onsdag 21 oktober 2026

BREAKING: Iran DECLARES 'All-Out' & 'Multi-Layered' War Against Israel & US; 'Total Obliteration...'

Economist: Partly a consequence of US funding cuts

A case of Ebola was confirmed in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, on Tuesday evening, according to international media reports.

This is the first confirmed case in the country in twelve years. Yvonne Mhango, an economist for the region at Bloomberg, notes that this spread serves as a reminder that the epidemic that broke out in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has not yet been contained.

"This failure reflects the limited resources available to health authorities in the DRC—partly a result of US aid cuts in 2025," she says.

Nigeria confirms Ebola case – the same strain as in the DRC

Nigeria has recorded its first confirmed case of Ebola in twelve years. On Tuesday, authorities in the capital, Abuja, confirmed that a woman who had traveled to the country from Uganda tested positive for the virus.

According to the Africa CDC, the woman is infected with the Bundibugyo strain of the virus—the same variant that has been spreading in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo since mid-May. Since then, nearly 10,000 people in the DRC have contracted the disease, according to the latest figures from the CDC.

The Political Situation in the UK

British Government Approves Controversial Drilling

As expected, the British government has given the green light for the drilling and extraction of gas at the Jackdaw field in the North Sea, according to British media. Drilling at Jackdaw has been the subject of intense debate in the country, with both climate activists and several Labour politicians opposing it.

Energy Minister Miatta Fahnbulleh stated on Wednesday that the decision was made following “careful consideration of all relevant factors.” She added that the gas field will provide the UK with additional energy as early as this winter.

The government justifies the decision by noting that it strengthens the country’s energy security, *The Guardian* reports. The drilling is expected, among other things, to allow the country to reduce its fuel imports.

Analysis: If You Ignore the Climate, Jackdaw Is Great

If one disregards the climate and global warming, the UK’s decision to approve drilling at the Jackdaw gas field off the coast of Scotland is entirely logical, writes Tom Clarke, Sky News’s climate and technology editor.

He argues that the UK is in desperate need of its own source of fossil gas to reduce its dependence on other countries. Crucially, this secures British energy supplies at a time of geopolitical instability.

However, Clarke emphasizes that one cannot ignore the fact that the extraction will have negative environmental consequences.

Conversely, Hettie O’Brien of *The Guardian* argues that drilling in the North Sea will not yield as many positive outcomes as the government hopes. She argues, among other things, that the project will not reduce the need for imported gas at all, since Jackdaw can only account for a few percent of the total supply.

According to O’Brien, drilling at Jackdaw will result in neither lower energy prices nor improved energy security.

“Ultimately, approving increased gas production at Jackdaw also means an increase in the global supply of fossil fuels.”

Middle East Crisis

Houthi Rebels
Source: US evacuating personnel from the Middle East

The US is bringing personnel home from embassies in the Middle East, according to international media.

At the embassy in Saudi Arabia, all staff and their families have been ordered to leave the country, AFP reports, citing a diplomatic source.

At the embassies in the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Qatar, and Bahrain, family members of staff have been ordered to return home, according to the same source.

Iran Conflict
Sources: Netanyahu pushing for new attacks on Iran

Israel’s Prime Minister wants to carry out new, large-scale attacks against Iran, according to information provided to the Financial Times.

For instance, the Israeli military prepared an operation intended to take place on October 10. It was halted due to American opposition to new attacks occurring before the midterm elections, sources state.

One of the sources suggests it is likely that Israel and the US will attack Iran again in the coming weeks.

“It will either be an agreement or an attack,” the source says.

Reports: US sending diplomats home from Saudi Arabia

Updated 23:08 | Published 21:22

Washington has ordered all its diplomats and their families in Saudi Arabia to leave the country, a diplomatic source told AFP.

Late Wednesday evening, the Saudi Ministry of Energy reported that two people were killed when a drone was shot down.

Family members of staff at US embassies in the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Qatar, and Bahrain have also been ordered to return to the US, according to the source who spoke to AFP.

Tommy Pigott, a spokesperson for the US State Department, confirmed in a post on X that most staff in Saudi Arabia have been ordered to leave, but denied that this applies to the other four countries.

Concurrently, the Saudi Ministry of Energy announced at approximately 21:30 that two people had been killed and two others injured when air defenses shot down a drone at an oil facility near the border with the United Arab Emirates. It is not yet clear which party is responsible for the attack.

