Myanmar’s coup leader and current president, Min Aung Hlaing, received a welcoming visit in Malaysia despite his role in Myanmar’s ongoing civil war. Malaysia invited him to discuss the return of Myanmar nationals living there and support Myanmar’s return to the regional group ASEAN, even though the group had previously excluded him.
Key Facts
Min Aung Hlaing led a coup in Myanmar in 2021 and became president afterward.
His coup sparked a civil war causing about 100,000 deaths and 3.5 million people displaced.
Malaysia hosts around 193,000 Myanmar nationals, many of whom are Rohingya Muslims facing persecution.
Malaysia welcomed Min Aung Hlaing with honors and discussed taking back refugees at Myanmar’s expense.
Malaysia supports Myanmar rejoining ASEAN, where Min Aung Hlaing had been barred for rejecting a peace plan called the Five Point Consensus.
Min Aung Hlaing has also visited other ASEAN countries like Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos.
He has traveled to countries outside Southeast Asia, including India, China, Russia, and Belarus, promoting his government as stable.
The US has begun limited talks with Myanmar’s military government, focusing on stopping scams targeting Americans, despite sanctions against Min Aung Hlaing for human rights abuses.
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Protesters in Buenos Aires, Argentina, clashed with police during demonstrations calling for a law to increase university funding. The government, led by President Javier Milei, has resisted passing the law, saying it would harm efforts to balance the national budget.
Key Facts
Protests took place in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Students and teachers led the protests.
The protesters want the government to pass a law that would increase funding for universities.
Police and protesters had clashes during the demonstrations.
President Javier Milei opposes the funding law.
The president says the new law would threaten plans to keep the government budget balanced.
Education funding is a key issue in the protests.
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A minibus carrying truck drivers crashed into a vehicle shuttle train at the French entrance of the Channel Tunnel near Calais, injuring 19 people. The accident caused a temporary 90-minute suspension of vehicle shuttle services, while Eurostar passenger and freight trains were not affected.
Key Facts
The crash occurred at the Channel Tunnel entrance in Coquelles near Calais, France.
The minibus veered off course and hit the side of a train that transports vehicles through the tunnel to England.
Nineteen men were injured; two were seriously hurt but not in life-threatening condition.
All injured people were passengers on the minibus, which carried truck drivers of various nationalities.
About 200 emergency personnel responded to the accident.
Vehicle shuttle services stopped for 90 minutes but restarted by late evening.
Eurostar passenger trains and freight services continued to run without disruption.
The cause of the crash is unknown, and an investigation is ongoing.
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Iraq’s parliament has approved most of Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s cabinet, including three deputy prime ministers, one of whom is under U.S. sanctions. The new government faces serious economic problems caused by the regional conflict, including a cash shortage and public debt.
Key Facts
Iraq’s parliament approved 11 cabinet positions and three deputy prime ministers.
One deputy prime minister, Laith al-Khazali, is under U.S. sanctions due to links with a group labeled as a terrorist organization.
The vote on the migration and displacement minister was delayed because of disagreements.
Prime Minister al-Zaidi thanked parliament and called for commitment and integrity from his government officials.
Iraq faces severe money shortages caused by the war between the U.S., Israel, and Iran starting in February 2026.
Iraq’s main income comes from oil exports, which were about 3.5 million barrels daily before the conflict.
Al-Zaidi devalued the Iraqi dinar by nearly 15% to help cover government costs.
The government inherited a large public debt of about 208 trillion Iraqi dinars ($139 billion) and needs about 10 trillion dinars ($6.7 billion) monthly for salaries and spending.
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FIFA President Gianni Infantino apologized to the FIFA Council for mistakes related to a secret $4.2 billion World Cup investment plan but did not provide the detailed information critics wanted. European soccer officials remain unhappy with the lack of transparency, especially concerning Infantino’s secretive proposals and issues involving a red-card case at the World Cup where President Donald Trump intervened.
Key Facts
Gianni Infantino apologized for mistakes in a secret World Cup investment plan involving $4.2 billion.
The investment plan, called FIFA Forward Enterprise, was dropped after strong opposition, especially from European soccer officials.
Infantino’s critics wanted more documents and explanations, but he did not provide them during the meeting in Zurich.
