Sidelines

Spanish footballer Jesus de Miguel mourned by family and friends

The 30-year-old striker suffered cardiac arrest following an on-field collision.

Lawsuit Challenges Montana's New Ban on Corporate, Union, and Nonprofit Spending on Elections

The Institute for Free Speech argues that the measure circumvents the Supreme Court's Citizens United ruling and violates organizations' First Amendment rights.

The butterfly effect: a brighter way to make paint?

Researchers are looking to butterflies in the search for coatings without harmful, chemical-based pigments

Nigeria’s shifting rainfall wreaks havoc with a beloved edible green, the waterleaf plant

This is Part 1 in a two-part series on Nigerian waterleaf. Part 2 will be published soon. “These are the ones that survived the rain,” Enono Koka said, gesturing at a patch of short, spindly waterleaf plants across her large farm in downtown Calabar, in southern Nigeria’s Cross R

Alberta’s new electoral map just gives every UCP voter their own district

EDMONTON – Alberta’s United Conservative Party has rejected a new electoral map proposed by the province’s bipartisan boundaries commission, instead opting to use a map that creates an electoral district for each of the 928,900 Albertans who voted for the UCP in 2023. “I can’t wa

Seabird Sees Miracle Recovery After Avian Flu Wiped Them Out

Thanks to dedicated conservation efforts, sandwich terns have reclaimed a colony England’s south coast 3 years after they were wiped out by avian flu. Today, in what seems like a miracle, the birds have multiplied from 0 to 756. In addition to the sandwich terns, little terns, ri

Pedestrians Hit By Paintballs From Moving Car In Little Italy, Police Say

Wednesday’s incident on Taylor Street follows similar paintball gun attacks Monday near UIC and last week in Lakeview.

Mexico’s trade surplus with the US jumped 26% in the first nine months of 2026, reaching a record US $184 billion

Over those first three quarters, only Vietnam has run a bigger surplus with the United States than Mexico. Most of the reason for the current elevated surplus is the insatiable U.S. thirst for IA-related IT equpiment, which Mexico is happy to provide.

The Montana Ranch Where Autistic People Are Wranglers and Guides

The staff at Erik’s Ranch & Retreats has a saying: Sheets, towels and lives changed daily. Erik’s Ranch is a guest retreat where autistic people are concierges, guides, wranglers, cooks and more. Located on 230 acres of pristine pasture and wilderness near Livingston, Montana, th

We Billionaire Tech CEOs Were Quietly Rooting for a Blue Wave This Whole Time

“America’s billionaires woke up Wednesday to a ‘political reckoning’—and a Wall Street rally.” — CNBC - - - Like many Americans, we were invigorated by the news that the Democrats have secured an historic midterm victory. We believe this blue wave signals a mandate to restore Ame

Here’s what we know three days after the clash at a temporary base for the National Guard’s Azov Corps outside Kyiv

On November 2, several dozen people gathered outside a private home in the village of Petropavlivska Borshchahivka near Kyiv. Claims had circulated earlier on social media that armed individuals were holding about 40 people against their will in the basement and torturing them. T

Loch Ness Is About to Welcome a New Monster Not Seen There in 500 Years–the Beaver!

Loch Ness is about to welcome a new monster. This beastie is not to be trifled with: it has razor-sharp teeth and can easily knock down a fully-grown tree. Beavers were last sighted in the area around Scotland’s most famous lake between 1526 and 1527. Now, literally 500 years lat

UNANSWERED QUESTIONS: Mom demands answers after school bullying leads to tragic teen suicide

After surviving a traumatic sexual assault, 16-year-old Thembelihle Mbatha transferred schools to rebuild her life. Instead, relentless bullying at school and unheeded cries for help led to her death by suicide. Months later, her grieving family is still waiting for an official r

After the Midterms, the Left Has a Huge Opportunity to Seize

In 2008, Barack Obama won a landslide victory and enormous mandate, only to quickly squander it. Today the Democratic establishment is far more delegitimized, and the Left is far stronger. History doesn’t have to repeat itself.

