Iran says US must choose whether to end war as Lavrov and Araqchi back diplomacy in New York
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi met in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly and said there was no alternative to a diplomatic settlement of the crisis. Russia's Foreign Ministry said the two discussed current regional and international issues, with particular emphasis on the situation around Iran. The meeting added a new diplomatic signal to a week already dominated by public exchanges over the war and its possible end.The comments came after Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a televised interview that it was for the United States to decide... [Continue Reading]
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Trump hosts Xi Jinping at Washington state dinner after White House talks
The White House talks between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping were followed by a state dinner in Washington on Thursday night, bringing the leaders of the United States and China together at the end of a day of bilateral meetings. The dinner capped Xi's first visit to Washington in more than a decade and marked the second meeting this year between the two presidents. The supplied reporting says the event featured a tech-heavy guest list, as well as business leaders, billionaires and Washington powerbrokers.Trump used the dinner to praise the relationship between the two countries, saying both sides understood they... [Continue Reading]
At least 41 die as boat capsizes on Lake Tanganyika in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
At least 41 people have died after a boat capsized on Lake Tanganyika in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with 49 others rescued and search operations still under way. The vessel sank near the village of Mapera in Tanganyika province after travelling from Kigoma in Tanzania towards Kalemie in the DRC. Officials said the boat was carrying about 100 people as well as cargo when it overturned.Norris Mulongoyi, the provincial transport minister for Tanganyika province, said rescue teams were continuing to look for remaining passengers. A survivor, Annie Moyoni, said passengers were awakened at about 1am and found the... [Continue Reading]
UAE suspends Iranian airline flights amid US sanctions pressure
The United Arab Emirates has suspended all flights operated by Iranian airlines to and from the country, according to a statement carried by the Emirati civil aviation authority. The move comes as regional governments and airports respond to new United States sanctions pressure on Iran's aviation sector. It also follows a separate UAE central bank action against Iran's Bank Melli, adding to the wider tightening of restrictions.The authority said the suspension was based on US sanctions imposed on Iranian airlines, which it said were preventing them from using airports around the world. An Iran Air Tour flight from Tehran to... [Continue Reading]
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Fire burns through night at Catterick Garrison barracks accommodation block
Firefighters are expected to work through the night after a blaze broke out at a barracks accommodation block in Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire. The fire was still burning late on Thursday, with emergency crews remaining at the scene. The incident is taking place at one of the United Kingdom's largest military garrisons, where accommodation blocks house soldiers and, in some cases, their families.North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said multiple crews were deployed, along with an appliance from County Durham and Darlington. In a statement, the service said the incident was expected to continue throughout the night. No cause for... [Continue Reading]
UN delegates walk out as Netanyahu attacks critics at General Assembly
Dozens of delegates walked out as Benjamin Netanyahu began speaking at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, in a fresh display of diplomatic protest over Israel's conduct in Gaza and the wider Middle East. The Israeli prime minister used the address to defend military campaigns in Gaza, Iran and elsewhere, while rejecting accusations that Israel is committing genocide. He also urged those who disagreed with him to leave the chamber, sharpening the confrontation inside the hall.Netanyahu said Israel would continue fighting and accused critics of spreading lies about his country and its soldiers. He singled out New York... [Continue Reading]
Trump hosts Xi Jinping at the White House as state dinner follows talks on AI and security
US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump have hosted a welcome ceremony at the White House for visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife, Peng Liyuan. The visit then moved into formal talks covering artificial intelligence, Iran, Ukraine, the Middle East and the Korean Peninsula. Later in the day, Mr Xi was expected to join Mr Trump for a state dinner at the White House, with technology and business leaders also on the guest list.The new details add clearer scope to a meeting already framed as a major diplomatic moment between Washington and Beijing. The supplied material... [Continue Reading]
France to send troops and air defences to Saudi Red Sea port of Yanbu
France will send troops, radar systems and air defence equipment to Saudi Arabia to help protect the Red Sea port city of Yanbu, President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday. He said the deployment is intended to safeguard the site, which he described as key for energy transport, rather than draw France into any conflict. The announcement came during a primetime television interview in which Macron also addressed wider security concerns facing Europe and the Middle East.Macron said the French deployment would include soldiers, radar systems and defence systems. He linked the move to recent pressure on energy routes, saying crude... [Continue Reading]
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Costa calls for stronger multilateralism, AI rules and UN reform at General Assembly
President AntĂłnio Costa used his address to the 81st United Nations General Assembly to argue that multilateralism remains the only workable response to the world's current crises. He said no country acting alone can prevent a pandemic, stabilise the climate, secure resilient supply chains, regulate artificial intelligence, ensure financial stability or deliver sustainable development. Costa said the same logic applies to peace. He said no country, however powerful, can build lasting peace on its own, and called for multilateralism that is strong, effective, representative and capable of delivering for people. He framed the central challenges as peace, the climate emergency,... [Continue Reading]
Wall Street closes mixed as megacap tech and chips surge, while yields pressure banks, energy and small caps
