World News

Watch: Blood donors get a Halloween fright in Thailand

October 31, 2026 • BBC World

Summary

Thai Red Cross workers dressed up for a Halloween-themed blood drive in Bangkok. The charity gave donors themed T-shirts and expected turnout to more than double the usual Saturday level.

Key Facts

The event took place in Bangkok, Thailand's capital.
Thai Red Cross workers wore costumes for the blood drive.
The blood drive had a Halloween theme.
The charity gave donors free themed T-shirts.
The Thai Red Cross expected turnout to more than double that of a typical Saturday.

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BBC World

Studios destroyed, traditions saved: Artists fight to save Sudan’s culture

October 31, 2026 • Al Jazeera

Summary

Sudan’s war has displaced artists, destroyed studios and disrupted cultural work. In Port Sudan, Awad Haroun and other artists are using theatre, visual arts and music to support displaced communities and keep cultural traditions alive, despite losing homes and work tools.

Key Facts

Fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces began in April 2023.
Visual artist and theatre director Awad Haroun fled Al-Halfaya, Khartoum North, with his wife and son after fighting began.
Haroun founded the Ahalina cultural group in 2013 to use arts activities with young people and promote peace and social cohesion.
In Port Sudan, Haroun has taken part in theatrical performances and led traditional arts workshops.
Haroun and other displaced artists have sheltered in an old school in Port Sudan, where they helped prepare the building for displaced families; they face possible eviction.
UNESCO estimated in June 2026 that Sudan’s cultural sector faced a $30 million funding gap.
UNESCO reported that the Artists and Writers Union in Port Sudan had sheltered more than 112 displaced artists and cultural professionals by April 2024.
UNESCO said its Port Sudan initiatives had benefited more than 350 artists, women, girls and internally displaced cultural professionals by April 2026.

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Al Jazeera

Residents from Russian-occupied Oleshky reunite with families after evacuation operation

October 31, 2026 • France24

Summary

Residents evacuated from Russian-occupied Oleshky arrived in Ukrainian-held territory on October 31, 2026, and reunited with family members. The evacuation traveled through Belarus during a truce in Kherson region that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said was mediated by the United States and First Lady Melania Trump.

Key Facts

Russia captured Oleshky, in Ukraine’s Kherson region, in 2022.
The truce began early on October 27 and covered the Kherson region.
Ukrainian and Russian officials visited Oleshky together on Friday to deliver aid and coordinate departures.
Evacuees crossed into Ukrainian-held territory through Belarus and arrived in northern Ukraine on Saturday.
Some evacuees told AFP they had faced severe food shortages and had eaten grass to survive.
Zelensky said the evacuees would receive assistance and thanked the U.S. side and Melania Trump for mediation.
The article describes the truce as the longest pause in fighting along any part of the front line since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022.

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France24

New Yemen fighting displaces 290,000, says UN, with pregnant women at risk

October 31, 2026 • Al Jazeera

Summary

The UN says at least 290,000 people have been displaced in Yemen since fighting intensified in August. Among them are 6,100 pregnant women, including 600 expected to give birth within two weeks; aid groups have reached about 249,000 displaced people with food, hygiene supplies, and emergency cash.

Key Facts

Fighting between forces loyal to Yemen’s internationally recognized government and Houthi rebels has intensified, especially in Taiz governorate and coastal areas.
OCHA warned that 65,000 refugees and asylum seekers in Yemen face worsening conditions as services are disrupted and food and fuel prices rise.
The UN has sent mobile teams and midwives to displacement sites.
Saudi Arabia’s coalition said it intercepted a drone over the Riyadh region on Saturday and reported no casualties.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree denied that the group had launched drones toward Saudi territory.
Yemen’s government said the Houthis fired at least three ballistic missiles at the presidential palace in Aden and also targeted Aden International Airport.
Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan discussed Yemen with U.S., Russian, and European counterparts at a G20 meeting in Atlanta.

