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South Korea on Friday proposed holding military talks with North Korea to clarify the location of their shared border and prevent accidental clashes in frontline areas amid rising tensions following landmine explosions that injured three South Korean soldiers. It remains uncertain whether Pyongyang will accept the proposal. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has adopted an increasingly hard-line stance towards Seoul, effectively halting almost all dialogue and cooperation between the two countries in recent years. Meanwhile, North Korea has been strengthening its border defences by laying mines, installing barbed-wire fences, building tactical roads and anti-tank barriers, and constructing other fortifications along one of the world's most heavily militarised frontiers. South Korea's military has reported that North Korean soldiers crossed the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) 50 times this year while carrying out fortification work. South Korean troops responded with warning shots and broadcasts, according to the military. Seoul made a similar proposal for military talks in November, but Pyongyang did not respond. South Korea has become more eager to reduce tensions since landmine explosions on September 21 injured three of its soldiers. Its military concluded that the blasts were caused by North Korean mines planted south of the demarcation line. "Our Ministry of National Defense officially proposes to North Korean authorities that South-North military talks be held to mutually confirm the exact location of the ground military demarcation line between the South and the North, discuss the restoration of military communication lines, and discuss measures to prevent accidental clashes in border areas," South Korean Deputy Minister for Defense Policy Kim Hong-Cheol said in a televised statement Friday. He added that Seoul was also willing to participate in three-way talks involving the US-led United Nations Command. The proposal came days after Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, visited frontline areas where North Korean troops are reinforcing border defences. During the visit, she reiterated Pyongyang's threat to retaliate against any South Korean provocation targeting the fortification work. Kim Yo Jong also announced plans to activate loudspeakers along the border to broadcast anti-Seoul propaganda, a psychological warfare tactic used by both Koreas for decades. She said unspecified "new counter means" had also been placed on alert along the frontier. She accused South Korea of using warning shots and broadcasts against North Korean troops working on the fortifications under the false pretext that they had crossed the demarcation line. South Korean officials say the recent activities have exposed longstanding disagreements between the two countries over the precise location of the military boundary. The line was established under the 1953 armistice that ended fighting in the Korean War, but some boundary markers dating back decades have since disappeared. However, South Korean Defence Minister Kang Shin-chul has maintained that the location of last month's landmine explosions was not in a disputed area. North Korea has denied responsibility for the incident and rejected Seoul's demands for an apology and the removal of its remaining mines. Kim Hong-Cheol warned that failing to resolve the disagreement over the demarcation line could increase the likelihood of accidental clashes, as troops on both sides operate according to their own understanding of the boundary. "The recent increase in North Korean activities along the military demarcation line, as well as our warning broadcasts and warning shots, is also related to this situation," he said. During a visit to frontline areas on Wednesday alongside Kim Yo Jong, North Korean Army Marshal Pak Jong Chon denied that North Korean troops had crossed the border while carrying out fortification work. "Our army knows where our borderline is better than any others," he said. Pak accused South Korea of making "deliberate, premeditated and absurd" claims to shift responsibility for escalating tensions and threatened an "overwhelming response" to any South Korean provocations.

Global nuclear power capacity could more than triple by 2060, driven by rising electricity demand, the expansion of artificial intelligence-powered data centres and technology companies' growing need for reliable, carbon-free energy, the head of the UN nuclear agency said Friday. Rafael Grossi, director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), outlined the projection in the agency's annual report to the UN General Assembly, highlighting nuclear energy's growing role in meeting global energy needs. An increasing number of countries view nuclear power as essential to strengthening energy security, Grossi said, describing it as comparable to solar energy and safer than other energy options. "In 2025, more than 400 operating reactors in more than 30 countries produced 10% of global electricity and a quarter of its low-carbon electricity," he said. "More than 60 new reactors are under construction and the projections for future nuclear capacity have shifted dramatically upward." Beyond the peaceful use of nuclear energy, Grossi addressed concerns surrounding the nuclear programmes of Iran and North Korea, unprecedented threats to nuclear safety arising from the war in Ukraine, and reports that some unnamed countries are discussing the possibility of acquiring nuclear weapons. Regarding Iran, whose nuclear facilities were struck by the United States last year before Washington and Israel launched a war on February 28, Grossi told UN member states that the technical groundwork necessary for a diplomatic agreement had been completed. "I call on the parties to redouble their efforts towards agreeing a diplomatic solution that includes the IAEA's indispensable verification role, without which no agreement can be sustainable," he said. Grossi stressed that IAEA inspectors must be allowed to return to Iran promptly, adding that this would require a resumption of negotiations. Turning to North Korea, Grossi warned that leader Kim Jong Un's expanding nuclear programme, which operates without IAEA oversight, demonstrated the consequences of violating international restrictions. The programme, he said, "stands as a stark reminder of the consequences when red lines are crossed," referring to violations of UN Security Council resolutions prohibiting nuclear weapons production. In Ukraine, Grossi expressed concern about the precarious situation at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe's largest, citing repeated losses of external power, limited backup diesel supplies and military activities threatening the facility and its workers. Grossi also highlighted progress in addressing longstanding concerns over Syria's nuclear activities. He said the IAEA had made "significant progress" in clarifying and resolving outstanding questions after nearly two decades of uncertainty through engagement with the government of interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa. In September, Grossi reported that the government of Bashar Assad, which was toppled in December 2024 by opposition forces led by al-Sharaa, had been constructing a nuclear reactor designed to produce fissile material potentially usable in nuclear weapons.

