Latest news

Sources: Kushner discusses new Nord Stream with the Kremlin

Trump’s son-in-law and special envoy, Jared Kushner, is holding closed-door talks with Russia regarding the construction of two major gas pipelines between Russia and Germany. Five sources have disclosed this to Reuters.

Prior to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine—and, crucially, the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipeline—Germany was the largest buyer of Russian gas. In addition to Kushner, Vladimir Putin’s envoy Kirill Dmitriev has reportedly participated in the discussions.

Rebuilding the gas pipelines is considered unlikely in the short term. Nord Stream is subject to sanctions, and Trump’s ability to lift them could diminish following the midterm elections.

Trump appointed Kushner to travel the globe and resolve geopolitical impasses, even as he remains a businessman with distinct financial interests. According to the sources, he views business opportunities as a central component of efforts to broker peace between Ukraine and Russia.

Political situation in France
France to unveil crisis plan following protests

France is set to present a crisis plan to address issues such as replacing absent teachers—a key grievance driving the widespread student protests across the country. This is being reported by the French newspaper *Le Figaro*.

Details could likely be presented "in a few hours or a few days," says Education Minister Édouard Geffray.

Geffray is scheduled to meet today with the three largest student organizations to discuss, among other things, a targeted action plan for the schools most affected and "issues regarding student democracy," according to Geffray. 

School attacks in Poland
Second school attack in Poland in two days – 15-year-old arrested

A woman in her late 30s has been killed in yet another stabbing incident at a school in Poland, Polish media report.

A 15-year-old former student of the school reportedly attacked three staff members. The school principal subdued the teenager, who was subsequently arrested, according to the Polish news agency PAP.

The perpetrator was wearing a helmet equipped with a camera, and according to Prime Minister Donald Tusk, the intention was to film the attack. This is reported by Polskie Radio 24.

Yesterday, a 19-year-old student at a school in the northern part of the country attacked passersby and other students with a sharp object. Eight people were injured. 

The Epstein scandal  British connections
Search of former Prince Andrew’s property was unlawful

The search conducted by police at the property of the former Prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor earlier this year was unlawful. A London court has ruled to this effect, the BBC reports.

Thames Valley Police state that they have accepted the court's decision. The investigation into Mountbatten-Windsor is ongoing, and the items seized during the search remain in police custody.

The former prince was arrested in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office. 

Suspected infection in Russia
Russia dismisses reports of a second plague case

Russia denies reports that a second person has contracted pneumonic plague following contact with the 28-year-old female laboratory worker who died last week. Reuters reports the story.

Russian authorities label the reports "false information" and claim to have investigated all of the woman's contacts, finding no evidence of infection—even after conducting 5,000 lab tests.

Authorities have also not confirmed that the 28-year-old woman died of pneumonic plague, despite pressure from the World Health Organization (WHO).

US midterm elections
Trump mocks—but "Tala-freak-o" leads in Texas

Donald Trump spent a large part of his speech in Texas last night mocking Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico.

"James Tala-freak-o says God is trans," Trump said, among other things.

However, there are strong indications that Talarico could win—a result that would be truly sensational in the state that is arguably the Republicans' strongest stronghold.

An aggregate of recent opinion polls conducted by the *Texas Tribune* shows the Democrat leading with 48.6 percent against Republican Ken Paxton's 45.2 percent.

Individual polls show an even wider lead. The latest from The Texas Pulse/Texas A&M Bush School shows Talarico leading by four percentage points.

The Climate Threat Threats to Biodiversity

Over 70,000 billion more for nature-damaging activities than for nature conservation

Around 73,000 billion kronor went to activities that harm nature in 2023, compared to 2,200 billion for protecting or restoring it, according to a new WWF report.

A UN analysis cited by WWF shows that two-thirds consisted of private investments in areas such as oil and gas extraction, mining, and construction projects. The remainder comprised government subsidies, including those for fossil fuels and agriculture.

Agricultural expansion accounts for nearly 90 percent of global deforestation. At the same time...

WWF: Wildlife populations down 73 percent – ​​but "there is hope"

Global wildlife populations have declined by an average of 73 percent since 1970, according to a new WWF report based on data from nearly 36,000 populations.

The decline is steepest in Latin America and the Caribbean, at 95 percent. In terms of habitats, freshwater ecosystems have been hit hardest, with an 85 percent decline.

WWF identifies food and energy production, as well as investments in activities that harm nature, as key drivers.

However, there are "reasons for hope," according to WWF. The number of wild tigers has increased by over 70 percent since 2010, while bluefin tuna and green sea turtles have also recovered following decades of conservation efforts. Half of the world’s GDP depends on nature and functioning ecosystems.

Wildlife populations in lakes and rivers have declined by 85 percent

Freshwater animal populations have declined by an average of 85 percent since 1970. This makes lakes, rivers, and wetlands the hardest-hit habitats in WWF’s new report.

On land, the decline is 69 percent, and in the oceans, it is 59 percent. WWF points to factors such as pollution, overfishing, and habitat destruction. Alterations to waterways, such as dams, can also impact wildlife.

Hydropower dams can, among other things, block fish migration routes. According to a UN report cited by *The Guardian*, populations of migratory freshwater fish have declined by 81 percent since 1970.

 

European Security

Suspected spy in British Navy arrested

A suspected spy within the British Navy has been arrested. Scotland Yard announced this in a statement, according to British media.

The arrested man is a 24-year-old serviceman suspected of gathering classified information for a foreign power between November 2024 and May 2025. He was arrested at his home on Tuesday.

The man is formally suspected of preparing to commit espionage. It has been clarified that the arrest is unrelated to the thwarted terror plot targeting the English airbase at Fairford.

Moscow implicated in sabotage against Danish companies

Russia has carried out acts of sabotage against several Danish companies supplying equipment to Ukraine, according to the Danish Security and Intelligence Service (PET), as reported by Reuters. The agency describes this as a significant escalation of Russia's hybrid warfare.

According to PET, Russia has begun targeting entities that could more directly impact the war in Ukraine, including companies involved in weapons production.

Moscow has repeatedly denied involvement in sabotage, and the Russian embassy in Copenhagen dismisses the allegations as unfounded.

Lithuania open to sending troops to Russian border

The Lithuanian government is open to deploying troops to the border with the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad following unrest at Latvia's border with Belarus. Armed individuals have reportedly attempted to help migrants cross the border there, The Kyiv Independent reports.

"There is no reason for panic. Deploying soldiers is a preventive measure," writes Lithuanian Interior Minister Martynas Katelynas on Facebook.

According to Katelynas, the situation at the border is calm. At the same time, he states that the measure follows indications that Russia might announce a mobilization.

Middle East Crisis

Houthi Rebels
Three dead in Houthi attacks on Saudi airports

Three people have been killed and around 30 injured in attacks on two airports in Saudi Arabia, Bloomberg reports.

The airports in Riyadh and Abha were attacked on Tuesday and Wednesday. The Houthi movement has claimed responsibility for both attacks.

The strikes will not go unanswered, according to the Saudi-led coalition, which states that it has destroyed 82 Houthi targets in Yemen, including missile depots and command centers.

Strait of Hormuz
Oil tanker hit by projectiles off Qatar

An oil tanker off the northern coast of Qatar has been struck by several projectiles, according to the British maritime security agency UKMTO. An unknown number of people have been injured or killed.

"The Strait of Hormuz is closed, and Iran's armed forces have full control over it," Mohammadreza Naqdi, an advisor to the Revolutionary Guard, told the pro-regime news agency Fars, according to The Guardian.

The attack is the latest in a series targeting tankers in the area. At least twelve tankers were attacked during the week leading up to October 5. 

Gaza War
Palestinians from Gaza build new lives in Mexico through food

Mohammed Abed, 36, worked as a systems engineer in Gaza. In May 2025, he arrived in Mexico with 17 relatives after his home was bombed and his four-year-old daughter, Merna, died from severe burns, according to several media outlets.

Due to the language barrier, Mohammed cannot work as an engineer. Instead, he sells falafel, hummus, and shawarma from his tricycle at markets in Mexico City. He also assists his wife with a Palestinian catering business.

Yet, the memories of Gaza remain. Aircraft flying over Mexico City still trigger anxiety in Mohammed and his children.

"The sound makes me remember everything we went through, and my body reacts before I even have time to think," he tells Reuters.

