Myanmar junta recruitment quotas drive street abductions in Hpa-An
Young men in Hpa-An, the capital of Myanmar's southern Karen state, are said to be living in fear of being taken off the streets and forced into military service. Local residents say plain-clothed members and supporters of the Myanmar junta have been roaming the city and arbitrarily arresting people in their teens, 20s and 30s. The accounts describe a climate in which many families now keep young men indoors after dark or send them away from the area.A 26-year-old tuk-tuk driver in Hpa-An said he worries every time he goes out to work and that his family repeatedly warns him... [Continue Reading]
Sponsored
Yemeni government forces say they are advancing against Houthis as operation expands
Yemeni government forces say they have continued advancing against the Houthis as part of operation Dawn of Yemen, with the latest claims covering fighting across the country over the past 24 hours. The military of Yemen's internationally recognised government said its ground forces were still moving forward while targeting Houthi positions in multiple areas. It also said the campaign included strikes on ammunition dumps and vehicles used by the armed group.Colonel Majed Abdullah al-Nazili, the government forces spokesman, said at least 1,150 Houthis were killed in almost 2,000 targeted operations nationwide. He said the army destroyed Houthi ammunition stores and... [Continue Reading]
Trump blames Zelenskyy over rising US diesel prices as Russia fuel deal draws backlash
US President Donald Trump has blamed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for rising diesel prices in the United States, sharpening a dispute that links energy costs, sanctions policy and the war in Ukraine. He made the comments after saying he had brokered a new diesel supply deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The remarks have drawn dismay from European allies, who said they remained committed to sanctions on Moscow.Trump said Zelenskyy had not done enough to end the war and suggested Ukraine needed a new president. He also said the Ukrainian leader had "lost 30 per cent" of the country in... [Continue Reading]
US pledges cooperation after Marine-linked murder arrest in Okinawa
A US Marine stationed on Okinawa has been arrested on suspicion of robbing and killing a 39-year-old woman in the Japanese city of Naha. The case has triggered protests and renewed scrutiny of the long-standing US military presence on the island. It has also prompted a month-long curfew for US military personnel stationed there, along with a ban on drinking alcohol while they undergo discipline training.The Marine, identified as Devin Jacob Ballard, is based at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, according to local police. He was arrested on 4 October on suspicion of robbing and murdering Anna Yagi in a... [Continue Reading]
Sponsored
Shipping firms offer huge pay premiums to keep tankers moving through the Strait of Hormuz
Oil tanker captains are being offered as much as US$100,000 a month to keep transiting the Strait of Hormuz, according to industry insiders and maritime unions cited in the supplied material. The incentives come as commercial shipping through the waterway remains hazardous, with recent attacks on tankers and continuing restrictions affecting movement through the chokepoint. Gulf oil producers are also trying to keep exports flowing despite the heightened risk.The material says some seafarers in Asia have been offered double or triple their normal pay, along with additional danger-money bonuses worth tens of thousands of dollars. It also says captains can... [Continue Reading]
Eritrea asks UN to intervene as Ethiopia accuses it of invasion in Tigray standoff
Eritrea has asked the United Nations to take deterrent measures after accusing Ethiopia of declaring war in the escalating standoff over Tigray. The request came after Ethiopia told the Security Council that Eritrean forces had carried out an all-out invasion of northern Ethiopia. The exchange has deepened fears that the fighting could widen beyond the border region.In a letter to the council, Eritrean Foreign Minister Osman Saleh said the claims of an Eritrean incursion were part of an Ethiopian plan to justify a war of aggression. He urged the UN to intervene under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, which... [Continue Reading]
Day News Recap: Deadly strikes in Ukraine, Gaza and Sudan as Trump diesel deal and ICC sanctions stir backlash
Russian glide bombs hit residential buildings in Zaporizhzhia, killing at least 15 people, including three children, as rescue crews continued searching the rubble. Ukraine said the attack came after a diesel deal announced by Donald Trump, linking the strike to wider pressure on Kyiv. đź”— đź”—In a separate diplomatic push, US, Ukrainian and European officials met in Miami to try to shape a common plan to end Russia's war before winter, while Ukraine said its Operation Vivaldi had disrupted a Russian plan to encircle the remaining Ukrainian positions around Lyman in Donbas. đź”— đź”—Donald Trump also announced an agreement with... [Continue Reading]
Thousands detained in New Delhi as police crack down on protest over voter-roll revision
Police in New Delhi detained opposition figures and dispersed protesters on Saturday as authorities tightened security around a demonstration over alleged misconduct in a nationwide voter-roll revision. The protest was organised by the Cockroach Janta Party and other opposition critics, who say the exercise could disenfranchise millions of voters. The movement's leader, Abhijeet Dipke, and two other leaders were detained before arriving in the capital, according to the group.The protest centred on demands for the resignation of the election commissioner and on allegations that the Election Commission of India had acted improperly during the revision. The commission has rejected those... [Continue Reading]
Sponsored
Rubio's Athens speech on ancient Persia draws pushback from Iran
A speech by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Athens has prompted criticism from across Iran's political spectrum. Speaking with the Acropolis as a backdrop, Rubio invoked ancient Persia and the Greco-Persian Wars while arguing that modern Western countries need renewed confidence, industry and military strength. Iranian officials and political figures responded with disdain, according to the supplied material, as the remarks landed amid the wider US-Iran conflict.Rubio said the threats facing Western civilisation today were "every bit as real as they were on the dramatic stage of antiquity". He described the Persian destruction of Athens in 480 BC... [Continue Reading]
Trump Announces Deal With Putin to Release Russian Diesel to Global Market
US President Donald Trump has announced an agreement with Vladimir Putin to release large volumes of Russian diesel into the American and global markets. The announcement, made on Friday and discussed again on Saturday, immediately drew criticism from Ukraine and raised questions about the impact of sanctions on Russian energy exports. According to the statements provided, the deal would begin with an immediate release of 300,000 tonnes of diesel, followed by 500,000 tonnes in November and another 1 million tonnes later.Trump said an additional 3 million tonnes could be delivered in the near term, depending on the operating capacity of... [Continue Reading]
Noontime News Recap: Ukraine war diplomacy intensifies as Zaporizhzhia toll rises and EU gas risk grows
Russian glide bombs struck residential buildings in Zaporizhzhia, killing at least 15 people, including three children, as rescue crews continued searching through the wreckage. đź”—At the same time, US, Ukrainian and European officials met in Miami in a renewed diplomatic push to build a common plan to end Russia's war in Ukraine, with winter approaching and pressure growing for a workable proposal. đź”—In Europe, the EU is warning of possible gas supply shortages in the 2026 to 2027 winter, after storage levels fell to their lowest for this time of year since records began in 2011. đź”—In the United States,... [Continue Reading]
US lifts sanctions on daughter of Myanmar military-linked businessman
The United States has removed Theint Win Htet from its sanctions list, in a move that comes days after reports that the Trump administration has reopened talks with Myanmar's government. The Treasury Department delisted her on Friday, according to its website, after she filed a lawsuit in July seeking to be taken off the list. The decision marks a notable shift in a sanctions case tied to Myanmar's military-linked business networks.Theint Win Htet had been sanctioned because of her connection to the Shwe Byain Phyu Group of Companies, which was founded by her father, Thein Win Zaw, and his family.... [Continue Reading]
Sponsored
Breakfast News Recap: Ukraine, Gaza and ICC tensions dominate as Florida storm weakens
Ukraine and Russia remained at the centre of the day’s diplomacy and fighting. In Miami, United States, Ukrainian and European officials held what Washington called productive talks on proposals to end the war, even as US envoy Steve Witkoff warned of the risk of escalation. Separately, Ukraine said Operation Vivaldi had disrupted a Russian plan to encircle the remaining Ukrainian positions around Lyman, while Yandex said two of its five data centres were hit by Ukrainian drones, disrupting the Russian tech group’s services. 🔗 🔗 🔗Pressure also mounted on international institutions after the United States imposed sanctions on the International... [Continue Reading]
