Biden: US will defend Taiwan if attacked

US President Joe Biden has said America will defend Taiwan if the
island is invaded by China.

His comments run counter to long-establish US policy which is
deliberately vague about the US response to a Beijing attack.

Nick Harper reports from Washington.

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Talks taking place in Paris on reviving Iran nuclear deal

US and European diplomats are holding talks in Paris aimed at reviving the Iran nuclear deal.

The accord was signed in 2015 but the US pulled out in 2018 and Iran has not returned to full compliance.

From FSN's bureau in Paris, here's Ross Cullen.

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16 dead in Russian factory explosion

At least 16 people have been killed in an explosion at a Russian gunpowder factory. One person died in hospital with extensive burns and another is still unaccounted for. Julia Chapman reports.  

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QUEEN IN (AND NOW OUT) OF HOSPITAL

Buckingham Palace has confirmed the Queen spent Wednesday night in hospital.

A statement says the monarch, who's 95, underwent "preliminary investigations" after doctors had advised her to call off a trip to Northern Ireland to rest.

She returned to Windsor Castle on Thursday and is said to be in "good spirits" and carrying out some work.

Royal commentator Phil Dampier says the Queen will be hoping to return to public engagements soon.

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Death tolls climbs in India as flood waters recede

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Death due to floods in India has crossed the 100 mark.

65 people have died in the Himalayan region alone as flash floods and landslides ravaged the northern states.

Rescue operations are on but the death toll is expected to mount.

Ishan Garg has more from New Delhi.

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Prop gun fired by Alec Baldwin leaves one dead, one injured

Alec Baldwin discharged a prop gun while on set in New Mexico, fatally shooting the film's director of photography and injuring the director.

The incident took place at the Bonanza Creek Ranch outside of Sante Fe, where the American actor is filming the western "Rust."

Law enforcement say they are investigating.  

Toni Waterman has more from Austin, Texas

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Australia – Qantas to resume flights

Thousands of staff at Qantas, Australia's major airline, will return to work in December as the airline prepares to resume international flights to several destinations.

The first flight from Sydney to London since March last year Is expected to depart in just ten days.

Shaun Bindley reports

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China Evergrande said to avoid default with last-minute debt payment

Reports in Chinese state media say debt-ridden property giant China Evergrande has averted a major default. The company is said to have paid off a more than 80 million dollar debt. The news sent shares of Chinese property companies surging in Hong Kong, easing concerns of a debt-pile meltdown in the sector.

Richard Kimber reports.

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Japan plans jail sentences for online insults in cyberbullying clampdown

Japan is set to introduce prison sentences as part of tougher penalties for online insults. The move comes after a series of high-profile cyberbullying cases led to concerns that the law was too light.

Phoebe Amoroso reports from Tokyo.

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House votes to hold Trump ally Steve Bannon in contempt

The US House of Representatives has voted to hold former White House chief strategist Stephen Bannon in criminal contempt of Congress.

It's after he defied a subpoena to appear before the committee investigating the January 6th attack on the Capitol.

Attorney General Merrick Garland will now make the final decision on whether to prosecute. 

Kate Fisher reports

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Earnings results prompt record close for S&P

The S&P hit a new record high after a series of strong earnings
results were announced in New York.

It's the seventh straight day of gains for the index.

Sarah Walton reports.

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Poland standoff threatens to overshadow EU summit in Brussels

European leaders kicked off a two-day summit in Brussels with a discussion on rising energy prices, a growing concern as the continent heads into the cold winter months.

However, the EU's standoff with Poland is threatening to overshadow other issues such as COVID-19 and migration.

Giles Gibson reports from Brussels.

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WHO: Coronavirus pandemic to last a year longer due to vaccine inequity

The COVID pandemic will continue for a year longer than it needs to according to the World Health Organisation.

The United Nation's health agency says poorer countries are not getting the vaccines they need.

Caroline Malone reports.

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UK Covid cases top 50,000 for the first time in months

The UK has exceeded 50,000 Covid-19 cases for the first time in three months, as Boris Johnson urges people to receive their booster vaccinations. 

The Prime Minister is coming under increasing pressure from the British Medical Association to implement a 'Plan B' to prevent the National Health Service from being overwhelmed. 

Benji Hyer reports from London. 

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Critical day for Texas' abortion law

The U.S. Supreme Court could respond to two challenges to Texas' near-total ban on abortion as soon as Thursday: one from the Department of Justice, the other from abortion rights activists.

But as Toni Waterman explains from Austin, even when these responses come down, questions over the law's constitutionality will remain unanswered.

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25-year-old son of former adviser to Somalia's Prime Minister charged with murder of British MP Sir David Amess

A 25-year-old man has been charged with the murder of British Member of Parliament Sir David Amess.

The politician was stabbed whilst at a constituents surgery and died at the scene on Friday, October 15th.

Chris Jones has more from London.

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Trump launches social media network TRUTH Social

US President Donald Trump is launching a new social media network
called TRUTH Social, which he says will "stand up to the tyranny of
Big Tech."

It comes after he was barred from Twitter and Facebook earlier this year.

Nick Harper reports from Washington.

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The world's biggest skeleton of a Triceratops dinosaur goes under the hammer

The world's biggest skeleton of a Triceratops dinosaur is up for auction in Paris today/on Thursday.

The so-called 'Big John' was found in South Dakota in 2014 and is 66 million-years-old.

FSN's Ross Cullen reports from Paris.

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UN WARNS GREAT LAKES 'TROUBLE'

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The UN Secretary General's Special Envoy for the Great Lakes region has warned of  instability in the Democratic Republic of Congo due to the persistence of violence against civilians by militia groups.

Huang Xia made the remarks at a Security Council meeting about the security situation in the region. Chris Ocamringa sent this report from Kinshasa....

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Russia breaks records for COVID infections and deaths

Russia has reported its worst ever figures for COVID-19 infections and deaths on Thursday. The country is preparing for a nationwide non-working week, which authorities hope will slow the spread of the virus. Julia Chapman reports from Moscow.

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