Smoke and flames seen near Riyadh airport as major flight disruptions continue
A plume of smoke and flames rose near Riyadh's main international airport on Saturday, with residents reporting loud booms in the Saudi capital. The incident was seen close to King Khalid International Airport, one of the kingdom's busiest transport hubs, and came after Saudi authorities issued overnight alerts for the city. Reports from the capital said black smoke and fire were visible in the direction of the airport, while other residents said they heard explosions.An Aramco fuel tank near the airport was reportedly on fire, according to the supplied material, and firefighters were seen trying to extinguish the blaze. Flight... [Continue Reading]
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Russia reports wider cyberattacks on voting systems as parliamentary election continues
Russian authorities have reported multiple cyberattacks on voting systems and communication lines as the country's parliamentary election continues. The online voting system in Moscow was subjected to a strong attack overnight, according to the head of the Central Election Commission, Ella Pamfilova. Officials said the situation remained under control and that the attacks were being repelled successfully.Separately, Russia's digital ministry said it had registered a sabotage attempt on communication lines in the Far East, but that the attack had been thwarted and communications restored. President Vladimir Putin earlier accused Ukraine of trying to interfere with the vote, although he did... [Continue Reading]
Turkiye revokes Bank Mellat's Istanbul operating licence amid financial stability concerns
Turkiye has revoked the operating licence of Bank Mellat's central branch in Istanbul, according to a decision published in the country's Official Gazette. The move affects the Iranian lender's Istanbul operation and was announced by the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency, known as the BDDK. The regulator said the branch's continued operation was judged to pose a risk to depositors' rights and to the security and stability of the financial system.The decision was published on Saturday and states that the licence of "Bank Mellat, Head Office in Tehran, Istanbul Turkey Central Branch" has been withdrawn. No operational problems were cited... [Continue Reading]
Russia holds federal parliamentary election expected to deliver another large majority for United Russia
Russia is holding a three-day federal parliamentary election that is expected to return another large majority for the pro-Kremlin United Russia party. The vote is the country's first parliamentary election since the start of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, and it comes after years in which authorities have tightly managed the political field. Few observers expect the result to alter the balance of power in the State Duma, the lower house of parliament.United Russia is widely expected to keep its two-thirds majority in the 450-seat chamber. Under the electoral system, voters cast two ballots: one for party lists and one for... [Continue Reading]
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US, Denmark and Greenland reach security agreement on island presence
The United States, Denmark and Greenland have entered into an agreement that would expand the US military presence on the island, according to a statement from the US president. The reported deal also bars US adversaries from establishing bases in Greenland or making sensitive investments there without US approval. It marks a new stage in a long-running strategic discussion about the island's role in Arctic security.The agreement was described as having no expiry date. In a post on social media, the US president said the arrangement would guarantee that the United States would have the ability to do what is... [Continue Reading]
Wall Street closes mixed as tech and crypto firm, banks and energy lag, gold and silver surge
Executive summary: Wall Street ended mixed, with the S&P 500 nearly flat, the Nasdaq higher and the Dow and Russell 2000 lower. Tech and chip shares helped offset weakness in banks, defense, energy and small caps, while commodities showed a sharp split, with gold and silver rallying and WTI crude sliding. Bitcoin and Ether also advanced, adding to the risk-on tone in parts of the market even as rate-sensitive and cyclical pockets softened. [Continue Reading]
EU rejects South Ossetia vote, condemns Moscow's role
The European Union has rejected the so-called presidential elections held in Georgia's occupied breakaway region of South Ossetia on 18 September 2026, saying it does not recognise the constitutional and legal frameworks, including recent amendments, used to organise the vote. The EU said the outcome is null and void. In the statement, the EU strongly condemned actions undertaken by Moscow to have a Russian official appointed as de facto president of the occupied breakaway region. It also deplored the signing of the so-called treaty on "Deepening of Allied Interaction" on 9 May 2026. The EU said Russia is continuing attempts... [Continue Reading]
