International News 19 October 2026
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Historic Limoges Town Hall Clock Tower Collapses After Being Set Ablaze in Nationwide French Riots
The clock tower of the historic town hall in Limoges, France, collapsed after the 143-year-old building was set on fire during a protest that turned into rioting on Saturday (October 17, 2026). In several videos circulating on social media, protesters can be heard cheering as the clock tower of the Hotel de Ville in Limoges came crashing down. The unrest spread to cities across France, including Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Lille, Saint-Etienne, and Nice. French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said about 1,200 people were arrested in the demonstrations held on Saturday. A total of 150 police officers were also injured in the riots.
Iran Backs Political Settlement Between Saudi Arabia and Houthis, Renews Offer to Mediate
Iran has voiced its support for resolving the conflict between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Houthi group through political means. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said an inclusive political process involving all parties is the only way to reach a lasting settlement. “We support an inclusive and comprehensive political process as the only practical and sustainable way to resolve this issue,” he said at a meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Baghdad on Saturday (October 17, 2026), as quoted by AFP. On the sidelines of the meeting, Araghchi again offered Iran’s services as a mediator between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis, who have long been backed by Tehran. However, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh had said earlier that the Saudi government had not yet responded to the mediation offer.
Singapore Serves Notices on Seven Firms Linked to Indonesian Forest Fires as Haze Persists
The Singapore government has sent notices to seven companies suspected of being linked to forest and land fires in Indonesia. Haze has blanketed Singapore and Malaysia for the past several weeks. Under the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act (THPA), the seven companies have been asked to take steps to deal with and prevent the fires. Singapore’s Minister for Sustainability and the Environment, Grace Fu, announced the move at a press conference on Friday (October 16, 2026). According to Bloomberg, as reported by the South China Morning Post, the smoke from Indonesia’s fires has affected air quality in both Malaysia and Singapore.