Israeli settlers attacked and opened fire on Palestinian farmers in Deir Jarir, east of Ramallah, while Israeli forces arrested two Palestinian men in raids in Nablus and nearby Tal, Middle East Eye reports. The outlet also reports attacks on Palestinian homes in Ma’in, east of Yatta, and says three people were injured in a settler attack while picking olives the previous day. This follows earlier reports that settlers attacked and set fire to a mosque in the occupied West Bank.
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October 2026 news
Ukraine is in talks with SpaceX and the Pentagon to lift a speed cap on its military satellite communication service, according to ABC News. The Hindu reports the cap, imposed without warning early October 15, cuts the internet data connection when a terminal moves faster than 160 kph, a speed common for Ukrainian drones equipped with Starshield. This follows earlier reports that Ukraine was seeking clarification from the United States, SpaceX and NATO over Starlink limitations.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi sent a ritual offering to Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo on Saturday, at the start of its three-day autumn festival. The South China Morning Post reports that a source close to Takaichi said she was unlikely to visit the shrine; The Japan Times also says she is expected to skip a visit during the festival, which runs through Monday.
Police praised three people for intervening in a school shooting in Oregon that killed three children and a teacher, Deutsche Welle reports. RTÉ reports that a teacher tackled the 16-year-old former pupil who opened fire and an armed community member fatally shot him. This follows earlier reports that the shooting took place at Silver Rail Elementary in Bend, Oregon.
Pakistan has so far withstood the initial economic shock of the Iran war, but Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb warned that continued attacks on Gulf energy infrastructure could delay a return to normalcy. Middle East Eye reports that Pakistan has secured energy supplies through November and is planning for winter, when household demand typically rises.
A Mexican court has sentenced three men to 158 years and nine months in prison each for the 2024 murders of Australian brothers Jake and Callum Robinson and their American friend Carter Rhoad. The Guardian reports that the men were found guilty a week earlier of homicide, aggravated robbery, robbery with violence and vehicle theft with violence. The Sydney Morning Herald says the brothers’ parents attended every day of the trial and were present for the guilty verdict; the BBC describes the killings as the result of an apparent botched robbery, and the South China Morning Post says the sentencing ended a lengthy legal process.
President Donald Trump has put new Russia sanctions on hold, two days before a sanctions deadline, according to Al Jazeera; the Sydney Morning Herald says the measures had passed Congress. The Sydney Morning Herald says the move came a week after Trump said the U.S. had agreed to buy Russian diesel to lower global energy prices, while Channel News Asia describes the move as a waiver and reports a deal with Putin to ease sanctions in exchange for Moscow releasing diesel to global markets. This follows earlier reports that the U.K. and Europe recoiled from Trump's diesel deal with Putin.
Al Jazeera reports that Russian attacks in Ukraine killed at least eight people and cut power to one million, with strikes in Kharkiv, Kramatorsk, Volyn and Rivne. Earlier reports on Oct. 16 put the death toll at at least three; The Straits Times said power was temporarily cut to over one million people, while ABC News reported 370,000. Channel NewsAsia said repair crews restored electricity in many affected areas, though some could face blackouts for at least 24 hours as attacks continued. This follows earlier reports that Russian strikes hit homes and power facilities in Kyiv.
Japan criticized Russia’s extradition requests for International Criminal Court President Tomoko Akane and eight other tribunal officials from the Netherlands, where the court is based. This follows Japan’s protest over Russia’s arrest of a Japanese journalist accused of spying.
A president said talks with Iran can succeed only without threats, while diplomatic efforts to end the seven-month conflict have been at an impasse since the summer. The Hindu reports that the conflict began with U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran in February. This follows France 24’s report, citing CNN, that the United States was considering using its largest non-nuclear bomb against Iran if President Donald Trump decided to renew combat.
President Donald Trump waived some Russia-related sanctions that threatened 100% tariffs on India and China, the Hindustan Times reports. The paper says the decision has been interpreted as an effort to keep US domestic energy prices low ahead of November’s midterm elections. Earlier, Semafor reported that Washington hoped Trump would spare India from tariffs, which it said posed a risk to US-India relations.
The White House says Katie Zacharia is transitioning out of her press secretary role after five days, the BBC reports; The Times of Israel reports that the White House said she was let go. Hindustan Times, The Globe and Mail and CNA report that President Donald Trump told her to reconsider the role; Hindustan Times links his suggestion to harsh media treatment, while CNA says her first briefing drew criticism. The Irish Times and The Times of Israel report scrutiny of how she presented her legal background, and the BBC says her debut drew criticism of her credentials and preparedness. Deutsche Welle says her five-day tenure made her the shortest-serving press secretary in White House history, while The Guardian says her departure left the White House without a press secretary again and reopened the contest for the role. This follows reports that Zacharia admitted failing the bar exam but defended calling herself a lawyer.
The number of captive birds at Castle Espie has declined, with avian flu and costs among the reasons. The BBC reports that difficulties transporting animals since Brexit have also contributed.
Canada condemned Houthi strikes on Maashiq Palace in Aden, which Middle East Eye reports killed five people and wounded others. The Canadian embassy in Saudi Arabia offered condolences to the victims’ families, wished the injured a speedy recovery and called for an immediate de-escalation of hostilities. This follows reports that the Houthis denied targeting Medina after Saudi Arabia said it intercepted a missile.
Russell Brand’s trial began this week at Southwark crown court, where the former comedian and presenter is accused of assaulting six women; he denies all charges, The Guardian reports. This follows earlier reports that the first alleged victim to testify said Brand raped her at the 1999 Labour party conference.
The Guardian reports that the Home Office refused a visa for Khin Thant Zin, a refugee from Myanmar, to visit the UK with her family. Her partner, Matthew Cross, wants to take their five-month-old British son from Thailand to Lancashire to meet Cross’s ill grandfather, the baby’s great-grandfather.
Organisers expect 50,000 visitors at the pumpkin festival at a Brussels castle, Euronews reports. The Pumpkimania festival at Groot-Bijgaarden Castle features pumpkin sculptures of foxes, owls and deer, a 772kg giant pumpkin, pumpkin boat rides and Halloween activities, and runs until 1 November, according to Euronews and Africanews.
The murder of a young mother has reignited debate in Iran over so-called honor killings, the social acceptance of violence against women and the lack of protection for people vulnerable to gender-based violence.
French students are planning fresh protests as the UN flags concern over violence; students have complained of absent teachers, overloaded timetables, dilapidated classrooms and buildings unable to cope with rising temperatures, The Hindu reports. The Hindu earlier reported that students blocked entrances to hundreds of high schools, with riot police deployed and occasional violent clashes, as students vowed to continue protesting. This follows earlier reports of nationwide demonstrations over poor conditions, school closures and clashes with riot police; The Hindu had also reported France was preparing for fresh demonstrations as President Emmanuel Macron called for respect.
Protesters staged an “I Am Jane Doe” rally in New York City against sexual violence, while an online movement gained steam to reveal the identity of a Cornell student suing over alleged sexual assault. The Hindu says the student, identified by the pseudonym Jane Doe, alleged in a lawsuit filed last month that members of the campus Chi Phi fraternity plied her with drugs and alcohol and then assaulted her. The New York Times reports that she named seven men in the lawsuit.