Saudi Arabia, France and regional allies respond as Houthi attacks intensify around Yanbu
France has confirmed it will send soldiers, radars and defence systems to help protect the Yanbu oil terminal, as Saudi Arabia and its partners respond to a fresh rise in Houthi attacks. Saudi officials are also arranging urgent military talks with Pakistan and Turkiye under the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement. The latest developments point to a widening security response around one of the kingdom's most important energy hubs.French President Emmanuel Macron said Paris would deploy military assets to the Red Sea port of Yanbu, stressing that the move was intended to protect the site rather than enter the conflict. Yanbu... [Continue Reading]
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Russian drone strikes hit Kyiv and Odesa region, killing a child and another person
Russian drone strikes hit the Ukrainian capital Kyiv and the southern Odesa region overnight, killing a 14-year-old boy in the city and another person in the region, according to officials. The attacks also injured several people and caused fires in non-residential buildings in two Kyiv districts. The strikes were reported in the early hours of 25 September and affected both a central residential area and logistics-related sites.Police said the boy died after a drone hit a 16-storey residential building in Kyiv's Pechersk district. At least seven other people were injured in the capital, while emergency services said one more person... [Continue Reading]
Saudi Arabia intercepts fresh Houthi missiles as France offers support for Yanbu
Saudi Arabia said it intercepted six ballistic missiles fired by Yemen's Houthis after issuing brief civil defence alerts for several western and central regions, including Mecca, Jeddah, Taif, Tabuk and Yanbu. The alerts were lifted within minutes, and officials said the missiles were stopped before reaching their targets. France separately said it would provide military means to help protect the Yanbu oil terminal, underscoring the strategic importance of the area.The Saudi-led coalition said the missiles were aimed at Taif and Yanbu, and its spokesman, Turki al-Maliki, said the response to what he called Houthi violations would be firm. The warnings... [Continue Reading]
Pakistan-Afghanistan border fighting escalates as cross-border fire continues
Pakistani security sources said several Afghan Taliban members were killed in an intermittent exchange of fire in the Gulistan area on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border on Friday, as fighting continued after a fresh round of air and drone strikes. The latest violence follows Pakistani attacks on sites in Afghanistan that Islamabad said were linked to drone infrastructure and militant hideouts. There has been no official confirmation from either government on the reported deaths in Gulistan.The Afghan government said on Thursday that it would deliver an appropriate response to the Pakistani strikes, which it said hit 10 locations in Afghanistan, including Kandahar,... [Continue Reading]
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Oil prices rise after Houthis claim attacks on Saudi energy facilities
Oil prices rose sharply after Yemen's Houthi rebels said they had carried out missile and drone attacks on targets in Saudi Arabia, including facilities linked to the state-run energy company Aramco. The claims added to already elevated concern about supply security in the Middle East, a region central to global crude flows. Brent crude, the international benchmark, climbed more than 3% and briefly moved above $108 a barrel before easing slightly.The Houthis said on Thursday that they had struck a "sensitive target" in Riyadh and Aramco facilities in the Red Sea city of Yanbu. In a statement carried by the... [Continue Reading]
France to send troops and air defences to Saudi Red Sea port of Yanbu
France will send troops, radar systems and air defence equipment to Saudi Arabia to help protect the Red Sea port city of Yanbu, President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday. He said the deployment is intended to safeguard the site, which he described as key for energy transport, rather than draw France into any conflict. The announcement came during a primetime television interview in which Macron also addressed wider security concerns facing Europe and the Middle East.Macron said the French deployment would include soldiers, radar systems and defence systems. He linked the move to recent pressure on energy routes, saying crude... [Continue Reading]
Ethiopia conflict escalates as Tigrayan forces say they are in full-blown war
