Yemeni city at the crossroads of conflict and relief
A trio of restaurant visits across Jeddah and nearby scenes show a city reshaping its dining with Mediterranean-Asian fusion, modern burger concepts, and stock‑savvy kitchen talk. From Il Caffe at Assila to Butter’d food truck and Maroon burgers, the offerings mix bold flavors with hospitality-focused service.
Bloomberg reports that Trump’s envoy praised Putin as a humanitarian during Saint Petersburg talks, amid discussions for trilateral talks with the U.S. and Ukraine to end the war. The government has signaled willingness to resume negotiations, while Trump’s stance shifts toward Russia ahead of midterms.
Yemen faces renewed violence as Houthi advances push fronts toward Taiz and Mocha. Displacement rises, aid routes tighten, and prices surge as government forces and Houthis contend for control along the Red Sea coast and hinterlands.
The Houthis’ renewed ground campaign against Yemen’s government forces has left hundreds dead and displaced at least 145,000 people this month. Health facilities are functioning at low capacity, with several damaged or closed, as the WHO warns of looming outbreaks amid shortages of medicines and supplies.
The Iran war continues to drive global energy volatility. US forces maintain a naval blockade; oil prices have risen sharply, pressuring consumers as fuel costs stay elevated amid ongoing clashes and attacks in the Strait of Hormuz.
The Houthis have intensified strikes on Riyadh, with missiles and drones hitting airports and nearby facilities. Saudi authorities report damaged civilian sites as air defenses intercept multiple weapons aimed at the capital. Diplomatic shelters and evacuations reflect rising regional tensions amid ongoing Yemen conflict.
Florida Governor has withdrawn a death warrant for William Lee Thompson, 74, who was scheduled for execution, while another inmate, James Robertson, is set to be executed. The move comes amid ongoing debate over death penalty practices in the state and follows a botched Tennessee execution where Christa Pike survived lethal injections.
A Saudi-backed government offensive is pushing to recapture areas along Yemen’s Red Sea coast, including Bab al-Mandab and Mayun Island, as clashes with Houthi forces intensify. Authorities report dozens of civilian casualties and continued fighting on multiple fronts amid a volatile regional confrontation.
A series of Houthi missile and drone strikes has struck Saudi airports this week, including a deadly attack on Riyadh’s King Khalid International that has killed and wounded dozens and forced prolonged airport closures. Saudi and allied forces are mounting counter‑operations in Yemen while global leaders have condemned the assaults and airlines have suspended flights.
The Strait of Hormuz continues to see high oil flows under US protection, with flows near prewar levels even as attacks against vessels increase. Data from Kpler and reports from UKMTO show mixed signals: shipments are rising in some weeks while direct Iranian interference remains a threat, keeping prices volatile.
The UN has set up a taskforce to move fertilisers through the Strait of Hormuz. Moreira da Silva says activation could come within seven to 10 days if Washington and Tehran agree. Five vessels per day could keep fertiliser flowing to countries in need, while a broader deal on navigation remains pending.
The Iran-backed Houthis have intensified attacks on Saudi energy facilities and airports, with Aramco sites in Dhahran and Riyadh targeted. Saudi-led forces are escalating operations along Yemen's Red Sea coast as regional tensions rise and a major Riyadh conference looms.
The Conflict Armament Research report shows the Houthis are pursuing an indigenous, longer-range missile program. Chinese-supplied components are enabling partial local assembly of Iran’s Kheibar Shekan system, expanding the group’s capacity to strike across the Gulf and beyond. The development underscores growing independence from Iran and raises regional security concerns.
The Houthis have fired multiple missiles at Aden’s Al-Maashiq Palace, the government says the prime minister and cabinet ministers are unharmed. Attacks also target Marib, while government forces push back Houthi fighters around Taiz amid heavy clashes.
Houthi forces have launched missile and drone strikes on the al‑Maashiq presidential palace in Aden, hitting command centres and killing and wounding guards and civilians. Yemen’s prime minister and most ministers have been reported safe. The strikes mark a sharp escalation as the Iran‑aligned rebels press attacks on Saudi targets and government positions in Yemen.
