HAVANA TIMES – We bring you some of the top international news stories compiled by Democracy Now on Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
Fighting Escalates in Yemen Between the Houthis and Saudi-Backed Gov’t Forces
Oct 14, 2026
Fighting continues to escalate in Yemen between the Houthis and Saudi-backed government forces. On Tuesday, Saudi Arabia struck an oil facility near Sana’a and fuel depots in other parts of Yemen. The Houthis retaliated by attacking the headquarters of Saudi Arabia’s state-owned oil company Saudi Aramco in the eastern city of Dhahran. The attack reportedly caused a limited fire.
Meanwhile, the humanitarian crisis in Yemen is worsening. The World Health Organization reports suspected cholera cases in Yemen have tripled in recent weeks.
NYT: Israel Levels 48 Villages and Towns It Occupies in Southern Lebanon
Oct 14, 2026
Israel’s military has leveled 48 of the roughly 60 villages and towns it occupies in southern Lebanon since Israel agreed to a so-called ceasefire with Hezbollah in April. That’s the finding of a New York Times investigation published Monday, which documented how Israeli forces demolished homes, schools, mosques and roads in Lebanese villages north of Israel’s border, with most of the destruction focused on the majority Shia Muslim population from which Hezbollah draws its support. The seven villages that have not been seriously damaged are largely populated by Christian, Sunni Muslim or Druze residents. The scorched-earth campaign has fueled fears that Israel is seeking to permanently empty much of southern Lebanon of its population. According to the U.N., Israel’s invasion and attacks have driven 329,000 people from their homes in Lebanon — one-third of them children. This is U.N. spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric.
Stéphane Dujarric: “The situation on the ground is not going to get magically better on January 1st. It will continue to be extremely dangerous, extremely worrying. And we very much hope that the international community comes up with a plan that will serve — that will serve the populations of southern Lebanon and will also enable the population of northern Israel to go home.”
Kimberly Guilfoyle Resigns as U.S. Ambassador to Greece
Oct 14, 2026
Kimberly Guilfoyle has resigned as U.S. ambassador to Greece, days after The Wall Street Journal reported she had requested a Republican donor pay off her $100,000 American Express bill in exchange for access to the Trump administration. In addition, the Journal reports Guilfoyle threatened Greece’s energy minister that the U.S. had the power to topple the Greek government. She said, “We can do that to any country we want. We can do that here.”
Kimberly Guilfoyle is the former fiancée of Donald Trump Jr. and was previously married to California Governor Gavin Newsom.
Guilfoyle resigned Tuesday shortly after White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia made this announcement during her first press briefing.
Press Secretary Katie Zacharia: “We have asked Ambassador Guilfoyle to resign. She has been a wonderful asset to the team, and we wish her well.”
Katie Zacharia’s first press conference was widely criticized. She took just three questions over 15 minutes, just after mixing up the president and her husband.
Press Secretary Katie Zacharia: “I adore my family. I love them. They are my priority. They — I love being with my kids. The idea of not spending evenings with my kid — kids are — is completely unacceptable. So, my president — or, excuse me, my husband — that’s a — that’s a good one.”
WSJ: Texas GOP Attorney General Ken Paxton Partied in Dubai with Two Indicted Fugitives
Oct 14, 2026
In election news, The Wall Street Journal has published video of Texas Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, the Republican nominee for Senate, partying in Dubai on New Year’s Eve 2024 with two indicted fugitive healthcare executives and a woman who wasn’t his wife. The two men had been indicted months before on federal healthcare fraud charges but failed to return to the United States. One of the healthcare executives had donated $190,000 to Paxton. Paxton’s Senate rival, James Talarico, responded to the report by writing online, “A party with multiple fugitives, and Ken Paxton is still the sketchiest guy in the room.”
Federal Agents Subpoena Relatives of Democratic Congressmember Ilhan Omar
Oct 14, 2026
Federal agents have issued subpoenas to relatives of Democratic Congressmember Ilhan Omar of Minnesota. According to reports, Sahra Noor, Omar’s sister, received a subpoena, along with another family member. This comes after Homeland Security agents raided Congressmember Omar’s home in Washington, D.C., on Monday. We’ll have more on this story later in the broadcast.
Maine GOP Senator Susan Collins Faces Off Against Democratic Challenger Troy Jackson in Debate
Oct 14, 2026
In Maine, Republican Senator Susan Collins faced off against her Democratic challenger Troy Jackson in a debate over healthcare, the war in Iran and immigration. The polls are tight with the race critical to determining which party controls the Senate. Jackson blasted Collins over her record on the U.S. war on Iran.
Troy Jackson: “Iran war, I mean, Senator Collins would not push back against that. Five times she voted for it. I mean, the reason why our fuel prices is going through the roof, and the way our — the reason why our electricity costs are going through the roof is because the cost of fuel, cost of oil is so high, because she wouldn’t stop President Trump with the Iran war.”
Reuters: DOJ Gives California Officials 48 Hours to Review List of Alleged Noncitizen Voters
Oct 14, 2026
In more election news, the Justice Department gave California officials 48 hours to review a list of alleged noncitizen voters or face legal action. That’s according to a letter reviewed by Reuters. The DOJ’s letter to California officials orders the state to hold off on mailing ballots to anyone on the list until it verifies their citizenship. For listed voters who already have ballots, the letter says any ballots they mail back should be set aside, and ballots already returned should not be counted until their citizenship is confirmed.
Man Shot by ICE in New York Held in Solitary Confinement with Bullet Still Lodged in His Neck
Oct 14, 2026
In immigration news, the man shot by ICE in New York last week is currently held in custody in solitary confinement with a bullet still lodged in his neck, according to his attorneys. Twenty-eight-year-old Oscar Belgal is awaiting deportation proceedings after immigration agents opened fire on his car in the Bronx. According to his lawyers, Belgal is in urgent need of surgery to remove the bullet.
