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- Pope Leo becomes first pontiff to vote in US general election in Chicago
- B.C. transitions to permanent Pacific daylight time, affecting technology and travel
- DOJ official describes allegations concerning dual Dan Sullivans in Senate race as troubling
- Real estate CEO and family attacked during home invasion in Toronto
- Texas grand jury indicts ICE officer for allegedly running over man in Houston
- NATO commander advocates for integration of AI and drones in Canada’s defence strategy
- Lebanese court charges 13 individuals over explosives shipment to Hezbollah
- Daughter awarded £127,500 for care of mother following family dispute
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Pope Leo becomes first pontiff to vote in US general election in Chicago
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Get you up to speed: Pope Leo becomes first pontiff to vote in US general election
Pope Leo XIV has voted in a United States general election by casting a mail-in ballot in Chicago ahead of the November 3 midterm elections. The Vatican confirmed that Leo, a US citizen, submitted his ballot as part of his commitment to civic participation.
Pope Leo XIV requested his mail-in ballot on October 3 and has recently resumed activities at the Vatican after surgery on October 17. US federal law permits citizens abroad to vote via absentee ballot, which applies to Leo as he holds citizenship in the US, Peru, and the Vatican.
The Vatican confirmed that Pope Leo XIV has submitted a mail-in ballot in Chicago ahead of the November 3 midterm elections, reflecting his commitment to civic engagement. In response, the US Conference of Catholic Bishops encouraged Catholics to prioritise faith over politics and exercise their right to vote, stating, “In voting, our Holy Father sets the example that encourages each citizen to exercise their civic responsibility.”
What remains unclear — The Vatican has not disclosed which candidates Pope Leo XIV voted for in the upcoming elections.
Pope Leo becomes first pontiff to vote in US general election in Chicago
News|ElectionsPope Leo becomes first pontiff to vote in US general election
Vatican confirms the pope submitted a mail-in ballot in his native Chicago ahead of November 3 midterm elections
Published On 31 Oct 202631 Oct 2026
Published On 31 Oct 202631 Oct 2026Pope Leo XIV has become the first pontiff to vote in a United States general election after casting a mail-in ballot in Chicago, where he was born.
The Vatican confirmed on Friday that the pope submitted a mail-in ballot in the city ahead of the November 3 midterm elections, citing his longstanding belief in civic participation.
Leo, formerly Robert Prevost, “has exercised his right to vote as a United States citizen”, as he has done “whenever he was eligible to do so”, the Vatican’s press office said.
“The Holy Father expresses his belief in the right and the duty of citizens to participate in democratic processes,” it added.
The Vatican did not say which candidates Leo voted for.
In a note commenting on Leo’s vote, the US Conference of Catholic Bishops urged Catholics to put “our faith before our politics” and “uphold human dignity and the common good”.
“In voting, our Holy Father sets the example that encourages each citizen to exercise their civic responsibility,” said the conference’s director of public affairs, Chieko Noguchi.
Leo is a citizen not only of the US but also of Peru, where he lived as a priest and bishop for more than 20 years, as well as of the Vatican, where he is head of state.
US federal law allows citizens living abroad, even those working for foreign governments, to vote via absentee ballot.
Americans working for foreign governments are not automatically at risk of losing their US citizenship, but the US State Department says on its website that it may “actively review” the citizenship status of Americans who “serve as a foreign head of state, foreign head of government, or foreign minister”.
A regular voter
In this year’s midterm elections, voters in the solidly Democratic state of Illinois, where Chicago is located, will select a successor to retiring Senator Dick Durbin and choose whether to re-elect Governor JB Pritzker.
Leo requested a mail-in ballot on October 3, just 10 days before he underwent surgery to remove a cancerous tumour from his right lung. He has slowly been resuming his activities at the Vatican after being released from the hospital on October 17.
Since 2000, Leo has voted in five primary elections as Prevost, requesting Democratic ballots twice and Republican ballots three times, according to records held by the Illinois State Board of Elections, which do not show which candidates he supported.
Illinois voters must declare a party preference to receive a primary ballot.
While registered in heavily-Democratic Cook County, Prevost requested Democratic primary ballots in 2008 and 2010. After moving to the more conservative Will County, he requested Republican primary ballots in 2012, 2014 and 2016.
