EU heavyweights call on Brussels to reignite frozen Russian asset debate – POLITICO

• A glacier collapse triggered a devastating flash flood along the Bhote Koshi river near the Nepal-Tibet border, resulting in at least 17 confirmed deaths. • Search and rescue operations are underway for several missing persons, including two British teenagers caught in the disaster.

• Iran has launched a renewed diplomatic push, proposing a plan with Oman to ensure the continued movement of ships through the strategic Strait of Hormuz. • Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani is visiting Tehran to facilitate mediation efforts between Iran and the United States.

• German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has invited leaders from Austria, Finland, the Netherlands, and Denmark to Berlin for a lunch meeting to discuss shrinking the EU's next seven-year budget. • Sweden will also participate in the discussions remotely to coordinate a strategy for reducing spending.

• A wave of lethal temperatures and devastating wildfires across Europe this summer has highlighted a growing disconnect between climate-conscious voters and political leaders. • While most European politicians are accused of remaining silent or avoiding long-term systemic changes, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is noted as one of the few leaders actively addressing the crisis.

• Nile Gardiner, a former aide to Margaret Thatcher and Senior Director at the Heritage Foundation, criticized the European Union during an interview with GB News. • Gardiner described the current state of Brussels as a "symbol of Europe's slump," claiming the city has undergone a significant decline.

• Iran has announced the resumption of negotiations with Oman regarding the Strait of Hormuz, while the U.S. has officially delisted Syria as a state sponsor of terrorism. • Tensions remain high in the Middle East as Israeli forces stormed a major UNRWA facility in East Jerusalem and a far-right lawmaker destroyed a monument in the West Bank.

• Oklahoma voters will head to the polls on November 3, 2026, for a general election featuring several key leadership races. • The ballot includes contests for governor, state superintendent, and a new representative for House District 1.

• Six months into the conflict between the US and Iran, reports indicate that Donald Trump's original strategic goals remain unfinished. • Iranian Speaker Mohammad Ghalibaf has criticized those avoiding negotiations with the enemy, warning that labeling diplomatic achievements as "betrayal" is a form of comfort-seeking.

• The author argues that the United States has reached a critical point of decline where the government routinely ignores its own legal constraints. • The text specifically defends the principle that U.S. presidents lack the unilateral authority to decide who may be deposed, kidnapped, or killed.

• Four missing persons were found dead within a three-day span on South Korea's Jeju Island, transforming the popular honeymoon destination into a source of fear for travelers. • The discovery has triggered a police scandal involving an officer accused of improperly closing missing-person investigations.

• President Trump asserted that the financial strength of the U.S. and the implementation of sanctions will lead to a "very big victory" over Iran. • Amidst the geopolitical tension, Trump clarified that he does not believe Iran's supreme leader has passed away.