International News 26 October 2026
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Apple Launches Its First Foldable, the iPhone Duo, to Positive but More Subdued Demand
Apple began selling its first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, in markets around the world on Friday (October 23, 2026). Priced at around US$2,000, the premium device has been well received, although the excitement around its launch was not as lively as for previous iPhone generations. In major cities from Singapore, Shanghai, and London to San Francisco, demand for the iPhone Duo has been fairly strong. However, the long lines snaking around stores and the habit of customers camping overnight to be among the first buyers are no longer very visible. Apple has also limited purchase quantities and managed product availability in some markets, making the rollout feel more restrained than those of several earlier iPhone models. The iPhone Duo marks an important step for Apple as it enters the premium foldable phone market, where Samsung Electronics and Huawei Technologies have been selling similar devices for years. Apple now faces the challenge of growing the foldable segment in the way the iPhone once transformed the smartphone industry. The launch is also an early test for Apple’s new CEO, John Ternus. The former head of hardware introduced the iPhone Duo less than a week after taking over the company in September 2026.
French Protests Set to Continue as Hundreds of Thousands Rally, Unions Call for Fresh Action and a Nationwide Strike
France’s wave of demonstrations is expected to carry on after hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets on Saturday (October 24, 2026). Protest groups and trade unions have called for further action to pressure the government into responding to demands over wages, the cost of living, and public services. France’s Interior Ministry said about 410,000 people joined the national demonstrations on Saturday. To head off unrest, the government deployed 70,000 police officers, a security effort that helped prevent a repeat of the looting and vandalism that hit several cities on October 17. Union leaders called for another demonstration next Saturday and a nationwide strike on November 5. They believe public discontent has now spread well beyond the students who first set off the protests last month. “We are seeing an accumulation of anger,” Murielle Guilbert, a leader of the left-wing union federation Solidaires, told BFM TV. According to Guilbert, the grievances of students, workers, firefighters, and other groups are increasingly converging into the same wave of protest.
Saudi Arabia Intercepts Drones and Missiles Aimed at Riyadh and the South as Houthi Fighting Continues
Saudi Arabia intercepted several drones and missiles heading toward the capital, Riyadh, and the country’s southern region on Sunday (October 25, 2026). The incident came as fighting with the Iran-allied Houthi group continued amid a widening conflict across the Middle East. The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said the attack included two drones and one ballistic missile aimed at Riyadh, as well as a cruise missile headed for Khamis Mushait, a city in the south of the kingdom. The coalition later reported that it had intercepted 10 ballistic missiles fired at the southern part of the country. Before the interceptions were announced, Saudi civil defense authorities issued emergency warnings for Riyadh, Abha, and Khamis Mushait. A few minutes later, the authorities said the threat had passed.