Reports say eight Indian men who worked in Qatar have been sentenced to death on spying charges.

The heavily indebted company has become the poster child of the country's flailing property sector.

European Union leaders gathered Thursday to debate ways to use their combined leverage to ensure that more aid reaches Palestinians in need, and how to help EU citizens in Gaza escape danger, including some held hostage by Hamas. EU nations have long been divided in their approach to Israel and the Palestinians, but the brutal nature of the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct 7., which killed more than 1,400 people, and the hardship of civilians forced from their homes in Gaza have shone a bright spotlight on those divisions. Across the EU spectrum, Austria, Germany and Hungary are among Israel's top supporters. The leaders of Austria and Germany went to Israel to show solidarity after the assault. Spain and Ireland often focus on the plight of the Palestinians. Hamas, for its part, is on the EU’s list of terrorist groups. The challenge has been to strike a balance between condemning the Hamas attacks, supporting Israel’s right to defend itself and ensuring that the rights of civilians on both sides are protected under international law. EU envoys have wrangled in recent days over whether to call for a “humanitarian pause” or “pauses,” or even a “window” in the fighting, to allow aid in. Israel’s strongest backers oppose any language that might be seen to constrain its right to self-defense. Meanwhile, the death toll in Gaza has soared past 7,000, according to Palestinian officials. It’s unprecedented in the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict. A draft of the leaders’ summit statement, seen by The Associated Press, sees them call “for continued, rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access and aid to reach those in need through all necessary measures including humanitarian corridors and pauses.” Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said: “I’m not obsessed about what language we use. What we want is the killing and the violence to stop; to stop so that humanitarian aid can get into Gaza, where Palestinian people are ... suffering, and also to allow us to get EU citizens out." He said that about 30 Irish Palestinian citizens are stuck. "We’re keen for them to be able to leave Gaza if they want to leave, and that’s currently not possible,” Varadkar told reporters. Despite its limited political leverage, the 27-nation bloc is the world’s top aid supplier to the Palestinians. It has sent almost 78 million euros ($82 million) this year and over 930 million euros ($982 million) since 2000. The EU has little influence over Israel – the United States is its staunchest ally – but remains the country’s biggest trade partner. The EU’s executive branch, the European Commission, has trumpeted what it calls an “air bridge” for Gaza – it consists of two plane loads of aid so far – and has demanded that more humanitarian assistance be allowed into poverty and conflict-hit Gaza. In recent days, Israel has let more than 60 trucks with aid enter from Egypt. Aid workers and the EU say it's not enough, just a tiny fraction of what came in before the war. Israel is still barring deliveries of fuel — needed to power generators — saying it believes that Hamas will take it. A warning by the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, over waning fuel supplies has raised alarm that the humanitarian crisis could quickly worsen. Gaza’s population has also been running out of food, water and medicine. The EU is UNRWA’s third biggest funder. Dozens of European nationals are believed to be among the more than 200 Israelis and foreigners taken hostage by Hamas. Scores more have been caught up in the turmoil as around 1.4 million of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents fled their homes under orders from the Israeli army. Exact numbers are difficult to establish as some countries prefer not to provide them for security reasons. EU officials also declined to say. Qatar has become a key interlocutor for countries hoping to have their captive nationals released. EU officials have said that Turkey could also play an important role, underscoring the need for the bloc to maintain good relations with countries in the region, beyond Israel. In the draft summit statement – perhaps due to the extreme security concerns – the leaders note only that they “reviewed the state of play and the follow-up on the different strands of action, including concerted efforts to assist EU citizens.” Read More Harris will attend an AI summit at a UK estate that was a base for World War II codebreakers European Union to press the leaders of Serbia and Kosovo to set decades of enmity behind them Europe's central bank is set to halt rate hikes as the Mideast war casts a shadow over the economy Israel-Hamas war could threaten already fragile economies in Egypt, Lebanon and Jordan British leader Rishi Sunak marks a year in office with little to celebrate Belgian police are looking for a Palestinian man following media report he could plan an attack

