Demonstrations over school funding and discrimination coincide with protests by truckers, farmers and climate activists.

On Friday, thousands of students and teachers took to the streets in several Italian cities to protest the policies of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

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The protests followed several days marked by a wave of school occupations in Milan, Naples, Turin, Genoa, Bologna and Rome.

The nationwide mobilization, dubbed “No Meloni Day,” combined demands over budget allocations with direct criticism of the Italian government’s environmental policies.

Student groups denounced the progressive deterioration of school infrastructure and called for the €13 billion allocated to military spending to be redirected toward education.

Representatives of the Alternative Student Opposition criticized the rising cost of living and announced a general strike scheduled for Oct. 30.

Un carro armato di cartone è stato dato alle fiamme durante il corteo degli studenti a Torino. Alcuni manifestanti hanno incendiato il modellino con fumogeni colorati, accompagnati dai cori "Brucia, brucia" e dallo slogan "Noi la guerra non la paghiamo", per protestare contro le… pic.twitter.com/RM7BH94cf9

— Sky tg24 (@SkyTG24) October 16, 2026

The text reads, “During a student protest in Turin, a cardboard tank was set on fire. Demonstrators ignited the model using colored smoke flares, chanting “Burn, Burn!” and the slogan “We will not pay for war,” as a form of protest against military spending.

The demonstration was part of the “No Meloni Day”—a day of student mobilization against the government’s educational policies, rising tuition costs, and increased military expenditure.

Similar protests took place across Italy, specifically in Rome, Milan, Florence, Genoa, Venice, Padua, Treviso, and Cagliari. In the capital, organizers estimated the turnout at 20,000 people, while in Turin, more than 2,500 students took to the streets.”

During marches in Rome, tensions escalated when some protesters threw firecrackers and trash containers outside the Education Ministry. Riot police and Carabinieri officers established security cordons and used tear gas to disperse the crowd on Via Marmorata.

“Thousands of students marched from the Colosseum to the Education Ministry. Tensions rose because of a group of masked protesters who threw bottles and improvised explosive devices at law enforcement officers, as well as discharged fire extinguishers,” RaiNews reported.

Similar clashes occurred in Turin and Bologna outside the prefecture and the central railway station, where police responded with water cannons. The violence led to confrontations involving blunt objects, the detention of a masked minor and severe disruptions to rail traffic in northern Italy.

"No Meloni Day"
Police charges against students
in Rome and Turin. pic.twitter.com/5IGt2pUQLU

— 𝕃𝕦𝕔𝕚𝕒𝕟𝕠 𝕃𝕦𝕝𝕫 (@altrella_l) October 16, 2026

Students Reject Discrimination and Racism

Thousands of people marched peacefully in Milan, holding signs and chanting slogans in support of social integration. Youth organizations strongly opposed Meloni’s “Valditara Decree,” which they described as discriminatory and racist.

In effect since June, the decree bans sex and relationship education at the preschool and elementary school levels and requires parental consent to address these topics at other educational levels. It also sets a maximum of 30% for foreign students in each classroom.

“Are these really the problems that need to be solved?” and “Racists out of our schools!” protesters shouted, according to RAI News.

“An entire generation has taken to the streets because it refuses to bow its head — to mind its own business — while others destroy our future,” said Alice, who linked the student movement’s demands to the genocide in Gaza.

“And it all starts right here, in our schools. The pro-Palestinian demonstrations made that clear: Some people have blood on their hands — the blood of genocides taking place around the world — and those same hands are cutting funding for our schools, our lives, and a dignified future in this city.”

“Outside the regional education authority’s headquarters, some participants threw eggs filled with red paint, declaring, ‘This is the blood of Gaza and Palestine,’” RaiNews reported.

No Meloni day here in Italy and antifascist students are facing-off with her cops right now in Bologna. Solidarity comrades.
No Fascism. No Genocide. No Meloni. pic.twitter.com/wQsgtjRRV2

— GhostofDurruti (@DurrutiRiot) November 14, 2025

Truckers, Farmers and Environmentalists Voice Discontent

On Friday, southern Italy faced a severe fuel shortage in the provinces of Calabria, Basilicata and Apulia because of protests by truckers and farmers. Steelworkers’ blockades at Eni’s Taranto refinery brought gas stations to a standstill, causing long lines and operational difficulties for public transportation.

The transport industry association Conftrasporto reported an increase of more than 50 euro cents per liter in diesel prices and demanded the immediate release of budget funds.

Facing the imminent risk of supply shortages, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport called an emergency meeting with industry representatives for Oct. 27.

The student mobilization also coincided with global protests organized by “Fridays for Future” in support of climate action and against fossil fuels.

Italian environmentalists marched to the Environment Ministry in Rome to demand reductions in polluting emissions and action to combat energy poverty across the country.

teleSUR/ JF

Source: RAI – EFE – teleSUR

The National Museum Removes Progressive Artworks Calling Them ‘Political Indoctrination.’

On Friday, Colombian Culture Minister Paola Holguin defended the removal of more than 30 artworks related to feminist, LGTBI+ or peace themes from the National Museum in Bogota, arguing that those works are an instrument of political indoctrination.

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“The National Museum is one of the most important cultural centers in the country. It is the first institution of its kind in Colombia and one of the oldest in the Americas, whose purpose is to reflect the soul of the Nation.

The National Museum, as part of the State, has the purpose of conserving, restoring, protecting and socializing our culture. Its institutional vocation is not to serve as an instrument of political indoctrination, a focus for the dissemination of biased versions of our history, much less a multiplying medium for the government agenda,” stated the official of the far-right government presided over by Aberlardo de la Espriella.

“The National Museum CANNOT be a space for apologizing for crime or revictimization; it must observe the rights of victims to truth, justice, reparation and non-repetition. The National Museum is a space for all Colombians, which must ensure, among other things, the fundamental rights of children, which are prevalent according to Article 44 of the Constitution, and, therefore, must protect them from access to sensitive material.”

“The museology and curatorship of the different spaces under the Ministry are being evaluated and redesigned to fulfill the mission of safeguarding, researching, conserving and disseminating the cultural, historical and artistic heritage of the Nation, serving as spaces for memory, identity and social transformation,” Holguin concluded.

Las personas LGBTIQ+ no son una ideología que un Gobierno pueda sacar de una pared. Son parte de Colombia, de su historia y de sus luchas por la igualdad.

Retirar piezas del Museo Nacional que cuentan la historia del movimiento LGBTIQ+, del feminismo y de las luchas por la paz… pic.twitter.com/VB0LtEIsWS

— Mafe Carrascal Rojas (@MafeCarrascal) October 16, 2026

Legislator Mafe Carrascal Rojas’ text reads: “LGBTIQ+ people are not an ideology that a government can simply strip from a wall. They are an integral part of Colombia, its history, and its struggles for equality. Removing items from the National Museum that chronicle the history of the LGBTIQ+ movement, feminism, and the pursuit of peace is not a matter to be taken lightly.

Given that the president has announced a “cultural counter-revolution” against what he terms “wokeism,” we have reason to ask whether this is an attempt to render social struggles—and the rights won over decades—invisible. We cannot allow diversity to once again be treated as something that must be hidden.

