In other news

The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), along with other Australian government, critical infrastructure, university and media networks, was among the organisations targeted in a spyware operation that exploited online advertising, according to a report by the University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab. Researchers say the Israeli-based company Discover-Tech used advertising technology to deliver apparently harmless ads containing code that could expose devices to a zero-click exploit. A person could be targeted simply by viewing an ad in a website or app, though exposure did not necessarily mean the device was successfully infected. The operation reportedly used advertising auctions on platforms and services including Duolingo, the BBC and the New York Times. The ads could help profile and track millions of devices, estimate users’ locations and web activity, and identify potential targets for subsequent spyware attacks. Citizen Lab traced an infection sequence involving devices at Al Jazeera and said the spyware could provide access to passwords, emails and internal system information. The report linked Discover-Tech to spyware and hacking companies including Candiru, which is subject to US export controls over malicious cyber activities. ANSTO said it had found no impact to its facilities, systems or information and was following standard response processes. Australia’s Department of Home Affairs referred questions to the Australian Signals Directorate, which declined to comment. Google removed Discover-Tech from its platform after Citizen Lab shared its findings. Deakin University associate professor Diarmaid Harkin described the use of ad technology for espionage as a novel development and said the case raised questions about how the company gained the trust of major advertising platforms. He argued that ad providers and regulators should scrutinise potentially malicious advertising upstream, prompting broader questions about who oversees digital advertising systems.

Clarence Valley Council’s attempt to restrict permanent residents at Brooms Head Holiday Park to people aged 55 and over has been overturned by the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT). The special condition would have prevented anyone younger than 55 from living in a permanent van at the park. NCAT senior member Katherine Merrick found the rule was not “fair and reasonable,” could harm the marketability and saleability of permanent sites, and had no clear, coherent purpose. The council had given different explanations for the restriction, including that it was required by legislation, reflected industry standards, followed advice from the Caravan Camping Industry Association, or was intended to shape the community’s future character. The rule was introduced amid eviction notices affecting permanent and semi-permanent sites at council-run caravan parks in Iluka, Minnie Water, Wooli and Brooms Head. Residents feared losing their homes. Tony Everingham of the Clarence Valley Semi Permanent Van Group described the council’s decision-making as unsupported by facts. The restriction would also have stopped residents from passing their sites to their children after their death unless the children were at least 55. Everingham called the tribunal ruling a small victory, noting that about 80 related cases remain before NCAT and that the group is negotiating with the council in some cases. Seven cases have been resolved so far. He has himself received an eviction notice for his semi-permanent van at Wooli Holiday Park. The group is concerned about the council’s plan to return some sites to casual tourist use, which could create an uneven arrangement of permanent and tourist sites. The council has not proposed age restrictions for tourists. A former council general manager said eviction notices were issued in response to increasing visitor demand. Brooms Head has 52 designated residential sites, 30 occupied by permanent residents, with the remaining 22 classified as long-term casual sites. The tribunal is still considering other eviction-related cases.

A 41-year-old Canberra man has appeared in the ACT Magistrates Court after being accused of assaulting a 15-year-old girl during a family violence incident at a home in Canberra’s north. ACT Policing alleges that the man returned to the property, which he shared with the girl and his partner, and argued with the teenager on Sunday afternoon. He allegedly punched a window, then kicked and strangled the girl after she confronted him. When she escaped his hold and tried to call police, he allegedly threw a piece of broken glass at her. Police also allege he kicked his partner when she tried to intervene. A neighbour called police, and the man was arrested at about 2:30pm. He appeared in court charged with two counts of common assault, choking, strangling or suffocating a person, and damaging property. The man applied for bail, and his lawyer told the court that he had a place in a residential detoxification program due to begin on Wednesday. Prosecutors opposed bail, citing concerns that he might reoffend or endanger others. Special Magistrate Sean Richter said he would consider bail if evidence of the program booking was provided. The man withdrew his application and was remanded in custody. He is expected to seek release again later in the week.

Copper thieves have stripped historic fittings from the 175-year-old Queen Victoria Gunpowder Magazine at The Domain in Hobart, damaging a site described by Tasmania’s Parks and Wildlife Service (PWS) as one of the city’s most important heritage places. Items taken include copper gutters, downpipes, a lightning conductor and copper door sheathing. The damage was reportedly noticed about two weeks before the article was published. The thieves allegedly cut through a barbed-wire fence to enter the site. Built in 1851, the sandstone magazine was Hobart’s main gunpowder storage facility and could hold about 1,600 barrels. It stored explosives until 1970. Copper, bronze and brass fittings were incorporated into the building to reduce the risk of sparks and protect it from lightning. PWS says the stolen features are integral to the building’s design, character and historical integrity. Their removal has damaged the structure and affected roof drainage, and the service is assessing what repairs are needed. The site is operated by PWS and had been leased to the Militaria Collectors of Tasmania. PWS is working with local scrap-metal dealers in the hope the stolen objects can be recovered and returned. Tasmania Police is investigating and says copper theft has increased in recent years across construction sites, utilities infrastructure and heritage-listed buildings. Police warn that such thefts cause costly damage, with repairs to heritage properties often complex and time-consuming; cutting potentially live copper also puts offenders at risk. Authorities say they are conducting intelligence-led checks of second-hand dealers, scrap-metal recyclers and other metal-trading businesses to identify offenders.

An inquest at Brisbane Magistrates Court is examining how authorities responded before eight-year-old Elizabeth Struhs died at her Toowoomba home in January 2022. Elizabeth had type 1 diabetes, and her father, Jason Struhs, stopped giving her insulin after converting to the religious sect followed by his wife. The inquest, led by Coroner Ainslie Kirkegaard, is considering the appropriateness of agencies’ actions in the period leading up to Elizabeth’s death, which occurred between January 6 and 7. The court heard evidence from an unnamed Queensland Corrections officer about a December 2021 meeting with Elizabeth’s mother, Kerrie Struhs. Kerrie had recently served a prison sentence for child neglect, a charge connected to Elizabeth’s earlier hospitalisation in a comatose state with late-stage diabetic ketoacidosis before her diabetes was diagnosed in 2019. During a probation risk assessment, Kerrie said she believed God would heal Elizabeth and did not think her daughter would have died if she had not been taken to hospital. She also said she would not prevent Jason from administering insulin. The officer said Kerrie appeared uncomfortable when told counselling could be required as a probation condition. The officer did not contact Jason to verify Kerrie’s assurance, saying that would not have been standard practice. Corrections did not contact Child Safety between December 2021 and January 2022 because concerns were considered below the threshold for believing a child was at risk of harm. The officer said she was unsure whether she would have handled the case differently, and that her search of the offender information system had revealed little detail. The court also heard that a separate staff member believed Kerrie should have been flagged under Serious Offenders Unit guidelines when she was processed into prison, but was not. The inquest continues.

Former Wallaroos captain Emily Chancellor has announced her retirement from international rugby union, with her final appearance expected to be her 42nd Test against Scotland in Canberra on Friday. The 35-year-old says she still feels physically capable of playing, but believes she is ready to move on to the next chapter of her life. Chancellor reflected emotionally on a career that she says would once have seemed unimaginable. Growing up, she did not know women could play rugby. She discovered sevens while at university and took up the 15-a-side game in 2015, quickly deciding she wanted to pursue it. Her international career began in 2018, when she made her debut against New Zealand at age 26 and was named player of the game. She recalls feeling anxious before that first Test, then reminding herself that she had been selected to represent her country. She played in two Rugby World Cups, including the 2021 tournament and the 2025 campaign in England, after recovering from an ACL injury suffered in 2024. Chancellor also became the Wallaroos’ 19th captain last year. Across eight years with the national team, she earned 41 caps and played alongside 108 Wallaroos players. She said she was proud of trying to set high standards and help the program improve, and described the team’s growth and shared experiences as deeply meaningful. Chancellor said she would not have continued to push her body and make the sacrifices required by an elite rugby career if the experience had not been worthwhile. Her final match against Scotland will bring her international career to a close.

New South Wales Police have contacted US forensic video expert Bryan Neumeister about examining the original VHS tape containing CCTV footage of Janine Vaughan’s last known movements. Vaughan, 31, disappeared in Bathurst in 2001 after moving there from Muswellbrook. Footage from the Metro Tavern shows her getting into a red car, but the original tape has not previously been examined, according to her family. Copies have been made, but the family says their audio and picture quality are poor. Vaughan’s siblings, Adam Vaughan and Kylie Spelde, told a state inquiry that the tape might contain important clues and called for the original to be securely transferred to Neumeister for analysis. Adam said he believes answers may be present in the recording, while Kylie said a detective had described the tape as being in near-pristine condition. Neumeister told the inquiry that properly digitising an old recording could substantially improve its resolution, but stressed that the original must be assessed carefully because there may be only one opportunity to examine it. Neumeister has extensive television-production experience, multiple Emmy Awards, and has provided forensic advice in about 1,000 cases. He also gave an expert opinion in the Johnny Depp–Amber Heard defamation case. Police have been discussing how an examination could proceed. Homicide Squad Commander Detective Superintendent Joe Doueihi said police had informed Adam Vaughan that they would consider the supplied material and contact Neumeister to discuss examination options. State Crime Command confirmed that communication had begun and inquiries were ongoing. Neumeister said discussions with NSW Police were encouraging and that access to the original tape might be possible. Adam Vaughan expressed excitement and hope that improved imaging could clarify details such as the car, while acknowledging the family’s long struggle for answers and closure.

ABC Lifestyle writer Jo Joyce presents four easy dinner ideas that make tinned fish—such as tuna, salmon and sardines—into more substantial meals. The article highlights canned fish as a convenient, affordable pantry ingredient that provides protein and good fats, and notes that salmon can generally replace tuna in the recipes. The recipes include a herby potato salad with green beans and tuna, which turns a familiar side dish into a filling dinner or lunch-box meal. It can also be adapted for people who do not eat tuna, using boiled eggs or cannellini beans instead. Crispy, fragrant tuna cakes draw inspiration from a Bengali dish traditionally made with fresh mackerel and tuna; the tinned-fish version is described as accessible, affordable, well-spiced and forgiving to prepare. A tuna mornay bake gives a nostalgic classic a fresh twist with herbs and a crisp green-caper crumb, while its comforting, macaroni-and-cheese-like character may appeal to children. Finally, shallot and sardine pasta offers a way to use sustainable sardines in a sweet, zesty dish, with only a few fresh ingredients and a 35-minute preparation time. Overall, the article encourages readers to use convenient tinned fish in varied, budget-conscious weeknight meals.

Australian pro-democracy activist Hiep Tran, imprisoned in Ho Chi Minh City after disappearing in Cambodia on September 18, has told his family that he did not cross into Vietnam voluntarily. A message passed to his wife, Chloe Dang, by Australian officials after they met him at the B34 detention centre said: “I never crossed the border” and described him as mentally traumatised and terrified. His account contradicts Vietnamese authorities’ claim that Tran and Norwegian human rights activist Duc Thuan Nguyen tried to enter Vietnam illegally to conduct “terrorist and sabotage activities.” Supporters say Tran’s message strengthens their allegation that he and two other activists were abducted in Cambodia and forcibly taken to Vietnam. Vietnam has called the kidnapping allegations unfounded and misleading, saying arrests and prosecutions are conducted according to law. Dang said Australian officials told her Tran was in a fragile mental state and experiencing erratic blood pressure, which she said he had not experienced before. Consular officials delivered fresh clothes and conveyed messages from Dang and Tran’s mother, and showed him a family photograph that he was not permitted to keep. Dang said Vietnamese prison officials restricted the discussion and warned that the Australian officials would be expelled if they raised subjects not approved by Vietnamese authorities. She also said Tran had not been given details of the charges against him. The case has prompted solidarity events, including a candlelight vigil in Sydney for Tran and the two other activists who disappeared in Cambodia; a similar event is being organised in Melbourne. Tran is associated with Viet Tran, an overseas Vietnamese opposition group labelled a terrorist organisation by Vietnam’s ruling party. The article notes that most scholars say the group has moved from its armed anti-Communist origins toward peaceful political change. Dang expressed gratitude for Australian government support and urged Australia and people worldwide to keep advocating for her husband’s safe return.

