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1264 articles · page 5 of 27
Verified video from Friday shows oil from a tanker damaged near the Strait of Hormuz washing ashore on beaches in the United Arab Emirates and colouring the water black, as the slick spreads towards a globally recognised biodiversity area. UAE authorities have closed beaches near the northern city of Umm Al Quwain.
· 6 sourcesSouth Korea's Defense Ministry on Friday proposed military talks with North Korea to confirm the precise location of their border and restore communication channels. The proposal follows a September landmine blast in the Demilitarized Zone that injured three South Korean soldiers and an escalation of military activity by the North along the border.
· 2 sourcesIsraeli forces have demolished homes and businesses in the occupied West Bank city of Hebron, displacing hundreds of families in an operation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said would destroy the neighbourhood where two Palestinian gunmen who killed two soldiers came from. The crackdown, launched after Friday's checkpoint attack, has seen bulldozers flatten streets, military cordons restrict movement, and spray-painted markings on buildings cleared of residents. The operation is unfolding four days before Israel's general election, in which Netanyahu faces a tight race.
· 32 sourcesSaudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is facing a difficult year, with the postponement of his flagship Future Investment Initiative summit emblematic of interlocking crises: a resurgent Houthi missile campaign, a struggling economy and a bet on Donald Trump as a reliable ally that has gone badly wrong.
· 2 sourcesUS Democratic congressional candidate Brad Lander was briefly detained by the Israeli military on Wednesday while volunteering to help Palestinian farmers harvest olives in the occupied West Bank, drawing international attention to a sharp escalation in attacks on the annual harvest. In a coordinated campaign reported across the territory, Israeli forces arrested 36 Palestinians during raids, while the Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission documented 17 attacks on farmers and their land in a single day.
Europe is entering winter with historically low gas reserves and cannot withstand further supply shocks, the head of the International Energy Agency has warned, as the US-Israel war on Iran disrupts global supply chains and pushes energy prices higher across the world.
As Russia escalates its strikes on Ukraine's infrastructure and relations between Kyiv and Washington hit an all-time low, the attritional fight for the Donbas is heading toward what analysts describe as its climax. Moscow is pressing to capture the remainder of Donetsk Oblast while Ukraine, reorganized under a new command structure, is trying to grind down Russia's offensive power before winter. In territorial terms, the Kyiv Independent's analysis says 2026 has been a year of relative success for Ukraine, but the fate of the region's last Ukrainian-held cities now hangs in the balance.
European Union leaders will use a summit with Britain next month to press the prime minister, Andy Burnham, to increase UK support for Ukraine in 2027, as Kyiv faces a €70bn (£58bn) funding shortfall. The European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, will make a similar request to Canada's prime minister, Mark Carney, at an EU-Canada summit in Montreal next week.
· 2 sourcesA prominent argument against the widely predicted 2027 Chinese invasion of Taiwan has been published by Fortune, with analyst Ningrong Liu contending the countdown to conflict is a mirage. The analysis draws on the civilian development boom in the Chinese province of Fujian, the economic deterrent of Taiwan's semiconductor industry, and a US policy shift under President Donald Trump to argue that Beijing is playing a patient game of integration rather than preparing for imminent war.
Russia is preparing to shift its air war against Ukraine toward cheap, partly 3D-printed cruise missiles, and the new weapon could make the jet-powered Shahed drones Kyiv has faced so far look like a "small problem," two of Ukraine's most prominent drone experts warned this week after military intelligence unveiled details of the missile, named the Filin.
· 3 sourcesThe Australian government has imposed sanctions on two North Korean companies and two individuals accused of running a network of fraudulent IT workers that funnels money to Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program, bypassing UN sanctions.
Visiting Djiboutian Foreign Minister Abdoulkader Houssein Omar and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi issued a joint communiqué on October 21 expressing 'serious concern' that the escalation of tensions in the Red Sea poses a threat to the global economy and regional stability. The two countries called on all parties involved in Middle East conflicts to pursue dialogue and diplomacy to prevent the crisis from deepening, but offered few concrete measures of their own.
