Xi Jinping arrives in Washington after rare airport welcome from Trump
Xi Jinping arrived in the United States on Wednesday for a three-day visit that began with a rare airport greeting from Donald Trump at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. The Chinese president and his wife were met on the tarmac by Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, with a red carpet, military honours and a gunfire salute marking the arrival. The visit is centred on security, trade and technology, and it comes as both governments try to manage a tense relationship between the world's two largest economies.The in-person welcome is notable because the US president took the unusual step of... [Continue Reading]
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US and Iran resume backchannel diplomacy at UN amid war and threats
Iran and the United States have resumed contacts through mediators on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, as the war between the two countries continues. The renewed messaging comes alongside sharply contrasting public speeches from President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. The talks are taking place in a highly charged setting, with both sides using the UN stage to press their case.According to the supplied material, Iran has exchanged messages with US officials via Qatari mediators, although it has not confirmed Trump's claim that the two sides held a direct meeting at the... [Continue Reading]
US invites Putin to G20 as Zelensky presses for more pressure on Russia at the UN
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States has invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to the upcoming G20 summit in Miami, describing it as a chance for him to engage with global leaders. Rubio said the invitation was intended to create an opportunity for Putin to meet not only the US president but also other world leaders. The remarks came as diplomacy around the war in Ukraine intensified on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.Rubio's comments followed a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at the UN gathering. At the same event,... [Continue Reading]
US says it is open to talks with Cuba if it changes government
The United States has said it is open to speaking with Havana about a political transition if Cuba moves toward new leadership. The comments came after President Donald Trump called Cuba a "failed state" at the United Nations, prompting the Cuban delegation to walk out of the assembly. The exchange has added fresh tension to an already strained relationship between Washington and Havana.US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in New York that Cuba had a "golden opportunity" to place itself on an "irreversible path towards a better future". He said Washington was prepared to be helpful if Cuban officials... [Continue Reading]
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US, Denmark and Greenland security deal deepens Arctic shift as Trump claims permanent control
The United States, Denmark and Greenland have reached a security deal that Washington says gives it permanent control over the island's security, while authority remains with Denmark. The agreement follows months of tension over Greenland's strategic role in the Arctic and repeated threats by US President Donald Trump to seize the island by force if he could not acquire it. The arrangement is being presented as a way to reduce the dispute while formalising a new security framework.According to the supplied material, Greenlanders have protections written into the agreement and NATO will remain involved. The deal is described as trilateral,... [Continue Reading]
Iran and US trade threats at the UN as backchannel talks continue
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian used his address to the United Nations General Assembly to reject US pressure and accuse Washington and Israel of attacking Iranian civilians and infrastructure. He said Iran would not accept being bullied, but he also left open the possibility of negotiations, saying Tehran was ready for dialogue and diplomacy without accepting the language of force. The speech came as the war between Iran and the United States and Israel entered a new diplomatic phase on the sidelines of the UN meeting in New York.Pezeshkian's remarks followed a threat from US President Donald Trump, who had told... [Continue Reading]
Syria's al-Sharaa warns Israeli attacks endanger post-war recovery amid UN speech
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has used his address to the United Nations General Assembly to warn that Israeli military activity is undermining Syria's fragile post-war recovery. He called for Israel to withdraw from internationally recognised Syrian territory and said the occupied Golan Heights would remain Syrian territory. The remarks came as Damascus seeks to present itself as moving from conflict toward reconstruction.Al-Sharaa said there had been 500 air strikes, more than 1,200 incursions and 300 detentions in Syria by Israel, and accused it of trying to impose a fait accompli. He said the attacks were damaging peace and security and... [Continue Reading]
Day News Recap: UN diplomacy intensifies as Iran, Gaza and Xi talks dominate a crowded global agenda
