At least fifteen people have been killed and hundreds more injured in countrywide protests (CNN) against corruption and joblessness. The demonstrations have prompted Baghdad to impose curfews in several cities starting Thursday. 

The protests, the country’s largest in years (FT), show rising dissatisfaction with the government of Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi, who took office nearly a year ago. Security forces used live ammunition and tear gas (BBC) on protesters, and internet access has been cut off for about three-quarters of the country, according to a digital rights monitoring group. Abdul-Mahdi said he will seek to provide jobs for university graduates and will require foreign companies operating in the country to give at least half of their jobs to Iraqis.

Pyongyang said the ballistic missile it fired yesterday is designed to be launched from a submarine (WaPo). A spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the test was “very concerning” and urged progress in upcoming U.S.-North Korea denuclearization talks. 

Cambodia: A judge ordered a fresh investigation (AP) into two journalists working for the U.S.-supported Radio Free Asia, declining to issue a verdict in their trial for alleged espionage.

A delegation from the Taliban met today with Pakistan’s foreign minister in Islamabad, where both parties voiced support (TOLO) for resuming stalled U.S.-Taliban peace talks. U.S. special envoy for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad is also in the Pakistani capital.

Kyrgyzstan: Human rights lawyer Azizbek Ashurov, who has helped more than ten thousand people gain Kyrgyz citizenship, won an annual UN award (VOA) for protecting refugees and displaced and stateless people.

Power-sharing talks between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party and the Yisrael Beytenu party, led by Avigdor Lieberman, ended without a breakthrough (ToI) shortly after the Blue and White alliance canceled similar talks (VOA). Netanyahu has several weeks to form a coalition before Israel’s president may choose another leader to do so. 

The reopening of the embassy, which closed in 1991 amid civil conflict, took place as the U.S. Agency for International Development announced nearly $257 million in new aid (VOA) for the country.

DRC: At least fourteen people were killed after an unauthorized gold mine (BBC) in the country’s east collapsed, according to a government minister.

This CFR InfoGuide traces decades of conflict in eastern Congo.

The United States will impose tariffs (BBC) on $7.5 billion worth of goods from the European Union after the World Trade Organization (WTO) ruled in Washington’s favor in a long-running dispute over European loans to aerospace company Airbus. They are set to take effect October 18. 

This CFR Backgrounder looks at how the WTO works.

EU: The bloc’s top court ruled that Facebook can be required to monitor and remove content (FT) that courts determine to be illegal, such as hate speech.  

This CFR Backgrounder looks at how different countries deal with hate speech on social media.

The trial of Juan Antonio Hernandez, brother of Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez, began in a New York federal court (Reuters). Prosecutors accused Hernandez of smuggling cocaine under the president’s protection and accepting a bribe from Mexican cartel leader Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman on behalf of the president. 

Haiti: Ongoing political unrest has kept about two million children (UN) out of school over the past two weeks, according to the United Nations. Hospitals and other emergency facilities have reported disruptions.

House Democrats said they will subpoena the White House (NYT) if it does not provide documents related to President Donald J. Trump’s reported efforts to pressure Ukraine by tomorrow. Former U.S. envoy to Ukraine Kurt Volker is set to testify (CNN) before three House committees today.

CFR’s James M. Lindsay answers five questions about the impeachment inquiry regarding Trump’s dealings with Ukraine.