The New Zealand Defence Force has taken a "stepping stone" step toward being able to shoot down drones, newly released Cabinet papers show, approving a Danish-made jamming system as an interim capability while it works through legal changes and builds a local industry.
Five Western diplomats who served in Moscow since Russia invaded Ukraine have painted a stark picture of life as an ‘unfriendly’ envoy to the BBC. Former US ambassador Lynne Tracy, European counterparts, and other embassy staff described round-the-clock surveillance, isolation from ordinary Russians, and relentless pressure from Russian counterintelligence, conditions they say rival or exceed those of the Cold War.
Ukraine said on 23 October that Starlink internet speeds for its military remained capped at 161 kilometres per hour, despite US President Donald Trump’s claim that Elon Musk had restored the service. Trump later said he had not spoken to Musk but would “get it straightened out” if a problem persisted. Senator Richard Blumenthal has opened an inquiry into the restrictions, and British Prime Minister Andy Burnham pressed Trump for Ukraine to have full Starlink access.
· 11 sourcesA fresh diplomatic push to end the war in Ukraine has resulted in an agreement from Russia to resume talks, but Moscow's foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov has signalled the Kremlin sees little of value in the latest proposals from Kyiv and Europe. Following what Norway's prime minister called 'good and constructive' discussions in Oslo between US President Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European representatives, Witkoff travelled to St Petersburg to meet President Vladimir Putin.
· 3 sourcesThe United Kingdom has significant weaknesses in its ability to defend the Arctic region, leaving critical infrastructure including undersea cables and energy supplies exposed to potential Russian attack, according to a report by the House of Commons Defence Committee. MPs warned that in a conflict Russia could threaten the UK's population, infrastructure and vital supply routes across the Atlantic from the United States.
· 2 sourcesMultiple Australian news outlets, including the Sydney Morning Herald, WA Today, Brisbane Times and The Age, published reports on Thursday with the headline stating that the Ukrainian capital has come under Russian missile fire. The available snippets contained the headline alongside website navigation elements or unrelated video listings, with no further article text.
· 4 sourcesRussia launched a missile attack on Kyiv hours after saying it was "ready in principle" to resume peace talks, wounding six people. The strike came as US President Donald Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff met Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg after meeting Volodymyr Zelensky in Oslo, with Jared Kushner participating via video link and Trump claiming the world is "the closest we've been" to ending the war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he would accept a deal freezing the conflict along the current front line.
· 2 sourcesIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has directed the country's military and security agencies to overthrow the Iranian regime, warning the current government in Tehran represents an 'existential threat.' The directive was issued at an IDF graduation ceremony days before a critical parliamentary election, signaling a dramatic escalation in rhetoric and military posture.
Survivors and human rights lawyers have described a systematic program of indoctrination and military training of Ukrainian children in Russian-occupied territories, with the United Nations concluding last year that Russia is committing crimes against humanity in the regions it controls. The ABC has obtained accounts from victims who say they were beaten, humiliated and forced to adopt Russian identity documents, while those who resist face persecution.
Global oil prices have surged to their highest level since May following reports that the Trump administration has drawn up plans for renewed strikes on Iran after next month's US midterm elections, with Brent crude rising 4 percent to just over US$113 a barrel.
· 3 sourcesA senior US official has told the United Nations that a Russian military satellite, Kosmos 2612, recently maneuvered to within striking distance of a US-registered commercial satellite, describing the move as a clear sign the craft is a weapon. Russia's deputy UN envoy, Konstantin Vorontsov, countered that there was no cause for concern.
· 3 sourcesYemen's Houthi movement has claimed responsibility for an attack on an airport in eastern Saudi Arabia that killed two people and injured eight others, Saudi authorities confirmed on Thursday. The attack on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam adds to a sharp escalation in the conflict between the Houthis and the Saudi-led coalition, which has seen at least 21 people killed in Saudi airports since the start of October.
President Donald Trump and the US military have disputed Iran's claim that seven oil tankers were struck in the Strait of Hormuz, the largest reported single-day toll since the war with Iran began. Trump called the reports 'fake hits' aimed at pushing up oil prices before the US midterm elections, and US Central Command said the waterway remains open with most vessels getting through.
