AHEAD

New data indicates the current El Niño is the strongest ever measured, driving a major shift in global weather patterns. Scientists say the event is altering rainfall and temperature patterns across continents, with potential impacts on droughts, floods and harvests worldwide. The finding is drawing wide attention as meteorologists track how the intensified pattern will affect weather in the months ahead.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has declared that Iran 'will never seek to build a nuclear bomb', speaking ahead of the 81th session of the United Nations General Assembly. The pledge is being widely circulated as attention turns to Iran's nuclear program and its place on the UN agenda, with observers weighing whether the statement signals a genuine diplomatic opening.

Hundreds of Muslims have gathered in the Indian city of Ujjain to protest the partial demolition of a mosque they say is more than 600 years old. The BJP-led state government defends the action, saying it is needed to widen roads ahead of a major Hindu pilgrimage expected in 2028. Protesters argue the demolition targets a historic religious site, and the dispute has drawn national attention to tensions over religious heritage and development in the region.

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde said rising bond yields will weigh on economic growth and help bring down inflation, comments that traders and analysts are reading as a signal the ECB may not need to raise rates further. Markets are watching closely for confirmation ahead of the bank's next policy decision.

A Wall Street Journal report says Egyptian officials warned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shortly before October 7 that Hamas appeared to be preparing an imminent attack on Israel. The claim is drawing renewed scrutiny of Israeli intelligence failures and of how the Netanyahu government responded to advance warnings ahead of the deadliest attack in the country's history.

Forest fires in Indonesia are sending smoke and haze toward Singapore, raising concerns ahead of the city-state's Formula One Grand Prix. Race organisers are drawing up contingency plans as the seasonal haze threatens air quality for drivers, teams and spectators. Al Jazeera reports from the region on preparations and the potential impact on the major sporting event.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has departed Beijing for Washington, in what is described as his first state visit to the US capital since 2015. President Trump is expected to greet him personally on the tarmac rather than at the White House, a gesture some observers read as a sign of warmth ahead of high-stakes US-China trade and diplomatic discussions.

Fuel prices are climbing worldwide as threats issued by Donald Trump and ongoing armed conflicts weigh on energy markets. Traders and analysts are tracking how sanctions rhetoric, military escalation and supply disruption risks could push crude oil and refined fuel costs further up, leaving governments and consumers bracing for more expensive energy in the weeks ahead.

The Bank of Japan has signalled it may raise interest rates sooner than markets had anticipated. The hawkish signal points to a possible shift away from Japan's long-standing ultra-loose monetary policy. Investors and analysts are watching closely for clues on the timing of the move, as an earlier hike could affect the yen, bond yields and global carry trades.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has travelled to the United Arab Emirates to meet the Emirati leader, in a rare visit by an Israeli premier to the Gulf state. The trip comes after reports that Israel received warnings ahead of Hamas's October 7 attack. The meeting is being closely watched for what it signals about Israeli-Arab relations amid the ongoing fallout from the intelligence controversy.

A report says Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered security forces to 'minimize escalation' in Gaza just days before Hamas's October 7 attack. The claim has drawn attention amid ongoing debate over whether Israeli leadership underestimated threats from Gaza and whether earlier signals of an attack were ignored ahead of the assault.

Election Commissioners have reportedly raised internal questions over major irregularities concerning the voter list and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of rolls in West Bengal. The remarks suggest disagreement within the Election Commission over how the revision exercise is being conducted, and the issue has sparked wide debate about the accuracy of electoral rolls ahead of future polls.

Venezuelan authorities have released dozens of political prisoners as calls grow, both at home and internationally, for elections in the country. The move comes amid mounting pressure on the government and is being read by observers as a possible gesture ahead of a potential electoral process, though the full scope of the releases and who was freed remains to be detailed.

Iran is maintaining its stance on diplomacy even after a missile strike in the Strait of Hormuz, according to market commentary ahead of trading hours. The strike raises geopolitical risk in a waterway critical to global oil shipments, and observers are watching whether tensions will derail diplomatic channels or move energy markets when markets open.