Iran dominated the United Nations General Assembly as President Masoud Pezeshkian addressed the world body, defended Tehran and pushed back against accusations over the war fallout, while Donald Trump escalated his rhetoric and said he faced a big decision on whether to strike Iran. ๐ ๐Diplomacy continued in parallel, with Iran's foreign minister meeting US envoy Steve Witkoff in the first reported talks between the two sides since the June ceasefire unravelled, and later shuttle talks in New York described as productive and a possible opening. ๐ ๐The wider UN week also brought warnings about the risks of artificial intelligence,... [Continue Reading]
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Azerbaijan pardons French national as EU sanctions row widens
Azerbaijan has pardoned French national Martin Ryan and ordered his release from prison, after he was convicted earlier this year on spying charges that he and France denied. The decision was signed by President Ilham Aliyev and came as part of a wider pardon covering 20 people. It follows hours after the European Union agreed to lift sanctions on two Russian billionaires, a move that has drawn criticism from Ukraine.Ryan had been serving a ten-year sentence in Baku, according to the supplied report. The timing has intensified attention on the overlap between detainee cases and sanctions diplomacy, even though the... [Continue Reading]
US and Iran hold productive shuttle talks at UN as diplomatic opening emerges
US and Iranian officials have held mediated shuttle talks in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, marking the first such contacts between the two sides in months. The discussions were described by President Donald Trump as productive, with both sides signalling that there may be room for further engagement. The talks took place in the same diplomatic setting where tensions over the war in the Middle East, sanctions and regional security have dominated the agenda.According to officials and public remarks, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner communicated through... [Continue Reading]
UK reviews Chagos Islands handover deal after Trump criticism
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said Britain will go back to the drawing board on its agreement to return the Chagos Islands to Mauritius after renewed criticism from US President Donald Trump. Streeting said the government would not, at this stage, make the annual payments tied to the leaseback arrangement for the Diego Garcia military base. The comments came after Trump called the deal "terrible" during his first meeting with Prime Minister Andy Burnham on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.Streeting said Trump's objections were not new, but that the president's latest remarks made clear his... [Continue Reading]
Qatar emir urges Gulf diplomacy and collective security at UN amid Iran war
Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani has used his address to the United Nations General Assembly in New York to press for a diplomatic response to the regional crisis linked to the Iran war. The Qatari emir said the Gulf was going through one of the most dangerous phases in its recent history and warned that vital facilities could be attacked and important waterways closed if tensions continue to escalate. He said the crisis could still be resolved through diplomacy and that Qatar was doing everything in its power to help address it.The emir called for a regional system of... [Continue Reading]
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Trump to host Xi Jinping in Washington this week as US-China tensions loom
US President Donald Trump is set to host Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Washington this week, in a meeting framed as a high-stakes encounter between the two largest global powers. The talks come at a time when relations between the United States and China remain under close international scrutiny. The meeting is expected to draw attention because of its potential implications for diplomacy, trade and wider strategic competition.The only confirmed detail in the supplied material is that the meeting will take place in Washington this week. The row does not provide an exact date, agenda or list of participants beyond... [Continue Reading]
Noontime News Recap: UN week opens with Iran, Ukraine and AI crises, as UK and Morocco face domestic tests
World leaders gathering at the United Nations in New York are confronting two fast moving crises at once, the fallout from the Iran war and the risks posed by artificial intelligence, with the Security Council due to hear an emergency AI briefing during the week. ๐Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian is due to address the General Assembly on Wednesday in his first speech to the world body, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will also speak as Kyiv presses its case for an energy ceasefire and seeks wider support. ๐ ๐Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdoฤan used the opening days of the General... [Continue Reading]
Pezeshkian to address UN as Iran war fallout deepens at General Assembly
Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian is due to address the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Wednesday, marking his first speech to the world body since the US and Israel launched war on Iran. The appearance comes at a moment when the conflict is dominating the second day of the annual gathering of world leaders. It also follows a sharply worded address by US President Donald Trump, who told the assembly he could "annihilate the Islamic Republic" and "drive them into hell." The Iranian delegation's response to Trump's remarks underlined the tension surrounding the session.According to the report, all... [Continue Reading]
