Amazon Web Services (AWS) has said it cannot restore access to some cloud facilities in Bahrain and the UAE after they were damaged during Iranian strikes earlier this year. In Bahrain, damage affected multiple availability zones and was beyond what AWS’s regional systems were designed to withstand. In the UAE, AWS said resources and data hosted exclusively in one availability zone cannot be restored, while recovery work continues elsewhere. The company is helping affected customers move workloads and restore backups in other regions. AWS said it is replacing damaged infrastructure in the UAE and will provide another Bahrain update in early 2027. (PC: India Today)

Yemen’s Houthis have claimed they shot down a Saudi F-15 fighter jet over Marib province using a locally made surface-to-air missile. Saudi Arabia has not confirmed the reported loss. The claim came hours after Saudi air defences said they intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone south of Mecca before it entered the holy city’s restricted airspace. The Houthis have denied targeting Mecca or other Islamic holy sites. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree also claimed Saudi aircraft had carried out more than 450 airstrikes in Yemen over the past week. The claims about the fighter jet could not be independently verified. (PC: X)

India has exported around 500 tonnes of Hilsa to Bangladesh over the past two months, reversing the traditional trade flow between the two neighbours. The consignments have mainly come from Gujarat and were shipped through Bharuch port, while some supplies moved through the Howrah wholesale fish market in West Bengal. Another 150–200 tonnes could be exported in the coming weeks, according to fish traders. The unusual shift comes as Bangladesh faces lower Hilsa production this year, increasing demand for supplies from India. Traditionally, Bangladesh has exported Hilsa to India, particularly ahead of the Durga Puja festival. (PC: The Indian Express)

The Primary School, co-founded by Priscilla Chan in East Palo Alto, California, is closing after nearly a decade of operation. Established in 2016, the tuition-free school served children from low-income families while providing education alongside healthcare, dental services, wellness support and early-intervention programs. The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) provided more than $125 million in funding over the years. The school’s board voted to shut it down after CZI decided not to continue funding beyond the 2025–26 academic year. CZI said the decision was linked to the school’s academic outcomes, while the closure has raised concerns among affected families and the local community. (PC: X)

Saudi Arabia says its air defences intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone south of Mecca before it entered the holy city’s restricted airspace. The Saudi-led coalition described the incident as the second attempted Houthi attack on Mecca, following a 2017 missile incident. Saudi officials warned that the security of Mecca, Medina and pilgrims is a “red line.” The Houthis denied targeting Mecca or any Islamic holy site, calling the Saudi claim misinformation. The interception came amid intensified Houthi attacks on Saudi territory and growing regional tensions involving Iran, Yemen and Gulf states. Saudi authorities also issued temporary security alerts in Mecca, Jeddah and Taif. (PC: Reuters)

A news helicopter covering a deadly bus accident crashed into a parking lot in Los Angeles on Tuesday, killing at least three people, officials said. The helicopter was operating near the scene of an earlier SUV-and-city-bus collision that killed two people and injured six others. Video from inside the aircraft appears to capture its final moments, showing the helicopter hovering before the footage suddenly shakes as it crashes. At least one helicopter-crash victim was outside the aircraft. Another person was hospitalized, while authorities continued determining the number of people aboard. More than 50 firefighters responded, and the NTSB and FAA will investigate. 

Saudi Arabia is seeking wider regional support as Houthi attacks escalate, with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman meeting Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi in Cairo. The two sides stressed protecting navigation in the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb, while Egypt did not announce military support but could provide diplomatic backing among Arab countries. Separately, Saudi Arabia’s 1,200-km East-West oil pipeline was damaged in an attack Riyadh blamed on an Iran-aligned Iraqi group. The pipeline offers an alternative to the disrupted Strait of Hormuz; a prolonged shutdown could affect 4% of global oil supply, according to traders cited by Reuters. Meanwhile, Houthis reportedly gained territory around Bab el-Mandeb, while Saudi strikes intensified in Yemen. (PC: Reuters)

Saudi Arabia on Wednesday accused Yemen-based Houthis of targeting Mecca, Islam’s holiest city, after its air force intercepted a drone heading toward the city. Major General Turki Al-Malki, spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition against the Houthis, said the drone was intercepted at 6:50 pm on Tuesday before entering Mecca’s prohibited airspace. The accusation comes amid heightened West Asia tensions, with the Houthis intensifying attacks on Saudi Arabia and choking the Bab al-Mandeb strait, the southern entrance to the Red Sea. The Houthis, who have declared a blockade of Saudi Arabia, denied attacking Mecca, calling the allegation “a worn-out lie”. The 57-member OIC condemned the attack and expressed support for Saudi measures to deter the Houthis.

The US has publicly confirmed that it has weapons in orbit. Air Force Secretary Troy Meink said the weapons can help defend American forces from attacks in space. The Pentagon has not revealed their number, location or exact abilities. US Space Command said the move is aimed at preventing future conflicts and protecting important space systems. Modern militaries depend on satellites for GPS, communication, surveillance and missile warnings. China and Russia are also developing space warfare capabilities. Experts warn that attacks on satellites could create dangerous debris. The 1967 Outer Space Treaty bans weapons of mass destruction in orbit but does not ban all conventional weapons.  

A US Pentagon watchdog has confirmed that the Iran war has caused shortages in American weapons. The report said the US spent more than $22 billion on munitions from February to June. This led to “strategic inventory shortfalls” and delays in replacing weapons. The report also found $3.7 billion in equipment losses and $7.4 billion in other costs. Overall, the US spent $33.4 billion on the war through June 30. Several aircraft and 30 MQ-9 drones were destroyed. The findings challenge President Donald Trump’s claim that US ammunition supplies are “virtually unlimited.” The Pentagon is now working to increase production.