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Blue and White leader Benny Gantz has withdrawn from Israel's upcoming parliamentary election, scheduled for October 27, just eight days before the vote. His decision comes as opinion polls have repeatedly shown his party struggling to cross the electoral threshold.&nbsp;“I will not run in the upcoming election. I will continue fighting for unity. It is the only solution that will prevent another disaster and protect Israel against all challenges, at home and abroad,” Gantz said.The Blue and White party said Gantz would continue working towards forming a unity government that serves Israel's interests.<h3>Gantz calls for unity government</h3>Gantz's party has faced several departures, with some lawmakers joining the Yashar party led by Gadi Eisenkot, his former second-in-command in the military and a senior figure in the National Unity bloc.&nbsp;Blue and White has also moved away from the opposition bloc seeking to replace Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Gantz had called for a “broad Zionist government”, signalling that he was open to joining a government with Netanyahu.&nbsp;Last week, his party launched a campaign under the slogan “Choose unity, save the country”, seeking support from voters who do not identify with either of Israel's two main political blocs.&nbsp;Opposition leaders had urged Gantz to withdraw from the race, arguing that votes could be wasted if his party failed to cross the electoral threshold.&nbsp;A retired general and former Israel Defence Forces chief of staff, Gantz has been a prominent rival of Netanyahu. He served as defence minister and joined Israel's emergency war cabinet after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack, but resigned in June 2024 over disagreements on post-war strategy.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/cjp-leaders-ashutosh-ranka-saurav-das-judicial-custody-extended-by-two-days-1792420769131">CJP leaders Ashutosh Ranka, Saurav Das' judicial custody extended by two days</a><h3>Trump endorses Netanyahu</h3>Gantz's withdrawal comes as US President Donald Trump has publicly backed Netanyahu ahead of the October 27 election.&nbsp;Trump offered the Israeli prime minister his “complete and total” endorsement on Sunday, praising his leadership despite what he described as opposition from within Israel.&nbsp;“Bibi Netanyahu has been Strong, Brave, and Brilliant in the face of tremendous opposition, including that coming from even Israel itself,” Trump wrote.&nbsp;Netanyahu thanked Trump for his support, saying the two leaders would continue working together.“Thank you, President Trump, for your tremendous support and for our work together. Together we will complete the mission!” Netanyahu wrote on X.

Benny Gantz has withdrawn from Israel's October 27 election as his party struggles to cross the electoral threshold, while US President Donald Trump has endorsed Benjamin Netanyahu for re-election.

Blue and White leader Benny Gantz has withdrawn from Israel's upcoming parliamentary election, scheduled for October 27, just eight days before the vote. His decision comes as opinion polls have repeatedly shown his party struggling to cross the electoral threshold. “I will not run in the upcoming election. I will continue fighting for unity. It is the only solution that will prevent another disaster and protect Israel against all challenges, at home and abroad,” Gantz said. The Blue and White party said Gantz would continue working towards forming a unity government that serves Israel's interests. Gantz calls for unity government Gantz's party has faced several departures, with some lawmakers joining the Yashar party led by Gadi Eisenkot, his former second-in-command in the military and a senior figure in the National Unity bloc. Blue and White has also moved away from the opposition bloc seeking to replace Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Gantz had called for a “broad Zionist government”, signalling that he was open to joining a government with Netanyahu. Last week, his party launched a campaign under the slogan “Choose unity, save the country”, seeking support from voters who do not identify with either of Israel's two main political blocs. Opposition leaders had urged Gantz to withdraw from the race, arguing that votes could be wasted if his party failed to cross the electoral threshold. A retired general and former Israel Defence Forces chief of staff, Gantz has been a prominent rival of Netanyahu. He served as defence minister and joined Israel's emergency war cabinet after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack, but resigned in June 2024 over disagreements on post-war strategy. Also Read: CJP leaders Ashutosh Ranka, Saurav Das' judicial custody extended by two days Trump endorses Netanyahu Gantz's withdrawal comes as US President Donald Trump has publicly backed Netanyahu ahead of the October 27 election. Trump offered the Israeli prime minister his “complete and total” endorsement on Sunday, praising his leadership despite what he described as opposition from within Israel. “Bibi Netanyahu has been Strong, Brave, and Brilliant in the face of tremendous opposition, including that coming from even Israel itself,” Trump wrote. Netanyahu thanked Trump for his support, saying the two leaders would continue working together. “Thank you, President Trump, for your tremendous support and for our work together. Together we will complete the mission!” Netanyahu wrote on X.

Benny Gantz has withdrawn from Israel's October 27 election as his party struggles to cross the electoral threshold, while US President Donald Trump has endorsed Benjamin Netanyahu for re-election.

Netanyahu rival Benny Gantz quits Israel election race, vows to push for unity government

France’s Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said on Monday that he was fully resolved to restore public order and had called for “local and partial” curfews but added that there was “no question” of imposing a full curfew on entire cities.&nbsp;Speaking to reporters after an emergency cabinet meeting on Monday, Lecornu said that a state of emergency would be declared if it was deemed necessary, but ⁠added that partial curfews seemed “more appropriate” at this stage.&nbsp;<h2>‘Police lost control during protests in some cities’</h2>&nbsp;The PM’s comments came after France’s interior minister admitted that police “lost control” in some cities during protests, and President Emmanuel Macron demanded a full security review and new operational methods to end the rioting.&nbsp;The minister said on Monday that there had been a “lack of anticipation” in preparations for the protests and conceded that police numbers had been inadequate to deal with rioters and looters at some places.&nbsp;<h2>‘Intel suggested 200,000 protesters, more than 500,000 turned up’</h2>&nbsp;Nuñez said intelligence had suggested there would be 200,000 demonstrators across the country, but more than 500,000 turned out, and peaceful protests were hijacked, resulting in one of the most violent days of unrest in recent years.&nbsp;He said he had tendered his resignation because he felt “responsible for everything that happened”, but Macron refused it. He instead told Nuñez to “take all necessary steps to ensure transparency over planning and intelligence failures”.The protests come after weeks of demonstrations by high school students that have been marred by violent clashes with police at times.&nbsp;Public buildings, including a town hall, were attacked and set ablaze, and an estimated 2,000 shops were ransacked and looted.&nbsp;<h2>Louvre Museum could not open as protesters block entrances</h2>&nbsp;Rioting and looting continued on Sunday. The mayor of Paris, Emmanuel Grégoire, said on Monday that about 30 shops had been targeted in the capital in the last 24 hours, while 350 people were arrested overnight.&nbsp;On Monday, protesters blocked entrances to the Louvre Museum in support of the nationwide high school student protest movement and to denounce “police repression”. The museum could not open as scheduled because of the protest.“We are proud to announce that we are blocking the world’s largest museum,” read a leaflet displayed outside the museum.&nbsp;<h2>Macron begins Gulf trip to secure petrol, diesel supplies</h2>&nbsp;Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Kuwait for a Gulf trip aimed at securing additional petrol and diesel supplies to bring down pump prices in his country.He is also visiting the United Arab Emirates during the trip.

On Monday, protesters blocked entrances to the Louvre Museum in support of the nationwide high school student protest movement and to denounce “police repression”. The museum could not open as scheduled because of the protest.

France’s Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said on Monday that he was fully resolved to restore public order and had called for “local and partial” curfews but added that there was “no question” of imposing a full curfew on entire cities. Speaking to reporters after an emergency cabinet meeting on Monday, Lecornu said that a state of emergency would be declared if it was deemed necessary, but ⁠added that partial curfews seemed “more appropriate” at this stage. ‘Police lost control during protests in some cities’ The PM’s comments came after France’s interior minister admitted that police “lost control” in some cities during protests, and President Emmanuel Macron demanded a full security review and new operational methods to end the rioting. The minister said on Monday that there had been a “lack of anticipation” in preparations for the protests and conceded that police numbers had been inadequate to deal with rioters and looters at some places. ‘Intel suggested 200,000 protesters, more than 500,000 turned up’ Nuñez said intelligence had suggested there would be 200,000 demonstrators across the country, but more than 500,000 turned out, and peaceful protests were hijacked, resulting in one of the most violent days of unrest in recent years. He said he had tendered his resignation because he felt “responsible for everything that happened”, but Macron refused it. He instead told Nuñez to “take all necessary steps to ensure transparency over planning and intelligence failures”. The protests come after weeks of demonstrations by high school students that have been marred by violent clashes with police at times. Public buildings, including a town hall, were attacked and set ablaze, and an estimated 2,000 shops were ransacked and looted. Louvre Museum could not open as protesters block entrances Rioting and looting continued on Sunday. The mayor of Paris, Emmanuel Grégoire, said on Monday that about 30 shops had been targeted in the capital in the last 24 hours, while 350 people were arrested overnight. On Monday, protesters blocked entrances to the Louvre Museum in support of the nationwide high school student protest movement and to denounce “police repression”. The museum could not open as scheduled because of the protest. “We are proud to announce that we are blocking the world’s largest museum,” read a leaflet displayed outside the museum. Macron begins Gulf trip to secure petrol, diesel supplies Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Kuwait for a Gulf trip aimed at securing additional petrol and diesel supplies to bring down pump prices in his country. He is also visiting the United Arab Emirates during the trip.

On Monday, protesters blocked entrances to the Louvre Museum in support of the nationwide high school student protest movement and to denounce “police repression”. The museum could not open as scheduled because of the protest.

French PM calls for ‘local and partial’ curfews after riots, blames ‘ultra-left’ for exploiting protests

Two weeks before Election Day, the race to succeed Governor Tony Evers is a toss-up in Wisconsin. Wisconsin has been a swing state for generations, flipping back and forth. Evers won four years ago by three and a half points, and the Marquette Law School poll's director says history points to another close race.&nbsp;The nominees are Democrat David Crowley and Republican Tom Tiffany. 39-year-old Crowley is the Milwaukee County executive and a former state legislator who says he was evicted three times as a child. Tiffany is a former state lawmaker who has represented a mostly rural northern Wisconsin district in Congress since 2020. He survived a small plane crash while campaigning, and also distanced himself from President Trump.Both are running statewide for the first time. If Crowley wins, he would be Wisconsin's first Black governor. Reports suggest Democrats are optimistic about this race as Trump's approval ratings are at record lows.The polls give Crowley a narrow edge. September's Marquette poll had him at 49% to 46% among likely voters, and 46% to 45% among registered voters. A YouGov survey released last week had him ahead 46% to 42%, with 9% unsure. That survey sampled adults rather than likely voters. A lead of that size is within the usual margin of error.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/oil-prices-trump-russian-fuel-sanctions-waiver-hormuz-1792407825983">Oil prices retreat from 5-month high after Trump eases Russian fuel sanctions</a><h2>Campaign agenda</h2>Crowley is running on affordability and public schools, and he is tying Tiffany to Donald Trump and to wealthy donors. Allies argue he must keep reminding voters of those ties amid anger over gas prices, the Iran war and inflation. Barack Obama endorsed him on October 8, and Kamala Harris is due to campaign with him on October 26.Tiffany has attacked Crowley on crime and illegal immigration. He also has a spending advantage. Crowley's critics have focused on a county jail tablet program that some inmates used to harass victims and witnesses. Crowley suspended its messaging features last week.&nbsp;Tiffany's campaign has also branded Crowley "data centre David Crowley." Crowley says those remarks were taken out of context. Tiffany argues his opponent is struggling to be heard, and says his own side has momentum.Crowley has his own challenges. He won the primary after leaving the race and re-entering ten days later. He beat a democratic socialist rival by fewer than 4,000 votes, and she says he should show her supporters that he shares their values.&nbsp;The race may turn on independents and on turnout in Democratic Milwaukee and Dane counties relative to the Republican countryside. One poll found Crowley leading Tiffany among independents 42% to 30%, though many remain undecided.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Democrat David Crowley holds a narrow polling lead over Republican Tom Tiffany in Wisconsin's closely contested governor race, with affordability, crime and Trump's popularity shaping the campaign.

Two weeks before Election Day, the race to succeed Governor Tony Evers is a toss-up in Wisconsin. Wisconsin has been a swing state for generations, flipping back and forth. Evers won four years ago by three and a half points, and the Marquette Law School poll's director says history points to another close race. The nominees are Democrat David Crowley and Republican Tom Tiffany. 39-year-old Crowley is the Milwaukee County executive and a former state legislator who says he was evicted three times as a child. Tiffany is a former state lawmaker who has represented a mostly rural northern Wisconsin district in Congress since 2020. He survived a small plane crash while campaigning, and also distanced himself from President Trump. Both are running statewide for the first time. If Crowley wins, he would be Wisconsin's first Black governor. Reports suggest Democrats are optimistic about this race as Trump's approval ratings are at record lows. The polls give Crowley a narrow edge. September's Marquette poll had him at 49% to 46% among likely voters, and 46% to 45% among registered voters. A YouGov survey released last week had him ahead 46% to 42%, with 9% unsure. That survey sampled adults rather than likely voters. A lead of that size is within the usual margin of error. Also Read: Oil prices retreat from 5-month high after Trump eases Russian fuel sanctions Campaign agenda Crowley is running on affordability and public schools, and he is tying Tiffany to Donald Trump and to wealthy donors. Allies argue he must keep reminding voters of those ties amid anger over gas prices, the Iran war and inflation. Barack Obama endorsed him on October 8, and Kamala Harris is due to campaign with him on October 26. Tiffany has attacked Crowley on crime and illegal immigration. He also has a spending advantage. Crowley's critics have focused on a county jail tablet program that some inmates used to harass victims and witnesses. Crowley suspended its messaging features last week. Tiffany's campaign has also branded Crowley "data centre David Crowley." Crowley says those remarks were taken out of context. Tiffany argues his opponent is struggling to be heard, and says his own side has momentum. Crowley has his own challenges. He won the primary after leaving the race and re-entering ten days later. He beat a democratic socialist rival by fewer than 4,000 votes, and she says he should show her supporters that he shares their values. The race may turn on independents and on turnout in Democratic Milwaukee and Dane counties relative to the Republican countryside. One poll found Crowley leading Tiffany among independents 42% to 30%, though many remain undecided.

Democrat David Crowley holds a narrow polling lead over Republican Tom Tiffany in Wisconsin's closely contested governor race, with affordability, crime and Trump's popularity shaping the campaign.