The Taiz siege has deepened, with the Houthis tightening control of routes, cutting off water, food, and fuel supplies. Residents report rising hunger, shattered livelihoods, and collapsing services as prices surge and aid deliveries falter amid ongoing fighting.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a flashpoint as multiple vessels are struck by mines and fires erupt aboard tankers. Iran has claimed responsibility for recent strikes, while the United States maintains countermeasures to protect shipping. The disruption has lifted energy prices and tightened crude flows, with ongoing efforts to escort ships through the strait.
Egypt has offered "all necessary and possible" support to Saudi Arabia after repeated Houthi drone and missile strikes on airports, oil facilities and cities. President Abdel Fattah el‑Sisi has asked parliament for emergency authorisation to deploy forces if Riyadh requests help and Cairo says any intervention will be defensive and paired with diplomatic de‑escalation.
Iran has approved a new defence minister with decades in the defence industry, aiming to accelerate war-era weapons development and protect strategic facilities as tensions rise in the Middle East. Meanwhile, Iran vows to respond to threats with extensive retaliation, as US-Israeli actions and regional responses escalate the conflict.
Twelve migrants have died after boats capsized in separate incidents near Lesbos and Samos as Greek authorities pursue smugglers and step up rescue operations. Around 15 people have been rescued, with a suspected smuggler detained. The EU reports a continued surge in irregular crossings despite occasional declines.
Humanitarian groups warn Taiz’s residents face a humanitarian disaster as siege cuts wells, fuel and food deliveries. Water is increasingly scarce, prices soar, and aid routes are blocked. UN and Amnesty call for immediate access to the city.
The United Nations faces heightened pressure as the U.S. administration has intensified diplomatic efforts to influence votes on the Cuban embargo resolution ahead of the General Assembly meeting. Havana accuses Washington of threatening visas, sanctions, and financing opposition groups to sway member states.
The Future Investment Initiative, often dubbed “Davos in the Desert,” has been postponed to 2027. Organizers say the decision aims to deliver the event’s expected scale, quality, and impact, with new dates to be announced soon. Attendees previously expected speakers from Goldman Sachs, Google, BlackRock and others. The postponement follows regional security strains, including Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia.
Three ballistic missiles strike al-Alam camp in Shabwa, Yemen, killing more than 50 recruits and wounding over 200. The attack, claimed by Yemen's Houthi movement, has sparked regional tension as government forces pledge a firm response.
The Houthis have encircled Taiz, cutting it off from supply routes and risking civilians as UN rights chief calls for aid access. The attacks follow a deadly strike on a government camp, while Britain and the U.S. weigh defensive backing for Saudi Arabia amidst a broader regional confrontation.
Around 80 international volunteers and rabbis have been detained by Israeli forces while harvesting olives near Nahalin, west of Bethlehem. Brad Lander, a Democratic congressional nominee from New York, has been released with a warning; dozens of others — including US, British and Canadian citizens — have remained held while police and the military review whether the harvest lacked required coordination.
Steve Witkoff has praised Vladimir Putin as a humanitarian during a meeting in Saint Petersburg, while efforts to restart negotiations over Ukraine escalate. The remarks coincide with Russia signaling openness to trilateral talks with Ukraine and the United States, as the war persists and Ukrainian civilians face ongoing attacks.
The Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak has spread beyond the DRC, with Nigeria reporting a confirmed case in Abuja and Kenya recording a ninth case. Uganda and Kenya have seen new developments as health authorities intensify contact tracing and containment efforts across multiple regions.
Protests in Greece have intensified across multiple cities as students and teachers demand more state funding for education and better facilities amid rising living costs. About 10,000 demonstrators have gathered in central Athens, with rallies spreading to Thessaloniki, Patras, and other cities. Authorities report peaceful marches, but disruptions to schools and public services persist as the government faces mid-2027 elections and ongoing inflation.
Journalist Heidi Levine has sustained serious injuries after masked settlers attacked during an olive harvest near Abu Falah, north of Ramallah. Palestinian youths shielded reporters; Israeli army is investigating the incident amid broader tensions as more than 20 Palestinians have been killed by settlers this year.
A Tunisian court has sentenced former Ennahda acting leader Mondher Ounissi to nine years and journalist Zied El Heni to four years in a case connected to leaked audio and terrorism charges. Several defendants tried in absentia receive long terms. The cases follow President Kais Saied’s consolidation of power and mounting pressure on dissent.
