SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California has officially recognized Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha as state holidays after Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 2017 into law on September 27, 2026.  The legislation, known as the California Eid State Holiday Act, adds the two major Islamic holidays to California’s list of state holidays. The law was authored by Assemblymember Matt Haney and was approved by the governor as Chapter 571, Statutes of 2026.

Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting. Eid al-Adha, observed on the 10th day of Dhu al-Hijjah in the Islamic lunar calendar, is one of the two major Islamic festivals. Under the new law, K-12 public schools and community colleges may close for Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha through locally negotiated agreements. Students observing either holiday are also entitled to an excused absence under the provisions of the law.

The legislation also allows eligible state and school employees to use existing holiday credits or leave time to observe the two Islamic holidays. However, the law does not require every private employer to close or provide a paid holiday to all workers. It also does not make the two Eids judicial holidays.

The legislation does not designate the month of Ramadan itself as a state holiday. Instead, it formally recognizes the two Eids that occur in the Islamic calendar. California Governor Gavin Newsom announced the signing of AB 2017 as part of a legislative update on September 27.

TOKYO — The United States and Japan have extended their bilateral science and technology cooperation agreement indefinitely, reinforcing their long-term partnership in research, development and emerging technologies. The two countries signed a protocol in Tokyo on October 2 to extend and amend the U.S.-Japan Agreement on Cooperation in Research and Development in Science and Technology, commonly known as the U.S.-Japan Science and Technology Agreement.

Michael Kratsios, Assistant to the President and Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, signed the protocol on behalf of the United States. Japan was represented by Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi. First signed in 1988, the agreement provides a legally binding framework for scientific cooperation between the two governments. Over the decades, it has helped establish extensive links between American and Japanese scientific communities.

The new protocol extends the agreement indefinitely and updates its framework to support continued cooperation in science and technology, with particular attention to critical and emerging technologies. The United States said the extension reflects the longstanding cooperation between the two countries and is intended to help sustain and strengthen collaboration that can benefit people in both nations.

The agreement also aims to support what the two governments describe as a secure and trusted innovation ecosystem while promoting continued research and development cooperation. The indefinite extension underscores Washington and Tokyo’s intention to maintain science and technology cooperation as a long-term component of their broader bilateral relationship.

ROME — Italy and the United States co-chaired a meeting of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS/Daesh in Rome on October 1, bringing together political directors and senior diplomatic officials to discuss counterterrorism efforts in Iraq and Syria. Coalition partners congratulated Iraq and Syria on what they described as progress in degrading ISIS/Daesh and reaffirmed their commitment to preventing the group from rebuilding its capabilities.

The meeting came as the mandate of Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR) in Iraq has ended. Coalition participants described the conclusion of the mission’s mandate as reflecting the combined efforts of coalition members and the Iraqi government’s commitment to preventing an ISIS resurgence.

In Syria, coalition members welcomed what they described as cooperation from authorities in Damascus in confronting the ISIS threat. Participants said lasting security in both Iraq and Syria would depend on strengthening inclusive and sovereign state institutions capable of representing and protecting all communities.

The coalition also reaffirmed its role in supporting stability in Iraq and Syria. Participants said international assistance should focus on strengthening the two countries’ capacity to conduct counterterrorism operations while addressing grievances and divisions that ISIS has historically exploited.

Coalition members expressed readiness to work with the Iraqi and Syrian governments on those priorities. They also announced commitments totaling more than $75 million to support counterterrorism needs in Syria, increase detention capacity, maintain health and sanitation services, and assist displaced and detained populations in both countries.

The Syrian government outlined its key counterterrorism priorities and areas where it needs international assistance, while Iraq reaffirmed its continuing leadership role in efforts to defeat ISIS/Daesh.

The meeting reflects the coalition’s continuing emphasis on counterterrorism cooperation and partner capacity-building beyond major battlefield operations. The United States has previously described the Global Coalition’s work as extending beyond military operations to areas including counterterrorism financing, foreign terrorist fighters, stabilization and preventing the resurgence of ISIS.

