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A gasoline tanker exploded on Tuesday in north-central Nigeria, resulting in the deaths of at least 31 people, according to police. The incident took place in the Bida area of Niger State after the tanker overturned. As residents gathered to collect the leaking fuel, the vehicle exploded, police spokesperson Wasiu Abiodun said. Seventeen others sustained injuries and were taken to local hospitals for treatment. In recent times, Niger State has experienced a growing number of accidents involving large trucks. Experts point to deteriorating roads and a lack of rail infrastructure as contributing factors. The state plays a key role in transporting goods between Nigeria’s northern and southern regions. Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the identity of the truck driver and owner, as well as the cause of the crash. Niger State Governor Umaru Bago expressed sorrow over the tragedy and criticized the ongoing practice of collecting spilled fuel from crash sites. “This is yet another devastating and heartbreaking incident for our people and the state,” he stated. A similar tragedy occurred in January, when at least 98 people died in Niger State while attempting to siphon gasoline from a wrecked tanker using a generator. Fuel scavenging has become increasingly common in Nigeria due to soaring prices after the government eliminated fuel subsidies under President Bola Tinubu.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ), the United Nations’ highest judicial body, is set to issue an advisory opinion Wednesday on Israel’s legal obligations to ensure urgently needed humanitarian aid reaches Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. The ICJ was asked last year by the U.N. General Assembly to provide guidance after Israel effectively barred the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) – the main aid provider in Gaza – from operating in the territory. While advisory opinions are legally nonbinding, experts say they carry significant weight and could influence U.N. operations worldwide. The request predates the fragile U.S.-brokered Gaza ceasefire, which took effect on Oct. 10. The truce aims to end two years of conflict in the enclave, allowing 600 humanitarian aid trucks to enter daily. Israel has partly complied, and Hamas chief negotiator Khalil al-Hayya confirmed the deliveries to Egypt’s Al-Qahera News. During ICJ hearings in April, Palestinian Ambassador to the Netherlands Ammar Hijazi accused Israel of “starving, killing and displacing Palestinians” while blocking humanitarian organizations from operating. Israel denied violating international law, boycotted the hearings, but submitted a 38-page written statement for consideration. Israel’s ban on UNRWA, in place since January, came amid criticism from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his far-right allies, who claim the agency is infiltrated by Hamas – a charge UNRWA denies. In March, Israel halted all aid for three months, triggering severe food shortages, before allowing partial deliveries through the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a U.S.-backed private group. International experts declared a famine in parts of Gaza in August. Israel, however, maintained there was sufficient food and accused Hamas of stockpiling supplies. The GHF has since suspended operations following the recent ceasefire. Advisory opinions, while nonbinding, are considered “decisive” under treaties governing the protection of U.N. personnel. The General Assembly’s request, submitted in December 2024, sought clarification on Israel’s responsibilities “to ensure and facilitate the unhindered provision of urgently needed supplies essential to the survival of the Palestinian civilian population.” Experts emphasize the significance of the ruling. Mike Becker, a human rights law scholar at Trinity College Dublin, said, “We cannot let states pick and choose where the U.N. is going to do its work. This advisory opinion is a very important opportunity to reinforce that.” The ICJ has previously issued advisory opinions on Israeli policies, including ruling the West Bank separation barrier illegal two decades ago. Last year, the court declared Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories unlawful and called for an immediate halt to settlement construction, a ruling Israel criticized for ignoring its security concerns. Separately, the International Criminal Court in The Hague issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant, alleging they used “starvation as a method of warfare” and intentionally targeted civilians – charges Israeli officials strongly deny. Another case by South Africa accuses Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, which Israel rejects as politically motivated. The current Gaza war was triggered by a Hamas attack on southern Israel, which killed 1,200 people and left 250 hostages. Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed more than 68,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, figures widely regarded as reliable by U.N. agencies and independent observers, though Israel disputes them.   Source: AP

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders on Tuesday accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of delaying diplomacy to end the war in Ukraine and rejected any proposal for Kyiv to surrender territory captured by Russia, including ideas suggested by U.S. President Donald Trump. In a joint statement, eight European leaders and senior EU officials announced plans to use Moscow’s frozen assets abroad to support Ukraine, despite concerns over legality and potential consequences. The statement also reaffirmed that international borders should not be changed by force. Zelenskyy criticized Russia for returning to diplomacy only under pressure and said ongoing pressure is necessary to achieve peace. Trump, preparing to meet Putin in Budapest, has shifted his position several times—previously suggesting Ukraine might need to concede land, then calling for a freeze on current front lines, and most recently proposing dividing the Donbas region. European and Ukrainian leaders are working to keep Trump aligned with their position, emphasizing that halting the fighting on the current front lines should serve as the starting point for negotiations. They warned that freezing the conflict could allow Russia to launch future attacks. Additional sanctions on Russia are expected to be discussed at an EU summit in Brussels on Thursday, while the Coalition of the Willing, a group of 35 countries supporting Ukraine, will meet in London on Friday.