Executive summary: U.S. equities finished mixed, with the Nasdaq Composite and S&P 500 higher, led by a powerful rally in Meta, Nvidia and the broader chip complex. The move came alongside a sharp rise in natural gas and a stronger dollar versus the yen, while rate-sensitive and cyclical pockets such as banks, energy and small caps lagged. The day’s tape suggests investors were still rotating toward AI-linked growth even as higher yields and a firmer dollar weighed on parts of the market. [Continue Reading]
Abbas tells UN Israeli policies threaten Palestinian existence amid Gaza war
Mahmoud Abbas has warned the United Nations General Assembly that Israeli policies threaten the "very life and existence" of Palestinians. In prerecorded remarks from his office in Ramallah, the Palestinian Authority president said Palestinians were living through one of the "most dangerous periods" in their history. His address was broadcast after the United States denied visas to a Palestinian delegation for the second year in a row.Abbas said the situation in Gaza involved "killing, destruction, starvation" and attempts at displacement, which he described as creating an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe. He said Israeli forces were erasing Palestinian lives in Gaza and... [Continue Reading]
Day News Recap: UN tensions rise as Ukraine, Gaza and regional conflicts dominate a crowded global day
World leaders at the United Nations General Assembly in New York traded warnings over Gaza, Ukraine and Iran, with the forum becoming a stage for competing claims, threats and diplomatic manoeuvres. The US and Iran resumed backchannel contacts through mediators, while Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian rejected US pressure and accused Washington and Israel of aggression. đź”— đź”—On the Gaza issue, Benjamin Netanyahu is due to address the UN as scrutiny intensifies over Israel's war and occupation, while Mahmoud Abbas delivered a recorded speech after the US denied him a visa. The US backed Board of Peace also unveiled a $2.45... [Continue Reading]
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European markets close mixed as oil and gas surge, gold slips and the dollar firms
Executive summary: European equities ended the session mixed, with the DAX and FTSE 100 lower while the Euro Stoxx 50 and CAC 40 held modest gains. The biggest cross-asset moves came from commodities and FX, Brent crude and natural gas jumped sharply, gold and silver fell, and the dollar strengthened against both the euro and sterling. The pattern points to a market still sensitive to energy inflation, higher yields and a firmer US currency. [Continue Reading]
Saudi-led coalition says it intercepted six ballistic missiles aimed at Taif and Yanbu
Saudi-led coalition forces say they intercepted six ballistic missiles launched by Yemen's Houthis towards the Saudi cities of Taif and Yanbu on Thursday. The coalition said the missiles were destroyed before reaching their targets, with Saudi air defences involved in the interceptions. There was no immediate claim of responsibility from the Houthis or any other group.The coalition's spokesman, Major General Turki al-Malki, said the missiles were directed at Taif and Yanbu, a strategically important port city on Saudi Arabia's Red Sea coast. Separate reporting said an air defence system operated by Greek military personnel in Saudi Arabia intercepted a ballistic... [Continue Reading]
Rubio warns Iraq risks fragmentation unless armed groups come under state control after UNGA meeting
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has warned that Iraq could face fragmentation unless armed factions are brought under state control. He made the remarks in New York on Wednesday after meeting Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. Rubio said Washington had no doubt about al-Zaidi's commitment to disarming armed groups, but described the task as a major and difficult challenge.Rubio said at least three armed groups had disarmed and joined the national government, while at least one remained far less cooperative. He argued that bringing all weapons under state control would... [Continue Reading]
Australia and US investigate diverted F-35 parts shipment to Hong Kong
Australia and the United States are investigating how a shipment of F-35 fighter jet components was rerouted to Hong Kong after leaving Australia. The incident has raised questions about the handling of sensitive military supply chains, although officials have not said there is evidence that the technology was accessed or deliberately diverted by China. The parts were reportedly part of the global spare-parts system used to support the stealth aircraft.The Pentagon's F-35 Joint Programme Office said it was aware of a shipment issue involving components from the programme and was working with US authorities and industry partners to recover them.... [Continue Reading]
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Hurricane Polo remains powerful off Mexico as Tropical Storm Nolo prompts Hawaii watch
Hurricane Polo is continuing to bring heavy rain and strong surf to Mexico's Pacific coast, while Tropical Storm Nolo is prompting preparations in Hawaii. The US National Hurricane Center said Polo was about 130 miles south-southwest of Zihuatanejo early on Thursday, moving northwest at 7 mph before a later turn west-northwest and then northwest again over the weekend. Forecasters said the storm was expected to keep Category 5 strength as it tracks along the coast over the next few days.The main concern in Mexico is not a direct landfall but the rainfall and coastal impacts associated with the storm's outer... [Continue Reading]
Oil and fuel markets under pressure as key energy routes strain
Pressure on major energy shipping routes is testing the resilience of the global oil market, with disruption stretching from the Strait of Hormuz to the Red Sea and the Black Sea. The strain is affecting the movement of crude and fuel at a time when markets are already tight. Shuttle tankers are helping keep oil flowing through Hormuz, but at a much higher cost.The wider result is a market shock that is feeding through to transport and fuel prices. The immediate concern is not a complete halt in supply, but the rising cost and complexity of moving energy. The supplied... [Continue Reading]
Poland says fire at Starlink station was deliberate sabotage
Poland has said a fire at a Starlink satellite station in central Poland was a deliberate act of sabotage. Deputy Prime Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski said the blaze in Masovian Voivodeship was designed to disable the site and disrupt internet access for several institutions, including the Ukrainian army. The station remains operational, but officials say the incident is being treated as intentional.Gawkowski said the fire broke out on Wednesday night in Wola Krobowska, and that an investigation is under way. He told Polish public broadcaster TVP Info that many indications suggest the attack fits a new Russian doctrine of attack, although... [Continue Reading]