Shibbir Ahmed, Washington DC — The United States on Friday imposed sanctions on a Hamas military operative in Gaza and a France-based fundraising network that U.S. authorities said used sham charities and cryptocurrency to raise nearly $2 million for the Palestinian militant group. The action, announced by the U.S. Department of the Treasury on October 2, targets what Washington described as part of Hamas’s international financial support network. The U.S. Department of State said the measures were aimed at disrupting efforts to raise and transfer funds to Hamas through charitable and humanitarian structures.

According to the State Department, the France-based network used purported charitable organizations and cryptocurrency to collect nearly $2 million for Hamas in recent years. The action was coordinated among the State Department, Treasury Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

The State Department said the measures demonstrate the U.S. commitment to dismantling Hamas’s international financing networks and restricting the group’s access to resources that Washington says can support terrorist activities. The department said the United States would continue working with partner governments, including France, to identify individuals and organizations involved in raising or transferring funds to Hamas.

The measures also seek to protect legitimate humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza, according to the State Department, which said humanitarian aid should be delivered through organizations that can ensure the assistance reaches its intended recipients. The sanctions were issued under Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886, the primary U.S. counterterrorism sanctions authority. Under the action, property and interests in property belonging to designated persons that are in the United States or under the control of U.S. persons are subject to blocking restrictions.

The U.S. State Department designated Hamas under Executive Order 13224 on October 31, 2001. Hamas is also designated by the United States as a Foreign Terrorist Organization under Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. The Treasury Department’s action comes alongside a Justice Department investigation into a broader Hamas financing network. U.S. authorities announced charges and arrests involving individuals accused of raising and transferring funds to Hamas, including activity involving the United States and France.

The U.S. government said disrupting Hamas’s international financing channels remains part of its broader effort to restrict the group’s ability to obtain funds and maintain its operations. The action also highlights increased cooperation between U.S. agencies and foreign partners in tracing financial flows involving Hamas and identifying organizations that authorities allege have been used to conceal terrorist financing as charitable activity. U.S. officials said they would continue working with international partners to target financial networks supporting Hamas while seeking to preserve legitimate humanitarian assistance for Palestinian civilians.

Shibbir Ahmed, Washington DC  — The United States and dozens of partner countries have reaffirmed their commitment to implementing United Nations restrictions on Iran, one year after a series of UN Security Council resolutions were restored through the so-called “snapback” mechanism. In a joint statement issued October 2, the countries participating in the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) said they would continue implementing the obligations contained in six UN Security Council resolutions that returned into force on September 27, 2025.

The resolutions are UNSCR 1696 (2006), 1737 (2006), 1747 (2007), 1803 (2008), 1835 (2008) and 1929 (2010). According to the statement, France, Germany and the United Kingdom initiated the snapback process in response to what they described as Iran’s “persistent and significant non-performance” of its nuclear commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

The United States and its PSI partners said they remain committed to preventing the supply, sale or transfer to Iran of materials, equipment, goods and technology that could contribute to proliferation-sensitive nuclear activities or the development of nuclear-weapons delivery systems. They also reaffirmed restrictions on the supply, sale or transfer of arms and related materiel to or from Iran.

The participating countries said they would strengthen their domestic legal authorities and capabilities to address proliferation-sensitive activities involving Iran. Their commitments include preventing direct or indirect transfers of items that could contribute to weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery, including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), as well as materials covered by the reinstated UN arms restrictions.

The countries also pledged to improve information-sharing among PSI partners concerning Iran’s proliferation activities and to review national legal authorities where necessary to ensure that enforcement measures remain effective. They further committed to taking appropriate actions in support of interdiction efforts involving Iran’s proliferation-related activities. The joint statement welcomed national-level efforts to implement the reinstated UN obligations and cited activities linked to Operation Economic Outcast as supporting the broader objective of preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

The participating states called on all UN member countries to implement the reinstated resolutions and said they would continue coordinating counterproliferation efforts to prevent Iran from undertaking activities prohibited under the resolutions, including efforts related to its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. They also urged Tehran to return to compliance with its nonproliferation obligations, cooperate fully with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and address what the signatories described as international concerns over Iran’s nuclear activities.

The snapback process began in August 2025, when France, Germany and the United Kingdom notified the UN Security Council that they considered Iran to be in significant non-performance of its JCPOA commitments. The process culminated on September 27, 2025, when the six earlier Security Council resolutions returned into force.