Belgium and Rwanda restore diplomatic ties after Qatar-hosted talks
Belgium and Rwanda have restored diplomatic relations after an 18-month rupture, in a development that Qatar says was helped by talks it hosted in Doha. The two countries said in a joint statement on Tuesday that they were resuming ties after expelling each other's diplomats over the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. The move marks a notable thaw in a dispute that had widened beyond the Great Lakes region and into Europe.Qatari foreign ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari said the first talks between the two sides took place in June 2025 in Doha and helped create the conditions... [Continue Reading]
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Russian strike on cargo ship in Odesa kills captain
A Russian attack on a commercial cargo ship in Ukraine's southern port of Odesa has killed the vessel's captain, Ukrainian authorities said. The ship was sailing under the flag of Antigua and Barbuda when it came under fire on the Black Sea. The strike adds to a recent rise in attacks on civilian and commercial shipping in the waterway, which is central to Ukraine's export routes.Oleg Kiper, the head of the Odesa region, said the enemy targeted a commercial cargo ship and confirmed that the captain was a Ukrainian citizen. The Ukrainian Sea Port Authority said the vessel was on... [Continue Reading]
UN Security Council to hear emergency AI briefing as Iran war dominates UN week
World leaders gathering at the United Nations are set to confront two fast-moving crises at once: the risks posed by artificial intelligence and the continuing war involving the United States, Israel and Iran. An emergency briefing on AI is due before the 15-member Security Council, while Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is arriving in New York to address the General Assembly. The timing places technology governance and Middle East security at the centre of the same diplomatic week.The AI session will feature Sam Altman of OpenAI, Dario Amodei of Anthropic and Clement Delangue of Hugging Face, according to the supplied report.... [Continue Reading]
Breakfast News Recap: Trump Iran talks dominate UN week as storms, conflicts and markets move
US and Iranian officials held their first reported talks since the June ceasefire unravelled, with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi meeting US envoy Steve Witkoff on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The discussions came as Washington and Tehran kept diplomacy alive despite rising tensions over sanctions, regional security and the risk of wider conflict. ๐Donald Trump sharpened the pressure on Tehran at the UN, saying he faced a big decision on whether to strike Iran and warning he could โannihilateโ the country if it moved against US interests. He also said American officials had held... [Continue Reading]
US and Iran hold first talks since June ceasefire unravelled amid Trump threat
Iran's foreign minister has met US envoy Steve Witkoff at the United Nations in the first reported talks between the two sides since the June ceasefire unravelled. The discussions were arranged by Qatar, according to the supplied material, and no breakthrough has been reported. The meeting came on the same day Donald Trump said he could "annihilate" Iran if the conflict is not resolved.Witkoff said a round of discussions had been completed that he hoped would prove "constructive and promising". Iran repeated its demand for the United States to end what it called its "acts of aggression". The talks took... [Continue Reading]
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Trump and Burnham meet at UN as Chagos deal comes under scrutiny
US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Andy Burnham held their first face-to-face meeting at the United Nations General Assembly in New York City, according to the supplied report. The encounter has drawn attention because it comes soon after Burnham took office and because the two leaders publicly disagreed over the Chagos Islands deal. Several front pages described the meeting as a significant early test of the new British leader's approach to Washington.The report says Trump told the papers he could "do business" with Burnham, while also criticising the Chagos agreement as "terrible" and "ridiculous". It adds that Burnham reversed... [Continue Reading]
Iran cancels flights to Baghdad and Muscat as US aviation sanctions take effect
Iranian aviation officials have begun cancelling flights to Baghdad and Muscat as new United States sanctions take effect, according to reports from state-linked media. The disruption comes as Tehran tries to keep other international routes operating while facing pressure on the services that support its carriers abroad. Officials are also seeking to redirect some Baghdad-bound flights to Najaf Airport in Iraq.A spokesman for Iran's Civil Aviation Organization said the agency was negotiating so that flights scheduled for Baghdad could be rerouted to Najaf Airport. Another report said talks with Oman were also under way, while flights to Istanbul and other... [Continue Reading]
