Zelensky rallies European allies as Trump ties slump
France 24 •

Zelensky rallies European allies as Trump ties slump

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky is seeking to rally European allies at a Brussels summit on Friday after saying Kyiv would no longer abide by US President Donald Trump's demands not to strike Russian oil refineries. Relations between Kyiv and Washington have soured since last week, when Trump eased sanctions on Russia in exchange for Moscow releasing large amounts of diesel onto global mark...

EU leaders face budget divisions, discuss Ukraine at Brussels summit
France 24 •

EU leaders face budget divisions, discuss Ukraine at Brussels summit

European Union leaders gathered in Brussels on Thursday for a two-day summit to discuss the bloc’s next long-term budget, continued support for Ukraine and measures to strengthen Europe’s economic competitiveness amid rising energy prices and geopolitical uncertainty. They voiced strong opposition to a new proposal for the bloc’s long-term budget, raising serious doubt about whether the key spendi...

Colorado ninth-grader Peter Daniell wins $100,000 education contribution for food insecurity essay

Colorado ninth-grader Peter Daniell wins $100,000 education contribution for food insecurity essay

Times of India •

In a remarkable achievement, Peter Daniell of Colorado has clinched victory in the 2026 National Civics Bee by tackling the pressing issue of food insecurity with impressive civic insights. Competing against 20,000 students nationwide, Daniell's essay underscored the vital role of community engagement and public service in ensuring food access. For his dedication, he was awarded a $100,000 educati...

Trump calls Ukraine’s renewed strikes on Russian oil refineries a ‘disgrace’

Trump calls Ukraine’s renewed strikes on Russian oil refineries a ‘disgrace’

The Guardian •

US president says Zelenskyy ‘more difficult ​to deal with ​than Putin’ after ‘energy ceasefire’ collapsesEurope live – latest updatesDonald Trump has called Ukraine’s renewed strikes on Russian oil refineries a “disgrace”, while renewing his criticism of Volodymyr ⁠Zelenskyy after an energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine collapsed.Ukraine resumed strikes on Russian oil refineries ⁠after Zele...

EU backs trade ‘kill switch’, China exports surge, third-quarter GDP

EU backs trade ‘kill switch’, China exports surge, third-quarter GDP

SCMP •

European Union leaders supported creating a tool to potentially shut out Chinese goods as a growing flood of low-cost imports pushed the bilateral trade deficit to a record. Officials could start work on developing a trade “kill switch”, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen signalled to EU leaders at a Brussels meeting on Thursday, the South China Morning Post reported, citing uniden...

Indonesia’s central bank insists it is independent. Investors want proof

Indonesia’s central bank insists it is independent. Investors want proof

SCMP •

Indonesia has spent months trying to persuade investors that its economy is on the right course. A weakening rupiah, mounting budgetary pressures and a series of contentious policy decisions have made that task harder. Doubts about the management of Southeast Asia’s largest economy have now coalesced around its central bank, whose independence has come under intense scrutiny recently as President ...

Infantino told by top Fifa figures to scrap or depoliticise peace prize after Trump furore

Infantino told by top Fifa figures to scrap or depoliticise peace prize after Trump furore

The Guardian •

Backlash greeted award of prize to US presidentFifa committee to make recommendations this yearDonald Trump is likely to end up as the only political leader awarded the Fifa peace prize after Gianni Infantino was told at Thursday’s meeting of the Fifa council to make major changes or scrap the controversial award.The Guardian has learned that several council members demanded the award be abolished...

France to witness a 'crossroads of anger' as mass protests expected on Saturday

France to witness a 'crossroads of anger' as mass protests expected on Saturday

France 24 •

PRESS REVIEW – Friday, October 16: French papers look ahead to Saturday's call for mass protests, which will bring together a number of social movements. Next, climate change has devastating consequences on communities in Afghanistan. Also, Libération publishes a special edition written in the style of Georges Perec. Finally, this year's animal of the year has been named.

Flash floods kill five and destroy villages in central Nepal

Flash floods kill five and destroy villages in central Nepal

The Guardian •

Landslide blocks river and triggers downstream flooding, while summer temperatures persist in PortugalFlash floods have swept through Nepal’s central Gorkha district after a pre-dawn landslide on 11 October blocked the Budhi Gandaki River, triggering severe downstream flooding. At least five people have died, and almost 100 have been rescued. Two villages in the worst-affected Chumanubri rural mun...

At least 12 dead after migrant boat sinks off Gambia

Euronews •

The IOM says increased controls in traditional departure spots in Morocco, Mauritania, and Senegal have pushed some migrants seeking to reach Europe further south, towards countries such as The Gambia.

Ukraine unveils flying ambulance drone that could save lives in minutes

Euronews •

A Ukrainian company has demonstrated an unusual new battlefield rescue system: a drone capable of carrying a wounded soldier inside an enclosed cabin. Developed by SkyFall, the aircraft, named StarGate, was filmed taking off, flying and landing with a person on board.

No, this oil tanker didn’t carry Russian diesel to the United States

No, this oil tanker didn’t carry Russian diesel to the United States

France 24 •

Following US President Donald Trump's October 9 announcement of an agreement signed with Russian President Vladimir Putin to import Russian diesel into the United States, a number of pro-Russian social media accounts began claiming that a Russian oil tanker was already carrying thousands of barrels of diesel to the United States. The ship was actually carrying fertiliser. 

A Maine couple grew their own wedding flowers in a backyard garden

A Maine couple grew their own wedding flowers in a backyard garden

Times of India •

Mariah Reading and David Mainero chose to grow their wedding flowers instead of buying them to save expenses. They planted a garden in Hampden, Maine, with various blooms including dahlias and amaranth. The couple learned about gardening while preparing for their September wedding and received help from friends and family. Reading picked her bouquet from this garden, adding a personal touch to the...

Thai raid foils cross-border cable ruse powering Myanmar scam centre

Thai raid foils cross-border cable ruse powering Myanmar scam centre

SCMP •

Authorities in Thailand have uncovered an audacious scheme involving hundreds of metres of internet cable sent over the Thai border to keep a suspected Myanmar scam compound online, after finding two ramshackle village homes using enough daily bandwidth to power an entire village. Officers raided the homes in Nong Lu, a Thai border village in Kanchanaburi province, which is the gateway to the Thre...