During the morning hours, strong explosions were heard in Riyadh after Saudi authorities issued an aerial threat alert to residents shortly before 03:00 local time, the first such alert in the capital since the escalation of fighting in Yemen. Residents were warned of a hostile aerial threat and advised remaining indoors. Two explosions were subsequently heard, and the alert was lifted about 30 minutes later. Flames and a large column of black smoke were reported near King Khalid International Airport after an undisclosed projectile struck a fuel tank, causing a major fire and temporarily disrupting flights and takeoffs, with delays and cancellations reported. Emergency teams were deployed as authorities assessed the damage and impact on air traffic, although no immediate details on casualties or the source of the explosions were provided. The attack took place amid increased attacks and threats involving the Houthi movement following the collapse of the Saudi Houthi ceasefire, with the Houthis having made territorial gains in Yemen and launched missiles and drones toward Saudi Arabia, while the latter has resumed extensive airstrikes in Yemen, raising concerns about a wider conflict. The escalation has created a difficult situation for Pakistan because of its mutual defense agreement with Saudi Arabia, which Turkey also joined in August 2026. Under the agreement, an armed attack against one member is considered an attack against all members. Pakistan has committed to helping defend Saudi Arabia and training its forces while receiving investments and loans worth approximately $8 billion. Pakistani government and military officials have described their commitment to Saudi security as unconditional, but Pakistan is reportedly concerned that Saudi Arabia could request direct military assistance against the Houthis. Thousands of Pakistani troops are already stationed in Saudi Arabia for training and other military duties, while Pakistan is also facing security challenges along its border with Afghanistan and an armed separatist insurgency in Balochistan near Iran. Direct involvement in Yemen could increase internal sectarian tensions because of Pakistan's large Shiite population, while the defense agreement has generated political controversy because it was concluded by military leaders without parliamentary approval. Opposition leader Raja Nasir Abbas warned that entering the war could worsen Pakistan's economic difficulties, inflation and existing conflicts. Pakistani officials and analysts reportedly expect Saudi Arabia to hesitate before launching a major ground operation in Yemen without full American backing, while Turkey may also be reluctant to commit forces.

Police rescued British national Nusrat Osman during an operation on the outskirts of Blantyre, nearly a week after she was kidnapped in the Mount Pleasant neighborhood on 11 September. Officers exchanged gunfire with the suspected kidnappers, who were armed with an AK 47 rifle and a pistol. Four suspected kidnappers were shot and later died in hospital, while Deputy Inspector General of Police Noel Kayira was wounded and remained in stable condition. Osman was taken to hospital for treatment and assessment before being reunited with her family. Police said there had been no known ransom demand or communication from the kidnappers and the motive behind her kidnapping remain under investigation. (bbc.com, 17 September 2026)

Nusrat Osman, a 47-year-old British national and mother of two, was kidnapped in the upscale Mount Pleasant suburb of Blantyre at around 12:30 pm. Four men seized her from her car as she returned home after dropping her children off at school. They were driving a grey Nissan Dualis. Police said the kidnappers had not contacted either her family or her workplace, a local auditing firm. Malawian police offered a reward of more than K30 million (about US$17,000) for information leading to her recovery. Her brother said she had been missing for five days without contact. The UK Foreign Office confirmed that it was coordinating with local authorities. (Nyasa Times, 16 September 2026 & Newswav.com, 16 September 2026)

Yemen’s Iran aligned Houthi forces launched a large scale wave of ballistic missile and drone attacks against southern Saudi Arabia, targeting military, oil and other economic facilities in Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan and Najran. The Houthis said they targeted Saudi Aramco facilities in Abha, Najran and Jazan, as well as an air base in Khamis Mushait, in retaliation for recent Saudi airstrikes in Yemen. Saudi authorities said 73 people were wounded, including women and children, while fires broke out at several energy facilities and some operations were temporarily halted. The attacks also caused damage to oil infrastructure, including facilities in Jazan. Saudi authorities described the attacks as a dangerous escalation and said measures would be taken to protect facilities and workers and maintain operations. The Saudi led coalition said it would take necessary measures to deter the Houthis and respond to the attacks.

Police arrested a 48 year old man near the Weisweiler power plant in North Rhine Westphalia over a series of suspected sabotage attacks targeting Germany’s electricity network. He was carrying explosives, and police later found a nearby tent containing additional explosive charges. The suspect is accused of using homemade rockets to fire conductive wires onto high voltage power lines in North Rhine Westphalia, Brandenburg and Saxony, causing short circuits. On 1 September 2026, one attack occurred at the Turnow Preilack substation near the Jänschwalde power plant in Brandenburg, while another targeted the Bergheim substation near Cologne in North Rhine Westphalia later that day. The Bergheim attack shut down several power generation units for several days, although neither incident caused a general power outage. The suspect had left letters claiming responsibility and said the attacks were motivated by opposition to fossil fuels and lignite mining. Authorities believe he may have acted alone and have described the suspected motive as climate extremism.

Authorities in the eastern state of Saxony found and defused nine additional homemade explosive devices near high voltage power lines south of the Graustein substation in the Goerlitz district, bringing the total number of explosive devices discovered in the area to 21. Police and prosecutors said the devices were intended to damage high voltage power lines by causing short circuits. The discoveries followed a series of sabotage incidents targeting Germany’s electricity grid during the previous week. Police were also searching for a 48 year old man who allegedly sent letters claiming responsibility for the attacks and remained at large after apparent explosives were found at his home. Separately, an investigation into a fire at a transformer substation in Berlin determined that the incident was caused by a technical fault. Police in Wesel were also assessing another transformer substation after its security fence was found cut open.

The volcano Anak Krakatau, located in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra, about 150 km/93 miles from Jakarta, began erupting late on 4 September 2026, producing a fountain of lava and booming sounds heard up to 700 kilometers away. On 5 September, schools in the affected area canceled outdoor activities, and fishing trips were called off. Authorities told the public to wear masks and eye protection and to stay indoors after residents reported eye irritation from falling ash. At around 4 a.m. local time on 6 September, a 30-second eruption sent an ash cloud toward Jakarta. The ash reached about 6,000 meters over Java and around 15,000 meters over Sumatra and Banten province. Two further eruptions were recorded later that same day. The ash cloud forced the closure of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, the country's main airport, causing the cancellation and delay of 209 flights, including international ones. Indonesia's disaster mitigation agency said there was no imminent tsunami risk from the eruption. Volcanic ash remains a serious hazard to aircraft, since it can damage engines and reduce visibility. Anak Krakatau emerged in the 1920s from the caldera left by the 1883 Krakatoa eruption. It has a history of periodic activity, including a 2018 eruption that triggered a tsunami, killing more than 400 people. No casualties or evacuations were reported in this latest eruption.