Tigrayan forces say they are in a "full-blown war" with Ethiopia's army as fighting spreads across three regions in the north of the country. The latest clashes involve Tigray, Amhara and Afar, according to the supplied material, marking the most serious escalation since the 2022 peace deal. The Tigray People's Liberation Front has also joined with former rivals to form a new opposition alliance, raising the stakes of the confrontation.The fighters say their aim is to overthrow the government in Addis Ababa, while both the federal authorities and the TPLF accuse each other of breaching the terms of the 2022... [Continue Reading]
Day News Recap: UN tensions rise as Ukraine, Gaza and regional conflicts dominate a crowded global day
World leaders at the United Nations General Assembly in New York traded warnings over Gaza, Ukraine and Iran, with the forum becoming a stage for competing claims, threats and diplomatic manoeuvres. The US and Iran resumed backchannel contacts through mediators, while Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian rejected US pressure and accused Washington and Israel of aggression. đź”— đź”—On the Gaza issue, Benjamin Netanyahu is due to address the UN as scrutiny intensifies over Israel's war and occupation, while Mahmoud Abbas delivered a recorded speech after the US denied him a visa. The US backed Board of Peace also unveiled a $2.45... [Continue Reading]
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Danish intelligence warns Russia could launch limited attack on NATO country within months
Danish intelligence has warned that Russia could carry out a limited military attack against a NATO country in the coming months. The assessment, published on Thursday, said there was a low but growing risk of action against NATO infrastructure supporting Ukraine. It also said Moscow could attempt a limited incursion into a neighbouring country using a small number of troops, potentially operating without insignia.The warning came hours after a fire at a Starlink satellite station in central Poland, which local authorities described as an act of sabotage. Poland's deputy prime minister said the blaze in the Masovian voivodeship had been... [Continue Reading]
NATO says it is ready for Russian hybrid attacks amid rising concern in Europe
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has said the alliance is ready for Russian cyberattacks and other forms of hybrid warfare, as European concern grows over Moscow's tactics. He said NATO has response options in place and urged member states to provide more support for Ukraine. His comments came amid warnings from Danish intelligence that Russia is likely to step up hybrid attacks against Western targets.Rutte said Russia is doing more in the cyber domain and that NATO is prepared to respond. He linked stronger support for Ukraine with sending a signal to Moscow after any hybrid incident or attack. The... [Continue Reading]
Russia accused of using North Korean workers in Alabuga drone production
Russia is being accused of recruiting thousands of North Korean workers to assemble drones at the Alabuga special economic zone in Tatarstan, according to a report cited in the supplied material. The site is described as a key hub for producing Russian versions of Iran's Shahed drone, which are used in attacks on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure. The reporting says the labour scheme is part of a wider effort to sustain Russia's defence production while bypassing sanctions.The material says the UN Security Council's Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team found that between 15,000 and 30,000 North Korean workers were present in Russia... [Continue Reading]
Poland says fire at Starlink station was deliberate sabotage
Poland has said a fire at a Starlink satellite station in central Poland was a deliberate act of sabotage. Deputy Prime Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski said the blaze in Masovian Voivodeship was designed to disable the site and disrupt internet access for several institutions, including the Ukrainian army. The station remains operational, but officials say the incident is being treated as intentional.Gawkowski said the fire broke out on Wednesday night in Wola Krobowska, and that an investigation is under way. He told Polish public broadcaster TVP Info that many indications suggest the attack fits a new Russian doctrine of attack, although... [Continue Reading]
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Noontime News Recap: Pakistan strikes Afghanistan as UN diplomacy, regional tensions and security alerts mount
Pakistan said it carried out air strikes on 10 sites in Afghanistan early on Thursday, saying the action was retaliation for drone attacks on a border post, while Afghan officials reported civilian deaths. The strikes sharply escalated already tense cross border relations. đź”—In Pakistan, authorities also blocked major highways into Islamabad and set up container barriers ahead of a planned Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf march demanding the release of Imran Khan, underlining the political pressure facing the government. đź”—At the United Nations in New York, Venezuela's Delcy Rodriguez used her General Assembly speech to thank Donald Trump after years of... [Continue Reading]
