India assures White House it will stop buying Russian oil, Trump says

"Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured U.S. President

Donald Trump that India will no longer buy Russian oil, the U.S.

leader said.
"So I was not happy that India was buying oil, and (Modi) assured me today that they will not be buying oil from Russia. That's a big step. Now we're going to get China to do the same thing," Trump said in the White House.
Washington previously imposed 50% tariffs on India for its continued import of Russian oil, after Trump threatened to impose secondary sanctions on Russia's trading partners if Moscow failed to make progress towards peace in Ukraine." 

KI

Nigel Farage set for biggest EVER Commons majority while Tories and Labour brace for General Election catastrophe in bombshell mega-poll

"A bombshell mega-poll has projected that Nigel Farage would earn the largest Commons
majority in modern political history if a General Election was held tomorrow.
Reform UK is on course to win 445 seats, Labour would be down to 73 MPs and the Tories would have just seven seats.
Mr. Farage said Reform UK has hit 36% in the polls for the very first time." GBN

Russian Energy Week 2025 Opens in Moscow With President Putin Participating

"The Russian Energy Week International Forum (REW) will take place from October 15 to 17

in Moscow, serving as one of the world’s leading platforms for dialogue on the future of global energy and fuel industries.
Notable international participants include:
Kim Yu Il, Minister of Electric Power Industry of North Korea;
Péter Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Hungary;
Abdul Latif Mansour, Minister of Energy and Water of Afghanistan;
Delcy Rodríguez, Vice President and Minister of Petroleum of Venezuela (joining via video link).
Featuring over 70 sessions and discussions, REW 2025 will center on multilateral cooperation in energy and explore Russia’s role in the evolving multipolar energy landscape." Sputnik

Strong mag. 5.2 Earthquake - North Pacific Ocean, 189 km southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy, Kamchatka, Russia

"A strong magnitude 5.2 earthquake occurred in the North Pacific Ocean 245 km (152 mi)
from Russia in the afternoon at 4.57 pm local time (GMT +11). The depth of the quake could not be determined, but is assumed to be shallow.

The quake was not felt (or at least not reported so)." VD

Madagascar's President Andry Rajoelina reportedly flees country as military unit joins protesters

"After weeks of anti-government protests, President Andry Rajoelina has reportedly left the

country, shortly before he was due to address the nation on state TV.
The President of Madagascar, Andry Rajoelina, has left the country after an elite military unit turned against the government in an apparent coup.
Those protests, which were initially led by youth groups, reached a turning point on Saturday when soldiers from the elite CAPSAT military unit accompanied demonstrators to a square in the capital, Antananarivo, and called for Rajoelina and several government ministers to leave office.
The unit, which helped Rajoelina first come to power as transitional leader in a military-backed coup in 2009, said that it had taken charge of all the armed forces in Madagascar.
Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko, the leader of the opposition in parliament, said that Rajoelina “ran away” from the country on Sunday after soldiers turned against him." AfricaNews

Russia ready for Ukraine settlement – Kremlin

"Moscow remains open to a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict but hostilities will continue for as long as Kiev continues to stall negotiations, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said.

He was responding to French President Emmanuel Macron, who recently warned in a post on X that Russia would “have to pay the price” if it refused to demonstrate a readiness to come to the negotiating table.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Peskov stressed that Moscow has always preferred a diplomatic solution to the crisis, but noted that Kiev, with the backing of its Western allies, continues to reject all of Russia’s proposals.
“Russia is ready for a peaceful settlement,” Peskov said, emphasizing that Moscow’s military campaign continues “due to the lack of alternatives.” He asserted that Russia will ultimately accomplish its stated objectives and safeguard its national security interests." RT

Over 120 dead and missing, 100 000 homes damaged as severe floods sweep through Mexico

"At least 64 people have died and 65 remain missing after days of torrential rain triggered severe flooding and landslides across several Mexican states, including Veracruz, Hidalgo, and Puebla. The events damaged nearly 100, 000 homes, destroyed infrastructure, and prompted a large-scale rescue and relief operation involving the Mexican armed forces and civil protection units." W

U.S. Strikes Drug Boat off Venezuela

"Trump announced Tuesday that the U.S. military carried out another strike on a suspected drug vessel off the coast of Venezuela, killing six suspected smugglers.

“Under my Standing Authorities as Commander-in-Chief, this

morning, the Secretary of War, ordered a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel affiliated with a Designated Terrorist Organization (DTO) conducting narcotrafficking in the USSOUTHCOM area of responsibility — just off the Coast of Venezuela. Intelligence confirmed the vessel was trafficking narcotics, was associated with illicit narcoterrorist networks, and was transiting along a known DTO route,” Trump wrote Tuesday on Truth Social.
“The strike was conducted in International Waters, and six male narcoterrorists aboard the vessel were killed in the strike,” Trump said. “No U.S. Forces were harmed.”
Trump told reporters later on Tuesday in the Oval Office that Venezuela is “a big purveyor of drugs,” and accused Venezuela of sending their “criminals” into the U.S." 

CF

High-level eruption at Lewotobi volcano, Indonesia

"A high-level eruption occurred at Lewotobi Laki-laki volcano on Flores Island, Indonesia, at 23:37 WITA (15:37 UTC), producing an ash column rising to 13 700 m (44 500 feet) above sea level. The Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) raised the Aviation Color Code to Red after Himawari-8 satellite imagery confirmed ash extending northwest at approximately 28 km/h (17 mph)." W

113 clashes on frontline

"113 combat engagements have taken place along the frontline between Ukraine’s Defense Forces and Russian troops.
In the Northern Slobozhanshchyna and Kursk sectors, the enemy made five assault attempts. Russian aircraft carried out four airstrikes, dropping a total of 12 guided bombs, and launched 98 artillery attacks, including five with multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS).
In the Southern Slobozhanshchyna sector, Ukrainian troops repelled seven enemy assaults near Kamianka, Zapadne, and Kutkivka, as well as toward Kolodiazne and Bolohivka. Three more clashes are still ongoing.

Russian forces attacked five times in the Kupiansk sector, near Pishchane and toward Petropavlivka and Novoplatonivka.
In the Lyman sector, Ukrainian units repelled three assaults near Drobysheve, Serednie, and Kolodiazi, with one engagement still in progress.
In the Sloviansk sector, Ukrainian defenders repelled four attacks near Yampil, Pereizne, and Vyimka.
Two engagements took place in the Kramatorsk sector near Stupochky and Orikhovo-Vasylivka, with one battle still ongoing.
In the Kostiantynivka sector, Russian troops launched seven assaults near Kostiantynivka, Shcherbynivka, Pleshchiivka, Rusyn Yar, and Poltavka. Ukrainian forces repelled five, while two battles are still underway.
The fighting in the Pokrovsk sector remains the most intense, with 47 Russian attacks recorded since morning in the areas of Volodymyrivka, Nove Shakhove, Nykonorivka, Chervonyi Lyman, Sukhetske, Mykhailivka, Novoekonomichne, Promin, Lysivka, Pokrovsk, Zvirove, Kotlyne, Udachne, Molodetske, Orikhove, Novoukrainka, Filiia, and toward Novopavlivka. Ukrainian forces have repelled 39 assaults, with fighting still ongoing.
In the Oleksandrohrad sector, the enemy attempted nine assaults near Yalta, Sichneve, Sosnivka, Novomykolaivka, and Poltavka, four battles continue.
In the Orikhiv sector, Russian troops attacked twice near Stepove, and carried out an airstrike on Novoandriivka.
In the Prydniprovske sector, the Russian invaders launched unguided rockets at Olhivka." Ukrin