Cairo

Donald Trump told CNN that a fresh US attack on Iran is highly unlikely if negotiations over Tehran's nuclear programme and the Strait of Hormuz make progress. He noted that three US aircraft carrier strike groups are already positioned in the region and are fully locked and loaded. The United States has identified 38 Iranian bridges that could be destroyed within an hour if hostilities resume, while Iran retains roughly 10 % of its missile capacity and 15 % of its drone capability. Both sides continue to target vessels in the Strait, and U.S. gasoline prices have risen amid the ongoing conflict.

Seven people died and 112 were injured when two passenger trains collided on Sunday in Giza province, about 76 km south of Cairo, Egypt's health ministry said. A Giza-to-Fayoum train struck the rear of a stationary Cairo-to-Aswan service near al-Ayyat, derailing several carriages and overturning six. Emergency crews are clearing wreckage to restore the Cairo-Upper Egypt line. President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi ordered an urgent investigation and said negligent parties would be held accountable.

The United States struck an Iranian anti-aircraft installation on Qeshm Island late on Friday, according to President Donald Trump, who called the operation minor and said the target was knocked out within five to fifteen minutes. Iranian state-run media reported two missiles hitting the Suza area of the island, which lies in the Strait of Hormuz, but did not specify damage. Iran's Revolutionary Guard said it shot down a US drone over southern Iran earlier that day. The strike is the first US military action in the region since the midterm elections on Tuesday. On Saturday, Iranian state television said officials had not confirmed any missile strikes on Iranian territory, while Iranian media linked evening explosions in the south to Iranian military activity. Trump said he was highly unlikely to order fresh attacks while talks progress.

Melania Trump will host Russian and Ukrainian representatives at the White House on Thursday, a gathering that will recognise a recent six-day humanitarian ceasefire in Oleshky. Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev is expected to attend, and Ukraine's human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets plans to meet her. A trilateral meeting of US, Ukrainian and Russian officials is planned for 10-11 Nov in Abu Dhabi, the first such talks since February. The US will lead the renewed negotiations there.

An Egyptian court in Cairo has convicted Lina Attalah, editor-in-chief of the independent outlet Mada Masr, of running an unlicensed website. The New Cairo Misdemeanour Court ordered the outlet closed and its equipment seized, and imposed a fine of 3 million Egyptian pounds, about $53,400. Attalah was taken into custody after the verdict and released later on Tuesday once the fine was paid, according to her lawyer. Mada Masr plans to appeal, and a retrial hearing is set for 11 Nov. Reporters Without Borders ranks Egypt 169th of 180 countries for press freedom.