Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said he is "absolutely not worried" after a report that the US considered suspending Spain from NATO for refusing to support military operations against Iran. Sanchez stressed Spain is a "reliable member" fulfilling all its NATO obligations. The Reuters report cited an anonymous US official saying the Pentagon outlined the suspension option in an email to punish NATO allies that avoided the US-Israeli war against Iran. The same email suggested reviewing UK sovereignty over the Falkland Islands in retaliation for Britain's lack of support.
Russia's Defense Ministry reported downing 389 Ukrainian drones overnight across 13 Russian regions and Crimea — the largest such attack since the war began. Ukraine's drone blitz came a day after Russia launched almost 1,000 drones and 34 missiles at Ukrainian civilian areas, killing at least six people and injuring around 50. UNESCO expressed alarm at Russia hitting a World Heritage site in Lviv. The escalation occurs amid paused US-mediated peace talks.
Three men were killed in gun battles between rival ethnic groups in Manipur's Ukhrul district, the latest violence in nearly three years of conflict between the predominantly Hindu Meitei majority and the mainly Christian Kuki community. The clashes at Mullam village have killed over 250 people since unrest erupted in 2023, when around 60,000 people were forced to flee their homes.
The Trump administration imposed sanctions on Hengli Petrochemical (Dalian) Refinery, one of Iran's largest oil customers, for buying billions of dollars' worth of Iranian oil. About 40 shipping companies and vessels operating as part of Iran's shadow fleet were also sanctioned. China opposed the measures, calling on the US to stop 'abusing' sanctions against Chinese companies. The sanctions come as Washington and Tehran prepare for another round of peace talks over the weekend.
Saudi Arabia's Civil Defense has issued a warning for thunderstorms, heavy rainfall, and flash floods expected to persist across much of the Kingdom through Tuesday. The National Center for Meteorology forecasts moderate to heavy thunderstorms affecting Riyadh, Makkah, Madinah, Qassim, Hail, Eastern Province, Northern Borders, Al-Jouf, Al-Baha, Asir, and Jazan, with Makkah and Riyadh facing heightened risk of intense rainfall events. The conditions are linked to a seasonal transition period typical of spring in the Arabian Peninsula.
Tunisian authorities have ordered a one-month suspension of the Human Rights League (LTDH), one of the oldest human rights organizations in the Arab world and Africa, and a member of the Nobel Peace Prize-winning National Dialogue Quartet in 2015. The group, an outspoken critic of President Kais Saied, accused the government of a wider pattern of systematic curbs on civil society. This suspension follows similar actions against other prominent groups in October, including the Democratic Women and the Economic and Social Rights Forum. Meanwhile, prominent journalist Zied Heni was detained on Friday after criticizing the judiciary.
Startups across the Middle East and North Africa secured over $29 million in funding over the past week, with deals spanning AI, fintech, gaming, and digital infrastructure. Saudi Arabia's Signit raised $15M series A, Oman's Fascano closed $10M, Egypt's Sinai.ai got $1.45M pre-seed, and UAE's Ray raised $1.2M seed. Austria's Speedinvest launched a MEA-focused fund backed by Mubadala and Qatar Investment Authority, while VAST Data raised $1B at a $30B valuation.
King Charles III begins a four-day state visit to Washington, New York and Virginia, marking America's 250th anniversary and seeking to strengthen the US-UK 'special relationship' despite diplomatic tensions over Prime Minister Keir Starmer's refusal to support President Trump's Iran policy. The visit includes a speech to Congress, commemoration of the September 11 attacks, and ceremonies honoring fallen service members.
China is sending two giant pandas, Ping Ping (male) and Fu Shuang (female), to Zoo Atlanta under a new 10-year conservation agreement. The deal continues the 'panda bond' between the two nations spanning over 20 years. The pandas come from the Chengdu Research Base in Sichuan province and will arrive as US President Trump is expected to meet Xi Jinping next month.
Palestinians in the West Bank and Deir El-Balah area of Gaza began voting Saturday in the first municipal elections since the Gaza war began. Nearly 1.5 million people are registered to vote in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, with 70,000 in Gaza. The election features limited political competition with most lists aligned with President Mahmud Abbas's Fatah party or running as independents, while Hamas-affiliated lists are absent. Many cities have only one list submitted, automatically winning without a vote. The election is viewed by some as an exercise in demonstrating continued Palestinian existence rather than meaningful political change.
Saudi Arabia remains committed to becoming a global events hub despite disruptions caused by the US-Israel war with Iran, according to Richard Attias, veteran architect of global gatherings including the World Economic Forum. Major events including the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2026, LEAP technology conference, and Automechanika Riyadh have been postponed, but Attias describes these as pragmatic business decisions rather than a structural slowdown. The Kingdom's MICE market is valued at $3.22 billion in 2025 and projected to reach $5.65 billion by 2031.
The US military struck a vessel in the Eastern Pacific on Friday, killing two people described as 'male narco-terrorists.' The strike is part of President Trump's administration campaign against suspected narco-trafficking vessels that has killed more than 170 people since September. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have condemned the attacks as unlawful extrajudicial killings.
Australia has refused to help repatriate four Australian women and nine of their children and grandchildren who left the Roj camp in northeastern Syria on Friday, with the government stating it will not bring people back from Syria. The group is among 34 Australians at the camp who previously failed to return home in February. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said those who return will face the full force of the law if they have committed crimes.
