Middle East on edge as threat of new US attack reverberates

 

Iran war: Middle East on edge as threat of new US attack reverberates

By Enes Abuomer and Leila Minkara

Published On 22 Oct 202622 Oct 2026

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• US President Donald Trump hints at imminently striking Iran again telling White House reporters, “We’ve knocked the hell out of them, and we may do it a little bit further.”
• Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps threatens to “extend confrontation to US bases” in the Middle East if Washington continues to urge “vessels to pass through mined waterways illegally”.
• Major-General Mohsen Rezaei, the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, says Tehran’s objective is not to extend the fighting but “end the war under conditions that reduce the likelihood of another war”.
• Houthis say they attacked Saudi Defence Ministry in Riyadh, Aramco facilities in Yanbu, and airports in Dammam and Abha over the past 48 hours.

• 10m ago

  (22:45 GMT)

  Congresswoman Ilhan Omar demands that Israel release detainees in occupied West Bank

  US Congresswoman Ilhan Omar has urged Israel to release all people held in military custody after dozens of volunteers, including Democratic congressional candidate Brad Lander, were detained while helping Palestinian farmers harvest olives in the occupied West Bank.

  “It’s not illegal to harvest olives; Israel’s genocide against the Palestinian people is,” Omar said in a post on X.

  Lander said he was released from Israeli army custody with a “warning” on Wednesday because of his public profile.
• 13m ago

  (22:41 GMT)

  

  Saudi-led coalition intercepts two Houthi drones targeting southern Saudi Arabia

  The spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition says its air defences have intercepted and destroyed two drones launched by the Houthis towards Saudi Arabia’s southern region.
• 25m ago

  (22:30 GMT)

  Trump claims Iran responsible for high oil prices ahead of midterm elections

  

  By Kimberly Halkett

  Reporting from the White House

  The US president is posting on his social media platform that he believes the amount of oil that is going through the Strait of Hormuz exceeds pre-war levels. He is making that claim even as it is unclear where this data is coming from.

  What we know is the US president – when it comes to any sort of interruption or decrease in oil – is pointing the finger at Iran, particularly ahead of the US midterm elections.

  What is important to note is that the US president, as he has said before in his social media posts, claims that the United States is in complete control of the Strait of Hormuz and that Iran is not able to export its oil.

  Why is the US president making these claims? He is saying this because he is paying the price right now domestically and politically. That is a real vulnerability ahead of the November 3 polls.

  The issue for Americans is that the high price of oil is not a foreign policy issue; it is a domestic issue.

  

  US President Donald Trump talks to the media at the White House, Washington, DC, October 22, 2026 [AFP]

 

Casualties reported after 7.0 quake strikes China’s Tibet, says state media

Casualties reported after 7.0 quake strikes China’s Tibet, says state media

4 hours ago

AFP

Houses were reported to have collapsed in the mountainous region about 190km east-northeast of Nagqu, while power and telecoms services were disrupted in the county seat.

In January 2025, at least 126 people were killed in an earthquake in Tibet’s rural Tingri county. (EPA Images pic)

BEIJING:

A strong 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck China’s Tibet region late Thursday and casualties have been reported, state news agency Xinhua said, citing local authorities.

The report did not offer any details about the number or type of casualties.

The epicentre of the quake, which struck at 10.33pm, was located in a mountainous area about 190km east-northeast of Nagqu, and 390km northeast of the regional capital Lhasa, the US Geological Survey said.

It struck at a shallow depth of 10km.

A level-II earthquake disaster emergency response was activated in the area, Xinhua said earlier.

The epicentre was located in Maru township in Baqen county. Township deputy head Lhawang Dagpo said the quake was clearly felt at the township office, which sustained cracks in the walls, according to Xinhua.

Houses were reported collapsed in the area, the agency said. Power and telecoms services were disrupted in the county seat.

Workers have been sent to the area to coordinate the response, and local officials were carrying out checks of nearby villages, the report said.

Earthquakes in China are relatively common.

In January 2025, at least 126 people were killed in an earthquake in Tibet’s rural Tingri county.

Ex-TH CEO, CFO charged with cheating board over RM3.3bil hibah

Ex-TH CEO, CFO charged with cheating board over RM3.3bil hibah


Yesterday
Faisal Asyraf


The alleged offence caused Tabung Haji to pay RM3.3 billion in hibah to depositors for the 2017 financial year

Tabung Haji’s former CEO and CFO allegedly deceived the fund’s board members by inducing them to approve inflated valuations of the organisation’s investment properties.

PETALING JAYA: Two former senior officers at Tabung Haji (TH) were charged today with cheating the agency’s board of directors in connection with the payment of RM3.3 billion in hibah (dividend distributions) for the 2017 financial year.

