and tech diffusion. I was wrong.

THE NEW YORK TIMES – THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2026

Strike on Saudi Airport Kills 2 as U.S. Tells Some Diplomats to Leave

For weeks, the Iran-backed Houthis have been attacking the kingdom’s aviation and energy sectors.

U.S. and Israel Draw Up Plans for Renewed Strikes on Iran After Elections

Renewed hostilities might not be any more successful than the war’s first phase, and President Trump has repeatedly canceled plans for a return to major combat.

Putin Nears a Prize: Restoring Ties With the U.S. While Giving Up Nothing

Russia has sought to separate the war in Ukraine from potential business deals and diplomacy with the United States. Its efforts now appear to be working.

Student Protests Mushroom Across Europe, Exposing Bleak Views of the Future

Since high school students began protesting in France in September, they’ve been joined by young demonstrators in at least seven other European countries.

Looted Goods From French Stores Flood Resale Sites After Riots

Officials in France are pressing online platforms like eBay and Vinted to remove items that were stolen during public disturbances over the weekend.