EU extends Russia sanctions for 36 months as Fridman and Usmanov are delisted
The European Union has agreed to extend its sanctions regime on Russia for 36 months while removing Russian billionaires Mikhail Fridman and Alisher Usmanov from the blacklist. The compromise was reached after days of disagreement among member states and came as a deadline approached for renewing the measures linked to Russia's war in Ukraine. Ireland, which holds the EU's rotating presidency, said the decision would keep the wider sanctions framework in place until 22 September 2029.Diplomats said Latvia dropped its veto after sustained opposition to the exemptions, allowing the deal to go through. The agreement keeps sanctions on about 3,000... [Continue Reading]
Trump threatens to 'annihilate' Iran at UN as diplomacy continues in New York
President Donald Trump has escalated his language on Iran at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, saying he faces a "big decision" on whether to strike the country again or pursue a peace deal. He told delegates he could "annihilate" the Islamic Republic if the conflict is not resolved, putting the threat at the centre of his address. The remarks came during a day of high-level diplomacy on the sidelines of the assembly, where he was meeting more than a dozen world leaders.Trump spoke before a standing-room-only audience, with a member of Iran's delegation present in the chamber.... [Continue Reading]
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Saudi Arabia condemns Houthi targeting of Mecca as security alert deepens
Saudi Arabia's King Salman has condemned Yemen's Houthi movement after the kingdom said it intercepted a drone launched towards Mecca. The king described the group as a "terrorist militia" and called the targeting of the holy city a "heinous crime", according to the official Saudi Press Agency. The comments were made during a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, in a rare public intervention by the 90-year-old monarch.The latest remarks come after Saudi Arabia said last week that it had intercepted a drone aimed at Mecca, an allegation the Houthis denied. Houthi leader Abdel-Malik al-Houthi called the Saudi claim "a heinous lie",... [Continue Reading]
Trump and Andy Burnham meet for first time in New York on sidelines of UN General Assembly
Donald Trump and Andy Burnham met for the first time in New York on Tuesday, holding talks on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. The encounter was followed by brief public remarks and questions from reporters, with both men striking a positive tone about the exchange. Trump said he believed Burnham would be a "great prime minister" and described him as having "a lot of assets on his side." Burnham, in turn, thanked the president and said the pair had established a "good connection." The meeting covered Ukraine, the Falkland Islands and trade, according to Burnham.Trump said the... [Continue Reading]
Lula warns against foreign interference in Brazil vote at UN amid US tensions
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva used his address to the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Tuesday to warn against attempts to interfere in Brazil's upcoming election. He said neither domestic nor foreign actors should undermine the October 4 vote, framing the issue as a defence of Brazilian sovereignty. Lula said Brazil would remain a sovereign country and that its democracy belonged to Brazilians.The remarks came as relations with the administration of US President Donald Trump remain strained. Lula did not name Trump directly, but he referred to what he described as hegemonic ambitions and foreign... [Continue Reading]
Day News Recap: Ukraine hit by fresh Russian strikes as UN tensions, Houthi escalation and AI calls dominate
Russia launched overnight missile and drone strikes across several regions of Ukraine, killing at least three people and damaging industrial and energy infrastructure, in the latest attack on the countryโs power and production network. ๐In Russia, preliminary results showed Vladimir Putinโs United Russia winning a record supermajority in the State Duma, while separate reports said Russian voters abroad backed the liberal New People party by a wide margin and Moscow is quietly modernising bomb shelters in the capital and St Petersburg. ๐ ๐ ๐At the United Nations in New York, Donald Trump used his General Assembly speech to threaten Iran... [Continue Reading]
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Iran delegation heads to UNGA to press grievances over war with the United States
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi are in New York for the United Nations General Assembly, where Tehran says it will press its grievances over the war with the United States and look for diplomatic openings. Pezeshkian departed Tehran on Tuesday morning local time and is scheduled to address the 193-member assembly on Wednesday. The delegation is expected to remain in New York for five days before returning to Tehran on Saturday.Before leaving, Pezeshkian said the issues raised at the UN would include what he described as the plight of the Iranian people, the crimes committed against... [Continue Reading]
Iraq presses ahead with plan to collect 6 million weapons despite militia pushback
