World | WPN World People News

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) warned on October 16 that millions of Ukrainians who fled their homes because of the war and later returned could be forced to flee again this winter as Russia continues its airstrikes and colder weather approaches.

Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, approximately 3.8 million people have returned to their homes, while nearly 3.6 million remain internally displaced. After years of fighting, Ukraine continues to face Russian missile and drone attacks targeting energy infrastructure, electricity networks and water supply systems in cities across the country. In addition to the ongoing destruction of critical infrastructure, damaged homes and rising living costs have further worsened living conditions. As winter approaches and temperatures are expected to plunge in the coming months, many households may be left without heating, electricity or running water. With essential winter supplies in critically short supply, millions of Ukrainians face another harsh winter.

The IOM said Russia's continued attacks on energy facilities and other critical infrastructure have placed enormous pressure on water and electricity supply systems. The organization has established 31 solar power stations across Ukraine to support water supply systems. However, humanitarian funding remains insufficient to meet the enormous demand. As freezing temperatures approach, many homes also urgently need resources to improve insulation and protect residents from the cold.

According to the IOM's survey and analysis, Ukrainians who returned home within the past three months have the highest proportion of people considering leaving again, reflecting growing concerns over deteriorating living conditions. Poland, Germany and the Czech Republic, among other countries, have already taken in approximately six million Ukrainian refugees. Governments across Europe are closely monitoring the situation amid concerns that a new wave of displacement could emerge.

Russia launched massive airstrikes on five major power plants across Ukraine overnight from October 13 into the early hours of October 14, cutting electricity to more than 600,000 households and killing at least six people. As the attacks unfolded, Starshield, a military satellite communications system heavily relied upon by Ukrainian forces, was reportedly subjected to sudden restrictions, severely disrupting Ukraine’s air defense operations. In an interview, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he felt betrayed by U.S. President Donald Trump for choosing to “side with the other party,” accusing Washington’s technical restrictions of directly contributing to casualties among Ukrainian civilians and military personnel.

Ukrainian military technology advisers and the Defense Ministry said Starshield terminals, operated under the U.S. military’s control, were being used for interceptor drones designed to pursue fast-moving Russian drones, as well as for medium-range attack missions. The U.S. military allegedly imposed an unexpected speed limit, causing network connections to be cut off whenever drones exceeded 160 kilometers per hour, resulting in failed missions. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk publicly clarified that Starshield belongs to the U.S. government and that all controls and restrictions are directly managed by the U.S. military, with decisions made by the military and President Trump. The White House, however, reportedly told Ukraine that it could not control private companies. The conflicting accounts have further eroded military trust between Washington and Kyiv, bringing bilateral relations to a historic low.

Analysts suggest that the Starshield restrictions may be linked to the Trump administration’s efforts to broker an “energy ceasefire” between the United States and Russia. Under the reported arrangement, Washington agreed to lift certain sanctions related to Russian diesel exports while demanding that Ukraine halt attacks on Russian oil refineries. In response to what Kyiv sees as a dramatic shift in Washington’s position, Zelenskyy made an urgent visit to London on October 14 to seek assistance. The British government announced that it would accelerate the delivery of surface-to-air missiles to meet Ukraine’s urgent defense needs.

Zelenskyy reiterated in his interview that defending Ukraine is a matter of survival, not a commercial transaction. He stressed that Ukraine would never make concessions involving its territory or national security.

Since the United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran on February 28, Tehran has been seeking different strategies to gain control over the Strait of Hormuz and secure leverage in negotiations with Washington. A senior Iranian official revealed that Iran is deploying new tactics targeting vessels transiting the strait, aiming to drive up international oil prices and influence the upcoming US midterm elections.

Iranian threats and attacks have sharply reduced traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and pushed up global oil prices, although some oil shipments continue to pass through the waterway. About 10 days ago, Iran began using different methods to attack vessels that violated its restrictions, leading to a significant increase in attacks.

US military officials confirmed that Iran has undergone a major tactical shift. With most of its radar installations destroyed by US forces, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has turned to small, unarmed reconnaissance boats known as dhows to identify targets at close range, including US naval vessels.

