CNN, MS NOW and Politico have resumed regular White House coverage after a federal judge temporarily blocked US President Donald Trump’s ban on the three news outlets. On Thursday, US District Judge Timothy Kelly ruled that the restrictions likely violated the outlets’ constitutional due process rights. He ordered the immediate restoration of their press passes and suspended enforcement of the ban for 14 days. The outlets had faced restrictions after Trump accused them of publishing “fake news”. Although some journalists were initially denied entry following the ruling, White House officials allowed them back on Friday. The decision followed legal action challenging the administration’s restrictions. (PC: BBC)

US President Donald Trump has rejected an Iranian proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and pause fighting for seven days, The Wall Street Journal reported. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran had sent the proposal to Washington through Qatari mediators. Under the plan, the strait would reopen within seven days, while hostilities would stop across the region and talks on Iran’s nuclear programme would begin. Iran also sought the release of frozen assets, sanctions relief on oil and an end to the US naval blockade of its ports. The report said Trump expects US bombing of Iran to resume after the November congressional elections. (PC: X)

Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey are planning a meeting of their military chiefs to discuss support for Riyadh amid escalating Houthi attacks. The move follows talks in New York between Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan, Pakistan’s Ishaq Dar and Turkey’s Hakan Fidan on implementing the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement. Signed last month, the pact establishes deterrence and states that an armed attack on one member will be treated as an attack on all three. The ministers condemned attacks targeting Makkah and civilian and economic facilities in Saudi Arabia, while stressing sovereignty, non-interference and freedom of navigation. The meeting comes as Saudi Arabia reports Houthi attacks, including six missiles intercepted recently. (PC: Reuters)

US President Donald Trump told Chinese President Xi Jinping that any direct or indirect Chinese assistance to Iran was “totally unacceptable”, according to US Ambassador to China David Perdue. The warning included intelligence, military equipment and components that could support Tehran’s war effort. Perdue said Washington had raised the issue with Beijing weeks earlier and claimed China had provided assurances that it would stop such assistance, with some movement already observed. Trump confirmed he discussed the Iran conflict with Xi during the Chinese leader’s Washington visit. China has called for de-escalation, with Xi urging a return to negotiations and a peaceful resolution. The discussions also covered efforts to keep the strategically important Strait of Hormuz open. (PC: Reuters)

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif declined to answer questions about terrorism and the prosecution of Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed during his visit to the United Nations headquarters. Reporters first asked Sharif when Pakistan would stop harbouring terrorists as he entered the UN complex, but he did not respond. Later, while leaving, he was again asked when Saeed would be prosecuted and again refused to answer. The exchange occurred a day before Sharif’s address to the 81st United Nations General Assembly. Hafiz Saeed, a designated terrorist under Indian law, is wanted as an accused in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks case. The NIA has named him in its Pahalgam terror case supplementary chargesheet. (PC: X)

The UN Security Council has condemned continued Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, including strikes affecting civilian and energy infrastructure that injured civilians. The escalation has prompted Riyadh to seek stronger coordination with Pakistan and Turkey under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, signed in August. The pact treats an attack on any member as an attack on all three. Saudi, Pakistani and Turkish foreign ministers discussed arrangements for an urgent meeting of their military chiefs to consider ways to support the kingdom. Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti also called on troops to remain prepared to defend the country and borders. The Houthis have intensified attacks since July, targeting Saudi interests and energy infrastructure.

US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping placed artificial intelligence at the centre of their White House summit, while outlining different approaches to managing the technology. Trump described “Super Intelligence” as a major discussion topic and said he wanted to leave AI “exactly where it is”, with the US Department of Justice serving as a guardrail. Xi called for the US and China to develop and manage AI for society’s benefit while ensuring it remains “under human control”. He also backed continued bilateral dialogue on AI’s risks, benefits and misuse. The contrasting remarks highlighted differences over AI guardrails even as both leaders emphasized cooperation and competition in the future.

US intelligence assessments cited by CNN say Chinese groups have provided satellite imagery and geospatial intelligence that helped Iran improve targeting of US military bases and vessels. The support reportedly aided a July strike on the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan that killed three American service members, with officials saying its precision would have been difficult without outside intelligence. Chinese geospatial data has also helped Iranian forces track maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz and better time drone attacks on ships. US officials said China’s assistance is one of several factors behind Iran’s improved capabilities, alongside Russian support and battlefield experience. The extent of Beijing’s involvement remains unclear, however. (PC: X)

Pakistani and Taliban forces clashed along the disputed Pakistan-Afghanistan border in Balochistan’s Chaman sector on Friday, ending three months of relative calm. Pakistani security sources said their forces thwarted an attempted attack from across the border and killed several Afghan Taliban fighters. CNN-News18 reported that Pakistani forces destroyed at least seven Taliban positions with concentrated artillery fire, while security sources put the Taliban death toll at at least 17. Taliban officials said Pakistani strikes hit Afghan refugees expelled from Pakistan. The clashes followed Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan this week, including strikes in Kunar, Paktika and Kandahar. Islamabad repeatedly accuses the Taliban of sheltering TTP militants, while Kabul strongly denies the allegations.

Researchers investigating Turkey’s boat-shaped Durupınar Formation near Mount Ararat say new radar surveys and drilling have detected unusual underground features, including straight lines, right-angle intersections, possible corridors and cavity-like spaces. The research team has described the formation as a man-made structure, while some reports have linked the findings to the biblical story of Noah’s Ark, traditionally dated by some interpretations to more than 4,300 years ago. However, the Ark itself has not been confirmed. Organic material recovered through drilling is being tested, while further core sampling and a specially designed robot investigation are planned. Scientists remain divided over the formation’s origin.