Americas

Marvin R. Shanken, Longtime Publisher and Editor of Wine Spectator, Dies at 83

• Marvin R. Shanken has died aged 83.
• He transformed Wine Spectator into a magazine with over 100,000 subscribers.
• Its ratings helped shape wine buying and production.

Marvin R. Shanken, the longtime publisher and editor of Wine Spectator, has died in Manhattan aged 83. He helped make wine more accessible to American consumers and raised the profile of the US wine industry, including Napa Valley. Shanken bought the industry newsletter Impact in 1972 and the…

Cate Blanchett-Backed Group and Collection of Hollywood Stars File Brief in New York Times-OpenAI Lawsuit: Hollywood Has ‘Proven Infrastructure’ to License Content

• Hollywood groups say licensing systems for creative works already exist.
• The brief backs The New York Times’ case against OpenAI and Microsoft.
• Unions warn a fair-use ruling could weaken negotiated agreements.

The Human Consent Foundation, a nonprofit backed by Cate Blanchett, and several Hollywood organisations have filed a court brief supporting The New York Times in its lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft. They argue that the companies’ claims that licensing creative works for AI training is too costly or…

Feds ‘intensely’ probing alleged Alaska ballot scheme, US attorney confirms

• Alaska’s US attorney confirmed an intensified inquiry into alleged candidate recruitment.
• Peltola and others denied involvement in a campaign trick.
• A separate Justice Department request sought to isolate ballots ranking the second Sullivan.

Alaska’s top federal prosecutor, Michael Heyman, confirmed on 30 October that authorities were investigating allegations that Democratic operatives tried to recruit a Senate candidate with the same name as Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan to confuse voters. Heyman said the inquiry had been under way for months but had…

Screwworm infestation reaches Arizona as five more pets are infected

• Screwworms have reached Arizona, infecting a dog.
• The US has recorded 74 animal cases since June.
• Ten cases have involved pets, including dogs and a cat.

The New World screwworm infestation has spread to Arizona, where officials confirmed a case in a dog, adding a third US state to the affected area. The larvae feed on living tissue in wounds, making the flies a serious threat to pets, livestock and wildlife. The US Department…

GCHQ’s missing drives, US campaign spending and airport’s revival

GCHQ cannot account for many removable drives that may hold sensitive data, while a New York campaign paid millions to an agency with far-right campaign links. Doncaster Sheffield Airport weighs reopening as councils urge Halloween visitors to respect “no trick or treat” signs.

3 Country Songs From the 1960s That Sound Like the Artists Were Having Way Too Much Fun

• Parton turns a blonde stereotype into a witty show of confidence.
• Miller’s “King of the Road” celebrates a drifter’s freedom.
• Lynn delivers a bold, playful challenge over a relationship.

The article highlights three 1960s country songs whose artists use humour and playful bravado to tell stories about heartbreak, love and unconventional lives. It presents them as examples of country music’s tongue-in-cheek side, with performances that sound as though the singers are enjoying the characters they inhabit. Dolly…

US clears 500 Patriot interceptors for Ukraine in $2.1bn deal

• US approves 500 Patriot missiles for Ukraine.
• European allies and Canada will fund the $2.1bn deal.
• Zelensky warns delivery could take several years.

The United States has approved the proposed sale of 500 Patriot interceptor missiles to Ukraine, as Russian aerial attacks intensify and Kyiv faces a shortage of air defences. President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the approval but said Ukraine needs the missiles now, warning that deliveries could take several years.…

Trump says US looking into Binance hack: ‘We don’t know’ if North Korea responsible

• Trump said the US was investigating a possible North Korean role in the Binance hack.
• About $6.3 billion in cryptocurrency was stolen on 29 October.
• The FBI later attributed the theft to North Korea; Binance pledged to cover losses.

President Donald Trump said on 30 October that the US was investigating whether North Korea was behind a theft of about $6.3 billion in cryptocurrency from Binance. Asked about a North Korean connection in the Oval Office, he said: “We don’t know. We’re looking at that.” The attack…