More stories

1. ‘Less than a minute’: Hong Kong travellers praise Japan’s new tax refund at airports South China Morning Post · 1 Nov 2026

   Hong Kong tour groups returning from Japan have praised a smooth roll-out of the country’s new tax refund arrangement that requires travellers to complete refund procedures at airports or ports rather than at shops. Under the “pay first, refund later” scheme, which took effect on Sunday to curb…

2. North Korea-linked hacking group likely behind GMO cyberattack: Sources SPH Media · 1 Nov 2026

   The company appears to have already reported the matter to the Government.

3. Former minister Gerard Collins dies aged 88 RTÉ · 1 Nov 2026

   Former Fianna Fáil minister and MEP Gerard Collins has died aged 88.

4. Rise in non-Irish citizens in homeless accommodation RTÉ · 1 Nov 2026

   The number of non-Irish citizens in emergency accommodation has significantly increased, the Minister for Housing has said.

5. Alibaba partners with Apple to integrate Qwen AI model into Apple Intelligence for Chinese market Express Tribune · 1 Nov 2026

   Chinese tech company Alibaba Group has partnered with Apple to integrate its Qwen AI model into Apple Intelligence for the Chinese market, state-run Xinhua news agency reported Saturday. The feature will be available for testing in the latest iOS developer beta starting Nov. 4 and will launch with…

6. Russian strikes cut power to thousands in Ukraine as drones damage Russian facility Express Tribune · 1 Nov 2026

   Russian strikes left hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians without power on Sunday, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said, while Russian authorities reported major damage to an industrial site following Ukrainian drone attacks on Nizhny Novgorod region. Even as a six-day local ceasefire held on its final…

7. Strike at industrial complex in Saudi Arabia's Dammam causes huge fire: Iranian state media Express Tribune · 1 Nov 2026

   A strike at an industrial complex in Saudi Arabia's Dammam caused a huge fire on Sunday, Iran's state-run IRNA News Agency reported. "A Yemeni strike hit an industrial complex in Dammam, eastern Saudi Arabia, sparking a large fire at the facility," IRNA said in a post on X. A major blaze erupted at…

8. CNA Explains: Why are violent Gen Z protests breaking out across Europe? CNA · 1 Nov 2026

   From Germany to France, young Europeans are protesting over living costs, education and housing. CNA looks at why these protests are breaking out across Europe, if they are connected and what risks they pose.

9. BON Awards 2026: Love and New Notes, The Herd, Colours of Fire lead nominations Premium Times · 1 Nov 2026

   The nominations list, released by the organisers ahead of this year's ceremony in Enugu, also features productions competing across acting, directing, technical and major film categories. The post BON Awards 2026: Love and New Notes, The Herd, Colours of Fire lead nominations appeared first on…

10. PDP, NDC members defect to APC as ‘Tinubu Must Stay’ spreads to Jigawa Vanguard · 1 Nov 2026

    By Omeiza Ajayi ABUJA: Some members of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP and the Nigeria Democratic Congress NDC have defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress APC in Jigawa State. They announced their defection in Garun Gabas Ward of Malam Madori Local Government Area at the inauguration of a…