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- Putin’s regime accused of concealing plague outbreak in Siberia
- Terre de France launches T-shirt to support Save Europe Act initiative
- Vucic launches campaign for prime minister ahead of Serbian elections
- Debate over dedicated encampment sites for the homeless in Edmonton’s river valley
- CBS Saturday Morning examines ICE operations and features young fashion designer
- Five-year-old girl in critical condition after car hits crowd of rugby fans in Sydney
- Paris Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire highlights threats to LGBTQ+ community
- Fernandes praises Ronaldo as Portugal seeks unity ahead of Norway match
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Putin’s regime accused of concealing plague outbreak in Siberia
4:00 am
Get you up to speed: Putin accused of covering up ‘plague’ outbreak compared to Covid | News World
Vladimir Putin’s regime is facing allegations of covering up a plague outbreak in Shelekhov, Russia, which has resulted in one death and 189 people quarantined. Chief infectious diseases doctor Anna Popova has arrived in Irkutsk to manage the situation, where public events have been cancelled and the local hospital is under lockdown.
Anna Popova, Russia’s chief infectious diseases doctor, is currently overseeing the outbreak response in Irkutsk as public gatherings have been cancelled across the region. Investigations into the circumstances surrounding the infection are being conducted by Rospotrebnadzor, amid reports of a complete sell-out of antibiotics in the area.
Russian authorities have cancelled public events in the Irkutsk region following the outbreak of plague, with Governor Igor Kobzev noting the declaration of a quarantine in Shelekhov where the first fatal case occurred. Chief infectious diseases doctor Anna Popova has been dispatched to oversee the response, as investigations and anti-epidemic measures are currently being implemented by Rospotrebnadzor and local health officials.
What remains unclear — It is uncertain whether the reported circumstances surrounding the death of the laboratory assistant have been fully investigated or disclosed by authorities.
Putin’s regime accused of concealing plague outbreak in Siberia
Emergency: Russian president Vladimir has allegedly sent officials to the region to contain outbreak (REUTERS)
Vladimir Putin’s regime has been accused of covering up an outbreak of the ‘plague’ in Russia which has killed one person and forced another 189 into quarantine.
Reports claim the country’s chief infectious diseases doctor Anna Popova has travelled to Irkutsk in Siberia to take charge of the situation, with public events cancelled across the region.
Officials also ordered residents of neighbouring Baikalsk to avoid travelling to Shelekhov, where the outbreak is reported to have taken place, although the message was later deleted.
There are also claims that antibiotics in the region have sold out.
The outbreak is linked to the death of a laboratory assistant,Daria Shipilova, at Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute.
Some reports claim the 28-year-old fell ill while on an expedition on the border between Russia and Mongolia, while others say she was infected at the Institute after ‘breaking a test tube’.
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Concern: Irkutsk Anti-Plague Institute carrie out a drill at the Russia-Mongolia border crossing in April 2026 (east2west news)
She is said to have died at Shelekhov District Hospital, which is now under quarantine, along with the Institute, with a total on 189 people under lockdown
Governor Igor Kobzev said mass events had been cancelled following a ‘particularly dangerous infectious disease’.
Russian news outlet Mash said: ‘Doctors and Rospotrebnadzor [Russia’s public health watchdog] are investigating the circumstances of the infection and carrying out anti-epidemic measures.’
News of the outbreak was posted in Telegram channel Nezygar, which compared the authorities’ reaction to those of China when Covid broke out.
‘The situation in Shelekhov, Irkutsk region, where a plague quarantine has been declared, resembles the Wuhan case,” it said.
Tragic: Laboratory assistant Daria Shipilova, 28, worked at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute (Daria Shipilova/e2w)
‘An employee of the Irkutsk Research Anti-Plague Institute, Shipilova, broke a test tube containing pathogens while at work, after which she left the laboratory and travelled home to Shelekhov.’
Russian epidemiologist Mikhail Favorov, who now lives in America, criticised authorities for their response and for allowing ‘a lot of nonsense’ to circulate.
‘Someone working at the anti-plague institute in Irkutsk wears a protective anti-plague suit,’ he said. ‘If you break a test tube, the likelihood of infection is actually very low.
‘The story about the test tube? It’s laughable.
‘It’s not as if the plague just flies out of the test tube, after all.
‘That’s not how it works. In short, it doesn’t matter to the general public. They’ll believe the “dropped test tube” story.’
Popova’s presence in Irkutsk meant it is a ‘terrible, critical situation’, he said, adding that a cover-up was underway and ‘we will not be told what really happened’.
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Terre de France launches T-shirt to support Save Europe Act initiative
2:00 am
Terre de France launches T-shirt to support Save Europe Act initiative
Product Launch
Terre de France has launched a T-shirt priced at €35, with €10 of each sale supporting Save Europe Act.