President Donald Trump intervened in a red-card case involving soccer player Folarin Balogun at the World Cup, a matter discussed at the meeting.
UEFA, the main European soccer body, is pursuing legal action against FIFA, Infantino, and investor Joshua Kushner (Trump’s son-in-law).
FIFA said details about the investment project are confidential due to ongoing legal cases in the United States.
The FIFA Council includes leaders of national soccer federations who make key decisions for international soccer governance.
European officials said Infantino’s secretive approach damages trust and called for leadership with integrity ahead of the election for FIFA president in March.
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A farmer from Rhode Island grew the world's heaviest pumpkin, weighing 3,156 pounds. This new record breaks the previous weight record of 2,856 pounds set just one week earlier.
Key Facts
The pumpkin weighs 3,156 pounds.
It is the heaviest pumpkin ever grown in the world.
The previous record was 2,856 pounds.
The previous record was set only one week before this new record.
The record-breaking pumpkin was grown by a Rhode Island farmer.
The news was reported on October 15, 2026.
The report was covered by ABC News.
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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made their first public visits together in the UK since moving back from the United States. They took part in charity events in Nottingham, focusing on local community support, while maintaining their status as non-working members of the royal family.
Key Facts
Harry and Meghan attended three charity visits in Nottingham, England.
Their visits included a community recording studio, a large food bank, and a youth mentoring center.
The couple is known as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex but are non-working royals.
They do not use royal titles like "His/Her Royal Highness" during charity work in the UK.
Their philanthropic group, Archewell, was not the focus of these visits.
Harry has long-term ties to some of the charities they visited, and Meghan previously worked with one of them.
The couple lived in California after leaving royal duties and had business deals with Netflix and Spotify.
Relations with the royal family have recently improved as Harry hopes his children can know their grandfather, King Charles III, who is currently undergoing cancer treatment.
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Reform UK is under scrutiny after an undercover reporter filmed party members advising to delete social media posts supporting far-right activist Tommy Robinson before applying to stand as a councillor. The party said it improved vetting but admitted some unsuitable candidates still get through, and it criticized the investigation’s methods.
Key Facts
An undercover reporter spent a year filming Reform UK members for ITV News.
A local party chairman told the reporter to delete posts supportive of Tommy Robinson before applying to be a councillor.
A former Reform candidate said he failed vetting twice but was still allowed to stand.
Reform UK denies the candidate failed vetting and says it has improved its vetting process.
The party says a few people who don’t share its values can occasionally get through vetting, which happens in all organizations.
Reform UK condemns racism and says investigations into individuals are ongoing.
Party leader Nigel Farage said the party vets more strictly than others but cannot control future comments.
Reform accused ITV of deceptive methods to gain undercover access to its headquarters.
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A chemical tanker was hit by a drone and caught fire in Romanian waters near the Black Sea, prompting search and rescue efforts. Similar drone attacks on ships have occurred recently in the Black Sea region near Romania and Bulgaria, raising concerns about the conflict in Ukraine spreading.
Key Facts
The ship struck by a drone was the San Marino-flagged Wine Trader, traveling from Tunisia to Romania.
Five crew members were rescued, but seven remain missing.
Another chemical tanker, the Comoros-flagged Yara J, caught fire in Romanian waters the night before but had no crew injuries.
Romanian officials say drones have crossed into their waters and airspace, and investigations are ongoing.
Bulgaria also experienced drone strikes on ships, with some crew members missing after emergency rescues.
Previous attacks in the Black Sea caused a Turkish-owned cargo ship to catch fire and sink, resulting in two deaths.
NATO leaders met to discuss Black Sea security and are increasing counter-drone defenses on the eastern border.
Romanian and Bulgarian waters are part of NATO and the European Union’s territory near Ukraine.
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Two pipelines carrying gas and oil products in Syria were damaged in separate incidents, possibly sabotage attacks, according to state media. The Syrian government is working to repair the damage and restore its energy infrastructure amid ongoing challenges.
Key Facts
Two pipelines, one carrying gas and another carrying oil products, were damaged in separate incidents in Syria.
The gas pipeline was damaged by what the Syrian Petroleum Company called a "sabotage attack."
The oil products pipeline, running from Baniyas to Homs, had a hole that caused a fuel leak, possibly linked to an attempted fuel theft.