US President Donald Trump said publicly on October 13 that Washington would make a major decision on Iran soon. Meanwhile, White House officials reiterated that the United States would not launch an attack on Iran before Election Day for the US midterm elections on November 3 this year.

French supermarket chains said today they had been targeted by cyberattacks, with reports that hackers raised temperatures to 50 degrees Celsius overnight, triggering fires and forcing retailers to discard spoiled food.

France has reportedly experienced a large-scale cyberattack affecting hundreds of supermarkets. The suspected intrusion disrupted refrigeration and freezer systems at some locations, threatening food preservation. Some equipment reportedly overheated and sparked fires, resulting in tens of millions of euros in financial losses. The incident has disrupted retail operations and renewed concerns about cybersecurity at critical commercial facilities.

At some affected stores, refrigeration units reportedly experienced abnormal temperature increases. Perishable products, including meat, dairy products and frozen foods, may have had to be discarded after being exposed to improper storage conditions. In addition to inventory losses, retailers face extra costs for equipment repairs, system restoration and business interruptions. More concerningly, equipment malfunctions may increase the risk of electrical failures and fires. However, the precise causal relationship between the temperature increases and the reported fires remains unclear and requires further investigation.

If the incident is confirmed to involve a large-scale malicious intrusion, it would highlight the cybersecurity risks facing the retail sector as businesses undergo digital transformation. Cyberattacks have traditionally focused on personal data breaches, ransomware and financial losses. However, as information systems become increasingly interconnected with physical equipment, attacks can directly disrupt food safety and equipment operations, potentially threatening public safety.

Cybersecurity experts advise businesses to strengthen IT security, regularly update equipment software, and appropriately isolate store operating systems from networks controlling critical equipment. They also recommend establishing emergency response procedures and backup systems to minimize damage in the event of an attack.
French retailers and relevant authorities are expected to investigate the cause of the incident, trace the source of the attacks and assess the actual financial losses. Further details remain pending.

The incident serves as a warning to retailers worldwide that cybersecurity must keep pace with automation and operational efficiency to prevent digital attacks from escalating into physical disasters.

Yemen’s Houthi rebels have recently launched a series of attacks on targets inside Saudi Arabia, striking King Khalid International Airport in the capital, Riyadh, and King Fahd International Airport in Dammam with missiles and drones. The attacks have reportedly killed at least 16 people and injured more than 300 others. King Khalid International Airport has remained closed since the strike, prompting multiple airlines to cancel flights and severely disrupting Saudi Arabia’s air transport and tourism sectors. The Houthis claimed the attacks were intended to halt Saudi Arabia’s continued military support for Yemen’s government forces.

Analysts say the Houthis maintain close ties with Iran and that major military operations often require coordination with Tehran. The latest attacks are therefore seen as an attempt by Iran to increase its regional bargaining power through proxy forces. Experts believe Washington may be cautious about launching a broader military retaliation as the US midterm elections approach, potentially giving Iran and the Houthis an opportunity to intensify pressure. Their actions could include expanding attacks on Saudi airports and further threatening vital international shipping routes, including the Strait of Hormuz.

As the Houthis step up their offensive, the Saudi-led coalition has continued large-scale strikes against targets inside Yemen, trapping both sides in a vicious cycle of escalation. Observers fear that simultaneous disruptions to the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, two critical energy shipping routes, could sharply increase global shipping costs and energy prices. Although Saudi Arabia has pledged to maintain normal energy exports and international activities, the deteriorating regional security situation is placing significant pressure on the aviation, energy and investment markets.

More than a decade into Yemen’s civil war, the recruitment and exploitation of children by armed groups remain a serious concern. The Saudi National Society for Human Rights has recently urged the United Nations and the UN Security Council to take action to secure the release of recruited minors, hold those responsible accountable, and protect children’s rights to a safe life and education.

Arab News reported on Oct. 9 that human rights organizations have highlighted the close link between child recruitment and Yemen’s hunger crisis. Poverty, the loss of family income, and school closures have made children more vulnerable to recruitment by armed groups. Addressing the problem requires not only ending recruitment and releasing child soldiers, but also improving family livelihoods and reopening schools so that children are not forced to rely on armed groups for survival.

