Many countries want to be called "middle powers," but the term should mean a country with strong military and economic independence. Some countries, like Poland and South Korea, meet this definition, while others, like Canada and some in Western Europe, rely more on the United States for defense. The idea of middle powers is gaining attention because global politics is shifting and big powers use trade and military tools to influence others.
Key Facts
The term "middle power" should mean a country strong enough in military and economy to negotiate with great powers.
Countries like Poland, South Korea, Taiwan, and Azerbaijan fit the definition of middle powers.
Canada and many Western European countries used to rely heavily on U.S. military protection and have recently increased defense spending.
Poland is investing a large portion of its economy in defense and building a big army with advanced military equipment.
South Korea is a strong industrial country and a major arms seller, important to U.S. naval plans.
The rivalry between the U.S. and China affects trade, technology, and military tensions, making middle power roles more important.
Middle powers often try to balance alliances and trade with different big powers to keep independence.
Some U.S. officials warn that countries relying too much on others cannot truly act as middle powers.
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House Speaker Mike Johnson spoke with CBS News about the recent midterm elections, the Republican Party’s effort to keep control of the House of Representatives, and his plans for the future. The interview covered the political outlook and Johnson’s role as a GOP leader.
Key Facts
Mike Johnson is the current Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.
He gave an extended interview to CBS News' Robert Costa.
Topics included the results of the November midterm elections.
Johnson discussed the Republican Party’s chances of keeping the House majority.
He shared his thoughts about his future plans as a political leader.
The interview was part of broader CBS News coverage including other political and social topics.
President Donald Trump’s activities and statements appeared in related news segments.
The conversation focused on U.S. domestic politics and the GOP’s goals ahead.
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The documentary film NAZA, made by Israeli filmmakers, shows anonymous testimonies from Israeli military and intelligence personnel about how Israel targets strikes in Gaza and civilian casualties. The Israeli military disputes the film, saying it has serious errors and lacks important context, leading to strong reactions both supporting and criticizing the film in various countries.
Key Facts
NAZA is an 80-minute documentary directed by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor.
It includes testimony from 24 anonymous Israeli military and intelligence members.
The film examines how civilian casualties in Gaza are calculated and accepted during Israeli strikes.
NAZA won the Special Jury Prize at the Venice International Film Festival.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) say the documentary has major factual mistakes and lacks essential context about the conflict.
The IDF denies a key claim that an Israeli strike was approved despite expecting 500 civilian deaths.
The film has caused protests and accusations from Israeli politicians and some activists.
Some critics say the film’s style influences viewers’ opinions before presenting full evidence.
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President Donald Trump’s approval ratings have increased among Black and Hispanic voters in recent polls. However, majority of these groups still disapprove of his performance, and approval among White voters has not changed much.
Key Facts
Three polls between September 18 and October 5 showed a rise in Trump’s net approval by 19 points among Black voters and 20 points among Hispanic voters.
Approval ratings among White voters stayed mostly the same across these polls.
Despite the increase, most Black and Hispanic respondents still disapprove of President Trump’s performance.
These polls measure approval of Trump personally, not necessarily support for other Republican candidates.
The change in approval may indicate that some voters from the 2024 election coalition are staying supportive ahead of the midterm elections.
Experts suggest targeted Republican campaigns and media might be influencing some Black and Hispanic voters.
The White House credits Trump’s political coalition, known as MAGA, and policies on taxes, immigration, and the economy for this change.
Poll margins of error are around plus or minus 3.4 percentage points, indicating some uncertainty in exact approval ratings.
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Russian air strikes hit the city of Zaporizhzhia in southeastern Ukraine, killing at least eight people, including three children. This happened while officials from the US, Ukraine, and Europe met in Miami to discuss ways to end the war in Ukraine.
Key Facts
At least eight people died in Russian air strikes on Zaporizhzhia, including three children.
Sixteen people were injured and twelve others reported missing after the attacks.
The strikes occurred amid ongoing diplomatic talks in Miami involving US, Ukrainian, and European officials.
Russian forces reported capturing two settlements in the Kharkiv region.
Ukrainian drones targeted a key Russian railway bridge as part of the conflict.
South Korea recalled its ambassador from Ukraine following a dispute about North Korean prisoners of war.
President Donald Trump secured a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin to increase diesel fuel supplies to global markets.