The history of Colombia does not belong to any single president or ideological movement; it belongs to a diverse, pluralistic nation—a nation where LGBTIQ+ individuals have the right to exist, to live free from discrimination, and to have their histories and memories recognized.

The Culture Ministry and the National Museum must provide an explanation regarding the removal of these items, the criteria applied, and the measures in place to ensure this history is preserved. They will not succeed in erasing LGBTIQ+ people from the history of Colombia. Their lives matter, their struggles matter, and their rights are not up for negotiation.”

On Thursday, digital outlet La Silla Vacia reported that De la Espriella removed posters, photographs and objects from three rooms of the National Museum, related to the history of feminist and LGBTI movements, victims of political violence and the 2016 peace agreement signed between the State and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).

Among the pieces removed were a gay pride flag belonging to activist Elizabeth Castillo, a poster from the presidential campaign of Bernardo Jaramillo Ossa, a Patriotic Union candidate assassinated in 1990, and the ‘Baligrafo,’ a pen made from a bullet with which the peace agreement was signed.

The removal of these works is part of the “Cultural Counterrevolution” announced by President De la Espriella, who ordered Holguin to remove from public spaces representations that he considers “apology for terrorism.”

Among such references are works alluding to Carlos Pizarro, former commander of the M-19 guerrilla and peace signatory assassinated in 1990 during that year’s presidential campaign.

During the administration of Gustavo Petro (2022-2026), Pizarro’s hat was declared Cultural Heritage of the Nation, but this recognition was recently suspended by a judicial decision.

La Silla Vacia noted that the order to remove the pieces came directly from the Culture Ministry and that officials participated in the selection of the elements taken down.

teleSUR/ JF

Source: EFE

The reform will benefit more than 37 million formally employed workers.

On Friday, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva attended a ceremony at the Brazilian Congress to promulgate the constitutional amendment reducing the workweek in the country.

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During his speech, Lula defended dialogue between institutions and stressed that the reduction of the workweek was made possible through negotiations between the executive branch and Parliament, an institution in which his Workers’ Party holds just 70 out of 513 seats in the Chamber of Deputies and 9 out of 81 seats in the Senate.

“Without democracy, there is no way out. It is dictatorship,” Lula said, stressing that although the Workers’ Party does not have a parliamentary majority, it has managed to advance initiatives with the support of other political forces because “there are no good or bad votes; it is the people who are voting.”

The progressive leader reiterated that reducing the workweek — from 44 to 40 hours, with two paid days off — is a measure intended to improve workers’ living conditions. He rejected arguments that the change could harm businesses.

O dia de hoje mostra que a democracia vale a pena.

O fim da escala 6 x 1 é uma conquista civilizatória.

O que fizemos hoje foi obedecer. Obedecer à vontade de um povo que foi para as ruas e cobrou de nós: mulheres, homens, trabalhadores, adolescentes e estudantes exigiram essa… pic.twitter.com/QEdFV6I4j7

— Lula (@LulaOficial) October 16, 2026

President Lula da Silva’s text reads: “Today proves that democracy is worth it. Ending the 6×1 work schedule is a civilizational achievement. What we have done today is heed a call—the will of a people who took to the streets and made a demand of us: women, men, workers, teenagers, and students all called for this measure. You have written an important chapter in our Constitution. It is now a Constitution that better reflects its citizens. Two days of rest each week mean greater dignity. Congratulations to everyone!”

In this regard, he recalled the criticism that accompanied the introduction of the year-end bonus in the early 1970s, when some conservative sectors alarmed the public by claiming that the measure would drive companies into bankruptcy.

Under Brazilian law, 60 days after the amendment’s promulgation, the five-day workweek and two-day rest period will take effect, with a maximum workweek of 42 hours. The reduction to 40 hours will be completed after another 12 months.

The measure was promulgated by Parliament President Davi Alcolumbre, with the parliamentary headquarters packed to capacity, nine days before the presidential runoff, in which Lula will face far-right Sen. Flavio Bolsonaro.

The approval of the initiative is seen as a political victory for Lula, who secured a key electoral boost in the final stretch before the runoff against his rival, who won the first round with 47% of the vote.

The measure, promoted during the campaign and strategically pushed through one week before the runoff election, had strong popular appeal because it benefits more than 37 million workers with formal employment contracts.

The results of the strategy began to emerge in polls released this week, which showed Lula narrowing the gap with Bolsonaro, who now leads him by two percentage points, although the two are technically tied.

teleSUR/JF

Source: EFE

On Friday, Gabriela Castillo Madrid, SpaceX’s Senior Manager of Global Government Affairs, is set to appear before the New York City Council’s Committee on Technology to answer questions about the safety of its artificial intelligence technology.

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The hearing comes after City Council Speaker Julie Menin formally subpoenaed the company to participate in an Oct. 5 hearing on AI risks, which it did not attend.

After the initial refusal, the body formally notified the company of its intent to file a petition with the New York State Supreme Court to compel compliance, after which the firm requested a meeting and agreed to testify.

SpaceX’s appearance follows the Oct. 5 hearing, which included senior representatives from OpenAI, Anthropic, Meta and Google, as well as sworn testimony from prominent industry whistleblowers Jacob Coxon, Daniel Kokotajlo and Alex Turner, and British lawmaker Jess Asato.

NEW! @CAgovernor today signed my SB 813, establishing the nation's first independent oversight of artificial intelligence safety risks.

AI is posing unprecedented threats to humanity, and CA is taking the lead on AI safety.
https://t.co/ScSqceqeX9

— Sen. Jerry McNerney (@SenMcNerney) September 9, 2026

“We held a multi-hour hearing with whistleblowers, the world’s largest technology companies and the nation’s leading AI experts. The conspicuous absence of SpaceXAI was unacceptable,” Menin said at the time.

Citizens deserve “to hear directly from the companies developing this powerful technology what safeguards they are implementing to protect people and how they will be held accountable when they fail,” she pointed out, warning that “self-regulation is not enough.”

During the previous hearing, Menin asked spokespeople for OpenAI, Anthropic, Meta and Google under oath to commit to not releasing a model if it failed an internal test or an evaluation by a third party outside the company.

teleSUR/ JF

Source: EFE

Probe Targets Katz, Ben Gvir and About a Dozen Officials Over Alleged Torture, Kidnapping and Degrading Treatment.

On Friday, ANSA news agency reported that the Rome Prosecutor’s Office is investigating several Israeli leaders for crimes of torture, kidnapping and “degrading treatment” after the interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla missions that were attempting to reach the Gaza Strip.

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The prosecutors’ investigations into two activist missions point to about a dozen Israeli officials, including Defense Minister Israel Katz and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir.

Specifically, the Prosecutor’s Office is investigating members of the military, police and prison chains of command involved in the naval and land custody operations related to both expeditions.

According to the Prosecutor’s Office, the naval boardings carried out by Israeli forces violated international law and involved illegal detentions, as well as the violation of fundamental rights of defense and “conditions of detention and degrading treatment” that could constitute crimes of torture and kidnapping.

“They beat us everywhere”, “It was worse than Guantanamo”

Broken clavicles, sexual assault, electric shocks… Members of the Global Sumud Flotilla share shocking accounts of torture by Israeli authorities pic.twitter.com/PKIdCO4SIS

— TRT World (@trtworld) May 22, 2026

The judicial case in Italy began after the interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla on Oct. 1, 2025, when the expedition was attempting to approach the coast of Gaza.

