International news briefs

Regarding Japanese companies' delivery of drones to Ukraine, Zakharova condemned what she called openly hostile action by Japan and said Russia would respond forcefully.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said on October 21 that the Japan–U.S. “Keen Sword 27” joint military exercise had gone beyond the principle of an “exclusively defense-oriented policy” and was part of Japan's accelerating “remilitarization.” She said it posed security risks to Russia's Far Eastern border regions and would also threaten stability and security in the Asia-Pacific region, and that Russia would respond by strengthening its defense capabilities. Zakharova said Japanese militarism had historically harmed Russia's Far East and Asian countries, and that Russia's concerns had ample historical and present-day grounds. Regarding Japanese companies' delivery of drones to Ukraine, Zakharova condemned Japan for openly taking hostile action and said Russia would respond firmly.

On the 21st, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zakharova said the Japan–US “Keen Sword 27” joint exercise had exceeded the principle of exclusively defense-oriented policy and was part of Japan's accelerated remilitarization. She said it posed security risks to Russia's Far Eastern border region and would threaten Asia-Pacific stability and security, adding that Russia would strengthen its defense capabilities in response.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said on October 21 that the Japan–U.S. “Keen Sword 27” joint military exercise had gone beyond the principle of an “exclusively defense-oriented policy” and was part of Japan's accelerating “remilitarization.” She said it posed security risks to Russia's Far Eastern border regions and would also threaten stability and security in the Asia-Pacific region, and that Russia would respond by strengthening its defense capabilities. Zakharova said Japanese militarism had historically harmed Russia's Far East and Asian countries, and that Russia's concerns had ample historical and present-day grounds. Regarding Japanese companies' delivery of drones to Ukraine, Zakharova condemned Japan for openly taking hostile action and said Russia would respond firmly.

Zakharova said Japanese militarism had historically harmed the Russian Far East and Asian countries, and that Russia's concerns had ample historical and present-day grounds.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said on October 21 that the Japan–U.S. “Keen Sword 27” joint military exercise had gone beyond the principle of an “exclusively defense-oriented policy” and was part of Japan's accelerating “remilitarization.” She said it posed security risks to Russia's Far Eastern border regions and would also threaten stability and security in the Asia-Pacific region, and that Russia would respond by strengthening its defense capabilities. Zakharova said Japanese militarism had historically harmed Russia's Far East and Asian countries, and that Russia's concerns had ample historical and present-day grounds. Regarding Japanese companies' delivery of drones to Ukraine, Zakharova condemned Japan for openly taking hostile action and said Russia would respond firmly.

The United States Department of State said on the 21st that it had ordered non-emergency US government employees stationed in Saudi Arabia and their family members to leave.

The U.S. State Department said on October 21 that it had ordered the departure of “non-emergency” U.S. government employees in Saudi Arabia and their family members.

Yemen's Houthi movement said on the 21st that it had struck Saudi Arabian targets that day near Aden International Airport and at Riyan International Airport in Yemen's Hadramawt Governorate.

Yemen's Houthi forces said on October 21 that they had carried out strikes that day against Saudi Arabian targets near Aden International Airport in Yemen and at Riyan International Airport in Yemen's Hadramaut Governorate. The Saudi Ministry of Energy said on October 21 that Saudi air defense forces had intercepted a drone that day that was attempting to attack an oil field in the country's east.

The Saudi Ministry of Energy said on the 21st that Saudi air defense forces had intercepted a drone that day attempting to attack oil fields in the country's east.

Yemen's Houthi forces said on October 21 that they had carried out strikes that day against Saudi Arabian targets near Aden International Airport in Yemen and at Riyan International Airport in Yemen's Hadramaut Governorate. The Saudi Ministry of Energy said on October 21 that Saudi air defense forces had intercepted a drone that day that was attempting to attack an oil field in the country's east.

The Qatari Ministry of Defence's statement said the memorandum would help participating countries draw on their respective defense manufacturing strengths, improve industrial coordination and defense industrial capabilities, and better meet the defense needs of allies and friendly countries.

Qatar's Ministry of Defence said in a statement on October 21 that Qatar, Indonesia, Pakistan and Türkiye had signed a multilateral memorandum of understanding named “Badr” in Doha that day, aimed at strengthening cooperation among the four countries in defense manufacturing, military capability building, technical training, and research and development. The statement said the memorandum would help participating countries draw on their respective strengths in defense manufacturing, strengthen industrial coordination, improve defense industry capabilities, and better meet the defense needs of allies and friendly countries.

According to a statement issued by Qatar's Ministry of Defence on the 21st, Qatar, Indonesia, Pakistan and Türkiye signed the “Badr” multilateral memorandum in Doha that day, aiming to strengthen cooperation in defense manufacturing, military capacity building, technical training, and research and development.

Qatar's Ministry of Defence said in a statement on October 21 that Qatar, Indonesia, Pakistan and Türkiye had signed a multilateral memorandum of understanding named “Badr” in Doha that day, aimed at strengthening cooperation among the four countries in defense manufacturing, military capability building, technical training, and research and development. The statement said the memorandum would help participating countries draw on their respective strengths in defense manufacturing, strengthen industrial coordination, improve defense industry capabilities, and better meet the defense needs of allies and friendly countries.

On the 21st, the World Meteorological Organization released its latest Global Seasonal Climate Outlook, saying the current El Niño could reach unprecedented intensity. It projected that sea surface temperatures in the relevant tropical Pacific waters might be 3.8°C above average from November 2026 through January 2027.

The World Meteorological Organization's latest Global Seasonal Climate Update, released on October 21, said the current El Niño event could reach unprecedented strength. It projected that from November 2026 to January 2027, sea surface temperatures in the relevant areas of the tropical Pacific could be 3.8 degrees Celsius above average. World Meteorological Organization Secretary-General Celeste Saulo said this forecast value was beyond the range of the monitoring charts used over the past 40 years.

World Meteorological Organization Secretary-General Saulo said the projected value exceeded the range of monitoring charts used over the past 40 years.

The World Meteorological Organization's latest Global Seasonal Climate Update, released on October 21, said the current El Niño event could reach unprecedented strength. It projected that from November 2026 to January 2027, sea surface temperatures in the relevant areas of the tropical Pacific could be 3.8 degrees Celsius above average. World Meteorological Organization Secretary-General Celeste Saulo said this forecast value was beyond the range of the monitoring charts used over the past 40 years.