In a chilling court confession, Sara Sharif's father, Urfan Sharif, told police, "I've killed my daughter," after fleeing to Pakistan. He claimed he "legally punished" 10-year-old Sara, leading to her death. Sara’s body, discovered in her Woking home in August 2023, showed signs of weeks of brutal abuse, including broken bones, burns, and bite marks. A note left by Sharif stated, "I lost it… my intention was not to kill her." Sharif, alongside Sara’s stepmother, Beinash Batool, and uncle, Faisal Malik, is on trial for murder. All three deny the charges.

Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has called on the European Union to suspend its free trade agreement with Israel due to its actions in Gaza and Lebanon. Both Spain and Ireland have advocated for months to review the EU-Israel Association Agreement, citing possible human rights violations. Ireland's Foreign Minister Micheal Martin accused Israel of attempting to remove UN peacekeepers to act freely in Lebanon. Martin emphasized the need for international oversight, stating that Israel’s actions undermine the UN and international law. UNIFIL troops have reportedly faced multiple attacks from Israel in recent days.    

Israel escalated its conflict with Hezbollah, killing 18 people in a strike on the Christian-majority town of Aitou in northern Lebanon. This is the first major strike outside of Hezbollah’s stronghold in southern Lebanon. Israel has also ordered the evacuation of residents in 25 southern Lebanese villages as it intensifies military operations against Hezbollah. The conflict, which resumed last year, continues to escalate, involving extensive Hezbollah tunnel networks. The United Nations peacekeeping forces (UNIFIL) have reported multiple attacks on their bases by Israeli forces, raising concerns about violations of international law.

Sergei Skripal, the former Russian double agent who survived a Novichok poisoning in 2018, has blamed Russian President Vladimir Putin for ordering the attack. Skripal, who sold Russian secrets to Britain, made the accusation during an inquiry into the death of Dawn Sturgess, an unwitting victim of the nerve agent. In his statement, Skripal claimed that Putin is "very interested in poison" and enjoys reading books about it. While Skripal offered no concrete evidence, he said he believes Putin must have given permission for the attack. Three Russian intelligence officers have been charged in the case but remain at large.

After 20 years of research, scientists have confirmed that the remains found in Seville’s Cathedral belong to famed explorer Christopher Columbus. Using advanced DNA technology, researchers matched the bones to Columbus' descendants, solving the 500-year-old mystery of his final resting place. Columbus' body had been moved several times after his death in 1506, making it difficult to confirm his burial site. The study, led by forensic scientist Miguel Lorente, used DNA from Columbus’ brother and son to achieve a match. The discovery will be featured in a TVE program, also addressing questions about Columbus' nationality.

China has launched military drills around Taiwan, deploying warships and fighter jets as a warning to Taiwan's independence movement. The United States called these actions "unwarranted" and urged restraint, warning of possible escalation. Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te vowed to protect the island's sovereignty, as the drills took place to the north, south, and east of the island. Taiwan's defense ministry responded with appropriate forces. China described the drills as necessary to safeguard its sovereignty. The situation remains tense, with both sides closely monitoring each other.

Google CEO Sundar Pichai congratulated Elon Musk after SpaceX successfully completed a major test flight of its Starship rocket. In a groundbreaking achievement, the launch tower's mechanical arms, called "chopsticks," caught the rocket's booster mid-air after it returned to the launch pad. This is the first time SpaceX has recovered a booster directly at the launch site, instead of on ocean platforms. Pichai praised the feat, admitting he watched the video many times. SpaceX aims to develop reusable rockets for future missions to the Moon and Mars, making space travel more accessible.

A Hezbollah drone successfully breached Israel's Iron Dome air defense system, resulting in the deaths of 4 soldiers and injuring 60 others at an army base near Binyamina. The drone, identified as Mirsad-1, employed tactics to evade detection, including flying at low altitudes and launching under the cover of rocket fire. This incident marks one of the deadliest attacks on the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) since the ongoing conflict began. The IDF is investigating how the drone evaded their radar systems, amid concerns over the increasing threat of Hezbollah's drone capabilities.

Nima Rinji Sherpa, an 18-year-old from Nepal, has made history by becoming the youngest person to summit all 14 of the world's 8,000-meter peaks. He completed this remarkable feat on October 9 by reaching the summit of Tibet's Shisha Pangma, standing at 8,027 meters. Sherpa was welcomed home with cheers in Kathmandu, where he expressed gratitude for the support. The previous record was held by Mingma Gyabu 'David' Sherpa, who achieved it at age 30 in 2019. Nima began climbing at 16 and comes from a family renowned in the mountaineering community.

Daron Acemoglu, Simon Johnson (MIT), and James A. Robinson (University of Chicago) have been awarded the 2024 Nobel Economics Prize for their pioneering work on the role of institutions in shaping economic prosperity. Their research shows that societies with weak rule of law and exploitative institutions fail to achieve sustainable growth. By examining how institutions are formed and their influence on economic progress, the laureates provide valuable insights into conditions necessary for development. The prestigious award includes a reward of 11 million Swedish crowns and recognizes their contribution to understanding how institutions drive long-term prosperity.