Region
Europe
- Follow-up: UK Chancellor John Healey presents first budget, aiming to help families through a 'difficult moment'
British Chancellor John Healey presented his first budget on Wednesday, Oct 28, the first annual tax and spending plan of the government formed when Keir Starmer was replaced as prime minister in July. In a pre-budget statement Healey said 'this budget is for getting through this difficult moment', promising families 'breathing space' and targeted support for businesses. Inflation and borrowing costs in Britain have risen because of the US-Iran war, and government debt has increased. The prime minister said on Monday the budget would explain how to fund the defence investment plan drawn up by his predecessor; the BBC reported that details on how to reach NATO's target of defence spending at 3.5% of GDP by 2035 were expected to be delayed.
Oct 28, 2026 Afternoon - Serbian prosecutors investigate outgoing foreign minister and dozens of diplomats over obstructing voting abroad
Al Jazeera reported that Serbian prosecutors announced on Tuesday, Oct 27, that they are investigating the outgoing foreign minister and dozens of diplomats on suspicion of interfering in last Sunday's snap parliamentary election. The investigation began with complaints against two ambassadors and then widened to criminal complaints of abuse of office and violating voting rights against ambassadors at seven more embassies, as well as the foreign minister and three foreign ministry staff. Before the vote, Serbian voters abroad complained that no polling stations were opened in their areas, forcing many to travel hundreds or even thousands of kilometres to vote. The government lost power in the election.
Oct 28, 2026 Afternoon - Fourth-tier Fleetwood knock Arsenal out of the League Cup on penalties to reach the quarter-finals
In a League Cup last-16 upset on Tuesday, Oct 27, League Two side Fleetwood drew 1-1 with Premier League champions Arsenal, who played with 10 men, then won 5-3 on penalties to reach the quarter-finals. Loupalo-Bi gave Fleetwood the lead in the 21st minute and Arsenal striker Gyokeres equalised four minutes into the second half; play was halted for more than eight minutes early on after a drone appeared above the ground. Arsenal teenager Max Dowman was sent off after a clash with an opponent. In the shootout goalkeeper Jay Lynch saved one kick and Conor Haughey scored the winner. Arsenal's manager called it 'a very sad day'.
Oct 28, 2026 Afternoon - Follow-up: Finland's Stubb and Norway's Store hold rare call with Putin on Ukraine peace, report wide differences
Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store held a joint call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, Oct 27, on efforts to end the war in Ukraine, a rare direct contact between European leaders and Putin. Stubb described the call as 'frank and substantive', while Store said there were 'major differences in views'. The two said they spoke as Russia's neighbours, not on behalf of Europe as a whole. Stubb said the idea came from talks in Oslo on Oct 20 with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US envoy Steve Witkoff and was coordinated beforehand with Ukraine and the United States; Ukraine's foreign minister confirmed the coordination and said Kyiv is ready to accept a partial or full ceasefire.
Oct 28, 2026 Morning - Follow-up: Oleshky humanitarian ceasefire extended to all of Ukraine's Kherson region; evacuations planned for Friday
A local ceasefire to bring food and medicine into the Russian-occupied Ukrainian town of Oleshky took effect early on Tuesday, Oct 27, and Ukrainian officials later confirmed it had been extended to the whole of the southern Kherson region. US First Lady Melania Trump, who helped broker the truce with Pope Leo XIV also involved, said the extension was to give humanitarian convoys 'safe passage'. Kherson's deputy regional head said Russian shelling of Ukrainian-held Kherson city and surrounding areas had stopped and no violations had been reported. Under the deal, aid goes to Oleshky first and residents who wish to leave will be evacuated on Friday; an estimated 1,700 to 2,000 people remain in the town, with thousands more nearby, and many residents have been boiling weeds to eat.
Oct 28, 2026 Morning - Follow-up: UK prosecutors say RAF Fairford petrol lorry plot was directed by handler working for Iran
Prosecutors told Westminster Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, Oct 27, that a handler known as 'Ali', whom police believe was working for Iran, instructed a group of men to drive lorries full of petrol to RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire in the early hours of Sept 27. One of the five drivers called police that morning after the handler warned there was a bomb on the lorry. Two 24-year-old men from London were charged under the National Security Act 2023: one with assisting a foreign intelligence service, allegedly by buying lorries on instructions, who was granted bail, and the other with entering a prohibited place for a purpose prejudicial to the UK, allegedly by filming the base on a video call, who was remanded in custody. Both will appear at the Old Bailey on Nov 20.
Oct 28, 2026 Morning - Follow-up: Protesters storm newsroom of pro-Vucic Informer TV after Serbian leader's camp loses election
In Serbia's election on Sunday, Oct 25, the Student List, which grew out of a student anti-corruption protest movement, defeated the coalition led by Aleksandar Vucic, ending his party's 14 years in power. On Monday night tens of thousands celebrated in the streets for a second night, and about 30 people stormed the newsroom of the pro-Vucic Informer TV, interrupting a live broadcast, surrounding its editor-in-chief and owner and demanding his arrest. Vucic said on his personal Instagram that it was an attack on freedom of speech and the press. Vucic became prime minister in 2014 and president in 2017, served as information minister under Milosevic, and kept tight control of the media while in power.
Oct 28, 2026 Morning - UK Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds says officials discussing long-term EU ties, with free movement among options
Britain's business secretary, Jonathan Reynolds, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Tuesday, Oct 27, that UK officials have begun discussing a long-term relationship with the EU, and that options could include restoring free movement of people, though the British public 'are the boss'. He said the immediate focus is November's UK-EU summit, where agreements easing some trade restrictions and a youth mobility deal are due to be signed, including a food and drink agreement and arrangements on emissions trading. He said the prime minister wants a long-term, stable relationship with the EU and will set out the trade-offs after the summit.
Oct 28, 2026 Morning - Follow-up: Local ceasefire around Oleshky takes effect; Russia halts strikes on Kherson region ahead of aid mission
A local ceasefire around Oleshky, on the left bank of the Dnipro River, took effect at 1am GMT on Tuesday, Oct 27, or 9am Hong Kong time. Brokered by US First Lady Melania Trump and announced on Oct 23, with Pope Leo XIV also involved, it is meant to allow residents to leave and supplies to get in. Russia's defence ministry said it had suspended strikes on Kherson region to prepare for a humanitarian mission later this week. Oleshky had about 24,000 people before the war and up to 2,000 remain.
Oct 27, 2026 Afternoon - UK Chancellor Healey to scrap tariffs on marmalade, gherkins and 100-plus goods before Budget; shop price inflation hits 2.1%
Britain's chancellor, Healey, who presents the Budget on Wednesday, Oct 28, previewed 'everyday fixes' including scrapping import tariffs on more than 100 household favourites such as marmalade and gherkins; together with earlier suspensions on pasta, juice and tuna, households could save up to £21 a year. Marmalade had faced a 20% tariff plus £19 per 100kg. The British Retail Consortium said the same day that shop price inflation rose to 2.1% in October from 1.4% in September, with food inflation up from 2.5% to 2.9%, while the Conservatives called 'cheaper gherkins' an insult to families hit by tax rises.
Oct 27, 2026 Afternoon - Czech low-value imports from China and elsewhere drop 81% in three months after EU small-parcel duty
Czech customs data show declared low-value items from outside the EU fell to 2.6 million in September, 81% below June's 13.6 million, with 3.6 million in July. Since July 1 the EU has charged a €3 duty per item on non-EU parcels worth up to €150, and the Czech Republic has collected 660 million koruna so far. Czech imports of such goods rose from about 3 million items in 2023 to 105 million in 2025, more than 90% from China, and from Nov 1 the EU will add a €2 handling fee per item imported via non-EU e-commerce platforms.
Oct 27, 2026 Afternoon - Follow-up: Harry Kane becomes first England player in 25 years to win Ballon d'Or; Alexia Putellas wins third women's award
At the Ballon d'Or ceremony held in London for the first time on Monday, Oct 26, Bayern Munich and England striker Harry Kane won the men's award ahead of Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappé, the first English winner since 2001. The 33-year-old scored 73 goals in 65 games for club and country last season, helping Bayern win the league and cup double, and scored 6 at the World Cup. Midfielder Alexia Putellas won the women's Ballon d'Or for a third time after leading Barcelona to the Champions League and then moving to London City Lionesses.