Iran warns conflict could spread to the Indian Ocean if the United States strikes again
Iran has warned that the war could extend to the Indian Ocean if the United States carries out new bombings against the country. The warning came on Thursday from Mojtaba Khamenei, an adviser to Iran's supreme leader, and marks a sharper public reference to a wider theatre of conflict. It also points to growing concern around strategic maritime routes and military sites beyond the immediate Middle East.The statement was linked to the wider confrontation between Tehran and Washington, which has remained tense as negotiations have stalled. According to the supplied material, talks between the two countries have been paralysed since... [Continue Reading]
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Italy reviews NRRP progress ahead of final EUR 28.4 billion instalment request
NRRP steering committee meeting held on 8th progress report to Parliament and fulfilment of objectives for the 10th instalment A steering committee meeting for the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) was held at Palazzo Chigi today to examine the eighth NRRP progress report to Parliament and to verify fulfilment of the 156 objectives linked to the payment request for the tenth and final instalment, worth a total of EUR 28.4 billion. The meeting, called and chaired by Minister for European Affairs, the NRRP and Cohesion Policy Tommaso Foti, was attended by the Ministers and Undersecretaries in charge as well... [Continue Reading]
Yemen government forces claim to repel Houthi attacks in Taiz as fighting continues
Yemen's government-aligned forces say they have repelled coordinated Houthi attacks on several fronts in the southwestern governorate of Taiz. The fighting was reported on Thursday and follows renewed clashes in an area that has become increasingly important for control of roads and high ground. According to the reported account, the battles are continuing in the country's southwest, where both sides are competing for strategic positions.Colonel Majid al-Nuzaili, spokesman for the Saudi Arabia-backed government forces, said the Houthis launched the attacks on Wednesday night in an attempt to reach positions on a key road linking the Aden, Lahj and Taiz governorates.... [Continue Reading]
Poland warns residents to prepare evacuation backpacks after Russian helicopter incursion
Poland has urged residents to be ready for emergencies after a Russian Mi-8 helicopter crossed into its airspace from the Kaliningrad region, in an incident that also prompted NATO fighter jets to scramble. The aircraft was reported to have flown over Polish territory for about 42 seconds, with officials saying it came from the heavily militarised exclave near the town of Braniewo. Polish authorities described the episode as a fresh test of air defences and a reminder that civilians should have basic supplies ready in case of disruption.Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski said he already keeps an... [Continue Reading]
Breakfast News Recap: UN tensions deepen as Russia strikes Kyiv and leaders clash over Gaza, Ukraine and Iran
Russia launched fresh ballistic missile strikes on Kyiv early on Wednesday, killing two people and injuring six, in another attack that damaged buildings across the capital and underlined the continuing pressure on Ukraine as leaders gathered at the United Nations in New York. đź”—Volodymyr Zelenskyy used his UN address to urge sustained economic pressure on Moscow, saying Russia is using fighters from 47 countries in the war, while Ukraine and Russia also intensified their long range drone war over occupied Luhansk far from the front line. đź”— đź”— đź”—The UN General Assembly has become a focal point for the wider... [Continue Reading]
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Europe opens mixed as energy jumps, metals slip and the dollar firms
Executive summary: European markets opened with a split tone, as the FTSE 100 and DAX fell while the CAC 40 and Euro Stoxx 50 held gains. The biggest early move was in natural gas, which surged more than 12%, while Brent crude eased, gold and silver slipped, and the dollar strengthened against both the euro and sterling. The pattern points to a market balancing higher energy costs, softer precious metals and a firmer U.S. currency, with autos and broader European equities showing relative resilience. [Continue Reading]
Argentina escalates Falklands claim at UN as Milei threatens legal and economic action
Argentina's President Javier Milei has intensified his country's sovereignty dispute with the United Kingdom over the Falkland Islands during a speech to the United Nations General Assembly in New York. He described the claim as a "national cause" and said Argentina would "take matters into our own hands" through legal and economic action. The islands are known in Argentina as the Malvinas, and Milei made the issue a central part of his address on Wednesday.Milei said the United Nations had chosen "to look the other way" on the dispute, and he framed Argentina's response as a "peaceful, practical and effective... [Continue Reading]
Australia faces diesel price spike as US export curbs are considered
Australian diesel prices could rise above $3 a litre if the Trump administration moves ahead with a ban on US diesel exports, according to market reporting on Thursday. The warning comes as fuel costs climb amid disrupted global supply and renewed pressure on international oil markets. Canberra is currently recording the highest diesel price among the capital cities, at 298.7 cents per litre.The same reporting said unleaded petrol in Canberra was priced at 250 cents per litre, while diesel prices in other cities were not far behind. Prices have risen by nearly 40 cents a litre since the start of... [Continue Reading]
Die Linke's Elif Eralp on verge of becoming Berlin mayor after city-state election win
Die Linke candidate Elif Eralp is on the verge of becoming Berlin's next mayor after her party came first in the city-state election last weekend. The result puts the far-left party in position to lead coalition talks in the German capital for the first time, marking a potential shift in the city's political balance. If confirmed, Eralp would become Berlin's first leader of Turkish origin.According to the supplied report, Die Linke won more than a quarter of the vote, with about 26% in the election. That put it ahead of the Social Democrats, the Greens and the Christian Democratic Union,... [Continue Reading]
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Turkey agrees to gradual handover of Bashiqa base to Iraq amid wider security deal
