ANI

The United States has threatened to ground Iranian airlines around the world starting Wednesday, according to Al Jazeera. The move would bar Iranian carriers from operating internationally and marks a sharp escalation in pressure on Tehran's aviation sector. Details on the legal basis and which airlines are targeted remain limited, and Iran's response is not yet known.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has given an exclusive interview to Fox News addressing the protests in Iran and the future of possible military actions. In the conversation, the president faced questions about domestic unrest and Tehran's stance on further military escalation, remarks that are drawing wide attention as tensions around Iran remain high.

Donald Trump has confirmed a meeting with an Iranian delegation, with Qatar actively mediating and pushing for a diplomatic resolution between Washington and Tehran. The meeting marks a notable channel of contact between the two governments at a time of heightened regional tension. Observers are watching to see whether Qatari-brokered engagement can produce concrete steps toward easing disputes over Iran's nuclear programme and regional conflicts.

Lithuania is holding its largest-ever military exercises, Vyčio skliautas 2026, running until October 3. Authorities are rehearsing the evacuation of Vilnius and regions near the Belarusian border in the event of a military threat from Minsk. The drills underscore rising concern in the Baltic state over regional security and are drawing wide attention across Russian-language media.

Iran's foreign minister declared that the country is prepared for both diplomacy and war, saying it has been tested twice through acts of aggression and welcoming any further test. He added that Iran has also been tested in the diplomatic arena, framing the country as ready on both fronts at a time of heightened regional tension.

Mike Waltz said Iranian negotiators sought all their demands met up front in talks before President Trump rejected a proposed ceasefire. The remark offers a glimpse into the breakdown of negotiations between Washington and Tehran, portraying the Iranian side as unwilling to make phased concessions. The comments have drawn attention as tensions over the conflict and diplomatic efforts continue to make headlines.

A senior Iranian official has stated that Iran will make no concessions on its nuclear programme, according to a report carried by The Kathmandu Post. The declaration signals a hardening of Tehran's negotiating stance, and is likely to draw reactions from world powers involved in efforts to reach a nuclear deal and limit Iran's uranium enrichment activities.

The Israeli military says it has killed the militant who abducted Noa Argamani during the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel. Argamani became one of the most recognizable hostages of the war after footage of her seizure circulated widely; she was rescued by Israeli forces in June 2024. The reported killing is being covered as a symbolic development tied to the memory of the October 7 attack.

Lithuania has begun a process to lift its ban on nuclear weapons on its territory, with officials arguing that 'Russians do not attack the strong.' The move reflects growing concern among Baltic states about Russian aggression and the credibility of NATO's security guarantees, and it reignites debate over nuclear deterrence and non-proliferation in Europe.

Israeli forces say they have killed a global jihadist terrorist involved in the kidnapping of Noa Argamani during the October 7 Hamas-led attack on Israel. Argamani was later rescued by Israeli troops in June 2024 and became one of the most recognisable faces of the hostages. The strike is being reported by Israeli media and has drawn attention to ongoing Israeli operations against those responsible for the October 7 abductions.

Several Democratic candidates are making Christian faith a prominent theme of their 2026 midterm campaigns, a strategy aimed at countering Republican dominance among religious voters. NPR reports the candidates are speaking openly about their beliefs on the campaign trail, hoping faith-forward messaging will broaden their appeal ahead of the elections.

Israel's military has released footage of an airstrike that killed a militant it says was responsible for abducting Noa Argamani during the October 7, 2023 attack. Argamani, who became one of the most recognised faces of the hostages, was freed in a rescue operation in June 2024. Officials presented the strike as a step in the continued pursuit of those involved in the abduction.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu used his address to the United Nations General Assembly to denounce Zohran Mamdani, the democratic socialist mayoral candidate in New York City. The attack on a local American politician from a global diplomatic stage drew immediate attention and criticism, with commentators debating why Netanyahu singled out Mamdani and what it says about his effort to frame opponents of Israeli policy.

