Russia ready to resume Ukraine peace talks with US, Kyiv
Russia is ready in principle to resume negotiations with Ukraine and the United States to end the war, Yuri Ushakov, an aide to President Vladimir Putin, said after talks with US President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff in St Petersburg.
Ushakov said a new round of negotiations could take place around 10 November in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he wanted the talks to resume as soon as possible after discussions with Witkoff and European leaders in Oslo.
The latest diplomatic push follows months of stalled negotiations as Russian forces continue their invasion of Ukraine, which began in February 2022. Kyiv and its European allies have pressed Moscow to return to the negotiating table, while Russia has maintained that it holds the military advantage.
Zelensky said discussions in Oslo covered security guarantees for Ukraine and proposals for an energy ceasefire. Ushakov, however, dismissed the proposals as not particularly useful, leaving uncertainty over whether the planned talks will produce progress towards ending the conflict.
Macron accuses foreign leaders of exploiting French riots for political gain
French President Emmanuel Macron has accused unnamed foreign leaders of exploiting recent riots in France for electoral advantage, saying their comments were being made at the country’s expense.
Speaking during a visit to the Middle East, Macron criticised leaders he described as being in campaign mode, apparently referring to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump, who face elections in the coming weeks and months. He also accused them of being influenced by artificial intelligence generated fake videos about the unrest.
The riots erupted on Saturday alongside cost of living protests and spread across Paris, Lyon, Marseille and Nice. Nearly 150 people have been jailed, while more than 800 have appeared before the courts, according to the report.
The unrest followed weeks of student protests over conditions in high schools. Macron has vowed a firm response against those responsible for the violence, while the government acknowledged that police had lost control during parts of the disorder.
Australian MP loses both legs after alleged deliberate car attack
Helen Haines, an independent Australian parliamentarian, has lost both legs after being struck by a vehicle in what authorities describe as a deliberate attack, her husband Phil Haines has said.
The MP was hit by a Toyota LandCruiser outside her electorate office in Wangaratta, about 240 kilometres northeast of Melbourne. Her husband said she had suffered significant injuries but remained mentally alert and was alive, adding that her recovery would be long and difficult.
A 43-year-old man, Brendan Nugent, has appeared in court facing charges including dangerous driving causing serious injury, intentionally causing serious injury and causing harm to a Commonwealth public official. Police said further charges, including attempted murder, could follow.
Nugent did not apply for bail and is due back in court in February. Haines’ husband thanked hospital staff and supporters and appealed for continued support as she begins her recovery.
Google DeepMind staff resign over company’s military AI contracts
Google is facing internal opposition over its use of artificial intelligence in military operations, with several employees at its AI division, Google DeepMind, resigning or preparing to leave over concerns about the company’s defence contracts.
Sofia Liguori, a London based research engineer, resigned this week, telling the BBC she felt ashamed to work for a company increasingly pushing AI systems into military operations. Other workers have also raised concerns about the use of the technology in classified military environments.
Google said it works with public sector organisations worldwide and follows established processes for reviewing contracts, including compliance with its AI principles and acceptable use policies. The company added that employees could raise concerns through internal channels without fear of retaliation.
Google is among several technology companies that signed agreements with the US military to deploy AI in classified settings. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has made integrating AI into the armed forces a priority under the Trump administration.
Meta ordered to pay $25bn over user data privacy claims
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, has been ordered by a New Mexico judge to pay $25 billion following a trial over allegations that it misled users about data privacy and its business practices.
The ruling followed a two week trial in which a jury found that Meta had repeatedly violated state laws through statements about its handling of user information and the enforcement of rules against harmful content. The state argued that the company had misled the public about third party access to Facebook users’ data, including during the Cambridge Analytica scandal.
New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez said the verdict showed that powerful technology companies could be held accountable under the law. The state had sought up to $40 billion in penalties, while Meta argued that fines exceeding $3.4 billion would be unconstitutional.
Meta said it would appeal the decision. Its chief lawyer, CJ Mahoney, argued that the ruling would make it extremely difficult for the company to operate in New Mexico. The case adds to the company’s growing legal challenges over privacy and child safety.
