Netflix shares drop over 5% on engagement worries
Netflix shares fell more than 5% on Tuesday afternoon after its quarterly earnings release failed to ease investor concern about slowing viewer engagement and revenue growth. Read full story →
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SpaceX-Tesla merger idea gets Musk backing
Elon Musk said Tuesday he would support a merger of SpaceX and Tesla, while warning that a deal is not certain and would face a high voting hurdle. Read full story →
Tesla-SpaceX merger idea backed by Elon Musk
Elon Musk said Tuesday he would support a merger of Tesla and SpaceX, calling a possible combination “a good idea” during a call with analysts. Read full story →
Amazon to invest €16bn in Germany in AI push
Amazon plans to invest more than 16 billion euros in Germany next year, including in data centres and other infrastructure linked to artificial intelligence. Read full story →
Asian tech stocks fall as AI spending fears grow
Asian technology stocks fell on Tuesday as investors grew more cautious about the cost and returns of artificial intelligence spending before major earnings releases. Read full story →
Saudi investment conference to be postponed, sources say
Saudi Arabia’s Future Investment Initiative conference is set to be postponed, three sources briefed on the matter told AFP on Monday, as the kingdom faces repeated attacks from Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis. Read full story →
Indonesian stocks hit six-year low on MSCI review
Indonesian stocks fell to their lowest level in six years on Monday as MSCI considers stripping the country of its emerging-market status. Read full story →
Asian tech stocks mixed as AI worries hit markets
Asian stocks were mixed on Monday after a Wall Street selloff tied to concerns over the cost and returns of artificial intelligence investment, while bargain-buying before major earnings reports supported some markets. Read full story →
Tech sell-off hits Asia as US inflation stokes rate fears
A sell-off in technology shares continued on Wall Street on Thursday after sharp losses in Asia, as stronger US inflation data increased expectations that the Federal Reserve could raise interest rates again. Read full story →
TSMC profit hits record as AI chip demand grows
TSMC said Thursday its third-quarter net profit rose 68.7% from a year earlier to a record NT$763.1 billion, or US$23.6 billion, supported by global demand for AI hardware. Read full story →
Mukesh Ambani’s Jio seeks $3.2bn in India IPO
Jio Platforms, the digital arm of Reliance Industries controlled by Mukesh Ambani, is seeking to raise about $3.2 billion in an Indian initial public offering after announcing pricing details ahead of next week’s launch. Read full story →
Tokyo stocks plunge 5.3%, Seoul's Kospi tumbles 8%
Tokyo stocks plunged 5.3% and Seoul's Kospi tumbled 8.0% in afternoon trade on Thursday as technology shares led a rout across Japanese and South Korean markets. Read full story →
Anthropic revenue rose to $16.8B, FT and Bloomberg say
Anthropic told investors that its revenue rose about 50% to $16.8 billion in the September quarter, the Financial Times and Bloomberg reported, citing details from a private meeting at the AI company's San Francisco headquarters on Wednesday. Read full story →
US stocks mixed as CPI pushes Treasury yields up
US stocks were mixed and Treasury yields rose in early Wednesday trading after data showed consumer inflation accelerated more than expected in September. Read full story →
Escondida strike averted after tentative BHP deal
Workers at Chile's Escondida copper mine agreed to call off a strike after reaching a tentative agreement with BHP, the company said on Wednesday. Read full story →
ASML lifts sales forecast as Q3 profit rises to €5bn
Dutch semiconductor equipment maker ASML said Wednesday that third-quarter net profit rose to 5.0 billion euros, compared with 2.1 billion euros in the same period in 2025. Read full story →
Asian markets mixed as tech shares rebound before CPI
Asian markets were mixed Wednesday as technology shares in Seoul, Tokyo and Taipei recovered part of the previous day's losses, while investors waited for US consumer inflation data and earnings from major semiconductor companies. Read full story →
El Nino puts coral reefs, farms and economies at risk
This year's strong El Nino is increasing pressure on coral reefs, forests, farms and vulnerable economies, according to scientists, officials and people affected in several regions. Read full story →
IPCC chair seeks quick talks on climate report
IPCC chair Jim Skea said Monday he would reconvene the UN climate science panel at the earliest opportunity after member governments failed to agree on when to release its next major report on global heating. Read full story →
El Nino record claims differ by agency
Meteorological agencies disagree on whether this year's El Nino is the strongest on record because they measure the climate phenomenon in different ways. Read full story →
UN nature talks open as biodiversity goals fall behind
Nearly 200 nations are gathering in Armenia on Monday for UN nature talks as governments face pressure over biodiversity goals that are falling behind the pace needed for 2030. Read full story →
Nepal floods should spur climate action, UN official says
Nepal's deadly August floods should become a turning point for global climate action, UNOPS executive director Jorge Moreira da Silva said Saturday, urging international support for the Himalayan country's recovery. Read full story →
Amazon deforestation in Brazil hits record low
Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon fell to 3,335 square kilometers between August 2025 and July 2026, official figures released Friday showed, the lowest level since records began in 1988. Read full story →
EU car emissions eased in France-Germany deal
France and Germany have backed a further easing of EU emission rules for cars in a provisional agreement expected to shape the bloc's auto policy. Read full story →
Super El Nino threatens coral reefs, UN expert says
A super El Nino could pose a severe additional threat to the world’s coral reefs as ocean temperatures rise, the chair of the UN’s expert biodiversity panel said. Read full story →
Severe drought declared in southern England
The UK government declared a “severe drought” in parts of southern England on Thursday after what it called an unprecedented period of extreme weather. Read full story →
Indonesia wildfire haze shuts East Timor schools
Haze from Indonesian wildfires turned skies yellow and orange in Palangkaraya on Thursday and prompted East Timor to begin a three-day school closure as smoke pollution spread across the region. Read full story →
Ivory Coast seeks climate-tough cocoa bean
Ivory Coast researchers are developing cocoa varieties that can better withstand water stress as lower rainfall and rising temperatures threaten the world's top cocoa producer. Read full story →
AI climate tools draw COP31 focus amid carbon concerns
Artificial intelligence is set to be a focus at next month's COP31 climate summit in Turkey, where the hosts say they will push for “climate-responsible AI” as concerns grow over the energy use of data centres. Read full story →
Deforestation slowed in 2025 but Congo basin loss surged
Global deforestation slowed in 2025, but rainforest loss rose in the Congo basin and the improvement is not enough to meet a 2030 forest protection pledge, the annual Forest Declaration Assessment said. Read full story →
RAF Fairford: two re-arrested in Iran spy probe
UK counter-terrorism police said on October 20 that they had re-arrested two men on suspicion of assisting a foreign intelligence service during an investigation into a security scare at RAF Fairford, a British airbase used by the United States. Read full story →
Hormuz mines halted two tankers, Iran Guards say
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Tuesday that their naval mines halted two oil tankers attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz on routes Tehran considers illegal. Read full story →
Hormuz oil tanker on fire after mine strike, Iran says
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said Monday that an oil tanker caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz after striking a naval mine south of the waterway. Read full story →
