Democrats could regain control of at least one chamber of Congress in November’s midterms, giving them more scope to scrutinize AI companies. Party figures have signaled interest in examining data center tax credits and recent hacking incidents, as AI becomes a campaign issue amid voters’ concerns about its effects on jobs, education, and daily life.
US politicsDemocratsartificial intelligencemidterm elections
Washington has taken the unusual step of issuing a red alert to US citizens in 12 Middle Eastern countries, citing the risk of potential attacks on US interests.
Qatar is preparing to announce a new regional defence partnership intended to strengthen its military capabilities, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Affairs Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman al-Thani said at the Global Security Forum in Doha.
Qatardefence partnershipmilitary capabilitiesGlobal Security Forum
A convoy in northeastern Nigeria's Borno state hit a landmine and came under fire, killing at least 15 people, two soldiers said. The dead included 10 Nigerian soldiers and five members of the Civilian Joint Task Force.
Flooding triggered by heavy rain in eastern Spain has killed at least two people. Rescuers are evacuating stranded residents in the Valencia region, where streets and cars are underwater, while authorities urge people to stay indoors.
Ukrainian telecom company Datagroup said Russian strikes completely destroyed the equipment and infrastructure at its Kyiv data center, making restoration and further operation impossible. The company served businesses, government agencies and private customers in more than 90 Ukrainian localities. Russia’s Defense Ministry said the center and a logistics hub linked to drones and missiles were hit in Kyiv.
Greece has unveiled the Daedalus supercomputer, with a performance of 85.69 petaflops. It opens up new possibilities for developing advanced AI models in the country.
Officials said schools in Northern Ireland and Scotland received false bomb warnings. Scottish police also reported that threatening messages had been sent to a number of schools across Scotland.
Nearly a month after Presley Gerber’s sudden death, his mother, Cindy Crawford, father Rande Gerber and sister Kaia Gerber shared heartfelt memories. His parents said they were proud of the kindness and vulnerability he showed the world.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and right-wing challenger Flávio Bolsonaro clashed in a debate a week before Sunday's run-off. Polls show them nearly tied, while analysts said the personal attacks and aggressive tone could further increase abstention.
Brazil electionpresidential run-offdebatepersonal attacks
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Senator Flavio Bolsonaro traded insults and accusations in their first face-to-face debate, a week before Brazil’s October 25 runoff. They argued over the economy, public security, corruption and ties with the United States, including Bolsonaro’s relationship with Donald Trump.
Brazil electionpresidential debateLulaFlavio Bolsonaro
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and right-wing Senator Flavio Bolsonaro exchanged personal attacks in their first debate, a week before the October 25 runoff. They clashed over corruption, crime, healthcare and living costs as polls indicated a close race.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and right-wing senator Flavio Bolsonaro traded personal attacks during a heated presidential debate on Sunday. They accused each other of lying and corruption and clashed over the economy, security and healthcare, a week before the closely contested October 25 runoff.
The World Food Programme says funding shortages are forcing it to reduce the number of people receiving aid in Gaza from 1.6 million to 1.1 million, leaving about 500,000 without support. It says more than two-thirds of Gaza’s population faces acute hunger.
The World Food Programme says a funding shortage will leave about 500,000 people in Gaza without critical support. It received less than half its previous-year funding for its Palestine operation in 2026 and needs another $450 million for the next six months. Monthly assistance will fall from 1.6 million people to 1.1 million, with smaller food rations and fewer hot meals.
Funding has fallen by more than half from 2025 levels, prompting the World Food Programme to cut monthly assistance in Gaza from about 1.6 million people to 1.1 million from October. Two-thirds of the population face crisis-level food insecurity, while 200,000 people are at emergency levels and need immediate aid to prevent deaths from hunger.
GazaWorld Food Programmefood insecurityhumanitarian aid
The UN agency says Israeli restrictions are putting food supplies under strain as it cuts assistance for 500,000 people in Gaza. It now supports 1.1 million vulnerable people there.