Israeli shelling injures civilians as troops advance in southern Lebanon
Israeli artillery shelling injured two people in southern Lebanon on Friday as Israeli troops separately advanced towards border towns and briefly withdrew after a standoff with Lebanese forces. The incidents were reported in the Bint Jbeil and Marjayoun districts, underscoring how tensions in the south remain active despite recent diplomatic efforts. The Lebanese state-run National News Agency said the wounded were taken to Tebnin hospital after shelling hit Chaqra.The agency also reported shelling in Wadi Nahla on the outskirts of Shuqra, while Israeli forces withdrew from the outskirts of Deir Mimas after advancing earlier in the day towards the town's... [Continue Reading]
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Day News Recap: Middle East tensions deepen as Pakistan attack, Russia-Ukraine strikes and market swings grip day
At least 16 people were killed when a vehicle packed with explosives rammed into a mosque near police headquarters in Kohat district in northwest Pakistan, in an attack that was still unfolding as reports emerged. πIn the Middle East, Iran said its Revolutionary Guards struck and detained the Togo flagged tanker Trend in the Strait of Hormuz, while the UK maritime agency reported a separate ship fire, and Saudi Arabia has been rerouting crude through Oman as shipping disruption in the waterway continues. π πThe wider regional security picture also sharpened, with the United States approving a $24.3 billion sale... [Continue Reading]
More than 112,000 displaced in Yemen as fighting drives thousands to Djibouti
The United Nations says more than 112,000 people have been displaced in Yemen as fighting intensifies between Houthi forces and Saudi-backed forces loyal to the internationally recognised government. The displacement has also pushed nearly 3,000 people to flee by boat to Djibouti across the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. The latest figures point to a fast-moving humanitarian crisis that is spreading beyond Yemen's borders.According to the International Organization for Migration, most of the internally displaced people have moved in the last two weeks. The main areas affected are Yemen's west coast and the provinces of Taiz and Lahj. Abdusattor Esoev, the organisation's... [Continue Reading]
Pakistan pledges full commitment to defend Saudi Arabia amid regional security concerns
A senior Pakistani military spokesman has said Islamabad would defend Saudi Arabia against aggression "to any extent", in a fresh public commitment that comes as questions continue over regional security arrangements around the kingdom. Lieutenant-General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, director-general of Pakistan's military media wing, said Pakistani forces would stand with Saudi Arabia "diplomatically and physically". He also said Pakistani personnel are already deployed to protect Mecca and Medina.Chaudhry made the remarks in an interview with a Saudi newspaper on Thursday, according to the supplied report. He did not say whether Riyadh had asked for additional Pakistani troops or direct involvement... [Continue Reading]
Russia votes for a second day in tightly controlled State Duma election amid war and political crackdown
Voting is continuing in Russia's three-day election for the State Duma and regional offices, with the ballot expected to reinforce President Vladimir Putin's political control. The vote runs from 18 to 20 September and comes as Russia's war in Ukraine continues into its fifth year. Only parties that back Putin and the war are on the ballot, while Yabloko, the country's only publicly anti-war party still operating inside Russia, has been barred.The election will fill all 450 seats in the State Duma, along with governorships in 11 federal regions and seats in regional legislatures across 39 federal subjects. Voters are... [Continue Reading]
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Noontime News Recap: Russia election opens under pressure as Middle East tensions and Ukraine strikes escalate
Russia has opened a three day parliamentary election for the State Duma, with voting starting in the far east and expected to deliver another victory for President Vladimir Putin, even as a report says the Kremlin has intensified a pre election crackdown. π πUkraine said a morning Russian drone attack injured five people, including three children, in the Kyiv region near the capital, while separate strikes hit Zaporizhzhia and Dnipro. Poland also warned that Russia may try to carry out drone and rocket attacks against NATO states backing Ukraine, and said its airspace remains restricted. π πIn the Middle East,... [Continue Reading]
Russia begins three-day Duma election amid war in Ukraine