Vladimir Putin has presided over a rehearsal to deliver what the Kremlin described as a “massive” nuclear strike, including the test launch of multiple ballistic missiles. While Russia holds similar rehearsals every autumn, Wednesday’s show of force came just hours after Moscow’s withdrawal from a significant nuclear test ban treaty and as its invasion of Ukraine approaches its second winter. Footage broadcast on state television showed the Russian president overseeing the annual exercises, dubbed “Grom”, via video call. The purpose of the drill was to “deliver a massive nuclear strike... in response to an enemy nuclear strike”, said defence minister Sergei Shoigu. The Kremlin said a Yars intercontinental ballistic missile was launched from a test site to a target in Russia’s far east, a nuclear-powered submarine launched a ballistic missile from the Barents Sea and Tu-95MS long-range bombers test fired air-launched cruise missiles. Russia, which has the world’s largest nuclear arsenal, has passed a bill in parliament that would revoke its ratification of a key nuclear test ban treaty, the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). Though it has never formally come into force, the CTBT has helped deter nuclear weapons testing around the world, with only North Korea conducting an explosive nuclear bomb test this century. Ukraine has said Russia’s withdrawal of its CTBT ratification was an attempt at “nuclear blackmail”. Mr Putin, who will be sent the bill for final approval, has said revoking Russia’s ratification would “mirror” the stance of the US, which has signed but did not ratify the nuclear test ban. Video footage of Wednesday’s military exercise released by the Russian defence ministry showed the land- and submarine-launched missiles piercing the night sky with loud roars, while nuclear-capable bomber aircraft departed from an airfield under the cover of darkness. “Under the leadership of the supreme commander-in-chief of the armed forces of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, training was conducted with the forces and means of the ground, sea and air components of the nuclear deterrent forces,” the Kremlin said in a statement. “During the training, practical launches of ballistic and cruise missiles took place. The tasks planned in the course of the training exercise were fully accomplished,” it said. The latest developments have raised widespread concerns that Moscow could resume nuclear testing in attempts to discourage the West from continuing to offer military support to Ukraine. Russia’s deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov said earlier this month that Moscow will continue to respect the ban and will only resume nuclear tests if Washington does it first. On Wednesday, Mr Ryabkov said the Russian foreign ministry had received proposals from the US to restart discussions regarding strategic stability and arms control matters. However, he pointed out that, given the current political climate, Moscow does not view it as feasible. “We aren’t ready for it because the return to a dialogue on strategic stability... as it was conducted in the past is impossible until the US revises its deeply hostile policy course in relation to Russia,” Mr Ryabkov told reporters in comments carried by Russian news agencies.

Vladimir Putin has tested Russia’s ability to launch a massive retaliatory nuclear strike as he pulled the country out of an international test ban treaty. “Practical launches of ballistic and cruise missiles took place during the training,” Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu said. A Yars intercontinental ballistic missile was fired in Russia’s far east, a nuclear-powered submarine launched a ballistic missile from the Barents sea, and long-range bombers test fired air-launched cruise missiles, according to the Kremlin. On Wednesday, Russia’s parliament unanimously approved legislation pulling the country out of the international Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, designed to limit the proliferation of nuclear weapon testing. It comes as a Russian drone attack damaged buildings near the Khmelnytskyi nuclear power plant in western Ukraine, wounding 20 people. The Ukrainian air force destroyed all 11 Russian drones, according to the military. Damage was caused by blast waves and falling debris. “At night, the enemy struck territory near the Khmelnytskyi nuclear power plant. As a result of the explosion, windows in administrative and laboratory buildings have been damaged,” Ukraine’s Energy Ministry said on the Telegram messaging app. Read More Russian drones likely targeted Khmelnytskyi nuclear power station, Zelensky says Business owners in a Ukrainian front-line city adapt even as 'a missile can come at any moment' Russian forces simulate nuclear strike as upper house rescinds ratification of test-ban treaty

Biden's statement comes days after collisions between Filipino and Chinese ships in the South China Sea.

Russia’s drone strike in western Ukraine likely targeted the Khmelnytskyi nuclear power station, president Volodymyr Zelensky said. He said the strike on Wednesday presented yet more evidence that tougher sanctions were needed against Russia and its dangerous acts that bypass international sanctions. At least 20 people were injured in the attacks in Khmelnytskyi region that also led to shattered windows at the nuclear power plant and nearby sites, and destroyed power lines, causing outages, Ukrainian officials said. Power was temporarily cut to some off-site radiation monitoring stations at the power plant and hundreds of buildings in the area sustained damage. “It is highly likely that the target for these drones was the Khmelnytskyi nuclear power plant – the shockwave from the explosion shattered windows, including those on the territory of the NPP [nuclear power plant],” Mr Zelensky said in his nightly video address. “Every Russian strike, especially ones as audacious as those targeting nuclear plants and other critical facilities, is an argument that the pressure on the terrorist state is insufficient,” he said. He said the assessment of the drones used in the attack showed their “missiles, originate from various countries, various companies, including Western ones”. The International Atomic Energy Agency, the UN’s nuclear watchdog, said blasts from the drone attack did not affect the plant’s operations or its connection to the grid, but raised concerns over the proximity of the attack to the plant. “The fact that numerous windows at the site were destroyed shows just how close it was. Next time, we may not be so fortunate,” said IAEA director general Rafael Grossi. Some 1,700 buildings in the area sustained damage. These included 282 apartment blocks, more than 1,400 private homes, 41 educational institutions and six healthcare buildings, regional governor Serhiy Tyurin said. The incident also caused damage to power lines, affecting over 1,800 consumers in the neighbouring towns of Netishyn and Slavuta, resulting in power outages. The Ukrainian air force repelled all 11 Russian drone attacks overnight, the military said, adding that the damage was caused by blast waves and falling debris. "At night, the enemy struck territory near the Khmelnytskyi nuclear power plant. As a result of the explosion, windows in administrative and laboratory buildings have been damaged," the energy ministry said on the Telegram messaging app. Earlier, the Ukrainian president said Kyiv was preparing for the attacks on their energy infrastructure not only to defend but to respond, ahead of the second winter of the Kremlin’s invasion of the country. “We are preparing for terrorist attacks on our energy infrastructure,” Mr Zelensky said. “This year we will not only defend ourselves, but also respond.” Russia has launched assaults on the Ukrainian cities of Kupiansk in the north and Avdiivka, seeking to besiege the strategic grounds on the battlefield. Read More Ukraine-Russia war - live: Putin turns to new weapon for winter attacks as bombing of Avdiivka continues Russian forces simulate nuclear strike as upper house rescinds ratification of test-ban treaty Study finds ‘deepfakes’ from Ukraine war undermining trust in conflict footage

