Hurricane Isaias strengthens to Category 3 as Gulf Coast landfall nears
Hurricane Isaias has strengthened into a Category 3 storm as it moves across the Gulf of Mexico, with forecasters warning that it could reach the US Gulf Coast later on Friday or early on Saturday. The National Hurricane Center said the system was packing winds of more than 193 km/h (120 mph) and was expected to continue strengthening during the day. It said landfall was most likely between Mobile Bay in Alabama and Choctawhatchee Bay in Florida.The centre warned that the storm could still be a significant hurricane when it reaches the coast, even if it does not arrive at... [Continue Reading]
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Ukraine strikes Yandex AI data infrastructure in Russia as campaign widens
Ukrainian drone strikes have partly disabled a Yandex data centre in Russia's Kaluga region, according to the company. The attack came a day after a separate strike shut down another major Yandex data hub in Sasovo in the Ryazan region. Together, the incidents suggest the campaign is widening from industrial and energy targets to technology infrastructure linked to artificial intelligence.Yandex said the Kaluga site, southwest of Moscow, was hit by drones and partly put out of action. It also said the earlier strike in Sasovo affected a major hub where two of the company's three supercomputers used to develop AI... [Continue Reading]
Saudi Arabia reopens Riyadh airport after Houthi attack kills three
Saudi Arabia has reopened Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport after a Houthi attack that killed three people and injured several others, according to the country's civil aviation authority. The authority said the strike hit airport facilities and a Saudia aircraft, causing material damage and temporary disruption before operations returned to normal. Saudia later said one of its pilots, Captain Hamoud Ali Alkalthami, was killed in the incident.The General Authority of Civil Aviation said the attack took place on Thursday and that injuries ranged from minor to severe. It said air traffic at the airport has now resumed, while the national... [Continue Reading]
Gaza humanitarian crisis deepens a year after ceasefire, UN official says
A senior United Nations official has said life in Gaza remains "absolutely horrendous" as the humanitarian crisis continues a year after the ceasefire. Tom Fletcher, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, said more than 90% of people are still living in temporary shelters. He also said many residents rely on trucked water and are living beside sewage, underscoring the scale of the emergency.Fletcher made the comments as EU development ministers and other international figures met at Dublin Castle under Ireland's EU Presidency. The meeting comes ahead of the first anniversary of the ceasefire in Gaza and... [Continue Reading]
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Russian strikes and approaching winter force many in Kyiv to pack bags and flee
As Russian attacks on Ukraine's capital intensify, some Kyiv residents are making plans to leave before winter sets in. The immediate concern is not only the risk from drones and missiles, but also the prospect of another season of prolonged power cuts and cold weather. For families already living through repeated alerts and damage, the decision is becoming one of whether they can remain in the city at all.One of those leaving is Mariia Shostak, a mother of two who said last winter in Kyiv was extremely difficult because of sub-zero temperatures and frequent outages caused by strikes on the... [Continue Reading]
EU prolongs sanctions over Russia's destabilising hybrid activities until October 2027
The Council decided to prolong individual restrictive measures against those responsible for Russia's destabilising actions abroad by one year, extending them until 9 October 2027. The move was taken in light of Russia's continued and intensified hybrid activities, including Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference against the EU, its member states and partners. The sanctions regime currently applies to 80 individuals and 20 entities. Those listed are subject to an asset freeze, and EU citizens and companies are forbidden from making funds, financial assets or economic resources available to them. Natural persons also face a travel ban preventing entry to, or... [Continue Reading]
Two Latvian men arrested at RAF Molesworth as counterterrorism probe continues
Counterterrorism police in the United Kingdom are continuing to investigate a security breach at RAF Molesworth in Cambridgeshire after two Latvian men were arrested inside the base. Police said the men, aged 36 and 32, were detained in the early hours of Thursday after a small breach was found in the perimeter fence. A security patrol had earlier spotted an abandoned vehicle near the site, which houses US and NATO intelligence hubs.Officers said the men are being held on suspicion of trespass and entering a prohibited place for a purpose prejudicial to the UK. Both men are Latvian nationals living... [Continue Reading]
Russian glide bomb strike on buses in Kramatorsk kills civilians as toll rises