Terre de France has launched a T-shirt priced at €35, with €10 of each sale supporting Save Europe Act.
Economic Impact
€10 of each T-shirt sold goes to Save Europe Act, highlighting a financial model that supports a political movement advocating for stringent immigration policies in Europe.
€10 of each T-shirt sold goes to Save Europe Act, highlighting a financial model that supports a political movement advocating for stringent immigration policies in Europe.
Official statement
“The European Commission has deemed the initiative ‘manifestly contrary’ to EU values and will not register it,” a spokesperson confirmed regarding Save Europe Act’s proposal.
“The European Commission has deemed the initiative ‘manifestly contrary’ to EU values and will not register it,” a spokesperson confirmed regarding Save Europe Act’s proposal.
Ceuta support T-shirt: €10 of its €35 price goes to self-described ‘patriotic’ movement Save Europe Act
Journalist and social media expert Carmela Ríos posted an investigation into the sale of the garment on X on 27 September. The T-shirt emerged following the mass entry of migrants into Ceuta on 30 and 31 July. Here is what lies behind the sale.
The T-shirt is being launched by Terre de France, a brand that sells a “patriotic and solidarity-based” range of products it claims are 100% French. Part of the revenue is used to support other organisations that, according to its website**,** include groups of farmers, agricultural colleges and an association for wounded French soldiers.
In this case, €10 of the garment’s €35 price goes to Save Europe Act. No money is earmarked for directly supporting people or organisations in Ceuta, while almost 28.6% of the purchase price goes directly to Save Europe Act.
The company claims that residents of Ceuta, whose nickname and popular demonym is “caballas”, “are surviving a migratory invasion that threatens the very existence of their city”. One X account, Damien Rieu (@DamienRieu on X), who has 325,000 followers, promoted the sale on 26 September.
The promotional image shows a person wearing the T-shirt in front of what appears to be Trampolín beach, but the image is fabricated. The tools Hive Detect, TruthScan and Sight Engine indicate that it was generated using artificial intelligence.
On its social networks, Terre de France spreads messages claiming to defend a Catholic and white France, which, according to the brand, is not represented by LGBTQ+ people. It also rejects “crousty”, the fried-chicken-based fast food currently in fashion in the country, saying it is not 100% French.
Save Europe Act and remigration
Save Europe Act presents itself as a “patriotic” movement. It demands that “the political elite” “put an end to replacement immigration”, that borders be protected and that the “ethnocultural identity of European nations” be defended. It proposes halting “non-Western/non-European migration routes” until “social cohesion and cultural continuity” have been restored in the member states.
It also advocates “remigration”, compulsory or voluntary, of people in an irregular situation, those who have committed crimes and those “who are not integrated or constitute a significant cultural or financial burden”.
The organisation is collecting signatures across Europe in a bid to reach one million and submit its proposal as a European Citizens’ Initiative. That mechanism allows citizens to put forward new rules to the European Commission.
The Commission has refused to register it, considering it “manifestly contrary to the values enshrined in the Treaty and in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU”. The Commission also says the initiative would be used as “a vehicle for offensive or caricatural messages”. According to ‘EU News’, its organisers are preparing to challenge the decision in court.
Europe’s far right in Ceuta and a precedent
Following Ceuta’s migrant crisis, the autonomous city was visited by members of far-right organisations. Activists from Reform UK on 1 August, from Junge Tat in Switzerland on 2 August, and from Reconquista in Portugal on 4 August, as well as from Generation Identity in Germany.
Members of the neo-Nazi organisation Núcleo Nacional were expelled on 1 August when they attempted to hold a demonstration and were met with a counter-demonstration by local residents.
Among the promoters of Save Europe Act is Martin Sellner, who has almost 200,000 followers on X. On 3 August he shared videos from the city in which he called for “this ethnic replacement” to be stopped through “non-violent civil disobedience”.
Its co-founder Eva Vlaardingerbroek posted on 31 July a message denouncing the “orchestrated invasion” of Ceuta, which was shared by Elon Musk. She has 1.2 million followers on X and 1.3 million on Instagram.
Ríos argues that Europe’s far right sees Ceuta as a real stage “to advance its strategy”. She outlines a roadmap based on “the massive use of disinformation, artificial intelligence and the whole machinery of bots, trolls and fictitious digital operations”. According to the journalist, these movements rely on one another “on the basis of similar talking points and a shared technological framework”.
There is a precedent. In the Torre Pacheco case in July 2025, when an attack on a local resident by a young man of Moroccan origin triggered a wave of racist unrest, the promoters of Save Europe Act and the organisation itself spread false claims.
They claimed that “Moroccan migrants” had assaulted white people for three nights in a row and that “North Africans” were arming themselves “to terrorise Spaniards”. In any case, their proposal for that situation was “remigration”.
