Saudi airport hit by second Houthi strike in two days
King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh has been hit by a second strike in two days, with Saudi authorities reporting injuries and a fire in one of its passenger halls as Houthi attacks on the kingdom intensify.
Saudi officials said air defences intercepted a missile near the airport on Sunday, while an unidentified projectile struck Passenger Hall No. 4. The Houthis claimed responsibility, saying they had launched ballistic and cruise missiles and drones against Saudi airports, oil facilities and other targets.
The latest attack followed a strike on Saturday that killed 13 people and injured 308, according to the report. The Houthis warned airlines and passengers against using Saudi airports and airspace, threatening further operations deep inside the kingdom.
The attacks are linked to the Houthis’ opposition to Saudi support for government forces in Yemen’s civil war. US President Donald Trump said Washington would decide quickly whether to strike the group, while the Saudi-led coalition described Saturday’s attack as a war crime and vowed to respond.
Pope Leo to undergo surgery after lung nodule discovered
Pope Leo XIV has announced plans to undergo surgery after doctors discovered a small, localised nodule on his lung during a medical examination.
The 71-year -old pontiff told worshippers at St Peter’s Square in Rome that his medical team recommended an operation, which he had agreed to undergo. He said the growth was contained and had been detected early.
Matteo Bruni, spokesman for the Holy See Press Office, said the procedure was scheduled for early the following week. The Pope was expected to spend about a week recovering at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, which has a dedicated suite for pontiffs.
The announcement comes about a year and a half after Leo succeeded Pope Francis, who also experienced lung-related health problems requiring hospital treatment. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and President Sergio Mattarella expressed support and wished him a full recovery.
Russian attacks kill six in Ukrainian cities
Russian attacks killed six people in two Ukrainian cities on Sunday, including three in a strike on a grocery store in Kharkiv, officials said, as Moscow continues its assault on Ukrainian urban areas.
Oleh Syniehubov, Kharkiv regional governor, said 20 people were injured in the grocery store attack, including two children. Images shared online showed emergency workers at damaged buildings and burned-out vehicles.
The latest deaths add to mounting civilian casualties from Russian strikes across Ukraine. Ukrainian authorities have repeatedly accused Moscow of targeting civilian areas, while Russia has not commented on the specific incident described in the report.
The attacks come as Ukraine continues to face pressure on the battlefield and damage to civilian infrastructure. The rising toll has renewed calls from Kyiv for stronger international support and measures against Russia.
Iran says US response on Hormuz proposal is insufficient
Iran has described the United States’ response to its proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz as insufficient, signalling that key disagreements remain over the strategic waterway.
Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said Washington had failed to adequately address seven conditions presented by Tehran. Iran said the proposal envisaged restoring normal maritime passage within seven days if its demands were met.
The response was delivered through Qatari intermediaries after Iran presented its proposal during the United Nations General Assembly. Rezaei said Tehran wanted clarification on unresolved issues and insisted the strait would not be reopened to the US before its conditions were met.
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical route for global oil and gas shipments, making any disruption a concern for energy markets and international trade. The White House had not immediately responded to a request for comment.
UK Prime Minister says Russia interfered in Brexit vote
Andy Burnham, UK Prime Minister, has said Russia interfered in Britain’s 2016 referendum on European Union membership, becoming the first British prime minister to publicly assert that there was evidence of Russian involvement.
Burnham made the comments in an interview released on Sunday, saying he had received a clear answer that interference occurred after asking about the issue on entering Downing Street. He did not disclose the evidence or explain how Russia allegedly influenced the vote.
He warned that voters in France and Germany should be alert to attempts by Moscow to influence their politics. Russia’s embassy in London did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
A 2020 report by Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee said the British government had failed to establish whether Russia meddled in the referendum. Burnham’s comments renew scrutiny of foreign interference in democratic processes, although he did not provide details supporting his assertion.
Tennessee execution survivor Christa Pike returns to prison
Christa Pike, a death row inmate in Tennessee who survived a failed execution attempt, has been discharged from the hospital and returned to prison, where she will continue receiving medical care, her lawyers said.
Pike, 50, was taken to a Nashville hospital after two injections failed to kill her during an attempted execution on September 30. Her lawyers said she was unconscious and critically ill, with severe injuries to her arms, after being removed from the execution chamber.
The attorneys said she would continue treatment at the Debra K. Johnson Rehabilitation Center, where she has been held for more than 30 years. Pike was sentenced to death for a 1995 murder.