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Al Jazeera

UK PM Burnham says 'open' to slavery apology but rules out financial reparations

October 31, 2026 • France24

Summary

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he is open to a formal apology for Britain’s role in the transatlantic slave trade but rejected financial reparations. He also proposed structured dialogue with affected communities and a debt restructuring effort for the poorest Commonwealth countries.

Key Facts

Burnham said he wanted to express sorrow and regret for the suffering caused by the slave trade.
He said a formal apology on behalf of the British state should be part of discussions with affected communities.
Burnham argued that people in Britain today should not be held liable for historical wrongs in which they had no personal part.
He said financial reparations were not the right answer.
Burnham plans to launch a debt restructuring drive for the poorest Commonwealth countries, led by former prime minister Gordon Brown.
King Charles is visiting three Caribbean countries ahead of a Commonwealth leaders summit in St John’s, Antigua and Barbuda.
The article says Britain has never formally apologized for slavery or agreed to pay reparations.
The UK Parliament passed a law in 1833 abolishing slavery in most of the British Empire.

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France24

Former rebel leader elected chief minister of Philippine Muslim region

October 31, 2026 • Al Jazeera

Summary

Abdulraof Macacua was elected chief minister of the Philippines’ Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. He received 51 of 80 votes in the assembly election.

Key Facts

Abdulraof Macacua was elected chief minister.
The region is the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
Macacua is a former Muslim rebel leader.
He received 51 votes.
The assembly had 80 votes.
The election took place after decades of conflict in the region.

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Al Jazeera

Iran lawmakers call for withdrawal from NPT: Will we have war or peace?

October 31, 2026 • Al Jazeera

Summary

Several Iranian lawmakers and public figures have called for Iran to leave the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and reconsider its nuclear doctrine amid the war with the United States and Israel. The calls come as Qatari mediators return to Tehran for peace efforts and as Iran and the United States remain divided over conditions for renewed nuclear talks.

Key Facts

Lawmakers Mahmoud Nabavian and Ebrahim Rezaei have called for Iran to withdraw from the NPT; Rezaei said 10 withdrawal proposals had been registered.
Politician and scholar Mohammad Javad Haj Ali Akbari called for a review of Iran’s nuclear doctrine, describing it as a national demand.
Iran says it wants the US naval blockade lifted, sanctions removed and guarantees against further attacks before resuming nuclear talks.
President Donald Trump has said Iran must not obtain a nuclear weapon, calling that a condition for ending the conflict and reaching a permanent agreement.
The International Atomic Energy Agency has raised concerns about Iran’s compliance with its NPT obligations.
The IAEA has not accessed key Iranian nuclear facilities since the US and Israel attacked them during a 12-day war in June 2025.
The article says the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has disrupted global energy and financial markets.

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Al Jazeera

Iran warns of unfettered retaliation if attacked as mediators try for peace

October 31, 2026 • Al Jazeera

Summary

Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei told military commanders to prepare for an immediate response without geographic limits if Iran is attacked, while Qatari officials held talks in Tehran aimed at preventing renewed fighting with the United States. Negotiations reportedly focus on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s demands for sanctions relief and a regional truce, but military incidents and conflicting accounts of damage to ships continue to raise tensions.

Key Facts

Khamenei’s office said he met senior military commanders and issued strategic directives on Saturday.
The office said Khamenei called for maximum deterrence and an immediate, effective response if Iran is attacked.
Qatari diplomats held talks in Tehran on Friday, with more discussions expected on Saturday.
A letter from U.S. Vice President JD Vance reportedly sought Iranian nuclear commitments, including international inspections; its exact contents were not clear.
Iran’s reported negotiating proposal calls for reopening the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for returning to a June memorandum of understanding.
Iran’s demands reportedly include lifting the U.S. maritime blockade on its ports, waivers on oil sanctions, and a truce in regional conflicts.
Iranian media reported that two fishing boats were struck by a U.S. drone south of Qeshm island, wounding several fishermen.
Iranian state television said at least six tankers were damaged by explosions after allegedly striking mines in the Strait of Hormuz; the article provides no independent confirmation.