The attack and the reports regarding embassy personnel come at a time when the Gulf state is under heavy pressure from strikes by the Iranian-backed Houthi movement in Yemen. Earlier on Wednesday, Riyadh’s airport reopened after having been closed since earlier in Octob

Demonstrations Banned in Parts of Paris

TT

Updated 21:07 | Published 20:54

A car was set on fire near Place de la République in Paris during protests on October 17. Photo: Thibault Camus/AP/TT

Demonstrations are being banned in parts of Paris on Thursday, according to the police. The announcement comes as the French government prepares for further protests in the coming days.

The ban, in effect from 08:00 to 20:00 on Thursday, applies to areas including the vicinity of the Élysée Palace, the two parliamentary buildings, and tourist-heavy locations such as the Louvre and the Champs-Élysées.

Over the weekend, France was brought to a standstill by widespread, large-scale demonstrations calling for social justice and protesting the high cost of living—protests that, in several places, descended into violence.

Thousands of people have been taken into custody by the police, who in turn face accusations of widespread excessive use of force.

Good news: The Pope requires no further medical procedures

TT

Published 22:36

Pope Leo XIV received flowers in St. Peter’s Square on Wednesday. Photo: Gregorio Borgia/AP/TT

Pope Leo XIV will not require any further medical procedures for the treatment of the lung cancer for which he underwent surgery. The Vatican shared this welcome news on Wednesday.

Last week, the 71-year-old Pope had a portion of his right lung removed after a mass—a so-called nodule—was discovered. It was then revealed that the Pope has lung cancer.

The Pope’s personal physician has now confirmed that tests show the cancer has not spread. Consequently, no further surgeries are necessary.

The Pope left the hospital on Sunday and, on Wednesday, was able to greet 30,000 cheering spectators in St. Peter’s Square, where he toured the area in his Popemobile, reports Rai.

Leo XIV’s next major trip will take him to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru during the first half of November.

Exposed: How the US is meddling in Brazil's election

Geopolitical Economy Report

EXCLUSIVE: “Saudi Oil Not More Precious Than Yemeni Blood”

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Israel About to Ignite Entire Middle East?

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Iran's Next Strike May Not Explode. It Could Shut You Down /Col Doug Macgregor

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Economy

The Cambridge Analytica Case
Meta ordered to pay 250 billion [kronor] following the Cambridge Analytica scandal

Meta has been ordered to pay 25 billion US dollars—equivalent to nearly 250 billion Swedish kronor—in fines following the Cambridge Analytica scandal, which broke in 2018. This is reported by CNBC.

The ruling follows a decision by a jury in the state of New Mexico in late September, which found that Meta had violated consumer protection laws more than 43 million times.

The owner of Facebook has previously reached settlements in several legal cases across the United States in the wake of the Cambridge Analytica scandal.

Meta has not commented on the matter.

The Future of the UK
New British gas field in the North Sea expected to get the green light

The British government is expected to approve drilling at the Jackdaw gas field in the North Sea, Bloomberg reports, citing sources.

Due to its climate impact, a Scottish court had previously halted gas drilling at Jackdaw. However, Energy Minister Miatta Fahnbulleh is now expected to announce on Wednesday that drilling may proceed.

The decision risks sparking protests from the left wing of the Labour Party and from the Green Party. Conversely, a decision to block gas drilling would likely draw criticism from Reform UK, the Conservatives (Tories), and the oil industry—all of whom argue that climate-related initiatives are costing the UK jobs and investment.

Earnings Season
Meta’s AI costs lower than expected – shares rise

Meta’s sales increased slightly more than expected during the third quarter, driven by strong growth in advertising revenue, according to the interim report released this evening.

Capital expenditures—including those related to AI infrastructure—were significantly lower than anticipated. Meanwhile, the company has narrowed its full-year forecast to a range of $135–145 billion, compared to the previous $130–145 billion.

Earnings per share came in well below expectations; however, the bottom line was weighed down by a one-time charge of $9.89 billion related to a legal settlement.

The market has reacted positively to the report, with shares rising by approximately 3 percent in US after-hours trading.

Third Quarter 2026

Revenue: $64.6 billion
Expected (LSEG): $63.2 billion
2025: $51.2 billion

Earnings per share: $3.83
Expected (LSEG): $5.75
2025: $1.05

SpaceX’s Journey as a Public Company

AI Growth Propels SpaceX Forward

SpaceX saw a sharp increase in profit, with revenue surging by 161 percent in the third quarter compared to the same period last year. This performance was driven by strong growth in the Starlink satellite business and in AI.

