World in brief: October 7, 2026

Middle East / 7 October 2026 Houthis claim new attacks on Saudi airports and military bases 7 October 2026 World / 7 October 2026 Northern Ireland First Minister to face no-confidence vote 7 October 2026 Southeast Asia / 7 October 2026 Myanmar military leader arrives in Malaysia as deportations draw criticism 7 October 2026 Europe / 7 October 2026 Former German chief spook arrested on suspicion of ‘treasonous espionage’ 7 October 2026 Southeast Asia / 7 October 2026 Indonesian nickel industry threatens women’s rights 7 October 2026 World / 7 October 2026 Russian strikes on Ukrainian cities kill at least 8 7 October 2026 US: Tennessee death row inmate Christa Pike is awake and speaking at a hospital, her lawyers said on Tuesday, six days after the state’s failed attempt to execute her by lethal injection twice last week left her unconscious and on a ventilator.

“Against all odds, Christa Pike is conscious, speaking and continues to receive critical medical care,” her lawyers said. “Despite the severe damage she endured to her arms, she is still handcuffed and shackled to the bed. Her recovery is medically unprecedented.”

SPAIN: A Supreme Court judge lifted the arrest warrant for Catalan separatist leader Carles Puigdemont on Tuesday, clearing the way for him to return home without fear of detention for the first time in nearly a decade.

Mr Puigdemont, Catalonia’s former regional president, fled Spain for Belgium in 2017 after leading a failed attempt to break Catalonia away from Spain. 

He has since avoided attempts by Spain to have him sent back to face a court, while many of his confidants and supporters spent time in prison.

INDIA: Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi was detained by police today during a protest against the country’s election chief, as opposition parties intensified their campaign over a contentious revision of voter lists.

Mr Gandhi and other opposition politicians were stopped by police as they marched toward Jantar Mantar, a designated protest site in India’s capital New Delhi. A live feed on the YouTube channel of Gandhi’s Congress party showed police taking him into a vehicle and driving him away.

POLAND: A 19-year-old student attacked fellow students, teachers and passersby with a sharp object today, injuring eight people before being arrested, authorities said.

The attack took place about 11am at the Vocational School Complex No 4 in Ostroleka, about 120 75 miles north-east of Warsaw, police said. Authorities did not provide any information about the suspected motive, or details about the weapon.

Four students, two teachers and two passersby were injured. None was in a life-threatening condition, but one was seriously wounded.