Yemen’s Houthi rebels seized the capital, Sanaa, in 2014, and the conflict escalated into a full-scale war the following year. Although the warring parties reached a ceasefire in 2022, large-scale offensives resumed in September 2026, reigniting the conflict.

A 2024 investigation by Human Rights Watch found that the Houthis had exploited the Gaza war to encourage children to participate in recruitment activities through schools, summer camps, and other channels. Although the Houthis signed a UN action plan in 2022 pledging to end the recruitment and use of children, reports of such practices have continued.

A UN report on children and armed conflict released in June 2026 confirmed that 262 children had been recruited by armed forces or groups in Yemen, including 259 boys and three girls. The report also noted that the Houthis were not the only party involved in child recruitment. Armed forces affiliated with Yemen’s internationally recognized government and other local armed groups were also implicated.

In early October, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) warned that approximately 18.3 million people in Yemen were facing acute food insecurity and struggling to obtain sufficient food consistently. The renewed fighting in September threatens to further worsen the food crisis.

The Saudi National Society for Human Rights has called on the international community to address child soldier recruitment and hunger simultaneously. It emphasized the need to safeguard access to education, improve household economic conditions, and provide safe living environments to reduce the risk of children being recruited by armed groups.

The U.S. government recently introduced a major draft immigration policy proposing astronomical application fees for international graduates seeking local work experience. According to the latest draft regulation disclosed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the fee for student visa holders applying for post-graduation practical training would surge from the current $500 to $70,000. Widely seen as an extension of tightening immigration policies, this move aims to strictly regulate foreign labor and prioritize domestic employment opportunities.

This proposal upends the long-standing, low-cost application model for practical training. Historically, international students—especially those in STEM and tech fields—have relied on designated training programs after graduation to work at U.S. companies, using the opportunity as a stepping stone to transition into long-term work visas and permanent residency. If the new rule takes effect, first-time applicants would face staggering costs of over NT$2 million. Applying for subsequent practical training programs would require an additional payment of nearly NT$1 million. These heavy burdens could directly impact both academic institutions and hiring employers, drastically raising the hurdles for international graduates hoping to build a career in the country.

Officials defend the measure as necessary to maintain immigration integrity, curb fraud, and protect the interests of domestic workers. However, the proposed restrictions deal a severe blow to major tech hubs like Silicon Valley, which rely heavily on overseas talent, as well as universities that depend on international student tuition as a critical revenue stream. Educational associations and policy experts warned that shutting out global talent will only undermine U.S. innovation and global leadership. The move also sharply contrasts with Donald Trump’s earlier campaign rhetoric, in which he suggested easing paths for international graduates to remain in the U.S. and even granting green cards upon graduation. This policy reversal has drawn intense scrutiny.

Skepticism over the proposal's legality remains widespread. Talent-mobility advocacy groups and legal scholars note that previous attempts by the Trump administration to sharply increase fees for certain work visas were ultimately struck down in court for lacking adequate legal justification. Observers expect this draft rule to face fierce legal challenges from business coalitions and higher education institutions. The proposal will soon enter a 30-day public comment period, with a projected 60-day implementation grace period once finalized. Universities and corporate employers are closely monitoring further developments.

In the third wave of student demonstrations across France, more than 250,000 people took to the streets, resulting in at least 215 teenagers injured so far and marking the largest mobilization since the protests began. The French Ministry of National Education stated that 24 schools have been set on fire or vandalized since the unrest broke out. Facing escalating protests, the French government urgently initiated a nationwide high school dialogue; however, student groups have refused to back down, and a new wave of demonstrations is already imminent.

The wave of protests began in mid-September in the Parisian suburbs, initially in solidarity with teachers protesting over staffing shortages and lack of resources, before rapidly spreading throughout the country. Students are demanding improvements to the educational environment, complaining of frequent teacher absences, overly long school hours, overcrowded classrooms, and run-down, poorly maintained school buildings.

The demonstrations, which have lasted for two weeks, have repeatedly turned violent. Some protesters set fire to trash cans, vandalized bus shelters, and hurled projectiles at police, who responded with batons, tear gas, and rubber bullets to disperse the crowds. According to French government statistics, 715 police officers and 215 teenagers have been injured in the protests, and more than 6,100 people have been arrested—most of them minors. The Ministry of Justice stated that over 1,800 individuals have been prosecuted.

