WORLD

 London, 3 October, 2026 (Nosheen): British authorities have charged two Iranian nationals with terrorism offences over an alleged plot targeting Manchester’s Jewish community on the eve of Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. Rahman Salehi, 35, and Salam Ahmadyan, 36, have been charged with preparing to commit or assisting another person to commit an act of terrorism. Counterterrorism police said the men allegedly attempted to obtain components and equipment to manufacture an improvised explosive device and carried out reconnaissance of potential targets. Police also said the suspects had allegedly been in contact with an overseas third party who may be based in Iran. British Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the alleged plot reflected wider security concerns inv...

 Brussels, 3 October, 2026 (Ghufran): Group of Seven (G7) countries have agreed to release 100 million barrels of diesel and crude oil from emergency reserves and pledged to refrain from imposing energy export restrictions among member states following pressure from US President Donald Trump. The United States had urged European countries to draw down emergency diesel inventories, with the Trump administration ,that failure to act could result in restrictions on US diesel exports. Trump later said the United States would not impose a diesel export ban, despite previously saying the measure was under consideration. In a joint statement, the G7 said the release would be coordinated through the International Energy Agency (IEA), taking into account commitments already fulfilled. The ...

Washington, 3 October, 2026 (Kamran Raja): US senators concerned about nuclear proliferation said they have secured a vote on President Donald Trump’s proposed nuclear power agreement with Saudi Arabia, with the vote expected before December 13. Known as a 123 Agreement, the proposal was submitted to Congress in late August, giving senators a 90-day period from its publication in the Senate record on September 14 to review the pact and potentially seek a resolution of disapproval. Senator Jeff Merkley said the Senate would have an opportunity to assess the agreement’s potential impact on nuclear proliferation and the risk of a nuclear arms race in the Middle East. Merkley said he worked with Democratic Senators Tim Kaine, Ed Markey, Chris Coons and Chris Van Hollen, as well as Republican l...

Beijing, 2 October, 2026 (Kamran Raja): Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic survived a tough challenge from Chinese wildcard Bu Yunchaokete to advance to the quarter-finals of the China Open in Beijing. The 11th-ranked Djokovic defeated the world number 104 in a hard-fought second-round encounter, winning 4-6, 7-6 (7/2), 6-2 after two hours and 52 minutes. Bu, 24, delighted the home crowd with an aggressive performance and repeatedly tested Djokovic from the baseline. Djokovic required a medical timeout for a torso issue after surrendering a break in the second set but recovered to win a tense tie-break and force a deciding set. The Serbian then raised his level, winning four consecutive games before sealing the match with a backhand winner. Djokovic, who remains unbeaten in 31 matches in B...

 Taipei, 2 October, 2026 (Nosheen): Taiwan has received the first two of 66 new F-16V fighter jets ordered from the United States in 2019, strengthening its air force amid growing military pressure from China. The aircraft arrived at Taitung Air Base on Taiwan’s mountainous east coast after months of delays, with Taiwan’s Defence Minister Wellington Koo saying additional F-16Vs would arrive before the end of the year. The United States approved an $8 billion sale of the fighter jets to Taiwan in 2019, a deal that is expected to increase the island’s F-16 fleet to more than 200 aircraft. Deliveries have been delayed by issues including software problems. The F-16Vs feature upgraded avionics, radar and weapons systems designed to improve Taiwan’s ability to respond to advanced Chine...

Moscow, 2 October, 2026 (Ghufran): Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned Western countries that Moscow would consider using “all weapons” in its arsenal if Russia’s Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad comes under direct attack, while saying he has no plans to attack any European country. Speaking at the Valdai Discussion Club in Moscow, Putin said Russia was prepared to respond to what he described as Western aggression and expressed concern over recent NATO military exercises near Kaliningrad. He said the drills in the Baltic Sea, along with attempts to detain Russian vessels and statements concerning Kaliningrad, represented an escalation. Putin warned that any direct attack on Russia, including Kaliningrad or other Russian territories, would inevitably raise the issue of using all weapo...

 Washington, 2 October, 2026 (Kamran Raja): The United States has deployed two additional Patriot missile batteries to Saudi Arabia and Qatar in recent weeks to protect key oil and natural gas facilities amid the possibility of renewed US military operations against Iran, according to a report by Axios citing two US officials and a regional source. One Patriot battery was deployed to Saudi Arabia to protect a key oil facility, while the other was sent to Qatar to safeguard a natural gas facility. The deployments are reportedly aimed at reassuring the two US allies that Washington would help protect their critical energy infrastructure if President Donald Trump decides to resume major combat operations against Iran. The report said Saudi and Qatari leaders had urged President Trump...

 London, 2 October, 2026 (Ghufran): British counter-terrorism police have arrested a 25-year-old dual UK-Iranian national in London as part of an investigation into a suspected terrorist plot involving RAF Fairford, a military air base in western England used by the United States for operations against Iran. The arrest follows the detention of five British men in their 20s near the air base on Sunday on suspicion of terrorism and explosives offences. The five men were later released without charge on police bail, while investigators continued examining whether a foreign state was involved in the incident. Britain’s Senior National Coordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing, Vicki Evans, said the investigation into the events in Gloucestershire was highly complex and that specialis...

 Dubai, 2 October, 2026 (Nosheen): Iran is preparing a broader and potentially stronger response if the United States resumes large-scale military attacks, while continuing diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation, according to Iranian sources. Three senior Iranian officials and an individual familiar with the discussions said senior commanders were reviewing plans that could expand potential targets beyond US-linked assets to countries supporting US military operations and possibly locations outside the Middle East. No final decision has been made, but Iranian officials said military planning had intensified as diplomatic efforts appeared to face significant obstacles. The developments follow months of conflict that began with US-Israeli attacks on February 28, followed b...

 Abu Dhabi, 2 October, 2026 (Ghufran): Indian pilot Smit Machchhar has recounted the dramatic attack he allegedly faced from his co-pilot aboard a flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, describing how he managed to open the cockpit door and seek help while the aircraft was rapidly losing altitude. Speaking to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi through a video call from a hospital in Abu Dhabi, Machchhar, who was seen with bandages on his head and hands, described the incident and his efforts to prevent further danger. He said he realized that the aircraft was going down and, despite being injured, managed to reach and open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew members to enter and overpower the co-pilot. Machchhar said he had been flying for 17 years and had served as a...