Hormuz oil tanker on fire after mine blast, Iran says
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Saturday that an oil tanker was on fire in the Strait of Hormuz after hitting a mine in the waterway. Read full story →
US weighs MOAB bomb use against Iran, CNN reports
The United States is considering using its biggest non-nuclear bomb against Iran if President Donald Trump decides to renew combat in the war, CNN reported Thursday. Read full story →
Hormuz ship sank after mine blast, Iran Guards say
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Wednesday that a container ship hit a mine, caught fire and sank in the Strait of Hormuz, while a British security firm also reported a ship sinking in the area. Read full story →
Gaza strikes kill seven, rescuers and hospitals say
Gaza rescuers and hospitals said Israeli strikes in separate parts of the Gaza Strip killed seven Palestinians on Tuesday, including a man and woman hit near Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. Read full story →
West Bank settler attacks risk 'explosion', official says
Israeli settler attacks risk setting off an "explosion" in the occupied West Bank, senior Fatah official Jibril Rajoub said, while urging Palestinians to keep their response peaceful. Read full story →
West Bank settler attacks: Israel arrests 10
Israeli police said Monday they arrested 10 people in the occupied West Bank after settler attacks on American photographer Heidi Levine and French mayor Bernard Baudoux drew international condemnation. Read full story →
UNIFIL pullout next year worries south Lebanon villages
UNIFIL's planned withdrawal from south Lebanon next year is worrying residents of border villages who say the UN peacekeeping force has become central to local security, jobs and community life. Read full story →
West Bank attack on US photographer draws condemnation
The United States condemned “criminal violence by any party” in the occupied West Bank on Friday after American photojournalist Heidi Levine was attacked while covering violence against Palestinian olive farmers for The Washington Post. Read full story →
Hezbollah says seized explosives were its own
Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah said a 500-kilogram shipment of explosives seized by Lebanese authorities belonged to the group and called for the immediate release of those arrested over the seizure. Read full story →
Palestinian olive harvest starts under settler attack fears
Palestinian olive farmers in the occupied West Bank say they are harvesting early or avoiding fields because they fear further settler attacks as the harvest season begins and Israel heads toward elections on October 27. Read full story →
Gaza strikes kill four, Palestinian officials say
Palestinian officials said Israeli strikes killed four people in Gaza on Wednesday, October 14, in two incidents in the southern and northern parts of the territory. Read full story →
West Bank mosque set on fire; Israel investigates
A mosque in the occupied West Bank village of Mikhmas was set on fire and graffitied shortly after midnight on Wednesday, with Palestinian sources blaming Israeli settlers and the Israeli military saying it had opened an investigation. Read full story →
Kyiv hospital hit by Russian strike, PM says
A Russian strike hit a Kyiv hospital's operating room and wounded one patient, Ukraine's prime minister Sergiy Koretsky said Tuesday. Read full story →
Russian drone strike near Kyiv kills three, prosecutors say
A Russian drone strike near Kyiv killed three people and wounded four others, Ukrainian prosecutors said on Tuesday. Read full story →
Zelensky says US is delaying Ukraine interceptor missiles
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Monday that Washington was deliberately delaying deliveries of interceptor missiles to Ukraine, saying missiles bought under a European-funded programme were waiting for approval by US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. Read full story →
Russian strike in Ukraine kills six, officials say
Authorities said the death toll from a Russian strike in northeastern Ukraine rose to six, including three children. Read full story →
Ukraine drone airlifts wounded soldier, brigade says
A Ukrainian army brigade said Monday it rescued a wounded soldier from the front line using an aerial drone, describing the evacuation as the first operation of its kind. Read full story →
Ukraine says no Russian strike warning; Rubio denies pause
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine received no early warning from partners before overnight Russian ballistic strikes on energy facilities in the Kyiv region, while US Secretary of State Marco Rubio denied that intelligence sharing had been paused. Read full story →
St Petersburg attack won't change war aims, Kremlin says
The Kremlin said a major drone attack on Saint Petersburg would not change Russia's war aims, after Russian officials said Ukrainian strikes killed one person, hospitalised five and set oil sites and warehouses ablaze in Vladimir Putin's hometown. Read full story →
Zelensky asks EU for extra €70bn for Ukraine
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky asked European Union leaders on Friday to provide Kyiv with an extra 70 billion euros, or $79 billion, in funding next year to help it keep fighting Russia. Read full story →
Zelensky says France ties 'win-win' after Le Pen comments
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine's defence cooperation with France was “win-win” after Marine Le Pen said she would cut financial aid to Kyiv if elected French president. Read full story →
Ukraine denies Russian claim of refinery drone hits
Ukraine denied a Russian claim that Ukrainian drones hit two oil refineries on Russian soil on Wednesday, after Moscow accused Kyiv of violating an “energy ceasefire” declared by US President Donald Trump. Read full story →
Russian drone attack kills 6 in Lutsk, Ukraine says
A Russian jet-powered drone attack on Lutsk in western Ukraine killed six people and wounded 12 at a retail grocery warehouse on Wednesday, Ukraine's interior ministry and local authorities said. Read full story →
Sberbank data centre hit by drone in Russia
A drone hit a data centre belonging to Russia's state-owned lender Sberbank in the southern city of Balakovo, TASS quoted Sberbank deputy chairman Alexander Vedyakhin as saying Wednesday. Read full story →
Kyiv power cuts follow Russian strikes, officials say
Parts of Kyiv lost power after heavy Russian strikes, the city's mayor and a utility said. Read full story →
Yemen Houthi strike toll rises to 73, officials say
The death toll from a Houthi strike on a military camp used by Yemeni government forces in Shabwa province has risen to 73, local authorities said Tuesday. Read full story →
UK to deploy Typhoon jets to defend Saudi Arabia
Britain will deploy RAF Typhoon fighter jets to help protect Saudi Arabia from aerial attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels, the UK government said Tuesday. Read full story →
Saudi says it intercepted Houthi missile targeting Riyadh
Saudi forces intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile aimed at Riyadh on Tuesday, a spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition backing Yemen's government said. Read full story →
Houthi projectile injures six in Najran, Saudi agency says
Saudi Arabia's civil defence agency said a Houthi projectile hit a residential area in Najran on Sunday, injuring six people near the kingdom's border with Yemen. Read full story →
Houthis release 159 Yemen pro-government fighters
Yemen's Houthis released 159 pro-government fighters under an amnesty, the International Committee of the Red Cross and a Houthi official said Saturday. Read full story →
Saudi coalition says missiles, drones intercepted
The Saudi-led coalition fighting Yemen's Houthis said Friday it intercepted and destroyed missiles and drones over Riyadh, other Saudi areas, the Red Sea and Yanbu. Read full story →
Houthis' arsenal sustains strikes on Saudi Arabia
Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis have built a missile and drone arsenal that gives them varied and sustained strike capabilities against Saudi Arabia and targets near the Red Sea, according to analysts and research organisations cited by AFP. Read full story →
Houthis hit Aden coalition command centre, minister says