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Al Jazeera

Hear me out: maybe Norway should give Melania Trump the Nobel peace prize | Arwa Mahdawi

October 31, 2026 • Guardian US

Summary

The column argues that Norway should consider awarding Melania Trump the Nobel Peace Prize, citing the White House’s claim that she helped secure a ceasefire in Oleshky, Ukraine. It notes that her adviser credited her with the deal, while the pope had also appealed to Vladimir Putin about the city; the article says Melania’s role relative to his is unclear.

Key Facts

The White House announced that Melania Trump helped secure a ceasefire in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Oleshky.
The article says the ceasefire took effect on Tuesday and that hundreds of people were evacuated from the frontline town on Friday, with emergency supplies delivered.
Melania Trump previously wrote to Vladimir Putin asking him to return Ukrainian children taken by Russia, and her office says it has helped reunite families.
Melania’s adviser Marc Beckman said she secured the ceasefire and may help advance peace between Russia and Ukraine.
Pope Leo XIV also appealed to Putin about Oleshky in early October, according to the article.
The article says it is unclear how much influence Melania or the pope had in securing the ceasefire.
Donald Trump has criticized Norway for not awarding him the Nobel Peace Prize.

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Guardian US

Iran's supreme leader orders "maximum" response to any U.S. attack

October 31, 2026 • Axios

Summary

Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei told the country’s three top military commanders that any renewed U.S. or Israeli attack should prompt an immediate response without geographic limits, according to a statement from his office. The reported meeting came as Qatari mediators held talks aimed at restarting direct U.S.-Iran negotiations and preventing renewed conflict after the U.S. midterm elections.

Key Facts

The statement described this as the first publicly disclosed meeting between Khamenei and all three top military commanders since the war began.
Khamenei has not appeared or spoken publicly since he was wounded in an Israeli strike on the first day of the war; he has issued written statements.
The commanders named in the statement were armed forces chief of staff Gen. Ali Abdollahi, army commander Maj. Gen. Amir Hatami, and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander Maj. Gen. Ahmad Vahidi.
The commanders briefed Khamenei on military readiness along the Gulf coastline, near the Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman, and at Iran’s northwestern and southeastern borders.
They reported a several-fold increase in production of ammunition and reconnaissance, support, and combat weapons.
Khamenei ordered officials to update a list of potential targets to include U.S. and Israeli assets within reach of Iran’s armed forces.
Qatari mediators held talks in Tehran for more than 12 hours, with discussions continuing in Doha on Saturday.

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Axios

Healey to veto new offshore wind projects if they will not lower bills

October 31, 2026 • Guardian World

Summary

John Healey says ministers will reject offshore wind projects in the next renewables auction if they cannot connect to Britain’s electricity grid without raising consumer costs. The government has also cut funding for energy programs, including the boiler upgrade scheme, as it redirects money toward defence spending, prompting concern about its clean-energy targets.

Key Facts

Ministers will assess whether proposed offshore wind projects can be accommodated by the electricity grid before approving subsidy contracts.
Healey said the government would buy projects that can lower bills and strengthen energy security.
Britain’s National Energy System Operator pays wind farms to switch off when the grid cannot carry their electricity.
A National Audit Office report warned that addressing grid constraints could cost households and businesses up to £7.8bn a year by 2030.
The government has reduced funding for the boiler upgrade scheme, which helps households replace gas boilers with heat pumps.
Households can claim £7,500 toward a heat pump, and about 60,000 heat pumps are installed each year in existing homes.
The government aims to increase annual heat-pump installations in existing homes to 250,000 by 2030.
The government says it will fund part of its defence investment plan through cuts to other departments, including the energy department.

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Guardian World

UN closes Somalia mission, ending three decades of political engagement

October 31, 2026 • Al Jazeera

Summary

The UN Transitional Assistance Mission in Somalia ended operations on October 31 after a two-year handover requested by Somalia’s government. UN agencies and other partners remain in the country, but Somalia faces political disputes, continued violence and cuts to international aid.

