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Merz regime wants ‘secret police’ – opposition

RT | September 24, 2026

Germany’s opposition lawmakers have accused Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s government of seeking to create a “secret police” by dramatically expanding the powers of the country’s intelligence agencies.

The accusations came during the first parliamentary debate on the reform on Thursday, with lawmakers from the Alternative for Germany (AfD), the Left and the Greens raising concerns over surveillance and fundamental rights. The government argues that the changes are needed to counter growing security threats.

Under a reform approved by the cabinet last month, the BND foreign intelligence agency and the BfV domestic security service would gain broader operational powers, allowing them to move beyond primarily gathering and analyzing information.

Among the proposed changes, the BND could sabotage foreign companies, penetrate foreign IT systems and disable weapons deemed a threat to Germany. The BfV, meanwhile, could secretly enter homes and access computers and mobile phones under certain circumstances. … continue

Israeli Colonizers Burn Three Cars Near Ramallah

IMEMC | September 25, 2026

Illegal paramilitary Israeli colonizers carried out an arson attack at dawn Friday, partially burning three Palestinian vehicles and spray-painting racist slogans in Rantis village, west of Ramallah in the central occupied West Bank.

Local sources said a group of colonizers infiltrated the village around 3 a.m. and set fire to three vehicles parked near homes. Residents confronted the assailants, forcing them to withdraw.

Residents added that the colonizers also spray-painted racist slogans on the walls of several Palestinian homes before heading toward nearby colonial outposts. … Full article

Israeli settlers terrorize West Bank Palestinians with state-provided drones: Report

The Cradle | September 25, 2026

Israeli settler gangs are using drones to terrorize Palestinians across the occupied West Bank, harassing families and guiding armed raids that have killed Palestinians, The New Arab (TNA) reported on 25 September.

“When herders left their homes in the morning, the drones would pursue and shadow them; if they approached certain areas, settlers would gather to attack and drive them away. Eventually, the drones began monitoring residents inside their homes around the clock, and there was nothing anyone could do to stop them,” Rabie Abu Naim, a displaced resident of Al-Khalayel, east of Ramallah, told TNA.

Settlers later rigged the drones with speakers blaring abuse and orders to leave, and drones were also used to drop tear gas on targeted communities, as violent assaults wounded many until terrified families fled, the report said.

Abu Naim also pointed to the killing of a boy and a young man in Al-Mughayyir days ago, saying drones “played a major role” in a raid that began with a drone tracking a flock of sheep, after which settlers moved in to steal the animals while shielded by the Israeli army, which “killed the two victims in cold blood during the incident.” … continue

They see them, then kill them: Israeli quadcopters track, deliberately target civilians in Gaza

Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor | September 12, 2026

Geneva – The Israeli military continues to use armed quadcopter drones to carry out deliberate killings of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip. Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor has documented the killing of at least 60 civilians by gunfire from these drones or by munitions dropped by them since the ceasefire took effect on 10 October 2025 through early September 2026.

The repeated occurrence of these incidents after the ceasefire, and the targeting of children, displaced people, farmers, shepherds, and people returning to check on their homes, reveals a continuing pattern of the deliberate killing of Palestinian civilians, in which Israel employs military technology capable of identifying specific individuals, tracking their movements, and striking them with precision, despite the clear civilian status of those targeted and their non-participation in hostilities or posing of any imminent threat to Israeli forces or others. … continue

Israeli attacks on Khan Younis, Gaza kill Palestinian, injure others

Al Mayadeen | September 25, 2026

A Palestinian was martyred and others were injured in an Israeli airstrike west of Al-Aqsa University in the al-Mawasi area of Khan Younis, southern Gaza, Al Mayadeen’s correspondent reported on Friday.

The correspondent also reported Israeli artillery shelling south of Khan Younis, while Israeli occupation forces fired toward areas east of Deir al-Balah and the al-Masdar village in central Gaza.

Since the announcement of the “ceasefire” on October 11, 2025, more than 1,408 Palestinians have been martyred and 4,916 injured, while the bodies of 834 Palestinians have been recovered, according to the latest figures cited by Al Mayadeen.

The cumulative death toll from the Israeli war on Gaza has now surpassed 73,928, with 175,030 Palestinians injured since the beginning of the aggression. … Full article

Turkish, Pakistani military chiefs rush to Saudi Arabia for ‘urgent’ Mecca pact summit

The Cradle | September 25, 2026

Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and Pakistan are preparing to convene an urgent meeting of their military chiefs to discuss ways to support the kingdom in its war against Yemen’s Ansarallah-led armed forces.

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry announced on 25 September that Turkiye and Pakistan are rushing their military chiefs to Riyadh under the auspices of the Mecca Defense Pact, an agreement signed in August stipulating that an attack on one member is an attack on all.

The meeting will convene on Friday as Saudi-backed mercenaries continue to lose ground to the Yemeni Armed Forces (YAF), which have recently responded to Saudi attacks by launching drone and missile attacks at targets within the kingdom itself. … Full article

Macron to send French troops to Saudi Arabia

RT | September 24, 2026

France will deploy troops, radar and air-defense systems to Saudi Arabia to protect a key Red Sea oil hub as Riyadh struggles to contain escalating Houthi missile and drone attacks, President Emmanuel Macron has announced.

Macron claimed that French forces would not join the fighting but would merely protect the strategic energy facility under an agreement finalized with Riyadh. The announcement came hours after the Saudi-led coalition said it had intercepted six ballistic missiles heading toward Taif, which hosts a key Saudi air base, and the strategic port city of Yanbu.

“We are going to send military resources, that is to say, soldiers, radar systems and defense systems, to protect the site of Yanbu,” Macron told TF1 and France 2 on Thursday.

Macron said the Yanbu hub, which handles several million barrels of oil, had been “very badly damaged” in previous attacks. The Red Sea port has become increasingly important for Saudi exports as the US-Iran war severely restricts tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

The Houthis claimed on Thursday that they had launched missile and drone strikes against several “sensitive targets” in the kingdom, specifically naming Saudi Aramco infrastructure in Yanbu. A Greek-operated Patriot battery already deployed in Saudi Arabia also intercepted a ballistic missile and a drone in the wider Yanbu area on Thursday, according to Reuters.