The balance of power in the Middle East remains centered on Iran and regional deterrence. Analysts say Israel’s security doctrine rests on breaking Iran, holding buffer zones, and using force to deter enemies, with no prospect of a broad shift toward Palestinian diplomacy after the election.
Explosives linked to Hezbollah have been seized in the Bekaa region, with Lebanese authorities probing two suspects. The incident has intensified pressure between Beirut and Washington over Hezbollah’s disarmament, while U.S. officials urge Lebanon not to return the materials.
Egypt is weighing a defensive, limited intervention in Yemen to defend Saudi Arabia and intercept missiles while avoiding direct attacks on the Houthis. Parliament has delayed a vote, signaling cautious official hesitation amid memories of the 1960s North Yemen intervention.
Israeli forces have carried out sweeping operations across the West Bank after gunmen fired near Hebron, killing the attackers and wounding several. Troops have sealed Hebron, closed gates, and restricted Palestinian movement, displacing hundreds of families and blocking most permit-holding workers from entering Israeli communities until after Israel’s Oct. 27 election.
Taiz remains encircled by Houthi forces, with road links to Aden blocked and UN agencies warning of dwindling water, fuel and food. More than 800,000 people in Taiz are cut off from aid, while hospitals report critical shortages as aid deliveries become increasingly difficult.
Egypt is weighing authorization for air-defence and logistical support to Saudi Arabia as Houthi attacks escalate. Lawmakers have postponed a vote, with Cairo cautioning that any deployment would be tightly bounded and aimed at Gulf security and key infrastructure. Diplomatic efforts are under way to defuse the risk of wider regional confrontation.
Iran and the United States are pursuing a potential deal to end the war, with mediators reporting ongoing talks. Tehran has set conditions on reopening Hormuz and ending blockades, while regional powers push for security arrangements without foreign military involvement. Diplomatic efforts are intensifying as talks extend to regional players and new drafts circulate.
The Yemen conflict has escalated as the Houthis and the Saudi-backed government exchange daily attacks since the summer truce broke down. Explosions have rocked Riyadh and other sites, with missiles intercepted and civilian casualties reported. The humanitarian crisis deepens as aid groups warn of collapsing healthcare in Yemen.
The CREA report shows September 2026 deaths from air pollution have surged to 5,310 in Indonesia, with 3,560 deaths tied to toxic smoke from forest and land fires. Nearly 58 million people have inhaled unhealthy air, while urban and industrial emissions contribute further deaths. Jakarta has deployed cloud-seeding, firefighting teams, health workers, and masks in response.
Swiss Vice President Cassis has visited North Korea on a three-day trip, reopening a Swiss diplomatic office and signaling a push for regular political dialogue. North Korea remains under sanctions; Switzerland aims to strengthen direct contacts and regional stability. The visit follows recent engagements by other Western states and regional tensions.
France faces a third weekend of protests linked to cost of living and education, with security forces deployed as authorities ban central Paris marches and warn of a high risk of unrest after dark on Halloween. Demonstrations are planned across major cities in Europe as youth, unions and Yellow Vests mobilise.
A blast in Athens’s Plaka district has killed six people, including four Americans. Investigators say suspects removed copper piping from a gas line to sell for scrap, triggering a major gas leak and the fatal explosion. Warrants have been issued for the three suspects on charges of arson, manslaughter and related offences.
China is intensifying diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the Middle East crisis, hosting meetings with Iran, Saudi Arabia and Oman and planning shuttle diplomacy. Beijing warns against a regional war and calls for negotiations to protect shipping lanes and regional stability.
A drive-by shooting in Mohmand, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has killed two police officers and injured a third as they protected polio vaccination teams. The attack comes as Pakistan launches a nationwide 24-million-child polio vaccination campaign, with militants continuing to target health workers and police guarding campaigns. The violence compounds ongoing security concerns in the region.
Yemen’s government says Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps networks are directly guiding Houthi military operations, with experts plotting missiles, drones and maritime attacks. Authorities warn of renewed regional risk as fighting persists and international pressure grows. The issue features claims from Yemeni officials and documented activity across Hodeidah, Sanaa, and Taiz.