Euronews reports that orange skies engulfed Palangkaraya and smoke nearly obscured Singapore's Marina Bay Sands, describing months of wildfires as having triggered an air-pollution crisis across Southeast Asia. The BBC says thick orange smog descended on Palangka Raya as nearby wildfires continued and reports footage of haze blanketing towns. Al Jazeera links orange skies to wildfires raging across Indonesia, while Sky News reports orange smog shrouding Indonesian cities.
Vicar Simon Lockett spent three days walking the bridleways, footpaths and country lanes of the Golden Valley in Herefordshire and speaking with local people. The Guardian reports that the 800th anniversary of St Francis of Assisi’s death inspired Lockett to leave his desk; he stayed overnight at parish churches in Madley, Tyberton and Peterchurch.
Heavy rain and flooding shut down Istanbul, while the governor’s office closed schools and placed some public sector workers on leave, according to ABC News. Sky News, ABC News and CBC report three deaths; Euronews reports at least two, while Al Jazeera reports that a teenager died. Sky News also reports 2,700 evacuations; Al Jazeera calls the rainfall the heaviest since 1985, and Euronews says the municipality reported some areas had their highest amount of rain since then.
Euronews reports that Ukrainian drones forced all four Moscow airports to close overnight, cancelling dozens of flights. The airports were closed for 101 hours in the first 14 days of October, more than twice the total for all of September.
The Saudi-led coalition says it destroyed 127 Houthi mountain storage facilities and several launch platforms in Yemen in recent days, in response to attacks on Saudi civilian sites. The coalition says attacks on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport killed 17 people and injured 333, while attacks on Abha airport killed three and wounded 28. Houthi missiles also struck the Yemeni government’s headquarters in Aden, and Taiz remained encircled by the Houthis. Yemen’s deputy foreign minister told The National that the government would continue fighting and saw no prospect of a political process with the Houthis. This follows earlier reports that Saudi Arabia suspended flights after deadly Houthi airport strikes.
Euronews reports that Russia and Ukraine traded blame over President Donald Trump’s “energy ceasefire” after a ballistic missile hit a power plant supplying Kyiv with heat and electricity. Moscow said it had downed 900 drones overnight.
Iran executed Ali-Sina Mostafavi, a 38-year-old mountaineer and musician from Kerman, on charges including enmity against God. Euronews reports that he was accused of firing on civilians and soldiers during the opening months of the war, participating in January protests and sending footage.
A listing for a midday bulletin dated October 16, 2026, says it offers a catch-up on important stories from Europe and beyond but does not identify them. Euronews’ October 16 morning bulletin makes the same broad claim, while its October 15 evening listing gives no details about its contents. This follows earlier listings of four bulletins across October 14 and 15, which also did not detail their coverage.
Two US aircraft carriers are in the Arabian Sea, and tanker sorties over the region are running 50% above September’s rate, Euronews reports. President Donald Trump has not ruled out intensified strikes after November’s midterm elections.
Germany is set to increase tobacco taxes, with cigarette packs potentially costing close to €12 by 2030. Euronews reports that the government aims to raise an additional €12 billion over four years through the planned increase.
US President Donald Trump accused Democratic Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed of ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, an allegation El-Sayed denied. The National reports Trump also repeatedly referred to El-Sayed as “Mohammed” and that El-Sayed rejected the accusation as based on hearsay. Al Jazeera’s clip also reports Trump invoking the Muslim Brotherhood against El-Sayed.
An increase in killings of women in Cameroon has prompted protests and calls for stronger laws. Africanews reports that nearly 70 women were killed this year for reasons related to their gender, citing the Ministry of Women's Affairs, and says the killings have spurred demands for government action. ABC News reports that elementary school teacher Geraldine Achiah died after allegedly being beaten by her husband.
At least five people were killed and 16 wounded in a Houthi missile attack Thursday on the presidential palace complex in Aden, Yemen’s interim capital, according to officials cited by France 24, Le Monde and Euronews; Channel NewsAsia reported at least four killed and 10 injured. The palace is used by Yemen’s internationally recognised government, and the South China Morning Post says the strikes hit command centres used by government forces and the Saudi-led coalition. CBC says the government reported five deaths and the coalition detailed dozens of attacks on Saudi infrastructure, while the South China Morning Post reports Saudi Arabia blamed Iran for the recent escalation. This follows reports that the Houthis attacked Saudi Aramco’s headquarters, according to the Financial Times.
A new film about Tenzing Norgay and the 1953 Everest expedition began streaming globally on Apple TV on Friday, after a limited cinema release, according to The National. Directed by Jennifer Peedom, the film stars Genden Phuntsok as Norgay and Tom Hiddleston as Edmund Hillary, and shifts attention to Norgay’s role in the first confirmed ascent of Everest. The Guardian describes it as an adventure biopic exploring ambition, colonialism and class.
Ilhan Omar is under investigation over potential crimes related to her family’s immigration paperwork, Africanews reports; it says federal agents seized her phone, subpoenaed her relatives and searched her home. The Globe and Mail reports that federal authorities are investigating potential fraud in Omar’s immigration paperwork. The Globe and Mail and The Guardian, both citing a source, report that Omar’s phone was seized and her relatives were subpoenaed.
Kenya has raised fuel prices, with Semafor framing the move as an effort to tame government costs. Africanews links higher import costs to the Middle East conflict and says rising prices are hurting household budgets and the transport, agriculture and construction sectors; Semafor also notes African economies' exposure from reliance on imported fuels.
Smoke from wildfires has turned skies orange in Indonesia and contributed to an air pollution crisis across Southeast Asia, according to Africanews. The Japan Times reports that haze led to schools closing in East Timor; Africanews describes orange skies in Palangkaraya and smoke nearly obscuring Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands.
Pope Leo XIV is walking and eating after surgery to remove a cancerous lung tumour, and doctors say his post-surgery progress is normal. Blood tests and an X-ray are part of his recovery, according to Fox News. Well-wishers gathered outside Rome’s Gemelli Hospital as he recovered, Africanews reports. This follows earlier reports that Leo was diagnosed with lung cancer and was expected to undergo surgery to remove a lung nodule.
Mauritius extended its curfew for two more nights and tightened security after days of unrest, ABC News reports. Africanews says the curfew was extended over roughly a third of the island on Wednesday after rare violent protests in which almost 100 people were arrested. ABC News reports that unrest was sparked by police shooting a woman during protests over water shortages and the cost of living. This follows reports that Mauritius imposed a curfew amid protests after the woman was shot by police.
Kenya has confirmed a second Ebola case in a relative of the first patient. CBC says the first patient died earlier this month, while Africanews reports the second case came just over a week after the country's first-ever Ebola case and death. Euronews places the new case amid a growing Ebola outbreak in Congo.