Clashes with Trump
Since Leo’s ascent to the papacy in May 2025, US President Donald Trump has clashed with the pontiff several times.
Trump criticised the pope for repeatedly condemning the US-Israel war on Iran and for challenging his administration’s crackdown on immigrants.
Earlier this year, Trump called Leo “weak” and captive to the “radical left”, kicking off a remarkable back-and-forth argument.
Leo responded by telling reporters: “I’m not afraid of the Trump administration or of speaking out loudly about the message of the Gospel, which is what the church works for.”
B.C. transitions to permanent Pacific daylight time, affecting technology and travel
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What’s the Latest: B.C.’s non-time change could impact technology and travel
British Columbia will not revert to standard time this November, transitioning instead to permanent Pacific Daylight Time. Staff at Vancouver International Airport confirmed that flight schedules have been adjusted accordingly, with updated times reflected in passenger itineraries.
Vancouver International Airport staff have coordinated with airlines to accommodate the transition to permanent Pacific daylight time, adjusting winter flight schedules accordingly. The majority of flights to and from destinations outside B.C. will experience schedule changes of approximately one hour compared to last winter.
B.C. has transitioned to permanent Pacific daylight time, which will require residents to synchronise their schedules to avoid discrepancies in meeting times, according to technology expert Andy Baryar. Vancouver International Airport confirmed that flight schedules have been adjusted to reflect the new time zone, advising passengers to check with airlines for any further clarifications.
What remains unclear — It is uncertain how the permanent daylight saving time will affect travel schedules for passengers in the long term.
B.C. transitions to permanent Pacific daylight time, affecting technology and travel
British Columbia will not observe the traditional time change this November, marking a shift to permanent Pacific Daylight Time. Residents will not gain an extra hour of sleep, as B.C. remains two hours behind Eastern Time and one hour ahead of U.S. Pacific Time states.
The transition could lead to confusion, especially regarding technology and travel. Technology expert Andy Baryar cautions, “Our phones might say one time, but our calendar, our meeting requests, the meetings we already scheduled, might say another.” He urges individuals to ensure that their devices are synchronised to prevent scheduling conflicts.
Sports events will also be affected. For instance, the Vancouver Whitecaps’ game on Sunday is scheduled for 1:30 p.m., although different listings show times that could be off by an hour. The Whitecaps have issued a reminder to fans via social media about the discrepancies.
Vancouver International Airport staff have coordinated closely with airlines to manage the transition effectively. Their statement indicated, “Any passengers impacted by adjusted flight times will already see those times reflected in their travel information. No further action is required.” Most flights to and from B.C. have undergone adjustments of about one hour compared to last winter.
B.C. joins a growing number of provinces that have opted for permanent daylight saving time, including Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. Meanwhile, parts of Quebec and several Maritime provinces will continue the practice of shifting clocks biannually.
DOJ official describes allegations concerning dual Dan Sullivans in Senate race as troubling
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Get you up to speed: DOJ official calls allegations about 2 Dan Sullivans in Alaska Senate race “troubling,” but focus of probe is unclear
The Justice Department’s top prosecutor in Alaska announced an investigation into the campaign of independent Senate candidate Daniel J. Sullivan, following reports linking his candidacy to a conspiracy involving the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and the Mary Peltola campaign. U.S. Attorney Michael Heyman stated that the situation has prompted a “significant surge of law enforcement assets” to the state, although he did not specify the crimes being investigated.
The Justice Department has issued subpoenas targeting several Democratic officials as part of its investigation into allegations of election integrity concerning the Senate race. State election officials initially ruled Daniel J. Sullivan ineligible for the ballot due to perceived voter confusion, but this decision was overturned by state courts, which found a lack of authority to exclude candidates based on “good faith” interpretations.
Michael Heyman, the U.S. attorney for the District of Alaska, described new allegations surrounding Daniel J. Sullivan’s Senate campaign as “troubling” and confirmed a notable increase in law enforcement resources dedicated to the investigation, stating the department takes election integrity allegations seriously. In response to the situation, Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy has ordered an investigation, while the Justice Department has sought a preliminary injunction to preserve ballots potentially affected by voter confusion ahead of the upcoming election.
