*) Lafarge pleads guilty to supporting Daesh, agrees to pay $778M fine

French cement maker Lafarge has pleaded guilty to a US charge that it made payments to groups designated as terrorists by the United States, including Daesh.

The admission in Brooklyn federal court marked the first time a company has pleaded guilty in the US to charges of providing material support to a terrorist organisation.

Lafarge acknowledged that it paid nearly 12.8 million dollars to middlemen to keep its Syrian cement factory running in 2013 and 2014.

*) Biden to release 15 mln barrels from US oil reserves: official

US President Joe Biden will announce Wednesday that he's putting the final 15 million barrels on the market from a record release of US strategic oil reserves.

The new tranche of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve will be completing the 180 million barrel release authorised in the spring.

The US decision to release oil from its reserves came in response to price hikes linked to Russia's offensive in Ukraine, a senior US official said.

*) Germany's cybersecurity chief sacked over links with Russian intelligence

The head of Germany's national cybersecurity agency has been dismissed following reports of possible ties to Russian intelligence.

The Interior Ministry said that the head of the BSI agency was dismissed following the allegations, which "damaged the necessary confidence of the public in the neutrality and impartiality" of his management.

*) Pakistan backs Saudi Arabia after OPEC+ output cut riles US

Pakistan has thrown its weight behind longtime ally Saudi Arabia amid an ongoing rift over global oil production cuts and the US threatening Riyadh with consequences.

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said that in context of the OPEC Plus decision, Islamabad expresses solidarity with the leadership of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Pakistan’s statement comes amid rising tensions between Saudi Arabia and the US, which had strongly opposed the proposed oil production cuts by the kingdom-led oil cartel.

And finally…

*) Netflix subscriber numbers re-ignite after chilly start to year

Netflix says it has gained more than 2 million subscribers in the recent quarter, calming investor fears that the streaming giant was losing paying customers.

The company said it ended the third quarter with slightly more than 223 million subscribers worldwide, after seeing subscriber ranks ebb during the first half of the year.

Netflix shares shot up more than 14 percent in after hours trading to $275 on the earnings news.

*) US warns of sanctions over Iran drone ties after Kiev strikes

The United States has warned it would take action against companies and nations working with Iran's drone programme after Russia used the imports for deadly kamikaze strikes in Kiev.

State Department spokesperson said, "Anyone doing business with Iran that could have any link to UAVs or ballistic missile developments or the flow of arms from Iran to Russia should be very careful and do their due diligence.”

He added that the US will not hesitate to use sanctions or take actions against perpetrators.

*) Türkiye criticises Greece's 'shameless' mistreatment of refugees

Türkiye has lashed out at Greece for falsely accusing Ankara of mistreating refugees, calling Athens "shameless.”

Turkish Foriegn Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Greece is known for its record on violations of international law, therefore, it is natural for Greece to attempt to slander Türkiye as its own crimes multiply.

Cavusoglu was addressing a news conference after a meeting in Istanbul of foreign ministers of the Council of Turkic States.

*) UK's Truss apologises for economic mistakes, will 'stick around'

Britain's Prime Minister Liz Truss has apologised for what she called "mistakes" in her programme that caused investor confidence to evaporate and her poll ratings to plunge.

Truss told the BBC she accepts responsibility and that she is sorry for the mistakes that have been made.

She added that she wanted to act to help people with their energy bills to deal with the issue of high taxes, but her administration “went too far and too fast.”

*) Australia walks back recognition of West Jerusalem as Israeli capital — FM

Australia has reversed the previous government's recognition of West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

It said the issue should be resolved as part of peace talks between Israel and Palestine.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong said that Australia is committed to a two-state solution in which Israel and a future Palestinian state coexist in peace and security.

*) Benzema, Putellas win 2022 Ballon d’Or awards

Karim Benzema has won the men’s Ballon d’Or for the first time after a brilliant season with Real Madrid capped by the Champions League and Spanish league titles.

Spanish player Alexia Putellas won the women’s trophy for the second straight year following another standout season with Barcelona.

Benzema had his best season ever at Madrid, being the top scorer in both leagues. He scored 44 times for Madrid, including 15 in Europe’s top competition.

*) Ukrainian presidency says Kiev attacked by 'kamikaze drones'

Ukraine says its capital Kiev has been attacked by "kamikaze drones" after several explosions were heard in the central Shevchenko district of the capital.

Ukrainian president's chief of staff Andriy Yermak said the Russians think it will help them, but it shows their desperation.

The explosions come exactly a week after Russian missile strikes on the Ukrainian capital.

*) Rebels in Ethiopia's Tigray announces they will abide ceasefire

Insurgents in Ethiopia's rebel-held Tigray region have announced that they would respect a ceasefire as fighting intensified in the country's war-torn north.

International concern is growing around the fate of Shire, a city of 100,000 people in northwest Tigray, where Ethiopian and Eritrean troops have launched a joint offensive.

The UN chief joined the United States and other Western powers in voicing alarm over the worsening violence and called for a peaceful settlement to the conflict.

*) UK parliamentarians readying to force Liz Truss to resign — report

British lawmakers will try to oust Prime Minister Liz Truss this week despite Downing Street's warning that it could trigger a general election, according to local media.

More than 100 members of parliament belonging to the governing Conservative Party are ready to submit letters of no confidence in Truss to the head of the Conservative Party's committee.

Britain has lost three prime ministers since it voted to leave the European Union in 2016.

*) Floods in Nigeria claim over 600 lives — government

More than 600 people are now known to have perished in the worst floods in a decade in Nigeria.

Nigeria's ministry of humanitarian affairs said that the disaster has also forced more than 1.3 million from their homes.

The flooding also completely destroyed more than 82,000 houses and nearly 110,000 hectares of farmland.

*) Mbappe rules out reports suggesting 'asked to leave' PSG

Kylian Mbappe has insisted that he "never asked to leave" Paris Saint-Germain despite widespread reports that he would seek a move away from the club as soon as possible.

The 23-year-old France superstar was speaking in the wake of PSG's 1-0 win over Marseille, in which he set up Neymar for the only goal as his side moved three points clear at the top of Ligue 1.

Mbappe said, "I am very happy. I have never asked to leave in January," insisting that he was not "implicated directly or indirectly" in the rumours about his future.

*) Palestine's Fatah, Hamas sign 'historic' reconciliation deal in Algeria

Palestinian factions have signed an agreement in Algiers aimed at resolving 15 years of discord by holding elections within a year after months of talks mediated by Algeria.

The deal aims to end a rift between President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement and Hamas that has split Palestinian governance in besieged Gaza from the occupied West Bank.

It also stipulates elections for the Palestinian National Council, a parliament for Palestinians including the millions-strong diaspora.

*) Lebanon endorses maritime border deal with Israel

Lebanon has approved a US-brokered maritime border deal with Israel, unlocking significant offshore gas production for the eastern Mediterranean neighbours.

Announcing the approval of the deal, Lebanese President Michel Aoun described it as a "historic achievement".

He said Lebanon was able to recover a disputed area of 860 square kilometres under the agreement.

*) Iraq gets new president, PM after months of political gridlock

Iraq now has a new president and prime minister after a year of political gridlock and violence in the war-scarred nation.

Abdul Latif Rashid, 78, replaces Barham Saleh as head of state after the two-round vote in parliament on Thursday, winning more than 160 votes against 99 for Saleh.

After the vote, Iraq's newly elected president named Mohammed Shia al Sudani as prime minister-designate.

*) Residents in 'annexed' Kherson begin fleeing to Russia

Evacuees from Ukraine's southern Kherson region are expected to begin arriving in Russia after a Moscow-installed official suggested residents should leave for safety.

The development is seen as a sign of Moscow's weakening hold on territory it claims to have annexed.

The first civilians fleeing from Kherson were due to arrive in Russia's Rostov region on Friday, according to the TASS news agency.

And finally…

*) More than 600,000 tickets sold for T20 World Cup

More than 600,000 tickets have been sold for the Twenty20 World Cup in Australia.

The global showpiece starts on Sunday at the preliminary stage, before the big guns join in from October 22.

Seven Australian cities are hosting the tournament.

*) UN condemns Russia's 'illegal annexation' of Ukraine territories

The UN General Assembly has voted overwhelmingly to condemn what it called Russia's "attempted illegal annexation" of four Ukrainian regions..

It demanded that Moscow immediately reverse its actions.

