Caucasus security inseparable from three nations, says DefMin Yaşar Güler

Turkish National Defense Minister Yaşar Güler emphasized that Caucasus security is indivisible from that of Ankara, Baku and Tbilisi during trilateral talks in Shusha, stressing that joint energy and transport projects require collective protection amid the region's transformation.

Türkiye condemns Houthi attack on Prophet’s Mosque infrastructure

The Turkish Foreign Ministry on Thursday strongly condemned a Houthi attack on civilian infrastructure serving the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina, warning that such provocative actions threaten Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty and the sacred values of the Islamic world while urging all parties to avoid further escalation.

UAE adviser labels flydubai cockpit incident ‘terrorist act’

Anwar Gargash praises Indian captain Smit Machchhar as a "true hero" for his handling of the emergency, saying the crew demonstrated courage and responsibility during the altercation aboard flight FZ1073 that forced an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia with 174 passengers aboard.

UN rights chief urges 'decisive shift' to end Ukraine war

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk on Friday called for a "decisive shift" toward de-escalation and peace in Ukraine, warning the war has become a "human rights catastrophe" claiming over 400 civilian casualties weekly as verified tolls mount.

EU rejects US diesel export ban, warns of trust erosion

The European Commission on Friday firmly rejected any potential US ban on diesel exports, warning that such a measure would undermine trust in Washington as a reliable partner and pledging to coordinate any emergency stock releases exclusively through the International Energy Agency.

Abu Dhabi gathers tech leaders, investors at AI summit

The Abu Dhabi Department of Government Enablement announced Friday that the capital will host the sold-out AI Everything summit on October 6, gathering global tech leaders and investors managing $91 billion in assets as the emirate pursues its bid to become an AI-native government.

COP31 in Türkiye puts climate education at heart of agenda

Eric Guilyardi, a climate scientist and president of the Office for Climate Education, said the upcoming UN conference in Antalya offers an opportunity to place climate education at the center of the global agenda, noting that currently only 3% to 7% of young people receive quality instruction.

EU releases $3.2B to Ukraine for financial stability, reforms

The European Commission on Friday announced the disbursement of €2.9 billion ($3.2 billion) to Ukraine to help meet financing needs and maintain public administration amid the ongoing war, marking the first time €800 million has been provided under the Ukraine Facility component of the EU's Ukraine Support Loan.

Pakistan condemns Houthi attack on Medina power station

Pakistan's Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the Sept. 29 assault on the Taibah power distribution station in Medina, calling it a grave provocation against regional peace and reaffirming Islamabad's unwavering solidarity with Saudi Arabia in protecting the Two Holy Mosques.

Israel's top court overturns ban on Arab lists in election

Israel's Supreme Court ruled on Friday that two Arab electoral lists may contest the October 27 parliamentary election, overturning a Central Elections Committee decision that had sought to disqualify the Joint List and United Arab List while separately advising a third candidate to withdraw his candidacy.

Medical supplies for Gaza face 74-day Israeli clearance wait: WHO

The World Health Organization said on Friday that medical supplies bound for Gaza face a median wait of 74 days for Israeli clearance, warning that not one hospital in the territory is fully functional and urging "unimpeded and predictable" access to restore health services.

Lapid says young Israelis backed killing 'everyone' in Gaza

Opposition leader Yair Lapid said he encountered young Israelis who endorsed killing all Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, including infants, during a recent podcast interview that has drawn widespread attention on social media, while also criticizing government ministers over extreme rhetoric and calls to use nuclear weapons against the territory.

French student protests turn violent as hundreds of schools close

Education Minister Edouard Geffray announced that more than 400 schools would close Friday as student protests demanding better learning conditions turned violent across the country, with officials claiming the movement has been infiltrated by radical groups and transformed into urban violence.

Pakistan rescues four sailors from Somali pirates

Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar announced on Friday that four Pakistani crew members held hostage by pirates off the Somali coast have been safely rescued and are due to arrive in Karachi on Saturday, while the bodies of three deceased sailors are also being repatriated amid ongoing efforts to secure the remaining captives.

Yemeni army downs Houthi drones over Aden, strikes Sanaa targets

Yemeni army spokesman Majed al-Nuzaili said Friday that air defenses shot down Houthi suicide drones over the interim capital Aden before they reached civilian areas, while government forces simultaneously struck high-value targets in Sanaa, Saada, and Taiz amid the broadest military escalation since September.

Israel poll shows Netanyahu bloc at 51 seats, opposition 53

A survey published by Israeli daily Maariv on Friday showed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc would secure 51 seats against 53 for the opposition in the Oct. 27 general election, leaving neither camp close to the 61-seat majority required to form a government in the 120-member Knesset.

Lebanese premier urges Israeli withdrawal, unified military

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam on Friday demanded Israel's complete withdrawal from Lebanese territory and the rebuilding of state authority under a single military command, warning that Lebanon cannot afford to wait for a broader regional settlement while attacks continue in the south.

Trump says he may ask Europe to release diesel reserves

US President Donald Trump said Thursday that he may ask European countries to release portions of their diesel reserves to help reduce fuel prices, warning that energy costs could drop sharply once the conflict with Iran ends and vowing that Tehran will never acquire nuclear weapons.

US deploys Patriot batteries to guard Saudi, Qatari energy sites

The US military has deployed two additional Patriot missile batteries to Saudi Arabia and Qatar to protect critical oil and gas facilities from potential Iranian retaliation, as President Donald Trump considers renewing a major bombing campaign against Tehran in the coming weeks, according to a report.

Saudi Arabia says Houthis targeted holy cities three times since 2017

Saudi Arabia has accused Yemen’s Houthi group of attempting to target Islam’s two holiest cities in three separate incidents since 2017, including two drone attacks this month that coalition officials said threatened the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque, drawing sharp condemnation from across the Muslim world.

Kremlin vows Ukraine will 'pay price' for Black Sea attacks

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Friday that Russia is responding to Ukraine's attacks in the Black Sea and warned that Kyiv "must pay a price" for the aggression, stating that Moscow seeks comprehensive agreements to end the conflict rather than temporary ceasefires.

Israel's Balad party pulls leader from election after court warning

Sami Abu Shehadeh agreed to withdraw his candidacy for the October 27 polls after Israel's Supreme Court president warned that a majority of judges favored upholding his disqualification over an article he published following the October 2023 Hamas attack.

Erdogan says 'Terror-Free Türkiye' brings new momentum to region

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Thursday the "Terror-Free Türkiye" initiative has strengthened the country's position amid regional turmoil, telling parliament the effort has created a deterrent effect against adversaries while the government also addresses ongoing challenges in the funding markets.

Egypt expels Ethiopian envoy in tit-for-tat move

Egypt on Thursday declared an Ethiopian diplomat persona non grata and ordered him to leave within 48 hours, retaliating against Addis Ababa's earlier expulsion of a Cairo envoy as diplomatic tensions between the two Nile Basin nations continue to simmer over longstanding regional disputes.

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