Front Page

Alberta votes on whether to advance a separation referendum

Voters in the oil-rich Canadian province are deciding whether Alberta should remain part of Canada or proceed to a binding independence referendum. Polling cited by the BBC suggests most Albertans favor staying in Canada, but the vote has exposed divisions among both separatists and supporters of national unity. BBC - The New York Times

France faces political fallout from violent protests

Violence and looting during protests have left France’s government under pressure. President Emmanuel Macron declined Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez’s resignation, while the National Rally presented itself as the party best positioned to restore order. The New York Times - Al Jazeera

Trump says Russia sanctions relief is meant to keep talks going

President Donald Trump defended his decision to block numerous sanctions on Russia shortly before they were due to take effect, saying the move was intended to keep peace negotiations going. The decision comes amid a public dispute with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. BBC - The New York Times

Four soldiers killed in fire at Canadian military base

A fast-moving grass fire at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright in Alberta killed four people and injured dozens, Prime Minister Mark Carney said. The cause remains unknown; Carney called it one of the worst peacetime tragedies for Canada’s military. The New York Times - Al Jazeera

National News

New wave of homemade synthetic drugs deepens U.S. crisis

A BBC report from Chicago describes communities confronting a wave of synthetic drugs, as users, dealers, prison workers and recovery staff discuss the growing crisis. BBC

Food pantries face mounting demand as household budgets tighten

Food inflation, gas prices and cuts to federal benefits have created what pantry workers describe as a “perfect storm,” according to The New York Times. Food pantries have become a vital part of the family budget for millions of Americans. The New York Times

Two killed after pickup truck strikes Kansas youth soccer game

A pickup truck struck people at a youth soccer game in Kansas, killing two and injuring 10, Reuters reported. The driver was released, according to the report. Reuters

Politics

Texas Democrat James Talarico begins final Senate campaign push

Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico has begun a campaign tour of Texas ahead of the Nov. 3 election. At his launch, he invoked a rallying cry from the television show “Friday Night Lights.” The New York Times

Billionaire couple backs new centrist effort to reshape Democrats

Hedge-fund billionaires Steve and Sue Mandel are funding at least three new groups seeking to challenge the Democratic establishment and build a centrist faction within the party. The Wall Street Journal

Trump says work on D.C. golf course will start despite court order

Trump said restoration work on the East Potomac golf course would begin in November, despite a federal judge’s order halting tree removal and requiring the government to give notice before substantive construction. The Guardian

Business & Finance

Stock futures rebound after tech selloff

U.S. stock futures rose as investors cautiously returned to artificial-intelligence shares after heavy selling the previous week. European semiconductor stocks were mixed. The Wall Street Journal

Oil prices retreat as traders weigh Russia sanctions waiver

Oil prices fell as traders assessed the U.S. decision to waive newly imposed sanctions on Russia against continuing supply risks in the Middle East. The Wall Street Journal

China’s economy grows 4.5% in third quarter, driven by exports

China’s economy expanded 4.5% in the third quarter, with exports supporting growth as weak consumer confidence and problems in the property market persisted. The Wall Street Journal

World News

Zelenskyy says Ukraine received no warning before Russian strikes on Kyiv

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine did not receive a U.S. warning before Russian missiles hit power plants in Kyiv. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said there had been no pause in U.S. intelligence sharing with Ukraine. The Guardian - Al Jazeera

World Food Programme cuts assistance to 500,000 people in Gaza

Funding shortages will reduce the number of people receiving assistance from the U.N. agency in Gaza by about a third, from 1.6 million to 1.1 million, the BBC reported. BBC - Reuters

Qatar warns Iran war’s global energy impact has not peaked

Qatar’s deputy prime minister called for dialogue with Tehran, highlighted the country’s defense ties with the United States and rejected charging fees for passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Al Jazeera

Human Rights Watch reports abuses against civilians in Mali

Human Rights Watch said Mali’s military and armed groups, including fighters and separatists, were committing grave violations of the laws of war against civilians. Al Jazeera

Arts & Culture

Selena Gomez says vaping affected her voice

The singer and actress said that vaping nicotine “a lot” permanently affected her speaking and singing voice. BBC

Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber pay tribute to son Presley

Crawford and Gerber said they were “beyond heartbroken” in a tribute to their son, Presley Gerber, who died at 27 at a rehabilitation facility in September. The cause of death has not been disclosed. The Guardian - BBC

Tech & Society

Anthropic pledges 5% of shares to public-benefit fund

Anthropic said it will commit 5% of its shares to a fund that could support nonprofits and make direct distributions to populations affected by artificial intelligence. The announcement comes as the company prepares for a potential stock-market listing. BBC - Al Jazeera

The International Confederation of Music Publishers said AI systems had been trained on works by Australian artists, including Kylie Minogue and Nick Cave, without compensation. The group warned against weakening copyright law as technology companies press for changes. The Guardian

Sports

Rays move within one win of World Series return

Tampa Bay beat Cleveland 3-1 in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series to take a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series. Drew Rasmussen held the Guardians’ offense in check over seven innings. Associated Press

Cardinals stun Rams as Eagles lose in NFL Week 6

Arizona upset the Los Angeles Rams, while the Philadelphia Eagles fell to Carolina. The Panthers beat an injury-hit Eagles team, and the Cardinals secured their win on the final play, according to the roundup. The Guardian - BBC

  MON 💧 TUE WED
New York ⛅ 40/61 0% ☁️ 44/67 ☁️ 49/61
Los Angeles ☀️ 62/88 0% ☁️ 60/84 🌦️ 67/75
San Francisco ☁️ 53/64 2% ☁️ 52/66 🌦️ 56/66
Chicago ☀️ 41/61 0% 🌫️ 40/59 ☀️ 52/68
Houston ☁️ 53/76 0% ☁️ 54/80 ☁️ 70/86
Dallas ⛅ 51/74 0% ☁️ 55/79 ☁️ 63/81
Phoenix 🌤️ 62/89 2% 🌦️ 66/91 🌦️ 74/91
Philadelphia ⛅ 38/62 0% ☀️ 44/68 ☁️ 49/62
San Antonio ☁️ 55/78 0% ☁️ 61/82 ☁️ 64/82
San Diego ☀️ 65/84 1% ☁️ 64/81 ☁️ 68/74
San Jose ☁️ 56/74 0% ☁️ 48/71 🌧️ 57/72
Austin ☁️ 51/78 0% ☁️ 58/81 ⛅ 66/86
Jacksonville 🌦️ 59/73 5% ☀️ 54/71 ☀️ 58/78
Fort Worth ☁️ 50/74 1% ☁️ 54/78 ☁️ 62/81
Columbus ☀️ 37/66 0% ☀️ 40/68 🌤️ 51/69
Charlotte ☀️ 40/66 0% ☀️ 41/73 ☀️ 51/72
Indianapolis ☀️ 39/65 0% ☁️ 41/69 ☀️ 52/71
Seattle ☁️ 46/57 7% ☁️ 45/61 ☁️ 45/65
Denver ☁️ 41/77 1% ☁️ 44/72 ☁️ 56/75
Boston ☁️ 34/55 0% ☁️ 41/60 ☁️ 48/54
Nashville ☀️ 41/71 0% ☁️ 46/74 ☀️ 53/74
Detroit ☀️ 39/67 0% ☁️ 40/64 ☀️ 49/66
Portland ☁️ 48/63 8% ☁️ 50/69 ☁️ 52/70
Las Vegas ⛅ 60/80 1% 🌤️ 60/82 ☀️ 71/83
Miami ☁️ 74/84 22% 🌧️ 72/83 ☁️ 68/82
Atlanta ☀️ 44/69 0% ☀️ 45/75 ☁️ 56/76
Minneapolis ☁️ 40/70 0% ☀️ 42/67 ☀️ 52/72
Kansas City ☁️ 42/68 1% ☁️ 44/73 ☁️ 56/75
New Orleans ☁️ 53/73 0% ☁️ 59/79 ☁️ 63/80
Honolulu 🌦️ 74/82 18% 🌦️ 73/82 🌤️ 72/82
Anchorage ❄️ 33/42 100% ❄️ 33/40 🌦️ 33/40