This diesel deal marks a shift from previous US pressure on Russia during the Ukraine war.
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Hurricane Isaias hit the US Gulf Coast near Destin, Florida, as the first hurricane of the Atlantic season with strong winds and flooding. It has weakened to a post-tropical storm as it moved inland over southern Alabama, causing power outages and road closures. Emergency efforts are underway in Florida and Alabama, and other storms are also affecting parts of Mexico and Southern California.
Key Facts
Hurricane Isaias made landfall near Destin, Florida, with winds of 169 km/h (105 mph).
It weakened to 100 km/h (65 mph) winds and became a post-tropical storm over southern Alabama.
Isaias caused flooding, downed trees, and power outages for over 664,000 customers in Florida and Alabama.
A storm surge of 3-5 feet is expected along parts of the Gulf Coast from Alabama to Florida.
Florida’s National Guard deployed 5,000 personnel to assist with emergency response efforts.
President Donald Trump said the hurricane situation is “under control.”
Tropical Storm Rachel and Category 4 Hurricane Simon are also active, with Simon threatening southwestern Mexico.
Flights were canceled at several airports, including Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport, due to the storm.
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A mother in Europe noticed a small cloudy ring in her three-month-old daughter's eye and later learned her daughter had congenital cataracts, a rare condition causing clouded lenses and vision problems. After diagnosis, the baby underwent surgeries to remove and replace the cloudy lenses, and she will need glasses or contacts to help her eyesight.
Key Facts
The baby girl was born after a healthy pregnancy and birth.
At three months old, her mother noticed a faint cloudy ring in one eye.
The condition was diagnosed as congenital cataracts, affecting about 3-4 in every 10,000 births in the U.S.
Congenital cataracts cause cloudy lenses, vision issues, a white-looking pupil, or eye misalignment.
Causes can include genetic mutations, infections during pregnancy, or problems with eye development, but exact cause is often unknown.
The mother’s daughter likely has a genetic mutation linked to the cataracts found in her father’s blood.
Early treatment is important to prevent vision development problems.
The baby has had four surgeries to remove the cloudy lenses and replace them with artificial ones, and she will need glasses or contact lenses.
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Lajee Celtic is a grassroots sports club based in a Palestinian refugee camp in the West Bank. It started as a football project and has grown into an international symbol of support, with connections to Celtic fans and participation in local football competitions despite challenges in the region.
Key Facts
Lajee Celtic is based in Aida Camp, a Palestinian refugee camp in the West Bank.
The club began about 10 years ago as a football project to support local youth.
It has gained international support, especially from Celtic football club fans in Scotland and Ireland.
In 2016, Celtic fans displayed Palestinian flags during a Champions League game, leading to a fine but increased solidarity campaigns.
The club includes young players from Bethlehem, Hebron, Jerusalem, and nearby villages.
Lajee Celtic entered the Palestinian football league competition for the first time in recent years.
The club joined the Thousand Martyrs Cup, named after athletes killed in Gaza since October 2023.
Lajee Celtic has also expanded its activities to include a boxing program starting in 2025.
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French astronaut Sophie Adenot spoke about her strong feelings after spending nearly eight months in space. She returned to Earth in a SpaceX capsule and is now starting a recovery program for her body after the physical challenges of space travel.
Key Facts
Sophie Adenot spent 235 days in space on the International Space Station (ISS), the longest continuous stay by a European astronaut.
She returned to Earth on Thursday, landing in the Pacific Ocean near California in a SpaceX Dragon capsule.
Adenot described experiencing a wide range of emotions during her mission, from joy to difficulty.
She became the first French female astronaut to perform a spacewalk, completing three spacewalks during her stay.
On return, she was physically weak and is undergoing a three-week recovery to regain her strength.
In space, her body faced issues like bone loss, muscle loss, heart problems, and vision changes due to weightlessness.
Adenot said seeing Earth from 400 km away showed her that borders don’t matter; Earth is one shared planet.
She described the capsule’s splashdown as challenging because of strong waves lasting 25 minutes.
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The United States removed sanctions against Theint Win Htet, the daughter of a Myanmar businessman linked to the military government. She had sued the US government to have her name removed from the sanctions list, arguing she was not involved in her father’s business.