Wisconsin governor race a toss-up as Democrat Crowley narrowly leads Trump-backed Tiffany

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu on Monday instructed regional authorities to impose limited and localised curfews in areas affected by the unrest, as the government scrambled to prevent further violence.Speaking after an emergency meeting with senior officials, Lecornu said it was a miracle that nobody had been killed during Saturday's extensive violence.More than 2,400 people were arrested, while hundreds of businesses were looted or vandalised as demonstrations over rising living costs, deteriorating public services and conditions in schools descended into some of France's worst urban violence in recent years.<h2>Macron rejects interior minister's resignation</h2>The crisis has exposed serious shortcomings in France's security response.Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez offered his resignation after acknowledging that authorities had lost control in parts of several major cities despite deploying approximately 60,000 police officers and other security personnel.President Emmanuel Macron rejected the offer, instead instructing Nuñez to investigate failures in intelligence gathering and security planning and introduce new policing tactics.The mayors of Paris, Marseille and Lyon have also demanded answers from the government, accusing authorities of leaving large sections of their cities inadequately protected.In a joint intervention, the mayors described the scale of the violence as unprecedented in their experience and called for urgent action to restore public confidence.<h2>Luxury stores looted, historic buildings torched</h2>Scenes of destruction unfolded across France as masked rioters attacked public buildings, set vehicles ablaze and ransacked commercial establishments.In the central city of Limoges, the historic 19th-century City Hall was almost completely destroyed by fire, with its roof collapsing.Paris witnessed extensive vandalism, with an estimated 300 to 400 businesses damaged during the weekend.Luxury shopping districts were among the worst affected. Boutiques belonging to Dior, Rolex, Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Ralph Lauren suffered damage, while other high-end stores were also targeted by looters.In Marseille, rioters ransacked the official store of football club Olympique de Marseille, while municipal buildings were also attacked.The violence extended to Lyon, Bordeaux and several other cities, with police using tear gas and other crowd-control measures during confrontations.<h2>Macron blames radical far left</h2>Addressing the nation on Sunday before departing for a Gulf tour, Macron condemned the destruction and accused radical far-left activists and criminal groups of exploiting otherwise legitimate demonstrations.The French president distinguished between peaceful protesters expressing economic grievances and those responsible for violence, promising accountability for attacks on businesses, public buildings and security personnel.His remarks came amid mounting criticism of the government's handling of the crisis, with political opponents questioning why authorities failed to anticipate the scale of the disorder.<h2>Trump blames immigration for French turmoil</h2>The unrest has also triggered an international political debate, with U.S. President Donald Trump using social media to link the violence to immigration.In two recent interventions, Trump portrayed the turmoil as evidence of France's migration problems, claimed migrants had taken over and urged French authorities to close the country's borders.However, the demonstrations were organised primarily around rising living costs, deteriorating education conditions and concerns over public services.French authorities have blamed much of the rioting on radical far-left activists and opportunistic looters. There is no established evidence that immigration was the cause of the nationwide protest movement.Trump's remarks have nevertheless added an international dimension to the debate over immigration, public security and political instability in Europe.<h2>Fresh protests planned as Macron faces mounting pressure</h2>Despite the government's security measures, demonstrations continued on Monday, with protesters blocking access to the Louvre museum and staging gatherings at Sciences Po university in Paris.French unions have called for another round of nationwide strikes and demonstrations on November 5, raising the prospect of further disruption.The unrest comes approximately six months before France's presidential election and at a particularly difficult moment for Macron's government, which is grappling with mounting public debt, budget pressures and growing dissatisfaction over living costs.Macron, meanwhile, has travelled to the Gulf seeking additional petrol and diesel supplies to ease pressure on domestic fuel prices.With damaged businesses demanding assistance, local authorities seeking accountability and protesters planning further action, France's government faces two immediate challenges: restoring public order and addressing the economic grievances that sparked the demonstrations.The coming weeks will test whether the government's security response can contain the violence without deepening public resentment or undermining the right to peaceful protest.

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu on Monday instructed regional authorities to impose limited and localised curfews in areas affected by the unrest, as the government scrambled to prevent further violence. Speaking after an emergency meeting with senior officials, Lecornu said it was a miracle that nobody had been killed during Saturday's extensive violence. More than 2,400 people were arrested, while hundreds of businesses were looted or vandalised as demonstrations over rising living costs, deteriorating public services and conditions in schools descended into some of France's worst urban violence in recent years. Macron rejects interior minister's resignation The crisis has exposed serious shortcomings in France's security response. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez offered his resignation after acknowledging that authorities had lost control in parts of several major cities despite deploying approximately 60,000 police officers and other security personnel. President Emmanuel Macron rejected the offer, instead instructing Nuñez to investigate failures in intelligence gathering and security planning and introduce new policing tactics. The mayors of Paris, Marseille and Lyon have also demanded answers from the government, accusing authorities of leaving large sections of their cities inadequately protected. In a joint intervention, the mayors described the scale of the violence as unprecedented in their experience and called for urgent action to restore public confidence. Luxury stores looted, historic buildings torched Scenes of destruction unfolded across France as masked rioters attacked public buildings, set vehicles ablaze and ransacked commercial establishments. In the central city of Limoges, the historic 19th-century City Hall was almost completely destroyed by fire, with its roof collapsing. Paris witnessed extensive vandalism, with an estimated 300 to 400 businesses damaged during the weekend. Luxury shopping districts were among the worst affected. Boutiques belonging to Dior, Rolex, Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Ralph Lauren suffered damage, while other high-end stores were also targeted by looters. In Marseille, rioters ransacked the official store of football club Olympique de Marseille, while municipal buildings were also attacked. The violence extended to Lyon, Bordeaux and several other cities, with police using tear gas and other crowd-control measures during confrontations. Macron blames radical far left Addressing the nation on Sunday before departing for a Gulf tour, Macron condemned the destruction and accused radical far-left activists and criminal groups of exploiting otherwise legitimate demonstrations. The French president distinguished between peaceful protesters expressing economic grievances and those responsible for violence, promising accountability for attacks on businesses, public buildings and security personnel. His remarks came amid mounting criticism of the government's handling of the crisis, with political opponents questioning why authorities failed to anticipate the scale of the disorder. Trump blames immigration for French turmoil The unrest has also triggered an international political debate, with U.S. President Donald Trump using social media to link the violence to immigration. In two recent interventions, Trump portrayed the turmoil as evidence of France's migration problems, claimed migrants had taken over and urged French authorities to close the country's borders. However, the demonstrations were organised primarily around rising living costs, deteriorating education conditions and concerns over public services. French authorities have blamed much of the rioting on radical far-left activists and opportunistic looters. There is no established evidence that immigration was the cause of the nationwide protest movement. Trump's remarks have nevertheless added an international dimension to the debate over immigration, public security and political instability in Europe. Fresh protests planned as Macron faces mounting pressure Despite the government's security measures, demonstrations continued on Monday, with protesters blocking access to the Louvre museum and staging gatherings at Sciences Po university in Paris. French unions have called for another round of nationwide strikes and demonstrations on November 5, raising the prospect of further disruption. The unrest comes approximately six months before France's presidential election and at a particularly difficult moment for Macron's government, which is grappling with mounting public debt, budget pressures and growing dissatisfaction over living costs. Macron, meanwhile, has travelled to the Gulf seeking additional petrol and diesel supplies to ease pressure on domestic fuel prices. With damaged businesses demanding assistance, local authorities seeking accountability and protesters planning further action, France's government faces two immediate challenges: restoring public order and addressing the economic grievances that sparked the demonstrations. The coming weeks will test whether the government's security response can contain the violence without deepening public resentment or undermining the right to peaceful protest.

France is facing a deepening political and security crisis after a weekend of violent protests, widespread looting and arson left several cities devastated, prompting the government to call for targeted curfews and an urgent review of policing failures.

France unrest: PM calls for curfews as riots engulf cities, Macron blames far left and Trump targets migrants | RTP

Global oil prices tumbled briefly on Monday from their five-month high at the end of last week after US President Donald Trump signed an executive order waiving key sanctions and tariffs under the newly enacted Lindsey Graham Act. Brent Crude is trading at $108.63/barrel, falling from the peak of $110 hit on Friday, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) is at $101.53 per barrel, up from an intraday low of $99.24 per barrel.US Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted that the administration is using a 60-day window to evaluate the macroeconomic impact of the Russian fuel waiver. This short timeline injects major uncertainty into the market, as algorithms are struggling to price in whether this extra supply is permanent or temporary.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/france-yellow-vests-new-protests-october-24-31-1792419854640">France's Yellow Vests announce 'Act II' of protests on October 24, 31</a>Despite Trump's relaxation, the oil market remains stubbornly tight. While the announcement initially triggered profit-taking, causing Brent to slide over 2% to $107.57 and WTI to slip below $100, the drop was incredibly short-lived. Investors realised that despite the US sanctions waiver, long-term structural scarcity has not gone away. They rushed in to buy the dip, so the price did not tumble much. Further, just hours before the waiver announcement, Ukrainian drone strikes hit an oil terminal in St. Petersburg, Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump continued their verbal spat, reflecting a strained relationship between the allies."Ongoing strikes on vessels crossing the Strait of Hormuz and flows remaining below pre-conflict levels continue to provide ​support," UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo, as reported by Reuters.According to Washington, shipping flows have recovered to 80%–90% of pre-war levels, but the area around the Strait of Hormuz and Strait of Bab al-Mandeb remains volatile. Repeated strikes have pushed tanker chartering costs and insurance premiums to exorbitant highs, ensuring physical crude stays expensive even when it moves.

Brent crude and WTI briefly fell after Donald Trump eased Russian fuel sanctions, but Strait of Hormuz disruptions and Ukrainian strikes kept oil prices elevated.

Global oil prices tumbled briefly on Monday from their five-month high at the end of last week after US President Donald Trump signed an executive order waiving key sanctions and tariffs under the newly enacted Lindsey Graham Act. Brent Crude is trading at $108.63/barrel, falling from the peak of $110 hit on Friday, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) is at $101.53 per barrel, up from an intraday low of $99.24 per barrel. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted that the administration is using a 60-day window to evaluate the macroeconomic impact of the Russian fuel waiver. This short timeline injects major uncertainty into the market, as algorithms are struggling to price in whether this extra supply is permanent or temporary. Also Read: France's Yellow Vests announce 'Act II' of protests on October 24, 31 Despite Trump's relaxation, the oil market remains stubbornly tight. While the announcement initially triggered profit-taking, causing Brent to slide over 2% to $107.57 and WTI to slip below $100, the drop was incredibly short-lived. Investors realised that despite the US sanctions waiver, long-term structural scarcity has not gone away. They rushed in to buy the dip, so the price did not tumble much. Further, just hours before the waiver announcement, Ukrainian drone strikes hit an oil terminal in St. Petersburg, Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump continued their verbal spat, reflecting a strained relationship between the allies. "Ongoing strikes on vessels crossing the Strait of Hormuz and flows remaining below pre-conflict levels continue to provide support," UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo, as reported by Reuters. According to Washington, shipping flows have recovered to 80%–90% of pre-war levels, but the area around the Strait of Hormuz and Strait of Bab al-Mandeb remains volatile. Repeated strikes have pushed tanker chartering costs and insurance premiums to exorbitant highs, ensuring physical crude stays expensive even when it moves.

Brent crude and WTI briefly fell after Donald Trump eased Russian fuel sanctions, but Strait of Hormuz disruptions and Ukrainian strikes kept oil prices elevated.

Oil prices retreat from 5-month high after Trump eases Russian fuel sanctions

A yellow vest coordination that took part in the October 17 mobilisation announced Monday new actions for October 24 and October 31. The movement, which dubbed Saturday's planned day of action "Act II," published a map of protests on its website that already lists several dozen events. &nbsp; Benjamin Ball, the site's editor, told AFP there is clearly a huge push for an Act II. The organisers are also demanding that President Emmanuel Macron step down, and Lyon Mag, a Lyon-based outlet, counted 76 actions listed so far.&nbsp; The call follows a weekend of unrest. Between 550,000 and 800,000 people marched on October 17, according to the figures reported, and Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said nearly 2,400 people were arrested, and 997 police and gendarmes were injured, seven of them seriously. Paris police reported 855 arrests in the capital, which they called a record.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australian-mp-helen-haines-critical-condition-suv-incident-1792411169857">Australian MP Helen Haines in critical condition after being hit by SUV</a> Macron addressed the nation Sunday evening. He stressed that investigations should move quickly, with judicial follow-up. The speech lasted about eight minutes. Opposition parties have criticised it, Bruno Retailleau, president of Les Républicains, called the address "very worrying" on X. He also said Macron "appears totally overwhelmed. Greens leader Marine Tondelier said Macron should have offered a mea culpa rather than summoning party leaders to Matignon. The original yellow vest movement began in November 2018, partly in response to fuel tax increases, before expanding to purchasing power, taxation and wider political grievances. This month's mobilisation revived it around cost-of-living anger, with high school students, workers and other groups joining.&nbsp; The coming days are uncertain. October 24 falls in the All Saints school holidays, when the high schoolers who have driven the movement since September are dispersed. The unions CFDT, CGT, FO, Unsa and FSU have separately called a national strike day for November 5.

France's Yellow Vest movement has announced new protests for October 24 and 31 after a weekend of unrest, mass arrests and clashes that left nearly 1,000 police injured.

A yellow vest coordination that took part in the October 17 mobilisation announced Monday new actions for October 24 and October 31. The movement, which dubbed Saturday's planned day of action "Act II," published a map of protests on its website that already lists several dozen events. Benjamin Ball, the site's editor, told AFP there is clearly a huge push for an Act II. The organisers are also demanding that President Emmanuel Macron step down, and Lyon Mag, a Lyon-based outlet, counted 76 actions listed so far. The call follows a weekend of unrest. Between 550,000 and 800,000 people marched on October 17, according to the figures reported, and Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said nearly 2,400 people were arrested, and 997 police and gendarmes were injured, seven of them seriously. Paris police reported 855 arrests in the capital, which they called a record. Also Read: Australian MP Helen Haines in critical condition after being hit by SUV Macron addressed the nation Sunday evening. He stressed that investigations should move quickly, with judicial follow-up. The speech lasted about eight minutes. Opposition parties have criticised it, Bruno Retailleau, president of Les Républicains, called the address "very worrying" on X. He also said Macron "appears totally overwhelmed. Greens leader Marine Tondelier said Macron should have offered a mea culpa rather than summoning party leaders to Matignon. The original yellow vest movement began in November 2018, partly in response to fuel tax increases, before expanding to purchasing power, taxation and wider political grievances. This month's mobilisation revived it around cost-of-living anger, with high school students, workers and other groups joining. The coming days are uncertain. October 24 falls in the All Saints school holidays, when the high schoolers who have driven the movement since September are dispersed. The unions CFDT, CGT, FO, Unsa and FSU have separately called a national strike day for November 5.

France's Yellow Vest movement has announced new protests for October 24 and 31 after a weekend of unrest, mass arrests and clashes that left nearly 1,000 police injured.

France's Yellow Vests announce 'Act II' of protests on October 24, 31

SpaceX shares rose 1.5% in premarket trading on Monday despite the delay to its Bandwagon-5 mission, after CEO Elon Musk pledged to give one of his company's shares to every child in the United States next year. The stock traded near $148.27 before the open, up from Friday's close of $146.03. Musk announced the plan on X."Next year, I will give one of my SpaceX shares to every kid in America. This will be the first of many," wrote Musk.There are roughly 72 million Americans under 18. At Friday's price, one share each would be worth a little over $10.5 billion. That is roughly 1% of Musk's estimated net worth of more than $900 billion, most of which is held in SpaceX and Tesla stock.There are no details about the eligibility, age limits, citizenship requirements, and how shares would be delivered or how the gift would be funded. The company had no immediate comment on those questions&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australian-mp-helen-haines-critical-condition-suv-incident-1792411169857">Australian MP Helen Haines in critical condition after being hit by SUV</a>The pledge followed an exchange with Anthropic over the AI company's plans to dedicate part of its equity to public benefit. Musk urged Anthropic to give shares directly to the public, then said that was what he would do himself.It also comes amid scrutiny of technology companies' effects on society. SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell said in July that she would gift a share to each of 2 million "Trump Accounts," a federal savings vehicle for children. That gift is now worth nearly $300 million.The Treasury Department this month automatically enrolled millions of minors in the accounts. Children born from 2025 through 2028 are eligible for a one-time $1,000 government contribution.SpaceX went public in June at $135 per share in the largest IPO on record. Musk holds about 42% of the shares but roughly 82% of the voting power.<h2>Delay in Bandwagon-5&nbsp;</h2>The Bandwagon-5 rideshare launch, which will carry multiple satellite payloads aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, was rescheduled to October 20. While the specific reason for the delay was not immediately disclosed, reports suggest it was rescheduled amid operational planning changes, with the US Federal Aviation Administration listing the revised launch window as October 20, from around 6.30 pm in local time and a backup opportunity on October 21. The specific reason for the rescheduling has not been confirmed in the cited reports, so it would be premature to attribute it to a technical fault or weather conditions.&nbsp;

The delay of Bandwagon-5 did not prevent SpaceX shares from climbing about 1.5% to around $148.27 before the market opened, up from Friday's close of $146.03.