France will deploy around 70,000 police officers and gendarmes across the country on Saturday, while the Louvre and several other major Paris museums will remain closed as authorities prepare for fresh protests and seek to prevent a repeat of last week's violence. The previous demonstrations descended into chaos, with protesters setting fires, storming public buildings, smashing shop windows, looting businesses and clashing with police in some of France's worst unrest in years. Demonstrators are planning to take to the streets again on Saturday to protest against the rising cost of living. Students, members of the CGT labour union and activists from the "yellow vest" movement, whose demonstrations against social inequality rocked France in 2018 and 2019, are expected to participate. Authorities have banned some demonstrations on security grounds in several cities, including Lyon, Nice and Montpellier. However, marches are expected in many other locations, including Paris and Marseille. French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said approximately 70,000 police officers and gendarmes would be mobilised, supported by helicopters, armoured vehicles and water cannons. Elite police units will also help protect public buildings, including city halls, as part of what he described as a highly mobile security operation. "There have been numerous calls from radical far-left groups on social media to commit acts of violence and vandalism. There have also been renewed calls for looting, with those messages clearly being spread by rioters," Nuñez said at a news conference. "We will be absolutely uncompromising" with those involved in violence, he added, warning that police would take a firm approach to arrests and that offenders would face legal consequences. Major Paris museums to shut their doorsFrance's Culture Ministry told The Associated Press that the Louvre, Orsay and Picasso museums, along with the Grand Palais, would be closed on Saturday. The ministry urged all institutions under its authority to take the necessary precautions to protect visitors, staff members and artworks, according to its statement. Art Basel Paris, one of the world's leading contemporary art fairs, opened to the public on Friday after two days of invitation-only access. However, organisers cancelled its weekend programme because of concerns over possible unrest. The fair features exhibitions by 211 international galleries at the Grand Palais in Paris. "This decision has not been taken lightly, and the safety of everyone involved in the fair remains our utmost priority," organisers said in a statement on Thursday. Indian art collector Saloni Doshi, who travelled to Paris for the event, said she became concerned last Saturday after witnessing fires and panicked crowds. Friends also called her to ask whether Paris was safe. She said she understood the organisers' decision to close the fair. Antoine Donzeaud and Elisa Rigoulet, owners of the exo exo gallery, expressed similar views. "We understand this decision, which we consider reasonable and consistent with the urgency of the social demands currently unfolding in France," they said in a text message. However, the cancellation disappointed some visitors. "It's very sad, because we just came here to the fair, and we could not get in because they canceled it for the weekend," said Fabián Hernández, 32, who travelled from Mexico City. He said Friday's event was particularly crowded and expressed disappointment at missing the fair, which he enjoys visiting. Anti-far-right demonstration plannedAuthorities will also closely monitor a demonstration scheduled for Saturday in Orléans, about 110 kilometres (70 miles) south of Paris. Around 50 organisations have called for a protest against the far right alongside a two-day congress of Marine Le Pen's nationalist, anti-immigration party, which is preparing for next spring's presidential election. The protest is being organised by labour unions, left-wing political parties, student groups and anti-racism organisations. Hugues Moutouh, prefect of the Loiret region, said authorities expected between 20,000 and 30,000 demonstrators from across France to attend. Le Pen, whom opinion polls place at the front of the field for next year's presidential election, accused left-wing organisations and political parties of attempting to "disrupt a political party's democratic congress" in an interview with broadcaster Franceinfo. Nevertheless, she said she had no security concerns, arguing that the government had acknowledged the need for measures to ensure the congress could proceed safely.

