Brazil’s elections matter for the planet. This is why

Inquirer.net - Oct 18, 2026

Few national elections carry as much environmental weight as Brazil’s presidential race. And this one is being watched from far beyond the country’s boundaries. Home to the largest section of the Amazon rainforest, Brazil is guardian of a carbon sink of vital importance, making the country’s conservation policies globally relevant. Environmentalists have already voiced alarm at Flávio Bolsonaro

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Oct 18, 2026

Father, 4-year-old daughter from Australia found dead on Jeju

A man embroiled in a custody battle with his wife in Australia was found dead alongside his 4-year-old daughter inside a car on Jeju Island after allegedly bringing the child to South Korea without the mother’s knowledge, news reports said Wednesday. The father, in his 40s, is believed to have died by suicide after burning

Oct 18, 2026

South Korea seeks way out of N. Korean POW dispute with Ukraine

South Korea is seeking a diplomatic way out of a dispute over Kyiv’s unilateral disclosure of the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to Seoul, even as the two sides remain at odds over South Korea’s demand for a formal apology. The diplomatic standoff has entered a new phase following Ukraine’s characterization of

Oct 18, 2026

More than 1.5 million flock to see Busan’s famous shark

More than 1.5 million people are expected to have visited Busan’s North Port waterfront park by Saturday to catch a glimpse of “Bukang-i,” a shark that has remained in an artificial canal for a month. The figure is equivalent to nearly half of Busan’s population of about 3.23 million. According to local authorities, cumulative visitors

Oct 18, 2026

Ilhan Omar: The US Democrat targeted by Donald Trump

“Ilhan Omar, whatever the hell her name is, with the little – with the little turban, I love her. She comes in, does nothing but bitch.” “Ilhan Omar is garbage. She’s garbage. Her friends are garbage. […] These aren’t people that work. These aren’t people that say, let’s go. Come on, let’s make this place

Oct 18, 2026

Thailand warns of eight days of heavy rain, flood, landslide risks

Thailand faces heavy to very heavy rain from October 18–25, with the South and East affected first before wetter conditions spread to Bangkok and other regions. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued a fresh warning of heavy to very heavy rain across parts of Thailand from October 18–25, raising the risk of flash floods,

Oct 18, 2026

Zelenskyy urges support for new US sanctions on Russia put on hold by Trump

KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged supporters Saturday to speak out in favor of new U.S. sanctions against Russia, hours after President Donald Trump signed an executive order putting the sweeping restrictions on hold. The White House decision has heightened fears that Ukraine could be left exposed to Moscow’s escalating attacks as winter approaches. Overnight Russian attacks killed at least four people, including an ambulance driver, and wounded dozens, officials said. Ukrainian drones killed a woman in a Russian border region and disrupted flights at Moscow’s airports, according to Russian authorities. In a social media statement, Zelenskyy called Trump’s decision unfortunate but avoided directly criticizing the U.S. leader despite deepening tensions between Ukraine and Washington in recent days. “A decision was unfortunately made in America to completely disregard the Lindsey Graham Act, which was supposed to impose truly effective pressure on Russia to bring this war to an end,” Zelenskyy wrote. “This Act could have helped enormously – and s

Oct 18, 2026

Mass protests in France spiral into worst riots in years

PARIS — Rioting erupted in cities across France on Saturday as demonstrations against rising living costs and declining public services spiralled out of control in some of the worst violence the country has witnessed for decades. While hundreds of thousands protested peacefully in street marches in scores of cities, violent fringe groups targeted public buildings, looted luxury boutiques and supermarkets and attacked police vehicles and officers. In Limoges, the city hall was set ablaze; in Marseille, black-clad protesters broke into city hall and defaced the building with anarchic graffiti, and in Lyon, protesters torched the city's tourist office. French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said the government would not be "intimidated" by violence, and blamed the unrest on the "ultra-left" and criminals just months before a presidential election next year. "To those who clearly want to use this violence as a 'warm-up' before the presidential election, I say clearly: We will not let ourselves be intimidated. No one will impose their political agenda through violence," he wrote in a post

