US-Iran Escalation: The US struck two Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz, the first known US attack on Iran since late July, after IRGC forces were seen preparing sea-mine launches; Iran’s IRGC said fighters and civilians were killed or wounded and vowed “response and punishment.” Regional Spillover: Iran then claimed missile and drone attacks on US bases in Jordan (King Hussein and Al Azraq), while Jordan said it intercepted eight missiles entering its airspace; details on damage remain unverified. Economic Pressure Meets Security: US officials framed the strikes as protecting the “free flow of commerce” through Hormuz, as Washington also signals tighter secondary sanctions on banks tied to Iranian transactions. Cultural & Civic Life: In Syria, the Damascus International Fair opened under “Syria Shines Again,” mixing business deals with daily music and youth activities; in Qatar, the Arab Book Award logged 835 nominations across two categories. Food & Society: Pakistan and Saudi Arabia agreed to push agricultural and food exports to $3bn over two years, focusing on rice, red meat, fruits and water-efficient tech. Local Policing & Morality: Egypt arrested a content creator over social media dance videos deemed “indecent,” citing public morality rules. Regional Security Bloc: Turkey hosted the first committee meeting under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, with Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey coordinating on deterrence and defence industry cooperation.