Russia has begun a three-day parliamentary election to fill all 450 seats in the State Duma, with voting opening first in eastern regions before spreading across the country. About 111 million people are eligible to take part, according to the supplied report, and polling is also taking place in Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine. The vote is being held in a tightly controlled political environment as the war in Ukraine continues to shape domestic politics.Polling stations opened first in Kamchatka, Chukotka, Magadan and other eastern regions, where local officials urged residents to turn out. The Kremlin is closely watching participation, with... [Continue Reading]
Kremlin intensifies pre-election crackdown ahead of Duma vote, report says
The Kremlin has intensified a pre-election crackdown ahead of Russia's Duma elections, according to a report published on 18 September. The account says the campaign of pressure was aimed at reducing the risk of a protest vote and preventing any visible display of public dissatisfaction at the ballot box. It describes the effort as a form of "ballot sterilisation" designed to produce an election result that signals unity behind President Vladimir Putin and the governing United Russia party.The report says candidates from so-called managed opposition parties, including the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, have been arrested or barred from... [Continue Reading]
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]
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Scottish activist Jagtar Singh Johal granted bail in India after nearly nine years in detention
Family members of Scottish Sikh activist Jagtar Singh Johal say an Indian court has granted him bail after he spent almost nine years in detention without conviction. Johal, who is from Dumbarton, was arrested in 2017 in connection with alleged terror offences and has remained in custody while legal proceedings continued. According to Indian media cited by campaigners, bail was granted by the Delhi High Court.His family said they were still waiting for full details of what happens next, but described the decision as a relief. Johal, who is 39, was arrested in the Punjab region just weeks after his... [Continue Reading]
Houthi-run Yemen raises fuel prices in Sanaa after four years of stability
Fuel prices have risen in Sanaa for the first time in about four years, adding to pressure on families in Houthi-controlled parts of Yemen. The increase was announced this week in the capital and affects petrol and diesel prices in territory under Houthi control. For many residents, the change is expected to feed directly into transport costs and the price of basic goods.The Houthi-run Yemen Petroleum Company said the increase was driven by a global rise in fuel prices and described it as temporary. According to the report, the price of petrol moved from 4,750 Yemeni riyals, or about $8.90,... [Continue Reading]
Russia and China veto UN move to extend Iran sanctions monitoring as US targets crypto networks
The United Nations Security Council has voted down a United States-backed resolution that would have extended independent monitoring of sanctions on Iran, after Russia and China used their vetoes. The draft would have renewed the mandate of the council's expert panel for another year, but it failed on Thursday by 11 votes to two, with Somalia and Pakistan abstaining. The decision leaves the underlying sanctions in place, but removes the planned extension of outside monitoring.The sanctions were reimposed under the snapback mechanism linked to the 2015 nuclear deal and remain in force. They freeze Iranian assets abroad, restrict arms deals... [Continue Reading]
At least 26 killed in clashes in Sudan-South Sudan border region of Abyei
At least 26 people have been killed and 82 others injured in days of intercommunal fighting in the disputed Abyei region on the border between Sudan and South Sudan. The violence has prompted the United Nations to reinforce its security presence around Abyei town. The clashes are the latest in a long-running dispute over a territory whose status has remained unresolved since South Sudan became independent in 2011.The fighting erupted at Amiet Common Market after separate killings of a Ngok Dinka man on Monday and a Misseriya man on Tuesday, according to the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei. The... [Continue Reading]
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Greenpeace says Russia is sabotaging power lines at Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant
Greenpeace has accused Russia of deliberately sabotaging electricity supply lines at the occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southeastern Ukraine. The environmental group said the alleged campaign is being accompanied by claims blaming Ukraine, which it described as an effort to confuse and distract from the risks created by the occupation and the war. The allegation concerns one of Europe's most sensitive nuclear sites, where the loss of external power has repeatedly raised safety concerns.In a report published on Thursday, Greenpeace said it worked with London-based McKenzie Intelligence Services to analyse satellite imagery of the site. The group said the... [Continue Reading]