Russian strikes kill eight across Ukraine as air defences respond
Russian attacks across Ukraine killed at least eight people on Thursday, with fatalities reported in both the Kharkiv region and Kyiv. Ukrainian officials said six people were killed and eight wounded in a strike on a farm in northern Kharkiv region, while two more people died in attacks on the capital. The assault also damaged a maternity hospital area in Kyiv, adding to the day's civilian toll.Ukraine's air force said the attack involved hypersonic and ballistic missiles, 282 drones and other weapons. Officials in Kyiv said one of the people killed in the capital was in the car park of... [Continue Reading]
Yemen government forces claim to repel Houthi attacks in Taiz as fighting continues
Yemen's government-aligned forces say they have repelled coordinated Houthi attacks on several fronts in the southwestern governorate of Taiz. The fighting was reported on Thursday and follows renewed clashes in an area that has become increasingly important for control of roads and high ground. According to the reported account, the battles are continuing in the country's southwest, where both sides are competing for strategic positions.Colonel Majid al-Nuzaili, spokesman for the Saudi Arabia-backed government forces, said the Houthis launched the attacks on Wednesday night in an attempt to reach positions on a key road linking the Aden, Lahj and Taiz governorates.... [Continue Reading]
Breakfast News Recap: UN tensions deepen as Russia strikes Kyiv and leaders clash over Gaza, Ukraine and Iran
Russia launched fresh ballistic missile strikes on Kyiv early on Wednesday, killing two people and injuring six, in another attack that damaged buildings across the capital and underlined the continuing pressure on Ukraine as leaders gathered at the United Nations in New York. đź”—Volodymyr Zelenskyy used his UN address to urge sustained economic pressure on Moscow, saying Russia is using fighters from 47 countries in the war, while Ukraine and Russia also intensified their long range drone war over occupied Luhansk far from the front line. đź”— đź”— đź”—The UN General Assembly has become a focal point for the wider... [Continue Reading]
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Ukraine and Russia intensify long-range drone war over occupied Luhansk
Ukraine and Russia are intensifying a long-range drone war that is increasingly shaping the conflict far from the front line. A report from eastern Ukraine describes Ukrainian Fire Point FP-2 drones being prepared for a mission into occupied Luhansk, more than 200 miles away. The account also says Russia has rapidly upgraded its own drone arsenal, including a jet-powered shift that has changed the scale and pace of attacks.The Ukrainian unit involved is the 413 Raid drone regiment, a specialist formation created two years ago and operating FP-2 attack drones since last autumn, according to one of its commanders. The... [Continue Reading]
Australia warns China and the US the Indo-Pacific is not their 'chessboard' as Albanese deepens Ukraine support
In a major foreign policy speech in New York, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is set to say the post-1945 world order is no longer fit for purpose. He will also warn China and the United States that the Indo-Pacific is not a chessboard for global superpowers. The remarks come as he has launched Australia's campaign for a two-year term on the United Nations Security Council.The speech follows Albanese's meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, where the two leaders signed a decade-long security agreement. Australia also announced an additional $60 million in support for Ukraine, adding to its existing assistance... [Continue Reading]
Iran and US trade threats at the UN as backchannel talks continue
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian used his address to the United Nations General Assembly to reject US pressure and accuse Washington and Israel of attacking Iranian civilians and infrastructure. He said Iran would not accept being bullied, but he also left open the possibility of negotiations, saying Tehran was ready for dialogue and diplomacy without accepting the language of force. The speech came as the war between Iran and the United States and Israel entered a new diplomatic phase on the sidelines of the UN meeting in New York.Pezeshkian's remarks followed a threat from US President Donald Trump, who had told... [Continue Reading]
UK military has been jamming foreign satellites to defend itself, BBC told
