Execution Failure, Yellow Bananas, Candy Corn Perfume

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Adam Rogers
October 02, 2026

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Tennessee officials failed to execute Christa Gail Pike on Wednesday even after administering two doses of the lethal injection drug pentobarbital. A death penalty expert said it was the first known case of someone surviving after receiving the drugs used to carry out an execution.
Pike remained alive and could be heard loudly snoring after the second dose before being taken by ambulance to a hospital. The state's protocol allows a second set of drug syringes if the first fails but does not specify what officials should do if the prisoner survives both.
Gov. Bill Lee ordered an independent review and halted Tennessee's remaining execution scheduled for this year. It was the state's second failed execution attempt in 2026 after officials abandoned another in May when they could not establish an IV line.

Protests that began among high school students in the Paris region last week have rapidly spread across France.
About 900 demonstrations, blockades, and related incidents were reported Thursday, forcing more than 160 high schools to close and blocking access to about 30 university campuses. Students are protesting long hours, teacher shortages, overcrowded classrooms, and deteriorating facilities.
The protests have escalated into clashes with riot police, alongside arson and vandalism at some schools. Nearly 3,000 high school students have been detained and hundreds of people injured, prompting the government to call a crisis meeting and move many schools to online classes.

Gene-edited bananas that stay yellow much longer after being peeled or sliced have cleared a key regulatory step toward being sold in Britain. The fruit has the same taste and texture as conventional bananas, according to developer Tropic.
Researchers used CRISPR to reduce production of the enzyme that causes browning. The bananas can remain fresh-looking for up to 24 hours at room temperature and several days when refrigerated, compared with conventional bananas that can begin browning within minutes after being cut.
Tropic says the technology could reduce food waste and make bananas more practical for packaged foods such as fruit salads and breakfast pots. Britons throw away an estimated 1.4 million edible bananas each day, while the company estimates its bananas could cut waste and associated emissions across the supply chain by more than 25%.

Federal authorities arrested a Texas man accused of plotting an attack on the state Capitol. Officials said there is no ongoing threat. (More)

A medevac helicopter crashed into the ocean off California’s Catalina Island Wednesday, killing two people and injuring two others. A fifth person remains missing. (More)

Senators left Washington Wednesday to campaign for the midterms and will return Nov. 9 with limited time to finish the year’s remaining work. (More)

A sperm whale cracked the hull of a 52-foot yacht in the South Pacific, forcing four sailors to abandon ship before it sank. They were rescued about 18 hours later. (More)

Japan hiked its permanent residency fee 2,000% to $1,266 and will introduce stricter income, language and pension requirements next year. (More)

Sikh activist Jagtar Singh Johal was released from an Indian prison Thursday after nearly nine years in detention without a conviction on terrorism-related charges. (More)

U.S. stock markets closed higher on Thursday (S&P +0.19%, Nasdaq +0.04%, Dow +0.04%) as Treasury yields fell from their highest levels in 20 years. (More)

Mattel CEO Ynon Kreiz is stepping down to join David Ellison as co-CEO of the planned $110 billion Paramount-Warner Bros. media giant. (More)

Accenture shares surged more than 22% toward their biggest one-day gain ever after quarterly earnings and revenue beat Wall Street estimates. (More)

All-NBA center Jalen Duren agreed to a five-year, $200 million fully guaranteed deal to remain with the Detroit Pistons, ending a four-month contract standoff. (More)

The Atlanta Braves beat the Philadelphia Phillies 6-2 to advance to the divisional round against the Dodgers. (More)

Rapper Rick Ross was arrested on felony and misdemeanor battery charges after his girlfriend accused him of hitting and choking her during an August altercation. (More)

NASA’s Perseverance found evidence that Mars’ Jezero Crater experienced at least three periods of water activity involving groundwater, an ancient lake, and later heated water. (More)

SpaceX launched four Crew-13 astronauts toward the International Space Station Thursday on what NASA says will be the fastest U.S. spacecraft trip to the station. (More)

A review challenges the idea of depression as a single neurological disorder. Different symptoms were associated with distinct patterns of communication between brain regions. (More)

Candy corn scented perfurme, anyone?

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