Dozens of Italian activists reported after their deportation that they had suffered assaults during the interception in international waters and abuse while they were held in Israeli prisons.

The Rome Prosecutor’s Office later expanded its proceedings and formally included Security Minister Ben Gvir among those under investigation after the circulation of a video recorded at the Port of Ashdod in which he could be seen mocking dozens of activists who were handcuffed and lying under the sun.

teleSUR/ JF

Source: EFE

The Cockroach Janta Party has accused the government of violating protesters’ rights.

New Delhi police arrested Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the youth movement Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), popularly known as the “Cockroaches,” on Friday just as a new protest began demanding the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar, head of the Election Commission.

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The arrest took place as the leader was heading to the protest, where hundreds of demonstrators had already gathered. In a video shared by the organization on its social media accounts, several officers can be seen forcibly putting Dipke into a police vehicle and taking him away.

“This government is very afraid of young people waving the national flag! Dictatorship!” the CJP said, describing the arrest of its leader as “a serious violation of his rights.”

Police also arrested student activist Neha Bora, another prominent figure in the protest movement. She was detained in front of the Nepalese Embassy in New Delhi while leading a march toward Connaught Place.

Abhijeet Dipke was quietly leaving for protest march. Within 24 seconds, Delhi Police detained him. pic.twitter.com/dtQgBRrclG

— News Algebra (@NewsAlgebraIND) October 16, 2026

“How many people will Modi-Shah arrest? For every arrest this government makes, more young people will take to the streets!” the Cockroach Janta Party said.

To try to circumvent the heavy security deployment in the capital’s central commercial district and avoid arrests for unlawful assembly, the movement had issued instructions to its supporters hours earlier.

The instructions were to arrive in groups of fewer than five people, unfurl the Indian tricolor flag (Tiranga), take a photograph and leave peacefully to demonstrate that waving the flag “is not a crime.”

We will not be silenced, we will build Jantar Mantars everywhere ✊🔥 See you in London tomorrow, bring your tiranga bring your voice 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/gez9ucwoJD

— Students' Federation of India – United Kingdom (@sfi_uk) October 15, 2026

On Friday morning, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) issued a statement accusing the demonstrators of seeking an “anti-national revolution” and sowing “anarchy” in the country.

The arrests have left the organization almost entirely without its leadership, adding to the detention of two other spokespeople who remain in judicial custody at Tihar Jail after taking part in a protest Tuesday at Jantar Mantar, a traditional protest site from which authorities recently withdrew that designation.

The “Cockroaches,” which emerged in May as a satirical youth movement protesting unemployment and irregularities in university examinations, have expanded their demonstrations to include a review of the electoral rolls. They are demanding the resignation of Election Commission chief Gyanesh Kumar, whom they hold responsible for alleged irregularities.

teleSUR/ JF

Source: EFE

Andrej Babis has repeatedly criticized Spain’s migrant regularization initiative.

On Friday, Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis suggested the possibility that his country might have to protect its borders against migrants arriving from Western countries.

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“We see what is happening in Spain. Some politicians are willing to replace the population with immigrants solely to keep their positions and remain in government, although that does not concern us,” Babis said upon his arrival for the second day of the European Union summit of heads of state and government in Brussels.

The Czech leader added that, for some countries, it was “too late” to manage migration and floated the idea that they “might” have to “defend the borders so that immigrants from Western countries do not come” to Czech territory “if things continue this way.” “We are preparing for that,” he added.

Diplomatic sources explained that the Czech prime minister “was speaking generally about situations in countries such as Denmark, Sweden and Spain,” without specifying which situations he was referring to.

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš on Ukraine: “We all want peace. I’m not saying peace means accepting Russian ideas… Europe is sidelined, and Trump, by making that deal with Putin, let us down. We have to do something.” pic.twitter.com/FUTFMiEqpw

— Kereal Sokolov (@sokolovkereal) October 16, 2026

Babis, an admirer of U.S. President Donald Trump’s policies, has repeatedly criticized Spain’s migrant regularization initiative since this summer.

In August, he accused Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez of promoting migration for electoral purposes, saying on Czech television network Nova that the Spanish leader believed those who benefited from the measure would end up voting for him.

Babis also linked the mass arrival of immigrants in Ceuta to the Spanish government’s migration policy and, in July, even advocated temporarily excluding Spain from the Schengen Area.

teleSUR/ JF

Source: EFE

Over the past nine months, Cuba has received only one shipment of crude oil from Russia, totaling about 100,000 tonnes.

On Thursday, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez said that renewable energy now accounts for more than one-fifth of the country’s electricity generation as it seeks to reduce the impact of U.S. fuel restrictions.

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In a post on X, Rodriguez said the Cuban government and Communist Party were responding to the U.S. energy blockade, which “aims to punish all Cubans,” with “greater sovereignty and measures” to ease the impact of U.S. sanctions.

Cuba now has 144 solar parks with a combined installed capacity of 1,418 megawatts, while renewable sources account for 21.4 percent of national electricity generation, he said.

The country also has 44 solar-powered electric vehicle charging stations and 64 public charging stations, he said, adding that all polyclinics, nursing homes, maternity homes and funeral homes have been equipped with renewable energy facilities.

🇨🇺 At the @UN, #Cuba condemned the U.S. blockade and energy siege as tools of economic coercion, hallmarks of a foreign policy that disregards multilateralism.

"We reaffirm our commitment to decolonization and the defense of our sovereignty and right to self-determination". pic.twitter.com/OA20PdV7Zl

— Southern Africa Eye (@eye_southern) October 16, 2026

In January, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order imposing sanctions and tariffs on countries and entities supplying fuel to Cuba, a move Havana has condemned as an “energy blockade.”

Over the past nine months, Cuba has received only one shipment of crude oil from Russia, totaling about 100,000 tonnes, only enough to meet the country’s demand for two weeks.

Cuba is scheduled to submit a resolution to the United Nations General Assembly on Oct. 29 for the 34th time, calling for an end to the U.S. economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed on the island for more than six decades.

According to Cuban government figures, the blockade has caused nearly 179 billion U.S. dollars in economic losses.

teleSUR/ JF

Source: Xinhua

High gas prices are harming many Americans, forcing them to cut back or reduce their savings.

On Thursday, the U.S. Commerce Department release data showing that retail sales rose 0.8 percent in September to US$745 billion, largely driven by higher gasoline prices that boosted consumer spending at gas stations.

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Excluding sales at gas stations, retail sales increased just 0.2 percent during the month, suggesting underlying consumer demand remained subdued.

While rising retail sales are generally seen as a sign of economic resilience, analysts said the September increase offered a less encouraging picture of consumer spending, as higher fuel costs accounted for much of the growth.

“Retail sales definitely looked weak in September,” said Dean Baker, a macroeconomist and co-founder of the Center for Economic and Policy Research. Experts also noted that high gas prices are harming many Americans, forcing them to cut back or reduce their savings.

Mike Johnson:

“Everybody's frustrated about fuel prices, but that's not related to policies. It's not related to the Republicans. This is related to the Strait of Hormuz.”