The British military has been jamming or blocking satellites from other countries in order to defend itself from hostile threats, according to information provided to the BBC. The activity is understood to have been carried out by the RAF using a ground-based system for the past year. A defence source said the system had already been used to deter adversaries.The system is believed to be capable of preventing a hostile nation's satellites from tracking the movement of the UK's nuclear-armed submarines or other sensitive military operations, including those involving special forces. The disclosure comes as the UK unveils a new... [Continue Reading]
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Day News Recap: UN diplomacy intensifies as Iran, Gaza and Xi talks dominate a crowded global agenda
Iran dominated the United Nations General Assembly as President Masoud Pezeshkian addressed the world body, defended Tehran and pushed back against accusations over the war fallout, while Donald Trump escalated his rhetoric and said he faced a big decision on whether to strike Iran. đź”— đź”—Diplomacy continued in parallel, with Iran's foreign minister meeting US envoy Steve Witkoff in the first reported talks between the two sides since the June ceasefire unravelled, and later shuttle talks in New York described as productive and a possible opening. đź”— đź”—The wider UN week also brought warnings about the risks of artificial intelligence,... [Continue Reading]
Finland and Ukraine sign enhanced defence and security cooperation deal
President of Finland Alexander Stubb and President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed an agreement on enhanced defence and security cooperation on Wednesday 23 September in New York. The accord deepens cooperation between Finland and Ukraine and is aimed at strengthening the defence capabilities, industrial cooperation and technological development of both countries. Stubb said Ukraine needs all support in its defence and that the cooperation is mutually beneficial. He said Finland can strengthen its own capabilities by learning from Ukraine's experience. The statement links the deal directly to defence and security cooperation at the presidential level. The agreement enables transfer of... [Continue Reading]
Breakfast News Recap: Trump Iran talks dominate UN week as storms, conflicts and markets move
US and Iranian officials held their first reported talks since the June ceasefire unravelled, with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi meeting US envoy Steve Witkoff on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The discussions came as Washington and Tehran kept diplomacy alive despite rising tensions over sanctions, regional security and the risk of wider conflict. 🔗Donald Trump sharpened the pressure on Tehran at the UN, saying he faced a big decision on whether to strike Iran and warning he could “annihilate” the country if it moved against US interests. He also said American officials had held... [Continue Reading]
Russia quietly modernises bomb shelters in Moscow and St Petersburg
Russia is quietly modernising bomb shelters in Moscow and St Petersburg, with procurement records showing tens of millions of roubles being allocated for repairs that have not been publicly announced. The work comes as Ukrainian drone strikes intensify against Russian territory, adding pressure on civil defence systems in the two largest cities. The procurement data points to a broader effort to restore and adapt shelter infrastructure that in many cases dates back decades.State procurement records show 39 million roubles were allocated in early September to restore nine facilities in three districts of Moscow's South-West administrative region. That area is home... [Continue Reading]
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Lithuania says new rotation of US troops is already on the way
Lithuania says a new rotation of United States troops is already heading to the country, in a move President Gitanas NausÄ—da described as important for deterrence and collective defence. The announcement comes as Lithuania continues to rely on allied military presence along NATO's eastern flank. Officials said the deployment is part of an ongoing rotation rather than a new permanent base.NausÄ—da said he had received confirmation that the new rotation was on its way and thanked the Trump administration for the decision. He said the US military presence in Lithuania is an indispensable part of deterrence and collective defence, and... [Continue Reading]
G7 warns Houthis to stop strikes on Saudi Arabia after attack on Riyadh
G7 leaders have called on Yemen's Houthi movement to stop attacks on Saudi Arabia and civilian shipping, after a renewed escalation that included a strike on Riyadh and reported Saudi strikes on Yemen's Mokha port. In a statement, the leaders urged the Houthis to immediately end military actions and threats against commercial vessels and to return to the political process in good faith. The appeal also came with a call for Iran to end its arming of and support for the group.The statement was issued by the leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United... [Continue Reading]
