AHEAD

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

India's central bank has completed a net sale of government debt totalling 1 trillion rupees, the first such volume in a decade. The move, reported by Reuters, reflects efforts to manage liquidity in the banking system and support the rupee. Market watchers are assessing what the milestone means for bond yields, borrowing costs and the RBI's policy stance in the months ahead.

Journalists Tamara Keith and Amy Walter discussed reports that taxpayer funds have been used to finance television advertisements promoting President Trump. Their exchange examined the political and ethical questions raised by government money backing promotional messaging for a sitting president, and what the practice signals about the use of public resources ahead of ongoing political battles.

Federal authorities have issued a bulletin ahead of the anniversary of the September 11 attacks, warning that foreign terrorist organizations continue to call for or encourage attacks. The advisory reflects ongoing concern that anniversaries of the 2001 attacks can serve as inspiration or timing cues for extremist activity. Officials are urging the public and law enforcement to remain vigilant.

Attention is focusing on claims that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu passed a warning to the United Arab Emirates ahead of the October 7 Hamas attack. The reports have prompted debate over what Israeli leadership knew before the assault and whether intelligence was shared with Gulf partners. Commentators are pressing for clarification on the timeline and the substance of any such communication.

The US dollar is holding near a two-month high as Treasury yields climb, with traders awaiting upcoming Federal Reserve economic data for direction on interest rate policy. Markets are watching closely for signals on whether the Fed will keep rates higher for longer, a key driver of the dollar's recent strength.

Fresh polling in the Texas Senate race is circulating among political watchers, fueling debate about the contest's trajectory and what the numbers could mean for control of the chamber. Commenters are weighing which candidates the surveys favor and whether recent polling shifts might reshape campaign strategies in the months ahead.

Senator John Thune said the war with Iran has overtaken all other issues in the minds of American voters, saying it has 'trumped everything else.' His comments come as the conflict dominates political debate in Washington, crowding out discussion of the economy, domestic policy and other campaign priorities ahead of upcoming elections.

Anthropic's IPO prospectus reportedly states that artificial intelligence could transform the world more profoundly than electricity or the internet. The claim, made in the AI company's filing ahead of a public listing, is drawing attention as one of the boldest assessments of AI's potential impact to appear in a regulatory document.

The US Department of Justice has announced charges and guilty pleas involving 12 individuals in connection with election crimes. Details of the specific offences and defendants have not yet been widely reported, but the announcement comes amid heightened national attention on election integrity and enforcement ahead of upcoming votes.

Formula 1 qualifying for the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix has taken place on the Baku street circuit, with a highlights recap now drawing heavy attention from fans. The session sets the grid for the race, and interest is concentrated on who took pole position and which drivers struggled around the demanding city track.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has directed the Pentagon's cyber and intelligence agencies to make defending US elections a priority, according to Nextgov/FCW. The order signals a shift in how the defense apparatus approaches election security ahead of upcoming voting cycles. The directive is drawing attention given ongoing debate over the federal government's role in protecting elections from foreign interference and cyber threats.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's coalition has come through a by-election that was widely viewed as a test against a newly formed far-right rival. The result suggests Meloni retains the support of right-wing voters despite competition emerging on her political flank. Commentators are watching whether the challenge could weaken her position ahead of future national votes.

OpenAI approached Hugging Face with an early investment offer, a move that prompted competing bids before Nvidia ultimately struck a $13 billion deal. The revelation shows how strongly the artificial intelligence startup was sought after, with OpenAI's interest helping set off a bidding contest among major tech players jostling for position in the AI ecosystem.

Azerbaijan's state oil company Socar will lower fuel prices at its Italian service stations, following a similar announcement by Eni. The price cuts ease pressure on Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government, which had faced calls to impose a windfall tax on energy companies ahead of the next election.

Indian companies are preparing roughly $3 billion in debt issuances, moving ahead of a potential interest rate hike by the Reserve Bank of India. Borrowers appear to be seeking to lock in funding before borrowing costs rise, as markets watch the central bank's next policy move amid inflation concerns.

Attention is turning to the 2026 US midterm elections, with coverage asking which party is ahead in the battle for control of Congress. With all 435 House seats and about a third of the Senate up for grabs, early analysis focuses on polling, fundraising and which districts may swing. The midterms will be the first major nationwide test of voter sentiment since the 2024 election.

Meteorologists warn that a rare, exceptionally strong El Niño — described as having "Godzilla strength" — is developing, with potentially major effects on global weather patterns. Travellers are being cautioned that the phenomenon could bring severe storms, flooding, droughts and temperature extremes that disrupt flights, holidays and destinations worldwide in the months ahead.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has directed the Defense Department to take action against foreign actors who meddle in U.S. elections, according to an Axios exclusive. The directive signals an expanded military role in protecting American elections from outside interference, though the scope of the order and what operations it authorizes remain unclear.

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has announced that national security and military cyber forces will be deployed to protect US election systems ahead of the midterm elections. The pledge means cyber defences will be directed at safeguarding voting infrastructure, amid ongoing concerns about foreign interference and attacks on electoral systems. It is expected to fuel debate over the military's domestic role in election security.

Greece has announced plans to establish a European deportation centre in Africa during its EU Council presidency, which begins in summer 2027. The government says preparatory steps have reportedly already been taken. The proposal touches on the EU's long-debated plans for outsourcing asylum procedures and returns to third countries, and is likely to renew controversy over migration policy.

Manchester City face a series of Premier League charges relating to alleged breaches of financial regulations, with the league's allegations and the club's response now the focus of attention. Sky Sports has set out what is known about the case and the process ahead, which could involve a lengthy independent commission and potential sanctions, though much about the outcome remains uncertain.