Four Big Stories: Spain's Election, Yemen War, Supreme Court, and Nobel Prizes

On Monday, October 5th, four major news stories were making headlines around the world. Spain's prime minister called a snap election, fighting picked up in Yemen, the U.S. Supreme Court opened a new term, and Nobel Prize week began. Each story affects millions of people and could shape what happens next in those countries and beyond.

In Spain, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced that the country would hold an early election at the end of November. His decision came after Spain's parliament voted against his plan to help people deal with soaring rents and a growing housing crisis. One event that sparked protests was the eviction of an 87-year-old woman from her home in Madrid. Sanchez felt he had no choice but to call a new election after losing that important vote.

Spain's troubles are also worrying people in financial markets. Uncertainty about Spain's new election, along with budget problems in France, has made European markets unstable. The euro dropped to near its lowest value against the U.S. dollar in 18 months, and investors moved their money to safer places like German and Swiss bonds.

In Yemen, the government — backed by Saudi Arabia — launched a major new military offensive. The goal is to retake land that has been held by a rebel group called the Houthis since Yemen's civil war began in 2014. The Houthis control the capital city of Sanaa and much of northwest Yemen, where most of the country's people live. Over the weekend, the Houthis fired missiles and drones at Saudi oil facilities, saying the attacks caused large fires.

Reuters reporter Timour Azhari explained why Saudi Arabia is taking this risk. Saudi leaders believe the Houthis must be weakened before any peace deal is possible. The Houthis have been attacking Saudi Arabia almost every day recently, and they have built up their own weapons over time. As one expert said, the Houthis have 'graduated' from depending on Iran and now have their own military capabilities.

In the United States, the Supreme Court started its new term with cases that could challenge President Trump's use of power. The court ruled in Trump's favor about 80 percent of the time on emergency decisions last term, but it also handed him some big losses. Trump has publicly criticized several justices, including three he personally appointed during his first term.

Reporter Andrew Chung said one of the biggest cases this term involves state laws that ban certain semi-automatic rifles. Legal experts say Trump tends to lose in court when he pushes his power further than what Congress has allowed in law. Court watchers expect more major rulings this term as Trump continues to test the limits of his authority.

Finally, Nobel Prize week began, with a new winner announced each day leading up to the Peace Prize on Friday. President Trump was nominated, but experts say his chances of winning are extremely low. Reuters reporter Gwladys Fouche noted that Trump's involvement in a war with Iran, trade fights with allies, and actions against the United Nations all hurt his chances. The committee might instead choose someone like Pope Leo, the International Criminal Court, or UN official Francesca Albanese, who has spoken out about the war in Gaza.