Vucic launches campaign for prime minister ahead of Serbian elections
1:00 am
Get you up to speed: Serbian populist leader Vucic launches campaign for prime minister
Former Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic launched his campaign for prime minister at a rally attended by thousands of supporters in Belgrade on October 3, 2026. Vucic aims to extend his political influence through the upcoming parliamentary vote scheduled for October 25.
The parliamentary election is scheduled for October 25, 2026, following Vucic’s resignation as president on September 27, 2026. The outcome will determine if Vucic’s Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) can maintain its political dominance and secure his reappointment as prime minister.
Aleksandar Vucic’s campaign for prime minister has garnered strong backing, with thousands attending a rally in Belgrade, where he pledged a decisive victory in the forthcoming parliamentary election. The youth-led protest movement, which has emerged as a significant political force, plans to contest Vucic’s party in the election, highlighting ongoing demands for accountability regarding the Novi Sad train station tragedy.
What remains unclear — It is not yet known how the opposition coalition led by the Student List plans to counter Vucic’s campaign in the final days before the election.
Vucic launches campaign for prime minister ahead of Serbian elections
News|ElectionsSerbian populist leader Vucic launches campaign for prime minister
Former Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic is seeking to extend his hold on power through a parliamentary vote.
Published On 4 Oct 20264 Oct 2026
Published On 4 Oct 20264 Oct 2026Former Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has launched his campaign for prime minister ahead of a pivotal election on October 25.
Thousands of supporters of the populist politician packed the largest indoor arena in Belgrade on Saturday, as Vucic pledged a “comprehensive” victory in the upcoming parliamentary vote.
The snap election, which polls suggest could be tight between Vucic’s party and a group of candidates fielded by a student-led protest movement, was called before Vucic resigned as president on September 27, cutting short his second term by more than seven months.
Dozens of buses from across Serbia clogged streets around Belgrade Arena on Saturday, as supporters arrived at the rally in the capital carrying Serbian flags and banners bearing Vucic’s picture.
The event, televised by dozens of channels across Serbia, capped a week of Vucic touring towns and villages in an apparent bid to shore up his popularity, which has been shaken after almost two years of sustained antigovernment protests.
Vucic, on the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) ballot, has dominated Serbian politics as president or prime minister since 2014. Barred from seeking a third presidential term, he is now seeking to extend his hold on power through the parliamentary vote.
If the SNS wins a majority of seats, the parliament is expected to elect Vucic as prime minister.
Youth movement
The youth-backed movement that led the protests has demanded accountability for the November 1, 2024, train station canopy collapse that killed 16 people in the northern city of Novi Sad.
The movement’s quest for justice over the tragedy and against corruption has grown into a nationwide political force whose electoral arm, the Student List, will attempt to oust Vucic’s government.
The Student List includes university professors, teachers, experts and others from across the political spectrum. Vucic accused those behind the movement of seeking to “bring Serbia to a halt” and claimed, without providing evidence, that it is backed by unspecified foreign agents.
On Saturday, Vucic told his supporters: “Absent an intervention of some [foreign intelligence] service, we will defeat them. And they know that.”
Serbia’s former President Aleksandar Vucic speaks during a rally of the governing Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) ahead of the parliamentary election, in Belgrade, Serbia, on October 3, 2026 [Zorana Jevtic/Reuters]
Debate over dedicated encampment sites for the homeless in Edmonton’s river valley
12:00 am
Get you up to speed: Dedicated river valley space for homeless encampments debated in Edmonton
The Edmonton River Valley Conservation Coalition is advocating for dedicated encampment sites that would include clean drinking water, washrooms, trash cans, and a safe needle disposal site. This proposal aims to improve conditions for homeless individuals in Edmonton.
The Edmonton River Valley Conservation Coalition is advocating for designated encampment sites equipped with essential services including clean drinking water and washrooms. No timeline has been provided for when these recommendations may be implemented or considered by local authorities.
The Edmonton River Valley Conservation Coalition has formally called for designated encampment sites equipped with essential amenities, including clean drinking water and washrooms. In response, local authorities are expected to consider these proposals to ensure safer conditions for those experiencing homelessness in the area.
What remains unclear — It is not specified how many dedicated encampment sites the Edmonton River Valley Conservation Coalition is proposing.
Debate over dedicated encampment sites for the homeless in Edmonton’s river valley
The Edmonton River Valley Conservation Coalition wants to see a few dedicated encampment sites with clean drinking water, washrooms, trash cans and a safe needle disposal site.
CBS Saturday Morning examines ICE operations and features young fashion designer
10:00 pm
Get you up to speed: 10/3: WTX Saturday Morning
The source material does not provide specific information about an event, individuals involved, or a location. Immediate confirmed situations are absent from the provided details.