Four Melbourne councils and Melbourne Water have joined forces to pursue a goal of making the Yarra River—also known as the Birrarung—swimmable by 2050. The effort takes inspiration from European cities including Paris, Berlin and Copenhagen, particularly the restoration of the Seine, which reopened to public swimming last year for the first time since 1923 after major clean-up work undertaken for the Paris Olympics. City of Melbourne Lord Mayor Nick Reece says those examples show that improving a heavily polluted urban river is possible. The Yarra has a long history of recreation. First Nations people used the river before colonisation, and swimming and racing were once popular among Melburnians. In 1918, Alick Wickham set a world high-diving record by diving from the cliffs at Fairfield into the river before a crowd of more than 60,000. June Noble, now 92, recalled swimming in the 1955 Race to Prince’s Bridge, a three-mile event, and said people would welcome a similar occasion today. Industrialisation and population growth later degraded the waterway, and swimming was restricted from the 1960s because of pollution and contamination. The project faces substantial challenges. Melbourne Water chair Pat McCafferty identified animal faecal matter, litter and petrochemicals among the river’s frequent contaminants. In parts of the river, including the Kew stretch, E. coli levels can be about 25 times higher than safe swimming levels. Swimming is illegal south of Gipps Street in Abbotsford. Reece says the work will take at least 10 years and require upgrades to water infrastructure and filtration systems. Possible measures include treatment processes and wetlands that naturally filter water. The project has not yet been costed, and further investigation is needed to determine which restoration measures to use. Once those measures are in place, the partners intend to identify designated swimming areas along the river, with the public having a say in their locations.

A new guide developed for healthcare workers in New South Wales aims to help them recognise and respond when a patient may be experiencing modern slavery. The resource, launched in Dubbo, was designed with experts and people who have lived experience of exploitation. It offers trauma-informed ways to ask questions and information about where to seek help; it is not a mandatory reporting policy. Sarah, who asked to be identified only by her first name, contributed her experience of debt bondage to the guide. Six years ago, she escaped after being drawn into a situation by a man who had promised to help her establish a business. During her exploitation, she visited emergency departments, sexual health clinics and GP offices, but said staff did not understand what was happening and she did not know how to explain it or feel safe enough to disclose it. NSW Anti-slavery Commissioner James Cockayne said modern slavery is often maintained through manipulation and coercion rather than visible physical restraints. The guide highlights possible warning signs, including another person taking over a patient’s care or the patient referring to continuing debt or repayment obligations. Sarah advised that simple questions and relationship-building may be more effective than confronting direct questions, especially when people do not recognise the severity of their situation. The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners contributed to the resource. Its representative, Jennifer Neil, described modern slavery as a health issue as well as a social one, noting potential injuries, mental health problems and chronic pain. She said GPs may be well placed to notice patterns because they see patients repeatedly. Cockayne added that victim-survivors may feel more able to approach healthcare workers than law enforcement because they expect care rather than judgement. The NSW Office of the Anti-slavery Commissioner estimates that about 16,400 people in the state—and around 41,000 nationally—are trapped in modern slavery. The guide is expected to be rolled out across NSW, and its creators say it could also be useful elsewhere. Sarah hopes it will help others find support and avoid long-term harm.

A 13-year-old boy has been charged in connection with an alleged drive-by shooting at a house in Gosnells, in Perth’s east. Police say multiple shots were fired at the Bert Street home at about 12:40am on Saturday. The shooting damaged windows, and bullets struck a bedroom window and the external wall. Three people were inside the house at the time, but no injuries were reported. CCTV footage captured audio associated with the alleged shooting, including the sound of 27 shots. Police arrested the teenager on Monday and charged him with eight offences. Those listed include unlawful use of a firearm, endangering life, possession of stolen property and driving without authority. The boy appeared briefly in Perth Children’s Court and did not apply for bail. The article identifies the case as developing news and says an ABC journalist is gathering and checking further details, with an update expected. It does not provide information about a possible motive, the identity of the accused, or the circumstances that led police to arrest him. The report focuses on the alleged incident, the damage and risk to people inside the home, and the charges and initial court appearance.

Former federal attorney-general and judge Robert McClelland has been recommended to lead the National Anti-Corruption Committee (NACC), replacing its inaugural commissioner, Paul Brereton, who resigned in May after sustained scrutiny over conflicts of interest and his links to the defence force. The Attorney-General’s office has also recommended Christopher Savundra, an Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) executive, as deputy commissioner. The Parliamentary Joint Committee on the NACC has approved both men for five-year terms beginning January 11, with the appointments following a competitive, merit-based selection process. Acting commissioner Kylie Kilgour and acting deputies Jamie Lowe and Penny Shakespeare will remain in their roles until then. McClelland is currently deputy chief justice of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia. He served as attorney-general under prime minister Kevin Rudd from 2007 to 2011 and represented the NSW electorate of Barton from 1996 to 2013. He later became a Family Court judge and was elevated to his current judicial role in 2018. Savundra has held senior positions at ASIC since 2010 and is currently its executive director of enforcement and compliance. Attorney-General Michelle Rowland said she had confidence in their ability to strengthen integrity across the Commonwealth public sector. Brereton’s departure follows controversy over his handling of referrals from the Robodebt royal commission and his continuing involvement with the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force during an Afghanistan war crimes inquiry he had led. A NACC inspector found that Brereton had declared a close association with a person referred to the watchdog and delegated the decision-making, but should have withdrawn from the process altogether. The inspector also said the NACC would not pursue two investigations into Brereton, citing cost to the public and resolution of systemic issues. Independent MP Helen Haines said the commission needed a reset and described the proposed leadership change as an opportunity to rebuild public confidence and protect the agency’s independence, credibility and integrity.

Australia has passed the Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation (UOMO), requiring mobile operators Telstra, Optus and TPG to provide baseline outdoor voice and text coverage across the country. The law updates the existing Universal Service Obligation, which covers fixed-line services and payphones, and gives the communications minister broad powers to set standards for coverage, service quality, reliability, costs, funding, fault repairs and potentially Triple Zero access. Coverage could use mobile towers, but low Earth orbit satellites are expected to serve many remote areas. Direct-to-device satellite connections let compatible phones communicate with satellites outdoors, without a separate receiver. Starlink is currently the only provider able to deliver this technology in Australia, although the government says the law is intended to encourage other Australian innovations. Telstra already offers some satellite texting through Starlink, but it is restricted to certain customers and phones and cannot contact Triple Zero. The bill has received broad support, alongside concerns from different groups. The Australian Telecommunications Alliance says the technology is immature, spectrum has not yet been allocated, and the commercial arrangements and funding for unprofitable areas remain unresolved. The Australian Communications Consumer Advocacy Network supports the bill but warns that high costs could prevent lower-income people from accessing the service. It also regrets that proposed amendments on reliability standards and domestic roaming were not adopted. The minister says she will consult stakeholders before setting standards and points to a separate law that increased maximum penalties for telco breaches more than 40-fold, to over $10 million. The bill’s default start date is December 31, 2027, though the minister can delay implementation until the end of 2030. Wells hopes to have it operating by December 1 next year, while the industry says that may be unrealistic until spectrum allocation and market development progress. The timing and many practical details therefore remain unsettled.

Australian Greens leader David Shoebridge has reiterated that Senator Jordon Steele-John should take personal leave while an independent inquiry examines allegations of misconduct toward women, despite Steele-John denying that he agreed to step aside. A Greens spokesperson said Shoebridge understood that leave had been agreed and considered it appropriate for Steele-John not to attend parliament, while stressing that leave did not prejudge the inquiry’s findings. Steele-John described the allegations in an open letter published on Sunday. He denied an allegation of “stealthing” involving the removal of condoms without a partner’s knowledge, and said the report to police was untrue. He also referred to unspecified claims of inappropriate behaviour at a 2024 Greens event and an interpersonal conflict with two party members in 2016, which he said had been resolved. Steele-John disputed Shoebridge’s account of their discussions, saying he had asked the party leader not to announce that he had requested leave and felt pressured to agree to it. Steele-John also alleged that factional rivals were using resolved complaints and rumours to harm his or allied candidates’ prospects in upcoming preselections. He linked the timing of a letter to the party leader to an agreed preselection timetable and claimed its document history showed that only one person had accessed it since 2019. The article reports that Steele-John is not due for Senate preselection for years, but the WA Greens will soon select a replacement for Dorinda Cox, who defected to Labor in 2025. Potential contenders include Steele-John ally Sophie Greer and WA Legislative Council member Sophie McNeill. The dispute has exposed long-running tensions within the WA Greens. Party insiders described the branch as divided by personal allegiances and differing political groupings, while one characterized the controversy as damaging to everyone’s electoral prospects. A former staffer said factional divisions and distance from the eastern states had contributed to the branch’s insularity. Former senators Rachel Siewert and Scott Ludlam were contacted for comment.

As the UFC prepares to return to Abu Dhabi for UFC 333, with Alexander Volkanovski and Petr Yan defending their titles at Etihad Arena, The National revisits five memorable championship fights staged in the emirate. The article highlights how Abu Dhabi became a major home for MMA, including during the Covid-19 pandemic, when Yas Island’s “Fight Island” enabled events to continue under strict health protocols. At UFC 253, Israel Adesanya defended his middleweight belt against Paulo Costa with a second-round TKO, using precise striking and damaging Costa’s lead leg. UFC 242 brought a very different atmosphere: more than 13,000 spectators roared as Khabib Nurmagomedov controlled Dustin Poirier on the ground and finished him with a rear-naked choke in the third round. The article recalls Khabib’s post-fight embrace with UFC president Dana White and the enduring connection between the fighter and Abu Dhabi. UFC 251 featured Alexander Volkanovski’s rematch with Max Holloway. After Holloway started strongly, Volkanovski rallied, and the judges awarded him a close decision that remains disputed by Holloway. At UFC 280, Islam Makhachev defeated Charles Oliveira for the vacant lightweight title, using grappling and an arm bar after flooring Oliveira with a straight left. The belt had been vacated after Oliveira missed weight before an earlier bout, despite having been widely regarded as the division’s unofficial champion. Finally, at UFC 267, 42-year-old Glover Teixeira upset heavily favored champion Jan Blachowicz with takedowns and a second-round rear-naked choke. The victory made Teixeira the oldest first-time UFC champion. Together, the bouts showcase Abu Dhabi’s role as a stage for high-level title fights and dramatic career-defining moments.

