Hundreds of doctors demand World Medical Association suspend Israel

Hundreds of doctors have gathered outside the World Medical Association (WMA) summit in the Netherlands, calling for the suspension of the Israeli Medical Association (IMA) from the grouping of physicians.

On Saturday, 81 healthcare workers removed their scrubs and hung them in a line facing the WMA assembly in Rotterdam, each bearing the name of a Palestinian healthcare worker currently held in illegal Israeli detention.

It was part of a protest against the continued membership of the Israeli association in the WMA, “despite them breaching almost every ethical principle in the WMA’s Code of Medical Ethics”, the IMA Out! coalition that organised the demonstration said in a statement.

“These scrubs should not be empty. Our colleagues belong with their patients, not in Israeli prisons. Today, we literally placed their names at the WMA’s doorstep,” said Mejrem Ahmetaj, a general practitioner and member of IMA Out!.

Since October 2023, Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza has killed more than 1,700 Palestinian healthcare workers and destroyed nearly all the hospitals and healthcare facilities in the enclave.

The campaign accused the Israeli medical association of remaining silent as Palestinian healthcare has been systematically destroyed.

“The IMA is not a bystander. It defends these attacks and blocks international condemnation while Palestinian healthcare is being destroyed. That is not medical neutrality. That is complicity,” added Ahmetaj.

WMA summit
Empty scrubs containing names of detained Palestinian healthcare workers hang outside the WMA summit [Courtesy of IMA OUT! campaign]

At a meeting of international doctors, medical leaders and human rights activists during the WMA summit on Thursday, the destruction of Palestinian healthcare and the responsibility of the international medical community were discussed, the campaign said.

“Our Palestinian colleagues are being killed and imprisoned, where they are starved and tortured. Their hospitals have been destroyed and patients driven out or murdered. The IMA has said and done nothing about these war crimes against health workers, patients and hospitals,” said a statement by Jonathan Fluxman on behalf of IMA OUT!.

“Thirty years of WMA dialogue with the IMA has done nothing but give the IMA a sense of impunity … It is time for national medical associations and the WMA to speak out and take action. Break your ties with the IMA and suspend the IMA from the WMA now,” he added.

The IMA OUT! campaign said it delivered a petition calling for the IMA’s suspension, signed by more than 6,500 health workers from around the world.

They also demanded accountability for the complicity of Israeli doctors in the starvation, torture and medical neglect of Palestinian prisoners.

Among those held by Israel is Dr Hussam Abu Safia, head of Gaza’s Kamal Adwan Hospital, whose unlawful detention has prompted an international outcry.

He was briefly held at the notorious Sde Teiman detention camp and has been subject to torture and medical neglect. Doctors protesting in Rotterdam held up placards demanding his release.

Abu Safia’s son Elyas, addressing a meeting organised by the campaign, said, “My father and all Palestinian detainees must be treated in accordance with medical ethics, and doctors must abide by the Hippocratic oath they have taken. Care cannot be given based on whose life is deemed worthy.”

Hurricane Simon strengthens to Category 4 off Mexico’s Pacific coast

Hurricane Simon has strengthened into a powerful Category 4 storm off Mexico’s Pacific coast, packing winds of up to 241km/h (150mph) as it threatens to bring destructive winds, storm surges and life-threatening flooding to southwestern Mexico.

The US National Hurricane Center said that Simon was expected to approach or move just inland of Mexico’s west-central coast late on Saturday or early Sunday. The storm was about 115 miles (185km) south-southwest of Manzanillo, with further strengthening possible before landfall.

The hurricane could bring 10 to 20 inches (25 to 51cm) of rain to parts of southwestern Mexico through Sunday.

“This rainfall will produce life-threatening flooding and mudslides, especially in areas of steep terrain,” the agency warned, urging residents to complete preparations to protect lives and property.

Authorities issued a hurricane warning for parts of the Pacific coast south of the resort city of Puerto Vallarta, including the area around Manzanillo, the country’s largest Pacific port. A tropical storm watch was in effect farther south towards Lazaro Cardenas.

A tourist walks past a business boarded up for protection in an area threatened by the potential impact of Hurricane Simon in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco state, Mexico, on October 9, 2026. Hurricane Simon is forecast to rapidly strengthen before striking Mexico's Pacific coast, the US National Hurricane Center said on october 9. (Photo by ULISES RUIZ / AFP)
Shops boarded up in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco state as Hurricane Simon heads for Mexico, October 9, 2026 [Ulises Ruiz/AFP]

Jalisco suspended classes on Friday and Monday in 22 coastal municipalities and began evacuating people from at-risk areas. Officials also urged hotels and other tourism businesses in Puerto Vallarta to ensure workers and visitors had access to shelters or safe locations.

