London, United Kingdom – Young pro-Palestine activist Qesser Zuhrah, who was released on bail last month, has been arrested again. The 21-year-old was detained on Monday morning at her home in Watford, near London, by masked police officers, as seen in footage shared on social media. She was handcuffed and placed into a vehicle destined for prison.
Authorities in Afghanistan and Pakistan have reported that heavy rains, which have caused severe flooding and landslides, have killed at least 45 people over the past five days. Afghanistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (ANDMA) stated on Monday that 28 people have been killed, 49 injured, and more than 100 homes destroyed in the floods.
Israeli media report that the Bazan oil refinery in the northern city of Haifa has been hit in a missile barrage, allegedly launched from Iran or Lebanon. A fire broke out at the facility, with large plumes of black smoke visible over the area. This marks the second attack on the refinery since the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran began last month, now entering its fifth week with no signs of abating.
The situation in the Gaza Strip is depicted not merely as death but as a systematic and deliberate process of annihilation targeting civilians and medical personnel. A former senior United Nations official, who coordinated humanitarian aid in Palestine, provides firsthand testimony of a mass grave in Rafah where medics were killed despite their ambulances being marked with internationally protected Red Crescent symbols and flashing lights. Israeli forces allegedly could not have been unaware these were medics, yet they were executed at close range, highlighting a pattern of targeted violence.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has concluded an eight-day tour of Japan, Singapore, and Australia, emphasizing the importance of a rules-based international order while warning of its potential disintegration. In public statements and joint press conferences, such as with Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles, Pistorius highlighted the inseparability of the Indo-Pacific and Europe, noting that global crises in one region can originate from distant areas. However, this repeated invocation of order underscores a growing awareness among leaders that long-held certainties are dissolving, with new frameworks yet to be tested, revealing underlying anxieties about stability.
Iranian authorities have welcomed Iraqi paramilitary forces from Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilisation Forces) as part of a "humanitarian convoy," as the war with the United States and Israel threatens to escalate into a new phase involving potential ground assaults. Footage circulated by Iranian and Iraqi media shows dozens of pickup trucks carrying packaged cargo and men in military attire, some wearing clerical turbans. The convoy waved Iraqi flags and the flag of Lebanon's Hezbollah, another member of the Tehran-led "axis of resistance."
Pakistan has intensified its diplomatic efforts to position itself as a key mediator in the war between the United States and Iran, leveraging strategic ties with both Tehran and Washington. Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar stated Pakistan would be "honored to host and facilitate meaningful talks," but it remains unclear whether negotiations would be direct or indirect. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf dismissed plans for talks in Pakistan as a "cover" for an invasion, while US President Donald Trump threatened to "obliterate" Iranian energy infrastructure if Iran does not make a "deal."
A Russian tanker, the Anatoly Kolodkin, has entered Cuban waters carrying 100,000 tonnes of crude oil, marking the first oil shipment to the island since January, according to Russian news agencies. This delivery follows remarks by US President Donald Trump, who allegedly stated he had "no problem" with countries, including Russia, sending supplies to Cuba, purportedly signaling a loosening of the de facto oil blockade imposed by his administration earlier this year.
As the war with Iran enters its second month, expectations of potential US ground operations are mounting. US media reports indicate that the Department of Defense is preparing for limited ground operations, with additional troops deployed to the Middle East in recent days.
During the official visit of Syria's interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa to Berlin, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced that approximately 80% of the more than 900,000 Syrians living in Germany are expected to return home within the next three years. Merz claimed this process would be coordinated with Syrian authorities, but stated that well-integrated individuals could remain. The announcement has drawn sharp criticism from German politicians and NGOs, who accuse al-Sharaa of human rights abuses and ties to Islamist militias, highlighting the controversial nature of the engagement.
US President Donald Trump has renewed his threat to "blow up" and "completely obliterate" civilian infrastructure in Iran, including all of the country's desalination plants. This move would threaten the water source for millions of people and is allegedly illegal under international law, according to experts.
Spain's Defence Minister Margarita Robles announced that the country has closed its airspace to US planes participating in attacks on Iran. She stated that Spain will not authorize the use of the Morón and Rota military bases for any actions related to the war in Iran, adding that this position was made clear to the American government from the outset. This move highlights growing friction within the NATO alliance over US-led military operations.