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Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed on Wednesday that safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible for two weeks, taking technical limitations into account.Araghchi made the remarks in a post on the social media platform X, following the announcement of a temporary ceasefire earlier in the day between Iran, the United States and Israel. He noted that if attacks against Iran cease, Iran will halt its operations in the Strait of Hormuz.The announcement came after US President Donald Trump said he had agreed to "suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks." 

The Philippines has sought safe passage for desperately needed oil shipments in a meeting with Iran, a presidential spokeswoman said Wednesday, as the import-dependent archipelago jockeys with other regional countries for fuel.The price of fuel has hit historic highs in the Philippines since treaty ally the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran on February 28, with Tehran effectively closing the vital Strait of Hormuz to traffic since.President Ferdinand Marcos declared a state of national energy emergency last week, later saying that "nothing was off the table" as the country of 116 mn tried to meet its need for fuel.Wednesday, Foreign Secretary Theresa Lazaro said she had explored "key avenues for cooperation" in a meeting with Iranian ambassador Yousef Esmaeilzadeh that included the Philippines' energy secretary."Building on the momentum of our Political Consultations last November 2025, we are committed to deepening our cooperation across all fronts, particularly energy cooperation," she said in a post on social media platform X.Presidential spokeswoman Claire Castro later told reporters that Lazaro had sought safe passage through the strait for oil shipments bound for the Philippines."Secretary Lazaro requested that Iran formally designate (the Philippines) as a 'non-hostile country' and ensure safe passage for PH-flagged vessels and oil shipments," Castro told reporters via messaging app."This is vital for the protection of our seafarers and our energy supply."She added the Iranian ambassador had been "awaiting our outreach and reaffirmed their strong willingness to assist the Philippines with our specific requests".Lazaro was expected to speak with Iran's foreign minister on Thursday to formally secure those commitments, she said.The Iranian embassy in Manila declined to comment on the meeting.In a report to the Philippine stock exchange released Monday, the operator of the country's sole oil refinery said it had agreed to purchase Russian crude after seeing at least 4mn barrels in shipments cancelled since the start of the Middle East war.Its purchase of 2.5mn barrels of Russian crude had been made out of "extreme necessity", the report from Petron Corp said.AFP had previously reported that a tanker filled with Russian crude oil had arrived at the harbour servicing Petron's refinery, a purchase unthinkable before the US eased sanctions tied to Moscow's war in Ukraine.Wednesday's meeting between the Philippines and Iran comes just days after Malaysia announced its tankers would be permitted to pass through the Strait of Hormuz without paying any toll to Tehran. 

EU Council President Antonio Costa said Tuesday he was confident Britain and ​the European Union would ‌reach a deal on UK participation ‌in the ⁠bloc's multi-billion-euro SAFE defence fund, despite talks ‌over the issue breaking down in November.A British plan ⁠to join the original 150 billion euro ($174 billion) SAFE fund fell through after the government of Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer refused to pay a financial contribution to join.However, Costa pointed to warmer ties between Britain and the EU, with ​Starmer consistently pushing for a post-Brexit "reset" with the bloc as grounds for hope of a deal.He also ‌highlighted how Britain and ⁠France were ​jointly leading Ukraine's "Coalition of the Willing" as ​a reason why he believed a deal would be reached."The new Labour government has started the reset, and the reset is going well," Costa said in a speech at Paris' Sciences Po university."It could take some weeks, months, but for sure, we will achieve an agreement with the UK on the SAFE issue," ‌he said.Last month, Starmer ‌said his government ⁠would consider applying to join a second possible ⁠EU SAFE fund. ⁠Under the initiative, the EU jointly borrowed money on financial markets to lend to countries in the bloc for defence.Asked about Costa's remarks, a British government source said the UK would only sign agreements that ​were in its national interest, and noted that British firms remained a vital part of defence supply chains across Europe.The source said the UK's defence industry continued to have access to SAFE under standard third-country terms, which allow British companies to participate in SAFE-funded arrangements for up to 35% of a ‌project's value. 

