The written briefing — October 28, 2026
Good morning. At least 60 Christians have been killed in attacks on villages in Ethiopia’s Oromia region, U.S. Central Command has rejected Iran’s claim that American forces have abandoned the Strait of Hormuz, and Pakistan’s winter gas crisis is deepening as some 900 MMCFD of Qatari supply remains suspended. Here is this morning’s briefing in full.
The attacks on Christians in Ethiopia’s Oromia region, explained: what happened in Merti and Shirka, and who is blamed?
At least 60 Christians were killed in two attacks on villages in Ethiopia’s Oromia region in the past week, the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church said on Monday. Fourteen people were killed in Merti district on October 20 and 46 in Shirka district on October 24, both in the Arsi Zone, according to Reuters; more than 20 homes were burned and no group has claimed responsibility.
CENTCOM Rejects Iran’s Claim That U.S. Forces Abandoned the Strait of Hormuz
U.S. Central Command on Tuesday rejected the IRGC Navy commander’s claim that American forces have abandoned the Strait of Hormuz, saying its forces remain present and pointing to its commander’s flight over the waterway on Sunday. About a fifth of the world’s oil normally passes through the strait.
Qatar’s LNG Force Majeure Deepens Pakistan’s Winter Gas Crisis as 900 MMCFD Supply Stays Suspended
Pakistan is heading into the winter with about 900 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD) of Qatari natural gas suspended, the country’s petroleum minister has told parliament, as QatarEnergy’s war-related force majeure keeps most term liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargoes from reaching Pakistan and pushes the government into the far more expensive spot market. Households are receiving piped gas for about eight hours a day.
Syria Closes Nassib Crossing After Jordanian Airstrikes Kill Seven, as Damascus Disputes Coordination Claim
Jordan says its airstrikes in southern Syria killed more than 20 Islamic State militants, in response to a church attack in Jordan that killed nine people. Syria says seven people, including three children, were killed in the strikes and insists they were not coordinated with Damascus.
PTI Parliamentary Party Meets to Decide Talks or Protest Amid Dispute Over Who Holds Decision Power
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s parliamentary party met to decide whether the party negotiates with the government or returns to protest, as senior figures publicly dispute how much decision-making power has been handed to the parliamentary forum. The party’s founder, Imran Khan, remains in Adiala jail.
Pakistan’s Cooking-Gas Prices Soar After Iran Border Closure; Partial Reopening Brings No Relief Yet
Cooking-gas prices remain near record levels across Pakistan more than a week after the closure of two border crossings with Iran halted some 7,000 tonnes a day of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) imports, and a partial reopening of the border over the weekend has yet to bring relief at retail outlets. Market prices are running at about double the official rate.
That is today’s briefing. Full coverage of every story is at zarknews.com.