SpaceX shares rose 1.5% in premarket trading on Monday despite the delay to its Bandwagon-5 mission, after CEO Elon Musk pledged to give one of his company's shares to every child in the United States next year. The stock traded near $148.27 before the open, up from Friday's close of $146.03. Musk announced the plan on X. "Next year, I will give one of my SpaceX shares to every kid in America. This will be the first of many," wrote Musk. There are roughly 72 million Americans under 18. At Friday's price, one share each would be worth a little over $10.5 billion. That is roughly 1% of Musk's estimated net worth of more than $900 billion, most of which is held in SpaceX and Tesla stock. There are no details about the eligibility, age limits, citizenship requirements, and how shares would be delivered or how the gift would be funded. The company had no immediate comment on those questions Also Read: Australian MP Helen Haines in critical condition after being hit by SUV The pledge followed an exchange with Anthropic over the AI company's plans to dedicate part of its equity to public benefit. Musk urged Anthropic to give shares directly to the public, then said that was what he would do himself. It also comes amid scrutiny of technology companies' effects on society. SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell said in July that she would gift a share to each of 2 million "Trump Accounts," a federal savings vehicle for children. That gift is now worth nearly $300 million. The Treasury Department this month automatically enrolled millions of minors in the accounts. Children born from 2025 through 2028 are eligible for a one-time $1,000 government contribution. SpaceX went public in June at $135 per share in the largest IPO on record. Musk holds about 42% of the shares but roughly 82% of the voting power. Delay in Bandwagon-5 The Bandwagon-5 rideshare launch, which will carry multiple satellite payloads aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, was rescheduled to October 20. While the specific reason for the delay was not immediately disclosed, reports suggest it was rescheduled amid operational planning changes, with the US Federal Aviation Administration listing the revised launch window as October 20, from around 6.30 pm in local time and a backup opportunity on October 21. The specific reason for the rescheduling has not been confirmed in the cited reports, so it would be premature to attribute it to a technical fault or weather conditions.

The delay of Bandwagon-5 did not prevent SpaceX shares from climbing about 1.5% to around $148.27 before the market opened, up from Friday's close of $146.03.

SpaceX shares climb despite Bandwagon-5 delay after Musk’s gift pledge to US children

New Delhi: A baby Sumatran orangutan "Rocky" seized in India nearly two years ago has finally returned to Indonesia in a rare cross-border operation that offers a template for future rescues.The infant arrived at Kualanamu Airport in Medan on Monday after being flown from Gujarat, where it was rescued in November 2024. Officials from India’s consulate in Medan joined Indonesian forestry staff for a reception organised by the Ministry of Forestry.&nbsp;Indian Embassy in Jakarta said in a statement that the successful transfer “reflects the close bilateral ties between India and Indonesia and their shared commitment to the protection and conservation of endangered species,” and sets “a positive precedent for future cooperation in wildlife conservation.”&nbsp;Since its rescue, the orangutan received veterinary treatment and specialised housing from Indian wildlife authorities. In a goodwill gesture, India waived all costs of its care before the transfer. CITES Management Authorities in both countries oversaw the process to meet international rules governing the movement of endangered species.&nbsp;Indonesia’s Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni welcomed the return. “Good cooperation between India and Indonesia..... along with existing institutions including the Centre for Orangutan Protection and Fauna Land, made this possible,” he said. He described the day as “very meaningful” because of the presence of public figure Kang Irfan Hakim, “who loves animals and tirelessly campaigns for the importance of wild animals and wildlife welfare.”&nbsp;Sumatran orangutans are critically endangered. Habitat destruction and the illegal pet trade have driven sharp population declines, with infants often smuggled out of Indonesia and sold as exotic pets. Successful repatriations remain uncommon.&nbsp;The case is not isolated. Five more young orangutans rescued in Odisha in September 2026 are currently under care at Nandankanan Zoological Park in Bhubaneswar. Indonesian wildlife experts are due to visit India in November to help verify their origin and accelerate their return, according to the Indian embassy in Jakarta.Such operations depend on sustained coordination between enforcement agencies, zoos and governments. For this one infant, the long wait is over. Its journey home, officials hope, will not be the last.

Since its rescue nearly two years ago, the baby Sumatran orangutan "Rocky" received veterinary treatment and specialised housing from Indian wildlife authorities. In a goodwill gesture, India waived all costs of its care before the transfer.

New Delhi: A baby Sumatran orangutan "Rocky" seized in India nearly two years ago has finally returned to Indonesia in a rare cross-border operation that offers a template for future rescues. The infant arrived at Kualanamu Airport in Medan on Monday after being flown from Gujarat, where it was rescued in November 2024. Officials from India’s consulate in Medan joined Indonesian forestry staff for a reception organised by the Ministry of Forestry. Indian Embassy in Jakarta said in a statement that the successful transfer “reflects the close bilateral ties between India and Indonesia and their shared commitment to the protection and conservation of endangered species,” and sets “a positive precedent for future cooperation in wildlife conservation.” Since its rescue, the orangutan received veterinary treatment and specialised housing from Indian wildlife authorities. In a goodwill gesture, India waived all costs of its care before the transfer. CITES Management Authorities in both countries oversaw the process to meet international rules governing the movement of endangered species. Indonesia’s Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni welcomed the return. “Good cooperation between India and Indonesia..... along with existing institutions including the Centre for Orangutan Protection and Fauna Land, made this possible,” he said. He described the day as “very meaningful” because of the presence of public figure Kang Irfan Hakim, “who loves animals and tirelessly campaigns for the importance of wild animals and wildlife welfare.” Sumatran orangutans are critically endangered. Habitat destruction and the illegal pet trade have driven sharp population declines, with infants often smuggled out of Indonesia and sold as exotic pets. Successful repatriations remain uncommon. The case is not isolated. Five more young orangutans rescued in Odisha in September 2026 are currently under care at Nandankanan Zoological Park in Bhubaneswar. Indonesian wildlife experts are due to visit India in November to help verify their origin and accelerate their return, according to the Indian embassy in Jakarta. Such operations depend on sustained coordination between enforcement agencies, zoos and governments. For this one infant, the long wait is over. Its journey home, officials hope, will not be the last.

Since its rescue nearly two years ago, the baby Sumatran orangutan "Rocky" received veterinary treatment and specialised housing from Indian wildlife authorities. In a goodwill gesture, India waived all costs of its care before the transfer.

Baby orangutan rescued in India returns to Indonesia

Australian Independent federal MP Helen Haines is in a critical condition in a Melbourne hospital after being struck by a white Toyota Land Cruiser outside her Wangaratta electorate office on Monday afternoon, while standing at the boot of her car.A 43-year-old man has been arrested, and police found a knife inside the vehicle. Police are examining whether the act was deliberate and whether the two parties knew each other. Haines, 65, has held the north-east Victorian seat of Indi since 2019.&nbsp;Bystanders told reporters a man in an SUV turned his car around and drove toward Haines, who was pinned between the two vehicles. Police said the incident happened near 4 pm.&nbsp;Haines was treated at Wangaratta Hospital and airlifted to the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne, arriving about 7.30 pm. ABC News reported she was undergoing emergency surgery, citing a source.&nbsp;Leaders across the political spectrum have condemned the attack.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/tiger-shroff-firing-case-accused-fathers-strict-legal-action-1792403318193">Tiger Shroff firing case: Accused's fathers seek strict legal action against sons</a>Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the incident was an "attack", and said: "There is no place for violence in a democracy."Opposition leader Angus Taylor - head of the Liberal Party - says he is "deeply saddened and distressed" by the news, and says that Australians will be "angry and appalled by the attack on Helen". One Nation leader Pauline Hanson said she was horrified, and Victorian Premier Ben Carroll called it a violent attack. &nbsp;Wangaratta mayor Irene Grant said the community was left stunned.Haines' family has issued a statement.&nbsp;“This afternoon, our beloved Helen was involved in an incident outside her Wangaratta Electorate Office, and is receiving medical care.”"We thank the swift assistance of bystanders and the dedicated health workers who assisted her, and police for their response.Our family, and Helen’s staff, will be making no further comment at this time, and ask that their privacy be respected by the public and media."“Please keep Helen in your thoughts.” &nbsp;This is a developing story. More updates to follow.

Independent Australian MP Helen Haines is in critical condition after being struck by an SUV outside her Wangaratta office. Police have arrested a 43-year-old man and are investigating the incident.

Australian Independent federal MP Helen Haines is in a critical condition in a Melbourne hospital after being struck by a white Toyota Land Cruiser outside her Wangaratta electorate office on Monday afternoon, while standing at the boot of her car. A 43-year-old man has been arrested, and police found a knife inside the vehicle. Police are examining whether the act was deliberate and whether the two parties knew each other. Haines, 65, has held the north-east Victorian seat of Indi since 2019. Bystanders told reporters a man in an SUV turned his car around and drove toward Haines, who was pinned between the two vehicles. Police said the incident happened near 4 pm. Haines was treated at Wangaratta Hospital and airlifted to the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne, arriving about 7.30 pm. ABC News reported she was undergoing emergency surgery, citing a source. Leaders across the political spectrum have condemned the attack. Also Read: Tiger Shroff firing case: Accused's fathers seek strict legal action against sons Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the incident was an "attack", and said: "There is no place for violence in a democracy." Opposition leader Angus Taylor - head of the Liberal Party - says he is "deeply saddened and distressed" by the news, and says that Australians will be "angry and appalled by the attack on Helen". One Nation leader Pauline Hanson said she was horrified, and Victorian Premier Ben Carroll called it a violent attack. Wangaratta mayor Irene Grant said the community was left stunned. Haines' family has issued a statement. “This afternoon, our beloved Helen was involved in an incident outside her Wangaratta Electorate Office, and is receiving medical care.” "We thank the swift assistance of bystanders and the dedicated health workers who assisted her, and police for their response. Our family, and Helen’s staff, will be making no further comment at this time, and ask that their privacy be respected by the public and media." “Please keep Helen in your thoughts.” This is a developing story. More updates to follow.

Independent Australian MP Helen Haines is in critical condition after being struck by an SUV outside her Wangaratta office. Police have arrested a 43-year-old man and are investigating the incident.

Australian MP Helen Haines in critical condition after being hit by SUV

New Delhi: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrives in Mumbai on Tuesday for talks with India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, as Washington says a trade deal is “very close”. Rubio, on his second visit to India this year, is scheduled to land in the financial capital on Tuesday at around 2 pm. He is expected to meet External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar at 3.30 pm IST.&nbsp;Later in the week, he will travel to Jamnagar in Gujarat, home to a private sector crude oil refining complex.Speaking in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, before flying on to India, Rubio linked the sanctions waiver and the trade talks. “We’re trying to finalise a trade deal with India right now. We’re very close to doing that,” he said. “That’s one of the things we take into consideration when the president makes a decision about national security waivers and things of that nature.”&nbsp;He added that Washington had waived sanctions in recent months “because of looking at the global supplies, looking at global prices, the impact that was having on other countries.”&nbsp;&nbsp;Rubio noted high diesel prices in many places and said foreign policy must balance the war in Ukraine with other realities. “Every country has a complex set of factors that they have to take into account. Geography is real. For some countries, it’s very difficult to acquire energy from alternative sources. That’s not an excuse, but all that has to be balanced… You also can’t unravel the economy of other countries because of one central issue,” he said.&nbsp;The waiver relates to the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, which President Donald Trump signed on 18 September. The law authorised tariffs of up to 100% on goods from the five largest importers of Russian oil and gas, a list that includes India and China, if they continued new purchases after 18 October.&nbsp;&nbsp;Trump has paused the key provisions for 60 days while the administration studies the economic consequences. That review is expected to conclude around 15 December, when world leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, are due in Florida for the G20 summit.&nbsp;The visit comes against a backdrop of strained bilateral ties. Immigration and visa issues, along with rising anti-India rhetoric in the United States, remain points of concern for New Delhi. Last week Indian side expressed serious concern after US authorities foiled an alleged plot by a 19-year-old to attack a Hindu temple near Chicago. India has called on Washington to ensure the safety of the Indian community.&nbsp;US officials have described the trip as more business-focused than Rubio’s earlier visit in May, when he attended a Quad foreign ministers’ meeting in New Delhi. This time he is skipping the capital, New Delhi. Energy cooperation, including India’s continued substantial imports of Russian crude and its efforts to diversify supplies, is expected to feature prominently alongside the status of the trade negotiations.

President Trump has paused the key provisions of the Graham Act for 60 days while the administration studies the economic consequences. That review is expected to conclude around 15 December, when world leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, are due in Florida for the G20 summit.

New Delhi: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrives in Mumbai on Tuesday for talks with India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, as Washington says a trade deal is “very close”. Rubio, on his second visit to India this year, is scheduled to land in the financial capital on Tuesday at around 2 pm. He is expected to meet External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar at 3.30 pm IST. Later in the week, he will travel to Jamnagar in Gujarat, home to a private sector crude oil refining complex. Speaking in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, before flying on to India, Rubio linked the sanctions waiver and the trade talks. “We’re trying to finalise a trade deal with India right now. We’re very close to doing that,” he said. “That’s one of the things we take into consideration when the president makes a decision about national security waivers and things of that nature.” He added that Washington had waived sanctions in recent months “because of looking at the global supplies, looking at global prices, the impact that was having on other countries.” Rubio noted high diesel prices in many places and said foreign policy must balance the war in Ukraine with other realities. “Every country has a complex set of factors that they have to take into account. Geography is real. For some countries, it’s very difficult to acquire energy from alternative sources. That’s not an excuse, but all that has to be balanced… You also can’t unravel the economy of other countries because of one central issue,” he said. The waiver relates to the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, which President Donald Trump signed on 18 September. The law authorised tariffs of up to 100% on goods from the five largest importers of Russian oil and gas, a list that includes India and China, if they continued new purchases after 18 October. Trump has paused the key provisions for 60 days while the administration studies the economic consequences. That review is expected to conclude around 15 December, when world leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, are due in Florida for the G20 summit. The visit comes against a backdrop of strained bilateral ties. Immigration and visa issues, along with rising anti-India rhetoric in the United States, remain points of concern for New Delhi. Last week Indian side expressed serious concern after US authorities foiled an alleged plot by a 19-year-old to attack a Hindu temple near Chicago. India has called on Washington to ensure the safety of the Indian community. US officials have described the trip as more business-focused than Rubio’s earlier visit in May, when he attended a Quad foreign ministers’ meeting in New Delhi. This time he is skipping the capital, New Delhi. Energy cooperation, including India’s continued substantial imports of Russian crude and its efforts to diversify supplies, is expected to feature prominently alongside the status of the trade negotiations.

President Trump has paused the key provisions of the Graham Act for 60 days while the administration studies the economic consequences. That review is expected to conclude around 15 December, when world leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, are due in Florida for the G20 summit.

‘Very close’ to trade deal with India, says Marco Rubio ahead of his Mumbai arrival on Tuesday

India’s Ministry of External Affairs has slammed the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and described its resolution on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir as “malicious, biased and false” and “orchestrated by Pakistan” while stating that the group has allowed itself to be “misused” by Islamabad for its “bigoted agenda” and should refrain from “peddling narratives”.&nbsp;The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) slammed the OIC for “unwarranted” and “factually incorrect” remarks made under the influence of Pakistan, which has turned terrorism into “statecraft.”&nbsp;Taking a strong note of the resolution, the MEA issued a statement on Monday, slamming the references to India by the OIC as “malicious, biased and false” and “orchestrated by Pakistan”.&nbsp;“As we have said in the past, the OIC has no locus standi whatsoever to comment on matters that are strictly internal to India. The Union Territories of Jammu &amp; Kashmir and Ladakh are integral and inalienable parts of India,” the ministry said in a statement.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Our statement on anti-India references at the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Baghdad ⬇️

🔗 https://t.co/e5qalSKgQS https://t.co/cVTixPCiiO&mdash; Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) <a href="https://x.com/MEAIndia/status/2112115213898314051?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 19, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

India’s strong reaction came over the resolutions concerning J&amp;K made at 52nd Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the OIC which was held in Baghdad, Iraq, from October 17–18, 2026. Pakistan is a founding and prominent member of the grouping. In a strong reaction, the MEA said, “We categorically reject the anti-India references in the resolutions of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held in Baghdad on October 17-18.” India’s external affairs ministry further emphasised that Jammu and Kashmir has seen significant economic growth ever since Article 370 was scrapped in 2019. “This is in stark contrast to the situation in PoJK, where Pakistan has unleashed violence, repression and brutality on civilian protesters, killing scores of them, including women and children. No amount of media blackout has been able to hide these grave violations of human rights,” it added. The MEA said the OIC has “no locus standi whatsoever” to comment on matters that are strictly internal to India.“The Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are integral and inalienable parts of India. Politically motivated propaganda can never alter this reality.” The MEA described other “fabricated and hostile references against India in the OIC resolutions, including insinuations related to Islamophobia” as nothing but a “desperate attempt by Pakistan to divert international attention from its own appalling record of minority persecution and sectarian violence”. “The OIC’s repeated endorsement of patently malicious propaganda and narratives peddled by Pakistan raises serious questions about its credibility and integrity. We hope its members would do better and reform this organisation,” the ministry added. New Delhi also took the opportunity to raise Pakistan “illegal occupation” of parts of Jammu and Kashmir. “The only issues related to Jammu and Kashmir that remain to be addressed are Pakistan vacating from areas under its illegal and forcible occupation and ceasing its continued support to cross-border terrorism,” the MEA said.

