Müvezzi - International (English)

A study found that swapping some dairy products for plant-based alternatives like milk, cheese, and yogurt may reduce intake of iodine, calcium, riboflavin, and vitamin B12, especially when the substitutes aren’t fortified. Based on typical fortification levels in the market, replacing one-fifth to one-third of dairy could increase the prevalence of iodine deficiency among adolescent girls from 54% to 65%, and among women aged 19 to 49 from 32% to 42%. Replacing a third of dairy was also associated with a 9% to 21% decline in iodine intake. If all dairy were replaced with plant-based options, modeled inadequate iodine levels reached 80% in teenage girls and 72% in teenage boys. Researchers looked at the impact of replacing dairy with plant-based alternatives sold in the UK, including 146 milks, 76 yogurts, and 67 cheeses. Calcium had been added to 61% of these products and vitamin B12 to 46%, but only 19% were fortified with riboflavin and 12% with iodine. There is no formal requirement for vegan alternatives to be fortified with micronutrients. Published in The Lancet Planetary Health, the study found that requiring iodine fortification could prevent average declines; adding iodized salt to bread also reduced the modeled proportion of teenage girls with inadequate iodine intake. Registered dietitian Nichola Ludlam-Raine said the work raised a population-level concern, but that switching would not make everyone nutrient-deficient because overall diet also matters. https://muvezzi.com/en/swapping-from-dairy-to-plant-based-milk-cheese-and-yoghurt-could-lead-to-micronutrient-deficiencies-31865

With the U.S. midterm elections approaching, Pilates and yoga studios were encouraging clients to vote, using Instagram and other platforms to spread the message. Phrases like “Pilates Girls Vote” appeared online, while a Brooklyn studio compared skipping a class to missing an election—costing you versus costing everyone, as they put it. Some studios offered free drop-in classes for those with “I voted” stickers and waived late cancellation fees to make voting easier. Kiersten Gibson-Cooper of KGC Pilates in Brooklyn explained that elections impact health care, wages, and grocery prices, and she didn’t want clients forced to choose between a Pilates class and groceries. Fitness instructors’ posts encouraging voting follow a well-known trend: election-themed stickers and celebrity-led campaigns have been shared on social media for years, including those aimed at engaging voters during midterm elections. Gibson-Cooper explained that her studio’s pro-voting messages express her dedication to social and community activism, rather than a temporary strategy to boost business. In Houston, the League of Women Voters partnered with the nonprofit Fit Houston to host a free, one-hour Pilates session in a park near a polling place. Sabine Hodge, a development manager for the league and a Pilates instructor, stated the organization seeks to empower voters and protect democracy, adding that Pilates and fostering community are also forms of empowerment. The article also mentions a café operator in Texas who stated that promotions tied to voting can boost sales, yet are valuable since they serve the public's interest. https://muvezzi.com/en/wellness-is-on-the-ballot-why-did-so-many-pilates-studios-tell-me-to-vote-in-the-midterms-31805

Vice President JD Vance claimed that the conflict with Iran was responsible for Republicans' loss in the U.S. midterm elections. The outcome is broadly viewed as a strong rejection of President Donald Trump’s leadership. In a detailed post on X, Vance noted that Trump had also pointed to the war as a cause of their defeat. He contended that those who think the confrontation was justified should openly state so, adding that losing control of the Senate for six years was one of the consequences. The article states that Vance, who previously served as the administration’s main representative in negotiations with Tehran, has allegedly expressed doubts about the ongoing war. It portrays his remarks as a strategy to separate himself from the widely criticized conflict before potentially launching a 2028 presidential campaign. Trump also shared with The Wall Street Journal that Iran played a role in the election outcome. He stated he had no remorse for initiating the conflict, asserting that his actions were justified and he would make the same decisions again. https://muvezzi.com/en/jd-vance-says-us-war-on-iran-is-real-reason-republicans-lost-midterm-elections-31673

