Top World News

Oct 20, 2026 - World

South Korea says it will withdraw some staff from its embassy in Kyiv, deepening a diplomatic row over Ukraine’s announcement last month of a transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war that Seoul says was meant to be secret

Oct 20, 2026 - World

Critics said images of detained former leader were a stunt by the military to end country’s diplomatic isolationMyanmar has delivered presents from Britain’s ​King Charles to Aung San Suu Kyi, releasing rare photos of the imprisoned former leader in what critics said was a stunt by the country’s military to end diplomatic isolation.A presidential spokesperson said on social media that home ministry officials handed over two gardening books on soil, “along with one sealed envelope and a sealed diplomatic pouch”, from King Charles, who is known to have an interest in planting and the environment. Continue reading...

Oct 20, 2026 - World

Veteran technology journalist Kara Swisher was flabbergasted Monday as President Donald Trump and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk seemingly played games in Ukraine with people's lives at stake. Over the last week, reports indicate that Trump's White House gave an order to slow down Ukraine's access to Starshield systems, a Musk-developed product that helps the Ukrainian military defend against Russian ballistic missile attacks. Trump and Musk have both pointed fingers at each other about the incident, even though both were at least aware of the incident, Swisher said. "I don't think he's telling the truth. Obviously someone knows how it happened, and I would tend to believe the Ukrainians over Musk or Trump at any time," Swisher said on CNN's "Anderson Cooper 360." "They were basically trying to pass the hot potato back and forth when things blew up in them, so to speak," she added. The slowdown of Ukraine's Starshield capabilities was followed up by a series of moves by Trump that have some Republicans up in arms. Trump has agreed to purchase millions of barrels of diesel fuel from Russia, which gives the country more money to fight its war of aggression against Ukraine, and has suspended sanctions on Russia that were due to go into effect this week.Swisher noted that Trump and Musk's finger-pointing has served both men as a distraction. "This is just kind of ridiculous that we even play these games with these people," Swisher said. She also noted that it is "hard to square" how Trump can deny he knew about the order coming from his White House. It raises questions about why he didn't know and who is making decisions about a war that has resulted in American casualties. At the same time, Trump appears to be entertaining a hypothetical summit between himself, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and China's Xi Jinping to end the war in Ukraine. Such a summit would seem like a blast from the distant past, according to Swisher. "It's an incredible idea to do something to slice up dominion, essentially. It feels like we're back in another century," she said.

Oct 19, 2026 - World

Veteran journalist Dan Rather spotted one issue that President Donald Trump can't avoid much longer after he made his latest turn toward Russia. Over the last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin has received several gifts from Trump. The U.S. president has agreed to purchase Russian diesel fuel, which analysts say won't have any impact on gas prices ahead of the midterms. The Trump White House has also reportedly ordered a slowdown in Ukraine's Starshield systems, the military equivalent of Elon Musk's Starlink, which helps the country identify incoming Russian ballistic missile attacks. Trump has also moved to lift sanctions on Russia included in a bill to honor the late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) just days before they were scheduled to go into effect. Rather argued in a new essay for his Substack "Ready" that these moves could spark calls to investigate Trump for treason. "Most Americans don’t want to think about it, but in the background of these developments is this: Article III, Section 3 of the Constitution defines treason against the United States as 'levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort.' By any objective measure, lifting Russian sanctions is giving aid and comfort to an enemy," Rather argued. "Any suggestion of holding the president to a standard of treason is too far out for a clear majority of Americans. But as Trump draws ever closer to Putin, the subject is bound to come up in some conversations," he continued.

Oct 19, 2026 - World

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth took a secret trip to Israel on Monday to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of the country's elections, according to a new report from Axios, citing "two sources with knowledge."Hegseth's trip came just days after President Donald Trump endorsed Netanyahu for re-election. Trump has also said that he would not be "inclined" to continue the war against Iran if Netanyahu were to lose. Israel's elections will be held on October 27.