WorldRenewed hostilities between the United States and Iran have revived concerns about disrupted oil supplies. Oil prices are headed for a 7.6% weekly increase, their sharpest rise since mid-July, as the war enters its seventh month. The Strait of Hormuz, carrying 25% of global oil supplies, has remained blocked since the conflict began.
WorldIntense fighting has broken out in Yemen as Houthi forces and government troops contest control of territory along the Red Sea. The clashes are spreading across several fronts, prompting fears that the conflict could widen further.
CultureSao Tome and Principe’s colonial-era “Rocas” plantations were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in July 2026, recognising their architecture and fundamental importance to the country’s history. Most now stand derelict, but investors interested in developing the tourism potential of the history-steeped buildings are showing growing interest.
WorldMore than 75,000 people have been newly displaced in Chad’s Lake Province after Boko Haram attacks resurged in recent months, the International Organization for Migration says. Most fled the islands of Lake Chad for safer towns and villages farther away, as the IOM provides emergency assistance.
WorldEight days after catastrophic floods hit Nepal, the death toll is still rising and survivors are struggling to obtain basic necessities. People in temporary shelters are dealing with the loss of homes and belongings, while many are also confronting psychological trauma. Efforts are under way to deliver food and medicine to devastated areas.
PoliticsIn a country known for short-lived governments, Giorgia Meloni’s record of staying in office may enhance her image as Italy prepares for a national vote in 2027. Analysts say, however, that recent developments have made her path to re-election more complicated.
SocietyNigerian police have arrested four people over alleged organ harvesting, including two medical doctors accused of performing surgeries to remove kidneys. The victims are mainly vulnerable, uneducated youths whose financial hardship is exploited to obtain kidneys illegally for transplants, often involving wealthy patients.
WorldDrone strikes have hit several parts of Ethiopia’s Tigray region over the past month, raising fears that war could resume. The previous conflict is estimated to have killed 600,000 people, and health experts warn that another war would threaten patients while the region is still struggling to recover.
WorldFriday footage showed vessels near the Strait of Hormuz; following U.S. strikes two days earlier, the Persian Gulf and the port city of Bandar Abbas looked tranquil.
The Associated Press
WorldTwo workers were rescued alive from a hydropower tunnel in Nepal nine days after devastating floods. Rescue teams are still searching through massive debris for dozens of people believed trapped underground, while thousands remain missing across the country.
WorldTwo workers rescued from a hydropower project tunnel in Nepal have been taken to Birendra Army Hospital in Kathmandu for treatment. They are the first workers pulled out alive, offering search teams a glimmer of hope as prospects of finding others fade.
Reuters
SocietyOn Hannity, Crime Stories with Nancy Grace host Nancy Grace discusses the current state of the Lindsay Clancy trial and the drama unfolding during jury deliberations.
Fox News
PoliticsReform UK’s conference continues in Birmingham, with live coverage available.
PoliticsSpanish EPP MEP Antonio López-Istúriz said Pedro Sanchez’s government was “weak” over the Ceuta crisis and should have acted sooner. He said national police and intelligence services had warned that thousands of irregular migrants were preparing to enter Ceuta.
EconomyIndia’s unexpectedly strong economic growth has prompted debate over whether the expansion was overstated. A former bureaucrat questioned the figures, while a former central bank chief asked why such rapid growth had not translated into jobs and investment.
Reuters
EconomyNouriel Roubini, CEO of Roubini Macro Associates, says he does not view artificial intelligence as a bubble. He sees a secular rise in capital spending and potential growth, while acknowledging that some market corrections could occur.
Bloomberg Television
WorldChina’s Xi Jinping, Russia’s Vladimir Putin and India’s Narendra Modi are among the leaders attending Shanghai Cooperation Organization summits, despite their often limited concrete results. Experts discuss how the 25-year-old group has become a platform for geopolitical signaling and why more countries want to join.
EconomyGerman carmaker Volkswagen says management and unions have agreed to eliminate another 50,000 jobs by the end of the decade, taking total job losses to 100,000 in the biggest shake-up in the industry’s history.
ScienceTen research teams received Ig Nobel prizes Thursday for quirky scientific work. The satirical ceremony was held outside the United States for the first time because of travel concerns.
The Associated Press
Tech14:27The AI boom is driving data-center expansion worldwide at an unprecedented speed, with Malaysia potentially becoming a major Southeast Asian hub. Yet the facilities consume large amounts of energy, electricity and water. Some Malaysian residents are protesting proposed projects, while critics question their long-term employment benefits for local communities and the government’s ability to balance growth with environmental and social concerns.
BBC Chinese
PoliticsThe nationalist Alternative for Germany is leading polls ahead of Sunday’s Saxony-Anhalt election. The party is pushing back against mounting warnings from centrist politicians, think tanks and industry leaders that its far-right proposals could have negative consequences.
Bloomberg Television
WorldFamilies driven from their homes by devastating floods in Nepal are seeking shelter and essential supplies at schools converted into temporary relief centers. Thousands of survivors face an uncertain future after their homes were destroyed.
The Associated Press
WorldTwo workers were rescued from a hydropower tunnel in Nepal nine days after flooding. Local authorities say about 900 workers are missing from 12 hydropower projects, with roughly 500 believed to be trapped in tunnels.
EconomyGuy Johnson, Tom Mackenzie and Paul Dobson review key themes for analysts and investors, including US payrolls, a yen gain linked to a Bank of Japan hike, Norway trimming its government bond market exposure and the Federal Reserve outlook.
Bloomberg Television