Clashes between protesters and riot police have continued for four days in Tirana and spread to other major Albanian cities. Government buildings and some businesses were attacked, and part of the education ministry was set on fire. Student demonstrations over education costs and living expenses escalated, as an anti-government movement that has called for Prime Minister Edi Rama to resign for months continued amid growing corruption allegations against officials.

AlbaniaTiranaprotestsclashes

Less than an hour after Apple opened iPhone Duo preorders on Friday, delivery estimates for every configuration had slipped into next year, with dates as late as January. The foldable is set to reach stores on October 23. The wait may reflect strong demand, limited supply, or both.

AppleiPhone Duofoldable phonespreorders

Bend, Oregon, is holding vigils after gunfire at Silver Rail Elementary. The 16-year-old attacker killed four young pupils and a teacher; NBC's coverage also addresses the investigation.

school shootingBendvigils

Three children and a teacher were killed in a shooting at an Oregon school. Election officials are rebutting a conspiracy theory that has circulated for years, while another interest rate hike is also raised as a possibility.

Oregonschool shootingelection conspiracy theoryinterest rates

In Abu Falah, Israeli forces stood beside a wounded Palestinian man after settlers attacked Palestinians harvesting olives.

West BankIsraeli settlersolive harvestattack

Masked settlers attacked Palestinians picking olives in Abu Falah village and set fire to olive trees, injuring at least two people, including Washington Post journalist Heidi Levine. The attackers carried clubs and guns; Palestinians threw rocks in response, while Israeli soldiers fired tear gas toward them.

West BankIsraeli settlersPalestiniansolive harvest

The BBC witnessed Israeli settlers attack Palestinians and burn olive trees in the occupied West Bank. Dozens of settlers in black charged at a field where Palestinian farmers and activists were harvesting olives, setting fire to about a dozen trees and firing stones with slingshots. Washington Post photographer Heidi Levine was taken to hospital; she said she had been attacked and kicked while on the ground. The UN says settler attacks in the past two weeks have surpassed the whole of last year’s harvest season, with violence at an all-time high this year.

West Banksettler violenceolive harvestPalestinians

Russia’s Defense Ministry said Tu-22M3 long-range bombers flew over the Baltic Sea’s neutral waters with Su-35S and Su-30SM fighter support. The flight lasted more than four hours, and foreign-state fighter jets escorted them at some stages.

RussiaBaltic Sealong-range bombers

A fault in the data-transmission network supporting Italy’s nationwide air traffic control system caused delays and cancellations at Rome’s Fiumicino Airport on Friday, 16 October.

ItalyRomeair traffic controlflight disruption

At an international AI summit in Dublin, European leaders promoted trusted, independent AI while speakers stressed its economic potential and the need for safety rules. Critics questioned whether the EU can catch up with the US and China under strict regulation; environmental costs and possible job losses received little attention.

artificial intelligenceEuropean Uniontechnology regulation

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has appointed a caretaker administration for the northern Tigray region to stabilise it and prepare for an election within six months, following fighting between a rebel alliance and federal troops.

EthiopiaTigraycaretaker governmentelection

Pope Leo is steadily improving in hospital after lung cancer surgery on Tuesday and can now carry out normal daily activities independently, the Vatican said.

Pope Leo XIVVaticanlung cancer surgeryhealth

Doctors said Friday that tests showed Pope Leo XIV’s condition continued to improve after lung cancer surgery.

Pope Leo XIVlung cancer surgeryhealth

Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the youth-led Cockroach Janta Party, was detained in Delhi before a planned march, despite a police warning and a heavy security deployment. The party is seeking the resignation of India’s election chief over alleged voter-list manipulation, a charge denied by the Election Commission. Police have not publicly stated why Dipke was detained.

Indian politicsprotestsDelhidetentions

Authorities closed New Delhi’s Central Park, erected barricades and deployed thousands of additional officers ahead of a Cockroach Janta Party protest over the jailing of two activists. The youth-led movement has held near-daily demonstrations demanding electoral reforms and the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, amid a broader crackdown on its protests.

India politicsNew Delhiprotestselectoral reform

A central park in India’s capital has been shut ahead of the latest protest by the youth-led Cockroach Janta Party. The group has staged near-daily demonstrations demanding the national election authority chief resign over the removal of more than 130 million people from voter lists.

Indiaprotestsvoter lists

Pro-Nazi chants were heard before an Ajax match in the southern Croatian city of Split, drawing condemnation from the country’s leaders. Hajduk Split, which won 2-1, apologised to UEFA and Ajax, while the Croatian football federation also condemned the incident.

footballpro-Nazi chantsHajduk SplitAjax

Using SpaceX rocket technology, the sports car climbed a curved ramp before making a controlled landing.

TeslaRoadsterflying car

Tesla has revealed an electric sports car that can reportedly drive upside down and use rocket-like thrusters to leap and turn in mid-air. Developed with Elon Musk’s SpaceX, it is said to reach 97km/h in less than a second. First promised in 2017, it is now expected in 2028.

Teslaelectric carsSpaceX

Elon Musk unveiled a new Tesla Roadster, saying it has altitude-control thrusters and rear main thrusters that let it essentially fly like a rocket.

TeslaRoadsterElon Muskflying car

China reaffirmed its sovereignty over Huangyan Dao and Nansha Qundao, rejecting the Philippines’ claim that it is safeguarding its rights there. After recent incidents, the Philippine military said more than 100 Chinese vessels were in nearby waters. Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Chen Xi said Friday that the islands and reefs are outside Philippine territory.

South China SeaChinaPhilippinessovereignty dispute