Key Facts

The mission said it completed a two-year transition and transferred responsibilities to Somali institutions, UN agencies and a UN office supporting African Union troops.
Somalia’s government formally requested the mission’s withdrawal in 2024.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed Somalia’s progress and called for continued international support.
Opposition leaders dispute constitutional changes that would allow President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and parliament to remain in office until 2027.
Al-Shabab, an armed group linked to al-Qaeda, continues to fight Somali government forces.
The UN children’s agency said in August that aid cuts had led to the closure of 205 health and nutrition facilities.
African Union troops continue to support Somali forces, with a separate UN office supplying food, fuel, medical care and transport.
A US-backed plan could close that support office by December 2027, according to a Reuters report cited in the article.

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Al Jazeera

France and Germany braced for unrest with hundreds of demonstrations planned – Europe live

October 31, 2026 • Guardian World

Summary

France and Germany prepared for demonstrations over living costs, education, housing, climate spending and military service. France deployed 70,000 police as authorities restricted some marches and access to public areas after earlier protests included looting and vandalism.

Key Facts

France’s interior ministry said about 150 demonstrations were scheduled nationwide.
Authorities deployed 70,000 police officers in France for the weekend protests.
Paris banned two planned marches through the city centre and authorised one march in the south-east instead.
The ministry said 410,000 people marched in France the previous Saturday.
Protesters in France included unions, the gilets jaunes movement, and school and university students.
A nationwide strike was called for 5 November over demands that included better learning conditions.
The German group Gen Z regelt called for demonstrations in more than 30 cities.
Berlin’s police chief said the city would deploy an additional 1,500 officers and reported no concrete evidence of planned coordinated looting.

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Guardian World

Do tough laws deter drug crimes? Lessons from Singapore and Malaysia

October 31, 2026 • Al Jazeera

Summary

Malaysia repealed its mandatory death penalty in 2023, and more than 700 drug offenders sentenced to death have since been resentenced. Singapore has increased executions for drug trafficking in recent years; the report follows families affected by death sentences in both countries and examines whether strict penalties deter drug crime.

Key Facts

Malaysia repealed the mandatory death penalty in 2023.
More than 700 drug offenders in Malaysia have been resentenced after the change.
Malaysia is considering further reforms to its drug policy.
Executions for drug trafficking in Singapore have increased in recent years.
The report follows one death row inmate in Malaysia and one in Singapore.
The report examines the effects of the countries’ different approaches on their families and whether strict laws deter drug crimes.

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Al Jazeera

Protests outside Poland’s constitutional court: What’s the crisis about?

October 31, 2026 • Al Jazeera

Summary

A dispute over appointments and leadership at Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal has escalated, drawing hundreds of protesters and a police response in Warsaw. Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s government says it is trying to restore judicial independence, while the opposition Law and Justice party and its ally President Karol Nawrocki have condemned the latest move.

Key Facts

The Constitutional Tribunal rules on whether laws comply with Poland’s constitution.
Judges elected by the current parliamentary majority announced the suspension of tribunal president Bogdan Swieczkowski and deputy Bartlomiej Sochanski.
Hundreds of people protested outside the tribunal in Warsaw on Friday night, and police arrested three people who tried to enter the complex.
President Karol Nawrocki, an ally of the opposition Law and Justice party, cut short a trip to Senegal and returned to Poland.
The dispute traces back to 2015, when competing parliamentary majorities made appointments to judicial seats, including three seats that the tribunal had ruled were lawfully filled.
The European Court of Human Rights ruled in 2021 that a company’s rights were breached when an improperly appointed judge took part in its case.
In December 2025, the EU’s highest court ruled that Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal did not meet the requirements of an independent court and that some of its rulings breached Poland’s obligations as an EU member.
Tusk returned as prime minister in December 2023 and pledged to restore judicial independence; his government does not recognize the tribunal’s legitimacy in its current form.

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Al Jazeera

Evacuated Ukrainians from Russian-occupied Oleshky arrive in Belarus

October 31, 2026 • BBC Top Stories

Summary

Residents evacuated from Russian-occupied Oleshky arrived in Gomel, Belarus, on Saturday and were expected to return to Ukrainian territory later that day. They left during a temporary ceasefire that allowed their route to be cleared of mines; several hundred residents chose to remain in the city.

