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North Korea on Monday threatened to resume propaganda loudspeaker broadcasts and deploy additional weapons along its border with South Korea, as the two rivals remain locked in a dispute over last month's landmine explosions that injured three South Korean soldiers. Earlier this month, South Korea formally accused North Korea of planting the mines that exploded on Sept. 21, urging Pyongyang to apologise and remove other mines. The announcement came after North Korea denied responsibility for the blasts and warned of strong retaliation if provoked. On Monday, Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, accused South Korea of repeatedly firing warning shots and issuing warning broadcasts along the border since August, citing alleged crossings by North Korean soldiers as an "unreasonable pretext." She said such provocations had "gone beyond the red line" since the landmine explosions. "A grave situation is prevailing along the southern border due to the reckless behavior of the ROK military gangsters," Kim Yo Jong said, referring to South Korea by its official name, the Republic of Korea. She said the North Korean military was considering deploying "more tactical strike means along the southern border as a preemptive and suppressive measure to deal with contingency" and resuming loudspeaker broadcasts against South Korea. On Tuesday, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman, Jin Yong-Sung, described the North Korean threats as "intolerable" and ordered the military to respond firmly to any potential provocations. Jin said South Korea's military would firmly deal with any incursions by North Korean troops across the border, according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Tensions along the Korean border, one of the world's most heavily fortified, have risen in recent years as North Korea has added landmines, barbed-wire fences, anti-tank barriers and other frontline fortifications under its policy of severing ties with South Korea. South Korea's military previously said North Korean soldiers had crossed the Military Demarcation Line 50 times this year while carrying out fortification work. Seoul said its forces responded by firing warning shots and issuing warning broadcasts. The military did not immediately respond to North Korea's latest warning. In 2015, landmine explosions blamed on North Korea that maimed two South Korean soldiers brought the two Koreas to the brink of armed conflict after Seoul resumed frontline propaganda loudspeaker broadcasts for the first time in 11 years. The broadcasts are among the traditional psychological warfare tactics dating back to the Cold War that the two Koreas have occasionally used against each other during periods of confrontation. Since taking office last year, South Korea's liberal government, led by President Lee Jae Myung, has halted the broadcasts as part of efforts to improve relations with North Korea. Pyongyang subsequently stopped its own broadcasts. North Korea has recently intensified its weapons testing, apparently seeking to pressure the United States into making greater concessions after US President Donald Trump renewed efforts to restore diplomatic engagement with Kim Jong Un.

The United States has urged its citizens in the Middle East to exercise heightened vigilance amid a complex security situation, warning of possible flight cancellations, airspace closures and travel disruptions. In a security advisory on Monday, the Department of State said Iranian-supported Houthis have engaged in hostilities against Saudi Arabia, including attacks on civilian airports and other critical infrastructure resulting in civilian casualties and severe travel disruptions. It warned that the hostilities could escalate rapidly beyond the immediate area. US citizens travelling to or from the Middle East have been advised to monitor airport and airline operations and make contingency plans in advance. The advisory also warned that Iran and groups aligned with it could target US interests overseas, including locations associated with the United States and its citizens, as well as US businesses and other institutions worldwide.

French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said Monday that partial curfews would be introduced in some areas starting Monday evening following incidents of looting during weekend protests. At a news conference, Lecornu said he had asked French prefects to implement "a number of partial curfews as early as this evening," describing the disorder as "very localized in urban centers." Lecornu said a state of emergency would be declared "if necessary," but added that curfews "appear to be more appropriate." "There is no question of allowing the looting to become established," he said, adding that the Interior Ministry would release a detailed map of the areas concerned during Monday afternoon. Partial unemployment measures would be activated from Tuesday for shopkeepers affected by damage and looting, Lecornu said. The government would also provide public funding to support affected businesses, he said, while stressing that such assistance "makes no sense if we are not capable of restoring order as quickly as possible." French Trade Minister Serge Papin estimated that at least 3,000 businesses had been affected during weekend protests. Around 550,000 people took part in protests across France on Saturday. A total of 2,397 people were arrested during the protests, which were marred by violence, according to figures released by the French Interior Ministry on Sunday. A total of 997 police officers and gendarmes were injured, seven of them seriously.

