Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei rejected US peace talks, denying President Trump's claims that Iranian nuclear facilities were destroyed in June airstrikes. Khamenei accused Washington of "imposition and bullying," stating any deal with predetermined outcomes constitutes coercion, not negotiation. He dismissed Trump's nuclear destruction claims, saying "keep dreaming," and questioned America's authority over Iran's nuclear program. Khamenei branded the US a "terror state" and accomplice in Gaza war crimes, citing over 20,000 children killed. He accused Washington of creating and controlling Daesh (ISIS) elements in West Asia. This follows Trump's recent Israeli parliament address suggesting peace negotiations with Tehran after the Gaza ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. (PC: X & History.com) 

US President Donald Trump warned China of imposing 155 percent tariffs on Chinese goods by November 1 unless President Xi Jinping agrees to a "fair trade deal." Speaking during a critical minerals agreement signing with Australian PM Anthony Albanese, Trump stated China currently pays 55 percent tariffs and emphasized America won't tolerate unfair trade practices. Despite tensions, Trump confirmed maintaining a "very good relationship" with Xi and plans to meet him soon in South Korea. The warning follows China's September halt on US soybean imports, the first since November 2018. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced US-Chinese officials would hold discussions in Malaysia this week amid ongoing trade negotiations. (PC: X) 

A Louvre security worker revealed staff repeatedly warned about security vulnerabilities before Sunday's brazen jewellery heist. Elise Muller described "obsolete" equipment and drastic staff cuts that left them unable to adequately protect the museum. Thieves used a motorised ladder at 9:30am, smashed through windows, and accessed the Apollo gallery containing French Crown Jewels belonging to Napoleon and French regents. They stole necklaces, earrings, and a tiara before fleeing on scooters, dropping Empress Eugenie's crown. Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin questioned why windows weren't secure. The prosecutor believes an organised criminal group, possibly working for collectors, executed the heist. France's Culture Ministry announced a "New Renaissance project" implementing upgraded security measures, though implementation takes time. (PC: Sky News)

US President Donald Trump warned China that he could impose 155% tariffs if no fair trade deal is reached. Speaking at the White House alongside Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Trump said China already pays 55% tariffs and could face higher rates from November 1. He added that several countries had earlier taken advantage of the US but “not anymore.” Trump expressed hope for a “very fair” deal with Chinese President Xi Jinping soon. The comments came as the US and Australia signed a critical minerals agreement, strengthening trade ties amid rising tensions with Beijing. (PC: HT)

A week after a US-brokered ceasefire, Gaza saw its deadliest day since the truce began. Israeli strikes killed at least 45 Palestinians after two Israeli soldiers died in an attack blamed on Hamas. US pressure helped stop a full collapse of the deal, with aid deliveries resuming Monday. President Trump’s envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff returned to the region to save the peace plan. Israel warned Hamas fighters to stay behind a new “Yellow Line” marking control zones. Both sides accused each other of breaking the deal, raising fears the fragile ceasefire could soon fail. (PC: BBC)

A widespread outage at Amazon Web Services (AWS) on Monday disrupted major websites and apps across the globe, including Snapchat, Robinhood, Coinbase, and Perplexity AI. The issue stemmed from AWS’s US-EAST-1 region, one of its largest data centres, causing high “error rates and latencies.” Over 6.5 million outage reports were recorded worldwide, affecting more than 1,000 companies. Some NHS services in the UK also faced limited disruption. Amazon said systems are gradually recovering, with EC2 instance launches resuming in several zones. AWS provides vital cloud infrastructure for global businesses, governments, and digital platforms. (PC: HT)

India’s High Commissioner to Canada, Dinesh Patnaik, has dismissed claims linking Indian diplomats to criminal acts in Canada, calling them “preposterous and absurd.” In an interview with CTV, Patnaik said the threat from Khalistani groups is Canada’s domestic issue, not India’s. He added that New Delhi is still waiting for evidence from Ottawa. Patnaik expressed concern over his own security, saying it was unusual for an envoy to need protection. He emphasized that both countries are rebuilding ties through security dialogue. Relations have remained tense since Canada’s 2023 allegations of Indian involvement in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. (PC: India Today)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he is ready to join proposed peace talks between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in Hungary if invited. The comment came after a tense White House meeting with Trump, which Zelensky described as “frank.” Reports said the talks turned heated, with Trump urging Ukraine to accept Russian terms. Zelensky said his goal is a “just peace,” not a quick one, and criticized Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban as an unsuitable host. The meeting ended without progress on Zelensky’s request for Tomahawk missiles, as Trump took a cautious stance on future military aid. (PC: BBC)

Nepal celebrated Kukur Tihar on Monday, a festival dedicated to honoring dogs for their loyalty and companionship. As part of the five-day Tihar festival, people across homes and police stations adorned dogs with marigold garlands and red tika. Nepal Police held a special ceremony at its Canine Division, where service dogs were worshipped and rewarded for their service. Families prepared warm milk, eggs, meat, and sweets for their pets and stray dogs. Kukur Tihar is rooted in the belief that dogs are sacred messengers of Yama, the god of death, guiding souls to the afterlife. (PC: The Telegraph)

A massive fire at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Saturday may cause over $1 billion in damages, experts say. The blaze in the airport’s cargo section lasted 27 hours and destroyed clothes, raw materials, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals. Around 35 people were injured. Bangladesh, the world’s second-largest clothing exporter after China, could see affected businesses lose future buyers. Flights and airport operations were temporarily suspended. The cause is still under investigation, with authorities warning of action if sabotage is found. This fire is the third major blaze in Bangladesh in a week, raising concerns about safety and infrastructure. (PC: BBC)