Oct 18, 2026

Japan to launch spacecraft on mission to get samples from Martian moon

TOKYO — Japan is set to launch a spacecraft on the world's first mission to bring back samples from Phobos, one of the two small, potato-shaped moons orbiting Mars. Scientists hope the mission, which is expected to take five years, will provide clues to how Phobos and its smaller sibling Deimos formed, and hopefully even shed light on the origins of life in the solar system. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s launch of the spacecraft Tuesday on a new Japanese mainstay H-3 rocket comes as the United States, China and others consider sending astronauts to Mars. Samples from Phobos will provide useful data for scientists to consider using a Martian moon as a base for a future manned mission to the planet, said MMX project manager Yasuhiro Kawakatsu. “Despite their potential importance, Martian moons have never been fully investigated," Kawakatsu said. “They are known as the most important unclimbed mountains in the solar system." Japan leads the international mission that includes equipment and communications support from NASA and other national space agencies. JAXA aims to stud

Oct 18, 2026

Major fire breaks out in Alberta after deadly incident at military base

EDMONTON, Alberta — Canada’s defense minister said Saturday that people were killed and injured in an incident at a military base in Alberta that caused a major fire. “I’m saddened to share that there have been both fatalities and injuries as a result of an incident on the base,” Defense Minister David McGuinty said. McGuinty did not provide casualty figures or details about what caused the incident. He said the Royal Canadian Mounted Police were involved in the investigation and described the situation as “very, very active and delicate.” The Canadian Armed Forces and federal, provincial and local authorities were coordinating the emergency response, he said. The nearby community of Wainwright was providing hospital and firefighting support. The Municipal District of Wainwright said the fire had crossed the base’s fence earlier Saturday and was spreading rapidly due to high winds. Firefighters from multiple jurisdictions were responding, and no evacuation order was in effect. “Our thoughts are with all the brave women and men affected,” Prime Minister Mark Carney said

Oct 18, 2026

Truck drives through soccer field during game in Kansas, killing 2 and hospitalizing 11

WICHITA, Kan. — A woman drove a truck through a soccer field during a youth game in Kansas on Saturday, killing two people and sending 11 other victims to the hospital, authorities said. A 6-year-old boy and a 35-year-old man were killed, Wichita Police Capt. Aaron Moses said. The ages of the injured people ranged from 5 to 68. Moses said the driver, a 34-year-old, was in custody. He did not say whether authorities believe it was intentional. “We are still working to determine how this happened and why this happened,” he said. Two children were also in the truck, Moses said. Police Chief Joe Sullivan said that immediately after the incident, and before first responders arrived at the scene, people “sprang into action” to provide lifesaving assistance to the victims. “It was truly amazing,” Sullivan said. “But I think it's indicative of the Wichita community.” Authorities said there was no further public threat. Mayor Lily Wu advised people to avoid the area during the investigation and said the news was heartbreaking. “My thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected, es

Oct 18, 2026

Out-of-control truck kills 13 at Hindu festival in India

NEW DELHI, India — A speeding truck in India killed 13 people when it ploughed into a crowd at a Hindu festival, officials said on Sunday, with President Droupadi Murmu describing the deaths as "heartbreaking." The heavily loaded truck reportedly lost control in the early hours of Sunday and hit devotees gathered at a temple in Gwalior, in the central state of Madhya Pradesh. The Press Trust of India news agency cited hospital officials as saying 13 people had died. "I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved families and pray for the swift recovery of those injured," Murmu said on social media. India, with 1.4 billion people, recorded more than 183,000 road traffic deaths in 2025, or over 500 a day, according to the roads ministry. Many are linked to inadequate road infrastructure, ill-maintained vehicles and exhausted drivers, according to official data.

Oct 18, 2026

60 Days, No Punitive Tariffs: What Trump's Sanctions Waiver On Russian Oil Means For India

India is temporarily shielded from steep additional U.S. tariffs and trade restrictions that were scheduled to bite under the new legislation just ahead of an impending deadline

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