WORLD

GENEVA, 18 September 2026 (Nosheen): A United Nations fact-finding mission on Iran has found reasonable grounds to believe that US forces were responsible for two military strikes in Iran in February that constituted war crimes, while also concluding that Iranian authorities committed crimes against humanity during a deadly crackdown on anti-government protests. The Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran said its investigation found reasonable grounds to believe that US forces carried out a strike on the Shajareh Tayyebeh Primary School in Minab, where more than 150 people were reportedly killed, including around 120 schoolchildren. The mission concluded that the attack was indiscriminate, caused civilian deaths and damaged civilian infrastructure, amounting to a war crime ...

 WELLINGTON, 18 September 2026 (Ghufran): New Zealand has said it has not held any discussions with the European Union about becoming an associate member, following the bloc’s proposal to consider closer ties with Canada. A spokesperson for New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters said there had been no talks with the EU regarding associate membership. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen recently said she wanted to open the door for Canada to become the EU’s first associate member as part of efforts to strengthen ties among allies. European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said Australia and New Zealand could also deepen their relations with the EU in the future. Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell also said Australia was supportive of Canada’s efforts to s...

WASHINGTON, 17 September, 2026 (Nosheen): US House of Representatives Democrats have raised concerns over President Donald Trump’s proposed civil nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia and introduced a resolution of disapproval seeking to prevent the deal from taking effect. Trump sent the proposed agreement to Congress in August, triggering a 90-day review period during which lawmakers can consider a resolution to block it. Democrats and nuclear nonproliferation advocates have criticised the agreement for not explicitly preventing Saudi Arabia from enriching uranium or reprocessing nuclear waste, both of which can provide pathways to developing nuclear weapons. Four Democratic representatives — Gregory Meeks of New York, Brad Sherman and John Garamendi of California, and Don Beye...

 SANAA, 17 September, 2026 (Ghufran): Yemen’s Houthi movement has claimed that its forces shot down a Saudi Air Force F-15 fighter jet and released video footage showing the wreckage of a damaged aircraft. In footage released by Houthi military media on September 16, armed Houthi fighters can be seen standing near the wreckage of an aircraft. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree claimed that Houthi forces targeted and destroyed the aircraft. The aircraft shown in the video appears to have sustained extensive damage, but its model could not be independently verified. The Saudi national flag is visible on the aircraft’s tail section, which the Houthis cited as evidence of its connection to the Saudi Air Force. Independent sources have not verified the location of the footage or whe...

 WASHINGTON, 17 September, 2026 (Kamran Raja): The US House of Representatives has approved legislation aimed at increasing economic pressure on countries purchasing Russian oil and gas, potentially giving President Donald Trump authority to impose additional tariffs of up to 100 percent on imports from major buyers such as India and China. The legislation, approved by a vote of 262 to 159, is intended to restrict Russia’s energy and defence revenues and increase financial pressure on Moscow over the war in Ukraine. Under the measure, the US president would have the authority to impose tariffs of up to 100 percent on goods imported from countries that continue buying Russian energy, although the final tariff rate, affected products and timing of implementation would depend on subs...

 New York, 17 September 2026 (Ghufran): Israel and Morocco have agreed to open embassies in each other’s countries following a meeting between their foreign ministers and the US ambassador to the United Nations in New York. The two countries established diplomatic ties in 2020 under the US-led Abraham Accords, through which several Arab states normalised relations with Israel. According to an Israeli Foreign Ministry statement, the two sides reaffirmed their commitment to upgrading diplomatic relations, elevating their diplomatic missions to embassy level and appointing ambassadors. A joint statement issued by the US mission to the United Nations on behalf of the three countries said full diplomatic, peaceful and friendly relations between Morocco and Israel were in the common int...

 Dubai, 17 September 2026 (Kamran Raja): China has privately urged Iran to use its influence to rein in Yemen’s Houthis following an appeal from Saudi Arabia amid the group’s rapid military advances along the Red Sea coast and around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, according to three Iranian sources familiar with the matter. The sources said Riyadh sought Beijing’s assistance after the Houthi advances increased risks to Saudi oil exports and regional shipping. While China has publicly called for restraint, dialogue and the restoration of safe navigation, its private message to Tehran reportedly went further, urging Iran to help prevent the conflict from spreading across vital energy routes on which China depends. The Iranian sources said Tehran responded that regional stability and peac...

WASHINGTON, 17 September,  2026 (Nosheen): U.S. President Donald Trump has said he hoped the war against Iran was nearing an end, even as the seven-month conflict escalated with Saudi aircraft carrying out strikes in Yemen and Iran-backed Houthi fighters launching drones and missiles toward Saudi cities. The escalation has heightened concerns over global energy supplies, particularly after attacks damaged Saudi Arabia’s East-West oil pipeline and the conflict disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. The United States has also tightened its travel warning for Saudi Arabia, barring government employees from travelling within 20 miles (30 kilometers) of the Yemen border. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Trump said he hoped the war was nearing its end and reiterated that Iran wanted...

MOSCOW, 16 September, 2026 (Ghufran): Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday described participation in the upcoming parliamentary election as a measure of public support for Russia's war in Ukraine and urged citizens to cast their votes. Russia is set to hold a three-day parliamentary election starting Friday to determine the composition of the 450-seat State Duma, the lower house of parliament. The election is the first parliamentary vote since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and comes amid concerns over the impact of the war on the economy and public sentiment. Most anti-war candidates have been excluded from the ballot, while the political system remains tightly controlled and the ruling United Russia party, backed by Putin, is expected to mai...