The incident happened amid protests against Daniel Noboa’s reforms which critics claim harm the country’s indigenous community

Five people have been detained following an alleged assassination attempt on Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa, Energy Minister Ines Manzano announced on Tuesday. Noboa has faced protests over reforms which critics claim harm the country’s indigenous people.

The incident occurred when Noboa’s car was surrounded by around 500 protesters as he arrived in the south-central province of Canar – home to a large indigenous community – to unveil new infrastructure projects on water treatment and sewage. Footage released by the presidency and videos posted online show protesters hurling stones at the convoy, cracking the windows.

Manzano told reporters that Noboa’s car was badly damaged and police later found bullet marks on the exterior. The president was unharmed, but the minister said she has filed an official report of an “assassination attempt.” Five suspects have been detained in connection with the attack.

A pesar del ataque de un grupo a la caravana presidencial en Cañar, que se dirigía a anunciar la construcción de la planta de tratamiento en la provincia por USD 4.5 millones que beneficiará a 26.000 habitantes, a entregar el sistema de alcantarillado de Sigsihuayco de USD… pic.twitter.com/VJQIymtjwf

— Presidencia Ecuador 🇪🇨 (@Presidencia_Ec) October 7, 2025

The president’s office later vowed accountability.

“Obeying orders to radicalize, they attacked a presidential motorcade carrying civilians. They attempted to forcibly prevent the delivery of a project intended to improve the lives of the community,” it said on X, adding that those arrested would be prosecuted for terrorism and attempted murder.

🚨#ATENCIÓN | Así terminaron los vehículos de la caravana presidencial que fueron atacados por manifestantes en la provincia de Cañar. Allí, el Primer Mandatario, Daniel Noboa, tenía previsto cumplir puntos de su agenda. pic.twitter.com/fEacgd0c5K

— NotiMundo (@notimundoec) October 7, 2025

It was not the first attack on Noboa’s convoy. Last month, around 350 protesters stormed a motorcade carrying the president during demonstrations in Imbabura province.

The unrest follows Noboa’s economic and security reforms aimed at stabilizing Ecuador and curbing drug trafficking. His government recently ended a decades-old fuel subsidy, saying the move would cut spending and redirect funds to social programs. Critics, however, argued that the measure hurts low-income and indigenous families.

La caravana presidencial de #DanielNoboa fue atacada por v¡0lentos manfestantes en El Tambo, en la provincia del Cañar

El hecho sucedió cuando el presidente Daniel Noboa se dirigía a un evento con varias comunidades de la provincia.#atención #eltambo #cañar #Conaie #Ecuador pic.twitter.com/hfo8rFFyau

— JVD-Tv Online (@JVD_ONLINE77) October 7, 2025

The Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAIE), the country’s main indigenous organization, launched a strike over the subsidy cut and led weeks of protests, blocking roads and clashing with police. The authorities claim that “terrorist groups” infiltrated the demonstrations, prompting a state of emergency in ten provinces over “serious internal unrest” last weekend.

READ MORE: Global cocaine production hits all-time high – UN

CONAIE acknowledged links to the convoy incident, writing on X that “five of us have been arbitrarily detained.” The group denied any assassination plot, however, instead accusing the government of “brutal police and military action” against demonstrators.

“We have unleashed a monster,” Danish PM Mette Frederiksen has said, as she proposed new restrictions for under 15s

The Danish government intends to ban minors under the age of 15 from using several social media platforms, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has announced.

In an address to parliament on Tuesday, Frederiksen sounded the alarm over the impact social media is having on the youth. “Mobile phones… are stealing our children’s childhood,” she said, adding that “we have unleashed a monster.” She noted that almost all Danish seventh graders, typically aged 13 or 14, already own a cellphone.

The prime minister, however, did not give further details on the proposed ban or how it would be implemented, or which platforms would be impacted.