The AI division—which the company now refers to as "superintelligence"—saw its revenue skyrocket by 830 percent.

Meanwhile, massive investments continued; the company poured $16.4 billion into AI alone during the quarter.

The market appeared to react favorably to SpaceX’s second quarterly report as a publicly traded company—the stock rose 5 percent in U.S. after-hours trading.

SpaceX and Tesla Begin Discussions on a Mega-Merger

SpaceX and Tesla have begun merger talks, with both companies establishing special committees to handle the matter, according to Bloomberg and The Wall Street Journal. Elon Musk himself has expressed support for consolidating his empire into a single entity.

"There is much to be gained from collaborating on the development of software for superintelligence," he stated in a comment regarding SpaceX’s quarterly report, which was released earlier this evening.

The Political Situation in France

French Yields Top 5 Percent – First Time Since 2002

The yield on French ten-year government bonds briefly climbed above 5 percent on Wednesday, according to several media outlets. The unrest and the failure to finalize a budget have contributed to this development.

Rising yields indicate that investors are concerned about France’s economy and are demanding higher interest payments in exchange for lending to the country. The unrest has fueled this trend, as people protest against low living standards—a situation that will make it even more difficult for politicians to tighten the economy, which is currently running large deficits.

The yield on French ten-year government bonds has risen from just over 3.6 percent at the start of the year to levels just under 5 percent.

Expert: A French Budget May Not Calm the Markets

Even if France manages to pass a budget through parliament, the anxiety surrounding the country’s bond market is likely to persist, according to Pooja Kumra, a strategist at TD Bank, speaking to Bloomberg.

"Even if the budget passes, investors remain concerned about broader signs of a lack of control over public finances and political fragmentation," she told the news agency.

On Wednesday, the yield on the ten-year French government bond rose above 5 percent for the first time since 2002—a sign that the market is worried about the state of the country’s public finances. Meanwhile, the additional yield that investors demand for lending to France, compared to Germany, has reached its highest level in 15 years.

Protests in France

Macron lashes out – claims protests are being exploited: "They annoy me"

French President Emmanuel Macron argues that the ongoing protests in the country are being exploited abroad for political purposes, Bloomberg reports.

"There are no visible signs of foreign interference in the events themselves, but information has been manipulated from abroad after the fact," he told journalists during a visit to Qatar on Wednesday.

Without naming them directly, Macron implied that the protests are being exploited by both Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu—in the context of the US midterm elections and next week’s election in Israel, respectively.

"Anyone speaking ill of our country right now is someone who does not love our country. These people annoy me," Macron said.

Demonstrations banned – shop owners arm themselves

French police are banning demonstrations in parts of Paris between 8:00 AM and 8:00 PM on Thursday, AFP reports. The ban covers areas including tourist hotspots like the Louvre and the Champs-Élysées, as well as the vicinity of the Élysée Palace and the parliamentary buildings.

Meanwhile, *Le Parisien* reports that shop owners in the capital have begun arming themselves, fearing what might happen this weekend.

"Everyone feels they are at risk of being looted. Above all, shop owners feel that the police have not protected them," says Yves Gollety, owner of the gun shop *Armurerie de la Bourse*.

He told the newspaper that orders for various types of tear-gas-based self-defense weapons have skyrocketed.

"This is the first time I’ve seen such a level of concern," Gollety says.

Analysis: Everyone blames each other for the violence in France

Whose fault is the violence seen during the protests in France over the last few weeks? The question is dividing the French people, writes Katya Adler for the BBC. The government has blamed the far-left, which in turn has blamed the government. Meanwhile, the far-right alleges both strategic incompetence on the part of President Macron and cynical manipulation by the left-wing opposition.

“France’s leading politicians have been engaged in a finger-pointing festival since Saturday,” Adler writes.

In the *New Statesman*, Peter Allen points the finger instead at elements within the police force. France’s paramilitary riot police are among the most brutal in Europe, and they are all too willing to join far-right candidate Marine Le Pen in demonizing the protesters, he writes.

“There is no doubt that the paramilitary forces—much like Le Pen—cultivate an image of themselves as guardians of an old-fashioned France, in which foreign influences are despised and mocked.”

In *The New York Times*, Glynnis MacNicol writes that, in any case, very few people are actually listening to what the students who initiated the protests are asking for.

