WorldHow Starlink slowdown affected Ukrainian soldiers pushing back Russian forces
The drone unit he leads has been helping push back Russian troops on the front lines in southeastern Ukraine, where a Starlink slowdown affected soldiers.

The drone unit he leads has been helping push back Russian troops on the front lines in southeastern Ukraine, where a Starlink slowdown affected soldiers.

Foreign ministers from eight European and Middle Eastern countries urged the US and Israel not to resume attacks on Iran, warning that renewed fighting could widen the conflict and drive oil prices higher. The Istanbul summit called for diplomacy and discussed the Strait of Hormuz, Yemen, Palestine and the Russia-Ukraine war.


Foreign ministers from the UK, France, Germany, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Egypt and Italy urged the United States and Iran to show restraint after meeting in Istanbul. Turkiye’s Hakan Fidan and France’s Jean-Noel Barrot warned that escalation could widen the conflict and bring serious consequences; ministers called for dialogue and de-escalation to restore navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
Intel sought a waiver out of caution because it was unclear whether the US government’s ban on foreign-made robots would affect its chip factories. The FCC’s October 22 order allows the company to keep using the automated guided vehicles in its US semiconductor facilities for one year.

We tested the Lola CD Player for two weeks, comparing it with streaming services and considering who it suits best and whether it is worth the price.

Russia’s human rights ombudswoman, Yana Lantratova, said the priority during the operation in Alyoshki, Kherson Region, is humanitarian aid for civilians. She said needs must be assessed and food, medicine, hygiene supplies and other essentials delivered. Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a ceasefire there to allow aid in and prepare a civilian evacuation.
Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov said Alyoshki residents would be able to leave without obstruction. The military is coordinating the ceasefire duration for the humanitarian mission, which will require thorough preparations. Russia and Ukraine agreed to a truce in the city starting October 29 to allow aid deliveries and prepare a civilian evacuation through a designated safe passage.
Melania Trump secured a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine in the Russian-controlled city of Oleshky, the White House said Friday. It is due to begin on Oct. 29.
Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov said evacuating people from Alyoshki as part of the humanitarian operation may take at least several days. The White House said Russia and Ukraine agreed to a ceasefire there, due to take effect on October 29, 2026, to permit aid deliveries and civilian evacuation through a designated safe passageway.
Russia and Ukraine have agreed to halt hostilities in Alyoshki, Kherson Region, starting October 29, 2026, the White House said. The pause is intended to let humanitarian aid enter and prepare a civilian evacuation via a designated safe passageway. An independent US media organization will help document both sides’ actions.

Melania Trump says most of the remaining people in Russian-controlled Oleshky are elderly and urgently need medical attention.

The White House says Melania Trump secured a ceasefire in Russian-occupied Oleshky, set to begin on 29 October. Russia and Ukraine confirmed an agreement to evacuate residents and deliver aid, saying their forces would stop firing at 02:00 GMT on 27 October. The city is short of medicine, food and clean water.
The White House says first lady Melania Trump arranged an upcoming ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine in war-ravaged Oleshky, intended to enable humanitarian aid and civilian evacuations.
Russia and Ukraine will temporarily halt fighting to let residents of Oleshky, in the occupied part of Ukraine’s Kherson region, evacuate safely. The White House said Melania Trump helped broker the deal, which is due to begin on October 29.
The White House says Melania Trump secured a ceasefire in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Oleshky. The deal is set to take effect on 29 October to enable humanitarian aid and civilian evacuations, after residents endured years of occupation, severe food shortages and dangerous escape attempts.

The White House says Melania Trump secured a localized ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine in Oleshky. A senior Ukrainian official said it would start on October 27, while the Kremlin said the military was coordinating the timing. The truce is intended to enable humanitarian access and evacuations for residents who want to leave.

