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3 stories since 28 October 2026, newest first

29 October 2026

Sport

Durban picked as South Africa's Olympic bid city

South Africa's Olympic committee has named Durban as its preferred host city for a bid to stage the 2036 or 2040 Summer Olympics and Paralympics, the first such Games in Africa. The South African cabinet has approved the bid. Acting committee president Lwandile Simelane said the bid would likely be spread across several cities, with some events held elsewhere, and Cape Town and Johannesburg were also considered. The preferred city must reach the International Olympic Committee by 31 October. Presentations to the IOC's Future Host Commission are due in November, feasibility reviews end in March 2027, and the host for 2036 is to be chosen in mid-2029. Seven countries have expressed interest in 2036. Officials have not yet released cost estimates.

World

Iran and Qatar trade positions on a seven-day peace plan

Qatari mediators have presented Iran with a new draft to end the conflict with the United States and Israel. The plan sets a seven-day timeline with daily confidence-building steps and would involve several guarantor countries, possibly starting early next week. Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran is in close contact with intermediaries and could implement the plan in less than a week, while a senior Iranian official called Doha's ideas unacceptable and not an offer. Earlier talks in Tehran with Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey ended without a deal, and US President Donald Trump suggested Iran may be delaying until after the 3 Nov midterm elections.

28 October 2026

World

Iran rejects Qatar's new draft deal, citing nuclear demands

Iran has turned down the latest draft proposal presented by Qatari mediators, saying it cannot compromise on its nuclear programme. The rejection follows a senior Iranian official’s statement that the draft’s terms are unacceptable and that Tehran will not lift its nuclear stance. The proposal, which envisions reopening the Strait of Hormuz after a seven‑day confidence‑building plan, was also dismissed by U.S. President Donald Trump. The war, now eight months old, has driven global oil prices higher and cost the U.S. military at least $47.1 billion.

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