US imposes new sanctions on ICC after Navi Pillay wins Nobel Peace Prize
The Trump administration has imposed new sanctions on the International Criminal Court, hours after South African jurist Navi Pillay won the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize. The move has drawn criticism from legal figures who say it risks undermining the independence of international justice. It also sharpens an already tense dispute between Washington and the court over its work on alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.According to the supplied report, Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued the strongest warning, saying: "Either the ICC will stop its threats, or we will end the ICC." The sanctions were announced after the Nobel... [Continue Reading]
Yemen's Taiz faces renewed siege as Houthi advances cut key roads
Taiz in southwestern Yemen is facing renewed siege conditions after Houthi advances cut vital roads into the city and disrupted access to government-held areas. The development has revived memories of the city's earlier blockade during Yemen's war and raised concern among residents about shortages of food, fuel and other essentials. The city is one of the country's major population centres and has again become a focal point in the conflict.According to the supplied reporting, the Houthis captured territory south of Taiz and severed the main road linking the city to government-controlled areas. The group's push followed an offensive launched in... [Continue Reading]
Hurricane Isaias weakens after Florida landfall as storm surge warnings remain
Hurricane Isaias made landfall on Friday night along Florida's northern Gulf Coast before weakening into a post-tropical cyclone as it moved inland across the southeastern United States. The storm brought heavy rain, strong winds and the continuing risk of life-threatening flash flooding and storm surge. Officials said the system was still expected to affect parts of Florida, Alabama and Georgia as it tracked north.The latest confirmed update said all hurricane warnings had been discontinued by Saturday morning, although a storm surge warning remained in effect for parts of Florida. A tropical storm warning was also in place in Florida and... [Continue Reading]
Sponsored
Flydubai hijack probe widens as UAE says suspect drifted toward extremism in Australia
The United Arab Emirates says the Omani co-pilot accused of trying to seize a Flydubai passenger flight began drifting toward extremism and terrorism while studying in Australia. Officials allege he was attempting to crash the aircraft into Tel Aviv's airport in a suicide attack when passengers intervened and the plane was diverted to Saudi Arabia. The case remains under investigation and is being treated as a serious aviation-security and national-security matter.Attorney-General Hamad Saif al-Shamsi said interrogations suggested signs of extremist intent first emerged in 2017, during the suspect's time in Australia. He said the man was influenced by radical ideology... [Continue Reading]
US sanctions International Criminal Court as Nobel-linked timing draws scrutiny
The United States has imposed sanctions on the International Criminal Court, deepening a dispute that has long pitted Washington against the tribunal. The court condemned the move as an assault on the rule of law and on the foundations of the international legal order. It also urged its 125 member states to defend the institution, saying its fate now rests with the states that created it.Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the measures were intended to stop the court from prosecuting Americans and to cut off its resources. He said the US would ban transactions with what he called a... [Continue Reading]
Israeli drone strike wounds six in Lebanon near Syria border
An Israeli drone strike wounded six people in Lebanon's Hermel district near the Syrian border on Friday, according to Lebanese officials. The attack hit an area that has largely been spared such strikes since a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah was agreed in June. Lebanese authorities said the wounded included five Syrians and one Lebanese national.The Lebanese health ministry said two of the Syrian victims were women. Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reported that the drone strike targeted a car. The Israeli military said it had struck what it called a Syrian militant operating under the direction of the Iranian... [Continue Reading]
Trump announces Russian diesel deal as Zelenskyy and NATO allies react
President Donald Trump has announced a deal under which Russia will immediately supply more than 300,000 tons of diesel to the American and global marketplace, with further deliveries to follow later. The announcement has triggered a sharp response from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who called the move "absolutely terrible" and "not fair and not honest." It has also raised the prospect of a fresh crisis with Washington's NATO allies, given the wider political and security context of Russia's war in Ukraine. Trump said the arrangement followed what he described as a highly successful discussion with Russian President Vladimir Putin.In his... [Continue Reading]
Sponsored
Day News Recap: Global tensions flare from Gaza to Hormuz as markets turn mixed
The biggest escalation came in the Middle East, where Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said it set an oil tanker ablaze in the Strait of Hormuz and warned of wider attacks on vessels it considers hostile, raising fresh fears over shipping through the waterway. 🔗 Saudi Arabia also reopened Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport after a Houthi attack killed three people and injured several others, underlining the spread of regional violence. 🔗In Gaza, a senior United Nations official said life remains “absolutely horrendous” a year after the ceasefire, with the humanitarian crisis still severe. 🔗 Separately, Vladimir Putin said Russia would do... [Continue Reading]
Europe closes mixed as energy spikes, gold firms and crypto sells off, with FTSE 100 outperforming
Executive summary: European equities ended the session under pressure overall, as the DAX, CAC 40 and Euro Stoxx 50 slipped while the FTSE 100 outperformed and closed higher. The move came alongside a sharp jump in Brent crude, a strong rise in natural gas, firmer gold and silver, and a heavy drop in Ether. FX moves were modest, with the euro and sterling both softer against the dollar and USD/JPY edging higher. [Continue Reading]
Wall Street Opens Mixed as Energy, Gold and Banks Outperform While Chips, Crypto and Small Caps Slide
Executive summary: U.S. markets opened with a clear rotation away from growth and risk assets and toward energy, gold and financials. The S&P 500, Dow and Nasdaq were all higher in early trade, but the move was uneven, with semiconductors, small caps, defense and bitcoin-linked assets under pressure. The opening tone points to a market balancing firmer commodity prices, a stronger dollar against the yen, and renewed caution around high-multiple tech and crypto exposure. [Continue Reading]
India artists allege censorship as voter-roll dispute fuels anti-government protests
Artists and satirists in India are accusing the authorities of silencing dissent as online criticism is removed amid growing protests over a controversial voter-roll revision. The dispute has centred on allegations that the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls is disenfranchising voters, while opposition figures and critics demand scrutiny of the election commission's role. The issue has also drawn attention to the removal of satirical content from social media platforms.A stand-up comic, Brijesh Jha, posted a parody video on Instagram on September 29 after saying his name, along with those of his father and sister, had been removed from a... [Continue Reading]
Sponsored
Montenegro detains pro-Kremlin blogger Mikhail Zvinchuk amid destabilisation warnings
Montenegrin police have detained Russian military blogger Mikhail Zvinchuk in the Adriatic resort town of Risan, along with his wife and three other Russians, in a case linked by officials to warnings of destabilisation and hybrid warfare. Zvinchuk is the founder of Rybar, a prominent pro-Kremlin war blog with a large following on Telegram. The detention has drawn attention because it involves a figure long associated with Russian influence operations and online messaging around the war in Ukraine.According to local reporting, the group was detained on Friday by police and security agents on suspicion of spreading Russian influence. Montenegro's prime... [Continue Reading]
USS Abraham Lincoln returns to San Diego after record 265-day deployment
The USS Abraham Lincoln has returned to San Diego Bay after 265 consecutive days at sea, ending a record-long deployment. The aircraft carrier arrived home on Thursday, with sailors reuniting with family members on the pier. Some were seen carrying flowers and balloons as the ship completed its journey back to California.The supplied report says the deployment included support for US military operations against Iran. It also says the carrier was originally sent out from California in November 2025 for duty in the South China Sea before being rerouted to the Middle East. The mission drew attention because of reports... [Continue Reading]
Breakfast News Recap: Ethiopian forces enter Mekelle as global tensions, protests and court rulings mount