The World Food Programme says funding shortages will reduce the number of people it helps in Gaza by about a third, from 1.6 million to 1.1 million. Daily hot meals from community kitchens will fall from 250,000 to 150,000, while families in hard-to-reach areas will receive meals every other day. The agency says the cuts reflect a lack of funding, not lower needs or access problems.
Hong Kong-listed Metis TechBio said Monday it has signed a collaboration agreement with Eli Lilly to research and develop tissue-specific drug-delivery technologies, in a deal valued at up to $1.1 billion.
Hong Kong-listed Metis TechBio and Eli Lilly sign drug-delivery deal worth up to $1.1 billion
FlashTranslated by Minutes
🇮🇳 Architect fights to save India's past, built on 'stone, tears and sweat'
For three decades, conservation architect Abha Narain Lambah has pioneered efforts to preserve some of India's most significant historic sites --- from ancient Buddhist caves and Islamic tombs to Hindu temples.
🇮🇳 Architect fights to save India's past, built on 'stone, tears and sweat'
For three decades, conservation architect Abha Narain Lambah has pioneered efforts to preserve some of India's most significant historic sites --- from ancient Buddhist caves and Islamic tombs to Hindu temples.
Large demonstrations over rising fuel prices and falling purchasing power swept France, with some turning into riots and clashes with police. French authorities reported 2,397 arrests and 997 injured police and gendarmes; Interior Minister Laurent Nunez’s resignation was rejected by President Emmanuel Macron. Italy also saw protests and unrest, with nearly 200 detained, while Albanian students demanded Prime Minister Edi Rama’s resignation.
Israel will hold elections on October 27 for all 120 seats in the 26th Knesset. The headline says the country’s AI propaganda, built to silence Palestinians, is now targeting voters at home.
Israeli opposition parties back a hard line on Iran and accuse Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of not doing enough to contain it. Ahead of the October 27 election, they promise a reset of security and foreign policy; some leaders call for further action against Iran’s nuclear programme or its government. Opposition figures also fear Netanyahu could escalate militarily before the vote to sway the election.
An expedition seeking evidence of Amelia Earhart’s plane came up empty. The aircraft has been missing for nearly 90 years, and one of aviation history’s great mysteries appears set to remain unsolved for now.
Georgia exported 948.4 metric tons of fresh or dried figs to Russia in September, worth $1.3 million and 1.7 times the year-earlier amount. The previous monthly record was 916.6 tons in August 2025. Since the season began in July, Georgia has shipped 1,800 tons to Russia, with smaller quantities going to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Armenia.
Hundreds of thousands joined weekend protests in France, driven by the rising cost of living. Demonstrations also spread to other countries, amid France’s worst unrest in years.
Protests are continuing across France over teacher shortages, poor school conditions and rising living costs, with fires and looting reported in several cities.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is to convene an emergency security meeting after cost-of-living protests in Milan turned violent. Italian media report that more than 200 people were detained over the weekend, 80% of them minors. Police used tear gas and water cannon, and disorder also spread to other northern Italian cities.
Creotech Instruments plans to increase its capacity tenfold by 2029. CEO Grzegorz Brona warned that Europe could remain dependent on US rockets to launch satellites into orbit for years.
Sentora’s Firelight coverage pays premiums from vault yield, while FXRP providers share backing that can absorb validated losses after a stablecoin buffer.
XRP holders can now earn fees from Kraken’s DeFi customers, with a catch
FlashTranslated by Minutes
🇲🇾 🐢 Green turtles offer glimmer of hope as other species decline
Green turtles have made the rare jump from endangered to "least concern" in global conservation rankings, thanks to decades of efforts including egg relocation, marine protection and trade bans.
🇲🇾 🐢 Green turtles offer glimmer of hope as other species decline
Green turtles have made the rare jump from endangered to "least concern" in global conservation rankings, thanks to decades of efforts including egg relocation, marine protection and trade bans.
Laurent Nuñez said police in cities including Paris and Lyon were overwhelmed during weekend protests after authorities failed to anticipate the scale of the unrest. Emmanuel Macron rejected Nuñez’s resignation and ordered a security review and new operational methods. Rioting involved arson and looting, with mass arrests and nearly 1,000 police and gendarmes injured.
French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has directed prefects to impose “very limited” and “localized” curfews in cities to prevent further rioting and looting. Macron rejected the interior minister’s resignation.
French President Emmanuel Macron rejected Interior Minister Laurent Nunez’s resignation on Monday after weekend protests. Nearly 2,400 people were arrested and almost 1,000 police officers and gendarmes were injured on Saturday.
After violent protests erupted across France over the weekend, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said Monday that police had lost control in some cities. He cited a lack of anticipation in preparations and said he had offered his resignation to President Emmanuel Macron, who declined to accept it.
More than 2,000 shops were targeted in France, with damage estimated at hundreds of millions of euros. The government faces questions over failing to anticipate the violence, while a minister acknowledged that police lost control and looters boasted online.
A black pickup truck drove onto a children’s soccer field in Kansas, killing two people and injuring 10. Investigators said a 34-year-old woman was taken into custody and released while toxicology results and a mechanical inspection of the truck are pending. The driver has not been publicly identified or charged.
The CAC 40 fell more than 1% after widespread unrest in France over the weekend heightened investor concerns about the country’s public debt. At 10:30 a.m. Moscow time, it was down 1.24%, with banks, retailers and tourism companies among the biggest decliners. Deutsche Bank analysts warned the unrest could weaken international investors’ appetite for French government bonds.
Unrest in France is adding to fears of a debt crisis, with Paris-listed stocks, bonds and the euro declining. One analyst told CNBC that either bond markets or people could riot, or both.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrived in Tehran to discuss steps to de-escalate tensions in the Persian Gulf with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and meet President Masoud Pezeshkian. Talks will also cover practical measures to strengthen the countries’ comprehensive strategic partnership.
Military expert Andrey Marochko said Russia’s Battlegroup North took control of about 100 square kilometers in the Sumy and Kharkov regions over the past week, its largest territorial gains. He also said Russian forces liberated 12 settlements: eight in Kharkov, three in the Donetsk People’s Republic and one in Zaporozhye.
Russia-Ukraine warRussian forcesSumy regionKharkov region
Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefonica and Vodafone said on Monday they had agreed to explore a joint bid for spectrum to be allocated in future for mobile satellite services in Europe.
A 2,700-year-old Egyptian bronze statuette of the god Ptah, recently sold at Frieze Masters in London, may offer a clue to the Oscar statuette’s origins.
A Moscow court ordered the arrest of RailGallery administrators Denis Yeskov and Anatoly Nagornov. Investigators accuse them of unlawfully obtaining a trade secret, copying information from a Russian critical infrastructure facility and posting it online. The charge carries five to 10 years in prison, and the site is currently inaccessible.
Tech futures rebounded after falling 5.5% last week, lifting bitcoin before sellers pushed it back down. This week’s earnings will put the AI trade to another test.
US aerospace company Sceye completed a round-trip flight between New Mexico and Japan from August to September 2026, demonstrating how an uncrewed stratospheric platform could serve as a cell tower in the sky. Powered by solar panels and onboard batteries, the helium-filled craft can hover at about 60,000 feet for extended periods.
The history of technological progress suggests that as AI spreads, its impact on employment may be greater for women than for men. Telephone switch operators and personal computers illustrate why.
A Snapchat message that students believe came from an undercover police officer has become the rallying cry of a youth movement that has now spread to Belgium and Italy.
The large oil tanker Sled temporarily lost propulsion in the Baltic Sea after an engine failure, Bild reported. The incident occurred between Germany’s Ruegen island and Denmark’s Moen island; after regaining maneuverability, the vessel resumed its westward voyage.
Investors want Netflix to explain how it plans to sustain growth when it reports third-quarter results on Tuesday, as competition intensifies and user engagement shows signs of fatigue.
