It’s almost Friday, but we’re not quite there yet. While you’re killing time, why not catch up with what’s going on in the world? Here are the top stories everyone will be talking about:
1. So sad
Former NFL quarterback Doug Flutie had an unimaginably sad day yesterday when both of his parents died within an hour of each other. His father, Dick, had been ill and died of a heart attack. An hour later, his mother, Joan, also had a sudden heart attack and died. The couple had been married for 56 years. Of the pair’s passing, Flutie wrote on Facebook, “They say you can die of a broken heart, and I believe it.” Thoughts and prayers to their entire family as they weather their loss. — Huffington Post
2. Oh, brother
A Bloomberg poll released yesterday shows the majority of Americans don’t support bringing in Syrian refugees. Fifty-three percent of those polled said no to refugees, while another 11 percent said they’ll welcome refugees but only if they’re Christians. This comes as 31 governors have spoken out against accepting Syrian refugees into the U.S. Today Congress is expected to hold hearings on the refugee crisis. If they draft an anti-refugee bill, Obama has promised to exercise the power of the veto. — CNN
More:Angelina Jolie video for World Refugee Day
3. They got him
The suspected ringleader of the Paris attacks is confirmed dead. Prosecutors confirmed this morning that Abdelhamid Abaaoud was killed during yesterday’s raid in Saint-Denis. Investigators are still searching for Salah Abdeslam, another major suspect in the terrorist attacks. Both men are high on wanted lists, and their ability to travel undetected has raised major security concerns for France and the rest of the world. — BBC
4. More terror
Yesterday a suicide bombing at a fruit and vegetable market in Nigeria left 32 people dead and at least 80 wounded. No one claimed responsibility for the attack, but officials believe terrorist group Boko Haram is to blame. The extremist group has killed thousands as it attempts to transition Nigeria to Islamic law, and Nigerian forces report thwarting several bombing attacks over the past few weeks. — USA Today
5. It’s getting hot in here
Last month was the hottest October on record, but there’s more bad news: The earth’s average temperature only needs to rise by two degrees to create catastrophic results — more wildfires, stronger hurricanes and water shortages — and we’re already halfway there. The average temperature last month was .98 degrees higher than normal. Higher temperatures create warmer waters in the Pacific, which is likely what triggered another El Niño weather pattern. We’ve got a mess on our hands, you guys. — Bloomberg
More:Why global warming is a gender issue as much as an environmental one
6. Lights out
Today is the Great American Smokeout, an annual day in which the American Cancer Society encourages smokers to quit for just 24 hours. The hope is that going a day without smoking might encourage some people to put down the cigarettes for good. Smoking rates are at historic lows, but 42 million Americans still light up on a regular basis. Today is your day. Be a quitter. — WPTV
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