CRYPTO ROAST

🗣 Trump’s Bold Immigration Plan: 10,000 New Border Agents If Elected ⏺ Donald Trump has vowed to hire 10,000 additional border patrol agents if he wins the presidency, escalating his immigration battle with Kamala Harris. ⏺ Speaking at a rally in Arizona, he proposed a 10% pay raise for agents along with bonuses to retain staff. This move comes amid rising voter concerns about illegal immigration, with Trump aiming to capitalise on the issue ahead of the tight November 5 election. Harris counters by criticising Trump for his past actions that undermined bipartisan immigration reform efforts. ➡️ FIVE

🗣 Mass Evacuations: Over 30,000 Flee Russia's Border Amid Ongoing Conflict ⏺ More than 30,000 people, including nearly 8,000 children, have evacuated from regions bordering Ukraine due to escalating shelling, according to Russia's human rights commissioner. ⏺ The evacuees are now in nearly 1,000 temporary accommodation centers across Russia. This comes as Ukraine continues to retaliate against Russian incursions, with both sides denying civilian targeting despite thousands of casualties reported in the conflict. ➡️ FIVE

🗣 Butter Prices Skyrocket in Europe, Threatening Holiday Pastries ⏺ Bakers are bracing for a Christmas crunch as butter prices soar to record highs across Europe. By the end of September, European butter traded at a staggering $8,706 per metric ton—up 83% from last year—due to strong demand, tight stocks, and dairy processors prioritizing cheese over butter. ⏺Smaller pastry producers are hit hardest, with rising milk shortages globally adding to the squeeze. Could this festive season see pricier cakes and cookies? ➡️ FIVE

🗣 Devastating Storms Strike Brazil, Leaving 8 Dead and Causing Power Outages in São Paulo ⏺ Violent storms have left at least 8 people dead in Brazil, with wind speeds reaching up to 100 km/h and heavy rainfall. The hardest-hit city was São Paulo, where blackouts left over 1.3 million homes without electricity. ⏺ Trees falling and damaged infrastructure were the main causes of the deaths. The storm also brought some relief to areas of the country suffering from the worst drought in recorded history, linked to climate change and El Niño. However, it triggered widespread flooding and protests over prolonged power outages. ➡️ FIVE

👉 Elon Musk’s Starship Booster Caught Mid-Air in Historic SpaceX Test ⏺ In a world-first, SpaceX successfully caught its Super Heavy booster using giant mechanical arms during its fifth Starship test flight. ⏺ The booster, crucial for reusability, returned to the launch site, marking a major milestone in SpaceX's goal of developing a rapidly deployable rocket. Engineers celebrated the historic landing, which pushes the company's ambitions for Moon and Mars missions closer to reality. ➡️ FIVE

🗣 First-Ever Message Exchange in a Dream: A Sci-Fi Reality? In a groundbreaking experiment, participants successfully exchanged messages while dreaming. Using special lucid dreaming equipment, participant A mentally “spoke” a word, which participant B “received” in their dream and recalled after waking up. This experiment hints at a future of cyberpunk-like communication through dreams, with researchers promising more innovations to come. ➡️ FIVE

🔄 Taiwan's Independence Faces 'Dead End' as China Ramps Up Military Pressure 🟢 Chinese state media declares a "dead end" for Taiwan's independence efforts as China conducts military drills aimed at deterring "separatist forces." 🟢 Professor Zhang Chi of the PLA National Defence University emphasised that the more Taiwan provokes, the tighter China's blockade will become. The drills send a direct message to Taiwanese President William Lai, signalling that any moves toward independence will be met with increased military pressure from China. ➡️ FIVE

🟢 Drone Strike Kills Four Israeli Soldiers as Hezbollah Claims Responsibility 🟢 A drone attack on an Israeli military base near Binyamina has killed four soldiers and injured 58, with seven critically wounded. 🟢 Hezbollah claimed the strike, targeting the IDF's Golani Brigade in retaliation for Israeli attacks in Lebanon. The attack marks one of the largest assaults on Israeli forces in over a year, catching many soldiers off-guard. Emergency responders transported victims to hospitals across northern Israel, as details continue to emerge about the severity of the situation. ➡️ FIVE

👉 Shooting at TSU Homecoming Parade Leaves 1 Dead, 9 Injured 🟢 A shooting after the Tennessee State University homecoming parade resulted in one fatality and nine injuries, including three children. 🟢 The incident occurred on Saturday as crowds were leaving for a football game. Authorities are investigating multiple shooters and have recovered a handgun at the scene. Mayor Freddie O'Connell condemned the violence, calling it a "senseless act. ➡️ FIVE

🗣 Chris Brown Concert Ignites Debate on Violence Against Women in South Africa ⏺ Chris Brown's upcoming concert in South Africa has sparked protests due to his history of violence, especially the 2009 incident with Rihanna. ⏺ Activists, including Women for Change, have launched a petition against his performance, arguing it sends a harmful message about accountability in a country facing a femicide crisis. While some fans are excited, others stress that enjoying music doesn’t excuse an artist's past behavior. ➡️ FIVE