It is absolutely related to policy and Trump’s war on Iran, which Republicans wholly support. He is a…

— Power to the People ☭🕊 (@ProudSocialist) October 12, 2026

Gary Hufbauer, a nonresident senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, said: “About 50 percent of households are living paycheck to paycheck, and if they are squeezed by gasoline prices, they have to cut back elsewhere. But the other 50 percent just reduce their savings to pay for higher gasoline prices.”

High energy prices could create a new wave of inflation. “The longer energy stays elevated, the more likely it generates a new wave of inflation. Another six months would run this risk,” Hufbauer said.

The data were released just weeks before November’s midterm elections, at a time when underlying prices are already high and gasoline prices threaten to make matters even worse. Republicans could take a beating at the polls over voters’ displeasure with high prices that show no sign of coming down.

However, even if Democrats take control of Congress, the party will have its work cut out after the dust settles, as pushing down gas prices means finding a solution to the war in Iran, which seems improbable at the moment.

At the same time, underlying inflation continues unabated. Experts said getting back to pre-COVID price levels requires the Fed to step in and raise interest rates. However, the central bank has shown no desire to hike rates to the 5 percent level, or higher, that economists say is needed to tame inflation.

Some experts noted that the GOP is caught between a rock and a hard place. Brookings Institution Senior Fellow Darrell West said, “Republicans are caught between fighting inflation and a slowing economy, which is a big problem for them in November.”

“Gas prices should drop when the Iran War ends, but it is not clear how (Donald) Trump brings that conflict to a reasonable conclusion,” West said.

teleSUR/ JF

Source: Xinhua

Alberta is holding a nonbinding referendum on Monday to decide whether to remain part of Canada or hold a second referendum on separation.

On Thursday night, Prime Minister Mark Carney warned that external forces are attempting to “divide and own” Canada, calling on voters in Alberta to choose to stay in Canada in an upcoming referendum.

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Carney made the remarks while addressing thousands of attendees at a “Forever Canadian” rally in Calgary, Alberta.

Alberta is holding a nonbinding referendum on Monday to decide whether to remain part of Canada or hold a second, legally binding referendum on separation.

Pointing to a more dangerous and divided global landscape, Carney said, “Some outside our borders are working to break us so they can own us.”

Advance polls are open until Saturday. Make sure to get out your vote in the referendum.

I’ll be voting for Option 1 to remain in Canada on question 10.

I’m voting Option 1 because standing up for Alberta and refusing to back down is working. The emissions cap is gone. C-69… pic.twitter.com/9HEHSjYEKc

— Danielle Smith (@ABDanielleSmith) October 14, 2026

“At this pivotal moment, Albertans have a choice: to build a stronger Alberta and an even greater Canada to leave for our children, or we can burden them with years of deep division and great uncertainty. What we need is a decisive result on Monday to settle this question,” he said.

During his speech, Carney highlighted the construction of the Pacific Link pipeline. The crowd broke into prolonged applause when he noted that the crude pipeline would significantly reduce Canada’s dependence on the United States.

“Careful: they might think that is election interference,” quipped Carney, who is scheduled to attend another “Forever Canadian” rally in Edmonton, the capital of Alberta, on Friday.

teleSUR/ JF

Source: Xinhua

Von der Leyen said the EU was working on its 22nd package of sanctions against Russia.

On Friday, European Union (EU) leaders vowed to continue financial and military support for Ukraine, and reaffirmed their commitment to advancing its EU accession process, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky joined the second day of an EU summit here.

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The bloc must increase its support for Ukraine and pressure on Russia to bring Moscow to the negotiating table, said European Council President Antonio Costa.

“This is no time to withdraw the support to Ukraine. This is no time to relieve Russia’s sanctions,” Costa told reporters alongside Zelensky and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Von der Leyen said the EU was working on its 22nd package of sanctions against Russia, accusing Moscow of failing to respect an energy ceasefire proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump.

The EU leaders also discussed Ukraine’s preparations for the coming winter and its financial and military needs for 2026 and 2027.

Zelensky thanked the EU for its continued support and said Ukraine’s top priority was securing energy supplies ahead of winter, along with air defense systems and funding.

Genocide is Ukraine continues, funded by the EU.

TO THE LAST UKRAINIANS. pic.twitter.com/k6vLb6BJdb

— Jacque Line🇵🇭 (@MissJacque_line) October 15, 2026

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas also called for stronger support for Ukraine ahead of winter, while acknowledging Europe’s dependence on U.S. military technology.

“Starlink is really necessary for Ukraine, and unfortunately, in the short term Europe can’t replace this capability,” Kallas told reporters ahead of the summit.

She also acknowledged difficulties in coordinating with Washington over the conflict, saying the EU was trying to persuade its American partners to increase pressure on Russia.

Costa and von der Leyen reaffirmed their support for Ukraine’s EU accession, welcoming the opening of two additional negotiating clusters. Von der Leyen said the goal was to open the final two clusters by the end of the year, while Zelensky pledged to continue implementing necessary reforms.

teleSUR/ JF

Source: Xinhua

Thousands clash with riot police in Tirana, demanding educational improvements and accountability from PM Rama.

Demands for educational improvements, a lack of prospects after graduation and corruption allegations leveled against Albania’s government by thousands of young people converged on Thursday in clashes with riot police and acts of vandalism that continued to devastate businesses and street furniture in Tirana.

RELATED:

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Since about 20 people were detained on Tuesday during an attack on the Education Ministry, the protests have intensified, culminating in a fire at the building on Wednesday. Authorities have reported 70 police officers injured and said most of those arrested were not students.

Police Director Skënder Hita said very few of those arrested were students, a claim that contrasts with the fact that most demonstrators are teenagers, many of them of high school age, according to observations by news agency EFE. By midafternoon, Tirana’s Trauma Hospital had treated 26 people.

Police took a much tougher approach on Thursday. Thousands of young people who took to the streets failed in their attempts to reach the Education Ministry, Parliament, and the office of Prime Minister Edi Rama at night.

Riot police were deployed throughout the city, blocking students’ access with water cannons and tear gas. Many of the demonstrators were high school students who threw paving stones and fireworks.

The demonstrators did manage to set fire to the entrance of the Economy Ministry, which was damaged on Wednesday, even entered the building, vandalizing its furnishings.

Protests also took place in other cities, including Elbasan, Korce, Durres and Shkoder, where a senior police officer was in critical condition after being struck in the head by a stone.

Against Corruption

Rama has faced growing public mobilization since May. It all began as a protest against plans to sell land in a nature park for a tourism project linked to Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump.

From there, the Flamingo Revolution, named after the birds that inhabit the reserve, expanded to include demands for greater democracy and transparency.

“The students’ demands are a natural extension of the protest movement’s main concerns, particularly the fight against corruption, the rising cost of living, and the prime minister’s arrogance and lack of accountability,” said the Flamingo Revolution platform, which has no visible leader and has accused Rama of “selling the country” through real estate projects.

Beyond the actions of isolated violent groups, the radical protests by young Albanians reflect a sense of frustration that some media outlets have linked to similar discontent in other countries experiencing comparable demonstrations, such as France.

The Albanian prime minister has made clear that he will not resign and has blamed the violence on the conservative opposition, accusing it of trying to “bring Albania down every time it tries to move forward.”

Rama, who has been in power since 2013, saw his Socialist Party win the May 2025 election for the fourth consecutive time, securing an absolute majority. He told Reuters on Thursday that the victory gives him greater legitimacy than any protest.

Under his leadership, the country has advanced its bid to join the European Union, a goal it hopes to achieve by 2030. However, those advances have not lifted Albania from its status as one of Europe’s poorest countries.

“Our students will be the first Albanians to enter adulthood as Europeans,” said Roland, a taxi driver who maintains that the country has modernized under Rama’s leadership and accuses the opposition of trying to prevent that progress.

teleSUR/ JF

Sources: EFE – Reuters

The Trump administration alleges California is allowing noncitizens to vote.

On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against California, seeking a federal judge’s order barring the state from counting mail-in ballots cast by people the federal government considers illegal immigrants.

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“Under California law, every registered voter is mailed a ballot. It is illegal for undocumented immigrants to vote in federal elections,” the U.S. government said in a statement.

The motion was filed 48 hours after President Donald Trump’s administration threatened California election officials if they did not review a list of alleged noncitizens on Los Angeles’ voter rolls.

“Preliminary analysis has identified a significant number of people in California who are likely not citizens and appear to be registered to vote; the analysis and review are ongoing,” the Justice Department said.

The Trump administration maintains that California election officials refused to comply with the demand to clean up the voter rolls despite being given an ultimatum.

Root: You have the right to declare a national security emergency for elections. If you do this in the next month, we will get photo ID, proof of citizenship, and a limit to mail-in ballots…

Trump: Let me just say stranger things have happened. I'll leave it at that. pic.twitter.com/89h4OnJkHz

— Acyn (@Acyn) August 11, 2026

“Our lawsuit alleges that California is facilitating illegal voting by knowingly allowing noncitizens to vote. This must end,” the statement said.

In recent weeks, the U.S. government has stepped up its demands for voter registration roll reviews ahead of the midterm elections. State officials have rejected that pressure, noting that states are solely responsible for organizing elections within their territories.

In a letter to the Justice Department, California Secretary of State Shirley Weber pointed out that the federal government had not provided evidence to support its allegation that 20,000 names on the voter rolls belonged to noncitizens.

“She cited a case in which the federal government alleged that nearly 16,000 possible noncitizens were listed on Nevada’s voter rolls, but the state determined that all of them were, in fact, U.S. citizens,” the East Bay Times reported.

“The letter sent by acting Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter gave the state 48 hours to research the list of the 20,000 people it claims might not be citizens. For those whose citizenship cannot be independently verified, the state is to instruct local election officials to segregate their mail-in ballots until their status can be determined, and to not provide a ballot to anyone who has not yet received one,” the local outlet added.

teleSUR/ JF

Sources: EFE – East Bay Times

Mark Rutte meets Vodolymyr Zelensky in Brussels ahead of European Union summit.

During a meeting on Thursday, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte tacitly asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to implement the “energy ceasefire” announced by U.S. President Donald Trump.

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“Good to see President Zelensky in Brussels. We talked about the importance of implementing an energy ceasefire,” Rutte said in a social media message accompanied by a photograph with the Ukrainian leader, who is in the Belgian capital to attend a European Union summit on Friday as a guest.

Rutte also said they discussed “NATO allies’ continued support for Ukraine,” among other things through the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) mechanism, launched by the alliance so that allies can buy U.S. military materiel to send to Kyiv.

Through social media, Zelensky said the meeting with Rutte served to continue coordinating with NATO “greater protection and security for Ukraine.” He took the opportunity to blame Russia for having broken the energy ceasefire through attacks on energy infrastructure.

⚡️ On October 15 in Baku, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov directly rejected any potential ceasefire in Ukraine, explicitly countering US President Donald Trump’s October 11 announcement of an energy truce. pic.twitter.com/CB4Md9VTkN

— UNITED24 Media (@United24media) October 15, 2026

He also complained about restrictions on Starlink satellite operations in Ukraine, asked that arms supplies to Ukraine continue, and insisted on the need to receive ballistic missile interceptors and ammunition for F16 aircraft.

The Brussels meeting comes a day after Russia launched an attack against three thermal power plants operating in the Kiev region and an attack against energy facilities in Kharkiv.

In statements to the Financial Times, Zelensky reaffirmed his willingness to continue the conflict and announced that “the ban (on attacking Russian refineries) has been lifted. That is enough.”

On Thursday, Russia confirmed that Ukraine attacked a refinery in Ryazan, a region 200 kilometers from Moscow. Yesterday, Russian authorities also denounced Ukrainian attacks on two other refineries in the Saratov and Ryazan regions.

The Kremlin assured that Russia has not violated any agreement given that the energy truce between Russia and Ukraine was never finalized.

teleSUR/ JF

Source: EFE

The agreement will allow CNN to receive compensation for the use of its intellectual property.

On Thursday, U.S. television network CNN announced an agreement with technology company Google to integrate generative artificial intelligence technologies into its news platforms.

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“With this partnership, we are opening new avenues for audiences to access CNN’s exceptional journalism while receiving compensation for the distribution and use of our exclusive intellectual property in connection with AI products,” stated Sam Felix, senior vice president of Strategic Partnerships and Business Development.

The agreement will allow the use of experimental features designed to analyze and enhance audience engagement by exploring new ways to consume and distribute journalistic content.

“Google’s innovation in generative AI has transformed the way people discover information and content, and these tools will now help us explore new ways to be discovered and connect with audiences,” Felix added.

Of course, The Jakarta Globe asked me how I see AI tools influencing newsrooms — both in terms of opportunities and risks.

AI is both enormously helpful and unpredictably dangerous. On the one hand, it significantly accelerates many newsroom processes, from interview… https://t.co/4o871TU8E1 pic.twitter.com/BGDZ2krRro

— Margarita Simonyan (@M_Simonyan) August 12, 2026

The U.S. network explained that its partnership with Google is part of the company’s AI strategy, “which ensures the protection of its intellectual property.”

The agreement is also part of a broader pilot program by the technology company to incorporate its AI technology to drive traffic to media outlets.

“CNN’s deal comes months after it sued Perplexity AI for copyright infringement after both companies failed to reach a licensing deal, its first legal case against an AI company over the unauthorized use of its journalism. At the time, a CNN spokesperson said the network ‘actively embraces the opportunities AI creates,’” Variety recalled.

“It also reflects the impact Google’s AI summaries in its search engine have had on news organizations, many of which have highlighted how the responses have eaten into their web traffic. Penske Media Corporation, the parent company of Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Rolling Stone and more, sued Google last year over the decline, though a federal judge dismissed the case earlier this month,” it added.

teleSUR/ JF

Sources: EFE – CNN – Variety

They appeared before Judge Hellerstein after the U.S. Attorney’s Office accused them of ‘conspiracy to commit torture.’

On Thursday, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and legislator Cilia Flores pleaded not guilty to the new charges filed against them by the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Oct. 8.

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They appeared in the Southern District Court of New York before Judge Alvin Hellerstein after the Attorney’s Office accused them of “conspiracy to commit torture” and extended the charge of “conspiracy to commit narcoterrorism” to Flores. The latter charge, however, had only weighed against Maduro.

When asked by the judge about the charge of “conspiracy to commit torture,” Maduro pleaded not guilty and asserted that the charges are based on “false accusations and testimony against his person.” His wife, Flores, declared herself “completely innocent” and “not guilty” of the new charges.

