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Middle East Crisis  Houthi Rebels
Houthi rebels force Riyadh workers to work from home

One of the tallest skyscrapers in the Saudi Arabian capital, Riyadh, is partially closing following repeated attacks on the city by Houthi rebels, news agencies report.

People who work in the 302-meter-tall Kingdom Centre building have been instructed to work remotely for the time being.

"Please refrain from visiting the offices during this period," states an email seen by AFP.

The Iran-backed Houthi movement has recently escalated its attacks against both Saudi-backed forces in Yemen and Saudi Arabia itself, including the capital, Riyadh.

Political Situation in Albania
Cobblestones removed ahead of protests in Albania

Over the past week, large-scale demonstrations have broken out in the Albanian capital, Tirana. Ahead of Sunday’s protests, authorities have decided to dig up and remove all cobblestones outside the parliament building and the presidential residence, reports SVT Nyheter.

"It is a potentially lethal weapon," says the country’s Prime Minister, Edi Rama, in a video posted on Facebook.

Tirana resident Elton Prendi is critical of the decision. He believes the intent is to strip demonstrators of their only means of protecting themselves against the police.

However, once today’s protests got underway, the demonstrators managed to find other cobblestones. 

Putin’s Russia
Russian disability pensioner sentenced to prison for donation

Sergey Yevstigneyev, a 59-year-old disability pensioner, has been sentenced to eight and a half years in prison for donating just over 11,000 rubles—equivalent to slightly less than 1,300 Swedish kronor—to the opposition movement Artpodgotovka, reports the independent Russian outlet Mediazona.

In the 1980s, Yevstigneyev served time in a prison camp after being convicted of “anti-Soviet agitation and propaganda.” He reportedly contracted tuberculosis during his time in the camp, which is the reason for his current status as a disability pensioner.

The new verdict classifies him as a “political activist” who has financed a terrorist organization.

The Artpodgotovka movement is designated as a terrorist organization. Its founder, Vyacheslav Maltsev, gained significant attention around 2015 when he promised a revolution in Russia. Instead, he and many of the movement’s followers were thrown into prison.

The situation in North Korea
Luxury vessel with a 50-meter-long pool spotted off the coast of Kim Jong-un’s summer residence

An 80-meter-long vessel is visible in satellite imagery near North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un’s summer residence in the resort town of Wonsan, the BBC reports.

What stands out about the vessel is that it features a 50-meter-long swimming pool and several large water slides.

It cannot be stated with certainty that the vessel belongs to the Kim family. Yet, few people in this desperately poor communist nation could afford anything of the sort. The BBC estimates that luxury yachts of a similar size can cost as much as one billion Swedish kronor. Moreover, this vessel is just one part of the dictator’s personal fleet.

“Kim Jong-Un is supposed to be a ‘leader of the people,’ yet he possesses four such luxury vessels, while ordinary citizens struggle to secure even one meal a day,” says Ri Jong Ho, a former North Korean official.

 

The US Election Campaign

Newsom campaigns on the “wrong” coast – move draws criticism

California Governor Gavin Newsom is on the other side of the country this weekend, campaigning for Democrats in New Hampshire ahead of the midterm elections, reports Politico.

Some Democrats, including former Congresswoman Annie Kuster, have questioned the move. She is skeptical that Newsom’s presence will resonate with the people of New Hampshire.

“They don’t see how the governor of California is going to improve life here, where the focus is on the high cost of living and corruption in Washington.”

Republicans in Kansas feeling the heat – pouring in funds

Senator Roger Marshall risks becoming the first Republican in nearly a century to lose a Senate race in the state of Kansas. To prevent this, the Republican Party is now pouring millions of dollars into his campaign, Politico reports. Meanwhile, Marshall’s campaign has been dogged by a series of controversies. Among other things, he has been forced to edit campaign ads that used unauthorized material, and he has been accused of spending too much time at his home in Florida rather than in the state he represents.

In an article in The New York Times, Marshall—who is an obstetrician-gynecologist—is accused of taking legal action against hundreds of patients who failed to pay their bills on time. Marshall has dismissed the report as “a smear attempt by the left-wing media.” The Democrats have taken advantage of the volatile situation by suddenly providing Democrat and pastor Adam Hamilton with a major boost to his campaign funds in the final stretch of the election race. 

Explosion at military base

Carney: Four dead following major fire at military base

Four people have died and several others have been injured after a "serious incident" caused a fire at the CFB Wainwright military base in Alberta, Canada, on Saturday. This was announced by Prime Minister Mark Carney at a press conference, according to the BBC.

"Those we have lost were trained to serve Canada, and now Canada will serve them," said Carney.

According to sources speaking to Global News, a military exercise involving live ammunition struck a gas pipeline or gas source, triggering the explosion. The fire then spread rapidly, fueled by strong winds.