Immigrants Sue ICE for Keeping Their Documents Long After Their Release
Oct 14, 2026
In more immigration news, immigrants released from detention are suing ICE for keeping their passports and other belongings long after letting them go. The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in federal court in Washington, D.C., says ICE has held onto the property of seven people for more than five months after their release, even though at least some of them still have pending immigration cases. The immigrants claim that ICE withheld items that include Social Security cards, work permits, phones and even car keys. Craig Martin, a lawyer representing the plaintiffs, said, “If ICE has a legitimate operational reason to keep somebody’s property, it needs to identify it. And if it doesn’t identify it, the Constitution and ICE’s own rules point to get the document back without delay.”
Cornell University Bans All Fraternities from Hosting Parties
Oct 14, 2026
Cornell University is banning all fraternities from hosting any parties, amid criticism of how it responded to a reported sexual assault on campus in 2024. In a lawsuit filed last month, a woman identified as Jane Doe says she was drugged and gang-raped by multiple men during a party at a Cornell fraternity house two years ago. In a statement on Tuesday, Cornell’s president, Michael Kotlikoff, said, “I am deeply sorry for the harm Jane Doe suffered in 2024, and appalled that this act of sexual violence occurred within our Cornell community. It is clear that women on our campus continue to question whether they are safe. We must meet this moment by acknowledging where we have fallen short and taking meaningful action.” Click here to see our coverage of the Cornell alleged gang rape case.
Ebola Cases Surpass 9,000 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Oct 14, 2026
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the number of confirmed Ebola cases has surpassed 9,000 with over 4,300 deaths. The outbreak caused by the latest strain of the virus has become the largest and deadliest in Congo’s history. There are currently no treatments or vaccines for the latest strain of the Ebola virus. Click here to see our coverage.
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Sixth Person Dies of Measles in Pennsylvania
Oct 14, 2026
In Pennsylvania, a sixth person has died of measles as the number of cases in the state topped 1,100. The victim was identified as a 39-year-old unvaccinated woman who had several underlying conditions. The CDC has recorded over 4,000 confirmed measles infections across the U.S., the highest number of cases in decades. Earlier this month, New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared an emergency because of rising measles cases in the state.
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Vatican Announces Pope Leo Diagnosed with Lung Cancer
Oct 14, 2026
The Vatican announced Tuesday that 71-year-old Pope Leo has been diagnosed with lung cancer. In a medical bulletin, the Vatican said surgeons had removed the lower lobe of the pope’s right lung. After undergoing surgery, the pope spent a night in the hospital. The pope is not known to be a smoker or to have had recent health issues.
Trump Reportedly Has Doubts of Live-Streaming Execution of Fort Hood Shooter
Oct 14, 2026
President Trump has reportedly told people privately that he has doubts about plans to live-stream the firing squad execution of Nidal Hasan, the former Army major who killed 13 people at Fort Hood in Texas back in 2009. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth scheduled the execution date for December 3.
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600,000 People Left Without Electricity in Ukraine After Russian Strikes
Oct 14, 2026
In Ukraine, 600,000 people are without electricity after deadly Russian missile and drone strikes pummeled the country, killing three people in the capital Kyiv. According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the strikes hit critical energy infrastructure in Kyiv and Kharkiv, despite President Trump claiming over the weekend that there was an energy ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia.
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Indian Court Orders Two Leaders of Youth-Led Cockroach Janta Party Jailed for Five Days
Oct 14, 2026
In India, a court has ordered two leaders of the youth-led Cockroach Janta Party jailed for five days. Opposition parties and student groups have been protesting nearly every day to call for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over his revisions to the voter rolls, purging 130 million voters. The protesters argue that the revisions benefit right-wing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP. Delhi police detained at least 30 journalists over the weekend while they covered the protests. This is Vinod Jakhar, president of the National Students’ Union of India.
Vinod Jakhar: “Gyanesh Kumar will have to resign. Students of the country have taken to the streets. We will not stop ’til we get his resignation, like we did with Dharmendra Pradhan. We will fight daily. We will get detained, but the protests would continue.”
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Tens of Thousands March in Solidarity with Students in France
Oct 14, 2026
In France, tens of thousands of people marched on Tuesday in solidarity with protesting high school students; unions estimated turnout at almost half a million people. The Justice Ministry says more than 6,800 people, mostly minors, have been taken into custody, as rights groups and students accuse riot police of excessive force, including the use of tear gas, batons and blast balls. The movement began at a high school in the Paris suburbs last month and spread nationwide, with students blockading their schools over overcrowded classrooms, teacher shortages and crumbling buildings. This is a protester.
Lucie: “I think it’s part of the police’s strategy, actually. They know that kettling and surrounding people inevitably increases violence. So I think it’s something the police are actually aiming for. … There are thousands of young people demonstrating, and the only things we see are burning trash cans and the vandalism at the end. And I think that’s a very poor summary of what is going on, and it is also drowning out the message people are trying to convey.”
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Anti-Government Student Protests Erupt in Albania
Oct 14, 2026
In Albania, a nationwide student protest over education and social issues turned violent as demonstrators threw bricks and chunks of concrete at Albania’s Education Ministry, and police answered with tear gas and water cannons. Organizers said students were protesting university conditions, the cost of higher education, the level of financial aid and the lack of job prospects after graduation. This is a protester.
Protester: “It must be overthrown. They must hold elections, form a technical government, and then hold free and fair elections. Whoever wins, let them win.”