AFRICA
Gambia to compensate Jammeh’s victims with proceeds from seized US mansion
The Gambia will use $2.57 million recovered from the sale of a US mansion belonging to former president Yahya Jammeh to compensate victims of abuses committed during his rule, the country’s Reparations Commission has said.
The commission said it had received $2,573,414.10 from the sale of the property in Maryland. US authorities secured the right to sell the mansion in 2022, arguing that it had been acquired using criminal proceeds and misappropriated Gambian public funds.
Jammeh ruled The Gambia for more than two decades after seizing power in a 1994 coup. A national commission of inquiry later found that he had misappropriated more than $300 million and linked his government to widespread human rights abuses, including torture, disappearances and extrajudicial killings.
Jammeh lost the 2016 election to Adama Barrow but initially refused to step down, leaving office in 2017 after regional and international pressure. He went into exile in Equatorial Guinea, where he remains. The reparations commission said the recovered funds would be managed transparently to meet the needs of victims and survivors.
Kenya signs $160m conservation deal to protect wildlife habitats
Kenya has secured a $160 million conservation financing agreement to protect 173,000 square kilometres of natural habitats, including areas around the Great Rift Valley and Maasai Mara.
The Thamani Asili initiative will combine $80 million from private donors, including members of the Walton and Cargill families, with a matching contribution from the Kenyan government over 10 years. The programme aims to protect biodiversity hotspots that support elephants, rhinos, lions and thousands of other species.
Funding will support the creation of new conservation areas and improve management of existing ones under a Project Finance for Permanence model. The approach links long term financing to commitments by governments to implement key policy changes.
The agreement comes as Kenya seeks to protect wildlife and ecosystems while balancing conservation with competing land use and economic development needs. Its success will depend on sustained funding and effective implementation of the agreed measures.
Burkina Faso votes to restore death penalty after eight year abolition
Burkina Faso’s parliament has approved a revised penal code restoring the death penalty nearly a decade after the West African country abolished capital punishment in 2018.
The 71 member assembly unanimously adopted the legislation on Tuesday following its presentation by Justice Minister Edasso Rodrigue Bayala. The death penalty will apply to offences including terrorism, espionage, treason and importing expired or banned products that result in death, according to state media.
The government has defended the measure as part of its response to an Islamist insurgency linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State, which has killed thousands and displaced millions. Bayala argued that the previous law was too lenient and had helped armed groups recruit members.
Human Rights Watch has warned that reinstating capital punishment could deepen repression and be used against critics of the military government. Burkina Faso’s last known judicial execution took place in 1988, according to Amnesty International.
Tunisia plans to increase renewable energy’s share of its electricity mix to 16 percent in 2027, from 12 percent this year, through the development of about 1,600 megawatts of new capacity, according to its finance law.
About 1,100 megawatts will be offered to international investors through concession and licensing projects, while 500 megawatts will be allocated to self generation. Planned developments include a 198 megawatt renewable energy project at Khnabna, a 77 megawatt wind farm and a 300 megawatt solar plant in Bazma, equipped with battery storage.
The government also plans to add about 515 megawatts under the sixth round of its licensing scheme. The projects form part of efforts to expand domestic clean energy production and reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels.
Tunisia’s ability to meet its target will depend on investment, project delivery and the integration of additional renewable power into the electricity grid.
South Africa revives fuel levy cuts to ease cost of living
South Africa will introduce temporary fuel levy reductions from November to ease cost of living pressures, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana said during his mid year budget speech.
The government will cut the levy by 3 rand per litre on diesel and 1.50 rand on petrol from 4 November to 1 December. Smaller reductions of 1.50 rand on diesel and 1 rand on petrol will remain in place until 5 January, in a package valued at about 10 billion rand, or $609 million.
Godongwana said stronger public finances had created room for temporary relief. The measures revive earlier fuel levy cuts introduced between April and June after oil prices surged amid conflict in the Middle East.
South Africa imports most of its fuel, leaving consumers and businesses exposed to fluctuations in global energy prices. The levy reductions are intended to cushion motorists and businesses against fuel costs, although the relief is temporary.
Related News
Faith Omoboye is a foreign affairs correspondent with background in History and International relations. Her work focuses on African politics, diplomacy, and global governance.
