A telephone conversation connected the Finnish president and Norwegian prime minister with Vladimir Putin, Russia’s president.

FinlandNorwayVladimir Putindiplomacy

Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre spoke with Vladimir Putin by phone about Russia’s war against Ukraine and diplomatic efforts to end it. Finland’s presidential office said they aimed to convey Ukraine’s position on upcoming peace talks in Abu Dhabi directly to Putin.

FinlandNorwayRussiaUkraine peace talks

Anthropic could make history with what may become the largest initial public offering ever.

AnthropicIPOvaluationrevenue

Benjamin Netanyahu faces a battle for political survival in Tuesday’s Israeli election. Voters are weighing his leadership after the Hamas-led attacks of 2023, the wars in Gaza and Iran, and Israel’s growing international isolation.

Israeli electionBenjamin NetanyahuGaza war

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces a fight to remain politically viable as voters head to the polls on Tuesday, October 27. They will weigh his leadership following the 2023 Hamas-led attacks, wars in Gaza and with Iran, and Israel’s growing international isolation.

IsraelelectionBenjamin Netanyahu

A deeply divided Israel went to the polls on Tuesday for the first time since Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack. Voters are passing judgment on veteran Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the country’s rightward drift; turnout stood at “16.7%” four hours after voting began.

Israeli electionvoter turnoutBenjamin Netanyahu

Israel is holding its first national election since the 7 October attacks. The prospect of lengthy coalition talks raises questions about who will make crucial security decisions and whether a new government could change the country’s course, as regional tensions intensify.

IsraelelectionBenjamin Netanyahucoalition talks

Israelis are voting in a closely watched election. Exit polls may offer an early indication within hours of polls closing, but a clear result could take days or weeks if no party or coalition wins a majority. The final count is expected by Friday, with official results due a week after the election.

Israel electionBenjamin NetanyahuGadi Eisenkot

Israelis are voting in the first general election since the 7 October attacks. No party is expected to win an outright majority, and the closely watched result could be followed by weeks of coalition talks.

Israelgeneral electioncoalition talks

Overnight strikes by Russia and Ukraine killed two people and injured 15. A Russian missile hit a food production facility in Kyiv.

Russia-Ukraine warovernight strikesKyivcasualties

Ahead of the holiday shopping season, cars, buses and bicycles are barred from nearly a kilometre of Oxford Street.

LondonOxford Streetpedestrianisation

Nearly a kilometre of Oxford Street has been closed to traffic. Many shoppers welcomed the extra room to walk and said bus diversions were a small inconvenience, though some raised concerns about busier surrounding streets. Longer-term plans will depend on feedback and testing.

Oxford StreetLondonpedestrianisationshopping

Kiah Stokes scored 13 points, grabbed eight rebounds and blocked three shots as the Golden State Valkyries beat the Atlanta Dream 64-55 on Monday night in Game 5. The Valkyries moved within one win of the championship in their second season.

WNBAGolden State ValkyriesAtlanta DreamFinals

A video appears to show Kylian Mbappe describing a meme of his face superimposed on “a Chinese dictator” as the funniest he had seen. Chinese drinks company Dongpeng and dairy producer Mengniu said they were ending their partnerships with him immediately, citing remarks they said offended Chinese people. The comments sparked anger on Chinese social media.

Kylian MbappeChinese sponsorsMao Zedong memebrand partnerships

Kylian Mbappé discussed a meme placing his face on a photo of a “Chinese dictator” during an interview; the program later inserted an image of Mao Zedong, leading many viewers to believe he meant Mao. Several Chinese brands ended partnerships with him, while China’s state broadcaster suspended broadcasts of related matches and ads.

Kylian MbappéChinese brandsMao ZedongCCTV

Chinese brands have ended ties with football star Kylian Mbappe over remarks that appeared to refer to Mao.

Kylian MbappeChinese brandsendorsements

British prosecutors said on Tuesday that two men had been charged under the National Security Act over an incident in September at RAF Fairford, an airbase used by the US to strike Iran.

UKnational securityRAF Fairford

British prosecutors say two men have been charged with offences under the National Security Act over an incident in September at RAF Fairford, an airbase in England used by the United States.

United KingdomRAF FairfordNational Security Actprosecution

A Russia-Ukraine truce for civilian evacuations and humanitarian aid has taken effect in Oleshky, in the Kherson region, with both sides confirming it. Ukraine said it began at 3 a.m. Kyiv time; Russia’s Defense Ministry said its forces stopped firing in the Kherson direction at 4 a.m. Moscow time. Residents have lived under Russian occupation since 2022, while constant drone attacks have left them without food, electricity, or adequate medical care.

OleshkyceasefireRussia-Ukraine warhumanitarian crisis

China is highly concerned about conflicts in the Middle East and nearby regions, and Beijing will dispatch an envoy to relevant countries in the near future, foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said Tuesday.

ChinaMiddle Eastdiplomatic envoy