The Ministry of External Affairs slammed the OIC for unwarranted and factually incorrect remarks made under the influence of Pakistan. It said OIC’s repeated endorsement of malicious propaganda and narratives peddled by Pakistan raises serious questions about its credibility and integrity.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs has slammed the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and described its resolution on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir as “malicious, biased and false” and “orchestrated by Pakistan” while stating that the group has allowed itself to be “misused” by Islamabad for its “bigoted agenda” and should refrain from “peddling narratives”. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) slammed the OIC for “unwarranted” and “factually incorrect” remarks made under the influence of Pakistan, which has turned terrorism into “statecraft.” Taking a strong note of the resolution, the MEA issued a statement on Monday, slamming the references to India by the OIC as “malicious, biased and false” and “orchestrated by Pakistan”. “As we have said in the past, the OIC has no locus standi whatsoever to comment on matters that are strictly internal to India. The Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh are integral and inalienable parts of India,” the ministry said in a statement.

The Ministry of External Affairs slammed the OIC for unwarranted and factually incorrect remarks made under the influence of Pakistan. It said OIC’s repeated endorsement of malicious propaganda and narratives peddled by Pakistan raises serious questions about its credibility and integrity.

‘Malicious, false, Pak’s bigoted agenda’: India slams OIC for resolution reference to J&K

Howard Lutnick, US Commerce Secretary under President Donald Trump, has seen his family’s fortune more than double since he joined the administration in 2025, reaching around $7.3 billion by September 2026, according to Forbes. The increase has been driven largely by the rising value of Cantor Fitzgerald’s stake in Tether, the world’s largest stablecoin issuer. Lutnick had stepped down as the long-standing chairman and CEO of the financial services firm in 2025 after being confirmed as the 41st US Secretary of Commerce. Trump’s wealth has also increased since his return to the White House, with cryptocurrency ventures contributing substantially to his fortune. Forbes estimated his net worth at around $7 billion in September 2026, approximately $2.7 billion higher than around the time of his 2024 election victory. Lutnick’s family wealth, however, has recorded a larger increase over the period.<h2>How Howard Lutnick’s wealth increased</h2>Much of it comes from his links with his former firm Cantor Fitzgerald, which is involved in institutional trading, investment banking and other financial markets. He also held interests in BGC Group, an electronic brokerage and financial technology company, and Newmark Group, a commercial real estate services firm.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/trump-s-commerce-sec-lutnick-grilled-over-epstein-island-lunch-1770805247736/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/trump-s-commerce-sec-lutnick-grilled-over-epstein-island-lunch-1770805247736/embed</a>By September this year, Lutnick’s estimated family fortune rose from roughly $3.3 billion. The principal driver was paper gains from Cantor Fitzgerald’s investment in Tether, whose reported valuation increased sharply amid growing institutional interest in stablecoins.Cantor Fitzgerald acquired an approximately 5 per cent stake in Tether, whose USDT token is the world’s largest dollar-pegged stablecoin. Forbes estimated Tether’s value at around $200 billion in February 2026, valuing Cantor’s stake at approximately $10 billion.&nbsp;Before entering government, Lutnick held an approximately 55 per cent interest in Cantor Fitzgerald. His indirect exposure to Tether through the firm therefore became a major source of the family’s wealth appreciation.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/lutnick-had-venezuela-on-his-mind-trump-says-18-were-killed-in-iran-conflict-contradicts-his-commerce-secretary-1788442497444">‘Lutnick had Venezuela on his mind’: Trump says 18 were killed in Iran conflict, contradicts his commerce secretary</a>&nbsp;After joining the government, Lutnick stepped down from his corporate leadership positions and agreed to divest his business interests to comply with ethics requirements. The transfer of his ownership interests to trusts benefiting his children was completed in October 2025. His sons Brandon and Kyle Lutnick subsequently assumed senior leadership roles at Cantor Fitzgerald.Forbes’s estimate of approximately $7.3 billion includes wealth held through the family structure, and is not money personally available to the commerce secretary.Lutnick’s annual financial disclosure for 2025 put his income and other proceeds at more than $250 million, the largest being some $192 million from Cantor Fitzgerald, described in the disclosure as a tax distribution made under his ethics agreement. He also reported some $14.1 million in salary and bonuses associated with BGC Group, over $5 million in proceeds from BGC restricted stock units, and $4.2 million in salary and bonuses from Newmark, while the conversion of Newmark partnership units generated another $19.6 million.He made at least $259 million in asset sales and $166 million in purchases, mainly of Treasury instruments, money-market funds and broad-market investments.&nbsp;The regulatory environment is relevant here. The Trump administration supported the GENIUS Act, establishing a federal framework for stablecoins.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-pathological-liar-democrats-accuse-howard-lutnick-of-egregious-cover-up-in-epstein-investigation-1778110524766">'Pathological liar': Democrats accuse Howard Lutnick of ‘egregious cover-up’ in Epstein investigation</a><h2>How Trump’s fortunes changed since returning to office</h2>Trump’s fortune has also benefited from cryptocurrency, besides real estate and media holdings. From $4.3 billion in 2024, his fortunes jumped to around $7 billion in late 2026.Cryptocurrency ventures have been a major contributor. World Liberty Financial, a crypto venture associated with Trump family, generates revenue from token sales and related activities.&nbsp;Forbes’s September estimates put Trump’s holdings in World Liberty tokens at around $80 million and his $TRUMP memecoin holdings at approximately $185 million.&nbsp;World Liberty Financial’s commercial arrangements have attracted scrutiny. An investment vehicle associated with Abu Dhabi official Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan acquired a 49 per cent stake in the venture, with the Trump family continuing to receive a substantial share of those proceeds.&nbsp;Trump Media &amp; Technology Group (TMTG), the parent company of Truth Social, is another component of his fortune. Forbes valued that stake at approximately $1 billion, below its earlier peak.&nbsp;Real estate remains an important part of Trump’s wealth, including Mar-a-Lago in Florida, golf courses, hotels and other properties, as well as global licensing and management agreements. Mar-a-Lago is valued at around $620 million and other US golf courses at approximately $705 million. Trump National Doral is valued separately at around $365 million.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Howard Lutnick’s family fortune rose to $7.3 billion, driven by his former company Cantor Fitzgerald’s stake in the stablecoin Tether. Here is how Trump’s wealth compares to his commerce secretary

Howard Lutnick, US Commerce Secretary under President Donald Trump, has seen his family’s fortune more than double since he joined the administration in 2025, reaching around $7.3 billion by September 2026, according to Forbes. The increase has been driven largely by the rising value of Cantor Fitzgerald’s stake in Tether, the world’s largest stablecoin issuer. Lutnick had stepped down as the long-standing chairman and CEO of the financial services firm in 2025 after being confirmed as the 41st US Secretary of Commerce. Trump’s wealth has also increased since his return to the White House, with cryptocurrency ventures contributing substantially to his fortune. Forbes estimated his net worth at around $7 billion in September 2026, approximately $2.7 billion higher than around the time of his 2024 election victory. Lutnick’s family wealth, however, has recorded a larger increase over the period. How Howard Lutnick’s wealth increased Much of it comes from his links with his former firm Cantor Fitzgerald, which is involved in institutional trading, investment banking and other financial markets. He also held interests in BGC Group, an electronic brokerage and financial technology company, and Newmark Group, a commercial real estate services firm. https://www.wionews.com/videos/trump-s-commerce-sec-lutnick-grilled-over-epstein-island-lunch-1770805247736/embed By September this year, Lutnick’s estimated family fortune rose from roughly $3.3 billion. The principal driver was paper gains from Cantor Fitzgerald’s investment in Tether, whose reported valuation increased sharply amid growing institutional interest in stablecoins. Cantor Fitzgerald acquired an approximately 5 per cent stake in Tether, whose USDT token is the world’s largest dollar-pegged stablecoin. Forbes estimated Tether’s value at around $200 billion in February 2026, valuing Cantor’s stake at approximately $10 billion. Before entering government, Lutnick held an approximately 55 per cent interest in Cantor Fitzgerald. His indirect exposure to Tether through the firm therefore became a major source of the family’s wealth appreciation. Also read: ‘Lutnick had Venezuela on his mind’: Trump says 18 were killed in Iran conflict, contradicts his commerce secretary After joining the government, Lutnick stepped down from his corporate leadership positions and agreed to divest his business interests to comply with ethics requirements. The transfer of his ownership interests to trusts benefiting his children was completed in October 2025. His sons Brandon and Kyle Lutnick subsequently assumed senior leadership roles at Cantor Fitzgerald. Forbes’s estimate of approximately $7.3 billion includes wealth held through the family structure, and is not money personally available to the commerce secretary. Lutnick’s annual financial disclosure for 2025 put his income and other proceeds at more than $250 million, the largest being some $192 million from Cantor Fitzgerald, described in the disclosure as a tax distribution made under his ethics agreement. He also reported some $14.1 million in salary and bonuses associated with BGC Group, over $5 million in proceeds from BGC restricted stock units, and $4.2 million in salary and bonuses from Newmark, while the conversion of Newmark partnership units generated another $19.6 million. He made at least $259 million in asset sales and $166 million in purchases, mainly of Treasury instruments, money-market funds and broad-market investments. The regulatory environment is relevant here. The Trump administration supported the GENIUS Act, establishing a federal framework for stablecoins. Also read: 'Pathological liar': Democrats accuse Howard Lutnick of ‘egregious cover-up’ in Epstein investigation How Trump’s fortunes changed since returning to office Trump’s fortune has also benefited from cryptocurrency, besides real estate and media holdings. From $4.3 billion in 2024, his fortunes jumped to around $7 billion in late 2026. Cryptocurrency ventures have been a major contributor. World Liberty Financial, a crypto venture associated with Trump family, generates revenue from token sales and related activities. Forbes’s September estimates put Trump’s holdings in World Liberty tokens at around $80 million and his $TRUMP memecoin holdings at approximately $185 million. World Liberty Financial’s commercial arrangements have attracted scrutiny. An investment vehicle associated with Abu Dhabi official Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan acquired a 49 per cent stake in the venture, with the Trump family continuing to receive a substantial share of those proceeds. Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG), the parent company of Truth Social, is another component of his fortune. Forbes valued that stake at approximately $1 billion, below its earlier peak. Real estate remains an important part of Trump’s wealth, including Mar-a-Lago in Florida, golf courses, hotels and other properties, as well as global licensing and management agreements. Mar-a-Lago is valued at around $620 million and other US golf courses at approximately $705 million. Trump National Doral is valued separately at around $365 million.

Howard Lutnick’s family fortune rose to $7.3 billion, driven by his former company Cantor Fitzgerald’s stake in the stablecoin Tether. Here is how Trump’s wealth compares to his commerce secretary

Trump Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick’s family fortune more than doubles to $7.3 billion, outpacing his boss

Ghaziabad tops the World Population Review's 2026 ranking of the world's fastest-growing cities, with an annual population growth rate of 5.2 per cent. Surat ranks second at 4.99 per cent, while Patna, Rajkot and Faridabad feature among cities recording 4 per cent annual growth.

Ghaziabad tops the World Population Review's 2026 ranking of the world's fastest-growing cities, with an annual population growth rate of 5.2 per cent. Surat ranks second at 4.99 per cent, while Patna, Rajkot and Faridabad feature among cities recording 4 per cent annual growth.

Ghaziabad is world's fastest-growing city; Surat, Patna, Rajkot also feature on list

Protesters set fire to part of Albania's Supreme Court on Saturday, the fifth day of an escalating wave of violent, anti-government demonstrations. Files were left scattered and furniture burned, and a parked car outside also burned. On Saturday evening, fires were set in several buildings, including the Supreme Court, the entrance to the Bank of Albania and post offices. Albanian media also reported that an officer's leg caught fire after he was hit, though details are unconfirmed.&nbsp;Police used tear gas and water cannons against hundreds of protesters who gathered in Tirana for the sixth consecutive day to demand the departure of Prime Minister Edi Rama, who has been in power for 13 years. Protesters are also denouncing teaching conditions and university tuition fees.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/macron-rejects-laurent-nunez-resignation-france-protests-1792392854945">Macron rejects French interior minister’s resignation after violent protests</a>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Supreme court of Albania got smoked by Protestors https://t.co/iP0BtEUo6M&mdash; Nightmare (@OsintNightmare) <a href="https://x.com/OsintNightmare/status/2112025195229913123?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 19, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">A business located in the Supreme Court building has been set on fire by protesters in Tirana, Albania.

Follow: https://t.co/Ez42KDdHXv https://t.co/NvM9RDKsme&mdash; PressTV Extra (@PresstvExtra) <a href="https://x.com/PresstvExtra/status/2111821289954713948?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 18, 2026</a></blockquote>
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According to state officials, at least 132 police officers have sustained injuries. Law enforcement has arrested 167 individuals and initiated criminal proceedings against nearly 400 people. They also said they had reports of armed people among the crowd and of gunshots, and seized cartridges and Molotov cocktails.&nbsp;Prime Minister Edi Rama has refused to resign, warning that the unrest threatens Albania's path to EU membership, which it targets for 2030. The EU delegation voiced concern and asked for a proportionate response after allegations of excessive police force.The latest wave began as student protests over study and living conditions, the cost of living, and job prospects. On October 14, riots lasted more than eight hours. At least four ministries were damaged, 35 people were detained, and 29 people were treated for injuries. The students have joined the "flamingo" movement, which has rallied for months, demanding Rama's resignation over alleged corruption in a coastal tourism development linked to Jared Kushner, US President Donald Trump's son-in-law.&nbsp;

Anti-government protests in Albania escalated as demonstrators set fire to parts of the Supreme Court in Tirana, with hundreds arrested and police reporting widespread injuries.

Protesters set fire to part of Albania's Supreme Court on Saturday, the fifth day of an escalating wave of violent, anti-government demonstrations. Files were left scattered and furniture burned, and a parked car outside also burned. On Saturday evening, fires were set in several buildings, including the Supreme Court, the entrance to the Bank of Albania and post offices. Albanian media also reported that an officer's leg caught fire after he was hit, though details are unconfirmed. Police used tear gas and water cannons against hundreds of protesters who gathered in Tirana for the sixth consecutive day to demand the departure of Prime Minister Edi Rama, who has been in power for 13 years. Protesters are also denouncing teaching conditions and university tuition fees. Also Read: Macron rejects French interior minister’s resignation after violent protests

Anti-government protests in Albania escalated as demonstrators set fire to parts of the Supreme Court in Tirana, with hundreds arrested and police reporting widespread injuries.

WATCH | Albania protesters set Supreme Court on fire as anti-Rama riots escalate

Amid consistent attacks from Yemen's Houthi rebels, the Kingdom Center skyscraper in Saudi Arabia capital Riyadh told people employed there to work from home. The 99-storey Kingdom Center, one of Saudi Arabia's tallest buildings made working from home "mandatory" with no reason given. The new order is effective immediately and will be in power until further notice, the building's management told tenants, AFP reported.Japan is preparing to attempt something no space agency has done: landing on a Martian moon, collecting at least 10 grams of its surface material, and returning it to Earth. The spacecraft, MMX (Martian Moons eXploration), is targeting Phobos, a lumpy, potato-shaped moon less than thirty kilometres long that orbits Mars closer than any other known moon orbits its planet. If successful, laboratories on Earth would hold the first physical sample taken from the Mars system.There has been a major update in the Tiger Shroff firing incident, as all three alleged shooters have been arrested at Kota railway station in Rajasthan. The arrests were made jointly by the Anti-Gangster Task Force and Kota Police following the attack in Mumbai’s Juhu area on Sunday.As per reports, two of the arrested men are from Haryana, while the third is from Maharashtra. The development comes after unidentified assailants allegedly riding a motorcycle opened fire at the actor’s BMW.Stay with us for the latest news, breaking updates and developments as they unfold.

