In Gabes, in the South of Tunisia, residents have been suffering from deadly pollution for decades, caused by the byproducts of the Tunisian Chemical Group’s local factory. Protests took place on October 11 and 12 following the serious poisoning of 69 more people, who choked on sulfur and ammonium fumes coming from the nearby factory.

Gabes

Activists and residents in Gabes, Tunisia, are urging authorities to close chemical factory units following a series of poisonings affecting nearly 100 people, including high school students. The poisonings have been linked to sulphur and ammonia fumes produced by a local chemical group that processes phosphate into fertilizer.

Environmental groups attribute the ongoing health crisis and significant loss of marine biodiversity to the careless disposal of chemical waste, particularly phosphogypsum. Despite a previous agreement to relocate the plant, no action has been taken, prompting renewed protests and the deployment of the army to guard the facility after further incidents.

Tunisian activists urge closure of factory units after poisonings

The ecosystem was assassinated, the health of its residents was sacrificed, yet Gabes possesses riches that cannot be found anywhere else. Tunisian President Qaiss Saeed spoke of his concerns about the coastal city of Gabes in early October after nearly 100 people there were poisoned in less than a month, all victims of sulphur and ammonia fumes produced by the Tunisian chemical group which transforms phosphate into fertilizer. Several of those affected were high school students, many still struggling to recover. My daughter sometimes drops things. She has vertigo or coordination problems. Strong smells like perfume and bleach make it hard for her to breathe. We need our children to live in a healthy environment. Locals say they feel the effects of the pollution every day. Abdel Wahab's daughter fell seriously ill and he and his neighbours desperately want their leaders to take the issue they face more seriously. We are really tired. I hope the president will solve our problems. We trust him. In my opinion, he needs to find a solution to pollution, especially for the poor who can't defend themselves. Environmental activists say the problem is the predictable result of the careless disposal of chemical waste. The colour of this water and the sediment that comes out tells you everything. The solid material is phosphogypsum, a by-product of the transformation of phosphates. It seeps into the ground and especially into the sea, in every part of Chot Salim. Ninety-three percent of Gebis' marine biodiversity has disappeared, largely because of the levels of industrial pollution here. Since 2012, the Stop Pollution group has tried to shut down the chemical plant. A 2017 deal with the government was supposed to lead to its relocation, but to date nothing has happened. We are expecting stronger decisions. We want to see the group dismantled and a concrete plan to clean up this whole area. As the damage mounts, so does the frustration of Gebis' people. Recently the army was deployed to guard the plant blamed for the pollution after demonstrations broke out following more poisonings in the city reported on October 10th.

President Trump confirmed that he has authorised the CIA to go into Venezuela and conduct covert operations.

Washington

Trump says he authorised covert CIA operations in Venezuela

Hamas is back on the streets of Gaza in an attempt, it says, to restore law and order -- and to send a message.

Tel Aviv-Yafo

Hamas executes Palestinians accused of collaborating with Israel

A federal judge in Oregon has extended temporary restraining orders that block the Trump administration from deploying National Guard troops to Portland. Meanwhile, federal agents in Chicago used tear gas to disperse a crowd after a car chase ended in a crash.

Chicago

Federal agents deploy tear gas in Chicago despite court order

A federal judge on Wednesday temporarily ordered the Trump administration to halt the firing of workers during the government shutdown.

Judge temporarily blocks Trump from firing workers during shutdown

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is traveling to the U.S. to meet with President Trump. The two leaders are expected to discuss the possibility of the U.S. supplying Ukraine with long-range missiles.

Ukraine Invasion

Trump to meet with Zelenskyy about long-range missiles

The U.S. military struck a fifth apparent Venezuelan boat allegedly carrying drugs, U.S. President Donald Trump announced on social media Tuesday. CBS News' Natalie Brand has more details.

Caracas

Trump says U.S. struck another alleged Venezuelan boat

News organizations including The New York Times, The Associated Press and Newsmax as well as ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN and Fox News say they will not sign new press rules as laid out in a Defense Department document. This could mean the Trump administration will evict reporters from the Pentagon.

Major U.S. news media outlets refusing to sign new Pentagon rules

Madagascar’s president ousted in a military takeover — Youth-led protests and parliament’s impeachment vote spark political turmoil.

Antananarivo

Madagascar's military seizes power, president ousted

Thousands of messages shared in a group chat of Young Republicans are revealing some racist thoughts that even they worried about being leaked. The exchanges obtained by Politico are part of a Telegram chat among Young Republican leaders in New York, Kansas, Arizona and Vermont. Jason Beeferman, New York state politics reporter for Politico, joins with more.