Trump adviser says US expects Iran war to end soon amid nuclear talks
Massad Boulos, a senior adviser to US President Donald Trump on Arab and Middle Eastern affairs, said the president believes the war involving Iran will end soon and is working to bring it to a close. Speaking at the Arab Media Summit in Dubai, Boulos said the timing would be for Trump to decide, but added that Washington is giving negotiations and talks a chance. He said the administration is hopeful that peace will prevail, while stressing that no one wants war.Boulos also repeated the administration's position that Iran must not be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon. He said... [Continue Reading]
New US sanctions on Iran add to already extensive restrictions
Iran is facing a fresh round of US sanctions this month, adding to an already wide-ranging web of international restrictions on the country. The new measures were described as part of Washington's effort to increase economic pressure on Tehran. They come against the backdrop of overlapping sanctions imposed by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom and the United Nations.The supplied material says the latest US sanctions were enforced by the US Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control. It does not identify the specific targets of the new measures, but says they are part of... [Continue Reading]
Scientists link Nepal-China Himalayan flood disaster to climate change
A new scientific report has concluded that climate change played a significant role in last month's deadly Himalayan disaster near Nepal's border with China. The collapse on 26 August triggered a torrent of water, ice, boulders and sediment that swept through communities along the Trishuli River corridor. The event killed more than 1,300 people and left over 5,000 missing.The report, released on Thursday by the World Weather Attribution group, said warming temperatures had thinned glaciers and thawed mountain permafrost in ways that likely destabilised the slope before it failed. A climate researcher at Imperial College London who contributed to the... [Continue Reading]
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US House holds Leon Black in contempt over Epstein subpoenas
The US House of Representatives has held billionaire investor Leon Black in contempt of Congress after he defied subpoenas linked to its investigation into Jeffrey Epstein. The resolution was adopted by unanimous consent on Wednesday, without a recorded vote, after the House Oversight Committee had unanimously recommended the action a day earlier. The matter will now be referred to the Justice Department, which will decide whether to pursue criminal charges.Committee chairman Jamie Comer said in a statement that "no one is above the law" and said lawmakers had acted swiftly after Black defied two subpoenas. According to the committee, Black... [Continue Reading]
Putin urges turnout in Russian parliamentary vote as test of support for Ukraine war
Russian President Vladimir Putin has urged Russians to vote in the country's upcoming parliamentary election, describing turnout as a measure of public support for the war in Ukraine. In a televised address on Wednesday, he said participation would show that millions stand behind Russian soldiers and that the country remains united. The vote begins on Friday and will run for three days.The election will choose the 450 members of the State Duma, the lower house of parliament. It is Russia's first parliamentary election since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. According to the supplied material, the ruling... [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]
Russia-linked group used Claude AI for espionage, disinformation and drone-swarm tooling
A Russia-linked hacking group has used Claude AI to automate cyber-espionage against Ukrainian and European government targets, according to a report published by Anthropic. The company said the same activity was also used to support disinformation campaigns and to develop targeting software for autonomous drone swarms. It said it had blocked the malicious use it identified and shared the findings with government and industry partners.Anthropic said the main case involved a group it designated GTG-20006, which it said used Claude to operate against more than 20 organisations. Those targets included government ministries, defence and intelligence agencies, embassies, think tanks and... [Continue Reading]
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US accuses Russia-linked network of plotting killings of Ukraine allies overseas
