Ukraine faces Starlink limits as US denies ordering slowdown
US officials on October 18 denied ordering satellite internet restrictions affecting Ukraine’s military. Marco Rubio said service had recovered, but Volodymyr Zelensky…
World
International events, conflicts and diplomacy.
Zelensky says US proposes three-way talks with Ukraine and Russia
Possible venues include the Middle East, Europe or the United States during December’s G20 summit. Zelensky said neither Moscow nor Washington had confirmed the proposed…
Trump backs Netanyahu ahead of Israel's October 27 election
Donald Trump endorsed Benjamin Netanyahu's re-election bid on Sunday, linking the race to the war with Iran. The move comes as Israel votes on October 27 and the contest…
Hurricane Trudy threatens Mexico’s Pacific coast with heavy rain and strong winds
The Category 1 storm approached Colima, Jalisco and Michoacán on October 17, prompting coastal warnings as authorities warned of flooding and landslides.
Pope Leo XIV leads Angelus days after lung cancer surgery
Pope Leo XIV addressed crowds in St. Peter’s Square on October 18, a day after returning to the Vatican. He said he would resume activities gradually as doctors await…
Hormuz shipping stays 70% below pre-conflict levels as attacks continue
UK Maritime Trade Operations reported 12 attacks on commercial vessels in its weekly update on October 17. Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for energy…
Saudi Arabia welcomes UN condemnation of Houthi attacks
Saudi Arabia on October 16 welcomed a UN Security Council statement calling for Houthi attacks on the kingdom to stop. The council also urged cooperation to block…
Yemen’s former PM warns a Houthi takeover of Taiz could threaten Western security
Maeen Abdulmalik Saeed appealed for Western help in comments published October 16, saying the loss of Taiz could threaten access to the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait.
White House orders limits on Ukraine’s Starshield use, Reuters reports
The Pentagon received instructions to restrict a satellite system used by Ukrainian forces for communications and drone guidance. Ukrainian officials reported disruption…
Russia nears completion of jet-powered drone base in Rostov region
Satellite images show eight launch pads at the new site near Ukraine. One defence analyst estimates it could launch at least 100 jet-powered drones a day, depending on…
Zelensky asks EU for €70 billion more to support Ukraine in 2027
Ukraine’s president sought additional military and economic aid at the Brussels summit on October 16. France’s Emmanuel Macron said the priority remained delivering €90…
Houthis say they strike targets inside Yemen’s Maashiq Palace
An October 15 attack on Yemen’s government base in Aden killed palace guards, with accounts differing on the toll. Prime Minister Shaya al-Zindani and cabinet members…
Trump announces Russian diesel deal with Putin as critics warn over sanctions
The White House says Russian diesel imports would help lower living costs. Italy’s prime minister warns the agreement could strengthen Moscow’s war revenues and weaken…
Zelensky says Ukraine will resume strikes on Russian oil refineries
Ukraine’s president said a three-day pause had ended despite U.S. pressure to halt attacks. He also reported missing missile warnings and restrictions on military…
EU leaders weigh responses to suspected hybrid attacks across Europe
EU leaders are discussing suspected hybrid and cyberattacks at this week’s Brussels summit, as incidents disrupt shops and infrastructure. Officials accuse Russia of…
Trump rules out nuclear weapons against Iran and predicts war will end soon
US President Donald Trump said Washington did not need nuclear weapons against Iran. In a Newsmax interview, he raised the possibility of further conventional strikes…
Attacks surge near Strait of Hormuz as merchant ships sink
The GFS Pride sank near the Strait of Hormuz amid a surge in attacks reported between October 11 and 14. Its 21 crew members escaped unharmed, but the incidents have…
Houthis warn airlines against using Saudi airspace and airports
Yemen’s Houthis issued the warning on October 15, threatening further strikes on Saudi airports and oil facilities. The Saudi-led coalition said airport attacks had…
Yemen fighting cuts food aid to 800,000 as suspected cholera cases rise
Aid agencies say hospitals are struggling with rising casualties and shortages. The World Health Organization reports that weekly suspected cholera cases nearly tripled…
Pope Leo XIV recovers in hospital after lung cancer surgery
The Vatican reports a normal recovery after part of the pope’s right lung was removed. His planned November 6–17 visit to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru remains unconfirmed…
Houthis target Saudi infrastructure as Yemeni forces fight to hold Taiz
Reports on October 14 described repeated Houthi strikes on Saudi airports and energy facilities. In Yemen, government forces fought to defend Taiz, where residents face…
Kyiv mayor rejects Zelensky’s criticism of winter preparations
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko have clashed over the capital’s winter readiness as Russian attacks threaten electricity, water…