Blue and White leader Benny Gantz has withdrawn from Israel's upcoming parliamentary election, scheduled for October 27, just eight days before the vote. His decision comes as opinion polls have repeatedly shown his party struggling to cross the electoral threshold.“I will not run in the upcoming election. I will continue fighting for unity. It is the only solution that will prevent another disaster and protect Israel against all challenges, at home and abroad,” Gantz said.

France’s Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said on Monday that he was fully resolved to restore public order and had called for “local and partial” curfews but added that there was “no question” of imposing a full curfew on entire cities.Speaking to reporters after an emergency cabinet meeting on Monday, Lecornu said that a state of emergency would be declared if it was deemed necessary, but ⁠added that partial curfews seemed “more appropriate” at this stage.

SpaceX shares rose 1.5% in premarket trading on Monday despite the delay to its Bandwagon-5 mission, after CEO Elon Musk pledged to give one of his company's shares to every child in the United States next year. The stock traded near $148.27 before the open, up from Friday's close of $146.03. Musk announced the plan on X."Next year, I will give one of my SpaceX shares to every kid in America. This will be the first of many," wrote Musk.

Fresh violence in Manipur has left at least four people dead in two separate incidents since Thursday night, triggering protests and bringing Imphal to a near standstill.Angry residents brought two victims' bodies to the state capital and placed them outside the main gate of the Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh's residence in Babupara to protest the killings. Police later forcefully removed the protesters from the site.In the first incident, violence broke out during a musical event in a locality inhabited by Meiteis and Pangal Muslims.

Four killed in fresh Manipur violence, locals take bodies to CM's residence

All India Students’ Association (AISA) president Neha Bora has moved the Delhi High Court, challenging a notice issued by a Special Executive Magistrate directing her to show cause why she should not execute a personal bond of Rs 10,000 with one surety to maintain peace during an inquiry. In her petition, Bora has sought quashing of the October 17 notice issued under Sections 126 and 130 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, along with all proceedings arising from it. She has also sought directions to the authorities not to take any coercive action against her pursuant to the notice. The petition states that Bora was called upon to appear before the Special Executive Magistrate on October 19 and explain why she should not be required to furnish the bond under Section 135(3) of the BNSS.

AISA President Neha Bora moves Delhi High Court against Rs 10,000 Peace Bond notice, seeks protection from coercive action

Mamata Banerjee faction Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA Kunal Ghosh on Monday voluntarily appeared before the Narkeldanga police station on Mahashtami after receiving an opposition-filed FIR notice, emphasising his commitment to being a law-abiding citizen. Ghosh sharply criticised the police action regarding the Chorbagan Durga Puja stampede, questioning why low-level personnel—such as Home Guards and local civic volunteers—are being scapegoated for policy failures instead of senior police officials and puja committee organisers. “I am a law-abiding citizen. Someone from the opposition filed a complaint against me at the Narkeldanga police station. I received a notice, and I don't want to just brush this aside. Today might be Mahashtami, but I did not want to leave this matter pending, so I came,” Ghosh said.

Mamata faction TMC MLA Kunal Ghosh appears before Police on Mahashtami, demands accountability for Chorbagan stampede

Fans gathered outside actor Tiger Shroff’s residence after a firing incident in Mumbai’s Juhu area on Sunday evening.&nbsp; Some fans were seen bringing flowers for the actor as they stood outside his home following the incident.

Tiger Shroff firing case: Fans gather with flowers outside actor’s residence

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met outgoing Greek Ambassador to India Aliki Koutsomitopoulou in the national capital on Monday, acknowledging her efforts in advancing diplomatic relations and extending good wishes for her upcoming assignments. Jaishankar noted that bilateral cooperation between New Delhi and Athens had expanded significantly throughout her diplomatic tenure. Following the meeting, the External Affairs Minister shared on X, "A pleasure to receive Ambassador Aliki Koutsomitopoulou of Greece for a farewell call. Her tenure has seen an impressive growth in our bilateral ties. Appreciated her contributions and wished her the best in future endeavours."

EAM Jaishankar meets outgoing Greek envoy Koutsomitopoulou, appreciates her contributions to ties

Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking urgent intervention of the Government of India to resolve the demands of sugarcane farmers in Karnataka and facilitate the commencement of the crushing season. In his letter dated October 19, the Chief Minister stated that sugarcane farmers in North Karnataka are protesting at various places and undertaking padayatras from various towns towards Hubballi with the intention of gheraoing the residence of Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, who holds the portfolios of Education, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and New and Renewable Energy.&nbsp;

Karnataka CM writes to PM Modi seeking urgent Intervention as Sugarcane protests delay crushing season in N. Karnataka

Even as several reports pointed to a wider consipracy behind riots in France with footprints traced to India, the Congress has rejected the comparision of the two situations. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Monday said India is neither Bangladesh nor France, asserting that the opposition believes in peaceful protests and is demanding free and fair elections amid the ongoing controversy over the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. He said the opposition does not condone violence and believes in peaceful demonstrations. Speaking to ANI, Tharoor said, "I think that India is not Bangladesh and India is not France. I don't see these analogies as particularly relevant... We would never condone any of the violence, setting alight buses and police stations and so on, that has occurred in France. We only believe in peaceful protest... that's the kind of protest that I have participated in, and that I believe the opposition in general supports."&nbsp;

"India not Bangladesh or France": Congress rejects 'regime change' allegations, says demand is for free and fair elections

Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) has constituted a seven-member high-level committee to engage with protesting students, examine their demands and take steps to restore normalcy on campus, following a hunger strike and protests over students’ demands. The decision was taken after a meeting of senior university functionaries, including Vice-Chancellor Prof. Mazhar Asif, Registrar Prof. Md. Mahtab Alam Rizvi, Controller of Examinations Prof. Ahteshamul Haque, deans of faculties, the Dean of Students’ Welfare, the Dean of Academic Affairs, the Chief Proctor and hostel provosts, among others, on October 18. The committee has been constituted amid protests and a hunger strike by students demanding action on their grievances. The panel will engage with the protesting students, examine their demands and recommend necessary steps to restore normalcy on campus, the university said.

Jamia forms 7-member panel to address students’ grievances amid hunger strike, protests

The domestic stock markets closed sharply lower on Monday as weakness in private bank stocks, disappointing corporate earnings and rising crude oil prices weighed on investor sentiment. The Nifty 50 index closed at 22,888.95, declining 257.20 points or 1.11 per cent. The BSE Sensex fell 876.37 points or 1.17 per cent to settle at 73,852.90.

Sensex sinks 876 points, Nifty falls 1.11% as Crude oil nears USD 109

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk will undertake an official visit to India from October 21 to 23, 2026, at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement. Tusk will be accompanied by Finance and Economy Minister Andrzej Domanski and a large business delegation. During his visit, Tusk will hold bilateral talks with Modi on October 22 to review the entire spectrum of India-Poland relations and exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest. The two countries elevated their ties to a Strategic Partnership during Modi’s visit to Poland in August 2024. Tusk will also travel to Bengaluru, where he will engage with business stakeholders, including those from the IT and space sectors. An India-Poland Business Forum will be held in New Delhi on October 22 and in Bengaluru on October 23. The visit is expected to further strengthen the India-Poland Strategic Partnership and advance cooperation in areas including trade and investment, defence, emerging technologies, renewable energy, education, culture and people-to-people ties, while also contributing to deeper India-EU strategic cooperation.&nbsp;

Poland PM Donald Tusk to visit India from Oct 21-23rd: India Statememt

The Lawrence Bishnoi gang has allegedly claimed responsibility for the firing incident targeting actor Tiger Shroff in Mumbai's Juhu. A social media post and voice note attributed to suspected aides Anil Pandit and Harman Sandhu alleged Shroff was targeted&nbsp; <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/tiger-shroff-firing-who-are-anil-pandit-harman-sandhu-and-others-named-in-bishnoi-gang-post-1792397350655">READ MORE</a>

Tiger Shroff firing: Who are Anil Pandit, Harman Sandhu and others named in Bishnoi gang post?

Israeli police said Monday they had arrested 10 people in the West Bank after settler attacks on an American photographer and a French mayor that drew international condemnation but mixed messages from the government.Police said they raided several locations across the occupied territory and seized cars and potential evidence related to the attacks.The arrests come as violence increases in the West Bank, with Israeli settlers disrupting the annual olive harvest of Palestinians.

Israel announces arrests after West Bank settler attacks on Westerners

There has been a major update in the Tiger Shroff firing incident, as all three alleged shooters have been arrested at Kota railway station in Rajasthan. The arrests were made jointly by the Anti-Gangster Task Force and Kota Police following the attack in Mumbai’s Juhu area on Sunday.As per reports, two of the arrested men are from Haryana, while the third is from Maharashtra. The development comes after unidentified assailants allegedly riding a motorcycle opened fire at the actor’s BMW.While Tiger escaped the shooting without any gunshot injuries, the actor reportedly sustained minor abrasions caused by gunpowder and shattered glass. His driver, Firdaus, was injured in the incident and taken to a hospital for treatment.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/tiger-shroff-firing-incident-update-all-three-shooters-arrested-from-kota-railway-station-1792389820328">Read more</a>

Tiger Shroff firing incident update: All three shooters arrested from Kota railway station

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has initiated legal proceedings for prosecution against Popular biscuit brand Surya Food &amp; Agro which manufactures Priyagold biscuits. The proceedings have been initiated for alleged use of bran meant for cattle feed as a raw material in biscuit manufacturing.The move comes after an inspection at the company's premises reportedly uncovered serious food safety and hygiene deficiencies."Bran meant for cattle feed and not intended for human consumption was found being used as a raw material in Priyagold biscuit manufacturing as a source of fibre," the regulator said in a post on X.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/cattle-feed-found-in-biscuits-of-indian-company-fssai-sends-legal-notice-1792390523275">Read more</a>

Cattle feed found in biscuits of Indian company, FSSAI sends legal notice

The 2026 US midterm election schedule concludes on Nov 3. Early voting for the midterm elections is underway and as of October 19, 2026, tracker data from NBC News revealed that more than 9.5 million early ballots have already been cast nationwide. This total consists of roughly 6.8 million mail-in ballots and 2.8 million in-person vote.While Indian-American politicians, administration aides, and voters are emerging as a pivotal force, but they face severe internal friction. Data from the late-2026 Indian American Attitudes Survey (IAAS) indicates that his administration's strict new immigration policies are causing a sharp political reversal. Kash Patel at the FBI, Dr. Jay Bhattacharya at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and Harmeet Dhillon at the Department of Justice (DOJ) find themselves navigating intense institutional and public battles.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-midterms-from-kash-patel-to-harmeet-dhillon-indian-american-officials-face-scrutiny-1792393469854">Read more</a>

US midterms: From Kash Patel to Harmeet Dhillon, Indian-American officials face scrutiny

France President Emmanuel Macron has declined the offer of Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez's resignation after a weekend of violent protests. Macron have previously slammed “failures” that he says led to violent protests. Nuñez tendered his resignation on Sunday, October 18, 2026, after admitting that police "lost control" and suffered a "lack of anticipation" during the protests."I offered to resign because I am entirely responsible for what happened," Nunez told France Inter radio. French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu will hold a crisis cabinet meeting today to address the weekend's unrest."The interior minister submitted his resignation to the president on Sunday," the Élysee palace said in a statement. “Given the necessity for continued leadership of law enforcement at this time, the president refused.”At least 18000 people have been arrested so far in France after peaceful protests against the high cost of living were hijacked by what officials called "unprecedented" levels or riot, looting of stores, and damage to urban landmarks in major cities. Alexandre Bompard, the president of the French Retail and Trade Federation, estimated 1,500 shops and businesses were looted and destroyed. In Paris, police fired tear gas into crowds on Saturday, while there were also violent incidents reported in Marseille, Rennes, Toulouse and Angers.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/macron-rejects-laurent-nunez-resignation-france-protests-1792392854945">Read more</a>

Macron rejects French interior minister’s resignation after violent protests

Amid consistent attacks from Yemen's Houthi rebels, the Kingdom Center skyscraper in Saudi Arabia capital Riyadh told people employed there to work from home. The 99-storey Kingdom Center, one of Saudi Arabia's tallest buildings made working from home "mandatory" with no reason given. The new order is effective immediately and will be in power until further notice, the building's management told tenants, AFP reported.The move came after two drones were intercepted in the Riyadh area, a third over the Eastern Province and two ballistic missiles in southern Saudi Arabia overnight.The building house important offices like the International Monetary Fund, wealth management company Merril Lynch and consulting giant McKinsey &amp; Company, among others.However, the shopping centre at the ground floor of the building will remain open for now. "Please be advised that remote working arrangements are mandatory for all office employees at Kingdom Centre, effective immediately and until further notice," building management said in an email obtained by AFP. Though, there was no specific reason given for the decision, experts says it is keeping in view the repeated attacks from Yemen's Houthi rebels.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-arabia-asks-skyscraper-employees-to-work-from-home-amid-houthi-threats-1792395026234">Read more</a>

Saudi Arabia asks skyscraper employees to work from home amid Houthi threats

Catch the latest updates: Riyadh’s Kingdom Center orders mandatory work from home amid Houthi strikes, JAXA targets Mars' moon Phobos, and suspects in the Tiger Shroff firing case are arrested. 

Amid consistent attacks from Yemen's Houthi rebels, the Kingdom Center skyscraper in Saudi Arabia capital Riyadh told people employed there to work from home. The 99-storey Kingdom Center, one of Saudi Arabia's tallest buildings made working from home "mandatory" with no reason given. The new order is effective immediately and will be in power until further notice, the building's management told tenants, AFP reported. Japan is preparing to attempt something no space agency has done: landing on a Martian moon, collecting at least 10 grams of its surface material, and returning it to Earth. The spacecraft, MMX (Martian Moons eXploration), is targeting Phobos, a lumpy, potato-shaped moon less than thirty kilometres long that orbits Mars closer than any other known moon orbits its planet. If successful, laboratories on Earth would hold the first physical sample taken from the Mars system. There has been a major update in the Tiger Shroff firing incident, as all three alleged shooters have been arrested at Kota railway station in Rajasthan. The arrests were made jointly by the Anti-Gangster Task Force and Kota Police following the attack in Mumbai’s Juhu area on Sunday. As per reports, two of the arrested men are from Haryana, while the third is from Maharashtra. The development comes after unidentified assailants allegedly riding a motorcycle opened fire at the actor’s BMW. Stay with us for the latest news, breaking updates and developments as they unfold.

Catch the latest updates: Riyadh’s Kingdom Center orders mandatory work from home amid Houthi strikes, JAXA targets Mars' moon Phobos, and suspects in the Tiger Shroff firing case are arrested.

