North Korea fires ballistic missile as Kim Yo-jong threatens Japan
North Korea launched a ballistic missile on Thursday toward the sea off the east coast of the Korean Peninsula, according to the supplied report, in a move that came after Kim Yo-jong issued fresh threats against Japan. The launch was detected from the Wonsan area and tracked toward the East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan. It adds to already elevated tensions between Pyongyang, Tokyo, Seoul and Washington.The report says Kim Yo-jong warned two days earlier that North Korea could make "new military choices" and accused Japan of trying to conceal an ambition to become a military power.... [Continue Reading]
Sponsored
Trump imposes 15% tariff on polysilicon imports after national security review
US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order imposing a 15% tariff on imported products made from polysilicon, a material used in semiconductors and solar panels. The order also sets minimum import prices for polysilicon and related products. It follows a national security investigation into overseas production of the material and is aimed at supporting domestic manufacturers.Trump said in the order that he had accepted recommendations from Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to introduce the tariff and the minimum price measures. The administration also said it would offer incentives to boost domestic production. The move comes as the US faces... [Continue Reading]
Iran accuses Trump of 'theatre diplomacy on loop' as Hormuz talks continue
Iran's parliament speaker has accused Donald Trump of using what he called "theatre diplomacy on loop" after the US president said planned strikes on Iran were cancelled and claimed a deal was close. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf made the remarks in a social media post on Thursday, saying Washington was switching between military threats and negotiation offers as a pressure tactic. He urged the US to acknowledge the facts and honour its commitments.Trump said on Saturday that he had called off a planned large-scale military attack on Iran, claiming that Tehran and other countries in the region had asked for the... [Continue Reading]
Trump signs orders targeting birthright citizenship and birth tourism
US President Donald Trump has signed two executive orders aimed at narrowing birthright citizenship and banning what the White House described as birth tourism. The move is part of a renewed push to change who is eligible for citizenship at birth in the United States. It comes as immigration remains one of the central issues in Mr Trump's domestic agenda.The White House said the orders would increase the number of people born in the United States who are ineligible for birthright citizenship. Birthright citizenship is a constitutional provision that grants US citizenship to anyone born on US territory while under... [Continue Reading]
Sponsored
Day News Recap: Ebola outbreak tops 4,000 as Middle East tensions and Ukraine war intensify
Health officials in the Democratic Republic of the Congo said the Ebola outbreak has passed 4,000 confirmed cases, prompting a major escalation in the response as there are concerns the virus may be mutating. πIn the Middle East, tensions around the Strait of Hormuz deepened as Iran enforced a near total closure of the waterway while indirect talks with Oman continued, and shipping groups warned against any compulsory transit charges. π π Iran also tightened internal security at home, while President Masoud Pezeshkian said contact with Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei was very difficult after the reported wounding of the leader.... [Continue Reading]
Israel charges settler over killing of Palestinian activist in rare West Bank case
Israeli prosecutors have filed a rare indictment against settler Yinon Levy over the killing of Palestinian activist Odeh Hathaleen in the occupied West Bank. The charge, filed by Israel's Southern District Prosecutor's Office, accuses Levy of reckless manslaughter and also includes armed trespassing and malicious property damage. The case stems from a confrontation in Umm al-Khair in July 2025, where settlers were operating an excavator in the Palestinian village.According to the indictment, Levy cocked his gun during the confrontation and fired in the direction of residents, hitting Hathaleen, before firing another shot into the air. Footage of the incident was... [Continue Reading]
Argentina will not retaliate after Brazil downgrades diplomatic ties over Milei remarks
Argentina says it will not take diplomatic retaliation after Brazil downgraded relations in response to President Javier Milei's latest public attacks on President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno said Buenos Aires would not answer with its own measures after Brasilia said it would handle the relationship through a charge d'affaires rather than a full ambassador. The move marks the lowest point in ties between the neighbouring countries since Milei took office in 2023.Brazil's decision followed Milei's television interview on Sunday, in which he again called Lula "a thief", "corrupt" and an "ex-convict". Lula spent 580 days... [Continue Reading]
Netanyahu signals possible unilateral action as Iran war drags on