A Yemeni government minister said Thursday that a Houthi missile attack on the Al-Maashiq presidential palace in Aden hit a command centre for forces backed by Yemen's internationally recognised government and the headquarters of the Saudi-led coalition at the presidential complex. Read full story →
Yemen hospitals overwhelmed by war wounded, ICRC says
Yemen's hospitals are overwhelmed by a growing number of war-wounded patients, the International Committee of the Red Cross said on Wednesday, warning that the country's fragile health system faces critical shortages. Read full story →
Riyadh-bound Houthi missile intercepted, coalition says
The Saudi-led coalition fighting Yemen's Houthis said Wednesday that it intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile fired towards Riyadh. Read full story →
Niger bus attacks kill at least 11, broadcaster says
Gunmen attacked two buses on a main road in northern Niger on Tuesday, killing at least 11 passengers and wounding several others, local broadcaster Tegades TV reported. Read full story →
Mali camp attacks kill 48 civilians, sources say
Suspected jihadists killed at least 48 civilians in weekend attacks on camps in northeastern Mali's Menaka region, sources told AFP Tuesday, and a local official said 11 other people were missing. Read full story →
NATO to send Black Sea surveillance after drone strikes
NATO will send additional assets to the Black Sea after recent drone strikes off Romania and Bulgaria, alliance spokeswoman Allison Hart said Tuesday. Read full story →
Sudan strikes kill more than 100, officials say
Strikes across Sudan killed more than 100 people on Sunday and Monday, according to local authorities, residents and medical workers, including 53 people killed at a market in the disputed Abyei district. Read full story →
Iraq buries 47 security personnel killed by IS
Iraq held a mass funeral on October 20 for 47 members of the security forces killed by the Islamic State group in 2016, after their remains were found in two mass graves south of Mosul. Read full story →
Riyadh shaken by two blasts after danger alert
AFP journalists heard two blasts in Riyadh on Tuesday after Saudi authorities issued an alert warning of a potential danger in the capital. Read full story →
Riyadh airport closure disrupts Saudi capital
Riyadh's airport remains closed more than a week after fatal attacks blamed by the Saudi-led coalition on Yemen's Houthis, disrupting airlines, businesses and residents in the Saudi capital. Read full story →
Germany summons Iran envoy over assassination plots
Germany summoned Iran's ambassador on Monday after two men were jailed last week over what German authorities called assassination plots against pro-Israeli public figures on behalf of Tehran. Read full story →
Japan to deploy long-range missiles in US drill
Japan began a joint military exercise with the United States on Monday that will include the first deployment of long-range Type 25 surface-to-ship guided missiles outside their garrison, Japan's Joint Staff said. Read full story →
Ghost Shark drones to carry sea mines and UAVs
Australia is equipping its Ghost Shark autonomous submarine drone with sea mines and aerial drones, the defence ministry said on Monday, October 19, 2026. Read full story →
Lithuania says Russia likely behind Starlink arson bid
Lithuanian Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevicius said on Oct. Read full story →
Taiwan says it drove away 16 Chinese vessels
Taiwan's coast guard said it drove away 16 Chinese coast guard, research and fishing vessels on Sunday during coordinated operations around Taiwan's main island and Pratas, which Taipei described as maritime harassment. Read full story →
Eritrean troops leave Adigrat after drone strikes
Residents in and around the northern Ethiopian city of Adigrat said Eritrean troops had left after drone strikes by Ethiopian federal forces, though some Eritrean forces remained near the border on the Ethiopian side. Read full story →
Riyadh aerial threat alert sent to residents
Residents of Riyadh received a mobile phone alert early Sunday warning of a “hostile aerial threat”, AFP journalists reported, after days of attacks from Yemen's Huthis. Read full story →
Romania says it shot down two Russian drones over Black Sea
Romania said Saturday that its military shot down two Russian drones over the Black Sea after they entered Romanian airspace. Read full story →
Somalia: Laftagareen forces capture southern towns
Forces loyal to ousted South West State leader Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen captured several key towns in southern Somalia on Saturday, officials and eyewitnesses said. Read full story →
Myanmar airstrike kills 11 civilians, rebel says
A rebel fighter said a Myanmar military airstrike killed 11 people in a village in central Myanmar on Friday, including six women and two children. Read full story →
Joseph Kabila accused by DR Congo of planning attack
DR Congo's government accused former president Joseph Kabila on Friday of planning a "general attack" after he joined forces with the M23 armed group in a new organisation involved in the conflict in the country's east. Read full story →
Darfur drone strike kills 30, medical source says
A drone strike killed 30 people at a cattle market in Sudan's Darfur region, a medical source said. Read full story →
Red Cross driver shot dead in Ethiopia, IFRC says
The IFRC said an Ethiopian Red Cross ambulance driver was shot dead while transporting a patient in western Ethiopia. Read full story →
Sahel jihadist clashes intensify as IS claims 400 killed
Clashes between rival jihadist factions in the Sahel have escalated, with Islamic State - Sahel Province claiming it killed more than 400 fighters from the Al-Qaeda-linked Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims. Read full story →
Sudan airstrike kills five children, rights group says
An airstrike killed five children in Abu Zaeima in Sudan’s North Kordofan state on Thursday, the rights group Emergency Lawyers said, blaming the attack on the army. Read full story →
Ethiopia-Eritrea border town caught between armies
Residents around the Ethiopian border town of Zalambessa said Eritrean and Ethiopian armies were facing each other nearby, leaving civilians anxious and short of basic supplies as fears of a wider regional war grow. Read full story →
Black Sea drone attacks leave seven missing off Romania
Seven people were missing after what Romania's president described as drone attacks on two ships in the Black Sea off Romania. Read full story →
Houthi attacks in Saudi Arabia go largely unfilmed
Recent Houthi attacks in Saudi Arabia have gone largely unfilmed in public after repeated government warnings against recording missiles, drones, air defences and impact sites. Read full story →
Australian police warn of online extremism after MP attack
Australian Federal Police commissioner Krissy Barrett warned of growing online extremism after lawmaker Helen Haines was attacked and left in critical condition in a Melbourne hospital. Read full story →
France to impose new curfews after unrest, PM says
France will impose new curfews where needed after weekend demonstrations turned into riots, Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said on Tuesday, Oct. Read full story →
Helen Haines critically injured in car attack, police say
Australian independent lawmaker Helen Haines was critically injured after being deliberately struck by a car outside her office in Wangaratta, Victoria, on Monday, authorities said. Read full story →
Mexico mining murders: five suspects arrested
Mexican authorities said Sunday they arrested five men linked to the kidnapping and murder of 10 workers from a Canadian mining company in Sinaloa. Read full story →
Paris looting spreads amid France cost-of-living protests
Looters smashed shop windows and took goods from stores across Paris on Saturday as nationwide protests over the cost of living degenerated into violence. Read full story →
Oregon school shooting families comfort fearful children
Families in Bend, Oregon, are trying to help children cope after a shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School killed three children and a teacher, while authorities said the two wounded victims are in stable condition. Read full story →
France charges 14-year-old over Aubagne school shooting
