Oct 18, 2026, 05:30 AM UTC

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally rejected a 15-point peace plan for Gaza backed by US President Donald Trump. In televised statements to his cabinet, Netanyahu stated that the Israeli military "will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed and will continue to thwart threats against our forces."

The refusal marks a direct disagreement with Washington, coming shortly after Trump claimed diplomatic progress. Hamas had agreed to the proposed framework late last month. Netanyahu's decision highlights political pressure from far-right coalition partners who oppose concessions, alongside his campaign efforts ahead of Israel's national election on October 27. Despite the political rift, Israeli military operations in Gaza have slowed following recent American diplomatic pressure.

Sources: Cyprus Mail, France24, STV News, The Guardian, The Herald

At the United Nations General Assembly, French President Emmanuel Macron and U.S. President Donald Trump offered contrasting visions on international conflicts and diplomacy.

Macron criticized current diplomatic efforts in Gaza, describing them as a "shameful spectacle," and denounced Israeli military actions in the West Bank, drawing sharp pushback from Israeli leadership. Speaking earlier, Trump defended his unilateral foreign policy strategy, stating, "while others talk, I act." Trump threatened to "annihilate" Iran, predicted the fall of Cuba's government, and emphasized U.S. access to Venezuelan oil reserves.

On the sidelines of the assembly, Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez approached Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to request a bilateral meeting regarding Venezuela.

Sources: Canarias7, El Mundo, La Vanguardia.

US President Donald Trump announced an agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin for Moscow to supply an initial 300,000 metric tons of diesel fuel to American and global markets. The deal, which Trump described as "highly successful," aims to address domestic price pressures ahead of the November midterm elections. Follow-up deliveries could total several million tons depending on refinery capacity.

The arrangement marks a sharp reversal from recent legislation targeting Russian energy exports with sanctions over the war in Ukraine. Energy analysts and foreign policy observers expressed doubt over the plan's effectiveness, suggesting global market dynamics will limit its impact on consumer pump prices. Critics also cautioned that purchasing Russian fuel threatens to weaken international diplomatic pressure on Moscow.

Sources: BBC News, Cyprus Mail, ERR, France24, Sweden Herald.

Tens of thousands of demonstrators marched in Barcelona against soaring housing costs, with attendance estimated at 20,000 by local authorities and 120,000 by organizers. Tenant union Sindicat de Llogateres called to "paralize the country" and is coordinating with major labor unions CC.OO. and UGT to set a date for a nationwide general strike.

The march escalated when small groups burned containers and threw glass bottles, prompting riot police charges. The protest coincides with rising national political pressure. Opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo suggested Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has an incentive to call early general elections to "evitar el calvario judicial", amid reports of growing discussion within the governing party regarding potential election timing.

Sources: Canarias7, El Mundo, La Vanguardia

Italian public engagement with artificial intelligence is expanding alongside growing caution regarding societal impacts, according to recent media analyses and industry research. Audicom statistics compiled by tech analyst Vincenzo Cosenza reveal OpenAI's ChatGPT as Italy's most used application, while Google's Gemini dominates mobile devices alongside rising adoption of Anthropic's Claude and Perplexity.

Simultaneously, an SWG survey indicates a significant shift in public sentiment: positive perception of AI among Italians dropped to 49% from 68% in 2020, while concern surged to 45%. Major worries center on potential employment losses—estimated by analysts at over 400,000 global jobs—and corporate lobbying to delay state regulations. Meanwhile, Italian figures like Anthropic founder Dario Amodei remain influential in international debates on safety risks and governance.

Sources: ANSA, Corriere della Sera, Il Messaggero, Il Sole 24 Ore, La Repubblica.