Turkey and Iraq have agreed to a gradual transfer of the Bashiqa military base to Baghdad, according to a statement from the Iraqi prime minister's office. The announcement followed a meeting in New York between Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. The two sides also said they would deepen security cooperation and expand bilateral trade and investment.The statement said the agreement also covered steps to fully establish state authority in Sinjar and end the presence of foreign armed elements there. It referred to the Kurdistan Workers'... [Continue Reading]
Tokyo Opens Higher as Nikkei Jumps, Oil Slides and Natural Gas Surges in a Mixed Asia-Pacific Session
Executive summary: Tokyo and broader Asia-Pacific markets opened with a risk-on tone, led by a strong Nikkei advance and gains in Korea and Hong Kong. The session is being shaped by a sharp drop in WTI crude, a surge in natural gas, a softer gold complex, and a firmer US dollar against the yen. The move is notable because it combines lower oil, higher gas, and a weaker precious-metals bid, a mix that can shift sector leadership across equities, currencies, and commodities. [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]
Tunisia activist hospitalised after 39-day hunger strike over detention
A Gaza solidarity activist detained in Tunisia has been admitted to hospital in critical condition after 39 days on hunger strike, according to a rights group linked to the flotilla campaign. Wael Naouar is protesting his pre-trial detention and the financial misconduct charges brought against him and three other activists. The case has drawn fresh attention after a judge rejected an appeal against extending the group's detention.Bassem Trifi, head of the Tunisian League for the Defence of Human Rights, said Naouar was in a very critical health condition and on the verge of death. The flotilla group said Tunisian authorities... [Continue Reading]
Australia warns China and the US the Indo-Pacific is not their 'chessboard' as Albanese deepens Ukraine support
In a major foreign policy speech in New York, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is set to say the post-1945 world order is no longer fit for purpose. He will also warn China and the United States that the Indo-Pacific is not a chessboard for global superpowers. The remarks come as he has launched Australia's campaign for a two-year term on the United Nations Security Council.The speech follows Albanese's meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, where the two leaders signed a decade-long security agreement. Australia also announced an additional $60 million in support for Ukraine, adding to its existing assistance... [Continue Reading]
UN General Assembly in New York faces fresh pressure as leaders clash over Gaza, Ukraine and Iran
World leaders gathering in New York for the 81st United Nations General Assembly are using the platform to press some of the most divisive conflicts in global politics. The latest speeches and analysis describe an institution under strain, with questions growing over funding, relevance and the ability of the Security Council to act. The debate is being shaped by wars in Gaza and Ukraine, tensions involving Iran, and wider concerns that major powers are increasingly acting outside the UN framework.One of the clearest examples came from Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who addressed the assembly for the fifth time since Russia's... [Continue Reading]
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Wall Street closes sharply higher as AI chips, Meta and Tesla power a broad tech-led rally
Executive summary: US stocks finished higher in a session dominated by a powerful rebound in technology and AI-linked shares. The Nasdaq Composite rose +3.7%, the S&P 500 gained +2.0%, and the Dow eked out a small advance. The biggest moves came from semiconductors, Meta, Tesla and Microsoft, while energy, banks and several metals fell. The price action points to a market rotating back toward growth and AI leadership, even as crude oil and some defensive commodity exposures weakened. [Continue Reading]
Zelenskyy uses UN speech to press for sustained pressure on Russia
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy used his address to the United Nations General Assembly in New York to call for sustained economic pressure on Russia and to argue that Moscow's war effort must be constrained. He said the conflict had been driven by Russian President Vladimir Putin and warned that the fighting could intensify in the months ahead. Zelenskyy also said Ukrainians were preparing for a harsh winter.In his remarks, Zelenskyy said Russia had lost 248,000 soldiers over the past eight months in Ukraine and had captured a little more than 1,000 square kilometres of territory this year. He said the... [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]
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]
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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]
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]
Trump signals possible tightening of White House press access after lawsuit over media exclusion
President Donald Trump made multiple posts on Truth Social in the last hour: - "Canada is destroying itself by allowing millions and millions of people into the Country, essentially unchecked and unvetted, and who are causing problems that will soon be too big to handle. It is a Liberal takeover that will end very badly. Already showing up in their numbers. - "All of the SLEAZEBAGS, like Third Rate "Reporter, " Kaitlan Collins, of Fake News CNN, a truly unhappy person, said they weren't going to be covering me. Then why were they ranting and raving like Lunatics, in the... [Continue Reading]
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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]
Airtel Money targets London IPO that could value business at up to $9bn
Airtel Money has announced plans for a London flotation that could make it one of the biggest listings in the city in years. The mobile money arm of Airtel Africa is seeking to raise about $800m through an initial public offering and is targeting a valuation of $8bn to $9bn. The company said it wants to list separately from its parent, which is already on the FTSE 100.The business operates across 13 sub-Saharan African countries and says it has 53 million monthly active users. Its services are delivered through branches and kiosks that allow customers to load money on to... [Continue Reading]
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun's Regular Press Conference on September 23, 2026
CCTV: The 48th WorldSkills Competition is being held in Shanghai. President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the event. This morning, Premier Li Qiang attended and addressed the opening ceremony of the WorldSkills Conference. The WorldSkills Expo is also being held at the same time. Can you provide more information on these events? Guo Jiakun: The 48th WorldSkills Competition has kicked off in Shanghai, bringing together a record number of nearly 1,400 competitors from 68 countries and regions. President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the WorldSkills Competition. He noted that a new round of scientific and technological... [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]