“Their challenge now is to keep the violence at bay,” she notes.

Putin Trashes EU/Kiev Offer In Witkoff Meeting; No Truce November Talks; Russia To Bomb Kiev Bridge

Alexander Mercouris

Witkoff Meets Putin; EU Begs for Ukraine Cash; Turkey Blocks Greece in Med

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France and the Hollowing Out of Europe

The Duran

A triple blow to the Earth: “A massive problem for all of humanity”

Christina Nordh

Published 12:57

In a warmer climate, melting ice sheets could weaken the AMOC and the Gulf Stream. “All our climate models show this weakening, but there is also a risk that it could stall even more dramatically. If that happens, significantly less warm water would move northward in the Atlantic,” says Erik Kjellström. Photo: Wei Liu, Shang-Ping Xie, Zhengyu Liu, and Jiang Zhu/Science.org. See more

NORRKÖPING. Climate change is a threat.

But it is not the only one.

Researchers are now identifying three critical dangers to the future of the planet.

In Norrköping, Sweden’s climate experts are currently gathered for SMHI’s conference, “Prio.”

The graphs glow an angry red.

“We are already experiencing climate change in Sweden. As long as there are emissions, it will continue,” says climate researcher Gustav Strandberg.

2.8 degrees warmer

Erik Kjellström, a professor of climatology, states:

“Looking 100 years ahead or more, the warming in Sweden is nearly twice as intense. When compared to the 1860s—when our record-keeping began—the long-term smoothed average shows an increase of 2.8 degrees.”

In the summer of 2025, northern Sweden was hit by a prolonged heatwave—a stark contrast to this year’s summer, which was largely a washout.

“Last summer, northern Sweden was about two degrees warmer than it would have been had humans not influenced the climate,” he says. Human emissions have caused disruptions to the climate system. Today, it remains unclear to what extent this will have an impact in the future, says Erik Kjellström.

“The more carbon dioxide we emit, and the warmer it gets, the further we move away from what we are accustomed to. The ultimate extent and intensity of this warming represent a fundamental uncertainty, one that is inextricably linked to our emissions. Furthermore, we do not know exactly how phenomena such as large-scale atmospheric wind patterns will be affected.”

A Triple Crisis

What is the greatest threat to humanity today ?

“We are facing a triple planetary crisis: climate change, the loss of biodiversity, and pollution. Together, these constitute a massive problem for all of humanity. It is not just climate change in isolation; rather, it is the combination of these factors,” says Erik Kjellström.

“Climate change is happening here and now—and it will only continue to worsen unless we get our greenhouse gas emissions under control.”

What are you most concerned about?

“The issue of freshwater. We cannot survive without water,” says Gustav Strandberg.

How urgent is the need for climate adaptation?

“It becomes increasingly important with each passing day. We are not even adapted to the climate we have today. We are already lagging behind, yet the climate continues to change. The ‘debt’ just keeps growing.”

Over 150 dead in drone attack on fuel tankers

Published 07:38

Fires are still burning following an extremely bloody drone attack on Monday in Abyei, a disputed border region between Sudan and South Sudan. The death toll has now reached over 150, according to local officials.

Yohanna Akol Ngor, a representative of the administration in Abyei, has identified the Sudanese military as being responsible for the carnage. A source within the Sudanese army acknowledges that drones were deployed, but claims the targets were fuel tankers carrying supplies for the RSF—the paramilitary group currently fighting the Sudanese army.

"We do not target civilians," the source stated, asserting that those killed were fuel smugglers and members of the RSF.

The civil war between the RSF and the Sudanese army has claimed more than 200,000 lives since it broke out in the spring of 2023.

Fighter jet crashes in France

TT

Updated 07:46 | Published 06:55

Stridsflygplanet som kraschade var av modellen Mirage 2000D. Arkivbild.

The fighter jet that crashed was a Mirage 2000D model. File photo. Photo: Ariel Schalit/AP/TT

A fighter jet has crashed in eastern France, according to French media reports.

A body has been discovered during the search operation.

The radio station Ici Lorraine reports that a large-scale rescue operation is underway.

France’s defense authorities state that the aircraft was a Mirage 2000D fighter jet and that contact with the plane was lost on Tuesday evening, Franceinfo reports.

The search for the second pilot is ongoing.

Witnesses reportedly heard a powerful explosion and saw a fireball around 10:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

A press briefing will be held at 9:00 a.m. in the municipality of Rogéville.