Dubai Investments plans to sell a 20 per cent stake in DIP Holding, the operator of Dubai Investment Park, in what the article describes as the UAE’s first initial public offering of 2026 on the Dubai Financial Market. The sale comprises 1.74 billion existing shares. Dubai Investments is expected to retain an 80 per cent holding, provided the offering size remains unchanged and all shares are allocated to investors. Subscriptions are scheduled to open on October 27 and close on November 3, with final pricing due on November 4. Trading is expected to begin on the DFM on November 11. The offering comes after a subdued period for regional IPOs. Middle Eastern companies raised $7.1 billion through 61 listings in 2025, compared with $13 billion the year before. UAE companies raised $1.1 billion through three IPOs in 2025. The article attributes the slowdown to lower oil prices, geopolitical risks and weak post-listing performance; it also says the US war with Iran has further disrupted companies’ plans to raise capital through equity markets. Dubai Investments had previously said it was in talks with banks and intended to list up to 25 per cent of its investment free-zone unit. Dubai Investment Park, established in 1997 near Al Maktoum International Airport and Jebel Ali Port, is a large mixed-use development. It has 1,000 tenants, 5,700 subtenants and more than 150,000 residents, and includes warehousing, hotels, retail outlets, schools and medical centres. Dubai Investments is a listed investment holding company in which the sovereign Investment Corporation of Dubai holds a stake.

The National’s editorial praises flydubai Captain Smit Machchhar for his courage during an attempted attack on Flight 1073 on September 30, while emphasizing that the aircraft’s safe landing resulted from a collective effort. At about 34,000 feet, roughly an hour before landing, Machchhar was struck from behind by a co-pilot he had met that morning. Prosecutors later described the co-pilot’s actions as a premeditated terrorist plot. Despite heavy bleeding and repeatedly losing consciousness, Machchhar managed to reach and open the cabin door after hearing the engines slow and the Boeing 737 plunge. All 172 people aboard eventually survived. The editorial notes that Machchhar resisted taking sole credit, instead recognizing the cabin crew, a dentist who held pressure on his wounds, passengers who subdued the attacker, and people who took control of the aircraft to help land it safely. His account, the article argues, illustrates how individual courage can inspire coordinated action and how solidarity can overcome isolation and self-interest. The piece connects the flight’s emergency response to other acts of mutual aid, including neighbours rescuing people after disasters, volunteers helping during floods, strangers opening their homes, and countries providing assistance despite political differences. Machchhar’s gratitude to the UAE and his thoughts of his children during the ordeal add a personal dimension to the account. The editorial also acknowledges practical implications: Machchhar expects aviation security to be reviewed after the attempted attack. But it argues that the lasting lesson should be the human one—that people can choose to act for others, and that humanity’s shared fate is made real through such acts.

French President Emmanuel Macron is scheduled to visit Kuwait, the UAE, Bahrain and Qatar from October 19 to 21, 2026, to discuss regional stability, energy security and the effects of the Middle East crisis on energy prices. His office says he is expected in Kuwait on Monday morning and in the UAE later that afternoon. The trip comes as the US-Iran war has led to attacks on energy facilities in all four Gulf countries and disrupted oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz. The growing security concerns extend to the Bab Al Mandeb, where Yemen’s Houthi rebels are seeking control, prompting fears that pressure on global energy supplies could intensify. An Elysee Palace source said Macron would work with regional leaders to support stability and freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. Discussions are also expected to address securing and diversifying energy supplies and transport routes to limit the crisis’s impact on French people. In the UAE, talks are set to cover defence, security and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence. Macron is also expected to attend a climate event in Qatar and discuss economic relations with Gulf countries. The article notes that the visit takes place amid serious unrest in France, where more than 2,000 people have been arrested in connection with the torching and ransacking of property. It also recounts Macron’s previous visits to the UAE, including his meeting with President Sheikh Mohamed in Abu Dhabi last December, his attendance at the 2023 Cop28 climate summit in Dubai and his visit to the opening of Louvre Abu Dhabi in 2017. On a more recent Middle East trip, he visited Damascus in July, becoming the first major Western leader to appear in Syria after its civil war. Macron’s second presidential term ends next year, and the French constitution bars him from seeking a third term.

Robin M. Mills argues that Oman could become a key pillar of Gulf energy security because of its strategic location outside the Strait of Hormuz, growing energy infrastructure, and relative economic resilience during regional conflict. While the International Monetary Fund has lowered growth forecasts across the region, Oman is projected to grow by 4.1 per cent. Its public debt has fallen from 68 per cent of GDP in 2020 to about 35–36 per cent, and high oil and gas prices are supporting exports alongside industrial sectors such as refining, fertilisers and aluminium. New transport and power links—including the Hafeet Rail connection to the UAE and a planned link to the GCC electricity grid—could strengthen Oman’s role in regional trade and energy exchange. The conflict has renewed interest in Duqm as an alternative export and storage hub. Plans once envisioned a 200-million-barrel terminal, but only 5.2 million barrels of storage were built. Now Saudi Aramco is studying a costly 1,000–1,200-kilometre pipeline to Duqm, which could avoid both the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab Al Mandeb. Kuwait is also evaluating routes to the port, while Oman’s state energy investor OQ plans to expand storage and is considering floating storage. Oman is developing a bunkering site at Shinas as well. Mills identifies three significant risks. Oman’s facilities remain vulnerable to attack, and Tehran could view routes that bypass Hormuz as a threat. If peace returns, expensive infrastructure that takes years to build may be underused or abandoned, a particular concern given Oman’s more limited financial resources. Finally, new routes could compete with established Gulf hubs such as Fujairah, Jebel Ali and Yanbu, creating political friction among neighbouring states. The article concludes that infrastructure alone cannot secure the region: successful pipelines and energy corridors require cooperation among stakeholders and sustained political harmony.

The National profiles Rana Begum’s exhibition Taking Form at The Third Line in Dubai, presenting it as both a new phase in her exploration of colour and a return to the gallery where she held her first solo show in 2007. The exhibition, her fifth at The Third Line, brings together watercolours, tapestries, and acrylic paintings on linen and medium-density fibreboard. Across these materials, Begum investigates how colours affect and alter one another, and how pigment, surface, texture, and the viewer’s position shape what is seen. The watercolours, though the smallest works, provide a way into the exhibition’s larger pieces. Their coloured forms show that hues can overpower, temper, or transform one another. The suspended tapestry trio extends this investigation through woven ridges and changing views: colours become more prominent as visitors move around the works. Created with UK-based weaving company Dash & Miller, the tapestries also have deliberately designed reverse sides, where the front’s colours partly show through. The paintings highlight the physical qualities of their supports. Pink paint brings out the chips and straws in fibreboard, while colour emphasizes the texture of linen. Begum says she initially found colour difficult when she moved from figurative art into abstraction, despite growing up surrounded by colour in Bangladeshi culture. Her 2007 exhibition, Colour Codes, gave her an opportunity to study colour relationships using adhesive tape and resin. Taking Form is described as a “full circle” moment, but Begum returns with greater confidence and an established international career. She won the 2017 Abraaj Group Art Prize and is a member of the Royal Academy of Arts. The exhibition is on view at The Third Line until November 10, 2026.

The article explains how men’s T20 cricket teams could qualify for the sport’s return to the Olympics at Los Angeles 2028. Six nations will compete in each of the men’s and women’s tournaments, with representation from Asia, Europe, Oceania and Africa, as well as a place for host nation the United States. The women’s qualification picture is largely settled: Australia, Great Britain (England), India and South Africa have qualified based on their finishes at the year’s T20 World Cup. The men’s places, by contrast, will be determined chiefly by the highest-ranked eligible teams in each region on December 31, 2026, with another place decided through a qualifier. The article puts India’s recent form in context. Despite defending their T20 World Cup title and winning gold at the Asian Games, India have struggled in bilateral matches, including losses to Ireland and England and a tied series against West Indies. Yet their second-place world ranking leaves them well ahead of Pakistan, ranked sixth, and makes direct Olympic qualification highly likely. The ICC rankings predictor suggests India would fall only to third even if they lost all eight of their remaining 2026 T20 matches. Pakistan have no T20 fixtures scheduled for the rest of the year, but could still pursue the final Olympic place through the qualifier. England and South Africa are also described as near-certain qualifiers for Europe and Africa, respectively. Oceania is less settled: Australia rank third and New Zealand fourth, with a 13-point gap. The article adds that the West Indies have a separate pathway: if they qualify directly through the rankings, a dedicated event will determine which Caribbean nation advances to the Olympic qualifier. Overall, rankings make India’s prospects strong despite their recent results, while the remaining places depend on regional standings and qualification events.

The article profiles Hasan Piker, a Turkish-American socialist streamer whose commentary on US foreign policy and the Middle East has drawn growing Republican attention ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Broadcasting as HasanAbi, Piker has more than three million Twitch followers and about two million YouTube subscribers, many of them men under 30. His reach has made him an influential voice among younger Americans as Democrats debate the party’s political direction. Piker has condemned Israel, voiced support for the Houthis, Hezbollah and Hamas, and made statements including that “America deserved 9/11.” He later apologized for that remark and said he would be more careful about using the word “inbred,” which he had used about ultra-Orthodox Jews. He describes himself as a socialist and anti-imperialist, while saying that he wants what is best for Americans and people around the world. His support for Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic Senate candidate in Michigan, has brought the two into the same political spotlight. El-Sayed has appeared on Piker’s stream and at events with him, and supports universal health care. He condemned Piker’s 9/11 comment as “a dumb statement” but has resisted calls to disavow him. Republicans, including Donald Trump, have used Piker’s remarks to portray El-Sayed as aligned with extreme views. A Republican-aligned advertisement, for example, links Piker’s 9/11 statement with footage of the pair campaigning together. El-Sayed faces a tight contest in a race that could affect control of the Senate. The article also places Piker’s influence within wider debates over the Democratic Party, noting his support for New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani and his earlier work with The Young Turks. It details his provocative comparisons of Hamas and Israel and his defense of Houthi attacks as anti-imperialist resistance. The supplied article ends mid-sentence while quoting Piker’s remarks about the Houthis.

Bollywood actor Tiger Shroff, 36, escaped unharmed when gunmen fired at his car in Mumbai’s Juhu district on the evening of Sunday, October 18, 2026. The attack occurred near Pushpa Narsee Park as he was returning home after playing football. Police said three men arrived on a motorcycle and two of them opened fire before the group fled. Shroff’s driver was shot in the hand, and another nearby driver was also injured; both received hospital treatment. Some reports said Shroff suffered minor abrasions, but he was not seriously hurt. The article introduces Shroff, born Jai Hemant Shroff in 1990, as the son of actor Jackie Shroff and film producer Ayesha Shroff. Since making his film debut in the 2014 romantic-action movie Heropanti, he has become known for martial arts, stunts and dance performances. His notable films include the Baaghi series, War, and Bade Miyan Chote Miyan. His latest theatrical release was Baaghi 4 in 2025. He has also filmed in the UAE, including parts of Heropanti 2 in Dubai and Al Ain. Two men using the names Anil Pandit and Harman Sandhu claimed responsibility and alleged links to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, a criminal network previously associated with threats against Bollywood figures, especially Salman Khan. An online message reportedly warned film-industry figures against working with Khan, raising a possible motive. However, police have not verified the claims or conclusively identified who was behind the attack. Mumbai police have formed 15 teams, are reviewing CCTV footage and tracing the attackers’ movements. Investigators reportedly recovered a motorcycle near Andheri railway station that may have been used in the escape. One person has reportedly been detained for questioning, though the suspects’ identities remain unestablished. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis ordered a thorough investigation.