French authorities charged a 14-year-old with attempted murder and remanded him in custody after a school shooting in Aubagne, near Marseille, that wounded a principal and a teacher, prosecutors said. Read full story →
Costa Rica opens Bukele-inspired high-security jail
Costa Rica opened a high-security prison in San Rafael de Alajuela on Wednesday, presenting it as part of President Laura Fernandez's plan to crack down on organized crime. Read full story →
Cornell rape lawsuit sparks online abuse of namesakes
Asians who share names with men accused in a Cornell University rape lawsuit have received online abuse and threats after internet users tried to identify the accused men. Read full story →
Bangladesh police say 20 died in Russia war trafficking
Bangladesh authorities have arrested two people suspected of trafficking locals to Russia for Moscow's war against Ukraine, where police said 20 Bangladeshis have been confirmed dead. Read full story →
Elbasan toxic dust find adds to Albania pollution scandals
Environmental inspectors in the Albanian city of Elbasan found 318 tonnes of toxic industrial dust stored for months at the AlbChrome chrome factory after smoke from fires covered the area this summer, adding to long-running pollution and corruption cases that analysts say could affect Albania's EU ambitions. Read full story →
Zelensky says Ukraine must join any Trump-Putin-Xi meeting
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Tuesday that Ukraine must be represented in any meeting between US President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping if Ukraine's future is discussed. Read full story →
Iran says Iraq will expel exiled Kurdish opposition
Iran’s ambassador to Iraq said Tuesday that Baghdad had agreed to expel or hand over members of Iranian Kurdish opposition groups based in Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan region. Read full story →
Philippines summons China envoy over force threat claim
The Philippines summoned China's ambassador in Manila on Monday after saying his remark that China would “easily win” a conflict conveyed a threat of force, the Department of Foreign Affairs said. Read full story →
Marco Rubio pushes US deals in Central Asia
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio pushed for greater access for American companies during talks with Central Asian states in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on Monday, as Washington seeks stronger ties in a resource-rich region where China is a major competitor. Read full story →
Lavrov to visit Iran as Russia seeks war mediation
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was due to arrive in Iran on Monday for his first visit there since the Middle East war began, as Moscow seeks a mediating role. Read full story →
Ukraine intelligence sharing was not paused, Rubio says
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Monday that there had been no pause in US intelligence sharing with Ukraine, denying Kyiv's claim that Washington had briefly halted information used to counter Russian missile attacks. Read full story →
Trump defends Russia sanctions waiver, criticises Zelensky
US President Donald Trump on Sunday defended waiving some sanctions on Russia, saying he did not want to push Moscow away from negotiations, and again accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of not wanting to end the war. Read full story →
Iran backs political process in Saudi-Houthi conflict
Iran's foreign minister backed a political process to resolve the conflict between Saudi Arabia and Yemen's Houthis, adding to Tehran's public rejection of Riyadh's claims that it is involved in recent Houthi attacks on the kingdom. Read full story →
Ukraine satellite help being prepared, Macron says
French President Emmanuel Macron said Europe is working to help Ukraine strengthen its defences with satellite imagery and early-warning systems. Read full story →
Trump calls Ukraine refinery strikes a disgrace
US President Donald Trump called Ukraine's renewed strikes on Russian oil refineries a “disgrace” in a Newsmax interview published Thursday, saying they were driving up global energy prices. Read full story →
US sanctions Cuban bank over alleged Iran ties
The United States imposed sanctions Thursday on Cuba's Banco Internacional de Comercio S.A., accusing it of ties to Iran's Karafarin Bank. Read full story →
Ukraine support urged by UK defence chief in US rift
British Defense Secretary Wes Streeting urged the United States on October 15 to keep supporting Ukraine, saying at a CSIS event in Washington that it was in US short- and long-term interests. Read full story →
NATO chief discusses energy ceasefire with Zelensky
The NATO chief said he had discussed with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky the “importance of implementing an energy ceasefire” in the war with Russia. Read full story →
EU-Gulf Riyadh summit postponed amid Houthi attacks
The European Union and Gulf Cooperation Council postponed a summit planned for October 24, 2026, in Riyadh, the European Council said Thursday, as Saudi Arabia faces sustained attacks from Yemen's Houthis. Read full story →
Japan denies Russia spy claim over arrested journalist
Japan denied conducting spy activity in Russia after Moscow arrested Japanese journalist Yuki Imai on suspicion of espionage, deepening a diplomatic dispute between the two countries. Read full story →
Ukraine funding gap requires more EU money, Merz says
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Thursday that the European Union would have to find more money to finance Ukraine, as Kyiv warns it faces a major budget shortfall next year. Read full story →
Armenia PM aims for Azerbaijan peace treaty by 2031
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said Thursday that he hoped to sign and ratify a peace treaty with Azerbaijan before 2031, as the two countries pursue normalisation after decades of conflict. Read full story →
Elon Musk says Volodymyr Zelensky should 'go'
Elon Musk called on Wednesday for Volodymyr Zelensky to “go” as Ukraine’s president, escalating a dispute over satellite communications and US support for Kyiv. Read full story →
US lifts sanctions on Venezuela's Jorge Rodriguez
The United States has lifted sanctions on Jorge Rodriguez, the head of Venezuela's National Assembly and brother of interim President Delcy Rodriguez, a Treasury Department notice showed Wednesday. Read full story →
Colombia opens Israel embassy in Jerusalem
Colombia officially opened its embassy to Israel in Jerusalem on Wednesday, joining a small group of countries that keep their Israeli embassies in the contested city rather than Tel Aviv. Read full story →
King Felipe VI visits Melilla after sovereignty vow
King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia visited Melilla on Wednesday, a day after visiting Ceuta, in the first Spanish royal visit to the two North African territories since 2007. Read full story →
Colombia mine landslide kills 14 at illegal gold site
A landslide at an illegal gold mine in southwestern Colombia killed 14 people and injured seven, a regional official said Monday. Read full story →
Spain floods kill at least four in east
At least four people have died after torrential rain caused severe flooding in eastern Spain, authorities said Monday, as emergency crews carried out more than 400 rescues in the Valencia region. Read full story →
Istanbul floods death toll rises to eight
The death toll from flooding in and around Istanbul rose to eight on Monday after rescuers found more bodies, Istanbul governor Davut Gul said. Read full story →
Indonesia fires burned 1.9m hectares, monitor says
Fires in Indonesia burned 1,916,588 hectares between January and the end of September, deforestation monitoring site Nusantara Atlas said Monday. Read full story →
India truck crash kills 13 at Hindu festival
A speeding truck killed 13 people when it hit a crowd at a Hindu festival in Gwalior in India's central Madhya Pradesh state, officials said Sunday. Read full story →
Southeast Asia haze drives oxygen tank, purifier demand
Toxic haze from wildfires in Indonesia has increased demand for oxygen tanks and air purifiers across parts of Southeast Asia, companies said, as polluted air forces school closures and fuels respiratory complaints. Read full story →
Canada base incident causes deaths and major fire
