Fires in Indonesia have burned through more than 1.9 million hectares of land, according to new data, as the country battles its worst wildfire season in a decade. The blazes have sent toxic smoke across much of Southeast Asia, forcing schools to close and fuelling a rise in respiratory illnesses. »»»

In an interview with FRANCE 24, exiled former Tibetan leader Lobsang Sangay said any successor to the Dalai Lama appointed by China "is going to be a fake one". He also likened Beijing's ethnic unity law to "an ethnic erasure", said Tibetan concerns had been "downgraded a bit" in US-China talks and»»»

Iliaana Yotova and Kiril Valchev lead Bulgaria’s presidential election race with 43.4% support, ahead of Andrey Gyurov and Georgi Kandev at 28.9%, according to a nationally representative survey by polling agency Myara for the Bulgarian National Radio (BNR). The poll, reflecting voter preferences i»»»

Journalist Sonya Koltuklieva was hospitalized after a National Protection Service (NSO) officer forcefully threw her to the ground as she tried to question Parliamentary Speaker Mihaela Dotsova outside the headquarters of Prime Minister Rumen Radev’s Progressive Bulgaria party in Sofia, according t»»»

Youth-driven protests have been popping up all over Europe: in Belgium, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Albania, Serbia and Greece. The spark here in France was deteriorating conditions in high schools and universities, particularly for students from underprivileged backgrounds. Meanwhile, wages aren't kee»»»

A US envoy met Putin in Saint Petersburg on Wednesday after the Kremlin agreed to resume peace talks with Ukraine and the United States. Details by FRANCE 24's correspondent Gulliver Cragg.»»»

The International Criminal Court, which US President Donald Trump's administration has threatened to dismantle "brick by brick", has been awarded the European Union's Sakharov human rights prize. The ⁠International Criminal Court ​has been awarded the European ​Union's 2026 Sakharov Prize, the EU's»»»

The French "interfac" student movement organised new protests on Thursday, even though it is currently the school holidays in France. Student representatives are set to meet soon with Education Minister Edouard Geffray. Details by FRANCE 24's Ellen Gainsford.»»»

Ukraine and Russia exchanged drone and missile strikes on Thursday, killing seven people in Ukraine, according to authorities. Moscow said it had intercepted 630 Ukrainian drones targeting the Russian capital. The strikes came hours after US envoy Steve Witkoff met Vladimir Putin in St. P»»»

In Paris, shopkeepers fear further losses ahead of a demonstration planned for next Saturday. After last weekend’s protests saw scenes of vandalism, some are considering closing their shops, while others plan to stay open.»»»

Russia’s latest attacks on Ukraine show there has been “no real change” in Moscow’s attitude towards the war, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Thursday. The deadly strikes came just hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin told US envoy Steve Witkoff his country was ready to resume t»»»

Facing US sanctions, the International Criminal Court was on Thursday awarded the European Union's top rights prize, in a show of support that risks upsetting President Donald Trump. "The European Union is built on respect for multilateralism and international institutions, and this prize recognise»»»

Since Jair Bolsonaro lost Brazil’s presidency four years ago, he has been barred from running again and jailed for plotting a coup, yet his eldest son now stands within reach of returning the family name to the Planalto Palace. In the first round of the presidential election on 4 October, Flávio Bo»»»

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s warnings in September about the “Balkanisation of Iraq” have renewed attention to the dangers posed by armed groups operating outside government control. As such, this week’s cover story details how militia influence undermines state institutions, deepens sectari»»»

Amid the wave of demonstrations sweeping across France, one symbol has stood out amid the scenes of protest, violence, and vandalism: the Palestinian flag. Since late September, students, trade unionists, and broad sections of French society have protested conditions in the country’s schools, the r»»»

The Sofia City Court has ruled that Kristiyan Nikolov, who was sentenced to nine years in prison for killing journalist and television host Milen Tsvetkov in a 2020 car crash, should be released on parole, despite objections from the prosecution and prison administration. Judge Viktor Chaushev said»»»

A 45-year-old man robbed two women and stabbed one of them in the abdomen in Rila Park in Dupnitsa late on February 15, 2026. The women had been walking through the park before sitting in a gazebo near the lake. It was dark, and the area had no street lighting when a hooded man dressed in black app»»»