The United States and Australia on Monday signed an $8.5 billion agreement on critical minerals at the White House, as Washington seeks to strengthen supply chains and reduce reliance on China’s dominance in rare earth exports. The deal was signed by US President Donald Trump and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese following months of negotiations aimed at boosting cooperation in the mining and refining of rare earth elements. “In about a year from now, we’ll have so much critical mineral and rare earth that you won’t know what to do with them,” President Trump said at the signing ceremony. “They’ll be worth $2.” Prime Minister Albanese said the agreement “takes the US-Australia relationship to the next level,” describing it as a major step toward diversifying global supply chains. The announcement comes weeks after Beijing introduced new export restrictions requiring foreign companies to obtain approval from the Chinese government to ship magnets containing even trace amounts of rare-earth materials that originated from China or used Chinese technology. White House National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett said Australia’s robust mining industry and large rare earth reserves would be “critical to making the global economy less exposed to Chinese extortion.” Under the new agreement, the two countries will jointly invest over $3 billion in critical mineral projects within the next six months, according to Gracelin Baskaran, director of the Critical Minerals Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. Mining expert Pini Althaus, CEO of Cove Capital, said the deal must include price protections similar to those recently promised by the US government to prevent China from manipulating global prices — a tactic Beijing has historically used to drive competitors out of business. While the agreement could give US firms access to existing Australian production, experts note that reducing China’s market dominance will take years, if not decades. Althaus added that the United States must continue investing in mining projects at home and in friendly nations, such as those in Central Asia, which possess untapped reserves and infrastructure dating back to the Soviet era. “China has almost a 40-year head start,” he said. “It will take at least a couple of decades for the US and its allies to meet their own supply chain demands.” The Trump-Albanese meeting also covered defense cooperation under the AUKUS security pact with the United Kingdom. Both leaders reaffirmed the importance of strengthening defense and technology ties to ensure a “free and open Indo-Pacific.” Albanese’s visit comes ahead of Trump’s expected meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea later this month.   Source: AP

Despite a ceasefire agreement nearly a year ago, Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon persist — and some analysts believe the situation could mirror what’s to come in Gaza, where a fragile new truce is already under pressure. On October 11, Israeli forces bombed a construction equipment business in southern Lebanon, killing a Syrian bystander, injuring seven others — including two women — and destroying millions of dollars in heavy machinery. Though this might seem extraordinary in most countries, such attacks have become routine in Lebanon since a U.S.-brokered truce aimed to end the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in late 2024. With fresh strikes hitting Gaza on Sunday following alleged Hamas fire, many fear the Gaza ceasefire could follow Lebanon’s path — a ceasefire in name, but not in practice. Mona Yacoubian of the Center for Strategic and International Studies described the Lebanon ceasefire as a “lessfire” — a loosely held truce that still allows Israel to launch strikes it considers preventive. “This could be a preview for Gaza,” she said, “where Israel claims the right to act against perceived threats without fully reigniting war.” A Ceasefire Without Clear Rules The recent Israel-Hezbollah conflict began right after Hamas's October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which also launched the war in Gaza. Hezbollah, allied with Hamas, began firing into Israel. Israel responded with force, and by September 2024, the fighting had escalated into open warfare. A ceasefire agreed on November 27, 2024, required Lebanon to prevent armed attacks against Israel and Israel to stop “offensive” military actions — though both sides were allowed to respond in “self-defense.” The agreement lacked strict enforcement mechanisms and gave both parties broad leeway. A monitoring group — including the U.S., France, Israel, Lebanon, and UN peacekeepers (UNIFIL) — can record violations, but there are no concrete penalties. In reality, Israel has continued unilateral strikes, saying they are necessary to stop Hezbollah from regrouping and rearming. Lebanese officials argue that such actions not only damage civilian infrastructure but also give Hezbollah justification to stay armed, undermining national efforts to disarm the group. Since the ceasefire, Lebanon reports over 270 deaths and 850 injuries from Israeli actions. The UN confirmed that at least 107 of those killed were civilians. No Israelis have died from fire originating in Lebanon during the same period. UNIFIL data shows around 950 projectiles and 100 airstrikes from Israel into Lebanon from late November 2024 to mid-October 2025. In contrast, Lebanon-based groups launched just 21 projectiles into Israel, and Hezbollah has publicly acknowledged only one attack. Clashing Stories Following the Oct. 11 strike in Msayleh, the Israeli military claimed it targeted machinery being used to rebuild militant infrastructure. However, local officials, Hezbollah, and the equipment’s owner denied this. “We sell to everyone, from every background,” said business owner Ahmad Tabaja. “What crime have we committed?” Lebanese President Joseph Aoun called the attack “a clear act of aggression” on civilian property, and Speaker