BitGo has introduced Global Markets, a new institutional trading and financial services arm that integrates liquidity, trading, financing, derivatives, and settlement. Pete Janney, who previously held an executive role at NYDIG, will oversee the division. The announcement follows BitGo’s acquisition of NYDIG’s institutional and trading business on August 27, according to a statement shared with The Block. Approximately 30 staff members joined BitGo in the deal, bringing expertise in structured products, collateral servicing, financing, and derivatives. The division unites BitGo Prime, which has offered institutional trading since 2020, with expanded offerings from NYDIG. BitGo says clients will be able to engage in spot trading and large over-the-counter deals, borrow against cryptocurrency holdings, and access options, swaps, and tailored structured products. The firm will hold loan collateral in qualified custody, monitor margins, and handle collateral calls or liquidations as needed. Global Markets will also provide managed investment strategies, private funds, and research; BitGo’s Go Network will handle clearing and settlement. CEO Mike Belshe said the division combines the company’s capabilities with deeper capital markets expertise. Janney said he looks forward to growing the business. https://muvezzi.com/en/bitgo-launches-institutional-trading-and-financial-solutions-business-led-by-former-nydig-executive-31621

Donald Trump blamed Fox News for Republican losses in the midterm elections, criticizing the network in posts on Truth Social and later saying it bore responsibility for the party’s failure to hold the House and Senate. He took issue with Fox’s polls and its decision to feature Democratic commentator Jessica Tarlov. During the network’s election coverage, Trump called in and described its polls as “terrible.” Anchor Bret Baier replied that the results were close to what Fox’s polls had shown. During Fox’s election-night coverage, commentators largely refrained from directly attributing the losses to Trump or suggesting Republicans should distance themselves from him. Some described voters as “impatient,” while others noted that a president’s party historically performs poorly in midterm elections. Larry Kudlow and Dana Perino criticized the administration’s messaging, and several commentators said voters appeared unhappy with Trump’s decision to go to war in Iran, particularly given the resulting rise in gas prices. Trump allies, including former press secretary Karoline Leavitt, blamed the media. Trump said he did not view the result as a hit on him and largely blamed the Republican candidates who lost. https://muvezzi.com/en/trump-blamed-fox-news-for-republican-losses-even-as-networks-hosts-went-easy-on-him-31526

The Wiener Holocaust Library in London is launching an exhibition focused on the Dreyfus affair. Barbara Warnock, one of its co-directors, called it the world’s first experience of antisemitism spreading “virally.” The affair began in 1894, when French army captain Alfred Dreyfus was wrongfully convicted of treason. Those defending him and those who insisted he was guilty generated a flood of newspaper specials, journals, posters and other polemics. The exhibition, “J’accuse! Press, Polemic and the Dreyfus Affair,” runs from November 5 to March 19, 120 years after Dreyfus’s exoneration, promotion and award of the Legion of Honour. It features around 40 items, some collected by library founder Alfred Wiener and others acquired by the library or loaned by Birkbeck, University of London. Among the exhibits are posters from the “Musée des Horreurs” series, which caricatured prominent supporters of Dreyfus. Curator Clara Dijkstra said the posters were published from autumn 1899 to 1900 and the government eventually shut down their publication as too grotesque. The exhibition also includes an issue of the antisemitic newspaper La Libre Parole, which was among the first to report that Dreyfus was guilty, and a special edition of the British newspaper the Graphic, headlined “Dreyfus the martyr.” Another publication emerged in response to Émile Zola’s 1898 open letter, “J’Accuse,” in which he accused the French government of antisemitism and a cover-up. Zola was later convicted of libel and fled to England. Warnock said the exhibition may offer echoes of how antisemitism manifests today. https://muvezzi.com/en/the-point-was-to-dehumanise-london-holocaust-archive-examines-worlds-first-viral-antisemitism-scandal-31675

