Banana Daily, Friday 30 October: Patrick Stewart, Zverev and a WNBA Game 7
Banana Originals - transcript

Good morning, it's Friday. Today we remember Sir Patrick Stewart, we meet tennis's new world No. 1, and we look ahead to a WNBA Finals Game 7.

First, sad news from the world of film and television. Sir Patrick Stewart, who played Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek and Professor X in the X-Men films, has died at 86. His friend Sir Ian McKellen said Stewart "wore his heart on his sleeve", and fans have been leaving flowers at his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

In tennis, Alexander Zverev beat Tallon Griekspoor in Vienna on Thursday to lock up the world No. 1 ranking. When the new list comes out on Monday, he will replace Jannik Sinner and become the first German world No. 1 since Boris Becker, back in 1991.

In basketball, the Atlanta Dream beat the Golden State Valkyries 80-69 to pull level in the WNBA Finals. It is the first time the Finals have ever gone to a Game 7.

And in Russia, the independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta says it is closing after more than 30 years, because of pressure from the authorities.

That's Banana Daily for today. You can read every story in full through the links on our page. Have a great weekend!

Sources
[1] Sir Patrick Stewart, 'Star Trek' and 'X-Men' star, dies aged 86 - Eastern Eye https://www.easterneye.biz/sir-patrick-stewart-dies-aged-86-star-trek-x-men-tributes/
[2] Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen: A friendship that surpassed the stage and screen - NBC News https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/pop-culture-news/patrick-stewart-ian-mckellen-friendship-surpassed-stage-screen-rcna606446
[3] US: flowers laid at Patrick Stewart's Hollywood star after his death - Euronews https://www.euronews.com/video/2026/10/30/us-flowers-laid-at-patrick-stewarts-hollywood-star-after-his-death
[4] Tennis: Alexander Zverev guaranteed to become world No. 1 - France 24 https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/sports/20261030-tennis-alexander-zverev-guaranteed-to-become-world-no-1
[5] Zverev seals world number one spot after win in Vienna - Cyprus Mail https://cyprus-mail.com/2026/10/30/zverev-seals-world-number-one-spot-after-win-in-vienna
[6] Dream beat Valkyries 80-69 to force Game 7 of WNBA Finals - NBC News https://www.nbcnews.com/sports/wnba/atlanta-dream-golden-state-valkyries-wnba-finals-game-6-result-rcna606438
[7] Dream shakes off scheduling controversy to force WNBA Finals decider - ABC News Australia https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-10-30/wnba-finals-game-six-izzy-borlase-angel-reese/107326500
[8] Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta to close, citing pressure from ‘special services’ - The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/30/novaya-gazeta-russia-independent-newspaper-to-close
[9] Russia’s Oldest Independent Newspaper, Novaya Gazeta, Announces Closure - Moscow Times https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/30/russias-oldest-independent-newspaper-novaya-gazeta-announces-closure-a94130
[10] Ian McKellen leads tributes to 'beloved' Star Trek legend Sir Patrick Stewart - Daily Record https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/entertainment/celebrity/ian-mckellen-leads-tributes-beloved-37825156