While attempting to address student demands, the French government has also accused the far-left party La France Insoumise (France Unbowed) of interfering and exploiting the protests as a warm-up for party leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon's presidential bid next year.

The 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was announced on the 5th, jointly awarded to Karl Deisseroth of Stanford University and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute in the United States, along with Peter Hegemann of Humboldt University of Berlin and Georg Nagel of the University of Würzburg in Germany. The three laureates will share the prize of 12 million Swedish kronor (approximately $1.2 million), honoring their discoveries regarding light-gated ion channels and optogenetics.

Optogenetics is a technique in which light-sensitive proteins are introduced into specific nerve cells, allowing light to precisely control neuronal activity. This enables researchers to 'switch on' or 'switch off' specific nerve cells in living brains and observe how neural circuits influence memory, emotion, and behavior.

Compared to traditional electrical stimulation, optogenetics can target specific cells and neural circuits with far greater precision, making it an essential tool in modern neuroscience. This research opens new avenues for understanding how the brain functions.

The breakthrough originated from research on algae: Hegemann and Nagel studied how single-celled algae sense light, discovering a light-sensitive protein known as channelrhodopsin, which opens ion channels upon light stimulation and triggers electrical activity in cells.

Deisseroth further applied this discovery to neuroscience by introducing the relevant genes into mammalian neurons and using optical fibers to control neural activity, gradually establishing the technology of optogenetics. Since its development in the early 2000s, this work has fundamentally transformed how scientists investigate neural circuits in the brain.

Even more compelling is its medical potential; scientists are currently exploring the application of optogenetics to conditions such as epilepsy, dementia, Parkinson's disease, autism, depression, and other psychiatric disorders, while also experimenting with using the technique to improve vision and address other neurosensory impairments. Some studies have even advanced to exploratory clinical trials in humans, indicating that 'controlling nerves with light' may gradually evolve from a research tool into a therapeutic technology.

The Nobel Assembly noted that this research allows humanity to explore the brain with unprecedented precision and offers new possibilities for the future treatment of neurological diseases.

According to a report by Reuters, Saudi Arabia is preparing to launch a new round of military operations against Houthi rebels in Yemen, with one of the primary goals being to retake the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and restore maritime security in the Red Sea. The scale of the operation could involve over 100,000 Yemeni ground troops. Citing multiple sources familiar with the matter, the report stated that the campaign could be launched within the coming weeks, with ground fighting conducted primarily by Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces while Saudi Arabia provides air support.

The report noted that Saudi Arabia is currently considering two offensive plans. One focuses on the area surrounding the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, advancing along Yemen's Red Sea coast to regain control of this critical shipping lane. The other is broader in scope, launching further offensives into more inland areas such as Al-Bayda, Marib, Taiz, and Al-Jawf. Sources said the specific scale of mobilization still depends on which plan Saudi Arabia adopts, with the deployed Yemeni ground forces potentially exceeding 100,000 troops at most.

Accounts vary widely regarding when the military action might begin. Some anticipate operations within a week, while others believe they could be delayed until after the U.S. midterm elections in November. Michael Ratney, former U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, suggested that the new offensive would likely be more limited in scope and smaller than the 2015 Saudi-led military campaign. The operation would likely focus on recapturing coastal regions to restore normal maritime traffic.

In addition, the United States is providing military advisors and intelligence support to Saudi Arabia, including targeting intelligence for Saudi air operations. However, the U.S. has no plans to participate directly in ground combat.

Meanwhile, multiple parties have not abandoned diplomatic negotiations. Pakistan's Foreign Minister stated that Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan will hold a meeting in the near future to discuss diplomatic options for engaging the Houthi rebels.

The Bab el-Mandeb Strait serves as a vital gateway to the Red Sea, an essential shipping route to the Suez Canal, and a major conduit for Saudi oil exports. This year, following the outbreak of the U.S.–Iran war and the resulting severe disruptions to Persian Gulf shipping, the strategic significance of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait has surged even further. In September, the Houthis advanced rapidly along Yemen's Red Sea coastline and seized control of the strait. Riyadh views continued Houthi control over the Bab el-Mandeb Strait as a direct threat to its oil exports and economic lifeline.