Democrats secured victories across the ballot in Tuesday’s midterm elections, taking control of both chambers of Congress, several governorships, and numerous state legislative trifectas. Their successes included capturing U.S. Senate seats in Kansas and South Carolina, while Texas saw blue candidates win multiple races. Democrats also picked up ground in traditionally Republican areas and rural districts they had once considered out of reach. In Iowa, Rob Sand, elected as the state’s next governor, told his supporters that “balanced government has been restored.” The results are characterized in the article as a widespread rejection of President Donald Trump’s Make America Great Again movement, with moderates, progressives, populists, and Democratic socialists all celebrating electoral wins. The article connects voter frustration to rising prices, healthcare expenses, and the war against Iran, among other concerns. It also notes that voters rejected Republican efforts to create more favorable districts, with the party suffering major defeats in seats it should have won comfortably. Rebecca Connors, an independent voter from Rochester, New Hampshire, said she supported Democrats to send Trump a message that “he’s wreaking havoc.” Minnesota Democratic senator-elect Peggy Flanagan said after her victory that “All across the state and all across this country, people are saying, ‘Enough is enough.’” The outcome gives Democrats a chance to hold Trump accountable and demonstrate their ability to govern, while Republicans face questions about what the party will become after Trump. https://muvezzi.com/en/resounding-wins-for-democrats-a-wholesale-rebuke-of-trumps-maga-movement-31475

Judi Dench writes in her new memoir that Daniel Craig apparently suggested killing off her character, M, in Skyfall. She says Barbara Broccoli, Michael G. Wilson and director Sam Mendes told her about the plot over a meal at the Wolseley restaurant. Dench says she did not cry when she learned she was being written out, despite reports that she had. She notes that she had spent 20 years in the role and appeared in eight Bond films, one more than Roger Moore. Dench’s account adds to Craig’s own description of wanting James Bond killed off. The article says Craig asked Broccoli whether Bond could die at the end of his fourth film, on the way back from the 2006 Berlin premiere of Casino Royale. Bond later dies at the end of No Time to Die. Dench’s memoir does not say what reason Craig gave for proposing M’s death. https://muvezzi.com/en/judi-dench-says-daniel-craig-ordered-her-death-james-bond-just-got-a-lot-scarier-31516

Binance experienced what blockchain analysts refer to as the biggest cryptocurrency theft ever recorded. They believe that over six billion dollars worth of assets were taken. Binance stated that its preliminary probe indicated a hacked DevOps engineer’s laptop and unauthorized entry into a service container. The exchange has not confirmed any leak of private keys. Co-CEO Richard Teng explained that the breach was more sophisticated than just an employee's permissions being exploited. Experts from Chainalysis, Elliptic, and TRM Labs linked the attack to hacking groups from North Korea, although Elliptic noted that similarities with another incident involving Bitget did not prove the same culprits were involved. TRM Labs stated that the hacker spent a minimum of 36 hours planning before deploying harmful software and exploiting Binance’s hot-wallet signing infrastructure to transfer assets across various blockchains. The perpetrator transformed $325 million in stablecoins into $285 million in ether, an asset that cannot be frozen by its issuers. Elliptic added that the attacker also put $59.9 million in pilfered USDT as collateral on Aave and obtained 19,762 ether in loans. This loan was still active and nearly faced liquidation according to the company's most recent report. Binance stated it had approximately five billion dollars in impacted assets and was obtaining an additional one-point-three billion dollars via market and over-the-counter methods to offset the losses. The platform is striving to resume withdrawals and aims for Monday to release its first proof-of-reserves report. https://muvezzi.com/en/inside-the-largest-crypto-hack-on-record-how-attackers-breached-binance-for-63-billion-31586

