Big shakeup in latest UN Security Council votes on SecGen race: no apparent candidate (LINK) — 7 October 2026

— PassBlue: Rebeca Grynspan, nominated by her country Costa Rica, retained her lead in the race, but she dipped to 9 "encourage" votes on Oct. 7 from 10 encourage in the most-recent poll, on Sept. 29. Opposition to her candidacy doubled (6 "discourage") as well, according to the results of the Wednesday straw poll seen by PassBlue. The next straw poll is scheduled for Oct. 16.


Spanish pensioner whose eviction sparked nationwide protests dies (LINK) — 7 October 2026

— Maricarmen Abascal, 87, was forcibly removed on a stretcher from her apartment of more than 70 years on 23 September after she was unable to afford steep rent increases. The company that owned the flat later offered to allow her to return at a lower rate but she was unable to sign an agreement as she had been admitted to hospital.

Sri Lanka arrests ex-First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa in her Siriliya Saviya Foundation charity graft probe (ground news LINK) — 7 October 2026


African Union to launch continent's first credit rating agency — in Mauritius (ground news LINK) — 7 October 2026

— Twenty-Three African countries lack any credit rating from traditional agencies, while standard models overlook Africa's huge informal sectors; African borrowers paid $9 per $100 borrowed in 2024 versus $4.70 in Asia and $6.50 in Latin America.


Israel may have violated US visa waiver terms through failure to conduct air crew background checks (LINK) — 7 October 2026


India joins global rate-tightening wave with first rate hike in nearly 4 years (ground news LINK) — 7 October 2026