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WorldReuters

Pope Leo arrives in France with AI, apologies for clergy abuse on agenda

Pope Leo the Fourteenth has arrived in France for a four-day visit centered on reconciliation and human dignity. The pontiff landed in Paris on Wednesday, where hundreds of thousands are expected to gather for public events. Among his stated priorities: a formal apology for the Church's handling of clergy abuse cases, and a message about artificial intelligence's role in preserving human dignity in an increasingly secular society. This visit marks one of the Pope's most significant trips to Western Europe since his election, coming at a moment when the Catholic Church faces sustained pressure over abuse accountability and relevance in secular democracies. He'll address the French parliament on Thursday, then travel to Lyon before departing Sunday.

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WorldReuters

Nepal seeks grants, not loans, for flood recovery after deadly glacier disaster

Nepal is seeking international grants rather than loans to rebuild after a glacier collapse in the Himalayas triggered devastating floods last month. Prime Minister Balen Shah has made clear his government won't take on debt for recovery efforts, arguing instead that wealthy nations bear responsibility for climate damage in developing countries. First, the distinction matters because loans would burden Nepal's already stretched finances for decades, while grants offer genuine relief. Then, Shah's position reflects a broader frustration: Nepal contributes almost nothing to global emissions yet faces outsized climate risk from melting glaciers and extreme weather. And finally, he's using the disaster to press India and China for a regional climate agreement, framing Nepal's catastrophe as a preview of what the entire Himalayan region faces without urgent action. The approach signals Nepal won't quietly accept the costs of a crisis it didn't create.

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WorldThe New York Times

Cambridge Abandons Plans to Fully Investigate Its Hiring of Jason Arday

Cambridge University has abandoned plans for a full independent investigation into its hiring of Jason Arday, the professor whose death last year prompted scrutiny of the university's recruitment practices. The decision came after initial inquiries raised questions about how Arday, a scholar of race and education, was appointed despite concerns raised during the process. Cambridge said it would instead conduct a more limited internal review. The university had faced pressure to examine whether systemic issues affected Arday's hiring or subsequent support. The limited scope of the new inquiry means key questions about recruitment procedures and institutional culture may remain unanswered. Cambridge is expected to publish findings from its internal review within the coming months.

Read the story The New York Times ↗

Worldreuters

Saudi Arabia says it intercepted Houthi missiles; group claims strikes on Riyadh, Aramco

Saudi Arabia's air defense system intercepted six ballistic missiles fired by Houthi rebels toward the kingdom, according to the Saudi-led coalition overseeing operations in Yemen. The coalition said the missiles were launched late Tuesday and posed a threat to civilian infrastructure. No casualties or damage were reported, though the coalition didn't specify which facilities were targeted. The Houthis, an Iran-aligned militant group, have conducted dozens of such attacks over the past year as the conflict in Yemen has intensified. The group typically claims responsibility for strikes within hours of launch. Coalition officials say they'll continue monitoring airspace and responding to any further threats from the group.

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Worldreuters

France to send military to protect Saudi Arabia on Red Sea oil route, Macron says

The Red Sea's become a contested waterway. Houthi attacks on shipping have disrupted global trade for months, and Saudi Arabia's oil infrastructure sits exposed to the risk. France has watched from the sidelines, but President Macron's now committing to action. France will deploy military forces to help protect Saudi Arabia's energy facilities along the Red Sea, Macron announced this week. The move pairs French naval and air assets with Saudi defenses, a partnership that signals Europe's willingness to shoulder some responsibility for one of the world's most critical energy chokepoints. It's a shift from France's earlier reluctance to wade into Middle Eastern security commitments. The deployment comes as regional tensions remain high and shipping insurers continue to price in the cost of risk. France joins a growing coalition of nations working to stabilize the route.

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Worldreuters

Flush with allies, Tigray's leaders face internal discord in new Ethiopia war

In the hills of northern Ethiopia, commanders are moving troops into position. The ceasefire that held for two years has fractured. Fighting between federal forces and the Tigray People's Liberation Front has resumed after months of relative calm, and this time the political landscape around the conflict has shifted. The TPLF, which controls the Tigray region, has secured backing from neighboring Eritrea and regional militias—a coalition that should strengthen its position. Yet internally, the movement is fracturing. Leadership disputes over strategy and resource distribution have deepened, even as the military situation demands unity. Ethiopia's federal army claims it's repelled recent attacks, though independent verification remains difficult in an area where communications are severely restricted. The 2022 peace agreement that ended the previous war, which killed hundreds of thousands, is effectively over. What happens next depends partly on whether Tigray's fractious leadership can hold together long enough to matter.