With the support of benevolent donors in Qatar, Qatar Charity provided more than 113mn litres of safe drinking water to thousands of displaced and drought-affected families on the outskirts of the Somali capital, Mogadishu, and in the camps of Baidoa.This comes as part of its strategy aimed at responding to natural disasters, alleviating the suffering of vulnerable groups, and providing urgent and sustainable water solutions.For the residents of displacement camps on the outskirts of Mogadishu, Qatar Charity secured 74.5mn litres of water, meeting the needs of 2,300 affected families over 12 months (throughout 2026). This initiative is an extension of previous achievements that began in 2023, creating a state of water stability in the targeted areas.In Baidoa, in the Southwest State of Somalia one of the areas most affected by displacement movements Qatar Charity left a significant humanitarian mark by starting the distribution of 38,880,000 litres of water for a period of six months, from January to June 2026, to ensure that 2,400 displaced families receive their full need of clean water. This step aims to limit the spread of epidemics and reduce repeated displacement in search of resources.Tahir Mohamed Haj, programmes director at Qatar Charity’s Somalia Office, emphasised that these projects place people at the forefront of their priorities.He said: “Providing safe drinking water is our top priority in relief plans. Through this response, we seek to ensure one of the basic rights of displaced persons, which directly contributes to strengthening community resilience against the harsh climatic challenges striking the region.”This initiative brought evident satisfaction among beneficiaries. In the camps of Baidoa, Amina Ali Ibrahim and Habiba Abubakar Hassan recounted how the quest for a “sip of water” used to exhaust them and their children’s time. They affirmed that having water delivered right to their tent doors was not just aid it was an indescribable relief for their families.Near the outskirts of Mogadishu, the situation was similar. Fatima Mohamed Ibrahim and Hawa Osman Ali expressed their gratitude to the people of Qatar, noting that the quality and constant availability of water provided them with reassurance about their health after years of suffering from unsafe water sources.These projects fall within an ongoing development trajectory. Qatar Charity implemented 76 vital water and sanitation projects in Somalia last year, benefiting around 50,000 people across various regions of the country. 

The Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) has launched a winter clothes distribution project in Gaza as part of its ‘In Safe Hands’ winterisation relief campaign 2025-2026 to alleviate the suffering of thousands of displaced families amid harsh weather and humanitarian conditions inside shelter tents/centres.  Dr Akram Nassar, head of QRCS’s representation office in Gaza, said the project involved distributing coupons to 5,000 displaced families in three main distribution points: Gaza City, Central Gaza, and Khan Younis. “We selected the best clothes available in Gaza markets, to ensure that the families would be well protected against the cold weather, given the severe conditions they are living in tents and displacement centres, coupled with the lack of income for most of the families in Gaza,” stated Dr Nassar. He explained that the project was part of QRCS’s ongoing efforts to support the most vulnerable people and ease the increasing burdens on affected families, particularly children and older people. Ismail Mahmoud, 47, said: “I am so happy today for choosing warm clothes for my children. Seeing the smiles on their faces has given us some hope. Honestly, my only wish is that the economic situation would improve, and our children and the people of Gaza would find peace and stability in the future.” Worth $1.301mn, the project is part of QRCS’s humanitarian interventions to improve the living and humanitarian conditions of affected people in Gaza.  

The US dollar index, which measures the performance of the US currency against the euro, the British pound, the yen, and three other major currencies, stabilized at 100.18 after rising to 100.25, its highest level since August 1. Both the Japanese yen and the US dollar attracted strong demand as safe-haven assets amid heavy selling in stocks, particularly technology shares on Wall Street, which extended to Asian markets.The yen rose by about 0.2% to 153.42 per dollar, continuing the gains of 0.7% it recorded on Tuesday. At the same time, the dollar was steady at 1.1483 against the euro after rising 0.3% in the previous session to reach a seven-month-high.The British pound stabilized at $1.3016 after falling 0.9% yesterday. The New Zealand dollar slipped 0.1% to $0.5635 after a 1.2% decline yesterday, touching its lowest level in seven months. It also fell to 1.1512 against the Australian dollar following labor market data, a level not seen since October 2013.The Australian dollar dropped 0.2% to $0.6476.

Russia's Foreign Ministry has commended Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), for his efforts in establishing a "calm" around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, following successful international mediation that enabled a safe environment for essential maintenance work. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Moscow had secured security guarantees from Ukraine to restore external power to the facility, an arrangement that had previously been unattainable. Zakharova noted that Russia raised the issue with Grossi, who engaged in intensive mediation efforts. After extended consultations, those efforts resulted in what she described as a "calm regime" that allowed repair work to begin. She also referenced a September 23 incident in which the Dniprovska power station was reportedly struck by Ukrainian forces, cutting off electricity to the nuclear plant and forcing it to rely on backup diesel generators to maintain critical systems. Repair crews began work on October 18, and the restoration of the damaged power line is expected to take several days. Zakharova emphasized Grossi's pivotal role in the process and expressed hope for continued constructive cooperation to ensure the safety and security of nuclear facilities in the region.