What remains unclear — It is unclear what specific crimes the Justice Department is investigating regarding the Senate campaign of Daniel J. Sullivan.
DOJ official describes allegations concerning dual Dan Sullivans in Senate race as troubling
Anchorage, Alaska — The Justice Department’s top prosecutor in Alaska called new reporting about the origins of an independent candidate’s Senate campaign “troubling,” and said the new information “has resulted in a significant surge of law enforcement assets” to the state.
But Michael Heyman, the U.S. attorney for the District of Alaska, declined to detail what specific crimes are being investigated as Daniel J. Sullivan, a candidate with the same first and last name as the Republican incumbent senator, Dan Sullivan, is set to appear on the ballot Tuesday. Heyman said he’s “not making any assumptions on whether a crime has been committed or not.”
“That’s what we do, is we investigate whether a crime has been committed under several theories, so I’m not going to comment on what those theories are, and I’m also not going to put the cart before the horse,” he said.
Heyman also said during the press conference: “We are aware of the recent New York Times reporting regarding the Peltola campaign and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, that they orchestrated a sprawling conspiracy to recruit and prop up Daniel J. Sullivan as a sham candidate, and we are taking that extremely seriously.”
Asked by WTX US News why the Justice Department is choosing to escalate the case ahead of the election, Heyman said, “We’re not escalating anything except to the extent that a new article came out.”
“This has been going on sort of quietly for several months, with the intent not to escalate anything,” he said, adding that investigators are going to take allegations involving election integrity seriously, even if a few days before the election.
Republicans have claimed that Daniel J. Sullivan is a plant by Democrats to confuse voters and boost the Democratic candidate, Mary Peltola, in one of the most competitive Senate races in the country.
Peltola and national Democrats have strongly denied any involvement in his campaign. Peltola said Thursday she is “not interested in tricking voters” and “knew nothing about any other candidates on the ballot except for me and the incumbent.”
The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has argued Republicans have been linked to their own efforts to stack the Alaska ballot in order to help their preferred candidates, including in this year’s Senate primary and in other elections.
State election officials initially determined Daniel J. Sullivan was not eligible to appear on the ballot, accusing him of a “deliberate attempt” to confuse Alaska voters. But the decision was overturned by state courts, which ruled that state officials didn’t have the authority to exclude a candidate based on their interpretation of “good faith.”
The controversy drew renewed scrutiny after the New York Times reported that operatives linked to Peltola’s campaign helped recruit the second Sullivan to run. Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy ordered an investigation into the matter and the Justice Department has issued subpoenas targeting several Democratic officials.
In a separate civil case, the Trump administration has sued to block Alaska from certifying the results of the Senate race if the Republican incumbent loses because of “voter confusion.”
On Friday, the Justice Department asked for a preliminary injunction, saying it wants to “ensure the preservation and segregation of ballots that may be impacted by voter confusion.” The government also asked for expedited discovery. Heyman said earlier that the department would request expedited discovery by Monday, a day before the election. The filing heavily relies on the New York Times’ reporting.
“Daniel J. Sullivan does not seek to serve in the U.S. Senate but rather seeks to confuse voters,” the filing says. “Accordingly, there will indeed be voter confusion caused by this frivolous candidacy.”
During the news conference, Heyman also said that he had been recused from the matter some time ago, but that the recusal “has officially been rescinded.” Heyman said he had been recused because he was being considered for a judicial nomination, which is no longer the case.
Real estate CEO and family attacked during home invasion in Toronto
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Get you up to speed: CEO and his daughters shot while wife attacked with a hammer in mansion raid | News World
A family of four, including David Morton, CEO of The Mac Group, was attacked during a home invasion by three masked men in the Bridle Path neighbourhood of Toronto early on Thursday morning. All four victims sustained injuries but are reported to be in stable condition, while the suspects remain at large.
Toronto police are investigating the incident and have obtained security footage from the family’s home. The attack occurred at approximately 3.43am on Thursday, and the victims, including real estate CEO David Morton and his family, are reported to be in a stable condition following the assault.
The police are actively investigating the incident, with security footage from the home submitted for analysis. Local authorities have urged residents to enhance their home security measures in light of the attack, which has raised concerns about safety in the affluent Bridle Path neighbourhood.