The Houthis have framed their campaign as a fight to drive Saudi-backed government forces out of Yemen, end Riyadh’s blockade and restore the country’s sovereignty, warning foreign powers against joining the Saudi campaign. … Full article

Europe was part of the infrastructure of US aggression against Iran: Deputy FM

Press TV – September 24, 2026

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi has said NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte’s admission that some 5,000 sorties were flown from European bases in support of US military aggression against Iran proves that Europe formed part of the infrastructure of that aggression.

In a post on X on Thursday evening, Gharibabadi wrote that the NATO chief’s remarks demonstrated Europe’s role in enabling the illegal US campaign.

“Governments that placed their territory at the disposal of the United States cannot evade their responsibility,” he said. “This participation will not go unanswered.” … continue

Debunked: Trump’s egregious UNGA claims on war against Iran crumble under scrutiny

By Humaira Ahad | Press TV | September 25, 2026

US President Donald Trump took the UN General Assembly stage on Tuesday and made a sweeping series of claims about Iran, its nuclear program, the imposed war, and the Strait of Hormuz.

He presented Washington’s military aggression as a campaign to defeat an “Iranian threat,” while casting Tehran as the source of “decades of bloodshed across West Asia.”

Behind the worn-out rhetoric was a version of events riddled with falsehoods, omissions, and sweeping distortions.

For example, Trump claimed that Iran killed “72,000 of its own citizens,” described the country’s nuclear program as having been “obliterated” by the US, declared Tehran’s entire 159-ship navy destroyed, accused Iran of violating the ceasefire, and said US naval forces were moving tens of ships and billions of barrels of oil through the Strait of Hormuz.

Nothing could be farther from the truth. … Full article

Iran: Colombia’s ‘baseless’ allegations violate mutual respect, interests

Press TV – September 25, 2026

Iranian Foreign Ministry has vehemently rejected Colombia’s “baseless” allegations against Tehran, saying such claims run counter to the principle of mutual respect and the interests of the two nations.

In a statement on Friday, the ministry also slammed Colombia’s decision to sever diplomatic relations with Iran, saying the move came despite more than half a century of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

“The Colombian government’s move to level unfounded accusations against Iran while simultaneously announcing the severance of diplomatic relations, which have a history spanning more than half a century, runs counter to the principle of mutual respect and is contrary to the interests of the two nations,” it said.

It noted that none of the allegations cited by Colombia to justify the severance of ties with Iran were “justified or logical,” emphasizing that the move was solely the result of the influence of the Israeli regime and the United States. […]

The statement came after Colombia’s new US-backed government severed diplomatic ties with Iran, as the right-wing administration of dual US citizen Abelardo de la Espriella moves to realign Bogotá firmly with Washington and Israel.

In a statement on Thursday, the Colombian Foreign Ministry claimed that the decision to cut ties with Iran, which took effect on September 19, was based on “hemispheric national security” considerations.

It claimed, without any proof, that the Iranian government has ties to “narco-terrorist groups that threaten the security of the country.”

Colombia also designated the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) as a “terrorist” organization, in a move clearly aimed at appeasing the US and the terrorist entity of Israel. – Full article

New evidence on the Bucha Massacre

By Raphael Machado | Strategic Culture Foundation | September 25, 2026

The Bucha Massacre, which occurred in March 2022, remains one of the main tragedies of the Ukrainian conflict. Shortly after the Russian strategic retreat and the entry of Ukrainian troops, the narrative quickly began to spread that Russian soldiers had committed a massacre in the city, murdering hundreds of people.

The news spread around the world and was broadcast by all major media aligned with the Atlantic West. Even in spaces that declare themselves neutral, such as Wikipedia, the entry on the Bucha Massacre narrates it as a slaughter perpetrated by Russian soldiers before they retreated from the city. This is, therefore, the “official version” of the story in the Western world and its satellites.

Ukrainian authorities speak of 509 innocent civilians who were allegedly assassinated by the Russians, and indeed Bucha has been used as one of the main arguments to vilify the behavioral standard of the Russians in the special military operation. It seems peculiar to us, however, from the outset that this event was so singular. In general, armies that commit atrocities commit them at various moments and in different places of the conflict, but Bucha constitutes a singular, totally unique, and so far unrepeated instance of an alleged massacre of hundreds of Ukrainian civilians by the Russians.

The topic has recently gained prominence again… continue

Ukraine kills three in strike on humanitarian mission – Russian officials

RT | September 25, 2026

Ukrainian forces killed three humanitarian workers from Omsk Region who were delivering aid to the border Zaporozhye Region, Russian officials report.

The incident, which also left one volunteer injured, occurred near the village of Novobogdanovka, Zaporozhye Governor Evgeny Balitsky said on Friday. He accused Ukraine of carrying out a “cynical terrorist attack.” Omsk Governor Vitaly Khotsenko pledged support for the affected families.

Ambassador Rodion Miroshnik, the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry mission tasked with documenting Ukrainian war crimes, blamed the incident on Vladimir Zelensky, saying the Ukrainian leader is pursuing a war against the civilian population and is seeking to create “unlivable conditions” for non-combatants. … Full article

Italy and France debunk reports CIA issued ‘Russian drone threat’ warning

RT | September 25, 2026

Senior officials in Italy and France have denied claims that their governments were warned about possible Russian drone attacks launched from containers carried by merchant ships in the Mediterranean Sea.

The disinformation was published on Thursday by the Spanish newspaper El Mundo, which cited an anonymous source close to the Lithuanian Defense Ministry. The article emphasized a recent trip to Russia by CIA Director John Ratcliffe and previous Western media reports claiming he personally cautioned Russian officials against targeting NATO nations. Moscow has denied having such intentions.

Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said on X there was no evidence confirming that Russia was preparing an operation of the kind described by the Lithuanian source, adding that in difficult times “no one needs more fuel on the fire.” … continue

How Russia is Rewiring the Global South

By Salman Rafi Sheikh – New Eastern Outlook – September 25, 2026

The West may have pushed Russia out of its orbit, but it cannot push Russia out of the world.

Over the past two weeks, Russian President Vladimir Putin has staged a remarkable diplomatic blitz. Across three major gatherings in Bishkek, Vladivostok and New Delhi, as well as during Vietnamese leader To Lam’s state visit to Moscow, Putin met a succession of heads of state from across Asia and the wider Global South. Among them were the leaders of China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia and Turkey.