Oct 27, 2026 Afternoon - Chinese carmakers outsell Japanese rivals in Europe for a full quarter for the first time; China share hits 12.7% in September
Bloomberg reported that Chinese carmakers outsold their Japanese rivals in Europe over a full quarter for the first time, with brands such as BYD and Chery growing fast. The Japan Times, citing data, reported that registrations of Chinese-brand cars in Europe in September roughly doubled from a year earlier, accounting for 12.7% of all new car sales in the region.
Oct 27, 2026 Morning - Follow-up: Local Russia-Ukraine ceasefire around Oleshky in Kherson region takes effect at 9am Hong Kong time
Russia and Ukraine confirmed last week a US-brokered local ceasefire around the southern Ukrainian city of Oleshky to evacuate residents. NHK reported that it was due to take effect at 10am Japan time on Oct 27, or 9am Hong Kong time, and TASS reported that the ceasefire in the Kherson direction starts at 4am Moscow time, the same moment. The agreement requires both sides to stop attacks. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Oct 26 that Ukraine, Russia and the US had agreed to restart talks next month, and that he still hopes to discuss territorial issues face to face with the Russian president.
Oct 27, 2026 Morning - UN Commission of Inquiry says Russia's sustained strikes on Ukraine's energy grid, using winter cold as a weapon, are war crimes
The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine presented a report to the UN General Assembly on Monday, Oct 26, finding that Russia's continuing attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, using winter cold as a weapon, amount to war crimes. The report lists years of strikes since autumn 2022 on heating plants, power lines and gas facilities, and the New York Times reported that the commission concluded the aim was to make civilians suffer. Russia has launched large-scale attacks on Ukraine's energy system every winter since its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Oct 27, 2026 Morning - Wall Street Journal: US considering backing former Hungarian Prime Minister Orbán for UN Secretary-General
Deutsche Welle, citing the Wall Street Journal, reported that the US is considering putting forward former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán for UN Secretary-General. The next Secretary-General must be recommended by the Security Council and appointed by the General Assembly, and the US as a permanent member holds a veto. El País reported that the White House is pushing for Orbán to succeed the current Secretary-General, a move showing Washington's position moving closer to Moscow's, but expected to be blocked by European countries.
Oct 27, 2026 Morning - Ballon d'Or held in London for the first time; Lamine Yamal named best young player for a third time
The 70th Ballon d'Or ceremony was held in London on the evening of Oct 26, the first time it has been staged outside France. Al Jazeera reported that it started about 45 minutes late, at 8:45pm GMT, because of transport problems and lasted about two hours. Le Monde reported that Barcelona's Lamine Yamal was named the season's best young player for the third time, and Der Spiegel said Bayern Munich's Harry Kane had a chance to crown an outstanding year with the award.
Oct 27, 2026 Morning - Follow-up: Serbia celebrates student list's election win as President Vučić's roughly 12-year rule heads for handover
After Sunday's snap parliamentary election in Serbia, President Aleksandar Vučić conceded his ruling camp had lost, and celebrations continued across the country on Monday, with several media calling the expected end of his 12 to 14 years of dominance 'historic'. Preliminary results suggest the student movement's 'Student List - Students Win' could take a majority in the 250-seat parliament, on the highest turnout since the 1990s, and voices in the EU said 'the door to the EU is open'. The election was triggered by nearly two years of anti-corruption protests after a station canopy collapsed in Novi Sad in 2024.
Oct 26, 2026 Afternoon - Follow-up: Storm Boelo kills two men in UK as falling trees strike; more than 160,000 properties lost power
Following Storm Austen, named storm Boelo continued to batter the UK and parts of northern Europe. Police said two men were killed by falling trees on Sunday: a 60-year-old man in south-west Scotland and a man in his 20s in London. The Met Office recorded gusts of up to about 84mph, more than 160,000 properties across the UK lost power at one point, and parts of France and Germany were also affected.
Oct 26, 2026 Afternoon - Youth-led cost-of-living protests sweep Italy; demonstrators in Rome storm Colosseum area and clash with police
Thousands of people across Italy joined youth-led protests against the rising cost of living, also challenging the government's tough public-order measures. In Rome, marchers broke into the area around the Colosseum and scuffled with police, while marches were held in several other cities. Organisers said the action echoes a wave of youth protests in other European countries, and the interior authorities said storming the monument and violence would be dealt with according to law.
Oct 26, 2026 Afternoon - Follow-up: Zelensky confirms US-mediated talks with Russia in November, says territory must be discussed by leaders
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that Kyiv and Moscow will hold talks in November with US mediation, stressing that territorial issues must be discussed directly at leaders' level while other matters can go to technical groups. The Kremlin had said the three-way contacts were planned for the Gulf region. After US envoy Steve Witkoff met Zelensky and Vladimir Putin in recent days, both sides signalled willingness to resume direct talks; the agenda, level of attendance and whether a ceasefire is included have not been announced.
Oct 26, 2026 Afternoon - French far-right leader Marine Le Pen holds first big campaign rally in Orléans, promising 'revival' and 'rule of law'
About six months before France's 2027 presidential election, far-right leader Marine Le Pen held her first large campaign rally outside Orléans on Sunday, with organisers saying more than 8,000 supporters attended amid heavy police security and traffic restrictions in the city. Le Pen promised to lead a 'revival' of France, 'restore the rule of law' and protect its language, traditions and way of life. She still faces existing court cases that could affect her eligibility to run.
Oct 26, 2026 Afternoon - Follow-up: Serbia's Vučić concedes defeat in snap parliamentary election as student movement's list expected to win majority
Serbia held an early parliamentary election on Sunday, Oct 25, and that evening President Aleksandar Vučić, in power for 12 years, conceded at his Serbian Progressive Party headquarters in Belgrade that his camp had 'lost', predicting that the list fielded by the student movement would win a parliamentary majority, with minority parties taking about 5 seats. Data from election monitor CeSID showed turnout of 67.6% by 7pm, the highest since 1992. The election followed more than a year of protests after the collapse of a station canopy in Novi Sad in 2024 killed 16 people, with students and the opposition accusing the government of corruption.
Oct 26, 2026 Morning - Follow-up: Storm Boelo kills 60-year-old man in UK; 53,000 homes in Scotland still without power
After Storm Austen hit south-west England on Friday, Oct 23, Storm Boelo, the second named storm in two days, battered Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England from the evening of Oct 24. Police said a 60-year-old man was killed by a falling tree; more than 82,000 properties across the UK lost power, and about 53,000 homes in Scotland were still without electricity at 5pm on Oct 25. Under a Met Office amber warning from 9pm Saturday, winds reached 60 to 70mph widely, with 82mph recorded on Tiree, 84mph in Argyll and Bute and 83mph in Snowdonia.
Oct 26, 2026 Morning - Follow-up: Zelensky says Ukraine-Russia-US three-way talks will be held in November; Kremlin says venue is in the Gulf
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a television interview on Sunday, Oct 25, that Kyiv, Washington and Moscow will hold three-way talks in November to restart stalled peace negotiations, saying territorial issues should be handled at leaders' level and other matters by technical groups. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Oct 23 that the talks were planned for November in the Gulf region. US envoy Steve Witkoff met Zelensky and European leaders in Oslo on Oct 20 and Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg on Oct 21, after which both Kyiv and Moscow said they were willing to resume direct talks with US mediation.
Oct 26, 2026 Morning - Bulgaria's presidential election heads to Nov 1 runoff between President Iliana Yotova and Andrei Gyurov amid record low turnout
No candidate won outright in Bulgaria's presidential election on Sunday, Oct 25, and a runoff will be held on Nov 1, election officials said; observers attributed the record low turnout to widespread distrust of politicians. Pro-Western reformist opposition candidate Andrei Gyurov performed unexpectedly strongly and will face incumbent left-wing President Iliana Yotova, with the two holding clearly different views on foreign relations. The AP reported that the vote took place amid worsening economic hardship and drone attacks on Black Sea shipping, and was the first major test for the Moscow-friendly Progressive Bulgaria party since it took power.
