Leaders and delegations from 48 African countries are meeting with Russian officials in Moscow on October 28–29 for the third Russia-Africa Summit. The talks cover trade, security and other areas of cooperation as Russia seeks to deepen ties with African countries amid Western sanctions over its war against Ukraine.
Key Facts
Russian President Vladimir Putin and African Union chair Evariste Ndayishimiye are chairing the summit.
Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov said 22 African heads of state are expected to attend.
More than 40 sessions will address trade, investment, technology, food and energy security, healthcare, education and youth exchanges.
Putin is scheduled to meet Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
A report by the African Security Analysis group says Russia has missions or troops in at least nine African countries.
Trade between African countries and Russia has exceeded $28 billion, up from an estimated $16.8 billion in 2019.
Russia’s African ties include energy, fertilisers, defence and nuclear power; trade remains concentrated in a few countries and is smaller than China’s and the European Union’s.
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Palestinian citizens of Israel voted in unusually high numbers in the parliamentary election, with some towns reporting turnout above 70 percent. Preliminary reports suggested Arab parties could win as many as 17 seats combined, potentially blocking Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition from securing a 61-seat majority, though opposition parties have ruled out an alliance with them.
Key Facts
Arab towns have typically recorded turnout of 45 to 65 percent in recent Israeli elections, according to the article.
Residents cited government policies and an attempted settler outpost on Palestinian land in Majd al-Krum as reasons some previously disengaged voters went to the polls.
The Joint List and United Arab List (Ra’am) were projected in preliminary reports to win up to 17 seats combined.
A party or coalition needs 61 seats for a majority in Israel’s parliament, the Knesset.
Arab Movement for Renewal leader Ahmad Tibi said Arab parties were willing to cooperate with the opposition to prevent Netanyahu from returning to power.
Tibi said Arab parties would seek commitments on issues including crime, personal security, home demolitions and racism in exchange for support.
The article said leaders of nearly all parties opposed to Netanyahu had ruled out an alliance with Arab parties.
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Brazilian senator Flávio Bolsonaro, who lost Sunday’s election to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, flew from Argentina through Ecuador and is heading to Miami with his wife and daughters. U.S. officials said visas would be granted to the family, and Donald Trump said he would approve their move to the United States.
Key Facts
Bolsonaro boarded a Gulfstream IV in Puerto Iguazú, Argentina, late Tuesday with his wife and two daughters.
The aircraft stopped in Guayaquil, Ecuador, and continued toward Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport.
Bolsonaro disappeared from public view for more than 24 hours before Argentina’s migration authorities confirmed he entered the country by land.
Lula called Bolsonaro’s departure “shameful” at an event in Brasília.
Brazilian police faced criticism for not preventing Bolsonaro from leaving the country.
Police had asked Brazil’s supreme court to retain Bolsonaro’s passport after his election defeat, citing comments by his brother Eduardo.
O Globo reported that the escape plan had been prepared for weeks as a contingency, with Eduardo Bolsonaro helping organize it.
Bolsonaro was expected to hold a press conference in the United States on Wednesday.
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Israeli election results remained inconclusive Wednesday as votes were counted. Turnout reached its highest level in more than 25 years, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and opposition parties may face weeks of negotiations over forming a government.
Key Facts
Votes were still being counted Wednesday.
The election had no clear winner as results took shape.
Turnout was the highest in more than a quarter-century.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faced negotiations over forming a government.
Opposition parties were seeking to unseat Netanyahu.
Weeks of negotiations could lie ahead.
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Defeated Brazilian presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro left Brazil for the United States despite a court order barring him from leaving. He has not conceded Sunday’s election and is under investigation in Brazil over alleged corruption and money laundering.
Key Facts
Flávio Bolsonaro was defeated in Brazil’s presidential election.
He left Brazil for the United States.
A court order barred him from leaving Brazil.
He has not conceded defeat in Sunday’s election.
Brazilian authorities are investigating him over alleged corruption and money laundering.
