The Daily Digest

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US and Israel are warned against launching fresh strikes on Iran | Middle East and north Africa | The Guardian

Multinational ‘anti-war bloc’ uses Istanbul summit to call for a diplomatic solution to Middle East crisis
Multinational ‘anti-war bloc’ uses Istanbul summit to call for a diplomatic solution to Middle East crisis Foreign ministers at a summit of eight European and Middle Eastern countries have urged the US and Israel not to…
The development of a new multinational “anti-war bloc” represents a challenge to the increasingly open plans by the US and Israel to relaunch strikes on Iran while talks on Tehran’s nuclear programme remain deadlocked.

theguardian.com22d ago

World

European, Middle East ministers urge US-Iran diplomacy, not new attacks | US-Israel war on Iran News | Al Jazeera

A further escalation would ‘create nothing but losers’, the French foreign minister warns after joint Istanbul meeting .
Foreign ministers from eight countries are cautioning the United States against further attacks on Iran after meeting in Turkiye to discuss the Strait of Hormuz and other regional developments.
Ministers from the United Kingdom, France and Germany, known as the E3, convened with counterparts from the R4 group of Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Egypt on Friday, along with Italy.

aljazeera.com22d ago

World

French Protests and Israeli Arrests: Foreign Policy's Weekly International News Quiz

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What did French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu on Monday blame for inflaming mass protests sweeping the country?
The French people’s belief in the power of the street combined with a centralized government has sparked numerous large-scale protests…

foreignpolicy.com22d ago

World

French Protests and Israeli Arrests: Foreign Policy's Weekly International News Quiz

Email [email protected] to let me know your thoughts.
What did French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu on Monday blame for inflaming mass protests sweeping the country?
The French people’s belief in the power of the street combined with a centralized government has sparked numerous large-scale protests in recent years, Emile Chabal writes .

foreignpolicy.com22d ago

World

Rubio’s India Visit Focuses on Energy – The Diplomat

He visited Jamnagar, home to the world’s largest oil refinery, which is run by Reliance Industries. The latter plans to build a refinery in Texas.
Reliance Industry Ltd.’s oil refinery at Jamnagar in India.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit to India on October 20-21 , the two sides discussed stepping up energy cooperation and increasing procurement of American technologies and weapon systems as part of a stocktaking o…

thediplomat.com22d ago

World

Why Durga Puja’s Celebration in West Bengal This Year Was Different – The Diplomat

The BJP government in the state stripped the festival of its secular-cultural uniqueness to impose religious and ritualistic practices that are anathema to Bengalis.
An idol of the goddess Durga floats on a river after its immersion at the end of the Durga Puja festival.
Amid the festive fervor that engulfs India in autumn, the eastern Indian state of West Bengal is immersed in the 10-day celebration of Durga Puja.

thediplomat.com22d ago

World

Russia and Ukraine agree to local ceasefire in Oleshky amid deepening humanitarian crisis | Ukraine | The Guardian

People in Russian-occupied city facing severe shortages of food, water and electricity, with some reportedly surviving on weeds
People in Russian-occupied city facing severe shortages of food, water and electricity, with some reportedly surviving on weeds The White House has said that Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a ceasefire in the Russian-…
In a statement on Friday, the White House said both sides had agreed to halt all military operations in the city from 29 October to allow humanitarian aid deliveries and preparations for the evacuation of civilians.

theguardian.com22d ago

World

One killed as Elysee calls Paris area shooting ‘racist, terrorist attack’ | Crime News | Al Jazeera

Antiterrorism prosecutors investigating motive of attack that seriously wounded five, including a 12-year-old girl.
A gunman has killed one person ⁠⁠and wounded five others, including a 12-year-old girl, in a possible Islamophobic “terrorist crime” in the Paris suburbs, authorities said.
An unidentified 39-year-old male suspect was taken into custody shortly after the attacks in the towns of Trappes and nearby La Verriere outside the capital on Friday.

aljazeera.com22d ago

World

‘How can France stop Marine Le Pen’? Our Europe columnists answered your questions on protests and politics in France | France | The Guardian

