Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis struck an electricity distribution station in the holy city of Medina in Saudi Arabia, the Saudi-led coalition said Thursday, sparking strong condemnation from the Muslim world. The alleged attack came as fighting intensifies in Yemen, where government forces said they carried out attacks on Houthi targets and AFP journalists heard explosions in the Houthi-held capital Sanaa.

The Nations League football match between Ireland and Austria in Dublin on Thursday was twice briefly interrupted by demonstrations in support of Palestine. In the 19th minute, spectators threw tennis balls covered in Palestinian flag stickers onto the field. The players left the pitch for a few minutes before the match resumed. In the 35th minute, a man ran onto the pitch waving a Palestinian flag, briefly interrupting the match again. The game ended in a 2–2 draw.

US President Donald Trump said Thursday that Tehran was likely involved in an attack by a pilot on a flydubai flight to Israel and that Iran would be "hit very hard" if it was. The co-pilot allegedly assaulted the captain before passengers managed to save the plane from crashing. Israel's prime minister said the man had undergone "Islamist radical indoctrination."

The Manchester City financial scandal threatens to tarnish one of Abu Dhabi's most dazzling showcases of "soft power" and confronts the United Kingdom with a delicate balancing act in preserving its long-standing ties with the Emirates. "I can't intervene more in the process. It would be wrong for me to do that," UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham told the BBC after the Abu Dhabi-backed club was found guilty of violating Premier League rules between 2009 and 2018.

By Timothy GardnerWASHINGTON, Oct 1 (Reuters) - The Trump administration on Thursday imposed fresh sanctions on Iran, targeting its rail and automotive conglomerates and international suppliers to the sectors, the Treasury Department said, in the latest US push to isolate Tehran economically.The sanctions are part of the department's "Operation Economic Outcast," announced August 24, which aims to cut Tehran's funding for the war, missile construction, cyberattacks and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, or IRGC.

LONDON, Oct 1 (Reuters) - British counter-terrorism police investigating a suspected plot involving an air base used by the US to target Iran said on Thursday they had arrested a dual UK-Iranian national on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts.In an incident which triggered a huge police response, raised ‌alarm among Western allies, and remains largely unexplained, five British men in their 20s were arrested on Sunday on suspected terrorism and explosive offences near RAF Fairford in western England.

In Libya, a teachers' strike over pay has shut schools and delayed the start of the school year, rallying educators across the oil-rich but politically divided country. Their demands include higher salaries, health insurance and compensation for overtime.

By Ali KucukgocmenANKARA, Oct 1 (Reuters) - A Turkish journalist whose articles were cited among the grounds for blocking independent news portal T24 said the decision effectively treated objective reporting about LGBTQ+ people as a crime, as the outlet prepared to appeal the order on Thursday.A court ordered access to T24's website and social media accounts blocked after authorities said it had published 118 pieces of content over the past year deemed to constitute "LGBT propaganda".

Algerian lawmakers adopted on Thursday a law imposing the death penalty on convicted forest arsonists, after deadly wildfires ripped through swathes of the country in recent weeks. The official death toll from the blazes, which swept through the country's northeast during the summer, was 12 people, but witnesses have reported the deaths of dozens.

UAE airline Etihad, Manchester City's main sponsor, has said it is considering legal action against the Premier League after the bombshell ruling against the English football giant over Premier League financial rule breaches. It was announced this week that the Abu Dhabi-backed club was found guilty of more than 100 breaches of financial rules in the world's richest domestic league.

By Alexander Dziadosz, Patricia Zengerle and Humeyra PamukCAIRO/WASHINGTON/ISTANBUL, Oct 1 (Reuters) - The US State Department has waived human rights conditions for more than $300 million of military aid to Egypt in light of Cairo's "helpful role" since the launch of the US war with Iran, according to a letter to US lawmakers obtained by Reuters.Egypt started to get significant US support after signing a peace treaty with Israel in 1979, and has received about $1.3 billion a year in US military aid since the late 1980s.

The apparent attack by the co-pilot on a flight to Israel, in which he stabbed his captain and tried to crash the plane, is a reminder that the cockpit is an extremely sensitive place in terms of aviation safety. What can be done to stop an airline pilot from deliberately crashing a plane? - What happened? -

By Steven ScheerJERUSALEM, Oct 1 (Reuters) - Israel's three largest airlines said on Thursday they planned to resume flights to Dubai after what Israeli officials have said was an apparent attempt to crash a flydubai flight to Tel Aviv the previous day.Dubai has been one of the most popular destinations for Israelis since the United Arab Emirates signed the Abraham Accords in 2020. The UAE accounted for 1.5 million, or 8.3%, of the passengers travelling through Ben Gurion International Airport in 2025, behind only Greece and the United States.

