Oct 15, 2026, 10:00 PM UTC

Flight operations at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh remain halted following a second consecutive day of projectile attacks that caused a fire in a passenger terminal.

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree warned international airlines and travellers against using non-holy Saudi airports, stating the kingdom's airspace is a "theatre of operations."

Discrepancies persist over casualties. Local officials reported at least 12 people killed and more than 300 injured in the strikes. However, Saudi civil aviation authorities cited lower figures, stating three people were killed and 36 injured across attacks targeting airports in Riyadh and Abha.

US President Donald Trump described the Riyadh strike as "not acceptable." In response, the Saudi-led coalition launched airstrikes against more than 80 Houthi military locations in Yemen.

Sources: BBC News, Cyprus Mail, France24, STV News, The Guardian.

Romania's Social Democratic Party (PSD) has voted to join a new government under prime minister-designate Luca Niculescu. According to party leader Sorin Grindeanu, PSD will hold 11 of the 17 ministerial positions in the incoming cabinet, while six portfolios will be assigned to technocrats.

Grindeanu outlined ten policy priorities for the executive, framing the decision as a step to resolve the country's political impasse and address economic challenges. The Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR) indicated it will support the government during the parliamentary confidence vote without taking cabinet posts. Niculescu is expected to present his governing programme and ministerial team on Thursday.

Sources: Adevărul, Digi24, HotNews, Moldova1, Ziarul de Gardă.

Italian health officials have issued severe weather alerts across 27 major cities as the nation faces its fourth heatwave of the year. In Rome, temperatures reached around 37 degrees Celsius, prompting tourists and locals to gather around public water fountains and seek shade.

Public health authorities have urged people across the country to take precautions against the sustained high temperatures, including staying out of direct sunlight during peak afternoon hours and maintaining adequate hydration. The ongoing high heat reflects a broader pattern of persistent summer heatwaves affecting Southern Europe.

Sources: DR, Berlingske

US President Donald Trump is facing strong criticism from domestic lawmakers and European observers following a diesel purchase agreement struck with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In Washington, a legislative initiative involving several Republican politicians aims to block energy purchases from Russia. Critics contend the agreement undermines international pressure on Moscow and serves short-term domestic political needs ahead of US midterm elections.

European analysts warned that the deal effectively abandons support for Ukraine and exposes Europe's ongoing vulnerability while depending on American military protection. The move has reignited debates in Europe regarding the long-term reliability of US security guarantees.

Sources: Helsingin Sanomat, Iltalehti

Romania's Ministry of Environment has finalized guidelines for the October launch of its Casa Verde Baterii program, allocating up to 500 million lei for residential battery storage. Replacing the previous first-come, first-served mechanism, the revised structure evaluates applicants using a scoring system based on self-financing contributions and installed storage capacity.

However, prosumer organizations criticized the new guidelines, arguing that the criteria penalize households with pre-existing storage equipment. Meanwhile, applicants across regional energy programs reported operational challenges, citing long administrative delays, excessive bureaucracy, and installer quotes exceeding market value by over 100,000 lei. Despite these hurdles, state subsidies continue to assist some households in deploying integrated solar and battery systems to lower utility expenses and supply excess power to the grid.

Sources: Adevărul, Economedia, HotNews, Moldova1, Ziarul de Gardă.