The White House says U.S. First Lady Melania Trump mediated a localized ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine in and around Russian-occupied Oleshky, Kherson Oblast, to enable civilian evacuations and humanitarian aid deliveries. The city’s worsening humanitarian crisis has drawn growing attention; Russian forces are blocking aid, and drones frequently target civilians trying to flee.
The White House says Melania Trump secured a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine in Oleshky. Residents of the southern Ukrainian town have reported that its food crisis is worsening.

The White House says Russia and Ukraine agreed to a temporary ceasefire in frontline Oleshky, brokered by Melania Trump, to enable humanitarian aid and civilian evacuations. The White House gives October 29 as the start date, while officials in Russia and Ukraine say it will take effect on October 27.
Putin said Russia believes support for national sports disciplines should increase. In a message to participants and guests of the 14th Russia: Country of Sports forum, he described the competitions as a way to foster patriotism, respect for other cultures and mutual understanding among people. The forum is taking place in Krasnoyarsk on October 21-23.
Ukraine’s government has finalized changes ending automatic 100% mobilization exemptions for workers in critical industries, Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi said. Companies may still seek higher quotas, and a new mechanism could allow full exemptions for businesses that regularly arrange voluntary military service for some employees. Defense firms may exempt up to 95% of eligible staff.

Britain’s medicines regulator approved Johnson & Johnson’s once-daily pill for adults and teenagers with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, a condition that causes red, scaly and often itchy or painful skin patches.
Apple’s foldable iPhone Duo, priced at $2,000 and up, has already drawn strong interest. As the device reaches stores, the company now needs to meet that demand.
Apple's first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, went on sale in stores on Friday. Fans and consumers queued to buy the new device in cities including Singapore, Shanghai, London and Berlin.
The Comoros-flagged Khoryv sank off Romania’s coast after a drone attack. Of its 13 Ukrainian and Azerbaijani sailors, one was killed, nine were rescued and three remain missing. Romanian President Nicusor Dan called the incident part of Russia’s escalation in its war in Ukraine.

Romanian President Nicusor Dan blamed Russia for a Friday morning drone strike that sank the merchant ship Khoryv near Romanian waters. At least one of its 13 Ukrainian and Azeri crew members was killed, three remained missing and nine were rescued. Romania and Bulgaria have urged NATO to do more to protect Black Sea shipping as attacks increase.

Romanian authorities said the Comoros-flagged Khoryv, crewed by Ukrainians and Azerbaijanis, sank after a Russian drone hit it near Romania’s Black Sea coast on Oct. 23. One of the 13 crew members was confirmed dead, three were missing and nine were rescued. President Nicusor Dan called the attack another tragic consequence of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and urged Moscow to accept ceasefire proposals. NATO plans to step up its Black Sea presence.

Romanian President Nicusor Dan made the comments as authorities searched for three sailors missing from the sunken Khoryv.
Israelis are heading to the polls for the first legislative election since Hamas’s October 7 attacks. Neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party nor former army chief Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party is likely to win a majority, leaving Arab parties with a potential say in the outcome.

One year after the Gaza ceasefire, efforts to recover bodies buried beneath the rubble are ongoing. Civil Defense officials say 1,000 have been recovered, while an estimated 8,000 to 10,000 remain buried, including 3,000 in areas controlled by the Israeli army.

BP and the U.S. state of Louisiana agreed on Friday to resolve two disputes that have lasted for years and stem from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The deal includes a one-time early payment of about $350 million and settlement of the remaining coastal zone lawsuits involving BP.
Holders seeking to avoid conversion at market rates must withdraw before Monday, ahead of GMO Trust’s Nov. 11 deadline for initial direct redemptions.

Metro said its Russian operation donated 1 billion rubles to the People’s Front: Everything for Victory! fund to buy equipment for troops at the front, including vehicles, communications and reconnaissance systems, and counter-drone equipment. Less than a month earlier, Vladimir Putin had placed Metro’s Russian assets under temporary management.
The State Department said Donald Trump was “spot on” in his comments about France, after Emmanuel Macron criticized foreign leaders for “unacceptable and stupid” remarks and alleged foreign information manipulation around the protests. French officials said more than 3,000 shops were looted and about 2,500 people were detained in connection with last weekend’s demonstrations.

