Saudi Arabia intercepts drone over Riyadh amid rising Houthi attacks
Saudi Arabia’s air defences have intercepted and destroyed a hostile drone over the Riyadh region, according to the Saudi-led coalition fight...
Finance ministers from the Group of Seven discussed new sanctions on Russia and tariffs on countries buying its oil, as the U.S. urged allies to ramp up economic pressure.
Finance ministers from the Group of Seven held a call on Friday to explore further measures aimed at curbing Russia's military operations in Ukraine. The meeting, chaired by Canadian Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne, focused on sanctions enforcement and potential new tariffs targeting countries that are viewed as supporting Russia's war effort by purchasing its oil.
A statement from the Canadian government said the ministers agreed to accelerate talks on utilising frozen Russian sovereign assets to fund Ukraine’s defence. The group also discussed a range of additional economic tools, including sanctions and trade measures, that could penalise countries enabling Russia’s wartime economy.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent urged his G7 counterparts to join Washington in levying tariffs on countries that continue to import Russian oil. "Only with a unified effort that cuts off the revenues funding Putin's war machine at the source will we be able to apply sufficient economic pressure to end the senseless killing," Bessent said in a joint statement with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.
The U.S. Treasury separately called on the G7 and European Union to impose “meaningful tariffs” on goods from China and India to pressure them to stop purchasing Russian crude.
President Donald Trump, who has already increased tariffs on Indian imports to a total of 50%, has not yet expanded such measures to Chinese goods. His administration is maintaining a fragile trade balance with Beijing amid ongoing talks.
Bessent is travelling to Madrid for another round of talks with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng. The discussions will address trade relations, the U.S. push for a forced divestment of TikTok, and anti-money laundering concerns.
Trump, speaking on Fox News earlier Friday, expressed growing impatience with Vladimir Putin but stopped short of announcing new sanctions. While acknowledging sanctions on banks and oil remain possible, he emphasised that Europe must also intensify its pressure campaign. "We're going to have to come down very, very strong," he said.
The U.S. has approved the sale of 500 Patriot PAC-3 missiles to Ukraine in a deal worth an estimated $2.1 billion, but Kyiv could face years of delays before receiving the weapons it urgently needs to defend against intensifying Russian attacks.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei has ordered Iran's armed forces to respond to any threat immediately and without geographical limits in statements posted to social media platforms on Saturday (31 October).
A hacking group linked to North Korea is widely believed to be behind the theft of $6.3 billion from cryptocurrency giant Binance, a cyberattack that experts describe as the largest cryptocurrency heist on record.
Gen Z protests swept 34 German cities on Saturday (31 October) over education and living costs. Violence erupted in Frankfurt, where shops were looted and police reported Molotov cocktail attacks.
A tenth-grade student was critically injured after a man attacked her with a chainsaw inside a classroom in Andhra Pradesh’s Anantapur district. The girl suffered severe injuries to her head, neck and back, while a classmate who tried to protect her was also hurt.
Saudi Arabia’s air defences have intercepted and destroyed a hostile drone over the Riyadh region, according to the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen. No casualties were reported.
Since 2021, only 9 per cent of $8 billion in humanitarian aid for Afghanistan can be traced beyond initial recipients in public records, a Kabul Institute report released on 22 October said. The United Nations says its oversight systems ensure accountability.
Opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan surged by 330 per cent in 2026 despite a four-year ban, the United Nations said on Thursday. Afghan authorities disputed the findings, while Japan urged continued support for farmers seeking alternative livelihoods.
Demonstrators carrying Iranian flags and placards supporting the hijab gathered outside the Azerbaijani Embassy in London.
Central Asia could gain up to $640 million a year from closer energy cooperation, but strained electricity grids threaten to limit those gains, with Kazakhstan particularly exposed to regional power shortages and growing pressure on its network.
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