Seven stories worth talking about at the Shabbos table
Italy
Kimi Antonelli became Formula One’s youngest world champion on Nov. 1, clinching the title by finishing third at the Mexico City Grand Prix. At 20 years and 68 days old, he beat Sebastian Vettel’s record by nearly three years. He is the first Italian to win the title since Alberto Ascari in 1953 — a 73-year wait — and he did it with four races still left in the season.
Ecuador
Scientists spent months searching the waters around the Galápagos Islands to fit blue whales with satellite tags — and did not find a single one. They suspect this year’s strong El Niño warmed the sea and moved the krill the giants feed on, perhaps toward Peru. A mother and calf spotted off San Cristóbal in September show the whales have not vanished for good.
United Arab Emirates
Delegations from Russia, Ukraine and the United States are scheduled to meet in Abu Dhabi on Nov. 10–11 — the first U.S.-brokered three-way talks since February, when the process stalled as the war with Iran began. The Kremlin says its team includes senior diplomats and military officers, and security arrangements top the agenda. Last month the UAE helped arrange a swap of 540 prisoners.
Brazil
A brawl at a youth soccer semifinal in Minas Gerais ended with 43 players, eight coaches and two club officials sent off — 53 red cards in all. The old world record was 36, set in Argentina in 2011.
Peru
When a local election in Peru ended in an exact tie, the two rivals settled it with a coin toss — Peruvian law allows it if both candidates agree. The winner credited a Higher Power (see Quotes of the Week).
Albania
Qamile Marra’s papers say she was born Aug. 19, 1909 — two days before the woman Guinness lists as the world’s oldest. Her family has asked Guinness to check. If confirmed, she would be the oldest person alive.
Russia
A woman in Magdagachi, in Russia’s Amur region, used ChatGPT to add a big brown bear to a photo of her street and sent it to a friend as a joke. The picture spread, neighbors called the police and rangers went hunting for the animal. A court fined her 15,000 rubles, about $178. Nerves are raw: real bears have killed at least 26 people in Russia since spring.
Illustrations by The Heimish Times. Sources: AP, Reuters, AFP, Live Science, Kremlin statements, Amur regional court.
Remarkable sights from around the globe this past week
New York
60,000 Runners, One Bridge
Runners pour across the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge at the start of the New York City Marathon on Nov. 1. About 60,000 people from more than 140 countries took part — the 50th time the race has run through all five boroughs. Sweden’s Andreas Almgren won in his first-ever marathon.
Illustration: The Heimish Times
Outer Space
A Cat in the Clouds
Hubble and Webb photographed a corner of the Carina Nebula nicknamed the Cat’s Head, because it looks like a cat sitting with its back to us — complete with a glowing red “eye.” It lies about 7,500 light-years away.
Illustration: The Heimish Times
Indonesia
Semeru Rumbles Again
Mount Semeru in East Java erupted on Nov. 5, sending an avalanche of hot ash and gas 3.5 km down its slope. People are told to keep at least 5 km from the crater.
Illustration: The Heimish Times
Ukraine
Winter Knocks Early
The first snow of the season dusted the Carpathian Mountains on Nov. 6, from Slavske to the Bukovel ski resort. Lower down it came as hail and freezing rain.
Illustration: The Heimish Times
Mexico City
Rivals Lift the Champion
Race winner Max Verstappen and runner-up Lewis Hamilton hoisted the new champion, 20-year-old Kimi Antonelli, onto their shoulders after the Mexico City Grand Prix.
Illustration: The Heimish Times
Sicily, Italy
Etna Lights Up the Night
Mount Etna, Europe’s most active volcano, flared up again last week. On Nov. 3 the volcano observatory in Catania raised its ash warning for aircraft to orange.
Illustration: The Heimish Times
Illustrations by The Heimish Times. Sources: AP, NASA/ESA/CSA, PVMBG/Antara, UA.News, INGV.
