WORLD

Mogadishu, 30 September, 2026 (Nosheen): Eight Egyptian nationals who had been held captive by Somali pirates for several months have been released and safely returned to Egypt, according to the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The released individuals were members of the crew of a commercial vessel and were reportedly taken hostage in May this year after pirates intercepted the ship near the coast of Puntland, Somalia, on May 2. Egyptian authorities said continuous contacts were maintained with Somali and Yemeni officials to secure the hostages’ release, with diplomatic efforts eventually resulting in the safe recovery of all eight Egyptians. Following their release, the crew members returned to Egypt, where their families and authorities welcomed their safe arrival after months in c...

 Brussels, 30 September, 2026 (Ghufran): Russia has warned NATO that it could use nuclear weapons if the Western alliance attempts to isolate Kaliningrad, the heavily militarised Russian exclave located between Poland and Lithuania. In a diplomatic note sent to NATO and seen by Reuters, Moscow accused the alliance of pursuing a “dangerous and reckless course” that could create a high risk of direct armed conflict, including possible Russian strikes against decision-making centres in NATO member states from the outset. Russia said it would be prepared to use its full range of forces and capabilities, including nuclear weapons, to defend its territory if NATO countries attempted to cut off Kaliningrad from the rest of Russia. NATO, in a written response seen by Reuters, said it was ...

 Riyadh, 30 September, 2026 (Kamran Raja): Saudi Arabia has denied reports that representatives from the Kingdom attended a meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi over the weekend. A Saudi source said there was no truth to reports that a Saudi representative participated in an expanded meeting following the talks between Netanyahu and Sheikh Mohammed. Israeli media had reported that Saudi representatives took part in discussions focusing on security cooperation, Iran, the Houthis and regional defence systems. Saudi officials rejected the reports, while Arab News also reported that there were no meetings involving representatives from other countries. Netanyahu visited Abu Dhabi on Sunday and met ...

BEIJING, 30 September, 2026(Kamran Raja): Chinese President Xi Jinping has called on the Chinese nation to move forward with confidence and take concrete steps towards achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. He made the remarks while addressing a reception at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing marking the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Premier Li Qiang presided over the event, which was attended by senior Chinese leaders and around 800 guests. Xi, who is also General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, said national rejuvenation was an unstoppable process and urged the country to remain focused on its goals while maintaining steady progress. He said that over t...

New York, 29 September, 2026 (Kamran Raja): US and Iranian officials held separate discussions with mediators on Monday as part of renewed diplomatic efforts to end seven months of war, according to officials from both countries. A source briefed on the negotiations said further talks are expected to focus on an amended version of a seven-day ceasefire proposal presented by Iran last week on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. The conflict began in late February with US and Israeli attacks on Iran and has continued for seven months, causing thousands of deaths and disrupting global markets as key waterways for oil shipments remained affected. The United States and Iran have previously reached two ceasefire agreements through mediated talks in April and June, but both arra...

 Baghdad, 29 September, 2026 (Nosheen): The administration of US President Donald Trump is set to grant a limited one-month waiver to its Iran sanctions program to allow Iraqi Airways to resume flights between Iran and the Iraqi city of Najaf for Shi’ite Muslim religious pilgrims, according to a person familiar with the matter. The source said the US Treasury Department waiver would permit Iraqi Airways to operate flights between Iran and Najaf for one month, with the possibility of a more permanent exemption later. Iraq suspended flights to and from Iran on Friday in line with US sanctions, while Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s government has sought an exemption for travel between the two countries for medical treatment, education and religious pilgrimages. An Iraqi official said B...

 Baghdad, 29 September, 2026 (Ghufran): US forces are set to leave their last bases in Iraq by Wednesday, ending a military presence of more than two decades and raising concerns over Iran’s influence and potential security gaps that could be exploited by Islamic State militants. The withdrawal was agreed between Washington and Baghdad in 2024 and is being completed under President Donald Trump’s administration. Iran and its allied armed groups in Iraq have described the departure as a victory. Iraqi security analysts have warned that Iran could gain greater strategic influence following the US withdrawal, while Iran-backed militia groups may seek a larger role in Iraq’s security and political decision-making. Some Iraqi officials and security figures have also expressed concerns ...

 Cairo, 29 September, 2026 (Kamran Raja): An Israeli airstrike killed Izz al-Din Al-Beik, head of Hamas’ armed wing in the northern Gaza Strip, on Tuesday, according to Israeli and Palestinian officials. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz said the military targeted and killed Beik, alleging that he was involved in planning attacks and recruiting militants. Hamas confirmed Beik’s death in the strike, which medics said hit an apartment building in Gaza City’s Nasr neighbourhood around dawn. Health officials said another person later died from injuries sustained in the attack. Israel has intensified strikes on Hamas in recent weeks, with the Israeli military saying it has killed at least 20 Hamas figures this month. Hamas has denied allegations...

Riyadh, 29 September, 2026 (Kamran Raja): Saudi Arabia’s Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman has invited UAE Vice President Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan to visit the Kingdom, marking the first public invitation for a face-to-face meeting since tensions emerged between the two countries over Yemen. The Saudi Defence Ministry announced that Prince Khalid extended the invitation to Sheikh Mansour, who also serves as Deputy Prime Minister and Head of the Presidential Court. The development follows signs of rapprochement in July, when senior officials and ministers from both countries expressed friendship and unity on social media. The thaw comes as Saudi Arabia faces increasing Houthi attacks on its oil facilities, tankers, airports and capital, while the group continues to advance...

 UJJAIN, 28 September, 2026 (Nosheen): Hundreds of Muslims gathered inside the 600-year-old historic Shahi Mosque in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, to prevent its demolition as part of a road-widening project ahead of the Hindu religious festival Simhastha Kumbh scheduled for 2028. According to Indian media reports, authorities brought bulldozers to the site late at night in the presence of a heavy police contingent in an attempt to demolish parts of the historic mosque, but the move was halted after strong resistance from local residents and a large gathering of people inside and outside the mosque. Muslims participating in the protest told journalists that they had been demonstrating continuously for the past two weeks and had collectively decided to remain inside the mosque in shifts ...