Five Most-Read International Stories Today

Protests against the rising cost of living in France have spread to other European countries, including Italy, Belgium, Portugal and Albania. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has warned the United States against miscalculating in its dealings with Iran.

Although smaller than the demonstrations across France, protests elsewhere in Europe were at times marked by clashes between demonstrators and police.

Meanwhile, senior IRGC commander Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Naqdi said Tehran was preparing the “father of Iranian missiles”, after reports that the US was considering using its heaviest non-nuclear bomb, known as the “mother of all bombs”.

Here are some other international stories that drew readers’ attention today, Monday, 19 October 2026:

Protests over cost of living in France spread to Italy, Belgium and Portugal

Protests against the rising cost of living in France have spread to other European countries, including Italy, Belgium, Portugal and Albania. Although smaller than the demonstrations across France, protests elsewhere in Europe were at times marked by clashes between demonstrators and police.

Protests in Italy, Belgium and Portugal were driven by the high cost of living, which brought people onto the streets, Reuters reported on Monday, 19 October 2026. Demonstrations in Albania, meanwhile, were against alleged government corruption, a lack of jobs and poor education standards.

In France, protests took place in several cities on Saturday, 17 October, local time, with demonstrators opposing rising living costs and declining public services. Some protests descended into chaos, as hard-line groups damaged public buildings, looted luxury boutiques and supermarkets, and attacked vehicles and police officers.

Iran accuses Netanyahu of pushing US into another war to avoid prison

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of trying to drag the United States into another war with Tehran to avoid going to prison.

Araghchi warned Washington against taking further military action.

“Netanyahu is pushing America into another war so that he does not go to prison,” Araghchi said in a statement on social media platform X, Anadolu Agency reported on Monday, 19 October 2026.

As US may use ‘mother of all bombs’, Iran prepares ‘father of missiles’

Senior IRGC commander Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Naqdi warned the United States against miscalculating in its dealings with Iran.

Naqdi said Tehran was preparing the “father of Iranian missiles” to strike the energy infrastructure and investments of Iran’s enemies across the Middle East. The statement appeared to be a new threat directed at the US and its ally Israel.

Naqdi made the remarks after reports that the US was considering using its heaviest non-nuclear bomb, known as the “mother of all bombs”, Press TV reported on Monday, 19 October 2026.

Malaysia extends school closures in Johor due to haze

Authorities in the Malaysian state of Johor have extended the closure of schools and educational institutions across the state because haze continues to shroud the area. Schools will remain closed for a further five days from Monday, 19 October, local time.

Johor Education and Information Committee chairman Dr Muhammad Naqib Md Ghazali said the decision followed a meeting of the Johor Haze Management Coordination Committee, Bernama and Malay Mail reported on Monday, 19 October 2026.

He said the extension would remain subject to ongoing assessments of air quality, weather forecasts and health conditions.

French mayor beaten in West Bank; 10 suspects arrested

Israeli police have arrested 10 suspects in the West Bank over an attack by a group of Jewish settlers on an American photographer and a mayor from France. The attack comes amid international anger over the rise in settler violence in the West Bank.

In a statement, Israeli police said they had raided several locations across the West Bank and seized vehicles and evidence believed to be connected to the attack, AFP reported on Monday, 19 October 2026.

The incident took place as attacks in the West Bank have become more frequent, with Jewish settlers disrupting Palestinians’ annual olive harvest.