Iraq says it will continue a nationwide effort to collect an estimated 6 million weapons held outside official institutions, even as it softens a key deadline and faces resistance from armed factions. The Interior Ministry said the campaign is moving ahead through negotiation rather than force. Officials say the aim is to bring weapons under state control and reduce the influence of groups operating outside the formal security system.Deputy Interior Minister Hussein al-Awadi said the September 30 deadline, which had been linked to the final withdrawal of US-led coalition forces, is now being treated as the start of a regulatory... [Continue Reading]
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Noontime News Recap: Ukraine hit by overnight strikes as regional tensions and rights disputes deepen
Russian missile and drone strikes overnight hit several regions of Ukraine, killing at least three people and damaging industrial and energy infrastructure, in the latest attack on the countryโs power and production network. ๐In the Middle East, the G7 called on Yemenโs Houthi movement to stop attacks on Saudi Arabia and civilian shipping after a renewed escalation that included a strike on Riyadh, while Iran and Pakistan held talks in Tehran as regional diplomacy continued amid rising US tensions. ๐ ๐Australia faced two separate security and policy disputes, with officials investigating how F 35 fighter jet parts bound for the... [Continue Reading]
Berlin reacts as The Left wins historic vote amid AfD gains elsewhere
Berlin is reacting to an unprecedented election result that put The Left ahead in the capital, with the party's victory drawing particular attention in immigrant communities. Elif Eralp, the party's Berlin leader, is likely to become the city's first mayor with an immigrant background and its first mayor from The Left. The result has been read locally as a sharp contrast to the far-right AfD's gains in eastern Germany.The party won 25.7 percent of the vote, the highest share in the state, according to the reported results. A poll by broadcaster ZDF put Eralp's personal rating at 36 percent, also... [Continue Reading]
Iran and Pakistan hold talks in Tehran as US tensions rise
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has held talks in Tehran with Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi as regional diplomacy continues amid rising tensions with the United States. The meeting came as Pakistan and Qatar seek to revive diplomatic efforts around the crisis, with Tehran warning that the situation could intensify further. Naqvi's visit was his sixth to the Iranian capital since the war between the United States and Israel on Iran began in February.The talks took place a day after Tehran said it had received intelligence that the United States was planning new attacks on Iran. Pezeshkian said he hoped for... [Continue Reading]
EU budget talks intensify in Brussels as ministers split over spending priorities
European affairs ministers met in Brussels on Tuesday as negotiations over the European Union's next seven-year budget gathered pace under Ireland's rotating Council presidency. The talks are focused on the bloc's spending framework for 2028 to 2034, with member states divided over how large the budget should be and which priorities should be protected. Agriculture and regional support are at the centre of the dispute, alongside wider questions about the EU's expanding responsibilities.Speaking as he arrived at the meeting, Ireland's Minister for European Affairs Thomas Byrne said many member states wanted to safeguard Common Agricultural Policy funding despite pressure from... [Continue Reading]
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Breakfast News Recap: UN gathers as wars, sanctions and Asia markets dominate a crowded global briefing
The United Nations General Assembly has opened in New York with nearly 130 heads of state and government due to speak, as the annual gathering begins against a backdrop of war, diplomatic strain and a push for new global rules on artificial intelligence. ๐UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said the world is getting worse as conflicts multiply and the Security Council remains paralysed, warning that divisions among major powers are weakening the international response to crises. ๐ Twenty two world leaders have also called for urgent AI guardrails, while twenty countries and the European Union backed stronger global oversight and... [Continue Reading]
Twenty countries and EU call for global AI oversight body ahead of UN talks
Twenty countries and the European Union have called for stronger international oversight of artificial intelligence, including the possible creation of a global body to set and enforce standards. The joint statement was released on Monday as world leaders prepare to discuss AI risks at the annual gathering of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. It says governments and industry should act immediately to ensure AI remains under human direction, oversight and control.The declaration was issued from the office of Finnish President Alexander Stubb and says countries should develop common standards, share reports of serious safety incidents and consider... [Continue Reading]
Trump seeks Belarus potash deal amid Canada trade dispute