The sheer intensity of this diplomacy is difficult to reconcile with the notion—aggressively propagated by Western political elites and the media—that Russia has been internationally isolated. Moscow may be estranged from Washington and most European capitals, but its diplomatic and economic relationships elsewhere have been expanding. More importantly, Russia is increasingly operating at the centre of a network of states that are seeking greater strategic autonomy from the Western-led international order. … continue

Britain’s elites want you ready to die for a war they keep imagining

By Tarik Cyril Amar | RT | September 24, 2026

Great Britain is going through a war scare. Or to be precise, its combined political and media establishment is subjecting its people to a relentless propaganda (in up-to-date NATO-speak “cognitive warfare”) campaign to create a sense of impending war against Russia.

As you would expect, that war is, of course, framed as strictly defensive. In propaganda textbook manner, the message is both very simple and very repetitive: The UK is in great danger of a Russian attack, and its whole population must prepare itself to withstand and resist it.

It goes without saying that Moscow’s repeated declarations of having no such intention make no difference. … continue

Inside Ukraine’s propaganda operation targeting Americans

RT | September 24, 2026

Ukraine’s government-backed United24 project offered former US service members thousands of dollars to produce pro-Ukraine videos for American audiences, RT’s America Now has found. The offers targeted veterans whose military backgrounds could make the message seem more credible to viewers.

Host Ben Swann and investigative journalist Elizabeth Lane examined how the project, launched by Vladimir Zelensky in 2022 to raise support for Ukraine, approached former personnel, including special operations veterans with YouTube channels and other media platforms.

According to veterans who reached out to Lane, United24 offered around $10,000 for each video, plus $40,000 in advertising support. There was no stated limit on the number of videos they could make. The project would also provide scripts and guidance, while the veterans would ultimately deliver praise for Ukraine and Zelensky in their own words. … continue

Hackers From US, France, Singapore Tried to Disrupt Russian Elections – Internet Provider

Sputnik – 25.09.2026

MOSCOW – Hackers from the United States, France and Singapore attempted to disrupt the remote electronic voting process during the recent State Duma elections, with malicious web traffic originating from IP addresses in over 30 countries, including the UK and Ukraine, Russia’s largest digital services provider Rostelecom said on Friday.

“The most intense attacks originated from networks in unfriendly countries. Malicious traffic came from IP ranges in more than 30 countries, including the UK and Ukraine. Notably, the US, France and Singapore were identified among the primary sources of attacks on the electronic voting infrastructure,” the statement read.

Rostelecom maintained secure communication channels and infrastructure at polling stations during the three-day voting period last week. It set up video surveillance across 89 regions and ensured the cybersecurity and uninterrupted operation of the federal remote electronic voting platform.

Tech experts repelled more than 3,000 waves of distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks reaching speeds of up to 1.7 Tbps, blocked over 170 million malicious attempts targeting web services, and prevented unauthorized access to the infrastructure. Efforts focused primarily on preventing voting results from being altered or disclosed prematurely.

The intensity and volume of the attacks exceeded those seen during the previous electoral process in 2024, Rostelecom said. The primary targets were e-government systems, including the Unified System of Identification and Authentication (ESIA) and the Gosuslugi state service portal, as well as Rostelecom’s infrastructure, the remote electronic voting (DEV) system, and the Central Election Commission (CEC).

Big tech hands in its DSA censorship reports to the EU

RT | September 24, 2026

The EU has published a wide range of reports detailing what social media companies like TikTok and Meta are doing to comply with its Digital Services Act (DSA). The reports detail the extreme censorship needed to stay on Brussels’ good side.

Under the European Commission’s “voluntary Code of Conduct on Disinformation,” the largest online platforms operating in the EU are required to submit biannual reports explaining their efforts to combat so-called “disinformation.” Although adherence to the code is described as “voluntary,” those who do not comply are subject to fines under the DSA, which came into force in 2023.

The commission published reports by Meta, TikTok, Google, Twitch, and more than two dozen other platforms on Wednesday. Each report spans hundreds of pages, and details the speech restrictions and censorship policies put in place at the behest of the EU.

These include restrictions on political speech surrounding elections, which the EU has mandated in every major European vote since 2024, under the pretext of fighting “Russian interference.” According to documents released by the US House Judiciary Committee earlier this year, these measures have almost always been used “to disadvantage conservative or populist political parties.” … continue

British universities working with Israel-linked arms giant to suppress pro-Palestine protests: Report

Emails show that the universities monitor students’ social media, then inform BAE Systems

The Cradle | September 24, 2026

Thirteen British universities held discussions with BAE Systems, Britain’s largest arms manufacturer, about suppressing pro-Palestine protests on their campuses, according to a joint investigation by Liberty Investigates and Al Jazeera, published on 24 September.

Emails and internal documents obtained in the investigation revealed the universities plotting with the weapons firm to ramp up security against protesting students and present a united front against those demanding they cut ties with the company.

Six of the institutions – the universities of Manchester, Nottingham, Southampton, Birmingham, and Strathclyde, as well as Cranfield University – are classed by BAE as “strategic partners” and together pocket up to $20 million a year from the arms maker under funding agreements.

“When public universities take operational cues and security strategies from weapons manufacturers to suppress their own students, the boundary between higher education and corporate defense interests collapses,” said Gina Romero, the UN special rapporteur for peaceful assembly and association. … Full article

‘A Big Victory’ – Palestine Chronicle Wins Two-Year Legal Battle

By Romana Rubeo | Palestine Chronicle | September 22, 2026

A US federal court dismissed the lawsuit against the Palestine Chronicle and its editor, Dr. Ramzy Baroud, after the three plaintiffs asked to withdraw it.

Almog Meir Jan filed the case in July 2024. Shlomi Ziv and Andrey Kozlov joined an amended complaint the following year. The suit sought to link the Chronicle to their captivity in Gaza through its publication of reports by Palestinian journalist Abdallah Aljamal.

The Chronicle rejected the accusations throughout the proceedings. The plaintiffs moved to withdraw their case in July, and US District Judge Tiffany Cartwright granted the request on September 15. The court record closed the case after more than two years of litigation.

“After a struggle of over 2 years, we have won a big victory.  We have beaten back a calculated attempt to chill the free speech of some of the most critical voices of the Palestinian people — The Palestine Chronicle and Ramzy Baroud.  I have been so proud and honored to represent these clients and am happy for the outcome,” Attorney Dan Kovalik said. … continue

With Netanyahu ostracized, his US visit will be very short, with Trump unwilling to meet him: Israeli analysts

MEMO | September 24, 2026

Israeli analysts and figures criticized the global standing of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel as he visits New York this week to address the UN General Assembly, saying he will hold few meetings during his short stay, as he is now internationally shunned, Anadolu reports.