He is the son of jailed former president Jair Bolsonaro.
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A cyclone with winds of 125 kilometers per hour hit India’s southeastern coast on October 28, 2026. Authorities warned of localized flooding and damage to power and communications poles, while neighboring Sri Lanka and Nepal issued weather warnings.
Key Facts
More than 180,000 people were evacuated in India.
The cyclone struck India’s southeastern coast on Wednesday, October 28.
Winds reached 125 kilometers per hour.
Authorities warned of localized flooding.
Officials warned that power and communications poles could be uprooted.
Sri Lanka and Nepal also issued weather warnings.
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Police in Londonderry said a package delivered to The Ebrington hotel contained a viable explosive device. Army bomb experts carried out a controlled explosion, and police took the device for forensic examination; authorities evacuated people from the hotel and nearby premises.
Key Facts
The package was discovered at about 15:20 GMT on Tuesday at a hotel in Ebrington Square, in Londonderry’s Waterside area.
Army bomb experts carried out a controlled explosion on the device.
Police said the device was viable and was taken away for forensic examination.
A number of people left The Ebrington hotel, along with staff from neighbouring premises.
A Halloween funfair was taking place nearby and remained open during the security alert.
A local policing watchdog chair said the incident might relate to an Ministry of Defence careers event at the hotel in September, but Sinn Féin councillor Christopher Jackson said it was too early to speculate.
Northern Ireland Justice Minister Naomi Long condemned the incident and praised police who responded.
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Two high-speed trains collided south of Madrid on Wednesday morning, causing several carriages to fall down an embankment. The article gives conflicting death tolls: its opening says at least 30 people died, while a regional government spokesperson later cited 10 confirmed deaths; officials have not announced a cause.
Key Facts
The collision happened shortly after 09:00 local time between Mora and Orgaz, about 140 km south of Madrid.
The trains were operated by Spain’s Renfe and the private company Iryo.
RTVE, citing the transport ministry, reported that a Renfe train struck the rear of an Iryo train.
At least two carriages fell down an embankment.
The article says more than 500 people were aboard the two trains.
The article reports conflicting death tolls: at least 30 in its opening, and 10 according to a regional government spokesperson quoted later.
Authorities have not confirmed the cause; local media reported that a signalling-related human error could be involved.
Adif said rail traffic on the line had been stopped, and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said emergency services were responding.
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With 70% of votes counted in Israel’s election, neither Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition nor Gadi Eisenkot’s opposition bloc appeared likely to win the 61 seats needed for a Knesset majority. Coalition talks may hinge on whether Eisenkot’s bloc will work with Arab Israeli parties, which were projected to win 16–19 seats; the remaining absentee ballots could still affect the results.
Key Facts
Initial exit polls showed Eisenkot’s bloc narrowly ahead, but Netanyahu’s coalition moved ahead as vote counting continued.
With 70% of votes counted, both major blocs appeared short of a majority in the 120-seat Knesset.
The Joint List and Ra’am were projected to win a combined 16–19 seats, according to the article.
Centre-left leader Yair Golan urged Eisenkot to negotiate with the Arab Israeli parties.
Eisenkot appeared to rule out a broad coalition with those parties in a victory declaration, referring to a “Zionist majority.”
Absentee ballots, including votes from deployed soldiers, remained to be counted; the article said the full count could take several days.
After the results are final, President Isaac Herzog will ask a party leader to try to form a government, giving that leader six weeks.
Donald Trump said his endorsement helped Netanyahu’s performance.
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Two high-speed trains collided south of Madrid, Spain, leaving at least 10 people dead. A regional government spokesperson said the toll was expected to rise as rescuers worked at the scene.
Key Facts
More than 500 passengers were travelling on the trains involved.
The collision occurred between a Renfe train and an Iryo train, according to rail operator Adif.
The Iryo train was travelling on the Madrid-to-Seville route.
Rescue workers set up makeshift medical tents at the crash site.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said he was shocked by the accident and was in contact with the transport minister.