The vote in the 193-member world body was 143-5 with 35 abstentions, the strongest support from the General Assembly for Ukraine and against Russia.

*) Saudi Arabia rejects framing OPEC+ oil cut decision as political

Saudi Arabia has rejected as "not based on facts" statements criticising the kingdom after an OPEC+ decision to cut its oil production target despite US objections.

The OPEC+ decision was adopted through consensus, took into account the balance of supply and demand and was aimed at curbing market volatility, the Saudi foreign ministry said.

US President Joe Biden pledged earlier that "there will be consequences" for US relations with Saudi Arabia after oil production’s cut.

*) Türkiye's aim is to stop bloodshed in Russia-Ukraine conflict: President

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that Türkiye's aim is to stop bloodshed in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict as soon as possible despite hurdles.

Speaking at the sixth summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia, Erdogan said "Our goal is to continue the momentum gained despite the difficulties on the ground.”

He added that Türkiye's intensive efforts with the UN and the two parties to the conflict to curb the negative effects of the war have gained the appreciation of the entire world.

*) North Korea's Kim warns 'enemies' after cruise missile tests

North Korea has test-fired a pair of strategic long-range cruise missiles in the latest of a flurry of drills to highlight its tactical nuclear capability.

The country’s leader Kim Jong-un expressed "great satisfaction" as he oversaw the test firing of these missiles that travelled 2,000 kilometres over the sea.

Kim said the country should continue to expand the operational sphere of the nuclear strategic armed forces to resolutely deter any war crisis at any time.

And finally…

*) Football ace Salah sets Champions League record with fastest hat-trick

Mohamed Salah has come off the bench to score the fastest-ever hat-trick in Champions League history as Liverpool routed Rangers 7-1 at Ibrox.

The Egyptian came on in the second half with his team-leading 3-1 and proceeded to fire a stunning treble in just six minutes and 12 seconds to set a new benchmark in the competition.

Bafetimbi Gomis previously held the record from 2011 when he took eight minutes to complete his hat-trick.

*) G7 leaders vow to hold Putin accountable for Ukraine missile strikes

World powers have said that they would hold Russian leader Vladimir Putin responsible for recent widespread aerial strikes on Ukrainian cities including Kiev.

The G7 condemned the attacks in the strongest possible terms, saing indiscriminate attacks on innocent civilian populations constitute a war crime.

The G7 leaders also criticised Russia's "irresponsible nuclear rhetoric".

*) Turkish president heads to Kazakhstan for talks, regional summit

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has departed for the Kazakh capital Astana to meet with his counterpart Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and to participate in a regional summit.

Erdogan and Tokayev will hold one-on-one talks and attend inter-delegation meetings to discuss bilateral relations and international issues after an official welcoming ceremony.

Erdogan is expected to meet participating leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, on the sideline of the summit

*) Biden warns of 'consequences' for Saudi Arabia over OPEC+ oil cuts

US President Joe Biden has promised what he called “consequences” for Saudi Arabia after a Riyadh-led coalition of oil-producing nations sided with Russia to cut output in a bid to boost prices.

The 13-nation OPEC cartel and its 10 allies angered the White House last week with its decision to cut production by two million barrels a day, raising fears that oil prices could soar.

Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister said on Tuesday that the OPEC+ decision was purely economic and was taken unanimously.

*) Gambia police probe links child deaths to India-made syrups

Gambian police say the deaths of 69 children from acute kidney injury are linked to four cough syrups made in India and imported into the West African country.

World Health Organization investigators had already found "unacceptable" levels of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol, which can be toxic, in four products made by New Delhi-based Maiden Pharmaceuticals Limited.

India on Wednesday halted production of these syrups at the factory.

*) Disney pushes back several Marvel movie release dates

Walt Disney has announced that it will be pushing back the release dates for numerous upcoming Marvel films including, "Blade," "Fantastic Four" and "Avengers: Secret Wars."

Following "Blade" director Bassam Tariq's departure from the project in September, Marvel has decided to temporarily shut down production of the film to search for a new director.

Delay of Blade’s premiere has impacted the rest of the studios' production scheduling.

*) UN fears Russian strikes to provoke more displacements

The United Nations refugee chief has warned more people will be forced to flee their homes in Ukraine after Russian missiles rained down on Kiev and other Ukrainian cities.

UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said the bombing of civilians, of houses and of non-military infrastructure in an indiscriminate manner, means the war is becoming harder and more difficult for civilians.

Grandi said he feared that the latest events will provoke more displacements.

*) Iran enhances its ability on uranium enrichment — IAEA

Iran is rapidly expanding its ability to enrich uranium with advanced centrifuges at its underground plant at Natanz, a confidential UN nuclear watchdog report has shown.

While indirect talks between Iran and the US on reviving the 2015 Iran nuclear deal have stalled, Tehran has brought onstream an ever larger number of advanced centrifuges to produce enriched uranium.

These machines are far more efficient than the first-generation IR-1, the only centrifuge that the deal lets Iran use to grow its stock of enriched uranium.

*) Palestinians accuse Israelis of burning Quran as settlers storm Al Aqsa

A Palestinian official has accused Israeli settlers of burning copies of the Quran, Islam’s holy book, in the occupied West Bank city of Hebron.

Nidal Al Jabari, the director of Waqf Department in Hebron, said burnt copies of the Quran were found near the Qaytoun mosque in Hebron's Old City.

He suggested that the copies were burnt during celebrations of a Jewish holiday in recent days, calling for an investigation into the incident.

*) Hurricane Ian death toll climbs above 100 in Florida alone

The death toll from Hurricane Ian, one of the most powerful storms ever to hit the United States, has soared above 100 in Florida alone.

Homes, restaurants and businesses were ripped apart when Ian roared ashore as a powerful Category 4 hurricane on September 26.

The Florida Medical Examiners Commission confirmed that the number of storm-related fatalities rose to 102 statewide.

*) Over 200 stranded pilot whales die on Pacific Ocean's remote Pitt Island

New Zealand's conservation office has said that all 240 pilot whales stranded on the remote Pitt Island have died.

Marine technical advisor at the Department of Conservation, said a technical team had assessed the situation and euthanised the surviving whales.

He said the conservation department does not try to refloat whales in the area due to the risk of shark attack to both humans and whales.

*) Explosions rock central Kiev in apparent missile strikes

Multiple explosions rocked Kiev following months of relative calm in the Ukrainian capital.

Kiev’s mayor reported apparent Russian missile strikes in Shevchenko district, a large area in the centre of Kiev which includes the historical old town and government offices.

President Zelenskyy said that people had been killed and injured following multiple strikes on cities across Ukraine, including the bombardment of the capital.

*) Palestinians close to reaching deal with Egypt on Gaza’s gas field

The Palestine Investment Fund is close to reaching a technical deal with the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company to extract gas from the Marine gas field off the shore of Gaza.

A Palestinian source said that both sides will sign the deal at the end of 2022 under which they will agree on the distribution of shares and mechanism to sell the gas.

The source didn't give any details about Israel's position on the deal but said operating the field will be in agreement with all relevant actors.

*) Algeria, France seek to deepen ties after tensions ease

The French and Algerian prime ministers have declared a wish to "deepen" their ties as Paris seeks to repair relations with the former colony and major gas exporter.

The Algerian Prime Minister personally welcomed the French Premier’s delegation before a top-level meeting mainly addressing economic cooperation.

French and Algerian ministers present signed around a dozen texts including "declarations of intent" on employment, industrial cooperation and tourism.

*) Heavy rains continue to flood Thailand

Heavy seasonal rains have once again pounded much of Thailand, causing widespread flooding, particularly in the northeast and central regions.

Rains hit a northeastern province, where almost 20,000 people have been moved into 85 temporary shelters as floodwaters overwhelm more than 1,000 villages.

More than 200,000 households across 54 provinces have been affected by floods over 10 days until Saturday.

And finally…

*) Türkiye wins its first ever Amputee Football World Cup

Türkiye has won the 2022 Amputee Football World Cup, beating reigning champions Angola 4-1 in the final in Istanbul.

The hosts put in a dominant second-half display to lift their maiden World Cup title, after the first period ended 1-1.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was in attendance to watch the country's team play in the final game and handed the trophy to the winners himself.

*) Biden: Nuclear 'Armageddon' risk highest since '62 crisis

US President Joe Biden has said the risk of nuclear “Armageddon” is at the highest level since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, warning that Russia may use its atomic arsenal.