The status and legality of the snapback have been disputed by Iran, which has argued that the mechanism was invalid and that the states invoking it lacked the authority to restore the earlier resolutions. The dispute has remained part of the broader international debate over the future of the JCPOA and Iran’s nuclear program. The October 2 statement was signed by a broad group of PSI-endorsing countries, including the United States, Canada, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, Israel, South Korea and numerous European and other partner states.

Shibbir Ahmed, New York — The United Nations has called on the United States to take further steps to address the long-term health, environmental and human rights consequences of its nuclear weapons testing program in the Marshall Islands. A report presented to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Thursday said Washington should provide additional healthcare support to people affected by the tests and release classified records related to the nuclear testing program. The report said the consequences of the tests continue to affect Marshallese communities decades after the testing ended.

The United States conducted 67 nuclear weapons tests in the Marshall Islands between 1946 and 1958. One of the most powerful tests, known as Castle Bravo, was carried out at Bikini Atoll in 1954.

According to the UN human rights office, the human cost of the testing program has been severe and long-lasting. The report pointed to continuing health problems, displacement from contaminated areas and social stigma faced by people exposed to radiation.

UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Awa Dabo told the Human Rights Council that the consequences of the nuclear testing program remain a continuing issue for the Marshallese people.

The UN report called for effective remedies, including healthcare and access to information concerning the nuclear legacy. Marshall Islands representatives have also urged the international community to help address unresolved claims and the continuing effects of nuclear contamination.

The Marshall Islands has repeatedly raised concerns over the long-term consequences of the U.S. testing program, including damage to communities, traditional lands and public health. A previous UN human rights report also documented barriers to the full realization of the rights of people affected by the nuclear legacy.

Washington, however, has previously maintained that it has fulfilled its responsibilities under agreements with the Marshall Islands. The U.S. government has said the 1986 Compact of Free Association and related agreements constituted a full settlement of claims arising from the nuclear testing program. It has also said that more than $600 million has been provided to affected communities and that various health, environmental and other assistance programs remain in place.

The latest UN call comes as the Marshall Islands continues to seek greater international attention to the health, environmental and human rights consequences of the nuclear tests. The dispute over how much remains to be done reflects a longstanding difference between Washington’s position that its obligations have been addressed and calls from Marshallese representatives and UN human rights officials for additional measures.

Shibbir Ahmed, New York — U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio ordered Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his delegation to leave New York earlier than scheduled, according to two U.S. officials familiar with the matter, adding a new dimension to ongoing diplomatic tensions between Washington and Tehran. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian left New York last week after delivering his address to the United Nations General Assembly. Araghchi, however, remained in the city as efforts continued toward indirect discussions with the United States on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, ending the ongoing conflict and restarting negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program.

According to U.S. officials, weekend meetings involving Iranian and Qatari mediators produced little progress. Rubio subsequently instructed the Iranian delegation on Monday to leave New York immediately. One U.S. official said the delegation had remained in the country after the high-level UN meetings had ended and was no longer expected to stay. Araghchi and members of his delegation left New York early Tuesday and were expected to travel back to Iran via Doha, Qatar.

Iran, however, rejected the U.S. account. Iran’s permanent mission to the United Nations said the delegation had not been ordered to leave or expelled from the United States. The mission said its departure schedule had been arranged in advance and had been communicated to the U.S. State Department on September 17.

The Iranian mission also accused Washington of spreading what it described as “baseless” reports following the lack of progress in the negotiations. The conflicting accounts have highlighted the differences between Washington and Tehran over the circumstances surrounding the delegation’s departure.

Indirect discussions between the United States and Iran have continued with Qatar playing a mediating role. Key issues remain unresolved, including the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, sanctions, frozen Iranian assets, the ongoing conflict and Iran’s nuclear program.

The departure of the Iranian delegation comes as diplomatic contacts between Washington and Tehran continue, but the two sides have yet to reach an agreement aimed at resolving the broader conflict and their longstanding disputes.

Shibbir Ahmed, Washington DC —  The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced a broad set of actions Thursday targeting the A7 Network, a shadow banking network that Treasury says has ties to Russia and has been used by Iran and other illicit actors to evade sanctions and move funds through the international financial system. The measures were announced as part of Operation Economic Outcast and involve both the Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) and the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).