Key Facts
Theint Win Htet was removed from the US sanctions list on Friday by the Treasury Department.
She sued the US government twice, with the second lawsuit leading to the removal of sanctions.
Her father, Thein Win Zaw, owns Shwe Byain Phyu Group, which supplies fuel to Myanmar’s military and is linked to the military leadership.
Theint Win Htet’s sanctions blocked her US credit cards, froze her foreign bank accounts, and caused her to leave her master’s degree program in New York.
The US began talks with Myanmar’s government under President Trump, changing previous policies that targeted military leaders after the 2021 coup.
Her mother was also removed from the sanctions list last year.
The Biden administration had imposed sanctions on Myanmar military officers and companies after the 2021 coup.
Some groups criticized the US decision, saying the military continues attacking civilians.
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US, European, and Ukrainian officials met in Miami to discuss ways to end the war between Russia and Ukraine. The talks focused on peace efforts, energy supplies, and security, while President Donald Trump agreed with Russia to increase diesel fuel deliveries amid rising global energy prices.
Key Facts
US, European, and Ukrainian negotiators held talks in Miami to find a common plan to stop the war in Ukraine.
The meeting included representatives from the US, Ukraine, Europe (E3 and the European Commission), and NATO.
Topics included energy resilience, grain exports, security guarantees, and Ukraine’s post-war recovery and EU membership.
President Donald Trump agreed with Russian President Vladimir Putin to supply more than 300,000 tons of diesel fuel immediately and 500,000 tons more in November.
The US Treasury Department issued a temporary license to allow Russian diesel into global markets.
The talks come as winter approaches and deadly Russian attacks continue in Ukraine.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned the conflict could escalate or spread to NATO countries if no settlement is reached.
Ukraine’s President Zelensky refuses to give up territory in eastern Ukraine, fearing it could lead to further attacks.
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Residents in a mainly Catholic area of Portadown, Northern Ireland, welcomed the UK government's decision to stop a Protestant parade on their main street. This action ended a long conflict after local officials first allowed the march.
Key Facts
The protest involved a parade by a Protestant group in Portadown, Northern Ireland.
The neighborhood where the parade was planned is mainly Catholic.
The UK government banned the parade from passing down the main road in the area.
The ban came after weeks of disagreement and tension between local residents and authorities.
Local officials initially gave permission for the parade.
The decision to ban the parade helped ease the conflict in the community.
The situation reflects ongoing religious and political divisions in Northern Ireland.
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The Saudi-led coalition is conducting a large military operation against Yemen’s Houthi forces. Over the past 24 hours, government forces have carried out more than 2,750 attacks.
Key Facts
The operation is led by a coalition of countries headed by Saudi Arabia.
The main target of this operation is the Houthi group in Yemen.
More than 2,750 strikes have been conducted in the last 24 hours.
The strikes are part of a broad, ongoing military campaign.
The conflict involves Yemen’s government forces supported by the coalition.
The operation aims to weaken or stop the Houthi forces.
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Police in New Delhi have locked down parts of the city and detained many protesters ahead of planned demonstrations against changes to India’s voter list. The protests demand the resignation of the election chief and oppose a recent voter revision that removed 130 million names. The government deployed large police forces, shut down transport, and limited internet access to prevent the protests.
Key Facts
Protests were planned by the Gen-Z movement and Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) against voter list changes.
Authorities removed 130 million names from the voter list, causing controversy.
Nearly 30,000 police personnel were deployed in New Delhi to stop protests.
Key protest leaders including Abhijeet Dipke (CJP founder) were detained on arrival.
The government canceled trains to New Delhi and closed over 50 metro stations before protests.
Police detained thousands of students across India and placed many under house arrest.
Protest leaders compared government actions to the 1975 Emergency, a time of suspended rights in India.
Despite crackdowns, protesters promised to continue their demonstrations.
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Four people were arrested after a violent attack in Stoke-on-Trent that resulted in one teenager’s death and another being seriously injured. Police are investigating the incident, and a cordon remains at the scene.
Key Facts
Police were called to Brookhouse Road in Meir, Stoke-on-Trent, around 11:45 PM on Friday.
A teenage boy died at the scene, and another teenager is critically injured in the hospital.
Four suspects aged 17, 18, and 20, all from Stoke-on-Trent, have been arrested on suspicion of murder.