Both told the judge they had been informed by their attorneys of the new indictment and had received a copy of it in Spanish. This was one of the few times both could be heard speaking since they were brought before the U.S. justice system in January.

After their statement, the hearing focused on the schedule ahead. The judge postponed the start of the trial until June 14, 2027, which initially had been set for June 1.

No other hearing is expected to be held until December. The last hearing before the trial begins will take place on June 7. The defense requested more time to prepare its response to the new indictment from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Following the new indictment, Maduro and Flores are charged with conspiracy to commit narcoterrorism, conspiracy to import cocaine into the U.S., possession and conspiracy to possess weapons of mass destruction, and conspiracy to commit torture.

⚖️ La defensa del presidente venezolano Nicolás Maduro, secuestrado durante una operación militar en Caracas, pidió desestimar el caso en su contra en Estados Unidos, con base en la inmunidad soberana, según el archivo judicial digital.#teleSUR #Venezuela #EEUU pic.twitter.com/BmCjAbnLsj

— teleSUR TV (@teleSURtv) September 3, 2026

The text reads, “The defense team for Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro—who was seized during a military operation in Caracas—has requested the dismissal of the U.S. case against him, citing sovereign immunity, according to digital court records.”

A Maneuver to Extend Their Imprisonment

Legal analysts consider that the “conspiracy to commit torture” charge would seek to prevent the case against Maduro and Flores from collapsing given that there is no overwhelming evidence to cover multiple legal gaps.

The Attorney’s Office was forced to remove from the indictment the argument that President Maduro led the nonexistent Cartel of the Suns, which during the months before the invasion of Venezuelan soil the White House presented as a platform for drug trafficking.

On Oct. 8, Judge Hellerstein denied the request by Flores’ defense to grant her bail and allow her to serve pretrial detention under house arrest at a private residence in New York.

The defense’s request was based on the deterioration of Flores’ cardiac health — she turns 70 on Oct. 15 — with episodes of chest pain, arrhythmias and a weight loss of more than 11 kilos since her kidnapping.

Her defense attorneys stated that she requires medical treatment and recovery outside of prison, and included GPS monitoring and other security measures.

The magistrate argued that there is an alleged risk of flight. In addition, he noted that the guarantees offered are insufficient.

Upon presenting the new charge, U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche — who was an attorney for President Donald Trump and is known for the political instrumentalization of the judicial system — stated:

“A new indictment has just been unsealed that replaces the previous one, charging Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores with conspiracy to commit torture, including the alleged torture of U.S. citizens over more than two decades.”

From the first moment of this case, Maduro questioned the legality of the kidnapping and invoked sovereign immunity. “I am the president of Venezuela, I consider myself a prisoner of war,” he stated during the first hearing of the trial. For her part, Flores claimed immunity as first lady.

Added to the above are objections from the legal team defending them, which has objected to the legality of the kidnapping, questioned the territorial jurisdiction of U.S. courts and denounced the blocking of licenses from the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) for the financing by the Venezuelan government of their legal fees. Defense attorneys Barry Pollack and Mark Donnelly denounced those obstacles as violations of the Sixth Amendment.

In September, Deputy Attorney Jason A. Richman, co-chief of National Security of the Federal Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, submitted his resignation amid questions over the judicial proceedings against the Venezuelan leaders.

Richman, who led and supervised the indictment against Maduro and Flores from its earliest stages, sent a letter to Hellerstein informing him that he is leaving the Federal Attorney’s Office as of Sept. 25. He offered no further details.

The official’s resignation is considered in legal circles as a significant loss for the U.S. government’s strategy and occurred less than nine months before the trial against Maduro and Flores, scheduled to begin on June 1, 2027, in the Southern District Court of Manhattan.

Manifestación en Brooklyn en apoyo el presidente venezolano, Nicolas Maduro y su esposa Cilia Flores. pic.twitter.com/5QjStnhDep

— teleSUR TV (@teleSURtv) August 4, 2026

The text reads, “Demonstration in Brooklyn in support of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.”

Brief Chronology of the Case

Jan. 3, 2026: After bombing Caracas and other Venezuelan cities, U.S. special forces kidnap President Nicolas Maduro and first lady Cilia Flores and illegally transfer them to the United States. The invasion left more than a hundred people killed, including civilians and military personnel, and a similar number of wounded. Delcy Rodriguez, then executive vice president, assumes as acting president.

Jan. 5: Maduro and Flores attend their first appearance in New York. Both plead not guilty and are held at the Federal Detention Center in Brooklyn.

July: Attorney’s Office and defense agree that the oral trial will begin on June 1, 2027, with a prior hearing on Nov. 17.

Sept. 9: Cilia Flores’ defense requests bail and house arrest. The judge orders medical records to remain sealed.

Sept. 25: Deputy Attorney Jason A. Richman resigns.

Oct. 8: Judge Alvin Hellerstein rejects the request for bail for Cilia Flores. On the same day, the Attorney’s Office presents the new indictment.

Oct. 15: The hearing is held in which the Attorney’s Office presents new accusatory charges (conspiracy to commit torture). Maduro and Flores plead innocent.

The judge accepts a request from the Attorney’s Office and the defense to postpone the start of the trial by two weeks, which was rescheduled for June 14, 2027. The next hearing was scheduled for Dec. 17.

teleSUR/ JF

Sources: EFE – teleSUR

Blockades Continue at Schools Across France Ahead of Third Meeting with Education Ministry.

On Thursday, thousands of French people continued protesting and blocking educational centers just hours before student organizations hold a new meeting with the Education Ministry, the third since the start of the protests more than two weeks ago.

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Among the blocked institutions is the Paris School of Commerce (HEC), a symbolic place in these protests given that it is one of the most elitist and prestigious institutions in France.

This action shows its solidarity with the student movement, on the eve of a major day of demonstration scheduled for this Saturday, which will be joined by other movements related to the protest over the rising cost of living or agricultural demands. Some French media have described this expression of unity among social groups as a resurgence of the “yellow vests.”

So far, over 1,000 demonstrations are expected to take place across the country on the first day of the two-week “All Saints” school holidays, a date on which President Emmanuel Macron’s government hoped the protests would ease.

"When you see that 98% of news channels' airtime is devoted to burning rubbish bins and only 2% to our demands, of course it makes us angry!”

Thousands of students, teachers, and supporters rallied in Nantes on Tuesday to demand more funding for public education.

Demonstrators… pic.twitter.com/mGUgmL44A1

— BreakThrough News (@BTnewsroom) October 14, 2026

On Thursday morning, HEC directors closed their offices to mark their exasperation with the current situation and with the attacks suffered by some teachers. Meanwhile, the Macron administration is trying to control the student protest through negotiations.

Initially, the French government announced the deployment of 3,000 additional teachers, of whom 2,000 are already in their posts, to try to alleviate the teacher shortage, one of the most widespread demands among high school students.

Education Minister Edouard Geffray will receive the student organizations this afternoon for a third meeting, although the French are skeptical of achieving positive results.

“We will go to the meeting with little hope; the Education Ministry is not responding to our demands. We want to meet with the prime minister, who is the one who appears to have budgetary room,” said the vice president of the ‘Les Lyceens!’ union, Louis Letoubon.

