Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi declared Sunday there is "no military solution" to the US-Iran conflict, warning that the era of "wasting time and dictating demands is over."
Talks to end the war — launched by the US and Israel in late February — appear stalled. Washington has scaled back heavy bombardment in recent weeks, shifting toward economic pressure after strikes failed to deliver a decisive outcome.
🇮🇷 Iran Keeps Hormuz Closed Until U.S. Meets Conditions
Iran has declared the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the United States meets unspecified conditions, framing reopening the waterway as its primary objective while Washington remains focused on nuclear negotiations.
The standoff pits Iran's leverage over one of the world's most critical oil chokepoints — through which roughly 20% of global oil flows — against U.S. pressure in separate nuclear talks. No timeline or specific conditions for reopening have been publicly stated by Tehran.
The closure threatens global energy supply chains and raises the stakes in already fraught U.S.-Iran diplomacy.
🌍 Japan PM Protests to US Over Marine Murder Arrest in Okinawa
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi formally protested to the United States after a US Marine was arrested on suspicion of robbing and murdering a Japanese woman in Okinawa.
Takaichi lodged the protest on Sunday, demanding accountability over the incident, which risks straining the US-Japan security alliance at a sensitive time for regional stability.
🇮🇱 Israeli Settlers Attack West Bank Farmers, Soldiers Hit Journalists
Israeli settlers carried out an attack on Palestinian farmers in the West Bank in what witnesses described as a pogrom, while Israeli soldiers detained and assaulted journalists covering the incident.
The attack took place in the Jabal Qamass area near Beita, south of Nablus. Reporters on the scene were detained and physically assaulted by Israeli forces during their coverage of the settler violence.
The incident adds to a pattern of documented settler attacks on Palestinian communities in the occupied West Bank, with press freedom groups increasingly flagging military interference with journalists covering such events.
A new poll shows 50% of UK respondents support rejoining the European Union, providing a political boost to Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, who has been advocating for closer EU ties.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer acknowledged Brexit has done "more harm than good" and pledged to set out options to the country around the time of an upcoming UK-EU summit.
The shift in public opinion marks a notable development in British politics, where EU membership has remained largely off the mainstream agenda since the 2016 referendum.
🌍 Egypt Arrests Entire Investigative Newsroom in Mass Crackdown
Egyptian security forces arrested all six journalists of independent platform Matsda2sh on September 28–29, with their whereabouts still unknown and families denied contact — what Human Rights Watch describes as enforced disappearance.
The six — Abdallah Qadry, Mohamed Ashraf Abu Emeira, Islam Barakat, Omar Helal, Mohamed Mahmoud, and Mohamed Adel — constitute the outlet's entire editorial team. Security personnel conducted raids without presenting warrants and seized electronic devices. On October 1, Egypt's Interior Ministry acknowledged the arrests, alleging the journalists produced "fabricated news" and had links to the Muslim Brotherhood. The platform denied the allegations. No specific charges or detention location were disclosed.
Egypt ranks among the world's leading jailers of journalists, with 25 currently imprisoned according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. Over 80 organisations have condemned the arrests and demanded the journalists' release.