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Pro-government forces are battling advancing Houthi fighters in the mountains near Taiz, where residents live under mortar fire and both sides brace for a major push. Pro-government soldiers backed by Saudi Arabia are fighting to hold back Houthi forces in the mountains south-west of Taiz, Yemen's third largest city, as both sides prepare for what fighters describe as an imminent major offensive. The clashes have sharpened this month after the Houthis pushed down the Red Sea coast and seized a critical stretch of shipping territory, driving the country's long war into a new and dangerous phase. The fighting turned fiercer after the Houthis captured the strategic port of Mokha, 85km west of Taiz, on 10 September. The seizure shattered a ceasefire that had broadly held for four years. With Mokha in their hands, the group now commands a band of territory overlooking the Bab al-Mandab Strait, the narrow corridor that links European and Asian shipping routes. Fears of disruption to supplies from the region have already helped push up oil prices. Reporters who travelled with government troops from Taiz passed through a series of checkpoints to reach the point where their control ends and open ground begins. In the hills, the danger arrives from the air first. A soldier accompanying the group warned that the buzzing of a drone overhead was usually the signal for an attack. The party took cover in bushes, then moved out by vehicle. Around ten minutes later, a run of heavy blasts struck nearby, though the exact impact points were not clear. The slopes are dotted with houses, but many now stand empty after families fled the shelling. The area is unusually silent, without the constant traffic of the city below. The only sounds are livestock and the crack of fire moving in both directions. A goat herder who would not leave About a kilometre from the front line, a man named Ali sat outside his home surrounded by goats. Two mortar rounds had already struck his land, he said. He had sent his children to a camp for displaced people because they could no longer bear the constant shelling and gunfire, but he had chosen to remain with his wife and sisters to guard the animals. "I am terrified," he said, adding that leaving was not an option. Without the livestock, he said, the family faced starvation regardless. He asked to be identified by his first name alone, worried about what might happen to him if the Houthis overran the area in the coming days. His fear reflects a wider expectation of escalation. Sources on the Houthi side say the group is bringing troops together in readiness for a large assault. Asked about those preparations, government commanders said they were aware of the buildup and were readying their own forces. Eighteen bodies no one can reach At the checkpoint nearest the front, fighters had just come back from positions high on the mountain, only a few hundred metres from advancing Houthi units. One described a stretch of ground his unit could shoot across but not physically reach, where the bodies of 18 government soldiers had been left. "We shoot over them, but we can't pull them out," he said. Taiz is more than a military prize. Home to close to a million people, it is regarded as Yemen's cultural capital and sits at a vital junction between the Houthi-held north and the government-controlled south. The city is boxed in by front lines on several sides. Government forces hold its centre, while Houthi positions sit to the north and east. The most intense recent combat has been on the western approaches, where the two sides are contesting high ground. The convergence of front lines around the city, combined with the Houthi advance along the coast, has left Taiz exposed on multiple fronts at once. For residents like Ali, the choice is stark: abandon homes and livelihoods, or stay within range of the guns and wait to see which side controls the ground when the fighting stops. Yemen civil war, Taiz front line, Houthi offensive, Mokha port, Bab al-Mandab Strait, Yemen conflict, Red Sea shipping, pro-government forces

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Michael Olise scored an 88th-minute gem as a heavily rotated France beat Belgium 1-0 in Brussels, giving Zinedine Zidane a second straight win. A heavily rotated France side beat Belgium 1-0 in the UEFA Nations League on Monday, September 28, with Michael Olise settling the game with a spectacular strike two minutes from full time. The winner came in the 88th minute at the Stade Roi Baudouin in Brussels. The result gave Zinedine Zidane a second victory since taking charge, following France's 1-0 win away in Turkey three days earlier. Both wins were sealed by the same 0-1 scoreline on the road. Zidane made sweeping changes for the trip to Belgium, fielding a much-altered lineup that still looked relaxed and carefree despite the inexperience on the pitch. Three players were handed their first starts for the national team on the same night: Andy Diouf, Jérémy Jacquet and Lucas Da Cunha. That trio of debut starters marked a rare occurrence for France. It was the first time three players made their first starts in a single match since August 11, 2010, when Adil Rami, Aly Cissokho, Charles N'Zogbia, Guillaume Hoarau and Stéphane Ruffier featured among the new faces. Despite the reshuffled team, France carried the greater threat and were rewarded late. Olise's goal, described as a gem, broke Belgian resistance and preserved France's perfect start under their new coach. The back-to-back away wins in Turkey and Belgium have given Zidane an ideal opening to his tenure, achieved while resting or rotating a large portion of the squad. France now sit on two wins from two matches in the campaign. France football, Michael Olise, UEFA Nations League, Belgium vs France, Zinedine Zidane, Stade Roi Baudouin, France national team, Olise goal