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has suggested that Israel may act alone as the war with Iran continues, even as Washington and Tehran appear close to an interim deal on the Strait of Hormuz. The remarks came during a state ceremony in West Jerusalem and were framed by Netanyahu as a matter of Israel's security. The comments add to signs of strain in the US-Israeli campaign against Iran and raise fresh questions about the next phase of the conflict.Netanyahu said he was determined to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and described the United States as Israel's greatest ally.... [Continue Reading]
Sponsored
Trump signals ongoing U.S. action against Venezuela and Iran, while backing Hegseth
President Donald Trump made multiple posts on Truth Social in the last hour: - "The Fake News, as usual, is spreading false and completely unfounded rumors. I am extremely happy with the job that Pete Hegseth is doing. Everything has been extraordinary, including our attack on Venezuela, where the result was accomplished in less than one day, allowing us to bring one of the worst criminals anywhere in the World, Nicolas Maduro, to Justice! Likewise, Iran, where the country has been decimated for the purpose of NOT ALLOWING IT TO EVER HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON, is going very well! Pete... [Continue Reading]
Trump responds to reports of depleted US munitions in Iran war
President Donald Trump has vowed to hunt down people he described as "leakers" after reports said US offensive and defensive munitions stocks have been heavily depleted during the war with Iran. The latest reporting said the military has used nearly all of its Army Tactical Missile Systems and Precision Strike Missiles, while stocks of Patriot and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense interceptors are also low. Trump rejected the claims and said the United States still has "massive amounts" of munitions, adding that large quantities are being manufactured and shipped as needed.The reports, cited by several US news organisations, have raised... [Continue Reading]
Iran tightens internal security grip at home as war conditions with the US linger
Iranian authorities have intensified internal security controls across the country, with the strongest pressure reported in Tehran. The measures include arrests, executions, closure of public gathering spaces and tighter enforcement by religious morality police. The crackdown comes as diplomatic efforts to end the United States-Israel war on Iran remain uncertain.The supporting material says security forces and morality police have increased restrictions over the last few weeks, targeting people and businesses judged non-compliant with rules the state describes as immoral or un-Islamic. It also says compulsory hijab enforcement has been stepped up, alongside business closures and pressure on students, lawyers and... [Continue Reading]
Iran and Oman talks continue as US naval blockade tightens over Strait of Hormuz
The confrontation over the Strait of Hormuz has deepened, with Iran enforcing a near-total closure of the waterway as indirect diplomacy continues through Oman. The strategic chokepoint remains central to the wider war involving the United States, Israel and Iran, and the disruption is already affecting global oil and liquefied natural gas flows. The latest developments suggest that any easing of pressure will depend on whether the current talks can produce a temporary transit arrangement.According to the supplied material, US Central Command has redirected 48 commercial vessels, boarded two and disabled two others as part of a strict naval blockade... [Continue Reading]
Sponsored
US-Iran negotiations remain stalled as Vance says agreement will take time
US Vice President J.D. Vance has said any agreement with Iran will take time, as Washington continues to face frustration over efforts to end the war and address nuclear issues. In an interview on Thursday, Vance described Iranians as "extraordinarily difficult" and said the diplomatic process was being slowed by what he called the fragmented nature of Iran's system.His comments add to signs that the talks remain unsettled despite pressure for progress. Vance said the United States is frustrated with the pace of negotiations and that any deal, particularly one involving Iran's nuclear programme, would be a lengthy process. He... [Continue Reading]
Noontime News Recap: Ukraine under fresh fire as Germany probes drone threat and Nigeria frees abductees
Russia intensified strikes across Ukraine overnight, killing at least seven people and wounding dozens more, while a separate attack damaged a foreign flagged grain ship in the Black Sea and left one crew member dead. πKyiv said it hit two oil refineries in Russia in response, as Moscow said it struck a train station in northeastern Ukraine and a commercial vessel in the Black Sea, underscoring the widening reach of the war at sea and on land. πIn Germany, authorities are investigating after a drone carrying explosives was found near a restricted cargo area at Leipzig/Halle Airport, with officials also... [Continue Reading]
Breakfast News Recap: Ukraine ports hit, Middle East tensions rise and markets rally on risk-on mood
Russia has intensified missile and drone attacks on Ukraine's Black Sea ports, with Odesa among the main targets, damaging port infrastructure and adding pressure on export routes that are already under strain. NATO says it is working urgently to supply Ukraine with air defences after Kyiv failed to intercept any of the Russian ballistic missiles fired in Wednesday's overnight strike. π πIn the Middle East, Israel said two reserve soldiers were killed in combat in southern Lebanon as fighting with Hezbollah continued near the border. The Israeli military also said it would keep operating proactively in Gaza, even as Prime... [Continue Reading]
Iran and Oman deal faces shipping industry pushback over Strait of Hormuz toll fears
Eight of the world's largest shipping associations have urged the United Nations to oppose any compulsory charges for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, as reports continue that Iran and Oman are nearing an arrangement to manage the waterway. In a letter sent to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and International Maritime Organization Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez, the groups said that tolls or service fees would amount to a significant break with established international practice. They warned that such a system could affect global trade, energy prices and the legal framework governing straits used for international navigation.The letter was sent on Monday... [Continue Reading]
Sponsored
US refunds about $100bn in tariffs after Supreme Court strike-down
The United States has refunded about $100bn in tariffs after the Supreme Court ruled that Donald Trump exceeded his authority when he used emergency powers to impose many of the levies. Customs officials said the repayments have been made since the court's February decision, which struck down a large part of the tariff regime. The filing was made in the US Court of International Trade and gives the clearest official picture yet of the scale of the refunds.According to US Customs and Border Protection, more than three-quarters of $128.68bn in tariff revenues identified as potential and certified refunds have now... [Continue Reading]
Trump amplifies Michigan race claims and attacks alleged anti-Israel candidate
President Donald Trump made multiple posts on Truth Social in the last hour: - "Michael Moore, the failed political "pundit" who has been losing to me for years, was ranting that, "We lost in 2024, and just can't take it anymore." No Michael, just get used to more losing! You've been a Loser all your life, and nothing's going to change. Abdul, your new Communist Comrade, will not be able to save you. He knows you are a failed LOWLIFE, and he wants to pick up where you have left. For thousands of years, the concept of Communist Policies have... [Continue Reading]
US State Department plans closure of five consulates across four regions
The US State Department has notified Congress that it plans to close five consulates and missions in Grenada, Japan, Indonesia, Cameroon and Canada. The move would affect posts in St George's, Nagoya, Medan, Douala and Winnipeg, spanning the Caribbean, Asia, Africa and North America. The planned closures have prompted criticism that they could leave a diplomatic vacuum in places where China already has a presence.According to the notice sent to congressional committees, the closures are being justified on cost grounds. They come after a reassessment of US bilateral relationships with a range of countries since Donald Trump returned to the... [Continue Reading]
IDF says it will keep operating proactively in Gaza as Netanyahu rejects US-backed plan
Israel's military chief has said the Israel Defense Forces will continue to "operate proactively" in Gaza, signalling that operations will go on even as debate intensifies over a US-backed post-war plan. Eyal Zamir made the remarks after an operational tour on Wednesday, according to a military statement, following briefings from senior commanders on the situation on the ground. He said the army had "significantly weakened" Hamas and altered the security situation in the territory.Zamir said the IDF would continue to act "in accordance with the principle we have established" to eliminate threats and defend communities and their residents. His comments... [Continue Reading]
Sponsored
Day News Recap: Kyiv hit again as Gaza, Hormuz and West Bank tensions deepen across several fronts
At least 17 people were killed and more than 40 injured in another overnight Russian attack on Kyiv, with rescue work still under way as officials warned the toll could rise. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the strikes on the capital and surrounding region showed Ukraine urgently needed more air defences. π πUkraine also said a Russian drone chased a fruit and vegetable seller around his stall in Kherson before exploding beside his van, and Zelenskyy shared footage of the attack. Kyiv further said North Korea is deploying a missile unit with six launchers and 120 ballistic missiles to western Russia,... [Continue Reading]
Republican confidence in Pete Hegseth wanes amid Iran war frustrations and Army nomination dispute
Republican confidence in US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth appears to be weakening, according to a report published on Wednesday, as frustration grows over the war with Iran and a separate fight over military leadership appointments. The dispute has emerged inside the Pentagon and on Capitol Hill, where several Republicans are said to be questioning Hegseth's judgment and management style. The concerns come as the conflict with Iran continues with no clear end in sight.Senator Thom Tillis said he no longer has confidence in Hegseth, describing him as inconsistent and overly controlling. He also said he had heard of a loss... [Continue Reading]
Miliband urges US to reopen Strait of Hormuz ahead of first one-to-one talks with Rubio
UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband has called on the United States to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz as he travels to Washington for his first official one-to-one meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. He said free passage through the Gulf waterway was essential to ease cost-of-living pressures on British families. The talks are also expected to cover the war in Ukraine and what Miliband described as the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza.Miliband said he was looking forward to his second meeting with Rubio, after the pair first met on the sidelines of a foreign ministers' summit in... [Continue Reading]
Trump attacks Mamdani-style result as a threat to Republicans and Israel politics
President Donald Trump made multiple posts on Truth Social in the last hour: - "I was 28-1 last night on Endorsements, and numerous of them were outliers, but if you studied the Fake News, you would think it was just the opposite, 1-28. All they talked about was the one, and that's why they call it the FAKE NEWS!" - "Great news for the Republican Party. El-Sayed, a Communist loser who hates Jews and Israel, is the projected winner in his race with the Socialist. As usual, the Polls were way off on this one. She was not expected to... [Continue Reading]
Sponsored
Breakfast News Recap: Kyiv hit hard as Gaza dispute deepens and markets rally on softer oil
Russian missile and drone strikes on Kyiv and the surrounding region killed at least 15 people overnight and wounded dozens more, as authorities said the toll was still rising. The attack added to pressure on Ukraine after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shared footage of a drone strike on a civilian vegetable seller in Kherson. π πIn Gaza, Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would not withdraw from its current lines until Hamas had completely disarmed, hardening the dispute over any ceasefire deal. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said Gaza remains unsafe for civilians as Israeli attacks continue, with strikes hitting... [Continue Reading]
Trump warns Iran over Strait of Hormuz as deal may be near
US President Donald Trump has said a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz could come as soon as today or tomorrow, while warning that Iran would be hit very hard if negotiations fail. His comments came as the strategic waterway remained at the centre of talks involving the United States, Oman and Iran over traffic through the passage. The latest remarks add urgency to a dispute that has already unsettled global energy markets and shipping.Trump said negotiators had a very good day and told reporters in California that the strait would be open very soon, or Iran would face... [Continue Reading]
Netanyahu rejects Gaza withdrawal before Hamas disarmament
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the Israeli military will not withdraw from its current lines in Gaza until Hamas has completely disarmed. His comments push back against a draft agreement proposed by the White House and linked to Donald Trump's Board of Peace. The remarks cast fresh doubt on a plan that had been presented as a possible breakthrough in efforts to end the war.According to the supplied material, the draft would have seen Hamas begin disarming while Israel halted strikes and started withdrawing from roughly 60% of Gaza that it currently controls. Netanyahu said Israel had not... [Continue Reading]
US appeals court blocks Trump bid to cancel $20bn climate grant programme
A federal appeals court in Washington has ruled that the Environmental Protection Agency likely acted unlawfully when it tried to cancel a multibillion-dollar clean energy grant programme created under former President Joe Biden. The decision temporarily blocks the Trump administration's effort to dismantle the fund, although the money will remain frozen for now. The case centres on roughly $20bn in grants tied to the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, a programme designed to support clean energy projects through nonprofit intermediaries.The full US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia said on Tuesday that the EPA cannot freeze the grants while... [Continue Reading]
Sponsored
Iran boosts military strength during ceasefire with US as talks continue
Iranian military officials say they are using the ceasefire period to accelerate missile and drone production, repair damaged systems and bring new equipment into service. The comments come as Tehran says it is preparing for the possibility that war could resume if negotiations fail. The developments are taking place in Tehran, where officials are also describing the ceasefire as a window to recover and adapt.Army spokesman Mohammad Akraminia said this week that Iran had made "maximum use" of the ceasefire and of a now-suspended memorandum of understanding signed with the United States in June. He said efforts included inducting existing... [Continue Reading]
US military asks staff for ideas to pressure Iran as strike threats ease
A senior US military command has emailed staff asking for suggestions on how to apply new, creative and unconventional pressure on Iran, according to the supporting material. The request was sent to high-ranking military analysts last week and was seen by a television network, the row says. It comes amid an ongoing war between the United States and Iran that began in late February.The email asked for ideas to "punish" Iran, and the command's spokesperson said the force has a long history of thinking and working in innovative ways. The spokesperson also said Admiral Brad Cooper, the senior commander overseeing... [Continue Reading]
