The European Council has warned companies they could face legal, economic and reputational consequences for involvement in Israel’s E1 settlement construction in the occupied West Bank, days before bids for one tender are due on October 19. It urged Israel to reverse settlement expansion and withdraw the E1 tender, and said businesses should not bid for settlement construction contracts.
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October 2026 news
A 256GB Samsung P9 Express microSD Express card for Nintendo Switch 2 has dropped to $59.99 on Amazon. Android Authority says the price is 25% off and describes the card as built for faster installs and load times.
France 24 reports that a fast-moving fire fueled by high winds burned at least six Southern California homes on Friday, engulfed coastal properties and prompted thousands to evacuate. Al Jazeera identifies the blaze as the fast-spreading Norte Fire in Orange County and says intense warm winds and unseasonably high temperatures fueled it; the BBC says evacuation orders were issued and it was one of 13 fires burning across California. NPR also reports that hot winds fueled the fire and coastal homes burned as thousands evacuated, while The Sydney Morning Herald describes several California homes ablaze amid a critical fire-weather threat and says dry, warm, gusty Santa Ana winds blow from inland Southern California toward the coast and offshore. This follows earlier reports of fires spreading into Southern California neighborhoods, with homes ablaze and evacuations issued.
Katie Zacharia was reported out of her White House press secretary job Friday after five days, with accounts describing her as fired, ousted or let go; The National relayed Fox News's report that she was transitioning out. President Donald Trump said he had urged her to reconsider the role. Reports linked her departure to scrutiny of her legal credentials and criticism of her first briefing. This follows earlier reports that Zacharia faced questions about her credentials after a rocky debut.
Selma Blair’s representatives said she did not intend to harm anyone in a recent airplane incident, which they described as a medical emergency. A publicist told the BBC that Blair has a neurological disorder that can cause out-of-control responses. The Guardian reports that Blair was arrested after a Delta flight from Los Angeles to New York following allegations that she assaulted cabin crew members, a police officer and a nurse; her representatives also disputed reports that she tried to open the plane door.
Starlink restrictions are grounding Ukraine’s interceptors as Russian strikes batter the country, ABC News reports, while Trump has paused some Russian sanctions. The BBC reports that Trump denied limiting Ukraine’s access to Starlink, after speed curbs limited Ukraine’s defences against deadly Russian attacks on Tuesday night. This follows earlier reports of Ukrainian concerns that Starlink restrictions affected military access or operations.
Astronomers using James Webb Space Telescope data report finding “gemstones” in the atmosphere of a bizarre, scorching-hot exoplanet with the consistency of a marshmallow. The observations have helped unravel some of the planet’s secrets.
Senegal’s former President Macky Sall is pulling out of the race to lead the United Nations, Africanews reports. The announcement came Saturday, one day after an informal Security Council poll in which all seven candidates received at least one veto from a permanent member.
US President Donald Trump waived more sanctions on Russia in a bid to ease energy prices, Al Jazeera reports. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the decision rewards Vladimir Putin, according to RTÉ. The Financial Times reports that Trump exempted Russia from further sanctions mandated by a new law, giving Putin a reprieve on threatened energy measures after a deal with Moscow to release diesel.
Ukraine on Saturday rejected Russia's claim that it had captured more than 1,800 square kilometres of territory and nearly 100 settlements since September 1, including the eastern town of Dobropillia. The Straits Times and RTÉ report that Ukraine called the claimed advances an illusion.
Türkiye, Pakistan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, described as the R4, condemned Houthi attacks on Riyadh airport and reaffirmed solidarity with Saudi Arabia after a new attack killed one person and wounded nearly a dozen, The Hindu reports. The attack came a day after a strike that killed 13 and wounded more than 300, according to the outlet. This follows reports that Saudi Arabia backed a UN Security Council condemnation of Houthi strikes and further suspended flights after a deadly airport attack.
North Korea fired multiple ballistic missiles, adding to a streak of weapons tests, The Hindu reports. The country has been ramping up tests as it seeks to expand its arsenal of nuclear-capable systems while maintaining a hard line toward Seoul. This follows earlier reports that North Korea said it conducted an intermediate-range strategic missile drill as tensions on the Korean peninsula escalated.
Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia violated the energy ceasefire announced by U.S. President Donald Trump and that he learned of the deal only through the media. This follows earlier reports that Zelenskyy said Russia continued striking Ukraine’s energy facilities and urged Washington to ensure Moscow abided by the ceasefire; The Globe and Mail reported that Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov would not say whether Russia had agreed, saying contacts were ongoing.
Iran's foreign minister backs a political process to resolve the Saudi-Houthi conflict, The Hindu reports. The outlet says the Houthis have repeatedly attacked Saudi targets, including energy facilities and Riyadh's international airport, where 13 people were killed in a major attack last week. This follows reports of Houthi attacks on Saudi targets and Saudi-led coalition airstrikes on oil sites in Yemen.
Pakistan has detained hundreds from former Prime Minister Imran Khan's PTI party, The Hindu reports, after major protests demanding his release faltered. The detentions followed the central government's October 11 imposition of emergency rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the party's provincial stronghold. This follows earlier reports of the emergency declaration and the detention of hundreds of PTI politicians.
The Hindu reports that Lula held a mass rally ahead of Brazil’s presidential runoff, while polls showed Flávio Bolsonaro favored to win the October 25 vote. This follows earlier reports that Lula trailed Flávio in the first round.
Riyadh airport's shutdown has been extended after strikes last week killed at least 18 people, The Hindu reports. This follows earlier reports that Saudi Arabia extended the airport closure after Houthi attacks.
Archaeologists have discovered a spear puncture in the shoulder blade of a Neanderthal who lived 75,000 years ago, potentially offering a glimpse of early interpersonal violence. This follows earlier reports that a Neanderthal from Iraq’s Shanidar Cave may have been killed by a sharpened wooden spear.
Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), was released after agreeing to certain conditions, according to the CJP's head of legal affairs, Deutsche Welle reports. Le Monde says Dipke had been detained on Friday in New Delhi while heading to a CJP rally in Connaught Place. This follows earlier reports that police detained him before a planned protest and that The Guardian reported he was later formally arrested.
A Le Monde opinion article argues that Donald Trump chose to sacrifice Ukrainian civilians in a bid to lower US fuel prices by buying Russian diesel, as he faces the prospect of defeat in the November 3 midterm elections. This follows earlier reports that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned Trump's diesel deal with Russia as weak and said he felt betrayed.