Giddy Chuck Schumer already preparing excuses for letting Trump still get away with everything

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following Tuesday’s “Blue Wave” midterm elections, Senator Chuck Schumer is reportedly already hard at work on a long list of reasons why President Trump can continue to walk all over him and the Congressional Democrats. “It feels so good to have something to d

Canadian service member faces court-martial for sharing sensitive information with Ukraine

Master Warrant Officer Matthew Robar of the Canadian Forces Intelligence Command is charged with passing operational information to Ukraine and will face a court-martial hearing in December.

Ghana: Remove Barriers to Diaspora Return - Govt Urged

[Ghanaian Times] Ghanahas been urged to remove barriers to the permanent return of Africans in the diaspora and establish practical support systems to enable them to settle, invest and contribute to national development.

Whale Festival Kicks Off on Amelia Island in Florida Celebrating the Return of the Right Whale

Have you ever heard of Amelia Island? Northeast Florida’s barrier island describes itself as a natural gem, and a great excuse to visit is happening this weekend in the form of the annual Right Whale Festival. Held every year since 2009, it celebrates the moment on the calendar w

Dylan Roberts elected new majority leader in the Colorado Senate, promising to address Democrats’ divisions

Roberts, who will be the No. 2 Democrat in the chamber, and other new Democratic leaders in the Colorado Senate vowed to repair the rift in the caucus

Way to Vote Yourselves Out of Five Thousand Bucks, Chumps

“Trump promised every adult $5,000 if Republicans kept control of Congress. Thanks to the Blue Tsunami, taxpayers won’t have to blow up the debt.” — Fortune - - - The American people have made a catastrophic mistake that will haunt this country for generations. They have voted ag

Romania Restarts Nuclear Reactor as Danube River Levels Recover

Rising water levels in the Danube allow authorities to reconnect one of two nuclear reactors to the national grid after a three-month shutdown.

Energy and Water Issues Propel Democrats to Victory in Arizona

PHOENIX—Two years after President Donald Trump won Arizona with 52 percent of the vote, Democrats are poised to win a trifecta in the state House, Senate and governor’s office, and could potentially win every statewide elected position. The battleground state’s blue wave could fu

Mayor-elect Nithya Raman inherits a Los Angeles full of promise and burdened by challenges

Nithya Raman positioned herself as an outsider to mainstream Los Angeles politics. The mayor-elect will quickly face an array of significant challenges.

Weather.pet App Generates Forecasts for Dogs’ Head and Paws Based on Ground Temps and More

A dog lover and entrepreneur has created a weather service tailored specifically to dogs. It broadcasts tens of thousands of reports to users every month with the weather at the level of a dog’s head and paws. It also includes temperature readings for asphalt, grass, and concrete

Tech CEO begs people not call AI “slop” and just behave like good little pigs

SAN FRANCISCO – Powerful tech CEOs the world over are begging consumers to stop resisting the low-quality AI advancements they are making and digest all of their content without questioning anything. “Just because the product is bad doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use it,” whined Mark

Data Centre Bus Crash Under WorkSafe Investigation

How a shuttle bus ended up in a ditch off Highway 39 near Mackenzie, BC, is still largely unknown.

Personalized brain therapy hits 68 percent remission for PTSD

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM A newly FDA-cleared treatment for PTSD reported 68 percent remission in clinical trials. The best-performing approved medications for the condition top out at around 10.9 percent. The treatment, called Magnetic e-Resonance Therapy (MeRT), was

Watch: Gov.-elect Gina Hinojosa publicly discusses next steps as Democrats transition into power

Hinojosa’s first press conference begins at 2 p.m. Thursday. She ousted longtime Republican Gov. Greg Abbott amid a national blue wave.

AAG Harmeet Dhillon Resigns From DOJ

State of the Union: Dhillon is the first high-level Justice official to leave the administration.

Bizarre Rescue Sees Divers Save Kangaroo That Found Itself Over a Mile from Dry Land

In a story too ‘Australiana’ to believe, a scuba diver and his crew rescued a kangaroo over one and a half miles out to sea. Spotted at first by the captain in the waters of Boston Bay in the state of South Australia, it was clear that the juvenile kangaroo recognized his only ho

“Dead Man Walking”: Officials Say Hegseth Has to Go

Following the landslide Democratic midterms victory, War Secretary Pete Hegseth finds himself on the brink of bipartisan impeachment.

