Global News Roundup: Pakistan Pledges Support for Saudi Arabia Amid Rising Houthi Attacks
Pakistan's military spokesperson declared the nation would "go to any extent" to defend its ally Saudi Arabia, which faces escalating attacks from Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen. Meanwhile, the Israeli military advanced towards a recently established Lebanese army checkpoint on the edge of Israel's occupied zone in southern Lebanon, deploying sonic grenades, according to official Lebanese media and an AFP photographer.
Russia reported thwarting a Ukrainian drone attack involving 350 unmanned aerial vehicles targeting Moscow on Thursday night, as legislative elections commenced. Voting began early Friday in Russia's Far East for a three-day election widely expected to favor President Vladimir Putin's United Russia party. This marks the first parliamentary election since Russia's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, a conflict that has caused hundreds of thousands of casualties over five years.
In related news, Russia's Foreign Ministry summoned the British Chargé d'Affaires to protest what it termed an "increase" in arms shipments to Ukraine, accusing London of an anti-Moscow stance. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights reported over a thousand cases of sexual violence since the Ukraine conflict began, attributing roughly nine out of ten cases to Russian forces. Russian authorities also seized assets from Swiss food giant Nestlé and three French groups, a move the Kremlin justified as a response to companies from "unfriendly" nations supporting Ukraine.
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung stated that U.S. President Donald Trump desires to resume dialogue with Pyongyang and affirmed Seoul would not send troops to intervene militarily in a potential U.S.-Iran conflict. Spanish police began relocating hundreds of migrants from the shores of Ceuta to a port camp, following a record influx that overwhelmed the Spanish enclave's capacity. A U.S. federal court sentenced a Syrian former prison director in Damascus to 60 years for torture committed between 2005 and 2008. U.S. lawmakers from both parties criticized Donald Trump's mass deportation policies, with a Republican congresswoman warning that Hispanic voters who helped him return to the White House feel "betrayed."
Colombia's Human Rights Commissioner reported a significant increase in armed groups' drone attacks against security forces and civilians this year. In France, a police officer with "far-right and violent ideology" was arrested on suspicion of planning a terrorist attack and illegally manufacturing weapons. Separately, far-right politician Éric Zemmour announced his candidacy for next year's presidential election, vowing strict measures against immigration and the deportation of unemployed foreigners.
Nigeria's government suspended a civil defense official and ordered an investigation after 37 individuals suspected of illegal mining died in custody. The Philippines reported a Chinese coast guard vessel colliding with a Philippine fisheries management boat in disputed South China Sea waters. In a separate incident, at least two people were killed in a school shooting in the southern Philippines, the third such event at an educational institution since June.
Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, imprisoned for corruption related to the 1MDB fund, received a conditional pardon and was fined $12 million. Approximately 300 Tigrayan rebel fighters surrendered to Ethiopian authorities amid fears of renewed conflict in the region. Swedish Social Democratic Party leader Magdalena Andersson expressed readiness to begin negotiations for a new government, a task expected to be assigned by the parliament speaker following her party's election victory.