Businesses in the popular tourist destination boarded up windows and placed sandbags at entrances as the storm approached.

The hurricane centre also warned of a dangerous storm surge and large and destructive waves near where Simon makes landfall.

A man fills a sandbag to build a barricade to protect his business from the potential impact of Hurricane Simon in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco state, Mexico, on October 9, 2026. Hurricane Simon is forecast to rapidly strengthen before striking Mexico's Pacific coast, the US National Hurricane Center said on october 9. (Photo by ULISES RUIZ / AFP)
Filling sandbags to build a barricade as Hurricane Simon threatens Jalisco state in Mexico, October 9, 2026 [Ulises Ruiz/AFP]

Rubio pledges US cooperation in Marine-linked murder case

The United States ‌Secretary of State Marco Rubio has vowed ⁠to cooperate ⁠with Japanese authorities investigating allegations that a US Marine murdered a woman in Okinawa, a case that provoked ⁠protests and prompted a US military curfew and mandatory training in standards and discipline.

The top US diplomat spoke ⁠with Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu in a phone call, the US Department of State said in a statement on Saturday following the death of a local woman in a hotel that has ‌renewed tensions over the US military presence.

“Rubio expressed sincere condolences over the death of a Japanese national in Okinawa, as well as the United States’ determination to communicate and fully cooperate with the Government of Japan and local authorities as they conduct an investigation,” the ⁠department said.

Devin Jacob Ballard, stationed at ⁠Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, was arrested on October 4 on suspicion of robbing and murdering Anna Yagi, 39, in a hotel in the ⁠capital Naha, according to local police.

Local media reported that she was choked to death and her wallet stolen.

Ballard has denied the allegations.

The killing triggered outrage in Japan, where crimes involving US forces have been a thorn in relations between the close security allies and have long inflamed criticism of US troops being stationed there. Japan hosts the largest overseas contingent of US forces globally, ‌with most of the 18,000 Japan-based Marines stationed on Okinawa.

Following the killing, US military personnel stationed ⁠there have been given ⁠a monthlong curfew and banned from drinking alcohol while they undergo discipline training.

Rubio and Toshimitsu also discussed US sanctions on the International Criminal ‌Court ‌and the upcoming G20 Foreign Ministers meeting in Atlanta, scheduled to begin on October 30.

Lionel Messi returns from Argentina farewell as Inter Miami face DC United

Lionel Messi said his farewell to ‌the Argentina national team earlier this week when he played his final match ⁠for the three-time world champions, ending a 21-year international career.

Messi’s ⁠next task will be to break Inter Miami out of their five-match winless streak in Major League Soccer (MLS) when they host DC United on ⁠Saturday.

Inter Miami (12-5-10, 46 points) sit in third place in the Eastern Conference despite being tied in points with New England, as the Revolution hold the tiebreaker with 14 ⁠wins so far.

DC United (6-8-12, 30 points) are in 11th place and need a victory, as they are three points behind the final playoff spot in the conference.


Inter Miami won the Campeones Cup on September 16 in their first match under recently hired coach Kily Gonzalez, but ‌they drew with San Diego and lost 2-1 at Columbus last Sunday in two league matches since.

Messi has been stellar once again this season, with 21 goals and 13 assists in league play as he chases his third consecutive MLS MVP award, but Miami will need more contributors as it has won only once in its last 10 league matches.

“Leo is a person who every day conveys it ⁠and passes it on to his teammates, and he demands from ⁠all of us that you have to be at 100% in every way,” Gonzalez said on Friday.

DC United are also looking to break a three-match winless streak ⁠and win their first match since September 9.


They lost their first match against Miami, 2-1, on March 7 in Baltimore, in a game where Messi and Rodrigo De Paul each scored.

On Tuesday, Messi delivered ‌one last masterclass in the blue and white of Argentina as its most decorated player and captain, by scoring one goal and setting up two others in a 3-0 friendly match against Benin.

The 39-year-old’s final bow came in front of more than 85,000 fans at a packed ⁠Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires on Tuesday.

Messi left as the country’s most-capped player (208) and record scorer, having transformed years of frustration on the international stage ‌into ‌a story of World Cup and Copa America triumphs.


Manchester United held by ten-man Tottenham as woes for both continue

Dominic Solanke rescued a 1-1 draw for 10-man Tottenham to ramp up the pressure on Manchester United boss Michael Carrick on Saturday.

