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Trump rejects Iran’s proposal for reopening HormuzIran says reopening Hormuz hinges on conditions being met and negotiated solutionSenior Iranian official says Tehran shows no flexibility on nuclear programmeSeven killed in strike on market in Yemen, say Houthi authorities Iran insisted on Sunday that only diplomacy can solve its conflict with the United States and Israel after US President Donald Trump said he rejected an Iranian proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end fighting. “Our conditions are clear, and any move toward reopening the Strait of Hormuz is contingent on these conditions being met,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi posted on social media. “Only a negotiated solution can get them out of this deadlock.” Iran announced a peace proposal last week at the UN General Assembly in New York, saying it had been transmitted to the Americans via Qatari mediators. Trump said on Saturday he rejected the plan and argued that desperation was driving the Iranians’ push for an agreement on the key waterway. “They want to make a deal to open the Hormuz Strait immediately because they’re losing so badly,” Trump told reporters at the White House.Despite Trump’s public statements, mediators facilitating Tehran’s talks with Washington have not officially relayed a US rejection of the plan, Araqchi said. “We are waiting for the mediators to convey the definitive views to us, and we will make a decision based on them,” Araqchi posted. The US has imposed an economic blockade on Iran to put pressure on Tehran to stop Iranian attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, which have drastically reduced shipping through the area even as Trump repeatedly asserts that the US controls the waterway. The Wall Street Journal first reported that Trump had rejected the Iranian proposal, citing unnamed US officials. It said Trump was privately sceptical that Iran would meet his demands and had told his staff that he sees a renewed bombing campaign as likely after the November US midterm elections.A US official had said earlier that discussions with Iran through mediators were “positive and constructive”. The commander-in-chief of Iran’s army, Amir Hatam, said the war was at a critical and decisive stage, adding that Tehran would not accept a situation in which it was unable to trade while foreign powers used the region’s strategic waterways. “If Iran cannot trade, if Iran cannot live, no one will be able to trade or live,” he said, in comments reported by state media. CONFLICT HAS DISRUPTED OIL FLOWS, HARMED GLOBAL ECONOMY The Iranians also engaged their Saudi rivals regarding the Strait of Hormuz, underscoring the stakes of a seven-month-old conflict that has disrupted oil flows through a critical shipping lane and taken a toll on the global economy. Araqchi told reporters at the UN on Friday the proposed deal would trigger a seven-day countdown to reopening the strait and a pause in regional fighting.”If there is seriousness on the US side to come to a deal and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, everything is now prepared,” Araqchi said. If the US were to agree, the warring parties could start wider talks “on mutually agreed subjects.” That could potentially include discussions of Iran’s nuclear programme. Trump cited preventing Tehran from ever acquiring a nuclear bomb as a key goal when launching the war, along with ending its ability to attack its neighbours and creating conditions for Iranians to topple their leadership. A senior Iranian official told Reuters that Iran would show no flexibility over its nuclear programme even if the US accepted its peace deal.Iran would grant no concessions over its rights, including enriching uranium or shipping its highly enriched uranium out of the country, the official said. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, in an interview with the CBS show “Face the Nation”, said Tehran was ready for talks on its nuclear programme and other issues, but would not accept “bullying or coercion”. “Iran is not seeking war, but will defend itself against pressure, threats and attacks,” Pezeshkian said, adding that it had already agreed that “we’re not supposed to develop nuclear weapons”. SEVEN KILLED IN AIRSTRIKE IN YEMEN Previous attempts at diplomacy have failed to end the war, which began on February 28 with US and Israeli attacks on Iran.Since then it has alternated between pauses and renewed strikes, killing thousands while degrading the conventional forces of Iran and damaging its already ailing economy. Iran and its allies have responded by extending the conflict throughout the region. Iran has struck US allies in the Gulf with drones and missiles while its Houthi allies in Yemen have hit Saudi interests. Yemen’s Houthi-run health ministry said seven people were killed and 40 wounded, including children, in a strike on shops at a market at the Mawiya junction in Taiz province, in the southwest, on Sunday.Later, Yemen’s internationally recognised government said its forces had targeted a Houthi military camp and vehicles at the same junction. Source link
