Oct 24, 2026, 04:30 AM UTC

Saudi Arabia's aviation network faces severe disruption following consecutive strikes on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, which forced the suspension of flights after damaging terminal facilities and igniting fires. Officials reported a second projectile strike in two days, with casualties from the initial attack estimated between 12 and 13 people killed and over 300 injured.

In eastern Saudi Arabia, another strike on Dammam airport resulted in one death and eight injuries, while coalition forces reported intercepting four incoming drones. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree declared Saudi airspace a "theatre of operations" and urged airlines to avoid local airports, excluding holy sites in Mecca and Medina.

In response, the Saudi-led coalition launched retaliatory strikes in Yemen, while US President Donald Trump condemned the attacks as "not acceptable."

Sources: BBC News, France24, STV News, Sweden Herald, The Guardian.

Former French presidential candidate Ségolène Royal has secured the necessary endorsements to compete in the October left-wing primary ahead of the 2027 presidential election. Jointly organized by the Socialist Party (PS) and Place Publique, the primary will feature seven declared candidates, including Socialist Party First Secretary Olivier Faure.

Royal stated that she had "kept many friendships within the PS" during her bid. However, her entry has sparked friction after she voiced criticism against rival candidates, including Raphaël Glucksmann, despite earlier promises to avoid internal fighting. Meanwhile, Communist Party leader Fabien Roussel announced an independent presidential bid, bypassing the primary process altogether.

Sources: La Tribune, Le Figaro, Le Monde, Libération.

Agricultural operations near Ukraine's active front lines are forcing local producers to adopt combat defense roles alongside daily farm management.

Viktor Hordienko, an agricultural producer operating directly adjacent to the front line, previously managed global grain shipping logistics. After studying trade logistics in China, he regularly coordinated maritime exports through international hubs in Switzerland and France. Following the full-scale invasion, Hordienko transitioned to defending his farm's infrastructure and fields against Russian drone strikes using personal firearms.

His situation illustrates the broader operational disruptions across Ukraine's agrarian sector near combat zones. Farmers in these volatile regions are increasingly compelled to safeguard critical equipment and sustain local grain yields while actively countering ongoing military hazards.

Sources: LSM.

French president Emmanuel Macron announced that only union-sanctioned demonstrations will be permitted during upcoming nationwide protests, urging citizens to refrain from gathering independently. Following a security council meeting, the restriction comes ahead of planned Saturday marches across major cities including Paris, Marseille, and Lyon, where approximately 70,000 police officers will be deployed.

The heightened security measures follow recent demonstrations against the rising cost of living, which drew between 550,000 and 800,000 participants. Municipal authorities have instituted evening curfews in several metropolitan areas, including Paris and Bordeaux, following localized urban violence. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu confirmed that law enforcement tactics will focus on rapid mobility to prevent further disruptions.

Sources: La Tribune, Le Figaro, Le Monde, Libération, RTBF Info.

Turkish civil society groups and media outlets published August data on gender-based violence, alongside legal developments in a Siirt homicide investigation.

According to the We Will Stop Femicide Platform, 22 women were killed and 33 died under suspicious circumstances in August, with 55% of the fatal incidents occurring in their homes. Separately, press monitoring by independent news portal Bianet recorded at least 25 women killed and 71 injured by men during the same period.

In judicial news, the Siirt 1st High Criminal Court accepted an indictment against five suspects over the October 2024 death of a mother of four. Prosecutors relied on digital evidence, cellular location logs, and license plate recognition to establish that the victim was killed, charging her former husband, former in-laws, and two other defendants.

Sources: Bianet, Cumhuriyet, TRT Haber