International news from Thursday, October 30th, 2025

The US has granted India a six-month sanctions waiver to operate the Iranian port of Chabahar, India said on Thursday, boosting its efforts to enhance trade with Afghanistan and Central Asian countries bypassing Pakistan.

Israeli planes and tanks pounded areas in eastern Gaza on Thursday, Palestinian residents and witnesses said, a day after Israel said it remained committed to a US-backed ceasefire despite launching more lethal bombardments in the territory.

Afghanistan and Pakistan will restart peace talks in Istanbul, three sources familiar with the matter said on Thursday, a day after Islamabad said the discussions had ended in failure.

Police have arrested five more suspects linked to the theft of treasures worth $102 million from the Louvre museum's Apollo gallery, the Paris prosecutor said on Thursday, expressing hope the latest developments will help them find the jewels.

Indonesian authorities are investigating food poisoning cases involving nearly 700 children in Yogyakarta province this week, after students ate meals prepared under President Prabowo Subianto's key free school meal programme, an official said.

US President Donald Trump said on Thursday he had agreed to reduce tariffs on China to 47 per cent in exchange for Beijing resuming US soybean purchases, keeping rare earths exports flowing and cracking down on the illicit trade of fentanyl.

Hurricane Melissa barreled through the northern Caribbean on Wednesday after thrashing Cuba's second-biggest city, isolating hundreds of rural communities, unleashing devastation in Jamaica and drenching Haiti, where at least 25 were killed.

The deadliest police operation against drug gangs in Brazil's history has killed at least 121 people, authorities said on Wednesday, as Rio de Janeiro residents lined a street with dozens of corpses found overnight.

Israeli airstrikes on Gaza have killed at least 104 people on Wednesday, according to Gaza health authorities, with Israel stating they remain committed to the US-backed ceasefire.