Fifty years after his death, Francisco Franco is unexpectedly captivating young Spaniards. Social media tropes like “Life was better under Franco” are spreading among a generation frustrated by precarious jobs and housing costs. A recent CIS survey found that 21% of Spaniards view the dictatorship as “good” or “very good,” while 65.5% call it “bad” or “very bad.” Teachers report students repeating Francoist myths, often unaware of the regime’s 36 years of repression, censorship, and torture. Experts warn that this nostalgia fuels support for far-right Vox, which has surged among voters aged 18–29.
“They believe traditional parties not only fail to solve their problems, but are part of them,” explains sociologist Veronica Diaz.
In Poland, the government is launching its most ambitious defense program since World War II: training 500,000 civilian volunteers by the end of 2026. Dubbed “Always Prepared,” the initiative offers weekend courses in first aid, survival, and cyber hygiene for all ages – from schoolchildren to seniors. Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz says the goal is to build resilience after lessons from Ukraine’s early struggles in 2022. Poland’s defense budget will hit a record 4.8% of GDP next year, as fears of Russian aggression persist.
Science delivered a shock: a new study suggests the universe’s expansion is slowing down, not accelerating. Researchers at Yonsei University analyzed 300 Type Ia supernovae and found that age-related brightness biases may have skewed previous measurements. Correcting for this, the data no longer fit the standard model but align with a scenario where dark energy is weakening. If confirmed, this overturns 27 years of cosmology and hints at a future “Big Crunch.”
“Our study shows the universe has already entered a phase of decelerated expansion,” says lead author Young-Wook Lee.
Markets are reeling after a $300 billion crypto selloff wiped out weeks of gains. Bitcoin plunged below $100,000 for the first time since June, down 20% from its peak. Analysts cite a perfect storm: hawkish Fed signals, fading ETF euphoria, and cascading liquidations of leveraged positions worth $19 billion. Galaxy Digital slashed its year-end Bitcoin target to $120,000, warning that failure to reclaim the 365-day moving average near $102,000 could trigger deeper losses.
Culture trends are turning heads as Gen Z romanticizes cigarettes. Despite decades of anti-smoking campaigns, tobacco imagery is back in fashion – seen in shows like Euphoria and on social media accounts like @cigfluencers. Celebrities from Dua Lipa to Timothée Chalamet have been photographed smoking, reframing cigarettes as an aesthetic accessory. Public health experts fear this “vibe over vice” revival could undo years of progress, even as U.S. smoking rates remain near historic lows.
In space, three Chinese astronauts are stranded aboard the Tiangong station after their Shenzhou-20 return capsule was struck by orbital debris. The impact, discovered during pre-departure checks, forced China to postpone the November 5 return indefinitely. Both Shenzhou-20 and its replacement crew from Shenzhou-21 now share the station while engineers assess damage. If repairs fail, the stranded crew will use the backup capsule or await an emergency launch. The incident underscores growing risks from space junk, which includes over 200,000 objects larger than 1 cm orbiting Earth.
Back on Earth, Big Food’s battle with RFK Jr. is intensifying. As Health Secretary, Kennedy is pushing his “Make America Healthy Again” agenda, targeting ultraprocessed foods and additives like artificial dyes and high-fructose corn syrup. Industry giants have formed coalitions and filed lawsuits against state bans, lobbying for a single federal standard to override stricter local laws. Kennedy vows to fight what he calls “poisons fueling chronic disease,” setting up a regulatory showdown that could reshape America’s food supply.
On the battlefield, Russia is poised to capture Pokrovsk, a city in eastern Ukraine that has endured 21 months of siege. Once a key logistics hub, Pokrovsk is now largely symbolic – but its fall would mark Moscow’s biggest territorial gain since Bakhmut in 2023. Ukrainian troops report “firefights in urban areas” and dwindling supply routes under relentless drone and artillery attacks. President Zelensky says Russia has massed 170,000 troops for the offensive, underscoring the Kremlin’s determination to claim a propaganda victory despite staggering casualties.
Meanwhile, a prominent psychiatrist warns that Donald Trump is becoming more dangerous as his psychological insecurity deepens. Dr. Bandy Lee argues that Trump’s recent mobilization of thousands of ICE agents and National Guard troops stems from paranoia and “a pathological need for power.” She predicts escalating authoritarian moves unless institutions impose limits.
“Once we contain him, he will fold in on himself and no longer seem as intimidating,” Lee told The Daily Beast.
In New York, mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani faces skepticism over his pledge to provide free city buses. The plan, estimated to cost $800 million annually, would require state approval and The Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s cooperation. Mamdani proposes funding through higher corporate taxes and a 2% levy on millionaires, but transit officials warn of bond covenant risks and service strain. A 2023 pilot showed ridership gains and fewer driver assaults, yet experts say scaling up citywide remains “a fiscal and logistical challenge.”
Finally, music charts reflect a cultural shift: for the first time since 1990, no rap songs appear in Billboard’s Top 40. Analysts cite streaming fragmentation, TikTok-driven pop trends, and a backlash against explicit lyrics. Whether this signals a temporary dip or a generational pivot in U.S. music remains to be seen.