US President Donald Trump said Washington is working on a "massive" deal to buy potash from Belarus, signalling a possible shift in supply away from Canada as his administration intensifies a trade dispute with its northern neighbour. He said the price would be "substantially less" than what the United States is currently paying to Canada, describing the move as good news for American farmers and ranchers. The comments were made on his social media account and did not include any deal terms or a timeline.The announcement comes as Washington continues a quiet thaw with Minsk under Trump's second administration. Last... [Continue Reading]
Walid Jumblatt backs armistice talks if they lead to Israeli withdrawal
President Joseph Aoun on Monday received former Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt at Baabda Palace, according to NNA. Jumblatt attended with his son, Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Teymour Jumblatt, and MP Wael Abou Faour. The meeting was held this afternoon and focused on the latest developments in Lebanon and the region in light of the current situation. During the visit, Jumblatt presented Aoun with a copy of his memoir, published under the title "A Destiny in This Levant: From the Civil War to the Impossible Peace." No further details were provided on the content of the discussion beyond... [Continue Reading]
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China Briefs on Xi Visit, GDI Anniversary, Japan Typhon Deployment, and Pakistan Attack
This Foreign Ministry press conference in Beijing on September 21, 2026, covered a series of China's positions on the United States, the United Nations, Japan, New Zealand, Russia, and Pakistan. Spokesperson Guo Jiakun answered questions on bilateral diplomacy, regional security, trade controls, and a reported terrorist attack in Pakistan. On China-U.S. ties, Guo said President Xi Jinping will soon pay a state visit to the United States at the invitation of President Donald J. He said Xi will hold an in-depth exchange of views with Trump on major issues concerning bilateral ties and world peace and development. Guo said head-of-state... [Continue Reading]
China expels two senior military officers as anti-corruption purge deepens
China has expelled two senior military officers from the ruling Communist Party in a further escalation of a long-running anti-corruption drive inside the armed forces. The move affects Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, both of whom held senior roles in the Central Military Commission, the body at the centre of China's defence command structure. State media said the pair were accused of corruption, political disloyalty and serious misconduct.According to the official account, the two men "seriously violated political discipline and political rules, formed cliques and factions, and were disloyal and dishonest to the party". Investigations into them were announced in... [Continue Reading]
Day News Recap: Iran, Russia and Ukraine dominate a day of rising security tensions
Iran warned that its war with the United States is not over and said it has prepared for a long term confrontation, after fresh threats from Tehran and Washington over possible new strikes and wider retaliation. The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps said it would hit new targets and use new weapons if the US attacks again, while Washington also threatened to ground Iranian airlines worldwide from Wednesday. ๐ ๐ ๐In the Middle East, Israeli forces detained at least 53 Palestinians in a raid on Biddu, northwest of Jerusalem, and placed the town under lockdown, while Gaza health officials said Israeli... [Continue Reading]
US and China discuss AI incident channel as Trump-Xi summit nears
US and Chinese officials have discussed a proposed artificial intelligence notification mechanism that would allow the two sides to warn each other if an AI incident became serious enough to threaten national security. The idea was raised during talks in New York on Sunday between US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, ahead of a planned meeting this week between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. The proposal has been described as an AI hotline, although details of how it would work have not been made public.Bessent said Washington wanted a broader US-China... [Continue Reading]
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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]
Sudan humanitarian truce efforts keep failing as fighting worsens
Efforts to secure a humanitarian truce in Sudan are continuing to fail as fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces intensifies. The latest push, backed by the United States, is aimed at a 90-day pause to allow aid deliveries, but the warring sides have continued to prioritise battlefield gains. The result is a deepening crisis for civilians already facing severe shortages and displacement.According to the supplied material, renewed mediation efforts have repeatedly hit a dead end. The United Nations has warned that Sudan's humanitarian system is on the brink of collapse, while aid groups are urging... [Continue Reading]
Noontime News Recap: Putin secures landslide as Xi plans US visit and regional tensions deepen
Vladimir Putin's United Russia party has won a landslide in Russia's parliamentary election, with preliminary results showing a record 355 seats in the State Duma and almost all ballots counted. The result gives Mr Putin a dominant grip on parliament after the first vote since the war in Ukraine began. ๐Separate reporting on the same election said United Russia was on course for a sweeping victory with more than 90 percent of the vote in some counts, underlining the scale of the win and the renewed concern in Nato capitals about Russia's direction. ๐China has confirmed that President Xi Jinping... [Continue Reading]