🟢 Former First Minister Alex Salmond Dies at 69 🟢 Alex Salmond, Scotland's former First Minister, died suddenly at 69 after collapsing at a conference in North Macedonia, likely from a heart attack. He served as First Minister from 2007 to 2014, advocating for independence and implementing policies like free NHS prescriptions. 🟢 Tributes came from various leaders, including Nicola Sturgeon, who called him a mentor despite their later disagreements. The Scottish Parliament has lowered its flags in his honor. He is survived by his wife, Moira. ➡️ FIVE

👉 China Targets Officials for Reading Banned Books 🟢 China is cracking down on Communist Party officials for reading banned materials as Xi Jinping tightens control. Recent corruption cases have highlighted officials being expelled from the party for procuring or reading politically sensitive books. 🟢 In September, Li Bin, a district secretary in Chongqing, were expelled for reading materials deemed to undermine party unity. Other cases include officials smuggling banned books into China. Books by Hillary Clinton, Hannah Arendt, and critiques of CCP policies are among those banned. ➡️ FIVE

🟢 King Charles and Royals Fail to Reveal Gifts for Four Years 🟢 Despite a promise to publish annual lists of official gifts, King Charles and the royal family have not disclosed them since 2019. Palace officials cited the pandemic, the change of reign, and coronation planning as reasons for the delay. 🟢 The lack of transparency follows past controversies, including the cash-for-honours scandal and reports of gifts from controversial figures like Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince. Buckingham Palace stated that the gift lists "will be published in due course." ➡️ FIVE

👉 Limb-Saving Kits for Crisis Zones 🟢 British scientists have developed toolkits to create medical devices that save limbs in war and disaster zones. Led by Imperial College’s Prof. Anthony Bull and Dr. Mehdi Saeidi, the kits allow locals to build external fixators from basic materials like aluminum, bypassing costly imports. 🟢 Now, they’re being tested in Kenya and Rwanda to prepare for future crises. "We need simple solutions when catastrophe strikes," said Bull. ➡️ FIVE

🗣 US Election Update: Trump Targets Harris in California; Harris Focuses on North Carolina Relief Efforts ⏺ Donald Trump campaigned in Coachella, California, on Saturday, criticizing Vice President Kamala Harris for the state's challenges, labeling it “Paradise Lost.” He aimed to connect her to issues like homelessness and water shortages. ⏺ Meanwhile, Harris was in North Carolina, packing care packages for Hurricane Helene victims. Engaging with local leaders, she emphasized community support during her visit, her second since the hurricane hit last month. ➡️ FIVE

🟢 Israel Orders More Evacuations in Southern Lebanon, Threatens Medics Treating Hezbollah 🟢 Israel has intensified its military operations in southern Lebanon, ordering evacuations from 23 villages and threatening to target ambulances suspected of transporting Hezbollah militants. 🟢 Amid ongoing airstrikes, five hospitals have been damaged, and at least 15 people were killed in recent attacks. The conflict has displaced approximately 1.2 million people since late September, surpassing numbers from the 2006 war with Hezbollah. ➡️ FIVE

🟢 Supreme Court to Review Abortion Clinic Protest Buffer Zones 🟢 The Supreme Court is considering two cases challenging "bubble zones" around abortion clinics that limit protesters' proximity to patients. Anti-abortion advocates argue these restrictions violate free speech, while supporters say they protect patient safety and privacy. 🟢 In Carbondale, Illinois, a buffer zone was implemented to prevent intimidation but was repealed in July 2024 after facing a lawsuit from Coalition Life, which claims it suppresses free speech. ➡️ FIVE

🗣 Influencers Risking Lives for Hurricane Content ⏺ While millions evacuated Florida for Hurricane Milton, influencer Mike Smalls Jr livestreamed himself in Tampa with a blow-up mattress and ramen noodles. After reaching 10,000 views, he jumped into the stormy waters, later clinging to a tree for safety despite not knowing how to swim. ⏺ His stream gained over 60,000 views but drew criticism for endangering himself and first responders. The Tampa Police warned against ignoring evacuation orders, stressing the risks involved. While platforms like Kick and TikTok face scrutiny, Smalls’s account remains active, and he claims to assess risks before his stunts. ➡️ FIVE

👉 Unprecedented Floods in the Sahara After 50 Years 🟢 Dramatic flooding in the Sahara, the first in half a century, resulted from two days of rainfall in southeast Morocco that exceeded annual averages. In Tagounite, over 100mm (3.9 inches) fell in just 24 hours, prompting officials to note that such rainfall hasn’t been seen in 30 to 50 years. 🟢 Satellite images revealed the revival of Lake Iriqui, which had been dry for five decades. The flooding, attributed to an extratropical storm, claimed 18 lives and replenished dammed reservoirs in the region. Meteorologists warn these weather patterns could become more common due to climate change, altering the Sahara’s hydrological cycle and increasing the frequency of extreme weather events. ➡️ FIVE

🟢 Surge of Large Pickup Trucks in Europe Raises Safety Concerns ⏺ Large American pickups like the Dodge Ram 1500 are becoming increasingly popular in Europe, with imports up 20% in 2023. Critics warn these massive vehicles, heavier than some tanks, pose serious risks to pedestrians and cyclists. A Belgian study found that pedestrians hit by pickups are 90% more likely to sustain severe injuries. ⏺ These trucks often bypass EU environmental regulations through a loophole called individual vehicle approval (IVA). Campaigners are calling for stricter safety and emission standards to address the issue. ➡️ FIVE