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Major global stories, regional context, and a clear view of what is moving.
Plummeting Israel flight like 'rollercoaster', says passenger
An aeroplane flying to Israel fell 17,000ft (5,200m) in less than two minutes before it was diverted.
Read the full reportWhy are these endangered moths swarming Australia's east coast?
The sudden influx of Bogong moths has caused a stir in cities like Sydney and Canberra, with people filming them infiltrating their homes and cars.
Cornell students voice frustration at public hearing over rape case
The BBC's Nada Tawfik was at the hearing, where the university's Student Assembly led a discussion around safety concerns and sexual violence on campus.
What we know about Christa Pike’s condition after failed execution
The BBC’s Ione Wells reports from outside the Tennessee hospital where Pike is said to have arrived Wednesday night after surviving two lethal injection attempts.
Police investigate Reform mayor for allegedly sharing ‘naked and sexualised’ images of himself
<p>Female colleague says she was forced out shortly after incident with Luke Campbell, Hull and East Yorkshire mayor </p><p>A Reform UK mayor is under police investigation for allegedly showing “naked and sexualised” images of himself to a female member of staff.</p><p>Luke Campbell, a former Olympic boxing champion and the mayor of Hull and East Yorkshire, is understood to have been questioned under caution by Humberside police earlier this month.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/oct/18/police-investigate-reform-mayor-allegedly-sharing-naked-sexualised-images-of-himself">Continue reading...</a>
US ambassador to Israel denounces West Bank settler attack on US photojournalist
<p>Mike Huckabee calls for arrest and prosecution of those responsible as Heidi Levine, 63, recovers in hospital in Israel</p><p>The US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, has denounced the settler attack that left the Washington Post photojournalist Heidi Levine badly beaten and needing surgery as a “despicable act of terror” and called for the arrest and prosecution of those responsible.</p><p>Levine, an award-winning journalist who lives in Israel, was <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/16/israeli-settlers-attack-olive-farmers-west-bank-washington-post-journalist-heidi-levine">set upon last Friday</a> by masked Israeli settlers who used clubs and other weapons to attack Palestinian people attempting to harvest their olives in occupied <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/west-bank">West Bank</a> towns.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/18/us-ambassador-israel-mike-huckabee-west-bank-settler-attack-photojournalist-heidi-levine">Continue reading...</a>
Tirana sees sixth day of violent protests as Albania’s PM refuses to resign
Police crack down on hundreds of protesters in Albania's capital, using rubber bullets, water cannons and tear gas.
EU condemns Israeli settler attack on diplomats in occupied West Bank
EU demands accountability after settlers attack European diplomats amid violence against Palestinian olive farmers.
Manchester United held at Leeds despite improved performance for Carrick
Bryan Mbeumo's goal is not enough to win it for beleaguered United as Dominic Calvert-Lewin levels for Leeds.
Photos: Antigovernment protesters clash with police in Albania’s capital
Police crack down on sixth day of student-led demonstrations calling for Prime Minister Rama to resign.
Search for Amelia Earhart's plane resumes after stormy weather
An expedition to a remote Pacific island hoping to uncover the American aviator's wreckage was on hold for three days.