Politico exposes racist messages sent by Young Republican leaders

The U.S. stock market rebounded on Monday (October 13) after President Trump appeared to walk back imposing new tariffs on Chinese goods.

Markets rebound after Trump softens tone on China tariffs

U.S. President Donald Trump is heading back to the U.S. after his whirlwind trip to the Middle East, where he celebrated the first phase of a peace plan between Israel and Hamas.

Sharm El-Sheikh

Middle East Conflict

Trump, world leaders sign Gaza peace plan and discuss next steps

The government shutdown entered its third week on Monday as the Senate is set to reconvene on Tuesday. CBS News' Nikole Killion has more from Capitol Hill.

Shutdown drags into third week as Senate set to reconvene

U.S. President Donald Trump was greeted in Tel Aviv with cheers and a military ceremony as he met families of hostages held in Gaza and addressed Israel's parliament. He now travels to Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, to join world leaders in discussions on Gaza's future.

Trump meets with Israeli leaders and hostage families

Twenty living hostages were released by Hamas after more than two years in captivity as a ceasefire continues to hold. Families in Israel describe emotional reunions while others continue to await confirmation about missing relatives.

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Israeli officials have confirmed that all 20 living captives have been released in Gaza.

Israel confirms all 20 living captives in Gaza have been released

The carefully choreographed Israel-Hamas exchange is underway, with Israel set to release around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners following the release of remaining hostages held in Gaza. Noga Tarnopolsky reports from Tel Aviv’s Hostage Square.

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Following his visit to Israel, President Trump will stop in Egypt to co-host a major summit in Sharm el-Sheikh alongside Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi. The meeting will bring together leaders from more than 20 countries to discuss efforts toward peace in Gaza and the wider Middle East.

Donald Trump to co-host chair Gaza peace summit in Egypt

The French presidency announced Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu's new cabinet line-up on Sunday (October 12), with most top jobs remaining unchanged at a time when opponents are demanding a political shift to win their support for urgent budget talks.

Paris

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Seven captives have been handed over to the Red Cross, who will facilitate their transfer to Israeli forces.

Israeli military says Red Cross has received 7 captives in Gaza

On his way to the Middle East, U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters he expects the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas to hold, despite concerns Hamas won’t abide by the deal.

Trump says the 'war is over', Gaza rebuild to start immediately

China on Sunday (October 12) called U.S. President Donald Trump's latest tariffs on Chinese goods hypocritical and defended its curbs on exports of rare earth elements and equipment, but stopped short of imposing new levies on U.S. products.

Beijing

Global Tariffs

Beijing blames U.S. for trade tensions, defends rare earth curbs

Afghanistan and Pakistan said they killed dozens of each other's troops during a night of heavy border clashes between the two countries. Afghanistan's Taliban forces launched attacks on Pakistani troops along their shared border in what it called "retaliation for air strikes carried out by the Pakistani army on Kabul".

Chaman

Border clashes between Afghanistan and Pakistan leave dozens dead

A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas held in Gaza for a third day ahead of the expected release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners and an address by U.S. President Donald Trump to Israel's parliament.

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Zelenskyy called Trump for a second consecutive day to discuss defence and Ukraine's energy sector. It comes as Russia further intensifies its attacks on Ukraine's critical infrastructure ahead of its harsh winter.

Kyiv

Zelenskyy has second call with Trump amid Russian strikes

On Sunday, the minister of armed forces in Madagascar acknowledged an officer selected by a military group supporting demonstrators calling for President Andry Rajoelina to resign as the country's new army chief.

Madagascar’s president says coup underway

With a trade war between the U.S. and China intensifying ahead of a Nov. 1 tariff deadline, there’s growing concern Beijing will use Taiwan as a bargaining chip.

Taipei City

Growing fear China will use Taiwan to bargain with U.S.

In a televised address ahead of the planned release of Israeli captives and Palestinian prisoners, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for unity despite ongoing divisions.

Netanyahu urges Israel put aside ‘differences’ with Gaza

U.S. President Donald Trump blamed Democrats for his decision to lay off thousands of workers across the U.S. government as he followed through on his threat to cut the federal workforce during the government shutdown.

Trump lays off thousands of U.S. government workers amid shutdown

Thousands gathered in Tel Aviv as 48 of the last remaining hostages are expected home after two years of the Israel-Hamas war. The crowd cheered Donald Trump as the peace deal's broker but there were jeers for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Tel Aviv braces for hostage release planned for Monday

Diane Keaton, the Oscar-winning star of Annie Hall and The Godfather films, died Saturday at the age of 79, according to U.S. media reports. Entertainment journalist Johanna Schneller remembers Keaton as 'feisty and funny'.

Breakdown