Key Facts

The evacuation took place on Friday during a ceasefire brokered by U.S. First Lady Melania Trump.
Four planes carrying evacuees landed in Gomel on Saturday morning, according to Belarusian state media and Ukrainian official David Arakhamia.
A convoy of buses left Gomel airport and headed toward the Ukrainian border, Belarusian state news agency Belta reported.
The evacuation route took residents through Russian-occupied territory and the Russian city of Anapa before they flew to Belarus.
A convoy of 25 buses, with room for 750 people, left Oleshky on Friday, accompanied by ambulances for people with limited mobility.
The ceasefire in the Kherson frontline region began on Tuesday and was set to last through Sunday, 1 November.
Several hundred people chose to stay in Oleshky, where residents face widespread destruction and shortages of gas, electricity and running water.
Russia said it had prepared food, medicine, hygiene products and generator fuel for residents who stayed.

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BBC Top Stories

Seabirds racing home over the ocean can get jet-lagged

October 31, 2026 • Ars Technica

Summary

A study of Manx shearwaters found that their internal clocks can fall out of sync with local time as they fly across longitudes, affecting how they use the Sun to navigate home. Researchers analyzed 3,688 foraging trips recorded by GPS from 1,045 birds over two decades.

Key Facts

Manx shearwaters nest on coastal islands around the North Atlantic and travel out to sea to feed.
The birds are thought to use a map sense to locate themselves and the Sun as a compass to set their direction.
Using the Sun as a compass requires an internal clock that tracks the time of day.
The study says a shearwater's clock falls about four minutes out of sync for each degree of longitude it crosses between sunrise and sunset.
The resulting clock mismatch can make a bird's Sun compass steer it off course.
The researchers analyzed GPS tracks from 3,688 foraging trips by 1,045 birds from colonies along the UK's western coasts.
The tracking records covered trips lasting from one day to two weeks and were collected over 20 years.

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Ars Technica

France's Nunez warns of high risk during protests

October 31, 2026 • France24

Summary

France is preparing for a third straight weekend of protests, deploying about 70,000 security personnel after violence on October 17. The demonstrations began over living costs, inequality and school conditions and now also include demands for civil liberties and the right to protest.

Key Facts

Authorities warn of possible clashes and heightened security concerns during Halloween celebrations.
Shops have boarded up their premises ahead of the protests.
Yellow Vest activists, trade unions and students are among the groups involved.
Authorities have restricted marches in several cities.
Paris police authorised a demonstration only on the outskirts of the capital.
Curfews have been imposed in parts of Paris.
The protests take place six months before France's presidential election, amid political tension and growing support for the far right.

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France24

Third weekend of protests in France

October 31, 2026 • France24

Summary

France prepared for a third weekend of protests on October 31, deploying 70,000 security personnel amid fears of further clashes. The demonstrations began over the cost of living and school conditions and have expanded to include demands for civil liberties and the right to protest.

Key Facts

Authorities deployed 70,000 security personnel for the protest weekend.
Officials warned of possible clashes and heightened concerns about masked demonstrators during Halloween.
Some shops boarded up their premises ahead of the protests.
The demonstrations initially focused on the cost of living and poor school conditions.
Protesters have also called for greater civil liberties and the right to protest.
Authorities restricted demonstrations in several cities and tightened security.
Presidential elections were six months away, according to the report.

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France24

Thousands protest across Italy over living costs and military spending

October 31, 2026 • Al Jazeera

Summary

Thousands of people protested in Italy against rising living costs and increased military spending. Demonstrations took place in 50 cities, with protesters and police clashing; demonstrators called for more investment in healthcare and education.

Key Facts

Thousands of people protested across Italy.
Protesters opposed rising living costs.
Protesters opposed increased military spending.
Demonstrations took place in 50 cities.
Demonstrators called for greater investment in healthcare.
Demonstrators called for greater investment in education.
Clashes were reported between protesters and police.

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