China has warned the US to “correct its mistakes” after President Trump announced 100 per cent tariffs on Chinese goods starting November 1. Chinese Consul General Xu Wei said China does not want conflict but will respond if pushed. He urged cooperation, saying it benefits all countries. Xu highlighted growing trade with India, which reached $115 billion this year, and said direct flights between India and China will resume from October 26. Meanwhile, China stopped importing US soybeans in September, shifting to South America. Experts warn US farmers may lose billions if trade tensions continue. (PC: India Today)

The UN’s top court, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), said Israel must allow UN agencies to deliver aid to Gaza. The court ruled that Israel is obliged to ensure food, water, and medical help reach Palestinian civilians. It rejected Israel’s claims that the UN agency Unrwa supports Hamas, saying there was no proof. Israel called the opinion “political” and said it would not cooperate. The ruling is not legally binding but carries moral weight. The decision follows reports of severe hunger in Gaza, where over 640,000 people face extreme food shortages.

France faces a major cultural loss after jewels worth $102 million were stolen from the Louvre Museum in Paris. The robbers carried out the daylight heist in just four minutes, escaping on motorbikes with crowns, necklaces, and earrings once owned by French royalty. Experts say the jewels are likely to be broken apart and sold, making recovery almost impossible. The theft has shocked France and raised serious questions about museum security. Investigators are tracking the gang behind what is being called one of the most daring art crimes in recent memory. (PC: X)

World Health Organization chief Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that Gaza faces a “catastrophic” health crisis that will last for generations. He said famine, injuries, disease, and damaged hospitals have created a “fatal combination.” Speaking to BBC Radio 4, he urged Israel to allow more aid and to stop linking it to the conflict. Only 200–300 aid trucks enter Gaza daily, far below the needed 600. Dr Tedros said aid should not be “weaponised” and that Gaza’s health system needs urgent rebuilding. He called the current ceasefire fragile but said peace remains “the best medicine.” (PC: BBC)

At least seven people, including two children, were killed in Russian air strikes on Ukraine. A kindergarten in Kharkiv was hit, and parts of Kyiv suffered heavy damage. President Volodymyr Zelensky said the attacks showed Moscow still faced little pressure to end the war. Over 27 people were injured in the strikes. The assault came hours after US President Donald Trump said his planned summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin was postponed. Russia later claimed talks were still being prepared. Ukraine’s air force said more than 400 drones and 28 missiles were fired overnight, mostly targeting power facilities. (PC: BBC)

Nepal is mourning Bipin Joshi, a 23-year-old student who was held captive by Hamas for two years and returned home in a coffin. Joshi was studying in Israel when he was kidnapped from a kibbutz on October 7, 2023. His body was handed over by Hamas this week and flown to Nepal for burial. Family and locals in Mahendranagar gathered in grief during the Tihar festival. Nepal’s Prime Minister Sushila Karki called Joshi a “son of every mother” and praised his courage. His family said they would remember him through every flower and field he once loved.

The Louvre Museum in Paris reopened on Wednesday, three days after thieves stole jewellery worth €88 million in a daring daylight robbery. Four masked men used power tools to break into the Apollo Gallery, threatened guards, and escaped on scooters within eight minutes. The stolen items included a diamond necklace and a tiara once worn by Empress Eugenie. President Emmanuel Macron called the theft an “attack on France’s heritage” and ordered tighter security at all museums. Police are still searching for the gang, believed to be part of a larger criminal network. (PC: BBC)

Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) has launched an online “jihadi course” for women named Tufat al-Muminat, NDTV reported. The group, led by UN-designated terrorist Masood Azhar, is using the course to collect funds and recruit women for its new wing, Jamat ul-Muminat. Classes will begin on November 8 and be taught by Azhar’s sisters, Sadiya and Samaira Azhar. Each woman must pay 500 PKR (about ₹156) to enroll. The move follows JeM’s push to expand female participation after India’s Operation Sindoor targeted its Bahawalpur base earlier this year, killing several members of Azhar’s family.

Saudi Arabia has scrapped its 50-year-old kafala system, which tied migrant workers to their employers and often led to abuse. The system forced workers to seek employer permission to change jobs or leave the country, trapping many in slavery-like conditions. The reform will affect nearly 13 million foreign workers, including 2.5 million Indians. Workers can now move jobs freely, travel without approval, and approach labour courts for help. The move is part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 plan. However, other Gulf countries still use kafala-style rules affecting millions of workers, mostly from South Asia. (PC: India Today)

The UK government will raise university tuition fees each year from 2026, linking them to inflation. Maintenance loans will also rise, while new grants for low-income students will return by 2029. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said only universities with “high-quality teaching” can charge full fees. The plan aims to fix financial pressures on universities. From 2027, new V-levels will replace BTecs, offering clearer routes into work or higher education. The government says V-levels will simplify over 900 current vocational courses and create stronger career pathways for young people finishing their GCSEs. (PC: BBC)