Al Wakrah Municipality's Services Affairs Department (Gardens Section) carried out a field campaign during the April-August period to reduce the spread of mosquitoes, as part of the “My City is Civilised” initiative to maintain a healthy and safe environment. The campaign included removal of harmful weeds, pruning and planting mosquito-repelling trees, and treating potential mosquito breeding sites in six main areas covering 54 blocks. A total of 161 trees were pruned, 556 neglected trees were removed, and 47 sites were cleared of harmful weeds. In addition, the Health Control Section conducted 2,421 inspection tours during August 25-31, resulting in the closure of one food establishment, the issuance of two violations, and the disposal of 154 unfit food items. Further, 5,250kg of fish were inspected at Al Wakrah market, of which about 25kg was destroyed, and 12 samples sent to the central laboratory for checking.

Using a crutch to bear her weight, 85-year-old Molly Aluoch trudges from her mud-walled room on the outskirts of a sprawling Nairobi slum, shouldering a sack of used plastic to exchange for a shower or a safe toilet.For the 31 years she has lived in Kibera, Kenya's largest informal settlement, water and sanitation have remained scarce and costly — often controlled by cartels who charge residents prices beyond their means.The Human Needs Project (HNP) seeks to mitigate that. Residents can trade discarded plastic for "green points", or credits, they can redeem for services such as drinking water, toilets, showers, laundries and even meals."With my green points, I can now access a comfortable and clean toilet and bathroom any time of the day," Aluoch said.Before, she would spend 10 shillings (eight US cents) to use a toilet and another 10 for a bathroom, a significant chunk from the residents' average daily income, 200 to 400 shillings, before food and housing costs."It meant that without money, I would not use a toilet," she said.Unable to use Kibera's pit latrines owing to her frailty meant she would have to resort to "unhygienic means".Now, that money goes towards food for her three grandchildren.Aluoch, a traditional birth attendant, is among some 100 women who collect plastics for green points, helping them access water, sanitation, and hygiene services.She takes her plastic to a centre 200 metres from her home, where one kilogramme of recyclable plastics earns 15 green points, equivalent to 15 shillings.The project serves some 800 residents daily, allowing them access to modern bathrooms, clean water and menstrual hygiene facilities — services that are out of reach for many Kibera households.Since 2015, the project has distributed more than 50 mn litres of water and more than 1mn toilet and shower uses.In 2024 alone, it distributed 11mn litres of water and enabled 124,000 bathroom and toilet uses.'DAYS WITHOUT WATER'With water a scarce commodity in Kibera, it is common for vendors to create artificial shortages to inflate prices, forcing residents to pay more than 10 times the normal price.The city's water service charges between $0.60 and $0.70 per cubic metre for connected households, but by comparison, Kibera residents have to stump up as much as $8 to $19 for the same amount."Getting water was hard. We could go several days without water," said Margaret John, 50, a mother of three.Today, her reality is different."The water point is at my doorstep. The supply is steady and the water is clean. All I need is to collect plastics, get points, redeem and get water," she said.John, who has lived in Kibera for nine years, says the project has been a game changer, especially for women and girls."Access to proper sanitation services guarantees women and girls their dignity during menstruation." Now, with 10 water points spread across Kibera — pulled from a borehole with a daily capacity of half a million litres — NHP shields some residents from informal vendors' exploitative pricing.The project's dual mission is to meet basic human needs while tackling Kibera's mounting waste problem.HNP's director of strategic partnerships Peter Muthaura said it helps to improve health and the daily living conditions in Kibera."When people cannot access dignified toilets and bathrooms, the environment bears the impact," he said.It also fosters development, he said.In the first quarter of 2025 alone, Kibera residents delivered two tonnes of recyclable plastic, with around 250 women directly engaged in daily collection and delivery.For Aluoch, every sack of plastics and every green point earned goes beyond clean water and sanitation: it restores a sense of dignity."My prayer is that this project spreads to every corner of Kibera, and reaches thousands of women whose dignity has been robbed by a lack of sanitation services," she said.