A large security presence has been deployed across France ahead of major protests on Saturday. Businesses remain on edge after violence overshadowed peaceful demonstrations last weekend.
Volodymyr Zelensky said Starlink restrictions remain in force in Ukraine, with tests showing a maximum speed of 161 kph. Kyiv still hopes SpaceX and the US administration will lift them, a process that could take two to three days or longer. Trump said Ukraine’s access to the Starshield military satellite system had been restored but did not identify who ordered it.

Since last week, Ukraine has reported restrictions on Starshield, a version of SpaceX’s Starlink, saying they are hampering its military operations against Russia.
The Economist, citing sources, reported that Elon Musk may have restricted Starlink access for Ukrainian forces to punish Ukraine for strikes on Russian oil refineries. It said the decision appeared to come from a small circle around Donald Trump, Musk and Steve Witkoff. Trump said Ukraine’s access to Starshield had been restored on October 22.

Ukrainian forces report widespread Starlink disruptions despite Donald Trump’s claim that Elon Musk had lifted service restrictions. Ukrainian officials say the speed limits remain in place, hindering fast-moving military equipment, including drones, from staying connected and affecting offensive operations and interception of Russian attacks.

Ukrainian officials say Starshield terminals remain severely impaired 11 days after problems began, despite Trump saying restrictions were restored. Speed limits continue to hamper Ukrainian drone operations. The report says no one in Washington has publicly taken responsibility, while officials have pointed to SpaceX CEO Elon Musk; Zelensky said he was discussing a fix with Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The UK and 31 partners are calling for urgent action to avert famine in Sudan, where ongoing conflict is driving hunger and displacement.

Initia has paused its network while investigating the extent of a security incident. Onchain data shows an ether transfer worth $2.7 million, and the attacker reportedly minted tokens.

Ukraine’s armed forces evacuated wounded soldier Kostiantyn Vlasenko from the front line in the Kharkiv region using a heavy-lift drone, Reuters reported. After months awaiting rescue, he was flown to safety behind the lines and is now undergoing rehabilitation at a hospital in Kharkiv.
A multi-storey building collapsed in a densely populated business and residential area of Nairobi, Kenya, with many people feared trapped. During rescue operations, police fired tear gas at looters targeting nearby shops.

A multi-storey building under construction collapsed in Nairobi, leaving a vast mound of rubble. Red Cross workers arrived as excavators worked through the debris.

A multistory building under construction collapsed in Nairobi on Friday, causing casualties and looting at the site. Officials said people may be trapped beneath the rubble. Police fired tear gas to clear the area and allow rescue teams access after people began looting nearby shops.

A multi-story building has collapsed in a busy commercial district of Kenya’s capital, with many people feared trapped beneath the rubble.
A 12-storey building under construction collapsed in Nairobi on Friday, and a Reuters witness said rescuers were at the scene.
Meghan says she is profoundly upset over allegations that a cache of images depicting child sexual abuse was located in a house her father once occupied.
The report says New York's Knicks assistant coaches were still without their title rings at Tuesday's celebration. It also says staffers received a phishing email.

A top Anthropic executive warned that large-scale cybersecurity disruptions are about to “get a lot worse before they get better.” This week, governments and companies scrambled to patch two critical software flaws.
The US Department of Energy said Friday it had approved an emergency exchange of as much as 400,000 barrels of crude from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to address a supply disruption affecting Phillips 66’s Lake Charles refinery in Louisiana.
Scientists have found a new clue that could help predict El Niño’s arrival a year in advance, giving communities and decision makers more time to prepare for the weather phenomenon’s effects.
Indonesian authorities seized 1.16 tonnes of ketamine, valued at $192 million, from a Mongolian-flagged vessel from Malaysia in North Sumatra waters this week. Eight crew members were arrested.

