Trump urges Israel's president to pardon Netanyahu"Hey, I have an idea. Mr. President, why don't you give him a pardon? Cigars and some champagne — who the hell cares?" referring to the fraud, bribery and breach of trust charges, which Netanyahu denies. Netanyahu was indicted in 2019 in three cases, one of which includes receiving almost 700,000 shekels ($210,000) in gifts from businessmen, including champagne and cigars. Israel's President holds a largely ceremonial role but he does have authority to pardon convicted criminal if there are unusual circumstances presented.
https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/trump-urges-israels-president-pardon-netanyahu-2025-10-13/ICC senior officials accused of 'prejudice' over Karim Khan probeThe International Criminal Court is facing fresh scrutiny about its handling of a sexual misconduct complaint against Karim Khan, with Middle East Eye able to reveal that the chief prosecutor’s accuser was in contact with a senior official on the court’s governing body before it ordered an external UN probe into the allegations. MEE understands that the woman who made the complaint against Khan met Margareta Kassangana, a vice president of the Assembly of States Parties (ASP), the ICC’s oversight body, to discuss the case prior to the decision by the ASP’s leadership bureau to outsource the investigation to the UN’s Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS).
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/exclusive-icc-senior-officials-accused-prejudice-over-karim-khan-probe‘Inhumane’: 154 freed Palestinian prisoners forced into exile by IsraelThere are no details yet about where the freed Palestinians will be sent, but in a previous prisoner release in January, dozens of detainees were deported to countries in the region, including Tunisia, Algeria and Turkiye. Observers said the forced exile illegally breaches the citizenship rights of the released prisoners and is a demonstration of the double standards surrounding the exchange deals.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/10/13/inhumane-154-freed-palestinian-prisoners-forced-into-exile-by-israelhttps://archive.ph/apCsF Amid flights by Israeli drones | Israeli forces bombard south Al-Quneitra countryside SOHR documented 99 attacks in 2025: 87 airstrikes and 12 rocket attacks by ground forces, during which Israel targeted several military positions and strategic facilities in different areas across Syria, destroying nearly 135 targets, including buildings, weapons and ammunitions warehouses, headquarters, centres and vehicles.
https://www.syriahr.com/en/371438/Madagascar president has left the country after soldiers turned against him, lawmaker saysMadagascar President Andry Rajoelina has left the country after an elite military unit turned against the government in an apparent coup, an opposition lawmaker in the Indian Ocean country said Monday. The lawmaker’s comments came shortly before Rajoelina was due to appear on national television to make a speech to the people of Madagascar.
https://apnews.com/article/madagascar-coup-rajoelina-soldiers-military-africa-b17e7f78a6b0d4abf82a4a19a7a77a05RSF launches arrest campaign in South DarfurThe paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have intensified their campaign in South Darfur, arresting scores of civilians, teachers, and local officials on accusations of collaborating with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) amid renewed clashes in North Darfur’s El Fasher, according to multiple eyewitnesses who spoke to Radio Dabanga on Monday.
https://www.dabangasudan.org/en/all-news/article/rsf-launches-arrest-campaign-in-south-darfurUK anti-Islam activist 'Tommy Robinson' says Musk has paid for defence in phone trialHe said in a video posted on social media before his trial at London's Westminster Magistrates' Court that Musk, who often reposts his messages on X and appeared at the rally by videolink, had "picked up the legal bill for this absolute state persecution". Yaxley-Lennon, 42, was detained by police under counter-terrorism powers in July 2024 as he drove a silver Bentley through border security at the Channel Tunnel train terminal in southeast England, prosecutor Jo Morris said.
https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-anti-islam-activist-tommy-robinson-says-musk-has-paid-defence-phone-trial-2025-10-13/Portugal’s far-right Chega falls well short of expectations in local electionsThe ruling centre-right Social Democratic party (PSD) won the largest share of mayoral races, capturing 136, including Portugal’s largest cities, Lisbon and Porto, up from 114 four years ago. Its centre-left Socialist rivals won 128. Chega received the third biggest share of votes but that translated to fewer mayoralties than independent candidates, who won 20, and the Communist party, which captured 12.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/oct/13/portugal-far-right-chega-falls-well-short-local-electionsPetro urges Colombia’s mercenaries in Ukraine to come homeThe Colombian nationals have also been subjected to physical and psychological abuse by the Ukrainian army, a soldier told Semana. The mercenaries also reported that they were forced to sign a contract in a language they did not understand and had not been paid what they were promised. The group requested the Colombian government to intervene and help them return to the country, and hold Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky responsible for any consequences.
https://colombiareports.com/petro-urges-colombias-mercenaries-to-abandon-ukraine/Sri Lankan government prepares next IMF-dictated budgetPapageorgiou warned that although the IMF had reached a staff-level agreement to release $US347 million, the fifth instalment of its $3 billion bailout loan, IMF Executive Board approval of the tranche was “contingent” on parliament’s passage of the 2026 budget. Next year’s budget, he added, had to be “in line with program parameters and the completion of the financing assurances review, to confirm multilateral partners’ financing contributions and assess adequate progress with debt restructuring.”
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2025/10/13/iynq-o13.htmlPakistani troops on high alert on Afghan border after fighting, trade haltsBorder trade between the neighbours came to a halt as Pakistan closed crossings along the 2,600-km (1,600-mile) frontier, stranding scores of loaded goods vehicles on either side, a Pakistani industry representative said. Dozens of fighters were killed in border clashes that began on Saturday night in the most deadly conflict between the neighbours since the Taliban returned to power in Kabul in 2021.
https://www.newarab.com/news/pakistani-troops-high-alert-afghan-border-after-fightingPakistan police officer among 5 killed as authorities disperse pro-Palestinian march A clash between Pakistan authorities and thousands of protesters marching in support of Palestinians killed at least five people including a police officer and injured dozens of other officers on Monday, police and witnesses said. Punjab Police Chief Usman Anwar said demonstrators opened fire on authorities, killing the officer and wounding others. Police said three protesters and one passerby also died in the clashes before the demonstrators were dispersed.
https://apnews.com/article/pakistan-police-march-demonstration-violence-gaza-ee75789a8664bb3f99129ea55f7df5ab