Nabih Berri accused Israel of trying to stop post-war reconstruction. Lebanon filed a complaint with the UN Security Council. Israel carried out further attacks days later, including one on a cement factory and a quarry, saying these too were tied to Hezbollah. Last month, a particularly deadly strike hit a car and motorcycle in Bint Jbeil, killing car dealer Shadi Charara, three of his children — including infant twins — a motorcyclist, and wounding Charara’s wife and oldest daughter. Israel claimed the target was a Hezbollah fighter but admitted civilian casualties. Charara’s sister Amina said, “My brother and his family were civilians. They had no political ties.” Even when the intended target is an actual Hezbollah member, the justification is often debated. For instance, Israel killed a visually impaired Hezbollah member and his wife earlier this month, calling him an air defense official. Hezbollah claimed he was no longer active due to his injuries. The Collapse of “Mutual Deterrence” Hezbollah, backed by Iran, was established in 1982 to resist Israeli occupation in southern Lebanon. After Israel’s withdrawal in 2000, the group became one of the region’s most powerful armed movements. A month-long war in 2006 ended in a stalemate and ushered in years of uneasy calm, largely due to mutual deterrence — the belief that both sides would suffer in a renewed conflict. That balance may now be gone. Nicholas Blanford of the Atlantic Council said the recent war significantly weakened Hezbollah’s deterrence capacity, although it remains capable of retaliating. In a recent interview, senior Hezbollah official Mohammad Fneish said the group won't accept the current situation but is calling on Lebanon’s government to act through political and diplomatic channels for now. “If things escalate,” he warned, “resistance leadership is reviewing the situation, and all options remain on the table.” Yacoubian, however, believes meaningful change in Lebanon is unlikely without a new U.S.-led diplomatic breakthrough. Gaza, she added, might differ due to the active roles of Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey in mediating.

Rodrigo Paz, Bolivia’s first conservative president in 20 years, struck a tone of pragmatism Monday as he addressed the economic crisis gripping the country, just a day after his unexpected election win ended a long era of leftist governance. Following years of strained relations with Washington under the Movement Toward Socialism (MAS) party, Paz announced his intention to restore diplomatic ties with the United States and attract foreign investment to re-integrate Bolivia into global financial markets. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called Paz’s election a “transformational opportunity” for both nations to work together on trade, immigration, and security. Speaking at a press conference, Paz said, “The message from Mr. Trump’s administration is clear and positive. We will engage in a constructive, cooperative relationship between our countries.” In another notable move signaling a shift in regional alliances, Paz held a video call with Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado. In a break from Bolivia’s previous support for Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, Paz pledged support for democracy in Venezuela and across Latin America. “We’ve taken a major step forward during these challenging times,” he said. According to preliminary results, Paz secured 54.5% of the vote in the runoff election. Rebuilding US Relations After Years of Tension Paz defeated fellow right-wing candidate and former president Jorge “Tuto” Quiroga, although both candidates sought stronger ties with the US. Quiroga was considered to have closer links with the Trump administration and had proposed implementing a tough economic plan through the International Monetary Fund — a widely unpopular suggestion in Bolivia. Mindful of public skepticism toward international financial institutions, Paz rejected an IMF bailout. Instead, he revealed ongoing talks with the Trump administration and other allies to secure fuel imports before his November 8 inauguration. “We’re working to ensure that necessary fuel — diesel and gasoline — can be brought in and restore calm,” he said, without offering specifics. Once buoyed by a commodities boom under former President Evo Morales, Bolivia's economy has since faltered due to declining natural gas production and excessive government spending. The central bank is nearly out of U.S. dollars, leaving the country unable to pay for fuel imports. Fuel shortages have led to long lines, and inflation reached 23% in September — the highest in over three decades. An Unlikely Alliance Between Right and Former Leftists Despite a long political career as a mayor and senator, Paz was initially a low-profile contender. His campaign gained traction with the addition of his running mate, Edman Lara — a former police captain turned populist internet figure. Lara’s humble background and anti-corruption stance appealed to many working-class and rural voters, including former MAS supporters. Lara rose to fame on TikTok in 2023 after being dismissed from the police for exposing corruption in viral videos. He championed populist measures like pension increases and cash handouts, which contrasted with Paz’s more cautious economic approach but boosted their popularity. Former President Morales, who was barred from the race due to term limits, warned Paz and Lara that their victory didn’t mean unconditional support. “This is not a blank check,” he said, urging them to avoid neoliberal policies and not repress protests. A Plan to Stabilize the Economy On Monday, Paz emphasized the need to tackle corruption and restore credibility in public institutions before pursuing large-scale initiatives. His top economic adviser, José Gabriel Espinoza, said cash transfers to the poor would be retained — but as a way to cushion the impact of reducing costly fuel subsidies. Espinoza noted that Congress had