Gómez halfway-line wondergoal sparks Brighton’s 5-0 thrashing of sorry Crystal Palace
<p>At last, Fabian Hürzeler has the scalp that matters most to all Brighton fans, and in humiliating fashion. Diego Gómez’s breathtaking goal-of-the-season contender from the halfway line, à la David Beckham, was the highlight of another hugely impressive performance from the Premier League’s top scorers as they continued their flying start to the season.</p><p>Not since a 4-1 thrashing here in February 2024 under Roberto De Zerbi had Brighton tasted victory against their arch rivals from up the A23 – a run of four matches. But having been handed the initiative by Jaydee Canvot’s own goal, a stunned Palace found themselves 3-0 down after 10 minutes.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/oct/18/brighton-crystal-palace-premier-league-match-report">Continue reading...</a>
Manchester United held as Calvert-Lewin’s Leeds leveller keeps pressure on Carrick
<p>What next for Michael Carrick and Manchester United? Game-wise the answer is Wednesday’s trip to Como yet after failing, again, to double the campaign’s league wins tally to two you have to wonder where this already flatlining team are heading.</p><p>Sunday afternoon’s display was the latest unconvincing outing under the 45-year-old. It featured an odd formation, zero rhythm or control, and the same prevailing sense that the wheels could clatter off anytime.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/oct/18/leeds-manchester-united-premier-league-match-report">Continue reading...</a>
Nottingham Forest v Arsenal: Premier League – live
<p>⚽ Updates from the City Ground; kick-off 4.30pm BST<br>⚽ <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/live">Scores</a> | <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/tables">Tables</a> | <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/info/2022/nov/14/football-daily-email-sign-up">Read Football Daily</a> | <a href="mailto:daniel.harris.casual@theguardian.com">Mail Daniel</a></p><p><strong>Forest will want – and probably need – to make this game a mess.</strong> If it’s open and played through midfield, Arsenal will open them up because, with the guile they’ve added by buying Guimaraes, along with an in-form Odegaard, they have the ability to exploit space. For that reason, Forest need bodies everywhere, especially in the middle of the pitch, forcing them wide, where Saka might just’ve lost the spring in his acceleration following last season’s achilles injury while, on the other side, Eze isn’t going to go on the outside.</p><p><strong>Elsewhere, 10-man Sunderland trail Bournemouth 2-0 with seconds remaining,</strong> while Brighton have splattered Palace 5-0 to move second above Arsenal, their goal difference +18. Ridiculous behaviour.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2026/oct/18/nottingham-forest-v-arsenal-premier-league-live">Continue reading...</a>
Six-year-old among two dead after Kansas woman drives through soccer game, with 11 more injured
<p>Wichita police say 34-year-old truck driver from Garden City was taken into custody amid case at youth soccer game</p><p>The two people <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/17/kansas-soccer-game-killings">killed</a> on Saturday when a truck drove through a youth soccer game in north-east Wichita, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/kansas">Kansas</a>, were a six-year-old boy and a 35-year-old man, according to authorities.</p><p>Eleven other people between the ages of five and 68 were injured in a case whose possible motivations remained unclear early on Sunday, by when it had captured attention across the US.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/18/wichita-kansas-soccer-field-game-truck-deaths">Continue reading...</a>
Scholars conclude ‘beyond doubt’ that Shakespeare was main author of Edward III
<p>Exclusive: Play anonymously published in 1596 was collaboration between Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe, according to computer analysis</p><p>Dramatic new evidence concludes that the play Edward III should be added to William Shakespeare’s canon, and also that it was a major collaboration with his contemporary rival Christopher Marlowe.</p><p>The history was published anonymously in 1596, and it has long been thought that Shakespeare wrote at least a few scenes. However, Dr Rory Loughnane, a leading scholar and co-author of the research, told the Guardian that computerised textual analysis pushed the case “beyond any reasonable doubt” that the Stratford-born playwright was the principal writer.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2026/oct/18/scholars-conclude-beyond-doubt-that-shakespeare-was-main-author-of-edward-iii">Continue reading...</a>
French government in crisis talks after ‘colossal failure of the state’
<p>Ministers, officials and police under pressure over response to days of violent unrest in cities across France</p><p>The French government was in crisis talks on Sunday after one of the most violent days of unrest in years left public buildings burned, hundreds of shops destroyed and looted, and more than 2000 <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/17/protests-france-high-prices-social-security-gilets-jaunes">people arrested in cities across the country</a>.</p><p>Politicians on the left and right called for the resignation of the interior minister, Laurent Nuñez, after the government appeared to have been caught by surprise by the scale of violence as state buildings were stormed and torched, bus stops smashed, roads barricaded and shops broken into and destroyed.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/18/french-government-crisis-talks-violent-unrest-policing-macron">Continue reading...</a>
A timeline of West Bank attacks on Palestinians and foreign officials
Settler pogroms have escalated, coinciding with the annual olive harvest season in the occupied West Bank.
Manchester City owner’s £55m housing loan while Burnham was mayor investigated
<p>Scrutiny committee looks into financing of Manchester Life project as PM promises ‘full transparency’</p><p>A £55m loan to Manchester City’s Abu Dhabi owner will be investigated as part of a review into a fund for housing projects while Andy Burnham was mayor.</p><p>The prime minister has faced weeks of scrutiny over his links to Manchester City’s super-rich owners after the club was <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/sep/29/manchester-city-found-guilty-all-premier-league-charges-rule-breaches">found guilty</a> of boosting its income by £900m in a nine-year breach of financial rules.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/oct/18/manchester-city-owners-55m-housing-loan-while-burnham-was-mayor-investigated">Continue reading...</a>