Sponsored
US Army has used nearly all long-range precision missile stocks in Iran war, report says
The US Army has used "practically all" of its long-range precision missile stockpile during the war against Iran, according to a report published on Tuesday. The shortage is said to involve Army surface-to-surface systems, including Army Tactical Missile Systems and Precision Strike Missiles. The report says this is the first confirmed sign of low stocks in these offensive weapons since the conflict began.Three people familiar with US military data were cited as saying the depletion is linked to the sustained pace of operations in the war, which entered its sixth month in August. The report also said the conflict began... [Continue Reading]
US vow to dismantle the International Criminal Court draws global criticism
The United States is facing international criticism after senior leaders vowed to dismantle the International Criminal Court, describing the tribunal as a threat to US sovereignty. The comments have intensified a long-running dispute between Washington and the court, which was created to prosecute genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and aggression. Amnesty International has condemned the campaign as reprehensible, while other observers have warned that the rhetoric could further strain relations between the US and international institutions.According to the supplied report, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in mid-July that the US would wage a campaign to systematically disable... [Continue Reading]
25 US states sue Trump administration to block tariffs on 60 trading partners
The lawsuit was filed in the US Court of International Trade in New York by 25 states, nearly all led by Democrats, with two Republican-led states among them. The coalition is seeking to halt the tariffs, have them declared unlawful and secure refunds for duties already collected. The challenge targets new levies of 10% to 12.5% imposed on 60 trading partners.According to the court filing, the tariffs were introduced after probes by the US Trade Representative into allegations of forced labour in supply chains, under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. The states argued there was no rational... [Continue Reading]
US probes possible Iranian-linked cyberattacks on water systems in seven states
US authorities are investigating reported cyberattacks on water systems in Minnesota and six other states, after officials said some of the activity disrupted water operations. Minnesota first reported that more than 30 of its state water systems had faced what it described as a coordinated cyberattack. Days later, the FBI said cyberattacks had been reported in seven states, widening the scope of the inquiry.The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency is reportedly examining whether there is a possible Iranian connection to the Minnesota attacks, according to US media reports. The agency has not commented publicly on the reported probe. US... [Continue Reading]
Sponsored
US stocks near record high as oil falls after Trump claims Iran talks are under way
US equities moved close to record highs on Monday after President Donald Trump said talks with Iran were under way, while Brent crude fell sharply on the same day. The market reaction came amid conflicting accounts from Washington and Tehran about the status of the communications. The moves added a fresh financial-market dimension to the wider dispute over the war on Iran.The S&P 500 rose 1.5% and finished just below its closing record of 7,620.90 set on 2 June. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1.3% to a record high of 53,178.41, while the Nasdaq Composite climbed 2.1% and remained... [Continue Reading]
Trump approval falls to 35% in Reuters/Ipsos poll as economic ratings weaken
Donald Trump's approval rating has fallen to 35%, according to a Reuters/Ipsos survey released on Monday, while 63% of respondents said they disapproved of his performance. The poll places his approval close to the lowest level recorded in his current term. It also shows that dissatisfaction extends beyond the overall rating, with approval of his handling of the economy at 28%.The survey questioned 4,505 adults in the United States online between 29 July and 3 August and has a margin of error of two percentage points. Trump's approval slipped from 37% in the previous Reuters/Ipsos poll, while disapproval rose from... [Continue Reading]
Morocco confirms major highway renamed in honour of Trump
Morocco has confirmed that a major highway has been renamed in honour of US President Donald Trump, according to a letter from King Mohammed VI published by the country's state press agency. The road was formerly known as the Tiznit-Dakhla highway and runs into Western Sahara, the disputed territory that Morocco occupies and claims as its own. The confirmation follows a social media post by Trump last week thanking the king for the honour, although Moroccan authorities had not previously made a parallel announcement.In the letter, dated 2 July and published over the weekend, the king said the name change... [Continue Reading]
Who will shape post-war Iran as rival power centres prepare for recovery?