"This incident is unprecedented in modern times," said Minister of National Defence David McGuinty.

Hospitals on high alert following fatal incident at military base

Hospitals in Edmonton, Canada, have moved to disaster-response status following the explosion and fire at the CFB Wainwright military base—located approximately 180 kilometers southeast of the city—reports CBC News.

"We are freeing up resources and mobilizing as if the disaster had occurred right here... There are more patients than any of us want to count at the moment," said physician Warren Thirsk.

At least seven people have died and a large number of individuals have been injured, sources told Global News.
 

Russian Invasion International Response

Zelenskyy: Trump is trying to make Ukraine surrender

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accuses Donald Trump of attempting to pressure Ukraine into surrendering. In an interview with Bloomberg, Zelenskyy states that he does not want to believe the U.S. seeks a swift end to the war at Ukraine’s expense.

“But that is how it looks.”

He further notes that Donald Trump appears to have a good relationship with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, and that Ukraine had offered to stop attacking Russian diesel facilities in exchange for more Patriot missile systems from the U.S.—an offer the White House reportedly rejected.

Analysis: Zelenskyy held back his anger—now it’s coming out

Zelenskyy’s public criticism of Donald Trump carries risks for Ukraine, several contributors write in an analysis for Reuters.

They point out that the past week has strained U.S.-Ukrainian relations, citing harsh remarks from Trump directed at Zelenskyy, as well as the U.S. easing of sanctions against Russia. If the rift widens, Trump could potentially withdraw military support, the authors suggest.

Regarding Zelenskyy’s response to Trump, Brett Bruen of the consulting firm Global Situation Room notes that Zelenskyy may be banking on a shift in power within the House of Representatives and the Senate. Such a change would make it more difficult for Trump to ease sanctions or reduce support for Ukraine.

Ingmar Nevéus, writing for *Dagens Nyheter* (DN), observes that Trump has become “so openly pro-Putin that it is no longer possible to turn a blind eye.” While Zelenskyy previously felt compelled to maintain a balanced stance, he is now openly critical of Trump, Nevéus writes.

“Zelenskyy seems to be unleashing an anger he has kept bottled up for a long time.” 

Sources: Trump has been complaining to Zelenskyy for weeks

According to the Wall Street Journal, Donald Trump has spent several weeks criticizing Ukraine’s attacks on Russian oil refineries.

This dissatisfaction was reportedly expressed directly during conversations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. According to the newspaper’s sources, the White House links these attacks to high fuel prices—a key issue in the U.S. midterm elections this November.

Ukraine has reportedly suggested that the attacks could cease if Russia stops targeting Ukrainian energy infrastructure, or if the U.S. provides additional Patriot missile systems.

 

Protests in France

Macron: Feeling anger and shame – vandals must pay

French President Emmanuel Macron condemns the perpetrators of violence during Saturday’s protests, stating that those who engaged in vandalism will be made to pay for the destruction.

In a televised address to the nation, Macron noted that while many expressed "legitimate demands" over the weekend, others did nothing but destroy.

"Tonight, we all feel anger and shame."

Macron primarily blames the radical left and criminals. 

Shocked Parisians clean up: "Who is going to pay?"

Parisians have taken to the streets to clear away debris following the chaos of Saturday’s protests, reports *Le Figaro*. Residents in the vandalized areas reportedly did everything they could to stop the vandals who smashed up and looted shops.

Many are reacting with shock to the scene the following day. 76-year-old Suzie told the newspaper that she had never seen anything like it.

"Who is going to pay for all this?"

Deputy Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire has praised the people who came out on Sunday to clear away broken glass.

"The 'Yellow Vests' look like choirboys by comparison"

Although calm has returned to the streets of Paris, the devastation left in the wake of the night’s violence is striking and immense, writes *Le Parisien*. On some streets, not a single shop was spared from the violence. Banks, clothing stores, beauty salons, and pharmacies have all been subjected to vandalism and looting. The newspaper’s reporter observes young people rummaging through the debris in search of valuable items.

“People sicken me—go to hell!” exclaims an individual who has just bought coffee for the sanitation workers on Boulevard Voltaire.

Paris Deputy Mayor Lamia El Aaraje states that many shop owners have seen their entire businesses—and thus their livelihoods—destroyed overnight. Many employers will be forced to implement a temporary suspension of operations starting Monday.

“The Yellow Vests look like absolute choirboys compared to this,” says a waiter working at a brasserie on Place de la République. 

Nima R. Alkhorshid: BREAKING: Trump Endorses Netanyahu to "Finish the Job" Against Iran

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Limoges Tower Burns; Petersburg Drone Attack; Drones Fly Over Baltics?

Alex Christoforou