ANKARA, Sept 30 (Reuters) - A Turkish court has ordered access to the website and social media accounts of independent news portal T24 to be blocked over content deemed "LGBT propaganda", the Justice Ministry said on Wednesday.Dozens of people were jailed earlier this month under an investigation targeting LGBTQ+ groups in Turkey, dubbed "My Family is Safe", which the government says is aimed at protecting children and family values.

TRIPOLI/BENGHAZI, Oct 1 (Reuters) - A teachers' strike over pay and working conditions is disrupting schools across Libya and delaying the start of the new academic year.Teachers began protesting on September 13, the day schools were due to reopen, staging sit-ins outside schools and government buildings in the capital, Tripoli. Two weeks later, the teachers union escalated the campaign into an open-ended, nationwide strike across public schools.

By Michal Yaakov ItzhakiNES ZIONA, Israel, Oct 1 (Reuters) - A passenger who helped save a flight carrying more than 170 people to Tel Aviv from crashing says he knew how to stabilise a nose-diving aircraft after watching an aircrash TV show. Yaniv Hayun, 50, is being hailed in Israel as a hero after he and three other Israeli passengers managed to subdue the co-pilot of flydubai flight FZ1073, who had stabbed its captain, before pulling up the jet's steering control to right it. A second air crew aboard helped land the plane safely in Saudi Arabia.

WASHINGTON, Oct 1 (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that the co-pilot who tried to crash a passenger jet on its way to Israel had undergone Islamist radicalization."We know that he underwent Islamist radical indoctrination," Netanyahu said in an interview with Fox News. No motive has been determined for Wednesday's harrowing near-disaster on Wednesday's flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv, when passengers were able to subdue the attacker and a reserve crew aboard landed the plane in Saudi Arabia.

Malawi's anti-corruption agency said it arrested the previous army chief on Thursday on allegations including dealing in property linked to "terrorism". General Paul Valentino Phiri's arrest comes months after the Platform for Investigative Journalism (PIJ) reported unverified allegations, based on purported US intelligence, that Malawi military personnel may have helped Sudanese rebels acquire heavy weaponry.

Israelis swelled with pride Thursday after passengers wrested control of a plane to prevent near-certain death, days before the anniversary of the October 7 attack, their country's worst-ever security failure. For many Israelis, the foiled disaster on the flydubai plane bolstered their view that their country is exceptional, that with their can-do spirit -- and nearly universal military training -- they can save themselves against all odds.

By Parisa HafeziDUBAI, Oct 1 (Reuters) - Iran is preparing a broader and more forceful response if the United States resumes large-scale military attacks, sources said, while continuing a diplomatic push that Iranian officials privately see as unlikely to succeed.The planning reflects a conviction within Iran's leadership that any renewed US campaign must be met with a stronger response than before, even as Tehran seeks to avert escalation through talks.

By Maayan Lubell and Eman AbouhassiraJERUSALEM/DUBAI, Oct 1 (Reuters) - Questions loomed on Thursday over the motives and background of a co-pilot who stabbed the captain of apassenger jet on its way to Israel, in what Israeli officials have said was an apparent attempt to crash the plane with more than 170 people on board.

By Feras Dalatey , Laila Bassam and Timour AzhariOct 1 (Reuters) - Representatives of the Syrian government and Lebanese militant group Hezbollah have held face-to-face talks in Turkey to try to calm tensions between them, according to six sources briefed on the first known meeting between the longtime foes. The Syrian officials and the Iran-aligned group met secretly at least once last month, the sources - who include two Syrian officials, aUS official and a senior Lebanese security source close to Hezbollah - told Reuters.

The United Arab Emirates announced on Thursday it was probing a possible "terrorist" link to an apparent attack by a pilot on board a flight to Israel that saw passengers reroute the plane to stop it from crashing. The dramatic events on Wednesday ended with passengers being given a hero's welcome by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu back home in Israel as they arrived from Saudi Arabia, where the plane made an emergency landing hours earlier.

