The Houthis claimed a new attack on an airport in Riyadh, while flights were disrupted after a reported missile threat targeting Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia’s civil defence agency said shrapnel from an intercepted missile damaged a kindergarten and medical complex in Riyadh, hours after explosions rattled the city, The Hindu reports. The Hindu also reports that Air India and IndiGo canceled and diverted flights after Houthi rebels reportedly targeted Saudi Arabia, including with a missile fired towards Riyadh International Airport. This follows earlier reports of Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, including a deadly strike on Riyadh’s international airport and subsequent flight suspensions.
A UN adviser says drone strikes in Ukraine should prompt Europe to rethink where it builds AI infrastructure, arguing that data centres have become prime military targets. This follows earlier reporting that data centres are becoming targets in conflicts involving Ukraine, Russia and the Middle East.
NDTV reports that an Israeli advertising firm used online ads to spy on internet users, illustrating how online advertising can serve as a channel for espionage campaigns. This follows earlier reports that a University of Toronto Citizen Lab report said an Israeli advertising agency placed ads seen by millions, leaving users open to spyware attacks.
A Tesla driver who said he was asleep while using the vehicle's driver-assistance mode crashed into California Highway Patrol vehicles, according to The Verge; NDTV reports that two officers were injured. The California Highway Patrol warned that full self-driving is not fully autonomous and does not remove drivers' responsibility, The Verge reports.
Mukeshkumar Somabhai Chaudhari, an Indian national, was arrested by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations for allegedly faking US citizenship and voting in the 2024 general elections, according to Hindustan Times. NDTV reports that, if convicted, he could face a maximum of five years in prison on each count.
On Friday, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama blamed “foreign hands” for protests, saying they aimed to hinder Albania’s EU bid, France 24 reports; Al Jazeera says Rama claimed foreign hands were driving protests that have rocked the country for months. France 24 reports thousands of demonstrators have taken to Tirana’s streets since Tuesday, demanding Rama’s resignation and denouncing university conditions and high tuition fees, while Euronews says police reported 160 detentions after violent incidents Thursday evening. This follows reports that student-led protests demanding Rama’s resignation entered their third day and spread from Tirana to other cities.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian called environmental destruction caused by regional wars ecocide and urged the international community to create enforceable protections for biodiversity during armed conflicts, Middle East Eye reports. Speaking at a biodiversity summit in Yerevan on Friday, he said the US-Israeli war had damaged industrial and energy facilities and polluted soil and water, according to Iran’s Tasnim News Agency. Al Jazeera reports that Pezeshkian condemned the ecological damage caused by conflict in the Middle East.
President Donald Trump waived many Russia-related sanctions and tariffs before they were due to take effect under a new law. NDTV describes the move as relief for India and China, while The Straits Times says the executive order comes as Trump has been warming toward Russia.
A GoFundMe campaign for seven-year-old Saylor Graham has raised more than $210,000 toward a $250,000 goal, according to Hindustan Times. Hindustan Times also reports that a fundraiser was launched for Kaylub Giamanco, an Oregon father who ran into Silver Rail Elementary School and stopped the gunman.
Pakistan is set to chair the IMF and World Bank boards in 2027 while awaiting fresh loan approval, Hindustan Times reports. The Hindu and Hindustan Times say it will be the first time since 1953; The Hindu reports that Economic Affairs Minister Ahad Khan Cheema, also Pakistan’s World Bank governor, was formally announced as incoming chair during the 2026 WBG-IMF Annual Meetings in Bangkok. NDTV reports that Pakistan’s ministry called the development a historic milestone.
Indian police detained Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke before a planned protest in New Delhi, and The Guardian reports he was later formally arrested. ABC News reports Dipke was again taken into custody ahead of a planned protest. France 24 reports that hundreds marched Friday evening despite heavy security, demanding the election chief’s removal, while Al Jazeera says student leader Neha Bora was also detained ahead of a flag march. This follows reports that authorities released party leaders after mass protests and detentions.
The Guardian reports that hackers remotely changed temperatures in supermarket freezers, fridges and chiller cabinets across France, taking them from as low as −27C to well over 50C and leaving a mountain of food waste. It says it is unclear whether the attackers were youngsters demonstrating their skills or carried out state sabotage. This follows earlier reports that hundreds of French supermarkets were affected and food spoiled.
Pope Leo XIV’s lung cancer diagnosis has renewed questions about his health, legacy and the Vatican’s candor. The New York Times reports that Leo disclosed his lung condition himself, while mysteries remain and papal statements are under scrutiny. The paper also says the diagnosis prompted life-and-legacy questions for a former Rome bureau chief. This follows reports that the diagnosis was testing a papacy still taking shape and that his cancer surgery drew reactions from world leaders.
Iran-backed Houthis have encircled Taiz, one of Yemen’s largest cities, as conflict with Riyadh and its local allies escalates, the Financial Times reports. The Straits Times says Taiz is rapidly emerging as the most important battlefront in Yemen’s reignited civil war, pitting the Houthis against the internationally recognised government backed by a Saudi-led coalition. This follows earlier reports that fighting in Yemen was intensifying and that the Houthis claimed to have seized a strategic area.
White House press secretary Katie Zacharia is leaving the role after only days on the job, according to ABC News, which reports that President Donald Trump indicated he had encouraged her to reconsider her position. The Financial Times reports that she was fired after five days, while The Straits Times says she was pushed out after a series of blunders that added to distractions for her embattled boss. Le Monde describes her stint as gaffe-filled and says Trump is traveling the country to boost Republican candidates ahead of the midterm elections.
Police say a teacher tackled and fought a 16-year-old gunman in a special-needs classroom in Bend, Oregon, before an armed father shot him dead; The Straits Times reports the attack killed a teacher and three children. The BBC reports the suspect had previously attended the school and targeted a special educational needs classroom, while Al Jazeera says he was a former special-needs student. The South China Morning Post says police identified him as Griffin J. John II and that the teacher threw her phone at him, was uninjured and was praised as heroic by the police chief; ABC News reports the teacher and father have been hailed as heroes. This follows earlier reports that a 16-year-old killed three children and a teacher at Silver Rail Elementary in Bend on Thursday and that the suspect was also killed.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has updated its guidelines for treating symptoms commonly associated with menopause, including hot flashes, night sweats and insomnia. The previous update was in 2014.
Hundreds of people protested in Bangkok on Friday, demanding that the International Monetary Fund and World Bank change how they deal with the developing world, the South China Morning Post reports. The protest took place as finance ministers, central bank governors and other policymakers gathered in the Thai capital for the institutions’ annual meetings amid an inflation crisis fuelled by the Iran war and other economic shocks. This follows reports on Thursday that hundreds marched in Bangkok opposing the meetings and warning of destructive capitalism.
US President Donald Trump said he did not think he or Elon Musk was responsible for Ukraine losing Starlink access in a way that affected its military operations against Russia. He also said any limit on Ukraine's access to the Starshield system was not imposed by the United States, according to NDTV.
US President Donald Trump joked during a campaign speech in Dalton, Georgia, on Friday that people unsure of a Middle Eastern person's name could call them Mohammad, while mocking Iran's presidency, according to The Straits Times. The South China Morning Post reports that Trump claimed there was about a 65 per cent chance of guessing Mohammad correctly and said he had used the approach for years; The Straits Times says the crowd's response was muted. Al Jazeera and NDTV also report his suggestion to use the name when unsure of someone's name from the Middle East.