Mohammed is still trying to bring his two sisters from Gaza to Mexico. Meanwhile, the family is building a new life in the country, where his youngest son, Yusuf, was born and became a Mexican citizen.

"He was born in Mexico but carries the roots of Gaza in his heart," says Mohammed.

Norwegian phone chaos

Norwegian phone chaos resolved – cause unclear

Train traffic in Norway came to a complete standstill during the afternoon due to extensive mobile network problems, Norwegian media report. According to the railway company Vy, the stoppage was caused by a fault in the communication system.

At 18:50, Telenor announced that the problem had been resolved and the mobile network was functioning normally.

Several police districts reported issues throughout the day regarding the ability to get through on emergency numbers.

"There are issues preventing the police from receiving phone calls, in all likelihood. We are also receiving more calls with no audio," Anders Aas, operations chief for the Oslo police district, told VG.

Telenor: No signs of hacking or attack

It remains unclear what caused the extensive problems with Telenor's mobile network in Norway during the afternoon. However, the telecom company does not suspect an external attack, Aftenposten reports.

"There are no signs of any ongoing hacking or attack," Telenor's head of communications, Vetle Andersen, told the newspaper.

According to Andersen, the problems occurred sporadically, and users experienced difficulties making calls both to and from phones with Telenor subscriptions. Telenor is working to assess the situation.

According to Telenor, the issues were resolved just before 18:50 in the evening.

The Death Penalty in the US

Fort Hood terrorist to be executed via live broadcast.

The execution of Fort Hood terrorist Nidal Hasan will be public, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth told the conservative channel Real America’s Voice, according to the AP.

"We will ensure that people can watch it," he said.

Hegseth did not elaborate on how this would be carried out, but according to information obtained by the news agency, the Pentagon plans to broadcast the execution of the former Army psychiatrist live.

Hasan shot and killed 13 people and injured over 30 others at the Fort Hood military base in Texas in 2009. He was sentenced to death four years later.

Earlier this week, Trump approved Hasan’s execution by firing squad at Fort Hood. 

Christa Pike’s first words: "Where am I and who are you?"

Christa Pike has woken up following the failed execution attempt in Tennessee last week, multiple media outlets report. At a press conference, her lawyer revealed her first words:

"Where am I and who are you?"

Pike was administered a dose of lethal drugs on September 30, and when she did not die from it, she was given another. The execution was halted after she remained alive following the double dose.

On Monday, her lawyers believed she was brain-dead; consequently, her words came as a shock to everyone involved, said lawyer Randy Spivey. He also stated that Pike is fully aware of the execution attempt and described her as angry and confused. She is still being treated in the hospital and cannot move her arms. She has several other complications, including cognitive difficulties.

Trump’s USA

The Iran Conflict
Trump: US will not bomb Iran before the midterm election

Donald Trump says the US will not attack Iran before the midterm election on November 3, Reuters reports.

The US is holding "productive discussions" with Iran, according to the president.

According to sources cited by *The Atlantic* and others, the White House has asked the Pentagon to develop options for attacks on Iranian targets in the coming weeks.

Sources: White House wants to attack Iran before the election

The White House has asked the Pentagon to develop various options for possible attacks on Iranian targets that could be carried out in the coming weeks, two government sources told *The Atlantic*.

Analysts suggest that the fact the US has not attacked Iran in several weeks may be because Donald Trump does not want to remind voters of the unpopular war ahead of the November midterm election. However, according to the sources, declining poll numbers have left Trump feeling pressured to demonstrate progress in the conflict and lower gasoline prices.

Although it is unlikely that isolated attacks would suddenly secure a safe route through the Strait of Hormuz, the reasoning—according to the sources—is that such actions could allow Trump to declare some form of victory.

The Maduro Indictment
Maduro and his wife indicted in the US for torture

Venezuela’s former president Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores have been indicted for plotting the torture of political opponents, AP reports.

According to the indictment, violence and torture were used to keep Maduro in power. He reportedly personally authorized the use of electric shocks and suffocation, and threatened to kill a prisoner's child.

An American man was also allegedly tortured after being arrested in 2022 on suspicion of plotting to assassinate Maduro. According to Reuters, he was subjected to beatings and electric shocks.

The couple has been detained in New York since January and denies the previous criminal charges. Venezuela is now governed by Maduro's former vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, with Trump's support.