Haiku in English: Oct. 12, 2026

Global poverty index rises for first time since its 2010 creation

WASHINGTON — A UN global poverty index has risen for the first time since its creation in 2010, bringing the number of people affected to 1.2 billion, the United Nations Development Programme reported Monday. In the 2026 edition of their annual report, the UNDP and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative research center counted 51.5 million more people living in "acute" poverty compared to the previous year. UNDP Administrator Alexander De Croo said the increase in poverty should be a "wake-up call for the world." "Behind these figures are 1.2 billion people facing hardships that reinforce one another: hunger, missed schooling and a lack of clean water or electricity. This is unacceptable," he said in a press release. More than half of those in acute poverty were children. However, UNDP said a major factor in the recorded increase was population growth, and new data was only available for 13 of the 108 developing countries covered by the report. While the total number of people in poverty has increased, the report provides a mixed picture. Some 33 nations have halved the perc

France: Poll shows Le Pen and Melenchon head for run-off as political divide deepens

France: Poll shows Le Pen and Melenchon head for run-off as political divide deepensFrench far-right leader Marine Le Pen and hard-left rival Jean-Luc Mélenchon have strengthened their positions against mainstream opponents, raising the prospect of a highly polarized presidential election...

Fire burns down Paris's oldest covered food market

A fire "completely destroyed" Paris's historic Marché Couvert des Enfants Rouges overnight Monday, authorities said. The cause of the fire that swept through the capital's oldest covered food market remains unknown.

Jantar Mantar de-notified as protest venue, Delhi Police circular says | All you need to know

Delhi Police has de-notified Jantar Mantar as a protest venue, according to a police circular.

Toto Wolff hails Kimi Antonelli despite ‘stress’ over pushing track limits

The 20-year-old could confirm his place as Formula One’s youngest world champion at the next round in Texas in a fortnight.

How the ICE surge in Minnesota could impact the midterms

Operation Metro Surge is still a "fresh wound" in Minnesota, where a sweeping immigration crackdown saw thousands of arrested and two U.S. citizens killed. Minnesotans organized grassroots opposition against the federal officers. Now many of those same people have signed up for training to protect the polls in a Senate race that could be pivotal.

'We can’t deal with it in Canada': Some women turn to Mexico for endometriosis care

While endometriosis affects one in 10 women, Canada’s health care system is doing a “poor” job in providing them care and many women are seeking treatment outside the country.

Amid public anger over housing crisis, Spain's PM takes bold gamble to secure majority

By making housing affordability the centrepiece of his campaign, Pedro Sánchez hopes to unite progressive voters while deflecting attention from other pressing political vulnerabilities.

Critics react to series three of Time starring David Tennant

Healey told he has two stark choices to avoid public spending cuts ahead of Budget

‘Dereliction of duty’ not to seek closer ties with EU, Andy Burnham to tells MPs

The prime minister will call on all parties to support the government’s EU approach

Gyanesh Kumar, you have done a crime, but 'not the main criminal': What LoP wants to tell Supreme Court about CEC

Ahead of the INDIA bloc’s planned march to the Supreme Court at 1:30 pm on Monday, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi addressed a press conference, urging Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign and alleging that senior government figures had pressured him.