Ethiopian federal forces have entered Mekelle, the capital of Tigray, after nearly two weeks of intense fighting, marking a major escalation in the conflict as the advance widens. đź”—In the Middle East and wider security picture, Syria has called for an independent and transparent investigation into the sinking of the Togolese flagged cargo ship Alfa Watan in Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone, while Russia and China blocked a broader UN sanctions push on Sudan even as the Security Council extended the Darfur arms embargo for two months. đź”— đź”—Russia and Ukraine remain at the centre of several separate developments, with Ukrainian... [Continue Reading]
Europe Opens Lower as Oil and Gold Rise, With Ether Extending a Sharp Slide
Executive summary: European equities opened under pressure, with the Euro Stoxx 50, DAX and CAC 40 all lower, while Brent crude and gold advanced. The move points to a market balancing higher energy costs, firmer safe-haven demand and a weaker risk tone in crypto, where Ether fell sharply. FX was comparatively subdued, with the dollar firmer against the yen and slightly softer versus the euro and pound. [Continue Reading]
Sponsored
Brazil Supreme Court issues arrest warrant for Eduardo Bolsonaro weeks before runoff
A Brazilian Supreme Court justice has issued an arrest warrant for Eduardo Bolsonaro, intensifying an already polarised election campaign weeks before the country's runoff vote. The warrant was issued by Justice Alexandre de Moraes on Thursday, according to the supplied report, and is linked to proceedings involving the Bolsonaro family. The move comes as the contest between incumbent Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Flavio Bolsonaro approaches its final stage.The report says Eduardo Bolsonaro was convicted in June on charges of lobbying the United States to interfere in the trial of his father, former President Jair Bolsonaro. It also says... [Continue Reading]
Tokyo and Asia-Pacific close mixed as Nikkei slips, crypto rout deepens and commodities firm
Executive summary: Asia-Pacific markets ended mixed, with Japan and South Korea under pressure while Hong Kong and Australia held gains. Ether’s sharp drop and weaker risk appetite weighed on sentiment, while oil, gold and natural gas all firmed, reinforcing a defensive tone across parts of the market. [Continue Reading]
Sponsored
Russia plans sharp cut to cancer care funding in 2027 draft budget as defence spending rises
Russia's draft federal budget for 2027 proposes a steep reduction in funding for the national cancer programme, according to the supporting material. The programme would fall from 44.9 billion roubles to 3.87 billion roubles if the draft is approved, a cut that would leave only a fraction of current support in place. The proposal comes as defence spending reaches its highest share of the budget since the collapse of the Soviet Union.The figures indicate that federal cancer spending would be reduced far more sharply than in previous years. The programme received 148.5 billion roubles in 2025, meaning the proposed 2027... [Continue Reading]
South Korea recalls ambassador to Ukraine amid North Korean POW disclosure row
South Korea has recalled its ambassador to Ukraine after a dispute over Kyiv's public disclosure of the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war. The move marks a further escalation in a row that has been building since late September and now involves both governments' foreign ministries. Seoul says the disclosure should have remained confidential, while Kyiv rejects that claim.The South Korean foreign ministry said it was recalling ambassador Park Ki-chang and cited what it described as the unauthorised disclosure of information about the handover. It also said the embassy in Kyiv would remain open and that consultations would... [Continue Reading]
Northern Ireland police contact Sinn Fein representatives over protest linked to Orange Order march
Northern Ireland police have contacted Sinn Fein representatives as part of an investigation into protests that blocked an Orange Order parade from marching through Garvaghy Road. The party said a number of its representatives and members had received correspondence from police. The development comes amid continuing tensions over the disputed route in the Catholic area of Portadown.Sinn Fein said it would continue to stand with Garvaghy Road residents, saying they should be able to live in peace and free from sectarian intimidation. The party said it had stood with residents for the past two weeks in the face of provocation... [Continue Reading]
Tokyo Opens Lower as Asia-Pacific Sells Off, With Crypto, Metals and Equities Under Pressure
Executive summary: Tokyo and broader Asia-Pacific markets opened under clear risk-off pressure, led by sharp declines in the Nikkei 225, Hang Seng and Kospi. Ether’s steep drop, weaker industrial metals and firmer oil added to the defensive tone, while gold held a modest gain and the yen was little changed against the dollar. [Continue Reading]
Sponsored
OpenAI shuts down Russian and Iranian ChatGPT influence operations
OpenAI says it has shut down two influence operations linked to Russia and Iran that used ChatGPT to create fake journalist personas and support a false-front think tank promoting anti-Ukraine messaging. The company said the activity was designed to look like legitimate media and policy work while covertly pushing geopolitical narratives. It said the operations relied on AI-generated content and social media activity to widen their reach.According to OpenAI, the Iranian operation used seven profiles posing as Western journalists, including from the United States, to place long-form articles in media outlets around the world. The company said it identified almost... [Continue Reading]
Suspect linked to Monaco bomb attack on millionaire breaks silence from prison
A former Ukrainian security services officer linked to a bomb attack in Monaco in June has given his first on-record account from prison in Kyiv. Vitalii Zhykovych told the BBC that he believed the operation was ordered by senior members of HUR, Ukraine's military intelligence agency. The case centres on an attempted assassination that badly injured businessman Vadym Yermolayev and his 13-year-old son.Zhykovych spoke from prison in Kyiv through his lawyer and described himself as a freelancer for Ukraine's SBU security service. He said Anastasia Berezovska, the woman seen on camera planting the bomb in Monaco, was his agent. He... [Continue Reading]
South Africa anti-migrant protests turn violent in Soweto and Durban
Anti-migrant protests in South Africa turned violent on Thursday in Johannesburg's Soweto township and the coastal city of Durban. Cars were torched, foreign-run businesses were forced to close and looting was reported as police moved to disperse crowds. The unrest came amid anger over a Constitutional Court asylum ruling and government efforts to deal with overcrowding at refugee and asylum offices.Acting National Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane said 10 vehicles were torched in Johannesburg and 14 in Durban. Police also said three people were arrested in Durban. In Soweto, residents were seen carrying groceries out of a shop they... [Continue Reading]
US aircraft losses in Iran war rise to at least 81, CBO says
A Congressional Budget Office report says at least 81 United States military aircraft have been lost or damaged during Operation Epic Fury, the American campaign against Iran. The estimate covers fighter jets and drones and puts the cost of the losses at between $1.9bn and $3.3bn as of August 1. The figures add a new measure of the material cost of the conflict, which is now in its eighth month.The report, released on Monday, is described as a nonpartisan government assessment of budget-related issues for the legislature. It lists 12 F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets, one F-35A Lightning II jet... [Continue Reading]
Sponsored
ICC rules Duterte fit to stand trial in crimes-against-humanity case
Judges at the International Criminal Court have ruled that former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is fit to stand trial on crimes against humanity charges linked to his anti-drugs campaign. The court in The Hague said independent medical experts had concluded that the 81-year-old can understand the evidence and discuss his defence with his lawyers. Judges also denied a request for his release from custody.The ruling means the case against Duterte will continue after his legal team argued that serious memory loss left him unable to absorb new information or reliably recall the past. The court said it was satisfied that... [Continue Reading]
Two Latvian men arrested at RAF Molesworth as counterterrorism probe continues
Counterterrorism police in the United Kingdom are continuing to investigate a security breach at RAF Molesworth in Cambridgeshire after two Latvian men were arrested inside the base. Police said the men, aged 36 and 32, were detained in the early hours of Thursday after a small breach was found in the perimeter fence. A security patrol had earlier spotted an abandoned vehicle near the site, which houses US and NATO intelligence hubs.Officers said the men are being held on suspicion of trespass and entering a prohibited place for a purpose prejudicial to the UK. Both men are Latvian nationals living... [Continue Reading]
Day News Recap: Middle East tensions flare as Ukraine, Europe and markets react