Latest News India & World Highlights: Riyadh’s Kingdom Center orders WFH amid Houthi attacks, Neha Bora moves Delhi HC, & more

The 2026 US midterm election schedule concludes on Nov 3. Early voting for the midterm elections is underway and as of October 19, 2026, tracker data from NBC News revealed that more than 9.5 million early ballots have already been cast nationwide. This total consists of roughly 6.8 million mail-in ballots and 2.8 million in-person vote.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-midterm-elections-2026-postal-ballots-and-voter-disenfranchisement-a-key-battle-for-donald-trump-1792320104891">US midterm elections 2026: Postal ballots and voter disenfranchisement</a>.While Indian-American politicians, administration aides, and voters are emerging as a pivotal force, but they face severe internal friction. Data from the late-2026 Indian American Attitudes Survey (IAAS) indicates that his administration's strict new immigration policies are causing a sharp political reversal. Kash Patel at the FBI, Dr. Jay Bhattacharya at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and Harmeet Dhillon at the Department of Justice (DOJ) find themselves navigating intense institutional and public battles.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-issues-travel-alert-for-west-asia-as-midterm-early-voting-begins-1792389457786">US issues travel alert for West Asia as midterm early voting begins</a> Kash Patel is navigating tough times after being confirmed as the &nbsp;first Indian American and Hindu to lead the FBI. Though he took the office promising rigorous constitutional oversight and an aggressive mandate to "drain the swamp." Patel faces heavy internal friction. Current and former agents have publicly scrutinized his decision-making and personal travel. Furthermore, Patel has expressed frustration with his own diaspora, stating in interviews that he feels "forsaken and vilified by Indian Americans" who refuse to back him due to partisan political differences.&nbsp;. Dr. Jay Bhattacharya — Director of the NIH and Acting CDC Director was sworn in on April 1, 2025, to oversee the nation’s $48 billion medical research portfolio, the Stanford-trained epidemiologist was appointed to deliver on the administration’s "Make America Healthy Again" agenda under HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.&nbsp; Bhattacharya’s duties expanded dramatically when he was also tapped to serve as the acting director of the CDC, concentrating an unprecedented amount of public health power into his hands. He continues to balance implementing sweeping structural changes while answering critics of his pandemic-era policies (such as the anti-lockdown Great Barrington Declaration). Congressional critics are leveraging health agency oversight to intensely scrutinize biosecurity standards, Fauci-era institutional handovers, and taxpayer-funded virus research. A critical Congress stands to threaten the NIH’s massive budget if his programmatic shifts stray too far from traditional scientific consensus. Harmeet Dhillon is the Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division and was appointed in April 2025. He vowed to fundamentally change the mandate of the DOJ's Civil Rights Division to match the president's MAGA priorities. Dhillon has moved aggressively, overseeing a massive workforce turnover by pushing out more than 300 veteran career attorneys and replacing them with roughly 130 ideological allies. Her deployment of voting monitors—who have clashed with local officials in places like Wyoming over access to voting equipment—has drawn significant controversy. Dhillon faces the sharpest immediate target from congressional opposition.&nbsp;

More than 9.5 million Americans have already cast early ballots for the 2026 US midterms, with Indian Americans emerging as a key political constituency. However, immigration policies and internal political divisions are creating challenges for Indian-American figures

The 2026 US midterm election schedule concludes on Nov 3. Early voting for the midterm elections is underway and as of October 19, 2026, tracker data from NBC News revealed that more than 9.5 million early ballots have already been cast nationwide. This total consists of roughly 6.8 million mail-in ballots and 2.8 million in-person vote. Also Read: US midterm elections 2026: Postal ballots and voter disenfranchisement . While Indian-American politicians, administration aides, and voters are emerging as a pivotal force, but they face severe internal friction. Data from the late-2026 Indian American Attitudes Survey (IAAS) indicates that his administration's strict new immigration policies are causing a sharp political reversal. Kash Patel at the FBI, Dr. Jay Bhattacharya at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and Harmeet Dhillon at the Department of Justice (DOJ) find themselves navigating intense institutional and public battles. Also Read: US issues travel alert for West Asia as midterm early voting begins Kash Patel is navigating tough times after being confirmed as the first Indian American and Hindu to lead the FBI. Though he took the office promising rigorous constitutional oversight and an aggressive mandate to "drain the swamp." Patel faces heavy internal friction. Current and former agents have publicly scrutinized his decision-making and personal travel. Furthermore, Patel has expressed frustration with his own diaspora, stating in interviews that he feels "forsaken and vilified by Indian Americans" who refuse to back him due to partisan political differences. . Dr. Jay Bhattacharya — Director of the NIH and Acting CDC Director was sworn in on April 1, 2025, to oversee the nation’s $48 billion medical research portfolio, the Stanford-trained epidemiologist was appointed to deliver on the administration’s "Make America Healthy Again" agenda under HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Bhattacharya’s duties expanded dramatically when he was also tapped to serve as the acting director of the CDC, concentrating an unprecedented amount of public health power into his hands. He continues to balance implementing sweeping structural changes while answering critics of his pandemic-era policies (such as the anti-lockdown Great Barrington Declaration). Congressional critics are leveraging health agency oversight to intensely scrutinize biosecurity standards, Fauci-era institutional handovers, and taxpayer-funded virus research. A critical Congress stands to threaten the NIH’s massive budget if his programmatic shifts stray too far from traditional scientific consensus. Harmeet Dhillon is the Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division and was appointed in April 2025. He vowed to fundamentally change the mandate of the DOJ's Civil Rights Division to match the president's MAGA priorities. Dhillon has moved aggressively, overseeing a massive workforce turnover by pushing out more than 300 veteran career attorneys and replacing them with roughly 130 ideological allies. Her deployment of voting monitors—who have clashed with local officials in places like Wyoming over access to voting equipment—has drawn significant controversy. Dhillon faces the sharpest immediate target from congressional opposition.

More than 9.5 million Americans have already cast early ballots for the 2026 US midterms, with Indian Americans emerging as a key political constituency. However, immigration policies and internal political divisions are creating challenges for Indian-American figures

France President Emmanuel Macron has declined the offer of Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez's resignation after a weekend of violent protests. Macron have previously slammed “failures” that he says led to violent protests. Nuñez tendered his resignation on Sunday, October 18, 2026, after admitting that police "lost control" and suffered a "lack of anticipation" during the protests."I offered to resign because I am entirely responsible for what happened," Nunez told France Inter radio. French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu will hold a crisis cabinet meeting today to address the weekend's unrest."The interior minister submitted his resignation to the president on Sunday," the Élysee palace said in a statement. "Given the necessity for continued leadership of law enforcement at this time, the president refused."At least 18000 people have been arrested so far in France after peaceful protests against the high cost of living were hijacked by what officials called "unprecedented" levels or riot, looting of stores, and damage to urban landmarks in major cities. Alexandre Bompard, the president of the French Retail and Trade Federation, estimated 1,500 shops and businesses were looted and destroyed. In Paris, police fired tear gas into crowds on Saturday, while there were also violent incidents reported in Marseille, Rennes, Toulouse and Angers.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/france-record-borrowing-budget-deadlock-protests-debt-crisis-1792347325485">Why France looks the most fragile in the G7 amid protests and budget deadlock</a><h2>How did the protest turn violent?</h2>The most immediate trigger was the heavy-handed policing. A 15-year-old boy had his hand blown off by a police stun grenade, and another 14-year-old had his jaw shattered by a tear gas canister. Similar life-changing injuries were suffered by other adolescents.While the protest began over grievances about schools that are under-resourced, with dilapidated facilities and insufficient staff, notably in lower-income neighbourhoods. But the schooling system was the trigger; what the French are protesting is structural intergenerational elitism.French media consistently showed videos of scampering rats, collapsed ceilings, leaks, broken furniture and other woes in dilapidated schools. The protests were then backed by the General Confederation of Labour (CGT), one of the largest unions in the country, issuing a call for lower prices and higher pensions and wages. With Macron barred from seeking a third term, candidates seeking to replace him tried to swoop in. Far-left candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon has positioned himself firmly on the side of the students and has decried police actions. While Far-right Marine Le Pen tried to frame it as a result of immigration.&nbsp;&nbsp;

French President Emmanuel Macron rejected Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez’s resignation after violent protests, as the government faces scrutiny over police preparedness and the unrest.

France President Emmanuel Macron has declined the offer of Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez's resignation after a weekend of violent protests. Macron have previously slammed “failures” that he says led to violent protests. Nuñez tendered his resignation on Sunday, October 18, 2026, after admitting that police "lost control" and suffered a "lack of anticipation" during the protests. "I offered to resign because I am entirely responsible for what happened," Nunez told France Inter radio. French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu will hold a crisis cabinet meeting today to address the weekend's unrest. "The interior minister submitted his resignation to the president on Sunday," the Élysee palace said in a statement. "Given the necessity for continued leadership of law enforcement at this time, the president refused." At least 18000 people have been arrested so far in France after peaceful protests against the high cost of living were hijacked by what officials called "unprecedented" levels or riot, looting of stores, and damage to urban landmarks in major cities. Alexandre Bompard, the president of the French Retail and Trade Federation, estimated 1,500 shops and businesses were looted and destroyed. In Paris, police fired tear gas into crowds on Saturday, while there were also violent incidents reported in Marseille, Rennes, Toulouse and Angers. Also Read: Why France looks the most fragile in the G7 amid protests and budget deadlock How did the protest turn violent? The most immediate trigger was the heavy-handed policing. A 15-year-old boy had his hand blown off by a police stun grenade, and another 14-year-old had his jaw shattered by a tear gas canister. Similar life-changing injuries were suffered by other adolescents. While the protest began over grievances about schools that are under-resourced, with dilapidated facilities and insufficient staff, notably in lower-income neighbourhoods. But the schooling system was the trigger; what the French are protesting is structural intergenerational elitism. French media consistently showed videos of scampering rats, collapsed ceilings, leaks, broken furniture and other woes in dilapidated schools. The protests were then backed by the General Confederation of Labour (CGT), one of the largest unions in the country, issuing a call for lower prices and higher pensions and wages. With Macron barred from seeking a third term, candidates seeking to replace him tried to swoop in. Far-left candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon has positioned himself firmly on the side of the students and has decried police actions. While Far-right Marine Le Pen tried to frame it as a result of immigration.

French President Emmanuel Macron rejected Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez’s resignation after violent protests, as the government faces scrutiny over police preparedness and the unrest.

Amid consistent attacks from Yemen's Houthi rebels, the Kingdom Center skyscraper in Saudi Arabia capital Riyadh told people employed there to work from home. The 99-storey Kingdom Center, one of Saudi Arabia's tallest buildings made working from home "mandatory" with no reason given. The new order is effective immediately and will be in power until further notice, the building's management told tenants, AFP reported.&nbsp;The move came after two drones were intercepted in the Riyadh area, a third over the Eastern Province and two ballistic missiles in southern Saudi Arabia overnight.&nbsp;The building house important offices like the International Monetary Fund, wealth management company Merril Lynch and consulting giant McKinsey &amp; Company, among others.&nbsp;However, the shopping centre at the ground floor of the building will remain open for now.&nbsp;"Please be advised that remote working arrangements are mandatory for all office employees at Kingdom Centre, effective immediately and until further notice," building management said in an email obtained by AFP.&nbsp;Though, there was no specific reason given for the decision, experts says it is keeping in view the repeated attacks from Yemen's Houthi rebels.&nbsp;<h2>King Khalid International Airport attack</h2>&nbsp;The heightened security concerns also comes after the deadly Oct 10 attack on King Khalid International Airport that killed 13 people and wounded more than 300 others.&nbsp;The dead include four Saudi citizens, two Bangladeshis, and one each from the US, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Sudan and the Palestinian territories, besides the Indian, who hailed from Hyderabad and was travelling with his family for the Umrah pilgrimage.&nbsp;The Houthis say they are targeting Saudi Arabia for supporting government forces in Yemen's civil war, as well as an air strike on the airport in Sanaa.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The building house important offices like the International Monetary Fund, wealth management company Merril Lynch and consulting giant McKinsey & Company, among others.

Amid consistent attacks from Yemen's Houthi rebels, the Kingdom Center skyscraper in Saudi Arabia capital Riyadh told people employed there to work from home. The 99-storey Kingdom Center, one of Saudi Arabia's tallest buildings made working from home "mandatory" with no reason given. The new order is effective immediately and will be in power until further notice, the building's management told tenants, AFP reported. The move came after two drones were intercepted in the Riyadh area, a third over the Eastern Province and two ballistic missiles in southern Saudi Arabia overnight. The building house important offices like the International Monetary Fund, wealth management company Merril Lynch and consulting giant McKinsey & Company, among others. However, the shopping centre at the ground floor of the building will remain open for now. "Please be advised that remote working arrangements are mandatory for all office employees at Kingdom Centre, effective immediately and until further notice," building management said in an email obtained by AFP. Though, there was no specific reason given for the decision, experts says it is keeping in view the repeated attacks from Yemen's Houthi rebels. King Khalid International Airport attack The heightened security concerns also comes after the deadly Oct 10 attack on King Khalid International Airport that killed 13 people and wounded more than 300 others. The dead include four Saudi citizens, two Bangladeshis, and one each from the US, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Sudan and the Palestinian territories, besides the Indian, who hailed from Hyderabad and was travelling with his family for the Umrah pilgrimage. The Houthis say they are targeting Saudi Arabia for supporting government forces in Yemen's civil war, as well as an air strike on the airport in Sanaa.

The building house important offices like the International Monetary Fund, wealth management company Merril Lynch and consulting giant McKinsey &amp; Company, among others.

Pakistan's finance minister has said the country has so far absorbed the shock of soaring energy prices caused by the Iran war, but warned that strikes on energy infrastructure in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states could hurt its economic outlook over the longer term.Speaking to news agency AFP on the sidelines of the IMF-World Bank Annual Meetings in Bangkok on Saturday, Muhammad Aurangzeb said Pakistan had secured enough energy supplies to last through November and was now preparing for winter, when household demand typically climbs.

"The first-order impact has been negotiated well by Pakistan," he said, noting there had been no shortages, no queues at fuel stations and no law-and-order problems, which some other countries have experienced. He added that the government would not buy spot LNG cargoes, which cost far more than contracted shipments, unless there was "an absolute dire need".&nbsp;Global energy prices have jumped since the United States and Israel launched a war on Iran in February. Tehran's retaliation has targeted Washington's Gulf allies and restricted oil and gas supplies. Separately, Yemen's civil war has reignited, and the Houthis have repeatedly struck Saudi infrastructure, including energy facilities and airports, in recent days.&nbsp;Aurangzeb voiced concern over the escalation. "What is now (the) worrying part of it is when the energy infrastructure starts getting hit," he said, adding that continued damage would prolong the return to normalcy even if tensions eased.&nbsp;<h2>IMF programme</h2>&nbsp;Pakistan is in its 25th programme with the International Monetary Fund since independence in 1947, at least 11 of which were outright bailouts. The current arrangement is worth about $7 billion over three years, and the Fund agreed this month to release a $1.2 billion tranche.&nbsp;At this year's meetings, the IMF urged all economies, including those most exposed to the Iran war shock, to pursue fiscal consolidation given high global debt. Aurangzeb said Pakistan had already been on that path for some time.&nbsp;He said tax revenues have risen significantly in recent years and that the government was targeting businesses that collect sales tax from consumers but fail to deposit it with the state, a practice he said costs billions of dollars. He added there was "room for improvement" in income tax collection, and acknowledged that reforms had met resistance from industry, lobby groups and vested interests.&nbsp;<h2>Military businesses</h2>&nbsp;Privatising state-owned assets is a key pillar of the IMF programme. Asked about the military's extensive commercial interests, which span real estate to fertiliser, Aurangzeb denied they received public funds. He said the enterprises operate on a standalone basis, are profitable, and that no money from the exchequer is being provided to them. The military has ruled Pakistan directly for roughly two-fifths of its history. Under army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, it has tightened its hold over key centres of power, even as a civilian government nominally remains in charge.

Pakistan's Finance Minister warns that continued attacks on Gulf energy infrastructure pose severe risks to the nation's long-term economic outlook. 

Pakistan's finance minister has said the country has so far absorbed the shock of soaring energy prices caused by the Iran war, but warned that strikes on energy infrastructure in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states could hurt its economic outlook over the longer term. Speaking to news agency AFP on the sidelines of the IMF-World Bank Annual Meetings in Bangkok on Saturday, Muhammad Aurangzeb said Pakistan had secured enough energy supplies to last through November and was now preparing for winter, when household demand typically climbs.