ErdoÄźan calls for UN Security Council veto power to be abolished at General Assembly
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip ErdoÄźan has called for the United Nations Security Council's veto power to be abolished, using the opening days of the UN General Assembly in New York to press for a major overhaul of the world body. In a published opinion piece, he argued that the current structure of the Council no longer fits today's crises and should be replaced with a system without permanent seats. Under his proposal, members would be elected by the General Assembly for fixed terms.ErdoÄźan said reform should begin with ending the veto privilege held by the five permanent members of the... [Continue Reading]
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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. 🔗Donald Trump sharpened the pressure on Tehran at the UN, saying he faced a big decision on whether to strike Iran and warning he could “annihilate” the country if it moved against US interests. He also said American officials had held... [Continue Reading]
Europe opens mixed as Brent slumps, natural gas jumps and the dollar firms
Executive summary: European markets opened with a split tone, as the FTSE 100 and DAX edged higher while the CAC 40 slipped and the Euro Stoxx 50 was little changed. The biggest cross-asset moves came outside equities, Brent crude fell sharply, natural gas surged, gold eased and the dollar strengthened against both the euro and sterling. The pattern points to a market still balancing energy-price relief, currency pressure and selective risk appetite. [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]
Fiji review proposes scrapping coup immunity, including for current prime minister
Fiji's Constitution Review Commission has tabled a report in parliament recommending sweeping changes to the country's supreme law. The proposals would remove immunity protections for people involved in past military coups and restore a bicameral legislature. The report was presented at a special sitting in Suva on Tuesday, with lawmakers given a USB stick containing the more than 200-page document.The review says immunity described as "absolute and irrevocable" should be reversed for those involved in the coups of 1987, 2000 and 2006. That would include current Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, who was behind the 1987 coups. The commission also recommends... [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]
Papua New Guinea police raid Port Moresby property in alleged trafficking and online scam case
Police in Papua New Guinea have raided a property in Port Moresby and said they found 39 Indonesian nationals who were allegedly being held against their will. Investigators said the men and women were discovered in a three-bedroom house in the capital on Tuesday morning. Police also said the group was being forced to operate an online scam from inside the property.According to police, the alleged victims had been recruited through social media and had been in Papua New Guinea for about a month. A police spokesperson said early inquiries suggested they were locked inside the house and were not... [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]
Manchester Jewish community plot disrupted after two men arrested on terrorism suspicion
Police in Manchester have said they disrupted a suspected terrorist plot targeting the city's Jewish community after arresting two men on Sunday. The men, both in their 30s, were detained in the Northern Quarter area of the city centre at 14:45 BST on suspicion of offences under Section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000. The Metropolitan Police said the investigation is being led by counter-terrorism officers and remains ongoing.Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans said the arrests followed a long-running proactive investigation and had led to the disruption of what police believe was a plot to target the Jewish community in... [Continue Reading]
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]
Polish intelligence arrests 17-year-old over alleged school and mosque attack plot
Polish intelligence services have arrested a 17-year-old in connection with an alleged plot to attack a school and a mosque, according to anti-terror prosecutors. The suspect, identified only as Pawel G, was charged with plotting a terrorist attack, promoting Nazi and fascist ideology, inciting racial hatred and attempting to buy weapons. Authorities said the case involves a suspected far-right extremist threat with potential public-safety implications.Prosecutors said a search of the teenager's computer and phone uncovered correspondence about planning mass attacks, including an assault on a school and a mosque. The material also referred to acquiring weapons, ammunition and military equipment,... [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]
Israeli minister and settlers enter Al-Aqsa compound amid holiday tensions
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem under heavy police protection, while hundreds of settlers also entered the site for religious rituals during the Jewish holiday period. The developments came as tensions remained high around one of the most sensitive religious locations in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The reporting also says Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu toured excavation tunnels beneath the Al-Aqsa compound and the Old City during the same holiday period.According to the supplied material, about 570 settlers entered the compound to perform rituals, with more than 450 entering the following morning,... [Continue Reading]
British couple detained in Iran still lacking regular family contact, family says
A British couple detained in Iran for more than 20 months have still not had regular contact restored with their family, according to relatives who say earlier assurances have not been followed through. Lindsay and Craig Foreman, who are from East Sussex, were sentenced to 10 years in prison on espionage charges they deny. Their family says the lack of consistent calls remains a serious concern after months of uncertainty.The family says the couple were promised renewed contact after ending hunger strikes earlier this year, but regular calls have not resumed. The hunger strikes lasted 93 days and 84 days... [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]
Australia investigates missing F-35 parts diverted to Hong Kong
Australia is investigating how F-35 fighter jet parts bound for the United States were diverted to Hong Kong and remain unaccounted for months later. The case has raised questions about the handling of sensitive defence supply chains and the route taken by components linked to the multinational fighter programme. Officials say the Australian side of the chain is now being reviewed.Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles said the Department of Defence is examining what happened after the parts, transported by another third party on behalf of Lockheed Martin, did not reach their intended destination. He said "very much everything that has... [Continue Reading]