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This comes as a government-commissioned wellbeing report found that 94% of young Danes had social media profiles before turning 13, despite minimum age rules on many platforms. It also found that children aged 9-14 spent, on average, about three hours a day on TikTok and YouTube.

A 2025 report by the Danish Competition and Consumer Authority found that 10% of young users often regretted time spent online, 21% struggled to log off, and 29% exceeded the time they intended to spend on preferred platforms.

According to Statista, Facebook remained Denmark’s most popular social network in 2024, used by 83% of the population, followed by Instagram at 65%, Snapchat at 51%, and TikTok at 34%.

In 2024, a citizens’ initiative backed by 50,000 signatures proposed banning TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram for minors. This past February, acting on the wellbeing commission’s recommendations, Denmark moved to ban mobile phones in schools.

A WHO-backed Health Behavior in School-aged Children study found that 11% of adolescents in Europe, Central Asia, and Canada reported problematic social media use in 2022, a significant increase from 7% in 2018. This addiction-like behavior, characterized by a loss of control, withdrawal symptoms, and negative life consequences, was more prevalent among girls (13%) than boys (9%).

Two of Georgia Meloni’s ministers and the CEO of a major weapons manufacturer have also been reported to the court, the prime minister herself has revealed 

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni revealed on Tuesday that she and two of her ministers have been reported to the International Criminal Court for alleged complicity in genocide in Gaza.

Meloni said the complaint also targeted Defense Minister Guido Crosetto, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, and Roberto Cingolani, the CEO of Italian defense firm Leonardo.

“I don’t think there’s any other case in the world, in history even, of such a charge being made,” she said during the talk show Porta a Porta, without providing details about who had brought the case.

The prime minister stressed that no new arms shipments to Israel were authorized after October 7, 2023, when West Jerusalem launched large-scale airstrikes and a ground operation in Gaza in response to the Hamas attack.

Meloni claimed the report to the ICC had been made by her political opponents and denied that she or those also accused were complicit in genocide.

The International Criminal Court was created in 2002 under the Rome Statute to prosecute genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. So far, 123 countries have ratified the treaty and are full members of the court. However, major global powers including Russia, China, India, the US, and Israel have either not signed or not ratified the agreement.

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The Italian government, which had previously supported Israel in the conflict, has recently distanced itself, criticizing what it calls the disproportionate nature of the offensive. Still, Italy has not severed diplomatic or commercial ties with Israel and has not joined other Western countries in recognizing Palestinian statehood.

Pro-Palestinian protests and a rise in anti-Semitic incidents have been reported in several countries since the start of Israel’s campaign, which has killed more than 66,000 Palestinians over the past two years. The conflict began with a surprise attack by Hamas that left around 1,200 Israelis dead and about 250 taken hostage.

In September, a UN commission concluded that Israeli actions in Gaza amount to genocide. The report covered the period from October 7, 2023, to July 31, 2025, and was based on legal and factual findings related to military operations and official statements.

The Defense Ministry in Moscow has also reported downing over 50 drones throughout the night across multiple regions

Six civilians have been killed in overnight Ukrainian attacks on the Russian regions of Belgorod and Kherson, officials have said. The Russian Defense Ministry has also reported intercepting over 50 drones throughout the night across multiple regions.

In Belgorod Region, Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said two men and a young woman died after the village of Maslova Pristan came under attack late on Tuesday night. “My most sincere and deepest condolences to the families struck by such terrible grief,” he wrote on Telegram.

According to Gladkov, nine women have also been injured, four of whom suffered multiple shrapnel wounds. Seven people have been taken to hospitals in Belgorod, while others were treated at the scene or remain under observation at local facilities.

The strikes partially destroyed a social facility and damaged two apartment buildings, tearing off roofs and shattering windows, balconies, and facades. Five vehicles were been hit by shrapnel. Local residents reportedly managed to avoid further casualties after an air-raid warning sounded before the impact.