A serious incident at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright in western Alberta caused fatalities and injuries and started a major fire on Saturday, Canadian officials said. Read full story →
Kolkata stampede kills 19 at Durga Puja gathering
A stampede outside a Durga Puja pavilion in Kolkata killed at least 19 people and injured 25 on Saturday, West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendhu Adhikari and Indian media reported. Read full story →
California wildfires burn homes south of Los Angeles
Wildfires driven by Santa Ana winds burned through parts of Southern California on Friday, scorching homes south of Los Angeles and prompting evacuation orders. Read full story →
Pakistan school collapse families demand justice
Families of children killed when a school roof collapsed in Peshawar, northwest Pakistan, called for justice on Friday after a teacher and 32 students died in the disaster. Read full story →
Channel Tunnel minibus crash injures 19 in France
A minibus collided with a stationary train near the entrance to the Channel Tunnel in France on Thursday evening, injuring 19 people, authorities said. Read full story →
Nepal flood swept away 200 houses; six missing
A flash flood in central Nepal swept away 200 houses and five bridges, with at least six people missing and no deaths confirmed, disaster officials said. Read full story →
Indonesia wildfire haze: 280,000 respiratory cases
Indonesia's health ministry said more than 280,000 people were recorded with respiratory problems between August 18 and October 13 as wildfire haze blanketed parts of the country. Read full story →
Tropical Storm Rachel toll rises to 8 in Mexico, govt says
The death toll from Tropical Storm Rachel in Mexico has risen to at least eight, Mexican government authorities said, with two other people still missing after the storm swept along the country's Pacific coast. Read full story →
Panama earthquake death toll rises to one
Panama recorded its first death from last week's 7.7-magnitude earthquake after a 68-year-old woman died Wednesday from injuries sustained in the disaster, officials said. Read full story →
Rhodes storm kills man swept out to sea in car
A 62-year-old man died on Rhodes on Wednesday when his car was swept out to sea during severe weather, Greece's fire service said. Read full story →
Thai villages flooded as Bangkok is protected
Villages north of Bangkok are being deliberately flooded as Thai authorities try to protect the capital, historic Ayutthaya and industrial zones along the Chao Phraya River. Read full story →
13 children die in India festival boat capsize
Thirteen children died after a boat capsized in India's Ganges river while travelling to a festival, officials said Wednesday. Read full story →
UK unemployment falls to 4.7% before budget
Britain's unemployment rate fell to 4.7 percent in the three months to the end of August, the Office for National Statistics said Tuesday, ahead of the Labour government's budget update next week. Read full story →
China GDP grows 4.5% as domestic demand stays weak
China's economy grew 4.5% in the third quarter, official data showed Monday, slightly ahead of an AFP poll of economists but still at the lower end of Beijing's full-year target. Read full story →
China retail sales rise 1.1%, fastest since March
China's retail sales rose 1.1% year-on-year in September, their fastest pace since March, official data showed on Monday. Read full story →
China GDP grows 4.5% in third quarter
China's economy grew 4.5% year-on-year in the third quarter, official data showed on Monday, keeping the lower end of Beijing's annual growth target within reach. Read full story →
US-India trade deal stalls before Rubio visit
A long-awaited US-India trade deal remains stalled as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio prepares to visit India in the coming week, with officials and experts pointing to tariff uncertainty, energy disputes and sensitive agricultural issues. Read full story →
AI boom drives growth but raises risks, IMF says
The AI boom has become a major support for global growth but could create risks if investment slows, policymakers and economists said at the IMF-World Bank Annual Meetings in Bangkok. Read full story →
IMF chief sees optimism and worry for global economy
International Monetary Fund chief Kristalina Georgieva said on Saturday that this year's IMF-World Bank Annual Meetings in Bangkok were marked by both optimism and worry about the global economy. Read full story →
US budget deficit widens to nearly $2 trillion
The US budget deficit widened to nearly $2 trillion in 2026, the government said. Read full story →
Food crisis looming after energy shock, IFAD says
A global food crisis is looming as rising energy and fertiliser costs hit smallholder farmers and push up agricultural commodity prices, the head of the UN agriculture development fund said. Read full story →
Iraq says Mideast war has cost it $60bn
Iraq's foreign minister said the country has lost around $60 billion during the recent war between the United States and Iran, as disruption in the Strait of Hormuz hit oil exports that fund most state revenue. Read full story →
US producer prices jump 6.3% in September
US producer prices rose 6.3% in September from a year earlier, Labor Department data showed Thursday, adding to inflation pressure before November’s midterm elections. Read full story →
France pensioner tax break cut rejected by lawmakers
French lawmakers on Thursday rejected a government plan to reduce a tax break for pensioners, a setback for efforts to cut spending and contain the country’s debt burden. Read full story →
Sub-Saharan Africa growth forecast raised to 4.5% by IMF
The International Monetary Fund raised its 2026 growth forecast for sub-Saharan Africa to 4.5% on Thursday, saying the region had shown resilience through a series of crises. Read full story →
India to overtake Japan as No. 4 economy in 2027: IMF
The International Monetary Fund expects India to become the world's fourth-largest economy in 2027, overtaking Japan with nominal gross domestic product projected at $4.52 trillion. Read full story →
UK economy grows 0.1% in August before budget
Britain's economy grew 0.1 percent in August from the previous month, official data showed Thursday, ahead of the Labour government's budget update this month. Read full story →
Gulf economies face lasting war hit, IMF says
Gulf and other energy-rich Middle Eastern economies are unlikely to return soon to their pre-war growth path because of damage from the region's conflict, IMF regional director Jihad Azour said on Thursday. Read full story →
Poverty could hit 130m if prices passed on, UNDP says
The UN Development Programme warned that about 130 million people could be pushed into poverty this year if higher energy and food prices are fully passed on without subsidies. Read full story →
US inflation rises to 3.7% as gasoline jumps
US consumer inflation rose to 3.7% in September as gasoline costs jumped, the Department of Labor said Wednesday, adding to cost-of-living pressure before the November 3 midterm elections. Read full story →
China trade surplus heads for record as exports rise
China's trade surplus is on course for a record year after exports rose 36.3% year on year in September, official customs data showed Wednesday. Read full story →
China producer prices rise 5% in September
China's producer prices rose 5.0% year-on-year in September, the National Bureau of Statistics said Wednesday, marking the fastest pace since summer 2022. Read full story →
France student protests expose school inequality
France's student protests over school conditions have drawn attention to resource gaps between schools in poorer areas and those in wealthier communities. Read full story →
Argentina education protest sees clashes in Buenos Aires
Thousands of students, university staff, trade unionists and opposition activists demonstrated outside parliament in Buenos Aires on October 15 over higher education funding, with a smaller group clashing with police for about an hour. Read full story →
Austria school headscarf ban faces pupil resistance
Austria's ban on headscarves for girls under 14 in schools has met resistance from pupils, parents and campaigners since it took effect on September 1. Read full story →
Meta says it complied with Brazil election court order
