The World section brings together news from across the globe, covering conflicts, politics, diplomacy and daily life in countries far and near. Expect reporting on wars and ceasefires, elections and government decisions, migration and humanitarian crises, natural disasters and accidents, plus the diplomatic exchanges that shape international relations.
Coverage spans every region, from long-running crises to sudden breaking events, offering context on how global developments affect communities, governments and ordinary people trying to navigate them.
German police fired water cannon to disperse firework-hurling protesters on Saturday and were also pelted with other projectiles, as tensions rose at the end of massive youth-led protests. In Berlin, Frankfurt, Cologne and dozens of other cities, demonstrators turned out for the protests organised by the group “GenZ regelt!” (GenZ has got this), the latest by disillusioned youth in Europe. Thousands of police were deployed across the country and, after mostly peaceful demonstrations, tensions...
The information ministry on Saturday rebuked the Afghan Taliban’s stance on the ongoing conflict between the two countries, assailing its “persistent refusal to address terrorism” emanating from Afghanistan’s soil. The statement came in response to remarks made by Afghan Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid, who blamed Islamabad’s “wrong policies” for preventing a resolution to the conflict and insisted Kabul was not the cause of counterterrorism issues. “Pakistan does not want to resolve the conflict with Afghanistan through talks,” Mujahid told Hurriyat Radio, claiming that Islamabad “lacks the necessary readiness for a peaceful resolution of differences”. In its statement, the information ministry said the Afghan spokesman’s remarks expose the “regime’s deeply misguided approach and unwillingness to confront the root cause of deteriorating relations with Pakistan”. “The Taliban leadership continues to blame Islamabad’s policies while conveniently ignoring the single most important issue poisoning bilateral relations: its persistent failure to address terrorism emanating from Afghan soil,” it added. The ministry reiterated Pakistan’s “unequivocal” position: terrorism is a red line and the security of its citizens is non-negotiable.* “The Afghan Taliban regime must understand that Pakistan will not tolerate terrorist sanctuaries across its borders that impact its security nor allow its people to remain targets of terrorism emanating from Afghanistan,” it stated. Islamabad reiterated that the “Taliban regime’s persistent refusal to address terrorism remains the principal obstacle to normal relations”. “Shifting blame, making hollow assurances and questioning Pakistan’s policies will neither resolve the crisis nor absolve Kabul of its responsibilities. The Afghan Taliban leadership must understand that Pakistan’s security will not be held hostage to Afghan Taliban’s inaction, evasions or misplaced priorities.” The information ministry affirmed that Pakistan reserved the right to “take all necessary measures, in accordance with international law, to eliminate threats to its national security, wherever they originate”. It urged Kabul to recognise that the responsibility for addressing these threats “rests squarely with the Afghan Taliban regime”. “Pakistan’s resolve to protect its people must never be mistaken for weakness,” it declared. Islamabad has repeatedly urged the Taliban administration in Kabul to dismantle terrorist sanctuaries on Afghan soil, particularly those linked to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), that are used for attacks in Pakistan. Officials say those appeals have gone unheeded. Multiple rounds of talks between the two sides last year, facilitated by Qatar and Turkiye, failed to bring about any workable solution, with the Pakistani government saying the Taliban officials gave no assurances on the key issues. Efforts this year made with China’s involvement also resulted in no breakthrough. September witnessed another bout of conflict between the two neighbours, with Pakistan carrying out calibrated airstrikes in the border region in response to terrorist attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. This was followed by drone incursions from across the border, which Islamabad said were shot down, and two further rounds of retaliatory airstrikes. Those skirmishes continued in October, with Pakistani security forces responding to unprovoked fire from the Afghan side along the border in Kurram and Lower South Waziristan’s Angoor Adda, according to security sources. On Tuesday, Afghan security forces opened unprovoked fire on border posts and residential areas in the Angoor Adda border area, which claimed the life of one local and injured a family of five.
ATLANTA, Oct 31 - US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Saturday said there was growing interest by the international community in facilitating a limited ceasefire in the Black Sea to ensure unfettered energy and grain shipments by Russia and Ukraine.
Vance’s letter comes amid a flurry of diplomatic activity ahead of the Nov. 3 deadline; Jordan and Syria move to deepen security ties following a terrorist attack.
Shift in dealings with Washington not likely to reset once Trump leaves Oval Office, former PM says The UK and other European nations must draw closer together as the US becomes a less-reliable partner, Keir Starmer has said in his first significant political intervention since leaving No 10. The former prime minister warned European leaders of the threat posed by Russia, among others, and said the shift in relations with Washington during Donald Trump’s presidency was not likely to reset once he leaves the Oval Office. He accused them of being caught out by these new realities twice already. Continue reading...
Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei on Saturday warned the United States and Israel against returning to war, according to a written statement, following threats from the Islamic republic’s foes of a possible resumption of strikes. “If the enemies once again launch military or terrorist attacks, it is the armed forces of the Islamic Republic and the Iranian nation that will determine the time and conditions for ending them,” said a statement attributed to Khamenei posted on his website. The remarks came during a reported meeting between Khamenei and senior military commanders, including armed forces chief of staff Ali Abdollahi, army chief Amir Hatami and Revolutionary Guards commander Ahmad Vahidi. It was the first reported meeting between them. Khamenei has not been publicly seen since he became supreme leader, following his father Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s assassination in US-Israeli strikes at the start of the Middle East war in February. According to the statement, Khamenei ordered the commanders to ensure that “any level or type of threat must be met with an immediate, impactful and geographically unrestricted response”. It also said that Khamenei ordered the commanders to update Iran’s target list to include “all types of tangible and intangible assets belonging to the American-Zionist (Israeli) enemy”. The war began on February 28 with US-Israeli strikes on Iran, which swiftly responded with attacks on countries around the region. The supreme leader’s statement came as fresh diplomatic efforts were under way to avert a resumption of fighting. A Qatari delegation arrived in Tehran on Friday for talks with Iranian officials, after Iran reportedly received a letter from US Vice President JD Vance. According to Iranian media, Tehran had yet to respond to the letter.
UN agencies report tens of thousands fled to Kenya Opposition political parties and United Nations agencies have voiced mounting concern over civilian casualties, security incidents, and displacement across parts of Ethiopia, urging immediate measures to protect citizens, investigate reported violations, and ensure accountability amid ongoing regional violence. The Ethiopian Citizens for Social Justice (EZEMA), in […]
Farmers dumped manure on the streets of Turin on Friday as mass demonstrations unfurled across more than 50 cities in Italy. Fired up by a wave of similar protests elsewhere in Europe, tens of thousands of Italians took to the streets to protest soaring living costs and the poor state of public services such as … The post Major anti-government protests sweep across Italy appeared first on Egypt Independent.
Pakistan's chief mediator in its efforts to de-escalate the now eight-month-old Iran war has been to Tehran twice this month, most recently on Monday alongside Saudi and Turkish officials.
JERUSALEM, Oct 30 (Reuters) - Israel demolished on Friday the homes of the assailants who killed two Israeli soldiers at a checkpoint in the occupied West Bank city of Hebron last week, part of an ongoing operation that has forcibly displaced over 3,000 Palestinians. After the October 23 attack, in which both gunmen were killed, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the Israeli military to launch a in areas near the checkpoint, triggering protests by Palestinian residents.