Iran's Guards warn of new targets and weapons if US attacks again
The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps has warned that it would strike new targets and deploy new weapons if the United States launches further attacks on Iran. In a statement reported on Monday, a spokesman for the force said there would be significant changes in Iran's defence and counteroffensive if the conflict escalates again. He added that the Guards were prepared for a prolonged war.The spokesman said Iran would introduce weapons with new capabilities and that its targets would not necessarily be the same as before. He also said Tehran had new targets that had not yet been attacked. The comments... [Continue Reading]
Macron and Carney deepen France-Canada ties amid Trump tensions
French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney have pledged closer cooperation after meeting in Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, a French territory off Canada's Atlantic coast. The talks brought the archipelago into the centre of a wider diplomatic message about sovereignty, trade and strategic autonomy. The visit was the first by a French president to the territory since 2014 and the first by a Canadian prime minister.The two leaders said they wanted to strengthen ties across space, climate, energy and trade, while also addressing what they described as rising geopolitical tensions and pressure on democratic values. Carney said the... [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]
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Australia's Albanese urges US and China to strike AI deal ahead of UN talks
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has called on the United States and China to reach an agreement on artificial intelligence governance, saying humans must remain in control of the technology. He made the remarks while visiting Apple's headquarters in Cupertino, California, on his way to New York. Albanese said he would raise the issue of global AI rules with like-minded leaders at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly.He described AI as a global phenomenon and said there was a need for discussion about the framework for its rollout because the technology is moving quickly. Albanese said he accepts there are... [Continue Reading]
Bolivia ratifies $1.9bn IMF deal and ends diesel subsidies amid protest threats
Just hours after Bolivia's Congress ratified a $1.9 billion loan agreement with the International Monetary Fund, President Rodrigo Paz announced an immediate end to diesel subsidies. The move affects fuel used by trucks, buses and tractors, and is part of the government's effort to stabilise an economy under strain. Gasoline subsidies for private cars will remain in place for now, although Paz has already reduced that support in recent months.The Senate's approval on Friday completed the final legislative step for the three-year financing programme, after the lower house backed it a day earlier. The IMF first announced a staff-level agreement... [Continue Reading]
Sheinbaum says she spoke with Trump as Mexico seeks tariff relief
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said she had a "very good" phone call with United States President Donald Trump as the two countries continue negotiations on a bilateral trade deal. She said the call took place on Wednesday and that progress is being made toward an agreement between Mexico and the United States. The talks are focused on reducing tariffs on Mexican exports, according to her remarks.Speaking at her morning news conference on Friday, Sheinbaum said she did not give further details about the conversation. She said Mexico hopes to secure tariff relief for industries including steel, aluminium and cars. She... [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]
Australia withdraws from West Bank sanctions talks ahead of joint statement
Australia has not joined a coordinated statement by 12 countries that backed or signalled support for possible trade measures against goods from Israeli settlements in the West Bank. According to diplomatic sources, Australia had been involved in the discussions but withdrew late in the process. The decision left Australia outside a move led by the United Kingdom and supported by a wider group of European and other partners.The statement was released last week by the UK, France, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Sweden. Those governments said they would either commit to or consider targeting trade... [Continue Reading]
Houthis tighten grip on Bab al-Mandeb as US officials hold talks in Muscat
United States officials have met Houthi representatives in the Omani capital, Muscat, after the group seized thousands of square kilometres of territory in Yemen and tightened its control over the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. The talks took place over the weekend at the US embassy in Muscat, according to the supplied material. The development raises fresh concern over one of the world's most important maritime chokepoints.The Bab al-Mandeb Strait links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and is a key route for global shipping and energy supplies. The supplied report says the Houthis now control strategically important islands and... [Continue Reading]