On The Vergecast, David and Nilay revisit the iPhone Duo’s 7/10 review score and consider how the device could change over time. They debate whether its outer screen is poor and whether it would have been a better product if it had launched as an iPad.

Tokenisation does not suspend the laws of finance.
Experts discuss which companies investors should buy, sell or hold this week.
Ear, nose and throat doctors discuss neti pot safety, proper use and cleaning, and who should avoid using one. The report also recommends highly rated options for cold season.

MapQuest users in Canada and the U.S. can now see where some surveillance cameras have been installed in their communities.
Jack Leslie, chair of the board overseeing the NIH Clinical Center Research Hospital, criticized Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy’s ribbon-cutting for a vaccine injury clinic at the hospital, warning that Kennedy’s anti-vaccine activities could tarnish its reputation. Leslie said studying possible vaccine injuries is appropriate: serious reactions are rare but real, and people who believe they were injured should be taken seriously.

The Justice Department is suing Alaska election officials to stop them from certifying the Senate race results if Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan loses next month.


The US administration has sued to prevent certification of Alaska’s Senate race if the Republican candidate loses. Voters queued at an early-voting site in Anchorage on October 21.
The Trump administration is suing to prevent Alaska election officials from certifying next month’s US Senate results if the Republican candidate loses. It cites a risk of “voter confusion” because two people with similar names will be on the ballot.

The Trump administration has filed a lawsuit in advance to block certification of the Alaska Senate race, citing confusion over candidates’ names.

The Justice Department is suing to prevent Alaska from certifying the Senate race winner if the Republican candidate narrowly loses. The contest is among several across the United States that could determine whether Republicans keep their slim Senate majority.
The Trump administration has filed a preemptive lawsuit seeking to block certification of Alaska’s US Senate election if Republican incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan loses. The state’s result could decide the balance of power in the Senate.
The Trump administration has sued to stop certification of Alaska’s U.S. Senate race if Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan loses.
A city official told NBC News on Friday that the Mississippi officer who fired the shot that killed 1-year-old Kohen Wiley has resigned.

Google revised its privacy policy to allow data from Gmail, Drive, and Google Photos to inform personalized ads when users make it available to services such as Search through Personal Intelligence. Advertisers cannot access the underlying files or identifying details, and users can disconnect apps or disable personalized recommendations.

A Russian exile known as Foma says a volunteer network he coordinates tracked Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov before he was killed in a Moscow car bombing in December 2025, and helped prepare the killing. Foma says the network passes intelligence on Russian military personnel to Ukraine but does not carry out killings. The BBC documentary details his activities, and Ukraine’s military intelligence agency confirmed it had worked with him.
The New York Times reported that the Knicks emailed employees a fake offer of free championship rings to test their ability to spot scams. Madison Square Garden employees who clicked the link had to attend a mandatory cybersecurity class amid owner James Dolan’s growing concerns about security.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told ABC News on Friday that Starlink was still not working fully, despite assurances from President Donald Trump.

Moldova declared a Russian embassy staff member persona non grata after a Russian Geran drone violated its airspace and came down near homes and an energy facility in the country's center. President Maia Sandu said Russia's war continues to put Moldovan lives at risk.

Moldova’s Foreign Ministry said it would declare one employee of the Russian embassy in Chisinau persona non grata, citing a violation of Moldovan airspace and a drone that fell about 100 meters from a residence in Chistelnita village.
The US Transportation Department said Friday that Air France and KLM were fined a combined $425,000 after dozens of flights flew below the minimum altitude in Iraqi airspace, a threshold intended to shield them from threats from the ground.
Some of Bitcoin’s best-known early investors are squaring off again, this time looking to profit from a massive rally in the year’s standout major cryptocurrency.
Leonid Slutsky, head of Russia’s LDPR party and a State Duma international affairs committee member, said Ukrainian drone attacks on civilian infrastructure in Russia showed the Zelensky regime was undermining negotiations. He said Russia had consistently viewed a negotiated settlement as the preferred solution, while warning that what he called the junta’s war crimes would not go unanswered.
Bolsonaro’s party has strengthened its position in Congress, creating a formidable challenge to another Lula presidency. Flavio Bolsonaro led Lula in the first round with 47.03 percent of valid votes to 45.16 percent. Polls have since narrowed the gap, with Lula gaining ground ahead of the October 25 runoff, whose outcome remains uncertain. The candidates also set out contrasting public-security proposals in a televised debate.