EU Marks 70 Years in Rome

TT

Published 15:18

EU leaders held a summit in Rome in 2017 to mark the 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome. A repeat of this is now being proposed for the 70th-anniversary celebrations in 2027. File photo. Photo: Alessandra Tarantino/AP/TT

António Costa, President of the European Council, wants to hold next year’s spring summit in Rome to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the 1957 Treaty of Rome.

The proposal to host the scheduled summit—set for March 18–19—in Rome rather than Brussels originated with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The proposal now has Costa’s backing, but it requires approval from all EU member states, an EU spokesperson stated in a release.

The 1957 Treaty of Rome marks one of the EU’s "birthdays" and led to the creation of a common market.

Costa has also decided that the next summit, taking place on November 13 in Dublin, will focus primarily on issues related to AI. This will be followed by an extraordinary summit in Brussels on November 26–27, which will address the next long-term budget and support for Ukraine. The final summit of the year will then be held in Brussels, beginning on December 17, while the first summit of 2027 is set to take place in Alden Biesen, Belgium, on February 5.

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Midterm Elections The US Election Campaign

Historically low numbers for Donald Trump in new poll

Donald Trump’s approval ratings have hit a new low with less than two weeks to go before the US midterm elections. Only 36 percent of respondents in a poll conducted by Siena on behalf of The New York Times say they are satisfied with the President’s performance.

Meanwhile, 52 percent of respondents state that they plan to vote for Democratic candidates in the upcoming election.

According to the poll, the dissatisfaction with Trump and the Republicans is largely linked to Iran and economic developments. 64 percent of respondents say they are dissatisfied with the White House’s handling of the economy, while 65 percent express disapproval of how the situation regarding Iran has been handled.

Senate race in Texas could become the most expensive in US history

The bill for all campaign advertising produced so far for the two candidates in the Texas Senate race—Democrat James Talarico and Republican Ken Paxton—has reached nearly five billion Swedish kronor. Reuters reports that the contest is on track to become the most expensive Senate race in US history.

The state of public opinion is extremely close, though Talarico holds a narrow lead. Political analyst James Henson of the Texas Politics Project notes that the race is tighter than any seen in the state in over 30 years.

Republicans have attempted to close the gap by pouring significant funds into Paxton’s campaign. Groups and donor organizations have provided the Republican candidate with billions of kronor—significantly more than what Talarico has raised for his campaign.

On Tuesday, tech billionaire Elon Musk announced his support for Paxton.

"The fate of Texas and the United States is at stake," he wrote on X.

Black voters identified as crucial for El-Sayed

Votes from Black voters are being identified as critical for Democratic candidate Abdul El-Sayed in the Michigan Senate race, CNN reports.

His opponent, Republican Mike Rogers, has focused heavily during his campaign on winning support from voter groups that traditionally lean Democratic. Several Democratic leaders are now concerned that El-Sayed has failed to garner sufficient support among Black voters.

"In a tight race, even the slightest doubt regarding Abdul could lead to a loss," says a prominent figure within the state’s Black community.

El-Sayed won the primary against his Democratic rival, Haley Stevens, largely thanks to strong support from Arab and Muslim communities. Stevens, meanwhile, secured a significant number of votes from Black and Jewish voters.
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, secured a significant number of votes from Black and Jewish voters.

Violence in Somalia

Maryam’s children injured by bombs – US denies involvement

The US military has denied allegations that its attacks against al-Shabab in Somalia have injured and killed civilians. However, witnesses who have spoken to Al Jazeera present a different picture.

Maryam Haji Abdi Guled recounts how bombs fell around her six children one day last autumn. Six of them were injured, one of them seriously. The little boy still has shrapnel in his hip. According to doctors, attempting to remove it surgically would carry a risk of paralysis.

Following the attack, Maryam fled her home village with her children. She sees no possibility of returning.

“The situation we fled from remains the same, and it is even possible that something worse could happen.”

United Arab Emirates attacks al-Shabab in Somalia

The United Arab Emirates has attacked al-Shabab in northern Somalia using drones, according to official sources who spoke to AFP. It is the first attack of its kind in nearly a year.

According to the authorities, the drones injured two members of the Islamist militia, who were subsequently killed by paramilitary allies in the area.

The United Arab Emirates is part of an international coalition fighting against al-Shabab in Somalia.