Iran widened pressure on shipping by striking two commercial tankers outside the Strait of Hormuz within 24 hours, while a separate tanker was hit by multiple projectiles off the north coast of Qatar, deepening fears over Gulf trade routes. đź”— đź”—Those attacks fed a broader surge in Middle East risk, with oil and stocks swinging on renewed fears of supply disruption, and the G7 agreeing to release 100 million barrels of oil and diesel from emergency stockpiles over four months to cushion shortages. đź”— đź”—In Yemen and Saudi Arabia, the conflict escalated further as Riyadh said Houthi attacks on two... [Continue Reading]
Siberia plague scare deepens as hospital observation and surveillance widen
A plague scare in the Siberian town of Shelekhov has widened after a woman died last week and local residents were kept under observation in hospital. The case has centred on a 28-year-old laboratory worker, Darya Shipilova, who was reported to have died after falling ill in the same town. Russian authorities have continued to downplay the episode, saying she died of pneumonia of unknown cause and denying any link to her work at the Irkutsk anti-plague institute.People in the town described being kept inside for days while officials monitored contacts and restricted movement in some parts of the community.... [Continue Reading]
Sponsored
Questions over Trump operatives advising Dodik ahead of Bosnia election
Questions have emerged in Bosnia and Herzegovina after a report said two political operatives linked to US President Donald Trump advised Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik ahead of the country's parliamentary election on Sunday. The report said James Blair and Chris LaCivita visited Dodik and were paid hundreds of thousands of dollars for their work. The disclosure has drawn criticism within the Republican Party and renewed attention on Dodik's political and legal position.According to the report, Blair and LaCivita were involved in advising Dodik during the run-up to the vote. Blair currently runs Trump's main fundraising organisation, while LaCivita is... [Continue Reading]
Iran strikes tankers outside Hormuz in signs of expanding campaign
Iran's armed forces struck two commercial tankers outside the Strait of Hormuz within 24 hours this week, in what appeared to be a deliberate widening of attacks beyond the narrow waterway. The incidents took place in waters off Qatar and near Fujairah in the Gulf of Oman, both outside the strait that is central to global energy shipping. The reported attacks have raised concern that maritime insecurity in the region may be spreading into a broader area.The UK Maritime Trade Operations agency said several projectiles hit the oil and chemical tanker Acers, which was flagged in Antigua and Barbuda, 51... [Continue Reading]
Strait of Hormuz shipping slows as tanker bonuses surge amid Iran war
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has fallen to its lowest level since July, according to shipping data cited in the supplied material, even as some tanker captains are being offered unusually large bonuses to take the route. The development points to a widening gap between the strategic importance of the waterway and the willingness of crews to transit it under current conditions. It also suggests that the maritime disruption around the Gulf is now affecting both traffic patterns and labour costs.The supplied material says some captains are earning base salaries of as much as $100,000, plus a $50,000 bonus... [Continue Reading]
Ireland inflation hits highest level since January 2024 as energy costs rise
Ireland's annual inflation rate rose to 4.1% in the year to September, according to the Central Statistics Office, reaching its highest level since January 2024. The increase was driven largely by higher energy costs, with energy products up 15.3% year on year. The latest reading was above the 3.7% annual rise recorded in August and points to renewed pressure on household budgets.The statistics office said the jump in energy prices followed a rise in oil costs linked to conflict in the Middle East. It added that the cost to households for electricity, gas and home-heating oil has risen significantly since... [Continue Reading]
Malaysia says it will back Myanmar's ASEAN reintegration after talks in Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia's prime minister has said his government will do "whatever is possible" to help Myanmar return to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, after hosting talks in Kuala Lumpur with Myanmar's military-backed leader Min Aung Hlaing. The meeting took place during a two-day visit, the first by Min Aung Hlaing to Malaysia since he became president in April. It comes as Malaysia continues to engage directly with Myanmar despite long-running criticism over the country's political and human rights situation.Anwar Ibrahim said Malaysia would work to strengthen cooperation and eventually bring Myanmar back into the regional bloc "without prejudice", according to... [Continue Reading]
Royal Navy serviceman charged over alleged foreign-power espionage as case heads to court
A serving Royal Navy member has been charged in the United Kingdom with offences under the National Security Act after an investigation by counterterrorism police. Teddy Young, 24, is accused of obtaining protected information and preparing to transfer it for the benefit of a foreign power. He is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court later on Thursday.Police said the alleged conduct took place between November 2024 and May 2025. In a statement, authorities said Young is accused of obtaining, copying, recording or retaining protected information with the intention that the conduct would benefit a foreign power, contrary to section... [Continue Reading]
Sponsored
Israel says British consulate in East Jerusalem is ceasing operations as UK rejects closure
Israel says the British consulate in East Jerusalem is ceasing operations, with most diplomats ending their assignments and leaving the country. The announcement came as the United Kingdom said the building itself would remain open and would instead operate as the UK Mission, Jerusalem. The dispute is the latest escalation in a row over British sanctions and trade restrictions linked to Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar said 20 diplomats, including the consul general, were ending their duties, while a small task force of no more than seven diplomats would be allowed to continue with... [Continue Reading]
Breakfast News Recap: Middle East tensions flare as Israel marks 7 October anniversary and oil jumps
Oil prices and global stocks swung as traders reacted to renewed fears of disruption to Middle East supply routes, with crude rising on reports that Iran appeared to be preparing a response and investors watching the risk to shipping and energy flows. 🔗Security concerns widened after UKMTO said a tanker sailing off the north coast of Qatar was struck by multiple projectiles, adding to worries over maritime traffic in the Gulf. 🔗In the region’s wider conflict, Saudi Arabia said Houthi attacks on two airports killed three civilians, including three foreign nationals, and injured 36 people over two days, while Yemeni... [Continue Reading]
Tokyo and Asia-Pacific Close Mixed as Nikkei Extends Gains, Hang Seng and Kospi Slide on Risk-Off Tone
Executive summary: Tokyo finished higher, but the broader Asia-Pacific session was uneven as Hong Kong and Seoul sold off sharply. The Nikkei 225 rose +1.1%, while the Hang Seng fell -3.0% and the Kospi dropped -2.5%. Commodities were split, with WTI crude up +1.3% and natural gas surging +6.1%, while gold, silver, platinum and palladium all weakened. The yen was little changed against the dollar, and the yuan edged firmer. [Continue Reading]
Kenya tightens Ebola screening after first death linked to cross-border travel
The World Health Organization says Kenya is strengthening disease surveillance and introducing more targeted screening at high-risk points of entry after the country reported its first death from Ebola. The case is linked to a patient who first became ill in the Democratic Republic of Congo, then travelled over land through Uganda before flying to Nairobi. The development has raised concern that the outbreak, which began in eastern Congo earlier this year, may be moving further across borders than previously understood.According to the WHO, the patient had been living in the Democratic Republic of Congo and was treated there before... [Continue Reading]
Syrian general Bassam al-Hassan said to be protected in Lebanon amid US-linked arrangement
A former Syrian general wanted for crimes against humanity is being bankrolled and protected in Lebanon under an arrangement involving US and Lebanese authorities, according to a BBC investigation. Bassam al-Hassan, who oversaw Syria's chemical weapons programme and served as a senior adviser to former President Bashar al-Assad, is reported to be staying in Beirut after the collapse of the Assad regime in 2024. The report says the arrangement is linked to intelligence connected with the disappearance of American journalist Austin Tice in Syria in 2012.The investigation, carried out with another US broadcaster, says Hassan has been allowed to remain... [Continue Reading]
Tanker hit by multiple projectiles off Qatar coast, UKMTO says