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WorldBBC

Ethiopia's army says it has repelled TPLF attacks in first comment on fresh Tigray fighting

Ethiopia's military says it's repelled attacks by the Tigray People's Liberation Front in the country's north. It's the army's first public statement on what appears to be renewed fighting in a region that saw a ceasefire collapse last year. The TPLF, which fought a devastating civil war from 2020 to 2022, had largely remained quiet since the agreement. Now, with reports of clashes across multiple areas, there's concern the conflict could reignite. The military hasn't provided specifics on casualties or the scale of the fighting, which complicates efforts to assess how serious the situation's become. What's notable: the TPLF's silence until now suggested a fragile but holding peace. That appears to have shifted. Whether this is a localized flare-up or the beginning of something larger remains unclear, but the military's public acknowledgment suggests Addis Ababa views it seriously enough to break its own restraint.

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WorldThe Guardian

Global release announced for acclaimed Gaza documentary NAZA

Israeli documentary NAZA, which examines the war in Gaza through personal testimony, will be released globally after its theatrical run concludes. The Guardian announced it'll stream the film free on its website, making it available to international audiences at no cost. The film features accounts from Israelis affected by the conflict, including perspectives on hostages and civilian casualties. This follows NAZA's critical reception in cinemas across multiple countries over recent months. The free release begins after the theatrical window closes, a strategy designed to extend the film's reach beyond traditional cinema audiences and ensure broad access to its testimony-based narrative.

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WorldReuters

Turkey's Erdogan tells Ukraine's Zelenskiy that Black Sea attacks are inexplicable

Turkey's President Erdogan told Ukraine's Zelenskiy this week that attacks on commercial shipping in the Black Sea are, in his words, inexplicable. The two leaders spoke by phone as tensions over maritime trade routes have intensified. Russia has repeatedly targeted cargo vessels and infrastructure in the region, disrupting grain exports and other commerce that flows through one of the world's most vital shipping corridors. Turkey, which controls the strait connecting the Black Sea to the Mediterranean, has positioned itself as a potential mediator. Zelenskiy indicated Ukraine would be open to hosting trilateral talks there. For Turkey, the calculus is straightforward: instability in Black Sea shipping affects its own economy and regional standing. Yet Erdogan's language—calling the attacks inexplicable rather than condemning them outright—suggests he's walking a careful line between supporting Ukraine and maintaining relations with Russia. The attacks, he said, remain unacceptable.

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WorldAssociated Press

Trump-backed Missouri congressional map returns to the Supreme Court for the third time - AP News

A federal appeals court has ordered Missouri to use new congressional districts, sending the map back to the Supreme Court for a third time. The dispute centers on how Missouri's eight congressional seats should be drawn. An appeals panel ruled last month that the state must adopt districts backed by President Trump, reversing an earlier decision that had kept the old map in place. Missouri's Democratic voters had challenged the new districts as partisan gerrymandering. The state's Republican leadership, meanwhile, has argued the new map better reflects population shifts and follows legal redistricting principles. The Supreme Court has already rejected this case twice. Now it faces the question of whether to hear it again, or let the appeals court's order stand and force Missouri to implement the new districts before the next election cycle. The map's fate remains uncertain. But the repeated returns to the nation's highest court suggest neither side is ready to accept defeat.

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WorldBloomberg

SoftBank Starts Jumbo High-Yield Bond Sale to Finance AI Push - Bloomberg.com

In Tokyo, SoftBank's finance team is preparing documents for what will become one of the largest corporate debt offerings in recent memory. The Japanese conglomerate, led by billionaire Masayoshi Son, is moving forward with a jumbo high-yield bond sale—what's commonly called junk bonds—to raise capital for its aggressive artificial intelligence investments. The company's offering record yields to attract investors willing to accept higher risk in exchange for better returns. This reflects the market's current skepticism about SoftBank's ability to service debt while funding its sprawling AI ambitions across multiple portfolio companies and new ventures. What's worth noting: SoftBank's willingness to pay premium rates signals that traditional lenders remain cautious about the company's debt load and the uncertain returns on its AI bets. The bonds are expected to close in the coming weeks, marking another chapter in Son's decades-long pattern of borrowing heavily to fund transformative technology plays.

