The Daily Digest

World

Summit in Samarkand, a boon for child wellbeing and health | UN News

Representatives from across the international community are meeting in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, to ensure that children everywhere can thrive in a world marred by war, climate chaos and other fundamental challenges.
21 October 2026 Peace and Security Representatives from across the international community are meeting in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, to ensure that children everywhere can thrive in a world marred by war, climate chaos and…
The UN-backed World Summit Investing in Children’s Wellbeing opened on Wednesday, bringing together more than 600 participants from over 100 countries.

news.un.org24d ago

World

Indian court orders release of two leaders of Cockroach movement | India | The Guardian

Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka spent a week in jail after defying restrictions on protests in Delhi amid government crackdown
Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka spent a week in jail after defying restrictions on protests in Delhi amid government crackdown An Indian court has ordered the release of two leaders of India’s Cockroach movement who were…
The two leaders of the Cockroach Janta party (CJP) movement, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, had spent a week in Delhi’s Tihar jail after being arrested by Delhi police last week.

theguardian.com24d ago

World

UN agencies appeal for help to protect weakest from unprecedented El Niño | UN News

Two UN agencies issued a powerful appeal on Wednesday for immediate assistance to help communities already being impacted by the strongest El Niño weather pattern on record.
21 October 2026 Climate and Environment Two UN agencies issued a powerful appeal on Wednesday for immediate assistance to help communities already being impacted by the strongest El Niño weather pattern on record.
“ The current El Niño event could be unprecedented in strength – literally, off the monitoring charts that we have used for the past four decades – and will peak towards the end of 2026, but its impacts will be felt lon…

news.un.org24d ago

World

Thousands march in Greece over public education failures as Macron blasts ‘stupid’ commentary on French protests – as it happened | Europe | The Guardian

Macron says he is frustrated by the ‘visible manipulation of information’ about the events in France
Meanwhile, French president Emmanuel Macron blasted “unacceptable” and “stupid” comments on the protests and riots in France from foreign leaders, accusing them of “campaigning at our expense.” Speaking to reporters fro…
Some people even claimed that we had been overrun by hordes of migrants and Islamists – which is completely false.” (US president Donald Trump explicitly suggested that, repeatedly, and several EU leaders sort of said s…

theguardian.com24d ago

World

Poland’s parliament votes to ease abortion ban but faces likely veto from president | Poland | The Guardian

Measures would remove some penalties for those helping women access abortion but are ‘small-scale step’, say campaigners
Measures would remove some penalties for those helping women access abortion but are ‘small-scale step’, say campaigners Poland’s lower house of parliament has approved two bills aimed at loosening a near-total ban on a…
The new measures, which are likely to be vetoed by Poland’s nationalist president, would remove some of the criminal penalties for those who help women to access abortion care and allow terminations in cases of foetal a…

theguardian.com24d ago

World

Booking.com under investigation by EU regulators over fake listings and scams | European Union | The Guardian

European Commission calls accommodation website’s approach to fraudulent listings and phishing scams as ‘absolutely substandard’
European Commission calls accommodation website’s approach to fraudulent listings and phishing scams as ‘absolutely substandard’ EU regulators have opened an investigation into Booking.com, alleging that the accommodati…
The European Commission , which regulates the world’s biggest tech companies operating in the EU, said Booking.com may have breached the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) with its “absolutely substandard” approach to tack…

theguardian.com24d ago

World

Youth Protests Across Europe Reveal the West Has a Crisis of Hope

Get audio access with any FP subscription.
Subscribe Now ALREADY AN FP SUBSCRIBER?
LOGIN As young people take to the streets in countries across Europe, it is important to bluntly name the crisis that afflicts rich Western societies: hopelessness.

foreignpolicy.com24d ago

World

Musk pledges $10bn in SpaceX shares for US children: Who really gains? | Politics News | Al Jazeera

The pledge, which Trump says will go through tax-friendly ‘Trump accounts’, comes two weeks before the US midterms.
Elon Musk has pledged to give one SpaceX share to every child in the United States next year – a gift that could be worth more than $10bn.
“This will be the first of many,” the world’s richest man wrote on X on Monday.

aljazeera.com24d ago

World

Europe’s far right seizes on protest violence to push authoritarian anti-immigration agenda | The far right | The Guardian

