WORLD

Riyadh, 17 October, 2026 (Nosheen): Iran has denied any involvement in attacks carried out by Yemen’s Houthi movement against Saudi Arabia, rejecting accusations from Riyadh that Tehran encouraged the latest escalation in hostilities. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said Iran had played no role in Houthi operations, adding that Yemen’s armed forces acted according to their own interests and assessments. He described the allegations as uncredible and stressed that further escalation was not in the interest of any party. Baqaei also reiterated Iran’s readiness to use its diplomatic channels to help end the hostilities between the two sides. The denial came a day after Saudi officials accused Tehran of encouraging the Houthis to intensify their attacks on the kingdom. Meanwh...

London, October 17, 2026 (Ghufran): British Army Chief General Sir Roly Walker has issued a warning about the risks of war, urging political leaders to speak openly with the public about the need to prepare for potential conflict. Addressing soldiers in North Yorkshire, the army chief said the British public should be made aware that national defence could require sacrifices and active contributions from citizens. Speaking to military personnel, he said the nation would need them in the future, adding that political leadership must prepare people to make sacrifices for the country’s security and defence. According to media reports, the British prime minister is also expected to launch a new public awareness campaign aimed at encouraging people to prepare for emergencies, including crises, ...

 Washington, October 17, 2026 (Nosheen): US President Donald Trump has waived key Russia-related sanctions and tariffs just days before they were due to take effect under legislation he signed last month, including duties on Russian goods and penalties targeting countries purchasing Russian oil and gas. In an executive order released by the White House on Friday, Trump said the waiver was in the national interest of the United States. The legislation was designed to increase pressure on Moscow over its war against Ukraine, which began in 2022. However, Trump has recently shown a more conciliatory approach towards Russia while publicly criticising Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The new measures could have further increased oil prices ahead of the US midterm elections, as ...

 Baku, October 17, 2026 (Ghufran): Delegates from 10 countries staged a walkout during Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s address at the summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), held in Azerbaijan’s capital, Baku. According to international media reports citing the Palestine Information Center, the protest began as soon as Herzog started his speech, reflecting strong political opposition to the participation of an Israeli official amid the ongoing war in Gaza. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and his delegation reportedly left the hall, while representatives of several other countries also boycotted the address. Azerbaijan is hosting the summit as the current chair of CICA, a 28-member forum established to promote dialogue and coop...

 BEND, Oregon, 16 October, 2026 (Nosheen): At least five people, including three children and the suspected shooter, were killed in a shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, according to media reports. Police said an armed individual opened fire on Thursday, injuring multiple victims, including children, before the suspect was found dead at the scene. CNN and CBS News, citing law enforcement sources, reported that one adult and three children were killed, while subsequent reports identified the shooter as a 16-year-old boy. Authorities said the first emergency call, received at around 1 p.m. local time, reported that an unknown man had fired at a car outside the school. Dispatchers received further calls moments later reporting that a person had entered the scho...

 KABUL, 16 October, 2026 (Ghufran): The ban on secondary education for girls in Afghanistan has entered its fifth year under Taliban rule, with restrictions on education beyond the sixth grade still in place. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has released its quarterly report on the country’s human rights situation, covering the period from July 1 to September 30, 2026. According to the report, more than 50 incidents of women being arrested or detained over hijab-related issues were recorded during the three-month period. In Herat, 10 women were arrested for not wearing a chador, while a 13-year-old girl was also detained. The report further stated that 28 people, including six women, were subjected to corporal punishment in Afghanistan during the quarte...

TEHRAN, 16 October, 2026 (Kamran Raja): Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has urged the international community to condemn environmental destruction caused by ongoing wars in the Middle East, warning that conflicts in Gaza and other parts of the region have inflicted severe damage on the natural environment, with consequences extending beyond national borders. Pezeshkian made the remarks while addressing an international environmental summit in Armenia, attended by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres. The Iranian president said the destruction resulting from what he described as aggressive wars in the region should be recognised as “environmental genocide” and condemned by the international community. He stressed that the environmental consequences of armed conflicts are no...

TEHRAN, 16 October, 2026 (Ghufran): Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said Armenia has assured Tehran that its security interests will not be threatened, despite Iran’s concerns over growing US influence in the region. According to media reports, Araghchi said Tehran was maintaining direct contact with Armenian officials and would continue consultations with Yerevan on matters of mutual concern. The Iranian foreign minister reiterated Tehran’s reservations about a proposed US-backed trade corridor in Armenia, stressing that concerns over Washington’s expanding regional influence remained unresolved. Araghchi emphasized that Iran would continue diplomatic engagement with Armenia to address its concerns and protect its national security interests. His remarks reflect Tehran’s uneas...

 Sanaa, 16 October, 2026 (Ghufran): Yemen’s Houthi movement has developed a diverse arsenal of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones, enabling it to carry out sustained attacks against targets in Saudi Arabia and strategic locations near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait at the entrance to the Red Sea. Since early September, the Houthis have targeted key oil infrastructure and airports across Saudi Arabia, including Riyadh’s airport, which has reportedly been targeted 20 times. They have also attempted to strike the cities of Madina and Makkah, although those attacks were unsuccessful. According to experts, the renewed hostilities followed a four-year truce and were triggered by a Saudi bombardment of Sanaa airport in July aimed at preventing a Houthi delegation from landing there...