Belgium rushes to secure drone defences after airport disruption
After drone sightings cause Zaventem airport near Brussels to close temporarily, Belgium turns to its European allies for help.
UK troops treated for hearing problems in final tests of Ajax armoured vehicle
The £5.5bn model was classified as fit for army deployment in September but soldiers continue to raise health fears
Soldiers had to be given medical treatment for hearing problems this summer during final testing of the British army’s new Ajax armoured vehicle, whose introduction has been delayed for several years amid concerns about deafness.
The model, which costs £5.5bn for 589 vehicles, was nevertheless classified as fit for deployment in September. An investigation concluded there were “no systemic issues” – but there remain health concerns among the troops involved.
Continue reading...Silenced: The War on Journalism
A gripping look at journalism’s ultimate sacrifice, told through stories of courage, loss and unwavering conviction.
Civil rescue groups in Mediterranean cut ties with Libyan coastguard
Accusations of violent interceptions and human rights violations levelled at EU-funded Libyan services by NGOs
More than a dozen NGO rescue vessels operating in the Mediterranean have suspended communication with the Libyan coastguard, citing escalating incidents of asylum seekers being violently intercepted at sea and taken to camps rife with torture, rape and forced labour.
The 13 search-and-rescue organisations described their decision as a rejection of mounting pressure by the EU, and Italy in particular, to share information with the Libyan coastguard, which receives training, equipment and funding from the EU.
Continue reading...Italy’s centenarians grow in number as another 2,000 reach the milestone
Southern European country has more than double the number of people aged over 100 than it did in 2009
The number of people in Italy living to 100 continues to grow sharply, with more than 2,000 reaching the milestone age in 2025, the vast majority of them women.
There are now 23,548 residents in Italy who are 100-years-old or over, compared with 21,211 in 2024, according to the latest figures from Istat, the national statistics agency. Italy has more than double the number of centenarians than it had in 2009, Istat said.
Continue reading...Serbia passes a special bill enabling Trump’s son-in-law to build luxury compound despite opposition – AP News
- Serbia passes a special bill enabling Trump's son-in-law to build luxury compound despite opposition AP News
- Serbian Lawmakers Approve Luxury Trump Hotel on Historic Bombing Site The New York Times
- Serbia Passes Law to Fast-Track Planned Trump Tower in Belgrade Bloomberg.com
- Serbian Parliament Supports Kushner's Project Despite Opposition U.S. News & World Report
- Serbia passes law to build Trump hotel in Belgrade politico.eu
Trump Wants to Create Chaos at Airports to Push Democrats to End the Shutdown. About That … – Slate
Hungarian leader Viktor Orban meets US President Donald Trump
Hungary's nationalist prime minister seeks permission to buy Russian oil despite US sanctions.
Jakarta: More than 50 people injured in mosque blast at high school – BBC
- Jakarta: More than 50 people injured in mosque blast at high school BBC
- Multiple explosions shake mosque at Indonesian high school injuring at least 55 CNN
- Student suspect investigated after Indonesia mosque blast injures dozens Al Jazeera
- Indonesia police find possible explosive powder in Jakarta mosque blasts Reuters
- At least 54 people injured in explosions at Indonesian school mosque The Guardian
More than 50 people injured in blast at mosque in Jakarta school complex
Authorities say a 17-year-old suspected of causing the explosion during Friday prayers is in surgery.
More than 50 people injured in mosque blast at Jakarta high school
Authorities say a 17-year-old suspected of causing the explosion during Friday prayers is in surgery.
Inside the compounds of Asia’s $10 billion scam industry, where trafficked staff sleep at work and log 16-hour days texting ‘hello’ over and over – Fortune
- Inside the compounds of Asia's $10 billion scam industry, where trafficked staff sleep at work and log 16-hour days texting 'hello' over and over Fortune
- Indians who fled a Myanmar cyberscam center are being flown home from Thailand AP News
- Karen Rebels Declare Curfew to Stop Flow of Fugitive Scammers The Irrawaddy
- Myanmar strikes on scam centers dismissed as 'smoke screen' Nikkei Asia
- Scam centers in southeast Asia are on the rise despite crackdowns livingstonenterprise.net
Film festival in New York cancelled after China puts pressure on directors
Participants ask for their films not to be shown at IndieChina event, which was due to launch this weekend
An independent film festival due to start in New York this weekend has been cancelled after several film-makers pulled out due to harassment from the Chinese authorities, raising concerns about transnational repression.
The inaugural IndieChina film festival was planned to take place between 8 and 15 November. But on 5 November the festival’s curator, Zhu Rikun, posted on Facebook that he had been forced to cancel 80% of the planned screenings because film-makers had pulled out.
Continue reading...Iran plotted to assassinate Israel’s ambassador to Mexico, U.S. officials say – Axios
- Iran plotted to assassinate Israel's ambassador to Mexico, U.S. officials say Axios
- Iranian plot to kill Israel's ambassador to Mexico contained, US official says Reuters
- Iran plotted to assassinate Israel’s ambassador to Mexico, U.S. and Israeli officials say NBC News
- Israel accuses Iran of plot to kill ambassador to Mexico DW
- Iran accused of plot to assassinate Israeli ambassador to Mexico The Guardian
Woman found guilty of harassing Madeleine McCann’s parents – BBC
- Woman found guilty of harassing Madeleine McCann's parents BBC
- Why this woman believed she was Madeleine McCann - and what she did next BBC
- Polish woman who claimed to be Madeleine McCann convicted of harassing missing UK girl's parents New York Post
- How woman who found fame by claiming to be Madeleine McCann harassed missing girl’s family The Guardian
- Madeleine McCann's parents respond after harassment conviction of woman who claimed to be their daughter Sky News
European Union vessel reaches ship raided by pirates off Somalia; all 24 crew on board safe – AP News
- European Union vessel reaches ship raided by pirates off Somalia; all 24 crew on board safe AP News
- Somalia piracy: Attackers fire grenades and board vessel off Somali coast BBC
- Special forces sent to tanker hijacked by Somali pirates The Independent
- Attackers board a ship off the coast of Somalia after firing rocket-propelled grenades abcnews.go.com
- Somali pirates board first ship in 18 months Financial Times
Habsburg family unveils secret royal jewel stash in Canada – DW
- Habsburg family unveils secret royal jewel stash in Canada DW
- The Florentine Diamond Resurfaces After 100 Years in Hiding The New York Times
- Austrian royal diamond thought to be lost for more than 100 years resurfaces in unexpected place New York Post
- Famed Florentine diamond surfaces in Canada after century-long disappearance The Guardian
- Habsburg's Florentine diamond found in bank vault after a century Euronews.com
Tanzania charges dozens with treason over election protests
Church leader Benson Bagonza says the move would only deepen the acrimony sparked by the election.
EU could water down AI Act amid pressure from Trump and big tech
European Commission confirms reports it is looking at postponing parts of landmark legislation
The European Commission is considering plans to delay parts of the EU’s Artificial Intelligence Act, after intense pressure from businesses and Donald Trump’s administration.
The commission confirmed that “a reflection” was “still ongoing” on delaying aspects of the regulation, after media reports that Brussels was weighing up changes with the aim of easing demands on big tech companies.
Continue reading...Released Israeli hostage says he was sexually assaulted in Gaza captivity
In an interview with Israeli TV, Rom Braslavski described how he was stripped naked and tied up by members of Palestinian Islamic Jihad.