What remains unclear — It is uncertain whether the intruders escaped with any valuables from the home.
Real estate CEO and family attacked during home invasion in Toronto
A family of four were attacked during the violent home intrusion in a wealthy Toronto neighbourhood (Picture: Canadian Press/Shutterstock)
A real estate CEO and his family were attacked during a home invasion in the middle of the night, with suspects still on the run.
Armed thugs raided a mansion in a wealthy Toronto neighbourhood on Thursday night, leaving a family of four injured but alive.
Three masked men are said to have stormed the gated home in leafy Bridle Path before shooting started.
The intruders demanded valuables during a ‘violent interaction’ before escaping, Toronto police inspector Kristy Smith revealed.
The overnight raid was carried out in Toronto’s wealthiest neighbourhood (Picture: Canadian Press/Shutterstock)
She said: ‘There was a violent interaction.
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‘There was a demand made for valuables from within the home. Whether or not they escaped with anything is uncertain.’
The victims have been named locally as the CEO of The Mac Group, David Morton, his wife Doriana Zohil-Morton, the president of the property business, and their two daughters Cristina and Maggie, although the police are yet to officially confirm the identities.
The terrifying ordeal unfolded at about 3.43am when the criminals gained entry into the luxury home.
The attack unfolded in the early hours of the morning (Picture: Canadian Press/Shutterstock)
Detectives said David, Christina and Maggie were shot during the encounter.
Doriana is believed to have been hit on the head with a hammer.
They tried to fight off three men wearing ski masks before being shot in the tussle, a source told the Toronto Sun.
One of the daughters was allegedly shot under her arm, while the other daughter and their father were shot in the leg.
All four were also struck on the head, the source claimed.
Despite their injuries, all four are said to be in a stable condition.
The motivation of the masked intruders is being investigated, and security footage from the home was handed to the police.
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Texas grand jury indicts ICE officer for allegedly running over man in Houston
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Get you up to speed: Texas grand jury indicts ICE officer accused of running over man in Houston
A Texas grand jury has indicted ICE officer Mario Alberto Morales for allegedly running over Mexican construction worker Miguel Parra-Hernandez during an immigration operation in Houston on October 10. Parra-Hernandez, who suffered multiple fractures and required surgery, was reportedly fleeing from federal agents when he was struck by Morales’s SUV.
Investigators have not yet been granted access to the vehicle involved in the incident, as a search warrant obtained by local media shows that the Jeep still has not been examined as of October 23. The Harris County District Attorney’s Office is concurrently looking into the shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, another case involving federal immigration officers.
Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare stated that surveillance video contradicts the claim by ICE that Miguel Parra-Hernandez ran in front of the vehicle, revealing the SUV pursuing him before the strike. Following the indictment, Teare condemned federal authorities for their lack of cooperation in the investigation and noted an ongoing inquiry into the circumstances surrounding another incident involving an ICE officer in Houston.
What remains unclear — The exact circumstances surrounding the pursuit and subsequent collision involving Morales and Parra-Hernandez, as well as the intended target of the ICE operation, remain disputed.
Texas grand jury indicts ICE officer for allegedly running over man in Houston
News|MigrationTexas grand jury indicts ICE officer accused of running over man in Houston
The officer faces charges after allegedly striking a fleeing construction worker with an SUV during an immigration raid.
Published On 30 Oct 202630 Oct 2026
Published On 30 Oct 202630 Oct 2026A grand jury in Texas has indicted a United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer accused of deliberately running over a Mexican construction worker during an operation in Houston this month.
ICE officer Mario Alberto Morales faces charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon for the October 10 incident, Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare announced on Friday.
Criminal charges against federal immigration officers have been rare during President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown, although several encounters involving officers have prompted investigations.
Morales is accused of striking 48-year-old Miguel Parra-Hernandez, an immigrant who has lived in Harris County for more than 30 years. Teare said that Parra-Hernandez had no criminal record.
Parra-Hernandez was running away from federal agents when an unmarked black Jeep Cherokee struck him in a car park near Clay Road and Highway 6, according to investigators. He suffered multiple fractures to his right leg and an ankle injury which required surgery.
The indictment follows a dispute between local prosecutors and federal authorities over what happened. ICE has maintained that Parra-Hernandez ran in front of the vehicle, dismissing the allegations that the officer intentionally struck him as “reckless and false.”
