Abbas postpones Palestinian elections to September 2027 amid criticism from Israel
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has postponed legislative elections that had been due in November 2026 and set a new date of 11 September 2027 for both presidential and legislative polls. The decision was announced through the official Palestinian news agency after a decree from Abbas, and it extends a vote that had already been delayed several times. The move affects the Palestinian territories as a whole, including Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem.According to the decree, the delay was justified by security, logistical and political obstacles, including conditions in Gaza and restrictions in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.... [Continue Reading]
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Eritrea asks UN to intervene as Ethiopia accuses it of invasion in Tigray standoff
Eritrea has asked the United Nations to take deterrent measures after accusing Ethiopia of declaring war in the escalating standoff over Tigray. The request came after Ethiopia told the Security Council that Eritrean forces had carried out an all-out invasion of northern Ethiopia. The exchange has deepened fears that the fighting could widen beyond the border region.In a letter to the council, Eritrean Foreign Minister Osman Saleh said the claims of an Eritrean incursion were part of an Ethiopian plan to justify a war of aggression. He urged the UN to intervene under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, which... [Continue Reading]
Day News Recap: Deadly strikes in Ukraine, Gaza and Sudan as Trump diesel deal and ICC sanctions stir backlash
Russian glide bombs hit residential buildings in Zaporizhzhia, killing at least 15 people, including three children, as rescue crews continued searching the rubble. Ukraine said the attack came after a diesel deal announced by Donald Trump, linking the strike to wider pressure on Kyiv. đź”— đź”—In a separate diplomatic push, US, Ukrainian and European officials met in Miami to try to shape a common plan to end Russia's war before winter, while Ukraine said its Operation Vivaldi had disrupted a Russian plan to encircle the remaining Ukrainian positions around Lyman in Donbas. đź”— đź”—Donald Trump also announced an agreement with... [Continue Reading]
Yemen fighting intensifies as government forces push toward Bab al-Mandeb amid UN warning
Yemeni government forces are intensifying a military offensive against the Houthis as they push to retake territory around the Bab al-Mandeb strait, a strategic chokepoint at the entrance to the Red Sea. The latest fighting comes as the United Nations says the country has effectively slid back into full-scale war. The escalation is centred on fronts in southern Yemen, where the government says it is seeking to regain ground from the armed group also known as Ansar Allah.At the United Nations Security Council on Friday, the UN Special Envoy to Yemen, Hans Grundberg, said the conflict had returned to a... [Continue Reading]
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Seven killed in Gaza as strikes continue on ceasefire anniversary
At least seven people, including an eight-year-old girl, were killed in separate Israeli attacks across Gaza on Saturday, according to medical sources. The deaths were reported a year after the United States-backed ceasefire came into effect, with fresh strikes hitting Gaza City and Khan Younis. The incidents were spread across different parts of the enclave, underscoring the continuing risk to civilians despite the truce.A source in ambulance and emergency services said Shahd Abdul-Razzaq al-Najjar, aged eight, was killed by an Israeli quadcopter drone in the al-Jawazat area of western Gaza City. In the same area, four people were killed and... [Continue Reading]
Trump Announces Deal With Putin to Release Russian Diesel to Global Market
US President Donald Trump has announced an agreement with Vladimir Putin to release large volumes of Russian diesel into the American and global markets. The announcement, made on Friday and discussed again on Saturday, immediately drew criticism from Ukraine and raised questions about the impact of sanctions on Russian energy exports. According to the statements provided, the deal would begin with an immediate release of 300,000 tonnes of diesel, followed by 500,000 tonnes in November and another 1 million tonnes later.Trump said an additional 3 million tonnes could be delivered in the near term, depending on the operating capacity of... [Continue Reading]
Noontime News Recap: Ukraine war diplomacy intensifies as Zaporizhzhia toll rises and EU gas risk grows
Russian glide bombs struck residential buildings in Zaporizhzhia, killing at least 15 people, including three children, as rescue crews continued searching through the wreckage. đź”—At the same time, US, Ukrainian and European officials met in Miami in a renewed diplomatic push to build a common plan to end Russia's war in Ukraine, with winter approaching and pressure growing for a workable proposal. đź”—In Europe, the EU is warning of possible gas supply shortages in the 2026 to 2027 winter, after storage levels fell to their lowest for this time of year since records began in 2011. đź”—In the United States,... [Continue Reading]
EU faces winter gas shortage risk as storage falls to lowest level since 2011
The European Union faces possible gas supply shortages during the 2026-2027 winter, with storage levels at their lowest for this time of year since records began in 2011. The warning comes in a report by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, which cited high prices and disruptions to global supplies. According to the report, the EU may need to cut winter gas demand by 7 percent, equal to 14 billion cubic metres, compared with last winter. Data cited in the report showed EU gas storage at about 72.4 percent on 3 October, down from around 83 percent a... [Continue Reading]
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US lifts sanctions on daughter of Myanmar military-linked businessman
The United States has removed Theint Win Htet from its sanctions list, in a move that comes days after reports that the Trump administration has reopened talks with Myanmar's government. The Treasury Department delisted her on Friday, according to its website, after she filed a lawsuit in July seeking to be taken off the list. The decision marks a notable shift in a sanctions case tied to Myanmar's military-linked business networks.Theint Win Htet had been sanctioned because of her connection to the Shwe Byain Phyu Group of Companies, which was founded by her father, Thein Win Zaw, and his family.... [Continue Reading]
US, Europe and Ukraine hold Miami talks on joint plan to end war as winter nears
US, Ukrainian and European officials met in Miami on Friday in a renewed diplomatic push to seek a common proposal to end Russia's war in Ukraine. The talks were described by US envoy Steve Witkoff as "constructive" and focused on ways to de-escalate the conflict before winter. Witkoff said the meeting brought together the E3, the European Commission, Ukraine and NATO.According to Witkoff, the discussions covered energy resilience, grain exports, security guarantees and longer-term arrangements for Ukraine's and Europe's security to prevent future conflict. He also said the parties discussed support for Ukraine's post-war reconstruction and economic prosperity, including EU... [Continue Reading]
Hurricane Isaias weakens after Florida landfall as storm surge warnings remain
Hurricane Isaias made landfall on Friday night along Florida's northern Gulf Coast before weakening into a post-tropical cyclone as it moved inland across the southeastern United States. The storm brought heavy rain, strong winds and the continuing risk of life-threatening flash flooding and storm surge. Officials said the system was still expected to affect parts of Florida, Alabama and Georgia as it tracked north.The latest confirmed update said all hurricane warnings had been discontinued by Saturday morning, although a storm surge warning remained in effect for parts of Florida. A tropical storm warning was also in place in Florida and... [Continue Reading]
Nord Stream sabotage suspect Serhii K due to go on trial in Hamburg next week
A Ukrainian suspect identified by German investigators as Serhii K is due to go on trial in Hamburg next week over the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline explosions. Prosecutors say he is accused of causing an explosion and of committing a war crime by attacking civilian infrastructure. The case centres on one of Europe's most significant acts of sabotage in recent years, which damaged pipelines carrying Russian gas to Germany.According to the investigation summary, the first blast struck at 02:03 on 26 September 2022, severing part of the Nord Stream system and sending gas to the surface of the Baltic Sea.... [Continue Reading]
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Flydubai hijack probe widens as UAE says suspect drifted toward extremism in Australia
The United Arab Emirates says the Omani co-pilot accused of trying to seize a Flydubai passenger flight began drifting toward extremism and terrorism while studying in Australia. Officials allege he was attempting to crash the aircraft into Tel Aviv's airport in a suicide attack when passengers intervened and the plane was diverted to Saudi Arabia. The case remains under investigation and is being treated as a serious aviation-security and national-security matter.Attorney-General Hamad Saif al-Shamsi said interrogations suggested signs of extremist intent first emerged in 2017, during the suspect's time in Australia. He said the man was influenced by radical ideology... [Continue Reading]
Taiwan president says defence spending boost aims to deter war on National Day
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te used the island's National Day address in Taipei to say Taiwan will not give up its freedom and will not accept subordination. Speaking outside the Presidential Office before thousands of people, including foreign diplomats, he said the government's aim in increasing defence investment was to deter war, not provoke it. Fighter jets and two Chinook helicopters carrying large Taiwan flags flew over the capital ahead of the speech.Lai said Taiwan "cherishes peace" and is open to exchanges, but warned that tolerance cannot become a pretext for aggression. He said China continued to apply pressure through military... [Continue Reading]
Dozens killed in intercommunal clashes in South Sudan's Rumbek
Intercommunal clashes in the town of Rumbek in South Sudan's Lakes State have killed about 71 people, according to the caretaker government. Officials said the violence broke out on Friday and that government security forces later regained control of the town. Witnesses said attackers from outside Rumbek briefly took control before police and military reinforcements arrived.The interim Ministry of Information said initial security reports put the death toll at approximately 71, including four soldiers. It said the exact number of fatalities had yet to be verified. The government also said Rumbek was under the control of security forces and that... [Continue Reading]
Trump announces Russian diesel deal as Zelenskyy and NATO allies react
President Donald Trump has announced a deal under which Russia will immediately supply more than 300,000 tons of diesel to the American and global marketplace, with further deliveries to follow later. The announcement has triggered a sharp response from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who called the move "absolutely terrible" and "not fair and not honest." It has also raised the prospect of a fresh crisis with Washington's NATO allies, given the wider political and security context of Russia's war in Ukraine. Trump said the arrangement followed what he described as a highly successful discussion with Russian President Vladimir Putin.In his... [Continue Reading]