already approved a $3.5 billion loan, and the administration was working to secure another $600 million to stabilize the economy in the first two months of Paz’s term. “We’re moving away from a blanket subsidy to a targeted one,” Espinoza said, explaining that fuel assistance would go directly to low-income families, while keeping transport fuel prices steady. Institutional Reform and Indigenous Concerns Asked how he plans to attract foreign investment and manage debt, Paz stressed the need to “put the house in order first.” That includes potential constitutional changes, a proposal that has raised concerns among Bolivia’s Indigenous population — who gained political recognition under Morales through the 2009 constitution. That constitution gave Indigenous groups greater political influence and restructured the judiciary, though critics say it became susceptible to political manipulation. Paz assured the public he would respect Indigenous rights while reforming the judiciary, calling it a key step toward restoring checks and balances. He pledged to convene a summit the day after his inauguration to develop concrete reform proposals. Recognizing the tough road ahead, Paz stressed the importance of unity and negotiation. “We’ve extended our hand to all political groups in Parliament,” he said, signaling a willingness to work across the aisle to implement his reform agenda.

The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) comments following the conclusion of the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Extraordinary Session of Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) meeting held in London to discuss the Net-Zero Framework for the shipping industry. The framework would have created the first global carbon pricing mechanism for any industrial sector with the aim of delivering a clear path for shipping’s transition to net zero. Thomas A. Kazakos, ICS Secretary General, said: “We are disappointed that member states have not been able to agree a way forward at this meeting. Industry needs clarity to be able to make the investments needed to decarbonise the maritime sector, in line with the goals set out in the IMO GHG strategy. As an industry we will continue to work with the IMO, which is the best organisation to deliver the global regulations needed for a global industry.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described his recent meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump as “positive,” despite not obtaining the Tomahawk missiles Ukraine had hoped for. He noted that the U.S. still seems interested in pursuing economic partnerships with Kyiv. Zelenskyy mentioned that Trump backed out of the potential missile deal after speaking with Russian President Vladimir Putin shortly before their meeting on Friday. “In my opinion, he does not want an escalation with the Russians until he meets with them,” Zelenskyy told reporters on Sunday. His comments were embargoed until Monday morning. Ukraine is hoping to purchase 25 Patriot air defense systems from American firms using frozen Russian assets and assistance from partners, but Zelenskyy said procuring all of these would require time because of long production queues. He said he spoke to Trump about help procuring these quicker, potentially from European partners. According to Zelenskyy, Trump said during their meeting that Putin's maximalist demand — that Ukraine cede the entirety of Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions — was unchanged. Zelenskyy was diplomatic about his meeting with Trump despite reports that he faced pressure to accept Putin’s demands — a tactic he has kept up since the disastrous Oval Office spat on Feb. 28 when the Ukrainian president was scolded on live television for not being grateful for continued American support. Zelenskyy said that because Trump ultimately supported a freeze along the current front line his overall message “is positive” for Ukraine. He said Trump was looking to end the war and hopes his meeting in the coming weeks with Putin in Hungary — which does not support Ukraine — will pave the way for a peace deal after their first summit in Alaska in August failed to reach such an outcome. So far, Zelenskyy said he has not been invited to attend but would consider it if the format for talks were fair to Kyiv. “We share President Trump’s positive outlook if it leads to the end of the war. After many rounds of discussion over more than two hours with him and his team, his message, in my view, is positive — that we stand where we stand on the line of contact, provided all sides understand what is meant,” Zelenskyy said. Zelenskyy expressed doubts about Hungary's capital of Budapest being a suitable location for the next Trump-Putin meeting. “I do not consider Budapest to be the best venue for such a meeting. Obviously, if it can bring peace, it will not matter which country hosts the meeting,” he added. Zelenskyy took a stab at Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, saying he doe not believe that a prime minister "who blocks Ukraine everywhere can do anything positive for Ukrainians or even provide a balanced contribution.” Zelenskyy also expressed skepticism about Putin’s proposal to swap some territory it holds in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions if Ukraine surrenders all of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. “We wanted to understand exactly what the Russians meant. So far, there is no clear position,” he said. Zelenskyy said he thinks that all parties have “moved closer” to a possible end to the war. “That doesn’t mean it will definitely end, but President Trump has achieved a lot in the Middle East, and riding that wave he wants to end Russia’s war against Ukraine,” Zelenskyy added. He said the United States is interested in bilateral gas projects with Ukraine, including the construction of an LNG terminal in the southern port city of Odesa. Other projects of interest to the U.S. include those related to nuclear energy and oil.  