FinCEN issued a notice of proposed rulemaking that would prohibit certain financial transactions involving the A7 Network’s Sub-Agents. The agency also released an alert outlining indicators that financial institutions can use to identify and report potentially suspicious activity associated with the network. Separately, OFAC designated the A7 Network as a significant transnational criminal organization.

Treasury Targets A7 Network’s Financial Structure

According to Treasury, the A7 Network was created and backed by individuals already subject to U.S. sanctions. The department said the network established a global network of companies, referred to as Sub-Agents, to disguise payments connected to sanctioned sectors and individuals as routine commercial transactions. Treasury said the network has been used by Iran, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), as well as other illicit financial actors.

The latest measures build on Treasury’s August 14, 2025, designation of several A7-related entities, including A7 LLC and Old Vector LLC. Treasury officials said the broader action is intended to disrupt the network’s ability to provide financial services that facilitate sanctions evasion.

Billions in Transactions Identified

FinCEN said its investigation found that A7 Network Sub-Agents processed more than $17 billion between January 2025 and June 2026. Treasury said the network allegedly used third-country companies, falsified trade documentation, manipulated import-export records and misleading descriptions of goods to make sanctioned or illicit payments appear to be legitimate commercial transactions.

According to Treasury, the A7 Network claimed that by January 2026 it was processing more than 2,000 transactions a day, with total transaction volume exceeding 7.5 trillion Russian rubles. Treasury estimated the value at approximately $91.5 billion, equivalent to about 13% of Russia’s 2025 foreign trade transactions.

Alleged Links to Iranian Oil and Weapons Procurement

Treasury also said A7 Network Sub-Agents were used in transactions connected to Iranian oil sales and weapons procurement. One Sub-Agent, according to the department, transacted directly with entities associated with Iran’s so-called shadow fleet—a network of tankers, shipping companies and front companies used to transport and sell Iranian oil in violation of sanctions.

Treasury said the Sub-Agent and a related company received nearly $140 million from entities involved in Iranian sanctions-evasion activity. In a separate case cited by Treasury, another A7 Sub-Agent transferred approximately $1.6 million to a company linked to Iranian sanctions evasion and weapons procurement.

FinCEN Issues Alert to Financial Institutions

FinCEN’s new alert provides financial institutions with indicators designed to help identify potentially suspicious transactions associated with the A7 Network. The agency said the network uses foreign companies to gain access to international payment systems and facilitate the movement of funds. The proposed FinCEN rule was issued under Section 9714(a) of the Combating Russian Money Laundering Act. The public will have 30 days to submit comments after the notice is published in the Federal Register.

OFAC Designates A7 as Significant Transnational Criminal Organization

OFAC’s designation places the A7 Network under U.S. sanctions as a significant transnational criminal organization. Treasury identified Ilan Mironovich Shor, whom it described as a sanctioned and convicted fraudster, as the leader of the network. The department said the network operates through a group of Sub-Agent companies that allegedly disguise illicit transactions as legitimate trade.

Treasury also alleged that the network has provided financial support to Iran’s IRGC and Iranian proxy groups, including Hamas. The department said the A7 Network has also been linked to Nobitex, an Iranian digital-asset exchange designated by OFAC in June 2026, and has facilitated transactions associated with North Korean cryptocurrency exchange hacks and other illicit activities.

A7A5 Token Included in Sanctions Action

Treasury said the A7A5 token, a ruble-backed digital token issued by Old Vector LLC, is part of the A7 Network and is subject to U.S. blocking sanctions. According to OFAC, the token was created to facilitate international transactions while helping network participants evade sanctions and generate revenue for sanctioned infrastructure providers.

Potential Consequences for U.S. and Foreign Persons

Following OFAC’s action, property and interests in property belonging to the A7 Network that are located in the United States or controlled by U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. U.S. persons are generally prohibited from conducting transactions involving blocked property unless specifically authorized by OFAC or otherwise exempt.