Oct 26, 2026 Morning - Tens of thousands protest in Prague against Babiš government's public broadcasting reform; President Pavel criticises plan
Tens of thousands of people joined a rally in Prague on Oct 25 organised by the Million Moments for Democracy initiative, calling for media freedom and opposing the public broadcasting reform pushed by Prime Minister Andrej Babiš's right-wing populist government, after smaller protests in Prague, Brno and other cities in previous days. The plan would scrap licence fees and fund public television and radio from the state budget, cutting their funding by more than 15%. The bill passed its first reading in a rare overnight session of the lower house, and President Petr Pavel criticised the government for rushing the legislation.
Oct 26, 2026 Morning - Follow-up: Portuguese police clear housing protest tent camps in Lisbon and Porto squares, 31 arrested
After thousands marched through Lisbon's main streets against housing costs and set up a tent camp in Rossio Square, dozens of Portuguese police officers, some with dogs, moved in shortly after 2am on Sunday, Oct 25, removing more than 100 tents from Rossio Square and about 50 from Praça Dom João I in Porto; 31 people were arrested for offences including disobeying orders. The protesters, inspired by similar camps in a neighbouring country, say house prices far exceed average incomes. Police said the operation was proportionate and that protesters had been asked to leave beforehand.
Oct 26, 2026 Morning - Ukrainian drones hit Belgorod, killing 1 civilian and wounding 10; Russian strikes in Dnipropetrovsk and Kharkiv regions kill 4
Belgorod's operational command said Belgorod city came under a large Ukrainian drone attack early on Sunday, Oct 25, killing one civilian and wounding 10, including one emergency worker; eight of the injured were taken to hospital and two women were treated on site then referred for outpatient care. The mayor said the city was badly damaged, 53 people had moved into temporary shelters and municipal crews were repairing heating networks. Le Monde reported that Russian strikes on Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk and Kharkiv regions killed four people. TASS said multiple explosions occurred in the central Ukrainian city of Vinnytsia on Oct 25, and yellow alerts were issued in several Ukrainian regions.
Oct 25, 2026 Afternoon - Bulgarians vote for president; polls put incumbent Iliana Iotova and former caretaker PM Andrey Gyurov ahead among 27 candidates
Bulgaria holds a presidential election on Sunday, Oct 25; polls put 61-year-old incumbent President Iliana Iotova and 50-year-old former caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov ahead among 27 candidates. Both have condemned recent Black Sea drone attacks that have killed about two dozen seafarers of various nationalities, but they differ on the broader Ukraine war. The Bulgarian presidency is largely ceremonial but is directly elected; the president commands the armed forces and can veto legislation, sign treaties and appoint ambassadors.
Oct 25, 2026 Afternoon - Follow-up: Day 12 of Albania anti-government protests brings fiercest Tirana clashes in days; more than 300 protesters and police injured
Protests in Albania since mid-October over poor school conditions and the rising cost of living entered a 12th day on Saturday, Oct 24, as thousands answered organisers' call to gather in the capital Tirana after Prime Minister Edi Rama had warned of a tough response. Police used water cannon, tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse crowds; several government buildings were attacked, dozens of protesters were arrested and authorities said more than 300 protesters and police were injured in Tirana's fiercest clashes in days, after quieter protests earlier in the week.
Oct 25, 2026 Afternoon - About 500 young people riot and loot 14 shops in central Barcelona; police arrest about 100, a quarter of them minors
El País reported that about 500 young people summoned via social networks gathered in central Barcelona on Saturday, Oct 24, vandalising street furniture, bikes and scooters and looting 14 shops during an undeclared demonstration. More than 220 Catalan and city police officers repeatedly dispersed masked groups and arrested about 100 people, 25% of them minors. Many shops and restaurants closed around Plaça de Catalunya, La Rambla and Portal de l'Àngel, and the city blocked the area from Plaça Urquinaona to Plaça Universitat.
Oct 25, 2026 Afternoon - UK PM Andy Burnham says he wants an 'honest discussion' with the public about restoring freedom of movement with the EU
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham told the Sunday Times he wanted an 'honest', 'fact- and evidence-based' discussion with the public about the possibility of restoring freedom of movement between the UK and the EU. He has said a new deal could mean Britain 'going all the way' back into the EU, with other options including joining the single market or a customs union — both requiring acceptance of some EU rules, and single-market entry also requiring freedom of movement. He had previously pledged to keep Labour's 2024 manifesto red lines of no return to free movement and no joining the single market or customs union.
Oct 25, 2026 Afternoon - Follow-up: More than 400,000 protest across France over school funding and cost of living; clashes in Paris, almost 1,000 arrests
A week after about 550,000 people marched, France saw another nationwide protest on Saturday, Oct 24, over school funding and the rising cost of living; the Interior Ministry counted about 410,000 participants. The Paris march began peacefully, but near its end point in eastern Paris masked protesters threw objects and fireworks at police, who responded with tear gas, stun grenades and water cannon, while in Marseille young people burned bins and threw stones and bottles at security forces. The government said police made almost 1,000 arrests, in what was seen as a fresh challenge to President Macron.
Oct 25, 2026 Morning - Ukrainian drones hit synthetic rubber plant in Tolyatti and Omsk industrial zone; Russia says it downed 616 drones overnight
Independent outlet Meduza reported that Ukrainian drones attacked Tolyatti in Samara region on the night of Oct 24, and Astra's analysis of video showed a fire at a synthetic rubber plant in the city, whose products can be used in solid fuel for tactical and ballistic missiles. Omsk's northern industrial zone, about 2,500 km from the Ukrainian border, was also hit, and e-commerce company Ozon confirmed a fire at its logistics centre, with staff evacuated and no initial reports of injuries. Russia's Defence Ministry said 616 Ukrainian drones were shot down overnight over Russian regions and Crimea.
Oct 25, 2026 Morning - Follow-up: Serbia holds snap parliamentary election as student movement's list challenges Vučić
After the collapse of a station canopy in Novi Sad killed 16 people and sparked nearly two years of anti-corruption protests, Serbia holds an early parliamentary election on Sunday, Oct 25. Vučić, in power for 14 years, has stepped down as president to run for prime minister, challenged by the 'Student List' born of the protests, whose 250 candidates were chosen by student assemblies and which is led by University of Novi Sad cardiology professor Ilija Srdanović. The BBC called it the toughest challenge for the Serbian Progressive Party since it took power in 2012.
Oct 25, 2026 Morning - Follow-up: Trappes shooting suspect says he wanted to avenge shops looted on Oct 17; Macron calls it a racist terror attack
A drive-by shooting in Trappes and neighbouring La Verrière in Yvelines, west of Paris, on Oct 23 killed one person and injured at least five, including a 12-year-old girl. Le Monde reported that the suspect told police he targeted Black and Arab people to avenge shopkeepers looted during the Oct 17 riots, and that police found a copy of Mein Kampf at his home. Prosecutors opened an investigation for murder in connection with a terrorist enterprise, and President Macron called it a racist terror attack.
Oct 25, 2026 Morning - Storm Boelo brings gusts of over 80mph to northern UK; amber warnings for Scotland and northern England
Storm Boelo, the UK's second named storm of the season, is hitting northern Britain this weekend with frequent heavy showers and gusts possibly above 80 mph (about 129 kph). The Met Office issued amber warnings, its second-highest level, for Scotland and northern England down to Carlisle from 9pm on Oct 24 to 9pm on Oct 25, as well as for north-east Northern Ireland. Storm Austin had cut power to thousands of homes in south-west England the day before, and rail operators including TransPennine Express and Avanti West Coast expected widespread disruption.
Oct 25, 2026 Morning - Fire at Hitler's Eagle's Nest in Berchtesgaden, Bavaria, burns into a second day; police detain a suspect
The BBC reported that a fire broke out at 9:15pm on Friday, Oct 23, at the mountaintop Eagle's Nest (Kehlsteinhaus) above Berchtesgaden in Bavaria and was still not fully extinguished on Saturday, Oct 24, with about 200 firefighters and rescuers deployed. Police detained a suspect and no injuries were reported. The building, completed in 1938 as a gift from the Nazi Party to Hitler, is now a restaurant and tourist attraction.