The narrator met their childhood friend at an ice-skating party when they were nine. They grew up sharing books, school crushes, and sleepovers, eventually moving in together in Sydney. At 26, the narrator was diagnosed with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and endured a long treatment. Wanting the friend to understand what they needed without being asked, the narrator instead pulled away. Their friendship fell apart, the friend moved out, and the narrator stopped replying to her messages. They did not speak for 11 years. I often thought of her during that period and longed for the connection of someone who had been through my early years. This year, Instagram reconnected us. She followed me, I followed her back, and she reached out with a message. We met for coffee and dessert in the city. We now see each other frequently, although work and family commitments make it difficult to meet as much as we'd prefer. At times, we're reminded of how much we missed from each other's lives, but I still feel the comfort we once shared as kids. In hindsight, I wish I had realized that friendship demands the bravery to express your needs and embrace vulnerability. https://muvezzi.com/en/i-spent-11-years-without-my-childhood-friend-finding-our-way-back-together-was-staggeringly-simple-31520

China has conducted a number of meetings with Gulf leaders as Beijing steps up its diplomatic efforts in the Middle East. President Xi Jinping met Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq during the first visit to China by an Omani head of state since the two countries established diplomatic relations nearly half a century ago. Separately, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met Saudi Arabia’s national security adviser and Iran’s deputy secretary of the national security council. The meetings precede the anticipated encounter between Donald Trump and Xi at the APEC conference in Shenzhen on November 18 and 19. Xi said the Middle East should not become an arena for major-power rivalry or geopolitical conflict. China buys about 90 percent of Iran’s crude oil exports. From April to June, it cut its crude imports by 30 percent, with June’s total at its lowest level in a decade. Some estimates say the reduction lowered Brent crude prices by $30 or more per barrel. Meanwhile, Tehran and Washington are in intensive talks on an agreement that could include reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Trump has repeatedly threatened to renew military action against Iran after Tuesday’s U.S. midterm elections. China’s foreign ministry says special envoy Zhai Jun will visit Iran, Oman and Saudi Arabia in early to mid-November. https://muvezzi.com/en/trumps-troubles-with-iran-could-open-the-door-to-china-31513

Brazilian ecophysiologist Adalberto Luis Val is examining the tambaqui as an early sign of climate stress in the Amazon. The fish comes up to the surface when rising temperatures reduce oxygen availability, using its extended lower lip to take in oxygen-rich water. Val’s research suggests that monitoring the species could help assess the resilience of the Amazon forest. In laboratory experiments, his team found that excessive warming depleted oxygen in the water and damaged fish physiology. They compared present-day conditions with three levels of climate impact modeled for 2100. Val says tambaqui also transport seeds along rivers, so a decline in their numbers could hamper forest recovery. The study comes amid back-to-back record droughts in 2023 and 2024, which caused major die-offs of fish and river dolphins across the Amazon basin. Brazil’s biodiversity authority has added the tambaqui to its list of species at risk of extinction. Val, a leading investigator at the National Institute for Amazonian Studies, received the Fisheries Society of the British Isles’ Le Cren Medal for his contribution to aquatic science. It was the first time the medal was awarded to a scholar in the tropics. His longtime collaborator Chris Wood says climate change, pollution, deforestation and migration are combining to put pressure on the region. Val says Amazonian species hold information important to managing aquatic organisms and conserving the forest. https://muvezzi.com/en/the-amazons-canary-in-the-coalmine-what-a-tropical-fish-can-tell-us-about-climate-upheaval-31500

In a Guardian US column, Mohamad Bazzi suggests that President Donald Trump might authorize fresh attacks on Iran following the U.S. midterm elections, though he notes such bombing campaigns are unlikely to help secure a deal. The piece mentions that government representatives have considered coordinated U.S.-Israeli operations targeting Iran’s subterranean nuclear sites, missile stockpiles, and civilian systems. It also states that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu encouraged Trump during a call to restart airstrikes shortly after the election. Bazzi points out that Trump may alternatively seek a diplomatic resolution, as Qatar has arranged meetings with Iranian leaders over the past seven days. The article states that the discussions reportedly advanced toward a provisional agreement: Iran proposed to re-open the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours if Washington lifted its port blockade and unfroze billions in Iranian assets. Bazzi notes that the U.S. and Iran continue to harbor deep mistrust, pointing to Trump’s threats to “wipe out” Iran. Iranian leaders have issued warnings of retaliation against U.S. military installations and energy facilities in nearby Gulf nations should the United States strike Iran’s infrastructure once more. The piece also mentions that a major attack could worsen Iran's economic situation and would likely be classified as war crimes under international law. Bazzi portrays Trump’s next steps as unclear, with either a negotiated settlement or escalated military action still on the table. https://muvezzi.com/en/will-trump-relaunch-his-war-on-iran-after-the-midterm-elections-mohamad-bazzi-31152