Rescue officials in eastern Ukraine say a Russian glide bomb attack on two civilian buses in Kramatorsk has killed more than 30 people and wounded 18 others. Authorities also said three people were killed in the nearby village of Bilenke, part of the Kramatorsk community. The strike hit the frontline city in Donetsk region, an area that has been repeatedly targeted during the war.Donetsk regional head Vadym Filashkin said the buses were carrying passengers when they were struck, and accused Russia of deliberately targeting civilian transport. Local prosecutors released images showing the burned-out shell of a bus, debris and victims... [Continue Reading]
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France school protests resume as injuries and arrests rise
Protests and blockades at schools across France have resumed, despite the prime minister's call for ministers to draw up an action plan in response to the unrest. Dozens of people have been injured, including students, teachers and police officers, as high school students continue to press demands for more education funding and better conditions. The demonstrations have also spread beyond schools, with university students and more trade unions joining the nationwide movement.The Interior Ministry says at least 6,600 arrests have been made so far, mostly of minors, while authorities say 375 schools were fully or partially closed on Thursday. Officials... [Continue Reading]
Noontime News Recap: Ukraine strike kills civilians as UK and Israel row deepens over Jerusalem
Local authorities in eastern Ukraine say a Russian strike on passenger buses in Kramatorsk has killed civilians and wounded others near the frontline, underlining the continuing danger for people living close to the war zone. đź”—In Russia, a major Yandex data centre was forced to suspend operations completely after a suspected Ukrainian drone attack, adding to the disruption caused by cross border strikes on critical infrastructure. đź”—In the Middle East, Israel said the British consulate in East Jerusalem was ceasing operations and that most diplomats would end their assignments and leave the country, but Britain rejected the move and said... [Continue Reading]
UK and Germany hold Berlin security talks on cyber threats and sabotage
Prime Minister Andy Burnham is due to meet German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin on Thursday for talks focused on cyber-security threats, sabotage and wider cooperation against hybrid attacks. The meeting is Burnham's first official visit to Germany and comes as both governments say they are facing rising pressure from hostile activity. The talks are being framed around efforts to strengthen joint defences against threats linked to Russia.Downing Street said deeper cooperation in response to hybrid threats would be high on the agenda. Intelligence services in both countries have warned of growing risks, and German authorities last month accused Russia... [Continue Reading]
Satellite images show attack jets at new Chinese military facility in Laos
Satellite images have shown eight light attack aircraft at a newly opened Chinese military facility at Ban Keun airport in Laos. The images also appear to show more than a dozen military vehicles lined up at the site, which opened on 29 September as a joint support and training centre. The development has drawn regional attention because it appears to give Beijing its first foothold in mainland south-east Asia.The commercial satellite images were taken a day after the announcement of the centre and show aircraft whose shape matches the Chinese-made Hongdu JL-8, a two-seat trainer that can also be used... [Continue Reading]
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Noontime News Recap: Russia intensifies Ukraine strikes as Middle East tensions and anniversary events dominate
Russia launched one of its heaviest overnight assaults of the war on Ukraine, killing at least 11 people and hitting multiple cities, including energy infrastructure, in what President Volodymyr Zelensky said was among the most severe attacks so far. đź”—A separate report said the barrage involved missiles and drones across the country, again striking power sites and other targets, underlining the pressure on Ukraine's energy system as winter approaches. đź”—In Brussels, the European Commission disbursed EUR 1.24 billion to Ukraine under the defence component of its wider support package, adding fresh financial backing as Kyiv faces renewed battlefield and infrastructure... [Continue Reading]
Shell forecasts sharp rise in refinery margins as war-damaged plants tighten fuel supplies
Shell has forecast that its refinery profit margins will rise sharply in the July-to-September period, as shutdowns at war-damaged refineries in the Middle East and Russia squeeze global fuel supplies. The company said margins are expected to reach $42 a barrel, almost double the $24 a barrel recorded in the second quarter. That would also exceed the previous high of about $28 a barrel seen in mid-2022.The forecast was set out in a market trading update on Wednesday. Shell said the increase reflects a steep rise in the price of refined fuels, including diesel, relative to the cost of crude... [Continue Reading]
Has Russia's fuel crisis given Iranian oil an opening in Central Asia?