The Sofia District Court has ordered 23-year-old Syrian national Mahmoud Muhammad to remain in custody over a knife attack near Sofia’s National Palace of Culture (NDK) on October 16 that left three young men injured, ruling that he was the aggressor. Muhammad has been charged with inflicting bodil»»»

Some AI tools reportedly attempted actions beyond users' instructions Major US banks are blocking third-party artificial intelligence (AI) agents from accessing customer accounts and making transactions after reports that some automated tools tried to take actions beyond users’ instructions. Two pe»»»

Technology reshapes healthcare in Abu Dhabi, prioritizing meaningful doctor-patient time Abu Dhabi: Private hospital groups in Abu Dhabi are turning to AI to take over documentation and administrative work, so doctors can spend consultations talking with patients instead of typing. “We are currentl»»»

Iran warns of retaliation as Trump vows to prevent nuclear weapon development US President Donald Trump has hinted going "a little bit further" in a potential re-escalation of the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, with a single stated aim — preventing the regime from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Iran's»»»

The United Arab Emirates’ Ministry of Climate Change and Environment said on Friday that its monitoring system had detected a ‌tanker oil ‌spill affecting beaches ‌in Umm Al-Quwain. Odors reported by residents in Sharjah, Ajman and Umm Al-Quwain posed no health risks to them, the ‌ministry ‌said. T»»»

Major US banks have detected outside artificial intelligence agents operating inside customer accounts, with some appearing to attempt actions beyond users’ instructions, Axios reported on Thursday. AI agents are designed to complete tasks on users’ behalf, potentially making purchases, paying bill»»»

Billionaire tech investor and Palantir co-founder Peter Thiel has expressed regret over the US war against Iran, warning that it could ultimately lead to International Criminal Court warrants for the Trump administration and have broader implications for the US, Politico reported on Thursday. The o»»»

RIYADH: Coalition forces intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched by Yemen's Houthi militia toward Riyadh early Friday, the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen said. In a post on X, coalition spokesman Maj. Gen. Turki Al-Maliki said the missile was shot down shortly after 4 a.m. »»»

UK equips military aircraft to combat wildfires amid climate challenges UK military helicopters and planes will be equipped to fight wildfires, Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced late Thursday ahead of hosting England's first "resilience" summit focused on the growing threat they pose. English f»»»

Showers possible in eastern and western UAE areas, with dusty winds reaching 50km/h today Abu Dhabi: Parts of the UAE could experience rain for five consecutive days from Friday, October 23, to Tuesday, October 27, with strong winds reaching 50km/h at times and fog or mist forming in some coastal a»»»

Flights canceled as Typhoon Champi disrupts Taiwan and regional travel Most shops and schools were shut across Taiwan on Friday as Typhoon Champi neared the island, forcing hundreds of people to leave their homes ahead of the powerful storm. The typhoon is expected to sweep past Taiwan's northeast »»»

Share: Lebanon’s Minister of Justice Adel Nassar said that the investigation into the file of seized Hezbollah’s explosives shipment “is ongoing and expanding,” in line with “the commitments of President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and the Ministry of Justice that there is no ceiling on»»»

Higher steel costs may impact European infrastructure and global trade, says Goyal Berlin: Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday criticised the European Union’s carbon tax on steel, saying the bloc was “inviting disaster” by imposing additional costs that could raise the cos»»»

Eight dead, 10 injured in violent Ecuador prison clashes Eight inmates were killed and 10 injured in near-simultaneous prison riots at Ecuador’s Cotopaxi No. 1 prison in Latacunga and Pichincha No. 1, known as El Inca, in northern Quito on Thursday, October 22. Ecuador’s prison authority, SNAI, con»»»

Oil prices were little ‌changed in early Asian trade on Friday, after rising 4 percent to a five-month high in the previous session due to ​concern of further energy supply disruption after Houthi attacks on top exporter Saudi Arabia. Brent crude futures was down 21 cents, or 0.2 percent, at $112.9»»»

BEIJING: A magnitude 7 earthquake hit China’s Tibet region on Thursday evening, killing at least 16 people, injuring 54 and collapsing hundreds of homes in the northern regional city of Nagqu, official media said. Search and rescue efforts continued following the collapse of at least 339 homes and »»»

New mRNA technology offers hope for melanoma patients post-surgery WASHINGTON: A first-of-its-kind cancer vaccine is significantly reducing the chances that melanoma patients’ tumors come back, according to results of a major study released Thursday by drugmakers Moderna and Merck. The vaccine was »»»