In this advertorial, Ousama Al Haj, General Manager and Head of Human Pharma for Near East and UAE at Boehringer Ingelheim, argues that people with possible pulmonary fibrosis symptoms should seek medical advice promptly. He cites estimates that up to 9.2 million people worldwide may have idiopathic or progressive pulmonary fibrosis, while noting that the number who delay seeking care is unknown. The disease causes irreversible lung scarring, reduces lung flexibility and can make everyday activities exhausting, with physical, emotional and social consequences for patients and their families. Al Haj says diagnosis can be delayed by one to two years because early symptoms—including persistent cough, breathlessness and fatigue—may be mistaken for ageing, poor fitness or common respiratory illnesses. Fear, uncertainty and failure to recognise symptoms can also lead people to postpone appointments. The Elevator Campaign is presented as a reminder not to defer the conversation with a doctor, since delay can carry significant costs. The article describes progress in pulmonary fibrosis care, including a newly approved treatment option in the UAE, while stressing that access to a therapy alone is not enough. Treatment must be tolerable and sustainable, and should support patients’ quality of life and ability to remain on their prescribed treatment. Al Haj frames early detection and ongoing, patient-centred treatment as important to improving the patient journey, while acknowledging that major gaps persist: the disease is underdiagnosed and misunderstood, and as many as half of those diagnosed remain untreated. The author calls for continued investment in research, partnerships and education. He urges readers with persistent cough, breathlessness on minimal exertion or worsening fatigue to speak with a healthcare professional, get checked and seek treatment early. The piece is an advocacy message for earlier consultation and sustained care, presented as a way to improve outcomes and protect patients’ ability to live and breathe more comfortably.

Spain’s pension system is not technically bankrupt: it operates on a pay-as-you-go basis, and the state is constitutionally responsible for guaranteeing pensions. But the system increasingly depends on public transfers and borrowing, so the central election debate is who will pay its rising costs. In 2025, Social Security recorded a deficit of €7.387 billion, or 0.4% of GDP, after receiving €47.815 billion in state transfers. Fedea calculates a much larger underlying deficit—€69.783 billion, or 4.15% of GDP—when those transfers are excluded and a wider accounting scope is used. The figures are not contradictory: they answer different questions about whether the state’s contribution counts as income and which benefits are included. The article notes positive indicators, including record employment and contribution income, but also points to a high pension bill, more than €136 billion in debt to the Treasury, and the approaching retirement of the baby-boom generation. Santiago Calvo warns that continued borrowing could expose Spain to a sovereign-financing crisis in which creditors dictate abrupt spending cuts, as occurred in Greece. Spain currently meets the pension-spending rule agreed with Brussels, with AIReF estimating adjusted average spending at 13.0% of GDP against a 13.3% ceiling. However, the watchdog projects that public debt could reach 123% of GDP by 2050 and that pension costs will place growing pressure on central government. The government’s and AIReF’s forecasts differ because of assumptions about employment, births and immigration. The article concludes that compliance with the spending rule does not by itself ensure debt sustainability. It presents the issue as a long-term fiscal risk whose severity depends on future economic conditions and policy choices; the supplied text ends mid-quotation.

China’s economy grew 4.5% year over year in the July–September quarter, accelerating from 4.3% in April–June and beating expectations. The result puts China within its 2026 growth target range of 4.5% to 5%, although the International Monetary Fund has forecast growth at the bottom of that range. The article says exports were a major driver, while domestic demand remained weak. China’s export performance has been strong: it recorded a $938 billion trade surplus in the first nine months of the year and could surpass last year’s record $1.2 trillion surplus. Higher US tariffs have encouraged exporters to seek markets in Southeast Asia, Latin America and Europe. High-tech products, including semiconductors and hybrid and electric vehicles, are prominent sources of growth. However, rapid manufacturing expansion has outpaced consumption, leaving substantial output to be sold abroad. Analysts say this export- and technology-led model has produced limited job and income gains and that the headline growth figure obscures uneven conditions across industries, regions and households. At home, a prolonged property downturn has reduced household wealth and contributed to higher savings, weakening domestic demand. Meanwhile, China’s expanding exports are prompting trade concerns among partners. The European Union has a substantial deficit with China, and Chinese exports to the bloc rose 16% in the first nine months of 2026. The EU has agreed to cap Chinese hybrid-vehicle imports at 350,000 annually, roughly halving imports over the coming years, while some member states seek additional restrictions. Analysts suggest the agreement could preserve Chinese market access while averting broader tariff increases, but warn that trade imbalances will be difficult to resolve quickly. Beijing rejects the claim that an undervalued yuan is driving its surplus and says it is committed to increasing domestic demand.

The proposed Central Asia Gas Ring is a roughly $5 billion network of more than 3,000 kilometres of new and upgraded pipelines connecting Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Presented by energy expert Askar Ismailov, the plan is estimated to require $2 billion for new construction and $3 billion for modernisation and digitalisation, with a potential annual capacity of about 20 billion cubic metres. Supporters say the interconnected system could let countries share supplies more flexibly, particularly during winter demand peaks. Turkmenistan could gain additional regional customers, while import-dependent Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, and high-demand Uzbekistan, could have more supply options. The network would build on existing cross-border gas trade and might allow reverse flows, although that is a potential capability rather than an agreed operating arrangement. The proposal remains at an early stage. Uzbekneftegaz has reportedly expressed interest, and the Global Gas Centre signed a memorandum of understanding with authorities in Uzbekistan’s Karakalpakstan region. Ismailov also reports discussions with potential investors from China and the Middle East. However, financing, participation agreements among all five governments, rules for supply and transit, pipeline operations and a construction schedule have not been finalised. The estimated cost and capacity are projections from the proposal’s backers. The article places the plan alongside Uzbekistan’s efforts to address declining domestic gas output. Production by large industrial enterprises fell 16.3% year on year in January–August 2026, though authorities reported new gas-condensate discoveries and ongoing drilling. Separately, the Tashkent forum considered wider energy links with Azerbaijan and Europe. SOCAR, BP and Uzbekneftegaz are already partners in exploration in Uzbekistan’s Ustyurt region, while Azerbaijan exports gas to the EU through the Southern Gas Corridor. The article presents domestic production, regional pipeline connections and broader export partnerships as complementary elements of energy security, while making clear the Gas Ring is still a proposal.

Leatherback turtles are among the world’s most threatened marine vertebrates and have been listed as vulnerable by the IUCN since 2013. Their populations are declining rapidly in many regions, while industrial fishing creates dangerous conditions for them. The Atlantic high seas are particularly important to their migratory routes, yet currently have no fully or highly protected areas, leaving turtles exposed to commercial fishing gear. A Greenpeace International report, “Well Connected,” proposes establishing a connected network of fully protected ocean sanctuaries in the Atlantic high seas. The report says such sanctuaries could shield more than 35 per cent of the danger zones leatherbacks face from industrial fishing and reduce their risk of death. Greenpeace has identified 17 sites for protection under the Global Ocean Treaty. The proposed network would include existing marine protected areas that need stronger protection, sites already under government consideration, and new locations. Together, the sanctuaries would cover more than 31 per cent of the Atlantic high seas, protecting migratory species along their journeys from industrial fishing and collisions with cargo ships. The report is being released as the UN biodiversity conference CBD COP17 begins in Armenia. The conference will include the first official assessment of progress toward global biodiversity targets agreed in 2022, including a pledge to protect 30 per cent of the world’s ocean by 2030. Scientists say that level of protection is the minimum needed to give the ocean a chance to recover. However, Greenpeace says progress is far too slow: at the current rate, it would take 265 years to reach the 30 per cent target. The organisation is urging governments to turn commitments into action and agree on ambitious measures to protect ocean wildlife.

US President Donald Trump endorsed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, nine days before Israel’s 27 October election. The endorsement breaks months of silence and gives Netanyahu a potentially valuable boost: Trump remains popular in Israel, and Netanyahu has presented their relationship as a reason voters should keep him in office. Trump called Netanyahu a “great warrior prime minister” and partner in confronting Iran, while warning that the United States might have to act against Iran itself if Netanyahu loses. Netanyahu thanked Trump, and his Likud party shared a video featuring the two leaders. The article notes that the endorsement’s effect on a close race is uncertain. It comes after Trump repeatedly avoided saying whether he supported Netanyahu, despite backing him in earlier elections and previously asking Israeli President Isaac Herzog to pardon him on corruption charges. Some Israelis have expressed disappointment with the inconclusive outcome of the Iran war and Trump’s ceasefire proposal, which they believe fell short of the countries’ goals. Although the leaders were closely aligned after US-Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities in 2025, their relationship has faced tensions during the nearly eight-month war with Iran. Trump criticized Israel’s attack on an Iranian gas field, called Netanyahu “crazy” in June, and objected to Israeli fighting with Hezbollah that he said was impeding peace talks. The two also differed over Gaza: Netanyahu rejected Trump’s August proposal, which called for an Israeli withdrawal from territory before Hamas was disarmed. The article places the endorsement in the context of Trump’s broader effort to influence foreign elections. He has backed several overseas candidates and leaders, including Hungary’s Viktor Orbán, whose bid for a fifth term was unsuccessful. The late endorsement is therefore both a campaign intervention and a notable shift after months of public distance between the US and Israeli leaders.

The Euronews page introduces its morning news bulletin for October 19, 2026, updated at 7:00 GMT+2. It describes the bulletin as a short roundup of important stories from Europe and around the world, covering world affairs, business, politics, culture, entertainment, and travel. Euronews says the program provides context to help viewers understand the day’s developments and presents its reporting as independent and informed by a European perspective. The supplied page text does not include a transcript or details of the bulletin’s individual reports, so it is not possible to verify which stories were actually covered in the video. The page also displays a selection of other Euronews videos and headlines. These concern violent protests and looting in France, including unrest in Paris, Lyon, Marseille, and Limoges; a fire at a Canadian military base; drone strikes affecting St Petersburg and the Leningrad region; protests over living costs and housing in Europe; and Pope Leo XIV’s recovery after a hospital stay. Other listed items mention Albanian protests, a possible Russian sanctions waiver by Donald Trump, and a Norwegian teenager’s arrest over an alleged UK contract-killing plot. These appear as related content, rather than confirmed contents of the October 19 morning bulletin. Overall, the page chiefly serves as an introduction to the video and a navigation point to Euronews coverage, not a full report of the events it references.

The article examines the economic pressures behind demonstrations held across Europe, where protesters have raised concerns about living costs, housing affordability, wages and public services. Although the protests reflect different national circumstances and do not form a single Europe-wide movement, they share a broader frustration with household budgets and the difficulty of making incomes cover essential expenses. In France, large demonstrations involving students and other groups focused on living costs and public services. Most participants marched peacefully, but some gatherings escalated into looting and rioting in several cities. President Emmanuel Macron said those who sought to “bring down the Republic” would be held accountable. In Belgium, police clashed with demonstrators in Brussels and Liège, amid wider concerns that include education costs, school conditions and teacher shortages. Portugal saw unions and housing-rights groups call for higher wages, better pensions, improved services and action on housing costs. In Italy, economic protests in Milan, Turin and Bologna led to injuries and detentions. The article attributes discontent to rising food, housing and energy costs, alongside low pay and pressure on services. It notes that inflation slowing does not mean prices return to earlier levels. Eurostat data analysed by Euronews Business shows EU food and non-alcoholic beverage prices rose 34% between August 2021 and August 2026. The amount of food that a gross monthly minimum wage could buy declined in Malta, Spain and France, although it increased in most countries studied. The comparison does not account for taxes, rent or other household expenses, so it offers only a partial picture of the cost-of-living squeeze. Overall, the demonstrations underscore the challenge of keeping wages in step with the cost of essentials.

