Samoa prime minister apologises after 2007 Nazi salute video emerges
Samoa's prime minister has apologised after a video surfaced showing him giving a Nazi salute and saying "Heil Hitler" at a family gathering in 2007. The seven-second clip shows Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt leading about a dozen people in the gesture. The footage was first reported by a local newspaper and has triggered a political controversy around the country's leader.Schmidt said the words and gesture were "inappropriate and capable of causing offence and hurt". He said the clip was recorded at a private gathering and was "not intended for the public". In a statement published on Facebook, he also said: "I... [Continue Reading]
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Police clash with Kosovo protesters over bid to curb Hague war crimes court
Police in Kosovo clashed with protesters outside the parliament building in Pristina on Monday evening after lawmakers failed to complete a vote on proposed changes to limit the powers of the Hague-based Kosovo Specialist Chambers. Officers used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowd as some demonstrators tried to block lawmakers from leaving the area. The unrest came as parliament ended its session without passing the amendments, which had already cleared a first reading earlier in the day.Several hundred people gathered outside the parliament, including supporters and veterans of the Kosovo Liberation Army, the ethnic Albanian rebel force... [Continue Reading]
Ethiopia's PM presses Red Sea access as Tigray fighting escalates
Ethiopia's prime minister has renewed his demand for access to the Red Sea as fighting intensifies in northern Tigray and regional tensions widen. Abiy Ahmed made the remarks while being sworn in for another five-year term, linking the issue of maritime access to what he described as Ethiopia's long-term national interests. The comments came as Ethiopian forces were pushing back opposition forces in Tigray, where the security situation has deteriorated again.Abiy told parliament that Ethiopia would work to secure a port on the Red Sea, saying access was critical to the country's "civilisation". He said the government would pursue the... [Continue Reading]
MEPs raise alarm over civilians trapped in Russian-occupied Oleshky
Members of the European Parliament have called for urgent support for civilians trapped in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian town of Oleshky, where conditions have been described as extremely severe. The town, on the bank of the Dnipro River, lies in an area separating Russian and Ukrainian forces and has drawn growing concern from international monitors in recent weeks. Ukrainian authorities say the town and surrounding area are effectively under blockade, with residents facing acute shortages of food, medicine, gas and running water.During a plenary session in Strasbourg on Tuesday, several lawmakers highlighted the situation and urged stronger action. Hanna Gedin, a... [Continue Reading]
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Day News Recap: Russia escalates strikes in Ukraine and Black Sea as Brazil heads to runoff
Romanian authorities said a commercial vessel carrying corn sank in the Black Sea after a fire caused by a Russian drone attack, leaving two people dead and underlining the danger to shipping in the corridor. 🔗In Ukraine, Russian strikes intensified again as a missile hit Kyiv’s Northern Bridge, injuring two people and forcing traffic to stop, while Germany’s foreign intelligence chief warned that Europe could be drawn into violent conflict with Russia amid shadow war concerns. 🔗 🔗In the Middle East, Yemen’s military said it had launched more than 1,000 strikes against Houthi targets in a bid to retake territory,... [Continue Reading]
Germany intelligence chief warns of possible violent conflict with Russia amid shadow war concerns
Germany's foreign intelligence chief has warned that the country could be drawn into a violent conflict with Russia as tensions rise over what he described as a shadow war against European democracies. Martin Jaeger, who heads the Bundesnachrichtendienst, said the confrontation with Moscow had taken on a new and more dangerous dimension. He made the remarks during the annual public hearing of intelligence chiefs in parliament.Jaeger said the threat of attacks on targets in Germany remained real and imminent. He pointed to the attempted drone attack at Leipzig Airport in August as one example of the risks facing the country.... [Continue Reading]
Euro falls to 17-month low as French debt fears and Spain election add to eurozone uncertainty
The euro fell to its lowest level against the dollar in 17 months on Monday, as investors grew more concerned about France's debt position and wider political uncertainty in the eurozone. The single currency dropped as much as 0.8% in early trading to below $1.12, its weakest point since May 2025, before recovering slightly. French shares also came under pressure, with the Cac 40 index falling 1% even as some other major European markets were steadier or higher.Market moves were driven by worries that France's rising borrowing costs could make it harder for the government to manage its stretched public... [Continue Reading]