The US Department of Justice has accused five men of taking part in an alleged Russian intelligence-linked plot to murder people aligned, or perceived to be aligned, with Ukraine in the United States and Europe. The announcement says the men were charged in connection with a conspiracy that involved paying, or trying to pay, people to target those individuals. All five accused remain at large, and it is not clear from the supplied material where they are located.According to the Justice Department, three of the defendants are described as high-ranking members of the Russian intelligence network. They include Yuri Khrameev,... [Continue Reading]
At least 20 killed as Gaza City building collapse leaves nearly 100 feared trapped
At least 20 people have been killed after a war-damaged apartment building collapsed in the Tal al-Hawa area of Gaza City, with rescue teams saying nearly 100 Palestinians may still be under the rubble. The six-storey building crumbled on Wednesday onto nearby homes and tents after earlier damage from Israeli attacks left it cracked and structurally unsound. Civil Defence teams said they were still searching for missing people and recovering bodies from the wreckage.Mahmoud Basal, a spokesperson for the Civil Defence agency, said rescue workers were continuing to work through the debris and that the number of people still trapped... [Continue Reading]
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Amnesty accuses Iran of crimes against humanity over 2022 protest crackdown
Amnesty International has accused Iranian authorities of committing crimes against humanity during the crackdown on protests that began in September 2022. The organisation said the response to the demonstrations, which followed the death of Mahsa Amini, included killings, torture, rape and enforced disappearances. The report was released on Wednesday, 16 September 2026, and focuses on the state response to the movement known as "Woman, Life, Freedom".The report says the protests were triggered by Amini's death in custody after she was detained for allegedly violating Iran's strict dress rules for women. Amnesty said the crackdown left hundreds dead and identified 87... [Continue Reading]
Trump administration set to approve 60,000 heavy bombs for Israel amid Gaza war
The Trump administration is reported to be preparing a multibillion-dollar weapons sale to Israel that would include 60,000 2,000-pound bombs, according to the supplied material. The package is said to have been informally notified to Congress, but it has not yet been officially confirmed by the administration. The reported transfer comes as the Gaza war and wider regional conflict continue to shape US-Israel relations.The supplied rows say the package would be worth $2.8 billion and would be funded largely through the US Foreign Military Financing scheme. They also say the munitions list includes 20,000 MK-84s, 20,000 BLU-117s and 20,000 I-2000... [Continue Reading]
Alex Saab pleads guilty in US money-laundering case tied to alleged bribery scheme
Venezuelan businessman Alex Saab has pleaded guilty in a US court to a money-laundering charge linked to an alleged bribery scheme involving public contracts in Venezuela. The plea marks a significant development in a long-running federal case that has followed Saab for years. He also agreed to cooperate with ongoing investigations, according to the court record.As part of the agreement, Saab accepted that he will hand over $195 million derived from the corruption scheme. Prosecutors said they would recommend a sentence at the lower end of the guideline range and could seek further reductions if his cooperation proves useful. The... [Continue Reading]
China defence chief opens Xiangshan Forum with warning against coercion and historical revisionism
Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun has opened the 13th Beijing Xiangshan Forum with a call for shared security governance and deeper military cooperation. In remarks delivered in Beijing on Wednesday, he urged countries to stop provocative acts and resist what he described as the return of regressive historical trends. He also warned against coercion, hegemony, militarism and historical revisionism.Dong did not directly name the United States or Japan in his speech, but his comments were widely framed as a veiled criticism of regional rivals. He said the lessons of history should be remembered and that the international community should remain... [Continue Reading]
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France's new ambassador to the US cleared after diplomatic spat over UN vote
France's incoming ambassador to the United States has been cleared to take up his post after weeks of delay linked to a diplomatic dispute over a United Nations vote. Aurelien Lechevallier, chosen by President Emmanuel Macron, is expected to arrive in Washington in the coming weeks. The approval had been held up since late July, when the US State Department paused the process amid tensions with France's mission to the United Nations.A US State Department official said on Tuesday that Lechevallier will now be able to assume the role. He is set to replace Laurent Bili as France's envoy in... [Continue Reading]