Brazil’s presidential runoff pits Senator Flavio Bolsonaro against incumbent Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, with voting set for October 25. Polls show Lula narrowing the gap after Bolsonaro led the first round by less than two percentage points. The result will determine who holds the presidency for the next four years.

Social media insults and a combative debate have raised tensions ahead of Sunday’s fiercely contested presidential run-off. Leftist, pro-union President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and far-right challenger Flavio Bolsonaro are separated by only a few points; Flavio is the son of former president and Trump ally Jair Bolsonaro.
Brazil’s October 25 runoff could reshape Latin America’s political landscape. In the first round, Flavio Bolsonaro, son of former president Jair Bolsonaro, beat incumbent Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva by just over two million votes. Journalist Vitoria Barreto explains why the runoff result matters.
Kalshi Inc. is seeking business from the world’s largest banks and hedge funds for a futures market linked to US inflation, opening a new front in its competition with traditional financial exchanges.
Israeli forces have blocked the entrances to Madama, south of Nablus, restricting movement for more than 2,500 residents and disrupting access to hospitals, schools and olive groves. Residents say the army set up earthen barriers for security reasons, monitored attempts to leave and drove people back with sound grenades and tear gas. They also report bulldozing that destroyed farmland and uprooted hundreds of olive trees, while soldiers and settlers kept farmers from their fields.

The iPhone Duo is going on sale today, but a few units have already developed broken screens. Reddit posts suggest the damage is appearing near the inner-screen hinge, with bright lines on the right side of the display. One Australian user said the screen cracked along the hinge as they opened the phone; an Apple Store replaced it on the spot.

Spain’s opposition People’s party used AI-generated likenesses of people linked to Pedro Sánchez’s Socialists, including his wife, in a campaign video that appeared to depict them admitting wrongdoing. The ad prompted outrage and debate over AI in politics; former Socialist member Leire Díez filed a legal challenge against the party.

Meta Platforms said on Friday it will postpone implementing updated commercial terms while it addresses concerns from publishers and digital advertisers. The decision could avert potential regulatory action.
At GameSoundCon, Valve composer and audio artist Mike Morasky mentioned “HLX” while discussing the company’s HDR audio system. The codename has been widely reported as the internal name for Valve’s next Half-Life project, but no Valve employee had previously referred to it in public.

The Winnipeg Jets traded all-star goalie Connor Hellebuyck on Friday, bringing his time with the team to an end.
Ukrainian forces attacked Russia’s Oryol region. Preliminary reports from Ukrainian monitoring channels said the likely target was the Proton factory, which makes optoelectronic equipment and components for military use. A regional missile alert was issued around 5 p.m., and local channels reported at least four explosions in Oryol. The governor said a civilian business in the city’s Sovetsky district was hit; casualties and damage remain unclear.
A Florida woman died after falling more than 300 meters (about 1,000 feet) while hiking in the Italian Dolomites, according to police in the northern city of Trentino.
Colgate is not on the FDA’s recalled-toothpaste list, and one of its popular whitening formulas is discounted 47%. A three-pack costs less than $3 per tube.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan warned on Friday against another attack on Iran, saying it would heighten tensions and widen the conflict. He said diplomacy and dialogue were the only way to end the war.