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Gaza ceasefire 'exists in name only' as NGOs cite continued killings and aid restrictions
More than 100 humanitarian, human rights and civil society organisations have said the ceasefire in Gaza is functioning only on paper, accusing Israeli forces of continuing to kill and injure Palestinians and of restricting aid, equipment and rebuilding materials. In a joint statement released on Friday, the groups said families across the enclave are still unable to recover nearly a year after the truce was announced with United States backing. The statement adds to growing criticism that the agreement has not delivered meaningful relief on the ground.The organisations named in the statement include Amnesty International, the Norwegian Refugee Council, Save... [Continue Reading]
Ukraine says Operation Vivaldi has disrupted Russian Donbas encirclement plan
Ukraine's counter-offensive around Lyman has disrupted what an assessment by the Institute for the Study of War described as Russia's plan to encircle the remaining Ukrainian-controlled territory in Donetsk. The operation, known as Operation Vivaldi, targeted the northern arm of a pincer movement that was meant to link advances from Lyman in the north and Dobropillia in the south-west. According to the assessment, the collapse of that northern thrust has forced Russian units onto the defensive and preserved Ukrainian supply routes in the area.The report said Ukrainian forces advanced along the Ridkodub-Nove-Novomykhailivka line in the north and the Yarova-Drobysheve-Stavky line... [Continue Reading]
Drone strike kills at least 30 displaced people in Sudan's Blue Nile region
At least 30 displaced people have been killed in a drone strike in Sudan's Blue Nile region, according to local officials. The attack hit Wad al-Mahi province near the city of Damazin on Friday, close to a displacement camp and an informal gold mining site. Dozens more people were wounded in the strike, which local authorities said targeted the centre of the province.The governor of Wad al-Mahi province said the drone belonged to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and that 26 women and four children were among the dead. He described the attack as cowardly. He also said the drone... [Continue Reading]
Day News Recap: Global tensions flare from Gaza to Hormuz as markets turn mixed
The biggest escalation came in the Middle East, where Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said it set an oil tanker ablaze in the Strait of Hormuz and warned of wider attacks on vessels it considers hostile, raising fresh fears over shipping through the waterway. 🔗 Saudi Arabia also reopened Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport after a Houthi attack killed three people and injured several others, underlining the spread of regional violence. 🔗In Gaza, a senior United Nations official said life remains “absolutely horrendous” a year after the ceasefire, with the humanitarian crisis still severe. 🔗 Separately, Vladimir Putin said Russia would do... [Continue Reading]
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EU and China reach deal to curb hybrid car exports to Europe
The European Union says it has reached a landmark agreement with China to reduce hybrid car exports to the bloc by more than half over four years. The deal was announced in Beijing on Friday after months of negotiations between the two sides. It is being presented as a significant step in efforts to ease pressure on European carmakers.Trade commissioner Maroš Šefčovič said the talks had been intense since June and that the agreement could cut exports of plug-in and battery-powered hybrid cars by several million vehicles over the next four years. He said the arrangement was the first of... [Continue Reading]
Two men deny Iran-backed surveillance of Jewish and Israeli sites in London
Two men have denied allegations that they carried out surveillance of Jewish and Israeli sites across London on behalf of Iran's intelligence service. The case was heard at the Old Bailey, where prosecutors say the activity amounted to hostile reconnaissance under the National Security Act 2023. The alleged targets included the Israeli embassy, the Israeli consulate, a college and Britain's oldest synagogue.The defendants are Nematollah Shahsavani, 41, and Alireza Farasati, 22. Both entered not guilty pleas during a hearing on Friday. Shahsavani appeared by video link from HMP Pentonville, while Farasati appeared in the dock in person.Prosecutors allege the pair... [Continue Reading]
Wall Street Opens Mixed as Energy, Gold and Banks Outperform While Chips, Crypto and Small Caps Slide
Executive summary: U.S. markets opened with a clear rotation away from growth and risk assets and toward energy, gold and financials. The S&P 500, Dow and Nasdaq were all higher in early trade, but the move was uneven, with semiconductors, small caps, defense and bitcoin-linked assets under pressure. The opening tone points to a market balancing firmer commodity prices, a stronger dollar against the yen, and renewed caution around high-multiple tech and crypto exposure. [Continue Reading]
Trump attacks Nobel Committee, defends Abraham Accords and Gaza, while signaling pressure on Iran
President Donald Trump made multiple posts on Truth Social in the last hour: - "RT @SchoenlawToday the Nobel Committee shamed itself beyond repair and demeaned the once great Nobel Peace Prize by giving it to the UN's Navi Pillay. Pillay is an unabashed hater of America and Israel. In her position she celebrated terrorists and rewarded Hamas. She conducted a phony "investigation" claiming to find that Israel committed genocide and urging prosecution. She has no credibility in any normal sphere and has never done a thing to foster peace. But what could be expected from a committee that previously gave... [Continue Reading]
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India artists allege censorship as voter-roll dispute fuels anti-government protests
Artists and satirists in India are accusing the authorities of silencing dissent as online criticism is removed amid growing protests over a controversial voter-roll revision. The dispute has centred on allegations that the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls is disenfranchising voters, while opposition figures and critics demand scrutiny of the election commission's role. The issue has also drawn attention to the removal of satirical content from social media platforms.A stand-up comic, Brijesh Jha, posted a parody video on Instagram on September 29 after saying his name, along with those of his father and sister, had been removed from a... [Continue Reading]
Putin offers help to end Iran-US war as Pezeshkian says talks continue in Turkmenistan
Vladimir Putin has said Russia will do "everything in our power" to help end the war between Iran and the United States, during a meeting with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in Avazeh on Turkmenistan's Caspian coast. The comments came as the two leaders met on Thursday, adding a new diplomatic layer to an already active effort to halt the conflict. Putin praised what he described as Tehran's genuine efforts to resolve the war, while positioning Moscow as willing to assist.Pezeshkian said Iran and the United States had exchanged proposals aimed at ending the war and reopening the Strait of Hormuz.... [Continue Reading]
EU summit in Brussels to focus on energy prices, competitiveness, migration and enlargement
The European Council will meet in Brussels on October 15, 16, 2026, under President AntĂłnio Costa. In a letter to member states, Costa said the summit will be held against a backdrop of increasing geopolitical uncertainty and will place strong emphasis on the economy, competitiveness and affordability. Costa said leaders need to give the Commission guidance on targeted and temporary measures to reduce the impact of high energy prices on citizens and businesses. He said the EU must continue pursuing its strategy to reduce dependence on fossil fuels while addressing short-term pressure on households and companies. He also said the... [Continue Reading]
Labour retains Holborn and St Pancras as Sagal Abdi-Wali defeats Green leader by 3,300 votes
Labour has retained the Holborn and St Pancras parliamentary seat in central London after a closely watched by-election that had been seen as an early test of support for the party. Sagal Abdi-Wali won the contest, defeating Green Party leader Zack Polanski by about 3,300 votes. The result keeps the seat in Labour hands, where it has been held since the constituency was created in 1983.Abdi-Wali won 12,292 votes, compared with 8,928 for Polanski, according to the supplied reporting. The seat had been vacated by former Labour leader Keir Starmer, and the contest was framed as a measure of whether... [Continue Reading]
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Noontime News Recap: Gaza crisis deepens as Iran tensions, Ukraine pressure and hurricane warnings mount
A senior United Nations official said life in Gaza remains “absolutely horrendous” a year after the ceasefire, underscoring how the humanitarian crisis has deepened rather than eased. Tom Fletcher’s warning came as aid and living conditions in the territory remained dire. 🔗In Washington and the Gulf, tensions with Iran stayed high after Donald Trump said the United States would not attack Iran before the November 3 midterm elections, easing immediate speculation about a strike. That came as explosions were reported near the Strait of Hormuz, keeping focus on the risk of escalation in one of the world’s most sensitive waterways.... [Continue Reading]
USS Abraham Lincoln returns to San Diego after record 265-day deployment
The USS Abraham Lincoln has returned to San Diego Bay after 265 consecutive days at sea, ending a record-long deployment. The aircraft carrier arrived home on Thursday, with sailors reuniting with family members on the pier. Some were seen carrying flowers and balloons as the ship completed its journey back to California.The supplied report says the deployment included support for US military operations against Iran. It also says the carrier was originally sent out from California in November 2025 for duty in the South China Sea before being rerouted to the Middle East. The mission drew attention because of reports... [Continue Reading]
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Brazil Supreme Court issues arrest warrant for Eduardo Bolsonaro weeks before runoff
A Brazilian Supreme Court justice has issued an arrest warrant for Eduardo Bolsonaro, intensifying an already polarised election campaign weeks before the country's runoff vote. The warrant was issued by Justice Alexandre de Moraes on Thursday, according to the supplied report, and is linked to proceedings involving the Bolsonaro family. The move comes as the contest between incumbent Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Flavio Bolsonaro approaches its final stage.The report says Eduardo Bolsonaro was convicted in June on charges of lobbying the United States to interfere in the trial of his father, former President Jair Bolsonaro. It also says... [Continue Reading]
Russia plans sharp cut to cancer care funding in 2027 draft budget as defence spending rises
Russia's draft federal budget for 2027 proposes a steep reduction in funding for the national cancer programme, according to the supporting material. The programme would fall from 44.9 billion roubles to 3.87 billion roubles if the draft is approved, a cut that would leave only a fraction of current support in place. The proposal comes as defence spending reaches its highest share of the budget since the collapse of the Soviet Union.The figures indicate that federal cancer spending would be reduced far more sharply than in previous years. The programme received 148.5 billion roubles in 2025, meaning the proposed 2027... [Continue Reading]
Trump pushes fuel-cost relief as US midterms approach