Doha Asian Games organisers "are ready" if the continent's premier sporting event is moved back a year to 2031 in a major shake-up to the calendar, a top official said Thursday. The Games, currently ongoing in Japan, are typically held every four years and on even years. Doha is the next host and according to the current cycle, the Qatari capital would stage the Games in 2030.

India

KABUL, Oct 1 (Reuters) - Pakistani airstrikes on Afghanistan hit three houses on Thursday, killing 9 people, the Afghan Taliban government said, while Islamabad said the strikes killed 22 "terrorists" after targeting their hideouts,amid an escalation in fighting between the neighbours after three months of relative calm.Those killed in the strikes on Afghanistan's Kunar and Helmand provinces included women and children, Afghan Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said on social media website X, adding that 11 people were also injured.

OSLO, Oct 1 (Reuters) - US President Donald Trump will not win this year's Nobel Peace Prize as he wages war with Iran, but his influence will still be felt by the awarding body that picks the laureate, according to experts.Last year's award, to Venezuela's Maria Corina Machado, was unique in the prize's 125-year history, coming amid repeated lobbying by Trump to get the award. Weeks later, Machado gave her gold Nobel medal to Trump, in a bid to win support for her efforts for a democratic Venezuela.

By Aftab Ahmed and Saurabh SharmaNEW DELHI, Oct 1 (Reuters) - For Indian pilot Smit Machchhar, hailed as a hero for averting a crash of a flydubai jet bound for Israel, aviation was never part of his childhood dreams.Machchhar had his sights set on the family's textile business, until the aviation bug bit at the age of 19, which scared his mother.Now even after thousands of hours of flying, Machchhar's love of aviation is something he keeps in the cockpit, reluctant to discuss with those on the ground.

By Kanishka SinghWASHINGTON, Sept 30 (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday Israel will get to the "root" of the co-pilot who engaged in a foiled attempt to crash an Israel-bound flydubai flight and that Israel will "possibly" be participating in the probe into the incident.DETAILS AND QUOTES• "We'll get to the root of this attacker, whether he had accomplices, whether Iran was behind it. I think we'll find out very soon," Netanyahu said in an interview to Fox News host Sean Hannity on the network's "Hannity" program

By Kanishka SinghWASHINGTON, Sept 30 (Reuters) - A US immigration judge ruled the US government can deport Palestinian American Salah Sarsour, who is the president of Wisconsin's largest mosque and a US permanent resident, under a Cold War-era law.Sarsour, who grew up in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, was detained by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency in late March and released in mid-June after a federal judge said he had raised a substantial free speech retaliation claim that would render his detention unlawful.

By Kanjyik GhoshSept 30 (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed Indian pilot Smit Machchhar for saving passengers after he was stabbed by his colleague in an alleged attempt to crash a flydubai plane on Wednesday.Passengers on the flight reached Israel safely on Wednesday after customers and crew foiled the co-pilot's attempt to crash the aircraft, Israeli officials said. The struggle began when he stabbed the pilot and sent the jet plunging nearly 14,000 feet (4,267 m) in less than 30 seconds.

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham on Wednesday said there were "strong indications" Iran was involved in suspicious activity at a UK airbase that triggered a major security incident this weekend. "There are strong indications that Iran played a part in what happened over the weekend at RAF Fairford," Burnham told the BBC, referring to Sunday's bomb scare near the airbase in southwest England, which is used by the US military in its war against Iran. "Of course it remains an ongoing, complex, and serious police investigation," said Burnham.

Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua were all smiles as they kicked off the countdown to their much-anticipated heavyweight showdown at a pre-fight press conference in London. The British two-time world champions will finally lock horns in Cardiff on December 11 after years of false starts and barbs at each other. Those expecting fireworks as the two shared a stage in front of a crowd of 1,000 fans were left disappointed as both showed respect for their adversary's career.

Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo announced on Wednesday that he had left the team's training camp in Denmark after coach Jorge Jesus told reporters that the striker would be dropped for their next match. Ronaldo had been due to train with his team-mates at the Parken stadium in Copenhagen on Wednesday but left abruptly after Jesus's press conference. The veteran coach had said that Ronaldo, who spent the entire match on the bench against Norway on Sunday, would not start Thursday's Nations League clash away to Denmark either.

Turkish authorities cited alleged LGBTQ+ propaganda for the ruling against the independent news website.

