News of 31 October 2026

Foreign ministers of the Group of 20 economies opened a two-day meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, on Friday 30 Oct, hosted by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is attending despite international sanctions, and several European officials objected to appearing with him, prompting the cancellation of a traditional group photo. Rubio urged members to cooperate against threats to energy and food supply and freedom of navigation. Global energy prices have risen sharply since the US and Israel struck Iran in February. Few breakthroughs are expected, and the United States plans to publish a chair summary instead of a final declaration.

Reddit shares fell sharply on Friday, the steepest single-day drop on record, after the company warned that Google's AI-driven search was reducing traffic to its site. The company said its daily active unique visitors could fall by a low double-digit percentage in the fourth quarter if referral traffic keeps weakening. Reddit reported third-quarter earnings per share of $1.40 against $1.35 expected and revenue of $895 million against $878 million expected. Analysts said the company's market value could lose more than $7 billion if current losses continue.

Britain has refused entry to Swedish climate academic Andreas Malm, who says he was turned away on Friday. The Home Office cancelled his Electronic Travel Authorisation, telling him his presence in the UK is not conducive to the public good, without further explanation. Malm was due to speak next Wednesday at an event organised by the socialist magazine Tribune alongside Huda Ammori, co-founder of Palestine Action, a group proscribed as a terrorist organisation in the UK. Malm said he believes the decision is linked to that appearance. The Home Office says it does not comment on individual cases. Britain's Supreme Court is due to hear an appeal next week on the group's proscription.

On 30 Oct, tens of thousands marched through Rome and other cities in a general strike organized by the USB union, with police deploying heavily after earlier unrest in Turin and Milan. Demonstrators, including students, farmers, truck drivers and taxi drivers, followed a route that began at Termini station, passed the Colosseum and the Economy Ministry, and was led by tractors and a taxi. The union estimates nationwide participation between 1 million and 1.5 million people, while independent counts put the total at over 200 000, with about 50 000 in Rome and Bologna each. Protesters called for increased school funding, housing support and a shift of defence spending toward social needs, citing rents of up to €1,200 per month for a single student room in Rome.