Solanke’s stoppage-time header edged Spurs off the foot of the Premier League table after it seemed like they would pay a heavy price for not taking their chances in a dominant display at Old Trafford.

Bryan Mbeumo put United in front against the run of play 17 minutes from time before Rodrigo Bentancur was shown a straight red card.

But not for the first time this season, Carrick’s men failed to make a man advantage count.

Manchester City won 1-0 at Old Trafford last month despite playing for more than an hour with 10 men.

Solanke stooped to head in Sandro Tonali’s cross to leave United with just six points from their opening six league games.

Tottenham had three weeks to fester on dropping to the bottom of the table during the international break after a disastrous start to their 300-million-pound ($397m) rebuild in the transfer window.

Roberto De Zerbi’s men took until the closing stages of their fifth league game to even score a goal, and a much-improved performance was undone by a familiar lack of cutting edge up front.

Before kickoff, the United supporters took aim at local rivals City, who have been found guilty on more than 100 charges of breaking Premier League financial rules.

But the home fans soon had their own troubles to concentrate on as Spurs penned United inside their own half.

Solanke should have opened the scoring when he fired too close to Senne Lammens before Mohammed Kudus blasted wide at the end of a flowing Tottenham move.

Chances continued to come and go for the visitors after the break, much to the frustration of a visibly animated De Zerbi.

Solanke spooned over, and Destiny Udogie curled wide before the game appeared to run away from Spurs.

Carrick helped turn the tide with a triple substitution on the hour mark.

Carlos Baleba added more dynamism to United’s midfield on his first appearance since a 70-million-pound ($92.6m) move from Brighton, while the introduction of Joshua Zirkzee allowed Matheus Cunha to drop into a deeper role.

United had barely threatened Antonin Kinsky’s goal until Mbeumo was afforded too much room to spin onto Cunha’s pass and fire into the far corner.

To compound Tottenham’s woes, Bentancur was then shown a straight red card for a headbutt on Luke Shaw after an angry confrontation between the pair.

But United again failed make their man advantage count.

Solanke finally ended Tottenham’s wait since May for an away goal when he outmuscled Lisandro Martinez to glance in Tonali’s cross.

The point edges Spurs up to 18th, with only goals scored keeping them inside the relegation zone.

United are just three points better off in 12th.

Trump says Ukraine needs a new president who will agree to end the war

United States President Donald Trump says Ukraine should replace Volodymyr Zelenskyy with a new leader, lashing out at him for Kyiv’s strikes on Russian oil refineries that have contributed to high diesel prices ahead of the US midterm elections.

“I suggest they get a new leader who can make a deal,” Trump said at the White House on Saturday, adding that “for some reason [Zelenskyy] never does.”

Trump said that under Zelenskyy, Ukraine has “lost 30 percent of your country and you’ve had over a million people go between the two of them, over 2 million people killed. That’s a war that should have never have started. And I think it’s time for Ukraine to get a new president.”

Following the remarks, Ukraine’s foreign minister defended Zelenskyy. “He has the support of the Ukrainian people, and they have the right to decide,” Andriy Sybiga said in a post on X. “Statements from abroad only confirm that he is doing his job well. He deserves support.”

Trump, who on Friday struck a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin to buy diesel from Russia in an attempt to reduce high fuel prices ahead of the US midterms, has been urging Zelenskyy for weeks to stop attacking Russian energy infrastructure.

He has also sought to blame record-high US diesel prices on Ukraine rather than the US-led war in Iran, which has elevated world energy prices.

Trump suggested on Saturday that if he had been US president in 2022 “that war would have never started”.

“There was no reason that war with Ukraine and Russia started. It started due to incompetence,” he said.

The remarks came hours after Russian strikes killed at least 20 people in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region, according to Ukrainian officials.

Russia and Ukraine are locked in a long-range aerial war while their armies remain largely deadlocked on the front line, more than four and a half years since Moscow’s full-scale invasion. Ukraine is struggling to counter escalating Russian bombardments that have killed at least 60 people over the past four days.


Anger in Kyiv over diesel deal

On Friday, Trump said he had struck a deal to obtain diesel from Russia, a stunning reversal of years of Washington’s pressure on Moscow over its war with Ukraine.

He said Russia would immediately supply more than 300,000 tonnes of diesel, followed by an additional 500,000 tonnes in November and one million tonnes “immediately thereafter.” Russia will deliver an additional three million tonnes “within a short period of time” after that, he added.