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WorldReuters

Israeli bulldozers smash Palestinian olive trees ahead of annual harvest

Bulldozers move across terraced hillside, their blades catching the morning light. Olive trees—some decades old—topple in sequence. The sound is mechanical, final. Dust rises over the West Bank landscape. Israeli authorities have issued demolition orders affecting roughly 339 dunams of Palestinian agricultural land, according to Reuters. The timing is deliberate: the orders come as the annual olive harvest approaches, a season that sustains thousands of farming families across the West Bank. The trees targeted aren't new plantings. Many have stood for generations, their roots deep in soil that Palestinians have worked for decades. Local farmers report growing concern about settler violence during harvest season, adding pressure to an already fragile situation. The orders themselves cite various administrative justifications, though the effect is consistent: disruption of the harvest and loss of productive land. The olive season remains months away. Families are watching the hillsides.

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WorldCBS News

Iran War Updates: U.S. and Iran hold first talks since June after Trump threatens regime with annihilation

The United States and Iran have resumed diplomatic contact for the first time since June, even as rhetoric between the two countries has sharply escalated at the United Nations. First, the talks themselves remain narrow in scope—focused primarily on de-escalation and preventing accidental military confrontation rather than broader negotiations. Then there's the backdrop: Donald Trump has publicly warned he might annihilate Iran, language that undercuts any diplomatic opening and reflects the administration's harder line. And finally, the U.S. envoy walked out during Iran's president Masoud Pezeshkian's speech at the General Assembly, a gesture that signals how fragile these channels remain. The talks appear designed less to resolve underlying tensions than to create a safety valve—a way to prevent miscalculation when both sides remain fundamentally at odds.

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WorldAxios

Trump to Venezuela's Rodriguez: Elections need to happen

Donald Trump told Venezuela's Delcy Rodríguez that elections need to happen. The two met at Mar-a-Lago this week—the first time Trump has sat down with the opposition leader since Nicolás Maduro seized power in 2013. Rodríguez, who leads the U.S.-backed interim government, is seeking international legitimacy after years of being sidelined. Trump's message was direct: Venezuela needs democratic elections to move forward. The meeting signals a shift in how the incoming administration may approach the country's political crisis. Rodríguez is scheduled to address the United Nations, where she'll likely amplify calls for elections and international pressure on Maduro's government. For now, Trump's endorsement of the electoral process gives Rodríguez a visible boost—though whether it translates into concrete pressure on Maduro remains an open question.

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WorldReuters

Tigrayan leaders say new war with Ethiopian government has begun, as fighting erupts

Smoke rises from the airport terminal in Mekelle. Fighters move through the tarmac. The runway, once cleared for civilian planes, is no longer theirs to use. Fighting has erupted across northern Ethiopia after months of relative quiet. Tigrayan forces and the Ethiopian federal government are accusing each other of launching new offensives. The Tigray People's Liberation Front, which leads the regional forces, says it's begun a coordinated operation against federal positions. Ethiopian Airlines has already suspended flights to Mekelle, the Tigray capital, after fighters took control of the airport there. What's notable: both sides claim the other attacked first. The ceasefire that held since late 2022 has fractured without a clear trigger that either side acknowledges. Tens of thousands died in the previous war, which ended two years ago. The airport closure signals how quickly civilian infrastructure becomes a casualty when fighting resumes.

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WorldCNN

Super-sized El Niño could cause more than 450,000 heat deaths by February, study suggests

El Niño, the periodic warming of the Pacific Ocean, typically brings global temperature spikes every few years. This cycle usually peaks around December and January, then gradually weakens. But the current El Niño has already become the strongest on record, months ahead of its expected peak. That's created a new concern. Researchers studying heat mortality patterns now estimate this event could cause more than 450,000 additional heat-related deaths by February compared to a typical year. The projection accounts for vulnerable populations in regions already prone to extreme temperatures—parts of South Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, and Latin America face particular risk. The analysis assumes no significant policy interventions or adaptation measures take hold in the coming weeks. Public health officials in affected regions are being urged to prepare cooling centers and strengthen heat-alert systems before conditions intensify further.

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WorldPolitico

Russia launches all-day bombing attack on Kyiv

Russia launched sustained drone attacks across Kyiv throughout Tuesday, killing at least two people and wounding dozens more. The strikes came just hours before President Zelenskyy was scheduled to address the United Nations, and followed recent talks between Zelenskyy and Donald Trump about potential negotiations. Russian forces deployed waves of drones across the capital over more than twenty hours, targeting infrastructure and residential areas. The timing appeared deliberate—a show of military pressure as diplomatic discussions intensify. Ukraine's air defenses intercepted many of the drones, but some got through. For Kyiv's residents, the pattern's become familiar: bombardment punctuates every shift in the diplomatic calendar, a reminder that Russia's military operations don't pause while politicians talk.

