EU leaders held a meeting to discuss the situation in Ukraine and agreed not to remove sanctions on Russia unless the war stops. They emphasized the need to support Ukraine, especially through the upcoming harsh winter, and continued pressure on Russia.
Key Facts
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the situation in Ukraine is very serious with no signs of Russia stopping the war.
The EU agreed not to return frozen Russian assets unless Russia pays reparations to Ukraine.
EU leaders are trying to persuade the United States to put more pressure on Russia, but talks are difficult.
Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin called for a strong European response to support Ukraine financially and politically.
Latvia’s Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs stressed that supporting Ukraine is important for peace and comfort in Europe.
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy thanked leaders for their support and highlighted the need to prepare for winter.
The war is causing severe harm to Ukraine, including attacks on civilian areas and infrastructure.
EU leaders discussed mechanisms like asset seizures and loans to help Ukraine in the medium term.
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Robert Jenrick, a Reform UK MP, defended Nigel Farage against claims that the party harbors extremists, saying Farage has done more than most to fight racism and far-right views. This came after an ITV investigation showed party members making racist and violent remarks, and footage of Farage protecting a candidate accused of racist comments.
Key Facts
Robert Jenrick is a Reform UK MP and the party’s Treasury spokesperson.
Jenrick said Nigel Farage has done a lot to oppose racism and far-right politics.
ITV’s undercover investigation revealed Reform members making racist, violent, and sexist comments.
Nigel Farage was criticized for supporting Chris Parry, a mayoral candidate accused of making racist remarks.
Reform temporarily suspended Chris Parry after more racist comments were revealed.
Farage pushed for Parry to apologize to David Lammy, the former Labour deputy prime minister.
Reform claims it vets all candidates before elections to prevent extremists from standing.
Other Reform officials admitted sexism within the party, saying women are often excluded.
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President Donald Trump criticized President Volodymyr Zelensky for Ukraine restarting attacks on Russian oil facilities, calling it a "disgrace." Trump said these attacks raise world oil prices and that Zelensky is not serious about making peace.
Key Facts
Ukraine resumed drone strikes on Russian oil facilities, including an attack in Ryazan, southeast of Moscow.
President Trump had declared a unilateral truce on energy strikes that Ukraine initially honored.
Trump said Zelensky "doesn't want to settle" the conflict despite saying otherwise.
Trump believes Zelensky's actions increase global oil prices.
Zelensky has criticized Trump for reducing sanctions on Russian diesel and limiting the speed of the Starlink satellite network, which Ukraine uses for defense and drone operations.
The article is a developing story with more updates expected.
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In France, student protests about education are joining with wider public anger over higher living costs. Some worry that the larger protests may cause the students' specific concerns to be overlooked.
Key Facts
Students in France are protesting against issues with education like poor school conditions and government budget cuts.
The protests are happening alongside bigger demonstrations about the high cost of living.
Sébastien Vieille, a teachers’ union leader, spoke about the challenges these protests face.
There is uncertainty about whether teaming up with larger movements, such as the Yellow Vests, will help or hurt the students’ goals.
The protests are taking place across several French cities, including Paris and Montbéliard.
The broader unrest reflects frustration with the current political and economic climate in France.
Protests have included strikes and calls for police to join the demonstrators.
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The leader of the Greens party, David Shoebridge, said he did not know about a secret document from 2016 that detailed how to handle misconduct claims against Senator Jordon Steele-John. Steele-John denies the allegations and has taken leave while independent investigations are ongoing.
Key Facts
A “secret dossier” from 2016 allegedly contained misconduct claims against Senator Steele-John and advice on hiding them from the media.
David Shoebridge said the Greens leader’s office never saw or used this dossier.
Steele-John has stepped away from party duties amid the investigation of complaints about inappropriate comments made over several years.
Steele-John denies the claims and has asked for a fair and independent review.
Complaints were first referred to the parliamentary workplace support service, which could not handle the case due to its nature.
The matter has now been sent to the independent parliamentary standards commission for further review.
Western Australian Greens plan to seek legal advice to create an independent inquiry into the case.
Shoebridge confirmed Steele-John will not return to parliament until the investigations are finished.
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The UK will have a cooler and brighter weekend with temperatures dropping to normal levels for October after a warm week. Next week, stormy weather with rain and wind might return as high pressure moves away and low-pressure systems from the Atlantic move in.
Key Facts
Daytime temperatures will fall to about 10 to 16°C (50-61°F), near the October average.