Meta said Tuesday it had complied with a Brazil electoral court order requiring equal treatment for President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and right-wing challenger Flavio Bolsonaro in the country's presidential runoff. Read full story →
Alberta backs unity in Canada secession vote
Alberta's federalist side won the province's secession referendum, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Albertans had made a clear choice for unity. Read full story →
Tigray elections planned within six months, mayor says
Tigray elections should be held within six months as Ethiopia's new interim administration tries to restore stability after recent fighting, the government-appointed mayor of Mekelle, Shishay Amare, told AFP on Monday. Read full story →
James Talarico and Ken Paxton clash over Texas Senate
Democrat James Talarico and Republican Ken Paxton are competing for a US Senate seat in Texas on November 3 in a race that could help decide control of Congress. Read full story →
Texas Democrats see rare chance to beat Ken Paxton
Texas Democrats see a rare chance to win statewide office in the November 3 midterm elections, with polling showing a competitive US Senate race between Democrat James Talarico and Republican Ken Paxton. Read full story →
Lula, Flavio Bolsonaro trade insults in debate
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and right-wing Senator Flavio Bolsonaro traded personal attacks in their first debate Sunday, one week before the October 25 presidential runoff. Read full story →
Macky Sall withdraws from UN chief race
Former Senegal president Macky Sall withdrew on Saturday from the seven-person race to become the next United Nations secretary-general, a day after an informal UN Security Council poll produced no clear favourite. Read full story →
Democrats outraise Republicans in key midterm races
Democratic candidates outraised Republican rivals in key US congressional races in the July-September quarter, even as Elon Musk gave record sums to groups trying to keep President Donald Trump's party in power. Read full story →
Alberta secession vote draws Carney unity push
Prime Minister Mark Carney campaigned for Canadian unity in Alberta on Thursday before the oil-rich province votes on whether it wants a legally binding independence referendum. Read full story →
Somalia sets 2027 election dates amid opposition
Somalia’s election commission said parliamentary elections will be held on April 15, 2027, followed by a presidential vote on May 15, 2027, despite political opposition and widespread insecurity. Read full story →
Gadi Eisenkot pledges to end Hamas Gaza rule in 18 months
Israeli opposition politician Gadi Eisenkot pledged Thursday to end Hamas rule in Gaza within 18 months if he becomes prime minister after Israel's October 27 election. Read full story →
California billionaire tax goes to voters in midterms
California voters will decide in the November 3 midterm elections whether the state's roughly 200 billionaires should pay a one-time tax of 5% of their net worth, mostly to fund public healthcare. Read full story →
South Africa political killings rise before local polls
Suspected political killings in South Africa have risen ahead of local elections on November 4, with at least 43 people killed in 45 suspected political attacks in the first nine months of the year, according to the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime. Read full story →
Brazil Indigenous fear Flavio Bolsonaro runoff win
Amazonian Indigenous leaders in Brazil say a possible Flavio Bolsonaro victory in the October 25 presidential runoff raises fears for Indigenous rights and the rainforest. Read full story →
Israel election draws overseas voters home
Israelis living abroad are flying home to vote in the October 27 election because Israel does not allow citizens overseas to cast ballots from abroad. Read full story →
France says it secured 200,000t more Gulf diesel a month
The French presidency said President Emmanuel Macron secured an additional 200,000 tonnes of diesel a month from the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain during a Gulf tour aimed at easing pressure on fuel prices in France. Read full story →
US oil price jumps 5.7% on Middle East supply fears
The main US oil contract jumped 5.7 percent on Tuesday as concerns grew over tight supplies linked to the Middle East conflict. Read full story →
Fiji fuel crunch drives villages toward solar power
Rising energy costs in Fiji are pushing some villagers toward solar power as the island nation tries to reduce its reliance on imported fossil fuels. Read full story →
Sri Lanka rations power after coal plant breakdown
Sri Lanka announced nationwide electricity rationing from Monday after a malfunction at a coal-fired generator caused a complete national grid breakdown over the weekend. Read full story →
Pakistan minister says Gulf attacks worry energy outlook
Pakistan's finance minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said attacks on energy infrastructure in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries were worrying for Pakistan's longer-term economic outlook, even though the country had so far avoided shortages from higher energy prices. Read full story →
Syria gas pipeline damaged in fourth sabotage in weeks
Syria's state petroleum company said on October 15 that the Jabsa production gas pipeline in Al-Hasakah province had been damaged in a sabotage attack, causing a fire. Read full story →
Taiwan to invest up to $4.4bn in Alaska LNG project
Taiwan says it will invest up to US$4.4 billion in the planned Alaska LNG project and buy six million metric tons of LNG a year once production starts, its Ministry of Economic Affairs said Wednesday. Read full story →
France bond spread over Germany hits 2012 high
The yield gap between France's 10-year government bond and Germany's benchmark bond rose above 150 basis points on Tuesday, its highest level since January 2012 closing levels. Read full story →
IMF austerity demands criticised at Bangkok meetings
Hundreds of protesters gathered in Bangkok on Friday as the IMF and World Bank held annual meetings, demanding that the institutions change how they deal with developing countries. Read full story →
Norway wealth fund may invest in nuclear weapon makers
Norway's sovereign wealth fund may again be allowed to invest in some companies that make nuclear weapons under recommendations presented Thursday. Read full story →
France debt costs are alarm signal, minister says
French Finance Minister Roland Lescure said Wednesday that higher interest rates on France's government debt are an “alarm signal” for the country, even though Paris still retains the confidence of bond investors. Read full story →
Nigeria confirms first Ebola case since 2014
Nigeria said on Tuesday it had recorded its first Ebola case of Africa's latest outbreak, in a woman who travelled from Uganda to the capital Abuja. Read full story →
Kenya Ebola cases rise to nine, ministry says
Kenya's health ministry said on October 20 that the country has detected a ninth Ebola case, a 24-year-old man described as a close family member of the first patient. Read full story →
Pretoria-area tap water unsafe after 400 fall ill
Residents in parts of South Africa's Tshwane municipality, which includes Pretoria, have been told not to drink tap water after waterborne pathogens led more than 400 people to seek medical treatment, the city said Tuesday. Read full story →
Singapore warns seven Indonesian firms over toxic haze
Singapore said on Friday it would issue warnings to seven companies in Indonesia after an investigation suggested that some haze in the city-state came from fires on their land. Read full story →
Belgium reports first two West Nile virus deaths
Belgium’s Flanders region confirmed Thursday the country’s first two deaths from West Nile virus, a mosquito-borne infection that has caused cases across Europe this year. Read full story →
Lead exposure above action level in 815m children: WHO
Lead exposure is at or above the World Health Organization's action level in 815 million children, the agency said as it urged governments on Oct. Read full story →
Germany cabinet approves sugary drinks tax plan
Germany's cabinet approved a draft plan on Wednesday to tax sugary drinks, sending the measure to parliament after a coalition dispute over the proposal. Read full story →
Indonesia haze respiratory cases top 280,000