A tanker sailing off the north coast of Qatar was struck by multiple projectiles on Wednesday, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency. The incident took place about 94 kilometres north of Madinat ash Shamal, within Qatar's exclusive economic zone. UKMTO said casualties were reported and that authorities were investigating the attack.The agency did not say how many people were killed or injured, and it did not identify the vessel or say where it was registered. It also did not give any indication of who may have carried out the attack. Qatar has not publicly commented on the... [Continue Reading]
US sanctions Fijian businessman Zhao Fugang over alleged corruption tied to China
The United States has sanctioned Chinese-Fijian businessman Zhao Fugang over allegations of significant corruption linked to China-based actors. The designation was announced by the US State Department and centres on Zhao's role as director of the Overseas Chinese Service Center in Fiji. According to the statement, Zhao and his immediate family will generally be ineligible to enter the United States.The US said Zhao abused his public position by paying bribes to Fijian citizens in order to advance China-based government, business and criminal interests. It described the action as a corruption designation rather than a criminal charge, but said the allegations... [Continue Reading]
New York appeals court hears Saudi Arabia arguments in 9/11 families lawsuit
A New York appeals court has heard arguments from lawyers for families of 9/11 victims and from Saudi Arabia over whether a long-running lawsuit can move to trial. The case centres on allegations that a Saudi government employee, Omar al-Bayoumi, supported two of the hijackers and had links to officials connected to the Saudi Ministry of Islamic Affairs. The hearing took place as the court considers whether the families have met the legal threshold needed to continue their case.The attacks of 11 September 2001 killed almost 3,000 people after hijackers seized four US passenger jets and crashed them into the... [Continue Reading]
Oil and stocks swing on renewed Iran war fears and Middle East supply concerns
Oil prices moved sharply on Wednesday as traders reacted to renewed fears of disruption to Middle East supply routes. Prices rose after reports that Iran appeared to be stepping up attacks on tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, then fell later in the session after officials signalled that more reserves could be released if needed. The swings also fed through to US financial markets, where stocks weakened and government bond yields climbed to their highest levels in more than two decades.The immediate trigger was a warning cited in the supplied material that tanker attacks in the Strait of Hormuz may... [Continue Reading]
UK and Germany hold Berlin security talks on cyber threats and sabotage
Prime Minister Andy Burnham is due to meet German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin on Thursday for talks focused on cyber-security threats, sabotage and wider cooperation against hybrid attacks. The meeting is Burnham's first official visit to Germany and comes as both governments say they are facing rising pressure from hostile activity. The talks are being framed around efforts to strengthen joint defences against threats linked to Russia.Downing Street said deeper cooperation in response to hybrid threats would be high on the agenda. Intelligence services in both countries have warned of growing risks, and German authorities last month accused Russia... [Continue Reading]
UNIFIL says small arms fire hit border post near Kfar Shouba
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon says one of its positions near Kfar Shouba was hit by several rounds of small arms fire on Wednesday morning. The incident took place along the Blue Line, the UN-drawn border between Lebanon and Israel, and no casualties were reported. UNIFIL said it is investigating what happened.In a statement, the peacekeeping mission said the fire targeted a UNIFIL position and described the attack as deliberate. It said such incidents put peacekeepers at risk, but did not identify who was responsible. The force has not said whether the shots came from the Lebanese side,... [Continue Reading]
Israel marks Oct. 7 anniversary amid renewed strikes on Gaza
Israel marked the third anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attack on Wednesday with memorial events at sites linked to the assault, while new strikes were reported in Gaza during the commemorations. Families gathered at the Nova music festival site and at Kfar Aza kibbutz, both places associated with the 2023 killings. The anniversary unfolded as political debate intensified ahead of elections, keeping the attack at the centre of public life.At the Nova site, relatives bowed their heads in silence at the time the attack began, 6:29 a.m. local time, while one mourner played techno music in tribute to those... [Continue Reading]
Trump distances himself from advisers reported to have worked for Republika Srpska government
Donald Trump has distanced himself from two senior political advisers after reports that they worked for the government of Republika Srpska, an autonomous entity in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In a post on Truth Social, the US president said Chris LaCivita and James Blair were "outside consultants" and said he did not know who else they worked for. He added that he would ask whether there was a conflict and would terminate them immediately if there was one.The comments followed reporting that the pair travelled to Republika Srpska over the weekend to assist the government ahead of elections. According to the... [Continue Reading]
Israel marks third anniversary of 7 October attack with memorial events and protests
Israel has marked the third anniversary of the Hamas-led 7 October attack with memorial events across the country, as families gathered to honour the dead and protesters renewed calls for an independent inquiry into security failures. The commemorations came on Wednesday at sites linked to the assault, including the Nova music festival memorial near Kibbutz Re'im and Dizengoff Square in Tel Aviv. The day was described by relatives and survivors as one of remembrance, grief and continuing political tension.At the Nova memorial, bereaved families and survivors gathered to remember the 378 people killed at the festival and the 44 taken... [Continue Reading]
Ultra-Orthodox rabbi's anti-Zionist remarks reignite Israel election row over conscription
A senior ultra-Orthodox rabbi's anti-Zionist remarks have returned to the centre of Israel's election campaign, intensifying debate over military service exemptions and the role of ultra-Orthodox parties in politics. The comments by Rabbi Dov Lando, the 96-year-old spiritual leader of Degel HaTorah, were broadcast in footage shown on Monday and have triggered a fresh political storm three weeks before the October 27 parliamentary election. They were made during a closed meeting at his home in Bnei Brak, a city closely associated with Israel's ultra-Orthodox community.In the footage, Lando said Jews may have been better off without a state and argued... [Continue Reading]
Germany orders pre-trial detention for former spy chief in espionage probe
A German court has ordered the pre-trial detention of former foreign intelligence chief August Hanning after his arrest on suspicion of treason and espionage on behalf of a foreign state. The decision came a day after prosecutors said he was detained in connection with allegations that he bought secret documents from a former colleague and used them to advise a foreign intelligence service. The case has drawn intense attention in Berlin because Hanning once led Germany's foreign intelligence service, the BND, from 1998 to 2005.Prosecutors say Hanning, 80, is accused of receiving about 2,000 documents from a former BND employee... [Continue Reading]
Mali junta retakes Kidal after separatist withdrawal, marking symbolic gain
Malian forces have entered the strategic northern city of Kidal after Tuareg separatists announced their withdrawal as the army advanced. The move gives Mali's junta a symbolic gain in one of the country's most contested areas. It also marks a reversal in control of a city that separatists had held for about five months.According to the latest confirmed account, the separatists pulled back earlier on Tuesday before the army moved into the city. The development came after late-April attacks by JNIM-linked jihadists and separatist allies had weakened the junta's position in the north. The advance is being described as a... [Continue Reading]
Iran parliament approves penalties for interviews with hostile foreign media
Iran's parliament has voted to criminalise interviews and participation with media outlets designated as hostile by the Intelligence Ministry. The vote took place on Tuesday and passed by 174 votes to six, according to the supporting material. The measure is part of a wider bill on countering the penetration of intelligence services and foreign governments or entities.The approved article bans Iranian nationals from giving interviews to, or taking part in discussions with, outlets that are either designated hostile or are owned, managed or funded by operatives linked to countries classed as adversaries of the Islamic Republic. It also sets out... [Continue Reading]
Russia faces pressure over reported second plague case in Siberia
