The Newsmakers

Iraq's central government launched a major offensive to retake the northern city of Kirkuk from Kurdish forces. The fighting was sparked voters overwhelmingly supported a referendum to form their own state. The advance was swift. Within a day, residents say troops loyal to Baghdad entered the city, seized airport, oil fields and nearby industrial towns.

President Uhuru Kenyatta's re-election in August faced so many allegations of fraud that the Supreme Court annulled the results. A new poll is set to take place later this month. But Kenya's top opposition figure Raila Odinga dropped out of the race, saying the electoral commission hadn’t taken the necessary steps to ensure a free and fair poll. But will his withdrawal lead to any reforms? Or has he handed his rival a second term?

Spanish PM Mariano Rajoy says direct rule will be imposed on Catalonia if a date is set for the region to break away. The threat to end Catalan autonomy was issued after the federal government said it could order the arrest of more than 700 Catalan officials, including mayors and other politicians.

The US Secretary of Defense James Mattis has complicated a major diplomatic dispute over infrastructure. At issue is the China Pakistan Economic Corridor, known as CPEC. It's a massive system of transportation and energy projects, which runs through Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Mattis upset Pakistan by implying the plan threatens Indian sovereignty. China now fears the comment could upend their investment, worth tens of billions of dollars.

The new US ambassador to Russia, Jon Huntsman, has told the Kremlin that the return of Crimea to Ukraine is now at the top of the White House's priority list. We speak with former US ambassador to Russia Alexander Vershbow about NATO, eastern Ukraine, and Moscow’s growing influence abroad.

The new US ambassador to Russia, Jon Huntsman, has told the Kremlin that the return of Crimea to Ukraine is now at the top of the White House's priority list. We speak with former US ambassador to Russia Alexander Vershbow about NATO, eastern Ukraine, and Moscow’s growing influence abroad.

The announcement by the US that it was suspending visa services, was met with a swift response from Turkey which matched the measures almost word-for-word. It came after Turkey's arrest of a US consulate worker, who the ambassador says was just doing his job, but who Turkey claims is being investigated for links to terrorism. This dispute represents a new low in an alliance that's been under increasing strain for the past year. The Turkish prime minister says the crisis needs to be resolved immediately. But how?

Militants have attacked and killed another UN peacekeeper at a base in the Democratic Republic of Congo, adding to a growing death toll for the force in recent weeks.

It happened in the east of the country, which has been wracked with violence for years. Recently, the UN announced it was cutting the budget for its peacekeeping force there, with Secretary General Antonio Guterres urging the country to hold elections. DRC president Joseph Kabila says they'll happen soon, but his mandate expired last year and his refusal to step down is adding to the political uncertainty. But if the opposition took power, would they be able to quell the attacks?

The White House has pulled embassy staff out of Havana, ordered Cuban officials to leave Washington, and issued a warning for Americans to stay away from the country. It all stems from a dispute that has many people puzzled. US diplomats working in Havana have been struck with mysterious illnesses ever since Donald Trump took office. Is Cuba to blame? And are the gains of former president Barack Obama unravelling?

On the eve of Russia's biggest display of firepower, Sweden put on a show of its own. 19,000 troops took part in the country's largest war games in 20 years.

The military maneuvers were supported by NATO. That's an organisation Sweden has long steered clear of, until now, as the government considers joining the alliance. But Moscow has warned Stockholm against that decision, even though President Vladimir Putin promises that his country poses no threat. So, could this be the end of the Swedish policy of non-alignment? And how do Swedes feel about it? Randolph Nogel traveled there to find out.