Jonathan Van Meter’s book, “Citizen Kim: The Woman Who Created the Future,” focuses on Kim Kardashian, whose family has long transformed their personal lives into a reality TV phenomenon. This follows Van Meter’s 2019 Vogue cover feature about Kardashian. After it was published, she contacted him and said, “There’s no better feeling in the world than when someone gets you.” He then informed her that he intended to write a book about her, regardless of her approval. She was on board. The review highlights how Kardashian helped shape modern reality television through “Keeping Up With the Kardashians,” which launched in 2007, and its current continuation, “The Kardashians.” It also mentions that her clothing brand, Skims, was valued at five billion dollars last year. The review suggests that Van Meter’s intended cultural examination shifts toward a more traditional biography, largely due to consistent access to Kardashian, her relatives, and associates. It notes that this level of access may reduce the book’s critical perspective, even as it offers insights into the family’s history, her marriage to Kanye West, and how she reacted to being robbed at gunpoint in Paris in 2016. Kardashian reflects that the incident shifted her away from materialism. The book also touches on the sex tape that brought her wider attention and hints at the possibility she might pursue a political career. She expresses appreciation for the notion and does not rule it out. The review finds that the book’s enthusiastic voice mirrors the family’s television program. https://muvezzi.com/en/citizen-kim-by-jonathan-van-meter-review-kardashian-under-the-microscope-31404

This dish combines mussels with dry cider, chorizo and apple, drawing on ingredients associated with Galicia and Asturias. It serves two, with 20 minutes of preparation and 15 minutes of cooking. Key ingredients include one kilogram of cleaned live mussels, 200 milliliters of dry cider, 120 grams of diced chorizo, one apple, a banana shallot, thyme and parsley. Crusty bread is served alongside. The chorizo is fried in olive oil until it releases its oils, then the shallot, apple and thyme are cooked until the shallot is tender. The mussels and cider are added over high heat, and the pot is covered while they cook for a minute or two. Any mussels that remain closed are discarded. The cooking liquid is boiled until it reduces and thickens slightly, then parsley is stirred in and the liquid is poured over the mussels. Before cooking, discard mussels with cracked or broken shells. Tap the hinge of any slightly open mussels on a worktop; if they do not close after about 30 seconds, discard them. https://muvezzi.com/en/jose-pizarros-recipe-for-mussels-with-cider-chorizo-and-apple-31385

Australia’s Reserve Bank has increased its cash rate for the fifth occasion this year, moving it from 4.6 percent to 4.85 percent. The move was not unanimous: six members of the board backed the rise while three preferred to keep rates unchanged. Inflation climbed to 4.3 percent over the twelve months ending in September, exceeding the bank's projections. The Reserve Bank stated it would take whatever steps it deems essential to return inflation sustainably to its target, though it did not clearly signal more rate increases. The current cash rate is now at its peak since 2008. Canstar estimates that the latest increase will raise the monthly interest cost on a 700,000-dollar mortgage by 107 dollars, pushing the total repayment hike from five rate rises this year to 532 dollars. Forecasts from the bank suggest inflation will climb higher in the last part of 2026 before dropping back below 3 percent by late 2027, around nine months behind earlier expectations. It also anticipates a 1.6 percent expansion in economic activity for the current year and a slightly slower 1.3 percent in the following year. Joblessness is expected to reach approximately 4.9 percent by the close of next year. The institution predicts that oil costs will decrease over the coming 18 months but will still stay at fairly elevated levels. https://muvezzi.com/en/rba-interest-rates-reserve-bank-hikes-cash-rate-for-fifth-time-this-year-in-blow-to-mortgage-holders-31373

At least 26 people were killed when Russia attacked an aid distribution centre and a nearby shelter in Komyshuvakha, in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and emergency services said. Two rescue workers and four police officers were among the dead. Five people, including two rescue workers, were being treated in hospital. Zelenskyy said the first bombs hit a school used as a shelter and aid distribution site, followed by a second strike on the shelter. A local city council official said 27 people were missing. Further Russian drone attacks in the area hindered rescue efforts, a military official said. Zelenskyy said residents gathered at the site each week to collect humanitarian aid. He said Russia was killing people instead of building on the previous week’s ceasefire in Oleshky, which enabled an evacuation from the Russian-occupied city. The Kremlin said no similar missions were planned “at the moment.” US special envoy Steve Witkoff said US-led talks between Russia and Ukraine would resume in Abu Dhabi on November 10 and 11. There had been no breakthrough in efforts to reach a settlement, and Kyiv and its European allies were concerned that President Donald Trump had increasingly sided with Moscow. https://muvezzi.com/en/russian-bombing-of-ukrainian-aid-centre-kills-at-least-26-kyiv-says-31200

The film Wicker was given a 4DX release during a special series of showings, turning its sex scenes into an experience with moving seats. Distributor Black Bear arranged 60 one-night screenings after an online joke questioned why the movie wasn’t being offered in 4DX. Demand was strong, prompting the company to extend the event to a full week. The format features motion chairs and effects like wind and water, and is more commonly associated with action movies. The movie features Olivia Colman as a fisherwoman and Alexander Skarsgård as her wicker-man husband. Peter Dinklage plays a master basket weaver. During the reviewer’s screening, the seats moved during the couple’s bed-breaking consummation scene, prompting laughter and screams. The film may have opened fifth at the North American box office. The piece raises the possibility of future 4DX releases for erotic films, but reports no such plans. https://muvezzi.com/en/screams-on-the-level-of-a-taylor-swift-concert-horny-romp-wicker-gets-the-4dx-treatment-31238

The U.S. congressional elections are set for November 3, 2026. Voters from both the Democratic and Republican parties have already selected their candidates for major contests nationwide. These contests will play a key role in deciding control of Congress, and the news team has been carefully tracking their developments. The outlet has facilitated discussions with readers on topics such as immigration, economic matters, and campaign funding. Its last midterm discussion is set for Friday, November 6, at 12:00 PM Eastern Time. The article notes that further details on how to submit questions will be shared shortly. https://muvezzi.com/en/we-answered-your-us-midterm-questions-on-the-economy-the-iran-war-immigration-and-more-31184

Karl Bushby returned to Hull on Monday after a 28-year journey on foot across 29 countries. The 57-year-old former paratrooper walked 36,000 miles, completing the penultimate leg from Punta Arenas in Chile to his hometown. He crossed back into Hull over the Humber Bridge on Sunday, the same date he set out in 1998. He was due to finish the journey later on Monday at his childhood home, where his mother, Angela, planned to greet him. Bushby had planned for the expedition to last 12 years. He said he followed two rules: not to go back home until finishing the challenge, and not to use transport to advance. His route crossed the frozen Bering Sea between Alaska and Russia and the Darién Gap in Central America. He described being threatened at gunpoint, facing down a polar bear and being held in Russian custody. At Queen Victoria Square in Hull, he thanked those who helped him along the way, saying, “I didn’t do this alone.” His return was set to make him the first person to have walked continuously across the world. https://muvezzi.com/en/its-been-a-while-heros-welcome-for-uk-man-after-28-year-walk-across-the-world-31241