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At least 39 people were killed when two high-speed trains collided near Urda, Spain. The crash derailed two carriages and suspended service on the Madrid-Andalusia line; another deadly accident on the same route killed 46 people nine months earlier.
Key Facts
At least 39 people were killed in the collision.
Two high-speed trains collided near Urda, Spain.
The crash derailed two carriages.
The collision suspended service on the Madrid-Andalusia line.
A rail accident on the same route killed 46 people nine months earlier.
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Journalist Charbel A. Antoun argues that President Donald Trump’s pause involving Iran sets a date but does not define measurable diplomatic goals. Antoun says the pause lacks clear terms for uranium accounting, inspection access and shipping protocols, and could amount to a delay rather than diplomacy.
Key Facts
The article discusses President Donald Trump’s pause involving Iran.
Journalist Charbel A. Antoun argues that the pause sets a date without measurable diplomatic goals.
Antoun says the pause does not specify how Iran’s uranium would be accounted for.
Antoun says the pause lacks clear terms for inspection access.
Antoun says the pause lacks clear shipping protocols.
Antoun warns that the pause could serve as a calendar delay rather than lead to diplomacy.
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Russell Brand testified at Southwark Crown Court that a 2023 documentary about allegations against him had a “devastating” effect on his relationships and life. He denies all seven charges against him, and the trial is continuing.
Key Facts
Brand faces three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one count of attempted indecent assault.
Six women brought allegations covering the period from 1999 to 2009.
Brand answered “no” when asked whether he committed each alleged offence.
He told the jury that friends and colleagues had turned away from him after the documentary aired.
Brand said the documentary’s publication led Great Ormond Street Hospital to bar him from staying with his son during the child’s heart surgery.
Brand said he remembered meeting the first complainant at the 1999 Labour Party conference in Bournemouth and denied her rape allegation.
He told the court that consent was fundamental to him. The trial continues.
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A local ceasefire in Russian-occupied Oleshky, in southern Ukraine, held through its first 30 hours, including a day and night. Fighting between Russia and Ukraine continued elsewhere, and the truce is expected to last until Sunday.
Key Facts
The ceasefire began on Tuesday, October 27, in Oleshky.
Oleshky is a city in southern Ukraine occupied by Russia.
The truce held through its first day and night.
The ceasefire is expected to remain in place until Sunday.
Fighting between Moscow and Kyiv continued elsewhere.
The report describes Oleshky as devastated.
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The UK Equality and Human Rights Commission has proposed requiring employers to share information about colleagues’ pay when workers request it. It also wants employers barred from asking job applicants about their current or previous salary, saying both changes could help reduce pay discrimination.
Key Facts
Employers in the UK do not currently have to answer employees’ requests for information about colleagues’ pay.
The EHRC wants employers to provide requested information within a set timeframe.
The proposed information could include basic pay, hours worked, bonuses, overtime, shift premiums and performance-related pay.
UK employers can currently ask job applicants about their current salary, but applicants do not have to answer.
EHRC chief executive John Kirkpatrick said salary-history questions can carry past disadvantage or discrimination into future salaries.
The EHRC has previously called for employers to publish salary details in job adverts.
The Fawcett Society has said salary-history questions may perpetuate pay differences linked to gender, race and disability.
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Russell Brand testified for the defence at Southwark crown court, where he faces charges linked to allegations by six women. He denied the charges and told the court he believed he had obtained consent in an alleged 1999 encounter.
Key Facts
Brand faces three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one count of attempted indecent assault.
The allegations concern events between 1999 and 2009.
Brand has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The prosecution finished presenting its case after nearly two weeks of evidence, and the defence began its case with Brand’s testimony.
Brand denied intending to carry out a non-consensual assault in an allegation involving an MTV worker in 2001.
The judge amended an indecent assault charge to attempted indecent assault, saying there was insufficient evidence to support the original charge.
Brand told police in a 2023 statement that he had never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity.