Nationalist leaders are framing unrest as consequence of failed liberal governance and open borders
Nationalist leaders are framing unrest as consequence of failed liberal governance and open borders Europe’s far-right leaders have jumped on the violence that rocked numerous cities last weekend, framing it as the inev…
Months away from key elections in Spain, France and Italy, authoritarian nationalists are eager to weaponise the wave of street unrest, originating in peaceful protests over the cost of living and deteriorating public s…

theguardian.com24d ago

World

Europe stands by Ukraine – but how long can that last? | World news | The Guardian

As US support ebbs away, looming European elections and growing financial strains across the continent could fracture the precious coalition that has kept Ukraine afloat
As US support ebbs away, looming European elections and growing financial strains across the continent could fracture the precious coalition that has kept Ukraine afloat E urope woke up last Friday to another belligeren…
Just a few days after his diesel deal with the Kremlin, the US president said Zelenskyy was more difficult to deal with than Vladimir Putin and blamed Ukraine’s leader for rocketing oil prices – without any reference to…

theguardian.com24d ago

World

Russia releases American Stephen Hubbard after four years in prison | Donald Trump News | Al Jazeera

Hubbard was jailed after being accused of fighting alongside Ukrainian forces against Russia.
American Stephen Hubbard has been freed from a Russian prison and is on his way home after United States President Donald Trump said his administration had secured his release.
“Stephen is on his way back home and will soon be with his family,” Trump wrote in a social media post on Wednesday, adding that the US was not required to give anything in return for the release of the 74-year-old form…

aljazeera.com24d ago

World

Besieged Yemeni city on verge of ‘unmanageable’ crisis, aid workers warn | Yemen | The Guardian

Water and fresh food running out in Taiz as fighting intensifies and Houthi advance cuts off most supply routes
Water and fresh food running out in Taiz as fighting intensifies and Houthi advance cuts off most supply routes The humanitarian crisis in the besieged Yemeni city of Taiz is becoming unmanageable as the city runs out o…
Iran-allied Houthi forces have largely encircled the city of more than 900,000 people, cutting it off from most supply routes.

theguardian.com24d ago

World

Ethiopians Face Deportation From Israel as Conflict Flares Anew

Get audio access with any FP subscription.
Subscribe Now ALREADY AN FP SUBSCRIBER?
LOGIN This story was supported by a grant from the Pulitzer Center .

foreignpolicy.com24d ago

World

US congressional candidate Brad Lander freed after West Bank detention | Civil Rights News | Al Jazeera

Lander says dozens remain in Israeli custody after being detained while helping Palestinian farmers harvest olives.
United States Democratic congressional candidate Brad Lander says he has been released from Israeli military custody with a warning after being detained alongside dozens of volunteers helping Palestinian farmers harvest…
But several dozen others, including rabbis and international volunteers, remain in detention, according to Lander, who called for them to be released immediately.

aljazeera.com24d ago

World

Israeli military detain US and UK volunteers in West Bank including Democratic NY politician Brad Lander | West Bank | The Guardian

About 80 US, Israeli and British volunteers held near Nahalin in West Bank and taken to police station
About 80 US, Israeli and British volunteers held near Nahalin in West Bank and taken to police station The Israeli military has detained about 80 US, Israeli and British volunteers helping Palestinians harvest olives ne…
“I’ve been detained by the IDF, along with a group of rabbis and volunteers,” Lander posted from a bus taking him to a police station.

theguardian.com24d ago

World

New Zealand Geographic photographer of the year competition 2026 – in pictures | New Zealand | The Guardian

Almost 70 finalists were chosen from 6,000 entries for New Zealand’s largest photographic competition, with works reflecting the country’s natural environment, wildlife, culture, history and traditions
View image in fullscreen Tongariro national park: Two wildfires burned through more than 3,300 hectares of subalpine vegetation on the Central Plateau in November and December 2025, both caused by vehicles on State High…
Mike Scott raced from Hamilton to Waimarino the day of the second fire, making it in time to join a helicopter crew.

theguardian.com24d ago

World

How Qatar, Turkiye, Pakistan and Indonesia are deepening defence ties | Military News | Al Jazeera