France’s escalating protests reveal a growing gap between political leaders and public frustration, renewing questions about the country’s history of social unrest. Chris Reynolds, a French and European Studies professor at Nottingham Trent University, says Emmanuel Macron’s latest address showed a troubling detachment and did little to address the demonstrations’ structural grievances. He warns that violence could overshadow largely peaceful protesters’ legitimate concerns, erode public sympathy and reshape debate ahead of the presidential election.
France protestsEmmanuel Macroncost of livingyouth concerns
France is grappling with its worst rioting in years after nationwide protests over education and the cost of living escalated into deadly violence across the country. The unrest has triggered a domestic blame game and could spread to neighboring European countries.
Only broken glass and the bare framework of the Haussmannian roof remain at Limoges’s 19th-century town hall as France reels from its worst violence in years and moves toward imposing curfews.
Monday’s press review looks at how French and international newspapers discuss anti-government protests that turned violent over the weekend and their aftermath across France.
A Russian press review says Donald Trump wants to bring Kyiv back to negotiations with Moscow, while unions and Yellow Vest supporters join nationwide protests in France. It also reports discussion of possible US-Russian projects involving European businesses and Russian claims of battlefield gains near Volchansk and Dobropolye.
China will establish a liquidity support facility to help non-bank financial institutions handle large-scale redemptions, central bank Governor Pan Gongsheng said at the opening of the Financial Street Forum in Beijing. Regulators also outlined measures on loan pricing, yuan trading, financial-sector opening, ETF registrations and support for Chinese companies' international participation.
China financial regulationliquidity supportFinancial Street ForumETFs
The Maeving RM2 stands out for its retro-futuristic styling and exceptionally quiet, smooth ride, aided by a hub motor with no drivetrain noise. But its limited power and rattling, loose components make the $10,995 price feel steep, the review says.
Rubbish remained strewn across Marseille on Sunday, a day after demonstrations over rising living costs and declining public services spiralled out of control in some areas, becoming some of France’s worst violence in decades. Black-clad protesters broke into the city hall and defaced it with graffiti; public buildings in other French cities were also targeted.
The 2026 Annual Conference of Financial Street Forum opened in Beijing amid rising trade frictions and supply-chain disruptions. A CGTN online poll found most respondents said the forum supports financial exchange and cooperation, while China's financial opening-up and the integration of finance with digital technologies can aid global cooperation and market stability.
China financeFinancial Street Forumfinancial opening-upglobal financial cooperation
Military expert Andrey Marochko said Ukrainian forces and foreign mercenaries suffered about 9,055 killed or wounded over the past week. He also said Russian forces destroyed 5,600 Ukrainian drones, 15 marine vessels and nearly 700 combat vehicles, among other equipment.
Police used tear gas and water cannon to disperse protesters outside Colombia’s National Museum in Bogota. The demonstration followed a Culture Ministry order to remove 30 exhibits on LGBTQ rights, feminist struggles and assassinated political leaders.
Colombiamuseum protestCulture MinistryLGBTQ rights
After publishers rejected You Yeong-Gwang's novel for ten years, he self-funded 200 copies that sold only five in a month. A later crowdfunding campaign succeeded, leading to commercial publication. Before its South Korean release, publishers abroad sought translation rights; the novel has since appeared in more than 20 countries and 15 languages.
Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said unrest spreading across Europe was bordering on chaos, having spread from France’s largest cities to Italy and other countries. He called it an obvious manifestation of crisis but said it was an internal affair for EU member states.
Supporters of Lula formed his name in the waters off Rio. Lula and Flavio Bolsonaro faced off in a tense debate about public spending, corruption and ties to the US, with polls putting the race at 51–49.
Lula and Bolsonaro exchanged insults in a televised debate before Brazil’s weekend presidential runoff. Corruption is a major concern for many voters, but experts say it may influence whether they vote at all more than which candidate they support.