Birdwatching is emerging as a reason to travel, with travel companies reporting rising interest and forecasting 2027 as a landmark year for birding holidays. GetYourGuide says global bookings for birdwatching experiences rose 65% year on year between 1 January and 27 August 2026, while Voyageurs du Monde reported that bookings for birdwatching holidays from July to October 2026 were 57% higher than in the first six months of the year. Industry representatives link the trend to travellers’ desire to connect with nature, slow down and step away from screen-based routines. The article recommends several European destinations for birdwatchers. The Danube Delta in eastern Romania offers extensive wetlands and more than 300 bird species, while northeast Greece combines wetlands and forests along an important migration route. Portugal’s Atlantic coast, the Azores and Madeira are highlighted for seabirds and their location along the East Atlantic Flyway. Iceland’s Westman Islands are recommended for visitors hoping to see puffins. A ranking by AllClear Travel places Sweden’s Falsterbo Peninsula first among European birdwatching sites and 19th worldwide, with England’s Titchwell Marsh ranked second in Europe and 20th globally. Other leading European sites include Fair Isle and Loch Gruinart in Scotland, Greece’s Kalloni Saltpans and Lake Kerkini National Park, and locations in England, Portugal, France, Spain and Hungary. AllClear’s rankings considered recorded bird species, weather, airport proximity and daily travel costs. The article also lists the global top 20, led by Manú National Park and Tambopata National Reserve in Peru, with destinations across Africa, the Americas and Asia. Overall, the story presents birding as a growing travel trend and offers practical destination ideas rather than making a broader argument about conservation.

A woman who was driving a pickup truck that entered a youth soccer match in Wichita, Kansas, was released without charges while authorities continue investigating, Wichita police said on Sunday. The incident occurred on Saturday at the Stryker Sports Complex, where the Chevrolet pickup had been parked near a soccer field before driving onto the pitch and striking people. Two people were killed: 6-year-old Cole Adrian and 35-year-old Nicholas Schafer, of McPherson, Kansas. Five children, ages 5 to 9, and five adults were also injured, though their injuries were described as noncritical. Police said investigators interviewed the 34-year-old driver, who has not been publicly identified, and consulted the Sedgwick County district attorney’s office before releasing her. Toxicology testing and a mechanical examination of the truck remained underway. Two of the driver’s children were in the vehicle when it entered the field; police also said one of her children was playing at another soccer field in the complex. The children were interviewed. Wichita police planned to present an initial review of the case to the district attorney early in the week, according to a spokesperson for the district attorney’s office. Police Chief Joe Sullivan expressed condolences to the victims’ families, describing the incident as a tragedy that turned a day of youth sports and family time into an unimaginable loss. The article reports no final determination about what caused the truck to enter the field or whether charges will be filed.

A Human Rights Watch report says Malian armed forces and their Russian backers used apparent indiscriminate drone strikes and committed other abuses during an intensified counterinsurgency campaign, killing scores of civilians. Citing data from conflict monitor ACLED, the report says that from April through August, Malian forces and Russia’s Africa Corps carried out 47 drone strikes that killed 94 civilians. In the same months a year earlier, 22 strikes killed 44 civilians, meaning both figures more than doubled. The offensive followed nationwide attacks on April 25 by JNIM, a regional al-Qaeda affiliate, and Tuareg-led separatists. Those attacks killed Mali’s defence minister and struck several towns and cities, including Bamako’s main airport. Mali’s military leaders, who took power in coups in 2020 and 2021, have relied on Russia for support against insurgents and brought in Africa Corps to respond to the April attacks. Human Rights Watch highlighted an August 19 drone strike on a cattle market in central Mali’s Bandiagara region that killed six men, and a July 29 pre-dawn strike on a health centre in the northern Kidal region. The report also described a non-drone incident in Segou: soldiers allegedly shot and killed five young girls after mistaking them for attackers. Mali’s army did not respond to a request for comment, and the rights group said the government did not answer a letter detailing its findings. Mali has previously denied killing civilians during counterinsurgency operations. The Russian embassy in Bamako also did not immediately comment on Africa Corps’ role. The report documented abuses by insurgent groups as well, including the execution of 19 soldiers in the northern Gao region in July. JNIM’s Sharia Committee acknowledged the killings occurred but denied ordering them, while the Tuareg-led Azawad Liberation Front denied executing soldiers.

Former US president Barack Obama publicly defended Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar on October 18, accusing the Trump administration of using federal investigative powers to intimidate her. In a social media post, Obama said the government should not selectively target people because of their political beliefs or speech, and argued that Omar was facing such treatment because she had criticized President Donald Trump. The defense followed October actions by federal agents who searched Omar’s Washington home and subpoenaed relatives. Investigators were examining her family’s history for possible fraud and false statements in immigration paperwork. Omar was born in Somalia in the early 1980s, and her family entered the United States as refugees in the mid-1990s after fleeing civil war. Federal authorities have examined her immigration history for more than a decade, but those inquiries have not resulted in charges. Omar denies wrongdoing and described the latest actions as an attempt to target political opponents and weaponize law enforcement. The timing has attracted particular scrutiny. The search and subpoenas came weeks before the midterm elections, when federal law enforcement officials typically avoid conspicuous investigative steps that could be perceived as helping or harming a candidate. Trump had also been attacking Omar. These circumstances have prompted questions about whether White House pressure was behind the escalation of the investigation. Obama asserted that it was, describing the government’s actions against Omar as an effort to intimidate a law-abiding elected official. The article reports the competing allegations and the timing concerns, while noting that previous inquiries produced no charges.

A Russian air strike killed a woman in Kyiv overnight and damaged several locations in the Ukrainian capital, according to Mayor Vitali Klitschko. The strike hit a subway station on Kyiv’s left bank and damaged a 25-storey residential building. Non-residential buildings and a medical facility were also struck. Klitschko said three other people were injured. A Reuters witness reported hearing explosions in the city. The article also reports on the resumption of US intelligence sharing with Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the United States had resumed providing critical intelligence after a brief pause. The intelligence is intended to help Ukraine defend against Russian missile attacks and provide warnings about missiles described as fast-moving and fired in waves. Zelenskiy had spoken with US peace envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner after their visit to Kyiv earlier in the month. Their discussions took place as the US administration seeks to mediate an agreement to end the war, which began with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The report presents the civilian casualties and damage from the latest strike alongside the diplomatic and military context, relying on statements from Kyiv’s mayor and the Ukrainian president, as well as a Reuters witness account.

The article presents mathematician Terence Tao’s concern that artificial intelligence is changing mathematics in ways that could harm the field. Tao, described as one of the world’s greatest living mathematicians, says he is on a “war footing” amid what he sees as an existential crisis for mathematics. The supplied article text reports that he and 24 other Fields Medal winners signed a joint letter on September 11 warning that AI companies’ rush to solve famous unsolved problems could cause lasting damage. According to the article’s included AI-generated synopsis, the concern intensified after OpenAI claimed major breakthroughs, including on the Navier-Stokes problem, and released more than 350 findings across mathematical fields. Tao worries that young researchers could lose years of work if AI systems rapidly resolve problems they have been pursuing. He also fears that mathematics is being used primarily as a proving ground for AI models, rather than AI being developed to advance science and mathematical understanding. The synopsis says Tao and other mathematicians are considering changes to education and research practices. These include more human-centred training, stronger oral defences of mathematical work, and using AI to support creativity and the discovery of new patterns. The article’s opening places Tao’s comments at a two-day mathematics workshop at UCLA, where participants discussed AI’s potentially existential effects on their discipline. The supplied text is only an excerpt and does not include the full article, so it provides limited detail on the mathematicians’ proposals or the responses from AI companies.

World leaders, diplomats and nature experts are meeting in Yerevan, Armenia, for COP17, the first major review of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework adopted in 2022. The framework seeks to halt biodiversity loss and protect 30% of the planet’s land and sea by 2030. A draft UN report indicates that countries are not on track to meet 22 of the framework’s 23 goals. Land protection is a relative bright spot: current estimates suggest 27.5% of land could be protected by 2030, though that would still fall short of the target. The talks are expected to focus heavily on funding. Although 144 countries, including Brazil and China, have prepared biodiversity action plans, there is little agreement on how to meet a goal of US$30 billion in public finance or mobilise at least US$200 billion annually by 2030. Delegates will also consider reforming roughly US$500 billion in yearly subsidies that encourage activities harmful to nature, such as rainforest-clearing practices and the use of synthetic fertilisers and chemical pesticides. Redirecting those incentives could help address environmental damage and support food and energy security without requiring governments to spend more public money. Businesses are urging governments to establish clear policies and a timetable for subsidy reform, arguing that predictable rules could encourage investment. The article notes that harmful subsidies can impose additional costs when governments must later address pollution, illness and infrastructure damage. With public funds constrained, policymakers are also looking to private-sector contributions, including through the Cali Fund, established in 2025. It is intended to encourage companies that use digital databases of genetic resources to support nature conservation, but questions remain about how contributions should be calculated and distributed among countries and Indigenous communities. Participants also hope the conference will strengthen support for conservation efforts and help prevent species extinctions.

According to a Wall Street Journal report, Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed a November summit with US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping to discuss ending the four-year Ukraine conflict. The report, published Oct 18 and based on sources familiar with the discussions, says the proposed terms would favour Moscow. Putin reportedly raised the idea during an Oct 9 phone call with Trump, which also produced an agreement involving Russian diesel sales to the United States. The proposed meeting could take place alongside the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, scheduled for Nov 18–19 in Shenzhen. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that discussions about a possible meeting were under way, but said there was no firm understanding of whether it would happen or what its agenda might be. A senior US official told the Journal that Trump had not agreed to the summit, though he might be receptive to the proposal. The article situates the proposal amid improving ties between Trump and Putin. It reports that Trump announced a deal to buy Russian diesel and signed an order on Oct 16 waiving key sanctions on Moscow. The White House, Kremlin, and Russian and Chinese embassies in Washington did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has criticized the diesel deal and sanctions waiver, warning that they could embolden Putin and prolong the war. The report presents the summit as a proposal under discussion, not a confirmed meeting or negotiated settlement.

The supplied content does not include the body of the Al Jazeera liveblog. It contains a headline, a URL, and website promotional text, so the events, claims, sources, and developments described in the article cannot be independently summarized from the material provided. The headline indicates that the liveblog concerns the Iran war and reports that Tehran says Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants further war. It also signals renewed fighting in Yemen and identifies the Houthis as a topic. These are headline-level descriptions only; the provided text offers no details about what happened, when or where fighting flared, who made the statements, or how the events are connected. The phrase “19 Updates” suggests the page may have contained multiple live updates, but none of those updates appears in the supplied content. The remaining text consists of advertisements and an invitation to receive alerts, not reporting. A reliable, comprehensive summary and a cleaned version preserving 70–90% of the article’s substantive content are therefore not possible without the missing liveblog text. The assessment below is limited to the headline and the small amount of page text supplied.