Noontime News Recap: Black Sea ship hit as Yemen widens offensive and Spain calls snap election
A cargo ship carrying grain was hit by a suspected drone in the Black Sea, leaving 13 sailors missing and injuring the captain, in the latest sign of the conflict spilling into vital shipping lanes. The vessel, Royad Mammadov, was struck on Monday and the search for the missing crew continued. 🔗In Yemen, the government said it had launched more than 1,000 strikes against Houthi targets as it tries to retake territory lost in a September offensive. Officials said the campaign is aimed at reversing battlefield gains made by the Houthis and restoring control in contested areas. 🔗The same offensive... [Continue Reading]
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Spain calls snap general election after housing defeat, with vote set for 29 November
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has confirmed that Spain will hold a general election on 29 November after his minority government failed to pass housing reforms in the Spanish Congress. The announcement follows a parliamentary defeat that has deepened pressure on the centre-left leader and brought forward the national political timetable. Sanchez said the vote comes at a time when Spain should stand against what he described as an "extreme-right wave" seen in other countries.The election call comes as polls show Sanchez's Socialist party trailing the conservative People's Party, which many expect could seek support from the far-right Vox if it... [Continue Reading]
Breakfast News Recap: Russia war pressure rises as Brazil heads to runoff and Asia markets rally
Russia and Ukraine remained at the centre of the news, with Kyiv hit again by a Russian missile that struck the Northern Bridge, injured two people and forced traffic to stop, while Ukraine said it was ready for US backed trilateral talks with Russia this month. Separately, a suspected pneumonic plague death in Russia's Irkutsk region is being watched closely by health authorities in Russia and the United States. 🔗 🔗 🔗In the Middle East, Yemen's internationally recognised president said government forces had launched military operations to retake territory still held by the Houthis, as fresh strikes continued. Oil markets... [Continue Reading]
Brazil election heads to runoff after Bolsonaro outperforms Lula in first round
Brazil's presidential election has moved to a runoff after Senator Flavio Bolsonaro finished ahead of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in the first round. The result, announced after voting on Sunday, defied opinion polls that had put Lula in front and sets up a second-round contest in three weeks. Bolsonaro won about 47% of the vote, compared with 45% for Lula, according to the figures in the supplied reports.The outcome also brought gains for the right in parliament, adding to the setback for Lula's camp. Lula, who is seeking a fourth term at almost 81, described the race as... [Continue Reading]
Nicaragua says it will withdraw from Central American Parliament amid renewed rights criticism
Nicaragua has announced that it will immediately withdraw from the Central American Parliament, a regional body made up of six countries. The government said the move was being taken in the "full exercise of its sovereignty". The decision comes as President Daniel Ortega and co-president Rosario Murillo continue to tighten their control over the country's political system.The Foreign Ministry said on Saturday that the exit would take effect at once. The announcement followed a resolution passed on Friday by the Organization of American States, which called on Nicaragua to restore civil rights and release political prisoners. The government did not... [Continue Reading]
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Bosnia election: Dodik declares party victory as Cvijanović leads presidency race
Bosnian Serb nationalist Milorad Dodik has declared victory for his party in Bosnia and Herzegovina's general election, after a vote shaped by economic pressure, ethnic tensions and the country's stalled path towards the European Union. With nearly 90% of votes counted, his ally Željka Cvijanović of the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats was leading for one of the three seats in the tripartite presidency. Dodik also said his party would hold a "vast majority" in the assembly of Republika Srpska.According to the supplied count, Cvijanović had more than 55% of the vote and was ahead of her nearest opponent by... [Continue Reading]
Israel condemns UK Green Party vote defining Zionism as racism
Israel has sharply criticised the UK Green Party after members voted to define Zionism as a form of racism. The row follows a party motion passed on Sunday that also renewed calls for Britain to end arms trade with Israel. The dispute has drawn in senior Israeli officials and British Jewish groups, turning an internal party policy decision into a wider political and diplomatic controversy.The motion was approved by 1,022 votes to 813, according to the party statement cited in the report. It described Zionism as "an ethnonationalist political project" and reaffirmed support for Palestinian liberation, the right of return,... [Continue Reading]