Iran's oil exports have struggled under a US blockade, but a Russian fuel crisis caused by Ukrainian attacks on energy infrastructure may be creating a new opening in Central Asia. Countries in the region have begun buying oil from Iran as Russian fuel supplies they have long depended on run short. The shift is emerging as Moscow faces mounting pressure from drone strikes on refineries linked to its war in Ukraine.In August, Tajikistan said it was receiving oil and petroleum products from Iran as Dushanbe faced uncertainty over supplies from Russia. Also in August, Tehran agreed to establish a joint... [Continue Reading]
Yemen's Houthis attack Aden airport as Saudi forces intercept missile near Riyadh
Yemen's internationally recognised government says Houthi missiles and drones targeted Aden International Airport, forcing the diversion of a passenger flight from Cairo and the evacuation of the terminal. The airport, which serves as the main international gateway for areas outside Houthi control, was hit in an attack that the government said came close to causing a civilian disaster. Separately, Saudi Arabia said its forces intercepted a ballistic missile north of Riyadh.The Ministry of Transport said at least two ballistic missiles and several drones were used in the attack on the airport's runway and passenger terminal. It said one missile landed... [Continue Reading]
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Houthis target Aden airport with missiles, no casualties reported
Two missiles launched by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis targeted Aden International Airport early Wednesday, according to the supplied report. No casualties were reported after the attack. The strike was described as part of the wider regional tensions unfolding on the same day.The incident was reported in the early hours of Wednesday, 7 October 2026, in Yemen's southern port city of Aden. The airport was the stated target, and the report said the missiles were launched by the Houthis. No further damage assessment was included in the supplied material, and there was no immediate indication of disruption to airport operations.The attack matters... [Continue Reading]
Venezuela power cuts fuel growing public anger and protests
Power cuts have intensified across Venezuela since the start of the year, disrupting homes, businesses and essential services and fuelling protests against the government of interim President Delcy Rodriguez. In Valencia, in Carabobo state, one dialysis patient described how a clinic blackout stopped his treatment mid-session, leaving him unable to complete the care he needs several times a week. The outages have also affected daily life more broadly, with residents reporting that electricity can disappear for hours at a time and return unpredictably.The immediate impact is being felt most sharply in places where power failures have become routine. Onasis Munoz,... [Continue Reading]
Northern Ireland unionists back no-confidence motion over Portadown parade standoff
Three unionist parties in Northern Ireland have backed a motion of no confidence in First Minister Michelle O'Neill amid a prolonged dispute over a parade route in Portadown. Separate no-confidence motions have also been tabled against Finance Minister John O'Dowd, Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald and Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins. The motions are due to be debated in the Assembly next Monday.The move follows a 10-day impasse in Portadown after the Parades Commission allowed, for the first time in almost 30 years, the Drumcree Orange Order parade to complete its traditional route along Garvaghy Road. Large gatherings on the road have... [Continue Reading]
Russian oil tanker explodes off Sochi, sending smoke over Black Sea coast
A Russian oil tanker has exploded off the coast of Sochi, with smoke visible for miles over the Black Sea holiday resort. The incident was reported on Tuesday night, according to the supplied material, but no cause was given. Ukraine had not claimed responsibility at the time of reporting.The explosion comes as Ukraine's president announced new sanctions packages targeting the supply of critical components and equipment used in weapons production to Russia. The same briefing also included details on electronic warfare systems intended to help protect infrastructure. The supplied material says the president described this part of the defence effort... [Continue Reading]
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Ireland to reduce carbon tax on home heating oil and gas
Ireland's finance minister has said the carbon tax on home heating oil and gas will be reduced, with no further increase planned for the rest of the current government's term. Simon Harris said the change applies to kerosene and natural gas, which he said have become a heavy burden for many families facing higher heating costs and limited alternatives. He said the decision was being taken in response to those pressures, adding that the government could not fully absorb the impact of the Middle East conflict.The current rate on both fuels is €63.50 per tonne of carbon dioxide, and it... [Continue Reading]
Pakistan and Turkiye move to support Saudi deterrence against Houthis as pact takes effect
The defence arrangement between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkiye has now been activated, with the three countries agreeing to move agreed forces and capabilities into Saudi Arabia. The decision was taken at an emergency meeting in Riyadh on Monday, according to a joint statement shared by Pakistan's Foreign Office. The statement said the committee had decided to begin practical implementation of collective-defence commitments and to ensure rapid deployment in line with approved arrangements and national legislation.The latest reporting adds that the pact, signed in August and sometimes referred to as the Mecca pact, is now in force for the first... [Continue Reading]
Massive drone attack on Moscow region kills two as damage reports widen