Trump administration to comply with Supreme Court ruling blocking mail-ballot restrictions
US Attorney General Todd Blanche said the Trump administration will comply with the Supreme Court's decision blocking new US Postal Service restrictions on mail-in ballots, while defending President Donald Trump's criticism of the justices. Blanche told reporters on Tuesday that the administration would follow the ruling, a day after the court left existing voting procedures in place ahead of the November 3 midterm elections. The decision keeps the current mail-ballot system in place for now and prevents the proposed changes from taking effect before the vote.The court rejected the administration's plan to require states to provide voter-specific data and use... [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]
US confirms on-orbit space weapons as debate grows over military competition in orbit
The United States has acknowledged that it has deployed weapons in Earth orbit, in a rare public confirmation that has drawn fresh attention to the militarisation of space. US Air Force Secretary Troy Meink said the systems are "on-orbit space control weapons" intended to defend US forces against hostile action. He did not say when they were placed in orbit, how many there are, or what specific capabilities they have.Meink made the remarks at the Air, Space and Cyber Conference, where he said the United States must remain ready to meet evolving threats. He described space control as involving kinetic... [Continue Reading]
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Houthis advance near Bab al-Mandeb as Qatar warns of wider shipping disruption
Qatar has warned that losing access to Bab al-Mandeb while the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked would be catastrophic, as Houthi forces consolidate gains along Yemen's Red Sea coast. In remarks in Doha, Ibrahim bin Sultan Al Hashmi, director of media and communication at Qatar's foreign ministry, said the world could not afford to add Bab al-Mandeb to the disruption already caused by the Hormuz blockade. He said blocking international waterways could not become the new normal and urged countries to work together to prevent further escalation.The warning follows reports that the Houthis seized the Greater and Lesser Hanish islands... [Continue Reading]
Finucane murder inquiry in Belfast examines alleged British State role
An inquiry into the murder of solicitor Patrick Finucane has entered its second day of hearings in Belfast, where counsel is examining whether the British State encouraged, assisted, protected or directed the people who killed him. The hearing is focused on one of the most contentious killings from the Northern Ireland conflict and on the extent of any state involvement. Finucane was shot dead by loyalists in front of his wife and children at his north Belfast home in February 1989.Barrister Matthew Hill, legal counsel to the inquiry, said the central issue is whether the British State played any role... [Continue Reading]
Western settlement sanctions trigger Israel-UK diplomatic crisis
Tensions between Israel and several Western governments escalated after a group of 12 countries said on September 8 that they would introduce, support or consider restrictions on goods from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. The move came as part of a wider dispute over settlement policy and the status of occupied East Jerusalem. Israel responded within 24 hours by ordering the United Kingdom to close its consulate in occupied East Jerusalem within 30 days.The diplomatic retaliation followed remarks in the UK parliament by Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, who said the government could no longer "stand by" in the... [Continue Reading]
Internet shutdown in Pakistan-administered Kashmir passes 100 days amid unrest
Internet access has been severely restricted in Pakistan-administered Kashmir for more than 100 days, with mobile data and broadband services still suspended after protests over electoral reform began in June. The blackout has continued despite staggered elections and the formation of a new government, according to the supplied reporting. Residents have faced ongoing disruption to daily life as the communications restrictions remain in place.The shutdown began on June 5, when authorities imposed restrictions as unrest grew ahead of local elections originally scheduled for July 27. NetBlocks, an independent observer that monitors internet shutdowns, said the partial blackout has continued since... [Continue Reading]
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Venezuela to join G20 energy meetings in Houston amid oil-price shock