Pakistan's Finance Minister warns that continued attacks on Gulf energy infrastructure pose severe risks to the nation's long-term economic outlook.&nbsp;

Gulf energy attacks endanger long-term economy, warns Pakistan finance minister

Japan is preparing to attempt something no space agency has done: landing on a Martian moon, collecting at least 10 grams of its surface material, and returning it to Earth. The spacecraft, MMX (Martian Moons eXploration), is targeting Phobos, a lumpy, potato-shaped moon less than thirty kilometres long that orbits Mars closer than any other known moon orbits its planet. If successful, laboratories on Earth would hold the first physical sample taken from the Mars system.&nbsp;<h2>Why does it matter?</h2>&nbsp;The origin of Mars's two moons, Phobos and the smaller Deimos, remains unknown. They could be asteroids captured by Mars's gravity or debris thrown into orbit when a massive object struck the planet. Each explanation points to a different history of the early solar system, and only laboratory analysis of a sample can resolve the question.&nbsp;The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), which led the Hayabusa missions that returned grains from two asteroids, is heading the project. NASA, France's CNES, Germany's DLR and the European Space Agency are partners. JAXA describes it as the largest international planetary mission Japan has led.&nbsp;"The Martian moon Phobos remains an unexplored frontier for humankind," said MMX project manager Kawakatsu Yasuhiro in a JAXA statement. He said returning samples could help explain how the moons formed, how the Mars sphere evolved, and how water and organic materials on terrestrial planets originated.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-warns-humans-have-underestimated-the-strongest-solar-storms-1784528249152">NASA warns humans have underestimated the strongest solar storms - 'There could be no upper limit'</a>&nbsp;<h2>All about MMX spacecraft</h2>&nbsp;MMX is about nine metres long and consists of three stacked modules: a propulsion module to brake into Mars orbit, an exploration module with landing legs and sampling equipment, and a return module to carry the sample home. According to ESA, it carries 11 science instruments, seven on the main spacecraft and four on a small rover.&nbsp;Because Phobos's gravity is less than a thousandth of Earth's, MMX will use a quasi-satellite orbit. It technically circles Mars but moves in step with Phobos, appearing to loop around the moon. From there, the TENGOO telescopic camera can resolve features about 40 centimetres across. The OROCHI wide-angle camera, a laser altimeter, the French infrared spectrometer MIRS and NASA's MEGANE gamma-ray and neutron instrument will map the terrain, minerals and chemical elements.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-is-anil-menon-indian-origin-nasa-astronaut-set-for-july-14-launch-on-eight-month-iss-mission-1783682933106">Who is Anil Menon? Indian-origin NASA astronaut set for July 14 launch on eight month ISS mission</a>&nbsp;Before the main spacecraft attempts a landing, it will release Idefix, a 25-kilogram rover built by CNES and DLR. It will drop from 40 to 100 metres above the surface, right itself and operate for about 100 days. On Phobos, it will weigh roughly as much as 15 grams does on Earth.&nbsp;The exploration module will then land, staying on the surface for around two and a half hours, and may touch down a second time at another site. Its main sampling tool is a corer on a robotic arm that drills about 2 centimetres deep, enough to reach material not chemically altered by sunlight and solar radiation.&nbsp;A NASA-supplied backup system uses a jet of nitrogen gas to blast surface grains into a container, the same principle OSIRIS-REx used at asteroid Bennu. In Phobos's weak gravity, however, the jet carries a small risk of tipping the spacecraft.

Japan’s JAXA is launching the Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission to bring back the first-ever soil and rock samples from Mars’ moon Phobos. Discover how this historic sample-return endeavour could unlock the origins of the Red Planet.

Japan is preparing to attempt something no space agency has done: landing on a Martian moon, collecting at least 10 grams of its surface material, and returning it to Earth. The spacecraft, MMX (Martian Moons eXploration), is targeting Phobos, a lumpy, potato-shaped moon less than thirty kilometres long that orbits Mars closer than any other known moon orbits its planet. If successful, laboratories on Earth would hold the first physical sample taken from the Mars system. Why does it matter? The origin of Mars's two moons, Phobos and the smaller Deimos, remains unknown. They could be asteroids captured by Mars's gravity or debris thrown into orbit when a massive object struck the planet. Each explanation points to a different history of the early solar system, and only laboratory analysis of a sample can resolve the question. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), which led the Hayabusa missions that returned grains from two asteroids, is heading the project. NASA, France's CNES, Germany's DLR and the European Space Agency are partners. JAXA describes it as the largest international planetary mission Japan has led. "The Martian moon Phobos remains an unexplored frontier for humankind," said MMX project manager Kawakatsu Yasuhiro in a JAXA statement. He said returning samples could help explain how the moons formed, how the Mars sphere evolved, and how water and organic materials on terrestrial planets originated. Also read: NASA warns humans have underestimated the strongest solar storms - 'There could be no upper limit' All about MMX spacecraft MMX is about nine metres long and consists of three stacked modules: a propulsion module to brake into Mars orbit, an exploration module with landing legs and sampling equipment, and a return module to carry the sample home. According to ESA, it carries 11 science instruments, seven on the main spacecraft and four on a small rover. Because Phobos's gravity is less than a thousandth of Earth's, MMX will use a quasi-satellite orbit. It technically circles Mars but moves in step with Phobos, appearing to loop around the moon. From there, the TENGOO telescopic camera can resolve features about 40 centimetres across. The OROCHI wide-angle camera, a laser altimeter, the French infrared spectrometer MIRS and NASA's MEGANE gamma-ray and neutron instrument will map the terrain, minerals and chemical elements. Also read: Who is Anil Menon? Indian-origin NASA astronaut set for July 14 launch on eight month ISS mission Before the main spacecraft attempts a landing, it will release Idefix, a 25-kilogram rover built by CNES and DLR. It will drop from 40 to 100 metres above the surface, right itself and operate for about 100 days. On Phobos, it will weigh roughly as much as 15 grams does on Earth. The exploration module will then land, staying on the surface for around two and a half hours, and may touch down a second time at another site. Its main sampling tool is a corer on a robotic arm that drills about 2 centimetres deep, enough to reach material not chemically altered by sunlight and solar radiation. A NASA-supplied backup system uses a jet of nitrogen gas to blast surface grains into a container, the same principle OSIRIS-REx used at asteroid Bennu. In Phobos's weak gravity, however, the jet carries a small risk of tipping the spacecraft.

Japan’s JAXA is launching the Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission to bring back the first-ever soil and rock samples from Mars’ moon Phobos. Discover how this historic sample-return endeavour could unlock the origins of the Red Planet.

Japan's MMX mission aims to bring back first samples from Mars's Moon Phobos

The United States has issued a security alert across West Asia urging Americans in the region to exercise heightened vigilance amid an increasingly complex regional security environment. He warned of potential flight cancellations, airspace closures and travel disruptions. This also comes amid speculation over possible US strikes on Iran coincides with the start of early voting for the US midterm elections. The security alert issued on October 18, the US Embassy in Amman cautioned that hostilities involving Iran-backed groups could escalate rapidly beyond their immediate areas and urged Americans travelling to or from the region to monitor airport and airline operations.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/us-to-review-russia-sanctions-waiver-within-60-days-as-rubio-cites-india-s-substantial-russian-energy-imports-1792341301546">US to review Russia sanctions waiver within 60 days as Rubio cites India’s ‘substantial’ Russian energy imports</a>&nbsp;“Americans currently in the Middle East should exercise heightened vigilance due to the complex security environment,” the advisory stated, warning travellers to remain alert to potential flight cancellations, airspace closures and travel disruptions. “Americans traveling to or from the Middle East should monitor information about airport and airline operations and develop contingency plans in advance,” the advisory added. The embassy also warned that Iran and groups supportive of Tehran may target US interests overseas, including locations associated with the United States and American citizens, businesses and other institutions. The alert comes as the United States military has reportedly developed additional strike options against Iran, including the potential use of the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB), widely known as the “mother of all bombs”, CNN reported, citing multiple US officials familiar with military planning discussions. &nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-midterm-elections-2026-postal-ballots-and-voter-disenfranchisement-a-key-battle-for-donald-trump-1792320104891">US midterm elections 2026: Postal ballots and voter disenfranchisement — A key battle for Donald Trump</a> This also comes after Trump endorsed Netanyahu a “Great Warrior Prime Minister” and a “Partner for Peace” in a Truth Social post. He also warned that the United States and its allies would “soon finish the job” if Iran did not change course. In response, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded by warning that Tehran remained prepared for further escalation. “Last time you wanted to 'finish the job', Iran emerged even stronger. Want to try your luck again? Be our guest. But be careful; we have unfinished jobs too,” Araghchi said in a post on X. The US mission in Saudi Arabia has restricted airport travel for American government employees, requiring special authorisation from the Chief of Mission following recent missile and UAV attacks on airports in the kingdom. “U.S. government employees working in Saudi Arabia require special authorization from Chief of Mission to use any airport in Saudi Arabia following recent missile and UAV attacks on airports in the Kingdom,” the embassy stated in its earlier advisory. The embassy also highlighted legal risks for people filming or sharing images of missile interceptions, drone activity and impact sites in Saudi Arabia. “Filming, publishing, or sharing information related to counter-missiles and drones, and their impact sites, exposes you to legal liability,” the advisory quoted Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Interior as warning. It added that US citizens had been detained for violating such regulations, including by photographing government buildings, airports and impact sites.

The US has urged Americans across West Asia to exercise heightened vigilance, warning of possible flight cancellations, airspace closures and attacks on US interests. The alert comes amid speculation over potential strikes on Iran, and the start of US midterm early voting.

The United States has issued a security alert across West Asia urging Americans in the region to exercise heightened vigilance amid an increasingly complex regional security environment. He warned of potential flight cancellations, airspace closures and travel disruptions. This also comes amid speculation over possible US strikes on Iran coincides with the start of early voting for the US midterm elections. The security alert issued on October 18, the US Embassy in Amman cautioned that hostilities involving Iran-backed groups could escalate rapidly beyond their immediate areas and urged Americans travelling to or from the region to monitor airport and airline operations. Also Read: US to review Russia sanctions waiver within 60 days as Rubio cites India’s ‘substantial’ Russian energy imports “Americans currently in the Middle East should exercise heightened vigilance due to the complex security environment,” the advisory stated, warning travellers to remain alert to potential flight cancellations, airspace closures and travel disruptions. “Americans traveling to or from the Middle East should monitor information about airport and airline operations and develop contingency plans in advance,” the advisory added. The embassy also warned that Iran and groups supportive of Tehran may target US interests overseas, including locations associated with the United States and American citizens, businesses and other institutions. The alert comes as the United States military has reportedly developed additional strike options against Iran, including the potential use of the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB), widely known as the “mother of all bombs”, CNN reported, citing multiple US officials familiar with military planning discussions. Also Read: US midterm elections 2026: Postal ballots and voter disenfranchisement — A key battle for Donald Trump This also comes after Trump endorsed Netanyahu a “Great Warrior Prime Minister” and a “Partner for Peace” in a Truth Social post. He also warned that the United States and its allies would “soon finish the job” if Iran did not change course. In response, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded by warning that Tehran remained prepared for further escalation. “Last time you wanted to 'finish the job', Iran emerged even stronger. Want to try your luck again? Be our guest. But be careful; we have unfinished jobs too,” Araghchi said in a post on X. The US mission in Saudi Arabia has restricted airport travel for American government employees, requiring special authorisation from the Chief of Mission following recent missile and UAV attacks on airports in the kingdom. “U.S. government employees working in Saudi Arabia require special authorization from Chief of Mission to use any airport in Saudi Arabia following recent missile and UAV attacks on airports in the Kingdom,” the embassy stated in its earlier advisory. The embassy also highlighted legal risks for people filming or sharing images of missile interceptions, drone activity and impact sites in Saudi Arabia. “Filming, publishing, or sharing information related to counter-missiles and drones, and their impact sites, exposes you to legal liability,” the advisory quoted Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Interior as warning. It added that US citizens had been detained for violating such regulations, including by photographing government buildings, airports and impact sites.

The US has urged Americans across West Asia to exercise heightened vigilance, warning of possible flight cancellations, airspace closures and attacks on US interests. The alert comes amid speculation over potential strikes on Iran, and the start of US midterm early voting.

US issues travel alert for West Asia as midterm early voting begins

Anthropic, the company behind the AI assistant Claude, confirmed that it is sharing a draft bill with US lawmakers to regulate artificial intelligence, citing the absence of federal legislation addressing the technology's risks. The draft was first reported by Politico.&nbsp;

Under the proposal, the federal government could block a model's release or use if it posed an imminent risk of killing or seriously injuring more than 50 people, or causing over $1 billion in damages. Any such move would require a judge's approval.An Anthropic spokesperson told news agency AFP the draft "grants the federal government the ability to block or deter dangerous deployments of the most powerful models." The spokesperson said it would require developers of frontier models to test them, publicly disclose their findings, submit to independent evaluation and maintain a robust security program.

AI policy under President Donald Trump has relied mainly on voluntary industry commitments and executive orders meant to sustain an AI boom that tech leaders say is driving the US economy. Congress, which is politically divided and heavily lobbied by the technology industry, has yet to pass a federal AI law. It is also out of session until after next month's midterm elections.&nbsp;Security concerns have grown following recent incidents involving AI agents, autonomous software that operates without constant human oversight, some of which escaped the control of their developers.&nbsp;The company was banned from the Pentagon by the Trump administration in February. In June, Washington forced it to suspend its most advanced models for nearly three weeks.Last month, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei urged the industry to slow development, warning that a group of AI agents could take control of "the entire internet" within six to 12 months. Trump has dismissed repeated calls to slow the technology as "negative forces."&nbsp;The bill would override some state laws, including those in force in California. That marks a notable position given that Anthropic wrote in June that, absent a strong federal law, states should keep full authority to legislate.&nbsp;Charlie Bullock of the Institute for Law &amp; AI think tank called the proposal "pretty reasonable" and said it goes further than what other frontier labs have done. However, he said on X that he considers it "weaker" than the FRONTIER Act, a competing bill introduced in the House of Representatives this summer. &nbsp;

Anthropic has pitched a draft bill to US lawmakers, proposing federal rules to evaluate frontier AI models and limit government intervention to extreme risks. 

Anthropic, the company behind the AI assistant Claude, confirmed that it is sharing a draft bill with US lawmakers to regulate artificial intelligence, citing the absence of federal legislation addressing the technology's risks. The draft was first reported by Politico.

Anthropic has pitched a draft bill to US lawmakers, proposing federal rules to evaluate frontier AI models and limit government intervention to extreme risks.&nbsp;

Anthropic circulates draft AI bill to us lawmakers to regulate frontier models

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi hit back at United States President Donald Trump declaring that Tehran had “unfinished jobs too” after Trump threatened to renew attacks against Iran. Araghchi challenged Trump’s claims that Washington and its allies would “soon finish the job” if Iran did not changed course.&nbsp;“Last time you wanted to ‘finish the job’, Iran emerged even stronger. Want to try your luck again? Be our guest. But be careful; we have unfinished jobs too,” Araghchi wrote on X.&nbsp;He also hit out at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for drawing the United States close to another conflict for his political gains.&nbsp;ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-seeks-trump-xi-summit-on-ukraine-war-proposes-talks-alongside-apec-report-1792375148079">Putin seeks Trump-Xi summit on Ukraine war, proposes talks alongside APEC: Report</a>&nbsp;“Netanyahu is driving America into another war to stay out of jail, whatever the consequences for Israel—let alone POTUS,” he said.&nbsp;<h2>Trump endorses Netanyahu, calls him "Strong, Brave"</h2>&nbsp;The comments by Araghchi comes after Trump endorsed Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of pivotal Israeli election. The Oct. 27 election will determine whether Netanyahu ⁠remains in power amid wars in Gaza, ​Lebanon and Iran.&nbsp;Trump on Sunday praised Netanyahu as a “great warrior prime minister” and peace partner. He credited ⁠him with joining the United States in launching attacks on Iran in February.&nbsp;“Bibi Netanyahu has been Strong, Brave, and Brilliant ⁠in the face of tremendous opposition, including that ​coming ⁠from even Israel, itself,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.&nbsp;“Despite all of that, he has endured and, in fact, he ⁠has thrived! I have watched Bibi under the most trying of times. Normal men ​or ⁠women in such situations would ‌have wilted under the pressure — But Bibi did not wilt, he actually got stronger, and maintains that same Strength today," he added.