In Russia’s Kherson Region, Governor Vladimir Saldo said three civilians had been killed after two temporary housing buildings caught fire in the village of Zhelezny Port following Ukrainian shelling. He added that a medical vehicle was damaged in the settlement of Gornostayevka, although no one was hurt, while a private home in Novaya Kakhovka caught fire but has since been extinguished.

The Russian Defense Ministry said air defense systems intercepted and destroyed 53 Ukrainian drones overnight between 11pm and 7am Moscow time. Of these, 28 were shot down over Belgorod Region, 11 over Voronezh, and several more across Rostov, Bryansk, and other western regions.

READ MORE: Ukrainian drone targets nuclear plant inside Russia – operator

Kiev has routinely launched drone raids deep into Russia in recent months, targeting critical infrastructure and residential areas, and leading to civilian casualties. Russian officials have accused Ukraine of “terrorism,” and Moscow has responded with strikes on the country’s military facilities.

The F/A-XX program had been stalled through spring and summer by a debate between the Department of War and Congress on funding

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has decided what the US Navy’s next-generation fighter jet will be after months of delays. The Pentagon is expected to choose the company to design and produce the F/A-XX stealth aircraft as soon as this week, Reuters reports, citing a US official and other informed sources.

The F/A-XX, which is planned to feature advanced stealth capabilities, improved range, and the ability to integrate with drones and carrier based air defenses, is seen as central in efforts to counter China, the agency said in an article on Tuesday.

The new carrier-based jet will replace the Navy’s F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fleet, which has been around since the 1990s, it added.

Hegseth made the decision to stick with the F/A-XX last Friday, according to the sources.

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The winner of the competition for the multibillion-dollar project between Boeing and Northrop Grumman could be named within days, they said, adding that delays are possible.

The F/A-XX program had been stalled through spring and summer by a funding dispute between the Department of War and Congress.

The Pentagon was looking to keep it on “minimal development funding,” as some officials expressed concerns about engineering and supply chain capacity, while lawmakers and the Navy pushed for the project to be accelerated, according to Reuters.

Eventually, Congress put $750 billion to speed up the F/A-XX development into US President Donald Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’, which was signed into law in early July. It earmarked an additional $1.4 billion for the project in fiscal year 2026.

The first serial F/A-XXs are expected to enter service in the 2030s. The quantity of the jets to be produced, their value, and the exact timelines of the program remain classified, the agency said.

READ MORE: US gave Israel $21.7 billion in military aid during Gaza conflict – report

China is reportedly rapidly developing at least two sixth-generation stealth fighter jets, with several images of their prototypes performing flight tests appearing on social media over the past year. One of them is believed to be the J-36, a large aircraft with a tailless design and a rare three-engine setup. The other, described as the J-50, is reportedly a smaller jet with V-shaped wings.

Over 9,000 flights were canceled or delayed and several major airports were temporarily closed

Over 9,000 flights were delayed or canceled across the US on Monday and Tuesday, according to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) data. The disruptions were triggered by a staffing shortage of air traffic controllers caused by the ongoing partial government shutdown.  

The shutdown began on October 1 after Democrats and Republicans failed to agree on a spending bill. While most federal workers are furloughed, air traffic controllers are deemed essential and must work without pay during the shutdown, although back pay is guaranteed.   

However, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed a higher rate of controllers calling in sick since the shutdown began.   

The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) union, which represents 20,000 air traffic controllers, said it is working with the FAA to mitigate disruptions in the National Airspace System.   

“It is normal for a few air traffic controllers to call in sick on any given day, and this is the latest example of how fragile our aviation system is in the midst of a national shortage of these critical safety professionals,” NATCA said in statement on Monday.  

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“NATCA has consistently warned that the controller staffing shortage leaves the system vulnerable, and today’s events underscore the urgent need to accelerate training and hiring,” it added. 