Experts say conflicts and uncertainty are accelerating efforts to strengthen regional military capacity.
Qatar, Turkiye, Pakistan and Indonesia signed a deal on Wednesday to deepen their defence industry cooperation, reflecting a broader effort by countries in the region to widen their network of security partners amid the…
The four countries signed the memorandum of understanding in Doha, building on existing military projects through joint production, technology transfers and more closely integrated supply chains.

aljazeera.com24d ago

World

How war in Lebanon has cost young people with autism and ADHD | News | Al Jazeera

Experts warn that war takes a heavy toll on neurodivergent people, who often rely on routine.
Beirut, Lebanon – After her husband died from COVID-19 in 2020, Lena Kouyoumjian moved back to her parents’ house in Mazraat Yachouh, a village 20 minutes’ drive from Beirut.
For Lena, energetic and outgoing, the move was difficult, but she accepted that she needed help to care for her 20-year-old daughter, Vana, who is autistic and non-verbal.

aljazeera.com24d ago

World

Are the UK, France being pulled into the Saudi-Houthi conflict? | Houthis News | Al Jazeera

The European states say their support for Riyadh is ‘defensive’, but analysts warn Houthi reaction may complicate that.
France and the United Kingdom have both moved to deploy military assets to Saudi Arabia, deepening their defence ties with the kingdom as its conflict with the Houthis, an armed group also known as Ansar Allah (Arabic f…
Paris last week said it had begun sending assets to Saudi Arabia as part of a previously announced agreement, after President Emmanuel Macron committed to deploying troops and air defence systems to help protect the Red…

aljazeera.com24d ago

World

Pakistani authorities arrest man accused in $126m US postage fraud | Crime News | Al Jazeera

Faheem Akram has been charged with several offences including conspiracy to defraud the United States.
Pakistani authorities have arrested a man accused of masterminding an online counterfeit operation that United States prosecutors say resulted in more than $125m of losses to the US Postal Service.
Faheem Akram, 33, was arrested on Tuesday after an expansive search operation and raids across Pakistan, a senior official at the Pakistani National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency told reporters.

aljazeera.com24d ago

World

Trump’s Opposition to the Chagos Islands Deal Benefits China

Get audio access with any FP subscription.
Subscribe Now ALREADY AN FP SUBSCRIBER?
LOGIN Rarely does such a tiny island cause such a fuss, but this has certainly been the case with Diego Garcia.

foreignpolicy.com24d ago

World

‘They try to break us’: Pro-Palestine activists in Czech custody | News | Al Jazeera

As a group is accused of an attack on a weapons factory, activists allege growing crackdown on the solidarity movement.
Prague, Czech Republic – Youssef Moursi, a 25-year-old Egyptian university student and activist in Prague, has spent the last six months in pre-trial detention, accused of an arson attack in March against a Czech weapon…
Moursi is one of 11 people being charged with “terrorism” for the attack and could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

aljazeera.com24d ago

World

Iran’s enriched uranium re-emerges as point of contention in US talks | Explainer News | Al Jazeera

Iran’s nuclear enrichment has emerged as a major point of contention amid diplomatic push to end the war.
The renewed diplomatic push to end the United States-Israel war on Iran is facing headwinds as Tehran’s nuclear programme, which the two countries invoked to launch the war in February, has once again emerged as one of…
Nearly eight months into the war, which has caused a global energy crisis, a deal to ensure a permanent ceasefire remains elusive.

aljazeera.com24d ago

World

Sudan conflict: Peace efforts resume to end ‘drone war’ fuelling humanitarian crisis | UN News

Talks to halt the fighting in Sudan and alleviate the humanitarian crisis there continued in Geneva on Wednesday, where nearly two dozen countries convened to discuss a pathway to a ceasefire and transition to peaceful…
21 October 2026 Peace and Security Talks to halt the fighting in Sudan and alleviate the humanitarian crisis there continued in Geneva on Wednesday, where nearly two dozen countries convened to discuss a pathway to a ce…
“Our first session, devoted to de-escalation, will offer an opportunity to explore practical ways forward,” said Pekka Haavisto, Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General for Sudan, in a call to delegates to identify meas…

news.un.org24d ago

The Daily Digest by email

World