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Explore Bitcoin's 21 million supply cap, major holders, lost coins, mining schedule and the reality of global cryptocurrency scarcity.Bitcoin’s 21 Million Limit: Who Controls the Supply, How Many Coins Are Lost, and Why Scarcity Matters   An original News National article Bitcoin has a feature that separates it from almost every traditional currency: its supply is limited by design. No matter how much demand grows or how many investors enter the market, the Bitcoin network is programmed to issue no more than approximately 21 million coins. But the real story goes far beyond this number. Millions of Bitcoins are believed to be inaccessible, major financial institutions and corporations have accumulated substantial holdings, and the identity of the cryptocurrency's creator remains unknown. Meanwhile, the number of newly mined coins continues to decline as Bitcoin moves through its predetermined issuance schedule. These developments raise an important question for the global financial system: If Bitcoin is limited to 21 million coins, how much is actually available for people to own? This article examines Bitcoin's supply, major ownership groups, lost coins, institutional participation, and the economic implications of digital scarcity. 1. The 21 Million Bitcoin Rule: A Supply Unlike Traditional Money   Bitcoin's monetary system was designed around a fixed maximum supply. Its protocol gradually introduces new coins through a process known as mining, but the rate of issuance decreases over time. This is different from conventional currencies, where monetary supply can change through central-bank policies and other financial mechanisms. Bitcoin's issuance schedule is controlled by its software rules and the consensus of the network. Key Bitcoin supply facts Category Information Maximum supply Approximately 21 million BTC Mined supply More than 20 million BTC Remaining issuance Less than 1 million BTC Current block reward 3.125 BTC Approximate daily production 450 BTC Last halving April 2024 Next expected halving 2028 Estimated completion of issuance Around 2140 The figures describe Bitcoin's programmed issuance and should not be confused with the number of coins available for immediate purchase. Even after a Bitcoin has been mined, it may remain untouched in a wallet for years or become inaccessible if its private keys are lost. 2. Bitcoin Mining: Why New Supply Is Becoming Smaller   Bitcoin mining is the process through which specialised computers participate in securing the blockchain and validating transactions. Miners compete to add new blocks to the network. Successful miners receive a block reward, along with transaction fees. However, Bitcoin's issuance schedule includes an important mechanism called halving. Approximately every four years, the number of newly created Bitcoins awarded per block is cut in half. The April 2024 halving reduced the block reward from 6.25 BTC to 3.125 BTC. Consequently, the network's approximate daily production fell from 900 Bitcoins to 450, assuming the usual block-production rate. This mechanism means that Bitcoin's new supply becomes progressively smaller, even as the network continues to operate. The final fractions of Bitcoin are expected to be issued around 2140, although the precise timing depends on block production and protocol conditions. 3. Satoshi Nakamoto: The Mystery Behind an Estimated 1.1 Million Bitcoins   Bitcoin was introduced by an individual or group using the name Satoshi Nakamoto. Despite the cryptocurrency's worldwide adoption, the creator's real identity has never been conclusively established. Blockchain researchers have estimated that Satoshi may have mined approximately 1.1 million Bitcoins during the network's early period. The estimate is based on patterns in early mining activity rather than a publicly verified declaration of ownership. These coins have attracted considerable attention because the associated addresses have not shown the kind of spending activity that would indicate their movement into the market. If the estimate is accurate, the holdings would represent a substantial proportion of Bitcoin's total supply. Nevertheless, inactive addresses do not prove that their owners have lost access to the coins. They may simply be choosing not to move them. The mystery surrounding Satoshi's holdings remains one of the most distinctive aspects of Bitcoin's history. 4. ETFs and Financial Institutions: Bitcoin Enters Traditional Investment Markets   Bitcoin's relationship with traditional finance has changed significantly with the introduction of spot Bitcoin exchange-traded products. These investment vehicles allow investors to gain exposure to Bitcoin through familiar brokerage accounts, without necessarily managing cryptocurrency wallets themselves. The underlying assets are generally held by custodians on behalf of the funds. BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust is one prominent example of this development. Its reported holdings demonstrate the scale at which traditional financial products can accumulate Bitcoin. Institutional participation has introduced a new category of demand into the market. However, fund holdings can change as investors purchase or redeem shares. It is also important to distinguish between Bitcoin held by an investment fund and Bitcoin permanently removed from circulation. Institutional holdings remain subject to trading and redemption activity. 5. Corporate Bitcoin Reserves: Why Businesses Are Accumulating Coins   Some corporations have adopted Bitcoin as a component of their treasury management strategies. Strategy, formerly known as MicroStrategy, is among the most prominent companies associated with this approach. Rather than limiting its exposure to conventional cash and financial instruments, the company has accumulated Bitcoin as a major treasury asset. Other businesses have also disclosed cryptocurrency holdings, although their motivations and investment approaches vary. Corporate purchases can influence market demand, particularly when large quantities are acquired over a short period. However, corporate ownership does not make Bitcoin permanently unavailable. Companies may sell assets to meet financial obligations, adjust their balance sheets, or respond to changing market conditions. 