Kenya recorded its second Ebola-related death on Friday after a 65-year-old woman, a close relative of the country’s first confirmed patient, died while in quarantine after developing symptoms, the Health Ministry said. The woman began showing symptoms 10 days ago and was receiving supportive treatment at an infectious disease unit in Nairobi, the capital. Despite efforts by medical staff to save her life, she died on Friday evening, the ministry said, adding that her family had been informed. Authorities will arrange a safe and dignified burial in consultation with her relatives. The seven other Ebola patients were receiving treatment at two isolation facilities, while no new infections had been reported, according to the ministry. Kenya confirmed its first-ever Ebola case on October 6 after a 40-year-old Kenyan man living in Congo travelled to Kenya through Uganda, arriving on October 3. A relative took him to Nairobi Hospital, where he tested positive for the virus on October 5 and died the same day. Authorities have identified around 135 people who had contact with the first patient, with 118 placed in quarantine. Eight of them later tested positive, including four healthcare workers and four close family members. The Health Ministry said some contacts who completed the mandatory 21-day quarantine without developing symptoms would begin to be released from Saturday. Nigerian Patient Had No Travel History to CongoIn Nigeria, health authorities said on Friday that they had yet to establish how the country’s first Ebola patient contracted the virus. The woman tested positive after returning to Abuja, the capital, from Uganda. Switzerland’s Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) told The Associated Press that the woman, who is married to a Swiss diplomat in Nigeria and had travelled with him, had not visited Congo. She was believed to have contracted the virus while travelling to Uganda, the department said. Her husband had shown no symptoms and remained in isolation, according to the FDFA. Nigerian Health Minister Muhammad Pate said the patient’s infection appeared to have similarities to Kenya’s first case. However, he noted that further findings could alter current understanding of how the virus had spread, as the pathogen takes time to undergo changes. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) earlier reported that the first patients in both Nigeria and Kenya had travelled through Uganda’s Entebbe International Airport on October 3. US Tightens Screening for International TravellersUS health authorities have introduced additional screening requirements for international passengers travelling to the United States amid concerns over the outbreak. Under the new protocol announced this week, all passengers boarding international flights to the US, regardless of their point of departure, must sign a declaration confirming they have not been in Congo during the previous 21 days. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on Thursday that travellers who had visited Congo within the three weeks before their planned journey would not be permitted to board flights bound for the United States, including American citizens. Ebola is a highly contagious disease transmitted through direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person, such as blood and vomit, or through contaminated materials and surfaces, including bedding and clothing. Congo is facing its deadliest Ebola outbreak, with at least 4,000 deaths reported since May, according to the report.     