Day News Recap: Ukraine hit again as tensions flare from the Middle East to Asia and Europe
Russia kept up its assault on Kyiv, striking a major bridge again as German Chancellor Friedrich Merz visited the city, with the latest drone attack coming after four days of Russian strikes on the capital. 🔗In the Middle East, Iran's parliament speaker said the Strait of Hormuz would stay closed until the United States accepts Tehran's conditions, while Yemen's internationally recognised government said it had launched a major offensive against the Houthis in Taiz governorate. 🔗 🔗Fighting also intensified around the Red Sea and southern Yemen, with Houthi forces taking control of Mocha and leaving thousands of civilians trapped in... [Continue Reading]
Israel election debate turns to Netanyahu's alleged warning before October 7 attacks
Israel is heading into parliamentary elections with renewed attention on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's conduct before the October 7 attacks. Media reports that he was warned by the United Arab Emirates before the assault have pushed the question of whether he knew into the centre of the campaign. The issue has become a major political fault line as the country prepares to mark three years since the attacks.The article says the debate is being driven by accusations over Netanyahu's alleged responsibility, rather than by a broader national reckoning. It argues that the election campaign is allowing him to be blamed... [Continue Reading]
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Dodik calls Bosnia and Herzegovina 'dead' at final rally before election
Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik has described Bosnia and Herzegovina as "dead" and "an impossible country" at the final rally of his alliance before the country's October 4 election. He made the remarks in Banja Luka on Friday while speaking to supporters of the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats, or SNSD. The comments came as voters prepared to choose the three members of the state presidency, national parliament representatives and leaders in the country's two entities.Dodik said Bosnia and Herzegovina was "nothing more than an empty shell" for those trying to keep it alive. He is the former president of... [Continue Reading]
Latvia's United List wins parliamentary election as populists gain ground
Latvia's centre-right United List has won the country's parliamentary election, according to preliminary results released after almost all votes were counted. The party led with 35.4% of the vote and secured 42 seats in the 100-seat parliament, a record for the post-independence era. The result points to a continued pro-European and pro-Ukrainian course for the Baltic state, which borders Russia and has made security a central political issue.Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs, who took office in May, said the outcome was stronger than expected and in line with exit polls. He said the result showed that people wanted change and linked... [Continue Reading]
Iran says Strait of Hormuz will stay closed until US meets conditions
Iran's parliament speaker has said the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the United States accepts Tehran's conditions, sharpening an already tense dispute over one of the world's most important energy routes. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said the waterway would not reopen until Iran's seven conditions, which he linked to the Islamabad memorandum, are met. He also said Washington had sent proposals through a mediator after responding to Iran's diplomatic offer.Ghalibaf said the era of "wasting time and dictating unilateral demands" was over, and insisted Iran's position was "clear and definite". He added that Iran was "present on the military... [Continue Reading]
Noontime News Recap: Kyiv hit again as Gaza, North Korea and regional tensions deepen
Kyiv was hit again by a Russian strike on a major bridge on Sunday morning, as German Chancellor Friedrich Merz was in the city for talks, underscoring the pressure on the Ukrainian capital amid renewed attacks. 🔗In the Middle East, a strike in Gaza City killed two Christian women, Maysa Abu Daoud and her daughter Mary al Najjar, in the Remal neighbourhood, prompting mourning from church leaders as the war continues to exact a heavy civilian toll. 🔗 Houthi forces also took control of the Red Sea city of Mocha, leaving thousands of civilians trapped in the district as conditions... [Continue Reading]
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Spain housing protests intensify after parliament rejects rent and eviction measures
Tens of thousands of people rallied across Spain on Saturday after parliament rejected two government decrees aimed at easing the country's housing crisis. Demonstrations were reported in Madrid and dozens of other cities, as protesters called for affordable housing measures and a general strike. The protests followed a parliamentary vote on Friday that blocked the measures proposed by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's minority left-wing coalition.The rejected decrees were designed to protect renters and make housing speculation harder. One would have sought to stop evictions of vulnerable people, tighten restrictions on short-term leases, and offer tax incentives for renting and new... [Continue Reading]