One analyst said US President Donald Trump – a longtime ally of the Israeli leader – would rather not meet with Netanyahu.

Barak Seri, an Israeli military intelligence analyst and former officer, said Netanyahu’s visit to New York was “very unusual, very short, and almost devoid of meetings.”

“Netanyahu is now ostracized, and Trump does not want to meet him,” Seri told local radio station 103 FM.

Eli Ohana, a former soccer star and former president of Israeli club Beitar Jerusalem, said the situation in Israel is “not ideal,” adding that he avoids revealing his nationality while on foreign soil.

“The situation in Israel is not ideal, and we did not reveal our Israeli identity outside our country. When I was on vacation in Greece, I hid my identity,” Ohana told the same radio station. … Full article

Netanyahu flies over France, Italy, Greece, Canada despite ICC arrest warrant

Press TV – September 24, 2026

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a war criminal wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC), flew over Greece, Italy, France and Canada en route to New York despite an ICC arrest warrant issued against him in November 2024 over war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Flight-tracking data on Thursday showed Netanyahu’s aircraft crossing the three European countries before flying across the Atlantic and entering Canadian airspace, raising questions over the obligations of ICC member states when a person wanted by the court travels through their territory. … Full article

77 delegations leave UN hall before Netanyahu speech, drawing widespread reaction

MEMO | September 24, 2026

The mass departure of 77 delegations from the UN General Assembly hall shortly before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech sparked widespread reaction on social media, with users describing the scene as a major blow to Israel and a sign of its growing international isolation.

Footage showed most delegations leaving the hall before Netanyahu began speaking, while the prime minister appeared visibly uncomfortable as only a limited number of people remained and protesters chanted slogans.

According to Israeli reports, representatives of 77 countries were absent during Netanyahu’s speech, with several delegations leaving shortly before it began, while representatives of other countries had not been in their seats from the outset.

The departure drew significant attention in the Israeli media. Channel 14 described it as “a spit in Israel’s face”… Full article

Israeli election authority bars both main Arab parties from Knesset race

Press TV – September 24, 2026

Israel’s election board has disqualified both main Arab lists from upcoming elections, throwing Palestinian political representation into the hands of the regime’s Supreme Court just weeks before the polls.

Israel’s so-called “central elections committee” voted on Wednesday to bar the United Arab List, or Ra’am, led by Mansour Abbas, and the Joint List, an alliance of the Arab-led Hadash, Ta’al and Balad parties.

It also voted separately to disqualify Hadash legislator Ofer Cassif and Balad leader Sami Abu Shehadeh from the Knesset race, which is scheduled for October 27. … Full article

Two Palestinians killed, many others injured in Israeli attacks in Gaza

Palestinian Information Center – September 24, 2026

GAZA – Two Palestinian citizens were martyred and several others were wounded in fresh Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip on Thursday.

According to media sources, a young man was killed after being shot by Israeli forces west of al-Zahra town in central Gaza. The victim was identified as Muhannad Abu Madyan.

Another civilian was killed and several others were wounded when an Israeli strike targeted a vehicle near the American field hospital in the town of az-Zawaida in central Gaza.

In southern Gaza, five people were injured, one of them critically, in an Israeli strike in central Khan Yunis. They were transported to Nasser Hospital by civil defense workers.

In southern Gaza City, an Israeli airstrike hit a vehicle carrying the body of Jabr Muqbil in the Sheikh Ajlin neighborhood. Eyewitnesses said several of his relatives were critically injured and Muqbil’s body was charred after being struck for the second time in hours.

In an-Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, a woman was wounded by Israeli gunfire on Street 20, while another civilian was injured by fire from an Israeli tank in al-Bureij refugee camp.

Meanwhile, widespread military activity, including artillery shelling, drone overflights, and demolitions, was reported in other areas of Gaza today.

Israel uproots 400 olive trees in occupied West Bank as harvest season approaches

MEMO | September 24, 2026

The Israeli army uprooted 400 olive trees and bulldozed 31 dunams (3.1 hectares, 7.6 acres) of Palestinian-owned land Thursday in Beit Rima in northwestern Ramallah in the occupied West Bank as harvest season approaches, Anadolu reports.

Sources told Anadolu Agency that bulldozers cleared the land and uprooted the trees, two days after Israeli authorities issued a military order targeting two areas of land in the town. […]

Since the beginning of 2026 through Sept. 22, Israel has issued 51 orders to remove trees and vegetation in the occupied West Bank, targeting 2,093 dunams of land, according to data from the Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission. … Full article

Israeli army detains more than 150 Palestinians in West Bank raids

MEMO | September 24, 2026

The Israeli army continued raids in the occupied West Bank on Thursday, detaining more than 150 Palestinians before releasing them and raiding homes in the city of Qalqilya and the town of Azzun, according to local sources.

The sources told Anadolu Agency that about 15 military vehicles accompanied by more than 30 soldiers entered Azzun and raided several homes in different neighborhoods and areas.

During the raid, the Israeli army detained more than 150 Palestinians, gathering some of them inside a home that it turned into a military barracks and subjecting them to field interrogations before gradually releasing them, the sources said.

In Qalqilya, the Israeli army continued a raid that began Wednesday evening, sending military reinforcements to several areas and neighborhoods after midnight.

The army also raided homes, detained dozens of Palestinian youths, and subjected them to field interrogations, and raided a commercial shop and agricultural land, the sources said.

Two Palestinians, including a 14-year-old child, were wounded by live ammunition during the army raid in Qalqilya on Wednesday evening, according to an Anadolu correspondent. … Full article

Israeli demolitions leave 176 homeless in West Bank village of Jinba

Palestinian Information Center – September 24, 2026

AL-KHALIL – The Israeli occupation army demolished dozens of homes and structures in the Palestinian village of Jinba in the West Bank on Wednesday, leaving about 176 people homeless, mostly women and children.

According to media sources, bulldozers escorted by Israeli military and police forces demolished 24 homes, as well as several agricultural structures, kitchens, bathrooms, solar panels, water tanks, and trees, in the village of Jinba, which is located in the far southeast of Masafer Yatta, south of al-Khalil governorate.

The demolitions displaced 26 families totaling 176 people, about 70 percent of them women and children, and deprived them of their livelihoods and basic necessities.

Rights activists and news reporters visited the community after the demolitions and found families searching through the rubble for what was left of their belongings.

The demolitions come amid an escalation in the destruction of Palestinian homes in Masafer Yatta.

It was the third large-scale demolition in the Masafer Yatta area in three weeks. … Full article

Israeli army strikes shepherd, runs over sheep in southern Syria’s countryside

MEMO | September 24, 2026

The Israeli army assaulted a shepherd and ran over several of his sheep, killing them, during an incursion into the countryside of Quneitra in southern Syria on Thursday, Anadolu reports.

Syrian news agency SANA said an Israeli occupation force “assaulted a shepherd during its incursion between Al-Asha village and Al-Rafid town in the southern Quneitra countryside.”

“The force beat the shepherd and ran over several of his sheep, killing them, before withdrawing from the area,” it added.

SANA noted that Israeli occupation forces arrested a civilian Tuesday while he was herding sheep west of Al-Rafid town before releasing him the following day. … Full article

IAEA inspectors cannot return to Iran amid US threats: Russia

Press TV – September 24, 2026

Russia’s permanent representative to international organizations in Vienna says the return of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors to Iran is not possible amid continued US threats against the country.

Mikhail Ulyanov said the United States has never provided guarantees that it will halt missile attacks on Iranian territory. “On the contrary, they are practically issuing threats every day, and sometimes several times a day,” Ulyanov said, according to RIA Novosti. … continue

‘We did not attack Pakistan with drones’: Afghan sources

Al Mayadeen | September 24, 2026

An Afghan source told Al Mayadeen that Afghanistan did not launch drone attacks against Pakistan, rejecting Islamabad’s account and describing the Pakistani claims as a pretext for the strikes carried out against Afghan territory.

The source said Afghanistan will determine “the nature of the response and the appropriate timing to respond to the repeated Pakistani violations of our sovereignty.”

The Afghan source categorically denied that Kabul’s forces had attacked Pakistan using drones, saying the allegations were being used to justify Pakistan’s latest strikes.

“Afghanistan will choose the nature of the response and the appropriate timing to respond to the repeated Pakistani violations of our sovereignty,” the source told Al Mayadeen.

The statement comes amid a sharp escalation in tensions between Kabul and Islamabad, following a series of cross-border strikes and clashes in recent days. Pakistan has accused Afghan territory of being used by armed groups to launch attacks against Pakistan, while Afghan authorities have repeatedly rejected accusations that Kabul is facilitating such operations. … continue

Senate Rejects Iran War Powers Resolution Passed By House

By Kyle Anzalone | The Libertarian Institute | September 24, 2026

The Senate narrowly voted to reject legislation that would require President Donald Trump to end the war against Iran.

The Senate voted against the War Powers resolution 49-50 on Thursday, largely along party lines. Republican Senators Thom Tillis, Susan Collins, Rand Paul, and Lisa Murkowski all voted for the legislation with nearly all Democrats. The only Democratic senator to vote against the War Powers resolution was John Fetterman.

The resolution would have required Trump to end the war against Iran. It directs the President to “remove the use of United States Armed Forces from hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran or any part of its government or military, including potential ground forces in a combat role or used for occupation, unless explicitly authorized by a declaration of war or specific authorization for use of military force against Iran.” … continue

Iraqi Resistance faction links arms to sovereignty, questions US exit

By Al Mayadeen | September 24, 2026

Weapons are tied to Iraqi sovereignty, Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada spokesperson Sheikh Kazem al-Fartousi said Thursday, arguing that they exist to defend the country and establish deterrence.

Speaking to Al Mayadeen Plus, al-Fartousi said, “If you provide sovereignty to Iraq, then there is no need for weapons.”

He said the group had put forward 10 points that would guarantee Iraqi sovereignty, stressing that the proposals serve Iraq’s interests rather than those of the factions. … continue

Yemen launches preemptive strikes on Saudi positions in Jizan

Press TV – September 24, 2026

Yemen’s Armed Forces have carried out a preemptive and extensive operation against Saudi military positions in the Jizan region, targeting command centers, weapons depots and troop concentrations.

In a statement on Thursday, military spokesman Brigadier General Yahya Saree said the operation came amid an escalation of Saudi attacks on Yemen’s border areas in Sa’ada and Hajjah, including the launch of more than 200 missiles from Jizan.

He said Yemeni forces had also monitored a major buildup of Saudi troops near the border in preparation for further aggression.

“By the grace of Allah Almighty, the Yemeni Armed Forces carried out a preemptive, qualitative and extensive operation using dozens of ballistic missiles and drones,” Saree said.

According to the spokesman, the strikes targeted operations rooms, command and control centers, weapons depots and other key sites linked to Saudi reinforcements in the al-Tuwal area of Jizan, including the Sixth Emergency Division.

He added that missile launch sites and platforms at the al-Daghareer camp in Jizan, as well as several other Saudi military camps in the region, were also targeted. … Full article

Cannon fodder no more… South Korea rejects Trump’s pressure to join his criminal war on Iran

By Finian Cunningham | Strategic Culture Foundation | September 24, 2026

This is a pivotal moment in history as South Korea tells Trump it is done with being a vassal for American imperialist wars.

KJ Noh notes in this interview for Strategic Culture Foundation that South Korea’s defiance of U.S. power is resonating with growing resistance among other nations towards Washington’s bullying and warmongering.

President Lee Jae-myung of South Korea gave a televised nationwide address last week declaring that his country would not be deploying military forces to the Strait of Hormuz.

That announcement followed weeks of speculation that South Korea would cave to pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump, who has been arm-twisting Seoul and other allies to send military support for his seven-month war on Iran. A war that is plunging the global and American economy into turmoil and could derail his presidency in the U.S. mid-term elections.

Geopolitical commentator KJ Noh says the public rejection of Trump’s appeal by South Korea is a major blow to Washington’s international image.

He notes that the Republic of Korea has been a loyal vassal of the United States, always sending its troops to fight American wars. South Korean soldiers have deployed in every U.S. overseas war from Vietnam to Iraq. … continue

Tehran blasts Ottawa for downplaying Trump’s annihilation threat

Press TV – September 24, 2026

Iran has lashed out at Canada for downplaying US President Donald Trump’s threat to “annihilate” Iran, saying mimicking American bullying language could not shield the country from the claws of power.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei made the remarks in an X post on Thursday, two days after Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney described Trump’s threat against Iran as simply “the language of war” in a speech before the United Nations General Assembly.