Gasoline and diesel prices in the United States have more than doubled since the conflict between the US and Israel with Iran began in February, according to the supplied report. The rise has added pressure on transport businesses, farmers and ordinary drivers at a time when affordability is dominating the political debate ahead of the midterm elections. President Donald Trump has responded with a series of comments and announcements aimed at lowering fuel costs, including a waiver on the use of red dye diesel announced at a campaign stop this week.The report says the political stakes are high because voters... [Continue Reading]
Northern Ireland police contact Sinn Fein representatives over protest linked to Orange Order march
Northern Ireland police have contacted Sinn Fein representatives as part of an investigation into protests that blocked an Orange Order parade from marching through Garvaghy Road. The party said a number of its representatives and members had received correspondence from police. The development comes amid continuing tensions over the disputed route in the Catholic area of Portadown.Sinn Fein said it would continue to stand with Garvaghy Road residents, saying they should be able to live in peace and free from sectarian intimidation. The party said it had stood with residents for the past two weeks in the face of provocation... [Continue Reading]
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Gippsland records nine earthquakes in nine days as aftershocks continue near Leongatha
Gippsland in Victoria has recorded nine earthquakes in nine days, with the latest tremor felt in Leongatha on Wednesday evening. The activity follows a magnitude-4.9 quake near Leongatha that shook the region at the weekend. Emergency services have urged residents to be prepared for further shaking as the sequence continues.Geoscience Australia said the Wednesday earthquake measured magnitude 3.2 and was felt at a depth of 10 kilometres. The agency said it received more than 2,000 felt reports from people who noticed the tremor. Eight aftershocks have been recorded since the stronger weekend quake, including two overnight tremors of magnitude 2.5... [Continue Reading]
Pentagon says Fort Hood attacker's firing-squad execution will be livestreamed
The Pentagon says the execution of former US Army major Nidal Hasan will be livestreamed publicly when it takes place at Fort Hood in Texas on 3 December. Hasan was convicted of killing 13 unarmed soldiers in the 2009 attack at the military base, and the planned execution would be by firing squad. Officials say the move would mark the first public execution in the United States in almost a century and the first military execution in more than 60 years.US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said the public should be able to watch the execution, describing it as a case... [Continue Reading]
OpenAI shuts down Russian and Iranian ChatGPT influence operations
OpenAI says it has shut down two influence operations linked to Russia and Iran that used ChatGPT to create fake journalist personas and support a false-front think tank promoting anti-Ukraine messaging. The company said the activity was designed to look like legitimate media and policy work while covertly pushing geopolitical narratives. It said the operations relied on AI-generated content and social media activity to widen their reach.According to OpenAI, the Iranian operation used seven profiles posing as Western journalists, including from the United States, to place long-form articles in media outlets around the world. The company said it identified almost... [Continue Reading]
Suspect linked to Monaco bomb attack on millionaire breaks silence from prison
A former Ukrainian security services officer linked to a bomb attack in Monaco in June has given his first on-record account from prison in Kyiv. Vitalii Zhykovych told the BBC that he believed the operation was ordered by senior members of HUR, Ukraine's military intelligence agency. The case centres on an attempted assassination that badly injured businessman Vadym Yermolayev and his 13-year-old son.Zhykovych spoke from prison in Kyiv through his lawyer and described himself as a freelancer for Ukraine's SBU security service. He said Anastasia Berezovska, the woman seen on camera planting the bomb in Monaco, was his agent. He... [Continue Reading]
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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]
ICC rules Duterte fit to stand trial in crimes-against-humanity case
Judges at the International Criminal Court have ruled that former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is fit to stand trial on crimes against humanity charges linked to his anti-drugs campaign. The court in The Hague said independent medical experts had concluded that the 81-year-old can understand the evidence and discuss his defence with his lawyers. Judges also denied a request for his release from custody.The ruling means the case against Duterte will continue after his legal team argued that serious memory loss left him unable to absorb new information or reliably recall the past. The court said it was satisfied that... [Continue Reading]
Israel opens first national pavilion at Morocco defence show in Marrakesh
Israel has opened its first national pavilion at the Marrakesh Air Show in Morocco, marking its first official participation in a defence exhibition in the country. The event is taking place at the Marrakech Royal Moroccan Air Force Base and runs from October 7 to October 10. According to Israel's defence ministry, eight Israeli defence companies are exhibiting at the show.The ministry said the participation is the first of its kind in Morocco since the signing of the Abraham Accords in 2020. It said the companies are presenting what it described as advanced, combat-proven technologies. Among those taking part are... [Continue Reading]
Taiwan prepares to restart Maanshan nuclear reactor amid rising AI power demand
Taiwan has approved a preliminary plan to restart the Maanshan nuclear power plant, marking a notable shift in the island's energy policy after years of phasing out nuclear power. The plant, in southern Taiwan, was shut down in May 2025 and is now being considered for a return to electricity generation as early as 2028. The move comes as the government weighs how to meet rising demand from the semiconductor and artificial intelligence sectors.The Nuclear Safety Commission said last month that it had finished reviewing plans to restart the reactor, according to the supplied report. That review is a key... [Continue Reading]
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Day News Recap: Middle East tensions flare as Ukraine, Europe and markets react
Iran widened pressure on shipping by striking two commercial tankers outside the Strait of Hormuz within 24 hours, while a separate tanker was hit by multiple projectiles off the north coast of Qatar, deepening fears over Gulf trade routes. đź”— đź”—Those attacks fed a broader surge in Middle East risk, with oil and stocks swinging on renewed fears of supply disruption, and the G7 agreeing to release 100 million barrels of oil and diesel from emergency stockpiles over four months to cushion shortages. đź”— đź”—In Yemen and Saudi Arabia, the conflict escalated further as Riyadh said Houthi attacks on two... [Continue Reading]
President Trump warns Iranian vessels against approaching U.S. blockade
President Donald Trump made multiple posts on Truth Social in the last hour: - "We are having productive discussions with the Islamic Republic of Iran. I want to make it clear to everybody that, while Iran is in very bad condition, both Economically and Militarily, and while the Blockade will remain in full force and effect, with Oil flowing in Record Numbers of Barrels through the Hormuz Strait (22 Million Barrels, last night alone, with not one barrel coming from, or going to, Iran!), we will not be attacking Iran at any time prior to the Midterm Elections to be... [Continue Reading]
Siberia plague scare deepens as hospital observation and surveillance widen
A plague scare in the Siberian town of Shelekhov has widened after a woman died last week and local residents were kept under observation in hospital. The case has centred on a 28-year-old laboratory worker, Darya Shipilova, who was reported to have died after falling ill in the same town. Russian authorities have continued to downplay the episode, saying she died of pneumonia of unknown cause and denying any link to her work at the Irkutsk anti-plague institute.People in the town described being kept inside for days while officials monitored contacts and restricted movement in some parts of the community.... [Continue Reading]
US adds torture conspiracy charge against Maduro and Cilia Flores
A Manhattan federal court has added a conspiracy-to-commit-torture charge against former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. The new count expands an existing US criminal case that already included drug trafficking allegations. The charge was announced on Thursday in New York and is tied to allegations that the pair tortured political opponents to maintain their power.The latest filing adds one count to the case already facing the couple, who had previously been charged with drug trafficking offences. According to the court record described in the supplied material, Maduro and Flores pleaded not guilty to the earlier drug... [Continue Reading]
Questions over Trump operatives advising Dodik ahead of Bosnia election
Questions have emerged in Bosnia and Herzegovina after a report said two political operatives linked to US President Donald Trump advised Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik ahead of the country's parliamentary election on Sunday. The report said James Blair and Chris LaCivita visited Dodik and were paid hundreds of thousands of dollars for their work. The disclosure has drawn criticism within the Republican Party and renewed attention on Dodik's political and legal position.According to the report, Blair and LaCivita were involved in advising Dodik during the run-up to the vote. Blair currently runs Trump's main fundraising organisation, while LaCivita is... [Continue Reading]
Italy electoral reform passes as opposition vows court challenge over bonus seats
Italy's parliament has given final approval to a controversial electoral reform that introduces bonus seats for the coalition winning the most votes. The lower house backed the measure in a secret ballot, with 227 MPs in favour and 164 against, after a heated debate in Rome. The change comes ahead of elections due next year and has been framed by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni as a way to increase political stability.The reform moves Italy to a fully proportional system and requires parties and alliances to present a joint candidate for prime minister and a shared government programme before a general... [Continue Reading]
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Two killed after partial building collapse in Istanbul's Maltepe district
Two people have been killed after a seven-storey building partially collapsed in Istanbul's Maltepe district, according to local officials. Emergency crews rescued eight survivors from the rubble as they continued searching for others believed to be trapped. The collapse happened before dawn on the Asian side of the city, where the lower three floors of the building, including a ground-floor shop, gave way.The Istanbul governor's office said rescuers had recovered two bodies and were trying to reach at least two more people believed to be inside. Governor Davut Gul said earlier that teams had made contact with a six-year-old trapped... [Continue Reading]
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]
Ireland inflation hits highest level since January 2024 as energy costs rise