South Korea urges Trump to keep dialogue with Pyongyang as Seoul seeks to help talks
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said on Friday that he is urging Donald Trump to maintain dialogue with Pyongyang and that Seoul is carrying out preliminary coordination efforts to help facilitate talks between North Korea and the United States. Speaking at the presidential Blue House, Lee said a meeting between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un remains difficult, but not impossible. He added that South Korea must make every possible effort to turn that possibility into reality.Lee said Trump "clearly" wants to keep the channel open with Pyongyang, according to remarks reported from the briefing. He did not... [Continue Reading]
South Korea rules out military role in Iran war as Seoul reviews limited navigation support
President Lee Jae Myung has said South Korea will not deploy military assets in any way that could draw the country into the war in Iran. He made the remarks at a news conference on Friday, saying there would be no deployment that would "involve or enter war." The comments come after pressure from Donald Trump for Seoul to provide support, and they clarify South Korea's position on a sensitive regional security issue. Lee said Seoul was still reviewing whether it could take a limited role in safeguarding navigation in the region.He said South Korea must do the minimum needed,... [Continue Reading]
Saudi oil rerouted through Oman as Hormuz blockade disrupts shipping
Saudi Arabia is increasingly moving crude through ship-to-ship transfers off Oman's Sohar port as disruption linked to the Strait of Hormuz blockade continues to reshape regional oil shipping. The arrangement is being used to get exports out after commercial vessels began avoiding the waterway, which has become effectively closed in the current conflict. Sohar, just outside the strait, has emerged as one of the main bypass points for the flow of crude.The supporting material says Saudi exports were disrupted after Iran-aligned Houthis damaged a key East-West pipeline that had helped bypass the Strait of Hormuz. It also says Iran closed... [Continue Reading]
Canada deepens EU ties amid US tariff pressure
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has said Ottawa wants stronger ties with the European Union as trade pressure from the United States pushes Canada to look for alternative allies and markets. In remarks to the European Parliament, Carney said closer links with the bloc would help ensure that no outside power could control Canada's markets or undermine its sovereignty. The comments add fresh momentum to a debate about whether middle powers can coordinate more closely in response to coercive economic measures.Carney linked the discussion to Canada's wider trade response to US tariffs and threats, saying the country is seeking to... [Continue Reading]
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]
THE BATTLE FOR ALI AL-TAHER: HOW A SOUTHERN LEBANON AMBUSH SHATTERED TRUMPโS WASHINGTON AGREEMENT
A catastrophic military escalation in Southern Lebanon has successfully disrupted the highest levels of global diplomacy. Just days after the signing of the United States and Iran Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), an armoured battlefield clash on the strategic heights of Ali al-Taher has effectively frozen implementation talks scheduled to begin today in Switzerland. The crisis provides an alarming look at how kinetic actions on the ground can instantly sabotage geopolitical blueprints designed in Washington. The Official Statement from Hezbollah Following the midnight clashes, the media wing of Hezbollah issued a formal, comprehensive statement outlining their strategic justification and rejecting accusations... [Continue Reading]
GAS, GOD, AND GUNS: The Secret Agenda Behind the Washington Talks and the Death of the Maritime Border
The mahogany tables of the U.S. State Department are hosting a ghost today. As official delegations from Israel and Lebanon convene for a third round of high-stakes negotiations this Friday, May 8, 2026, the air in Washington is thick with the scent of a "peace" that looks increasingly like a strategic ambush. While the world watches the diplomatic theatre, the reality on the ground in Southern Lebanon tells a story of a predatory recalibration. Prime Minister Netanyahu isnโt just looking for a ceasefire; he is aiming to hit three birds with one single, devastating stone: the annexation of land, the... [Continue Reading]
The Proving Ground, When โDecentโ Reporting Meets High-Tech Warfare
For two decades I have watched wars unfold not only on battlefields, but on screens. Todayโs incident over Kuwait, involving the downing of a U.S. F-15 Strike Eagle, is not just another headline in the Iran conflict. It may be a signal that something larger is unfolding behind the noise. Iranian state outlets rapidly circulated imagery of an ejected pilot. Washington responded cautiously. But beneath the spectacle lies a deeper question, whose technology was truly being tested? The Gulf as a live-fire laboratory For years, China has refined export-ready variants of its air defense systems, particularly the HQ-9 family and... [Continue Reading]