Latvian PM Andris Kulbergs wins parliamentary election and faces coalition talks
Latvia's Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs has won the country's parliamentary election, with his centre-right United List emerging as the largest party and securing 42 of the 100 seats in parliament. He now has to assemble a new coalition to continue governing. The result gives his pro-European and pro-Ukrainian camp a strong position, but it does not by itself provide a majority.Mr Kulbergs said the margin of victory was wider than he had expected after exit polls pointed to a strong showing for his party. He said the result showed that people wanted change, and linked that to economic growth and... [Continue Reading]
Breakfast News Recap: Ukraine steps up refinery strikes as Brazil vote closes and regional tensions rise
Ukraine says it will intensify strikes on Russian oil refineries after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described a new Russian air strike doctrine targeting energy infrastructure, signalling a further escalation in the war over fuel supplies and military logistics. 🔗In the Middle East, Yemen's Houthi movement said it fired ballistic missiles and drones at an Aramco facility near Riyadh, claiming the attack caused fires at the site, as fighting in the region continues to intensify. 🔗 Somalia's president also rejected reports of any Israeli presence in Berbera, saying the country would not accept it under any circumstances after allegations that Israel planned... [Continue Reading]
Vucic launches campaign for prime minister ahead of Serbia's October 25 snap election
Former Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has launched a campaign to become prime minister ahead of Serbia's snap parliamentary election on October 25. Thousands of supporters gathered at Belgrade Arena on Saturday for a rally that marked the start of his push to extend his influence after stepping down as president on September 27. The event took place in the capital and was presented by Vucic as the opening of a campaign for what he described as a comprehensive victory.Supporters filled the largest indoor arena in Belgrade, while dozens of buses from across Serbia brought people into the city for the... [Continue Reading]
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Latvia votes amid drone incursions and coalition uncertainty
Polls have opened in Latvia for a parliamentary election dominated by security concerns, cost-of-living pressures and fears linked to Russia. Voting began at 8am local time and is due to close at 8pm, with the first results expected within hours and the final outcome likely to become clear after midnight. The contest is being watched closely because it could determine whether Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs keeps enough support to form a workable coalition.The supplied material says Mr Kulbergs' centrist United List is leading opinion polls on about 14% of the vote, with the pro-Russian Sovereign Power close behind. Latvia's parliament,... [Continue Reading]
Israel Supreme Court overturns ban on Arab parties ahead of October 27 election
Israel's Supreme Court has overturned an election panel's ban on the country's two main Arab-majority political lists, restoring them to the race for the October 27 Knesset election. The court also reinstated Knesset member Ofer Cassif, after the Central Elections Committee had moved to bar him and the parties from contesting the vote. The ruling removes an immediate obstacle to their participation in the parliamentary contest.According to the supplied report, the justices ruled unanimously to reinstate Ra'am, also known as the United Arab List, and the Joint List, an alliance of Hadash, Ta'al and Balad. Cassif was restored by a... [Continue Reading]
Putin renews nuclear warning over Kaliningrad as NATO drills continue
Vladimir Putin has renewed his warning that Russia could use all weapons in its arsenal, including nuclear weapons, if Kaliningrad or other Russian territory comes under direct attack. He said the issue would arise if there were a direct strike on the Russian Federation, and linked the warning to what he described as escalating statements about the Baltic enclave. The comments come as NATO continues military drills near Kaliningrad, which the alliance has described as defensive exercises.The warning sharpens an already tense standoff over the Russian exclave, which lies between Poland and Lithuania. Putin said Moscow would face retaliation if... [Continue Reading]
Finland probes suspected break-ins at MPs' homes as possible foreign interference
