Russia ramps up rhetoric but wants to avoid war with Nato, Western officials say
Western officials say Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to avoid a direct military confrontation with Nato, even as Moscow increases hostile rhetoric toward the UK and other allies over their support for Ukraine. The officials said recent warnings from Moscow, including suggestions that UK forces could be targeted in future or that weapons factories could be hit, were not new and fit Russia's long-standing military doctrine of applying pressure on the West. They said the language was intensifying, but did not amount to evidence of a decision to seek open war with the alliance.The comments come after reports that CIA... [Continue Reading]
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Israeli strike in Jenin kills three Palestinians as leaders praise operation
The Israeli military says a rare air strike in the Jenin area of the occupied West Bank killed three Palestinians on Friday. The strike took place amid rising tensions in the territory and was followed by public praise from Israel's prime minister and defence minister. Palestinian groups condemned the attack, while medics said they were briefly prevented from reaching the scene.According to the military, the strike targeted a car carrying the men and killed one person it identified as Qais Bitawi, whom it described as a Hamas operative, along with two accomplices. Palestinian Islamic Jihad said Bitawi was a senior... [Continue Reading]
Trump highlights falling goods and services deficit, says tariffs have not hurt exports
President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social at 28 August 2026 at 19:06 BST: "Laura Ingraham: "Year-to-date, the goods and services deficit decreased $189.3 billion, or 33.8 percent, from the same period in 2025. Exports increased $198.3 billion or 11.7 percent." "Imports increased $9.0 billion or 0.4 percent. Where are all the experts who claimed that the tariffs would kill our exports?" "GOOD NEWS TUESDAY...IN ADDITION TO THE DOW AND OIL DOWN....The trade deficit is going down, and exports are up for the year so far."" Explanation: President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social at 28 August 2026 at 19:06... [Continue Reading]
Syria appoints ex-SDF commander Mazloum Abdi as presidential adviser after force dissolves
Mazloum Abdi, the former commander of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, has been appointed adviser to Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa after the group announced its dissolution and integration into Syria's armed forces. The appointment was announced by Syria's official news agency, and it follows Abdi's declaration earlier this week that the SDF had completed its integration. The move marks a further step in the effort to bring one of Syria's most powerful non-state armed formations under central government control.US Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack described the dissolution as genuine integration and said the appointment of Kurdish figures to government... [Continue Reading]
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Ukraine reinforces Donetsk as Russia presses Sloviansk and Kostiantynivka
Ukraine has reinforced its defences in the eastern Donetsk region as Russian forces renewed pressure on Sloviansk and continued infiltration attempts around Kostiantynivka. The developments point to sustained fighting across the so-called fortress belt of cities in eastern Ukraine, where control of roads, logistics and defensive positions remains central to the wider war effort. Ukrainian commanders are also being reported to be adjusting their approach to Russian missile threats, with a greater focus on disrupting production and launch capacity.The immediate military picture is centred on two linked fronts. Ukrainian commander-in-chief Mykhailo Drapatyi made his first major decision after taking command... [Continue Reading]
Day News Recap: Nepal flood death toll climbs as regional tensions and market moves dominate the day
Rescue teams in Nepal and along the Tibet border are still searching after glacial collapse and floodwaters tore through the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli river basins, with the death toll now reported at at least 469 and many people still missing. Operations have been hampered by a debris dammed barrier lake that began overflowing, forcing some teams to pause work as new flood warnings were issued. π π πThe disaster has also hit Nuwakot district and the hydropower corridor in northern Nepal, where flash floods and landslides destroyed homes and infrastructure, injured residents were airlifted out, and Nepali army teams continued... [Continue Reading]
US-Venezuela oil talks advance amid backlash over reported stake in major fields
Reports that the United States is in advanced talks to secure a direct stake or long-term access to Venezuelan oilfields have triggered sharp criticism from opposition figures and other detractors. The discussions are said to cover more than a dozen fields, including assets in the Orinoco Belt and Lake Maracaibo, two of the country's most important producing regions. The reported structure would go beyond a routine commercial arrangement and could give American interests a lasting role in one of the world's largest crude reserves.According to the supplied reports, one proposal under discussion is a 100-year lease on several oilfields, while... [Continue Reading]
Sudan lifts two-year curfew in Khartoum as residents return
Sudan's military-led government has lifted a curfew and state of emergency in Khartoum, ending restrictions that had been in place for more than two years. The move comes as residents continue to return to the capital after fighting there ended in March 2025. State media said the decision is intended to help restore normal life in the city.The curfew and emergency measures were imposed after war broke out in April 2023 between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. According to the International Organization for Migration, more than two million of the roughly five million people who fled Khartoum... [Continue Reading]