Russian Invasion The Negotiations

Russia ready for new talks in Abu Dhabi in November

Vladimir Putin’s advisor, Yuri Ushakov, states that Russia is prepared to hold new trilateral talks with the United States and Ukraine, and views Abu Dhabi as a suitable location for them. This is reported by Reuters.

“We are prepared to resume the previously mentioned trilateral talks around November 10, focusing on the core issue,” says Ushakov, according to Tass, adding:

“That issue concerns the establishment of a security system for Russia and Ukraine following the end of the conflict.”

On Wednesday afternoon, Donald Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, held a meeting with Putin in Saint Petersburg.

“Witkoff briefed Putin on the talks in Oslo and ‘new approaches,’ but nothing that was of any real use for a peace agreement,” the Kremlin wrote in a statement, as reported by the Norwegian newspaper *Dagbladet*.

Witkoff returned to Oslo on Wednesday afternoon, where he is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.

Trump’s negotiator hailed Putin as a “philanthropist”

Donald Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, adopted a flattering tone during his hours-long meeting with Vladimir Putin in Saint Petersburg on Wednesday. Among other things, he described the Russian president as a “philanthropist” following his decision to pardon an imprisoned American.

“I commend you and I thank you,” Witkoff says to Putin in a clip circulated by Russian state media, according to *Politico*. Fredrik Wadström, Russia correspondent for Sveriges Radio, finds the timing peculiar.

“Reporting on the war in Ukraine over the last few days has been heavily focused on the Russian attack on a playground in the Kharkiv region of eastern Ukraine, in which several children were killed,” says Wadström.

Expert: Trump is driven by money and Russian business dealings

US President Donald Trump’s involvement in peace negotiations regarding the war in Ukraine is primarily motivated by his desire to improve relations with Russia, Ukraine expert Fredrik Wesslau tells the news agency TT.

“He wants to be able to do business and make money there; that is what drives his entire approach to peace negotiations.”

Recently, Trump has adopted a sharper tone toward Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, while simultaneously signing diesel deals with Russia and easing sanctions.

The price of diesel, in particular, has become a hot-button political issue ahead of the US midterm elections—and, consequently, a liability for Trump, Wesslau argues.

IT threats to society

Millions of websites potentially at risk from a serious security vulnerability

Security researchers have issued two warnings related to the programming language PHP, which serves as a foundational element of the internet. According to Reuters and Bloomberg, these security vulnerabilities allow an attacker to compromise websites.

"This flaw is so critical that someone could execute commands on a server without needing a username, password, or any other credentials," IT security expert David Jacoby tells Aftonbladet.

An update was released at 16:00, and the National Cybersecurity Center in Sweden is urging all organizations to update their systems immediately—or, failing that, to disconnect them from the internet.

Several countries, including Finland and the Netherlands, have taken action this afternoon by shutting down a number of government websites.

The flaw is classified as critical—9.2 on a 10-point scale

The security vulnerability discovered in the vital programming language PHP has been assigned a score of 9.2 out of 10 on the CVSS scale—a system that functions much like an earthquake scale for digital threats. A score of 9.2 classifies the vulnerability as critical.

"It is essential that we put a stop to this, so that cybercriminals do not gain further leverage," IT security expert David Jacoby tells Aftonbladet. The issue is linked to the programming language PHP, and a security update to address the problem was released at 4:00 PM Swedish time. Throughout the afternoon, government agencies in several countries have taken action by shutting down their websites.

Used on 69 percent of all websites – NSA issues alert

The US National Security Agency (NSA)—joining cybersecurity authorities in other countries—is urging all organizations that use the programming language PHP to update their systems immediately.

"These security flaws often grant attackers direct access to the server's file system or database," the NSA writes.

This follows the discovery of two critical vulnerabilities in the programming language. PHP released an update at 4:00 PM today. According to NBC News, PHP is used on 69 percent of the world's websites.

Several government agencies—including those in Finland, Denmark, and the Netherlands—have taken their websites offline while waiting for the updates to take effect. Major international sites, such as 4chan, are also currently down.

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Putin’s Russia

Russia releases American prisoner during Witkoff’s visit

Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old American, is being released from a Russian prison after four years, according to several media outlets. The news comes as Donald Trump’s peace envoy, Steve Witkoff, is in Russia for talks regarding Ukraine with Vladimir Putin.