🇫🇷Interesting Footage from France captures the moment a brave French student single-handedly takes on a dozen French riot police. This is the kind of spirit that can bring the cowardly French riot police to their knees; imagine if you had a hundred guys like this leading a… pic.twitter.com/9AsCpFT1aD

— Blackrussian (@Blackrussiantv) October 15, 2026

There Is a Moment of Fatigue in the Country: Lecornu

As expected, the calls for dialogue have been accompanied by attempts to delegitimize the social protest. Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu lashed out against the students while symbolically defending “the right” of citizens to peacefully express their discontent.

“This no longer seems like a student movement. We are facing an urban violence movement,” declared Lecornu, who admitted that the intensity of the protests has increased in Paris, Creteil, and Lyon.

The prime minister denounced the firing of pyrotechnic mortars from the street against high schools or “absolutely horrifying calls to violence.” According to him, around 200 of the country’s 3,700 high schools are experiencing episodes of “entrenched” violence, sometimes carried out by people outside the centers.

“We must clearly distinguish between urban violence and legitimate demands,” said the prime minister, who expressed his fear of new disturbances on Saturday during the demonstrations called against the cost of living, in which the Yellow Vests could be present again.

Lunettes étanches, eau, masque FFP2 : France 3 Alsace publie un tuto pour se protéger des lacrymogènes avant les manifestations lycéennes. Les interna… https://t.co/qdgyr3eFAZ pic.twitter.com/iWBVkbQd57

— Tribunal du net (@Letribunaldunet) October 15, 2026

The text reads, “Waterproof goggles, water, FFP2 mask. France 3 Alsace publishes a tutorial on how to protect oneself from tear gas before the high school student demonstrations. The boarding school students”

Lecornu acknowledged that France is going through a period of social exhaustion marked by crises and uncertainty. “We are in a kind of permanent crisis situation: wars, uncertainty about purchasing power and inflation… It is evident that there is a moment of fatigue in the country. I perceive it deeply,” he said before immediately insinuating that left-wing organizations are trying to take advantage of that malaise to “turn it into electoral fuel.”

The prime minister promised to respond to student demands. He said the platform enabled to collect their proposals has received over 92,000 contributions so far.

Among the main demands are the improvement of school facilities, the replacement of absent teachers and the adaptation of educational resources to the needs of each territory.

The Macron administration plans to work with regional councils to evaluate the state of the buildings and the needs of the centers, according to Lecornu, who defended the mobilization of 3,000 teachers from a substitute reserve to cover absences.

He also proposed opening a broader debate on the consequences of demographic decline for the education system. France will have 1.6 million fewer students by 2035, an evolution that will force a review of the organization of educational centers, especially in rural areas.

teleSUR/ JF

Source: EFE

Meanwhile, Russia detained a Swedish national accused of plotting attacks on military facilities.

On Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told British media that Ukraine would restart strikes on Russia’s oil refineries and described recent U.S. moves as a betrayal of Kiev.

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“The block (on attacking refineries) is out. We’re done,” Zelensky said in an interview with the Financial Times, arguing that Ukraine had paused energy strikes for three days to comply with the U.S.-announced “energy ceasefire,” while Moscow continued to attack Ukrainian energy infrastructure.

Zelensky also said the U.S. cutting off intelligence and restricting Starlink internet service has been “dangerous” for Ukraine. On Wednesday, Ukraine said U.S. aerospace company SpaceX restricted Starlink services, hampering the country’s attack and air-defense drone missions. Zelensky admitted to British broadcaster Piers Morgan he felt “betrayed” by the recent U.S. moves.

“They (the United States) wanted us not to attack diesel. My opinion was it’s not fair,” he said, adding that it was “really strange” and “something absolutely crazy” for the United States to restrict Starlink services.

“I think he is not right. It’s a big mistake,” replied Zelensky when asked if he was angry at SpaceX CEO Elon Musk. “I don’t know him or (if) somebody pushed him to… I don’t know really.”

❗️ New video shows aftermath of Ukrainian attack on Russian oil refinery in Ryazan — RT EXCLUSIVE

The refinery was hit by a Ukrainian drone

Zelensky earlier ignored Trump's request to halt strikes on Russian oil refineries, hitting them as Trump tried to broker an energy truce https://t.co/S04pRlWeeg pic.twitter.com/4rsBk6KMoA

— RT (@RT_com) October 15, 2026

Russia Detains Swedish National Accused of Plotting Attacks On Military Facilities

On Thursday, , the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) informed that a Swedish citizen allegedly heading to Russia to commit attacks on military sites was detained for illegally crossing the border in the country’s western Pskov region. The detainee was traveling to Russia to commit acts of sabotage at military facilities under the pretext of joining the Russian Armed Forces.

The Swedish citizen had previously served as a squad commander of unmanned aerial systems of the Ukrainian 24th Separate Assault Regiment “Aidar,” with documents confirming his participation in hostilities against Russia as part of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The detainee has admitted that he signed a contract with the Aidar banned in Russia in a video released by the FSB. He testified to being sent for training, during which he learned to operate first-person view drones for reconnaissance and surveillance, and to train others.

teleSUR/ JF

Source: Xinhua

She said that several rounds of voting might be needed before a new government could take office.

On Thursday, Sweden’s parliament rejected Social Democratic Party leader Magdalena Andersson’s nomination as new prime minister (PM), prolonging a political deadlock over government formation following last month’s general election.

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Andersson, who served as Sweden’s PM from 2021 to 2022, received 99 votes in favor and 248 against in the 349-member Swedish parliament, the Riksdag, according to Swedish Television (SVT).

Following the vote, Andersson told SVT that the Riksdag was facing a difficult situation and that several rounds of voting might be needed before a new government could take office.

The vote came after Parliament Speaker Andreas Norlen nominated Andersson on Tuesday to lead a single-party Social Democratic government, despite the failure of negotiations among four parties that together secured a narrow parliamentary majority in the September election.

The Social Democratic Party, Left Party, Green Party and Center Party won a combined 176 seats, but remain divided over the composition of a new government.

Coalition talks have been hampered mainly by disagreements between the Center Party and the Left Party, with the latter insisting on joining the government and securing cabinet posts, while the Center Party refuses to serve in the same government.

The Left Party, Green Party and Center Party all announced ahead of Thursday’s vote that they would oppose a single-party Social Democratic government.

Latest Sweden Novus Poll modelled out

🌹S: 95 seats (-4)
🔵M: 88 seats (+18)
🟡SD: 66 seats (+4)
🔴V: 27 seats (-3)
🍀C: 25 seats (no change)
🟢MP: 24 seats (+2)
💙KD: 24 seats (+2)
🟦L: 0 seats (-19)

🌹S Minority Government

(+/- change from 2026 election) https://t.co/hFkLexQoK7 pic.twitter.com/ZrfTVwgL1q

— Poliwave Europe (@PoliwaveEU) October 15, 2026

On Tuesday, Andersson acknowledged that although progress had been made in coalition negotiations, conditions were still not in place to form a government capable of securing sufficient parliamentary support.

The former PM was first tasked with exploring the formation of a new government on Sept. 18, after outgoing PM Ulf Kristersson requested to be relieved of his duties following the election.

