Prince Andrew stripped of his titles and forced to leave Royal Lodge.
The palace announced that the King has initiated a formal process to remove the style, titles and honours of Prince Andrew, who will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor and is to surrender his lease on the Royal Lodge at Windsor. This follows longstanding scrutiny over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein and allegations made by Virginia Giuffre; a settlement was paid in 2022 though he denied the allegations. The move is seen as both a reputational safeguard for the monarchy and a milestone in accountability for senior royal family members.
Serbia sees tens of thousands in protest on anniversary of deadly roof collapse
A large protest movement has grown in Serbia as masses stage demonstrations on the anniversary of a tragic roof-collapse incident. The protests reflect wider public anger over government accountability, building‐safety oversight and infrastructure failures. They add to the instability in the Western Balkan region and highlight how local tragedies can become flashpoints for broader civic and political unrest.
U.S. judges order continued funding for SNAP amid government shutdown.
With the U.S. federal government in a shutdown, two federal judges (in Massachusetts and Rhode Island) ruled that the administration must use emergency reserve funds to keep the SNAP (food‐aid) programme running for November. The programme supports roughly one in eight Americans, including vulnerable households, and delays or disruption could have serious humanitarian consequences. The ruling buys time but underscores the political stalemate and risks in funding essential social services during a shutdown.
Nokia soars after Nvidia invests $1 billion in AI partnership.
Nvidia will acquire a 2.9 % stake in Nokia for about $1 billion, ushering the Finnish telecom-equipment maker into the AI and data‐centre arena and driving its shares to a near-decade high. The partnership positions Nokia as a player in next-gen telecom/AI infrastructure, though analysts caution that tangible earnings may lie years ahead. This deal signals broader momentum for European tech firms looking to hitch onto the AI boom.
Temple stampede in India’s Andhra Pradesh kills at least 9.
A crowd surge at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Kasibugga, Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh occurred during the Ekadashi observance, leading to at least nine deaths (including eight women and one child) and multiple injuries. The privately-run temple reportedly had a capacity of around 3,000, but an estimated 25,000 devotees were present at the time, overwhelming safety protocols. Local authorities have launched an inquiry into the infrastructure and crowd-control failures.
Pokrovsk under intense pressure as Ukrainian special forces deployed.
Ukrainian military sources say special‐forces troops were landed by helicopter in the eastern city of Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast amid a Russian offensive that reportedly has Ukrainian units encircled. Russia claims to have encircled Kyiv’s forces in the area, while Ukraine describes the situation as “dynamic”. The battle is of strategic importance as Pokrovsk is a transport and rail hub; its fall could enable further Russian advances in eastern Ukraine.
Pakistan says it is assessing 10-year defence pact between India and US.
The Pakistan Foreign Office announced that Islamabad is evaluating the implications of a newly signed 10-year defence framework between the India and the United States, expressing concerns about how the agreement may affect the strategic balance in South Asia. The pact, signed by India’s Defence Minister and the US Secretary of Defence, is seen as elevating bilateral military cooperation significantly.
United Nations accuses U.S. of breaching international law in air-strikes on drug‐smuggling boats.
The UN human-rights chief has issued a sharp rebuke of U.S. air-strikes on alleged drug-smuggling vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific, saying the actions may breach international humanitarian law. The strikes mark a controversial expansion of U.S. military operations in drug-trafficking zones and raise questions about legality, oversight and regional sovereignty. The issue adds diplomatic strain and may affect U.S. relationships with Caribbean and Latin American partners.
Labour Party signals welfare cuts despite promises in UK.
Number 10 has confirmed that the Labour-led government will still proceed with plans to “fix” welfare spending, including benefit cuts, despite prior expectations of a softer line. The move has triggered concern among social-policy advocates and could become a defining point in the early months of the government’s mandate. It reflects the tension between cost-of-living pressures, public spending demands and headline electoral promises.
China says it tracked Philippines-led joint patrol in the South China Sea.
The People’s Republic of China military claimed it tracked a two-day joint maritime exercise led by the Philippines (with foreign forces) in the South China Sea region, accusing Manila of undermining regional peace and stability. The patrol ran from Oct 30 to Oct 31 and involved foreign partners in the contested maritime zone.
As Europe heads into winter, Russia targets Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
As Ukraine approaches winter, Moscow has stepped up attacks on power-grid and energy infrastructure, prompting Kyiv to label the strikes as “nuclear terrorism” and warn of a looming humanitarian and civilian‐supply crisis. The damage to winter preparedness is severe: heating, electricity and civilian logistics are at risk. The attacks raise broader concerns about indirect targeting of civilian infrastructure and escalation in the war.
Asia‑Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit wraps up after US-China trade truce.
Leaders from Asia-Pacific economies concluded the APEC summit in Gyeongju, South Korea, with a declaration of support for trade and investment “that benefits all,” following a high-profile agreement between Donald Trump (USA) and Xi Jinping (China) to reduce trade tensions. The deal signals a pause in the US-China trade war, and the broader communique emphasised economic cooperation in the region.