Northerly winds will bring colder air, causing the coldest autumn temperatures so far in some areas.
Night temperatures might drop below freezing in parts of rural Scotland, Northern Ireland, and northern England.
Clear skies and light winds overnight may cause fog and frost away from coasts.
The current high pressure weather system will weaken next week.
Low-pressure systems from the Atlantic could bring rain, wind, and milder air.
These storms may bring heavy rain, which could help drought-hit areas in southern and south-west England and Wales.
The strength and exact path of the storm systems are still uncertain and may change.
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A child protection case involving Elizabeth Struhs was not handled intensively due to a high workload on the child safety staff. Elizabeth, an eight-year-old with type 1 diabetes, died after her father stopped her insulin treatment following their involvement with a religious group that rejects medicine.
Key Facts
Elizabeth Struhs died on 7 January 2022 from diabetic ketoacidosis because her father stopped giving her insulin.
Her father and mother belonged to a religious sect that denies medical treatment.
Child safety initially got involved after Elizabeth was hospitalized in a coma in 2019.
The family was under a voluntary child protection plan called Intervention with Parental Agreement (IPA) for only 17 weeks.
Only one child safety officer was assigned to the case and did not always make weekly visits as recommended.
The worker had a large caseload and may have been influenced by the perceived social status of Elizabeth’s family.
The child safety office in Toowoomba was very busy with cases involving higher immediate risks like violence and abuse.
A coroner is investigating the handling of Elizabeth’s case and the decisions made by child safety staff.
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Israel is holding elections this month that will affect more than 5.5 million Palestinians who cannot vote in them. Experts say that even if a new government forms, the lives of Palestinians living under Israeli control are not expected to change much.
Key Facts
Israel’s elections are taking place this month.
Over 5.5 million Palestinians live under Israeli occupation.
These Palestinians do not have the right to vote in Israel’s elections.
The election results will influence policies affecting Palestinians.
Analysts believe a new Israeli government is unlikely to significantly change the situation for Palestinians.
Palestinians live under conditions defined by Israeli control and decisions.
The article discusses the connection between Israeli politics and Palestinian lives.
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A senior European Parliament official said that the UK could quickly rejoin the EU through a "Switzerland plus" deal, which offers close ties without full membership. This model involves some cooperation and market access but no full political decision-making. The final decision is up to the UK government.
Key Facts
The "Switzerland plus" deal is based on Switzerland’s relationship with the EU, involving many agreements but no full membership.
Switzerland has access to the EU single market in areas like electricity, space programs, and research.
Switzerland agreed to free movement of people and pays around €375 million annually to the EU funds.
Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson rejected Swiss-style arrangements due to free movement and regulatory alignment.
The European Parliament trade committee chair, Bernd Lange, supports the UK returning to stronger EU ties and political engagement.
Lange supports UK inclusion in the EU’s "Made in Europe" legislation, which affects supplier inclusion in public contracts.
Some EU countries, including France, want to restrict UK access to protect against competition from China, while others support UK involvement.
The UK government is currently working on a new position for its relationship with the EU.
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The UK government has introduced new rules in immigration law that require strict checks on claims of human trafficking and modern slavery. Critics warn these rules may wrongly reject survivors of sexual abuse, especially those abused by Mohamed Al Fayed, by focusing on delays or similarities in their stories that could be caused by trauma.
Key Facts
New UK immigration laws require officials to doubt claims of trafficking if there are delays, mistakes, or similarities in survivors' accounts.
Trauma can cause survivors to forget details or report abuse late, which the law penalizes.
Many survivors of Mohamed Al Fayed’s alleged abuse fear these rules will stop them from being recognized as victims.
Some survivors only came forward after Fayed’s death in 2023 and after changes to non-disclosure agreements at Harrods in 2024.
The government says these rules prevent misuse of the National Referral Mechanism (NRM), the system for identifying trafficking victims.
Critics say this system unfairly targets survivors, potentially stopping them from getting help and justice.
Cases of abuse linked to Fayed are under investigation in the UK and France.
Survivors describe fear and power imbalances as reasons they delayed reporting abuse.
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The UK government will ban online pornography showing strangulation, incest, or pretending to involve children under 16 starting 6 November. This decision follows a report that linked such content to real-life harm and calls for stronger regulation of the pornography industry.
Key Facts
The ban begins on 6 November 2025.
Online pornography depicting strangulation, incest, or adults pretending to be related or underage will be illegal.