Oct 24, 2026 Afternoon - France and Britain hold first joint nuclear deterrence exercise, with French Rafale jets simulating a nuclear strike under RAF Typhoon escort
The British government said Britain and France held their first joint nuclear deterrence exercise, codenamed Rummy, over the Mediterranean on Oct 20-21. French Rafale jets took off from Saint-Dizier air base on a simulated nuclear strike mission escorted by RAF Typhoons, with an A330 multi-role tanker taking part; no nuclear weapons were involved. The exercise was held under the Northwood Declaration signed on July 10, 2025, and Britain said it will spend £63 billion on nuclear deterrence over the next four years.
Oct 24, 2026 Afternoon - Iranian President Pezeshkian to visit Moscow on Oct 27 for gas exporters' summit and meeting with Putin
RIA Novosti, citing Iran's ambassador in Moscow, reported that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian will attend the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) summit in Moscow on Oct 27 and meet Vladimir Putin. It would be a major trip abroad for Pezeshkian since the war between Iran and the United States began.
Oct 24, 2026 Afternoon - Moody's keeps France at Aa3 with negative outlook as 10-year French bond yield tops 5% for first time since 2002
CNBC reported that Moody's held France's sovereign credit rating at Aa3 with a negative outlook. France's 10-year government bond yield recently rose above 5% for the first time since 2002; the budget deficit is about 5.5% of GDP, and political instability has fed market worries about the country's debt.
Oct 24, 2026 Afternoon - EU ministers meet in Dublin on 'China shock 2.0' as daily trade deficit with China tops €1 billion; plastics import quotas considered
EU ministers meeting in Dublin on Friday, Oct 23, said the bloc should cut imports of chemicals, machinery and other products through talks with Beijing to curb its widening trade deficit with China. Deutsche Welle reported that the EU's goods trade deficit with China exceeds €1 billion a day, with European industry warning of factory closures and job losses. RFI reported that the EU is also considering import quotas on plastics.
Oct 24, 2026 Afternoon - Drive-by shooting in Trappes near Paris kills one and wounds five; Macron calls it a 'racist terrorist attack'
A gunman fired at passers-by from a car for about 15 minutes in Trappes and neighbouring La Verrière, south-west of Paris, on Friday, Oct 23, killing one person and wounding five, three of them seriously, including a 12-year-old girl shot eight times. The suspect, named by French media as 39-year-old Kevin T, was arrested; France's national anti-terrorism prosecutor's office (PNAT) said the case appeared to be murder linked to a terrorist enterprise and that he had four prior records that had been automatically erased. Macron said at the scene it was a 'racist terrorist attack' in which targets were chosen for their skin colour or religion, calling it a turning point for the Republic, while Trappes mayor Ali Rabeh said it was 'objectively a racist attack, possibly Islamophobic'.
Oct 24, 2026 Morning - White House says Melania Trump brokered local ceasefire in Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Oleshky; Russia and Ukraine confirm truce from Oct 27
The White House said on Oct 23 that First Lady Melania Trump 'successfully brokered' a local ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine in the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky to evacuate residents and deliver aid; both sides confirmed their forces would stop firing from 02:00 GMT on Oct 27, while the White House statement said it would begin on Oct 29. Oleshky was captured early in Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022 and sits between Ukrainian positions across the Dnipro and Russian forces to the east, and residents have recently survived on weeds from their gardens. The White House said Melania Trump and her representatives agreed the terms directly with Russian and Ukrainian leadership; non-military civilian officials from both countries will visit homes to assess needs and arrange transport for those who want to leave, and Trump called it her initiative.
Oct 24, 2026 Morning - Drone sinks Comoros-flagged cargo ship off Constanta, Romania, leaving 1 dead and 3 missing; Romanian president blames Russian escalation
The Comoros-flagged cargo ship Khoryv sank on Friday, Oct 23, after being hit by a drone about 24 km off Romania's port of Constanta, just outside territorial waters; of its 13 crew, one died, nine were rescued and three are missing. MarineTraffic data showed the ship left on Wednesday for the port of Sulina, which links the Danube to the Black Sea and has become a main export route for Ukraine. Romanian President Nicușor Dan called it 'part of Russia's escalation' in its war on Ukraine; Reuters said at least seven cargo ships had been attacked off Romania and Bulgaria in the past two weeks, with about 30 sailors dead or missing, and Ukraine, Romania and Bulgaria have asked NATO to step up protection of Black Sea shipping.
Oct 24, 2026 Morning - EU and China reportedly negotiate mutual lifting of sanctions on one company each, involving ASML's German supplier Sindlhauser
Taiwan's Central News Agency, citing SCMP, reported that the EU and China are negotiating to lift sanctions on one company each: China has offered to remove Sindlhauser Materials, a German supplier of chip-equipment maker ASML, from its export control list in exchange for the EU dropping sanctions on a Hubei-based textile manufacturer. The EU sanctioned the textile firm in 2025 over alleged sales of sensitive European technology to Russian buyers, and in July China imposed export controls on Sindlhauser in response to the EU's 21st package of sanctions on Russia, cutting off its supply of rare earths and other critical minerals. Some member states expressed reservations when EU ambassadors discussed the deal on Oct 21, talks are expected to continue next week, and a European Parliament trade committee delegation is due to visit China from Oct 27 to 29.
Oct 24, 2026 Morning - Greece's parliament passes ban on social media for under-15s, taking effect on Jan 1, 2027
Greek public broadcaster ERT reported that Greece's parliament passed a law banning children and teenagers under 15 from social media from Jan 1, 2027, making Greece one of the first EU countries to impose such a ban. The minister of digital governance and artificial intelligence said the measure is necessary, effective, proportionate and compatible with EU law, adding that 'it is easy to do nothing and wait for the perfect European law'. The law requires platforms to verify users' ages, and a government-developed phone app, Kids Wallet, will help parents.
Oct 24, 2026 Morning - Follow-up: Trump says Musk has restored Ukraine's Starlink access; Zelensky says military Starshield speeds not fully back
US President Trump said on Oct 22 that Elon Musk had restored Ukraine's Starlink access, declining to comment on a Wall Street Journal report that he had phoned Musk to ask for a slowdown to be lifted. Ukrainian President Zelensky said earlier the same day that military-grade Starshield connectivity had not yet fully recovered and that he was waiting for Secretary of State Rubio to reply within about 48 hours. The White House had denied ordering SpaceX to restrict access, and Musk said last week that Starshield is ultimately controlled by the US government.
Oct 23, 2026 Afternoon - Follow-up: Storm Adam flooding kills at least four in southern France, including two women drowned in a Bouches-du-Rhône cellar
BBC reported that the death toll from flooding caused by Storm Adam in southern France on Oct 21 rose to at least four, with one injured. Two women aged 86 and 26 were found drowned in a cellar in Bouches-du-Rhône, and local media in Corsica said a man died when an off-road vehicle was swept away. Dozens of residents of Mouriès and Saint-Martin-de-Crau went to emergency shelters, and France's weather service issued orange wind warnings for five north-western departments as Storm Austen moves in from the Atlantic.
Oct 23, 2026 Afternoon - Study estimates about 50,400 heat-related deaths in 854 European cities in summer 2026, about 65% attributed to climate change
El País and AP, citing research by Imperial College London and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, reported about 50,391 heat-related excess deaths from June to August 2026 in 854 large cities across the EU's 27 countries plus the UK, Norway and Switzerland, home to about 173 million people. That is above about 29,480 in 2022 and about 28,462 in 2003 under the same framework, roughly double the 24,572 of summer 2025, and the deadliest summer in at least 26 years; about 32,619 deaths (65%) were attributed to human-caused climate change. Spain's roughly 90 cities accounted for an estimated 6,824.
Oct 23, 2026 Afternoon - Judi Dench, 91, says worsening macular degeneration means she can no longer act
ABC News reported that British actor Dame Judi Dench said the macular degeneration she has had for more than a decade has worsened to the point that she can no longer perform on stage or screen. Dench, 91, has had an acting career of more than 70 years.
