Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were reportedly surprised by the timing of a letter from King Charles reaffirming that they remain non-working members of the Royal Family despite returning to the UK. The letter, sent to senior government and military officials, said their status remains unchanged from the arrangement made in 2020, when they stepped down from royal duties. Harry and Meghan will not use the titles His or Her Royal Highness, while their charitable activities will remain private. The couple’s return has also renewed questions over their security, with a government committee expected to review their publicly funded protection this week. (PC: The Indian Express)

Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis attacked Saudi Arabia-linked trucks carrying military equipment near the Al-Wadiah border crossing on Monday, according to Houthi media. The group said it used locally manufactured ballistic missiles after monitoring Saudi-linked camps and troops in the area. Video footage showed a missile hitting trucks loaded with weapons and ammunition, triggering a series of explosions as soldiers fled the site. The attack came amid a sharp rise in tensions between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia after a four-year truce collapsed in July. Riyadh has vowed to take “all necessary measures” to defend its sovereignty after Houthi missile attacks injured 73 people. (PC: NDTV)

Russia and North Korea have opened their first road bridge across the Tumen River. The bridge connects the border cities of Khasan and Rason. It will make it easier to move goods and people between the two countries. North Korea said the bridge will support trade, tourism and travel. Russia called it a new “symbol of friendship”. The bridge can handle up to 300 vehicles and 2,323 people each day. Russia said it will first carry cargo, with passenger travel expected later this year. The bridge comes as military and economic ties between Moscow and Pyongyang continue to grow.  

Russia launched a major overnight attack on Kyiv and other parts of Ukraine, killing two people and injuring 10. Ukraine said Russia used dozens of missiles and 166 drones in the assault. Several buildings were damaged and fires broke out across Kyiv. Ukrainian officials accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of “senseless terror” after US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner left Kyiv following peace talks. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the attack was planned to cause maximum harm to civilians. Ukraine said it shot down many of the incoming weapons. The UK has also pledged £100 million for Ukraine’s winter air defence.  

Houthi rebels launched missile and drone attacks on several Saudi cities near the Yemen border. The attacks reportedly injured 73 people, including women and children. Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree said missiles and drones targeted key sites overnight. Targets included Aramco facilities in Abha, Najran and Jizan. A Saudi airbase in Khamis Mushait was also targeted. Saudi Arabia strongly condemned the attacks. Its foreign ministry said the country would not tolerate attacks on its territory or assets. It warned of “consequences” and said Saudi Arabia has the right to defend its people and national assets. The ministry also called for an immediate end to the escalation. (PC: Reuters)

Ukraine's Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko has resigned after corruption allegations linked to illegal call centres. Anti-corruption investigators searched his offices over the weekend. They said an official in his office led a money-laundering scheme. The network allegedly took payments to protect scam call centres and laundered millions. Investigators said the money was used to buy property, jewellery and other valuables. Kravchenko denied wrongdoing and called the allegations unsubstantiated. He resigned a day later, saying he did not want his position used for political conflict. The scandal comes as corruption remains a major issue for Ukraine and its European Union ambitions. (PC: Reuters)  

Investigators have recovered the flight recorders from an Amazon cargo plane that crashed at Miami International Airport. Five people were killed and five others were seriously injured in the crash on Sunday. The Boeing 767-300, operated by 21 Air, overshot the runway while landing from San Juan, Puerto Rico. It hit airport equipment, a white van and a Toyota Corolla before stopping beyond the runway. Investigators said it is too early to know what caused the crash. They will study the plane’s systems, engines, flight data, crew training and weather. Two runways remain closed. (PC: Reuters)

Germany spent years making it easier for skilled foreign workers to enter the country as it faced labour shortages and an ageing population. But the far-right Alternative for Germany’s (AfD) strong victory in Saxony-Anhalt could shift the immigration debate. The AfD won 43.8% of the vote but fell short of a majority, increasing pressure on mainstream parties to take tougher positions on migration. The party supports stricter asylum rules, stronger deportations and tighter immigration controls. Experts say immigration will not end overnight because key rules are set nationally and at the EU level, but Germany could increasingly favour skilled workers while tightening rules for asylum seekers and irregular migrants.

Saudi Aramco’s oil facilities in Jizan were hit in a fresh attack on Monday, with the extent of the damage still being assessed, according to reports. The complex includes a 400,000-barrel-per-day refinery and other energy infrastructure. Jizan, near Saudi Arabia’s border with Yemen, has previously been targeted by Iran-backed Houthi forces, although the group has not claimed responsibility for Monday’s strike. The attack comes amid renewed fighting in Yemen and growing tensions around Red Sea shipping. Oil prices also rose, with Brent crude reaching around $97.40 a barrel. Analysts warn that further attacks on shipping could trigger a larger global supply shock. (PC: India Today)

Britain’s King Charles III has reaffirmed that Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, will remain non-working royals despite their return to the UK after six years in the United States. A letter from the Lord Chamberlain said there is “no change to the current status” of the couple, who stepped back from royal duties in 2020. Their charitable activities will continue to be carried out in a private capacity, the letter said, describing their position as similar to that of private citizens. Harry and Meghan have returned with their two children, Archie and Lilibet. (PC: