New Scientist launches Last Word series for reader-submitted scientific enquiries

Kristalina Georgieva announced that Deputy Managing Director Bo Li will conclude his term at the International Monetary Fund on 30 November. Min Liao, who currently serves as China's Vice Minister of Finance, will take over the role on 1 December 2026.

Georgieva stated that Li leaves a lasting legacy and will be missed by the institution. The Managing Director added that his experience will be a tremendous asset to the IMF and our members.

https://x.com/IMFNews/status/2115534359516364933

Russian doctors performed a world-first spinal cord transplant this month. The operation required removing a segment of the spinal cord from a patient with a complete injury and gluing in a replacement piece from a donor.

Synthetic organ transplants have previously allowed for the replacement of tracheas with plastic tubes. The surgeon who fitted those tubes stated they "didn't have the time".

Pig kidney transplants are currently undergoing trials under compassionate-use protocols. Jonas Salk tested his polio vaccine on monkeys, cells, and children who had already suffered from the disease.

Salk also tested the vaccine on his own children and his wife. Salk said, "hope lies in dreams, in imagination and in the courage of those who dare to make dreams into reality".

A five-member French delegation met with National Grid-Pakistan Managing Director Engr. Altaf Hussain Malik on 28 October at WAPDA House in Lahore. French companies are eager to provide capital for transmission infrastructure and the production of sector-specific equipment, the French ambassador said.

Malik stated that National Grid is currently strengthening its network to incorporate renewable energy sources as part of the Indicative Generation Capacity Expansion Plan. The organisation is also fast-tracking plans to integrate Battery Energy Storage Systems into the national framework.

Commitment to gender equality and women's empowerment remains a priority for the utility, according to Malik. To support these goals, National Grid-Pakistan created a dedicated gender diversity network and the Awaaz (Voice) forum.

The company has also launched total rewards programmes that include comprehensive benefits and compensation packages for its staff.

The King's Observatory in Old Deer Park, London, is currently for sale for an asking price of £18 million. Construction of the observatory began in the 1760s.

King George III and Queen Charlotte commissioned the building to observe the transit of Venus in 1769. Following the transit, the site served as a location to verify instrument accuracy and measure atmospheric electricity.

The property transitioned into office space during the 1980s before being converted into a private home in the 21st century. Situated in the middle of a golf course, the site represents a significant piece of London's scientific history.

Sri Lanka won by two wickets against England on 22 October to secure a place in the ODI tri-series final. The hosts successfully chased a target of 430 runs, which stands as the second-highest chase in the history of One Day Internationals.

Harry Brook scored 202 runs during the match. England suffered three successive defeats in the tournament, including an 87-run loss to Pakistan in Rawalpindi and a one-wicket loss to Pakistan in Lahore on Sunday.

Shadab Khan completed his maiden ODI century while sharing an unbroken 89-run tenth-wicket stand with a partner during the Lahore match. Dilshan Madushanka took five wickets for 34 runs against Pakistan on Tuesday, helping Lanka win by eight wickets.

England previously beat Lanka in two series, winning each 2-1. Lanka may rest some key players for the final on Saturday.

Mamya Shajaffar attended Paris Fashion Week while managing a chronic lupus condition. Shajaffar described October as a sweet month for her personal milestones.

The actress expressed a desire to move beyond her wheelchair and value her life more fully. Shajaffar noted that her commitment to fashion and glamour stems from a drive to live life to the fullest.

She observed that individuals with chronic diseases often learn to present their pain with grace because society reacts more positively to visible suffering. Sarmad Khoosat produced the film Lali, which is scheduled to debut at the 76th Berlin International Film Festival.

Cynthia Erivo addressed the intense public attention surrounding her friendship with Ariana Grande during a recent press tour. The two actresses are currently promoting the musical film Wicked and its upcoming sequel.

Viral clips of the co-stars hugging, crying, and pinching each other's pointer fingers sparked significant online commentary. Erivo questioned the nature of the backlash, asking, "Why are they showing emotion? How dare they cry? And how dare they laugh? And how dare they be emotive and alive?"

The Invite is scheduled to receive the Vanguard Award at the Palm Springs International Film Awards on 7 January 2027. The ceremony will take place at the Palm Springs Convention Center.

From 7 to 18 January 2027, the festival will host various screenings and events. Will McCormack and Rashida Jones penned the screenplay for the production.

The film serves as an adaptation of the 2020 Spanish movie The People Upstairs. An ensemble cast including Wilde, Rogen, Cruz, and Norton stars in the project.

The US government will ban all future foreign drones unless companies secure a waiver starting 1 December 2025. Federal Communications Commission officials also prohibited the sale and marketing of foreign routers and robot vacuums.

These measures aim to prevent Chinese-made drones, routers, and Roombas from entering the United States. For over a decade, the US government has expressed distrust toward Chinese telecommunications equipment providers Huawei and ZTE.

Authorities previously mandated that telecom providers perform a "rip and replace" of all Huawei and ZTE hardware. An "Entity List" was established to identify specific companies whose equipment is barred from import, marketing, and sale.

The government claims that these gadgets pose an unacceptable threat to national security. Critics note that the US has provided zero public evidence of such a threat.

Microsoft is terminating support for Copilot functionality on all smart TVs, including the specific features integrated into LG models. The company scheduled the discontinuation of the Copilot feature to occur during 2026.

LG and Samsung previously announced that their smart TVs would incorporate Microsoft Copilot during CES 2025. In December 2024, LG included an unremovable Microsoft Copilot shortcut within its webOS system.

LG later chose to permit users to delete the Copilot shortcut from their interface. Earlier this year, Microsoft launched a new Copilot super app.

The AI served as a companion for users of Samsung and LG smart TVs before the support ended. "Microsoft has recently decided to end support for Copilot functionality on all TVs, including the Copilot-enabled feature available on our LG TVs. As a result, the Copilot-enabled feature on your TV is no longer available and may stop functioning shortly," an on-screen notification stated.

The Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority granted China Airlines and EVA Air permission to fly through Pakistani airspace starting 28 October 2026. This authorization remains valid until 27 March 2027.

Khawaja Asif confirmed that the aviation division followed these rules to ensure only mainland Chinese airlines were permitted to fly over Pakistan. Taiwanese airlines operated 14 flights over Pakistan on 24 October 2026 before the previous restrictions took effect.

China Airlines and EVA Air ceased flying over the country on the morning of 25 October 2026. At least 12 flights traveling between Asia and Europe were rerouted over Russia during this period.

Pakistan continues to keep its airspace closed to Indian airlines, with the current ban extended until 24 November 2026.