UK to support Saudi jets as Houthi attacks intensify and Mokha strike kills at least six
The United Kingdom has agreed to provide limited defensive air-to-air refuelling for Saudi jets after a request from Riyadh, as the conflict involving Yemen's Houthis and Saudi Arabia intensifies. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the Royal Air Force would support Saudi aircraft on defensive missions only, and that the arrangement would be time-limited and kept under review. The move comes as the Houthis continue missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia and as fighting in Yemen has widened along the Red Sea coast.Burnham said the decision was taken after advice from the defence secretary and foreign secretary, and that... [Continue Reading]
UK and US test-fire torpedo from uncrewed vessel in AUKUS first
The United Kingdom and the United States have for the first time test-fired a heavyweight torpedo from an uncrewed underwater vessel, in a trial carried out in UK waters last week. The announcement was made by the British government on Monday and described as a major step in autonomous naval technology. Officials said the live firing took place as part of work under AUKUS, the defence partnership linking the UK, the US and Australia.The trial used the British-built 12-metre undersea drone Excalibur, which launched a heavyweight torpedo jointly developed by the US and Australia. The British government said the test... [Continue Reading]
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Lithuania prepares evacuation plans amid Russia threats and drone incursions
Lithuania's prime minister has said the country has evacuation plans in place as it faces what he described as persistent threats from Russia. Mindaugas SinkeviÄŤius said Lithuanians feel constantly threatened and that the country would not surrender if attacked. He also said Lithuania would fight back and engage in the event of an assault.Speaking in an interview, SinkeviÄŤius said the plans cover a variety of scenarios, including moving elderly people out of cities smoothly and avoiding traffic jams. He said some of the preparations are not being discussed publicly in detail. The prime minister linked the security concern to recent... [Continue Reading]
Russia's United Russia wins record Duma supermajority as Kyiv drone strike hits Moscow
Russia's ruling United Russia party has secured a record supermajority in the State Duma, according to preliminary results from the country's tightly controlled parliamentary vote. Central Election Commission chief Ella Pamfilova said the party won 355 of the 450 seats, surpassing its previous high of 343 seats in 2016. The result gives the Kremlin-backed party more than the 301 seats needed to change the constitution.The three-day election excluded parties critical of the Kremlin or the war in Ukraine, and voting also took place in occupied parts of Ukraine, including Crimea and the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions. Pamfilova said... [Continue Reading]
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Russia election results show United Russia set to keep control amid wartime pressure
Preliminary results from Russia's parliamentary election suggest that United Russia, the party backed by President Vladimir Putin, will keep its grip on the State Duma. The outcome was described as unsurprising by a BBC Russia editor following the vote from Moscow. The election took place as Russia continued its war against Ukraine and faced economic hardship at home.The supplied report says the anti-war Yabloko party was removed from the ballot before polling day, although some of its candidates remained in a number of constituencies. That left the ruling party facing a field with limited opposition, reinforcing expectations that it would... [Continue Reading]
Israeli fire kills three in Gaza as toll rises in separate incidents
Gaza health officials said Israeli fire killed three people, including a woman and a child, and wounded several others in separate incidents across the territory. The deaths were reported in Khan Younis in the south, Nuseirat in central Gaza and Jabalia in the north. Medical officials said the wounded were taken to hospitals after the incidents.Officials at Nasser hospital in Khan Younis said the body of an 11-year-old child, Ismail Al-Bardawil, was brought in after Israeli tanks opened fire on tents for displaced people in the Al-Mawasi area. In central Gaza, Al-Awda hospital said 31-year-old Fidaa Toutah died from wounds... [Continue Reading]
Trump says planned Washington arch will also serve as a military complex
US President Donald Trump has said his proposed triumphal arch in Washington, DC, will also function as a military complex. In a social media post on Sunday, he said the structure would be a "top grade military complex" able to house drones, snipers and ammunition storage. The project is planned for a site between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery, across the Potomac River from the capital.Trump said the change was made at the "strong request" of the military and for "national security purposes". He said the facility would "house, store, and have the rapid ability to use large... [Continue Reading]
North Korea may send another wave of troops to fight for Russia, report says
North Korea may be preparing to send a new wave of troops to support Russia's war against Ukraine, according to a report published on Sunday. The report says the possible deployment would mark a renewed and larger role for North Korean forces after earlier involvement in fighting linked to Russia's Kursk region. It also says the issue has returned to the centre of debate after comments from Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelensky.Zelensky said in August that up to 50,000 North Korean troops could be deployed to Russia, revising an earlier estimate of 30,000. The report says this would be a significant... [Continue Reading]
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Germany blames Russia for drone attack at Leipzig/Halle airport amid hybrid-war tensions
Germany has directly blamed Russia for a drone attack at Leipzig/Halle airport, escalating tensions between Berlin and Moscow over what German officials describe as hybrid warfare in Europe. The incident is being linked by German authorities to a broader pattern of pressure tactics that combine military and non-military methods without open conflict. The airport, which has been involved in logistics support for Kyiv, has now become part of a wider security dispute stretching beyond Ukraine.German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said the sending of a drone carrying explosives followed a "well-established pattern of Russian hybrid operations in Europe". The row comes... [Continue Reading]
Russia reports powerful cyberattacks on Moscow voting system as parliamentary vote continues
Russian authorities said Moscow's electronic voting system came under a powerful cyberattack overnight as the country's parliamentary election entered its second day. Ella Pamfilova, who heads the Russian Central Election Commission, said the attack was continuing through the morning and described it as large-scale and intense. She said the system was still operating normally, but gave no details on the nature of the intrusion or who might be behind it.The reported attack comes during a tightly controlled three-day vote for all 450 seats in the State Duma, which is due to run until Sunday evening. Officials have also reported pressure... [Continue Reading]
United States approves $2.68 billion air-defence sale to Ukraine
The United States has approved a proposed $2.68 billion sale of air-defence equipment to Ukraine, according to the State Department. The package is intended to help Kyiv respond to continuing Russian attacks and includes missiles, launchers, radar systems and anti-drone equipment. The sale still needs to be reviewed by Congress before it can proceed.The approval was announced on Friday, 18 September, and comes as Ukraine has repeatedly sought more support for its air-defence network. The State Department said Ukraine requested a range of equipment, including several types of missiles, launchers, anti-drone radar systems and trailers. The value of the package... [Continue Reading]
Russia launches overnight strikes on Ukraine, hits Black Sea vessels
Russia carried out a large overnight barrage of drones and missiles across Ukraine, with officials reporting civilian deaths in the Kharkiv and Kherson regions and damage to infrastructure in several areas. Ukraine's air force said the attack involved 174 drones and two Zircon anti-ship missiles launched overnight. It said air defences intercepted or jammed 141 of the incoming targets, with impacts recorded in 15 locations and debris falling in nine others.In the Kharkiv region, Governor Oleh Syniehubov said attacks across 14 settlements killed five people and injured 15 more. He said the strikes caused heavy destruction in places including Balakliya... [Continue Reading]
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US weighs major troop reduction in Europe amid NATO tensions
The United States is reportedly considering a significant reduction in its military footprint in Europe, with one option said to involve cutting about one-third of the troops stationed there. The discussion comes as senior Pentagon commanders are expected to submit plans to Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth in the coming days. The reported review is linked to wider tensions over access to European airbases and burden-sharing inside NATO.According to the supplied report, the Pentagon is weighing several options as part of a NATO review announced in June. One scenario would withdraw roughly one-third of the estimated 68,000 US troops in Europe,... [Continue Reading]