As the war involving Iran enters its sixth month, debate is intensifying over who will define the country's post-war direction. The immediate question is not only how the fighting ends, but which institutions will shape the recovery that follows. According to the supplied material, external pressure has not produced a clear split in Tehran, but it has compressed existing disagreements into a more constrained political space.The row material says Washington has been betting that sustained military pressure will fracture decision-making in Tehran. It also notes that Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently said members of the Iranian government had contacted... [Continue Reading]
Sponsored
Japan and US confirm rare joint intervention to support yen as officials signal more action
Japan and the United States have confirmed that they carried out a coordinated intervention in foreign exchange markets last week to support the yen. The move was aimed at stopping the currency from sliding to a fresh 40-year low, according to the supplied material. It is the first joint intervention by the two countries since 2011, making it a rare step in currency management.Japan's Ministry of Finance said the action took place on Friday and was intended to counter excessive volatility and disorderly movements in the yen. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also said the coordinated foreign exchange actions were... [Continue Reading]
Brazil's Lula formally launches fourth-term presidential bid amid sovereignty message
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has formally launched his candidacy for October's presidential election, saying he is "in great shape" as he seeks a fourth and final term. The announcement was made at a Workers' Party convention in Sao Paulo, where the campaign focused on sovereignty, defence and resistance to outside pressure. The move sets up another high-stakes contest in a country where Lula remains one of the most polarising political figures.Lula, 80, framed his bid around experience and stability at a time of trade and diplomatic tensions with Washington. Although Donald Trump was not mentioned by name... [Continue Reading]
Overnight Israeli strikes kill civilians in Gaza as ceasefire talks continue
Overnight Israeli strikes hit multiple residential buildings across Gaza and killed at least eight people, according to civil defence officials. The attacks were reported around midnight and affected sites in the central Gaza Strip, Gaza City and the area northwest of Khan Younis in the south. The strikes came as diplomatic efforts over the wider conflict continued, with no immediate sign that the violence on the ground had eased.Civil defence officials said a man and his wife were killed when an Israeli military helicopter struck an apartment near the central Gaza Strip. They said an elderly man and a child... [Continue Reading]
Trump administration subpoena over North Korea reporting draws press freedom criticism
The Trump administration has issued a subpoena to freelance reporter Matthew Cole over his reporting on a secret 2019 US military mission in North Korea, according to the New York Times. The newspaper said the subpoena was delivered by Federal Bureau of Investigation agents in February, but the matter has only now become public. The case adds a new legal dispute between the administration and journalists over source protection and national security reporting.Cole was identified by the newspaper as the target of the subpoena on Saturday. He had worked with the paper's national correspondent, Dave Philipps, on an investigation published... [Continue Reading]
Sponsored
Trump Threatens to Revive Anti-Weaponisation Fund Amid Blanche Confirmation Standoff
United States President Donald Trump has said he would push ahead with a controversial anti-weaponisation fund if his nominee for attorney general, Todd Blanche, is not approved. The remarks deepen a standoff with two Republican senators who are withholding support for Blanche's confirmation. The dispute centres on a $1.776bn fund that critics say would reward people who claimed political persecution.Trump made the threat in a post on Truth Social on Saturday, saying the fund would be "back on the table" if Blanche is not confirmed. He also said he would "push hard to get the Anti-Weaponization Bill" passed and keep... [Continue Reading]
Trump threatens to bomb Iran's Pickaxe Mountain site amid fresh satellite images
