Monday, 19 October 2026
The rift between Washington and Kyiv widened after Donald Trump waived Russia sanctions for up to 60 days. Volodymyr Zelensky says the US is pushing Ukraine to capitulate, Bloomberg reports, although Washington has resumed intelligence sharing with Kyiv. The dispute matters because it comes as the war escalates on both sides.
On Sunday Ukraine fired more than 1,000 drones at Russia, setting a St Petersburg oil terminal ablaze and killing one person, while Russia kept striking Ukraine's energy grid. A suspected drone also exploded over Lithuania, and Ukraine said Russian electronic warfare may have diverted its drones. In the Gulf, Houthi missiles and drones keep hitting Saudi Arabia, which has reported its first military deaths, and Egypt says it is ready to support the kingdom. Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi says his offer to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days stands, while the Revolutionary Guards report another tanker hit a mine.
Japan's Nikkei fell 1.8% on Monday as funding worries over AI data-centre builders hit chip stocks, with Microsoft's exit from a UK deal with Nscale and a new DeepSeek model adding pressure. Brent crude held near $110, according to Bloomberg. China's economy grew 4.5% in the third quarter on exports.
Less noticed is the spread of Ebola: Congo said on Sunday that the disease has reached North Ubangi, its eighth province, and Kenya confirmed an eighth case the same day. Tomorrow, watch whether the riots in France, which Emmanuel Macron condemned in a televised address on Sunday, subside.
Read more ▾Show less ▴
On Sunday Ukraine fired more than 1,000 drones at Russia, setting a St Petersburg oil terminal ablaze and killing one person, while Russia kept striking Ukraine's energy grid. A suspected drone also exploded over Lithuania, and Ukraine said Russian electronic warfare may have diverted its drones. In the Gulf, Houthi missiles and drones keep hitting Saudi Arabia, which has reported its first military deaths, and Egypt says it is ready to support the kingdom. Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi says his offer to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days stands, while the Revolutionary Guards report another tanker hit a mine.
Japan's Nikkei fell 1.8% on Monday as funding worries over AI data-centre builders hit chip stocks, with Microsoft's exit from a UK deal with Nscale and a new DeepSeek model adding pressure. Brent crude held near $110, according to Bloomberg. China's economy grew 4.5% in the third quarter on exports.
Less noticed is the spread of Ebola: Congo said on Sunday that the disease has reached North Ubangi, its eighth province, and Kenya confirmed an eighth case the same day. Tomorrow, watch whether the riots in France, which Emmanuel Macron condemned in a televised address on Sunday, subside.
Important today
Iran says Hormuz offer stands as another tanker burns
Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia intensify as Egypt prepares to back Riyadh
France counts cost of riots as Macron promises accountability and talks
Four confirmed dead, 39 hospitalised after fire at Canadian base Wainwright
Rift between Trump and Zelensky widens after US waives Russia sanctions
Ukraine fires over 1,000 drones at Russia, setting St Petersburg oil terminal ablaze
Asian chip stocks fall as AI debt worries spread
Ebola reaches eighth Congo province as Kenya's case count rises to eight
Oil holds near $110 as Russian diesel deal reshapes fuel flows
EU and US condemn settler attacks on diplomats and photographer in West Bank
Suspected drone explodes over Lithuania amid drone and sabotage incidents on NATO's eastern flank
Rama rejects resignation as Albanian protests continue
All stories
Global · 2
Middle East · 5
- Iran says Hormuz offer stands as another tanker burns
- Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia intensify as Egypt prepares to back Riyadh
- EU and US condemn settler attacks on diplomats and photographer in West Bank
- Gaza buries 75 recovered from rubble as families fear shortages after Israel halts shipments
- Trump endorses Netanyahu days before Israeli election
Europe · 10
- France counts cost of riots as Macron promises accountability and talks
- Rift between Trump and Zelensky widens after US waives Russia sanctions
- Ukraine fires over 1,000 drones at Russia, setting St Petersburg oil terminal ablaze
- Suspected drone explodes over Lithuania amid drone and sabotage incidents on NATO's eastern flank
- Rama rejects resignation as Albanian protests continue
- Around 160 arrests in Milan as youth protests spread to Lisbon
- Euro weakens as French protests turn violent and Russia risk weighs
- Pope Leo resumes public appearances after lung surgery
- US threatens Europe over Starlink restrictions
- Istanbul flood toll rises to five after body found in Golden Horn
North America · 5
- Four confirmed dead, 39 hospitalised after fire at Canadian base Wainwright
- Anthropic earmarks 5% of its shares for new public benefit fund
- Driver released after truck kills two at Kansas youth soccer game
- Hurricane Trudy lashes Mexico's Pacific coast
- Meta says Claude AI tool triggered No Kings Instagram suspension
Africa · 3
Asia · 8
- Stampede at Kolkata festival kills at least 19
- China's growth picks up to 4.5% in third quarter on exports
- China proposes export controls on solar-manufacturing technologies
- Fresh Pakistan-Afghanistan fighting as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government is dismissed
- China unveils 100,000-card AI supercluster as DeepSeek releases cheaper model
- Court acquits Indian youth protest leader as Cockroach protests persist
- Taiwan says it drove away 16 Chinese ships
- China condemns Takaichi's Yasukuni offering as her support falls below 50%
South America · 2
Geopolitics · 26
- Iran says Hormuz offer stands as another tanker burns
- Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia intensify as Egypt prepares to back Riyadh
- France counts cost of riots as Macron promises accountability and talks
- Four confirmed dead, 39 hospitalised after fire at Canadian base Wainwright
- Rift between Trump and Zelensky widens after US waives Russia sanctions
- Ukraine fires over 1,000 drones at Russia, setting St Petersburg oil terminal ablaze
- Ebola reaches eighth Congo province as Kenya's case count rises to eight
- Stampede at Kolkata festival kills at least 19
- EU and US condemn settler attacks on diplomats and photographer in West Bank
- Suspected drone explodes over Lithuania amid drone and sabotage incidents on NATO's eastern flank
- Rama rejects resignation as Albanian protests continue
- Gaza buries 75 recovered from rubble as families fear shortages after Israel halts shipments
- Trump endorses Netanyahu days before Israeli election
- Sudan's army and RSF give conflicting accounts of drone strike in South Darfur
- Around 160 arrests in Milan as youth protests spread to Lisbon
- Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro meet in first debate before Brazil run-off
- Fresh Pakistan-Afghanistan fighting as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government is dismissed
- Pope Leo resumes public appearances after lung surgery
- Driver released after truck kills two at Kansas youth soccer game
- Court acquits Indian youth protest leader as Cockroach protests persist
- Hurricane Trudy lashes Mexico's Pacific coast
- Venezuelan opposition recognises Machado as leader
- Taiwan says it drove away 16 Chinese ships
- Thousands march in Tunis against Saied despite repression
- China condemns Takaichi's Yasukuni offering as her support falls below 50%
- Istanbul flood toll rises to five after body found in Golden Horn
Economy · 5
- Asian chip stocks fall as AI debt worries spread
- Oil holds near $110 as Russian diesel deal reshapes fuel flows
- China's growth picks up to 4.5% in third quarter on exports
- China proposes export controls on solar-manufacturing technologies
- Euro weakens as French protests turn violent and Russia risk weighs