Lee Kun-Hee, force behind Samsung’s rise, dies at 78

Lee Kun-Hee, who transformed Samsung Electronics from a small television maker into a global giant of consumer electronics, has died.

Italy closes gyms, shuts eateries early amid rising COVID-19 cases

Italy’s leader has imposed at least a month of new restrictions to fight rising coronavirus infections, shutting down gyms, pools and movie theaters and putting an early curfew on cafes and restaurants.

Spain orders nationwide curfew to stem worsening outbreak

Spain’s 19 regional leaders will have authority to set different hours for the curfew as long as they are stricter, close regional borders to travel and limit gatherings to six people who don’t live together, the prime minister said.

Suicide bombing at Kabul education center kills at least 18

Afghanistan’s interior ministry says a suicide attack outside an educational center in the capital, Kabul, has killed at least 18 people and wounded 57 others, including schoolchildren.

WHO director warns of ‘critical juncture’ in COVID-19 pandemic in Northern Hemisphere

WHO Director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the Northern Hemisphere faces a critical moment in the battle against the novel coronavirus amid rising infections and a death count with no apparent end in sight.

U.S. stepping up diplomatic efforts to try to end fighting between Armenia and Azerbaijan

The Trump administration waded cautiously Friday into international efforts to halt fighting between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which are engaged in their worst conflict in more than 25 years.

Dutch hospital airlifts patients to Germany amid COVID-19 surge

The clatter of the helicopter’s rotors as it lifted off from Amsterdam was a noisy reminder of how the coronavirus is again gripping Europe.

US signs international anti-abortion declaration

The Geneva Consensus Declaration was signed by some 31 United Nations members to build a coalition around the issue of defending life and where nations stand on women’s health.

Trump: Sudan to normalize ties with Israel in US-brokered deal

President Donald Trump says Sudan will start to normalize ties with Israel, making it the third Arab state to do so in the run-up to Election Day.

Edward Snowden is granted permanent residency in Russia

Snowden, a former contractor with the NSA, has been living in Russia since 2013 to escape prosecution in the U.S. after leaking classified documents detailing government surveillance programs.

Man protects 300 dogs from Hurricane Delta by bringing them inside his home to keep them safe

As the dangerous Hurricane Delta closed in on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, Ricardo Pimentel opened his home — to about 300 dogs. All survived the storm thanks to Pimentel and his animal rescue group.

Wales to implement 2-week 'firebreak' lockdown as COVID-19 cases spike

All non-essential retail, leisure, hospitality and tourism businesses in Wales will close for two weeks beginning Oct. 23 — a lockdown similar in scope to the U.K.-wide measures imposed in March.

Suspect in French teacher's beheading was Chechen teen, police say

French authorities say a suspect shot dead by police after the beheading of a history teacher near Paris was an 18-year-old Chechen refugee unknown to intelligence services who posted a grisly claim of responsibility on social media minutes after the attack.

WHO study finds 4 drugs have little to no effect on COVID-19

The world's largest randomized trial of COVID-19 treatments found “conclusive evidence” that remdesivir has little or no effect on severe cases.

Record daily COVID-19 cases in Germany, Italy deepen worries across Europe

Record daily COVID-19 infection figures in Germany, the Czech Republic, Italy and Poland are adding to fears that Europe is running out of chances to contain the pandemic.