Russian drones threaten Kyiv-bound officials as border incidents spread near Poland and Moldova
Russian drone activity near Ukraine's western border has intensified concerns for officials travelling to and from Kyiv, after fresh incidents were reported close to Poland and Moldova. The latest developments include a drone strike on a train locomotive near the Polish border, damage to vehicles at a petrol station nearby, and a separate drone entering Moldovan airspace. Together, the incidents underline how the war is spilling beyond the front line and into routes used by diplomats and other international visitors.According to the supplied reports, the train locomotive was hit on 13 September about 5 kilometres from the Polish border, while... [Continue Reading]
Russia votes for new State Duma under shadow of Ukraine war
Millions of people in Russia are voting for a new State Duma, the country's lower house of parliament, in an election taking place under the shadow of the war in Ukraine. Critics say the result is effectively predetermined, while officials have urged turnout as a sign of support for the state. The vote is the first parliamentary election since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.The election comes as the war continues to shape domestic politics and public life. According to the supplied material, rising living costs have added pressure on households, while Ukrainian drones are increasingly targeting oil refineries and... [Continue Reading]
Tehran rally draws hundreds of thousands as Iran unveils new volunteer force
Hundreds of thousands of people have taken part in a government-organised rally in Tehran, where Iran presented a newly formed volunteer force linked to defence and emergency response preparations. Authorities said the mobilisation was part of a broader show of readiness as the country braces for the possibility of conflict. The event took place in downtown Tehran and featured participants in combat uniforms, alongside flags, weapons, drones and anti-aircraft batteries.Iranian authorities said 313,000 people joined the rally in the capital. Tehran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps chief, Hassan Hassanzadeh, said more than 600,000 people had registered for the voluntary Janfada-ye-Iran campaign,... [Continue Reading]
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US moves MQ-9 Reaper drones to South America for anti-cartel operations
The Trump administration has begun transferring MQ-9 Reaper drones to South America to support military operations against drug cartels, according to a report cited on Friday. The aircraft are being moved from Africa to US Southern Command, which is responsible for US military activity in the region. The development points to a new phase in Washington's anti-cartel campaign in the Western Hemisphere.The MQ-9 Reaper is described as a medium-altitude, long-endurance drone with both surveillance and strike capabilities. According to the report, the transfer involves most of the drones that had been operating in Africa, although the exact number being redeployed... [Continue Reading]
Russia votes for a second day in tightly controlled State Duma election amid war and political crackdown
Voting is continuing in Russia's three-day election for the State Duma and regional offices, with the ballot expected to reinforce President Vladimir Putin's political control. The vote runs from 18 to 20 September and comes as Russia's war in Ukraine continues into its fifth year. Only parties that back Putin and the war are on the ballot, while Yabloko, the country's only publicly anti-war party still operating inside Russia, has been barred.The election will fill all 450 seats in the State Duma, along with governorships in 11 federal regions and seats in regional legislatures across 39 federal subjects. Voters are... [Continue Reading]
Russia begins three-day Duma election amid war in Ukraine
Russia has begun a three-day parliamentary election to fill all 450 seats in the State Duma, with voting opening first in eastern regions before spreading across the country. About 111 million people are eligible to take part, according to the supplied report, and polling is also taking place in Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine. The vote is being held in a tightly controlled political environment as the war in Ukraine continues to shape domestic politics.Polling stations opened first in Kamchatka, Chukotka, Magadan and other eastern regions, where local officials urged residents to turn out. The Kremlin is closely watching participation, with... [Continue Reading]
Dubai Property Market Faces Litmus Test as Nakheel Waterfront Investors Await Final Judicial Verdict