Israel said it had foiled a suspected attack against civilians after its forces killed two gunmen accused of fatally shooting two Israeli soldiers in the occupied West Bank on Friday. The incident occurred just days before Tuesday’s Israeli election, in which voters are set to decide whether Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will remain in office. Meanwhile, a separate shooting at a church in Jordan left seven people dead and 40 others injured. Below is a summary of the latest developments across the Middle East on Friday. Israeli Forces Launch Searches in Hebron AreaThe Israeli military announced that it had begun extensive searches in the Hebron area following an attack that killed two soldiers and injured three others earlier on Friday. In a statement issued late in the day, the military said its forces were carrying out targeted security operations in the area where the suspected attackers had been operating. The operation was expected to continue for several days. Residents in the affected area would be permitted to leave only through three designated checkpoints after undergoing questioning and security screening, the military said. Israeli forces also began demolishing structures and infrastructure they considered security threats while continuing operations throughout the West Bank. Earlier, the office of Israel’s prime minister said the military had been instructed to prepare for a complete closure of the occupied West Bank following the shooting. Israeli Military Says Two Attackers Were KilledThe Israeli military said its forces shot dead two men suspected of carrying out an attack near Hebron on Friday morning. Two Israeli soldiers were killed, while three others sustained minor injuries. According to the military, the soldiers had stopped what it described as a planned terrorist attack against Israeli civilians. The suspected attackers were reportedly armed with an M16 rifle and a handgun. Following the incident, the prime minister’s office ordered preparations for a comprehensive closure of the West Bank, where the attack took place. US Reduces Embassy Staffing Amid Iranian Threat ConcernsThe United States is reducing personnel at four of its embassies in the Middle East following intelligence assessments indicating that Iran had intensified efforts to target American officials and other personnel. In a memorandum sent to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday, Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton said intelligence agencies had detected a significant increase in Iranian efforts to target US personnel both in the Middle East and elsewhere. Clayton warned that alleged Iranian plots to kill American citizens had reached advanced stages in the region and in certain other countries. The Associated Press obtained the memorandum, which was also reported by Axios. Three US officials, speaking anonymously because of the sensitivity of the issue, confirmed that the document had been sent to Rubio, who serves as both secretary of state and national security adviser. The development came shortly after the State Department announced plans to reduce staffing at American embassies in Jordan, Lebanon, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Officials said concerns involving Iran and the Iranian-backed Houthi movement in Yemen were connected to the staffing adjustments. Seven Killed in Attack on Church in JordanGunmen opened fire during a funeral service at a Greek Orthodox church in Karak, Jordan, on Friday, killing seven people and injuring 40 others, authorities said. Karak, which has a small Christian community, is located about 180 kilometres (110 miles) south of Amman, the Jordanian capital. Health Minister Ibrahim al-Budour said two of the injured remained in critical condition. Footage broadcast on Jordanian state television showed two men, apparently carrying pistols, approaching the church and firing. A third individual, seemingly armed with a semiautomatic rifle, then joined the shooting before all three moved towards the church. The government described the attackers as unidentified assailants and said investigations were progressing rapidly, but did not disclose whether anyone had been arrested or killed. Karak has experienced deadly violence in the past. In 2016, an attack involving Islamic State militants at Karak Castle, a popular tourist attraction, killed 14 people, including a Canadian visitor. No group had immediately claimed responsibility for Friday’s church shooting. Arab Parties Seek Ban on Armed Election ObserversArab political parties contesting Israel’s upcoming national election have petitioned the country’s Supreme Court to prohibit partisan election observers from carrying firearms at polling stations. The petition, submitted on Thursday with the assistance of the Israeli legal rights organisation Adalah, argued that the proposed restriction was necessary to safeguard voters and protect the integrity of Tuesday’s election. The legal challenge followed announcements by Jewish political parties led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich that they intended to deploy approximately 2,000 election observers in Arab neighbourhoods. The parties cited allegations of electoral fraud as the reason for the move. Arab citizens account for roughly 20 per cent of Israel’s population. Arab-led political parties could play a significant role in coalition negotiations, depending on whether Jewish parties are willing to cooperate with them. The election is the first national vote since Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. Israeli Strikes Kill Three People in GazaIsraeli military strikes killed three people in southern Gaza and Gaza City on Friday, according to local health authorities. One person was killed in a strike in southern Gaza. The Israeli military said the target was a Hamas militant. A separate strike in Gaza City killed two people, although the military did not immediately comment on that incident. Relatives of the two people killed in Gaza City gathered in the courtyard of Shifa Hospital, where their bodies had been taken. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, more than 1,500 Palestinians had been killed by Israeli military operations since the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took effect in October 2025. The ministry maintains detailed casualty records that are generally regarded as reliable by United Nations agencies and independent experts. However, because it operates under the Hamas-led administration, its figures do not distinguish between civilians and combatants. The ministry has said that women and children account for nearly half of those killed.     

Seven people were killed and 40 others injured when gunmen opened fire during a funeral service at a church in Jordan on Friday, according to authorities. The attack occurred at a Greek Orthodox church in Karak, approximately 180 kilometres (110 miles) south of the capital, Amman. Footage aired on Jordanian state television showed two armed men, apparently carrying pistols, approaching the church and firing shots. A third individual, seemingly armed with a semiautomatic rifle, then arrived and began shooting before all three fled towards the church. Videos recorded by witnesses showed shattered glass and bloodstains on the church floor. Dorgham Halasa, one of the mourners attending the funeral, said the shooting began about 15 minutes after the service started, triggering panic among those present. He described the incident as an unusual and frightening experience marked by intense gunfire. Halasa said he did not personally see the attackers but had heard from others that four gunmen were involved. However, The Associated Press could not independently confirm the number of assailants, and Jordanian security authorities had not immediately provided further details. A government statement described the incident as an attack by unidentified assailants and said investigations were proceeding rapidly. It did not clarify whether any suspects had been arrested or killed. Jordan announced three days of national mourning following the killings, the state-run Petra News Agency reported. Karak has a small Christian community and has previously experienced deadly attacks. In 2016, gunmen launched a series of assaults against police in the city, including an attack near a historic Crusader castle popular with tourists. The violence killed 10 people, among them seven police officers, and injured dozens more. Security forces eventually killed the attackers after a prolonged standoff. Jordanian Health Minister Ibrahim al-Budour said two of the people wounded in Friday’s shooting remained in critical condition. King Abdullah II condemned the violence in a post on X, pledging that the perpetrators of what he described as a terrorist act targeting Karak would face severe punishment. He also expressed condolences to the victims’ families and wished those injured a speedy recovery. Prime Minister Jafar Hassan, speaking during a security meeting in Karak on Friday evening, blamed the attack on extremist ideology and radicalism. He vowed that those responsible would be punished and that legal action would be taken against individuals seeking to spread extremism. The shooting drew condemnation from several countries across the region, including Lebanon, Syria, Egypt and Oman. In Cairo, Ahmed al-Tayeb, the grand imam of Al-Azhar, one of Sunni Islam’s most prominent religious institutions, extended condolences to the victims’ families and denounced the incident as a heinous terrorist attack. Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein also contacted his Jordanian counterpart, expressing Iraq’s support for Jordan in its fight against terrorism, according to a statement from Hussein’s office. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the attack, describing violence during a funeral as particularly heinous. His spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, said the secretary-general had called for those responsible to be identified and held accountable.     

US First Lady Melania Trump has helped broker a local ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine in the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky to facilitate humanitarian aid and civilian evacuations, the White House said Friday. The ceasefire is scheduled to begin on October 29. Melania Trump said the situation in the city was “on the brink of disaster.” The White House said she and a representative worked directly with Russian and Ukrainian leaders to establish the terms. Ukraine's human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets thanked her, saying the operation would be gradual and difficult to implement. Russian military chief Gen. Valery Gerasimov said forces would halt fire in the Kherson area from 4am Tuesday Moscow time to support the humanitarian operation and ensure safe passage for aid convoys. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov thanked Melania Trump, saying the evacuation could take several days, without specifying destinations. Melania Trump said civilian representatives would assess residents' needs and arrange transport to their preferred destinations. An unnamed American media organisation will document the process. Oleshky has faced severe shortages of food, medicine, electricity, heating and running water. Captured by Russian forces in February 2022, the city was later devastated by shelling and flooding following the 2023 Kakhovka Dam collapse. The initiative comes amid rising tensions between Washington and Kyiv over military support and efforts to end the war.

Germany, France, and Britain are ready to negotiate with Iran to ensure it does not acquire nuclear weapons, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said, media report. Wadephul also called for supporting Saudi Arabia and Yemen in defending themselves, while urging the resumption of concrete negotiations with the Houthis. The statements come amid consensus among all eight countries represented at Friday's Istanbul meeting-the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Egypt, and Turkiye. The participating nations expressed unanimous opposition to any military attack on Iran, emphasizing that diplomatic negotiations remain the only viable way forward. With inputs from Al Jazeera

A gunman opened fire from a vehicle at three locations in two Paris suburbs on Friday, killing one person and wounding five others, including a 12-year-old girl. The National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor's Office took charge of the investigation, treating the incident as a possible terrorist crime with a suspected racist motive.Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said the shootings in Trappes and La Verrière lasted less than 15 minutes. Three of the five wounded were in critical condition, with their lives at risk.Police arrested a suspect, who was stopped by five officers from an anti-crime brigade. Nuñez said the attacker used what appeared to be a military-grade or automatic weapon. Reports that the suspect's home had been booby-trapped with gas cylinders remain under investigation.The 12-year-old girl was seriously injured, Gender Equality Minister Aurore Bergé said, condemning racism.Trappes Mayor Ali Rabeh said the gunman appeared to target passersby, including near a playground. He described the incident as a possible mass killing motivated by racism and Islamophobia. The victim killed was of African origin, while one critically wounded person was of North African origin.President Emmanuel Macron expressed deep sorrow and solidarity with the victims.The shooting came ahead of Saturday's cost-of-living protests, prompting heightened security amid concerns over renewed unrest.

Six people were killed and 28 others wounded when gunmen opened fire during a funeral at a Greek Orthodox church in Jordan on Friday. The shooting occurred in Karak, about 180 kilometres (110 miles) south of the capital, Amman. In a statement, the government said the attack was “carried out by unknown assailants.” However, it did not say whether any of the gunmen had been arrested or killed. “Investigations are underway at full speed,” the statement said. Karak has a minority Christian population. The city witnessed a series of attacks in 2016, when gunmen ambushed police officers, including in an attack at a Crusader castle popular with tourists. The attacks killed 10 people, including seven police officers, and wounded dozens of others. Jordanian security forces later killed the gunmen following a prolonged standoff.