Treasury warned that violations of U.S. sanctions can result in civil or criminal penalties. OFAC can also impose civil penalties on a strict-liability basis. The department further warned that non-U.S. persons may face sanctions exposure if they cause U.S. persons to violate sanctions or engage in activities designed to evade U.S. sanctions. The latest measures represent an expanded U.S. effort to disrupt financial networks that authorities say facilitate sanctions evasion and illicit finance involving Iran, Russia and other actors.

DHAKA — The United States has provided 500,000 dengue NS1 rapid diagnostic test kits to Bangladesh to support the country’s ongoing efforts to detect dengue cases and strengthen treatment management. The kits were provided through the STRIDES programme, funded by the US government, according to a press release. US Chargé d’Affaires to Bangladesh Trishita Maula formally handed over the kits to Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain at Kurmitola Multicare Specialized Hospital in Dhaka on Thursday morning.

Speaking at the handover ceremony, the health minister directed the authorities concerned to distribute the dengue testing kits across the country promptly. He said the ceremony was held at Kurmitola Multicare Specialized Hospital considering traffic congestion and transportation convenience. “However, all the handed-over kits will be deposited directly with the Central Medical Stores Depot (CMSD). Subsequently, the kits will be sent to district and upazila hospitals across the country through the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), based on demand,” Sakhawat said. The minister said the government currently has adequate stocks of dengue antigen test kits and intravenous saline in addition to the newly received supplies.

“As a result, the health sector is prepared to ensure necessary testing and treatment even if the number of dengue cases increases in any part of the country,” he said. On the possibility of introducing a dengue vaccine in Bangladesh, Sakhawat said the government was considering the option but stressed the importance of ensuring the vaccine’s efficacy and safety because of its high cost.

“Since the vaccine is costly, it is important to ensure its efficacy and safety,” he said. Discussions are underway with the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF and Gavi on the issue, the minister said, adding that a final decision would be taken in line with international guidelines.

Additional Secretary of the Health Services Division Md Rafiqul Islam, Additional Director General of the DGHS Professor Dr Md Zahid Raihan, Director of Kurmitola Multicare Specialized Hospital Brigadier General Md Saydur Rahman, and senior officials from the US Embassy and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare attended the programme. Later, the minister visited the hospital’s dengue ward and diagnostic laboratory.

Shibbir Ahmed, Washington DC  — The White House has unveiled an accord with leading technology companies outlining a voluntary framework for strengthening safeguards around the development and deployment of advanced artificial intelligence systems. Titled the “White House Accord on Super Intelligence: Joint Commitment on Frontier Responsibilities,” the agreement calls on companies developing and deploying frontier AI models to establish robust internal controls, independent evaluations and board-level oversight.

The accord says companies have a responsibility to develop their technologies safely and in a manner that builds trust among customers and the public. It identifies four layers of controls and audits that participating companies should implement.

The first layer involves internal controls designed to monitor the capabilities and alignment of AI models during both training and deployment. The controls would cover risks involving cybersecurity, biosecurity and chemical threats, while also seeking to prevent AI systems from accessing or hacking technical systems in unintended ways.

The second layer calls for companies to establish dedicated internal teams responsible for ensuring that safety controls, monitoring and detection systems are functioning as intended. Those teams would also be responsible for ensuring that identified problems are addressed.

The third layer involves independent external auditors or evaluators. These outside reviewers would assess whether a company’s controls, monitoring and detection mechanisms are operating properly.

The fourth layer would place responsibility at the board level, with companies designating an independent board committee to oversee the safety framework and receive reports from internal teams and external auditors. The committee would also monitor the remediation of problems identified through the oversight process.

According to the accord, the four-layer system is intended to provide companies, their customers and the public with greater confidence that advanced AI technologies are operating as intended. Participating companies are also expected to meet regularly to develop common standards and best practices aimed at improving the safety of their systems.

The document leaves open the possibility that the measures could eventually become part of formal government regulation. It states that, over time, it may be appropriate to codify the safeguards into laws or regulations, while emphasizing that the companies are committed to implementing the controls regardless of whether they are legally required.

The agreement was released following a White House meeting with leading technology executives on September 29. Reporting on the accord identifies Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, OpenAI President Greg Brockman, xAI CEO Elon Musk and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang among the participating executives.

The accord focuses specifically on governance, monitoring and auditing of increasingly capable AI systems, rather than establishing detailed technical standards or specific implementation deadlines.