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No proof video shows plane crash in Tel Aviv, fact-check finds
A video showing an aircraft apparently embedded in the side of a building has been circulating widely on social media. Some users have claimed it shows a plane crash in Tel Aviv after an Iranian attack, but there is no evidence to support that claim. The footage has been shared millions of times, yet its origin remains unclear and its authenticity is highly questionable.The video was posted on 26 August by a fake account pretending to belong to Donald Trump Jr., according to the supporting material. It later spread on X and was said to show the aftermath of an... [Continue Reading]
Operation Venetic: Andrew Doran jailed for cocaine importation plot
A man who was extradited to the UK to face drugs charges has been jailed for his part in the importation of large amounts of cocaine including shipments hidden in empty gas cannisters. Andrew Doran, 42, originally from the Kirkby area of Merseyside, had been arrested by Spanish police in southern Spain following a National Crime Agency appeal earlier this year. He was returned to the UK in October last year by specialist National Extradition Unit officers from the NCA's Joint International Crime Centre. Doran used the encrypted communications platform EncroChat to discuss his offending, under the handle of "jurgensixnineteen".... [Continue Reading]
Tropical Storm Dolly heads toward the Caribbean with flash-flood risk
Tropical Storm Dolly is moving quickly across the Atlantic Ocean toward the Leeward Islands, with forecasters warning that it could bring significant rainfall to parts of the Caribbean this weekend. The National Hurricane Center said on Friday morning that the storm is expected to approach the islands late Saturday into Sunday. It added that heavy rain could then spread into the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Hispaniola on Sunday and Monday.Dolly formed on Thursday and had maximum sustained winds of near 40 mph, or 65 km/h, with higher gusts as of Friday. The storm is moving fast, which can affect... [Continue Reading]
Trump signals farm-sector antitrust push by authorizing legal steps for on-farm food processing
President Donald Trump made multiple posts on Truth Social in the last hour: - "From Greg Wischer at the United States Department of the Interior: "So far, 83 statues, monuments, and memorials have been cleaned and fixed. Here are photos of the in-progress cleaning of the Union General George Thomas statue located northeast of the White House."" - "WAYNE ROOT: Liberal Media Goes Insane with Rage Over My Idea for "National Security Emergency for Elections." My Response: Scream & Attack All You Want. Here are the Facts: https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/08/wayne-root-liberal-media-goes-insane-rage-my/" - "Ranchers and Farmers have always been a number one priority for... [Continue Reading]
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One week of settler violence in the occupied West Bank as attacks spread to new areas
Violence by Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank is being reported at record levels this year, according to human rights groups cited in the supplied material. The latest reporting tracks attacks on Palestinians over the course of one week, with incidents observed in several parts of the territory. The pattern described is one of rising assaults and a widening geographic spread.The material says the attacks have increased under Israel's current government, alongside a rapid expansion of Israeli settlements. Those settlements are described as illegal under international law. The reporting does not give a full count of incidents for the... [Continue Reading]
Qatar backs efforts to bridge Libya's political divide after Benghazi visit
Qatar has said it supports efforts to end Libya's long-running political division after a senior envoy visited Benghazi and met eastern commander Khalifa Haftar. The meeting took place on Thursday and comes as Libyan negotiators try to move forward with a recently agreed election pact. The visit adds a regional diplomatic signal to a process that has struggled for years to produce a unified political settlement.Minister of State Mohammed bin Abdulaziz al-Khulaifi met Haftar, who commands the self-styled Libyan National Army and is aligned with the eastern-based administration. According to a statement from Qatar's Foreign Ministry, the two sides discussed... [Continue Reading]
Six months into Iran-US war, Gulf states face prolonged regional fallout
The war between Iran and the United States, with Israel also involved, is being described as entering a phase of attrition six months after it began. Analysts cited in the report say there is no sign of regime collapse in Tehran and no clear path to a decisive victory for Washington. Instead, the conflict is settling into a prolonged stalemate with wider regional consequences.The fighting began after surprise Israeli and US attacks on 28 February, according to the report. A memorandum of understanding signed by Washington and Tehran in June reduced the intensity of the war, but did not end... [Continue Reading]
Deadly armed raid on cattle camp in South Sudan kills at least 49
At least 49 people have been killed and 33 others wounded after gunmen raided a village and seasonal cattle camp in Warrap State in north-western South Sudan, local officials said. The attack took place early on Thursday in Tonj North County, hitting Machar-Pakuek cattle camp and Mading Juer Boma in Majak Payam. Officials said the assault is the latest in a series of violent cattle raids in an area long affected by competition over grazing land and water.Warrap State spokesperson William Wol Mayom Bol said the attack was carried out by what he described as an armed cross-border criminal network.... [Continue Reading]
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Dutch court sentences man to life over Rwanda genocide role