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]
UK to support Saudi jets as Houthi attacks intensify and Mokha strike kills at least six
The United Kingdom has agreed to provide limited defensive air-to-air refuelling for Saudi jets after a request from Riyadh, as the conflict involving Yemen's Houthis and Saudi Arabia intensifies. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the Royal Air Force would support Saudi aircraft on defensive missions only, and that the arrangement would be time-limited and kept under review. The move comes as the Houthis continue missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia and as fighting in Yemen has widened along the Red Sea coast.Burnham said the decision was taken after advice from the defence secretary and foreign secretary, and that... [Continue Reading]
UK and US test-fire torpedo from uncrewed vessel in AUKUS first
The United Kingdom and the United States have for the first time test-fired a heavyweight torpedo from an uncrewed underwater vessel, in a trial carried out in UK waters last week. The announcement was made by the British government on Monday and described as a major step in autonomous naval technology. Officials said the live firing took place as part of work under AUKUS, the defence partnership linking the UK, the US and Australia.The trial used the British-built 12-metre undersea drone Excalibur, which launched a heavyweight torpedo jointly developed by the US and Australia. The British government said the test... [Continue Reading]
UK prosecutors bring first-ever Rwanda genocide charges against doctor
UK prosecutors have brought the first charges in the country linked to the 1994 Rwanda genocide, accusing a London-based doctor of offences including conduct ancillary to genocide and aiding crimes against humanity. Vincent Brown, who was formerly known as Vincent Bajinya, was arrested and charged on Monday after a seven-year investigation. He is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.The Crown Prosecution Service said the charges relate to allegations that Brown took part in the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda in 1994. Frank Ferguson, head of the service's counterterror division, said Brown is alleged to have directed... [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]
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]
Israeli raid in Biddu leaves at least 53 Palestinians detained as town is locked down
Israeli forces have carried out a raid in Biddu, northwest of Jerusalem in the occupied West Bank, detaining at least 53 Palestinians and placing the town under lockdown. Schools, shops and educational institutions were shut as troops searched homes and moved through the area. The operation began early on Monday and is the third incursion into Biddu since a Palestinian man from the town, suspected of killing an Israeli settler, was arrested.The Jerusalem Governorate said at least 53 young men were being held in an interrogation centre set up inside one of the houses seized during the raid. Biddu Mayor... [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]
Israeli fire kills three in Gaza as toll rises in separate incidents
Gaza health officials said Israeli fire killed three people, including a woman and a child, and wounded several others in separate incidents across the territory. The deaths were reported in Khan Younis in the south, Nuseirat in central Gaza and Jabalia in the north. Medical officials said the wounded were taken to hospitals after the incidents.Officials at Nasser hospital in Khan Younis said the body of an 11-year-old child, Ismail Al-Bardawil, was brought in after Israeli tanks opened fire on tents for displaced people in the Al-Mawasi area. In central Gaza, Al-Awda hospital said 31-year-old Fidaa Toutah died from wounds... [Continue Reading]
Iran reports sharp GDP and energy-sector contraction amid war pressure
Iran's official data shows the economy contracted sharply in the first quarter of the Persian calendar year, with the oil and gas sector taking the biggest hit. The figures point to mounting pressure on Tehran's economy as the war with Israel and related US pressure continue to disrupt exports and trade. The decline was recorded over the period from March 21 to June 20.Data released by the government-administered Statistical Center of Iran showed gross domestic product fell 10.1% year-on-year in that period. Crude oil and natural gas activity contracted 26.4% compared with the same quarter a year earlier, while GDP... [Continue Reading]
US-China AI rivalry hardens as export controls and model restrictions intensify
The United States and China are moving deeper into a technology confrontation over artificial intelligence, with Washington using export controls to slow Chinese access to advanced chips and related equipment. The dispute is increasingly being described as an AI cold war, with both sides building separate supply chains and policy camps around the technology. The latest discussion centres on whether the United States can maintain its lead while limiting China's progress.According to the supplied material, Washington has already imposed restrictions on the sale of chips to China. In June, the US government also curbed the ability of Chinese companies to... [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]
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]
Imran Khan's sister arrested in Lahore ahead of planned Pakistan protests
Aleema Khanum, the sister of Pakistan's jailed former prime minister Imran Khan, has been arrested in the eastern city of Lahore ahead of planned protests in support of him next week. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, the party founded by Imran Khan, said she was detained on Sunday afternoon and described the move as an illegal detention. A police official confirmed the arrest, while Khanum's family said earlier in the day that they had no contact or news of her whereabouts.The arrest order, issued by Lahore's deputy commissioner, said Khanum had been mobilising supporters through social media and public meetings. It alleged that... [Continue Reading]
Iran expands Janfada mobilisation drive with Tehran march and recruitment push
Iran has expanded a mass mobilisation campaign linked to the Basij militia and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, with a public march and exercise held in Tehran involving thousands of civilians. The drive, known as Janfada, has been presented by authorities as a call for volunteer training and registration, and banners across the capital have promoted weapons and communications instruction. The latest activity comes amid official warnings about renewed conflict with the United States and Israel.The event took place on Friday in downtown Tehran, where children, women and men marched through the streets, many of them masked and wearing sunglasses.... [Continue Reading]