At 3pm BST/ 4pm CEST Friday 23 Oct<strong>,</strong> Guardian Europe columnists Rokhaya Diallo and Alexander Hurst will be live taking questions from our readers about the riots and protests in France. Send your questio…
After weeks of protests and a weekend of riots in which a town hall was set ablaze, 2,000-plus shops were looted, 2,300 people were arrested and 1,000 police injured, the repercussions for France – for its society and i…
Allegations of police brutality surfaced, and the violent protests unnerved investors, resulting in a debt sell-off , with borrowing costs rising higher than for Greece.

theguardian.com22d ago

World

‘Foreign policy is the economy’: How Iran war is shaping US midterm vote | US Midterm Elections 2026 News | Al Jazeera

Democrats are framing the conflict as an affordability issue to criticise Republican candidates backed by Trump.
Detroit, Michigan – The first question in the United States Senate debate in Michigan between Democratic candidate Abdul El-Sayed and his Republican rival Mike Rogers was about the issue that appears to matter most to v…
El-Sayed quickly drew a contrast between himself and Rogers, who is backed by US President Donald Trump.

aljazeera.com22d ago

World

France to deploy 70,000 police on Saturday to prevent civil unrest | France | The Guardian

Security forces to include elite units usually used for counter-terrorism after worst street violence in years
Security forces to include elite units usually used for counter-terrorism after worst street violence in years France will deploy about 70,000 police around the country on Saturday as the government seeks to prevent mor…
The interior minister, Laurent Nuñez, said on ⁠Friday ⁠the security forces would include elite units usually used for counter-terrorism operations and hostage rescues, adding that there had been social media calls for v…

theguardian.com22d ago

World

Soil mapping aims to boost agricultural production in Kenya | UN News

A new Kenyan initiative is helping farmers better understand their soils in a bid to improve crop yields amid intensifying climate shocks.
By Mercy Korir, Nairobi 23 October 2026 Climate and Environment A new Kenyan initiative is helping farmers better understand their soils in a bid to improve crop yields amid intensifying climate shocks.
The Soil Mapping for Resilient Agrifood systems (SoilFER) programme supports farmers to develop reliable soil information that will inform agricultural decisions such as which fertilizer to use and how much.

news.un.org22d ago

World

What to know as Brazil prepares for tense presidential run-off | Elections News | Al Jazeera

Polls show leftist incumbent Lula closing gap on right-wing rival Flavio Bolsonaro ahead of second round of voting.
Voters in Brazil are headed to the polls for the second time in one month, as Senator Flavio Bolsonaro and President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva square off in a run-off election to decide who will hold the presidency for…
While Bolsonaro outperformed expectations during the first round of voting on October 4, when he beat Lula by less than two percentage points but failed to secure the majority needed to avoid a run-off, the leftist pres…

aljazeera.com22d ago

World

‘Burden and loss’ builds in DR Congo, as Kenya strengthens Ebola containment | UN News

As Ebola continues to spread in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), more resources are needed to fight the disease and feed patients and families, UN agencies said on Friday.
23 October 2026 Health As Ebola continues to spread in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), more resources are needed to fight the disease and feed patients and families, UN agencies said on Friday.
“ If we lift the foot off the pedal, the virus will resurge very quickly, will continue to spread to newly affected areas and pose a threat for the country, the region and the world at large ,” warned Dr.

news.un.org22d ago

World

U.S. Midterms: Trump, Democrats Vie for Influence

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President Donald Trump’s approval rating at record lows amid high inflation spiked by an unpopular war, many pundits view the upcoming midterm elections as the only serious emergency brake left for the nation.

foreignpolicy.com22d ago

World

Mystery over source of Ebola infection in Nigeria fuels concern about spread of virus | Ebola | The Guardian