The move drew a furious reaction from Zelenskyy. After Russia’s strikes on Saturday, he wrote on X: “Today, Russia expressed its thanks for the lifting of sanctions on diesel exports by dropping five glide bombs on residential buildings in Zaporizhzhia”.

Zelenskyy said the attacks show Moscow understands “any easing of pressure to mean they can keep fighting, to mean they can keep dropping bombs on cities.”

The president said every additional billion dollars Russia earns from exports would help pay for weapons components, drone upgrades, missile production and the recruitment of mercenaries, and that Moscow would only be ready to stop when its ability to fight diminished.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine was coordinating steps to counter the extra revenue Russia will receive and that he had spoken to French President Emmanuel Macron about shoring up air defences, warning of an increased risk of further missile strikes in the coming days.

He also said he had discussed the developments with Finnish President Alexander Stubb and that Ukraine would receive ammunition in the coming days for the F-16s used to intercept Shahed drones.

Ukraine’s European allies have expressed dismay at the Russian deal and said they stood by their commitment to sanctions.

Trump’s announcement about the deal was in stark contrast to a sweeping Russia sanctions law he signed last month aimed at clamping down on the oil and gas revenues that fuel the war against Ukraine.

Trump announced the deal as his envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner met with Ukrainian officials in Miami on Friday to discuss a proposal to end the war.

Barcelona beat Getafe as Gordon scores his first goal

Anthony Gordon scored his first goal for Barcelona as the Spanish champions extended their perfect start in La Liga with a 3-0 win over Getafe on Saturday.

England international Gordon opened the scoring in the second minute, and Gabriel Jesus added another after half an hour for the league leaders, who have won every match they have played this season.

French defender Jules Kounde tucked home the third from Lamine Yamal’s cross to cap Barca’s solid win against Jose Bordalas’s side at Camp Nou.

Barca moved five points clear of second-placed Atletico Madrid, who won 2-1 at Alaves earlier, and lead Real Madrid, fourth, by nine points before Los Blancos host Villarreal later on.

Barca were without their top scorer Raphinha, who sustained a hamstring problem during the international break with Brazil.

Flick replaced him with former Arsenal striker and Selecao compatriot Jesus, and his side came roaring out of the blocks.

Gordon, who has impressed since joining before this season, grabbed his first Barca goal with a low deflected effort after bundling his way past three players.

The winger was Barca’s brightest spark in the first half, continuing his fine goalscoring form for England in the recent Nations League matches.

Barca defender Eric Garcia forced a save from Getafe goalkeeper David Soria with a drive from distance as Flick’s side controlled the game.

Getafe defender Zaid Romero gave the ball away in his own box for Barca’s second, passing it straight to Jesus, who stroked into the bottom corner.

Soria denied Olmo before Yamal teed up Kounde for the third.

The defender, making a record 194th appearance for Barca for a French player, overtaking Eric Abidal, was on hand to turn home from close range from teenage star Yamal’s cross.

Barca, who also won their Champions League opener, have nine victories from nine matches across all competitions.

Ronaldo suspended by Portugal FA after leaving camp and criticising coach

After saying he deserved to be ‌disciplined, Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo got what he asked for Saturday as he was provisionally suspended by ⁠his national team.

The Portuguese Football Federation opened disciplinary proceedings against the team captain after he walked out of camp during the just-completed international break following a ⁠miscommunication with head coach Jorge Jesus.

In a letter that was revealed this week, Ronaldo said he was told by Jesus he would be used as a substitute ⁠in a Nations League match against Norway. Ronaldo warmed up along the sideline, but did not see playing time.

Before the following match against Denmark, the 41-year-old striker departed camp after notifying the federation he was leaving.

“Disciplinary proceedings have been initiated against Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro, ‌following a decision by the Non-Professional Section on October 9, 2026,” the Portuguese Football Federation said in a statement.

Ronaldo has already returned to his club team, Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia, and scored a goal in a 3-0 victory over Diriyah on Friday.

In his explanation of his actions, Ronaldo admitted that his decision to leave camp was not the best way to handle the situation. But he ⁠added that Jesus “broke his word” on more than one ⁠occasion.

“I owe my national team teammates an apology for leaving the training camp,” Ronaldo said. “Despite the absolute breach of trust in the coach’s word, as anyone who witnessed our conversations can testify, I should not have ⁠done it. The responsibility is exclusively mine.”

After just participating in his sixth World Cup for Portugal this year, Ronaldo said ⁠he is open to discipline. According to reports, the ⁠federation’s regulations call for a suspension of anywhere from a month to six months for a player who “abandons” national team activity.