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]
Inside Putin's world of bunkers, body doubles and growing paranoia
As Russians go to the polls this weekend, a new account has described the private world surrounding Vladimir Putin, focusing on his security, his habits and the sense of secrecy that shapes his movements. The report centres on Valdai, a wooded area between Moscow and Saint Petersburg, where the president is said to have a holiday home across the water from the town. It also points to claims of a wider network of bunkers, a special train and body doubles, all presented as part of the security culture around him.The article says the area around Valdai is home to about... [Continue Reading]
Russia reports powerful cyberattacks on Moscow voting system as parliamentary vote continues
Russian authorities said Moscow's electronic voting system came under a powerful cyberattack overnight as the country's parliamentary election entered its second day. Ella Pamfilova, who heads the Russian Central Election Commission, said the attack was continuing through the morning and described it as large-scale and intense. She said the system was still operating normally, but gave no details on the nature of the intrusion or who might be behind it.The reported attack comes during a tightly controlled three-day vote for all 450 seats in the State Duma, which is due to run until Sunday evening. Officials have also reported pressure... [Continue Reading]
Trump administration seeks approval for $2.8 billion bomb transfer to Israel
The Trump administration is seeking to move ahead with a major arms package for Israel worth $2.8 billion, according to reports cited in the supplied material. The proposed transfer would include 40,000 heavy bombs, making it one of the largest such deliveries discussed between the two countries. The plan has not been announced publicly, but it has already drawn attention because of the scale of the munitions involved and the timing of the request.The package is said to include 20,000 Mark 84 bombs and 20,000 BLU-117 bombs. Both are described as weighing about one short ton, or roughly 907 kilograms,... [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]
Iran executes man convicted of spying for Mossad over missile-site intelligence
Iran has executed a man convicted of passing intelligence on missile sites to Israel during the 12-day war, according to the country's judiciary. The execution took place on Saturday, 19 September 2026, after the Supreme Court upheld the death sentence. The case centres on Hossein Pedaran, whom authorities accused of espionage and intelligence cooperation with Israel.The judiciary said Pedaran was hanged after the court confirmed the sentence. It said he had provided Israel's Mossad with information about sensitive military locations in the central province of Isfahan. Officials also said the alleged spying was carried out for financial gain.No further details... [Continue Reading]
Trump signs Russia sanctions package into law as pressure on energy revenues intensifies
US President Donald Trump has signed a sweeping sanctions package into law targeting Russian officials, banks and a shadow tanker fleet used to move energy exports. The measure is intended to increase pressure on Moscow over its war in Ukraine and to reduce the revenues that support Russia's military effort. It was signed on Friday, according to the supplied material, after clearing Congress with large bipartisan majorities.The legislation had been in development for more than a year and was described as a legacy effort linked to the late Senator Lindsey Graham, who co-led the push with Senator Richard Blumenthal. It... [Continue Reading]
Russian glide bomb hits apartment block in Sumy, killing 2
A Russian glide bomb has struck an apartment building in the northern Ukrainian city of Sumy, killing two people and injuring seven, according to Ukrainian officials. Emergency crews were still working at the scene after the attack, and officials said there were concerns that more people could be trapped under the rubble. The strike hit a residential block in a city close to the Russian border, where attacks have remained frequent during the war.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described the attack as an "absolutely inhuman strike" in a message on Telegram. He said the bomb made a direct hit between the... [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]
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]
Torrential rain and flooding in Tunis force school closures
Heavy rain has flooded parts of Tunis, disrupting roads, homes and public services and prompting the suspension of afternoon classes across the city. The Tunis Governorate said the closure applies to all public and private educational, training and university institutions. The decision came as water covered streets and pavements in several neighbourhoods of Greater Tunis.Officials cited warnings from the National Institute of Meteorology and advice from the regional disaster-prevention committee. Between 30 and 50 millimetres of rain were forecast over Greater Tunis in a short period, enough to overwhelm drainage systems in some areas. Cars and buses struggled to move... [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]
Russia votes for a second day in tightly controlled State Duma election amid war and political crackdown
Voting is continuing in Russia's three-day election for the State Duma and regional offices, with the ballot expected to reinforce President Vladimir Putin's political control. The vote runs from 18 to 20 September and comes as Russia's war in Ukraine continues into its fifth year. Only parties that back Putin and the war are on the ballot, while Yabloko, the country's only publicly anti-war party still operating inside Russia, has been barred.The election will fill all 450 seats in the State Duma, along with governorships in 11 federal regions and seats in regional legislatures across 39 federal subjects. Voters are... [Continue Reading]
Russia begins three-day Duma election amid war in Ukraine
Russia has begun a three-day parliamentary election to fill all 450 seats in the State Duma, with voting opening first in eastern regions before spreading across the country. About 111 million people are eligible to take part, according to the supplied report, and polling is also taking place in Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine. The vote is being held in a tightly controlled political environment as the war in Ukraine continues to shape domestic politics.Polling stations opened first in Kamchatka, Chukotka, Magadan and other eastern regions, where local officials urged residents to turn out. The Kremlin is closely watching participation, with... [Continue Reading]
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]