The billion-pound railway that no one can use

Mali’s ‘Moringa Queen’ wins UN recognition for restoring degraded land

Rokiatu Traoré, president of a social enterprise in Mali that uses agroforestry to restore degraded land and create jobs for women and youths, has been named a Changemaker at the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals Action Awards. “I work in Mali, where lands are becomin

How the midterms could unleash a new era for clean energy in these 3 states

Democrats achieved long-sought “trifectas” in Arizona, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. They have big plans for climate action.

As Your Late Dentist’s Sister, I Can’t Believe You Didn’t Choose Me to Take Over His Dental Practice

“I’m just looking at these results as I’m talking… I see that Darline lost. Wow, that’s amazing." — Donald Trump, speaking to The New York Times about South Carolina Republican Senate candidate (and brother of late South Carolina senator Lindsay Graham) Darline Graham’s election

400-yo Shipwreck Puzzle Finally Cracked After More Than 20 Years of Mystery

With the help of a hospital CT scanner, scientists have cracked the code to a 400-year-old padlock discovered in a treasure-laden shipwreck on a beach in Wales. A metal detector found the padlock buried in the sand, but it could just as easily have been pulled from the pages of t

Do data centres actually create jobs where they are built? Research shows gains are modest

A study of 1,500 facilities in the US found small employment gains in supporting services.

The Politics of Pandemic Preparedness: Why South and Southeast Asia Need a Stronger Voice

The Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing annex, currently under negotiation, has profound implications for dependency and health sovereignty in South and Southeast Asia.

Area Man Feels Joy Online for First Time in Years

A day after the US midterm elections gave Democrats control of Congress, Onion CEO Ben Collins and comedian Patti Harrison spoke to WIRED about the salve of satire during politically fraught times.

Why Do Bad Things Happen to Bad People?

A decade ago, when the new world order was established, people like me—the craven, the corrupt, and the clowns—knew we would be taken care of and rewarded. But now the worst possible people are actually losing their elections, and our faith is as shaky as Ken Paxton’s ethics . De

What comes after networked authoritarianism?

October’s spotlight on Big Tech and Authoritarianism explored a range of relationships between tech companies and political actors across the global majority.

Goa SIR: HC orders Election Commission to restore names of six voters deleted from rolls

The petitioners said that their Form 8 applications for changing address were rejected and they were asked to register as new voters using Form 6.

Alex Eala edges Czech foe in thriller, nabs Hong Kong Open quarterfinal spot

World No. 17 Alex Eala completes a second-set comeback against steely Czech teen challenger Tereza Valentova to reach the 2026 Hong Kong Open quarterfinals

Docs shed light on Alberta regulator’s decision to transfer more wells to struggling MAGA Energy

As part of a last-ditch effort to be profitable, MAGA Energy submitted out-of-date documents to secure a transfer of more oil and gas wells. The regulator approved the deal anyway

Mitch McConnell speechless after US Midterm Elections

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following midterm elections that saw Democrats take control of both the Senate and House of Representatives, former Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell offered up no comment. “Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm,” said the Kentucky Senator, presumably lost in thought

A rare strike in Taiwan exposes labor unrest beneath the global AI rush

Labor disputes and unionization in Taiwan’s semiconductor industry highlight growing worker discontent over the unequal distribution of profits from the AI boom.

Trump’s State Department Is Giving $1 Million to Controversial Group to Study Crimes Against White South Africans

Seabird Sees Miracle Recovery After Avian Flu Wiped Them Out

Thanks to dedicated conservation efforts, sandwich terns have reclaimed a colony England’s south coast 3 years after they were wiped out by avian flu. Today, in what seems like a miracle, the birds have multiplied from 0 to 756. In addition to the sandwich terns, little terns, ri

How Online Maps Lay Bare the US Military Bases Targeted by Iran

Sign up here to receive Bellingcat’s biggest investigations by email as soon as they are published. Become a member and support our work here. In September, CBS News obtained new images of the aftermath of attacks on US bases in the Middle East from active service members. One to

The Midterms Were a Reckoning, but I Have No Doubt the Republican Party Will Emerge Stronger, More Unified, and Still Extremely Racist