6. Governments and National Bitcoin Holdings     Governments have become another important category of Bitcoin holders. Many state-controlled Bitcoin reserves originated through law-enforcement seizures, asset forfeitures, and other legal proceedings rather than direct market purchases. The United States, China, and the United Kingdom are among the countries associated with substantial government-controlled Bitcoin holdings. Bhutan has attracted attention for a different reason: its involvement in Bitcoin mining, supported by the country's energy resources. Government holdings can change as authorities adopt different policies concerning the management, retention, or disposal of digital assets. For this reason, government Bitcoin figures should be treated as time-sensitive estimates rather than permanent totals. 7. The Lost Bitcoin Crisis: Coins That May Never Be Recovered   Bitcoin's fixed supply creates an unusual problem: coins can become permanently inaccessible without disappearing from the blockchain. A Bitcoin wallet is controlled through cryptographic keys. If the necessary keys are lost and no usable backup exists, the owner may have no practical way to spend the funds. Researchers and industry participants have estimated that several million Bitcoins may be lost, although the exact number cannot be established with certainty. Some coins may belong to deceased individuals whose heirs cannot access their wallets. Others may be trapped in damaged devices or forgotten accounts. Two widely reported incidents illustrate the consequences. The 8,000 Bitcoin Hard Drive Lost in a Welsh Landfill   James Howells, a British IT engineer, reported that a hard drive containing access to approximately 8,000 Bitcoins was mistakenly discarded in 2013. The device was believed to have ended up at a landfill in Newport, Wales. Howells pursued legal efforts to recover the hard drive and proposed searching the landfill. However, the High Court dismissed his claim against Newport City Council in January 2025. The case attracted international attention because of the potential value of the missing cryptocurrency and the extraordinary difficulty of recovering a small electronic device from a large waste-disposal site. It also demonstrates that possessing a record of Bitcoin ownership is not enough when the necessary access credentials are missing. The Programmer With Two Password Attempts Remaining   Programmer Stefan Thomas became known for another unusual Bitcoin access problem. He reportedly holds an encrypted IronKey device containing the private keys associated with 7,002 Bitcoins. The device is configured to permanently lock and erase its contents after 10 incorrect password attempts. According to widely reported accounts, Thomas had already used eight attempts, leaving two remaining. His situation highlights an important distinction between the security and recoverability of digital assets. Strong encryption can protect a wallet from unauthorised access, but it can also prevent the legitimate owner from recovering funds after losing the password. 8. Bitcoin's Accessible Supply: Why the Real Number May Be Smaller Than 21 Million   The total number of Bitcoins ever issued is not necessarily the number that can realistically be purchased or transferred. A simplified illustration shows the difference: Supply measure Illustrative estimate Mined Bitcoin 20 million Potentially lost coins 3–4 million Potentially accessible coins 16–17 million These numbers are estimates, not verified market totals. The calculation does not establish how many coins are actively offered for sale, and some dormant coins may become accessible again. Furthermore, coins held by ETFs, companies, and governments are not automatically excluded from the available market. Their owners can decide to sell or transfer them. Nevertheless, the distinction between total supply and accessible supply is important when examining Bitcoin's economic characteristics. The effective supply available to buyers at a particular price can be much smaller than the total number of coins that exist. 9. Sixty Million Millionaires Versus Bitcoin's Limited Supply   The relationship between worldwide wealth and Bitcoin's limited issuance offers an interesting mathematical perspective. Consider a hypothetical situation involving 60 million millionaires and an accessible Bitcoin supply of 17–18 million coins. If every millionaire wanted to acquire one complete Bitcoin, the available supply would be insufficient. The hypothetical supply calculation Global millionaires 60 million Accessible BTC 17–18 million BTC per millionaire 0.28–0.30 Potential one-BTC allocation 28%–30% Illustrative mathematical comparison, not a prediction of actual ownership or investment demand. This scenario assumes that every millionaire wants Bitcoin and that the entire estimated accessible supply is available for distribution. Real-world ownership is more complicated. Wealth levels differ considerably, individuals have different investment preferences, and Bitcoin can be divided into smaller units. The calculation is useful for understanding the scale of the supply constraint, but it should not be interpreted as evidence that every millionaire will seek to purchase Bitcoin. 10. What Would Equal Bitcoin Ownership Look Like Across Eight Billion People?   Bitcoin's divisibility allows people to own a fraction of a coin. One BTC is equivalent to 100 million satoshis, enabling transactions and ownership far below the value of a whole Bitcoin. If 17 million Bitcoins were divided equally among a hypothetical global population of eight billion people, each person would receive approximately 0.002125 BTC, or 212,500 satoshis. This is a mathematical illustration rather than a realistic distribution model. Actual ownership is determined by purchases, transfers, savings, institutional activity, and individual financial circumstances. It nevertheless demonstrates how a fixed supply can be distributed in fractional amounts across a large population. 11. Does Limited Supply Mean Bitcoin Prices Must Rise?   