Ireland's annual inflation rate rose to 4.1% in the year to September, according to the Central Statistics Office, reaching its highest level since January 2024. The increase was driven largely by higher energy costs, with energy products up 15.3% year on year. The latest reading was above the 3.7% annual rise recorded in August and points to renewed pressure on household budgets.The statistics office said the jump in energy prices followed a rise in oil costs linked to conflict in the Middle East. It added that the cost to households for electricity, gas and home-heating oil has risen significantly since... [Continue Reading]
How Gaza war sped up India's shift towards Israel under Modi
India's deepening ties with Israel have come into sharper focus after a September 2025 visit by Israel's far-right finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, who was welcomed in New Delhi with garlands and taken on a multi-city trip. During the visit, he signed a trade deal in the Indian capital, visited the stock exchange in Mumbai and travelled to Gujarat, the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The trip took place while Israel was carrying out its war in Gaza, and it highlighted how far New Delhi has moved from its earlier position as one of the world's staunchest supporters of... [Continue Reading]
UK keeps Jerusalem mission open after Israel orders consulate to end functions
Britain says its Jerusalem mission will remain open at a reduced scale after Israel moved to end the functions of the long-running consulate in East Jerusalem. The dispute is tied to UK sanctions on Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, which Israel said it was answering with retaliation. The latest step keeps the building operating, but under a new name and with a smaller diplomatic footprint.Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said the consular building would not close and would instead be known as the UK Mission, Jerusalem from Thursday. He said the mission would continue to deliver vital services and... [Continue Reading]
Israel says British consulate in East Jerusalem is ceasing operations as UK rejects closure
Israel says the British consulate in East Jerusalem is ceasing operations, with most diplomats ending their assignments and leaving the country. The announcement came as the United Kingdom said the building itself would remain open and would instead operate as the UK Mission, Jerusalem. The dispute is the latest escalation in a row over British sanctions and trade restrictions linked to Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar said 20 diplomats, including the consul general, were ending their duties, while a small task force of no more than seven diplomats would be allowed to continue with... [Continue Reading]
Kenya tightens Ebola screening after first death linked to cross-border travel
The World Health Organization says Kenya is strengthening disease surveillance and introducing more targeted screening at high-risk points of entry after the country reported its first death from Ebola. The case is linked to a patient who first became ill in the Democratic Republic of Congo, then travelled over land through Uganda before flying to Nairobi. The development has raised concern that the outbreak, which began in eastern Congo earlier this year, may be moving further across borders than previously understood.According to the WHO, the patient had been living in the Democratic Republic of Congo and was treated there before... [Continue Reading]
Syrian general Bassam al-Hassan said to be protected in Lebanon amid US-linked arrangement
A former Syrian general wanted for crimes against humanity is being bankrolled and protected in Lebanon under an arrangement involving US and Lebanese authorities, according to a BBC investigation. Bassam al-Hassan, who oversaw Syria's chemical weapons programme and served as a senior adviser to former President Bashar al-Assad, is reported to be staying in Beirut after the collapse of the Assad regime in 2024. The report says the arrangement is linked to intelligence connected with the disappearance of American journalist Austin Tice in Syria in 2012.The investigation, carried out with another US broadcaster, says Hassan has been allowed to remain... [Continue Reading]
Indonesia wildfire haze lawsuit targets government over annual fires
Indigenous and civil society groups in Indonesian Borneo have filed a class action lawsuit accusing the government of gross negligence over wildfires that have spread toxic haze across parts of Southeast Asia. The case was heard in Pontianak, the provincial capital of West Kalimantan, where judges adjourned the opening session until 21 October after none of the named defendants attended. The lawsuit names President Prabowo Subianto and the governor of West Kalimantan among 10 defendants.The plaintiffs are seeking comprehensive recovery and rehabilitation measures, including coverage of residents' healthcare costs. Their lawyer, Glorio Sanen, said the case was intended as a... [Continue Reading]
US sanctions Fijian businessman Zhao Fugang over alleged corruption tied to China
The United States has sanctioned Chinese-Fijian businessman Zhao Fugang over allegations of significant corruption linked to China-based actors. The designation was announced by the US State Department and centres on Zhao's role as director of the Overseas Chinese Service Center in Fiji. According to the statement, Zhao and his immediate family will generally be ineligible to enter the United States.The US said Zhao abused his public position by paying bribes to Fijian citizens in order to advance China-based government, business and criminal interests. It described the action as a corruption designation rather than a criminal charge, but said the allegations... [Continue Reading]
New York appeals court hears Saudi Arabia arguments in 9/11 families lawsuit
A New York appeals court has heard arguments from lawyers for families of 9/11 victims and from Saudi Arabia over whether a long-running lawsuit can move to trial. The case centres on allegations that a Saudi government employee, Omar al-Bayoumi, supported two of the hijackers and had links to officials connected to the Saudi Ministry of Islamic Affairs. The hearing took place as the court considers whether the families have met the legal threshold needed to continue their case.The attacks of 11 September 2001 killed almost 3,000 people after hijackers seized four US passenger jets and crashed them into the... [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]
UNIFIL says small arms fire hit border post near Kfar Shouba
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon says one of its positions near Kfar Shouba was hit by several rounds of small arms fire on Wednesday morning. The incident took place along the Blue Line, the UN-drawn border between Lebanon and Israel, and no casualties were reported. UNIFIL said it is investigating what happened.In a statement, the peacekeeping mission said the fire targeted a UNIFIL position and described the attack as deliberate. It said such incidents put peacekeepers at risk, but did not identify who was responsible. The force has not said whether the shots came from the Lebanese side,... [Continue Reading]
Israel marks Oct. 7 anniversary amid renewed strikes on Gaza
Israel marked the third anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attack on Wednesday with memorial events at sites linked to the assault, while new strikes were reported in Gaza during the commemorations. Families gathered at the Nova music festival site and at Kfar Aza kibbutz, both places associated with the 2023 killings. The anniversary unfolded as political debate intensified ahead of elections, keeping the attack at the centre of public life.At the Nova site, relatives bowed their heads in silence at the time the attack began, 6:29 a.m. local time, while one mourner played techno music in tribute to those... [Continue Reading]
Israel marks third anniversary of 7 October attack with memorial events and protests
Israel has marked the third anniversary of the Hamas-led 7 October attack with memorial events across the country, as families gathered to honour the dead and protesters renewed calls for an independent inquiry into security failures. The commemorations came on Wednesday at sites linked to the assault, including the Nova music festival memorial near Kibbutz Re'im and Dizengoff Square in Tel Aviv. The day was described by relatives and survivors as one of remembrance, grief and continuing political tension.At the Nova memorial, bereaved families and survivors gathered to remember the 378 people killed at the festival and the 44 taken... [Continue Reading]
Ultra-Orthodox rabbi's anti-Zionist remarks reignite Israel election row over conscription
A senior ultra-Orthodox rabbi's anti-Zionist remarks have returned to the centre of Israel's election campaign, intensifying debate over military service exemptions and the role of ultra-Orthodox parties in politics. The comments by Rabbi Dov Lando, the 96-year-old spiritual leader of Degel HaTorah, were broadcast in footage shown on Monday and have triggered a fresh political storm three weeks before the October 27 parliamentary election. They were made during a closed meeting at his home in Bnei Brak, a city closely associated with Israel's ultra-Orthodox community.In the footage, Lando said Jews may have been better off without a state and argued... [Continue Reading]
Germany orders pre-trial detention for former spy chief in espionage probe
A German court has ordered the pre-trial detention of former foreign intelligence chief August Hanning after his arrest on suspicion of treason and espionage on behalf of a foreign state. The decision came a day after prosecutors said he was detained in connection with allegations that he bought secret documents from a former colleague and used them to advise a foreign intelligence service. The case has drawn intense attention in Berlin because Hanning once led Germany's foreign intelligence service, the BND, from 1998 to 2005.Prosecutors say Hanning, 80, is accused of receiving about 2,000 documents from a former BND employee... [Continue Reading]
Merz vows to fight extremism after AfD and Left Party election gains in Germany
Chancellor Friedrich Merz has responded to a set of local election gains by the far-right Alternative for Germany and the far-left Left Party, saying political extremism is making its way into Germany's parliaments. He made the remarks at an event in Berlin on Wednesday, a day after a member of the Alternative for Germany was elected president of the state parliament in Saxony-Anhalt. He also pointed to the Left Party's victory in Berlin's state election on Sunday as part of the same political warning.Merz said the issue was a task for society as a whole and said he intended to... [Continue Reading]
Mali junta retakes Kidal after separatist withdrawal, marking symbolic gain
Malian forces have entered the strategic northern city of Kidal after Tuareg separatists announced their withdrawal as the army advanced. The move gives Mali's junta a symbolic gain in one of the country's most contested areas. It also marks a reversal in control of a city that separatists had held for about five months.According to the latest confirmed account, the separatists pulled back earlier on Tuesday before the army moved into the city. The development came after late-April attacks by JNIM-linked jihadists and separatist allies had weakened the junta's position in the north. The advance is being described as a... [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]
Iran parliament approves penalties for interviews with hostile foreign media
Iran's parliament has voted to criminalise interviews and participation with media outlets designated as hostile by the Intelligence Ministry. The vote took place on Tuesday and passed by 174 votes to six, according to the supporting material. The measure is part of a wider bill on countering the penetration of intelligence services and foreign governments or entities.The approved article bans Iranian nationals from giving interviews to, or taking part in discussions with, outlets that are either designated hostile or are owned, managed or funded by operatives linked to countries classed as adversaries of the Islamic Republic. It also sets out... [Continue Reading]