Russian officials said the overnight Ukrainian drone assault on Moscow and nearby areas involved 290 drones targeting the capital region, while Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said 650 drones were heading towards the city. The attack killed two people and injured seven, according to regional governor Andrei Vorobyov, who said the dead were in Radumlya and Barbybino. Officials also said 47 houses, four apartments and three cars were damaged, and a warehouse fire was reported in the capital.Vorobyov said 185 drones were "destroyed or neutralised" over the wider Moscow region, while Sobyanin said most of the drones aimed at the city... [Continue Reading]
Russian drone attacks disrupt Ukraine rail network as evacuations rise
Russian drone attacks are increasingly disrupting Ukraine's passenger rail network, forcing evacuations, delaying journeys and adding pressure to a transport system that has remained central to the country's wartime resilience. The state-owned operator says more than half of all strikes on locomotives since Russia's full-scale invasion began in 2022 have taken place this year. The latest reporting points to a widening pattern of attacks on rail infrastructure and other transport links, including recent strikes on bridges in Kyiv.The operator said 5,831 trains were evacuated in September alone because of Russian drone attacks, an average of 205 trains a day. One... [Continue Reading]
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Conservatives to unveil Britannia Shield plan for UK missile and drone defence
The Conservative Party is set to unveil a plan for a new missile and drone defence system called Britannia Shield at its conference in Birmingham. Shadow Defence Secretary James Cartlidge is expected to outline the proposal in a speech later today. The party says the scheme would be designed to protect critical national infrastructure and military bases from airborne threats.According to the Conservatives, the plan would include new radar systems and more interceptor missiles, with a proposed investment of up to ÂŁ10 billion over 10 years. The party has described the project as a British version of Israel's Iron Dome,... [Continue Reading]
Explosion tears through sneaker shop in Surabaya, hospitalising five
CCTV has captured the moment a sneaker shop was torn apart by an explosion in the San Antonio area of Surabaya, Indonesian authorities have confirmed. The blast damaged a wide area around the shop and left residents and businesses dealing with the aftermath on Tuesday. Police said five people were hospitalised following the incident.They also said at least 41 buildings were damaged. Authorities said the explosion was strongly suspected to have been caused by a gas leak. Police added that no suspicious substances or explosives were found at the site.That assessment points to an accidental blast rather than an attack,... [Continue Reading]
UN rights council condemns attacks on civilians in Sudan and calls for immediate truce
The United Nations Human Rights Council has condemned drone strikes and other attacks on civilians in Sudan and called for an immediate ceasefire in the country's war. The resolution was adopted in Geneva as fighting intensified in North Kordofan, where the World Food Programme said an air attack hit a truck carrying food supplies and killed one person. The council also extended the mandate of its independent fact-finding mission, keeping international scrutiny on alleged abuses by both sides.The 47-member council voted 28 to 10, with nine abstentions, to renew the mission investigating violations in Sudan. The resolution demanded an immediate... [Continue Reading]
Germany intelligence chief warns of possible violent conflict with Russia amid shadow war concerns
Germany's foreign intelligence chief has warned that the country could be drawn into a violent conflict with Russia as tensions rise over what he described as a shadow war against European democracies. Martin Jaeger, who heads the Bundesnachrichtendienst, said the confrontation with Moscow had taken on a new and more dangerous dimension. He made the remarks during the annual public hearing of intelligence chiefs in parliament.Jaeger said the threat of attacks on targets in Germany remained real and imminent. He pointed to the attempted drone attack at Leipzig Airport in August as one example of the risks facing the country.... [Continue Reading]
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Severe hailstorm hits Asuncion, leaving cars damaged and thousands without power
A powerful hailstorm struck Asuncion and surrounding areas in Paraguay on Saturday, bringing large hailstones that damaged vehicles, homes and disrupted daily life across the capital region. The storm hit commuters and motorists particularly hard, with people rushing for shelter as the hail fell. Local reports described the hail as being about the size of tennis balls.The storm also brought strong winds, with local reports saying gusts reached around 60 mph. Drivers sheltered at petrol stations to reduce damage to their vehicles, while football matches were temporarily suspended. Videos shared online showed the scale of the hail, and one account... [Continue Reading]
Trump creates new AI oversight task force to coordinate federal policy
US President Donald Trump has announced a new federal task force focused on artificial intelligence, saying it will be called the Super Intelligence Force. The group is intended to coordinate the government's engagement with the public and with industry as the administration seeks to keep the United States at the forefront of AI development. Trump said the task force will report directly to him and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.The task force will be led by Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton, according to Trump's post. He also named Federal Trade Commission Chair Andrew Ferguson, Undersecretary of Defense... [Continue Reading]