Hurricane Otis’s top winds are weakening with its move across southern Mexico, drenching the region with flooding rains

Hundreds of workers at a mine in South Africa are caught up in a dispute between two rival unions.

The Russian Army has used new, longer-range drones for the first time in an attack against Ukraine near Kyiv, reports suggest. The Italmas weapon, which is harder to detect than the Iranian-made Shahed drone, may be part of Vladimir Putin’s strategy to expand Russia’s arsenal as harsher winter weather approaches, the Institute for the Study of War said. It comes as the Ukrainian city of Avdiivka, Donetsk, faced heavy shelling overnight as Russia continues with its offensive push into the region. “The enemy dropped about 40 guided aerial bombs in two nights. But the number of ground assaults has been reduced, half of what it was yesterday and the day before,” Oleksandr Shtupun, spokesperson for Ukraine’s southern group of forces, said. Mr Shtupun added that Russia had suffered about 2,400 casualties in the last five days during its campaing in the Donetsk region. Meanwhile, Ukraine launched an “underwater sabotage” attack on Russia’s Black Sea fleet near Sevastopol, Crimea, on Tuesday, according to Mikhail Razvozhayev, the Moscow-installed governor of the region. Read More Putin’s many ‘heart attacks’ and why the rumours may be in his favour Russian oil boss becomes third to die suddenly at company that criticised Putin’s war Ukraine's leader says Russian naval assets are no longer safe in the Black Sea near Crimea

A German tourist who went missing in a wildlife park in northern Zimbabwe was found alive by rescuers three days later. Andreas Hoberg was found in “good health” on Tuesday at the Matusadona National Park, said the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority. Before going missing, he was last seen at a park shop buying a drink before going for a game drive around 3.30pm on Saturday. By 6pm, the car rental company he had hired for the safari was unable to locate him on the GPS tracking system. Tinashe Farawo with the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority said the rescue involved deploying a helicopter, several vehicles and sniffer dogs to scour the remote wildlife park. “We were gravely worried. We are happy he is well. He says his car developed a mechanical fault. It’s a white car, so we were hopeful we would find it,” he said. The age of the German tourist was not revealed. Zimbabwe’s 1,400-sq-kilometre Matusadona National Park is inhabited by lions, buffaloes, leopards, elephants “and all the expected dangerous wildlife found in the bush”, Mr Farawo said. The park is flanked by Lake Kariba in the north and two perennial rivers – the Ume and the Sanyati. The park gets its name from the undulating Matusadona hills that form part of its water-rich landscape. In 2020, Zimbabwean authorities reported the recovery of two park rangers’ bodies, who, after arresting four poachers, were later thrown into Lake Kariba by the suspects. The rangers had detained the poachers overnight before attempting to take them by boat to Kariba town. Additional reporting by agencies Read More Nine unforgettable experiences any adventurous traveller will love ‘Bigfoot’ has been spotted in a tiny town – and locals have some theories Zoos and botanical gardens find Halloween programs are a hit, and an opportunity

Students at the Oregon State University were warned to “avoid all robots” following a bomb threat prank involving automated food delivery machines on campus. The threat was made by a student on Tuesday via social media, causing university staff to issue the urgent warning. “Bomb Threat in Starship food delivery robots. Do not open robots. Avoid all robots until further notice. Public Safety is responding,” the institute wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. The university later provided several updates on the unfolding situation, saying that the robots had been isolated in a “safe location” before being inspected by a technician. Students were advised to “remain vigilant for suspicious activity”. The emergency was declared over just before 2pm local time with “normal activities” resuming. “All robots have been inspected and cleared. They will be back in service by 4pm today,” the university later wrote online. Starship, the company that designs the robots, said that despite the student’s subsequent admission that the bomb threat had been “a joke”, it had suspended the service while investigations were ongoing. In its own statement, the company wrote: “A student at Oregon State University sent a bomb threat, via social media, that involved Starship’s robots on the campus. “While the student has subsequently stated this is a joke and a prank, Starship suspended the service. “Safety is of the utmost importance to Starship and we are cooperating with law enforcement and the university during this investigation.” Read More University of Michigan slithers toward history with massive acquisition of jarred snake specimens Trump boasts that he ‘killed’ Tom Emmer’s speaker bid ‘Bandaid on an open chest wound’: Democrats mock latest speaker chaos