A cargo plane landing at Hong Kong International Airport early Monday veered off the runway, struck a security patrol vehicle, and plunged into the sea, resulting in the deaths of two airport personnel, authorities confirmed. All four crew members aboard the aircraft survived without injury. The Boeing 747 freighter, operated by Turkey-based ACT Airlines on behalf of Emirates under a wet lease agreement, was arriving from Dubai and attempted to land at approximately 3:50 a.m. local time. According to Steven Yiu, Executive Director of Airport Operations, the aircraft taxied halfway down the runway before veering left off the paved surface. It breached the airport’s perimeter and collided with a stationary security patrol car before both ended up in the surrounding waters. “The patrol vehicle did not enter the runway. It was the aircraft that went off course and hit the vehicle outside the fenced area,” Yiu said during a press briefing. Emergency responders found the aircraft split into two sections, floating in the sea. The cockpit and front portion remained above water, while the tail appeared to have broken off. The four crew members were rescued from the open aircraft door and did not sustain visible injuries, officials said. Rescue divers located the two airport workers inside the submerged patrol vehicle after a 40-minute search, said Yiu Men-yeung of the Fire Services Department. The crash occurred on the airport's north runway, which remains closed. However, the airport's two other runways continue to operate normally, and flight schedules have not been affected, airport officials confirmed. At the time of landing, weather conditions were considered suitable. Investigators from Hong Kong’s Air Accident Investigation Authority have opened a case, classifying it as an accident. The investigation will assess operational, technical, and maintenance aspects of the flight. Authorities are currently retrieving the aircraft's cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder as part of the probe. Emirates, which operates a major cargo operation out of Dubai’s Al Maktoum International Airport, confirmed the aircraft involved — designated as flight EK9788 — was one of two Boeing 747 freighters recently wet-leased from ACT Airlines to meet growing demand. The plane, 32 years old according to tracking service Flightradar24, was not carrying cargo at the time of the incident. Hong Kong International Airport, constructed on reclaimed land off Lantau Island, is surrounded by water, with the north runway situated only a few hundred meters from the sea.

Amazon said its cloud computing service was recovering from a major outage that disrupted online activity around the world on Monday. Amazon Web Services provides remote computing services to many governments, universities and companies, including The Associated Press. On DownDetector, a website that tracks online outages, users reported issues with Snapchat, Roblox, Fortnite, online broker Robinhood, the McDonald’s app and many other services. Coinbase and Signal both said on X that they were experiencing issues related to the AWS outage. The first signs of trouble emerged at around 3:11 a.m. Eastern Time, when Amazon Web Services reported on its Health Dashboard that it is “investigating increased error rates and latencies for multiple AWS services in the US-EAST-1 Region.” Later the company reported that there were “significant error rates” and that engineers were “actively working” on the problem. Around 6 a.m. Eastern Time, the company said that it was seeing recovery across most of the affected services. “We can confirm global services and features that rely on US-EAST-1 have also recovered,” it said, adding that it is working on a “full resolution.” AWS customers include some of the world’s biggest businesses and organizations. “So much of the world now relies on these three or four big (cloud) compute companies who provide the underlying infrastructure that when there’s an issue like this, it can be really impactful across a broad range, a broad spectrum” of online services, said Patrick Burgess, a cybersecurity expert at U.K.-based BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT.