The director, whose ‘Sister Brother Manhole Cover’ is in Tokyo International Film Festival’s main competition, holds forth on why mothers are such a presence in his stories and how he made his first full documentary despite his misgivings about the genre.

A winter-tested ranking of 10 new cars for snow, from the full-size Chevrolet Tahoe to the Volkswagen Golf GTI hatchback.

Toyota scores 83 while Buick and Cadillac sink, as luxury and mass-market segments tie at 78 in the 2026 ACSI auto study.

The rules-based international order is eroding and the line between economic security and national security has disappeared, Carney stated.

On Thursday, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney launched “The Plan for a Stronger Canada,” the country’s first national security strategy in over two decades aimed at countering evolving security threats and safeguarding national sovereignty.

RELATED:

EU and Canada to Explore New ‘Associated Member’ Status at Montreal Summit

The prime minister’s office said in a news release that the rules-based international order is eroding and the line between economic security and national security has disappeared, noting that national security now relies not only on defense and resource capabilities, but also on the strength of the economy, the resilience of institutions, and the partnerships with allies.

The strategy outlines five main priorities: strengthening economic security and resilience by transforming strategic industries and securing supply chains; advancing a disciplined foreign policy to diversify partnerships; rebuilding and strengthening the Canadian Armed Forces; enhancing public safety against foreign interference, espionage, violent extremism, and transnational organized crime; and modernizing intelligence capabilities to anticipate and counter emerging threats.

“In a rapidly changing, more dangerous, more divided world, Canada must have the capacity to defend our sovereignty, the resilience to withstand emerging threats, and the determination to shape our own future. Our Plan for a Stronger Canada will build that strength. So that we can live our lives as we choose, in the greatest country in the world,” PM Carney said, adding that the Canada will update the strategy at least every four years.

Mark Carney on Canada's new national security strategy: "The last strategy was written for a different world. And today's national security strategy reflects profound new realities. Most fundamentally, what it does is it recognizes that the requirements of sovereignty have… pic.twitter.com/76d8VUmVIZ

— Scott Robertson (@sarobertson_) October 29, 2026

The Strategy Focuses On What We Can Control: Carney.

The new Canadian security strategy considers events that have occurred over the past year and a half, including foreign policy statements made by U.S. President Donald Trump.

“The plan defines Canada’s core national interests and establishes a comprehensive, whole-of-government approach that brings together our economic strength, foreign policy, defense and intelligence capabilities, and public safety initiatives,” the Prime Minister’s Office stated.

To this end, the Canadian government has set out the following guidelines:

“1. Strengthen Canada’s economic security and resilience against threats: Canada has what the world wants. Securing our sovereignty in key sectors and delivering our resources and expertise to the world will reinforce Canada as a strategically important player in the global economy.

To strengthen our economic sovereignty, Canada is transforming our strategic industries with historic investments, securing our supply chains, maximising our energy security, and investing in Canadian innovation to position Canada as a global leader across critical industries.

2. Advance a disciplined foreign policy that diversifies Canada’s partnerships and builds strategic capabilities: No one country, no matter how powerful, can manage these challenges alone. The primary goal of our foreign policy is to support Canadian strategic autonomy and resilience through deep cooperation in the full range of strategic capabilities with likeminded partners.

Much of this work is underway. Canada is diversifying our trade and building stronger partnerships to create greater security and prosperity for Canadians, and forging new partnerships with allies that are anchored in our common values, respect our complementary strengths, and enhance our collective sovereignty and prosperity.

3. Rebuild and strengthen the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) to defend Canada and Canadian interests: The work of defending Canada is the work of building Canada. To protect Canada’s sovereignty, strengthen our strategic autonomy, and meet our NORAD and NATO targets, the Canadian government is changing how we invest in defence.

We are building a stronger, more resilient Canadian defence industrial base capable of equipping, sustaining, and scaling up the CAF, accelerating procurement, and working with the Defence Investment Agency to deliver the Defence Industrial Strategy, strengthen strategic autonomy, and create lasting economic opportunities for Canadians.

By transforming our military and defence supply chain, strengthening Arctic security, and contributing to stability in the Indo-Pacific, the Middle East, and beyond, Canada will be able to protect itself at home and act as a responsible ally and partner abroad.

4. Protect Canadians and strengthen public safety against criminal and national security threats: Canadians should feel safe and free to take part in every facet of Canadian society.

We will work with all levels of government, Indigenous Peoples, and Northern communities to strengthen our defences and build resilience against threats facing Canadians. We will intensify efforts to counter foreign interference, espionage, violent extremism, and transnational organised crime, including sabotage, extortion, fraud, online exploitation, financial crime, money laundering, and sanctions evasion, while protecting Canadians and our institutions from foreign information manipulation.

5. Modernise Canada’s intelligence capabilities to anticipate and counter emerging threats: Our ability to collect, analyse, and leverage intelligence, together with our partners, ensures we are prepared to tackle emerging threats.

Canada will strengthen our sovereign intelligence capabilities, deepen and diversify our intelligence partnerships, and modernise Canada’s intelligence enterprise by updating authorities to reflect evolving threats and technologies while safeguarding Canadians’ rights.”

teleSUR/ JF

Sources: Xinhua – PM Office

The Changan Uni-V, assembled at Avtotor's Kaliningrad plant, presents a striking arbitrage opportunity for buyers in neighboring markets, yet the price gap of roughly 1.5 million rubles between Russia and Belarus is not merely a currency or tax discrepancy. It is a transactional compromise between financial savings and mechanical currency. A unit available in Belarus for approximately 75,900 Belarusian rubles (roughly 2.073 million rubles) stands in stark contrast to its Russian counterpart, which starts at 3,579,900 rubles. This disparity forces the prospective owner to weigh the allure of a lower entry price against the tangible benefits of a more powerful, updated drivetrain. At the core of this trade-off lies the distinction between the pre-facelift and facelifted versions of the liftback. The Belarusian market receives the older iteration, powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine producing 188 horsepower and featuring a previous-generation interior. In Russia, however, the offer is for the updated model, which swaps in a more potent 2.0-liter engine generating 196 horsepower. While the numerical difference in power is modest, it translates to a 0.2-second improvement in the sprint to 100 km/h, offering a slightly more assured and responsive driving character. The buyer must decide whether the premium paid in Russia for a marginal performance boost and newer aesthetics justifies the cost, or if the Belarusian variant's significant discount is sufficient justification for accepting an older specification. This cross-border pricing strategy is less a market anomaly and more a direct consequence of industrial capacity. Avtotor's three production lines at the Kaliningrad facility are designed to handle an annual output of 120,000 vehicles. Given that domestic Russian demand alone cannot fully utilize this capacity, the surplus production is directed toward Belarus. This overflow creates a specific condition for aggressive pricing in the neighboring market, effectively turning the Belarusian buyer into the recipient of inventory that cannot be absorbed domestically. For the consumer, this means the lower price is not a promotional error but a structural feature of the supply chain, where the desire for a newer car in one market subsidizes the ownership of a proven, slightly older version in another.

In the Volvo EX90, the traditional split-controls for seat adjustment have been consolidated into a single square physical toggle. Standard luxury configurations typically employ two perpendicular levers-one for the cushion and one for the backrest-requiring drivers to manipulate distinct inputs for each axis. By merging these functions into one interface element, Volvo engineers have simplified the assembly process and reduced manufacturing costs, yet the design yields a counterintuitive improvement in ergonomic usability. The underlying mechanism operates on a modifier principle analogous to the Shift key on a computer keyboard. The central button of the toggle acts as a state switch; pressing it alters the function of the main lever from the primary axes of vertical height and longitudinal slide to the secondary axes of seatback recline and lumbar support. This allows a single physical input to control four distinct degrees of freedom by toggling its operational mode. Frequency dictates the trade-off Seat positioning is a static task. Drivers establish their seating posture once per session, and subsequent micro-adjustments are infrequent. Because the action is rare, the cognitive load of remembering that a central press unlocks secondary functions is negligible. The interface remains compact and intuitive, eliminating the risk of misoperation during the low-frequency adjustments that occur after the initial setup.

At the 2026 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show, Nissan presented a concept that challenges the common assumption that high-performance output requires a different engine block. The Sentra Spec-V retains the standard 2.0-litre inline-four architecture found in the base model, yet delivers 300 horsepower, more than doubling the factory rating of 149 horsepower. This engineering feat is achieved not through a transplant of a larger displacement unit, but through a comprehensive internal modification of the existing powerplant. The core of the performance gain lies in a forced-induction setup that includes turbocharging, reinforced internal components, and a revised fuel delivery system. To manage the increased torque and reduce rotational inertia for a more responsive throttle feel, the drivetrain utilizes a lightweight flywheel paired with a strengthened clutch kit. This approach demonstrates how a compact, four-cylinder engine can be made to behave like a significantly larger unit when the fundamental structural integrity is bolstered. The vehicle's chassis assembly reflects a strategy of sourcing proven, high-performance components from across Nissan's historical lineup. The suspension is derived from the final-generation Sentra NISMO, featuring coil-over struts with anti-roll bars. These elements have been retuned for track use, employing stiffer springs and external hydraulic reservoirs at the front to manage heat and consistency. Drivability is further defined by a six-speed manual transmission taken from the Juke NISMO RS, providing a direct connection to the drivetrain. Stopping power is secured by braking hardware sourced from the R35 GT-R, including Brembo calipers, ensuring the car can withstand the forces generated by its powertrain.

The Chicago Bears are going all-in.

The Bears acquired All-Pro defensive tackle Jefferey Simmons and a 2028 fifth-round pick from the Tennessee Titans in exchange for Chicago's 2027 and 2028 first-round picks and 2027 fourth-round pick, the Titans announced Thursday.

The cost is steep, as Simmons is the first defensive tackle since 1967 to be traded for multiple first-round picks, according to ESPN. Since the Titans drafted Simmons with the No. 19 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, he has been one of the best defensive tackles in football.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK SPORTS COVERAGE

The four-time Pro Bowler has recorded 414 tackles and 46.5 sacks in 106 career games. Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk said the organization is forever grateful for Simmons.

"There are few people like Jeff Simmons. We are forever grateful for all he has given this team and this city. His formidable presence on the field was surpassed only by what he did off it. He gave Nashville more than football. The Give ’Em A Reason Foundation has changed lives in Middle Tennessee and in Mississippi, and I have no doubt it will continue to wherever he goes," Strunk said in a statement.

"Jeff — thank you. For how you played, how you led, and how you represented our team."

The Bears are 5-2, and the acquisition of Simmons will help shore up a questionable defensive line. While the Bears are still generating plenty of sacks, those have largely come from blitzing linebackers and defensive backs rather than defensive linemen.

THE CRAIG CARTON SHOW–UNFILTERED, UNAPOLOGETIC AND UNMISSABLE. DOWNLOAD HIS DAILY PODCAST NOW!

Simmons, who led the Titans with four sacks, six tackles for loss and four passes defended, is a major upgrade to a defensive front that has ranked near the bottom of the NFL in pressure rate since Dennis Allen took over as defensive coordinator in 2025. The Bears' 28.8% pressure rate is tied for 20th in the NFL, according to StatRankings.

Not only are the Bears adding Simmons to their defensive line, but star defensive end Montez Sweat is also set to return on Monday night against the Seattle Seahawks after a two-game suspension.

At 5-2, the Bears are second in the NFC North behind the undefeated Minnesota Vikings (6-0). The Bears hope adding Simmons can help them overtake the Vikings atop the standings and earn a home playoff game in January.

OUTKICK IS NOW AVAILABLE ON THE FOX NEWS APP: CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

Simmons will help the Bears not only this season but also for the next several years after signing a three-year, $105.8 million contract extension that keeps him under contract through the 2030 season.

The Titans, on the other hand, are 1-6 and have traded away one of their franchise cornerstones. Entering the season, they hoped to contend in the AFC South with new coach Robert Saleh and quarterback Cam Ward, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, entering his second season.

Instead, they are in the AFC’s basement and appear further away from contention than ever, as Ward has struggled mightily this season.

A meteorite found in 2022 in the Sahara in Mali formed in the Martian crust at least 4.1 billion years ago, according to scientists, making the reddish igneous rock perhaps the oldest of the 435 meteorites from Mars known on Earth.

The researchers said the composition of the meteorite, called Teghaza 001, is providing insight into the environment early in the history of Earth’s planetary neighbor, with fresh evidence of liquid water on the surface that bolsters the notion that primordial Mars may have been conducive to microbial life.

Planetary scientist Yang Liu of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, which is managed by Caltech, called the meteorite “a witness to a time when Mars was likely warmer and wetter than it has been for most of its history.”

The chemistry of the meteorite, a type of coarse-grained rock called gabbro, shows that it experienced interactions with water when it was slowly cooling and crystallizing in the Martian subsurface. It was part of the Martian crust, the planet’s outermost layer, but formed from magma originating at greater depths in the planet’s mantle.

Mars is now cold, dry and desolate, but extensive evidence indicates it had water flowing on its surface in the form of rivers, lakes and an ocean in the northern hemisphere billions of years ago.

Teghaza 001 was discovered in eight pieces, with the largest chunk about the size of a fist, in the desert roughly 21 miles (34 km) from the Malian village of Bir Chali. Its main minerals are feldspar and pyroxene, and it contains zircon crystals bearing the element uranium. The researchers ascertained its age using a technique based on the decay of uranium into lead over time.

“Martian meteorites are our only samples from Mars, forming our basis for understanding the formation and differentiation of early Mars and allowing us to evaluate in laboratories whether ancient Mars could have supported habitable conditions,” said Liu, lead author of a study on the meteorite published in the journal Science.

“The detailed information we can extract from these meteorite samples complements and validates our exploration of Mars using satellites, landers and rovers,” Liu said.

This information provides clues about how the evolution of Mars diverged from Earth’s when they were in their infancy and life was beginning to take hold on our planet, Liu said. Earth, Mars and the solar system’s other planets formed roughly 4.5 billion years ago.

Only three Martian meteorites, including Teghaza 001, date to the planet’s early history. One of them, discovered in Antarctica in 1984, was initially assessed as being about 4.5 billion years old but more recently was determined to have a similar age to Teghaza 001. Teghaza 001 likely is the older of the two, according to the new study.

WATER WAS PERCOLATING

Isotopes, or forms, of the elements oxygen and hydrogen present in the meteorite show that water was percolating down into the planet’s deeper crust, as occurs on Earth, and mixing with molten rock from the mantle.

“Multiple lines of evidence in Teghaza 001 suggest Mars’ surface had water at more than 4.1 billion years ago. This is reflected by hydrogen isotopes in phosphate and oxygen isotopes in minerals and bulk samples,” Liu said.

Water is considered a key ingredient for life.

“The findings lend support to the idea that early Mars had the necessary ingredients and conditions to harbor life, but do not directly answer the question of whether there was life on Mars,” said planetary scientist and study co-author Lee Saper of NASA’s Ames Research Center and the BAER Institute in California.

“The rock is a snapshot in time that shows how a wetter early Mars with a thick atmosphere could have supported habitable conditions but that these conditions were waning rapidly over the first billion years or so of Mars’ existence, trending towards its currently dry and inhospitable environment,” Saper said.

Teghaza 001’s chemistry shows it is distinct from the other known Martian meteorites. It may have originated in the southern highlands, possibly from near Hellas Basin, one of the largest Martian impact craters, Liu said.

The meteorite has a dramatic backstory.

“It was blasted by an impact from the surface of Mars and was flying through space until its path crossed that of Earth. It then entered the atmosphere as a meteor and survived as a meteorite by landing in the Sahara,” Liu said. “We do not know when the sample landed on Earth.”

Owners report the biggest jump in new-vehicle appeal since 2018. These 10 findings cover brands, EVs, interiors, and award-winning models.

Inside you’ll find fresh handmade cosmetics and festive bathing products

Read more: Best beauty advent calendars 2026

© Sabrina Sahota/The Independent

Inside you’ll find fresh handmade cosmetics and festive bathing products

Read more: Best beauty advent calendars 2026

© Sabrina Sahota/The Independent

This year will mark Liberty’s 12th beauty advent calendar

Read more: Best beauty advent calendars 2026

© The Independent

This year will mark Liberty’s 12th beauty advent calendar

Read more: Best beauty advent calendars 2026

© The Independent

Worth more than £1,000 and packed with 41 products, this year’s offering is super indulgent

Read more: Best beauty advent calendars 2026

© The Independent

The luxe beauty retailer joins the likes of Cult Beauty, Sephora and Harrods on the advent train for 2026

© Space NK

War Secretary Pete Hegseth fired one of the Pentagon’s senior strategic planners amid an investigation into allegations he leaked classified information to journalists about the Iran war, Russia’s war in Ukraine and other sensitive matters, a Department of War official told Fox News.

The official said Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia failed three polygraph examinations related to alleged disclosures of classified information. The investigation has been referred to the Justice Department. 

Sylvia is also accused of meeting journalists outside the Pentagon with the alleged intention of leaking classified material after Hegseth imposed new media restrictions requiring reporters to be escorted inside the building.

HEGSETH ANNOUNCES JOINT TASK FORCE WITH DOJ TO PROSECUTE LEAKS TO JOURNALISTS 'WITH THE FULL FORCE OF THE LAW'

Fox News Digital has reached out to the DOJ and Sylvia for comment but did not hear back at time of publication. 