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Israeli forces continued raids in Hebron and other parts of the occupied West Bank as Hebron entered its sixth day under lockdown. UNRWA said the restrictions and incursions had displaced nearly 5,000 Palestinians in Hebron and limited access to essential services.
Key Facts
Israeli forces raided neighbourhoods in Hebron and towns across the governorate on Wednesday and tightened restrictions at city entrances.
Troops searched homes in the Fawwar refugee camp near midnight.
Israeli forces detained four Palestinians in Tulkarem, including a journalist, his two brothers, and an officer with the Palestinian General Intelligence Service, Wafa reported.
In Beita, Israeli troops fired tear gas at protesters opposing the demolition of two homes belonging to families of Palestinian prisoners.
A Palestinian man suffered hand fractures after Israeli forces beat him in Yasid, while troops raided homes in Burin and turned several into military barracks, Wafa reported.
Schools in southern Nablus were ordered to move to remote learning.
UNRWA said the Hebron lockdown had severely restricted movement and access to critical services and that nearly 5,000 Palestinians had been displaced.
The Israeli campaign followed the killing of two Israeli soldiers by Palestinian gunmen at a checkpoint; Israeli forces later killed the gunmen.
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African students and professionals at Moscow’s RUDN University describe Russia as a place for education, friendships and career development. They also discuss how their studies and connections could benefit African countries, while a Sudanese lecturer notes opportunities for Russia-Africa cooperation and risks to food security from the war in Ukraine.
Key Facts
RUDN University in Moscow hosts students from across Africa and other regions, with campus events featuring national cultures and languages.
Zambian medical graduate Keturah Musonda said a Russian government scholarship enabled her studies and praised Moscow’s healthcare services, including paediatric care.
Musonda hopes African countries will invest more in specialist medicine.
Zambian medical student Chinyama Kazombo said he hopes to use his education to help address Zambia’s need for doctors and other specialists.
Sudanese lecturer Abobakr Mohamed Abbakar Khussein said Russia-Africa ties include training in fields such as medicine, agriculture, humanities and linguistics.
Khussein identified potential cooperation in mining and nuclear energy, including with Russia’s state nuclear company Rosatom.
Khussein said disruptions to Russian and Ukrainian grain and cooking-oil exports amid the war in Ukraine threaten food security.
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Finland’s president and Norway’s prime minister held a 90-minute call with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss ending the war in Ukraine. The leaders said they wanted to open a channel for dialogue and influence peace efforts, while stressing their support for Ukraine; the Kremlin’s account said peace would require Russia’s interests to be fully considered.
Key Facts
Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre spoke with Putin on Tuesday.
The leaders said the call was prepared in consultation with Ukraine and the United States.
Stubb said the call followed an October 20 meeting in Oslo between U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Stubb said the leaders spoke as representatives of their own countries, not on behalf of Europe.
Støre said talking to Russia did not mean easing pressure on it.
The leaders called Zelenskyy after speaking with Putin.
The article said U.S.-brokered talks were planned for Abu Dhabi next month.
The Kremlin said a lasting peace required Russia’s interests to be fully and unconditionally taken into account.
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The U.S. military said it struck a boat accused of drug smuggling in the eastern Pacific on Tuesday, killing five people. The military provided no evidence that the vessel carried drugs; the strike brings the reported death toll from U.S. boat strikes to at least 240 across more than 70 attacks.
Key Facts
U.S. Southern Command said intelligence indicated the boat was involved in drug trafficking.
A video posted on X showed the boat before an explosion destroyed it; the vessel did not appear to be moving beforehand.
The Trump administration began targeting people it calls “narcoterrorists” in September 2025.
President Donald Trump has described the United States as being in an “armed conflict” with Latin American cartels.
Critics and some lawmakers have questioned the strikes’ legality and effectiveness.
The Pentagon’s watchdog plans to review whether the military followed its targeting framework, but not whether the strikes were legal.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States would seek regional allies’ approval for such operations while retaining the option to act unilaterally.
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