The midterm elections did not go well for Republicans, but there are still plenty of reasons for optimism. I have no doubt that the devastating losses, while painful in the short term, will motivate the party to create an energized, more dynamic, and ideologically diverse coaliti

Next Week’s New Moon Is Perfect Backdrop to the Blazing Tails of the Taurid Meteor Shower

A meteor shower famous for its fireballs will be visible around the world next week. Though the Northern Taurid Meteor Shower doesn’t peak until 3 days later, the best chance to catch its renowned shooting stars is Monday the 9th, when the New Moon guarantees the least amount of

China dismisses accusations of ‘squeezing out’ other economies

China’s vice premier brushed off “completely unfounded” concerns that his country was “squeezing out” other economies as he opened a major business fair on Thursday aimed at enticing importers. The United States and European Union regularly accuse Beijing of heavily subsidising i

One dead and more than 2,000 affected by El Niño flooding in the Galápagos

Heavy rains linked to the El Niño phenomenon triggered a flash flood on Santa Cruz island in Ecuador’s Galápagos archipelago overnight from Friday to Saturday, leaving one person dead and more than 2,000 affected, according to local mayor Fanny Uribe. Water reached up to three me

8 surprising household uses for toothpaste, from a pro cleaner

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Chances are, you’ve got a tube of toothpaste in your bathroom right now. If it’s only going on your teeth, you’re leaving a surprisingly useful cleaning tool sitting on your bathroom counter. Joy Ramos, a professional cleaner and operations ma

Report: Canada still isn’t taking you back

CANADA — After a Democratic blue wave swept the U.S. midterms tonight, and Democrats took back both the House and the Senate from the Republican party, Canada wishes to gently, yet firmly, let all of America know that we will still not be taking you back. We know that we have had

China targeted 131 Taiwanese: MAC

Property Tax Revolt Succeeds in Florida; Fails in Wyoming and Oklahoma

Five states approved property tax cuts—but cutting taxes is easier than cutting the cost of government.

‘The grift stops now’: Democratic midterm elections sweep brings in first Indigenous governor and senator in U.S. history

The 2026 U.S. midterms resulted in several firsts, including the victories of Peggy Flanagan and...

Inflation is never coming down

The Iran war is not the only problem

The Grandfather Puzzle Pieces Together a Family History One Man Wouldn’t Talk About

JoyDrops champions awards-eligible documentary shorts about joy, a counterweight to a category often dominated by tragedy. Good News Network has partnered with JoyDrops to spotlight these films and talk with the filmmakers behind them. “When he turned 99, I was like, okay, it’s r

Israeli demolitions displace more than 100 Palestinians in Biddu

Israeli forces demolished five homes in Biddu, occupied West Bank, displacing more than 100 people.

Amazon mapping shows cacao expansion without deforestation in Brazil

While West Africa clears rainforest for chocolate, Brazilian farmers are reviving degraded pastures.

Brazil Expands Protected Area for ‘One of the Richest and Most Sensitive Biomes on the Planet’

Brazilian environmental authorities have increased the size of a key national park by more than 25% of its original size. That might not sound like much on paper, but Pantanal Matogrossense National Park was 523 square miles, and it was just expanded by 185 square miles—almost th

Donald Trump Is Losing Young White Men Who Voted for Him

The administration has to think about doing something for this group beyond mere fan service.

Ex-Air Force spokesperson identifies ‘flaw’ affecting Nigeria’s multi-trillion naira defence budget

The retired officer said Nigeria was spending a reasonable proportion of its resources on defence.

The Election That Transcended Tribalism

Pundits are describing last night as a romp for Democrats, a rebuke of Republicans, a blue tsunami, a rout in the red states. But underneath these headlines is a quieter, parallel story about voters choosing to abandon tribal allegiance and make decisions for themselves. For mont

DECISIVE ACTION: ANC loses control of Makana for first time in municipality’s history

A community-based civic movement has made a significant entrance into Makana politics, securing four council seats in its first election contest as the ANC loses control of the municipality for the first time.

After condemning Latvia’s support for Kyiv, activist moves to Russia and is sent to fight in Ukraine, relatives say

Sergey Mulivanov, a 59-year-old activist with the Latvian Russian Union who moved to Russia two years ago, was charged with fraud and sent to fight in the war against Ukraine, his lawyer, relatives, and acquaintances told the news outlet Ostorozhno, Novosti.