A judge has ordered Tennessee officials to preserve all evidence related to the failed execution. Governor Bill Lee suspended executions for the remainder of the year while investigators examine Pike’s case and a similar failure involving inmate Tony Carruthers in May.
AFRICA
Eritrea asks UN to intervene in standoff with Ethiopia
Eritrea has asked the United Nations Security Council to take action against Ethiopia, accusing Addis Ababa of making what it described as a declaration of war through allegations that Eritrean troops crossed the border.
In a letter seen by Reuters, Eritrean Foreign Minister Osman Saleh rejected claims of an incursion by Eritrean forces and urged the Security Council to condemn Ethiopia’s statements and take deterrent measures under Chapter VII of the UN Charter.
Ethiopia has accused Eritrean troops of entering its territory, raising fears of renewed conflict between the neighbouring Horn of Africa countries. Eritrea has denied the allegation, which Reuters said it could not independently verify.
The dispute comes amid heightened tensions along their shared northern border, where the countries have fought before. Wider instability in the Horn of Africa and tensions around the Red Sea have increased concerns that the standoff could escalate into a broader conflict.
Sudan airstrike kills at least 72 artisanal miners, monitor says
At least 72 artisanal miners were killed in an airstrike in northern Sudan on Saturday, according to rights monitor Emergency Lawyers, as the country’s war continues to cause mass civilian casualties.
Emergency Lawyers blamed the Egyptian air force for the strike, but Reuters said it could not immediately verify the allegation. Egypt’s military did not comment, while the foreign ministry had not responded to a request for comment.
Images shared on social media and by local rights groups, which Reuters could not independently verify, showed bodies among rubble and miners describing an airstrike. Emergency Lawyers said a cross-border attack of this kind would violate international law.
The incident comes as Sudan’s conflict disrupts livelihoods and drives more people towards artisanal gold mining. Gold has become a key source of income for both sides in the war between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, while drone attacks have increased the frequency of mass casualty incidents.
Boat capsizes off Djibouti, killing at least 139 migrants
At least 139 migrants, including 15 children, have died after a boat carrying more than 300 people capsized while travelling from Djibouti to Yemen, the International Organization for Migration said.
The boat, carrying 305 people, overturned near Guhere, north of the port town of Obock, during the night of October 8 to 9, according to accounts from survivors. Around 82 people survived, while approximately 84 others remained missing.
The IOM said its teams were working with local authorities to provide emergency assistance. Photographs released by the agency showed worn sandals and shoes washed ashore after the disaster.
The crossing from the Horn of Africa to Yemen remains a dangerous route used by migrants seeking work and opportunities in the Gulf. The latest shipwreck highlights the risks faced by people making the journey in overcrowded and poorly equipped boats.
South Africa withdraws asylum directive after anti migrant protests
South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs has withdrawn a directive on asylum applications following violent anti migrant protests in Johannesburg and Durban, reversing an operational measure introduced after a Constitutional Court ruling.
The directive sought to implement a July 7 court decision that asylum seekers could not be denied access to the asylum system solely on procedural grounds, including entering the country illegally. Home Affairs said the implementation overwhelmed refugee reception offices within days and created risks for officials and public safety.
The department said the directive had been intended as an operational measure rather than a change to the rules governing refugee status. It also warned that the court ruling did not automatically grant undocumented migrants refugee status, permanent residence or other legal rights.
The withdrawal comes amid rising anti migrant sentiment and protests over immigration in South Africa. It raises questions about how the government will comply with the court’s ruling while managing pressure on asylum services and responding to public disorder.
Zambia secures IMF backing for proposed $1.5bn programme
Zambia has reached a staff-level agreement with the International Monetary Fund for a new $1.5 billion lending programme, aimed at maintaining economic stability and supporting growth after the expiry of its previous facility.
An IMF team led by Edward Gemayel reached the agreement following discussions in Lusaka from September 29 to October 9. Zambia’s previous $1.7 billion programme expired in January after helping the country navigate a debt crisis triggered by its 2020 sovereign default.
The proposed three-year Extended Credit Facility would provide funds in seven instalments, with the first expected to amount to about 15 percent of the total. Gemayel said the IMF’s Executive Board was expected to consider the programme around December, subject to approval.
The agreement comes as Zambia prepares its 2027 budget, with projected government spending set to rise by 7 percent. The new facility is intended to preserve macroeconomic stability, strengthen resilience and support growth as the country continues efforts to manage its debt and attract investment.
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Faith Omoboye is a foreign affairs correspondent with background in History and International relations. Her work focuses on African politics, diplomacy, and global governance.