A Venezuelan delegation is due to take part in G20 energy talks in Houston this week, as global oil and gas markets remain under pressure from war-related disruption in the Middle East. The meetings are being held in Texas, a major centre of the US energy industry, and are scheduled to continue through Wednesday. US officials said the gathering will include representatives of G20 countries as well as Venezuela.Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said the talks reflect a shift in the global energy balance and the growing importance of supply outside the Middle East. He said the aim was to move... [Continue Reading]
UN warns Sudan aid network could collapse within weeks as funding runs short
Sudan's emergency relief network is at risk of collapse within weeks, the International Organization for Migration has warned, as fighting, heavy rains and continued displacement strain an already overstretched response. The agency said its Common Humanitarian Pipeline could face an imminent end if new donations do not arrive quickly. It said shelter and aid relief supplies could be depleted by the end of the month.The warning comes as the war between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces, which began in April 2023, continues to drive mass displacement and deepen hunger across the country. The IOM said the conflict,... [Continue Reading]
Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon kill at least 13, including six children
Israeli strikes on a town in southern Lebanon have killed at least 13 people, including six children, according to Lebanon's health ministry. The attacks hit Kfar Rumman amid a sharp rise in cross-border violence in recent days, raising fears of a renewed Israeli military campaign despite a ceasefire reached in June. Rescue workers used heavy machinery through the morning to search the rubble of a residential building that was struck as children were preparing for school.The health ministry said 12 people were killed in the strike on the residential building, including six children and three women, while a separate drone... [Continue Reading]
Yemen government forces advance in Taiz as Houthis claim attacks on Saudi Arabia
Yemeni government-aligned forces have advanced in western Taiz after repelling a Houthi offensive, according to the supplied report. The fighting is taking place in southwestern Taiz province, where clashes have intensified as both sides seek to consolidate positions. The report says the advance followed support from air strikes targeting Houthi gatherings.The Houthis, also known as Ansar Allah, said on Monday that they launched attacks on targets in Saudi Arabia using dozens of ballistic missiles and drones. They said the strikes targeted military facilities and infrastructure, including aircraft hangars, radar installations, runways and ammunition depots at King Khalid airbase in Khamis... [Continue Reading]
PM-backed candidate wins Okinawa governor race, raising questions over base policy
Genta Koja has won Okinawa's gubernatorial election, defeating two-term incumbent Denny Tamaki in a result that could reshape debate over the prefecture's long-running dispute with Tokyo and Washington. Officials said Koja won 59% of the vote in Sunday's election, with the result announced on Monday. The 42-year-old former deputy mayor of Naha will become Okinawa's youngest governor since the prefecture was returned to Japan from US rule in 1972.Koja was backed by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's Liberal Democratic Party, giving the ruling camp a stronger position in a prefecture that has often resisted the concentration of US military facilities. Tamaki,... [Continue Reading]
Sweden votes in tight general election as opposition and Kristersson bloc run neck and neck
Sweden is voting in a closely fought general election that could return the left-wing opposition to power or bring the far-right Sweden Democrats into government for the first time. The contest has narrowed sharply in the final days of campaigning, leaving Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson's alliance and the opposition bloc separated by little more than a dead heat in opinion polls. The result is expected to determine not only who leads the next government, but also how much influence the Sweden Democrats will have over policy.Magdalena Andersson, the opposition leader and head of the centre-left Social Democrats, said on the... [Continue Reading]
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DR Congo Ebola outbreak passes 7,000 cases as South-Ubangi confirms new spread
Congolese authorities say the country's Ebola outbreak has now passed 7,000 recorded cases, with 7,022 infections and 3,398 deaths reported. The latest figures also confirm a new case in South-Ubangi, extending the epidemic to a seventh province. The outbreak began in mid-May in Ituri province and has since spread through remote and conflict-affected parts of eastern and northern Democratic Republic of the Congo.Officials say 837 people are currently in isolation or receiving treatment. The outbreak is caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus, which was first detected in the northeastern province of Ituri and remains concentrated there, even as it has... [Continue Reading]
