world news

Russia halts strikes on Ukraine’s Kherson as Oleshky ceasefire takes effect

The localised ceasefire, secured by US First Lady Melania Trump, will allow evacuations and aid deliveries to Oleshky.

Russia pushes stronger media ties with Africa, proposes awards for cross-continental reporting

Director of the Department of State Policy in the Field of Mass Media, Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications, Larina Ekaterina, made the proposal at the Russia-Africa media forum in Moscow and invited the continent to join the alliance for global fact-checking initiative to combat disinformation. Sergey Kuzovnikov, Director of Strategy, Russian News Agency, TASS, said the importance of the Russia-Africa media forum lies in giving Africa its own voice, allowing African countries to tell their own stories through direct sources rather than second-hand interpretations.

Romania says Russia-run sabotage network set fire near weapons factory

Authorities say the fire in September is part of a broader campaign against European countries that support Ukraine.

Libya says international aviation restrictions lifted after 11 years

Libya’s Ministry of Transport said on Monday that the UN’s International Civil Aviation Organisation removed airspace restrictions it issued in 2015 during the country’s civil war. Few airlines currently operate flights in and out of Libya, and they have long been limited to destinations such as Tunisia, Jordan, Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia ​, and Sudan.

SC pulls up Rajasthan over Jojari river pollution, warns of CBI probe

Supreme Court had earlier directed the State government to “seal and dismantle” all illegal and unauthorised discharge points into the river, including bypass arrangements, manholes, chambers, pipelines and conduit

Africa food security under threat due to Iran war, trade officials warn

The war on Iran is driving up fuel and fertiliser costs across Africa, threatening food security, trade officials say.

UN sounds the alarm over Israel's West Bank military operation

The UN has sounded the alarm on Israeli action in the West Bank city of Hebron after hundreds of families were displaced at the weekend. Israel has ordered the military to demolish homes after soldiers were killed there.

October rainfall records under threat across south-east Queensland

Brisbane and the Gold Coast are on track for their wettest October in six years as the Bureau of Meteorology predicts more showers and thunderstorms across south-east Queensland.

Mahama arrives in Moscow for Third Russia-Africa Summit and bilateral talks with Putin

President John Mahama has arrived in Moscow, Russia, to participate in the Third Russia–Africa Summit hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin. During his visit, two Russian universities, the Russian University of Transport and the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia, will separately confer honorary doctorate degrees on President Mahama at ceremonies in Moscow.

Ukraine war briefing: Trilateral peace talks with Russia to restart, says Zelenskyy

What we know on day 1,706 A trilateral meeting between Kyiv, Washington and Moscow will take place in November aiming to restart stalled Russia-Ukraine peace talks, Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said. However, Zelenskyy has repeatedly said Kyiv will only stop the strikes if Moscow stops hitting Ukraine’s power infrastructure, or if the US allows Ukraine to use of Starshield ‌over Russia to detect launch places of its ballistic missiles, or if it supplies Ukraine with Patriot missiles.

Netanyahu reportedly pressured military to attack Iran in run-up to election

Israeli prime minister increases alarmist rhetoric as his far-right coalition narrowly trails in polls Benjamin Netanyahu has resorted to increasingly alarmist rhetoric and reportedly put pressure on Israel’s military to take action against Iran as his far-right coalition narrowly trails in the polls ahead of Tuesday’s close-run elections. The Israeli prime minister posted an AI-generated image of a nuclear mushroom cloud destroying Tel Aviv, telling Israeli voters to choose him or risk nuclear annihilation.

Israeli military breaks silence on purported feud with Netanyahu

The statement by the Israel Defense Forces comes in the final hours of a hotly contested election, the first since Hamas's attack on October 7, 2023.

Britain sanctions Sudanese commanders over weaponised rape

Commanders from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and Sudanese Armed Forces face travel and asset freezes.

Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure a war crime: UN

Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure a war crime: UN. UN commission notes Russian weaponisation of cold in nearly five years of attacks on heating plants and power lines.

‘Enough is enough’: Palestinians and Israelis share views ahead of election

On the eve of Israel’s general election, some Israelis call for change while others back Netanyahu to stay in power.

Guterres warns of ‘unimaginable’ consequences of Iran-Gulf escalation

UN Chief Antonio Guterres has warned of devastating consequences from any military escalation in the Gulf region.

Israel and the US are both going to the polls - the consequences will be global

The next fortnight sees two elections on different continents. The outcomes will shape geopolitics and the global economy, writes James Landale

Gender mainstreaming essential to addressing Africa’s growing security challenges – EPSG official

The Head of Component of the ECOWAS Peace, Security and Governance (EPSG) Project, Ms Theresa Kraft, has called for stronger integration of gender perspectives into peace and security operations across Africa, stressing that existing policy commitments must translate into practical action. Ms Kraft acknowledged significant progress in developing gender-related policies within the United Nations, African Union, ECOWAS and European Union but expressed concern about the persistent gap between policy commitments and implementation.

UK sanctions Sudanese military leaders implicated in El Fasher ‘campaign of rape’

Commanders suspected of sexual violence during the largest and fastest slaughter of civilians in more than 30 years have been subjected to travel ban and asset freeze Senior Sudanese commanders implicated in a “campaign of rape” have been targeted by the UK on the first anniversary of a mass atrocity that saw tens of thousands of civilians killed over several days. A year after the fall of El Fasher, the British government said it had sanctioned military leaders from both sides in the country’s ongoing conflict whom it suspected of sexual violence during the siege of the city.

Why Ukraine may be involved in Mali's conflict

Allegations that Ukrainian specialists are supporting Tuareg rebels in Mali highlight Kyiv's effort to challenge Russian influence far beyond the battlefield in Europe.

High-level delegation in Iran in push to avert flare-up of conflict with US

Senior officials from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey travel to Tehran as bellicose rhetoric heightens High-level diplomatic delegations from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan have travelled to Tehran in an attempt to prevent renewed fighting between Iran and the US and Israel as rhetoric sharpens on both sides. Security officials and diplomats at Monday’s meeting were expected to discuss how Iran could persuade the Houthis in Yemen to end their crippling missile and drone attacks on infrastructure in Saudi Arabia.

Protests, tourists and the Kremlin: Georgia at a crossroads – photo essay

Citizens want greater democracy, while tourists seek out Soviet-era nostalgia, but could Russia’s war on Ukraine be the ultimate decider of country’s fate? Demonstrators in Tblisi take part in the Saturday March, when pro-European parties and movements march through the historic centre to protest against the policies of the ruling Georgian Dream party, which critics accuse of being pro-Russian.

Telangana Global Summit curtain raiser in New Delhi on October 29

Israel expands expulsions in occupied West Bank to cement control

Israel escalates forced expulsions and infrastructure destruction with the goal of imposing 'new reality', analysts say.