The comments by Araghchi comes after Trump endorsed Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of pivotal Israeli election and credited him for jointly launching attacks on Iran.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi hit back at United States President Donald Trump declaring that Tehran had “unfinished jobs too” after Trump threatened to renew attacks against Iran. Araghchi challenged Trump’s claims that Washington and its allies would “soon finish the job” if Iran did not changed course. “Last time you wanted to ‘finish the job’, Iran emerged even stronger. Want to try your luck again? Be our guest. But be careful; we have unfinished jobs too,” Araghchi wrote on X. He also hit out at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for drawing the United States close to another conflict for his political gains. ALSO READ: Putin seeks Trump-Xi summit on Ukraine war, proposes talks alongside APEC: Report “Netanyahu is driving America into another war to stay out of jail, whatever the consequences for Israel—let alone POTUS,” he said. Trump endorses Netanyahu, calls him "Strong, Brave" The comments by Araghchi comes after Trump endorsed Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of pivotal Israeli election. The Oct. 27 election will determine whether Netanyahu ⁠remains in power amid wars in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran. Trump on Sunday praised Netanyahu as a “great warrior prime minister” and peace partner. He credited ⁠him with joining the United States in launching attacks on Iran in February. “Bibi Netanyahu has been Strong, Brave, and Brilliant ⁠in the face of tremendous opposition, including that coming ⁠from even Israel, itself,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. “Despite all of that, he has endured and, in fact, he ⁠has thrived! I have watched Bibi under the most trying of times. Normal men or ⁠women in such situations would ‌have wilted under the pressure — But Bibi did not wilt, he actually got stronger, and maintains that same Strength today," he added.

The comments by Araghchi comes after Trump endorsed Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of pivotal Israeli election and credited him for jointly launching attacks on Iran.

'Want to try your luck again? Be our guest': Iran's Araghchi dares Trump

Four Canadian service members were killed and 39 people injured, including 19 critically in a fire at Canada's largest military base in Alberta on Saturday. The soldiers were conducting combat training with live munitions at the military base, when the incident happened, said officials.&nbsp;Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney confirming the toll and called the incident as one of the worst military tragedies on Canadian soil in peacetime. He also ordered flags lowered to half-staff on federal buildings nationwide.&nbsp;The four service members killed in the incident were all serving with 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, reported BBC. They were: Sgt. Morgan Wong of the Loyal Edmonton Regiment, Privates Shaun Farrell, Aidan Goulding and Hayden Lykkemark of the 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry.&nbsp;ALSO READ:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-seeks-trump-xi-summit-on-ukraine-war-proposes-talks-alongside-apec-report-1792375148079"> Putin seeks Trump-Xi summit on Ukraine war, proposes talks alongside APEC: Report</a>&nbsp;Thirty-nine patients are being treated in hospital, and at least 19 are in a critical condition. While eight were stable and 12 were receiving treatment for minor injuries, said Alberta Premier Danielle Smith.&nbsp;<h2>Started as grass fire</h2>&nbsp;What started as a grass fire soon spread to the military base. The officials were aware of the fire and thought it was sufficiently contained to allow training to continue.&nbsp;“The fire was a kilometer away when the wind shifted. That is not normal for a fire to move a kilometer in 36 seconds,” said Maj. Gen. Wade Rutland at a news conference in Edmonton.Rutland said investigators had not determined what ignited the grass fire and is still being investigated.&nbsp;Located about 180 kilometers (112 miles) southeast of Edmonton, Canadian Forces Base Wainwright is one of the country's busiest military training bases. It is also home to the Canadian Manoeuvre Training Centre, which conducts realistic battlefield exercises.&nbsp;

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney confirming the toll and called the incident as one of the worst military tragedies on Canadian soil in peacetime.

Four Canadian service members were killed and 39 people injured, including 19 critically in a fire at Canada's largest military base in Alberta on Saturday. The soldiers were conducting combat training with live munitions at the military base, when the incident happened, said officials. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney confirming the toll and called the incident as one of the worst military tragedies on Canadian soil in peacetime. He also ordered flags lowered to half-staff on federal buildings nationwide. The four service members killed in the incident were all serving with 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, reported BBC. They were: Sgt. Morgan Wong of the Loyal Edmonton Regiment, Privates Shaun Farrell, Aidan Goulding and Hayden Lykkemark of the 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry. ALSO READ: Putin seeks Trump-Xi summit on Ukraine war, proposes talks alongside APEC: Report Thirty-nine patients are being treated in hospital, and at least 19 are in a critical condition. While eight were stable and 12 were receiving treatment for minor injuries, said Alberta Premier Danielle Smith. Started as grass fire What started as a grass fire soon spread to the military base. The officials were aware of the fire and thought it was sufficiently contained to allow training to continue. “The fire was a kilometer away when the wind shifted. That is not normal for a fire to move a kilometer in 36 seconds,” said Maj. Gen. Wade Rutland at a news conference in Edmonton. Rutland said investigators had not determined what ignited the grass fire and is still being investigated. Located about 180 kilometers (112 miles) southeast of Edmonton, Canadian Forces Base Wainwright is one of the country's busiest military training bases. It is also home to the Canadian Manoeuvre Training Centre, which conducts realistic battlefield exercises.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney confirming the toll and called the incident as one of the worst military tragedies on Canadian soil in peacetime.

4 killed, 19 critically injured in grass fire at Canada's largest military base

An Austrian Airlines flight from Tel Aviv to Vienna made an emergency landing on Sunday (Oct 19) after it received a bomb threat. The plane was forced to divert to Bulgaria, according to Bulgarian authorities and the airline. Bulgaria’s transport ministry said in a statement that the Austrian Airlines crew decided to make an emergency landing in Sofia after reportedly receiving a bomb threat as they neared Romania. It also said that 51 passengers and six crew were aboard and all were evacuated from the aircraft after landing. A crisis response team has been set up and the relevant authorities have launched an investigation into the incident.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/air-india-flight-from-frankfurt-diverted-to-jaipur-after-hijack-alert-probe-on-1791958111698">Air India Flight from Frankfurt diverted to Jaipur after hijack alert, probe on</a>&nbsp;According to the Haaretz newspaper, the threat came from an Austrian citizen who was not on board the flight. The Bulgarian air force scrambled a MiG-29 fighter jet to escort the airliner as part of established procedures, the transport ministry said. After landing, a security search of the aircraft — an Airbus A320 — was launched. “Once the search of the aircraft is complete, the passengers will be rebooked onto alternative flights as quickly as possible,” the airline said.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/at-least-14-people-killed-in-plane-crash-in-congo-as-plane-develops-technical-snag-1790394826603">At least 14 killed in plane crash in Congo as plane develops technical snag</a>&nbsp;This comes after last month the copilot of a flybubai flight headed to Tel Aviv from Dubai attacked the captain, planning to intentionally crash the plane into Ben Gurion Airport, but was stopped by the captain, passengers and crew. The incident has sparked calls for a closer look at Israel’s aviation safety regulations as well as accusations that Transportation Ministry authorities have long ignored warnings about the risks from foreign airlines flying into Israel. Last week, a Delta flight that landed at Ben Gurion Airport was cleared after an anonymous report alleged that a “suspicious” device was on board. Also last week, Croatia and Germany both scrambled fighter jets after a commercial flight from the Greek holiday island of Corfu to the German city of Nuremberg accidentally sent out a hijacking alert.

An Austrian Airlines flight from Tel Aviv to Vienna made an emergency landing in Sofia, Bulgaria, after a bomb threat on Sunday. All 51 passengers and six crew members were evacuated, while authorities launched an investigation and security teams searched the aircraft.

An Austrian Airlines flight from Tel Aviv to Vienna made an emergency landing on Sunday (Oct 19) after it received a bomb threat. The plane was forced to divert to Bulgaria, according to Bulgarian authorities and the airline. Bulgaria’s transport ministry said in a statement that the Austrian Airlines crew decided to make an emergency landing in Sofia after reportedly receiving a bomb threat as they neared Romania. It also said that 51 passengers and six crew were aboard and all were evacuated from the aircraft after landing. A crisis response team has been set up and the relevant authorities have launched an investigation into the incident. Also Read: Air India Flight from Frankfurt diverted to Jaipur after hijack alert, probe on According to the Haaretz newspaper, the threat came from an Austrian citizen who was not on board the flight. The Bulgarian air force scrambled a MiG-29 fighter jet to escort the airliner as part of established procedures, the transport ministry said. After landing, a security search of the aircraft — an Airbus A320 — was launched. “Once the search of the aircraft is complete, the passengers will be rebooked onto alternative flights as quickly as possible,” the airline said. Also Read: At least 14 killed in plane crash in Congo as plane develops technical snag This comes after last month the copilot of a flybubai flight headed to Tel Aviv from Dubai attacked the captain, planning to intentionally crash the plane into Ben Gurion Airport, but was stopped by the captain, passengers and crew. The incident has sparked calls for a closer look at Israel’s aviation safety regulations as well as accusations that Transportation Ministry authorities have long ignored warnings about the risks from foreign airlines flying into Israel. Last week, a Delta flight that landed at Ben Gurion Airport was cleared after an anonymous report alleged that a “suspicious” device was on board. Also last week, Croatia and Germany both scrambled fighter jets after a commercial flight from the Greek holiday island of Corfu to the German city of Nuremberg accidentally sent out a hijacking alert.

An Austrian Airlines flight from Tel Aviv to Vienna made an emergency landing in Sofia, Bulgaria, after a bomb threat on Sunday. All 51 passengers and six crew members were evacuated, while authorities launched an investigation and security teams searched the aircraft.

Tel Aviv-Vienna flight makes emergency landing after bomb threat; Bulgarian Air Force scrambles MiG-29 fighter jet

Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed a trilateral summit with US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping next month to discuss the Ukraine conflict, aiming to negotiate a peace deal favourable to Moscow, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported. Citing a former Russian intelligence official who remained unnamed, WSJ reported that Putin initially raised the idea of a trilateral meeting during an October 9 telephone conversation with Trump. The same call resulted in an agreement allowing the US to purchase Russian diesel fuel and facilitate its distribution on global markets. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed to WSJ that discussions about a possible meeting were underway. While a senior US official told The Wall Street Journal that Trump has not formally agreed to the summit, the official indicated the US President might be open to the proposal given his push to resolve the war. Kremlin suggested hosting the trilateral talks alongside the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, that the scheduled for November 18 and 19 in the southern Chinese tech hub of Shenzhen. “There is no clear understanding yet regarding the meeting itself or its potential agenda, although all three parties acknowledge the hypothetical possibility of such a meeting taking place,” Peskov told WSJ. On Sunday, Trump claimed that negotiations to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict were making "great progress", while defending his administration's diplomatic approach towards Moscow and accusing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of failing to secure a better deal two years ago. In a post on Truth Social, Trump described his strategy to strike a deal between the warring nations as a simple one which he said includes ensuring that Russia is not, "foolishly", driven away from the bargaining table. Trump said that the diplomatic process is making great strides, touting that he can sign the document that involves ongoing hostage negotiations "anytime that I want."&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bessent-europe-russia-energy-tariffs-india-china-1792338205301">Bessent accuses Europe of refusing secondary tariffs on India, China</a> &nbsp;"My decision on Russia is a very simple one. I am in the process of negotiating Peace in the war between Russia and Ukraine, and don’t want to do anything that will drive, foolishly, Russia away from the bargaining table. Great progress is being made, and that includes current hostage negotiations! Signing that document at this time will do that, and I can sign it later, or any time that I want!" Trump wrote. “Zelenskyy doesn’t care, and frankly, with all of the money that Europe is famously giving him … he doesn’t want to end this war, and probably never did,” he added. Trump’s remarks come after he signed an executive order on Friday putting on hold a sweeping new sanctions package targeting the Russian economy. Earlier this month, Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump held a "very substantive" and friendly telephone conversation lasting an hour and a half, during which they discussed economic initiatives, energy supplies and international issues, with both leaders potentially set to meet in person on the sidelines of the upcoming APEC summit in China, Russian Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov said on Saturday, as reported by TASS. "Putin and Trump had a "very substantive", even friendly conversation that lasted an hour and a half," Ushakov said, according to TASS.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-flames-engulf-st-petersburg-oil-sites-as-ukraine-launches-1-000-drones-at-russia-1792335992204">WATCH | Flames engulf St Petersburg oil sites as Ukraine launches 1,000 drones at Russia</a> &nbsp;On the possibility of a face-to-face meeting, Ushakov said the two presidents had not discussed specific dates but could meet during the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in China, provided both attend. "An important international event is coming up in China - the APEC summit. At least for now, both the Russian and US leaders are interested in attending. Accordingly, if both leaders are at the same international venue, I assume they will find an opportunity to meet, shake hands and talk," Ushakov said, as quoted by TASS. Notably, Chinese President Xi Jinping paid a state visit to the United States from September 23 to 25, during which he held what Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called a “candid and in-depth exchange of views with US President Donald Trump in a friendly atmosphere of mutual respect” on strategic and overarching issues concerning China-US relations and the broader global landscape.&nbsp;

Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed a trilateral summit with US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping next month to discuss the Ukraine war, with Moscow seeking a peace deal favourable to Russia. The talks could take place alongside the APEC summit in Shenzhen.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed a trilateral summit with US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping next month to discuss the Ukraine conflict, aiming to negotiate a peace deal favourable to Moscow, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported. Citing a former Russian intelligence official who remained unnamed, WSJ reported that Putin initially raised the idea of a trilateral meeting during an October 9 telephone conversation with Trump. The same call resulted in an agreement allowing the US to purchase Russian diesel fuel and facilitate its distribution on global markets. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed to WSJ that discussions about a possible meeting were underway. While a senior US official told The Wall Street Journal that Trump has not formally agreed to the summit, the official indicated the US President might be open to the proposal given his push to resolve the war. Kremlin suggested hosting the trilateral talks alongside the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, that the scheduled for November 18 and 19 in the southern Chinese tech hub of Shenzhen. “There is no clear understanding yet regarding the meeting itself or its potential agenda, although all three parties acknowledge the hypothetical possibility of such a meeting taking place,” Peskov told WSJ. On Sunday, Trump claimed that negotiations to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict were making "great progress", while defending his administration's diplomatic approach towards Moscow and accusing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of failing to secure a better deal two years ago. In a post on Truth Social, Trump described his strategy to strike a deal between the warring nations as a simple one which he said includes ensuring that Russia is not, "foolishly", driven away from the bargaining table. Trump said that the diplomatic process is making great strides, touting that he can sign the document that involves ongoing hostage negotiations "anytime that I want." Also Read: Bessent accuses Europe of refusing secondary tariffs on India, China "My decision on Russia is a very simple one. I am in the process of negotiating Peace in the war between Russia and Ukraine, and don’t want to do anything that will drive, foolishly, Russia away from the bargaining table. Great progress is being made, and that includes current hostage negotiations! Signing that document at this time will do that, and I can sign it later, or any time that I want!" Trump wrote. “Zelenskyy doesn’t care, and frankly, with all of the money that Europe is famously giving him … he doesn’t want to end this war, and probably never did,” he added. Trump’s remarks come after he signed an executive order on Friday putting on hold a sweeping new sanctions package targeting the Russian economy. Earlier this month, Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump held a "very substantive" and friendly telephone conversation lasting an hour and a half, during which they discussed economic initiatives, energy supplies and international issues, with both leaders potentially set to meet in person on the sidelines of the upcoming APEC summit in China, Russian Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov said on Saturday, as reported by TASS. "Putin and Trump had a "very substantive", even friendly conversation that lasted an hour and a half," Ushakov said, according to TASS. Also Read: WATCH | Flames engulf St Petersburg oil sites as Ukraine launches 1,000 drones at Russia On the possibility of a face-to-face meeting, Ushakov said the two presidents had not discussed specific dates but could meet during the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in China, provided both attend. "An important international event is coming up in China - the APEC summit. At least for now, both the Russian and US leaders are interested in attending. Accordingly, if both leaders are at the same international venue, I assume they will find an opportunity to meet, shake hands and talk," Ushakov said, as quoted by TASS. Notably, Chinese President Xi Jinping paid a state visit to the United States from September 23 to 25, during which he held what Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called a “candid and in-depth exchange of views with US President Donald Trump in a friendly atmosphere of mutual respect” on strategic and overarching issues concerning China-US relations and the broader global landscape.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed a trilateral summit with US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping next month to discuss the Ukraine war, with Moscow seeking a peace deal favourable to Russia. The talks could take place alongside the APEC summit in Shenzhen.

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