Brexit: European Central Bank’s Lagarde ‘hopes’ for ‘positive outcome’

In the first edition of our new fact-checking show Truth or Fake, we focus on Afghanistan. A photo purportedly showing the new Afghan central bank chief has gone viral on social media; we show you how our Observers team debunked the image. Meanwhile, we demonstrate how widely shared images of alleged recent violence in Afghanistan's Panjshir Valley, attributed to the Taliban, actually come from a 2018 film.

The UK has given Brussels ten days to respond to its demands over customs checkpoints in the Irish Sea. The UK's Brexit minister has told the EU to rethink the terms of its trade accord.

The measures could halve customs paperwork and checks on meat, dairy and other food products coming to Northern Ireland.

Britain's Brexit Minister David Frost has reacted to proposed EU concessions to ease bottlenecks affecting the trade in goods to Northern Ireland from the UK mainland.

Speaking on state TV, Russia's deputy prime minister addressed Europe's gas supply crunch. Prices have increased 800% this year, which Russia blames on reserve shortfalls.

The new Lebanese government is to resume negotiations with the IMF after talks stalled 13 months ago. Success, however, is not guaranteed, warn some experts.

Bayern Munich coach Julian Nagelsmann has tested positive for COVID-19, the club said on Thursday (October 21), a day after he missed their 4-0 Champions League win at Benfica in Lisbon with "flu-like symptoms."

France, Austria, Italy, Spain and Britain have agreed to withdraw digital services taxes on US tech giants in 2023, while the US will drop retaliatory punitive tariffs.

Three football clubs pushing for a European Super League are reportedly considering legal action. The clubs — which had hoped to stop other teams being promoted or relegated — accuse soccer chiefs of seeking a monopoly.

Tensions over licensing rules for European Union fishing boats are rising as France has vowed to block access to its ports and the United Kingdom has threatened a "calibrated response.''

Investigators from four European countries have made arrests in raids targeting groups behind ransomware attacks, Europol says. The suspects are accused of carrying out some 7,000 cyberattacks.

Germany defender Niklas Süle is in quarantine after testing positive for COVID. Several of his teammates must now also isolate just days before an international game.