Syrian state media reported that Ali Kayali, also known as Mihrac Ural, was arrested while trying to cross the border. He has long been suspected of a leading role in the 2013 mass killing of civilians in Baniyas and nearby Bayda, when he led an armed group loyal to then-President Bashar al-Assad.

SyriaBaniyasarrestmass killings

Ukraine’s naval forces said an overnight strike hit six Su-34M bombers at the Borisoglebsk military airfield in Russia’s Voronezh region, using the Neptune coastal missile system. Ukraine’s General Staff said all six aircraft were damaged to varying degrees, with explosions and a fire recorded at the airfield.

UkraineRussiaNeptune missilemilitary airfield

Russian police are searching the home of Sergei Sokolov, editor-in-chief of the independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta, according to Baza and RBC, citing law enforcement sources. RBC says the search is linked to a criminal case opened in the spring; Baza reports that it concerns the illegal use of personal data and names Novaya Gazeta columnist Oleg Roldugin. Sokolov is being taken to the Investigative Committee for questioning.

RussiaNovaya Gazetapolice searchpress freedom

Prince Harry and Meghan, formally known as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, appeared together in public, taking selfies, hugging people in the crowd and accepting flowers.

Prince HarryMeghanUnited Kingdompublic appearance

Harry and Meghan arrived in Nottingham to cheers, marking their first joint public engagement since returning to the UK. On Thursday they visited a community recording studio charity and are expected to go to two more locations in the city.

Prince HarryMeghanNottinghampublic appearance

Prince Harry and his wife Meghan appeared in public together on Thursday for the first time since their surprise return to Britain. They went back to the city where they made their first joint official engagement nine years ago.

Prince HarryMeghanUK visit

Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, appeared together at a royal-style public event on Thursday, their first joint appearance since returning to the United Kingdom with their two children.

Prince HarryMeghanUnited Kingdompublic appearance

Ukraine has resumed attacks on Russian refineries, with a strike on a facility in the Ryazan region on Thursday, the regional governor said. The attack followed President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s anger over what he called a “dangerous” U.S. intelligence withdrawal.

UkraineRyazanrefinery attackU.S. intelligence

Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine would restart attacks on Russian oil refineries after pausing them for three days at Washington’s request, while Russia continued strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure. Russia reported a Ukrainian attack on a refinery in Ryazan on Thursday, with debris from intercepted missiles and drones starting a fire. Zelensky accused the US of withdrawing key support and said Ukraine would halt strikes on Russian oil infrastructure only if Washington supplied more Patriot air-defence missiles.

UkraineRussiaoil refineriesZelensky

Russia said Ukraine targeted a refinery in Ryazan, where falling drone debris sparked a fire. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv was done with the energy ceasefire and would resume strikes on Russian refineries. He said Ukraine would pause attacks on Russian energy sites again only if the US supplied Patriot interceptors.

Russia-Ukraine warrefinery attacksenergy ceasefireRyazan

Officials say Ukraine attacked a Russian oil refinery with drones and missiles. The strikes came hours after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said a brief truce covering energy infrastructure, which Moscow had rejected, was over, as tensions with Washington deepened.

UkraineRussiaoil refinery attacksenergy infrastructure

Ukraine has restarted strikes on Russian oil refineries as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy angrily accused the United States of dangerously withdrawing support vital to Ukraine’s defense against Russia.

UkraineRussiarefinery strikesUS support

Ukraine reports slowdowns in Starlink, which is used for battlefield communications and frontline logistics. Elon Musk says any limits on speed or use are decided by the US military and ultimately by the president.

UkraineStarlinkbattlefield communications

SpaceX chief Elon Musk said Wednesday that any disruption Ukraine reports in using the Starshield satellite communications system would be the responsibility of the US government, not his company. He said the US government owns and controls Starshield, while the military and ultimately the president decide any limits on speed or use.

Elon MuskStarshieldUkraineUS government

Restrictions Ukraine has reported on its use of Starlink have highlighted Kyiv's reliance on the US satellite internet system for both offensive and defensive operations against Russia's invasion, analysts and observers say. An unnamed senior Ukrainian official said Starlink data speeds had been “throttled.”

UkraineStarlinkRussia war

A Ukrainian Defense Ministry source said connectivity for Starlink systems used by the military had been restored and was operating. SpaceX imposed speed restrictions without warning on Oct. 14, disrupting military operations, including the use of mid-range strike and interceptor drones. The ministry is still seeking to clarify the reasons and circumstances; the source did not say whether all restrictions were lifted.

UkraineStarlinkSpaceXmilitary communications

A senior U.S. administration official told Axios that the White House had no role in restricting Starlink in Ukraine. Axios reported that the Trump administration plans to contact SpaceX for answers. Ukraine said limits on Starshield, Starlink’s military version, disrupted some missions. Elon Musk said U.S. authorities own and control Starshield, with usage limits decided by the military and ultimately the president. The White House has not officially commented.