Turkish authorities cited alleged LGBTQ+ propaganda for the ruling against the independent news website.

Turkish authorities cited alleged LGBTQ+ propaganda for the ruling against the independent news website.

Turkish authorities cited alleged LGBTQ+ propaganda for the ruling against the independent news website.

By Alexander Cornwell and Lina ObeidJERUSALEM, Sept 30 - When flydubai flight FZ1073 suddenly plunged from over 30,000 feet on Wednesday, passenger Almog Italie said it felt like the plane was passing through "massive turbulence" before he realised a life-or-death struggle had unfolded in the cockpit.Italie described passengers running to the front of the cabin and commotion in front of the cockpit, where Israeli officials said the co-pilot had stabbed the captain to try to crash the plane flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv with more than 170 Israelis on board.

By Tarek AmaraTUNIS, Sept 30 (Reuters) - Tunisian President Kais Saied on Wednesday eased penalties under a cybercrime decree that human rights groups had said was designed to muzzle dissent.The move marks a rare retreat by Saied since he consolidated control over much of Tunisia's political system in 2021 and came hours after civil society groups, led by the UGTT union, announced plans for a large national march in protest against what they see as curbs on rights and freedoms.

By Alexander Cornwell and Joanna PlucinskaSept 30 (Reuters) - Israel is set to ramp up security checks on pilots flying into the country, a spokesperson for the prime minister's office said, after it said a co-pilot on a flydubai flight to Tel Aviv had stabbed the pilot and attempted to crash the plane.

Turkish prosecutors have moved to freeze the assets of a senior governing party official and former minister who resigned at the weekend over allegations she profited from an investment fund crisis. The move to freeze the assets of Fatma Betul Sayan Kaya, a senior figure within President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling AKP, came on the eve of the reopening of parliament after the summer recess.

By Angelo AmanteROME, Sept 30 (Reuters) - Italy's Democratic Party did not take part in a parliamentary committee vote on Wednesday on a highly contested bill against antisemitism, highlighting divisions on the left over a law seen as potentially curbing criticism of Israel.A PD source said the party considered the definition of antisemitism included in the bill was "divisive" and urged the right-wing ruling coalition backing it to change its formulation, but this call is likely to fall on deaf ears.

LONDON, Sept 30 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia turned down a request by Israel to allow its planes to bring back Israeli passengers from a flydubai flight that made an emergency landing in the kingdom, two security sources said on Wednesday.The request was made to allow Israeli military planes to bring back Israelis from Saudi Arabia, which has no diplomatic relations with Israel, the sources said. Saudi Arabia's government media office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

By Khalid AbdelazizSept 30 (Reuters) - A US ceasefire proposal to pause Sudan's civil war could push the country towards a Libya-style partition in its current form, a top adviser to Sudan's army-led authorities told Reuters, in some of the strongest criticism by a Sudanese official of the plan so far.The remarks come a week after Reuters reported that army leader General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan's visa to attend the UN General Assembly in New York had been withheld because he had not yet accepted the proposal.

Hundreds of Israelis marched Wednesday between newly rebuilt settlements in the northern West Bank to celebrate a Jewish holiday, a symbolic show of their return to an area until recently almost fully Palestinian. Settlers of all ages carried traditional bundles of fruit and branches used to celebrate the ongoing week-long holiday of Sukkot, or the Feast of the Tabernacles, with inflatable castles and clowns bringing a holiday atmosphere to the hilltop above Palestinian communities.

Manchester City face an uncertain future after being found guilty of more than 100 breaches of Premier League financial rules in a bombshell verdict that former player Mic

An Iranian woman sentenced to death over protests earlier this year has begged the international community to save her life and others facing the death penalty, according to an audio message from prison shared by rights groups on Wednesday. The plea by Mahboubeh Shahbani, 33, from her jail in the eastern city of Mashhad comes as the authorities executed two more men on charges linked to the mass January protests.

By Alexander Cornwell and Rami AmichayJERUSALEM, Sept 30 (Reuters) - The co-pilot of a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv is believed to have stabbed the captain in a possible attempted "terror attack" on Wednesday, forcing the plane to divert to Saudi Arabia where it landed safely, three Israeli officials said.They said the cabin crew entered the cockpit and took control of flydubai flight FZ1073 from the United Arab Emirates to Israel, which diverted to Saudi Arabia as it flew over Jordanian airspace.One of the officials identified the attacker as an Omani national.