Kenyan health authorities have confirmed an eighth Ebola case in the country amid a regional outbreak that began in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and has spread across borders. Director-General for Health Patrick Amoth said one of 38 people tested on Sunday was positive. The patient is a 49-year-old man who is not a healthcare worker. He developed fever, headache and muscle pain and worked as a patient attendant cleaning utensils and linens. Officials believe he was likely exposed to Kenya’s first Ebola patient, who travelled from the DRC, was diagnosed earlier in the month and died at a Nairobi hospital on October 5. The latest case follows four cases reported on Saturday, including three health workers who treated that first patient and a relative of the deceased man. The outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain, for which there is no vaccine or specific treatment. Kenya has heightened its alert as infections spread from the DRC. The DRC has reported at least 9,400 cases and more than 4,500 deaths since the outbreak began in May, making it the country’s deadliest outbreak. Ituri province remains the epicentre, accounting for almost three-quarters of confirmed cases, while authorities say the virus has reached North Ubangi, the DRC’s eighth affected province. In North Kivu, where the World Health Organization says substantial transmission continues, authorities are preparing a one-week ban on arrivals from Ituri, along with limits on passenger numbers in cars and on motorbikes and a suspension of large public gatherings. Neighbouring Uganda previously recorded 20 confirmed cases, including 15 imported from the DRC, and two deaths before being declared Ebola-free in August.

The article examines how renewed Somali piracy is disrupting life in Bander Beyla, a fishing town on Puntland’s coast. Residents say declining catches and foreign trawlers have made fishing increasingly difficult, while piracy has brought further restrictions, arrests and surveillance. Abdifatah Mohamed, a longtime fisherman, describes how the loss of income affects families and says some local people have taken up arms at sea, despite the harm this causes their community. After piracy surged off Somalia in late April 2026, local authorities barred fishermen from going to sea for two months, fearing pirates could pose as fishermen. Residents say the restrictions left families without income and made ordinary fishing risky: people could be accused of piracy or arrested by authorities or international forces. Local businesses were also warned against supplying pirates, and boats bringing goods from Yemen reportedly stopped arriving. Some people accused of supporting pirates were arrested, including those who delivered food or khat. The article describes piracy as an activity supported by land-based networks as well as armed groups at sea. Researcher Jethro Norman says kinship and clan relationships can provide financing, equipment, personnel and protection, helping explain why counter-piracy measures affect ordinary commerce and community life. Residents have also tried to discourage young men from joining attacks, fearing that the town would bear the consequences. Authorities lifted the restrictions on October 1 after operations led to the release of three hijacked vessels. The International Maritime Organization reported that 44 seafarers were freed and five crew members died during the rescue of the Honour 25. Helicopter surveillance continued around the coast. Analysts attribute the resurgence partly to international naval forces shifting attention to Houthi attacks in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, while Puntland’s maritime forces have been stretched by other security challenges, including fighting ISIS and the 2023 Las Anod rebellion.

At an event at a Tel Aviv university featuring Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel’s far-right National Security Minister, protesters disrupted proceedings and eventually forced him to leave the venue under escort, according to Al Jazeera. Demonstrators chanted, “There will be no fascism here,” and staged a sit-in. The account also reports scuffles between protesters and security personnel. It does not identify the university, give an exact account of how the confrontation began, or describe any injuries, arrests, or damage. Nor does it provide Ben-Gvir’s response or further details about the event’s subject. The report’s central focus is the disruption and Ben-Gvir’s escorted departure, rather than the wider political context or the protesters’ specific demands beyond their chant. The incident took place in Tel Aviv and was published on 18 October 2026. Overall, the brief news item presents a sequence of actions: demonstrators interrupted an event, voiced opposition to fascism, held a sit-in, and scuffled with security staff; Ben-Gvir then left the venue under escort. The available text does not establish whether the event was cancelled or whether the disruption continued after his departure.

Venezuela’s opposition alliance, the Unitary Democratic Platform (PUD), has reaffirmed its support for exiled Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado as its leader. At a meeting in Caracas, the coalition also renewed its call for free elections and set out 14 proposals for a democratic transition, including protecting political parties, freeing political prisoners and enabling exiles to return safely. Former opposition presidential candidate Edmundo González endorsed the proposals, saying Venezuelans should live under a constitutional order that respects their will. No date has been announced for a new presidential election. Interim President Delcy Rodríguez, a member of the long-governing United Socialist Party of Venezuela, has led the country since January 3. The article reports accusations of human rights abuses against PSUV leaders and says the party has stayed in power despite a US military operation that abducted and jailed former President Nicolás Maduro. US President Donald Trump has backed Rodríguez and exerted influence over Venezuela’s oil resources and reform agenda. Critics say his administration has not pressed for elections, instead prioritizing stabilization and economic recovery before political transition. Machado has said she wants elections by July of the following year. Machado’s party says Venezuelan authorities have repeatedly blocked her return from exile. Reports also describe friction between Machado and the Trump administration, whose officials have criticized her efforts to return. Despite these tensions, she remains a prominent opposition figure. Courts barred her from the 2024 presidential race and upheld a 15-year ban from public office; González replaced her as the opposition candidate. Maduro claimed victory in the contested election, while opposition tallies appeared to show González winning, and the US recognized González as president-elect. A third round of talks between Rodríguez’s government and opposition representatives began this month, but Machado is not included. The US State Department said the discussions were producing reforms in civil liberties and political rights and could help lay the groundwork for credible elections and a democratic transition.

Metinvest chief executive Yuriy Ryzhenkov is urging the European Union to exempt Ukrainian steel from new import restrictions, saying the measures unfairly treat Ukraine like other exporters despite the country’s war-related difficulties. The EU has capped annual tax-free steel imports at 18.3 million tonnes, a 47% reduction from 2024 levels, as it seeks to protect member-state producers from low-priced imports, including those from China and Turkey. Although the EU and Ukraine have a free-trade agreement, it does not prevent the bloc from adopting separate trade-protection measures. Ryzhenkov told the BBC that access to the European market is crucial to the survival of Ukraine’s steel industry, and called for at least a carve-out. Ukrainian industry estimates that steel exports to the EU could eventually fall by 50–60%. The European Commission says it considered Ukraine’s difficult circumstances and that the country has a specific quota guaranteeing exports, though at a lower level than in previous years. It also said it had offered compensation to its largest suppliers, including Ukraine. Steel and mining were major parts of Ukraine’s economy before Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, accounting for about 10% of national income and a third of exports. The EU is Ukraine’s leading customer. However, Russian attacks have repeatedly damaged the sector: all Ukrainian steel mills have been bombed at some point since the invasion began, and Ryzhenkov said strikes have intensified recently. He reported that in September, Ukraine produced no steel for a time, an unprecedented interruption in roughly 150 years. Nearly 800 Metinvest workers have been killed since the war began. The company has improved sheltered areas and safety procedures, but Ryzhenkov said a whole steel mill cannot be protected from damage. He expects the coming winter to be exceptionally hard, particularly as Ukraine has few alternative markets and the EU restrictions could sharply reduce its access to its principal customer.

The article describes the rare accounts of two Russian men who say they work with Ukraine’s military intelligence service, the GUR, to undermine Russian military operations from inside Russia. “Ivan,” who remains in Russia, says he has helped prepare Ukrainian drone attacks by surveilling military sites and placing drone components or explosives. “Foma,” a Russian exile in Poland, says he runs a volunteer network that gathers information on Russian military personnel and infrastructure. He says his group passes intelligence to the GUR but does not carry out attacks. The BBC says the men’s specific claims cannot be independently verified. The GUR confirmed that both work for the agency but acknowledged it cannot know the full scope of their activities. The men and their handlers also limit what they disclose. Their descriptions of reconnaissance and coordinated drone operations broadly match tactics Ukraine has publicly acknowledged using, while Kyiv generally does not officially claim responsibility for targeted attacks. Foma estimates that hundreds of Russians may be involved in such work, but the figure cannot be confirmed; he separately describes a network of about three dozen people spread across Russia, Ukraine and Europe. Both men say they oppose Putin’s regime and Russia’s war. Ivan describes the work as ideological and says he has taken serious risks, including being stopped with homemade explosives. Foma says his network checks potential targets and aims to make Russian officials responsible for the war feel vulnerable. He denies that his volunteers conduct assassinations, though he acknowledged supplying intelligence on Lt Gen Fanil Sarvarov before Sarvarov was killed in Moscow. The article emphasizes the clandestine nature, risks and unverifiable claims surrounding sabotage activity, as well as the danger of arrest or harm to those involved.

The article reports that a Kenyan court is expected to deliver a verdict in the murder case against doomsday preacher Paul Mackenzie and 29 followers, who are accused of murdering 191 children. Prosecutors allege the children were forced to starve in order to “meet Jesus.” The defendants have pleaded not guilty and say nobody was compelled to die. This is the first verdict Mackenzie faces on murder charges, though he and other cult leaders also face cases involving terrorism, radicalisation and denying children an education. Authorities say more than 400 bodies were discovered in shallow graves in Shakahola forest, where Mackenzie’s followers had gathered. Gravediggers hired from a nearby town described finding multiple bodies in graves, including children, and said some remains showed signs of restraint. Local resident Salim Karisa said the group’s activities were secretive despite members’ occasional trips to town for supplies and water. The article also recounts the losses and experiences of people affected by the group. Stephen Mwiti says all six of his children died in the forest; he found and buried only one child’s remains. His former wife is among the accused. Peter Shukrani, who was raised in Mackenzie’s church and later rescued from the forest while seriously ill, says his mother discarded his medicine because the doctrine treated medicine as evil. Despite this, Shukrani continues to regard Mackenzie as a good person and his pastor, while Mackenzie’s son Dan says his father should be convicted as the leader responsible for mass murder. Mackenzie founded Good News International Ministries in 2003, and its following grew through branches across Kenya and sermons broadcast on Times TV. His teachings denounced education, healthcare and digital identity cards. After the main church closed in 2019, he moved to Shakahola forest and urged followers to join him. The first remains were discovered by local herders in March 2023, by which time hundreds had died. Many victims remain unidentified.

Bollywood actor Tiger Shroff survived a shooting in Mumbai on Sunday evening and did not suffer gunshot wounds, according to police investigating the incident. Shroff was in a car leaving a football club in Juhu when at least two gunmen reportedly fired several shots at close range toward the car’s front passenger seat. Video of the shooting was published by several news outlets. Police said two people were injured, including Shroff’s driver, according to local media. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde visited Shroff after the attack. Shinde said the actor and his mother were shaken and warned that attempts to intimidate people would not be tolerated. The shooting has renewed concerns about attacks on prominent public figures in India. In 2024, police arrested two members of a criminal gang over a gun attack targeting the home of actor Salman Khan. That same year, politician Baba Siddique was shot dead in Mumbai. Shroff, 36, made his acting debut in the 2014 romance film Heropanti and has since appeared in several films. He is also a football enthusiast and plays for professional club Mumbay FC. Police are investigating the incident.