The World Health Organization and Western governments are pressing Russia for clearer information after reports emerged of a second suspected plague case linked to a research institute in Siberia. The case centres on the death of a laboratory technician in the Irkutsk region last week, which has raised questions about possible exposure at the facility. Russian officials have rejected much of the reporting as false and say the cause of death has not been confirmed.WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Wednesday that Moscow should clarify media reports of a second employee with pneumonia of undetermined cause. The United States... [Continue Reading]
Okinawa governor presses Tokyo after US Marine arrest in killing of local woman
Okinawa's governor has urged Japan's central government to take stronger action after a US Marine was arrested on suspicion of killing a local woman on the southern island. The case has renewed attention on long-running tensions over the heavy US military presence in Okinawa. It also prompted an immediate response from the US military, which announced temporary restrictions on troops.Devin Jacob Ballard, 20, who is stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, was arrested over the weekend on suspicion of strangling Anna Yagi, 39, at a hotel and stealing her wallet and backpack. Japanese media reported that Ballard has denied... [Continue Reading]
Kosovo elects Justina Shiroka Pula president amid protests and political crisis
Kosovo's parliament has elected Justina Shiroka Pula as president, easing a political crisis that had been building around protests and a looming constitutional deadline. Lawmakers chose her in the first minutes of Wednesday, after ruling and opposition parties reached a compromise on her candidacy. The vote came as demonstrations continued over convictions of former Kosovo Liberation Army leaders and concerns grew that failure to elect a president could trigger early parliamentary elections.Pula secured 81 votes, one more than the two-thirds threshold of 80 required for election. The agreement that made the vote possible involved the Vetevendosje Movement and the Democratic... [Continue Reading]
India central bank raises repo rate for first time since 2023 as inflation pressures build
India's central bank has raised its benchmark repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.5%, in its first increase in nearly four years. The Reserve Bank of India said the move was aimed at containing inflation as the economy faces a mix of weather-related disruptions, volatile oil prices and wider geopolitical uncertainty. The decision is likely to affect borrowing costs for households and businesses, including car, home and personal loans.Governor Sanjay Malhotra said the central bank could either raise rates further or leave them unchanged, but cuts were "off the table for now". He said the decision reflected challenging geopolitical... [Continue Reading]
Hardline Iranian MPs move to impeach foreign minister over UN talks
Hardline lawmakers in Iran have filed a motion to impeach Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi over his talks with US special envoy Steve Witkoff on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York last month. The move has exposed a public split inside the Islamic Republic over whether to pursue negotiations with Washington. Parliamentary officials said the request has been registered, but it has not yet been referred for further consideration or placed on the agenda.The motion centres on a meeting held on 22 September, which the lawmakers behind it say took place without authorisation from Iran's top... [Continue Reading]
Russia asks Vietnam for aircraft wet lease as grounded fleet deteriorates
Russia has asked Vietnam to lease passenger aircraft with crews and maintenance support as its re-registered Western fleet continues to deteriorate. Transport Minister Andrei Nikitin said Moscow had proposed that Vietnamese carriers transfer aircraft to Russian airlines under a wet lease arrangement, and that Hanoi was studying the request. The proposal comes as nearly a fifth of the largest Russian airlines' planes are grounded.The request is tied to the strain on Russia's commercial aviation sector after sanctions imposed following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Moscow passed a law that year allowing airlines to re-register more than 400... [Continue Reading]
Has Russia's fuel crisis given Iranian oil an opening in Central Asia?
Iran's oil exports have struggled under a US blockade, but a Russian fuel crisis caused by Ukrainian attacks on energy infrastructure may be creating a new opening in Central Asia. Countries in the region have begun buying oil from Iran as Russian fuel supplies they have long depended on run short. The shift is emerging as Moscow faces mounting pressure from drone strikes on refineries linked to its war in Ukraine.In August, Tajikistan said it was receiving oil and petroleum products from Iran as Dushanbe faced uncertainty over supplies from Russia. Also in August, Tehran agreed to establish a joint... [Continue Reading]
New Zealand probes alleged flydubai hijacker's flight training history
New Zealand police have opened an investigation into the background of the flydubai co-pilot accused of trying to hijack an Israel-bound flight, after confirming he spent 175 days in the country for flight training. The move adds a new country to the widening international inquiry into Hamam al-Hammami, an Omani national, following the alleged mid-air attack on 30 September. The flight was carrying 182 people when passengers and crew intervened to stop the incident.Police assistant commissioner Michael Johnson said the man was in New Zealand on a student visa from 30 November 2018 to 23 May 2019. He said police... [Continue Reading]
Australia High Court blocks Mount Pleasant coal mine expansion as climate ruling deepens
Australia's High Court has ruled against the planned expansion of the Mount Pleasant coal mine in New South Wales, in a decision campaigners say could shape future fossil-fuel approvals. Three of the court's five judges found that planning authorities had not ensured greenhouse-gas emissions would be minimised to the greatest extent practicable. The ruling concerns a major coal project in the Hunter Valley, one of Australia's key mining regions.The case was brought by retired science teachers Wendy Wales and Tony Lonergan, who have campaigned for years against the expansion. They described the judgment as the first climate case to reach... [Continue Reading]
Russia plague case under close US monitoring as hospital quarantine continues in Irkutsk
The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it is aware of and closely monitoring a suspected pneumonic plague case in Russia, after the unexplained death of a 28-year-old laboratory worker in Siberia. Russian authorities have quarantined a hospital in the Irkutsk region and are tracing the woman's contacts. Local media reports also say nearly 200 people have been placed under medical observation.The CDC said the reported case remains unconfirmed, but stressed that plague is a serious bacterial disease that can be treated with antibiotics if recognised early. It said rapid identification and treatment of infected people are... [Continue Reading]
Anduril to invest $3.7bn in Maryland shipyard after securing $2.9bn US Navy submarine parts contract
Defence technology firm Anduril has said it will invest $3.7bn to develop a new shipyard in Maryland and build critical components for the United States Navy's Virginia-class submarines. The company also said it has secured a $2.9bn US Navy contract to manufacture submarine parts. The project, known as Arsenal-2, is part of a wider push to expand US naval production capacity.The new facility is planned for Baltimore, Maryland, and is expected to make torpedo tubes and larger hull components for upgraded Virginia-class fast attack submarines. Anduril said the plant will support the Navy's submarine production needs as Washington seeks to... [Continue Reading]
Three Iranian men go on trial in London over alleged spying on journalists and attack plot
Three Iranian men have gone on trial in London accused of spying for Iran on UK-based journalists and preparing an attack on dissident media figures. The case is being heard at Woolwich Crown Court and centres on alleged surveillance of staff linked to Iran International, a London-based Persian-language channel critical of the government in Tehran. Prosecutors say the men's actions were part of conduct likely to assist Iran's foreign intelligence service.The defendants are Mostafa Sepahvand, 41, Farhad Javadi Manesh, 46, and Shapoor Qalehali Khani Noori, 57. They are charged under Britain's National Security Act with offences said to have taken... [Continue Reading]
UK counter-terror probe widens after seventh arrest linked to RAF Fairford
Police have arrested a 22-year-old British man on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts in connection with the investigation around RAF Fairford, extending a live counter-terrorism inquiry linked to the Gloucestershire airbase. The arrest is the seventh connected to the case, which began after activity near the base on 27 September and has remained largely unexplained. Counter Terrorism Police said the latest detention is part of an ongoing effort to examine the circumstances surrounding events close to the site.Senior national coordinator Vicki Evans said the investigation remains live and that specialist teams are pursuing multiple lines of enquiry. Earlier in the... [Continue Reading]
Russian oil tanker explodes off Sochi, sending smoke over Black Sea coast
