US President Donald Trump claimed Washington has “total control” over the Strait of Hormuz, escalating tensions with Iran amid a prolonged standoff over the strategic waterway. Trump said the US naval blockade was being called a “Wall of Steel” and claimed Iran’s military capabilities had been severely weakened. The Strait carries roughly a fifth of global oil trade, making disruptions a major threat to energy markets, shipping insurance and economic stability. The latest escalation follows weeks of military confrontation involving Iran, Israel and US forces, alongside Tehran’s warnings over maritime traffic. Meanwhile, Washington and Tehran continue indirect talks on easing the crisis. Major disagreements remain over sanctions, security guarantees, compensation for wartime damage and the sequencing of de-escalation measures.

Two Palestinian families in the occupied West Bank village of Qusra have been surrounded by Israeli settlers since Sunday, with residents saying their water and electricity were cut off and food supplies were running low. The families said settlers blocked access to their homes and prevented others from reaching them. Israeli forces later confronted the settlers, using tear gas and stun grenades, while authorities said the new settler outpost was illegal. A Palestinian ambulance was eventually allowed to deliver food and take a child for medical treatment. UN officials have warned that settler violence in the West Bank has reached unprecedented levels. (PC: BBC)

Lebanon’s parliament has abolished the death penalty, making it the first country in the Middle East to formally end capital punishment. The law replaces death sentences with life imprisonment and aggravated hard labour. Lebanon has not carried out an execution since 2004, although courts continued to issue death sentences. Amnesty International said at least 85 people were on death row as of January. Justice Minister Adel Nassar called the move “historic”, while UN rights chief Volker Turk urged other Middle Eastern countries to follow Lebanon’s example. Rights groups welcomed the decision but called for all existing death sentences to be commuted and further legal reforms. (PC: X)

A 32-year-old woman was rescued alive after spending 36 hours trapped beneath rubble following a 7.4-magnitude earthquake in western Colombia. Daniela Largo was pulled from a collapsed building in Pereira after a 10-hour rescue operation. Firefighters dug 2 tunnels through concrete slabs to reach her, using one to provide oxygen and another to free her. Largo was located after a resident heard her calling for help, while rescuers used a small camera to find her. At least 188 people have died in the earthquake, with hundreds still missing. Largo’s mother said her 12-year-old son was waiting for her at home. (PC: BBC)

A Pakistani journalist has walked back his unverified claim that former Prime Minister Imran Khan may have died in Adiala Jail. Wajahat Saeed Khan said 3 senior officers at the Pakistan Army’s General Headquarters had expressed fears that Khan was no longer alive, but clarified that none had seen evidence confirming his death. The claim emerged as Khan’s family and PTI leaders raised concerns over being denied access to him. PTI leader and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi said more than 2 million people were ready to protest if access to Khan remained blocked. PTI has announced a September 27 march to Islamabad. (PC: India Today)

Phone thieves in London are reportedly becoming selective, with several Android users saying attackers returned their phones after discovering they were not iPhones. In one incident, a thief reportedly handed back a Samsung device, while another abandoned a stolen Galaxy phone after inspecting it. Cybersecurity adviser Jake Moore said criminals primarily target iPhones because of their higher resale value, rather than because they are easier to unlock. London recorded around 80,000 stolen phones in 2024, highlighting the scale of the problem. Police have intensified efforts against phone snatching, which frequently involves masked thieves using e-bikes to quickly target pedestrians. (PC: Reuters)

Fresh attacks on commercial shipping have deepened concerns over the Iran war as diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran appear to have stalled. On August 11, Houthi forces attacked the Egyptian-owned cargo ship Tihamah in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, killing four crew members and two Yemeni rescuers. Separately, U.S. forces struck a Panama-flagged vessel in the Gulf of Oman, saying it violated a blockade on Iranian ports. The incidents came after Pakistan and Qatar raised hopes of a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. However, Iran continues demanding concessions from Washington, leaving negotiations uncertain and global energy supplies at risk. (PC: Reuters)

Thailand has temporarily suspended the issuance of firearms licences following a deadly school shooting in Nonthaburi that left nine people dead, including the teenage attacker. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul ordered the interior ministry and police to halt new licences for possessing, purchasing and carrying guns, while existing licences will be reviewed. The 14-year-old allegedly killed his grandparents at their home before opening fire at Debsirin Nonthaburi School, killing six others and later taking his own life. As victims and the attacker’s grandparents were cremated, authorities called for tighter gun controls and stronger penalties for firearms offences. (PC: AFP)

US President Donald Trump has confirmed that he switched aircraft during a recent summit in Turkey because of a security threat. Trump said he follows the advice of the Secret Service and military and did not ask extensively about the specific threat. Reports said Trump initially switched from the Qatar-gifted Boeing 747-8 to an older Air Force One and later moved discreetly to a smaller C-32A aircraft. The Washington Post reported that he was secretly transferred from the older aircraft in a catering container before boarding the C-32A. Trump said he receives numerous threats that are not publicly known, adding that consequential presidents face many threats. His comments confirmed the previously unacknowledged security-driven aircraft changes. (PC: AP)

At least six people were killed after suspected Houthi strikes hit the Egyptian-owned cargo vessel Tihamah near Yemen’s southern coast, close to the Bab Al-Mandeb Strait, according to Yemen’s coastguard. Four crew members, including three Pakistani and one Indonesian national, were killed in the initial strike, while two rescuers died during an evacuation operation. Ten people were injured. The first strike reportedly caused a fire and extensive damage to the vessel, while a second strike hit during the rescue operation. Yemen’s internationally recognised government and Transport Ministry blamed the Houthis, though the group has not claimed responsibility. If confirmed, the deaths would be the first fatalities from a Houthi shipping attack since the Iran war began. (PC: X)