However, she returned the mandate on Sept. 28 after the Left Party backed the Moderate Party’s candidate rather than the Social Democratic Party’s candidate in the parliamentary speaker election. Norlen subsequently reassigned her the task in early October, but negotiations remained inconclusive.

Under Sweden’s system of negative parliamentarism, a PM candidate can take office unless at least 175 of the 349 lawmakers vote against the nomination.

Following Thursday’s rejection, Norlen will have to put forward another candidate. Under Sweden’s constitution, if parliament rejects four proposed PM candidates, an extraordinary election must be held.

teleSUR/ JF

Source: Xinhua

Over the past week, drones have struck multiple vessels off Bulgaria’s coast, leaving 11 crew missing and 10 presumed dead.

A fresh wave of drone attacks on commercial vessels in the Black Sea, an alternative shipping route to the disrupted Strait of Hormuz, is deepening insecurity along the European Union’s (EU’s) eastern flank and compounding pressures on an already stretched global shipping network.

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A San Marino-flagged vessel caught fire in the Black Sea early Thursday morning, with eight of its 12 crew members still missing, according to Romanian maritime authorities. The incident came just hours after a suspected drone strike on a Comoros-flagged tanker in Romanian waters on Wednesday.

Despite reports about drones detected in the area overnight, Romania’s Defense Ministry has not confirmed the two vessels were struck by drones. However, over the past week, drones have struck multiple vessels off Bulgaria’s coast, leaving 11 crew missing and 10 presumed dead. Both Russia and Ukraine have denied involvement in the recent attacks.

DIPLOMATIC FALLOUT

The strikes have triggered a diplomatic row. Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev has summoned Russian Ambassador to Bulgaria Eleonora Mitrofanova, saying that although there was “no conclusive evidence,” “the logic suggests that the outcome benefits the Russian Federation.”

Mitrofanova denied knowledge of the strikes and suggested a “provocation by a third party.” Moscow rejected a limited naval ceasefire proposal brokered by Türkiye and the UN, saying it lacked guarantees against arms shipments to Ukraine by sea, and blaming Kyiv for refusing comprehensive agreements.

On Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told British media that Kyiv would resume strikes on Russia’s oil refineries, citing Russia’s attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure as violations against the U.S.-announced “energy ceasefire.”

In response, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said the alliance would “adjust our deterrence and defense posture as needed.” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called the Black Sea “another front of escalation” of the Russia-Ukraine war, which is “unacceptable.” France and Germany also urged a halt to attacks on commercial vessels.

Bulgarian President Iliana Iotova and Romanian President Nicusor Dan have agreed to jointly push for an emergency item on the Black Sea at the European Council.

On Thursday afternoon, the Bulgarian prime minister and the Romanian president met with Mark Rutte in Brussels for regional security discussions. The three NATO littoral states — Bulgaria, Romania and Türkiye — have also agreed to boost surveillance and intelligence-sharing.

Seven people are missing after drones set two chemical tankers ablaze in Romania's Black Sea waters overnight. It's the latest in a series of drone attacks on vessels off Romania and Bulgaria.

Al Jazeera’s Rosie Birchard reports. pic.twitter.com/c5k3ibsxZ6

— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) October 15, 2026

FROM ONE CHOKEPOINT TO ANOTHER

The attacks are compounding a crisis that began thousands of miles away. The Strait of Hormuz, which normally carries about a fifth of global oil and gas supplies, has faced repeated attacks on tankers since late February. This has pushed some energy and grain cargoes toward alternative routes — including the Black Sea corridor, now itself in jeopardy.

The Black Sea handles roughly 25 to 30 percent of global wheat exports, over 10 percent of corn and two-thirds of sunflower oil. Russia and Ukraine together normally supply about 27 percent of the world’s wheat, most of it shipped through the Black Sea.

Their combined wheat shipments from July to September were 6.5 million tons below the same period a year earlier, according to estimates from the International Food Policy Research Institute and the Agricultural Market Information System.

Separately, Barva Invest has warned that up to 38 million tons of wheat and corn exports could be at risk in 2026/27 if deep-sea port restrictions persist.

“We see three concerning chokepoints right now that are driving up food prices across the world,” said Carl Skau, acting executive director of the UN World Food Programme, referring to the Strait of Hormuz, the Bab Al Mandeb strait and the Black Sea.

“All those three are causing disruptions to maritime trade, which is pushing up the price of energy and of food.” Countries dependent on Black Sea grain, including Egypt, Türkiye and other parts of the Middle East, face the sharpest impact.

Insurance costs reflect the escalation of the conflict. War-risk premiums for Black Sea voyages have jumped from about 200,000 U.S. dollars to 2.5 million dollars per vessel, according to Lukoil’s commercial manager in Bulgaria. Meanwhile, London-based insurance body Joint War Committee has expanded its high-risk zone to cover almost the entire basin.

“The Black Sea didn’t become more expensive; it became just harder to access,” Alexey Zavarskiy, a ship operator at Angara Denizcilik, said at an industry conference held on Sept. 22. He estimated that around 90 percent of shipowners had suspended calls at affected ports.

Washington’s decision on Oct. 9 to temporarily lift sanctions on Russian diesel exports illustrates the dilemma. On paper, it appears to be a release valve for a tight global diesel market: U.S. diesel prices are up 70 percent since February.

However, the relief depends on a route that is itself under attack — Russian diesel loads primarily at Black Sea ports such as Novorossiysk, the same waters where drones are now striking commercial vessels.

The first tranche of about 2.25 million barrels is less than a single day of U.S. diesel demand, and analysts from Quilter Cheviot to Wood Mackenzie have dismissed it as too small and too exposed to make a difference.

🚨 BREAKING: President Trump has reportedly ordered the U.S. military to prepare devastating new strikes on Iran, including plans to unleash the “MOTHER OF ALL BOMBS” — America's most powerful non-nuclear weapon.

Targets reportedly include Iranian nuclear sites, Pickaxe… pic.twitter.com/stkwOlIozP

— Commentary Donald J. Trump Truth Social Posts On X (@TrumpTruthOnX) October 15, 2026

CALL FOR NEW FRAMEWORK

Military analysts warn the Black Sea has become one of the world’s most dangerous shipping routes, with drone attacks having overtaken sea mines as the primary risk.

Retired Romanian Navy commander Sandu Valentin Mateiu told local media that the density of incidents pointed to a deliberate hybrid campaign. Mateiu said Romania should prepare a serious case for diplomatic protest, potentially raising the issue even at the level of NATO’s Article 4.

Poland took this step in September 2025 after drones violated its airspace, leading to emergency consultations and the deployment of allied fighter jets and air defense systems to the alliance’s eastern flank under the “Eastern Sentry” mission.

Murat Ersavci, director of the International Studies Center at the Economic Policy Research Foundation of Türkiye, said the changing nature of the conflict is reshaping the Black Sea into a “multilayered security environment,” with the boundary between trade and security becoming increasingly blurred.

Ersavci called for a comprehensive maritime security arrangement to ensure safe, predictable commercial navigation, distinguish civilian vessels from military targets, and coordinate efforts among littoral states to protect energy and food shipments.

Canan Tercan, a foreign policy expert at Istanbul Aydin University, warned that the Black Sea risked mirroring the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz, and that navigational safety “must be secured through an international non-combat agreement, not through naval forces.”

teleSUR/ JF

Source: Xinhua