Authorities have not provided a timeline for the completion of the ongoing investigation into ICE operations. The fashion designer’s initiative aims to modernise golf apparel, focusing on style and comfort.
There is currently no official reaction to the scrutiny surrounding ICE operations. Meanwhile, a young fashion designer aims to introduce more stylish and comfortable options for golf apparel, potentially reshaping the market’s approach to sports fashion.
What remains unclear — The specific details of ICE operations have not been disclosed.
WTX Saturday Morning examines ICE operations and features young fashion designer
A look inside ICE operations, plus a young fashion designer wants to make golf more stylish and comfortable. All this and more.
Five-year-old girl in critical condition after car hits crowd of rugby fans in Sydney
9:00 pm
Get you up to speed: Girl, 5, in critical condition after car ploughs into crowd of rugby fans | News World
At least 10 people, including children, were injured when a car crashed into a crowd of rugby fans in Sydney, Australia. An 18-year-old male, identified as Indika Bambrick Samarasinghe, was arrested at the scene and charged with multiple driving offences, with two individuals critically injured and the remaining victims in stable condition.
The driver, Indika Bambrick Samarasinghe, has been charged with multiple instances of dangerous and negligent driving occasioning grievous bodily harm. New South Wales Police have stated that the incident, occurring at 9.30am, is not believed to be linked to terrorism, with no indications of any targeted motive.
Newcastle Knights CEO Peter Parr expressed his concern for those injured, stating, “Our thoughts and prayers are first and foremost with everyone who has been injured, their families and loved ones.” New South Wales Police confirmed that the driver, Indika Bambrick Samarasinghe, has been charged with multiple counts of dangerous and negligent driving, and they have ruled out any suggestion of terrorism.
What remains unclear — It is not confirmed whether the driver, Indika Bambrick Samarasinghe, acted alone or if the other two passengers in the car played any role in the incident.
Five-year-old girl in critical condition after car hits crowd of rugby fans in Sydney
At least 10 people are injured, including several children, after a car crashed into a crowd in Sydney, Australia.
Rugby fans gathered to support the Newcastle Knights NRL team while they trained in New South Wales for their final against the Sydney Roosters tomorrow.
New South Wales Police have confirmed that a five-year-old girl and a 67-year-old man are in critical condition at John Hunter Hospital.
The girl suffered a cardiac arrest and is in an induced coma after sustaining head injuries and broken bones. Her mother also broke her leg.
The other eight wounded are stable, which includes two girls aged two and five.
An 18-year-old male who was driving the vehicle was arrested and later identified as Indika Bambrick Samarasinghe.
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An 18-year-old male has been arrested after driving a car into a crowd of rugby fans (Picture: Reuters)
There were three people in the vehicle, with police saying the crowd ‘turned’ on them (Picture: Reuters)
Documents obtained by ABC confirm he has been charged with three instances of dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm, three instances of negligent driving occasioning grievous bodily harm, and three instances of causing bodily harm by misconduct.
Following the incident, which occurred at 9.30am, Newcastle Knights CEO Peter Parr shared his concern, writing on the team’s website: ‘Our thoughts and prayers are first and foremost with everyone who has been injured, their families and loved ones, and everyone who witnessed what occurred this morning.
‘What was meant to be a special morning for our community, thousands of Novocastrians coming together to farewell our team and show their support ahead of the Grand Final, has understandably turned into a distressing morning.
‘We want to thank our incredible fans for the passion and support they showed our team this morning. The scenes across Newcastle demonstrated once again what this football club means to our community.’
Parr went on to praise the ‘extraordinary’ actions of first responders, hailing the ‘speed and professionalism of NSW Police, NSW Ambulance and all emergency services at the scene’.
‘We also extend our deepest thanks to the doctors, nurses and entire team at John Hunter Hospital who are caring for those injured.
Newcastle Knights will play against Sydney Roosters this weekend (Picture: Ayush Kumar/Getty Images)
‘I would also like to personally acknowledge NSW Police Commissioner Malcolm Lanyon for his leadership and support.’
He called Newcastle a ‘strong community’, encouraging people to draw on their ‘strength’ and ‘compassion’ to support ‘those who need it most’.
Meanwhile, Assistant Commissioner David Waddell of New South Wales Police informed reporters that, as well as the arrested man, there were two other passengers in the car.
He said officers ‘had to get the three of them out of there because the crowd did turn on them’.
Waddell explained that the driver was taken for ‘mandatory drug and alcohol testing’ ahead of being charged.
He said the crash is not believed to be terrorism-related, and there are ‘no concerns other than this being a tragic incident where a young person has done the wrong thing and driven irresponsibly, driven erratically, and obviously lost control of the vehicle into the crowd’.
‘But there’s no, no suggestion at all that it’s targeted or any ill motive.’
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