A Russian oil tanker has exploded off the coast of Sochi, with smoke visible for miles over the Black Sea holiday resort. The incident was reported on Tuesday night, according to the supplied material, but no cause was given. Ukraine had not claimed responsibility at the time of reporting.The explosion comes as Ukraine's president announced new sanctions packages targeting the supply of critical components and equipment used in weapons production to Russia. The same briefing also included details on electronic warfare systems intended to help protect infrastructure. The supplied material says the president described this part of the defence effort... [Continue Reading]
Russia responds as questions continue over Siberian plague lab death
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has again urged people not to "listen to various rumours" after the death of a laboratory technician at a plague research centre in Siberia. He said the public should rely only on information from Russia's public health watchdog, which has given the official cause of death as pneumonia of unknown origin. The comments came as Russian officials continued to face questions over the case and its handling.The latest remarks follow renewed attention on the death at the anti-plague institute in Siberia, which has prompted concern because of the sensitive nature of the work carried out there.... [Continue Reading]
Ireland to reduce carbon tax on home heating oil and gas
Ireland's finance minister has said the carbon tax on home heating oil and gas will be reduced, with no further increase planned for the rest of the current government's term. Simon Harris said the change applies to kerosene and natural gas, which he said have become a heavy burden for many families facing higher heating costs and limited alternatives. He said the decision was being taken in response to those pressures, adding that the government could not fully absorb the impact of the Middle East conflict.The current rate on both fuels is €63.50 per tonne of carbon dioxide, and it... [Continue Reading]
Pakistan and Turkiye move to support Saudi deterrence against Houthis as pact takes effect
The defence arrangement between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkiye has now been activated, with the three countries agreeing to move agreed forces and capabilities into Saudi Arabia. The decision was taken at an emergency meeting in Riyadh on Monday, according to a joint statement shared by Pakistan's Foreign Office. The statement said the committee had decided to begin practical implementation of collective-defence commitments and to ensure rapid deployment in line with approved arrangements and national legislation.The latest reporting adds that the pact, signed in August and sometimes referred to as the Mecca pact, is now in force for the first... [Continue Reading]
Lithuania moves to lift ban on storing nuclear weapons as Russia warns of retaliation
Lithuania's parliament has taken a preliminary step toward suspending a ban on storing nuclear weapons on its territory, in a move that has drawn a sharp warning from Russia. Lawmakers in the Seimas backed the proposal on Tuesday in Vilnius, but the change is not yet final. A second vote is scheduled for 12 January, and only then could the constitutional prohibition be removed.The measure passed with 106 votes in favour out of 141 possible, according to the parliamentary tally. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said in July that political parties had agreed on a plan to suspend the ban, describing... [Continue Reading]
Massive drone attack on Moscow region kills two as damage reports widen
Russian officials said the overnight Ukrainian drone assault on Moscow and nearby areas involved 290 drones targeting the capital region, while Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said 650 drones were heading towards the city. The attack killed two people and injured seven, according to regional governor Andrei Vorobyov, who said the dead were in Radumlya and Barbybino. Officials also said 47 houses, four apartments and three cars were damaged, and a warehouse fire was reported in the capital.Vorobyov said 185 drones were "destroyed or neutralised" over the wider Moscow region, while Sobyanin said most of the drones aimed at the city... [Continue Reading]
United States and China negotiate mutual visits to nuclear facilities
The United States and China are negotiating reciprocal visits to each other's nuclear facilities, according to reporting cited by US officials. The talks were revealed on Tuesday and come days after Xi Jinping's visit to the White House. They also come amid renewed concern about a possible new nuclear arms race between major powers.The reported discussions were disclosed by officials in the US government, according to the account. No details were given on which facilities could be included, how the visits would be arranged, or whether a timetable has been set. The reporting links the talks to recent diplomacy between... [Continue Reading]
Russian drone attacks disrupt Ukraine rail network as evacuations rise
Russian drone attacks are increasingly disrupting Ukraine's passenger rail network, forcing evacuations, delaying journeys and adding pressure to a transport system that has remained central to the country's wartime resilience. The state-owned operator says more than half of all strikes on locomotives since Russia's full-scale invasion began in 2022 have taken place this year. The latest reporting points to a widening pattern of attacks on rail infrastructure and other transport links, including recent strikes on bridges in Kyiv.The operator said 5,831 trains were evacuated in September alone because of Russian drone attacks, an average of 205 trains a day. One... [Continue Reading]
Police clash with Kosovo protesters over bid to curb Hague war crimes court as unrest continues in Pristina
Police in Kosovo used tear gas and water cannon as protesters clashed with officers outside parliament in Pristina on Monday, after lawmakers advanced amendments aimed at limiting the powers of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers. The unrest also spread around government buildings, where demonstrators blocked exits in an effort to stop lawmakers from leaving. Fires were reported in the streets, and several people were detained during the confrontation.The latest violence followed parliament's first reading of the proposed changes, which still require a second reading and final approval. According to the supporting report, the amendments would cap prison sentences at 15 years,... [Continue Reading]
Nigeria mourns as 32 killed in military plane crash in Ondo State
President Bola Tinubu has declared three days of national mourning after a Nigerian military aircraft crashed in southern Ondo State, killing 32 people. The plane came down near a naval base in Igbokoda on Monday morning after disappearing from radio contact on a routine flight from Benin City to Lagos. Authorities said the aircraft was an ATR-42 and that smoke was seen rising from the crash site near a swampy area.Tinubu said the dead included 25 passengers and seven crew members, and he ordered flags to be flown at half-mast across the country. He also directed the Air Force to... [Continue Reading]
Tigray fighting deepens as forced recruitment claims emerge
Renewed fighting in Ethiopia's northern Tigray region has intensified, with witnesses describing forced recruitment of men and boys as the conflict spreads. The latest reports say civilians have been rounded up on streets by armed groups linked to the Tigray conflict, adding to fears of a fresh humanitarian crisis. The violence began again on 23 September after months of rising tension and has further destabilised a region already scarred by years of war.According to the reports, the renewed clashes have shattered the Pretoria peace agreement signed in November 2022 between Ethiopia's federal government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front, which... [Continue Reading]
Australian Army soldier dies in Mount Bundey training exercise, five others injured
An Australian Army soldier has died and five others have been injured during a training exercise at Mount Bundey, south-east of Darwin. The Department of Defence said the incident happened yesterday and confirmed that next of kin have been notified. No further details about the circumstances of the training accident have been released.The Defence Department asked for the privacy of Defence members and their families to be respected while the matter is dealt with. It did not say how the injuries occurred or provide information on the condition of those hurt. The training area at Mount Bundey is used by... [Continue Reading]
US monitoring suspected plague case in Siberia as Russian officials report no wider spread
US officials said they were continuing to watch the death of a Russian laboratory technician at a plague research centre in Siberia, after new details emerged from Russian authorities. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington was monitoring the case closely, while President Donald Trump said the US had not discussed it with the Kremlin but would help if needed. The comments came as Russian officials repeated that they had found no sign of an emergency at the institute.Irkutsk governor Igor Kobzev said the woman's cause of death had been listed as pneumonia of undetermined etiology and that no micro-organisms... [Continue Reading]
UAE says FlyDubai copilot tried to seize control of flight to Tel Aviv