Russia faces pressure over reported second plague case in Siberia
The World Health Organization and Western governments are pressing Russia for clearer information after reports emerged of a second suspected plague case linked to a research institute in Siberia. The case centres on the death of a laboratory technician in the Irkutsk region last week, which has raised questions about possible exposure at the facility. Russian officials have rejected much of the reporting as false and say the cause of death has not been confirmed.WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Wednesday that Moscow should clarify media reports of a second employee with pneumonia of undetermined cause. The United States... [Continue Reading]
Irish Defence Forces begin rollout of new body armour for first time in 20 years
Ireland's Defence Forces has begun rolling out new body armour to its troops, in a major equipment upgrade that will reach 8,000 personnel. The new kit is being introduced for the first time in two decades and is intended to better match the demands of modern warfare. The first field deployment is due next month, when the 69th Infantry Group travels to Lebanon for what is described as the last UNIFIL mission there.The armour programme has cost around €25 million, according to the information provided, and was developed with both operational protection and comfort in mind. It is designed to... [Continue Reading]
India central bank raises repo rate for first time since 2023 as inflation pressures build
India's central bank has raised its benchmark repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.5%, in its first increase in nearly four years. The Reserve Bank of India said the move was aimed at containing inflation as the economy faces a mix of weather-related disruptions, volatile oil prices and wider geopolitical uncertainty. The decision is likely to affect borrowing costs for households and businesses, including car, home and personal loans.Governor Sanjay Malhotra said the central bank could either raise rates further or leave them unchanged, but cuts were "off the table for now". He said the decision reflected challenging geopolitical... [Continue Reading]
Hardline Iranian MPs move to impeach foreign minister over UN talks
Hardline lawmakers in Iran have filed a motion to impeach Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi over his talks with US special envoy Steve Witkoff on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York last month. The move has exposed a public split inside the Islamic Republic over whether to pursue negotiations with Washington. Parliamentary officials said the request has been registered, but it has not yet been referred for further consideration or placed on the agenda.The motion centres on a meeting held on 22 September, which the lawmakers behind it say took place without authorisation from Iran's top... [Continue Reading]
Russia asks Vietnam for aircraft wet lease as grounded fleet deteriorates
Russia has asked Vietnam to lease passenger aircraft with crews and maintenance support as its re-registered Western fleet continues to deteriorate. Transport Minister Andrei Nikitin said Moscow had proposed that Vietnamese carriers transfer aircraft to Russian airlines under a wet lease arrangement, and that Hanoi was studying the request. The proposal comes as nearly a fifth of the largest Russian airlines' planes are grounded.The request is tied to the strain on Russia's commercial aviation sector after sanctions imposed following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Moscow passed a law that year allowing airlines to re-register more than 400... [Continue Reading]
Russia marks 20 years since Anna Politkovskaya's killing amid renewed press freedom concerns
Russia is marking 20 years since the killing of journalist Anna Politkovskaya, whose reporting on Chechnya and Vladimir Putin's rise made her one of the country's best-known investigative reporters. She was shot dead in the lift of her Moscow apartment block on 7 October 2006, and the anniversary has renewed attention on the state of press freedom in Russia. Her former editor says her work anticipated the direction the country would take under Putin.Sergei Sokolov, who edited Politkovskaya at Novaya Gazeta, said she had "predicted" Russia's trajectory in books published before her death. He said that at the time many... [Continue Reading]
Israel marks 7 October anniversary with nationwide moment of silence
Israelis observed a nationwide moment of silence on Wednesday to mark three years since the Hamas-led attack of 7 October 2023. Families gathered at the Nova music festival site, road junctions and bomb shelters in southern Israel to remember those killed in the assault. The commemorations came as the country entered a new phase of mourning, with all hostages who survived now back home.The attack, which a UN inquiry confirmed killed 1,200 people and saw 252 taken hostage, remains the deadliest in Israel's history. Among those marking the day was Elkana Bohbot, 37, who was abducted from the Nova festival... [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]
Libya parliament replaces longtime speaker Aguila Saleh after 12 years
Libya's eastern-based House of Representatives has elected a new speaker, ending Aguila Saleh's 12-year tenure at the head of the chamber. Lawmakers voted on Tuesday to replace him with Al-Salhin Abdelnabi al-Obeidi, according to the parliament's spokesperson. The move marks a significant leadership change inside one of Libya's main eastern institutions.The vote came one day after 98 members of the 170-seat House approved a new system limiting the speaker and deputy speakers to a single 12-month term. That change replaced an arrangement that had been in place since the chamber first chose its leadership in 2014. A lawmaker, Jebree Oheida,... [Continue Reading]
New Zealand probes alleged flydubai hijacker's flight training history
New Zealand police have opened an investigation into the background of the flydubai co-pilot accused of trying to hijack an Israel-bound flight, after confirming he spent 175 days in the country for flight training. The move adds a new country to the widening international inquiry into Hamam al-Hammami, an Omani national, following the alleged mid-air attack on 30 September. The flight was carrying 182 people when passengers and crew intervened to stop the incident.Police assistant commissioner Michael Johnson said the man was in New Zealand on a student visa from 30 November 2018 to 23 May 2019. He said police... [Continue Reading]
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]
Australian Defence Force pauses Supacat use after fatal rollover near Darwin
The Australian Defence Force has suspended operational use of the Supacat troop carrier after a fatal rollover during a training exercise south of Darwin. One soldier, Army Corporal Brendan Hannam, died in the accident at the Mount Bundey Training Area on Monday. Five other soldiers were injured in the incident, which has triggered a series of investigations.Chief of Army Lieutenant General Susan Coyle confirmed the vehicle involved was a Supacat troop carrying vehicle and said the pause was standard practice after a major accident, particularly a fatality. She said the vehicle is used in the first brigade and in special... [Continue Reading]
Australia High Court blocks Mount Pleasant coal mine expansion as climate ruling deepens
Australia's High Court has ruled against the planned expansion of the Mount Pleasant coal mine in New South Wales, in a decision campaigners say could shape future fossil-fuel approvals. Three of the court's five judges found that planning authorities had not ensured greenhouse-gas emissions would be minimised to the greatest extent practicable. The ruling concerns a major coal project in the Hunter Valley, one of Australia's key mining regions.The case was brought by retired science teachers Wendy Wales and Tony Lonergan, who have campaigned for years against the expansion. They described the judgment as the first climate case to reach... [Continue Reading]
Sudan's al-Burhan rejects talks and vows to retake all RSF-held territory
Sudan's military chief, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has rejected negotiations and vowed to retake every area held by the Rapid Support Forces, as fighting widened across several states. He made the remarks on Tuesday in Village 5 in the northern locality of Merowe, according to the Sudan News Agency. The statement came as fresh violence was reported in West Kordofan and displacement rose in Blue Nile.At least 10 civilians were killed in West Kordofan and several others were wounded in an RSF attack, according to a local charity group. The Dar Hamar Emergency Committee said the attack targeted Abu Ajal village... [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]
US redirects MQ-9 Reaper drones to Colombia and Ecuador for anti-narcotics operations
The United States has redirected MQ-9 Reaper drones from Africa to Colombia and Ecuador for counter-narcotics operations, according to reporting cited in the supplied material. The deployment marks a new use of the long-range drones in South America and comes amid broader US planning on how to confront drug trafficking networks in the region. No details were given on how many drones were sent to each country.The MQ-9 Reaper is a remotely piloted aircraft that has been used in high-profile US military operations in the past, including the 2020 strike that killed Iranian commander Qassim Suleimani. The report says each... [Continue Reading]
Russia plague case under close US monitoring as hospital quarantine continues in Irkutsk
The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it is aware of and closely monitoring a suspected pneumonic plague case in Russia, after the unexplained death of a 28-year-old laboratory worker in Siberia. Russian authorities have quarantined a hospital in the Irkutsk region and are tracing the woman's contacts. Local media reports also say nearly 200 people have been placed under medical observation.The CDC said the reported case remains unconfirmed, but stressed that plague is a serious bacterial disease that can be treated with antibiotics if recognised early. It said rapid identification and treatment of infected people are... [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]
Anduril to invest $3.7bn in Maryland shipyard after securing $2.9bn US Navy submarine parts contract
Defence technology firm Anduril has said it will invest $3.7bn to develop a new shipyard in Maryland and build critical components for the United States Navy's Virginia-class submarines. The company also said it has secured a $2.9bn US Navy contract to manufacture submarine parts. The project, known as Arsenal-2, is part of a wider push to expand US naval production capacity.The new facility is planned for Baltimore, Maryland, and is expected to make torpedo tubes and larger hull components for upgraded Virginia-class fast attack submarines. Anduril said the plant will support the Navy's submarine production needs as Washington seeks to... [Continue Reading]
European Commission proposes stricter safeguards for future EU members
The European Commission has proposed tighter rules for countries seeking to join the European Union, in a move aimed at preventing democratic backsliding after accession. The plans would require future members to align more closely with EU policies before joining and would give the bloc new tools to respond if a new member later stops adhering to its values. The proposals come as the EU prepares for possible enlargement to countries including Ukraine, Moldova, Montenegro and Albania.Under the draft measures, member states would need to approve the changes before they can take effect. One of the most significant ideas would... [Continue Reading]
UK counter-terror probe widens after seventh arrest linked to RAF Fairford
