Climate diplomacy

Key EU leaders skip COP31 summit as their negotiators remain involved

European leaders’ absences put the spotlight on EU climate commitments as provisional figures show the bloc’s net greenhouse gas emissions fell by 1.6 per cent in 2025 from 2024.

4 min read

Middle East

Trump calls Iran war militarily ‘effectively over’ after Qatar meeting

Brent crude futures fell 24 cents to $92.

3 min read

Ukraine diplomacy

Europe joins U.S.-mediated Russia-Ukraine peace effort in Abu Dhabi

Russia and Ukraine resume U.S.-mediated negotiations scheduled over two days in Abu Dhabi, with European representatives present despite Kremlin objections to their involvement.

5 min read

Middle East

Rapidan’s McNally puts odds of renewed U.S.-Iran fighting at 80%

Rapidan Energy’s McNally warns that oil prices could spike as the U.S. midterm elections recede; the available excerpt gives no price target or precise timetable for renewed fighting.

3 min read

Global markets

Nasdaq falls 5.5% on Thursday as AI-stock sell-off spreads to Asia

Japan’s Nikkei was down 7.m. Friday as doubts over artificial intelligence investment and the implications of the US midterm elections weighed on technology shares.

5 min read

Middle East

U.S. strikes Iranian targets in Strait of Hormuz as Tehran asserts self-defense right

The waterway usually carries a fifth of global oil and gas shipments, placing the limited U.S. operation against Iranian targets alongside renewed efforts to end the war.

5 min read

Europe

2,800 troops to join Ukraine-support force’s first exercise in Poland

The French- and British-led force will rehearse deployment with troops from 10 European countries, but would enter Ukraine only after a ceasefire is agreed.

4 min read

Middle East

Netanyahu bloc wins 53 seats in Israel, short of a majority

Final election results put the prime minister’s camp ahead of Gadi Eisenkot’s opposition bloc, leaving coalition negotiations to determine whether a government can be formed or another vote is needed.

3 min read

Digital assets

Binance reports $6.3 billion breach impact as asset freezes widen

The exchange says about $3 billion has been recovered or frozen after a security breach that could become the largest cryptocurrency theft on record.

5 min read

Middle East

Iran weighs Hormuz leverage as U.S. escalation looms

Officials from three countries held talks with Iranian officials as Tehran’s leverage over Hormuz shipping comes into focus amid the prospect of U.S. escalation.

2 min read

Brazil

Lula and Flavio Bolsonaro supporters rally before Brazil’s presidential vote

Tens of thousands joined rival demonstrations on Saturday as President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and right-wing challenger Flavio Bolsonaro ended a bitter campaign before a closely contested election.

2 min read

Middle East

U.S. reduces embassy staffing as warnings of Iranian threats intensify

The State Department is reducing staffing at 4 Middle East embassies following intelligence that Iran has intensified efforts to target American personnel.

5 min read

Brazil

Lula and Flavio Bolsonaro clash over living costs and corruption in final runoff debate

The rivals challenged each other over living costs and corruption after Bolsonaro took 47% of the first-round vote against Lula’s 45%, with polls now showing them about even.

4 min read

Middle East

Israeli forces displace around 1,200 Palestinians in Hebron

Hebron’s municipal chief says another 1,300 people face losing their homes as Israel pursues an operation after an attack killed two soldiers.

3 min read

France

Suspect arrested after 1 killed in Paris suburban shootings

Police say a man was arrested in Coignieres after opening fire in Trappes and neighbouring La Verriere around 10:30 am, leaving one person dead and several injured.

2 min read

China

Tibet earthquake leaves 16 dead as Xi orders urgent relief

Xi Jinping calls for rescue operations adapted to cold weather and high altitude, with close seismic and weather monitoring and measures to prevent secondary disasters.

2 min read

World

Flight disruptions leave thousands of Indian Muslim pilgrims stranded in Saudi Arabia

India’s government says it is working to arrange the pilgrims’ return amid flight disruptions and escalating Houthi attacks.

2 min read

France

Macron says some protests will be banned; minister reports 217 jailed

The French president says demonstrations organised by groups lacking legitimate authority will be barred in the coming days, while the justice minister reports 217 people jailed in fast-track trials linked to weekend rioting.

3 min read

Europe

Russian strikes kill 7 in Ukraine amid push to resume peace talks

Ukraine’s air force reported shooting down 181 Russian UAVs overnight as attacks on Kyiv continued despite renewed US efforts to restart peace negotiations.

5 min read

France

Carrefour warning adds business pressure to France’s cost-of-living unrest

Carrefour shares fell more than 13% after a profit warning linked to unrest in France, as President Emmanuel Macron accused foreign leaders of basing their comments on fabricated AI videos.

4 min read

Brazil

Lula and Flavio Bolsonaro trade personal attacks in first runoff debate

Brazil’s president and his challenger exchanged accusations after Flavio Bolsonaro led the first round with 47 percent of the vote to Lula’s 45 percent.

3 min read

Southeast Asia

Conservation groups rescue dozens of orangutans from Indonesian wildfires

A joint rescue operation reported evacuating 51 critically endangered orangutans in West Kalimantan as fires on Borneo and Sumatra spread smoke across the region.

3 min read

Middle East

Iran says two tankers struck mines amid sharp fall in Hormuz oil flows

Oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz fell to 2.9 million barrels on October 11 as a shipping disruption pushed up global energy prices and inflation.

4 min read

Middle East

Egypt considers assistance as Saudi Arabia reports incoming fire

The Saudi report comes against a backdrop of sustained Houthi attacks on oil installations, tankers and transit hubs.

2 min read