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President Donald Trump says he called off a planned military attack on Iran at the request of Gulf states, announcing that "serious negotiations are now taking place." Speaking to reporters, Trump confirmed that a US attack planned for Tuesday was halted after several Gulf leaders urged restraint.

The announcement comes amid escalating tensions following a drone strike near the UAE's Barakah nuclear plant and stalled diplomatic efforts over Tehran's nuclear programme. Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, fear that any military confrontation between the US and Iran could destabilise the entire region.

Iran has not yet commented on Trump's claims. The development marks a significant shift from the previous week's rhetoric, when Trump had warned that "the clock is ticking" for Iran to accept the terms of a proposed nuclear agreement. Analysts suggest that Gulf diplomatic intervention may have been the key factor in preventing an escalation that could have drawn the entire region into conflict.

At least 100 people have now died in the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, health officials have confirmed as the WHO warns the true extent of the outbreak remains unknown. The outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo virus strain for which there are no approved vaccines, continues to spread across multiple health zones in Ituri province.

Cases have now been confirmed in neighbouring Uganda as well, raising fears of broader regional spread. Health workers on the ground face herculean challenges, including ongoing civil conflict in affected areas and high population mobility across borders. The WHO has described the situation as a "public health emergency of international concern."

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO director general, warned that significant uncertainties remain about the true number of infected persons and the geographical spread of the virus. International health organisations are racing to deploy vaccines and medical teams, but the lack of approved treatments for this specific strain makes containment particularly difficult.

A new High Street crime unit is being launched in the United Kingdom to target criminal gangs who use shop fronts to hide money laundering, immigration crime, and drug operations. The initiative follows a BBC investigation that exposed drug gangs, "ghost directors," and illegal workers operating through seemingly legitimate businesses.

The new task force will have enhanced powers to investigate and shut down shops being used as fronts for organised crime. Authorities say the problem is far more widespread than previously understood, with hundreds of businesses across the country suspected of being linked to criminal networks.

The BBC's undercover investigation revealed that criminal gangs are exploiting gaps in company registration systems to create fake businesses that appear legitimate on paper. These operations often involve marginalised workers who are brought into the country illegally and forced to work in poor conditions. The new unit aims to dismantle these networks by targeting the financial infrastructure that supports them.