Police have arrested a 22-year-old British man on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts in connection with the investigation around RAF Fairford, extending a live counter-terrorism inquiry linked to the Gloucestershire airbase. The arrest is the seventh connected to the case, which began after activity near the base on 27 September and has remained largely unexplained. Counter Terrorism Police said the latest detention is part of an ongoing effort to examine the circumstances surrounding events close to the site.Senior national coordinator Vicki Evans said the investigation remains live and that specialist teams are pursuing multiple lines of enquiry. Earlier in the... [Continue Reading]
Paramount completes Warner Bros takeover to form Skydance media giant
Paramount has completed its takeover of Warner Bros Discovery, creating a new media company called Skydance. The deal brings together two of Hollywood's best-known studios and a wide portfolio of television, news and cinema assets under the control of David Ellison. The transaction was completed on Tuesday local time in New York, where Skydance shares began trading under the ticker SKYD.Ellison described the completion of the deal as a historic day for the media industry. The combined company includes Paramount Pictures and Warner Bros Pictures, as well as the CBS News and CNN networks and the HBO and CBS television... [Continue Reading]
AfD secures deputy speaker post in Saxony-Anhalt after historic parliament vote
Hans-Thomas Tillschneider, a member of the Alternative for Germany's more hardline wing, has been elected deputy speaker of the Saxony-Anhalt state parliament. The vote came after Tobias Rausch was chosen as speaker in Magdeburg, giving the party two senior posts in the chamber on the same day. The result adds to a breakthrough that has already been described as the first time a far-right party has secured the speaker's role in a regional parliament in Germany since World War Two.Tillschneider won 44 votes, although it was not immediately clear who backed him. The BSW, a small left-wing party that has... [Continue Reading]
Russia stages major nuclear disaster drill at Beloyarsk plant near strategic bunker
Russia is carrying out a large-scale nuclear disaster drill at the Beloyarsk Nuclear Power Plant in the Sverdlovsk region, with more than 1,000 people taking part. The exercise is testing how emergency services would respond to a simultaneous accident at two reactors, according to the information provided by the state nuclear corporation. The scenario includes possible nuclear explosions or leaks, and the drill is taking place over two days.The exercise involves rescue workers, medical personnel, police, troops from Russia's Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Protection Forces, and government officials. The state nuclear corporation said the scenario is based on a highly... [Continue Reading]
Russia responds as questions continue over Siberian plague lab death
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has again urged people not to "listen to various rumours" after the death of a laboratory technician at a plague research centre in Siberia. He said the public should rely only on information from Russia's public health watchdog, which has given the official cause of death as pneumonia of unknown origin. The comments came as Russian officials continued to face questions over the case and its handling.The latest remarks follow renewed attention on the death at the anti-plague institute in Siberia, which has prompted concern because of the sensitive nature of the work carried out there.... [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]
Palestinian reporters' work under fire as Gaza toll on journalists reaches about 250
Palestinian journalists have been at the centre of renewed scrutiny over the conduct of reporting during Israel's war on Gaza, after a new analysis said about 250 journalists have been killed since the conflict began on 7 October 2023. The material describes the killings as part of a wider pattern of pressure on reporters in Gaza and elsewhere, and says the scale of the deaths has changed how journalism is being discussed in the conflict. It also argues that Palestinian reporters have continued working despite severe personal risk and repeated losses among their profession.The supporting material cites the Committee to... [Continue Reading]
ASOS customers receive hack alert as retailer faces extortion message
Thousands of ASOS customers have received a phone alert saying the online retailer has been hacked. The mobile app notification, titled "ASOS hacked," was sent on Tuesday and directed recipients to a Telegram account. The message claimed the company's Snowflake instance had been compromised and threatened to leak data unless contact was made.The alert said: "Dear ASOS DPO and IT, we have full compromised the Snowflake instance. Engage with us, or we will leak it," followed by a Telegram link. The message was sent to customers through the ASOS app, according to the report.Shares in the company fell by more... [Continue Reading]
South Korea weighs steps after DMZ mine blast blamed on North Korea
South Korea is considering measures to press North Korea for an apology after a landmine blast in the Demilitarized Zone wounded three soldiers, according to the Defence Ministry. The incident took place in the heavily fortified border area that divides the Korean Peninsula, and a joint South Korean-United Nations investigation has now blamed North Korean forces for planting the mines. Seoul has also urged Pyongyang to remove any other mines it says may remain near the military demarcation line.A Defence Ministry spokeswoman said on Tuesday that officials were not ruling out any options and had not yet decided what additional... [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]
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]
Pentagon approves firing-squad execution for Fort Hood attacker Nidal Hasan
The Pentagon has confirmed that former US Army psychiatrist Nidal Hasan is to be executed by firing squad, after President Donald Trump approved the method for the man convicted over the 2009 Fort Hood attack in Texas. The decision marks a significant new step in a long-running military justice case that has remained under close scrutiny for years. Hasan was convicted of killing 13 people and wounding dozens more in one of the deadliest attacks ever carried out on a US military base.Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said the execution method was recommended by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and approved by... [Continue Reading]
Police clash with Kosovo protesters over bid to curb Hague war crimes court as unrest continues in Pristina
Police in Kosovo used tear gas and water cannon as protesters clashed with officers outside parliament in Pristina on Monday, after lawmakers advanced amendments aimed at limiting the powers of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers. The unrest also spread around government buildings, where demonstrators blocked exits in an effort to stop lawmakers from leaving. Fires were reported in the streets, and several people were detained during the confrontation.The latest violence followed parliament's first reading of the proposed changes, which still require a second reading and final approval. According to the supporting report, the amendments would cap prison sentences at 15 years,... [Continue Reading]
Nigeria mourns as 32 killed in military plane crash in Ondo State
President Bola Tinubu has declared three days of national mourning after a Nigerian military aircraft crashed in southern Ondo State, killing 32 people. The plane came down near a naval base in Igbokoda on Monday morning after disappearing from radio contact on a routine flight from Benin City to Lagos. Authorities said the aircraft was an ATR-42 and that smoke was seen rising from the crash site near a swampy area.Tinubu said the dead included 25 passengers and seven crew members, and he ordered flags to be flown at half-mast across the country. He also directed the Air Force to... [Continue Reading]
Stanlow refinery pollution breaches under investigation after dozens of limit exceedances
One of the United Kingdom's largest oil refineries is under investigation after documents suggested it repeatedly exceeded pollution limits in 2023 and 2024. The Stanlow refinery in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, is said to have released toxic chemicals and oil into local rivers, the Mersey Estuary and groundwater on dozens of occasions. The Environment Agency has confirmed it is investigating the alleged breaches.The documents indicate that permitted levels for chemical releases were exceeded hundreds of times over the two-year period, with the regulator determining that EET Fuels broke permit conditions 58 times. The company, which runs the site and was formerly... [Continue Reading]
Gaza mother recounts loss after being widowed twice during war
A young mother from Gaza City has described losing two husbands and two children during the war in Gaza, in a personal account that reflects the wider human toll of the conflict. Nisreen Touman said she has spent the past three years going to bed in tears as she remembers what she lost after the war began in October 2023. By the time she was 34, she said, she had been widowed twice.Touman said her first husband and their two children were killed in June 2024, and that she remarried eight months later before losing her second husband in July... [Continue Reading]
Pacific leaders press to keep fossil-fuel transition pledge intact ahead of Cop31 in Tuvalu
Pacific island leaders have urged that a global pledge to transition away from fossil fuels should not be reopened for renegotiation as they gathered in Tuvalu ahead of Cop31. The meeting brought together about 50 dignitaries, including 14 national heads, climate ministers and leaders of international agencies. It was held in the low-lying atoll nation as part of efforts to build momentum before the climate summit next month in Turkey.The gathering included Australia's prime minister, Anthony Albanese, who was among the visiting leaders on the three-hour trip to Funafuti. The visit had been promised by the Australian government last year... [Continue Reading]
Tigray fighting deepens as forced recruitment claims emerge
Renewed fighting in Ethiopia's northern Tigray region has intensified, with witnesses describing forced recruitment of men and boys as the conflict spreads. The latest reports say civilians have been rounded up on streets by armed groups linked to the Tigray conflict, adding to fears of a fresh humanitarian crisis. The violence began again on 23 September after months of rising tension and has further destabilised a region already scarred by years of war.According to the reports, the renewed clashes have shattered the Pretoria peace agreement signed in November 2022 between Ethiopia's federal government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front, which... [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]
Queensland warned of severe cyclone risk this season as warmer seas raise heatwave concerns
Queensland is likely to be hit by at least one severe cyclone this season, according to Australia's weather bureau. The annual severe weather outlook also warns of heatwaves and below-average rainfall in parts of the state. The forecast comes as the tropical cyclone season typically runs from November to April.The bureau said warmer sea temperatures off the Coral Sea are expected to help fuel stronger systems over the coming months. A severe cyclone is classified as category 3 or above. Forecaster Laura Boekel said there is an increased chance of a cyclone becoming severe because warmer sea surface temperatures provide... [Continue Reading]
Israeli forces kill one and injure several in occupied West Bank incidents
