Saudi Arabia Abolishes Kafala System, Marking Major Reform for Millions of Migrant Workers – 10/22/2025, 4:24:26 PM

The latest world news as of October 22, 2025, includes major developments in Ukraine, Saudi Arabia, EU-Egypt relations, and several other regions.

• Russian attacks on Ukraine: Russia launched a large-scale drone and missile strike on Ukraine’s capital, killing at least six people, including two children, and injuring many others[1][2][4]. A Russian drone also struck a kindergarten in Kharkiv, killing one and injuring seven, prompting evacuation of 50 children[2].

• EU-Egypt Summit: Egypt and the European Union are holding their first summit in Brussels, focusing on economic ties, migration, and the Gaza situation[1].

• Saudi Arabia abolishes kafala system: Saudi Arabia has officially scrapped the controversial kafala labor sponsorship system, which affected millions of migrant workers, including 2.3 million Indians[2].

• Ukraine conflict negotiations: Ukrainian President Zelensky expressed conditional support for US President Trump’s proposal to freeze current front lines as the basis for talks with Russia, but doubts Russia will accept the compromise[2].

• Louvre Museum reopens: The Louvre in Paris has reopened after a recent heist, and its director is set to testify before French lawmakers[1].

• Western Balkans migration talks: Leaders from six Western Balkan nations are meeting in London with British and European officials to discuss migration and security issues[1].

• Deadly crash in Uganda: At least 46 people were killed in a highway crash involving two buses in western Uganda[1].

• Journalists win Sakharov Prize: Two journalists imprisoned in Belarus and Georgia have been awarded the EU’s top human rights prize, the Sakharov Prize[1].

• Peru declares emergency: Peru’s president has declared a state of emergency in the capital following a surge in violence and protests[1].

• Youth protests in Ivory Coast: There is growing youth anger as Ivory Coast’s 83-year-old president seeks a fourth term ahead of upcoming elections[1].

• North Korea missile launch: North Korea has conducted its first ballistic missile test in five months, firing a missile toward its eastern waters[1].

• Fuel truck explosion in Nigeria: A gasoline tanker exploded in north-central Nigeria, killing at least 31 people[1].

• Train collision in Ethiopia: An overcrowded train collided with a stationary train in eastern Ethiopia, resulting in at least 14 deaths and dozens injured[1].

• Climate change in Iceland: Scientists have identified mosquitoes in Iceland for the first time, calling it a worrying sign of climate change, as Iceland was previously mosquito-free[4].

Other notable stories include a major internet outage, ongoing international summits, and workplace transformation concerns at Amazon[4][10].

These headlines reflect significant geopolitical, humanitarian, and social developments across multiple continents.