· 2 sourcesIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that toppling Iran's government remains his 'primary objective,' speaking days before national elections as his poll numbers slide. The declaration followed conversations with US President Donald Trump and a visit by Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth, but no indication emerged that Washington has agreed to join another offensive against Iran, let alone a campaign to bring down its leadership.
The UK government has proposed new emergency powers to protect undersea internet cables and energy pipelines from tampering, citing heightened fears of Russian interference and legal gaps in existing regulations. Ministers would gain the authority to order telecom companies to modify or disable services during national security emergencies, alongside harsher criminal penalties of up to 14 years in prison for intentional damage.
· 3 sourcesThe European Union has proposed 117 new sanctions listings targeting Russia's oil refining, processing and export capacity, in a direct response to President Donald Trump's recent deal to import Russian diesel. The draft sanctions, presented to EU ambassadors on Oct. 21, also target banks, LNG facilities and entities helping Moscow evade restrictions. At the same time, Ukrainian and U.S. officials say the Trump administration may be weighing further sanctions relief for Russia, potentially involving the fertilizer industry, raising fears in Kyiv that Washington is shifting toward economic incentives for Moscow without securing a ceasefire.
· 2 sourcesUkraine and Russia exchanged drone and missile strikes on Thursday, hours after US envoy Steve Witkoff met Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg. Ukrainian authorities reported seven people killed, while Moscow said it intercepted 630 drones targeting the capital.
· 5 sourcesA Palestinian farmer and his teenage son were brutally beaten by masked Israeli settlers during the olive harvest in Beita village, in what locals describe as a sharp escalation of violence across the occupied West Bank. Since September 1, the United Nations has recorded more than 200 attacks on farmers, exceeding the total for the entire harvest season last year. Victims say they have no protection and face a system that shields attackers while the state supports settlement expansion.
In a secret Kyiv laboratory, Ukrainian researchers are locked in a technological arms race with Russia, dismantling recovered drones to find vulnerabilities before new modifications turn deadly. The Kyiv Independent received rare access to the Defense Ministry facility, where scientists and engineers analyze wreckage ranging from Iranian-designed Geran drones to North Korean missiles, working against a clock where Russia can adapt its systems in two to three months, faster than the typical four-to-six-month cycle for developing a countermeasure.
A worldwide cybersecurity vulnerability in the PHP programming language has taken dozens of UK government services offline, as Defence Secretary Wes Streeting launched a national campaign urging households to prepare for emergencies ranging from cyber attacks to natural disasters. The government has urged Britons to stockpile three days' worth of food, water and other essentials, warning of threats from hostile states and extreme weather.
· 7 sourcesThe United States has ordered non-essential government employees and their families to leave Saudi Arabia, prompting fears of a renewed all-out war between the US, Israel and Iran. The move, which Washington says is linked to growing Houthi attacks, comes as the US and Israel build up military assets in the Gulf and as both countries face elections in the coming weeks.
Central banks globally are ramping up gold purchases to levels unseen in recent years, with Goldman Sachs estimating that 79 tonnes were bought in August, more than four times the pre-2022 monthly average of 17 tonnes. The buying spree comes alongside a quiet but significant relocation of gold reserves out of the United States to Europe and domestic storage, as governments signal growing distrust in G7 reserve currencies and seek to protect against geopolitical instability.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has announced a shift to an 'offensive and asymmetrical' defence doctrine, threatening to invade neighbouring countries and strike bases used by the United States if Washington renews attacks. The warning came as the US ordered nonemergency diplomatic personnel to leave Saudi Arabia amid Houthi attacks, oil prices climbed above $110 a barrel, and diplomatic efforts to end the eight-month conflict remained stalled.
Ukraine received the bodies of 252 people whom Russia identified as Ukrainian service members on Oct. 22, Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War said. Investigators and forensic experts will examine the remains to establish their identities.
Russian strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure triggered emergency power outages across at least eight regions on Oct. 23, killing eight civilians and wounding 67, as both sides kept up attacks despite agreeing in principle to resume US-brokered peace talks.