Oct 23, 2026 Afternoon - Follow-up: Russian missiles pound Kyiv after Putin agrees in principle to resume three-way talks; Moscow says it downed over 800 drones
After US envoy Witkoff met Russian President Putin in St Petersburg on Oct 21, Putin agreed 'in principle' to resume US-Russia-Ukraine talks, with no date set. AP reported Russia bombarded Kyiv with ballistic missiles hours later, with Ukrainian officials saying at least four were killed and dozens injured; RFI, citing AFP, said Ukraine reported seven dead, and NHK quoted Zelensky as saying two were killed and more than 30 injured. Russia's defence ministry said on Thursday its air defences intercepted more than 800 Ukrainian drones, and Meduza reported Moscow's mayor said 630 drones flew towards Moscow and the Moscow region from the evening of Oct 21, injuring two people.
Oct 23, 2026 Morning - France detects world's first known human case of Shamonda virus; severely immunocompromised patient in Lyon died in early October
BBC and AP reported that France's health and agriculture ministries announced on Oct 22 the world's first known human infection with Shamonda virus. The severely immunocompromised patient was treated in a Lyon hospital and died in early October, with neurological complications considered 'likely' linked to the virus; authorities believe the patient was infected by a biting midge in eastern France, where animal infections were found this spring and summer. The virus mainly infects cattle, was first identified in Nigeria in the mid-1960s and was detected on European cattle farms for the first time this summer; France said there is no identified risk to the general public, and the WHO confirmed it is the first documented human case.
Oct 23, 2026 Morning - Follow-up: 217 jailed and 2,700 detained after French riots; Paris extends curfew as Marseille and Lyon ban weekend protests
Last weekend's French cost-of-living protests turned into riots and looting. CNA, citing AFP, reported the justice minister said on Oct 22 that 2,700 people had been detained since Saturday, more than 1,000 had appeared in court and 217 had been jailed after fast-track trials, half of them with no criminal record and mostly men aged 18 to 25. BBC reported Paris extended a partial curfew around Place de la République and Les Halles until Monday, the Louvre, Musée d'Orsay and Picasso Museum will close on Saturday, and Marseille and Lyon banned all protests this weekend; Interior Minister Jean-Didier Berger said police deployment would be 20% larger than last weekend.
Oct 23, 2026 Morning - Germany arrests Ukrainian man suspected of spying for Russia; Merz says Germany is target of 'intensive' espionage
BBC reported Germany's Federal Prosecutor's Office said on Oct 22 that a Ukrainian man, Vadym Y., was arrested on suspicion of gathering military intelligence for Russian intelligence services, in contact with them through intermediaries since at least July 2025 and collecting information on armoured vehicles and ammunition and explosives production; he was to appear before an investigating judge on Friday. Chancellor Merz called the case a 'success' but said Russian intelligence activity in Germany remains at a consistently high level. Germany has arrested several people this year suspected of working for Russia or other foreign powers.
Oct 23, 2026 Morning - Follow-up: Serbia's student movement holds final Belgrade rally before Oct 25 election, aiming to end ruling party's 14 years in power
Al Jazeera reported that Serbia's student-led opposition movement held its final pre-election rally in central Belgrade on Oct 22, drawing tens of thousands, while the president held a rival rally at a sports arena in the city the same day. The 'student list' is fielding 250 candidates for the 250-seat parliament, mostly academics and political newcomers campaigning on anti-corruption, aiming to defeat the right-wing populist Serbian Progressive Party, in power for more than 14 years, in Sunday's vote. The protests began nearly two years ago after a renovated railway station canopy in Novi Sad collapsed in 2024, killing 16 people.
Oct 23, 2026 Morning - Follow-up: Kyiv hit by missiles, 6 injured, after Kremlin agrees in principle to resume three-way talks; Russia says it downed 630 drones
After the US special envoy met the Russian president in St Petersburg on Oct 21, the Kremlin said it was in principle ready to resume US-Russia-Ukraine talks. Liberty Times, citing AFP, reported that Kyiv was struck by missiles that night, with Kyiv's mayor saying at least six people were injured and four hospitalised; transport infrastructure in Darnytskyi district, a car repair shop and a private house in Dniprovskyi district, and a medical facility in Pecherskyi district were hit, and a restaurant caught fire in Sviatoshynskyi district around 1:35 am on Oct 22. Clarín reported Russia said it intercepted 630 Ukrainian drones overnight, more than 160 of them near Moscow.
Oct 22, 2026 Afternoon - Floods in south-east France kill at least three in Bouches-du-Rhône; Marseille's historic centre inundated
RIA Novosti, citing AFP, reported that heavy rain and floods on Oct 20 killed at least three people in the Bouches-du-Rhône department: women aged 86 and 26 drowned in a basement in a town north-west of Marseille, and a 75-year-old man was swept away in Istres. BFMTV reported Marseille's historic centre was flooded, and Le Monde said record rainfall in the south-east and Corsica had killed at least four people.
Oct 22, 2026 Afternoon - China and Russia issue joint statement during Chinese premier's visit, calling 'destructive external interference' the main threat to Eurasian stability
CNA reported that China's premier visited Russia and met the Russian president and prime minister, and Xinhua published a joint statement on Oct 22 saying 'destructive external interference is the primary factor undermining stability in Eurasia', with both sides condemning external coercion involving the use of force. The two pledged firm mutual support on core interests, with China backing Russia's security, stability, national unity and territorial integrity; the statement did not mention a rumoured China-US-Russia leaders' meeting.
Oct 22, 2026 Afternoon - Poland reportedly halts large weapons transfer to Ukraine after Lviv regional council declares 2027 'Year of the UPA'
Meduza, citing RBC-Ukraine sources, reported that Poland has suspended handing over a large military aid package to Ukraine after the Lviv regional council voted on Oct 20 to designate 2027 a year commemorating the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) and two of its figures; the sources said the matter is being worked on through private channels. Poland's prime minister called the decision 'unwise' and harmful to Ukraine, and the defence minister called it unacceptable and asked Ukrainian authorities to distance themselves from it.
Oct 22, 2026 Afternoon - Nvidia and Bolt plan at least 25,000 Level 4 robotaxis in Europe, announced at GTC Berlin
CNA reported Nvidia announced expanded partnerships with European carmakers and mobility firms at its GTC developer conference in Berlin on Oct 21. Estonia-based ride-hailing platform Bolt will use Nvidia's Alpamayo self-driving software, first on new Lucid vehicles with the Hyperion platform, aiming to deploy at least 25,000 Level 4 robotaxis in Europe with Germany a priority market, starting road data collection in Madrid in 2027 subject to regulatory approval, with a long-term goal of 100,000 vehicles by 2035. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles and Mercedes-Benz also expanded cooperation with Nvidia.
Oct 22, 2026 Afternoon - Follow-up: After Putin meets Witkoff, Kremlin agrees in principle to resume US-Russia-Ukraine talks next month; American Stephen Hubbard freed
US envoy Steve Witkoff met Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg on Wednesday, Oct 21. BBC reported that Putin aide Yuri Ushakov said afterwards Russia was 'in principle ready' to resume talks with the US and Ukraine, possibly next month; Zelensky then said he hoped they would be held as soon as possible. The three-way talks have been suspended since February; Witkoff met Zelensky and the leaders of Norway and Finland in Oslo on Monday. AP reported that Russia the same day freed American Stephen Hubbard, held for more than four years on 'mercenary' charges; Trump wrote on Truth Social that he requested the release in a call with Putin last week and that the US did not have to exchange anyone.
Oct 22, 2026 Morning - French Mirage 2000D fighter crashes near Nancy during training, killing at least one crew member
RFI reported that a French Mirage 2000D fighter jet crashed near Nancy during a training flight on the evening of Tuesday, Oct 20. The French Air and Space Force said at least one crew member was killed and searchers were still looking for the other crew member.
Oct 22, 2026 Morning - Follow-up: French 10-year bond yield tops 5% for first time since 2002; Macron calls foreign leaders' riot remarks 'stupid'
CNBC reported that France's 10-year government bond yield briefly rose above 5% before 11:30 am Paris time on Wednesday, Oct 21, for the first time since 2002, then stood at about 4.9794%, up about 6 basis points. France saw large-scale riots at the weekend while the government struggles to pass its 2027 budget through a divided parliament. The Guardian said Macron, visiting Qatar, said in Doha that some foreign leaders had made 'unacceptable and stupid' comments after the riots, and when asked whether he meant Trump replied 'including him'; Trump had blamed the violence in France on 'migrants, jihadists and communists'. RFI said Bahrain and the UAE will each supply France with an extra 100,000 tonnes of diesel a month.