Former TH CEO Johan Abdullah, 70, and former TH chief financial officer Rozaida Omar, 63, pleaded not guilty after the joint charge was read out to them before judge Norma Ismail at the Kuala Lumpur sessions court.

According to the charge sheet, they allegedly deceived TH’s board members by inducing them to approve inflated valuations of the organisation’s investment properties.


The charge sheet stated that both accused prepared and presented papers containing inflated property valuations in TH’s unconsolidated financial statements for the financial year ended Dec 31, 2017, despite knowing that the properties should have been valued at lower market prices.

The alleged offence enabled TH to pay RM3.3 billion in hibah to depositors for the 2017 financial year.


The three properties involved were the TH Platinum Park building, TH Perdana building and TH Selborne building.

The offence was allegedly committed between 3pm and 10.30pm on Feb 9, 2018 at Menara TH Tun Razak along Jalan Tun Razak.

They were charged under Section 417 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 34 of the same code. The offence carries a maximum jail term of five years, a fine or both, upon conviction.

The court set bail at RM60,000 with one surety for each accused and fixed Dec 8 for mention, pending the submission of documents.

Deputy public prosecutors Nazran Sham, Rohaiza Rahman and Siti Aina Rodhiah Shikh conducted the prosecution.

Rozaida was represented by lawyer Shamsul Sulaiman while Johan was represented by lawyers Shukri Mohamed and Malissa Shukri.

MyEG suspension to continue as RM314m outstanding payment remains unsettled, says Loke

MyEG suspension to continue as RM314m outstanding payment remains unsettled, says Loke



Transport Minister Anthony Loke speaks during the launch of the LRT Masjid Jamek Station Beautification Project in Kuala Lumpur October 22, 2026. — Picture by Firdaus Latif


Summary

• Transport Minister Anthony Loke stated that MyEG has not yet settled the outstanding payment owed to the government, leading to the suspension of its services with JPJ.
• Despite the suspension, public access to JPJ services continues through alternative channels like the MyJPJ application and other JPJ platforms.
• The government is prepared to take legal action to recover RM314 million in revenue collected by MyEG Group that has not been transferred to the Transport Ministry.

First Published: Thursday, 22 Oct 2026 4:56 PM MYT
Last Modified: Thursday, 22 Oct 2026 4:57 PM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 22 — Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook today said the outstanding payment MyEG Services Bhd (MyEG) owes the government has yet to be settled, following the suspension of the company’s services as a Road Transport Department (JPJ) collection agent earlier this month.

MyEG is a digital and e-government services provider that was previously tasked with collecting JPJ-related payments.

He said the suspension had not disrupted public access to JPJ services, as motorists could continue using alternative channels, including the MyJPJ application, to access their information and carry out transactions.

“There has been no disruption to services because JPJ is handling the matter. The public can use MyJPJ and easily access their information.


“As for the payment, it has not been made yet,” he told reporters after launching the Masjid Jamek LRT station beautification project here today.

JPJ suspended the services of MyEG Sdn Bhd and Zetrix AI Bhd, both under the MyEG Group, effective October 5 after the companies failed to remit RM314 million in government revenue collected between May 19 and September 30.

The outstanding amount comprises revenue collected on behalf of the government that had not been transferred to the Transport Ministry’s main collection account.

Loke had previously said the ministry would only consider an application to resume operations after the full outstanding amount had been paid.


The government took action after the companies failed to settle the arrears despite receiving 35 reminder notices and participating in engagement sessions with the authorities since May.

Despite the suspension, JPJ has assured the public that its services remain available through alternative channels, including the MyJPJ application, JPJ Public Portal, counters and kiosks.


The suspension covers JPJ services previously offered through the MyEG Group, including transactions involving road tax, driving licences and traffic summonses.

The ministry and JPJ have also said they would take appropriate legal action to recover the outstanding government revenue.

Note: The Road Transport Department (RTD) is known as Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan (JPJ) in Malay.

***

LOKE, UN-REMITTED SUM HAS PROBABLY "GONE FOR A WALK" - MIGHT AS WELL START THE LEGAL ACTIONS TO RECOVER SAME

A framework for peace in Ukraine

Jeffrey D. Sachs

A framework for peace in Ukraine


October 23, 2026


As diplomacy resumes, a proposed settlement would combine Ukrainian neutrality and EU membership with an armistice line, limits on NATO enlargement and a new European security framework.

The war in Ukraine can be ended permanently on terms that protect Ukraine’s statehood, meet Russia’s security concerns, and lay the foundation for a durable European security order. As another round of negotiations gears up in Norway, I propose a settlement concluded as a single package, signed by Ukraine and Russia, adopted by a vote of the United Nations Security Council under Chapter VII of the Charter, and guaranteed jointly by the five permanent members of the Council together with other states that choose to join. The proposal rests on the principle of indivisible security set out in the Helsinki Final Act and the Charter of Paris.

