Africa

Khartoum: Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on Sunday said they have captured the headquarters of the Sudanese army in the besieged city of El Fasher, the army's last stronghold in the Darfur region. "Our forces have succeeded in liberating the 6th Division in El Fasher, North Darfur State, and have established full control over it," the RSF said in a statement released on its official Telegram channel. The statement described the development as a "historic victory," noting that the forces had inflicted heavy losses on government troops "in lives and equipment." RSF soldiers also posted videos on the social media platform X showing RSF fighters celebrating in front of the gate of the 6th Infantry Division headquarters belonging to the Sudanese army inside El Fasher. So far, there has been no comment or confirmation from the Sudanese army or any independent body, amid conflicting reports about the situation on the ground in El Fasher and growing fears of a humanitarian deterioration there. Telecommunications and internet services have been nearly completely cut off in El Fasher since early Sunday. An eyewitness from the city said that El Fasher is experiencing a state of chaos and mass displacement of residents amid a lack of humanitarian and medical services. However, the Popular Resistance in North Darfur State, armed civilian groups fighting alongside the Sudanese army, denied that El Fasher had fallen to the RSF. "El Fasher is currently facing a misleading and blatant media campaign aimed at spreading fear and panic, as well as a growing wave of disinformation intended to undermine the high morale of the forces on the battlefield by suggesting that the entry of the division's headquarters means the fall of El Fasher," the group said in a statement. "We assure you that El Fasher is the barrier and the rock upon which the militias' conspiracies and dreams will shatter -- it will remain resilient," the statement said. El Fasher is considered the last major administrative center in the Darfur region that had remained under the control of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). Sudan remains gripped by a devastating conflict between the SAF and the RSF, which erupted in April 2023. The war has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced millions, plunging the country deeper into a humanitarian crisis.

Middle East

New York: The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has issued an appeal on the humanitarian situation in Gaza. In a series of statements, the UN agency painted a grim picture of life for Gaza's children, saying that although the latest ceasefire had offered a brief window of survival, current aid levels remained vastly insufficient to meet the scale of destruction and need. UNICEF reported devastating statistics on the impact of the conflict, stating that more than 64,000 children have been killed or injured, while over 56,000 have lost one or both parents. The UN agency said Israel had caused widespread destruction across the territory. While acknowledging a slight increase in the flow of humanitarian aid, UNICEF insisted that the current assistance remains far from enough. The agency urged Israeli authorities to open all crossings immediately and unconditionally to ensure that humanitarian supplies can enter Gaza freely. Beyond emergency relief, UNICEF said it is working to preserve Gaza's future by supporting education.

Gulf

Doha, Qatar: Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia’s new national carrier, launches daily flights from Riyadh to London Heathrow Airport (LHR) as its inaugural flight commenced today, October 26, 2025. "Today, our first inaugural flight arrived in London, marking a new step in our journey to launch from Riyadh to the world and reach more than 100 destinations by 2030," the airline shared on social media. The inaugural flight was reportedly aboard its designated Boeing 787-9 technical spare aircraft, "Jamila”, marking a critical phase in its Pathway to Perfect, strategic plan. The airline also previously announced that the launch flights to London will see flights to Dubai added soon after, transparently demonstrating Riyadh Air's rigorous commitment to operational excellence.