Bitcoin's limited issuance is frequently discussed in connection with its long-term market value. However, a fixed supply does not guarantee that its price will increase. Market prices depend on several interacting factors: Demand: The number of people and institutions seeking exposure to Bitcoin. Liquidity: The quantity of coins available for trading at different prices. Regulation: Laws governing ownership, exchanges, custody, and financial products. Investor sentiment: Changing expectations about cryptocurrency markets. Macroeconomic conditions: Interest rates, inflation, currency movements, and broader financial trends. Network security: The economic incentives supporting miners and transaction validation. Bitcoin has experienced substantial price increases as well as sharp declines throughout its history. Its issuance schedule is predetermined, but future market demand, adoption, and valuation remain uncertain. For investors, the distinction between a scarce asset and a guaranteed profitable investment is particularly important. 12. Bitcoin's Long-Term Future: What Happens When Mining Rewards Approach Zero?   Bitcoin's mining rewards will continue to decline through future halving events. As the block subsidy becomes smaller, transaction fees are expected to play an increasingly important role in compensating miners. This transition raises questions about the long-term economics of mining, network security, transaction costs, and the sustainability of the system. The final stages of Bitcoin issuance are expected to extend toward approximately 2140, although miners will continue validating transactions beyond the point when new Bitcoin issuance effectively ends. The network's future will depend not only on the scarcity of its coins but also on its continued use, security, technical development, and economic incentives. Conclusion: Bitcoin's Scarcity Is About More Than Its 21 Million Limit Bitcoin's supply cap is one of the most distinctive features of its design, but the actual ownership landscape is considerably more complex. The estimated holdings associated with Satoshi Nakamoto, the expansion of institutional investment products, corporate treasury strategies, government reserves, and potentially lost coins all contribute to the distribution of existing Bitcoin. With more than 20 million coins already mined, the remaining issuance represents a relatively small portion of the maximum supply. Yet scarcity alone cannot determine the cryptocurrency's future value. Demand, market liquidity, regulation, technological developments, and investor behaviour will continue to shape its role in the global financial system.

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Rumors point to OpenAI launching a consumer AI agent, Aeon, at its 2026 DevDay, chasing rivals Meta's Muse and Google's Gemini Spark. OpenAI helped make the modern AI chatbot a household product, but heading into its 2026 DevDay on Tuesday, the company trails its rivals in one of the sector's fastest-growing areas: always-on, consumer-facing AI agents. Reports suggest OpenAI will use the event to launch its own entry, an agent said to be named Aeon. Little has been confirmed about Aeon. One detail that has surfaced is that OpenAI now employs Peter Steinberger, the creator of the open-source agent OpenClaw, who is widely expected to be contributing to the project. Aeon would join a crowded field that already includes Meta's Muse, SpaceX's Grok Bot, Google's Gemini Spark, the newer Instinct, and OpenClaw itself. AI agents are designed to carry out tasks on a user's behalf: booking travel, buying groceries, scheduling appointments, and assisting with work presentations, among others. By some accounts, competing agents are already filling out paperwork for doctor visits, canceling subscriptions, organizing group trips, booking activities, setting up DMV appointments, and paying bills. From demo to daily use OpenAI showed an agentic API feature at its 2024 DevDay and shipped early consumer-facing agents focused on computer use and research in mid-2025. The turning point for the category came late last year, when OpenClaw pushed agents past the proof-of-concept stage into practical use. The race has accelerated since, and OpenAI's visible progress has lagged. Meta now looks like OpenAI's main competitor in the space. Since its release earlier this month, Muse has climbed to the top of the App Store charts and reached 600,000 daily active users in the US, according to Apptopia. Early reviews describe it as useful but slightly unsettling. Instinct has drawn attention for how easy it is to use, letting people communicate with it over iMessage and many other chat apps. Google's Gemini Spark runs around the clock and connects to more than 30 external service partners, including Dropbox, Uber, and Spotify. To lead the pack, Aeon would need to combine strengths that are currently spread across those platforms: the usefulness of OpenClaw, the low cost and easy setup of Muse, and the conversational simplicity of Instinct. Security problems follow the agents As agents gain more autonomy, security concerns have grown. At least one known vulnerability, since patched, let attackers take over accounts. Users have also complained that Muse shared a home address without permission and read private messages, though such individual reports can be difficult to confirm. Any successful agent would have to address risks that have trailed the category since OpenClaw and continued with Muse. OpenAI has raised expectations for the announcements. It has been promoting its latest frontier model, GPT-6 Astra, as the point at which artificial general intelligence arrives. "I think it's not unreasonable to feel that we are now in the AGI era," OpenAI president Greg Brockman said at a press briefing earlier this month. Astra would likely power whatever agent the company unveils, which should make a system like Aeon stronger at cybersecurity tasks, software engineering, scientific research, and computer use. A gap in integrations OpenAI faces disadvantages in other areas. Muse plugs into Meta's services, which are used by billions of people, and Gemini Spark