The package would have four core commitments.

The first is Ukraine’s permanent neutrality, adopted in a constitutional law on the model of Austria’s law of 1955, which would return Ukraine to the founding choice of its Declaration of State Sovereignty of 1990. Ukraine would join no military alliance and host no foreign bases or forces, whether of NATO, the European Union, their member states, or Russia. Neutrality would not mean disarmament, and Ukraine would retain armed forces for its own defence.

The second is that Ukraine would pursue its candidacy for membership in the European Union as a permanently neutral state, with a neutrality protocol in its accession treaty on the model of Ireland’s, and Russia would affirm that Ukraine’s membership in the EU is consistent with Russia’s security.

The third is an armistice line drawn along the line of contact on the date of signature. Each side would exercise de facto jurisdiction on its side of the line, neither would recognise the other’s territorial claims, and both would renounce force in any future adjustment. This formula is compatible with both countries’ constitutions, which bar or severely restrict the cession of territory.

The fourth is the end of NATO enlargement eastward. At signature the North Atlantic Council would declare that NATO will not admit Ukraine or other new members in Eastern Europe or the South Caucasus, withdrawing the Bucharest pledge of 2008.

The settlement would take effect as a permanent end of hostilities on signature, not as a temporary ceasefire, and its provisions would be implemented in stages under international verification. No element would be negotiated in isolation, and no party would be asked to make a concession in advance of signature.

The territorial arrangements are designed to address the concerns and claims of both sides. Ukrainian forces would withdraw from the part of Donetsk region that Ukraine now controls, which would become a demilitarised special zone. Russian forces would not enter it, the existing local civil administration would continue to function, and its final status would be left to negotiation. Russia would withdraw from the areas it holds in Dnipropetrovsk region and from the Kinburn Spit. A Northern Security Zone would be demilitarised on both sides of the Russian-Ukrainian border, and Russian forces would leave the areas they hold in Kharkiv and Sumy regions as Ukrainian forces withdraw from their side. The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant would remain under Russian control with International Atomic Energy Agency safety oversight and would sell an agreed share of its electricity to Ukraine at cost.

A demilitarised belt would run along both sides of the armistice line, with heavy weapons and long-range strike systems withdrawn to agreed distances, and mutual ceilings on forces would apply in the border regions on both sides. In the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, commercial navigation would be free for all Ukrainian and Russian ports, and attacks on shipping and ports would be prohibited.

The settlement in Ukraine should also begin the repair of European security as a whole. NATO and Russia would agree on a moratorium on ground-launched intermediate-range missiles in Europe, refrain from deploying nuclear weapons in any additional state, and restore the NATO-Russia Council. Normal diplomatic relations would be restored on both sides. The parties would convene the first summit of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe since 2010 to entrust the OSCE with monitoring the settlement, verifying arms limits, and overseeing the provisions on rights.

Questions of language, education, culture, and religion would be resolved according to European standards, with the Russian language treated on the same basis as Ukraine’s other minority languages, and Russia would accept the same obligations towards Ukrainian speakers and religious communities on its side of the line. All obligations concerning extremism and incitement would be mutual and monitored by the OSCE. Prisoners of war would be exchanged on an all-for-all basis, detained civilians released, and separated children reunited with their families.

Sanctions would be lifted during 2027. Russia’s immobilised sovereign assets would also be released, and private property seized or immobilised on both sides would be restored. An international reconstruction fund administered by the European Investment Bank would finance reconstruction on both sides of the line, with contributions from all parties, Russia included, in a common effort rather than as reparations. Gas transit through Ukraine could resume wherever there are willing buyers, without any commitment by the European Union to purchase Russian gas.

A report of serious violation by an OSCE monitoring mission of unarmed observers from states outside NATO would trigger consultations among the guarantors and referral to the Security Council. Ukraine would lift martial law and hold elections under OSCE observation, and the newly elected Verkhovna Rada would ratify the settlement and adopt the constitutional law on neutrality, while the Russian Federal Assembly would ratify it at the same stage.

This proposed settlement addresses the causes of the war rather than only its symptoms. Europe has been largely absent from the design of the peace. By putting forward such a framework, European governments can take the lead in building Europe’s indivisible security and help end a war that has cost hundreds of thousands of lives and carries a continuing risk of confrontation between nuclear powers.



Republished from Common Dreams

The views expressed in this article may or may not reflect those of Pearls and Irritations.

Jeffrey D. Sachs

Jeffrey D. Sachs, Professor of Sustainable Development and Professor of Health Policy and Management at Columbia University, is Director of Columbia’s Center for Sustainable Development and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network. He has served as Special Adviser to three UN Secretaries-General. His books include The End of Poverty, Common Wealth, The Age of Sustainable Development, Building the New American