Australian Greens senator Jordon Steele-John has denied allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards women and accused his party of engaging in “nasty political games.” The claims were outlined in a letter from seven current and former party members, which Greens leader David Shoebridge said he received last Thursday. The letter reportedly referred to multiple allegations covering the period from 2017 to 2025. Shoebridge said Steele-John had taken leave from the party room, but Steele-John disputed that account in an online post on Sunday, saying he was not on leave. Addressing a sexual assault claim, the senator said police had investigated and closed the matter without laying charges. An internal party investigation is also under way, and Shoebridge’s office confirmed the allegations had been referred to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission. Steele-John, 32, was first elected to represent Western Australia in the Senate in November 2017. He said his nickname, “Feels on wheels,” had originally referred to his emotional advocacy for disability rights but had acquired a more sinister association with the allegations. He accused Shoebridge of mishandling the issue and questioned the timing of the letter, linking it to an agreed timetable for the next preselection ahead of a federal election. Local media also reported that the party had prepared a 47-page dossier years earlier listing allegations and outlining how to handle media coverage if they became public. Steele-John said the dossier was intended to prevent reporters from bombarding two women at the centre of those claims, and said neither woman had lodged a complaint. He acknowledged that the allegations could damage public trust and said he was committed to rebuilding it through transparency and accountability.

ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT), a Chinese memory-chip maker, forecast a dramatic return to profitability for the first nine months of 2026, but its shares fell 6.5% on Monday after the forecast was released Friday. The company expects net profit attributable to shareholders of 131 billion to 132.5 billion yuan for January through September, compared with a net loss of 5.28 billion yuan in the same period a year earlier. It also expects revenue of about 265 billion to 270 billion yuan, up by 232.9 billion to 237.9 billion yuan year over year, according to the filing as translated by Google. CXMT attributed the sharp improvement to rapidly growing demand for AI computing power since the second half of 2025. That demand has strengthened the global dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) market, contributing to supply shortages and significant price increases. The article reports that CXMT has been expanding its position against established memory-chip suppliers Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix and Micron Technology. Counterpoint Research data cited in the article indicate that CXMT accounted for 10% of global DRAM revenue in the third quarter of 2026, up from 5% a year earlier. The article also describes the company’s increasing production capacity at facilities in Hefei and Beijing, which helped it exceed 10% of global DRAM market share and become the world’s fourth-largest supplier. CXMT is also advancing research and development in advanced manufacturing processes and high-bandwidth memory (HBM). Despite the strong forecast and market-share gains, investors appeared to look past the profit outlook, and the shares declined.

China’s economy grew 4.5% year over year in the third quarter, accelerating from 4.3% in the second quarter and exceeding economists’ 4.4% forecast. Growth in the first nine months averaged 4.6%, broadly within Beijing’s official full-year target range of 4.5% to 5%. September data showed retail sales up 1.1%, above expectations, and industrial output rising 5.5%, in line with forecasts. Urban unemployment was 5.2%. The article describes an uneven economy in which exports and industrial production are supporting growth while domestic demand, private investment, and property remain weak. China’s monthly trade surplus reached a record $133.5 billion, and economist Tianchen Xu said stronger government investment, external demand, and a weak comparison base helped September recover from subdued July and August figures. Xu expects these supports to persist into the fourth quarter and forecasts 4.7% full-year growth. However, urban fixed-asset investment fell 7.2% in the first nine months, and real-estate development investment dropped 20.6%. Oxford Economics’ Sheana Yue said the prolonged housing downturn is limiting the benefits of stronger industrial activity, with sales, construction starts, and prices offering little evidence that the slump is bottoming out. Cornell economist Eswar Prasad also warned that imbalances between supply and demand are increasing and questioned whether the government would provide sufficient stimulus alongside reforms. Producer prices rose 5% in September, their fastest increase in more than four years, while consumer inflation remained below 1%. This combination reflects excess capacity and weak demand, potentially forcing businesses to absorb higher costs through lower margins. Economists generally expect the People’s Bank of China to leave lending rates unchanged for the rest of the year. Authorities have instead expanded fiscal support, including targeted rate cuts, mortgage subsidies, and 550 billion yuan in unused debt quota for local governments and infrastructure. Analysts expect announced measures to be implemented more quickly, though the relatively solid growth figure may reduce immediate pressure for additional stimulus.

India’s Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that abundant liquidity in the country’s equity market may be contributing to the underperformance of Indian stocks. Investors can enter and exit positions easily, she told CNBC during the IMF-World Bank meetings in Bangkok, though she described India’s economic fundamentals as sound. Since January, India’s major benchmark indices have fallen nearly 12%, despite resilient economic growth amid trade uncertainty and geopolitical shocks. Sitharaman identified continued capital outflows as one of India’s biggest risks for 2027. Foreign investors have sold more than $33 billion in direct Indian equities so far this year, even as domestic investment remains robust: Indian equity mutual funds have recorded monthly net inflows since March 2021. The article also describes how exits by multinational companies, private equity funds and foreign investors have been enabled by strong public-market demand. An EY report found that Indian IPOs raised $60.4 billion between 2021 and 2025, with $37.7 billion—63% of the proceeds—going to existing shareholders selling their stakes. India has increasingly been viewed as an “anti-AI” investment, while Taiwan and South Korea have attracted capital because of their artificial-intelligence companies. Sitharaman called the movement of capital toward AI-related markets and the United States a concern. Goldman Sachs data cited in the article show Taiwan and South Korea accounting for 29% and 22% of the MSCI Asia Pacific ex-Japan index, respectively, while India’s share has fallen from 19% to 10% in recent years. Nevertheless, Sitharaman said India would not be hurt by spillover if a global AI bubble burst, arguing that the country has not received the same scale of AI investment as other markets. She also said India is no longer a laggard in frontier technology and pointed to investment in semiconductor manufacturing.

Indonesia’s benchmark stock index fell more than 5% on Monday, reaching its lowest level in six years, as investors reacted to the prospect that index provider MSCI could remove the country from its emerging-market benchmarks. On Friday, MSCI proposed moving Indonesia directly from emerging-market to standalone status. A final decision is expected by June and will depend on whether Indonesian authorities can show meaningful improvements in market governance and transparency. Goldman Sachs estimated that removal from MSCI emerging-market indexes could prompt about $5.6 billion in passive fund outflows, equivalent to 18 days of average trading volume among companies in the MSCI Indonesia Investable Market Index. A separate, possible move by FTSE Russell could put another $2.7 billion at risk. Goldman noted that active funds hold more than $8 billion in Indonesian equities, but any sales by them would be discretionary rather than automatic. The bank kept its underweight rating on Indonesian stocks, citing index uncertainty, weak corporate earnings and macroeconomic headwinds. It said valuations have fallen substantially but remain above historical lows, limiting the case for a rebound. The MSCI Indonesia Index had lost 47% for the year through Friday, while foreign investors had withdrawn a net $5.1 billion. Foreign ownership fell to 25% in October from 27% in January, and the value of foreign holdings nearly halved to around $130 billion from $250 billion. Goldman cautioned that the market may not yet have bottomed. The index’s 12-month forward price-to-earnings ratio had dropped to 7.3, its lowest since the global financial crisis, but remained above historical troughs. Goldman strategists also expected Indonesia’s central bank to raise interest rates twice more—by 25 basis points in the fourth quarter of 2026 and again in the first quarter of 2027—which could further weigh on growth and equity valuations.

England’s £25 million Species Survival Fund supported 20 nature-recovery projects, and a final independent evaluation published by The National Lottery Heritage Fund on October 5, 2026, found that the programme exceeded its habitat target by almost 30%. Launched in 2023 and delivered by the Heritage Fund on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the programme improved 4,800 hectares of habitat and supported woodland creation, wetland restoration, and river and coastal recovery. It also funded 3,596 habitat and species surveys to inform future conservation planning. The article describes projects illustrating these results. In County Durham, Tina’s Haven transformed former farmland into a 34-hectare reserve with woodland, grassland and wetland, including around 21,000 trees. It also forms part of a coastal habitat corridor and provides a nature-focused setting for women affected by addiction, trauma and social isolation. The RSPB restored coastal and wetland habitats across 10 reserves and partner sites; early signs included lapwings and terns using improved wetlands and new islands. In Hertfordshire, river restoration measures were followed by brown trout spawning on new gravel beds and water voles returning to sites where they had been absent for nearly 20 years. Community participation was another major outcome: more than 51,000 people attended activities, over 13,000 volunteers contributed, and nearly 3,900 volunteered for the first time. At Bucklebury Common, local cattle watchers supported conservation grazing intended to restore heathland and wood pasture. The fund also created or retained 197 roles, provided training to more than 3,000 staff and volunteers, and enabled over 600 qualifications. The article presents the results as promising evidence for coordinated conservation investment, while stressing that continued habitat management, monitoring and long-term support are necessary to turn short-term progress into lasting gains for wildlife.

Cassandra Henderson graduated from Dillard Junior High in Yanceyville, North Carolina, in 1968. Nearly six decades later, she returned to the same building as a resident after it was restored and converted into Dillard School Senior Apartments. The former school had stood vacant for about 20 years before community-led preservation efforts and investment helped give it a new purpose: 53 affordable apartments for people aged 62 and older. Built between 1949 and 1951 as Caswell County Training School, the school was the first in Caswell County to offer 11 grades to African American students. During segregation, it served not only as an educational institution but also as a source of opportunity, pride, and community life. Following desegregation in 1969, it was renamed for longtime principal Nicholas Longworth Dillard. It remained in use until its closure in 2002. The redevelopment created seven studio apartments and 46 one-bedroom apartments. All units are reserved for seniors whose incomes are at or below 50 percent of the area median income, addressing a need for affordable housing in rural Yanceyville. DreamKey Partners and Red Stone Equity Partners developed the project, which received a 2026 Affordable Housing Tax Credit Coalition award in the Rural Housing category. Designed to support ageing in place, the building has accessible, elevator-served apartments, a community centre with business and computer facilities, fitness space, laundry, storage, and on-site management with supportive-service coordination. Gardens and recreation areas, including pickleball and shuffleboard courts, offer opportunities for activity and social connection. The project illustrates how preserving historic buildings can retain local character and memory while meeting contemporary housing needs, particularly in rural areas with limited rental options and ageing populations.

John Legend donated $500,000 in 2016 to help renovate the auditorium at The Dome, the former Springfield South High School in his hometown of Springfield, Ohio. The auditorium had been excluded from the building’s earlier redevelopment because funding was insufficient. The full renovation cost $2.5 million, with the school district matching donations and local businesses, foundations, and individuals also contributing. The restored 680-seat venue, named the John Legend Theater, opened that autumn. The project was personal for Legend, who had participated in school productions and talent shows in Springfield before becoming an Oscar- and Grammy-winning singer and songwriter. He wanted to preserve the space where he had performed as a child and give it a renewed purpose. At the theater’s October 2016 ribbon-cutting, he spoke about the importance of arts and performance spaces in his own school years and performed several songs. The theater has since served students, musicians, and the wider community. During its first full school year, it hosted more than 120 events, including assemblies, guest speakers, and programs for outside groups. The Springfield Symphony Jazz Orchestra uses the venue as its home and holds many of its youth concerts there. Located within Springfield’s Promise Neighborhood, the theater is intended to provide opportunities for young people as well as a place for audiences. Students from multiple school districts have used it and learned production skills, while its modern sound and lighting systems support music, drama, and other performances. Nearly a decade after opening, it continues to host concerts and events for students and local residents.

Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu is scheduled to make a three-day state visit to Pakistan from October 20 to 22, 2026. The visit will be the first by a Maldivian president to Islamabad in more than a decade. The article identifies Abdulla Yameen, described as “overly pro-China,” as the last Maldivian president to visit Pakistan. According to a release from the Maldivian president’s office in Male, Muizzu is expected to hold talks with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and meet President Asif Ali Zardari. The release presents the trip as consistent with Muizzu’s “Maldives First” policy, which it says prioritises strong regional partnerships to support national development. The article also considers the visit in relation to India’s interests and its efforts to support the Maldives’ financial stability. It notes that, at the Maldives’ request, India recently completed the first rollover of a Rs 3,000 crore currency swap under an agreement signed in 2024. In addition, Muizzu’s call to revive the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit process has attracted attention in India. Overall, the report frames the Pakistan visit as a diplomatic development with potential regional significance, especially given the Maldives’ relationships with Pakistan and India.