He said the threat is real because Vladimir Putin's military is underperforming in Ukraine, warning that even a tactical strike in a limited area could quickly spiral out of control.

Meanwhile, the White House has said repeatedly that it has seen no indication that Russia is preparing to use nuclear weapons.

*) Gunman murders at least 37 in Thai nursery attack

Thailand is mourning the death of nearly two dozen children and others killed in a nursery, in one of its worst mass shootings.

A former police officer armed with a gun and a knife killed at least 37 people, including 23 children, in a northeastern province on Thursday.

Following the attack in the daycare centre, the gunman went home and killed his wife and child before taking his own life. He was sacked from the police force in June for drug use.

*) Türkiye expects EU to call on Greece for bilateral dialogue, says president

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said Türkiye expects the European Union to call on Greece for dialogue on a bilateral basis instead of supporting illegal initiatives.

Erdogan was speaking in Czech Republic's Prague, where he took part in the first meeting of the European Political Community on Thursday.

Erdogan said he held "productive" talks at the summit, in which Türkiye shared its views, contributions and assessments on the challenges Europe is facing.

*) South Korea, US stage drills with aircraft carrier after N Korean missile launches

South Korea and the United States have begun maritime exercises with a US aircraft carrier. The drills will take place in waters off South Korea's east coast on October 7-8.

The joint drills come after North Korea launched a pair of ballistic missiles into the sea on Thursday, and later flew warplanes near the border with the South.

Defence officials from Japan, South Korea and the US discussed the latest developments in a call on Friday, condemning the North Korean launches amid heightened tensions.

And finally…

*) French author Annie Ernaux wins Nobel Literature Prize

French author Annie Ernaux, known for her simple novels drawing on personal experience, has been awarded the Nobel Literature Prize.

She was honoured "for the courage…with which she uncovers the roots, estrangements and collective restraints of personal memory", the jury said on Thursday.

The 82-year-old said in Paris the award created a responsibility to "continue the fight against injustice".

*) Putin says situation to 'stabilise', Ukraine presses counterattack

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he expects the situation to "stabilise" in Ukrainian regions annexed by the Kremlin, after Moscow suffered military setbacks.

He has also ordered his government to seize control over Europe's largest nuclear power plant in the Russia-controlled region of Zaporizhzhia.

Kiev has claimed victories over Russian troops in the eastern region of Luhansk, while the Kremlin has vowed to recapture territory lost in a lightning Ukrainian counteroffensive.

*) North Korea fires two ballistic missiles, blames US drills 'escalation'

North Korea has again fired two ballistic missiles, claiming its recent blitz of tests were necessary countermeasures against joint drills by the United States and South Korea.

North Korea has accused the US of "escalating military tensions on the Korean peninsula" and threatening regional stability.

South Korea, Japan and the US have ramped up joint military drills in recent weeks, including large-scale naval manoeuvres and anti-submarine exercises.

*) WHO probes India syrups after dozens of children die in Gambia

The World Health Organisation has issued an alert over four cough and cold syrups made by Maiden Pharmaceuticals in India.

The UN health agency has said the four syrups in question "have been potentially linked with acute kidney injuries and 66 deaths among children" in The Gambia.

It has also cautioned that contaminated medications may have been distributed outside of the West African country, warning that global exposure was "possible".

*) Three 'click chemistry' pioneers win Nobel Prize

The Nobel Chemistry Prize has been awarded to a trio of chemists from the US and Denmark who laid the foundation for a more functional form of chemistry.

Americans Carolyn Bertozzi and Barry Sharpless, together with Denmark's Morten Meldal, have been honoured "for the development of click chemistry...," the jury has said.

Click chemistry "is an elegant and efficient chemical reaction that is now in widespread use," the jury said. Among many other uses, it is utilised in the development of pharmaceuticals.

*) Grandmaster Hans Niemann defends reputation after cheating claims

American international grandmaster Hans Niemann has said he "won't back down," after chess platform chess.com reported he has "probably cheated more than 100 times" in online games.

After a victory in the US Chess Championship on Wednesday, Niemann said the game he had just won "spoke for itself and showed the chess player that I am".

Norwegian world champion Magnus Carlsen last week accused 19-year-old Niemann of cheating in a major controversy.