The ban aims to prevent harmful ideas about healthy relationships, especially for young people.
A report by Conservative peer Gabby Bertin recommended these changes after finding serious concerns about violent and disturbing pornography.
Non-fatal strangulation is already illegal, but showing it online was not banned before.
Campaign groups supporting women’s safety praised the ban and highlighted the risks violent pornography poses.
The government plans to enforce this ban and update laws to require online platforms to remove such content.
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Benjamin Netanyahu spoke at the UN General Assembly in September while facing war crimes charges by the International Criminal Court. He is Israel’s longest-serving prime minister and is seeking re-election amid deep national divisions and criticism of his right-wing policies and approach to the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Key Facts
Netanyahu’s UN speech in September caused many delegates to walk out in protest.
He is facing charges of war crimes related to Gaza from the International Criminal Court.
Israel’s election on October 27 will decide whether Netanyahu continues as prime minister.
Netanyahu has served multiple terms as Israel’s prime minister, including a record 12-year stretch from 2009 to 2021.
His leadership has shifted Israel further right politically and moved away from pursuing a two-state solution with the Palestinians.
The 2018 Nation-State Law passed under his government declared Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people and downgraded Arabic’s official status.
His supporters see him as a strong leader who represents modern Israel, while opponents blame him for political division and security failures, including the Hamas attack in 2023.
Netanyahu’s background includes diplomatic roles and a family history connected to Israeli military and political struggles.
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Indian authorities closed a central park in New Delhi ahead of a planned protest by the youth-led "Cockroach Janta Party." The group and other opposition supporters are demanding the resignation of the election chief over the removal of more than 130 million people from voter lists.
Key Facts
The "Cockroach Janta Party" is a youth-led group staging near-daily protests in New Delhi.
They demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
More than 130 million names have been removed from India's electoral lists recently.
Critics say the removals unfairly impact ethnic and religious minorities, especially Muslims.
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) claims the removals target fraudulent and duplicate entries.
Election authorities say wrongly removed voters can re-enroll.
Protests include demonstrations despite bans, some supporters have been jailed for five days.
Authorities closed the park and discouraged public gatherings to prevent the rally.
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Around one-fifth of the food served worldwide is wasted, which equals over a billion tonnes per year. In 2025, about 645 million people went hungry, mostly in Africa. The UN is promoting food systems that reduce waste and feed more people.
Key Facts
One in every five plates of food globally ends up as waste.
Over a billion tonnes of food are wasted each year.
In 2025, 645 million people, or about 7.8% of the world’s population, experienced hunger.
Africa has the highest number of hungry people, with 309 million affected.
Hunger is considered “alarming” in eight countries, mostly in Africa, including Somalia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
About 13% of all food is lost after harvest but before reaching stores due to spoilage during transport and storage.
Consumers (households, restaurants, shops) waste nearly 20% of food available to them, with households wasting 60% of that.
Simple actions at home, like planning meals, understanding food labels, storing food correctly, and freezing leftovers, can help reduce food waste.
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Irish author Sally Rooney's books are no longer sold in the U.K. because she supports Palestine Action, a group banned as a terrorist organization. Her U.K. publisher stopped distributing her books to avoid breaking the law after she said her book earnings would support the group.
Key Facts
Sally Rooney is an Irish novelist known for popular books like "Normal People" and "Conversations with Friends."
Rooney supports Palestine Action, a U.K.-based group banned as terrorist in 2025.
The U.K. government made supporting or being part of Palestine Action a crime punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
Rooney announced she would donate proceeds from her books to Palestine Action after the ban.
Her U.K. publisher, Faber, decided to stop distributing her books to comply with the law.
Existing stock of Rooney’s books can still be sold in U.K. bookstores, but no new copies are available from the publisher.
Palestine Action opposes U.K. military support for Israel and has taken direct action, including damaging property linked to Israeli military companies.
The situation has caused concern and debate about censorship and free speech in the U.K.
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Irish writer Sally Rooney said her books cannot be sold in the UK because she supports a banned group called Palestine Action. Her UK publisher stopped distributing her books to avoid breaking a law that could punish support for this group with up to 14 years in prison.
Key Facts
Sally Rooney is an Irish author of four popular novels, including "Normal People" and "Conversations with Friends."
Rooney supports Palestine Action, a UK-banned group that used non-violent protests against military sites linked to Israel.
The UK government banned Palestine Action in July 2025, labeling it a terrorist organization.