Switzerland says patient is wife of Swiss diplomat and believed to have contracted virus while travelling in Uganda
Switzerland says patient is wife of Swiss diplomat and believed to have contracted virus while travelling in Uganda Health officials across Africa are racing to determine how Nigeria’s first Ebola patient ⁠in more than…
The Swiss foreign ministry said on Friday the patient in Nigeria, the Ugandan-born wife of a Swiss diplomat based in Abuja, had not travelled to the Democratic Republic of ⁠Congo, where the outbreak was first detected i…

theguardian.com22d ago

World

Finland nearing opening of world’s first permanent nuclear waste repository | Nuclear Energy News | Al Jazeera

Facilities are being built in many countries, but Finland is the first to licence its underground storage facility.
Finland has granted an operating licence for the world’s first permanent underground repository for spent nuclear fuel.
The government handed Onkalo, in western Finland, the licence on Thursday, waste management company Posiva said.

aljazeera.com22d ago

World

Melania Trump ‘secured ceasefire’ in Ukrainian city of Oleshky: White House | News | Al Jazeera

White House says ‘localised’ ceasefire to take effect, as Russia and Ukraine say timing being determined.
The White House has said United States First Lady Melania Trump has “secured a ceasefire” between Russia and Ukraine in the southern Ukrainian city of Oleshky, which has been occupied by Russia since February 2022.
Following the announcement on Friday, a senior Ukrainian official told the Reuters news agency that a ceasefire in Oleshky would be established soon.

aljazeera.com22d ago

World

At least seven killed after gunmen open fire at church in Jordan | Gun Violence News | Al Jazeera

Survivors say two masked men began shooting as dozens attended a funeral procession.
At least seven people have been killed, and 34 others wounded, in an attack in Jordan’s Karak governorate that saw gunmen open fire during a funeral at a church.
Director of Jordan’s Public Security Directorate Obaidullah Al-Maaytah told a press conference on Friday that seven people are confirmed dead after the assault on a Greek Orthodox Church in the village of Hamoud.

aljazeera.com22d ago

World

What's Behind Turkish-Azerbaijani Tensions?

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LOGIN The transnational political firestorm over Azerbaijan’s school hijab ban has produced an extraordinary spat between the governments of Azerbaijan and Turkey, culminating in lurid allegations of Turkish coup-plotti…

foreignpolicy.com22d ago

World

Russia drops cluster bombs on Ukraine as Kyiv consolidates front line | News | Al Jazeera

Russia’s territorial gains this year are effectively nil as it heads into trilateral talks with Ukraine, US.
Ukraine said it recaptured more of its territory than Russia had managed to seize this year, despite restrictions on US satellite services critical to its defence.
Russia responded by hitting dozens of Ukraine’s energy facilities and using cluster bombs in attacks that harmed civilians.

aljazeera.com22d ago

World

Greece joins push to ban social media for minors | Social Media News | Al Jazeera

A growing number of countries are tightening rules governing children’s online activity amid fears of addiction.
The Greek parliament has passed a law banning the use of social media by people under the age of 15.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’s party, New Democracy, used its majority to pass the bill on Friday.

aljazeera.com22d ago

World

Yemen: Deepening concerns for Taiz City as aid is blocked from entering | UN News

Aid agencies warned on Friday of the fast-developing humanitarian emergency inside Taiz City in Yemen, which has been encircled by de facto Houthi forces fighting government troops along the country’s west coast.
By Daniel Johnson in Geneva 23 October 2026 Peace and Security Aid agencies warned on Friday of the fast-developing humanitarian emergency inside Taiz City in Yemen, which has been encircled by de facto Houthi forces fi…
“ It’s 20 days and counting since Taiz has been cut off… we are seeing increasingly that the fighting makes it impossible for us to get in and impossible for people to get out ,” said Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the U…

news.un.org22d ago

World

Indonesia’s Stock Market Crisis Is Self-Inflicted – The Diplomat

Jakarta has serious questions to answer about the credibility of its capital markets and the effectiveness of the institutions responsible for regulating them.
The skyline of Indonesia’s capital Jakarta at dusk.
On Friday, October 16, Indonesia’s stock market suffered its worst one-day decline since the 1998 Asian financial crisis.

thediplomat.com22d ago

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