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US senators call for investigation into Ukraine's Starlink restrictions

Photo: BBC

A bipartisan group of US senators has signed a letter demanding an urgent investigation into disruptions to SpaceX's Starlink internet network in Ukraine.

Starlink is a vital tool allowing Kyiv to guide drones to Russian targets and protect its own skies, but on Tuesday night Ukraine said it had unexpectedly restricted how fast drones could fly while maintaining internet connection.

In the letter, sent to the US defence department inspector general, the senators express "grave concern" about reports of speed curbs between 12 and 14 October.

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Iran says Strait of Hormuz will reopen if U.S. leaves region

Saudi-led coalition spokesperson Maj. Gen. Turki Al-Maliki announced a series of interceptions in successive X posts on Friday, saying Saudi forces had destroyed a ballistic missile, two cruise missiles and three drones over Saudi Arabia or the Red Sea. In a first tweet, Al-Maliki said coalition forces intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched toward Yanbu. A second post announced the interception and destruction of two cruise missiles over the Red Sea.

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American journalist injured in West Bank clashes

Several Palestinians and an American photojournalist working for the Washington Post were injured after a group of masked Israeli men attacked Palestinians harvesting olives in the West Bank , according to videos, eyewitnesses and Palestinian authorities. Video of the incident obtained by CBS News showed a group of around 20 masked men clad in black or gray clothes descending a hill from the area of an Israeli settlement outpost into an olive grove near the Palestinian village of Abu Falah.

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Patients in chains rescued from suspected illegal rehab centre in South Africa

A pastor and his wife have been arrested in South Africa after 200 people, some in chains, were found held at a suspected illegal rehabilitation centre in the north-eastern part of the country. The facility, operated from a church in Mpumalanga province, was discovered during an operation by officials in the area on Thursday. Authorities said they uncovered "gross inhumane conditions" when they raided the facility, with some patients found with "sores all over their bodies" and "others chained to each other".