Baghaei said Carney chose to appease Washington by reframing a threat to “annihilate” Iran as merely “speaking the language of war” instead of condemning blatant US aggression and warmongering. … continue

Neria Leiter Was A Legitimate Military Target

By Justin K.P. | The Dissident  | September 24, 2026

Israel and its stooges in mainstream media are claiming that Neria Leiter, the son of Yechiel Leiter, the current Israeli ambassador to the United States, was wounded in a supposed “terrorist attack”.

In reality, it was in no way a terrorist attack, but resistance against illegal occupation, a guaranteed right under international law.

Neria Leiter was hit by a car driven by 29-year-old Palestinian Mahmoud Muhammad Mahmoud Suleiman- who was killed at the scene- while he was carrying out service as an IDF reservist manning the checkpoint outside of the West Bank settlement of Beit Horon.

As Drop Site News noted, Beit Horon is an “illegal settlement” which “sits on land in the occupied West Bank, where Israeli settlements are illegal under international law.”

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ruled that Israel’s occupation of the West Bank is illegal under international law.

International law also guarantees the right to resist illegal occupation by military means. … continue

‘We don’t seek permission to defend our country’: Snippets from President Pezeshkian’s UNGA address

Press TV – September 23, 2026

In a powerful speech to the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian held up photographs of victims of American and Israeli war crimes against Iran, firmly rejecting Washington’s terrorism accusations and declaring that the Islamic Republic can never be forced into submission through military aggression.

The address, delivered under the summit’s theme of “Rebuilding Trust,” came one day after US President Donald Trump delivered deeply provocative rhetoric against Iran in his own remarks from the same podium.

Pezeshkian systematically dismantled Western double standards, detailed the unprecedented crimes committed against Iran during the US-Israeli war of aggression, reaffirmed Iran’s nuclear rights, and issued a warning to the aggressors.

Below are snippets from his speech… continue

NATO chief wants Europeans to fight American wars [for Israel]

Mark Rutte has justified the US-Israeli war on Iran and said European nations should “take care” of the Middle East in the future

RT | September 23, 2026

European NATO nations should take greater responsibility for security in the Middle East, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has said. He also defended the US-Israeli war on Iran and argued that European members should spend less on social programs and more on the military.

Rutte made the remarks at a Chicago Council on Global Affairs event in Iowa on Tuesday after being asked to “make the case” for NATO to Americans by explaining “what’s in it” for them.

He described the Middle East as “Europe’s backyard” and “not the United States’ backyard,” arguing that Washington’s war against Tehran was “necessary” but that the US had to launch it because “somehow the Europeans did not have enough capabilities to do it themselves.”

“In the future, what you get from a stronger NATO is that Europeans can take care of their own backyard,” Rutte said. … continue

24 civilians killed, wounded in Saudi strikes on Yemen’s Taiz, al-Jawf

Al Mayadeen | September 23, 2026

24 civilians, most of whom are women and children, were killed or wounded in Saudi airstrikes targeting the governorates of Taiz and al-Jawf in 24 hours, the Sanaa Health Ministry announced.

In detail, eight civilians were killed and 11 others were wounded in Taiz, while two civilians were killed and three others were wounded in al-Jawf, according to the Ministry.

It reiterated that “the massacres committed by the Saudi aggression against civilians constitute a flagrant violation of international and humanitarian law and confirm its systematic aggressive approach of targeting civilians and service facilities.”

It also called on the international community and human rights organizations to assume their legal and moral responsibilities and work to end the complicity that encourages the aggressor to continue its alleged crimes against the Yemeni people. … Full article

Yemen warns US against joining Saudi aggression, draws red line at Bab al-Mandeb

Press TV – September 23, 2026

A Yemeni military adviser has warned that Sana’a will target US interests across West Asia if Washington provides military support to Saudi Arabia in its war against Yemen.

“If America dares to intervene militarily with its fleets or tries to take control of Bab al-Mandeb, it is a red line for them and anyone else… we will fight over it,” Yemeni military adviser Abed Mohammed al-Thawr told AFP on Tuesday.

“If America gambles on supporting Saudi Arabia with airstrikes or air support… We will consider any American interests around us to be targets and we will not exclude anything,” Thawr said, adding that Yemen would “close Bab al-Mandeb completely to American ships.”

The remarks come as Yemeni armed forces continue to consolidate their positions along the western coast and strengthen their control over the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.

Saudi Arabia has reportedly called for US and international military support against Yemen amid the kingdom’s crippling blockade and devastating strikes. … Full article

German chemicals giant reveals details of downsizing

RT | September 23, 2026

German chemicals giant Evonik is overhauling its domestic operations amid what it has described as a “structural and economic crisis” in the industry.

The German and wider European chemical sector has been hit by plant closures, job losses and high energy costs following the loss of cheap Russian supplies; the US-Israeli war with Iran has added new pressure.

The measures, announced on Tuesday, include site closures, job cuts and a reshaping of Evonik’s six main German plants, even as the company considers increasing investment in Asia and the Americas, where it sees “good opportunities for growth.”

Evonik’s plans to eliminate 2,150 jobs in Germany through 2029 have drawn criticism from industrial policy spokesman for the opposition Left Party (Die Linke) Mirze Edis, who called the cuts “a damning indictment” of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Economy Minister Katharina Reiche. … continue

How the Pill Becomes Adderall

An Essay on the Making of an Adult Female Disease

Lies are Unbekoming | September 23, 2026

… There is a pattern women describe when they come off long-term hormonal contraception before trying to conceive. Their thinking gets clearer over the following months. Their moods settle. They notice their skin, their appetite, their libido, their response to stress, their attraction to their partner. Something they had understood to be their baseline personality turns out to have been the drug.

The pattern is not confined to isolated reports. Reproductive endocrinologists observe it in the clinics that specialize in helping women conceive. Direct-to-consumer women’s health writers have built practices and readerships around documenting it. Sarah Hill, a research psychologist at Texas Christian University who spent years studying female hormonal cognition without noticing she was on the pill herself, writes in This Is Your Brain on Birth Control that she did not understand what the drug had done to her until more than a year after she stopped taking it.¹ Naturopath Jolene Brighten built a clinical practice around what she calls post-birth-control syndrome, the collection of symptoms that emerge in the months after discontinuation and the parallel collection that resolves. … Read full article

Why Did McGill Target Me?