Hubbard, a retired teacher from the state of Michigan, was arrested in Ukraine in April 2022. A Russian court convicted him of aiding the Ukrainian military, but the U.S. maintains that his imprisonment was arbitrary.

The American was taken to the airport in St. Petersburg, where Witkoff had landed earlier on Wednesday. The peace envoy has thanked Putin for Hubbard’s release, CNN reports.

Trump: Hubbard released out of respect for President Trump

The U.S. did not offer anything in exchange for Russia’s release of American citizen Stephen Hubbard, President Donald Trump stated on Truth Social.

Hubbard was reportedly released “out of respect for President Trump.” In a separate post, however, the American president noted that the release would never have happened had he not halted planned sanctions against Russia over the weekend. Trump’s account claims that many who criticized that decision at the time have since reached out to apologize.

“They didn’t know that the President was negotiating the release of Stephen Hubbard.”

Hubbard was arrested in Ukraine four years ago and accused by Russia of being a mercenary.

Protests in Albania continue at full strength

Published 06.49

Polis siktar med pepparsprej mot demonstranter i Albaniens huvudstad Tirana under tisdagen. — Police aim pepper spray at protesters in the Albanian capital, Tirana, on Tuesday. Photo: Boris Grdanoski/AP/TT

Protesters are throwing stones, while police are responding with water cannons and tear gas.

The protests in Albania have now continued with undiminished intensity for eight days.

In the capital, Tirana, police once again attempted to push back protesters on Tuesday evening by deploying tear gas and water cannons.

High school and university students are demanding lower tuition fees and increased state investment in education. Furthermore, they are protesting against corruption within the education system and calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama.

On Tuesday, Rama claimed that "hybrid warfare" lies behind the unrest, and reiterated his allegations that "foreign actors" are involved.

Gotland’s air defense to be reinforced

Published 10:17 | Updated 10:21

The Air Defense Regiment in Halmstad. File photo. Photo: Johan Nilsson/TT

Gotland will receive a stronger air defense next year, the Swedish Armed Forces announce.

The Air Defense Regiment (L6) in Halmstad has been tasked with establishing a sub-unit on Gotland, effective July 1.

“The security policy situation demands capability here and now, alongside ongoing adaptation. This applies to the Army in general, and to Gotland in particular,” says Chief of the Army Johan Pekkari in a press release.

The plan is to begin basic training for air defense units on the island next year. The regiment in Halmstad is currently the only one of its kind, and the Armed Forces see a need to conduct training in more locations.

“To manage the significant growth within the air defense branch, we need more personnel working in this field—and the foundation for that is training,” says Sofia Westermark, Commander of the Air Defense Regiment, in the press release.

Orbán’s central bank chief arrested

TT-Bloomberg

Published 10.09

György Matolcsy. File photo. Photo: Tamas Kovacs/MTI via AP/TT

György Matolcsy, the long-serving former governor of Hungary’s central bank, has been arrested, according to his lawyer as reported by the news outlet Telex.

Matolcsy is considered a close ally of Viktor Orbán, who led the country until this past spring. Orbán’s successor as prime minister, Péter Magyar, has vowed to hold former officials accountable for corruption and mismanagement.

In Matolcsy’s case, the allegations involve embezzlement and fraud, according to his lawyer.

Matolcsy served as central bank governor from 2013 to 2025, and previously held ministerial positions in Orbán’s governments.

Norwegian politician smuggled drones into Ukraine

TT-NTB

Published 09.54

Norwegian Conservative Party (Høyre) politician Peter Frølich. File photo. Photo: Lise Åserud/NTB/TT

A member of the Norwegian Storting (parliament) illegally smuggled drones equipped with thermal cameras into Ukraine.

In 2023, the Conservative Party (Høyre) MP Peter Frølich, acting through his organization "Fritt Ukraina" (Free Ukraine), attempted to transport a number of drones equipped with thermal cameras via ferry. However, the shipment was intercepted by Norwegian customs, as it violated a law dating back to the 1950s.

Frølich then appealed directly to the government, emphasizing that the situation was critical and that any delay could cost Ukrainian soldiers their lives.

Ultimately, "Fritt Ukraina" managed to get the drones into the war-torn country. The following day, the organization received word from the Norwegian government that it would expedite the handling of the matter. The regulations were eventually amended, and it is now legal for Norwegians to send civilian drones to Ukraine.

Frølich does not regret breaking the law.

onsdag 21 oktober 2026

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Norwegian politician smuggled drones into Ukraine