Hundreds of international and local investors who purchased land plots in Nakheel’s massive "Waterfront" project nearly two decades ago are holding their breath. Following the official cancellation of the project by the Dubai Land Department and its integration under Dubai Holding, a special judicial committee appointed by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has been tasked with resolving the liquidation and settling investor claims. ​Because the decisions of this specialized committee are legally binding and final, with no avenue for appeal, the upcoming rulings are being viewed as a critical turning point for the regulatory reputation of Dubai's... [Continue Reading]
Fear the Shia, Arm the Sunnis: The Uncomfortable Numbers Behind America’s War Narrative
“When fear is managed carefully enough, a nation can be taught to look away from the blood on the floor and stare instead at the shadow on the wall.” A friend of mine, whose name I will not reveal because he asked me not to, sat across from me over dinner and placed a question on the table that would not leave me alone. He was born into a Muslim Shia background, and for the angle of this article, that detail matters, not because I wish to reduce a man to a sect, but because sect has become one of... [Continue Reading]
GAS, GOD, AND GUNS: The Secret Agenda Behind the Washington Talks and the Death of the Maritime Border
The mahogany tables of the U.S. State Department are hosting a ghost today. As official delegations from Israel and Lebanon convene for a third round of high-stakes negotiations this Friday, May 8, 2026, the air in Washington is thick with the scent of a "peace" that looks increasingly like a strategic ambush. While the world watches the diplomatic theatre, the reality on the ground in Southern Lebanon tells a story of a predatory recalibration. Prime Minister Netanyahu isn’t just looking for a ceasefire; he is aiming to hit three birds with one single, devastating stone: the annexation of land, the... [Continue Reading]
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The Mirage of the Umbrella: The Shifting Sands of the U.S.-Israel-GCC Alliance
As I sat in a recent debate at the historic Carlton Club in London, listening to Faisal Abbas, the Editor-in-Chief of Arab News, I felt a tangible shift in the room, not because a new fact had been revealed, but because an old illusion had finally lost its last breath. The old-world order has not merely changed, it has evaporated, leaving the Gulf to realize it is no longer watching a distant fire from the safety of marble towers and air-conditioned ministries, but is instead standing directly inside the smoke. The GCC today is caught in a lethal crossfire between... [Continue Reading]
The Madness of Power, From Balfour to the Edge of World War Three
A Voice in the Wilderness of War: Who Still Dares to Speak Truth While Empires March There are moments in history when the world suddenly accelerates toward disaster, moments when anyone who has studied history can feel the temperature rising even before the explosions reach their peak. The current escalation in the Middle East is one of those moments. According to the facts we now see unfolding, the United States and Israel made the unilateral decision to attack Iran without the approval of the United Nations, without a global coalition mandate, and without the support of most of the international... [Continue Reading]
WAR CRIMES OR HUMANITY ON LIFE SUPPORT?
The Thin, Bloody Line Between Justice and Jungle Rule IS KILLING WITHOUT MERCY NOW LEGAL? By Anthony Sterling In September 2025, the United States military launched what became known as Operation Southern Spear, a lethal campaign targeting suspected drug smuggling vessels in international waters. The stated objective was to combat narco trafficking networks operating beyond territorial jurisdiction. The ethical shock came on 2 September 2025, when a double strike in the Caribbean left survivors clinging to wreckage for nearly an hour. Drone footage reportedly showed two individuals waving from debris after the first impact. Instead of rescue, three additional munitions... [Continue Reading]
Shadows of Fire: The Long Arc of Iran–United States Tensions
A Region on Edge: The Latest Escalation In recent months, tensions between Iran and the United States have intensified once again, fueled by disputes over regional security, nuclear development, maritime incidents in the Persian Gulf, and the broader strategic balance in the Middle East. Officials in Washington have expressed renewed concern over Iran’s uranium enrichment levels, while leaders in Tehran have accused the United States of economic warfare through sanctions and diplomatic isolation. The fragile equilibrium that followed earlier rounds of indirect negotiations appears increasingly strained, with both sides engaging in sharp rhetoric at the United Nations, reinforcing military postures... [Continue Reading]