Read the story Politico ↗

Worldpolitico

Burnham passes his first Trump test — but papers over the cracks

Britain's new Prime Minister Andy Burnham met Donald Trump for the first time this week, and the encounter produced no public fireworks. Trump praised Burnham as a natural businessman, a compliment that matters in these early diplomatic moments. But beneath the surface pleasantries, real friction exists. Trump criticized the UK's agreement over the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean, a deal Britain struck with Mauritius that Washington views as strategically disadvantageous. Burnham navigated the meeting without triggering the kind of confrontation that might have derailed bilateral relations at a sensitive moment. The real test, though, isn't whether they can sit in a room together civilly. It's whether Burnham can manage the deeper disagreements on trade, defense, and geopolitics that'll define the relationship ahead.

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Worldnytimes

Trump Threatens Annihilation in Iran in UN Speech and Lays Out Winner-Takes-All Vision

At the United Nations General Assembly, a figure stands before the gathered delegates, speaking with measured intensity about confrontation and dominance. The language is stark, the room attentive. Donald Trump addressed the assembly this week, warning Iran of potential annihilation while simultaneously claiming that US and Iranian officials had met on Tuesday to discuss matters between the two countries. The rhetoric marked a sharp escalation in public statements, even as diplomatic channels remained open behind closed scenes. Trump laid out what he framed as a winner-takes-all vision for American foreign policy, one in which compromise yields to assertion of strength. The detail worth noting: talks were apparently ongoing even as the threats were being made public. It's an unusual diplomatic posture—threat and negotiation running parallel, each seemingly designed to reinforce the other. For now, both sides remain locked in this dual approach, words and backdoor conversations moving on separate tracks.

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WorldThe Washington Post

E.U. drops sanctions on two of Russia’s richest oligarchs despite Kyiv’s outcry

The European Union's sanctions regime against Russia just developed a hole large enough for two billionaires to slip through. Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman, among Russia's wealthiest men, have been removed from the EU's sanctions list as the bloc renewed its broader penalties against Moscow. The decision came despite formal objections from Ukraine's government, which argued that lifting restrictions on oligarchs tied to the Kremlin undermines the entire point of economic pressure. Latvia's prime minister called it cherry-picking sanctions, warning the move normalizes doing business with Russia at precisely the moment when unified pressure matters most. The practical effect is immediate: frozen assets can thaw, and European companies face fewer barriers to engagement. The EU's logic centered on technical grounds, but the timing raises a question about whether sanctions architecture holds when individual member states decide the rules no longer apply.

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WorldReuters

Turkey's Erdogan urges UN reform, wider recognition of Palestinian state

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called for the United Nations to abolish the veto power held by the Security Council's five permanent members. Speaking at the UN General Assembly, Erdogan argued the current system concentrates too much authority among Russia, China, the United States, Britain, and France, preventing the body from responding effectively to global crises. He also renewed Turkey's push for broader international recognition of Palestinian statehood. This follows India's similar reform proposal earlier this year, reflecting growing frustration among mid-sized powers over the council's gridlock on issues from Ukraine to Gaza. The Kremlin has already signaled it opposes stripping veto rights, making any structural change unlikely in the near term.

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WorldBBC

Trump says he can do business with Burnham but criticises 'terrible' Chagos deal

Britain's new Foreign Secretary Keir Starmer has sought to reset relations with the incoming Trump administration, which takes office in January. The two governments have had friction over trade, defence spending, and Britain's approach to Iran. That friction hasn't disappeared entirely. Keir Starmer met Donald Trump this week and found common ground on defence and business. But Trump was direct about one thing: he called Britain's Chagos Islands agreement with Mauritius, finalized last year, a mistake. The deal handed sovereignty of the archipelago to Mauritius while Britain retained a military base there. Trump said the arrangement was "terrible" and suggested it weakened Britain's strategic position in the Indian Ocean. He didn't elaborate on what he'd prefer, but the criticism signals he views the agreement as a concession that shouldn't have been made. Britain will likely face pressure to reconsider the terms.

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WorldAP News

Messy, troubled, unpredictable: Diplomats describe a world in turmoil as UN opens annual meeting

Diplomats gathering for the UN General Assembly this week are describing a world marked by instability and unpredictability, with conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine showing no signs of resolution. The annual meeting in New York brings together world leaders including Donald Trump and Qatar's emir to address global crises. The assembly convenes as tensions between major powers remain elevated, and regional conflicts continue to strain international relations. Security measures across Manhattan reflect the scale of the gathering and the volatility of the moment. Expect speeches focused on the Middle East, Ukraine, and calls for renewed diplomatic engagement, though observers are skeptical about breakthrough outcomes.