US approves $24.3 billion sale of 48 F-35 warplanes to Saudi Arabia amid congressional review
The United States has approved a $24.3 billion sale of 48 F-35 stealth warplanes to Saudi Arabia, according to the State Department. The decision marks a major arms transaction for the Gulf kingdom and comes as Washington deepens security cooperation with Riyadh. The proposed transfer still requires approval from US lawmakers before it can proceed.The State Department said the sale would improve Saudi Arabia's ability to deter current and future threats by strengthening homeland defence and interoperability with US forces. It also said the aircraft would expand the kingdom's operational fleet and improve air-to-air and air-to-ground self-defence capability. The Saudi... [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]
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]
Indonesia receives first aircraft carrier from Italy amid debate over cost and purpose
Indonesia has received its first aircraft carrier, a former Italian warship that arrived at a naval base in North Jakarta on Friday morning. The vessel, the 41-year-old former ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi, was welcomed at Tanjung Priok port with a military ceremony. Indonesian officials say the ship will strengthen maritime security and disaster response capabilities in the archipelagic state.Italy agreed in March to transfer the carrier, which was retired in 2024, as part of a broader defence engagement with Indonesia. The move also saves Italy the cost of decommissioning the ship, while Rome continues to seek deals on submarines and aircraft... [Continue Reading]
Italy to deploy warships to protect shipping through Bab al-Mandeb
Italy says it will deploy warships to protect commercial vessels transiting the Bab al-Mandeb strait, a move its defence minister says is needed to avoid severe economic fallout if the route becomes impassable. Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said Rome will not wait for a joint European Union decision before acting. He said Italy has the capabilities to protect the passage and should not allow bureaucratic delays to worsen an already complex situation.Bab al-Mandeb links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and is one of the world's busiest shipping corridors between Europe and Asia. The narrow waterway is a... [Continue Reading]
UN Syria meeting turns into Israel-Turkiye dispute over military presence in Syria
The United Nations Security Council's monthly meeting on Syria's post-Assad transition turned into a sharp exchange over military presence inside Syrian territory. Syria, Israel and Turkiye used the session to accuse one another of undermining stability, according to a UN summary of the meeting. The discussion shifted away from the transition itself and toward competing claims over who has the right to operate on Syrian soil.Syria's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ibrahim Olabi, said he had hoped to focus on the country's progress but was forced to address Israel's actions. He accused Israel of penetrating villages, displacing people, bombing facilities... [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 BATTLE FOR ALI AL-TAHER: HOW A SOUTHERN LEBANON AMBUSH SHATTERED TRUMP’S 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]
Fear the Shia, Arm the Sunnis: The Uncomfortable Numbers Behind America’s War Narrative
“When fear is managed carefully enough, a nation can be taught to look away from the blood on the floor and stare instead at the shadow on the wall.” A friend of mine, whose name I will not reveal because he asked me not to, sat across from me over dinner and placed a question on the table that would not leave me alone. He was born into a Muslim Shia background, and for the angle of this article, that detail matters, not because I wish to reduce a man to a sect, but because sect has become one of... [Continue Reading]
GAS, GOD, AND GUNS: The Secret Agenda Behind the Washington Talks and the Death of the Maritime Border
The mahogany tables of the U.S. State Department are hosting a ghost today. As official delegations from Israel and Lebanon convene for a third round of high-stakes negotiations this Friday, May 8, 2026, the air in Washington is thick with the scent of a "peace" that looks increasingly like a strategic ambush. While the world watches the diplomatic theatre, the reality on the ground in Southern Lebanon tells a story of a predatory recalibration. Prime Minister Netanyahu isn’t just looking for a ceasefire; he is aiming to hit three birds with one single, devastating stone: the annexation of land, the... [Continue Reading]
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]
When Deterrence Becomes Reality
Yesterday the war crossed a line! For years the Sejjil ballistic missile existed mostly as a symbol. A weapon paraded in military videos, discussed in defense briefings, whispered about in strategic circles as one of Iran’s most serious capabilities. A weapon that analysts described as deterrence, not something meant to be used. But on March 15, 2026, that line disappeared. Iran reportedly launched the Sejjil (also known as Ashoura) as part of what Tehran called the 54th wave of Operation True Promise 4, a massive strike package that also included the Fattah hypersonic missile and the Qadr ballistic missile system.... [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]
Shadows of Fire: The Long Arc of Iran–United States Tensions
A Region on Edge: The Latest Escalation In recent months, tensions between Iran and the United States have intensified once again, fueled by disputes over regional security, nuclear development, maritime incidents in the Persian Gulf, and the broader strategic balance in the Middle East. Officials in Washington have expressed renewed concern over Iran’s uranium enrichment levels, while leaders in Tehran have accused the United States of economic warfare through sanctions and diplomatic isolation. The fragile equilibrium that followed earlier rounds of indirect negotiations appears increasingly strained, with both sides engaging in sharp rhetoric at the United Nations, reinforcing military postures... [Continue Reading]
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]
There Is Good in Every Bad
Power, Greed, Oil, and the Theater of Modern Geopolitics The Business Model of Power Donald Trump does not govern like a traditional politician. He governs like a negotiator who believes every geopolitical crisis is leverage, every war threat is a bargaining chip, and every market panic is an opportunity. When markets tremble, someone profits. The question is, who? Global markets react instantly to political tension. Gold rises when conflict looms. Oil spikes when instability threatens production. Stock markets collapse on fear, then rebound on reassurance. Volatility is not chaos, it is opportunity. Historically, gold has surged during major geopolitical crises,... [Continue Reading]