At the R4 and E3 foreign ministers meeting in Istanbul, Türkiye warned that a fresh assault on Iran could risk a wider regional war.
Six melanoma specialists said the Moderna and Merck vaccine results are clinically meaningful for melanoma patients who have undergone surgery.

Results from a major study released Thursday by Moderna and Merck show that a first-of-its-kind cancer vaccine significantly reduces the chances of melanoma tumors returning.
A Russian tanker carrying 40,000 tonnes of diesel under a new Russia-US deal is heading to New York, a volume said to cover barely two hours of US demand. The article argues that Washington's licensing and sanctions waivers reopen global markets and payment channels for Russian oil revenues without securing a ceasefire or other concession to Ukraine, while offering Americans limited gains.

Fidan said Israel’s violations of the Gaza ceasefire are eroding trust in the international system. He said Türkiye’s mediation efforts depend on the parties’ consent, mutual trust and inclusiveness.

US business activity slowed slightly in October, but strong demand enabled companies to raise prices for goods and services, pointing to the possibility that inflation could rise further and stay persistently high in the coming months.
Independent US Senate candidates are gaining ground across the West’s plains and mountains, pointing to rural voters’ disenchantment with the national Democratic Party even as discontent with Republican rule in Washington grows.
The officer resigned after firing into a moving vehicle while responding to a shoplifting call, killing a 1-year-old boy, according to the Senatobia mayor.
UAE diplomat Lana Nusseibeh has entered the contest to become UN secretary-general, challenging front-runner Rebeca Grynspan at a pivotal moment for the organisation. The race could produce the UN’s first-ever female secretary-general.
The European Commission hopes to curb Chinese imports in more sectors during upcoming talks with Beijing and is considering new trade defence measures, a move that could prompt retaliation from China.
Two former FBI intelligence officials who specialized in foreign election interference have been charged with making false statements about their roles in investigating the origins of Hunter Biden’s laptop before the 2020 presidential election.

Two former FBI officials face charges for allegedly making false statements about Hunter Biden’s laptop. One previously worked as an FBI intelligence official specializing in foreign election interference.
A group representing liquor makers Diageo and Pernod Ricard said in a letter seen by Reuters that India’s decision to exclude bulk Scotch imports from a reduced 75% tariff runs counter to provisions agreed in the India-UK trade deal.
A gunman killed one person and wounded five, including a 12-year-old girl, in Trappes and nearby La Verrière, in the Paris suburbs, authorities said. Antiterrorism prosecutors are investigating the motive, while the presidential palace described the shooting as a “racist, terrorist attack.”


French anti-terror prosecutors are investigating a deadly shooting in Trappes, near Paris. Police inspected the scene at a petrol station.

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said Friday that a shooting near Paris left at least one person dead and four injured.

A gunman fired from a vehicle at people in Trappes, outside Paris, on Friday, killing one and injuring four. Police arrested a suspect in neighboring Coignières. France’s anti-terrorism prosecutor opened an investigation into murder linked to a terrorist enterprise, but the motive remains unclear.

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said a shooting in Trappes, west of Paris, killed one person and injured four. A police source said a man fired from a vehicle and was later arrested in nearby Coignières.

French prosecutors said Friday they are treating a shooting in Trappes, west of Paris, as a suspected terrorist attack. Earlier that day, a man fired from a vehicle, killing at least one person and wounding four others.
Police said a man opened fire in Trappes and neighbouring La Verriere at about 10:30 am, killing one person and injuring several others. He was arrested in nearby Coignieres.
European Union ministers said on Friday that the bloc should continue discussions with Beijing and extend to other sectors a deal limiting imports of hybrid vehicles from China.
Americans have grown accustomed to Machiavellian politics in the Trump era, CNN says, describing the president as a practitioner and Vice President JD Vance as cut from the same cloth. Vance defended Ramaswamy’s ad with the words, “stop whining.”
Bharat Petroleum, India's third-largest refiner by capacity, said second-quarter profit fell 22.5% on Friday as volatile crude oil prices weighed on results.
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