Oct 22, 2026 Morning - UK inflation rises to 3.5% in September, a one-year high; government borrowing nears £25 billion
BBC, citing the Office for National Statistics, reported that UK consumer prices rose 3.5% year on year in September, up from 3.1% in August and the highest since October 2025, driven mainly by sharp rises in petrol and diesel prices. Figures released the same day showed government borrowing jumped to nearly £25 billion in September, and borrowing so far this financial year is £6 billion above official forecasts. The Chancellor will deliver a first Budget next week and has pledged not to raise income tax, National Insurance or VAT and to stick to Labour's fiscal rules.
Oct 22, 2026 Morning - Follow-up: Pope Leo XIV needs no further treatment after lung cancer surgery, Vatican says
BBC reported that the Vatican said on Oct 21 that post-operative tissue tests confirmed the 71-year-old Pope Leo XIV had lung adenocarcinoma, consistent with the initial diagnosis, and that the disease was localised, with an oncology assessment confirming no further treatment is needed. The 90-minute operation on Oct 13 removed the lower lobe of his right lung; he left Rome's Gemelli hospital four days later, last weekend. On Wednesday he held his first weekly general audience in St Peter's Square since leaving hospital.
Oct 22, 2026 Morning - Hungarian prosecutors arrest György Matolcsy, Orbán-era central bank governor
Der Spiegel reported that Hungarian prosecutors arrested former National Bank of Hungary governor György Matolcsy on suspicion of corruption. His lawyer confirmed to Hungary's news agency that he is suspected of economic fraud and forgery of documents and has appealed against the arrest. Matolcsy, a close ally of former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who lost the April election, was economy minister from 2010 to 2013 and central bank governor from 2013 to 2025. The central investigative prosecutors have not yet filed specific charges but have arrested others and searched several of Matolcsy's properties; Orbán's successor, Prime Minister Péter Magyar, had pledged to end corruption and hold people to account.
Oct 22, 2026 Morning - Musk ordered Starlink slowdown for Ukraine, disrupting military drones, WSJ reports
Japan Times, citing a Wall Street Journal report of Oct 20, said the recent Starlink slowdown for Ukraine came on orders from SpaceX chief executive Elon Musk and hindered Ukrainian drones on defensive and offensive missions; the report said Musk discussed the matter with Trump after it became public. CBS News, citing people familiar with the matter, said the satellite service used to control drones, hit targets and protect facilities was sharply slowed last week, and that Musk spoke repeatedly with government officials before the order to gauge the president's views and did not want the company seen as profiting from the Russia-Ukraine war. Musk said last week Starshield technology is licensed to the US government, which decides who can use it and at what service level.
Oct 21, 2026 Afternoon - Follow-up: Trump says US got 'nothing' from Ukraine but high-priced diesel; Witkoff to meet Putin in St Petersburg
Associated Press reported that on Oct 20 Trump said the United States had gotten 'nothing' from Ukraine except 'high-priced diesel' and that it was 'time' for Ukraine to reach a deal with Russia. Al Jazeera reported Trump told the White House that day: 'Zelensky has to want to end this war, and if he doesn't, I think it's going to be a very bad thing.' US envoy Steve Witkoff was due to meet Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg on Wednesday to discuss a proposal after talks with Zelensky in Oslo the day before; Finland's President Alexander Stubb, who took part in Oslo, said the plan had made 'real progress'.
Oct 21, 2026 Afternoon - Follow-up: 50 Carrefour stores looted on first day of French riots; government admits missteps, to send troops Saturday
Reuters reported that French retailer Carrefour had 50 stores emptied by looters on the first day of the unrest, with its CFO estimating a hit of €80 million to €200 million to full-year sales; the chief executive said he hoped the next protest wave on Oct 24 would have better security. Japan Times reported Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said on Oct 20 that Saturday's deployment would be 'massive', with restoring order after rioting and looting in Paris, Marseille, Lyon and elsewhere on Oct 17 the immediate priority; Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said troops would deploy alongside police, and the government acknowledged missteps in its response to the weekend violence and pledged to adjust tactics.
Oct 21, 2026 Afternoon - Follow-up: Italy passes security decree after Milan riots, adding 'violent participation in protests' offence
Japan Times, citing Reuters, reported that Italy's government on Oct 20 approved a package of security measures creating a new offence of 'violent participation in protests', toughening penalties for rioters and making parents financially liable when their children take part in vandalism and looting. The previous weekend, unrest swept several northern Italian cities; in financial hub Milan, mostly young groups smashed windows, looted shops and attacked police. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on social media when announcing the decree: 'There is nothing revolutionary about vandalism and theft — this is not protest, it is crime.'
Oct 21, 2026 Afternoon - Serbian student movement forms 'Student List' to challenge Vučić in Sunday's parliamentary vote
The Guardian reported that Serbia's student protest movement, active for two years, has formed a 'Student List' to field candidates in this Sunday's (Oct 25) parliamentary election, the toughest challenge yet in Aleksandar Vučić's 12 years in power. Student volunteers have been door-knocking in Belgrade suburbs such as Krnjača, logging visits and support levels on a phone app. They hope to echo the defeat six months ago of Vučić ally Viktor Orbán in neighbouring Hungary. Polls vary widely, and several observers say the race could be close.
Oct 21, 2026 Afternoon - Japan takes men's team gold at gymnastics worlds in Rotterdam, edging China by 0.1; Russia silver
Japan Times reported that Japan won gold in the men's team final at the world gymnastics championships in Rotterdam on Oct 20, with Russia taking silver and China bronze. Before the last rotation Japan and China were separated by only 0.1 of a point, with Russia another half-point back; Daiki Hashimoto's strong horizontal-bar routine helped Japan win, while China's Yang Haonan stepped out of bounds and put both hands down on floor in two mistakes. NHK said the top three teams earned Olympic qualification.
Oct 21, 2026 Afternoon - Zelensky says US missile-warning intelligence 'works now' after Oslo talks; Witkoff and Kushner to meet Putin in St Petersburg
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said after meeting US envoy Steve Witkoff in Oslo on Oct 20 that US early-warning intelligence on Russian ballistic missile strikes 'works now'; US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had earlier called Ukrainian claims that the US was withholding intelligence 'disgraceful'. Norway's prime minister, Finland's president and EU and UK security officials attended, Jared Kushner joined by video because of flu, and Finland's president said the peace plan had made 'real progress' without giving details. The New York Times reported that Witkoff and Kushner plan to meet Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg on Oct 21 and seek the release of a 72-year-old American serving six years and 10 months; Russia's foreign minister said Moscow would make 'no political concessions'.
Oct 21, 2026 Morning - France to deploy Operation Sentinelle soldiers ahead of weekend protests after curfews bring first calm night
Nationwide protests in France on Oct 18 over the cost of living and school conditions turned into the most destructive riots in years, with at least 2,400 arrests and more than 3,000 businesses damaged. After curfews in parts of Paris including Place de la République and Les Halles and central Lyon, the night of Oct 19 was the first calm night since the riots, and Lille and Nice imposed curfews for minors. The interior minister told the National Assembly on Oct 20 that troops from Operation Sentinelle, the domestic military deployment set up after the 2015 Paris attacks, will take on static guard duties to free up police and gendarmes, and the prime minister said a 'massive' security force will be deployed on Saturday.
Oct 21, 2026 Morning - NATO boosts Black Sea surveillance as Russia says it struck five cargo ships in one day
The Guardian reported that NATO announced on Oct 20 it is sending more surveillance, reconnaissance and forensic assets to the Black Sea region, including maritime patrol aircraft, radar systems, drones and intelligence staff. The same day Russia's military said it struck three cargo ships at Ukraine's Reni port and two more bound for Odesa. The London marine insurance market's new high-risk zone now covers the entire Black Sea except Romanian, Bulgarian and Turkish territorial waters, making it the world's most dangerous shipping route, and the North Atlantic Council met that day to discuss Black Sea security.