President Donald Trump predicted yesterday that the US and Cuba will reach an agreement and that he does not think military action will be necessary.“I would say that Cuba and us will make a deal. I don’t think we’ll need the military,” Trump told reporters at the White House. The Trump administration has openly stated that its goal is to change Cuba’s government. A US-imposed oil blockade implemented earlier this year has put the country under severe strain as it contends with fuel shortages and blackouts exacerbated by failing infrastructure. “We want to help Cuba,” Trump said before departing for Tennessee. “We want to open Cuba up to our people.”In an address to the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, Trump called Cuba a failed state and said “freedom will be coming” to the island nation. The Cuban delegation walked out of the hall during that speech. Cuban foreign minister Bruno Rodriguez said at the UN later on Saturday that Cuba will always be open for dialogue with the United States. He did not reference Trump’s comments specifically. “We are open to commercial and business relationships with US companies, just as we are with any other country,” said Rodriguez, while also strongly condemning a US trade embargo on Cuba. The US has maintained the embargo on Cuba for more than 60 years and the Trump administration has been stepping up pressure. Source link
A Palestinian was martyred and another wounded on Sunday in an Israeli airstrike on the southern Gaza Strip.Palestinian medical sources said an Israeli drone struck a gathering of residents in Al Mawasi area of Khan Younis, killing one person and wounding another.Several Palestinians were also injured in Israeli strikes on the Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood and Al Shati refugee camp in western Gaza City earlier today.The death toll from the Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023, has risen to 74,016, with 175,068 people injured, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.A ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel came into effect last October, but Israeli forces have continued to violate it with further airstrikes, artillery shelling and heavy gunfire across the Gaza Strip. Related Story Source link
Qatar captain Hassan al-Haydos (left) congratulates Bualem Khoukhi after he scored the first goal during the opening Gulf Cup match against defending champions Bahrain at Prince…
China’s Vice President, Han Zheng, addresses the 81st United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters in New York City, yesterday. (Reuters) China pushed back against the United States in its speech at the UN General Assembly yesterday, saying sovereignty of countries in the Gulf should be respected and urging the “relevant country” to stop threatening Cuba and lift its blockade on it. Vice-President Han Zheng did not mention the US by name in his remarks. The US has launched a pressure campaign on Cuba that has largely blocked oil from reaching the island. The US war on Iran started with US-Israeli strikes in February. The comments stood in sharp contrast to the bonhomie on display earlier this week at the White House, where President Donald Trump feted Chinese leader Xi Jinping with military flyovers and at a lavish state dinner. “Major countries should have special responsibilities for safeguarding international peace and security, and they should take the lead in complying with the rules, upholding rule of law, and doing what’s right,” Han said.“China holds that the sovereignty and security of countries in the Middle East, including the Gulf, should be respected.” Trump warned Xi against providing support to Iran during the Washington talks and received assurances that China would not do so, the US ambassador to China said on Friday.The warning followed reports that Beijing had supplied Iran with shoulder-fired air-defence missile launchers and that Tehran had found ways to evade sanctions on its oil sales with Chinese help. On Cuba, Han said: “China urges the relevant country to immediately stop using threat of force against Cuba and immediately and completely lift the blockade and sanctions against Cuba.”Cuba’s electrical grid suffered a total collapse earlier this month, plunging the nation into darkness and leaving millions without power as the US presses its blockade. Speaking hours later at the UN hall, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov echoed the Chinese remarks, calling on Washington to lift the ‘siege’ of Cuba and restrictions on trade with the largest island in the Caribbean. Lavrov also said the US should strike Cuba off the list of state sponsors of terrorism. Cuba’s ageing power generation system has been under severe strain from fuel shortages and decrepit infrastructure for years, but a US-imposed oil blockade that began in January has worsened blackouts and led to frequent grid collapses.Han also used the speech to portray China as a reliable partner on the global stage and a steadfast defender of developing nations.“China holds that all countries, big or small, are equal members of the international community, and that world affairs should be handled by all through consultation,” said Han. Source link