· 4 sourcesThe European Parliament on Thursday awarded the International Criminal Court (ICC) the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, a show of support for the court weeks after the United States imposed sanctions on it.
· 6 sourcesGerman police on Thursday arrested a Ukrainian man, identified only as Vadym Y., on suspicion of spying for Russia. The Federal Public Prosecutor's Office in Karlsruhe said the suspect used his connections to European defense firms to gather intelligence on armored vehicle production, ammunition, explosives, and military facilities intended to secure NATO's eastern flank, allegedly passing the information to a Russian spy agency since July 2025.
· 7 sourcesAt least one person was killed and 34 wounded in Kyiv early Thursday as Russian forces launched a massive attack with ballistic missiles and drones across 12 Ukrainian regions, just hours after US envoy Steve Witkoff concluded talks with President Vladimir Putin. Despite the assault, US President Donald Trump said the war may be closer to ending than ever.
· 6 sourcesThe United States Air Force failed to notify British police of a drink-driving allegation against one of its airmen, preventing a UK investigation and breaching a longstanding formal agreement. Airman Christopher Mooty was instead disciplined by a US court martial after a night of drinking in Suffolk in March 2023. The case, revealed by the Guardian, has become part of a series prompting the UK government to establish a high-level inquiry into whether US military personnel in Britain are being properly brought to justice.
· 2 sourcesPresident Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed on Oct. 27 that Ukrainian forces eliminated more than 100 Russian soldiers and captured over 30 others during a clandestine operation that used underground gas pipelines near Kupiansk in Kharkiv Oblast, code-named 'Veles'.
· 3 sourcesRussian attacks across Ukraine have killed at least nine people and wounded 56 others over the past day, with Kyiv bearing the brunt of a large-scale combined missile and drone assault, Ukrainian authorities reported on Oct. 22.
Ukraine is set to join the NATO Support and Procurement Agency's procurement system, allowing Kyiv to purchase weapons, ammunition and other military equipment through the alliance's centralized network, the Financial Times reported on Oct. 22. The arrangement could give Ukraine faster and cheaper access to defense supplies at a time when it faces growing uncertainty over U.S. support.
· 2 sourcesThe United States and Israel have developed specific plans for a renewed military campaign against Iran that would target its nuclear facilities, energy infrastructure and missile and drone arsenal, according to senior US officials cited by the New York Times. The operation, described as a 'short but intensive' campaign, is intended to force Tehran into diplomatic concessions by further weakening its economy, which is already under strain from a maritime blockade. However, political calculations around the November 3 US midterm elections and Israel's election next week may delay any immediate action, as President Donald Trump has stated publicly that the US would not attack before the midterms.
· 3 sourcesRussian strikes killed seven people in Ukraine early Thursday, hours after US envoy Steve Witkoff met President Vladimir Putin in Saint Petersburg for talks on ending the war, Ukrainian authorities said. The attacks wounded 15 in Kyiv and damaged metro infrastructure, while Russia reported hundreds of drones intercepted.
· 2 sourcesThe Kyiv Independent has reported on a previously secret Ukrainian counteroffensive, Operation Vivaldi, which has been underway in the Lyman sector of Donetsk Oblast since spring 2026. According to Ukrainian commanders interviewed by the outlet, the operation has liberated 277 square kilometers and 16 villages as of October 14. The account highlights the extreme difficulty of advancing against minefields, drone surveillance, and an entrenched Russian defensive network, but also demonstrates that significant infantry-led advances remain possible on a drone-saturated front line.
Ukraine’s top diplomat in Washington says Kyiv has received no response from the Pentagon or SpaceX over restrictions on Starlink and Starshield satellite communications, as a growing bipartisan push for a congressional investigation escalated. President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed on October 23 that speed caps remain in place, and a group of six U.S. lawmakers led by Representative Gregory Meeks and Senator Peter Welch demanded that Elon Musk answer five questions about the disruptions by October 31. Senator Richard Blumenthal also announced a probe into who ordered the limits.
· 2 sources