Oct 21, 2026 Morning - Google Cloud power incident in London disrupts Revolut, Lloyds, HSBC and other UK services
Google Cloud reported problems with multiple services in its London region 'europe-west2' early on Oct 20, and Revolut, Lloyds Bank and HSBC confirmed they were affected, as were the UK courts system, with thousands of outage reports online. A Google Cloud spokesperson said that evening the outage was caused by a 'power event' at a third-party facility in the region, services had been restored and an incident analysis would be published. Meduza reported that Revolut users worldwide were affected.
Oct 21, 2026 Morning - Albanian student protests clash with police for seventh day in Tirana; officials say 295 injured
The BBC reported that protesters, mostly high school and university students, clashed violently with riot police in Albania's capital Tirana for a seventh consecutive day, demanding the prime minister's resignation, better university conditions and action on corruption. Official figures showed 295 people injured before Monday's clashes, 186 of them police officers; a police station and several government buildings were attacked, and police used water cannon and tear gas. Holding a stone thrown at police, the prime minister told senior officers the state would 'fall' if it compromised with this, and said some protesters had been radicalised by 'dark forces in Europe and America'.
Oct 21, 2026 Morning - Zelensky adviser says US ballistic-missile warnings still unstable; some died without time to shelter
Serhii 'Flash' Beskrestnov, a Zelensky adviser and communications expert, told the BBC that US warnings of incoming Russian ballistic missiles remain incomplete and unstable, sometimes arriving only a minute before a strike, and that people have already died for lack of time to take shelter; the White House said intelligence sharing with Ukraine had not changed. President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday Kyiv faced two overnight ballistic attacks, one with no warning and one with minimal shelter time, after telling NBC sharing had resumed following a three-day pause. Beskrestnov said the problem was mainly the air-raid alert channel while other intelligence still flowed; the military also reported SpaceX Starshield speed limits disrupting drones and mobile communications.
Oct 20, 2026 Afternoon - Follow-up: France imposes partial curfews; officials say more than 2,500 arrested, Vinted removes suspected loot listings
After weekend riots, French authorities imposed partial curfews around Place de la République and the Les Halles shopping area in Paris and restricted night-time activity in cities including Marseille, Bordeaux, Nice, Lyon and Lille; officials said more than 2,500 people had been arrested and about 1,000 police injured. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez admitted police had 'lost control' in some cities. Second-hand platform Vinted said it had identified and removed listings linked to looting and that violating accounts can be permanently banned; chambers of commerce said more than 2,000 businesses were affected.
Oct 20, 2026 Afternoon - Follow-up: Italy prepares to send 500 more troops to 'defend Milan'; luxury shops board up early
Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini said on Monday the cabinet would approve security measures deploying 500 more soldiers to 'defend Milan' after cost-of-living protests over the weekend turned into riots, with hundreds of masked youths — many reportedly minors — clashing with police and looting stores including Decathlon and Arc'teryx. On Via Monte Napoleone, Chanel, Tiffany, Dior and other shops cleared window displays and some closed early and boarded up windows as police stepped up patrols. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had already held an emergency security meeting and is considering expanding preventive detention of minors and other measures.
Oct 20, 2026 Afternoon - Lithuania says Vilnius Starlink site hit in failed Molotov attack, links it to Ukraine-related sabotage
Lithuania's prime minister said that at about 2 am Sunday a Delska-related site storing Starlink equipment in the Aukštieji Paneriai area of Vilnius was attacked with Molotov cocktails and accelerant; security put out the fire, antennas did not burn and a control unit was lightly scorched. The national crisis-management centre director said the incident was sabotage and, with earlier Starlink-site attacks in Bulgaria and Poland, was seen as aimed at disrupting Ukraine's military communications; a presidential national-security adviser said Russia was 'very likely' involved. Police said on Monday suspects were still at large; the government raised alert levels at more than 15 critical infrastructure sites.
Oct 20, 2026 Afternoon - Ukraine says heavy drone carried out first front-line airlift of wounded soldier
Ukraine's 92nd Assault Brigade released video saying a remote-controlled heavy hexacopter airlifted a wounded soldier from the front line where dense mines and Russian drones blocked ground rescue, calling it a world first. BBC Verify checked the identities of soldiers shown and found no signs of AI generation or obvious tampering. The claim came amid US–Ukraine tension over intelligence sharing and Starshield network limits.
Oct 20, 2026 Afternoon - Hamburg court finds two men plotted to kill Jewish group leaders at Tehran's direction; Iran and Germany summon ambassadors
A Hamburg court found that a Danish national and an Afghan national plotted to kill leaders of two pro-Israel Jewish organisations and that the plot was directed from Tehran. Berlin then summoned Iran's ambassador; Iran's foreign ministry called the accusation a 'baseless political charge', summoned Germany's ambassador in kind, and said via IRNA that dressing a judicial process in politics would not change its stance. Iran denied any role in the plot.
Oct 20, 2026 Afternoon - Follow-up: Limoges city hall set on fire becomes unexpected focus of French unrest
In Limoges, the central French porcelain city, rioters set the city hall on fire during the weekend's nationwide unrest, making it one of the more unexpected flashpoints. The New York Times noted the city had not been known for political unrest. The arson belonged to the same wave of cost-of-living and public-service protests that brought looting and fires in Paris, Marseille, Lille and elsewhere; the central government has authorised partial curfews in multiple cities.
Oct 20, 2026 Afternoon - China's Leapmotor starts B10 production at Zaragoza plant in Spain, plans second EU model
Chinese EV maker Leapmotor, partnering with Stellantis, is advancing European local production at the Zaragoza (Figueruelas) plant in Spain: the first locally built B10 has started production, and a second model is planned; Leapmotor is also building a battery assembly plant in Mallén about 30 km from the factory. Reports said Zaragoza capacity can reach about 300,000 vehicles a year, with 2026 B10 output planned in the thousands to low tens of thousands for Spain, France, Italy and other markets. Chairman Zhu Jiangming called it true local CKD by a Chinese carmaker in Europe, aimed at EU tariffs on Chinese EVs and 'made in Europe' requirements.
Oct 20, 2026 Afternoon - Russian drone hits park in Kharkiv region's Nova Vodolaha, killing 6 including two girls
Ukraine's interior minister said a Russian drone struck the central park of Nova Vodolaha in Kharkiv region, killing six people: a man, three women and two girls. Kharkiv regional military administration head Oleh Syniehubov said the girls were 11 and just over one year old, and 15 people were injured, seven of them children. President Volodymyr Zelensky said the little girl was named Angelina, her mother Inna was also killed, and the park was hit by a Shahed drone.
Oct 20, 2026 Morning - Follow-up: France imposes partial curfews in Paris, Lille and other cities; Macron rejects interior minister's resignation
After an emergency cabinet meeting on Oct 19, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said the government was determined to restore public order and would impose 'partial' curfews where needed, not city-wide ones. Four northern cities including Lille have 8 pm–6 am curfews on Monday and Tuesday nights, Paris police imposed an 11 pm–6 am curfew with a ban on gatherings around Place de la République and the looted Les Halles area, and Marseille banned all gatherings and demonstrations. Reuters reported Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez offered to resign but President Macron refused; art students blockaded the Louvre, which closed on the first anniversary of its jewel heist, and unions called a new strike for Nov 5.
Oct 20, 2026 Morning - Follow-up: Storm Adam batters Spain's Valencia region; death toll rises to 4
Storm system Adam hit Spain's Valencia region early on Oct 19, with up to 700 litres per square metre of rain in some areas; emergency services carried out more than 1,000 rescues and the military hoisted residents from rooftops by helicopter. Government sources said a 79-year-old woman with limited mobility who lived alone was found dead in Oliva, Valencia province, and a 64-year-old man died of a heart attack at a campsite there; with one death each in Cabrera de Mar (Barcelona province) on Saturday and Sagunto on Sunday, the storm has killed four. The regional government lifted stay-at-home orders in eight municipalities in Valencia and Alicante provinces at about 8 pm.
