RAG

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met Qatari mediators amid tensions over Iran's nuclear programme and the Strait of Hormuz. Iran reportedly proposed a seven-day plan under which the strait would reopen on day six and nuclear talks would resume on day seven, but the United States rejected the proposal. The Qatari mediation role and Washington's refusal are drawing attention.

Federal authorities have issued a security bulletin ahead of the anniversary of the September 11 attacks, warning that foreign terrorist organizations continue to call for or encourage attacks. The notice serves as a routine reminder to law enforcement and the public about the persistent threat environment surrounding the annual commemoration.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with Qatari mediators to discuss the stalled nuclear negotiations. The meeting comes as a US official said no deal will be reached unless nuclear issues are addressed, while Tehran continues to wait for a response. Qatar has often served as an intermediary between Washington and Tehran, and the talks are being closely watched for signs of a diplomatic opening.

The White House says President Trump is pressing Congress to cut short its recess and return to Washington to pass funding for the Department of Homeland Security as the government shutdown continues. With no deal in sight, the administration is ramping up pressure on lawmakers to act, framing the DHS funding gap as urgent as the shutdown drags on.

Pope Leo has called for concessions to bring an end to the war in Ukraine, urging both sides to make compromises for peace. His appeal comes as the conflict continues with no clear end in sight. The remarks are drawing attention as international efforts to broker a settlement remain deadlocked.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has confirmed further indirect talks between Tehran and Washington, conducted through Qatari mediators, amid ongoing disputes over Iran's nuclear programme. Araghchi said Iran is awaiting an official reply from the United States, with a response expected by Tuesday. The talks follow a period of heightened tension over nuclear negotiations between the two countries, which have no direct diplomatic relations and rely on intermediaries such as Qatar for communication.

Nicaragua's government has awarded Chinese mining companies concessions covering roughly a tenth of the country's land, according to a Financial Times report. The gold-rich Central American nation has deepened ties with Beijing since restoring diplomatic relations in 2021, and the scale of the mining rights is drawing attention to the environmental and economic implications.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met Qatari mediators as Iranian and US officials held separate talks through intermediaries, pushing toward a possible ceasefire. The diplomacy comes as Washington maintains a hard line on Iran's nuclear programme, while Middle Eastern crude exports have rebounded to wartime highs, signalling markets are watching the negotiations closely.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with Qatari mediators amid stalled nuclear talks with the United States. Oil prices extended gains as concerns grew over Middle East supply, with Tehran reportedly pessimistic about reaching a deal before the US midterm elections. The talks are being closely watched for their impact on regional stability and energy markets.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres that Tehran will pursue those responsible for what it calls war crimes committed against Iran. The message was reported by the Italian news agency Nova. It signals Iran's intent to press accountability claims at the international level amid ongoing tensions.

European governments are racing to rearm amid security concerns, but their lack of coordination in defence procurement is costing billions. An investigation argues that each country buying separately, rather than jointly, drives up prices, duplicates effort and delays delivery of weapons and equipment. The report adds to ongoing debate about whether the EU and NATO members should pool orders and standardise military capabilities to get better value from rising defence budgets.

Manchester City have been found guilty of almost all of the charges brought against them by the Premier League, according to special news coverage drawing wide attention. The ruling is one of the most consequential decisions in the league's history, and fans and pundits are debating what penalties, including possible points deductions or relegation, could follow for the club.

A documentary feature from GMA Public Affairs revisits the case of Jason Ivler, the Filipino-American who shot and killed Renato Victor Ebarle Jr. during a road rage confrontation in Quezon City in 2009. Ivler was arrested in 2010 after a shootout with authorities at his mother's home. The feature is drawing wide attention as part of a series revisiting major Philippine controversies.

A nor'easter is moving into the northeastern United States, and meteorologists are providing live coverage with storm chasers in the field on September 26. AccuWeather is streaming continuous reporting on the storm's path, wind and coastal impacts, drawing a large live audience following the system's progress in real time.

Wall Street coverage on September 29, 2026 points to a firmer tone in oil markets and a temporary halt to the recent selloff in bonds. The Wall Street Journal's live markets coverage is tracking the Dow, S&P 500 and Nasdaq as investors weigh energy prices against easing pressure in the Treasury market.

Qualcomm has announced two new flagship phone chips, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and, for the first time alongside it, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6. The company describes both as flagships, with differences between them relatively minor: improvements are concentrated in AI processing, video capture, and gaming performance rather than a broad spec overhaul.

Communications of the ACM has published a feature examining lessons learned from decades of developing internet protocols. The piece reflects on how early design decisions in protocols like TCP and IP shaped today's internet, and what those experiences teach engineers building new networking standards. It comes as the technical community debates protocol design for emerging areas such as the next generation of internet architecture.

PageIndex is being introduced as a vectorless alternative to traditional retrieval-augmented generation, offering a new approach to how AI systems find and use information. Instead of relying on vector embeddings, it organizes documents in a structured, page-based index that language models can navigate directly. Observers in the AI community are discussing whether the method could simplify retrieval pipelines and reduce costs compared with mainstream embedding-based RAG systems.

Theoretical physicists, encouraged by recent progress in understanding black holes, are now applying the same tools to entire universes. Writing for Quanta, physicist Matt von Hippel explains how what they are finding is leading researchers to question fundamental assumptions about physics and cosmology.

Amazon and GoodRx are rolling out subscription services for prescription medications aimed at Americans whose health insurance coverage is shrinking or nonexistent. The move positions the companies to capture customers paying out of pocket for drugs, underscoring how private firms are stepping into gaps left by the US healthcare system as more people lose or forgo coverage.

CBS Sports reported that the Baltimore Ravens-Dallas Cowboys game averaged 24.9 million viewers, making it the most-watched international NFL game on record. The figure highlights the league's growing audience for games played abroad, and fans and analysts are weighing in on what the record number means for the NFL's international expansion plans.

Italian media are explaining 'fiscal drag', the phenomenon whereby inflation pushes workers and pensioners into higher tax brackets or higher taxes without any change in the law. Outlets such as Il Foglio and Sky TG24 describe it as an 'invisible tax' that erodes salaries and pensions, and note it may again weigh on household finances as inflation picks up, without even funding measures like the abolition of the car tax stamp.

A new physics study resource covering fluid drag, Stokes' law and terminal velocity is being shared with students preparing for Cambridge International CAIE A-Level and IGCSE Physics exams. The material explains non-uniform acceleration and includes full mark schemes so learners can practise exam-style questions. It is aimed at candidates revising the mechanics topics that often appear in CAIE papers.

A mortgage broker in Ocean Springs, Mississippi says homebuyers still hold negotiating power even with mortgage rates climbing above 7%. High borrowing costs have cooled demand, giving buyers room to push on price and closing terms in a market where many would-be purchasers have stepped back.

Fire officials report that an electric vehicle sparked a fire in the parking garage of Fenwick High School. The blaze raised fresh questions about EV battery safety in enclosed parking structures, especially on school property. Authorities say the fire was traced to the electric car, and the incident is drawing attention to how schools and garages handle lithium-ion battery risks.