ties into Google's broad range of enterprise and personal tools. OpenAI has tried to close that gap before. At last year's event, it pushed the ChatGPT Apps SDK, which let controls for outside apps such as Zillow, Spotify, and Canva appear inside the chatbot. Aeon may be just one of several announcements on Tuesday. Other rumors point to updates on the AI hardware the company is building with former Apple designer Jony Ive, a possible step forward for GPT-6 such as an Astra 6.1, a hardware update, and further AGI claims. A continuously running agent could tie much of this together, which is part of why it is seen as OpenAI's next major bet as the company says it is done with "side quests." The open question is how OpenAI's agent will measure up against cheaper, more deeply integrated rivals, especially with the added pressure of the company's upcoming IPO. OpenAI Aeon, DevDay 2026, AI agents, Meta Muse, Gemini Spark, GPT-6 Astra, OpenClaw, consumer AI agent

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Tata Sons plans to remain private, the Nifty slid to a six-month low, and the Supreme Court questioned charges on UPI payments. Three developments are shaping India's business landscape: Tata Sons intends to remain a private company, the Nifty index has fallen to a six-month low, and the Supreme Court has raised questions over charges on UPI transactions. Tata Sons, the holding company at the centre of the Tata Group, is moving to stay private rather than list on the stock market. The decision keeps the conglomerate's principal entity outside the reach of public shareholders and market disclosure that a listing would bring. Nifty falls to six-month low The Nifty, one of India's benchmark equity indices, has dropped to its lowest level in six months. The fall marks a setback for investors and signals renewed pressure across Indian equities. Supreme Court questions UPI charges Separately, the Supreme Court has questioned charges linked to the Unified Payments Interface, the digital payments system used widely across India. UPI underpins a large share of the country's everyday transactions, and the court's scrutiny places the issue of fees on the platform under legal review. The three stories together touch corporate structure, market performance and digital payments regulation, each a significant strand of India's financial system. Further detail on the reasoning behind Tata Sons' decision, the factors driving the Nifty's decline, and the scope of the court's questions on UPI was not immediately available. Tata Sons, Nifty, six-month low, Supreme Court, UPI charges, Indian markets, business news, stock market

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Dali Koumbe The Mauritanian Village Where Blindness and Quranic Learning Shape a Unique Community MAURITANIA, WEST AFRICA — In a remote part of southeastern Mauritania lies a village that has attracted attention for an unusual combination of circumstances: a high prevalence of inherited blindness and a strong tradition of Quranic education. Known as Dali Koumbé, and also referred to in academic research as Dali Gimba, the isolated community is located about 60 kilometres from the town of Timbedra in southeastern Mauritania. Reports and research have documented generations of residents affected by blindness, while Quran memorisation remains an important part of community life. A Village Known for Generations of Blindness Dali Koumbé has long been associated with hereditary blindness. A 2015 report described the village as having a population of around 2,000 at the time and reported widespread congenital blindness among residents. Other reports have given considerably smaller population figures, illustrating how estimates have varied over time. A 2019 report by Al Ain News described the village as being around 60 kilometres from Timbedra and reported that more than half of the children were born without sight. The same report cited local and medical observations concerning a hereditary condition affecting several generations of the community. Researchers have also studied Dali Gimba as a community in which blindness has a significant social and cultural role. Anthropologist Saquib Usman's research at the University of Michigan examined how blindness and sight are understood within the village and surrounding region. Quran Memorisation Has a Special Place One of the most remarkable aspects of the village is its tradition of Quranic education. Academic research conducted in Dali Gimba documents groups of children gathering to memorise and recite portions of the Quran. The research describes Quranic study taking place at different times of the day, including early morning, afternoon, after sunset and late into the night. The same research says that Dali Gimba developed a reputation as a place for Quranic study partly because blind instructors were considered particularly strong listeners and examiners. Their memorisation abilities and knowledge of the Quran were highly respected within the community. This is an important distinction: blindness did not prevent members of the community from participating in religious education. In some cases, the skills developed through listening and memorisation became an important part of their role as teachers. Learning Without Sight For Quran students, memorisation depends heavily on repeated listening, recitation and correction. In Dali Gimba, these practices became particularly significant because blind teachers could rely on their exceptional auditory memory and familiarity with recitation. The academic account describes children repeatedly reading and reciting their daily portions from writing tablets, with Quranic learning continuing for several years during childhood. The tradition demonstrates how education can adapt to the circumstances of a community. Rather than treating blindness as an absolute barrier to learning, the village developed an educational culture in which listening, memorisation and oral transmission were especially important. A Community Living With a Serious Health Challenge Behind the inspirational stories, however, Dali