Repair crews have isolated the damaged areas and started repairs while securing the surroundings.
Gas supply to power stations continues through alternative routes, and domestic gas supplies were not affected.
Several other attacks on Syria's oil and gas infrastructure have happened recently, including a fire on a gas pipeline and damage near Tal Hamis.
Syrian authorities said some people involved in earlier sabotage attacks have been arrested.
Syria is trying to restore its energy infrastructure and increase domestic oil production by restarting operations at oil fields and refineries.
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Thousands of young protesters from the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) plan to protest again in Delhi despite police trying to stop them and jailing some leaders. The group wants changes to India's election system and is fighting for the right to protest in public places.
Key Facts
The Cockroach Janta Party is a youth-led group demanding electoral reforms in India.
Two CJP leaders were jailed for five days after protesting at a restricted site, Jantar Mantar.
The protesters want to hold a demonstration at Central Park in Delhi, which is also not an approved protest area.
Delhi police used barricades and detained many protesters to stop demonstrations last week.
The CJP started after India's chief justice called some unemployed youth "cockroaches," a term supporters reclaimed to protest.
The protest is against the Special Intensive Revision of voter rolls, which critics say removed over 130 million names unfairly.
The CJP demands the Chief Election Commissioner to resign, accusing bias toward Prime Minister Modi’s party, which is denied by officials.
Police detained CJP leaders as they arrived in Delhi, and heavy security measures were used to prevent protests, including road closures and metro station shutdowns.
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A new book called "The Havana Syndrome" looks into reports of sonic attacks on American diplomats in different countries. These attacks caused symptoms like trouble sleeping and memory problems.
Key Facts
The book is titled "The Havana Syndrome."
It investigates alleged sonic attacks on U.S. diplomats overseas.
These attacks reportedly caused health issues such as insomnia and memory loss.
The book is co-written by Oriana Zill de Granados and Michael Ray.
"Havana Syndrome" refers to a set of unexplained symptoms experienced by diplomats starting in Cuba.
The cause and nature of these attacks remain unclear.
The report was featured on CBS News.
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Thousands of students in France have been protesting against issues like the cost of living and education. The French prime minister has said some groups may be using these protests for political gain just before next year’s presidential election.
Key Facts
Students have been blocking schools and protesting on the streets for over three weeks.
Hundreds of new protests are planned, involving students, workers' unions, and the "yellow vest" movement.
The prime minister, Sébastien Lecornu, said the student anger might be manipulated due to upcoming elections.
The yellow vest movement previously protested for over a year against rising living costs.
Jérôme Rodrigues, a former yellow vest leader, is encouraging people to join the protests for better living conditions.
France faces economic challenges, including high government borrowing costs and a divided parliament.
Experts say France’s financial situation is serious but manageable, with possibilities like tax increases to cover debt.
The European Central Bank might step in if France’s economy worsens enough to affect other EU countries.
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A senior Saudi diplomat said Iran is encouraging increased attacks by Houthi rebels on Saudi Arabia. The Houthis have recently targeted airports, oil facilities, and military sites in Saudi Arabia, causing deaths and security concerns. Saudi Arabia has tried to negotiate with the Houthis but received no response, while tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran remain high.
Key Facts
Iran supports and arms the Houthi rebels in Yemen, who have increased attacks on Saudi Arabia.
Houthi attacks have targeted key sites like Riyadh's airport and Saudi oil company Aramco’s headquarters.
At least 19 people have died due to these attacks, including foreigners.
Saudi Arabia invited the Houthis to talks in Oman, but the Houthis refused to meet.
The Houthis recently captured land near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a critical shipping route.
Saudi Arabia launched a military offensive in Yemen to regain control of these areas.
Iran and Saudi Arabia have restored diplomatic ties but remain in indirect contact amid ongoing conflict.
Mediation efforts by Qatar and Pakistan to resolve issues between the U.S. and Iran are ongoing but slow, with Iran taking a long time to respond to proposals.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is asking European countries for more support as his relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump becomes difficult. Zelensky plans to restart attacks on Russian oil facilities despite Trump's requests, while European leaders show continued support for Ukraine.
Key Facts
Zelensky said Ukraine will resume strikes on Russian oil refineries, ignoring President Trump's demands to stop.