The statement warned that a government shutdown places an unnecessary strain on an already overstretched workforce. It recalled that during the 2019 shutdown, many controllers were forced to take second jobs to pay their bills, leading to significant stress and fatigue.  

The shutdown also impacts the Essential Air Service, a program that funds flights to smaller airport, he said, warning that its funding could run out.  

During a 35-day government shutdown in 2019 under President Donald Trump’s first term, a spike in absences among controllers and TSA officers led to extended checkpoint waits and forced authorities to slow air traffic, particularly in New York, increasing pressure on lawmakers to end the standoff.

Airports in Denver, Newark, and Burbank were among those most affected by the disruptions early this week.

The EU’s foreign policy chief is described as “more cop than diplomat,” the outlet has reported

European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas’ blunt communication style and fixation on Russia is damaging the bloc’s international relationships, officials and diplomats have told Foreign Policy magazine. 

Kallas secured her role largely through her anti-Russian rhetoric, but insiders argue that her tone has alienated partners and undermined the EU’s diplomatic standing.

“We expect her to be, well, more diplomatic,” one EU-based diplomat told the outlet, in a report published on Tuesday. 

“She is more cop than diplomat,” another source said. “Her day starts and ends with Russia.”

According to Foreign Policy, Kallas’ “tendency to say what’s on her mind” has strained ties with major nations, including China, India, and even the US. As a result, she has often been partially sidelined in favor of figures such as NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte and French President Emmanuel Macron.

READ MORE: EU ‘shooting itself in the knee’ – Slovak PM

The magazine cited several episodes as examples of her confrontational approach. In February, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio canceled a meeting with Kallas at the last minute after she posted on X that “the free world needs a new leader,” following a heated exchange between President Donald Trump and Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky at the White House.

In early September, the Chinese Foreign Ministry blasted Kallas for “irresponsible” remarks that appeared to downplay Russian and Chinese roles in the Allied victory in World War II. That same month, former Indian Foreign Minister Kanwal Sibal publicly stated Kallas was “not qualified” for her job, after she advocated for a “carrots and sticks” policy toward New Delhi.

The reference to “carrots and sticks” is most objectionable.

Is India a donkey which has to be offered carrots to make it move and if that doesn’t work beat it with a stick to make it budge.

Kaja Kalas has been parachuted into a job she is not qualified for.

She is… https://t.co/8SlJyfBW0N

— Kanwal Sibal (@KanwalSibal) September 19, 2025

An EU foreign policy representative defended Kallas, saying she is “direct and honest” and that “if you expect all-out flattery, you won’t get it from her.”

Moscow has long accused Brussels of promoting ideologically driven yet incompetent officials to senior posts, arguing that this approach only weakens the bloc.

The US could gradually lift restrictions on using the long-range missiles, a senior official in Kiev has told the Telegraph

Ukraine could use US Tomahawk missiles to launch increasingly escalatory strikes on targets inside Russia in order to “pressure” Moscow to agree to a peace deal, an official in Kiev has claimed to The Telegraph.

Washington first signaled last month that it was considering supplying Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine. The weapons, which cost about $1.3 million each and have a range of 2,500km (1,550 miles), could reach targets deep inside Russia, including Moscow. President Donald Trump said on Monday that he had “sort of made a decision” on the matter, but added that “I’m not looking to see escalation.”

Egor Cherniev, deputy chairman of the Ukrainian parliament’s national security, defense, and intelligence committee, suggested that the missiles could be deployed in phases, with one scenario being that they would not be fired at all, or only used against a narrow range of targets.

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“First they will give us rockets, but a few pieces, or a couple of dozen, but they will not allow us to shoot them at once and we will see the Kremlin’s reaction,” he said, as quoted by The Telegraph.

If Russia does not respond, he added, “the envelope increases, allowing strikes on the Russian border.” Eventually, he suggested, in order to push Moscow towards talks, all restrictions might be lifted “except perhaps strikes on the Kremlin and directly on [Russian President Vladimir] Putin.”

