Good Morning! Today’s edition is 1,077 words, a 4-minute read.

What’s on tap: 

• Scientists make cancer cells self-destruct

• Iranian woman strips in head covering protest

• India lights 2.51M oil lamps in Diwali celebration

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Big Story

Cancer Cancels Itself

Scientists have created a new compound that can make cancer cells self-destruct.

• The compound was made by connecting two proteins. The breakthrough builds on apoptosis, where cells can choose to die if it’s better for the body.

• One of the main proteins in the new compound is called BCL6, which helps cancer cells survive by blocking genes that would normally make them self-destruct. Scientists linked BCL6 with another protein, CDK9, which reactivated the self-destruct genes that BCL6 kept turned off.

• By flipping this switch, scientists made cancer cells kill themselves, transforming a cancer cell’s survival mechanism into its own downfall.

• Current treatments, like chemotherapy, attack both healthy and cancerous cells, but this self-destruct method could be a much more targeted way to kill only cancer cells.

• The team is now testing the compound in mice with large B-cell lymphoma to see how effectively it can destroy cancer in living organisms.

Big Story

FTC Bans Fake Reviews

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has created a new rule to fight fake reviews and testimonials.

• The rule, which went into effect on Friday, bans businesses from creating, selling, or purchasing fake reviews. FTC Chair Lina Khan said it aims to protect people from deceptive advertising and unfair competition.

• The rule targets reviews that misrepresent a person’s experience, including AI-generated fake reviews or reviews from people with no actual experience with the product or service.

• It also prohibits businesses from offering payment or incentives for reviews with a particular sentiment and blocks reviewers with a vested interest in products unless they explicitly disclose their connection.

• The FTC ruling also prevents businesses from unfairly hiding negative reviews and using threats or false accusations to remove bad reviews.

Big Story

UK Elects First Black Party Leader

The Conservative Party in the UK elected Kemi Badenoch as its new leader, making her the first Black woman to lead a major British political party.

• Badenoch won with over 53,000 votes, beating opponent Robert Jenrick. She replaces former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who recently led the Conservatives to their worst election result since 1832 and now must rebuild the party's image.

• Her leadership approach is expected to lean right on economic and social issues. She has opposed progressive policies, including gender-neutral bathrooms and certain climate goals.

• Analysts are divided on whether she might take the party further right to regain lost supporters or try to appeal to more centrist voters to improve chances in the next general election in 2029.

• Key issues she plans to focus on include immigration, the economy, and social policies.

Quick Stories

U.S. News

• Over 75 million Americans have already voted as of Sunday before Election Day, nearly half of the total votes from 2020. In Georgia and North Carolina, early voting has already reached about 80% of the states' 2020 turnout. (More)

• Tornadoes hurt at least 11 people in Oklahoma from Saturday night into Sunday morning. The storms caused damage to buildings, power lines, traffic lights, and trees. (More)

• An Iranian-American journalist, Reza Valizadeh, who had worked for a US government-funded broadcaster, has been detained in Iran for several months. In February, he mentioned on social media that Iran detained his family to pressure him to return to Iran. (More)

World

• Survivors threw mud and rocks at the Spanish royal couple during their visit to the area where floods killed 205 people in Eastern Spain last week. The protestors are enraged with the government over the lack of aid after the disaster. (More)

• Iranian police arrested a woman for stripping down to her underwear at an Iranian university. She was protesting after university security violently stopped her for not wearing a headscarf. (More)

• Israeli strikes killed more than 50 children in northern Gaza over the weekend, according to UNICEF. The deaths occurred when strikes destroyed two apartment buildings sheltering hundreds of people. (More)

Business & Economy

• US stock markets closed higher on Friday (S&P +0.41%, Nasdaq +0.80%, Dow +0.69%). Amazon led big tech stocks higher while traders overlooked the poor jobs report, blaming the results on hurricanes and a Boeing strike. (More)

• TFI Friday’s is bankrupt. The company filed for voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Saturday. It cited the pandemic as a major factor. The company owes between $100M and $500M to creditors. (More)

• Warren Buffet’s investment company Berkshire Hathaway is sitting on $300B in cash. Buffet continued to sell stock without repurchasing shares in the third quarter. (More)

Sports & Entertainment

• Abdi Nageeye and Sheila Chepkirui won the New York City Marathon on Sunday. Nageeye finished the men’s race in 2 hours, 7 minutes, and 39 seconds. Chepkirui, running her first New York marathon, completed the women’s race in 2 hours, 24 minutes, and 35 seconds. (More)

• Ohio State climbed to No. 3 in the AP Top 25 College football poll after beating Penn State 20-13. Oregon kept the top spot by defeating Michigan 38-17, and Georgia stayed at No. 2 after a 34-20 win over Florida. Miami and Texas round out the top 5. (More)

• “Dawson’s Creek” alum James Van Der Beek announced that he has colorectal cancer. Despite the diagnosis he is still working and will appear in an upcoming Tubi movie “Sidelined: The Qb and Me.” (More)

Science, Health, & Tech

• Paleontologists discovered an ancient mammal that lived around 70-75 million years ago in what is now northwestern Colorado. Named Heleocola piceanus, it was about the size of a muskrat and coexisted with dinosaurs. (More)

• Two meteor showers have begun to light up the sky. The Southern Taurids peak early Tuesday, and the Northern Taurids will peak on Nov. 12. The best time to see them is between midnight and sunrise. (More)

• Researchers have created tiny, wireless devices that can wrap around individual neurons, which could help treat brain disorders like multiple sclerosis. The soft polymer devices roll around cells when exposed to light, helping to measure and control cellular activity. (More)

Extra Credit

🪔 Photos: India lights 2.51M clay oil lamps to celebrate Diwali.

🎃 Plotting Halloween candy by popularity & cost.

🏀 The tallest college basketball player ever is 7’9.

💵 Mapped: States paying more than the federal minimum wage.