Sep 3, 2026, 06:00 AM UTC

US President Donald Trump has warned that Washington could target Oman if the Gulf nation obstructs American negotiations with Iran regarding the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking to Fox News, Trump said, "If Oman gets in the way, we’ll bomb the shit out of them," while urging Tehran to "put up the white flag of surrender."

The threat followed a maritime transit agreement between Muscat and Tehran over the strategic waterway. Trump also claimed to maintain direct communication with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, though the group denied participating in talks.

Simultaneously, Washington initiated an intensified economic campaign against Tehran. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu supported the increased sanctions, stating diplomatic agreements with Iranian leadership remain unfeasible. Conversely, Iranian officials asserted American economic pressure would fail to achieve its objectives.

Sources: BBC News, Cyprus Mail, France24, Sweden Herald, The Guardian

German security services have intensified investigations into suspected Russian hybrid warfare operations across the country. Authorities recently uncovered a hidden weapons cache containing operational firearms near Berlin, which intelligence agencies suspect was established by Russian agents for future attacks.

In addition, the German government reportedly intends to officially attribute a foiled August explosive drone attack at Leipzig Airport to Moscow. The incident targeted Ukrainian transport aircraft and failed only due to a faulty detonator. Meanwhile, state-level inquiries indicate authorities suspect foreign state actors in over 100 cases involving illegal drone flights and infrastructure sabotage designed to destabilise democratic institutions.

Sources: Correctiv, Der Standard, FAZ, ORF, Tagesschau

The United States Supreme Court has temporarily permitted construction to resume on President Donald Trump’s planned $400 million White House ballroom. In a narrow 5–4 decision, the court's conservative majority lifted a lower court order that had previously halted the project. Chief Justice John Roberts issued a procedural ruling granting the justices additional time to evaluate an emergency request submitted by the administration.

The court noted that the government has a strong likelihood of prevailing against a lawsuit brought by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which seeks to block the construction on historic conservation grounds. However, the justices emphasized that the temporary stay does not represent a final legal judgment regarding the project's lawfulness. The ruling allows structural work to move forward while formal legal proceedings continue in federal court.

Sources: Der Standard, Die Zeit, FAZ, ORF, Tagesschau

Emergency operations continue across the Himalayan region following catastrophic flash floods triggered by a massive mud and rock collapse at the Nepal-Tibet border. Nepalese police confirmed that the national fatality count reached 469, while Chinese authorities previously reported three deaths in Tibet.

Over 1,500 people remain unaccounted for, including hundreds of foreign tourists from Britain, Australia, India, and the United States. Search teams face severe challenges as destroyed roads, bridges, and energy infrastructure restrict access to isolated mountain settlements. Disaster relief officials caution that persistent threats of secondary landslides and rising river currents continue to hamper rescue missions in both nations.

Sources: Cyprus Mail, France24, STV News, Sweden Herald, The Guardian.