By Sayer Ji | September 22, 2026

McGill Universty’s Office for Science and Society wrote the story the world tells about Sayer Ji. Here is the audit it never ran on itself. … continue

Top Nepal court demands answers after government arrests analyst for sharing Grayzone exposé

By Wyatt Reed | The Grayzone | September 23, 2026

The Supreme Court of Nepal has ordered the government to explain its reasoning for arresting political analyst Bharatmani Dahal, who was jailed by the country’s cyber police on the grounds that he had spread “misinformation” by sharing a recent report by The Grayzone.

Nepali media reports that Supreme Court Justice Kumar Regmi issued a “show-cause order” requiring the government to justify its arrest of Dahal, who was detained at a tea shop in southeastern Nepal on September 20. The court’s decision came in response to a petition by Dahal’s daughter, who maintains that her father is being held unlawfully.

A political firestorm erupted in the Himalayan nation after The Grayzone published leaked documents from 2019 showing at least four of Nepal’s new political leaders – including Prime Minister Balen Shah – were named by an American government regime change training outfit as figures whom the group would “support” in the future.

The documents showed that an offshoot of the National Endowment for Democracy called the Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening (CEPPS) promised in 2019 to support not only Shah, but three other figures who’ve risen to the upper echelons of Nepali politics: Nepalese Home Minister Sudan Gurung, Parliamentarian Sagar Dhakal, and Rabi Lamichhane, the embattled chairman of the political party to which all of the officials mentioned now belong.

The plans were meant to be carried out as part of the so-called “Indo-Pacific Strategy,” Washington’s preferred euphemism for its efforts to prevent China from cooperating with its neighbors.

Published in full by this outlet, the documents’ authenticity has not been contested by either the government or its supporters in the media. … Full article

Refaat Al-Areer Was The Canary In The Coal Mine In Israel’s War On The Truth

By Justin K.P. | The Dissident | September 23, 2026

Three years ago today, Refaat Al-Areer, the well-respected Palestinian academic, poet, and commentator, was murdered, along with multiple members of his family, for telling the truth about Israel’s genocide in Gaza and atrocity propaganda used to manufacture consent for it.

The Zionists wanted Al-Areer silenced because he was one of the first media figures to expose the now well-documented fact that Israel issued the Hannibal Directive on October 7th and killed its own people, and because he was debunking Israeli atrocity propaganda used to justify the Gaza genocide, such as the mass rape hoax.

The Zionist propagandist Bari Weiss put a target on Al-Areer, taking a joke he made about the claim of Hamas “baking a baby in an oven”- a proven hoax– out of context to make it look like he supported it, when in reality he was mocking how absurd the hoax claim was.

Because of this smear campaign, Al-Areer was labeled as an “Amalekite” by IDF terrorists and murdered in a targeted strike “along with his brother Salah and one of his children (Mohammed); his sister Asmaa and three of her children (Alaa, Yahia, and Mohammed); and a neighbor.”

Later, his “daughter, grandson and son-in-law” were murdered in another targeted Israeli strike.

This was not an isolated incident; Refaat Al-Areer served as the canary in the coal mine for Israel’s ensuing war on the truth.

Following the targeted murder of Refaat Al-Areer, Israel murdered hundreds of Palestinian journalists… continue

Israeli election committee bars candidate from Knesset race over Gaza war opposition

MEMO | September 23, 2026

Israel’s Central Elections Committee on Wednesday decided to disqualify Knesset member Ofer Cassif from running on the Joint List in the upcoming parliamentary elections, Anadolu reports.

Cassif is known for his opposition to policies of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government toward the Palestinian people, particularly Israel’s ongoing war in the Gaza Strip since 2023.

Israeli Channel 13 reported that the committee is holding sessions Wednesday and Thursday to discuss requests to bar several political parties from the Knesset elections and has decided to disqualify Cassif from running.

It said the decision was made following a request submitted by Netanyahu’s Likud party against Cassif, with the case to be referred to the Supreme Court, the country’s highest judicial body, for a ruling. … continue

Six killed in relentless Israeli attacks across Gaza

Al Mayadeen | September 23, 2026

Six Palestinians were martyred on Wednesday in renewed Israeli occupation attacks across the Gaza Strip, including airstrikes near a hospital and a bakery, as Israeli violations of the declared “ceasefire” continue.

Israeli occupation aircraft carried out an airstrike near Al-Wafaa Hospital in the al-Rimal neighborhood of central Gaza City, killing Khaled Siam and injuring several others.

Another Israeli strike targeted the vicinity of al-Banna Bakery in central Deir al-Balah, killing Abdul Rahman Tamraz and wounding two Palestinians.

Israeli drone targets vehicle in al-Mawasi

In southern Gaza, an Israeli drone targeted a vehicle near the Asdaa intersection in the al-Mawasi area of Khan Younis, killing Mohammad Ibrahim Mohammad Abu Alwan and Osama Khaled Mohammad Abu Khater and injuring three others.

Israeli occupation forces also carried out demolitions of residential buildings northeast of Khan Younis while opening intensive fire and launching artillery shelling against the city’s eastern neighborhoods.

Yahya Samour was also martyred after being shot by Israeli occupation forces in western al-Satar, north of Khan Younis. His funeral was later held in the city.

Palestinian woman succumbs to Israeli gunfire

In the central Gaza Strip, Nour Awni Diab succumbed to injuries sustained after being shot by Israeli occupation forces in the al-Bureij refugee camp.

Israeli tanks simultaneously opened intensive fire east of the camp as artillery shelling targeted the surrounding area.

In Gaza City, Adham Sobhi Ziyara succumbed to wounds sustained in an earlier Israeli attack on Palestinians in al-Tuffah and the vicinity of al-Nafaq Street.

Several Palestinians were also injured in an Israeli airstrike near the Tamraz station in eastern Gaza City, while occupation vehicles opened fire east of the Beit Lahia Project in the northern Gaza Strip. … Full article

Gaza detainees injured in recent Negev prison crackdown

Palestinian Information Center – September 23, 2026

GAZA – The Asra Media Office (AMO) said on Wednesday that several Palestinian prisoners from the Gaza Strip were injured during a violent raid carried out by Israeli forces inside Negev jail about two weeks ago.

According to AMO, among the wounded detainees was a physician from Gaza who was struck by three rubber bullets during the crackdown, while another prisoner was beaten with batons and suffered broken ribs.

