French President Emmanuel Macron met Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah in Kuwait City at the start of a Gulf tour aimed at securing oil and diesel supplies and bringing down prices.

The visit follows a weekend of violent protests in France sparked by soaring living costs.

Thousands of people have taken to the streets in Guadalajara, Mexico, over tap water reportedly contaminated with dirt and even insects. It was the city's second protest over the water crisis. Police used tear gas and water cannons during the previous demonstration, arresting 39 people. This time, officers focused on containing damage after masked demonstrators reportedly used explosives at public offices. Residents are demanding answers over access to clean, safe water.

Dual Turkish-‘Israeli’ citizen Kloyda Medina Halfon was confronted by protesters at Istanbul’s İstinyePark mall on Sunday, October 18. Protesters reportedly accused her of links to ‘Israeli’ soldiers, while Turkish and Palestinian flags were unfurled. Security personnel escorted her away from the crowd.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has denied reports of a temporary suspension in intelligence sharing with Ukraine, saying, “There has been no pause.”

Asked about Ukrainian claims that Washington briefly halted intelligence support used to counter Russian missile attacks, Rubio also urged President Volodymyr Zelensky to be more focused on ending the war with Russia.

Rubio made the remarks while visiting Samarkand, Uzbekistan, for talks with Central Asian officials.

Donald Trump has publicly backed Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of 'Israel’s' October 27 election, declaring that “anyone other than Bibi” would be the wrong leader for 'Israel'. Trump argued that without Netanyahu, the United States could be left handling the confrontation with Iran on its own. His statement highlights the close relationship between the two leaders and raises questions about an American president openly weighing in on another country's election.

From Albania and Spain to Tunisia and France, protests are bringing young people and communities into the streets over education, housing, rising living costs, and political freedoms. In France, demonstrations have spread across multiple cities, with clashes between protesters and police and reports of vandalism and looting. But as the unrest grows, one question remains: are the original demands getting lost in the chaos?

Palestinians held a mass funeral in Gaza City for 75 people whose bodies were recovered from the rubble following the war.

Excavation efforts continue across the Gaza Strip as teams search for the remains of those killed since 2023.

Mahmoud Basal, spokesperson for Gaza’s Civil Defence, said thousands of bodies remain trapped beneath the rubble, while a lack of equipment and heavy machinery has hampered recovery efforts.

U.S. President Donald Trump has attacked Abdul El-Sayed, alleging ties to the Muslim Brotherhood amid the Michigan Senate race.

El-Sayed responded by defending the U.S. Constitution and religious freedom, pushing back against the allegations.

Protests have spread across France, Albania and Tunisia, as demonstrators take to the streets over rising living costs, education reforms and concerns about civil liberties.

In France, nationwide rallies against high prices have seen clashes between protesters and police, with tear gas deployed and fires set in several cities.

In Albania, students and other demonstrators have continued protests demanding education reforms and the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama, with clashes and vandalism reported in Tirana.

Meanwhile, more than 3,000 people rallied in Tunisia against soaring prices and what they describe as a decline in rights and freedoms

Paris woke to widespread damage on October 18, a day after demonstrations against the high cost of living were overshadowed by violence.

Debris littered the streets, while several businesses were left vandalised or looted.