The 17-year-old is also suspected of attempted murder.
The arrested individuals are currently in police custody.
Police say there is no wider danger to the community.
Authorities are asking anyone with information to contact them.
A police cordon is still in place at the location of the attack.
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The founder and top leaders of India’s Cockroach Janta Party were reportedly detained after arriving in New Delhi. They planned to lead a large protest against Gyanesh Kumar, the head of the election commission.
Key Facts
The party involved is called the Cockroach Janta Party.
Its founder and senior leaders were detained in New Delhi.
They had arrived to organize a mass protest.
The protest was aimed at Gyanesh Kumar.
Gyanesh Kumar is the chief of India’s election commission.
The detentions happened shortly after their arrival in the capital city.
This action is linked to political opposition to the election chief.
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Scientists and victims of pesticide exposure in Europe warn that a new EU proposal could slow down the process of removing harmful pesticides from the market. Many farmers and agricultural workers have developed serious illnesses, such as cancer, after being exposed to pesticides once considered safe.
Key Facts
French farmers used pesticides for decades that were advertised as safe but later linked to illnesses like cancer.
José Nadan, a former beekeeper, used a pesticide containing glyphosate without protection, which he later learned was harmful.
Pesticides are linked to health problems such as cancer, respiratory illnesses, brain diseases like Parkinson’s, heart disease, and fertility issues.
A 2023 study found pesticides in all air, dust, and water samples tested across 10 European countries.
Exposure affects children more, causing delays in development and learning problems.
Requests for recognizing pesticide-related illness among French agricultural workers nearly tripled from 318 in 2024 to 975 in 2025.
The EU is considering legal changes that could reduce regular safety checks and make it harder to ban pesticides.
France is a major user of pesticides in Europe due to its large agriculture sector.
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A recruitment firm owner, Tom Watson, is accused of running an online campaign that revealed private information about the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), anti-racism activists, and business leaders hiring minority ethnic workers. The campaign used social media and artificial intelligence to collect and share personal details, causing harassment and police reports.
Key Facts
Tom Watson owns a recruitment firm and is alleged to run the “Big Time Charlie” social media account.
The account targeted the RNLI and anti-racism activists with personal information, leading to online harassment.
Big Time Charlie had about 50,000 followers before it was taken down after accusations.
The account used AI tools to gather data from LinkedIn and created a list called “Traitorbase.”
Some of those targeted, like Green party councillor Chantelle Lunt, reported the harassment to police.
The campaign also posted information about business executives involved in hiring minority ethnic staff.
Watson’s account praised far-right MP Rupert Lowe and claimed to have financially supported his party.
Watson lives in both the UK and the US and runs a recruitment company called Futura Energy Group.
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President Donald Trump criticized Norway for not giving him the Nobel Peace Prize, calling the decision disgraceful and embarrassing. Instead, the prize was awarded to ICJ judge Navi Pillay for her work in prosecuting genocide and war crimes.
Key Facts
President Donald Trump expressed strong disappointment over not receiving the Nobel Peace Prize.
He described Norway’s decision as disgraceful and embarrassing.
Norway awards the Nobel Peace Prize each year to people or groups who work for peace.
The 2024 Nobel Peace Prize was given to Navi Pillay.
Navi Pillay is a judge at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
She was honored for her efforts to prosecute genocide and war crimes.
President Trump spoke publicly about his feelings towards the decision.
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Indian police detained leaders of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), including its head Abhijeet Dipke, before a planned protest in New Delhi. The protest was against India's Election Commission over alleged unfair voter-roll revisions, which critics say could harm voters and favor the ruling party.
Key Facts
The CJP is a youth-led satirical movement protesting against the Election Commission of India (ECI).
Abhijeet Dipke and two other CJP leaders were detained before arriving in New Delhi for the protest.
The protest aims to demand the resignation of the Election Commission chief, Gyanesh Kumar.
Police deployed tens of thousands of security forces and restricted transport and internet in New Delhi to stop the protest.
Over 200 protesters have been detained as of the day of the protest.
The protests follow weeks of criticism over a nationwide voter-roll revision, which opposition parties say could exclude many voters and benefit Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party.
The Election Commission denies wrongdoing, saying the revision targets duplicate and ineligible voters.
The CJP previously led mass protests that forced an education minister to resign in July.
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