A new poll projects France's 2027 presidential election could come down to a run-off between far-right leader Marine Le Pen's camp and hard-left veteran Jean-Luc Melenchon, sidelining President Emmanuel Macron's centrist bloc. Commentators see the projection as a sign of deepening polarisation in French politics, with the mainstream centre at risk of being squeezed out of the second round entirely.

Iran has issued a public challenge to US President Donald Trump, declaring that he must decide between pursuing war or diplomacy between the two countries. The statement underscores rising tensions in the region and frames the decision as resting with Washington. Analysts are weighing whether the rhetoric signals an opening for negotiations or a warning ahead of possible confrontation.

Donald Trump said that new US military strikes against Iran are 'not ruled out' ahead of the upcoming US midterm elections, keeping open the possibility of renewed military action. The remark suggests continued tensions between Washington and Tehran even after earlier strikes, and signals that military options remain on the table as the political season intensifies.

Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic has resigned ahead of parliamentary elections scheduled for October, according to reports from Reuters and U.S. News & World Report. The announcement, if confirmed, would mark a major political shake-up in Serbia and reshape the race ahead of the vote. Details about the reasons for his resignation and his future role in politics remain limited.

Poland is rapidly increasing its military expenditure, standing out among NATO members as defence budgets climb across Europe. Analysts are debating whether the spending spree will act as an economic stimulus through jobs and industry investment, or strain public finances and crowd out other spending, threatening the country's reputation as one of Europe's fastest-growing economies.

South Sudan's address to the United Nations General Assembly carried a clear message: 'Ballot must replace the bullets' as the country prepares for its first elections since independence. The statement, made ahead of planned national elections, underscores the government's pledge to shift from armed conflict to democratic politics. Observers are watching closely whether long-delayed polls can proceed peacefully in a nation still recovering from civil war.

The Bank of Japan could raise its benchmark interest rate for a second consecutive month at its October board meeting, moving earlier than many economists expect, according to a former executive director who oversaw monetary policy at the central bank. The assessment adds to speculation about the pace of Japan's shift away from ultra-low rates and is drawing attention from markets watching for further tightening.

A former Mossad official has said he has no knowledge of warnings from Egypt or the United Arab Emirates ahead of the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel. His remarks add a new voice to the ongoing dispute over whether Israeli leadership disregarded foreign intelligence alerts before the assault, one of the most contested questions in Israel's post-October 7 reckoning.

Egypt's intelligence chief warned Israel ahead of October 7 that Gaza was 'on verge of exploding' and that Hamas was planning an escalation, according to a report citing the warning. The claim revives debate over whether Israeli officials underestimated the threat despite specific advance notice from Cairo, and how much of the intelligence was shared or acted upon before the attack.

A new report says Egypt warned Israel ahead of Hamas's October 2023 terror attack, reviving questions over security failures that still preoccupy the country. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denies receiving any such warning, but the allegations are dogging him ahead of the upcoming election, putting intelligence handling and political accountability back at the centre of public debate.

A new Quaest survey on the 2026 Brazilian presidential election is drawing attention as voters and commentators track early polling ahead of next year's vote. Outlets such as Metrópoles are also noting when the final presidential polls before the first round must be released. The race remains a central topic in Brazilian politics, with names like Lula and Tarcísio de Freitas frequently cited.

The Israeli military is increasing its troop deployment in the West Bank ahead of the holiday period, citing concerns about potential terror attacks. The reinforcement comes as security forces remain on heightened alert during a period often marked by elevated tensions and previous incidents targeting Israeli civilians and soldiers in the territory.

SpaceX's Starship completed its first-ever orbit of Earth but ended its flight early, cutting the mission shorter than planned. The test flight still marked a milestone for Elon Musk's company, which is developing the giant rocket for future deep-space missions. Early termination of the flight is drawing attention as engineers assess what caused the mission to wrap up ahead of schedule.