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to bomb a suspected underground nuclear site in Iran known as Pickaxe Mountain. Recent satellite images appear to show construction work at the location, which sits immediately south of the Natanz nuclear complex. The site has become the focus of renewed attention because it is one of the few Iranian nuclear-linked locations that has not already been struck by the United States or Israel.Trump told reporters on 21 July that the US would be hitting the area "pretty soon" and "very heavily". He returned to the subject on 28 July, saying: "I know... [Continue Reading]
Israel says Gaza troop pullback depends on genuine Hamas disarmament
A senior Israeli official has said troops will not withdraw from their current positions in Gaza without what was described as the "genuine disarmament" of Hamas. The statement came as Hamas said it would hand over heavy weapons only if Israel ends "all forms of aggression" and pulls its forces out of the territory. The latest exchange deepens a dispute over the sequencing of a US-brokered ceasefire plan that is meant to move into its second phase.Donald Trump said the Board of Peace had reached an agreement for the "complete disarmament" of Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza. He... [Continue Reading]
Trump says US has not agreed to Ukraine producing Patriot missiles
US President Donald Trump has said Washington has not agreed to allow Ukraine to produce Patriot missiles, contradicting comments made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky after talks at the White House earlier this week. Trump said on Friday that the United States had not approved Ukraine building the missiles and added that the US had to be "very careful" about letting another country make them. His remarks add a new point of tension to discussions over how Kyiv can strengthen its air defences as Russian strikes continue.The dispute centres on what was discussed during a meeting between Trump and Zelensky... [Continue Reading]
US Senate advances Russia sanctions bill that could trigger tariffs on India and China
The US Senate has advanced a sweeping Russia sanctions bill that could impose major tariffs on countries buying Russian oil, including India and China. The measure cleared an early hurdle in Washington by an 86-12 vote and now moves to the House of Representatives for further consideration. It is named the Lindsey O Graham Sanctioning Russia Act of 2026.The bill would expand pressure on Moscow by targeting the trade that helps sustain Russian energy exports. According to the supporting material, the proposal could trigger 100% tariffs on countries that continue to buy Russian oil. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was in... [Continue Reading]
Hamas accepts framework to disarm in Gaza under Palestinian supervision
Hamas has accepted a framework that would see its remaining heavy weapons in Gaza inventoried and stored under Palestinian supervision, according to people involved in the talks. The move is being described as a potential breakthrough in the Trump-backed peace initiative for Gaza. It follows months of difficult negotiations and comes after Hamas completed leadership elections that elevated Gaza-based leader Khalil al-Hayya.A senior Hamas official on the movement's negotiating team said the talks were long and extremely difficult. He said Hamas had insisted on the wording of "inventorying and storing weapons" under Palestinian oversight rather than handing them over to... [Continue Reading]
Sponsored
THE BATTLE FOR ALI AL-TAHER: HOW A SOUTHERN LEBANON AMBUSH SHATTERED TRUMPβS 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 Americaβs War Narrative
βWhen 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.β 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 isnβt 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 Glass Elevator to Nowhere: A World Trapped in a Chocolate Factory
As a journalist in my mid-fifties, I thought my skin had thickened to the point of being impenetrable. I have covered the rise and fall of regimes, the grinding gears of the Cold War's leftovers, and the digital revolutions that promised to unite us. I thought I had seen every trick in the political playbook. Then came Donald Trumpβs 2026 foreign policy, and I realized I was not watching a statesman; I was watching a child play with a chemistry set he does not understand. The Willy Wonka of the West: Rule by Whim Walking into a press briefing lately... [Continue Reading]
The 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 IranβUnited 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 Iranβs 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]
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]