But Teare has said surveillance video contradicts the agency’s account.
It shows the SUV crossing a median and pursuing Parra-Hernandez as he runs away. Although another vehicle obscures the moment of impact, the video shows the man on the ground moments later.
Authorities also released body-camera footage on Friday. In the recording, Morales can be heard acknowledging that he struck Parra-Hernandez with his vehicle.
Teare also accused federal authorities of failing to cooperate with the investigation, including by removing the Jeep before local investigators could examine it for potential evidence.
A search warrant obtained by local media shows investigators had not been granted access to the vehicle as of October 23.
The case has also raised questions about the operation’s intended target. ICE said agents were searching for a man identified as Jose Mendoza-Cervantes, whom they believed to be travelling with Parra-Hernandez.
But Mendoza-Cervantes’s daughter told The New York Times that her father died in 2017. Parra-Hernandez’s family has disputed that the two men knew each other.
The Morales indictment comes as the Harris County District Attorney’s Office continues investigating the fatal shooting of another Mexican, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, on July 7.
An ICE officer, Gregory Feathers, has been accused of firing at the vehicle Salgado Araujo was driving on his way to work in Houston.
Federal authorities said the officer acted in self-defence, a claim the surviving passengers in the vehicle dispute.
NATO commander advocates for integration of AI and drones in Canada’s defence strategy
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What’s the Latest: Canada needs a ‘good mix’ of new tech like drones, AI: NATO commander
Hundreds of international researchers and military personnel are attending the NATO Innovation Continuum at The Cove in Dartmouth to explore new defence technologies. The event focuses on addressing evolving security concerns through collaboration between emerging companies and military forces, with confirmed participation from NATO and the Canadian Armed Forces.
Hundreds of international researchers and military personnel are gathering in Halifax this week for the NATO Innovation Continuum to address emerging security concerns through new defence technologies. The Digital Backbone eXperimentation (DIBaX) exercises have been testing drone and AI technologies in field-like conditions since 2022, with a focus on enhancing military capabilities.
NATO Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, Adm. Pierre Vandier, emphasised the necessity for member states to integrate advanced technologies such as drones and artificial intelligence into their military strategies, stating that “a force that is not protected against drones…is a force at risk.” As Canada increases its defence spending, further details on achieving the NATO target of 5% of GDP by 2035 will be provided in the upcoming budget presentation by Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne.
What remains unclear — The government has not provided specifics on how it plans to achieve the target of spending five per cent of GDP on defence by 2035.
NATO commander advocates for integration of AI and drones in Canada’s defence strategy
As Canada prepares to boost its national defence spending, NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, Adm. Pierre Vandier, emphasised the necessity for military forces to integrate new technologies, such as artificial intelligence and drones. Speaking from Riga, Latvia, Vandier advised that a balanced mix of these innovations is essential for enhancing existing military capabilities. “A force that is not protected against drones and (drone) swarms is a force at risk,” he stated.
Vandier’s remarks follow NATO exercises in Latvia, where a combination of electronic warfare and drones was utilised alongside ground troops to simulate cross-border conflicts. The ongoing war in Ukraine has sharpened focus on drone warfare’s evolving role, which has seen drones increasingly mitigating the effectiveness of conventional military assets, such as tanks.
The admiral articulated that the incorporation of drones does not render traditional military systems obsolete. “What we demonstrated was we can extend lethality and extend survivability of existing capabilities … if we bring them with a good mix of new technology,” he said. An example provided was an attack helicopter’s operations, which can now accomplish missions previously deemed impossible by leveraging both drones and anti-drone defenses.
NATO’s Digital Backbone eXperimentation (DIBaX) exercises have allowed for testing of advanced drone technologies and have included trials of drone swarm capabilities and electronic warfare strategies designed to disrupt enemy drones. According to NATO officials, these exercises have underscored the significance of innovation in warfare, with the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) also prioritising advancements in drone technology.
Prime Minister Mark Carney has pledged significant investment in defence to meet NATO’s targets, including an increase to 2% of Canada’s GDP. However, further details on reaching the ambitious goal of 5% by 2035 are yet to be disclosed, with the upcoming budget set to provide more clarity on these plans.
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