Indonesia recorded 283,270 respiratory problems in haze-affected regions between August 18 and October 13, health ministry official Then Suyanti said on Wednesday. Read full story →
Indonesia wildfire haze sparks city protests
Indonesians protested in several cities on Tuesday over wildfires and toxic haze that have made thousands of people unwell for weeks and spread pollution across Southeast Asia. Read full story →
Taiz aid access demanded by UN amid Houthi siege
The United Nations demanded immediate humanitarian access to Yemen's Taiz on Tuesday, warning that Houthi fighters' closure of the city's supply route to Aden was putting civilians at grave risk. Read full story →
Gaza food aid for 500,000 to end, WFP says
The UN's World Food Programme said Monday it would stop monthly food or cash assistance for 500,000 people in Gaza because of a funding shortfall, while warning that needs remain acute in the Palestinian territory. Read full story →
Mali army, rebels committed war abuses, HRW says
Human Rights Watch said Monday that Mali's army, its Russian paramilitary allies and rebel opponents have committed serious laws-of-war violations, including killings of civilians and executions of captured soldiers. Read full story →
Gaza teen amputees seek new lives at Jordan centre
More than 450 Palestinian amputees are receiving care and prosthetic limbs at a centre in Amman and in Gaza through an initiative run by Jordan's Restoring Hope Society. Read full story →
Brazil police killings leave women waiting for justice
Women in Brazil's Bahia state are seeking justice for relatives they say were killed by police, as public security becomes a central issue before the October 25 presidential runoff. Read full story →
Halk TV owner says seizure masks Turkey fund scandal
Halk TV owner Cafer Mahiroglu said Turkey's seizure of the country's most-watched news channel was meant to distract from a multi-billion-dollar investment fund scandal that he said implicated the ruling AKP. Read full story →
Novaya Gazeta editor Sergei Sokolov detained
Russia’s independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta said Thursday that its editor-in-chief, Sergei Sokolov, had been detained and taken to Moscow’s Investigative Committee after a search of his home. Read full story →
Spain housing crisis delays family plans for renters
Spain's housing crisis is forcing some renters to delay family plans, share flats or face eviction as prices rise faster than wages and affordable homes remain scarce. Read full story →
Slovak same-sex couple challenges marriage refusal
Slovakian lawyers Ivan Novotny and Metod Spacek are challenging Slovakia's refusal to register their same-sex marriage, saying the decision breaches a European Union court ruling. Read full story →
Libya executions: HRW says eastern forces killed 31
Human Rights Watch said military authorities in eastern Libya executed at least 31 people earlier this year after what it called grossly unfair military trials. Read full story →
Sally Rooney books cannot be sold in UK, Faber says
Irish author Sally Rooney's books can no longer be sold in the UK because of her support for Palestine Action, her publisher Faber said on Wednesday. Read full story →
Jantar Mantar loses status as Delhi protest site
Jantar Mantar, New Delhi's best-known protest site for more than three decades, has lost its status as an authorised demonstration venue under a Delhi Police order. Read full story →
Turkey LGBTQ crackdown condemned by UN experts
UN human rights experts condemned what they called a severe crackdown on LGBTQ organisations in Turkey and said legitimate rights work was being unduly restricted. Read full story →
Boeing 737 MAX 10 certified by US regulators
US regulators have given final approval to the Boeing 737 MAX 10, certifying the largest aircraft in the MAX family and clearing a key step toward deliveries expected in 2027. Read full story →
China Merchants quits Sri Lanka port hub venture
China Merchants Port Holdings has withdrawn from a planned $392 million logistics hub joint venture at Sri Lanka's main seaport, the Sri Lanka Ports Authority said Monday. Read full story →
Italy flights disrupted by air traffic data problem
Flights in Italy were delayed and cancelled on Friday after data transmission problems affected air traffic control across the country, Italy's air navigation agency ENAV said. Read full story →
China-North Korea bridge opens 12 years late
The New Yalu River Bridge between China and North Korea opened to traffic on Thursday, October 15, 12 years after it was completed, creating a four-lane road crossing intended to expand trade between the neighbours. Read full story →
Burkina Faso reinstates death penalty, ministry says
Burkina Faso's justice ministry said on October 20 that the country's ruling junta has reinstated the death penalty after a unanimous vote by its unelected legislature. Read full story →
53 migrant truck deaths: man gets 30 years in Texas
A Guatemalan man was sentenced in Texas on October 20 to 30 years in prison for his involvement in the deaths of 53 migrants who were crammed into a sweltering tractor-trailer after crossing the Mexican-US border in 2022. Read full story →
Raul Castro arrest warrant issued by Florida
Florida's top prosecutor announced an arrest warrant Monday for former Cuban president Raul Castro on state murder charges tied to the February 24, 1996 shootdown of two civilian aircraft from Brothers to the Rescue. Read full story →
OpenAI engineer had Saudi royal ties, US prosecutors say
US prosecutors urged a court to keep former OpenAI engineer Abdulrahman Alfozan in custody, alleging in an October 18 filing that he had frequent communications with an unnamed member of the Saudi royal family. Read full story →
9/11 plea deal appeal rejected by US Supreme Court
The US Supreme Court on Monday rejected an appeal by accused 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two alleged accomplices seeking to revive plea deals that were later revoked. Read full story →
Kenya cult leader guilty over 191 starvation deaths
A Mombasa court found a self-proclaimed Kenyan preacher and 28 associates guilty on Monday of murdering 191 people in a starvation cult case. Read full story →
Paul Mackenzie in court for Shakahola verdict
A Mombasa court is due to deliver a verdict on Monday, October 19, in the murder trial of self-proclaimed Kenyan preacher Paul Mackenzie and his associates over 191 deaths linked to the Shakahola starvation cult. Read full story →
Saudi Arabia executes five on terrorism charges
Saudi Arabia executed five people on terrorism charges on Saturday, the interior ministry said, bringing the number of death sentences carried out in the kingdom this year to 188, according to an AFP tally based on official statements. Read full story →
DR Congo president associates raided in Belgium, source says
Belgian police raided homes in Brussels and other parts of Belgium this week as part of a money laundering investigation, federal prosecutors confirmed. Read full story →
Bulgaria opens war crimes inquiry over drone-hit ship
Bulgaria's military prosecutor opened a war crimes investigation on Friday into a drone attack on the Maltese-flagged freighter Chelsea 3 in the Black Sea, after the vessel was hit by three drones this week and all 15 crew members were rescued. Read full story →
Mexico surfers murder sentences expected Friday
A Mexican judge is expected to sentence three men on Friday after they were convicted of murdering Australian brothers Jake and Callum Robinson and their American friend Carter Rhoad during a 2024 surfing trip in Baja California. Read full story →
Nicolas Maduro pleads not guilty to US torture charges
Ousted Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, pleaded not guilty Thursday in a New York court to new US torture charges. Read full story →
Nidal Hasan execution livestream canceled by Trump
US President Donald Trump said Thursday that Nidal Hasan’s firing squad execution will not be livestreamed, canceling a plan by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth after broad criticism. Read full story →
Germany jails two over Iran-linked anti-Israel plots
A German court jailed two men on Thursday for planning attacks on prominent pro-Israel public figures and spying on Jews on behalf of Iranian secret services. Read full story →
Jeffrey Donaldson jailed for 15 years for rape
