Daily briefing · Thursday, November 5

Oil recovers part of Wednesday’s sharp fall

Oil prices rebounded Thursday after both major benchmarks fell more than 8% in the previous session. Brent futures rose 2.3% to $96.81 a barrel and U.S. crude gained 1.5% to $89.44 in trading reported by Reuters. Investors were reassessing how the U.S. election results might affect the war with Iran, while diplomacy remained unresolved. The rebound recovered only part of Wednesday’s losses. Price movements reflect changing expectations about supply and policy; they do not establish that a peace agreement is closer or that household fuel bills will immediately fall. Oil rises as investors weigh uncertainties around Iran war

Hong Kong sentences Joshua Wong to 10 years

A Hong Kong court sentenced activist Joshua Wong to 10 years in prison Thursday after he pleaded guilty to collusion with foreign entities under the national security law. The case concerned efforts during 2020 to seek foreign sanctions or other hostile actions against Hong Kong and China. Wong was already imprisoned in a separate case. The ruling extends the detention of a prominent figure from the city’s democracy movement and shows how the law applies to international lobbying. Beijing says the law was needed to stabilize the city; its application has drawn international scrutiny. Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong gets 10 years in jail on national security charge

WHO finds little improvement in adolescent activity

One in four adolescents reported no day with at least an hour of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in the preceding week, according to WHO estimates released Wednesday. The assessment drew on 389 surveys involving more than 3.2 million young people across 140 countries and territories. Activity levels changed little over 15 years, and girls consistently reported less activity than boys. The hour-long threshold matters: a young person could walk, play or exercise for shorter periods and still fall into the lowest category. The findings describe activity patterns without establishing a single cause. One in four adolescents worldwide reported no active days in the previous week

Large Antarctic ozone hole leaves recovery on track

This year’s Antarctic ozone hole ranked seventh largest by average area in 48 years of monitoring, NASA and NOAA reported Wednesday. It covered about 25 million square kilometres during the main depletion season in September and October. An unusually strong polar vortex maintained cold conditions that favour ozone loss. Area tells only part of the story: ozone depletion was less severe than in some earlier large holes. The agencies say controls on ozone-destroying chemicals continue to support recovery over decades, despite weather-driven variation from year to year. NASA, NOAA Track 2026 Antarctic Ozone Hole

Crichton estate’s lawsuit over The Pitt can proceed

Michael Crichton’s estate can continue its lawsuit against Warner Bros. Television over The Pitt, following a California appeals court ruling Wednesday. The estate argues that the medical drama developed from a proposed ER revival and falls under a contractual clause requiring agreement before derivative works proceed. The ruling allows the case to advance to discovery and a possible jury trial. It concerns the strength of the claims at this stage, leaving final liability and any damages undecided. The dispute illustrates how contractual approval rights can matter even when a programme has a different title. Michael Crichton Estate Lawsuit Over ‘The Pitt’ Heads to Jury Trial

California insect study reveals a large naming gap

California may harbour more than 60,000 insect species, with roughly a third still lacking scientific descriptions, according to research announced Wednesday. The California Insect Barcode Initiative analysed DNA from more than a million specimens gathered through fieldwork and museum collections. Researchers found distinctive communities across the state, meaning similar-looking landscapes can support different insects. That makes a statewide reference library useful for identifying overlooked habitats and tracking ecological change. DNA barcodes help distinguish diversity, while formally identifying and naming species requires further work. The estimate describes variety, rather than a rise in insect populations. Scientists discover there are way more bugs in California than you thought

Cristiano Ronaldo announces retirement from Portugal’s team

Cristiano Ronaldo announced his retirement from Portugal’s national team Thursday, bringing a 23-year international career to a close. The 41-year-old leaves with 146 goals in 234 appearances, the world records for men’s international goals and games. His announcement came before Portugal’s November squad selection. Ronaldo helped the country win the 2016 European Championship and the Nations League in 2019 and 2025. Portugal now faces the task of replacing its longtime captain and record scorer as a new generation takes a larger role. Cristiano Ronaldo anuncia aposentadoria da seleção de Portugal