Global News Roundup: Saudi Arabia Attacks, US-Iran Tensions, Nobel Peace Prize Awarded

Saudi Arabia announced Friday that three of its citizens were killed in two separate attacks on Riyadh Airport on Thursday, bringing the total number of fatalities in the Kingdom this week to six amid escalating attacks by Iran-backed Houthi rebels on its infrastructure. Regional sources indicated Friday that Saudi Arabia is ruling out any de-escalation with the Houthis until the Riyadh-backed Yemeni government reclaims areas lost to the rebels in recent weeks. A military source from the Giants Brigades, fighting alongside Yemeni government forces, reported intense clashes with Houthis in the Bab al-Mandab area, supported by Saudi airstrikes. The Saudi ambassador to Yemen declared that his country's forces had "cleansed" the strategic strait.

Pakistan confirmed its forces are deployed in Saudi Arabia amid the escalating conflict with the Houthis, emphasizing their mission is purely defensive. This deployment follows a joint defense agreement between Pakistan, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia.

In international diplomacy, U.S. President Donald Trump ruled out an attack on Iran before the November 3 midterm elections, mentioning "fruitful discussions" with Tehran. Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed readiness to help end the war in the Middle East during talks with his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian, ahead of a regional summit in Turkmenistan. The Iranian President stated that successful talks with the U.S. to end the war depend on them being conducted without "pressure and threats."

The Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to South African judge Navanethem Pillay, head of the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Gaza, which accused Israel of genocide in Gaza. Ethiopia and Eritrea exchanged accusations, with Addis Ababa reporting Eritrean forces' incursion into the Tigray region and asserting its right to self-defense, while Asmara accused Ethiopia of launching an "unprovoked war of aggression." Tigrayan rebel forces have reportedly withdrawn from two towns in the northern region near Eritrea.

In the U.S., Vice President J.D. Vance announced the suspension of permanent residency permits for Microsoft employees, accusing the company of misusing the system, a claim Microsoft denies. New York Mayor Zahran Mamdani stated he would ask Trump to withdraw Customs and Immigration Enforcement personnel from the city following an incident involving the federal agency. In Brazil, far-right candidate Flavio Bolsonaro received support from Augusto Cury, who placed third in the presidential election, bolstering his chances against incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office announced he had contacted Bolsonaro, inviting him to Israel to "renew the deep friendship" between the two countries.

France is hosting special screenings of the documentary "Naza," which alleges the Israeli military intentionally killed large numbers of civilians in Gaza. The film will be made available online for free in November. The UN expressed concern over violence during student protests in France, which led to thousands of arrests and injuries. OpenAI announced it thwarted two influence operations linked to Russia and Iran that used its ChatGPT platform to create fake journalistic identities and a "research center" to secretly promote anti-Ukraine propaganda. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported urgent repairs to the country's electricity grid following Russian strikes. A Ukrainian drone attack damaged a data center belonging to Russian tech giant Yandex, the second such strike on its facilities in two days. The UN stated that nearly all of Gaza's two million residents will face the winter without adequate shelter due to prolonged Israeli restrictions. The UN also considered that the U.S. officials' decision to broadcast the execution of convicted murderer Nidal Hassan online could amount to torture. Global trade is projected to continue growing through 2026 after record figures last year, according to a UN report. Turkey's ruling party warned the opposition after ministers were questioned over their involvement in an investment fund crisis, and two journalists were detained over related publications.