Windhoek: Namibia has slashed its 2026 economic growth forecast from 3.1 percent to 2.3 percent following a weaker-than-expected performance in the first half of the year, Finance Minister Ericah Shafudah announced Thursday. Presenting the 2026/2027 mid-year budget review in Parliament, Shafudah pr»»»

EXCLUSIVEOne closed centre each in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah to open for some: Who can visit? Dubai: Alhind has issued a new service advisory after the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi announced the closure of four Indian Consular Application Centres (ICACs) in the UAE, confirming that passport delivery»»»

Tibet quake claims 16 lives, injures dozens, and collapses hundreds of homes A strong earthquake killed at least 16 people and injured 46 in China's remote Tibet region, state media said, citing local authorities. More than 300 houses collapsed in the 7.0 magnitude quake, which struck on Thursday a»»»

Anti-corruption movement gains momentum in Serbia's tense political landscape Around 150,000 supporters of Serbia's opposition student movement rallied in central Belgrade on Thursday, seeking to oust the party of veteran leader Aleksandar Vucic in crunch parliamentary elections this weekend. The S»»»

Major US news outlets amplified fabricated election polls showing gains by Democrats, giving a bogus months-old polling operation national credibility before investigators exposed its invented data. Wedgewood Polls, which appeared in June, secured coverage from publications including Newsweek, the »»»

Politicians advocating for annexation and further military operations could decide Israel’s next government despite holding only a handful of parliamentary seats, RT correspondent Charlotte Dubenskij reports. With 37 parties competing for the Knesset’s 120 seats on October 27, Israel’s proportional»»»

MoET data identify affordable staples with quantities listed to help households compare Dubai: UAE residents looking to manage grocery spending can compare listed prices for rice, eggs, milk and cooking oil through the Ministry of Economy and Tourism’s Essential Goods Prices Platform. The dashboard»»»

RIYADH: Of the 980,000 migrants deported during the first 18 months of US President Donald Trump’s second term, only 20 percent were individuals with a criminal conviction, according to a report published on Thursday by the Migration Policy Institute think tank. The study, authored by Marc Rosenblu»»»

Share: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Shin Bet security service announced that an Israeli air strike in the Khan Yunis area of the southern Gaza Strip killed Ramadan Muhammad Ashahada Diab, whom they describe as the head of the Popular Resistance Committees in Khan Yunis. In a joint statem»»»

DOHA The 16th edition of Milipol Qatar has concluded in Doha, attracting more than 16,000 visitors and generating 96 deals worth a total of QR819.8mn. The three-day security and safety exhibition, held at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center, featured more than 270 international and local exhi»»»

Defense claims al-Qaida suspect unfit for trial due to CIA torture-induced injuries WASHINGTON: A lawyer for the suspected organiser of a deadly al-Qaida attack on a US warship in the year 2000 wants a military court to determine his competence before trial, arguing that he has a traumatic brain in»»»

Drivers urged to keep safe distances, observe speed limits and avoid aggressive honking. Fujairah: Fujairah Police have urged motorists to follow traffic rules, maintain safe distances and exercise patience on the roads amid concerns over heavy traffic and the frequent movement of trucks and commer»»»

Dhaka: The government in Bangladesh has initiated nationwide planting campaigns to grow tall palmyra palm trees as a natural defense system against fatal lightning strikes. Bangladeshi Disaster Management and Relief Minister Asadul Habib Dulu on Thursday inaugurated the campaign in a northern distr»»»

Kharg Island's decline symbolizes Iran's economic isolation under US pressure Washington DC: Iran’s crude export apparatus has been crippled and the regime's principal financial lifeline has been severed, a US official asserted. United States Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent launched a scathing att»»»

Lockheed to produce 850 F-35s under new Pentagon deal, pending approval The Pentagon and Lockheed Martin on Thursday announced a 10-year agreement for the production of 850 F-35 warplanes, underscoring Washington's long-term commitment to the high-tech stealth aircraft. The two sides did not specif»»»

CARACAS/MARACAY/VALENCIA, Venezuela: Thousands of Venezuelans took to the streets on Thursday in the first nationwide opposition protest in nearly two years, as demonstrators demanded ​free elections and other political changes. The United States has been working closely with the interim government»»»