Do You Live Near Lake Champlain? Help Seven Days and ProPublica Investigate Algae Blooms.

Ghana: Create Jobs for One Million Coders Graduates - Veep

[Ghanaian Times] THE Vice-President, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, has called for practical job opportunities for graduates of the One Million Coders Programme to ensure that the digital skills they acquire translate into employment, business opportunities and innovation.

Mexico in Numbers: How many people are emigrating from Mexico?

While 1.2 million foreign-born residents live in Mexico, even more people are emigrating to other countries. How many people are leaving, and what states have the most emigrants?

Who needs a golden ticket? The race to future-proof chocolate

A student has made chocolate from cocoa grown in England, where new varieties could help with climate change

Aipac spent $55m on losing congressional candidates in midterm elections: Report

Aipac spent $55m on losing congressional candidates in midterm elections: Report The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (Aipac) spent more than $84m in the 2026 US midterms, but nearly two-thirds of those funds were spent on losing candidates, according to a new report from

The Democratic Coalition Still Has a Class Problem

The blue wave was undeniable. But early survey data suggest the party rode on a backlash against Donald Trump and a midterm electorate tilted toward college graduates, not a return of the working-class voters the party will need in 2028.

Maya Higa built a wildlife sanctuary on Twitch, funded by the people who watch it

This article is part of The Optimist Daily’s Local Changemakers 2026 series, spotlighting changemakers 30 and under. Earlier this year, on a trip to Dominica to learn about the sperm whales that live in those Caribbean waters, Maya Higa was offered the chance to swim with them. S

Exclusive: Trump envoy's push to reopen Lithuanian ports to Belarus exposes rift in Washington

The Trump administration's push to reopen Lithuanian ports to Belarusian potash exports is being driven by U.S. envoy John Coale and does not reflect a broader policy shift in Washington, multiple U.S. and European officials told the Kyiv Independent. The initiative has little su

Family Of 4 Dies In Rogers Park Fire: ‘Devastating Tragedy’

Two sons, their mother and their grandmother were killed in the fire early Thursday morning. The family dog also died in the blaze.

Stanford scientists discovered bleached coral can heal through touch

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Two coral fragments fell over in a Stanford lab tank. When they touched, one healed the other. The bleached fragment, starved of the symbiotic algae that give coral both its color and its nutrition, began recovering within days. “We watched th

Hemp-friendly candidates win in Texas, but don’t expect to see THC products on shelves any time soon

THC-friendly lawmakers and hemp advocates hope for a legal framework that finally protects their industry from another ban by either state agencies or the federal government.

Ads in Chatbots Have Arrived. Here’s What’s Working—and What’s Not

As Anthropic maintains its vow to keep ads out of Claude, the rest of the AI chatbot industry is racing to win over advertisers without antagonizing users.

Giant MacAskill’s Grave in Englishtown, Nova Scotia

Tucked away in a small cemetery in the Cape Breton community of Englishtown lies the grave of Angus MacAskill, better known as the Giant MacAskill or the Cape Breton Giant, a man whose extraordinary height and strength brought him international fame during the 19th century. Born

Young men and Latino voters helped drive the Democrats’ blue wave. Why did they abandon Trump?

The young men and Hispanic and Latino voters who helped propel Donald Trump to his presidential victory in 2024 swung sharply towards the Democrats in the midterm elections, contributing to the historic defeat for Republicans. Charles Hunt, an associate professor of political sci

How palm orientation shapes spin characteristics in volleyball jump serves

A new biomechanical study has uncovered how elite volleyball players control ball spin during jump serves, offering fresh scientific insight into one of the sport's most decisive offensive skills.

The Blue Tsunami Swept Doctors and Scientists Into Office

More than 80 percent of congressional candidates backed by the pro-science PAC 314 Action won, including Michigan senator-elect and epidemiologist Abdul El-Sayed.

Kejimkujik Petroglyphs in Jakes Landing, Nova Scotia

Along the shores of Kejimkujik Lake in Nova Scotia, more than 500 petroglyphs are etched into the smooth slate bedrock of Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site. The Mi’kmaq have lived, hunted, and fished in the Kejimkujik area since time immemorial. Their enduring p