Finnish police are investigating multiple reports of suspected break-ins at the homes of members of parliament in the Helsinki area. The incidents are said to have taken place over the past year, and investigators say nothing was stolen. Officials have described the case as a possible national security concern because of the people targeted and the pattern of the alleged intrusions.Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said a foreign power could be responsible, calling that possibility "very possible" and saying the matter would be taken seriously by both police and the government. He linked the issue to the risk of election interference,... [Continue Reading]
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Norway parliament opens probe into 11 senior officials over Epstein-linked files and grants
Norway's parliament has opened an investigation into 11 current and former senior officials over alleged ties and state grants linked to Jeffrey Epstein-related files. The hearing began on Wednesday and includes Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere, who has denied any wrongdoing. The case has drawn attention because it involves both senior political figures and public funding decisions.The inquiry centres on reports that the Foreign Ministry allocated more than 130 million kroner, or about $13.5 million, to the International Peace Institute between 1997 and 2018. The institute was led from 2005 to 2020 by Terje Rod-Larsen, a prominent Norwegian diplomat and... [Continue Reading]
Netanyahu faces fresh October 7 warning allegations as election pressure builds
A fresh report has intensified scrutiny of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over claims that he was warned before the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 attack. According to the latest account, Egypt's intelligence chief, Abbas Kamel, is said to have phoned Netanyahu days before the assault, adding to earlier media reports that the United Arab Emirates also issued a warning in the week before the attack. The allegations have emerged as Israel heads towards a parliamentary election on October 27, keeping the issue of security failures at the centre of the campaign.The report says Kamel had also travelled to Israel in... [Continue Reading]
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Morocco appoints Fatima Zahra Mansouri as first female prime minister
Morocco's King Mohammed VI has appointed Fatima Zahra Mansouri as prime minister, making her the first woman to hold the post in the country. The announcement was made on Tuesday, four days after the results of parliamentary elections were published. Mansouri has been asked to form a new government and begin coalition talks.The Royal Palace said Mansouri will lead the next administration after her centrist Authenticity and Modernity Party won the most votes in the election. Morocco's electoral system makes it difficult for any single party to secure an outright majority, which means coalition-building is usually required. Mansouri, who is... [Continue Reading]
Israeli ministers launch West Bank settlement as election campaign hardens
Israeli ministers have launched a new illegal settlement in the occupied West Bank in an event that doubled as a campaign rally ahead of the October 27 election. The ceremony took place at Metzoke Eretz, where senior politicians used the occasion to project a hard line on settlement expansion. The move comes amid a broader escalation in election rhetoric, with leading figures seeking to appeal to voters through displays of toughness.According to the supplied report, the settlement launch took place on September 23 and was attended by ministers and members of parliament. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich was among those present,... [Continue Reading]
Myanmar airstrike kills at least 49 near market in Rakhine state
The death toll from an airstrike near a market in Myanmar's Rakhine state has risen to at least 49, according to the Arakan Army and a senior rescue official. The attack took place in Kyauktaw township, in territory controlled by the armed group, and injured 58 others. The strike hit a busy civilian area around noon local time, according to the accounts provided.The Arakan Army said a fighter jet dropped two bombs near the local market, killing vendors, shoppers and pedestrians. Wai Hun Aung, a senior rescue official in Rakhine, confirmed the casualties and said the market was the region's... [Continue Reading]
Is the Italian Prime Minister the Visionary Leader Europe Needs? An Analysis of Executive Decisiveness, National Security, and the Contrast in European Integration Policies
A Continent in Institutional Deadlock While the rest of Europe remains entangled in a web of bureaucratic deadlock and human rights litigation, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has quietly established herself as a leader operating far ahead of her continental peers. For years, European leaders have debated how to handle radicalism and unchecked migration, often waiting for institutional consensus that arrives too late. Meloni, conversely, has demonstrated a willingness to prioritize state security over political correctness, offering a blueprint for a continent facing asymmetric threats. The Contrast in European Legislative Approvals The contrast between Italy’s swift, executive decisiveness and the... [Continue Reading]
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