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WorldNBC News

Trump tells U.N. he could ‘annihilate’ Iran but expects a deal after the midterm elections

In the General Assembly hall at the United Nations, Donald Trump stood before the world's leaders and laid out two paths forward on Iran. One involved military action of the most severe kind. The other, a negotiated settlement—but not yet. Trump told delegates he could "annihilate" Iran if conflict came to that. But he also signaled he expected a deal to materialize after the midterm elections in November. The timing matters. It suggests any diplomatic resolution wouldn't come until after Americans vote, keeping the issue alive through the campaign season. Oil markets responded immediately, erasing earlier losses on the prospect of delayed conflict. What's less remarked on is the implicit constraint: Trump's framing leaves little room for urgent diplomacy now. The message to Tehran and to Washington's allies is clear—patience, not pressure, shapes the next few months. The General Assembly listened. The world waited.

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WorldBBC

Sri Lanka Easter attacks: Court finds 15 guilty over deadly bombings

A Sri Lankan court has convicted fifteen people over the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings that killed more than 250 people in coordinated attacks on churches and hotels across the country. The verdict, delivered this week, found those defendants guilty of involvement in the attacks claimed by the Islamic State group. Nine other accused were acquitted. The trial has taken nearly five years to reach judgment, reflecting the complexity of the investigation and the scale of the conspiracy authorities uncovered. Sentencing is expected to follow in the coming weeks, with prosecutors seeking capital punishment for some of those convicted.

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WorldReuters

'One after another, they started dying': survivors recount deaths in detention in Nigeria

Thirty-seven people have died in a detention facility in Niger state, Nigeria, after being arrested on suspicion of illegal mining. Survivors describe a cell so overcrowded that detainees couldn't breathe properly, and they watched others collapse one by one. The deaths occurred while the suspects were in custody of a paramilitary agency, and the circumstances remain unclear — authorities have offered limited explanation for what happened inside. The incident has prompted protests across Nigeria and raised questions about conditions in detention facilities run by security forces. Families are demanding answers about how so many people died in official custody in such a short time.

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WorldReuters

Trump set for whirlwind UN meetings with wars in Iran, Ukraine on agenda

In the corridors of the United Nations building in New York, diplomats are preparing for a week of high-stakes conversations. The agenda is crowded, the stakes are clear, and the usual alliances appear fractured. Donald Trump arrives at the General Assembly this week facing two active conflicts that demand immediate attention: the escalating tensions between the United States and Iran, and the ongoing war in Ukraine. He'll address the full assembly, then move through a series of bilateral meetings with world leaders. The challenge, according to several accounts, is that he's arriving with fewer traditional diplomatic partners than his predecessors typically enjoyed. His recent social media activity has left some capitals uncertain about his actual positions on key issues. The week ahead will test whether Trump can navigate these crises through personal diplomacy alone, without the institutional support networks that usually undergird such negotiations.

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WorldBBC

Japan: Four dead as Typhoon Dujuan lashes Tokyo and surrounding areas

Japan's meteorological agency has issued evacuation orders for millions of people as Typhoon Dujuan approaches the eastern coast. The storm's already killed two people and brought heavy rain to the Tokyo area, with warnings now in place for flooding and landslides across multiple prefectures. Airlines have cancelled hundreds of flights, and rail services in the region are operating on reduced schedules. The typhoon's expected to intensify as it moves closer to land over the next 24 hours. Authorities are urging residents in vulnerable areas to leave now rather than wait—a precaution that reflects how quickly these systems can shift. For millions in Dujuan's path, the next day will determine whether evacuation orders become a necessary escape or a precaution that held.

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WorldBBC

UK to provide Saudi Arabia with 'defensive' military support, says Burnham

The UK's Defence Secretary has confirmed Britain will provide Saudi Arabia with aerial refueling support to defend against Houthi attacks in the Red Sea. Andy Burnham described the assistance as defensive in nature, aimed at protecting commercial shipping and Saudi infrastructure from drone and missile strikes launched by the Iranian-backed militant group. First, the support centres on mid-air refueling capability, which extends the range of Saudi fighter jets conducting patrol and interception missions. Then, the move reflects growing concern about Houthi attacks that've disrupted global trade routes since late last year. And finally, the UK's involvement signals a shift toward more direct military coordination with Riyadh, though officials stopped short of committing to offensive operations. The arrangement sits within existing defence partnerships, though it marks an expansion of Britain's role in the region's escalating tensions.

Read the story BBC ↗