Koumbé also faces serious social and medical challenges. Reports have described limited access to healthcare, education and other essential services. Residents have sought greater medical assistance and facilities, particularly because of the number of people affected by blindness. A 2019 report cited medical opinions linking the condition affecting many residents to hereditary genetic factors. It also discussed retinal disorders as one possible explanation for some cases. These medical explanations are important because the precise cause of the condition should not be reduced to folklore or religious interpretation without scientific evidence. Faith, Acceptance and Community Life Stories circulating online about Dali Koumbé often focus on the spiritual perspective of its blind residents. Some videos portray villagers as deeply content with their circumstances and emphasize their faith, Quran memorisation and hope of meeting their Creator. These themes reflect the religious interpretation presented in such material, but individual statements from videos should be attributed to the speakers rather than presented as independently established facts. What can be documented is that Quranic education has historically played a significant role in the community and that blind Quran teachers have held respected positions in the local educational tradition. More Than a Story About Blindness Dali Koumbé's story is therefore more complicated than the description of a "village of blind people." It is a story about education, faith, inherited disease, adaptation and community resilience. Residents have had to develop ways of navigating daily life in an environment where many people cannot see. At the same time, Quranic memorisation has provided an important educational and cultural tradition. The village's experience also raises broader questions about access to healthcare and education for remote communities affected by inherited conditions. What Dali Koumbé Teaches the Outside World The story of Dali Koumbé has attracted international attention partly because it challenges common assumptions about disability. Blindness can create enormous practical difficulties, particularly where medical services are limited. Yet the experience of the community also shows that people can develop alternative skills and social systems around their circumstances. For generations of Quran students, listening and memorisation became central educational tools. Blind teachers became valued for their ability to listen carefully and evaluate recitation. The result is a community where physical limitations and religious education have become closely intertwined. A Story of Faith, Education and Resilience Dali Koumbé remains one of the more unusual communities documented in Mauritania. Its history combines a serious hereditary health problem with a strong tradition of Quranic learning. The village should not simply be viewed as a curiosity or a "mystery." Its story involves real families, medical challenges, educational traditions and the everyday efforts of people adapting to circumstances that have shaped their community for generations. For those who encounter the story through social media videos, the most important lesson may not be about blindness itself. It is about how education, faith, community support and human adaptability can continue even in extremely difficult circumstances. Location: Dali Koumbé / Dali Gimba, southeastern Mauritania, West AfricaNearest reported town: TimbedraCountry: MauritaniaRegion: Sahel / Sahara region of West AfricaNotable feature: High prevalence of hereditary blindness and a documented tradition of Quranic education and memorisation. Sources and verification This article is based on published reporting and academic research concerning Dali Gimba/Dali Koumbé. The University of Michigan's research documentation records Quranic schooling and the role of blind Quran instructors in the community. Contemporary reporting has separately documented the village's hereditary blindness, healthcare challenges and residents' efforts to obtain assistance.

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Slovenian PM Janez Janša met Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, marking a sharp change in Slovenia's policy on Palestine. Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, a meeting that signals a sharp change in Slovenia's approach to Israel and the Palestinians. With Janša back in office, the country's policy towards Palestine has shifted markedly. The encounter with Netanyahu at the UN gathering underlined the new direction, reversing the tone Slovenia had struck under its previous leadership. The change was set out by Al Jazeera's Nafisa Latic, who examined what lies behind the reversal and how Janša's return has reshaped the government's stance. Slovenia had been among the European states that took a more critical position on Israel's conduct and moved to recognise the state of Palestine. The meeting between Janša and Netanyahu points to a departure from that path, aligning the government more closely with Israel. The talks took place during the annual UN General Assembly, where world leaders gather and hold bilateral meetings away from the main sessions. It was in that setting that the two prime ministers came together. The scale and permanence of the shift remain to be seen, but the meeting itself marks a clear public turn in Slovenia's foreign policy under Janša. Slovenia Israel policy, Janez Jansa, Benjamin Netanyahu, UN General Assembly, Slovenia Palestine, Jansa Netanyahu meeting, Slovenia foreign policy, Middle East diplomacy