Israeli forces killed one Palestinian and injured several others in separate incidents across the occupied West Bank on Monday, according to the supplied report. The violence included a shooting near Bani Naim, east of Hebron, as well as clashes and settler attacks in areas near Ramallah and Jenin. Palestinian officials identified the man killed as 38-year-old Hossam Alaa al-Din Abdul Jabbar Walad Ali.According to the report, troops opened fire on a vehicle carrying three Palestinians near Bani Naim after the Israeli military said the car had rammed one of its vehicles. Palestinian officials said two other people in the vehicle... [Continue Reading]
UAE says FlyDubai copilot tried to seize control of flight to Tel Aviv
The United Arab Emirates says it is investigating a serious incident on a FlyDubai passenger flight that was heading from Dubai to Tel Aviv. According to officials, the copilot allegedly attacked the captain with an emergency axe and tried to take control of the aircraft. The plane was carrying more than 170 passengers and crew when the incident took place on Wednesday.Officials said passengers and crew managed to restrain the copilot before the situation escalated further. A reserve pilot who was on board then took control and landed the aircraft at Tabuk airport in north-west Saudi Arabia, where the copilot... [Continue Reading]
Pentagon stops using Anthropic AI tools after national-security review
The US Department of Defense has stopped using Anthropic's AI tools, according to an official statement cited in a current report. The move comes months after the company was designated a supply-chain risk on national security grounds. It also follows a period in which the Pentagon had still been using the tools for research, analysis, intelligence gathering and military operations.A department official said the Pentagon has "ceased the use of Anthropic products". Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth labelled Anthropic a supply-chain risk in February and said the department would stop using it by late August. People familiar with the matter said... [Continue Reading]
Bosnia election points to nationalist political realignment
Bosnia and Herzegovina's general election has produced gains for nationalist and conservative parties, according to analysts assessing the results on Sunday. The vote did not deliver major surprises in turnout patterns, but it did reinforce ethnic voting lines across the country. In Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik's Alliance of Independent Social Democrats again swept aside its rivals.In the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Darijana Filipovic of the Croatian Democratic Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina won the state presidency seat. The result marks a setback for civic-oriented politics that had gained some momentum in the previous election cycle. Analysts said many voters... [Continue Reading]
US military strike on alleged drug boat kills four in the Caribbean
The United States has carried out another military strike on an alleged drug trafficking boat in the Caribbean, killing four people, according to the US military. The attack is the latest in a widening campaign of maritime strikes across the region. It comes amid a broader counter-narcotics operation that US officials say is aimed at disrupting trafficking routes.US Southern Command said late on Sunday that it struck alleged drug traffickers operating along established trafficking routes in the eastern Pacific and the Caribbean. The latest strike brings the reported death toll from US maritime attacks to at least 235 across 70... [Continue Reading]
Iran oil transit speculation grows as exports through Hormuz stay elevated
A new report has added to speculation over how oil continues to move through the Strait of Hormuz despite persistent security risks. Provisional data from maritime tracking firm Kpler suggests crude exports from the wider Middle East exceeded pre-war levels on four days in the final week of September, reaching between 19.5 million and 22.5 million barrels per day. The figures come as analysts continue to weigh whether the flow of tankers is being sustained by military escort, ship-to-ship transfers, or some form of payment to secure passage.The latest discussion was prompted by comments from Michelle Brohard, Kpler's head of... [Continue Reading]
US Marine arrest in Okinawa killing sparks protests as Japan presses Washington
Protests have continued in Okinawa and Tokyo after the arrest of a 20-year-old US Marine in connection with the killing of a 39-year-old woman in Naha. Japanese police said the suspect was sent to prosecutors on Monday after being arrested on Sunday, and he has denied the charge. The case has intensified public anger in Japan and renewed scrutiny of the conduct of US military personnel stationed in the country.Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told lawmakers that the killing was a "heinous crime" and urged the United States to "thoroughly enforce discipline" among its forces. Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said... [Continue Reading]
Euro falls to 17-month low as French debt fears and Spain election add to eurozone uncertainty
The euro fell to its lowest level against the dollar in 17 months on Monday, as investors grew more concerned about France's debt position and wider political uncertainty in the eurozone. The single currency dropped as much as 0.8% in early trading to below $1.12, its weakest point since May 2025, before recovering slightly. French shares also came under pressure, with the Cac 40 index falling 1% even as some other major European markets were steadier or higher.Market moves were driven by worries that France's rising borrowing costs could make it harder for the government to manage its stretched public... [Continue Reading]
Spain calls snap general election after housing defeat, with vote set for 29 November
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has confirmed that Spain will hold a general election on 29 November after his minority government failed to pass housing reforms in the Spanish Congress. The announcement follows a parliamentary defeat that has deepened pressure on the centre-left leader and brought forward the national political timetable. Sanchez said the vote comes at a time when Spain should stand against what he described as an "extreme-right wave" seen in other countries.The election call comes as polls show Sanchez's Socialist party trailing the conservative People's Party, which many expect could seek support from the far-right Vox if it... [Continue Reading]
Pakistan police use fishing nets at Hangu checkpost to deter drone attacks
Police in Pakistan's Hangu district have installed fishing nets above a security checkpost in an effort to block or blunt drone attacks. The low-cost measure has been put in place at the Sarki Piyala police checkpost in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, an area close to the border with Afghanistan and repeatedly affected by militant violence. Officers say the netting has already been in place for two months and has so far prevented further drone strikes at the site.The move follows a deadly attack on 16 April, when drones carrying explosives targeted the checkpost and gunmen opened fire from multiple directions. Police... [Continue Reading]
Former EU leaders urge sanctions over Israel's E1 settlement project
More than 500 former European Union prime ministers, diplomats and senior officials have called for sanctions on those involved in a new Israeli settlement construction project in the West Bank. In a statement published on Monday, they said the E1 project would cut the West Bank in two and make a two-state solution impossible. The appeal adds fresh pressure on the bloc as debate continues over how to respond to Israeli settlement expansion.The statement says Israel is expected to award contracts shortly for the first tranche of the E1 project. It singles out Germany and Italy as member states that... [Continue Reading]
Brazil election heads to runoff after Bolsonaro outperforms Lula in first round
Brazil's presidential election has moved to a runoff after Senator Flavio Bolsonaro finished ahead of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in the first round. The result, announced after voting on Sunday, defied opinion polls that had put Lula in front and sets up a second-round contest in three weeks. Bolsonaro won about 47% of the vote, compared with 45% for Lula, according to the figures in the supplied reports.The outcome also brought gains for the right in parliament, adding to the setback for Lula's camp. Lula, who is seeking a fourth term at almost 81, described the race as... [Continue Reading]
Former diplomats say Iran conflict is likely to worsen in coming weeks
Former Iranian and US diplomats have said the war on Iran is likely to get worse in the coming weeks, with no sign of an imminent peace deal. The discussion centred on the positions of Washington and Tehran and on whether the conflict could move toward any durable pause. The assessment was presented as a warning that the current trajectory remains unstable.Hossein Mousavian, a former Iranian diplomat, said Iranian leaders do not believe US claims that the war is about nuclear weapons rather than oil. Alan Eyre, a former US diplomat, said the conflict is not heading toward a peace... [Continue Reading]
Israel election debate turns to Netanyahu's alleged warning before October 7 attacks
Israel is heading into parliamentary elections with renewed attention on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's conduct before the October 7 attacks. Media reports that he was warned by the United Arab Emirates before the assault have pushed the question of whether he knew into the centre of the campaign. The issue has become a major political fault line as the country prepares to mark three years since the attacks.The article says the debate is being driven by accusations over Netanyahu's alleged responsibility, rather than by a broader national reckoning. It argues that the election campaign is allowing him to be blamed... [Continue Reading]
Dodik calls Bosnia and Herzegovina 'dead' at final rally before election
Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik has described Bosnia and Herzegovina as "dead" and "an impossible country" at the final rally of his alliance before the country's October 4 election. He made the remarks in Banja Luka on Friday while speaking to supporters of the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats, or SNSD. The comments came as voters prepared to choose the three members of the state presidency, national parliament representatives and leaders in the country's two entities.Dodik said Bosnia and Herzegovina was "nothing more than an empty shell" for those trying to keep it alive. He is the former president of... [Continue Reading]
Latvia's United List wins parliamentary election as populists gain ground
Latvia's centre-right United List has won the country's parliamentary election, according to preliminary results released after almost all votes were counted. The party led with 35.4% of the vote and secured 42 seats in the 100-seat parliament, a record for the post-independence era. The result points to a continued pro-European and pro-Ukrainian course for the Baltic state, which borders Russia and has made security a central political issue.Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs, who took office in May, said the outcome was stronger than expected and in line with exit polls. He said the result showed that people wanted change and linked... [Continue Reading]
Brazil votes in deeply polarised election as Lula and Flavio Bolsonaro face tight race
Polls have opened in Brazil's presidential election, with voters choosing between left-wing incumbent Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and right-wing Senator Flavio Bolsonaro. The vote is taking place across a country with about 160 million registered voters, and it will also decide lawmakers, governors and senators. If no candidate wins more than 50% of valid votes, the top two contenders will go to a runoff on 25 October.The contest is being fought as a close race, with opinion polls showing Lula holding only a narrow lead that could tighten further in a second round. Lula, of the Workers' Party, is... [Continue Reading]