Six people died and 14 others were rescued after a speedboat carrying migrants capsized off the Greek island of Samos on Monday, hours after a separate collision between a migrant speedboat and a Greek coast guard patrol vessel off Lesvos left six people dead, Greek authorities said. The boat capsized during manoeuvres about 3.7 nautical miles north of Samos, according to local media reports. A search-and-rescue operation was underway, involving a navy vessel, a coast guard rescue boat and an air force helicopter. In a separate incident off Lesvos, another eastern Aegean Island, six people -- four men, a woman and an infant -- died when a speedboat carrying migrants collided with a Greek coast guard patrol vessel in the early hours of Monday. Authorities said the migrant boat had made dangerous manoeuvres to evade a coast guard inspection before the collision. Eight survivors -- four men, two women and two children -- were rescued and taken to hospital for treatment. The boat's 37-year-old Turkish operator was arrested on suspicion of people smuggling. Greek Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy Vassilis Kikilias expressed grief and anger over the deaths off Lesvos. He reiterated the government's zero-tolerance policy towards people smugglers, describing them as criminals who endanger the lives of desperate people for profit. Greece, located at the southeastern edge of Europe, remains a major entry point for migrants and refugees attempting to reach the European Union by sea.

The phone of Belgrade University Rector Vladan Djokic was infected with Israeli-made Pegasus spyware in 2026, a digital rights group said Monday, amid nearly two years of protests against Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic. The disclosure comes ahead of a tense election this weekend, seen as a contest between the student movement and Vucic’s Serbian Progressive Party, which has ruled for 14 years. Citizen Lab, working with Serbia’s SHARE Foundation, said it confirmed the infection with high confidence. In September, rights groups reported that at least 14 activists and students had been targeted, including with Pegasus. An investigation is also examining whether prosecutor Rade Bajic’s phone was hacked after he received an Apple threat notification in August. Authorities have denied involvement in spyware attacks. Pegasus can secretly access messages, locations, microphones and cameras. SHARE warned that failure to investigate could expand digital repression. Students alleged their meetings were monitored and colleagues faced planned detention before Thursday’s rally. Protests began after a railway station canopy collapse killed 16 people in Novi Sad in November 2024. Djokic supported the protests and resisted pressure to end student blockades. Police raided his office in March. Bajic was replaced after raising alleged corruption involving a proposed luxury complex linked to Jared Kushner. NSO says its technology targets serious crime and terrorism. The US blacklisted the company in 2021 over spyware misuse against journalists, activists and officials. Clarify the election timingCorrect the spyware timelineTighten the opening paragraph

French President Emmanuel Macron has rejected Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez's resignation following widespread weekend rioting and looting across major cities, instructing him to remain in office to overhaul policing tactics, Macron's office said Monday. Macron refused the resignation to maintain law enforcement command, directing Nuñez to ensure transparency regarding planning and intelligence failures and to swiftly deploy new ground tactics against mobile groups of troublemakers, looters, and far-left activists. The unrest followed Saturday's nationwide protests over rising living costs and poor school conditions, resulting in Sunday arson and business looting across Paris, Lyon, Marseille, and other cities, with at least 2,400 arrests nationwide. In Limoges, a fire caused the roof of the 19th-century City Hall to collapse. Speaking on France Inter radio, Nuñez took responsibility and admitted authorities "lost control" in several cities. Meanwhile, Marseille's prefect banned all protests from noon to 8:00 p.m. Monday.