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AIADMK chief Palaniswami targeted Vijay's personal life in Dharapuram as the TVK fired back ahead of Tamil Nadu's October 6 bypolls in two Assembly seats. The by-election contest for two Assembly seats in Tamil Nadu has turned sharply personal, with AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami attacking Chief Minister and TVK leader Vijay over his private life during a campaign appearance in Dharapuram, one of the AIADMK's strongholds. Palaniswami cast the October 6 bypolls in Madurantakam and Dharapuram as a fight for justice and urged voters to hand the ruling TVK a firm defeat. His central grievance was the TVK's decision to field two former AIADMK legislators who resigned days after this year's Assembly election results and crossed over to the governing party. Raising what he framed as questions of family values, Palaniswami challenged Vijay's public image directly. "He says that he'd be a brother, uncle and one among the family. One should live with the wife and children with affection. Are you qualified to say this? Punch dialogues on stage are not enough. One should live it and demonstrate in real life. We do that," the AIADMK chief said. The TVK responded quickly and pointedly. Party spokesperson M Sathya Kumar accused Palaniswami of resorting to personal jibes rather than examining why several of his own leaders had defected. He said the "Dravidian party takes things personally" and maintained that Vijay had never made personal remarks against opposition figures. Sathya Kumar also went after the AIADMK's electoral standing since the death of former chief minister Jayalalithaa. "EPS hasn't won elections after Jayalalithaa's death. That's why AIADMK cadre switch to TVK," he said, tying the party's alleged decline directly to Palaniswami's leadership. The two defectors at the centre of the fight The dispute centres on the two former AIADMK MLAs who quit shortly after the Assembly results and joined the TVK. Their switch drew allegations of horse-trading, which the ruling party has denied. Both seats they represented are now up for grabs, and the AIADMK is fighting to hold on to constituencies it won at the general election. For the AIADMK, retaining Madurantakam and Dharapuram is a matter of prestige. The DMK, meanwhile, is contesting without several of its earlier alliance partners, a number of whom have since joined the TVK or extended support to it. Why the rural test matters for the TVK The bypolls carry particular weight for the TVK. The party made strong gains in several urban pockets during the 2026 Assembly election but performed less well in rural areas. It is now trying to broaden its base in rural constituencies, where local and caste equations weigh heavily on outcomes. Winning both seats would reinforce the TVK's standing as a minority government and set the tone for five more vacant Assembly constituencies, where by-elections are expected later. The results are also likely to be read as a verdict on the performance of the Vijay-led administration. Alongside its rural push, the TVK is working to portray the AIADMK as a fading force under Palaniswami and to draw over its traditional supporters. The exchange over defections and family values reflects that broader contest for the AIADMK's voter base. Vijay opened his campaign in Dharapuram last week and is due to return to the constituency on Wednesday, keeping the bypoll rivalry in the spotlight in the days before voting. Tamil Nadu bypolls, Edappadi K Palaniswami, Vijay TVK, AIADMK, Dharapuram, Madurantakam bypoll, October 6 by-elections, M Sathya Kumar

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Rahul Gandhi accused the Election Commission of deleting 727 names from Delhi's Bela Estate rolls. The poll body says it acted after demolitions and extended claim dates. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has accused the Election Commission of deleting more than 700 names from the electoral rolls of Bela Estate in Delhi, describing the move as another instance of what he calls vote theft. In posts on X on September 28, 2026, Gandhi said Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar "will go," but added that the "system that made him do this will also have to answer." According to Gandhi, 728 people live at Bela Estate along the bank of the Yamuna. After the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), he said, only one name remained on the voter list and the other 727 were struck off. He said the residents had lived there for decades and had cast ballots in the 2024 Lok Sabha election and the 2025 Delhi election, and that their homes were demolished in 2023 but they had not moved away. "CEC Gyanesh Kumar himself has said that 'House Number 0' is for the homeless. Yet, 727 people's names have been struck off. This isn't SIR - this is a method of vote theft. From those who already have the least, their only power is being snatched away," Gandhi wrote. He argued that owning a house or not has no bearing on a person's right to vote. What the Election Commission said The Election Commission responded that the matter had already been addressed by the concerned Electoral Registration Officer, including on an earlier occasion. It said the period for filing claims and objections in the National Capital Territory of Delhi had been extended until October 30, 2026. In a post from the office of the Chief Electoral Officer, Delhi, the Commission said any eligible elector who finds his or her name missing from the draft roll can apply for inclusion by filling Form-6. It also reiterated its commitment to transparent and inclusive polling. The Commission traced the deletions to the demolition of the houses the voters had earlier lived in, which it dated to 2022-23. It said the "physical and residential status of the area has undergone extensive changes" since then. In a statement issued earlier, the Commission set out the procedure its field staff followed. Under the SIR instructions, the Booth Level Officer was required to make house-to-house visits to hand Enumeration Forms to electors at their registered addresses. Because the dwelling units had been demolished, the Commission said, the electors were no longer living at those registered addresses. It said their status as "Ordinary resident" under section 20(7) of the Representation of the People Act 1970, read with the instruction manual for electoral registration, had therefore changed. On that basis, it said, the Booth Level Officer had "correctly placed these electors in the ASDD list." Gandhi's push against the CEC The Bela Estate dispute is the latest flashpoint in a longer campaign by Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition, for the removal of the Chief Election Commissioner. He has pressed that demand since The Indian Express reported that the two other election commissioners had disagreed with Gyanesh Kumar on multiple occasions over the revision of voter lists and the inclusion of new voters. Gandhi has seized on the exclusion of the Bela Estate voters to renew that argument. His framing sets the residents' long presence at the site and their recent voting record against the Commission's position that the demolition of their homes removed the basis for keeping them on the rolls at those addresses. The extended window for claims and objections, running to October 30, 2026, and the Form-6 route the Commission has pointed to now stand as the official remedy for anyone at Bela Estate who wants to be restored to the list. Whether the 727 affected residents use that process, and how the dispute over their status is ultimately resolved, remains to be seen. Rahul Gandhi, Bela Estate voters, Election Commission of India, Gyanesh Kumar, Delhi electoral rolls, SIR voter revision, vote theft, Form-6

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A California jury found Apple infringed two Taction Technology haptic-feedback patents and ordered $5.7bn in damages. Apple says it will appeal. A federal jury in the Southern District of California has ordered Apple to pay more than $5.7bn for using patented technology owned by Taction Technology, a San Diego-based company, to power the haptic feedback in its devices. Haptic feedback is the vibration users feel when a notification arrives or a button is pressed. The jury found that Apple infringed two patents held by Taction. It also found that the infringement was not wilful, rejecting Taction's claim that Apple knowingly ignored the patents. Apple said it plans to appeal the verdict, which was returned on Friday. "We're happy the jury found for Taction and vindicated its patent rights," said Lance Yang, an attorney for the company, after the decision. The verdict closes one chapter of a legal fight that started in 2021, when Taction first sued Apple. In its original 31-page complaint, the company argued that Apple was building its commercial success on Taction's work. "Apple is capitalising on Taction's innovation and success by selling devices that infringe Taction's patents," the filing said. It added that Apple was "utilising Taction's patented inventions without license or authority" and that it had brought the case "to remedy Apple's infringement." Taction also alleged that Apple "at a minimum believed there was a high probability that the accused products were covered by Taction's patents, but willfully blinded itself" to those patents and to the infringing nature of the products. The jury did not agree on that point, concluding the violation was not wilful. The case has moved back and forth through the courts. In 2023, a federal judge ruled that Apple had not infringed Taction's patents. An appeals court revived the lawsuit last year, setting the stage for the trial that produced Friday's award. Apple pushed back on the finding by drawing a line between its own hardware and Taction's designs. "Apple's Taptic Engine is fundamentally different from Taction's technology, which Taction's own testing of Apple's products confirmed during trial," the company said in response to the verdict. A verdict during a leadership handover The ruling lands as Apple works through a change at the top. In September, John Ternus took over as chief executive from Tim Cook, who had run the Cupertino, California-based company for 15 years. The handover comes as Apple trails other large technology firms in bringing its artificial intelligence products to market. Investors reacted to the decision. Apple shares fell about 2 percent as trading opened on Monday. Apple patent verdict, Taction Technology, haptic feedback patents, $5.7bn damages, Taptic Engine, iPhone patent case, Apple appeal, John Ternus

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Flipkart's Big Billion Days Sale starts October 9, with the iPhone 17 256GB priced at Rs. 79,999 and the iPhone 15 from Rs. 63,999. Flipkart will open its Big Billion Days Sale 2026 on October 9, with eligible customers getting early access a day earlier on October 8. Ahead of the event, the retailer has published sale pricing for the iPhone 17 and iPhone 15 on a dedicated microsite. The 256GB iPhone 17 will sell for Rs. 79,999 during the sale, a cut of Rs. 19,901 from its listed price of Rs. 99,900. That figure factors in a Rs. 2,500 credit card EMI offer and a flat Rs. 3,000 exchange bonus. Buyers paying with a Flipkart Axis Bank or Flipkart SBI credit card can bring the price down further to Rs. 77,999, which includes 5 percent cashback. Flipkart is also listing six-month and nine-month no-cost EMI plans that start at Rs. 8,667. Shoppers trading in an eligible handset can claim an exchange discount of up to Rs. 89,850. The iPhone 17 comes in Black, Lavender, Mist Blue, Sage and White. It carries a 6.3-inch display and Apple's A19 chipset. iPhone 15 from Rs. 63,999 The older iPhone 15 will start at Rs. 63,999, a price that already accounts for a bank discount. The model is currently listed on the platform at Rs. 74,900. Customers can swap an older iPhone for an added reduction of up to Rs. 54,400. The iPhone 15 is offered in Black, Blue, Green, Yellow and Pink, and runs the A16 Bionic chip behind a 6.1-inch screen. Motorola and Pixel deals Apple is not the only brand in the lineup. Motorola has confirmed discounts across its Edge and G-series phones. Google's Pixel 11 will carry an effective price of Rs. 69,999 during the event. Flipkart is teaming up with select lenders to guarantee additional savings on purchases made through their cards and EMI transactions. Flipkart Big Billion Days 2026, iPhone 17 price, iPhone 15 discount, Flipkart sale, Pixel 11 price, no-cost EMI, smartphone deals India, iPhone exchange offer

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