Sylvia served as director of the Joint Staff’s Directorate for Strategy, Plans and Policy, known as the J5, a senior role responsible for developing military strategy and advising the chairman of the Joint Chiefs. The J5 has been sidelined from that role since the spring, according to well-placed sources who spoke to Fox News.

The official stressed that Sylvia was not a central planner of the Iran war, which falls under U.S. Central Command and its commander, Adm. Brad Cooper.

The Atlantic first reported Sylvia’s ouster Wednesday night, citing sources who said Hegseth had lost confidence in the three-star general amid tensions with Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby.

Sylvia is the second officer leading the J5 to be removed under Hegseth, following Lt. Gen. John McGee. Hegseth also removed Lt. Gen. Douglas Sims, then director of the Joint Staff, earlier this year.

The abrupt removal comes as the Pentagon reportedly weighs renewed military action against Iran.

PENTAGON RACES TO BUY 10X MORE MISSILES AS IRAN WAR DWINDLES ARSENAL, THREATENS READINESS FOR CHINA AGGRESSION

U.S. officials have reportedly warned allies in the Middle East to prepare for possible renewed strikes after next week’s midterm elections and potential Iranian retaliation, while additional U.S. forces are moving into the region.

A 1994 West Point graduate, Sylvia has served more than three decades in the Army, including multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, and was wounded in combat. Before taking over the J5 in December, he commanded the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell and had previously served as the J5’s vice director.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Sylvia’s removal is the latest in a broader turnover of senior military leadership under Hegseth, with nearly two dozen generals, admirals and other senior leaders fired, pushed out or otherwise departing during his tenure.

Lookfantastic’s affordable advent calendars are available to pre-order now

© The Independent

Russian manufacturer TENET has updated its lineup of four crossovers-the T4L, T7, T8, and flagship T9-by introducing a new intelligent all-wheel-drive (AWD) system branded as Torque-on-Demand. The core engineering shift is the move from a fixed transmission state to a dynamic one: the vehicle now operates as a front-wheel-drive (FWD) car by default, with electronics actively managing the distribution of torque to the rear axle only when traction limits are approached. At the heart of this configuration is a compact electro-mechanical coupling. Under standard driving conditions, such as dry asphalt, the system keeps power isolated to the front wheels to preserve fuel efficiency. However, the vehicle's control unit continuously monitors wheel speed and slip. When sensors detect front-wheel slippage, the system engages the coupling in fractions of a second, redirecting a portion of the engine's torque to the rear axle. This rapid intervention allows the vehicle to maintain stability during acceleration on wet surfaces or to initiate movement on icy inclines without requiring manual driver input. Driver Control and Terrain Management The integration of this hardware also expands the software-defined driving modes available to the operator. While FWD variants retain standard Eco, Standard, and Sport presets, the AWD versions of the T4L, T7, and T8 add three specific terrain profiles: Snow, optimized for loose and slippery winter roads; Mud, designed for soft, waterlogged unpaved sections; and 4x4, which forces the activation of the all-wheel-drive system regardless of slip detection. The flagship T9 model distinguishes itself with an exclusive Sand mode, a setting calibrated to manage torque delivery on loose, shifting substrates where excessive power can cause the wheels to dig in rather than gain traction.

For many drivers, the 15,000-kilometer service interval outlined in manufacturer manuals appears sufficient. However, in the operating conditions typical for Russia, where vehicles frequently sit in traffic congestion or complete short urban trips, this standard often proves excessive. Andrei Babushkin, director of LYNXauto, explains that such schedules fail to account for the physical realities of intermittent driving. In these scenarios, the engine rarely reaches a stable operating temperature, triggering lubricant degradation processes that are independent of the distance traveled. The primary mechanical failure mode stems from the loss of fluid viscosity. Under conditions of extreme overuse or aggressive operation, oil undergoes profound chemical changes, transitioning from a liquid state to a thick, plastic suspension resembling the consistency of lithium grease. At this point, hydrodynamic lubrication in main bearing assemblies and other critical nodes disappears. Metal-to-metal contact becomes dry or semi-liquid, leading to immediate seizure and engine failure. A more common, albeit less dramatic, scenario involves accelerated abrasive wear. This process begins within the oil filter. The filter element, made of specialized paper or non-woven material, gradually clogs with soot, metal particles, and wear debris. When resistance to oil flow becomes critical, the bypass valve opens. Oil then circulates in a direct flow mode, bypassing the filtration media entirely. The accumulated contaminants are pumped directly into oil galleries and friction zones, acting as an abrasive that grinds components from the inside.