Egypt’s National Defense Council has agreed to provide support to Saudi Arabia to help it defend against escalating attacks by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels, as fighting between the two sides intensifies amid the wider regional conflict. The council, chaired by Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, decided to extend “all possible forms of support” to Saudi Arabia to safeguard its security, according to a presidential statement issued on Sunday. The statement did not specify what form the assistance would take. Saudi Arabia has been seeking military support from its allies as Houthi rebels continue launching drones and missiles at airports and oil facilities across the kingdom. The attacks have reportedly killed at least 19 people, disrupted thousands of flights and unsettled global markets. The Egyptian announcement came about a month after a visit by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. On Saturday, el-Sissi called on parliament to authorise him to deploy troops and military equipment abroad. Meanwhile, Saudi Defence Minister was meeting with the president of the United Arab Emirates on Sunday to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation, the UAE’s state news agency WAM reported. Relations between the two countries have been strained in recent months as they supported different factions within the coalition fighting the Houthis in Yemen. Later on Sunday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said he had spoken by phone with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty about the latest regional developments. Civilians caught in escalating violenceThe intensifying conflict has raised concerns over civilian safety in both Saudi Arabia and Yemen, where fighting has reignited the civil war. In Yemen’s northern province of Saada, an airstrike killed at least nine people, including five children and two women, on Sunday, according to the Houthi-run Health Ministry. Ministry spokesperson Anees al-Asbahi said the strike hit a house in the Sahar district, injuring 19 others, including 11 children. Some of the wounded were in critical condition, he added. Al-Asbahi blamed Saudi Arabia for the attack, but there was no immediate comment from the kingdom. Houthi-run Al-Masirah television broadcast footage showing people removing debris by hand and rescuing two young people from the rubble. The rebels claimed that Saudi-led attacks had killed or injured more than 30 people over the previous 24 hours. Houthi military spokesperson Brig Gen Yahya Saree said 110 missiles or airstrikes had targeted civilian locations in Sanaa and other cities. The Associated Press could not independently verify the claims. In Saudi Arabia, a military helicopter crashed near the southwestern city of Najran, killing both crew members, a military spokesperson said, attributing the incident to a technical malfunction. The Houthis had earlier claimed responsibility for bringing down the aircraft. Saudi Civil Defense authorities later reported that a projectile fired by the rebels struck a residential area in Najran province, injuring six people. Both sides trade accusationsThe Houthis have renewed attacks on Saudi Arabia in recent weeks, citing the kingdom’s support for Yemen’s internationally recognised government. The rebels have also made territorial gains along Yemen’s Red Sea coast and near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a strategic shipping route connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. Houthi chief negotiator Mohamed Abdulsalam accused Saudi Arabia of contributing to the escalation. In a social media post on Sunday, he said the rebels had warned Riyadh against attacking Sanaa airport in mid-July. The strike had prevented an Iranian aircraft carrying a Houthi delegation from landing after the group returned from the funeral of Iran’s supreme leader, who was killed in the opening strikes of the war in February. Angered by Saudi Arabia’s longstanding blockade, the Houthis subsequently announced their own blockade against the kingdom. Abdulsalam said Oman had proposed a five-day truce during which the two sides could meet to resolve their differences. According to him, the Houthis had agreed to suspend attacks if Saudi Arabia met their humanitarian demands, though he did not elaborate on those conditions. He alleged that Riyadh had shown no willingness to respond positively to the demands, after which the rebels launched an offensive along the Red Sea coast. A Saudi diplomat said last week that the kingdom had invited the Houthis to talks in Oman in July to settle outstanding disputes and end the escalation, but the rebels declined to attend. Meanwhile, Al-Azhar, Egypt’s leading Sunni Muslim religious institution, called on Sunday for the establishment of an urgent mediation committee to help end conflicts across the Arab region.  