“The consequence of my actions should be assessed and punished by the [federation],” Ronaldo said. “The punishment should ‌not have any mitigating circumstances. I am not just any player; I am the captain of the team, and that constitutes an aggravating factor.”

After playing in 234 matches for ‌his ‌national team and scoring 146 goals, Ronaldo said he still has the desire to play for Portugal in the future. Portugal has Nations League matches scheduled against Denmark and Wales next month.

Attack on airport in Saudi capital, Riyadh, leaves several injured

The latest attack on King Khalid International Airport in Saudi Arabia’s capital has injured several people, according to the country’s Civil Aviation Authority.

Operations at the airport in Riyadh were temporarily suspended after the attack on Saturday afternoon, said the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA). Its statement added that officials were assessing the damage and determining the exact number of injuries.

On Thursday, at least three Saudi citizens, including a pilot, were killed in Houthi attacks at the airport, according to GACA.

Those attacks were launched by Yemen’s Houthi group, which is at war with Riyadh and the Saudi-backed Yemeni government in Aden.

Al Jazeera’s Yousef Mawry, reporting from Yemen on Saturday, said the Houthis have yet to claim responsibility for the latest attack.

But the Iran-backed group has warned aviation companies to avoid using Saudi airspace, saying any aircraft operating there – except over the holy cities of Mecca and Medina – is a target.

Earlier on Saturday, King Khalid airport urged passengers to contact their airlines directly and check their flight status before heading to the airport amid reports of disruptions to air traffic. The airport did not specify the cause of the disruptions in its initial advisory.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also instructed Saudi citizens travelling to the kingdom to contact local embassies if their travel itineraries have been disrupted following the attack.

Following reports of the latest attack, President Donald Trump was asked by reporters outside the White House whether the United States planned to join Saudi strikes on the Houthis.

“We may. We’re going to look at it. We just found out about the ⁠⁠⁠⁠recent attack, so we’ll make a decision. We move very quickly,” he said.


A ‘security situation’

At the same time, foreign embassies in Riyadh, including those of the US, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Canada, issued advisories on social media to their citizens in the kingdom.

The US mission said it was “aware of attacks on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh” and “strongly recommends” all US citizens avoid the airport and surrounding areas.

The British and Irish embassies advised their nationals about “a serious incident” at the airport. Canada’s embassy advised citizens in Riyadh to avoid all travel to the airport, noting “ongoing military activity”.

Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned Saturday’s attack in the “strongest terms”, saying it considered it “a direct threat to the security of the region”, while other Arab states Jordan and Oman expressed sympathy and solidarity with Riyadh.

Japan’s embassy also “strongly” condemned Houthi attacks on airports and other Saudi civilian facilities.

Kuwait Airways said it was cancelling flights because the airport had closed due to a “security situation”.

On Thursday, the Houthi military spokesperson said that the Yemeni armed group had launched a ballistic missile towards the airport in Riyadh, claiming that the missile successfully hit its intended target, causing damage and disrupting air traffic.

Days earlier, alleged Houthi attacks on Abha and King Khalid airports killed three civilians and injured 36 others.


Nine killed in shooting in US state of Pennsylvania, including two children

Nine people were killed Friday in a shooting in the US state of Pennsylvania, according to Governor Josh Shapiro. Police said the suspected shooter was among the nine dead.

Local media reported that two children were also among those killed at a home in Erie, Pennsylvania, which is 188 kilometres (117 miles) north of Pittsburgh.

Police in the city of Erie were called Friday around 5:00pm local time (21:00 GMT) to reports of shots fired and discovered two women dead in the street, the Erie News Now outlet said.

The attacker barricaded himself inside the home as police surrounded the building and ordered him to exit.

More gunshots were heard during the standoff, Erie News Now reported.

When police eventually entered the building, they found several more victims around the home, including the two children. The deceased attacker had an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, the outlet said, citing police.

Erie News Now said that police officers who responded to the scene were being offered counselling over the horrifying incident.

“I have not seen anything like this in my 28-plus years,” Erie Police Chief Rick Lorah told a local news station on Saturday. “I’m not sure that the city of Erie has ever seen the loss of life and the devastation that we just witnessed.”

Lorah declined to provide more details but said the circumstances of the shooting were “deeply disturbing”.

Shapiro said Saturday he offered his administration’s “full support” to Erie Mayor Daria Devlin.

Mass shootings occur frequently in the United States, where guns vastly outnumber the population and efforts to increase firearm restrictions face steep political and legal hurdles.