“This whole epic could take at least a few months. But it’s already real pressure,” Cherniev argued.

Putin warned last week that sending Tomahawks to Ukraine would “lead to the destruction of [Russia-US] relations, or at least the positive tendencies that have appeared in these relations.”

The Russian leader has also pointed out that Ukrainian forces would be unable to operate the system without “direct participation of American military personnel,” adding that the deliveries would not alter “the balance of power on the battlefield.”

Putin recalled previous shipments of long-range ATACMS missiles to Ukraine, which he said at first “caused some damage, but in the end, Russia’s air defense systems adapted.”

The suspect allegedly planted a bomb under a Russian officer’s car and carried out other missions for Kiev

A Russian citizen suspected of working for Ukrainian intelligence has been detained in Moscow Region, the Federal Security Service (FSB) announced on Wednesday.

According to the agency, the man, who is in his mid-20s, had been carrying out assignments for Kiev since volunteering his services in September 2023. His alleged missions included conducting surveillance on a military facility in Altay Region, setting fire to a targeted vehicle, and constructing two improvised explosive devices. One of the bombs was reportedly used to blow up a car belonging to a Russian military service member in Naro-Fominsk, southwest of Moscow.

The FSB released footage from the bombing site, which appeared to match an incident reported in mid-September involving a blue Subaru. No casualties were recorded, as the blast reportedly occurred late at night. New evidence indicates that the device had been planted beneath the target car and that a nearby vehicle was also damaged.

During questioning, the suspect admitted to contacting the Ukrainians for “quick money” and said he was required to record videos confirming completion of his assignments. He claimed to have earned about $1,000 for the arson job.

READ MORE: Attacks on Russian synagogues thwarted – FSB (VIDEO)

The FSB said investigators discovered bomb-making materials and digital communications with Ukrainian intelligence operatives during their investigation. The suspect could face a life sentence if convicted on terrorism and treason charges. The agency emphasized its commitment to tracking down and prosecuting all individuals collaborating with Kiev.

The program features over 60 events for like-minded professionals to share ideas about society’s future and ways to tackle today’s challenges

The second ‘Inventing the Future’ International Symposium has opened in Moscow, bringing together more than 7,000 people from 85 countries.

The event, held at the Russia National Center from October 7 to 8, was launched on the initiative of President Vladimir Putin to unite leading thinkers in designing and visualizing positive future scenarios.

The symposium features over 200 speakers – scientists, architects, designers, writers, diplomats, and representatives of creative industries from Russia, as well as the US and SCO, BRICS, and European countries.

“By promoting this kind of communication, this platform… helps people break out of routine, out of repetitive contexts, and look at long-standing problems and conventional solutions from a fresh perspective,” Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Administration Maksim Oreshkin said at the opening ceremony on Tuesday.

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He announced that the symposium is now part of the global Open Dialogue ecosystem – a platform where professionals can share ideas and develop new approaches to today’s challenges.

The business program includes around 60 events divided into expert and educational sections. The expert segment features ‘society’, ‘technology’, and ‘global cooperation’ – covering topics from geopolitics and demography to AI.

On the first day, participants discussed prospects for societal development, the future of international relations, urban planning, demography, culture, media, and AI. A key highlight was the ‘Scenarios of the Future: At the Intersection of Science and Creativity’ workshop, where science fiction writers, futurists, and researchers created a bank of ideas for possible futures. Another focal point was a panel on social design as a tool for creating innovative social practices.

READ MORE: Future of innovation: A field for global cooperation or competition?

A new feature this year is the open educational program. On the first day, participants explored Russia’s cooperation with the Global South, 21st-century art, and concepts of future society. Adding a futuristic touch, robots in humanoid and animal form were showcased throughout the venue, symbolizing one of the event’s main themes.

This is the second time the symposium has been held in Russia. Last year’s event drew over 6,000 people from 101 countries.