Corruption has emerged as a major concern for Brazilian voters ahead of the October 25 presidential runoff between far-right candidate Flávio Bolsonaro and leftist Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. However, experts say its biggest impact may be on voter turnout rather than on voters' choice between the two candidates. Both candidates are associated with corruption allegations in the eyes of many Brazilians. Bolsonaro is under investigation for corruption, money laundering and tax evasion, while Lula spent 19 months in prison on corruption and money laundering charges that were later annulled. For staunch supporters of either candidate, such allegations are unlikely to weaken their loyalty. However, experts say widespread perceptions of corruption could discourage people from voting and fuel anti-incumbency sentiment, potentially benefiting Bolsonaro, who received 2.2 million more votes than Lula in the first round. Brazil remains deeply polarised During the first round, many voters wore red hats and T-shirts to show support for Lula's party, while others donned the yellow and green colours of the Brazilian flag adopted by Bolsonaro's movement, reflecting the country's deep political divisions. Supporters of both candidates are highly distrustful of the opposing camp and view it as a threat. Experts say such voters are less likely to be swayed by corruption allegations against their preferred candidates. "We have a great ability to filter information that goes against our beliefs," said Nara Pavão, a political science professor at the Federal University of Pernambuco. "People don't want to discover the truth about their candidates, they want to beat the opponent." Camila Tobji de Aquino, a 19-year-old student of pedagogy and psychology, said corruption was a problem across political parties in Brazil. However, her main concern was what she viewed as the threat Flávio Bolsonaro posed to democracy. "If I were to vote only for a candidate not tied to any corruption, I would vote blank," she said. "But that's not the choice Brazil is facing. For me it's a question of being able to vote in the next election." Corruption scandals contribute to rising abstention A wide-ranging scandal involving politicians and Supreme Court judges has dominated headlines ahead of the election, placing corruption at the centre of public debate. Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who presided over the legal case that led to former President Jair Bolsonaro's imprisonment over his attempted coup, is suspected of having links to the former head of the failed Banco Master bank. Flávio Bolsonaro has also faced allegations of links to the bank. Both have denied wrongdoing. For many Brazilians, the Banco Master controversy has revived memories of Operation Car Wash, the country's largest corruption and money-laundering investigation, launched in 2014 and involving dozens of politicians. Repeated corruption scandals could increase abstention and influence undecided voters, said Laura Chelidonopoulos, a political science PhD candidate at the University of Pittsburgh who has studied corruption. "People become disenchanted with politics," she said. "They have less motivation to actually choose between one of these two sides." More than 33 million people, or 21% of eligible voters, did not cast ballots on October 4, marking the highest abstention rate in a first round since 1998. Data from Brazil's electoral court show that first-round abstention has gradually increased since 2006. Voters call for change José Tainan, a 36-year-old kitchen assistant from Rio de Janeiro's Penha favela complex, said he could hardly remember the last time he voted, though he believed it was probably for Lula sometime in the 2000s. He cited corruption as the main reason for abandoning voting. "There are no good options. Neither one of them suits me. I would rather justify why I didn't vote," he said. Voting is compulsory in Brazil for citizens aged 18 to 70. Those who fail to vote without a valid reason face a small fine. Matusalem Aguiar, a 54-year-old taxi driver from Belford Roxo, an impoverished municipality near Rio de Janeiro, said he would prefer that only candidates with clean records be allowed to run for office. Despite that view, he plans to vote for Bolsonaro, disregarding the corruption investigations involving the candidate. "There needs to be a change," Aguiar said while waiting for his next passenger in downtown Rio. "Some people have a lot of power and they're not managing the country in the right way."

Voters in Canada's oil-rich Alberta province will decide Monday whether to launch a process that could eventually lead to independence, testing national unity as US President Donald Trump's trade war and threats to make Canada the 51st state have strengthened Canadian patriotism. Monday's vote is not a direct referendum on independence. Instead, Albertans will decide whether to remain a province or begin the legal process toward a future referendum on separation. Alberta holds most of Canada's proven oil reserves, the fourth-largest in the world. More than 1.35 million Albertans, representing 43% of eligible voters, cast advance or special ballots ahead of Monday's vote, far exceeding the 810,000 who voted early in the 2023 provincial election. Even if voters reject the proposal, separatist leaders say the movement, which has grown from a fringe cause into a significant force in provincial politics, will continue. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney urged Albertans not to take the outcome for granted, calling for a decisive result as he concluded two days of campaigning in his home province. "Vote like Canada's future depends on it because it does," Carney told a pro-Canada rally in Edmonton on Friday, where he grew up. The vote also comes as Alberta mourns four service members killed in a fire at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright over the weekend. Another 39 people were injured, including 19 critically, during military training. Carney described the incident as one of the worst peacetime tragedies involving Canada's military on domestic soil and ordered flags lowered to half-staff nationwide. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, who called the referendum despite opposing independence, recently cited a poll showing that only 22% of Albertans supported separation, a figure she said was still too high. Carney draws cheers with calls to diversify trade Carney received his loudest cheers at rallies in Calgary and Edmonton when he spoke about reducing Canada's trade dependence on the United States. The enthusiastic response highlighted how Trump's trade war and threats of annexation have fuelled Canadian nationalism, even in traditionally conservative Alberta. Carney has emerged as an unusually popular figure in the province, where Liberal prime ministers have long faced resentment over federal energy policies. He has adopted a more energy-friendly approach, backing a proposed oil pipeline to the Pacific Coast and joining Smith in opposing Alberta's separation from Canada. Carney warned that the referendum was taking place at the "worst possible time" and urged Albertans not to use their votes simply to send a message to the federal government in Ottawa. Smith, who frequently clashed with former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, praised Carney for improving relations with Alberta. "I think what we can agree on is that we have had some real change in the last 18 months," she said Friday. Smith opposes separation despite pressure from party activists Smith called the referendum despite opposing independence, reflecting pressure from separatist activists within her governing United Conservative Party who helped bring her to power. Some of the activists also helped remove former Premier Jason Kenney in 2022. Kenney said separatism had traditionally remained a fringe movement, with independence parties typically securing only 1% or 2% of the vote. He said the COVID-19 pandemic mobilised activists angered by public health restrictions and government authority. Separatist leader Jeff Rath said federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates pushed him towards supporting independence. Tanya Clemens, co-chair of the Let Alberta Decide group, said pandemic restrictions encouraged political organising. The group's other co-chair, Keith Wilson, was a lead lawyer for the 2022 trucker convoy that paralysed downtown Ottawa for weeks in protest against vaccine mandates and other COVID-19 restrictions. Energy policies at centre of Alberta's grievances Wilson said Alberta's grievances extend beyond pandemic-era restrictions. With much of Canada's population concentrated in Ontario and Quebec, he argued that Liberal governments can win federal elections without significant support from Alberta, leaving the province vulnerable to policies opposed by its energy industry. He cited Carney's proposed Pacific Link pipeline as an example of the problem, arguing that federal restrictions have discouraged private investment and could leave taxpayers financing the project. Wilson said he opposed Alberta becoming part of the United States. "I have no interest in substituting a master, that rules over my children's future, who's in Ottawa, with a new one who's in Washington," he said. Other separatist leaders have sought contact with the Trump administration. Rath and fellow independence advocates have met US State Department officials in Washington three times to discuss Alberta's future. Chief Sheldon Sunshine of Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation said Alberta could not leave Canada without the consent of First Nations, citing treaties that predate the province's creation. He said his nation would remain part of Canada even if Albertans voted for independence. Sunshine condemned separatist leaders' meetings with US officials. "It's absolutely treasonous to the people of Canada, people of Alberta," he said. Separatists see gains regardless of vote outcome Wilson said the referendum campaign had sparked unprecedented discussion about Alberta's place within Canada. "I think we've already hit success when you look at the voter turnout," he said. "People are engaged and people are talking about this topic at a level that's unprecedented historically." Rath said he would be thrilled if 30% of Albertans voted to begin the separation process, even if the proposal failed to secure a majority. He wants Smith removed as United Conservative Party leader and said the party could split, potentially paving the way for a new pro-independence political party. Separation debate may continue beyond Monday's vote Some Albertans hope Monday's vote will end the debate rather than trigger a prolonged independence struggle similar to Quebec's. Dave Malka, a 59-year-old Edmonton government employee who attended a pro-Canada rally on Sunday, criticised spending money on what he called a "referendum on a referendum" when the funds could instead be used for healthcare. With Trump threatening Canada, Malka said the vote was coming at the wrong time. "It seems to be happening at the absolute worst time when we should be united, instead we're fighting amongst ourselves," he said. Malka expects voters to reject the proposal decisively but fears separatists will continue their campaign. "This is only the start of separation Armageddon, if you will. This is their starting point," he said. Jake Graham, 35, of Calgary, attended Carney's rallies wearing maple leaf-patterned pants and a Canada hockey jacket. He said he hoped a decisive outcome would settle the issue. "I hope this squashes this for a long time to come and that it's clear and decisive, that these grumblings disappear for a while and we can be a united Canada," he said.