Hurricane Trudy brought heavy rain and powerful winds to Mexico’s Pacific coast on Sunday, affecting western and southwestern states that had already been hit by Hurricane Simon the previous week. By Sunday night, all hurricane watches and warnings for Mexico’s coast had expired. The National Hurricane Center had warned coastal communities in Michoacán, Colima and Jalisco to prepare for potentially life-threatening flooding and mudslides. Trudy had weakened to a Category 1 hurricane, with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph, after reaching Category 3 late the previous week. Further rapid weakening was expected into Monday, and forecasters said it could become a post-tropical depression by Tuesday night. The storm was about 130 miles west-southwest of Cabo Corrientes and moving northwest at 7 mph. Its center was expected to turn west-northwest, away from Mexico and south of the Baja California Peninsula. The Mexican Navy urged caution because of high waves, heavy rain, rising rivers, flooding and landslides. Although Colima authorities assessed the overall risk as low, they warned that saturated ground could make additional rainfall damaging. Forecast rainfall totals were 4 to 8 inches, with isolated amounts near 12 inches; steep terrain was especially vulnerable to flooding and mudslides. The article also reports on Typhoon Champi, which was moving into the Philippine Sea after passing near Guam’s southern tip with sustained winds of 140 mph. It was forecast to weaken before it could potentially strengthen to Category 5. Watches and warnings had been canceled for Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, but the governors had requested emergency disaster declarations. President Trump approved an emergency declaration for Guam, allowing FEMA to coordinate federal relief. Airports, harbors and some health facilities were closed, and relief supplies were not expected for three to five days. The islands were still recovering from Super Typhoons Sinlaku and Bavi, which struck in April and July.

Pope Leo XIV appeared at the window of the Apostolic Palace on Sunday to thank thousands gathered in St. Peter’s Square for their prayers during his hospitalization and to say he would gradually resume his duties. His appearance came four days after surgery to remove the lower lobe of his right lung and one week after he disclosed that doctors had found a lung nodule. Leo said the difficult phase was behind him and that his illness had made him feel especially close to people living with illness or infirmity. He also thanked the doctors, nurses and other staff at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital. The 71-year-old pope was discharged on Saturday after a four-day stay, shorter than initially expected. The operation confirmed adenocarcinoma, the most common type of lung cancer. Leo told a reporter he was doing “much better,” but the Vatican has not publicly shared his prognosis. Tumor and lymph-node testing is underway; those findings, including the tumor’s molecular and genetic characteristics, will help determine whether he needs further treatment such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy or targeted oral therapy. The crowd welcomed his appearance with cheers. Visitors described their relief and joy, including members of an African delegation and American tourists who had hoped to see him before his hospitalization. His surgeon, Dr. Stefano Margaritora, said there were no clinical reasons the pope’s planned Nov. 6–17 trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru could not take place, and estimated that Leo would recover fully from surgery in about 10 days. The trip would involve numerous flights and travel to high altitudes. The article reports his return to public prayer and the optimism surrounding his recovery while noting that medical tests and decisions about possible additional treatment remain pending.

Thousands of seafarers remain stranded near the Strait of Hormuz as attacks on commercial vessels intensify, International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez warned. He described conditions for international shipping as “severe and critical,” said there was a “double blockade,” and urged ships not to transit the strait or expose crews to danger until safety guarantees are in place. Reports cited in the article say 24 ships were attacked over roughly two weeks, and about 6,000 seafarers have been trapped since the conflict began. The warning follows an Oct. 9 letter from Iran to the IMO. Iran alleges that U.S. forces repeatedly used VHF Channel 16—a frequency designated for maritime distress and safety—to address Iranian crews in Persian with threatening language and, in some cases, tell them to abandon their vessels. Tehran called the alleged use of the channel intimidation and psychological pressure against civilian crews. The letter named commercial vessels, shipping companies and maritime operators but did not include recordings, transcripts or specific details. Fox News Digital said it could not independently verify the allegations. U.S. Central Command defended enforcement of the naval blockade of Iranian ports, saying mariners receive professional communications and vessels that do not comply are given multiple warnings and opportunities to do so. Dominguez emphasized that seafarers are not combat-trained and should not be drawn into conflict-related threats over a channel intended for safety communications. Iran asked the IMO to bring its allegations to member states and relevant international bodies, potentially including the International Telecommunication Union. Dominguez said the IMO may examine whether technical or operational safeguards or regulatory clarifications are needed, but he did not announce a formal investigation. The article ends mid-sentence while describing the IMO’s possible review.

Riyadh’s 99-story Kingdom Centre ordered office employees to work remotely until further notice as Houthi attacks and security alerts heightened concern in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi-led coalition reported intercepting drones near Riyadh and the Eastern Province, as well as ballistic missiles in the south. The tower’s tenants include major financial and consulting organizations, though its shopping mall remained open. Building management did not state why it issued the order. The article places the directive amid a broader series of attacks. A strike on King Khalid International Airport on October 10 reportedly killed 13 people and injured more than 300; another attack the next day killed one person and injured 11. Airport operations have been disrupted, and Riyadh schools have extended remote learning. The Houthis also attacked Abha International Airport. Other incidents added to the security concerns. Saudi authorities said an AH-6i helicopter crashed in the Najran region because of a technical malfunction, killing both crew members. Civil defense officials reported that a hostile projectile injured six people in a Najran residential neighborhood and damaged homes and vehicles. The regional response may widen. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi requested an emergency parliamentary session to consider authorizing defensive military support for Saudi Arabia if Riyadh asks for it. Egypt’s government said it was prepared to support Saudi security and territorial integrity, while Egyptian and Saudi foreign ministers discussed regional developments and de-escalation. The article notes that Egypt’s involvement could broaden the response to the Houthis, who control Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, and much of the country’s north.

Father Patricio Sánchez Molinari, a Catholic priest in Guayaquil, Ecuador, died after a large crucifix fell from a wall and struck him during a livestreamed Mass. Shortly before the accident, he had been preaching about the fleeting nature of life and urging parishioners to devote their time to God and their loved ones rather than to distractions such as scrolling on their phones. He spoke about the value of time spent with God, family, and other people, then began another prayer and asked God to bless the congregation. The crucifix behind him fell suddenly, prompting members of the congregation to scream, rush to help, and call an ambulance. First responders arrived, but Sánchez was declared dead that day, according to officials. Sánchez served at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in southern Guayaquil and belonged to the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, a Catholic religious order founded in 1732 with a presence in 80 countries. He served under the Archdiocese of Guayaquil. Cardinal Archbishop Luis Gerardo Cabrera Herrera confirmed his death, and the church announced that Sánchez had “departed to the Father’s House” and would enjoy God’s presence and glory. He was also mourned by San Lorenzo Parish in Vinces, Los Ríos province, where parish leaders said he had served for several years. The article reports that the cause of the crucifix’s fall remains unclear and that church officials have not publicly explained the incident.

Thousands of seafarers remain stranded near the Strait of Hormuz as attacks on commercial vessels escalate, according to International Maritime Organization Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez. He described conditions for international shipping as “severe and critical,” saying there is a “double blockade,” vessels have been attacked, and about 6,000 sailors have been trapped since the conflict began. He urged ships not to transit the strait or put crews at risk until safety guarantees are in place. Reports cited by the article say 24 ships were attacked over roughly two weeks; the IMO had recorded 100 confirmed maritime incidents in the region as of Oct. 9, with 24 seafarers killed since the conflict began Feb. 28. The warning comes amid an Iranian complaint that US forces used VHF Channel 16, an international maritime distress and safety channel, to threaten Iranian crews in the Persian Gulf and urge some to abandon their vessels. Iran’s letter, submitted by its IMO ambassador and circulated to member states, described the alleged use of the channel as intimidation. It did not include recordings, transcripts, or specific details, and Fox News Digital said it could not independently verify the allegations. US Central Command said the blockade of Iranian ports is professionally communicated, that vessels receive repeated warnings and time to comply, and that US forces remain vigilant and professional. Dominguez said the IMO may consider whether technical or operational safeguards, or clearer guidance on Channel 16, are needed, but he did not announce a formal investigation. He emphasized that seafarers are civilians and that member states can raise concerns through the organization. He also identified fraudulent ship registries and false flags—used by some vessels to move goods—as factors contributing to the danger, criticizing shipowners who take risks to continue trading. Dominguez said diplomatic communications with Iran remain open, although reaching decisions is difficult amid the conflict; he has no direct contact with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Kenya’s confirmed Ebola infections have risen to eight after health officials reported a new case, while the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has spread to an eighth province. Kenya’s Health Ministry Director-General, Dr. Patrick Amoth, said 38 people were tested on Sunday and one tested positive. The patient is a 49-year-old man who is not a healthcare worker. He developed fever, headache and muscle pain and had worked as a patient attendant, cleaning utensils and linen. Officials believe he was likely exposed to Kenya’s first identified case, whose infection was discovered earlier in the month. Amoth said people in quarantine were being tested when they developed symptoms, and that six other patients were stable after supportive treatment. The first patient died on October 5. In the DRC, health authorities reported two cases, including one death, in Nord-Ubangi province, which borders the Central African Republic. This brings the outbreak’s geographic reach to eight provinces. World Health Organization Regional Director for Africa Mohamed Yakub Janabi said that although case clusters appeared to be declining in some areas, the outbreak was spreading geographically. The article describes the epidemic as the deadliest in Congo’s history, with at least 9,400 cases and more than 4,500 deaths since it was declared in mid-May. It is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, a rare Ebola type for which no approved vaccine or treatment is available. Ebola can spread through direct contact with bodily fluids and may cause fever, fatigue and muscle pain, followed by vomiting and diarrhea; some patients experience internal or external bleeding.

A year after a daring robbery at the Louvre, eight historic crown-jewel items worth an estimated $100 million remain missing. The thieves, disguised as workers, used industrial disc-cutters to enter the museum on October 19, 2025, and stole pieces including a brooch and crown associated with Empress Eugenie, wife of Napoleon III. Four main suspects were arrested within 10 days and remain in custody awaiting trial, but investigators have not located the treasures despite extensive searches of the suspects’ homes and those of their families. The last reported sighting was on CCTV at an underground lock-up in Aubervilliers, north of Paris. Experts describe several possible outcomes. If the thieves acted independently, the jewels may have been hidden locally, and investigators hope a suspect might disclose their location in exchange for a more lenient sentence. A less hopeful possibility is that a criminal ringleader arranged for the jewels to be transferred to another group or a fence. The suspects’ claims that a ringleader was involved are being treated skeptically by investigators. Experts also fear that the stones may have been taken abroad or passed into the underground precious-stones trade. Diamonds could be dismantled, recut and sold, potentially making them difficult to identify in the legitimate supply chain. Antwerp, Tel Aviv and India are mentioned as possible destinations. However, specialists point to previous recoveries of stolen jewels and say there remains a chance that someone will talk before the trial. The items are still listed in Interpol’s stolen-art database, and recoveries can take anywhere from three months to 40 years.