Former Democratic Unionist Party leader Jeffrey Donaldson was jailed on Thursday for 15 years after being convicted of 18 historical sex offences, including rape. Read full story →
Shell climate lawsuits target Brazil floods, Typhoon Rai
Shell is facing climate compensation lawsuits linked to deadly flooding in Brazil and Typhoon Rai in the Philippines, as plaintiffs test whether major polluters can be made to pay for part of the cost of specific extreme weather disasters. Read full story →
Mohamed Al-Fayed accusers criticise UK trafficking probe
Women who allege Mohamed Al-Fayed sexually abused or exploited them say London's Metropolitan Police is missing a wider trafficking network in its investigation, accusations the force denies. Read full story →
Turkey fund scandal: ex-regulator chief faces probe
Turkish Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek agreed to let prosecutors open an investigation into Ibrahim Omer Gonul, the former head of Turkey's Capital Markets Board, state news agency Anadolu said Wednesday. Read full story →
Badra Aliou Dicko charged after Mali army killing claim
Badra Aliou Dicko, a prominent online supporter of Mali's military junta known as Bad the Malian, has been charged with "undermining" the state and "defamation", Mali's anti-cybercrime unit told AFP. Read full story →
Poland’s Tusk vows rule-of-law return after court protest
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk pledged on Wednesday to restore the rule of law after right-wing protesters rallied outside Poland's Constitutional Tribunal and tried to block judges from entering. Read full story →
18th Mexican dies in US immigration custody, Mexico says
Mexico said a Mexican national died at a US immigration processing center in Laredo, Texas, making him the 18th Mexican to die in immigration custody since President Donald Trump's inauguration in January 2025. Read full story →
12 migrants die in Aegean crossings, Greece says
Greek authorities said Monday that 12 migrants died while trying to cross the Aegean Sea in two incidents, including six whose bodies were found after their boat collided with a police vessel off Lesbos. Read full story →
Poland abortion bills pass parliament but face veto
Poland's parliament voted on Tuesday to pass two bills that would ease parts of the country's abortion restrictions, but the measures still face a possible veto from conservative-nationalist President Karol Nawrocki. Read full story →
Albania protests: Rama blames unrest on 'hybrid war'
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama blamed a "hybrid war" for fuelling unrest after a week of violent anti-government demonstrations in Tirana. Read full story →
Romania approves Luca Niculescu's pro-EU government
Romania’s parliament approved a government proposed by pro-European prime minister-designate Luca Niculescu on Tuesday, after months of political deadlock. Read full story →
Milan set for 500 troops after looting and clashes
Italy is preparing to send 500 troops to Milan after two days of clashes, looting and arrests in the city. Read full story →
France protests: Macron orders review after looting
French President Emmanuel Macron ordered a security review after nationwide cost-of-living protests turned into widespread violence and looting, while the European Union said Monday that peaceful protest rights in France must be protected. Read full story →
Albania protests hit sixth day; ministry says 272 hurt
Anti-government protests in Albania's capital entered a sixth straight day on Sunday as Prime Minister Edi Rama ruled out resigning and the health ministry said 272 people had been injured since Tuesday. Read full story →
Tunisia protest draws 3,000 over costs and freedoms
More than 3,000 people demonstrated in Tunis on October 17 against rising living costs and what they described as a rollback of rights and freedoms. Read full story →
India Cockroach Janata Party founder released
Cockroach Janata Party founder Abhijeet Dipke was released from detention on Saturday, a day after Indian police detained him during a crackdown on protests against the election authority. Read full story →
Colombia first lady denies quake aid mismanagement
Colombia's first lady Ana Lucia Pineda has denied allegations of irregularities in handling donations for areas devastated by the August 10 earthquake, after her foundation reported receiving more than $17 million. Read full story →
Tirana protests injure 156, Albania minister says
Albania’s interior minister said 156 people, including 97 police officers, have been injured in recent days as protesters and police clashed in Tirana for a fourth day on Friday. Read full story →
EU budget talks stall as French election looms
European Union leaders clashed in Brussels on Thursday over the bloc's next long-term budget, with several camps far apart and pressure growing to reach a deal before high-stakes elections next year, especially in France. Read full story →
Brazil approves 40-hour workweek before runoff
Brazil's Congress has approved a constitutional reform cutting the maximum workweek from 44 hours to 40, giving President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva a campaign win before the October 25 runoff against Senator Flavio Bolsonaro. Read full story →
Reform UK faces racism scandal after ITV investigation
Reform UK faced a new racism scandal on Thursday after ITV News filmed party councillors and candidates using racist language in an undercover investigation. Read full story →
Fiji asks New Zealand spies to review intelligence
Fiji said it will work with New Zealand's spy agency to review its intelligence service, days after the United States alleged the Pacific island nation had been targeted by Chinese-linked hacking and bribery. Read full story →
Mexico gives tech platforms a month to remove violent content
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum ordered Meta, TikTok, X, Apple and Microsoft on Oct. Read full story →
North Korea says it fired cruise missiles from submarine
North Korea said it test-fired two types of cruise missile from a submarine on Wednesday, October 14, after weeks of friction with South Korea over a landmine explosion along their border. Read full story →
Guinea-Bissau junta dismisses officer close to Embalo
Guinea-Bissau's military junta leader, General Horta N'tam, has dismissed Lieutenant-General Sadji Fati, a former defence minister and military adviser under ousted president Umaro Sissoco Embalo, according to a decree seen by AFP on October 14. Read full story →
Navi Pillay calls Trump ICC sanctions 'unlawful'
Nobel Peace Prize laureate Navi Pillay called Trump administration sanctions on the International Criminal Court “unlawful” in an AFP interview, adding to her earlier criticism of the measures as “unheard of” and “unacceptable”. Read full story →
Google Cloud power outage hits banking apps
A power outage at a Google Cloud data centre in London caused serious network disruptions to its services on Tuesday, Google said. Read full story →
Microsoft exits UK AI data centre deal
Microsoft confirmed on Monday that it had pulled out of a UK AI data centre deal with British start-up Nscale at a planned site in Loughton, northeast of London. Read full story →
Anthropic proposes US law to regulate AI models
Anthropic, the creator of the AI assistant Claude, confirmed on Friday that it is circulating a draft bill among US lawmakers to regulate artificial intelligence. Read full story →
Tesla Roadster does barrel roll in 'flying' car demo
Tesla CEO Elon Musk unveiled a new Roadster sports car he described as a “flying” car during a livestreamed event at a SpaceX test facility in Texas on Thursday. Read full story →
Uruguay gets $5.7bn Solaria data center project
Spanish company Solaria will invest about $5.7 billion to build a data center complex in Uruguay, Montevideo announced on Wednesday, October 14. Read full story →
AI safety calls dominate Dublin industry summit
Calls for stronger artificial intelligence safety rules dominated an industry summit in Dublin on Wednesday, as technology leaders and European Union officials warned that recent testing incidents showed the need for tighter controls. Read full story →
Google opens AI models to 200 European researchers
Google said Wednesday it will open its latest artificial intelligence models to 200 European researchers, in a programme announced at an AI summit in Dublin. Read full story →