UkraineStarlinkU.S. governmentSpaceX

Elon Musk suggested the US government could be behind limits on the speed of SpaceX satellite technology used by Ukraine’s military, which Kyiv says impede its use of key defensive weapons. Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Trump’s diesel deal and the restrictions left him feeling “betrayed.” EU leaders are expected to discuss Ukraine at talks in Brussels.

UkraineStarlinkElon MuskUS-Ukraine relations

Eight of the 12 crew members aboard the San Marino-flagged Wine Trader are missing after a drone attack set the tanker ablaze near Sulina, Romania. Authorities have deployed helicopters and rescue boats to search in rough seas. Romania and Bulgaria's leaders are due to discuss whether to invoke Article 4 of the NATO treaty.

RomaniaBlack Seadrone attacksearch and rescue

Romanian officials said two chemical tankers caught fire overnight in the country’s Black Sea territorial waters. Rescuers were searching on Thursday for eight missing crew members from one of the vessels, after Russian drones strayed into Romanian airspace.

Black SeaRomaniaship firerescue search

Russia’s Defense Ministry said air defenses intercepted and destroyed 166 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones over Russian regions overnight. A drone attack sparked a fire at an oil refinery in Ryazan Region, while a depot and cars at an industrial site in Ryazan were damaged. No injuries were reported; damage is being assessed, and some schools and kindergartens were closed.

drone attackRyazan Regionoil refineryRussia

Li Qiang said the new Yalu River bridge linking China's Liaoning Province and the DPRK's North Pyongan Province would become a landmark of traditional friendship between the two countries. At the opening ceremony, he urged both sides to use the bridge to improve port clearance and connectivity, deepen border cooperation and benefit their peoples. DPRK Cabinet Premier Pak Thae Song also delivered a video speech.

China-DPRK relationsYalu River bridgecross-border infrastructureLi Qiang

China and North Korea formally opened their most significant land crossing on Thursday, hoping to revive trade and commerce after years of strained ties and pandemic disruptions. Flag-decorated trucks crossed the 3-km New Yalu River Bridge, which links Dandong in China with North Korea.

China-North Korea relationsborder bridgetradeDandong

China and North Korea have officially opened the New Yalu River Bridge after a 12-year delay. The 3-kilometre crossing is expected to become the main land route between the two countries as they seek to improve relations.

China–North Korea relationsNew Yalu River Bridgecross-border transport

A four-lane road bridge linking China and North Korea opened on Thursday, 12 years behind schedule, with the potential to substantially boost cross-border trade between the neighbours.

China-North Korea relationscross-border tradebridge

The New Yalu River Bridge linking China and the DPRK officially opened to traffic in Dandong, Liaoning Province, on October 15, following an agreement between the two sides. A joint ceremony marked the opening. The bridge is expected to strengthen connectivity and support economic, trade and people-to-people exchanges between the countries.

Yalu River BridgeChina-DPRK relationsinfrastructure

China and North Korea opened a new four-lane road bridge on Thursday, 15 October, ending a 12-year delay and establishing a major route for cross-border trade.

ChinaNorth KoreaYalu River Bridgecross-border trade

China is prepared to keep facilitating reviews and approvals of rare-earth export licenses to Europe, Ministry of Commerce spokesperson He Yadong said. He said China hopes Europe will help resolve key licensing cases involving Chinese entities, and that both sides will continue using their export-control dialogue mechanism to grow trade in dual-use items.

China-EU tradedual-use itemsrare-earth exportsexport controls

The former leader of Northern Ireland’s largest unionist party was sentenced Thursday to 15 years in prison for raping and sexually abusing two girls decades ago.

Northern Irelandsexual abusesentencing

The US is considering using the GBU-43/B “mother of all bombs” against Iran, CNN reported, citing sources. Iranian energy infrastructure and nuclear facilities could be targeted if President Donald Trump orders hostilities to resume. The White House has asked the military to develop further strike plans; CNN said the bomb’s ability to achieve Trump’s strategic goals is questionable and its use would significantly escalate the conflict with Tehran.

United StatesIranmilitary strikesMOAB

The US is considering using the ‘Mother of All Bombs’ in possible future strikes on Iran, according to a report. The GPS-guided bomb can devastate a surface area about the size of nine city blocks but is not designed to penetrate deep underground.

United StatesIranMother of All Bombsmilitary strikes

The US military has drawn up plans that could involve using the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb against Iranian energy infrastructure and nuclear sites if President Donald Trump orders combat operations to resume, CNN reported, citing US officials familiar with the matter.

United StatesIranmilitary strikesmother of all bombs

Demonstrators and riot police clashed in Tirana on Wednesday as student protests entered a second day. Students are demanding better university conditions and Prime Minister Edi Rama’s resignation. Protesters erected makeshift barricades while police used water cannon; overnight violence had led to 16 arrests and severe damage to government buildings.

Albaniastudent protestsclashes with police