Theresa May, Britain’s prime minister, outlined a timetable for Brexit negotiations, saying she would trigger Article 50, the formal process for leaving the European Union, by the end of March 2017. The pound fell to a fresh 31-year low against the dollar. But the FTSE 100 share index, which is made up of many export-dependent companies, surged to its highest level in more than a year. At the Conservative Party conference Mrs May promised to fight on a new centre ground in British politics. See here and here.

The UK Independence Party, which pushed for the Brexit referendum, continued down its spiralling path to obscurity. Diane James resigned as leader, 18 days after winning a fractious leadership contest. Nigel Farage, the former leader, is technically back in charge. UKIP’s chairman said the situation was unfortunate, but he “wouldn’t call it a farce”. See article.

Russia suspended an agreement with America to dispose of the two countries’ excess plutonium stockpiles safely. Vladimir Putin demanded that America roll back the expansion of NATO, end sanctions and pay compensation before reinstating the deal. Relations between the countries have deteriorated over the conflicts in Ukraine and Syria. See article.

A referendum proposal in Hungary to reject EU refugee quotas was supported by 98% of voters. But turnout was well below the 50% threshold required to make the vote binding. It is a blow to the populist prime minister, Viktor Orban, who nevertheless declared the vote a resounding success. See article.

A “women’s strike” in Poland brought 30,000 protesters onto the streets to demonstrate against a proposed ban on abortion in the country, which already has some of Europe’s toughest restrictions. It is the latest push towards cultural conservatism under the Law and Justice (PiS) government. See article.

The International Organisation for Migration reported that 303,000 migrants entered Europe by sea from January 1st to October 1st. That is down by 40% from the same period last year, but the death toll is higher. Over 3,500 people have drowned or are missing.

António Guterres, a former prime minister of Portugal, was the clear favourite to become the next secretary-general of the United Nations, replacing Ban Ki-moon early next year. Mr Guterres used to run the UN’s refugee agency. See article.

Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, asked parliament to extend his emergency powers, granted to him after the failed coup in July, by 90 days.

Unfriendly fire

At least 20 pro-government Sunni tribal fighters were killed in an air strike in Iraq after being mistaken for Islamic State militants. The accident happened as preparations for an imminent assault on Mosul intensified. Iraq’s second city has been held by IS since 2014.

Fifty-two people died at a religious festival in Ethiopia’s Oromia region when an anti-government protest broke out. A stampede started after police used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the crowd. The country has been beset by ethnic-based violence over the past 12 months. A leading Nigerian actress was banned from the Hausa-language film industry because of her “immoral” behaviour. This consisted of her hugging a pop star to whom she is not married in a music video.

The Trump of the Philippines

In his latest tirade, President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines said Barack Obama could “go to hell” for criticising his bloody campaign against drugs. He warned that his country might “break up with America” and that he preferred ties with Russia and China.

The authorities in Thailand barred Joshua Wong, a prominent pro-democracy activist from Hong Kong, from entering the country. He said he was told by Thai officials that he had been “blacklisted”. Mr Wong had planned to attend an event marking the 40th anniversary of a massacre of Thai students.

The Taliban launched an assault on the Afghan city of Kunduz and raised their flag in the centre of the city. They withdrew after Afghan forces mobilised to repel them with the help of NATO “advisers”. A meeting of Afghanistan’s aid-donors agreed to provide civil aid worth $15.2 billion until 2020. See article.

Tibet’s newly appointed Communist Party chief said the region must “deepen the struggle” against the Dalai Lama’s influence there. Doing so, he said, was the region’s “highest priority” in its efforts to forge “ethnic unity”.

They won’t give peace a chance

Colombians rejected in a plebiscite an agreement negotiated by the country’s president, Juan Manuel Santos, and the leftist FARC guerrilla army to end a 52-year war. Turnout was low and the difference between the number of votes for and against the accord was less than 0.5% of the total. Mr Santos hopes to keep the peace deal alive. He extended a government ceasefire until the end of October. See here and here.

Hurricane Matthew, the strongest storm in the Caribbean in a decade, struck Haiti. Its path showed it moving on to Cuba and Florida. More than 20 people in Haiti died and around 10,000 were forced into temporary shelters. *

A more sedate affair

The only debate during the election campaign between America’s vice-presidential candidates was held in rural Virginia. Mike Pence, the Republican, was widely judged to have got the better of Tim Kaine, the Democrat.

Ohio said that it intends to resume executions in January, following a three-year hiatus. Ohio has executed 53 inmates in the past 40 years, the eighth highest of any state.

Roy Moore, the controversial chief justice of Alabama’s Supreme Court, was suspended from office for advising state judges not to recognise gay marriage, despite its legalisation in America. His legal career over, Mr Moore is considering running for governor.

Marathon man

A man who once said he couldn’t run for a bus completed the equivalent of 401 marathons in 401 days in Britain. Ben Smith raised money for anti-bullying charities, having been targeted at school for being gay. He ran 16,900km (10,500 miles) in total, the distance from London to Sydney.

* Update. Since the publication of this article the death toll in Haiti has reached the upper hundreds.