Russia Faces Large Bill to Dismantle Ageing Nuclear Reactors
Russia is facing a substantial future bill to dismantle ageing nuclear reactors, according to a commentary published on 4 October. The piece says some reactors in the country are already more than 50 years old, raising questions about how decommissioning will be funded and managed. It also notes that Moscow continues to expand its nuclear industry abroad at the same time.The article says Rosenergoatom plans to decommission 35 reactors. It adds that the company's own estimates point to a funding shortfall of about 18.7 billion euros, against a total estimated decommissioning cost of roughly 21 billion euros. The commentary argues... [Continue Reading]
Spain housing protests intensify after parliament rejects rent and eviction measures
Tens of thousands of people rallied across Spain on Saturday after parliament rejected two government decrees aimed at easing the country's housing crisis. Demonstrations were reported in Madrid and dozens of other cities, as protesters called for affordable housing measures and a general strike. The protests followed a parliamentary vote on Friday that blocked the measures proposed by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's minority left-wing coalition.The rejected decrees were designed to protect renters and make housing speculation harder. One would have sought to stop evictions of vulnerable people, tighten restrictions on short-term leases, and offer tax incentives for renting and new... [Continue Reading]
Latvian PM Andris Kulbergs wins parliamentary election and faces coalition talks
Latvia's Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs has won the country's parliamentary election, with his centre-right United List emerging as the largest party and securing 42 of the 100 seats in parliament. He now has to assemble a new coalition to continue governing. The result gives his pro-European and pro-Ukrainian camp a strong position, but it does not by itself provide a majority.Mr Kulbergs said the margin of victory was wider than he had expected after exit polls pointed to a strong showing for his party. He said the result showed that people wanted change, and linked that to economic growth and... [Continue Reading]
Gaza City strike kills Christian mother and daughter as church leaders mourn
A strike in Gaza City has killed two Christian women, Maysa Abu Daoud and her daughter Mary al-Najjar, in the Remal neighbourhood, according to the supplied report. The attack hit the ground floor of a building and left five Palestinians dead in total. Their funeral was held at Saint Porphyrius Church in Gaza City's Old City.The Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, said he was deeply sorrowed by the killing and extended condolences to the women's family and to Gaza's Christian community. Palestine's Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs said the two women had devoted time to helping parishioners... [Continue Reading]
North Korea says missile test was designed to evade defences as tensions with South Korea rise
North Korea said it test-fired an intermediate-range ballistic missile from the eastern coastal Wonsan area, describing the launch as a demonstration of a weapon it says can manoeuvre in flight to evade missile defences. The announcement came as tensions with South Korea remained elevated over landmine explosions near the border. South Korean and Japanese authorities both tracked the launch, which was reported on Saturday morning.Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, said he oversaw the test and called the missile "strategic", a term that suggests it is intended to carry nuclear warheads. She also claimed... [Continue Reading]
Vucic launches campaign for prime minister ahead of Serbia's October 25 snap election
Former Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has launched a campaign to become prime minister ahead of Serbia's snap parliamentary election on October 25. Thousands of supporters gathered at Belgrade Arena on Saturday for a rally that marked the start of his push to extend his influence after stepping down as president on September 27. The event took place in the capital and was presented by Vucic as the opening of a campaign for what he described as a comprehensive victory.Supporters filled the largest indoor arena in Belgrade, while dozens of buses from across Serbia brought people into the city for the... [Continue Reading]
Bulgaria receives remains of Czar Samuel after more than 1,000 years
The remains of medieval ruler Czar Samuel have been returned to Bulgaria in a ceremony in Sofia after more than a millennium. The handover took place on Saturday and drew thousands of people to a public square in the capital. The event marked the end of years of negotiations with Greece over the repatriation of the remains.The coffin and remains were flown to Sofia on a military aircraft escorted by air force fighter jets. Bulgarian politicians from across the political spectrum attended the ceremony, which included the national anthem, a 21-gun salute and a flypast. Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev... [Continue Reading]
THE GROWTH ILLUSION: HOW GDP TRICKERY MASKED THE DEATH OF THE MIDDLE CLASS
We are fed a daily diet of triumphant economic headlines. The S&P 500 hits record highs, corporate earnings smash forecasts, and central bankers beam at GDP charts pointing up and to the right. Politicians line up to remind us how much "wealthier" we are compared to our parents or grandparents. On paper, they are right. The average worker makes vastly more dollars today than at any point in human history. But step outside the spreadsheet and into the street, and the math fails the reality test. If we are so undeniably prosperous, why does buying a modest home feel like... [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]
The Ghosn Paradox The Imperial Savior, His Cinematic Escape, and the Desperate Call to Salvage a Crumbling Nissan
The Man Who Defied Corporate Gravity Few corporate sagas in modern history possess the cinematic drama, geopolitical friction, and sheer psychological tension as the rise and fall of Carlos Ghosn. Once lauded as the ultimate transnational executive, a multi-lingual titan capable of bridging disparate business cultures, Ghosn became the absolute center of a global firestorm. His story cuts through the pristine facade of global corporate governance to reveal a messy underbelly of nationalism, legal vulnerability, and strategic failure. Rebuilding an Empire from the Ashes of Bankruptcy The mythos of Carlos Ghosn began in 1999. Nissan, one of Japan's proudest manufacturing... [Continue Reading]
Is the Italian Prime Minister the Visionary Leader Europe Needs? An Analysis of Executive Decisiveness, National Security, and the Contrast in European Integration Policies
A Continent in Institutional Deadlock While the rest of Europe remains entangled in a web of bureaucratic deadlock and human rights litigation, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has quietly established herself as a leader operating far ahead of her continental peers. For years, European leaders have debated how to handle radicalism and unchecked migration, often waiting for institutional consensus that arrives too late. Meloni, conversely, has demonstrated a willingness to prioritize state security over political correctness, offering a blueprint for a continent facing asymmetric threats. The Contrast in European Legislative Approvals The contrast between Italy’s swift, executive decisiveness and the... [Continue Reading]
The Unspoken Stats: Who is Raping Europe?
Answering this question requires a direct look at the empirical data so, below is the comprehensive, data-verified draft for my article, formatted to analyse the relationship between immigration demographics and police-recorded sexual offense figures across Europe. Data vs. Perception: An Asymmetric Analysis of Migration and Sexual Offence Statistics in Europe While my primary field of research is rooted in macro-geopolitics, the responsibilities of independent journalism often demand transitioning from international balance-of-power metrics to domestic social realities. A recent high-profile criminal incident in England involving the gang rape of a 17-year-old girl by four Afghani nationals where one of them is... [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 Great Uncoupling: Abu Dhabi’s Sovereign Gambit
The UAE’s decision to cut ties with OPEC is far more than a mere adjustment of energy policy, for it functions as a political telegram written in barrels and sent directly to the heart of the global order. For nearly six decades, Abu Dhabi operated within the rigid architecture of producer discipline, where it accepted the rituals of quotas, the formality of communiqués, and the heavy burden of collective restraint. It played the long game of oil diplomacy with a patient hand, balancing its own massive national ambitions against the gravity of cartel discipline and the delicate logic of Gulf... [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]
The Glass Elevator to Nowhere: A World Trapped in a Chocolate Factory
As a journalist in my mid-fifties, I thought my skin had thickened to the point of being impenetrable. I have covered the rise and fall of regimes, the grinding gears of the Cold War's leftovers, and the digital revolutions that promised to unite us. I thought I had seen every trick in the political playbook. Then came Donald Trump’s 2026 foreign policy, and I realized I was not watching a statesman; I was watching a child play with a chemistry set he does not understand. The Willy Wonka of the West: Rule by Whim Walking into a press briefing lately... [Continue Reading]
When Deterrence Becomes Reality
Yesterday the war crossed a line! For years the Sejjil ballistic missile existed mostly as a symbol. A weapon paraded in military videos, discussed in defense briefings, whispered about in strategic circles as one of Iran’s most serious capabilities. A weapon that analysts described as deterrence, not something meant to be used. But on March 15, 2026, that line disappeared. Iran reportedly launched the Sejjil (also known as Ashoura) as part of what Tehran called the 54th wave of Operation True Promise 4, a massive strike package that also included the Fattah hypersonic missile and the Qadr ballistic missile system.... [Continue Reading]
The Madness of Power, From Balfour to the Edge of World War Three
A Voice in the Wilderness of War: Who Still Dares to Speak Truth While Empires March There are moments in history when the world suddenly accelerates toward disaster, moments when anyone who has studied history can feel the temperature rising even before the explosions reach their peak. The current escalation in the Middle East is one of those moments. According to the facts we now see unfolding, the United States and Israel made the unilateral decision to attack Iran without the approval of the United Nations, without a global coalition mandate, and without the support of most of the international... [Continue Reading]
The Proving Ground, When “Decent” Reporting Meets High-Tech Warfare
For two decades I have watched wars unfold not only on battlefields, but on screens. Today’s incident over Kuwait, involving the downing of a U.S. F-15 Strike Eagle, is not just another headline in the Iran conflict. It may be a signal that something larger is unfolding behind the noise. Iranian state outlets rapidly circulated imagery of an ejected pilot. Washington responded cautiously. But beneath the spectacle lies a deeper question, whose technology was truly being tested? The Gulf as a live-fire laboratory For years, China has refined export-ready variants of its air defense systems, particularly the HQ-9 family and... [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]