Supporting or belonging to Palestine Action can lead to up to 14 years in prison under UK law.
Rooney announced she planned to donate book earnings to support Palestine Action.
Her UK publisher, Faber, stopped selling her books in the UK, fearing legal trouble over royalty payments.
Bookstores in Britain are trying to sell remaining Rooney books but cannot order new copies.
The Booksellers Association confirmed shops can sell existing stock but cannot buy more from the publisher.
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President Donald Trump criticized Ukraine’s return to attacking Russian oil refineries, calling it harmful to global oil supply. Tensions between Washington and Kyiv have increased after a short-lived energy ceasefire fell apart and Ukraine experienced restrictions on key satellite services.
Key Facts
Ukraine restarted attacks on Russian oil refineries after a brief ceasefire proposed by President Trump ended.
Trump called these strikes a “disgrace” because they target diesel production, which is important worldwide.
The ceasefire was not officially agreed upon by either Russia or Ukraine.
Trump criticized Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, saying he finds him harder to deal with than Russian President Putin.
Kyiv’s relationship with Washington worsened when Ukraine reported interruptions to Starlink satellite services, which support their drone and air defense systems.
U.S. and British officials reported the Starlink service disruption was resolved, but the cause remains unclear.
European leaders, including French President Macron and Polish Prime Minister Tusk, expressed strong support for Ukraine.
The Kremlin blamed Ukraine for breaking peace efforts by resuming strikes on Russian oil infrastructure.
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Mahmoud Khalla, a man from Gaza, lost 39 family members when an Israeli strike destroyed his home in Jabalia in December 2023. Since then, he has been alone, moving between places to find food and shelter amid ongoing attacks and a blockade on Gaza.
Key Facts
Mahmoud Khalla’s family home in Jabalia, northern Gaza, was hit by an Israeli strike on December 21, 2023.
The strike killed 39 of his relatives, including his wife, children, parents, siblings, and their families.
Mahmoud had left the house shortly before the attack to find food due to shortages caused by an Israeli siege.
After the strike, ongoing Israeli air attacks and drone surveillance made rescue efforts impossible.
Ambulances and civil defense teams could not reach the site on the night of the attack.
Mahmoud spent months displaced, homeless, and searching for shelter and food.
Many other family members were also killed in earlier Israeli attacks nearby.
The conditions in Gaza include ongoing violence, food scarcity, and difficulties in finding safe shelter.
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New U.S. sanctions have caused major problems for Iranian airlines and travelers. Flights between Iran and several countries have been canceled or severely delayed, making trips much longer and more expensive.
Key Facts
Before late September, a flight from Tehran to Dubai took less than 3 hours and cost $100-$200. Now it can take up to 18 hours and cost more than $1,000.
The sanctions began after a U.S. deadline on September 23, targeting Iranian airlines and companies serving them.
Many countries, including the UAE, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkiye, suspended or canceled flights from Iran.
The U.S. operation called “Operation Economic Outcast” aims to increase pressure by sanctioning 27 Iranian airlines and their service providers.
Companies helping Iranian airlines face "secondary sanctions," risking being cut off from the U.S. financial system.
Some flights to China and Russia are still operating, but most international flights to and from Iran are restricted.
The sanctions have caused serious issues for Iranians abroad needing medical care in Iran, requiring complicated travel routes.
Domestic travel within Iran has also been affected due to the sanctions and their impact on airline operations.
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Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun spoke with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio about the seizure of a truck carrying explosives meant for use against Israel. Hezbollah admitted the materials were theirs, but Lebanon says it is investigating and taking steps to control illegal weapons. Rubio urged Lebanon to hold those responsible accountable and suggested direct communication between Lebanese and Israeli militaries to avoid conflict.
Key Facts
A truck with 780 kg (1,720 lb) of explosives was intercepted in Lebanon on a highway between Beirut and the Bekaa Valley.
The explosives included 250 kg of TNT and 550 lb of C4 plastic explosives.
Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah confirmed the group’s connection to the truck and asked for the explosives to be returned.
Lebanese President Aoun told Rubio that Lebanese security forces are working to confiscate illegal arms.
Rubio pressed Lebanon to hold those who ordered and funded the explosives shipment accountable.
Lebanon officially made Hezbollah’s military activities illegal in March 2024.
Despite this, Hezbollah said it will continue transporting weapons as part of its conflict with Israel.
Israeli attacks continue in southern Lebanon, with ongoing damage and military presence despite a ceasefire agreement from November 2024.
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