Whether it's a fact-finding mission as Republicans insist or the political witch hunt that Democrats anticipate, the congressional committee investigating the deadly 2012 attack on the US diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya, on October 22 will hear from Hillary Clinton, then the secretary of state and now the top candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Prospects for a UN deal in Paris in December meant to mark a "turning point" in slowing climate change have brightened after an acrimonious start to the final preparatory talks in Germany, France said on October 20.

President Vladimir Putin said on October 20 Russia had foiled 20 militant attacks this year and was stepping up efforts to root out domestic terrorism, almost three weeks after launching air strikes against Islamist fighters in Syria.

Russian air strikes in Syria's Latakia province killed a rebel commander and four other fighters from a group armed by President Bashar al-Assad's foreign enemies, a spokesman for the group said on October 20.

Canada's Prime Minister-designate Justin Trudeau, who came from behind to trounce his Conservative rivals and snatch a majority mandate, now has to deliver on pledges from tackling climate change to boosting the economy and legalizing marijuana.

Iran's nuclear negotiator Abbas Araqchi said on October 19 he expected a deal with six world powers on shrinking Tehran's atomic program in exchange for sanctions relief to be implemented by year-end.

The Balkans struggled with a growing backlog of migrants on October 19 after Hungary sealed its southern border and Slovenia tried to impose a limit, leaving thousands stranded on cold, rain-drenched borders where tempers frayed.

Autumn colours cover everywhere across the world.

Many Egyptian voters shunned the first phase of a parliamentary election on October 18 that President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has hailed as a milestone on the road to democracy but his critics have branded as a sham.

The United States approved conditional sanctions waivers for Iran on October 18, though it cautioned they would not take effect until Tehran has curbed its nuclear program as required under a historic nuclear deal reached in Vienna on July 14.