Starmer Defends U-Turn on Grooming Gangs Inquiry | JQJO

In a Wednesday night debate, Kansas Senate candidates Roger Marshall (R) and Adam Hamilton (D) clashed over President Donald Trump, immigration, Iran, transgender athletes, artificial intelligence, and personal controversies. Marshall was questioned about a New York Times review that found his former medical practice sued more than 700 patients over unpaid bills; he defended the practice’s charitable giving and business expenses. Hamilton faced questions about a volunteer at his church’s summer camp who was accused of sexual abuse; he admitted he should have prevented the individual from returning to the camp. Trump appeared via footage from a recent campaign event, prompting Marshall to say he does not always agree with the president’s agenda. The debate, held less than two weeks before Election Day, underscored the national attention on the race, with Trump traveling to Kansas earlier in the week to campaign for Marshall. The discussion set the stage for a highly contested Senate contest in a state that has not elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1932.

Meta Platforms has struck a deal with Mark Zuckerberg to keep him living in California, even if the state passes a one‑off billionaire wealth tax. Under the agreement, Zuckerberg will receive new shares that could be sold to cover a potential multibillion‑dollar tax bill. In return, he commits to remain a resident of the state or wherever Meta maintains its base for eight years. The arrangement follows California’s Proposition 40, a 5% tax on roughly two‑hundred‑fifty billionaires, which voters will decide early next month. Meta also reported a twenty‑six percent rise in revenues to sixty‑four point six billion dollars, while profits fell by thirty‑seven percent to thirteen billion dollars due to a nine point nine billion dollar charge related to a lawsuit over child protection and social media addiction.

France reported the first human case of the Shamonda virus, usually found in livestock, on October twenty‑second, 2026. The patient later died, and authorities said there was no risk to the general population at this stage. The virus is transmitted by biting midges and has been found in cattle, horses, alpacas, sheep and goats. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control is monitoring the situation and investigating the infection’s source. No commercial vaccine exists for Shamonda, and the virus was first identified in Nigeria in the mid‑1960s.

Sacha Baron Cohen has defended bringing his satirical character Ali G back for a new film after twelve years, saying that the character’s outdated and problematic nature is why he resurrects him. The comedian first introduced Ali G on Channel 4’s The 11 O’Clock Show in nineteen ninety‑eight and will reprise the role in the forthcoming film Ali G: Who Iz I?, which arrives in cinemas later this week. Calls to boycott the film have emerged, with critics arguing that the character stereotypes white, middle‑class young men who adopt Jamaican and hip‑hop culture. In a Time magazine essay published on twenty‑October, Cohen explained that his characters aim to expose prejudice, bias and stupidity, and that the current world has become worse than when he first created Ali G. He hopes the new film will sound the alarm about rising political violence, misogyny and extremism, especially with the U.S. midterm elections approaching.

Elon Musk, CEO of both SpaceX and Tesla, publicly stated that the two companies are exploring a potential merger or acquisition that could become the largest corporate transaction in history. The comments have prompted insiders to warn that the disclosure could invite shareholder scrutiny and delay the process by several weeks. Musk’s remarks echo concerns that surfaced during Tesla’s 2016 acquisition of SolarCity, which led to years of litigation over his influence on the deal. The parties have hired advisers and are evaluating various structures, including an all‑stock deal, but the talks remain in early stages. Tesla, SpaceX and Musk have not yet responded to requests for comment.

A federal judge ruled late Wednesday that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s practice of knocking on doors and asking about immigration status and recent voting likely violates the Voting Rights Act. Judge Araceli Martinez‑Olguin ordered immigration authorities to cease elections‑related field operations in nine states, including California and New York, until polls close. The ruling followed a CBS News investigation that documented agents approaching homes in multiple states. Martinez‑Olguin sided with groups that sued over the practice, citing intimidation of legal voters and high likelihood of error in target lists. The order remains until Election Day, with a stay until Friday 5 p.m. to allow appeal.

Amazon Prime members who signed up between June 23 2019 and June 23 2025, attempted to cancel online during that period without success, and used no more than 20 Prime benefits in a 12‑month span, could receive up to $200 in refunds. The refunds are part of a $2.5 billion settlement with the Federal Trade Commission and are being sent automatically via Venmo, PayPal or mailed check. Customers have 60 days to redeem the payment after the issue date, and those who already received $51 from an earlier settlement may still receive an additional $149. Qualified refunds are expected to be issued by April of next year.

Meta announced it will issue a new Class C share class, a one‑for‑one stock dividend, to all shareholders. The move, disclosed with the company’s third‑quarter earnings, aims to raise capital without diluting Mark Zuckerberg’s voting power and to enable him to meet pledges to the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative and potentially fund a California wealth tax. Zuckerberg currently holds about 60.6 % of voting control through Class B shares, which carry ten votes each, while his equity stake is roughly 13.4 %. The new Class C shares will not affect his voting rights. Meta’s dual‑class structure, common among tech firms, allows founders to maintain control while raising outside capital. The decision follows months of negotiation with board members, including DoorDash CEO Tony Xu, Ambassador Robert Kimmitt, and former Microsoft executive Charles Songhurst. Meta’s SEC filings show the company repurchased $26.3 billion in Class A stock in 2025 but has not bought back shares in the past four years. The new share class is intended to support Meta’s AI expansion while safeguarding Zuckerberg’s majority control.