Israeli Hostages Freed, Pakistani-Afghan Border Clash, Economics Nobel

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🗞️ FRONT PAGE​​

“Fireworks, eggs and Hitler salute at grim far-right demonstration,” headlines Dutch daily NRC, reporting on an anti-immigration protest that turned violent in Amsterdam on Sunday. At least 29 people were arrested for vandalism and public order crimes while the event “Nederland in Opstand” (Netherlands in Uprising) saw some demonstrators carry the flag once used by the Dutch Nazi party, and others chanting racist and antisemitic slogans. This comes after protesters and police clashed in a similar protest last month in The Hague and ahead of expected snap elections on Oct. 29.

🌎 7 THINGS TO KNOW RIGHT NOW

• Hamas releases all remaining Israeli hostages, Netanyahu will not attend Egypt summit. The last 20 living hostages held in Gaza are now back in Israel after more than two years of captivity, as part of a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas. The bodies of the remaining 28 dead hostages are yet to be handed over. Buses carrying dozens of freed Palestinian prisoners arrived in the West Bank city of Ramallah and in Gaza, as Israel agreed to release more than 1,900 prisoners. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump is addressing Israel’s parliament, before he’s set to head to Egypt for a peace summit with world leaders, which won’t be attended by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Read more in French analyst Pierre Haski’s latest piece: The Built-In Fragility Of The Gaza Ceasefire.

• Ukraine accuses Russia of deliberately severing line to Zaporizhzhia plant. Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha accused Moscow of deliberately severing the external power line to the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station in order to link the plant to its power grid. The plant, which was seized by Moscow’s forces in the early weeks of the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, produces no electricity at the moment, but has been without an external electricity source for nearly three weeks. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump said he was considering sending Tomahawk long-range cruise missiles to Kyiv if Russian President Vladimir Putin does not end the war in Ukraine. 

• Madagascar leader says power grab under way. Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina is set to address the nation on Monday a day after he warned in a statement that “an attempt to seize power illegally and by force” was underway in the Indian Ocean island state. This came after officers supporting youth-led protests claimed that they had taken over the leadership of the military command. Protest movements erupted on September 25, sparked by anger over power and water shortages.

• Pakistani troops on high alert after dozens killed on Afghan border. Pakistani troops were on high alert on the country’s border with Afghanistan on Monday after heavy overnight fire exchanges left dozens dead. Pakistan has closed the Torkham crossing in the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Chaman in the southwestern province of Balochistan, halting trade and leaving scores of loaded goods vehicles stranded. This marks the deadliest conflict between the neighbors since the Taliban returned to power in Kabul in 2021.

• Death toll from heavy rains in Mexico rises to 47. Rescue and aid missions are underway across Mexico as the death toll from torrential rains rose to 47 on Sunday. At least 38 people are missing in three different states after heavy rains drenched several parts of the country, triggering landslides and flooding.

• Nobel Prize for Economics goes to trio for work on innovation and growth. The final Nobel of this year’s prize season was announced on Monday with the Nobel Prize for Economics going to Dutch-born American-Israeli economic historian Joel Mokyr, French economist Philippe Aghion and Canadian economist Peter Howitt for their work explaining how innovation can drive economic growth.

• News Quiz! Valentin Vacherot made history by becoming the first tennis player from Monaco to win an ATP Tour singles title at the Rolex Shanghai Masters on Sunday — capturing his maiden tour-level trophy. But what was special about his opponent, Arthur Rinderknech?

A. He played barefoot
B. He wasn’t in the ATP rankings
C. He also hails from Monaco
D. He is Vacherot’s cousin
[Answer below]

📣 VERBATIM

“Ninety percent of the population rejects the demonic witch.”

— Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro branded opposition leader María Corina Machado a “demonic witch” on Sunday, two days after she won the Nobel Peace Prize for promoting democracy. The leftist leader has accused Machado of calling for a foreign invasion, as she supports U.S. military maneuvers in Caribbean waters off Venezuela while Washington opposes Maduro’s rule.

📰 IN OTHER NEWS

🇵🇸 Donald Trump and some 20 European and Middle Eastern leaders meet Monday in Egypt to discuss Gaza, but with different agendas and objectives. The risk is that this will lead to a ceasefire without a peace process, which is a recipe for future disasters.
— FRANCE INTER

🐶 From wolf rival to human companion, Canis lupus familiaris has mastered empathy, communication, and survival by being the friendliest predator of all.
— DIE ZEIT

🔮 Ask your neighbor whether they have sought out a psychic for advice or a message from a dead loved one. You might be surprised by what you hear.
— RELIGION UNPLUGGED