Relations between Ukraine and the U.S. have worsened after Trump eased sanctions on Russia to boost diesel supply.
Ukraine is facing problems with a U.S.-provided satellite system that helps its military defend against Russian attacks.
Zelensky met NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and European leaders in Brussels before an EU summit.
European leaders including France’s Emmanuel Macron and Poland’s Donald Tusk expressed strong support for Ukraine.
Russia reported a drone attack on a Moscow-area oil refinery and blamed Ukraine for hurting U.S. peace efforts.
Zelensky said Russia has ignored Trump’s proposed ceasefire on energy infrastructure and continues strikes.
Kyiv citizens have noticed a shift in the U.S. position towards Ukraine’s conflict with Russia.
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Three people died and several others were hurt after two city transit buses crashed and caught fire in Calgary, Canada. Police and transit officials confirmed the crash and fire caused serious injuries.
Key Facts
The crash involved two city transit buses in Calgary, Canada.
A fire broke out involving the two buses after the crash.
Three people died because of the crash and fire.
Multiple people were injured in the incident.
Flames were seen on the roof of one bus and the front of the other.
Police and transit officials confirmed the details of the accident.
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Jeffrey Donaldson, the former leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), was sentenced to 15 years in prison after being convicted of 18 child sex abuse offences, including rape. Prison staff face significant challenges in keeping him safe due to the nature of his crimes and his political background.
Key Facts
Jeffrey Donaldson was convicted of 18 sex abuse charges against two women, including rape.
He was sentenced to 15 years in prison: 11 years for crimes against one victim and 4 years for the other.
Donaldson is placed in Maghaberry prison's Moyola Unit for his safety, spending much time isolated.
Prison authorities must manage his protection from other inmates who typically target sex offenders.
Donaldson's political history and service in the Ulster Defence Regiment could expose him to additional risks.
Keeping him in solitary confinement long-term raises legal and ethical concerns.
There is a possibility he could be transferred to another prison to ensure his safety.
Donaldson is appealing his convictions and must sign the Sex Offenders Register for life.
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The second series of the TV show Celebrity Traitors featured tense moments including players being secretly accused, one contestant being voted out ("murdered"), and a scary task involving puzzles and guards. Ross Kemp was singled out and felt unfairly targeted, while Rob Beckett was eliminated, upsetting his friend Romesh Ranganathan.
Key Facts
Ross Kemp was kept out of being "buried" but was made to look suspicious by other players.
Four celebrities sat alone in a tomb during a challenge, followed by one player being "murdered" or eliminated.
Rob Beckett was eliminated by the traitors and took the event in a joking way.
Romesh Ranganathan was sad to lose Beckett, who was one of his best friends on the show.
Leigh-Anne Pinnock received immunity from elimination through a special key.
Contestants faced a scary death march that involved solving puzzles to avoid capture by guards dressed like a fantasy villain.
James Acaster, one of the traitors, said the murder was chaotic and would confuse the other players.
The show airs new episodes on BBC iPlayer every Thursday and Friday.
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Ukraine has started bombing Russian energy sites again, saying Russia never stopped attacking. This comes after President Trump asked for a stop to the energy attacks last Sunday, but fighting has continued.
Key Facts
Ukraine has resumed attacks on Russian energy targets.
Russia has been continuing its attacks without stopping.
President Trump called for a pause or "energy ceasefire" last Sunday.
The request for a ceasefire came during ongoing fighting between Ukraine and Russia.
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy and President Trump have had a tense relationship recently.
The energy attacks are part of the larger conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
The situation remains heated despite calls for calm.
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The U.S. White House is reportedly preparing plans to use a powerful bomb called the "mother of all bombs" against Iran. Earlier, the Army's former Chief of Staff warned about a shortage in U.S. missile defense, which is linked to concerns about a potential conflict with Iran.
Key Facts
The weapon mentioned is nicknamed the "mother of all bombs."
Plans to use this bomb are reportedly being prepared against Iran.
The White House is involved in these preparations.
Former Army Chief of Staff Randy George warned months ago about a U.S. missile defense shortage.
The missile defense shortage relates to concerns about a possible war with Iran.
The information comes from unnamed sources reported by CBS News.
There is no official confirmation or detailed explanation of the plans.
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