The United Arab Emirates says it is investigating a serious incident on a FlyDubai passenger flight that was heading from Dubai to Tel Aviv. According to officials, the copilot allegedly attacked the captain with an emergency axe and tried to take control of the aircraft. The plane was carrying more than 170 passengers and crew when the incident took place on Wednesday.Officials said passengers and crew managed to restrain the copilot before the situation escalated further. A reserve pilot who was on board then took control and landed the aircraft at Tabuk airport in north-west Saudi Arabia, where the copilot... [Continue Reading]
Pentagon stops using Anthropic AI tools after national-security review
The US Department of Defense has stopped using Anthropic's AI tools, according to an official statement cited in a current report. The move comes months after the company was designated a supply-chain risk on national security grounds. It also follows a period in which the Pentagon had still been using the tools for research, analysis, intelligence gathering and military operations.A department official said the Pentagon has "ceased the use of Anthropic products". Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth labelled Anthropic a supply-chain risk in February and said the department would stop using it by late August. People familiar with the matter said... [Continue Reading]
Dozens quarantined in Siberia after plague-related death at research institute
Authorities in Russia's Irkutsk region have quarantined dozens of people after the death of a laboratory worker at an anti-plague research institute in Siberia. The case has prompted an official inspection and renewed public concern about a disease that remains present in parts of the region. Officials said the situation was under control, while local media identified the woman as Darya Shipilova, an employee at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute of Siberia and the Far East.Regional governor Igor Kobzev said a special expert commission had found that the cause of death was pneumonia of undetermined origin. He added that the... [Continue Reading]
Russia keeps quarantine in place after plague scare in Irkutsk region
Russian authorities have kept quarantine restrictions in place across parts of the Irkutsk region after saying a laboratory assistant who died last week did not have plague. The case is centred on the anti-plague institute in Irkutsk and on nearby hospitals, where containment measures remain in force while testing continues. Officials say the public health situation is stable, but the investigation has not yet fully ended.Rospotrebnadzor, Russia's national health watchdog, said tests of biological material from Daria Shipilova found no microorganisms linked to her professional activity and no accidents involving pathogenic micro-organisms had been detected at the institute. Irkutsk governor... [Continue Reading]
Germany intelligence chief warns of possible violent conflict with Russia amid shadow war concerns
Germany's foreign intelligence chief has warned that the country could be drawn into a violent conflict with Russia as tensions rise over what he described as a shadow war against European democracies. Martin Jaeger, who heads the Bundesnachrichtendienst, said the confrontation with Moscow had taken on a new and more dangerous dimension. He made the remarks during the annual public hearing of intelligence chiefs in parliament.Jaeger said the threat of attacks on targets in Germany remained real and imminent. He pointed to the attempted drone attack at Leipzig Airport in August as one example of the risks facing the country.... [Continue Reading]
Iran oil transit speculation grows as exports through Hormuz stay elevated
A new report has added to speculation over how oil continues to move through the Strait of Hormuz despite persistent security risks. Provisional data from maritime tracking firm Kpler suggests crude exports from the wider Middle East exceeded pre-war levels on four days in the final week of September, reaching between 19.5 million and 22.5 million barrels per day. The figures come as analysts continue to weigh whether the flow of tankers is being sustained by military escort, ship-to-ship transfers, or some form of payment to secure passage.The latest discussion was prompted by comments from Michelle Brohard, Kpler's head of... [Continue Reading]
US Marine arrest in Okinawa killing sparks protests as Japan presses Washington
Protests have continued in Okinawa and Tokyo after the arrest of a 20-year-old US Marine in connection with the killing of a 39-year-old woman in Naha. Japanese police said the suspect was sent to prosecutors on Monday after being arrested on Sunday, and he has denied the charge. The case has intensified public anger in Japan and renewed scrutiny of the conduct of US military personnel stationed in the country.Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told lawmakers that the killing was a "heinous crime" and urged the United States to "thoroughly enforce discipline" among its forces. Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said... [Continue Reading]
Nicaragua says it will withdraw from Central American Parliament amid renewed rights criticism
Nicaragua has announced that it will immediately withdraw from the Central American Parliament, a regional body made up of six countries. The government said the move was being taken in the "full exercise of its sovereignty". The decision comes as President Daniel Ortega and co-president Rosario Murillo continue to tighten their control over the country's political system.The Foreign Ministry said on Saturday that the exit would take effect at once. The announcement followed a resolution passed on Friday by the Organization of American States, which called on Nicaragua to restore civil rights and release political prisoners. The government did not... [Continue Reading]
Japan moves to build new centralised spy agency amid regional tensions
Japan is moving ahead with plans to create a new centralised intelligence agency, in what would be the country's first such body since World War II. The proposal comes as Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae says stronger intelligence capabilities are urgently needed amid rising regional tensions. The move is being framed in Tokyo as part of a broader effort to respond to foreign interference, cyber threats and disinformation.Takaichi has described strengthening intelligence capabilities as "a matter of the utmost urgency", citing geopolitical shifts across the region. She has also raised concerns about the unauthorised leakage of advanced technology involving foreign intelligence... [Continue Reading]
Latvia's United List wins parliamentary election as populists gain ground
Latvia's centre-right United List has won the country's parliamentary election, according to preliminary results released after almost all votes were counted. The party led with 35.4% of the vote and secured 42 seats in the 100-seat parliament, a record for the post-independence era. The result points to a continued pro-European and pro-Ukrainian course for the Baltic state, which borders Russia and has made security a central political issue.Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs, who took office in May, said the outcome was stronger than expected and in line with exit polls. He said the result showed that people wanted change and linked... [Continue Reading]
Iran says Strait of Hormuz will stay closed until US meets conditions
Iran's parliament speaker has said the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the United States accepts Tehran's conditions, sharpening an already tense dispute over one of the world's most important energy routes. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said the waterway would not reopen until Iran's seven conditions, which he linked to the Islamabad memorandum, are met. He also said Washington had sent proposals through a mediator after responding to Iran's diplomatic offer.Ghalibaf said the era of "wasting time and dictating unilateral demands" was over, and insisted Iran's position was "clear and definite". He added that Iran was "present on the military... [Continue Reading]
Latvian PM Andris Kulbergs wins parliamentary election and faces coalition talks
Latvia's Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs has won the country's parliamentary election, with his centre-right United List emerging as the largest party and securing 42 of the 100 seats in parliament. He now has to assemble a new coalition to continue governing. The result gives his pro-European and pro-Ukrainian camp a strong position, but it does not by itself provide a majority.Mr Kulbergs said the margin of victory was wider than he had expected after exit polls pointed to a strong showing for his party. He said the result showed that people wanted change, and linked that to economic growth and... [Continue Reading]
North Korea says missile test was designed to evade defences as tensions with South Korea rise
North Korea said it test-fired an intermediate-range ballistic missile from the eastern coastal Wonsan area, describing the launch as a demonstration of a weapon it says can manoeuvre in flight to evade missile defences. The announcement came as tensions with South Korea remained elevated over landmine explosions near the border. South Korean and Japanese authorities both tracked the launch, which was reported on Saturday morning.Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, said he oversaw the test and called the missile "strategic", a term that suggests it is intended to carry nuclear warheads. She also claimed... [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]