At least seven killed in prison fire and riot in Kobane, northern Syria
At least seven inmates have been killed after a fire broke out at a prison in Kobane, a predominantly Kurdish town in northern Syria. The blaze followed a riot inside the jail, according to state media reports, and others were injured in the incident. The cause of the fire has not yet been officially confirmed.State-run reports said the unrest began after tensions in the town escalated on Friday, following protests over the killing of a former Kurdish fighter. Dozens of people were reported injured, burned or suffocated after the riot and fire. The prison is still administered by Kurdish authorities... [Continue Reading]
Trump says a unified Ireland would be 'fantastic' during Dublin visit
United States President Donald Trump has said he would like to see Ireland unified, describing that outcome as "fantastic" during a visit to Dublin. He made the remarks while sitting alongside Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin, in comments that quickly drew attention in London and Belfast. Trump said he did not want to cause problems, but added that he believed unification would happen eventually.The president's comments came on Saturday during his trip to the Irish capital, where he was asked about Northern Ireland's constitutional future. He said, "I'd love to see it unified," and added that the United Kingdom would... [Continue Reading]
THE GROWTH ILLUSION: HOW GDP TRICKERY MASKED THE DEATH OF THE MIDDLE CLASS
We are fed a daily diet of triumphant economic headlines. The S&P 500 hits record highs, corporate earnings smash forecasts, and central bankers beam at GDP charts pointing up and to the right. Politicians line up to remind us how much "wealthier" we are compared to our parents or grandparents. On paper, they are right. The average worker makes vastly more dollars today than at any point in human history. But step outside the spreadsheet and into the street, and the math fails the reality test. If we are so undeniably prosperous, why does buying a modest home feel like... [Continue Reading]
The Ghosn Paradox The Imperial Savior, His Cinematic Escape, and the Desperate Call to Salvage a Crumbling Nissan
The Man Who Defied Corporate Gravity Few corporate sagas in modern history possess the cinematic drama, geopolitical friction, and sheer psychological tension as the rise and fall of Carlos Ghosn. Once lauded as the ultimate transnational executive, a multi-lingual titan capable of bridging disparate business cultures, Ghosn became the absolute center of a global firestorm. His story cuts through the pristine facade of global corporate governance to reveal a messy underbelly of nationalism, legal vulnerability, and strategic failure. Rebuilding an Empire from the Ashes of Bankruptcy The mythos of Carlos Ghosn began in 1999. Nissan, one of Japan's proudest manufacturing... [Continue Reading]
The Mirage of the Umbrella: The Shifting Sands of the U.S.-Israel-GCC Alliance
As I sat in a recent debate at the historic Carlton Club in London, listening to Faisal Abbas, the Editor-in-Chief of Arab News, I felt a tangible shift in the room, not because a new fact had been revealed, but because an old illusion had finally lost its last breath. The old-world order has not merely changed, it has evaporated, leaving the Gulf to realize it is no longer watching a distant fire from the safety of marble towers and air-conditioned ministries, but is instead standing directly inside the smoke. The GCC today is caught in a lethal crossfire between... [Continue Reading]
The Glass Elevator to Nowhere: A World Trapped in a Chocolate Factory
As a journalist in my mid-fifties, I thought my skin had thickened to the point of being impenetrable. I have covered the rise and fall of regimes, the grinding gears of the Cold War's leftovers, and the digital revolutions that promised to unite us. I thought I had seen every trick in the political playbook. Then came Donald Trumpβs 2026 foreign policy, and I realized I was not watching a statesman; I was watching a child play with a chemistry set he does not understand. The Willy Wonka of the West: Rule by Whim Walking into a press briefing lately... [Continue Reading]
The role of community policing in nurturing acceptance
In a highly polarized world and a highly volatile situation, many wars are perturbing the lives of many, forcing governments to take real measures to protect their citizens. Away from the geopolitical analysis and speculation, I would like to highlight one of many important aspects related to war preparation, which is the protocol of living in community shelters, historically comparable to the use of air raid shelters during major conflicts. During the war in Lebanon in the mid-eighties, I published an article about this protocol, and it seems very relevant to these days. 1- This is not your house: A... [Continue Reading]