Brazil electionpresidential runoffTV debatecorruption
Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said Tokyo intends to maintain necessary contacts with Moscow and work on unresolved bilateral issues, while continuing to assert its claims to the southern Kuril Islands. He described relations as being in a “difficult situation” amid the conflict in Ukraine; the island dispute and a peace treaty remain unresolved.
Authorities said 12 migrants drowned in two separate incidents on Monday near Lesbos and Samos in the northeastern Aegean, after their boats capsized while the coast guard pursued them.
Greek Coast Guard officials say 12 migrants, including an infant, died in two separate boating accidents overnight in the Aegean Sea. A speedboat collided with a police patrol vessel off Lesbos, while another boat capsized near Samos. Twenty-two people were rescued, and search-and-rescue efforts continue. A 37-year-old Turkish survivor was arrested on suspicion of smuggling and operating the speedboat.
GreeceAegean Seamigrant boat accidentssearch and rescue
Greek authorities say 12 migrants died in two incidents in the Aegean Sea. The International Organisation for Migration says at least 1,209 migrants have died or gone missing in the Mediterranean since the start of the year.
Media reports and official comments have renewed allegations that Iran supports Yemen’s Houthis with training, intelligence and assistance for drone and missile attacks. Saudi cities have faced repeated Houthi attacks in recent weeks, while reports say the group’s September offensive took control of Yemen’s Red Sea coast and the Bab al-Mandeb strait. Iran and the Houthis deny the allegations.
Sanctions, cancelled flights and other restrictions tied to Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine have disrupted Western leisure travel. EU tourist arrivals dropped from 5 million in 2019 to 160,000 in 2025, prompting Moscow to look east.
A slim majority of economists surveyed by Reuters expect Bank Indonesia to leave interest rates unchanged on Wednesday. They said the rupiah’s fall after a warning that Indonesian stocks could be removed from major global indexes would have little impact on the decision.
Israeli police say 10 suspects were detained over a wave of settler violence in the occupied West Bank, including attacks on Washington Post photojournalist Heidi Levine and European diplomats. US Ambassador Mike Huckabee called the arrests “a very positive development.”
West Banksettler violenceIsraeli policejournalist attack
Israeli police said they had arrested 10 suspects over settler violence in the occupied West Bank, including attacks on US photojournalist Heidi Levine and European diplomats. Human rights group Yesh Din reported at least 170 settler attacks since September 27.
West Banksettler violenceIsraeli policepress freedom
Israeli police said on Monday they had detained eight suspects while investigating weekend violence in the West Bank, including separate attacks on an American photojournalist and European diplomats.
West BankIsraeli policesettler attacksEuropean diplomats
Student-led protests over alleged corruption, jobs and education continued for a sixth day in Albania, with demonstrators demanding Prime Minister Edi Rama’s resignation. Clashes and property damage have been reported, and police said 388 people had been charged with criminal offenses. U.S. lawmakers urged Albanian authorities to respect peaceful protest rights and avoid violence.
Protests continued in Tirana on Sunday for a sixth consecutive day, as Prime Minister Edi Rama ruled out resigning. Thousands are demanding his departure and protesting poor university conditions, high tuition fees and corruption; violent demonstrations have rocked the capital since Tuesday.
Anti-government protests in Albania over university conditions and corruption turned violent as they entered a sixth day. Police in Tirana used water cannon and tear gas.
Chinese shoppers are seeking second-hand bargains and turning to domestic brands, putting pressure on European luxury groups. One analyst warns that China, while still vital, may not drive growth over the next two to three years.
At least three people were killed and 53 injured across Ukraine over the past day, regional authorities said. President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russian forces attacked energy facilities in 11 oblasts overnight and on the morning of Oct. 19, damaging more than 10 sites and cutting power to at least 550,000 households.
An Israeli rabbi has ruled that Palestinians may no longer harvest olives on land Israel classifies as “state land” across the occupied West Bank, a report says.
Hong Kong has seen more growth companies list, including firms that have yet to achieve sustained profitability but have strong growth potential, the Securities and Futures Commission CEO said on Monday. She attributed the increase to improved market infrastructure.