Several Palestinians were wounded Sunday by Israeli occupation fire as the occupation continued to violate the ceasefire agreement by launching further raids and shelling operations across the Gaza Strip.Medical sources reported that several Palestinians sustained injuries from a strike by an Israeli drone targeting a gathering of civilians near the Al-Shati Camp market, west of Gaza city.Another Palestinian was wounded by an Israeli drone strike near the tents of displaced persons close to the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood market, northwest of the city.The Israeli occupation army continued its shelling and gunfire operations, and attack helicopters opened fire east of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, coinciding with heavy tank fire, launched from positions east of the city, directed straight at the city center. Additionally, an Israeli drone carried out a strike near the Tabariya station in the Al-Mawasi area of the city.The Al-Mawasi area of Rafah was subjected to artillery shelling and heavy gunfire from Israeli military vehicles.Northwestern areas of Gaza city witnessed heavy gunfire from Israeli gunboats, while Israeli vehicles and gunboats fired heavily west of Beit Lahia in the northern Strip.The death toll from the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023, has risen to 74,016 killed and 175,068 injured, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.A ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel had come into effect in October 2025, however, occupation forces continue to violate it by launching further airstrikes and artillery shelling, as well as engaging in heavy gunfire across various areas of the Strip. Related Story Source link
The Qatar Masters Open Chess Championship has been awarded the Best Open Tournament in the World accolade as part of the FIDE Awards 2026. The award ceremony was held alongside the 46th Chess Olympiad and the FIDE General Assembly in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. The FIDE Awards are presented biennially in recognition of outstanding achievements, initiatives, and tournaments that have demonstrated exceptional standards over a two-year cycle and contributed to the development and global promotion of chess.The recognition of the Qatar Masters as the world’s best open tournament underscores the prestigious position it has attained on the international chess calendar. It also reflects the championship’s exceptional organizational and technical standards, as well as its success in attracting some of the world’s leading chess players from across the globe. This achievement marks another milestone for the State of Qatar and the Qatar Chess Association, highlighting their continued efforts in organizing and hosting major international events and reinforcing Qatar’s status as a global destination for chess.Mr. Mohammed Ahmed Al-Mudahka, President of the Qatar Chess Association, expressed his pride in this accomplishment, noting that the award serves as a strong motivation to continue developing the Qatar Masters and elevating its stature in line with Qatar’s growing prominence on the world chess stage. The award comes at a time when Qatar is maintaining a strong presence in the 46th Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, while the Qatar Chess Association is also actively participating in the proceedings of the FIDE General Assembly, reflecting the increasing influence and visibility of Qatari chess in international forums. Qatar Masters continues to add new achievements to the record of Qatari chess, with this global recognition serving as a testament to Qatar’s excellence in hosting and organizing world-class international tournaments. Related Story Source link
Google has begun testing a new feature that allows users to purchase products from the Flipkart platform, owned by Walmart, directly via the Gemini and AI Mode services, in a move that reflects the company's move to expand the role of artificial intelligence from simply discovering and suggesting products to directly participating in purchases.According to TechCrunch, some users see a ‘Buy’ button in the Flipkart product listings that appear in Gemini and AI Mode, and when pressed, the user goes directly to the Flipkart platform's checkout page, while the test is still in its early stages and is limited to a number of users and a small group of products, including smartphones, electronics and mobile phone accessories.Google plans to expand the experience later in October, ahead of India's festive shopping season. The move comes as Google and its competitors, including OpenAI, work to add e-commerce capabilities to their AI services, moving from offering shopping suggestions to implementing larger phases of the online shopping process.Google is also developing Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP), an open standard that allows AI agents to interact with retailers across various stages of the shopping journey, including checkout and purchase.The company had previously indicated its cooperation with Flipkart to provide ‘agent’ shopping experiences to consumers in India, without revealing the details of the test.The Flipkart test represents an additional step towards transforming search engines and artificial intelligence assistants from tools for discovering products and comparing options into platforms that can carry out larger stages of the shopping process, all the way to completing the purchase process itself. Source link
Quoting President Vladimir Putin, Mr. Lavrov said “the dictatorship of a single hegemon has run amok and is simply dangerous for everyone around it,” arguing that…
Heavy rain and storms have killed at least 56 people in Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populous state, over the past three days, a government disaster agency said on Sunday. The deaths were reported during a spell of “exceptionally heavy rain that has affected much of Uttar Pradesh”, the Relief Commissioner’s office said in a statement Source link