Israeli forces have killed a global jihadist militant identified as one of the terrorists who kidnapped Noa Argamani during the October 7 attack. Argamani, who was later rescued from Gaza, became one of the most recognized hostages of the Hamas-led assault. The announcement is drawing attention as part of Israel's continuing campaign against those responsible for the abductions.

Leading figures in artificial intelligence have called on the United Nations to establish international controls over AI development, warning that the technology they helped create could pose risks to humanity. The appeal, discussed around a UN Security Council session on AI, has reignited debate over how governments should regulate a fast-moving technology that even its own builders say needs oversight.

US ambassador Mike Waltz says Washington offered to sell Iran uranium under an arrangement for a civilian nuclear programme, but that Tehran refused to agree to the terms. His comments come as international attention remains fixed on Iran's nuclear activities and the stalled diplomacy over its enrichment programme. The disclosure gives a rare glimpse into the substance of US proposals and Iran's objections.

Iranian officials say they are pressing ahead with a plan concerning the Strait of Hormuz even after Donald Trump rejected the proposal. They note that while they were aware of Trump's public comments dismissing it, Tehran has received no formal message rejecting the plan, which would open the strategic strait. The gap between Trump's rhetoric and official communication is fueling uncertainty about the dispute over one of the world's most important oil shipping routes.

An activist addressing the United Nations highlighted human rights violations while Pakistan attempted to interject, and the interjection was dismissed. A clip of the exchange, circulated by ANI News, has drawn wide attention. The moment is being discussed as another example of Pakistan being called out at international forums over rights concerns, with viewers debating the exchange online.

A former bodyguard of the late Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh has been arrested on suspicion of planning a terror attack targeting Jewish communities in Europe, according to a report by The Jerusalem Post. The alleged plot and the suspect's past proximity to Haniyeh, who was killed in Tehran in 2024, have drawn attention to ongoing security concerns around Hamas-linked activity abroad.

A reported nuclear cooperation agreement between the United States and Saudi Arabia is drawing scrutiny over whether Riyadh would be permitted to enrich uranium. The question of enrichment rights has long been a sticking point in U.S. nuclear deals with the kingdom, with concerns about non-proliferation commitments and regional implications, particularly for Israel and broader Middle East security.

Pakistani forces have carried out strikes inside Afghanistan, in an operation framed alongside Türkiye as sending a strong message across the region. Details on casualties and targets remain limited. The reported coordination between Islamabad and Ankara is drawing attention, with commentators weighing what the joint stance signals for Afghanistan, regional security and ties between the neighbouring countries.

Kazakhstan's record in nuclear diplomacy is being put forward as a rare model for resolving the standoff over Iran's uranium stockpile. Analysts argue Astana's experience — giving up the nuclear weapons it inherited from the Soviet Union and hosting disarmament talks — offers lessons as negotiations over Iran's enriched uranium face mounting technical and political hurdles, leaving the non-proliferation framework under strain.

The United Nations has expanded its database of companies operating in Israeli West Bank settlements to 138 firms. The list, maintained by the UN Human Rights Council, flags businesses the UN says are involved in activities supporting settlement expansion, which it considers illegal under international law. Israel rejects the blacklist, and its publication has drawn criticism from Israeli officials and mixed reactions from companies and governments.

Banners organised by Torah Jews and Voice of Rabbis were displayed in response to comments made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his address to the UN General Assembly. The action, framed by organisers as an anti-Zionist Jewish message, is being shared widely with hashtags calling for a ceasefire in Palestine and drawing attention to Jewish opposition to the Israeli government's stance.

Israeli security forces killed a terrorist responsible for kidnapping Noa Argamani during the October 7 Hamas-led attack, in a series of strikes carried out over the weekend. Argamani, who was later rescued by Israeli forces in June 2024, became one of the most recognizable faces of the hostages taken during the assault. The strike is being reported across Israeli media.