Explosion reported at Riyadh airport amid rising security concerns
A powerful explosion has been reported at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, raising fresh concerns over aviation security in Saudi Arabi...
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz for high-level talks in Westminster focused on ending the war in Ukraine.
Following the meeting, the four leaders issued a joint statement setting out five conditions they say are necessary for a “just and lasting” peace settlement.
The framework includes an immediate and full ceasefire, negotiations based on the current line of contact, and respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty and right to choose its own alliances. It also calls for robust, legally binding security guarantees for Ukraine and broader protections for European security interests.
The leaders stressed the need for continued coordination with international partners, including the U.S., in any future peace process.
The talks come amid escalating violence on the battlefield, with Russia continuing missile and drone strikes across Ukraine, while Kyiv has stepped up long-range operations targeting Russian territory.
Recent weeks have seen intensified attacks by both sides, including strikes near St Petersburg and reported damage close to sensitive infrastructure, raising further concerns about escalation in the conflict.
Ukrainian drones struck Russia’s second-largest city, St Petersburg, as it hosted the final day of a major economic forum, in an attack described by Russian authorities as “unprecedented”.
The strikes followed earlier attacks on the city’s outskirts, more than 1,000 kilometres from Ukraine, as the forum got under way.
Ahead of the event, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for direct talks with Vladimir Putin in an open letter, but the offer was rejected, with the Russian president saying the war would continue until Russia’s objectives were achieved.
In their statement, the E3 group reaffirmed support for Ukraine and backed calls for renewed diplomatic engagement, including the possibility of direct talks between Kyiv and Moscow with international involvement.
Ukraine’s leadership has continued to press for stronger air defence systems and increased military support from allies as the war enters another phase of heavy fighting and diplomatic pressure.
Leaders of countries from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) have agreed to hold coordinated population censuses around 2030. They took the decision at the CIS Council of Heads of State meeting in Awaza, Turkmenistan on Friday, media reported.
Britain and Israel have reached a temporary compromise over the future of the British Consulate General in East Jerusalem, easing a diplomatic dispute that had threatened to further strain relations between the two countries.
South African judge Navanethem “Navi” Pillay won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday “for her efforts to promote peace and international law,” the Norwegian Nobel Committee said.
The Nobel Peace Prize 2026 will be announced on Friday, 9 October, bringing one of the world's most closely watched awards back into focus.
The U.S. has imposed sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Friday (9 October) escalating tensions with European allies and potentially targeting companies that provide services to the tribunal. The move came hours after former ICC judge Navi Pillay won the Nobel Peace Prize.
At least 12 people, including three children, have been killed in a Russian attack on the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia, a day after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a deal to ease sanctions on Russian diesel.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has criticised U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to ease sanctions on Russian diesel exports, questioning why Moscow was granted an economic benefit without an apparent concession towards ending the war in Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed surprise after Donald Trump mediated the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace agreement in 2025, the U.S. President said at a rally in New York state on Friday.
The United Nations has condemned a sharp rise in attacks on civilians in Ukraine, reporting that more than 100 people were killed and at least 429 injured in a single week as Russian strikes hit residential areas, passenger buses and critical infrastructure.
Air quality in Singapore plunged to “very unhealthy” levels on Friday, 9 October, as thick haze engulfed the city-state ahead of Sunday's Formula One Grand Prix, while Max Verstappen claimed pole position for Saturday's Sprint race.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment