Syria's Roj camp detainees report worsening raids, extortion and violence
Women and children held at Roj camp in northeastern Syria say conditions have deteriorated sharply, with reports of night raids, gunfire, extortion and assaults by camp security. The camp holds more than 2,300 women and children, many detained over alleged links to ISIL. Detainees and rights groups describe the site as a place of open-ended detention behind guarded fences and barbed wire.According to accounts gathered from detainees, the violence has intensified in recent months. One woman said bullets could pass through her family's tent when shooting starts, while others described guards throwing stones and a boy suffering a serious head... [Continue Reading]
Sponsored
Russian voters abroad back New People over United Russia by wide margin
Russian citizens voting at embassies and consulates abroad have backed the liberal New People party over United Russia by a wide margin in exit polls conducted during the weekend State Duma elections. The overseas results sharply diverge from the official domestic tally reported inside Russia, where United Russia won nearly 58% of the vote. The polling covered stations in multiple countries and suggests a markedly different political picture among voters outside the country.Two independent exit polls produced similar findings. The Vote Abroad project said it surveyed almost 15,700 voters at 27 polling stations across 22 countries and found New People... [Continue Reading]
China announces Xi state visit to the United States, cites summit on key bilateral issues
China has announced that President Xi Jinping will soon make a state visit to the United States at the invitation of President Donald J. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said the visit will include in-depth exchanges of views between Xi and Trump on major issues concerning bilateral ties as well as world peace and development. Guo described head-of-state diplomacy as irreplaceable in providing strategic guidance to China-U.S. relations. He said the exchange of visits by the two presidents within half a year will be a milestone of historic significance. According to Guo, China will work with the United States to... [Continue Reading]
Russia's ruling party wins record Duma majority as war veterans enter parliament
United Russia says 49 veterans of the war against Ukraine have won seats in Russia's new State Duma, as the ruling party secured a record 355 of the 450 seats in the lower house. The figures were released after the first parliamentary election held since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The result leaves the legislature even more closely aligned with the Kremlin than before.The party's general secretary, Vladimir Yakushev, initially said 86 participants in what Moscow calls its "special military operation" would be elected, before later correcting the number to 49. United Russia's tally gives it a larger... [Continue Reading]
Sponsored
Merz meets CDU leaders in Berlin after fresh election defeats deepen pressure
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz held an early meeting in Berlin with senior Christian Democratic Union leaders on Monday as he tried to steady his party after a series of damaging state-election defeats. The talks came after the CDU suffered losses in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, adding to pressure on Merz's leadership and the standing of his coalition government. The results have intensified debate inside the party over strategy, direction and how to respond to the rise of rivals on both the far right and the left.The most severe setback came in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, where the CDU was ousted from the... [Continue Reading]
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]
North Korea fires two short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea, prompting protest
North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles from the Wonsan area into the East Sea on Sunday, according to South Korean and Japanese authorities. The launches came in two waves, with the first detected at about 3pm local time and the second at around 5:50pm. Japan said it lodged a stern protest over the tests, while South Korea said it was tracking the launches with the United States and Japan.South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said the first missile travelled about 450 kilometres, while the second flew more than 600 kilometres. The military said the exact specifications of the second... [Continue Reading]
AfD surges in German state elections as Merz faces pressure after exit polls
Exit polls from Sunday's state elections in Germany have strengthened the far-right Alternative for Germany, with the party projected to win 37% in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and to make gains in Berlin. The results, if confirmed, would mark a major setback for Chancellor Friedrich Merz and his Christian Democratic Union, which is facing what would be its worst state-election result since 1949. Merz described the outcome as a "disaster" and said he would continue as chancellor despite speculation that the poor showing could force him to resign.The latest figures also underline the scale of the AfD's advance in eastern Germany and... [Continue Reading]
Sponsored
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]
Far-right anti-immigration protest in The Hague turns violent as arrests rise
Dutch riot police dispersed several hundred far-right protesters in The Hague after violence broke out at a planned anti-immigration march in the city centre. Local authorities banned the march and ordered the crowd to disperse after fireworks and other projectiles were thrown at officers. Police also used pepper spray and a water cannon as they moved to restore order around the Malieveld park.The Dutch public broadcaster reported that 24 people were arrested, with detentions linked to offences including failing to comply with the dispersal order and illegally possessing weapons. Justice minister David van Weel called for an extremely firm response... [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]
Tehran military parade features symbolic caskets of Trump and Netanyahu
A military parade in Tehran on Friday featured symbolic caskets representing US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The display formed part of a pro-government event in Iran's capital and was accompanied by women from the Basij militia carrying AK-47 rifles. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian attended the parade, which drew thousands of people.The event took place on 18 September 2026, according to the supplied report. Images from the parade showed women members of the Basij holding rifles, while other militia members were also seen with missile launchers. The gathering was presented as a show of support for... [Continue Reading]
Sponsored
Iran says it struck tanker in the Strait of Hormuz as UK agency reports separate ship fire
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they struck and detained the Togo-flagged oil tanker Trend in the Strait of Hormuz, according to a statement carried by state media. The claim came as the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency separately reported that a ship in the same area had been hit by an unknown projectile and caught fire. It was not immediately clear whether the two reports referred to the same vessel or to two different incidents.The Guards said the tanker had been targeted after what they described as an illegal passage, and said a fire broke out on board late on... [Continue Reading]
Boko Haram fighters and ISIL supporters accused of using AI chatbots for bombmaking and attack planning
Boko Haram fighters and supporters of the wider ISIL movement are being linked to the use of major artificial intelligence chatbots for bombmaking, attack planning and battlefield problem-solving, according to research and exclusive material described in the supplied reporting. The findings focus on northeastern Nigeria and on online spaces used by ISIL supporters, where users were said to be sharing ways to bypass AI safeguards. The material points to a developing pattern in which extremist groups are adapting consumer AI tools for operational use.Researchers from the University of Cambridge said they interviewed 27 former members of Boko Haram's two factions,... [Continue Reading]
US approves up to $414 million financing for Niger uranium project
The United States has approved as much as $414 million in financing for a uranium project in Niger, in a move that could reshape ties between Washington and Niamey. The debt facility was approved by the US Development Finance Corp for Global Atomic's Dasa project, according to the company. The decision comes two years after the United States agreed to withdraw troops from Niger and at a time when the country is seeking to balance relations with several outside powers.Global Atomic says the Dasa project contains what it describes as the highest-grade uranium deposit in Africa. The company said the... [Continue Reading]
Serbia opens factory to assemble Israeli-made drones
Serbia has opened a factory to assemble advanced Israeli-made drones, in a move that adds to the country's expanding defence production capacity and its growing military ties with Israel. President Aleksandar Vucic inaugurated the facility on Thursday, according to the supplied report, and said it will supply both the Serbian Armed Forces and armed forces in other countries. The opening comes as Belgrade continues to present military investment as part of a policy of neutrality and deterrence.Vucic said the plant will employ around 100 workers and produce state-of-the-art equipment. He also said at least three more factories will be opened... [Continue Reading]
Sponsored
Sweden left-wing opposition wins slim parliamentary majority as Kristersson resigns
Sweden's left-leaning opposition has secured a narrow parliamentary majority after the final vote count confirmed the result of Sunday's general election. The Swedish Election Authority said the four opposition parties won 176 seats in the 349-seat Riksdag, compared with 173 for the outgoing conservative-led bloc. The result was confirmed after late-arriving domestic ballots and overseas votes were counted.Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson announced his resignation after the count was completed, opening the way for coalition negotiations. The center-left Social Democrats, led by former prime minister Magdalena Andersson, emerged as the largest single party, although they lost some support. The outcome gives... [Continue Reading]
Russia heads into Duma election expected to cement Kremlin control
Russia is voting in a parliamentary election expected to return a Duma dominated by United Russia and lawmakers loyal to President Vladimir Putin. The vote is for 450 deputies to the lower house of parliament and is taking place against the backdrop of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said Russia has its own political system and political process, underscoring the authorities' confidence that the result will bring few surprises.Officials say nearly 200 war veterans are standing in the election, a sign that the Kremlin is using the contest to promote soldiers who have returned from... [Continue Reading]
North Korea rejects denuclearization expectations during Vienna nuclear conference
North Korea has rejected expectations that it will give up its nuclear weapons, with Kim Yo-jong saying the country's status as a nuclear power is absolute and cannot be reversed. Her remarks were issued on Thursday and tied to the International Atomic Energy Agency's General Conference in Vienna. The statement is the latest public signal from Pyongyang that it sees its nuclear arsenal as permanent.Kim Yo-jong described calls for denuclearization as "idiotic" and dismissed them as routine and unrealistic. According to the statement, North Korea has already embedded its nuclear status in domestic law. She also said the country's arsenal... [Continue Reading]
Djibouti seeks urgent aid as Yemen arrivals rise beyond national capacity
Djibouti has appealed for urgent international assistance after officials said the number of people arriving from Yemen has already exceeded the country's capacity. Interior Minister Omar Abdi Said said more than 2,500 Yemenis had arrived since Thursday last week, with the total expected to rise to about 10,000 in the coming weeks. The arrivals are linked to heavy fighting in western Yemen, where civilians are continuing to flee across the Red Sea to Djibouti.Said said the influx of migrants has already exceeded national capacity and that the country is facing increasing pressure as international funding declines. He called on the... [Continue Reading]
Sponsored
Von der Leyen floats Canada as first EU associate member in Strasbourg speech
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen used her State of the Union address in Strasbourg to suggest that Canada could become the European Union's first associate member. She framed the idea as part of a broader push for European resilience and independence at a time of heightened geopolitical pressure. The proposal was presented alongside calls for deeper cooperation with other partners, including Norway and the United Kingdom.Von der Leyen told members of the European Parliament that Europe could no longer rely on existing rules alone to secure its interests. She said the bloc must lead in defending the rules-based... [Continue Reading]
UK in talks to join Canada-led defence bank as NATO warns on Russia
The UK government is in discussions about joining a Canada-led investment bank designed to help countries raise more money for defence spending. The proposed Defence, Security and Resilience Bank would aim to lower borrowing costs for military and security projects, according to the supporting material. Treasury officials have said no decision has been made.The talks come as NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte is due to make his first meeting with the prime minister during a visit to the UK. He is expected to say the UK is serious about security and to praise its support for Ukraine. He is also... [Continue Reading]
Russia begins early voting in occupied Ukraine ahead of parliamentary election
Russia has begun early voting in occupied and frontline areas of Ukraine ahead of its nationwide parliamentary election, with mobile polling teams visiting homes and temporary voting arrangements in place. Footage from rural areas showed residents casting ballots outside their homes using ballot boxes and portable booths. In Donetsk, election officials were seen moving between settlements with police officers and armed military personnel present.The vote is due to take place across Russia from 18 to 20 September. According to the supplied material, members of Russia's Central Electoral Commission are overseeing the process in the occupied areas, while Russian servicemen and... [Continue Reading]
Report alleges Israeli-linked anti-Qatar influence campaign after October 7 attacks
A report has alleged that an Israeli-linked influence campaign targeting Qatar was assembled in the weeks after the Hamas-led attacks of 7 October 2023 and then halted abruptly. According to the report, the effort was aimed at pressuring Doha over its relationship with Hamas and encouraging it to help secure the release of captives taken to Gaza. The alleged campaign is said to have involved about 30 people, including influence specialists and political advisers.The report says the project began days after the assault on southern Israel and was organised around a WhatsApp group called Free the Kidnapped. It also says... [Continue Reading]
Sponsored
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]
The Great Uncoupling: Abu Dhabi’s Sovereign Gambit
The UAE’s decision to cut ties with OPEC is far more than a mere adjustment of energy policy, for it functions as a political telegram written in barrels and sent directly to the heart of the global order. For nearly six decades, Abu Dhabi operated within the rigid architecture of producer discipline, where it accepted the rituals of quotas, the formality of communiqués, and the heavy burden of collective restraint. It played the long game of oil diplomacy with a patient hand, balancing its own massive national ambitions against the gravity of cartel discipline and the delicate logic of Gulf... [Continue Reading]
Lessons learned from Dubai … or not?
It might be early to assess the impact of war on Dubai, the self-declared crisis proof planet, but some lessons can be drawn from its magic well, right now. First and foremost, I remember a saying about fairness: No, not the boomerang, and that what goes around comes around (the dark tales related to Lebanon and Gaza), but about a simple rule of thumb. If you expect the world to be fair with you because you are fair, you’re fooling yourself: that’s like expecting the lion not to eat you because you didn’t eat it. It applies to humans and... [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]
Sponsored