AMO added that those forces set dogs on Gaza prisoners and forced them to lie face down on the ground before savagely assaulting them. … Full article

French activist files complaint alleging torture during 2025 Gaza flotilla

MEMO | September 23, 2026

French political scientist and activist Thomas Guenole said Wednesday that he had filed a complaint in France alleging torture by Israeli individuals whom he says detained and mistreated him during the 2025 Global Sumud Flotilla for Gaza, Anadolu reports.

“I filed a complaint today … for acts of torture against the Israeli individuals who kidnapped me and inflicted mistreatment on me during the 2025 flotilla for Gaza, including Minister Ben Gvir,” Guenole said on US social media company X.

He said the complaint was filed with France’s Central Office for the Fight Against Crimes Against Humanity. … Full article

French-Lebanese man files war crimes complaint over Israeli attacks

Al Mayadeen | September 23, 2026

Lawyers representing a French-Lebanese citizen have filed a complaint with France’s National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office over Israeli war crimes involving the destruction of his home and olive trees in southern Lebanon.

The complainant, who lives in France and whose identity has not been disclosed, says his property was destroyed as part of “Israel’s” hostilities against Lebanon. His lawyers, William Bourdon and Nicolas Busin of Bourdon & Associés, filed the complaint on Tuesday.

“This is a French citizen asking the justice system of his own country to establish the full truth and deliver justice for the war crimes committed against him, in line with a broader context in southern Lebanon that appears to amount to ethnic cleansing,” Busin said on Tuesday at a conference on corruption and accountability in Beirut. … continue

Iran issues indictment against Israeli figures over Hezbollah pager explosions

Press TV – September 23, 2026

Iran has issued an indictment against seven senior figures and operatives of the Israeli regime, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, over the 2024 explosions of pagers belonging to the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah.

Tehran Prosecutor Ali Salehi said on Wednesday that the case was opened following a complaint filed by Iran’s then-ambassador to Beirut, Mojtaba Amani, as well as a criminal complaint lodged by Iran’s Foreign Ministry.

“The defendants are being prosecuted on charges of corruption on Earth through intentionally causing bodily harm, attempted intentional murder, and the destruction, disabling, or disruption of data through the use of computer and telecommunications systems in Lebanon,” he said.

Salehi pointed out that Amani was injured during the attack while at his office in Beirut, suffering injuries to both eyes, his face, fingers, palms, chest, and legs. He also lost part of his eyesight and sustained permanent physical complications.

He added that the Foreign Ministry had requested the prosecution of all perpetrators, instigators, accomplices, and partners in the criminal act under Iran’s law on judicial protection for government employees and armed forces personnel. … Full article

Iran Calls French Positions on Regional Developments Unacceptable

Al-Manar | September 23, 2026

The Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi slammed France’s “unacceptable” positions on regional developments, particularly the US and Israeli military aggression against Iran.

In a meeting on the sidelines of the annual United Nations General Assembly in New York on Tuesday, Araghchi and his French counterpart Jean-Noel Barrot discussed developments related to Iran-France diplomatic relations as well as regional and international issues.

Araghchi criticized France’s “interventionist” positions toward Iran and stressed the need for the French Embassy in Tehran to respect Iran’s domestic laws and regulations.

He also called France’s positions on regional developments, particularly regarding the US and Israeli military aggression against Iran, “unacceptable,” decrying France’s double standards on human rights. … Full article

Mahan Air Flight Lands in China Despite US Threat against Iranian Airlines

Al-Manar | September 23, 2026

A Mahan Air commercial flight from Tehran landed in southern China today, a tracking data website says, despite the US threatening to “shut down” Tehran’s carriers and punish anyone doing business with them starting today.

Flight IRM093 landed in Guangzhou at 4:39 pm local time on Wednesday, according to the tracking website FlightRadar24. … continue

US eyes $10bn fund to rebuild war-battered Gulf infrastructure

The Cradle | September 22, 2026

Washington is seeking to funnel $5 billion into a fund to rebuild Persian Gulf energy infrastructure damaged during the seven-month war on Iran and reduce its partners’ reliance on the Strait of Hormuz, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on 22 September.

The US would seek an equal $5 billion contribution from eight regional allies combined – Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Iraq, and Jordan – bringing the total to $10 billion in a fund named the Partnership for Allied Trust and Construction, or Pact.

US officials said talks on the fund are ongoing and its terms could change. It remains unclear when, or even if, other countries will sign on.

According to WSJ, the proposal tacitly admits that the war has upended global energy markets and destroyed pipelines and refineries across the region that will be costly to rebuild.

Some regional officials said the initiative appeared to be a US attempt to cast the Strait of Hormuz as a less consequential energy route and to present Washington and its allies as united in confronting Iran.

They warned that creating a fund to rebuild destroyed energy sites without a peace deal with Tehran would be premature, as the Islamic Republic could strike any new infrastructure with drones and missiles. … continue

Trump meets Rodríguez near Maduro’s prison as Venezuela’s oil flows to US

Press TV – September 23, 2026

US President Donald Trump has met Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, face-to-face for the first time at the Lotte New York Palace hotel, less than 15 kilometers from the Brooklyn prison where Nicolas Maduro has been held since US forces abducted him nearly nine months ago.

The closed-door meeting, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, was the first between US and Venezuelan heads of state in more than 11 years.

Rodríguez called it a “historic meeting,” saying the two sides discussed strengthening bilateral ties and cooperation in energy, mining, and security.

For critics of Venezuela’s interim government, the image of Rodríguez standing beside the man who ordered Maduro’s abduction amounted to a betrayal — the moment Caracas legitimized a kidnapping and opened the country’s resources to a foreign power.

The Lotte New York Palace sits in the heart of Manhattan. The Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, where Maduro is being held on what many Venezuelans call fabricated “narcoterrorism” charges, is a short drive away. … continue

Tehran dictates terms for talks as Trump issues new threats at UN

The Cradle | September 23, 2026

Iran issued its conditions for a return to diplomacy with the US through Qatari mediation in New York, on the sidelines of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA), Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei told IRNA.

Baghaei stated that Tehran is demanding an end to the fighting on all fronts, a halt to US acts of aggression, the lifting of Washington’s naval blockade, an end to its economic war on Iran, and the release of Iranian assets.

“The interaction that took place was through Qatari mediation. In fact, the Iranian delegation conveyed its views and conditions to the American side very clearly and explicitly through the mediators,” he said. … Full article