Hong Konglistingsgrowth companiesmarket infrastructure
Hong Kong regulator sees rise in listings of growth firms
FlashTranslated by Minutes
📉 Iran shopkeepers struggle as war dims demand
At a Tehran bazaar, shopkeeper Nasir says locals once bought his nuts by the kilos, but soaring prices caused by the US-Iran war have eaten into sales, leaving businesses like his fighting for survival.
📉 Iran shopkeepers struggle as war dims demand
At a Tehran bazaar, shopkeeper Nasir says locals once bought his nuts by the kilos, but soaring prices caused by the US-Iran war have eaten into sales, leaving businesses like his fighting for survival.
Swedish-born Anders Fernstedt has spent more than three years living under the portico of a London mansion once sold for a record price, without using money. Local bakeries, cafes and florists provide surplus food and power; he also uses a nearby homelessness charity for showers, clothes and social contact.
Independent Australian lawmaker Helen Haines is critically injured after a car struck her outside her office in Wangaratta. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called it a deliberate attack. Bystanders detained the 43-year-old male driver, and police found a knife in his vehicle; the motive remains unknown.
Independent MP Helen Haines was hit by a car in Wangaratta on Monday and is in critical condition. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called it an “attack” and a “deliberate act”, prompting condemnation across Australia’s political spectrum.
Australian politicsHelen HainesWangarattaalleged attack
An Australian federal independent lawmaker was critically injured when a car hit her on Monday, police said. They described the incident as potentially deliberate, and the driver was arrested.
Australian MP Helen Haines was in critical condition on Monday after being deliberately hit by a car outside her office in Wangaratta, according to police and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Independent federal lawmaker Helen Haines was critically injured after being hit by an SUV outside her constituency office in Wangaratta. Police are investigating a suspected attack, with counterterrorism investigators joining the probe. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said it appeared deliberate but cautioned that it was too early to speculate about a motive.
Officials say Australian MP Helen Haines was critically injured in a car-ramming attack. The 43-year-old driver was detained by civilians before police arrested him; officers found a knife in his car.
A car struck an Australian federal independent lawmaker on Monday, leaving her critically injured. Police said the act may have been deliberate and that the driver was arrested.
Independent MP Helen Haines was injured in an incident involving a vehicle outside her electorate office in Wangaratta, regional Victoria. Emergency services were called to Murphy Street on Monday afternoon, and her family said she was receiving medical care.
Independent MP Helen Haines was injured in a vehicle incident outside her electorate office in Wangaratta and is receiving medical care. Her family thanked bystanders, health workers and police, and said the family and Haines’s staff would make no further comment for now, asking the public and media to respect their privacy.
Russian attacks damaged industrial facilities and critical infrastructure across Ukraine overnight, including factories in Irpin, a Kyiv data center and infrastructure in Volyn. About 66,000 electricity metering points in Volyn lost power. The Kyiv attack killed one person and injured eight, local authorities said.
On Monday, European governments urged citizens traveling to France to avoid large crowds and remain cautious. The warnings followed weekend protests in which thousands were arrested and shops were looted, amid a deterioration in security conditions.
French business representatives are meeting with the government after widespread looting during weekend protests. The tourism sector fears winter holiday bookings will fall, while bond and currency traders are selling French debt and the euro.
A major clean-up was under way across France on Monday after nationwide demonstrations over high prices and declining public services last weekend. Widespread looting and damage to shops followed, with thousands arrested.
Protests across France have led to widespread looting and violence, with shopfronts destroyed and thousands of euros’ worth of goods stolen. At an emergency meeting with senior officials on Sunday, President Macron warned looters would have to pay for the damage.
For four weeks, angry students in France have prevented access to school premises. AJLabs examines the demands motivating the blockades and why students are pursuing them.
CME plans to introduce tungsten futures as demand for weapons increases. China has restricted exports of the critical mineral, which is used in armour-piercing munitions.
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