Oct 20, 2026 Morning - Russia cabinet reshuffle: Mishustin proposes Siluanov and Kozhemyako as deputy prime ministers
The Kremlin press service and Meduza reported that Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin met Vladimir Putin on Monday morning and proposed a cabinet reshuffle: Finance Minister Anton Siluanov would also become deputy prime minister, a post he held from 2018 to 2020; Primorsky Krai Governor Oleg Kozhemyako would become deputy PM and presidential envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District, replacing Yuri Trutnev; Transport Minister Andrei Nikitin would become deputy PM, succeeded by Rosaviatsia head Dmitry Yadrov; and First Deputy Finance Minister Irina Okladnikova would become deputy PM and head of the government apparatus, replacing Dmitry Grigorenko. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin supported the proposals, which under the constitution require State Duma approval.
Oct 20, 2026 Morning - Finland plans €100 million purchase of one million anti-personnel landmines
Finland's national news agency STT and AFP reported Finland plans to spend €100 million (about $112 million) on one million anti-personnel mines. Finland left the Ottawa Convention banning such mines last year, as did Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, citing a potential threat from Russia. Colonel Riku Mikkonen of the Army Command said officials are gathering information from suppliers and would prefer domestic production, with a contract by end-2027 and production from 2028; about six Finnish companies qualify.
Oct 20, 2026 Morning - Austrian Airlines Tel Aviv–Vienna flight makes emergency landing in Sofia after bomb threat
Austrian Airlines flight OS82, an Airbus A320 from Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport to Vienna on the evening of Oct 18, received a bomb threat while over Romania and diverted to Sofia, Bulgaria, where all passengers were evacuated. Bulgaria's transport ministry said a MiG-29 fighter escorted the plane. Austrian Airlines confirmed the threat but gave no details; a spokesperson told AFP there were 51 passengers and 6 crew. Authorities searched the aircraft after landing, no injuries were reported, and an investigation is under way.
Oct 19, 2026 Afternoon - Follow-up: Trump says Russia sanctions pause keeps talks alive; Zelensky says US is pushing Ukraine to 'capitulate'
US President Donald Trump announced late Friday a pause of multiple Russia sanctions that were due to take effect in two days; Congress had passed them and he signed them into law in September. On Oct 18 on Truth Social he said he was negotiating an end to the Russia-Ukraine war, did not want to 'stupidly' push Russia from the table, and claimed Zelensky 'doesn't want' the war to end. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called it a 60-day pause to assess economic impact; Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev called it a 'truly historic moment'. Zelensky told NBC that siding with Putin would be a 'historic mistake'; the Japan Times reported he said Trump was pressuring Ukraine to capitulate and that a proposal to stop striking Russian diesel facilities in exchange for more Patriot missiles met a US reply that only wanted Ukraine to stop hitting diesel.
Oct 19, 2026 Afternoon - Wall Street Journal: Putin proposed Trump-Xi-Putin summit to settle Ukraine's future
CNBC, citing the Wall Street Journal on Oct 19, reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed in an Oct 9 call with Donald Trump a three-way summit with Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping to reach an agreement ending the Ukraine war, according to a former Russian intelligence official briefed on the call. The summit is not set; if held, Zelensky would not attend, and a possible venue is the November APEC summit in Shenzhen; the same call also led to a deal allowing Russia to sell diesel on global markets. TASS reported Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Oct 19 that Russia, the US and China all recognise a three-way meeting is possible but have no clear agenda yet.
Oct 19, 2026 Afternoon - Follow-up: Trump blames French riot violence on immigration; Kremlin calls meddling claims 'absurd'
Cost-of-living protests across France on Oct 17 turned into looting and arson. RFI reported that US President Donald Trump said on Oct 18 the violence should be blamed on immigration and urged France to tighten related rules. RIA Novosti reported Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Oct 19 that claims Russia stirred European unrest were 'absurd accusations' that 'even Europe itself does not take seriously'. The Sydney Morning Herald reported young people in black hoodies and balaclavas still gathered at Place de la République on the afternoon of Oct 18. The NFL said on Oct 18 that the New Orleans Saints–Pittsburgh Steelers game would still be held as planned on Oct 25 at Stade de France, the league's first regular-season game in France.
Oct 19, 2026 Afternoon - Follow-up: Nearly 2,400 arrested in French riots; Macron speaks of 'anger and shame'
About 550,000 people marched across France on Oct 17 against fuel price rises, the cost of living and declining public services; many protests turned into looting and arson, and Limoges city hall was set on fire. The Interior Ministry said nearly 2,400 people were arrested, and Al Jazeera reported about 1,000 police and gendarmes injured. In a national address from the Élysée Palace on Oct 18, President Emmanuel Macron said 'we all feel anger and shame' and that rioters would pay for their crimes, but declared no state of emergency or curfew.
Oct 19, 2026 Morning - Follow-up: Milan cost-of-living protests turn violent for second day; over 150 detained
A cost-of-living march in central Milan on Oct 17 turned into clashes, with masked protesters throwing stones at riot police and burning barricades; police used water cannon and tear gas. Italian news agency LaPresse reported at least 2 officers injured and about 50 people detained, many of them minors, and looting resumed on Oct 18. TASS, citing Corriere della Sera, reported more than 150 people detained, about 80% of them minors; Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said protesting is a right 'but setting the city on fire is not'.
Oct 19, 2026 Morning - Follow-up: Albania protests enter sixth day in Tirana; Supreme Court offices set on fire
Anti-government protests in Tirana over corruption, education and unemployment entered their sixth day on Oct 18, and offices of the Supreme Court were set on fire. Hundreds gathered outside the Education Ministry chanting for Prime Minister Edi Rama, now in his fourth term, to step down; police used rubber bullets, water cannon and tear gas, and Rama refused to resign. RIA Novosti reported 10 police officers injured that day.
Oct 19, 2026 Morning - Zelensky thanks US for restoring intelligence sharing; Bessent calls his Starlink claims 'reckless'
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told NBC's Meet the Press on Oct 18 that the US had restored intelligence sharing on incoming Russian ballistic missiles, saying Ukraine went three days without warnings during ballistic missile strikes. He maintained that the US deliberately throttled Starlink, while US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the accusation was 'very reckless' and warned him to 'be careful'. Zelensky also spoke with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner and said Russia had violated the 'energy ceasefire' 76 times.
Oct 19, 2026 Morning - Follow-up: Ukrainian drone attack on St Petersburg kills at least 1; Lithuania says drone in its airspace was part of the same wave
Ukraine launched a large drone attack on Russia overnight from Oct 17 to 18, about 1,000 drones according to CBS; Singapore's CNA described it as the largest on St Petersburg since the war began in 2022. St Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov said at least 1 person was killed and at least 5 injured, with fires at an oil terminal and an oil depot, and an Ozon logistics centre and a VKontakte data centre were also hit. Lithuania's defence minister said an FPV-1 drone that triggered air-raid alerts in Lithuania had taken part in the St Petersburg attack, and RIA Novosti reported that Ukraine acknowledged the airspace violation.
Oct 19, 2026 Morning - Follow-up: Storm Adam prompts highest red warning in Mallorca; schools closed
Spain's weather agency had named the season's first cut-off low 'Adam', which brought extreme rain to mainland Spain over the weekend. Authorities in Mallorca issued the highest red storm warning for the night of Oct 18 into Oct 19, civil protection sent special alerts to all phones on the island, and schools closed on Oct 19, Der Spiegel reports. Mallorca's airport saw long delays and cancellations, and Ibiza and Menorca were put on yellow alert.
Oct 19, 2026 Morning - Hungarian PM Péter Magyar accuses former PM Viktor Orbán of plotting a coup
Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar accused former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on Oct 18 of plotting a coup, RIA Novosti reports. Orbán had said at an event that day that the opposition was ready for 'national resistance' against the government and could provide the tools for it. Magyar cited the criminal code, under which attempting to overthrow the constitutional order carries 5 to 20 years or life in prison.
Oct 19, 2026 Morning - Poland's Donald Tusk says he is invited to China, won't let Poland be a 'Trojan horse'
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said after a two-day EU summit in Brussels that he had informed other leaders of an invitation to visit China, with an official visit possible later this year, RFI reports. Tusk said Poland would defend common EU interests in its relations with China and would 'never allow Poland to become a Trojan horse or a fifth column'.
Oct 19, 2026 Morning