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Saudi-led coalition rejects Houthi claim of Riyadh attack as fighting intensifies
The Saudi-led coalition has dismissed Houthi claims that they targeted Riyadh with missiles and drones, saying the allegations were misleading. Coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki said the group was trying to divert attention from its losses and growing public anger, according to the supplied report. The exchange comes as fighting between the Houthis and Yemen's internationally recognised government forces has intensified.The Houthis said they had struck an Aramco oil facility near Riyadh and claimed the attack caused large fires. The coalition did not confirm that account in the supplied material, and no independent verification of damage or casualties was provided. In... [Continue Reading]
Libya unity talks disrupted after allegations link Haftar's son to drone attacks on fuel sites
Allegations that Saddam Haftar oversaw a group behind drone attacks on fuel storage facilities and power stations in western Libya have thrown the country's latest unity talks into doubt. The claims have deepened tensions between the Tripoli-based Government of National Unity and the eastern camp led by Khalifa Haftar. They also come as the United States has been trying to push Libya's rival institutions towards a single political and security framework.According to the reported allegations, Saddam Haftar, who is deputy commander of the Libyan National Army, was linked to what was described as a "terror cell" behind the strikes. The... [Continue Reading]
DR Congo Ebola outbreak worsens amid conflict and attacks on health response
Official figures in the Democratic Republic of the Congo now put the Ebola death toll at 4,018, from 8,300 cases, as violence and displacement continue to disrupt the response. The outbreak, first detected in mid-May, has spread across seven provinces in the north and east. Health workers are still trying to contain transmission in unstable areas where access remains limited.The latest data also show 2,162 recoveries, leaving the fatality rate at 48.4 percent. In North Kivu, authorities recorded four deaths among six cases in areas controlled by the anti-government group M23. In Ituri, more than 5,000 people have been displaced... [Continue Reading]
Dubai Property Market Faces Litmus Test as Nakheel Waterfront Investors Await Final Judicial Verdict
Hundreds of international and local investors who purchased land plots in Nakheel’s massive "Waterfront" project nearly two decades ago are holding their breath. Following the official cancellation of the project by the Dubai Land Department and its integration under Dubai Holding, a special judicial committee appointed by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has been tasked with resolving the liquidation and settling investor claims. ​Because the decisions of this specialized committee are legally binding and final, with no avenue for appeal, the upcoming rulings are being viewed as a critical turning point for the regulatory reputation of Dubai's... [Continue Reading]
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THE BATTLE FOR ALI AL-TAHER: HOW A SOUTHERN LEBANON AMBUSH SHATTERED TRUMP’S WASHINGTON AGREEMENT
A catastrophic military escalation in Southern Lebanon has successfully disrupted the highest levels of global diplomacy. Just days after the signing of the United States and Iran Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), an armoured battlefield clash on the strategic heights of Ali al-Taher has effectively frozen implementation talks scheduled to begin today in Switzerland. The crisis provides an alarming look at how kinetic actions on the ground can instantly sabotage geopolitical blueprints designed in Washington. The Official Statement from Hezbollah Following the midnight clashes, the media wing of Hezbollah issued a formal, comprehensive statement outlining their strategic justification and rejecting accusations... [Continue Reading]
Fear the Shia, Arm the Sunnis: The Uncomfortable Numbers Behind America’s War Narrative
“When fear is managed carefully enough, a nation can be taught to look away from the blood on the floor and stare instead at the shadow on the wall.” A friend of mine, whose name I will not reveal because he asked me not to, sat across from me over dinner and placed a question on the table that would not leave me alone. He was born into a Muslim Shia background, and for the angle of this article, that detail matters, not because I wish to reduce a man to a sect, but because sect has become one of... [Continue Reading]
The Mirage of the Umbrella: The Shifting Sands of the U.S.-Israel-GCC Alliance
As I sat in a recent debate at the historic Carlton Club in London, listening to Faisal Abbas, the Editor-in-Chief of Arab News, I felt a tangible shift in the room, not because a new fact had been revealed, but because an old illusion had finally lost its last breath. The old-world order has not merely changed, it has evaporated, leaving the Gulf to realize it is no longer watching a distant fire from the safety of marble towers and air-conditioned ministries, but is instead standing directly inside the smoke. The GCC today is caught in a lethal crossfire between... [Continue Reading]
There Is Good in Every Bad
Power, Greed, Oil, and the Theater of Modern Geopolitics The Business Model of Power Donald Trump does not govern like a traditional politician. He governs like a negotiator who believes every geopolitical crisis is leverage, every war threat is a bargaining chip, and every market panic is an opportunity. When markets tremble, someone profits. The question is, who? Global markets react instantly to political tension. Gold rises when conflict looms. Oil spikes when instability threatens production. Stock markets collapse on fear, then rebound on reassurance. Volatility is not chaos, it is opportunity. Historically, gold has surged during major geopolitical crises,... [Continue Reading]
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