A court in the Netherlands has sentenced a Dutch-Rwandan man to life imprisonment for his role in the 1994 Rwanda genocide. The 66-year-old, identified in court as Eugene N, was convicted of genocide and war crimes after judges said he acted with genocidal intent. The ruling was delivered in The Hague and concerns events in southern Rwanda during the mass killings of 1994.The court said N had held an authoritative position in the community in Mbazi, where he oversaw about 1,000 people at the time. Judges heard that he threw a hand grenade into a crowd of Tutsis sheltering in... [Continue Reading]
Pakistan and Kuwait sign new defence protocol in Rawalpindi
Pakistan and Kuwait have signed a new defence protocol in Rawalpindi, expanding military cooperation between the two countries. The agreement, called the Protocol Agreement-2026, was signed on Thursday by Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and his Kuwaiti counterpart, Sheikh Abdullah Ali Abdullah Al-Sabah. Pakistan's Ministry of Defence said the deal significantly strengthens a cooperation framework that has been in place since 2023.Under the protocol, Pakistan's armed forces will help train Kuwait's military, support defence capacity building and assist with border management. The ministry said the arrangement builds on an underlying agreement signed in June 2023, which Kuwait formally ratified only... [Continue Reading]
Ukraine says Russia plans second formal mobilisation wave of 600,000 troops
Ukraine says Russia is preparing to mobilise 600,000 additional soldiers across 2026 and 2027, in what it describes as a second formal wave of conscription. The claim was made by Ukraine's Main Intelligence Directorate and Foreign Intelligence Service, which said the Russian leadership had already taken the decision. According to the Ukrainian assessment, 300,000 troops would be called up this year and another 300,000 in 2027.The reported plan comes as Kyiv says Moscow is facing mounting battlefield losses and a sharp decline in voluntary recruitment. Ukrainian intelligence said the trigger was a combination of heavy losses, a loss of military... [Continue Reading]
Record Panama Canal auction fee paid as traffic limits tighten
A liquefied petroleum gas carrier has paid a record $5.3 million to secure an earlier transit through the Panama Canal, according to the canal administration. The payment was made as the waterway prepares to reduce the number of authorised daily crossings in response to falling reservoir levels. The move highlights the pressure on one of the world's most important shipping routes just as restrictions are set to tighten.Ilya Espino de Marotta, the canal administrator, said the fee was the highest ever paid in an auction for passage through the canal. She confirmed that a ship had paid $5.3 million to... [Continue Reading]
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Thousands march on Indonesia's parliament in Jakarta over anti-corruption demands
Thousands of people marched on Indonesia's parliament in Jakarta on Thursday to demand tougher action against corruption and the passage of a stalled asset-seizure bill. The protest took place outside the legislature in the capital and remained largely contained behind locked gates for much of the day. By nightfall, the demonstration had turned more tense after some protesters threw objects at police.Police responded with tear gas and a water cannon after dark, according to the supporting report. A police post and a motorcycle were set alight during the unrest, and several people were carried away on stretchers. Jakarta police said... [Continue Reading]
Malaysia finalises first phase of Rohingya repatriation plan for next month
Malaysia has finalised the first phase of a voluntary repatriation programme that will send at least 1,500 eligible Myanmar refugees back on 29 September, according to the government. The plan mainly concerns Rohingya refugees and comes amid continuing tensions with local communities in Malaysia. Officials said the return will only go ahead if it is judged safe for those involved.The Home Ministry said the repatriation process will use two Myanmar naval warships and a hospital ship. It also said more than 4,000 people, primarily ethnic Rohingya, will be channelled into the Refugee Registration Document programme, while 5,000 others will undergo... [Continue Reading]
Death toll nears 400 as Australians remain missing after Nepal-Tibet floods
Families of Australians missing in Nepal and Tibet are appealing for information after deadly floods cut communications across parts of the Himalayan border region. At least 392 people have died and 1,468 are missing, with 39 Australians still unaccounted for, according to the supplied material. Several of the missing were on pilgrimages along the Nepal-Tibet border when floodwaters struck.One of those missing is Reshma Patel, a 46-year-old from Rankin Park near Newcastle, whose family says contact was lost near an immigration building on the border shortly before the flood. A family friend said she was last seen about 10 minutes... [Continue Reading]
Chad accuses Sudan of deadly air strike near shared border
Chad has accused the Sudanese army of carrying out an air strike near the shared border that killed 12 people and wounded seven, in a fresh escalation linked to Sudan's war. Officials in Chad said the strike hit a fuel market used by the Rapid Support Forces, or RSF, in the border area. Sudan has rejected the allegation and called for an independent investigation.A Chadian security source said the attack took place on Thursday and targeted a market where RSF fighters refuel. Chad's army said the strikes happened more than 100 km inside its territory in the eastern Ennedi region,... [Continue Reading]
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Australia to withdraw scientists from Macquarie Island over bird flu fears
Australia's Antarctic authorities plan to withdraw staff from Macquarie Island in the Southern Ocean because of concerns about the psychological impact of a possible bird flu outbreak. The island is currently free of the H5 strain, but officials say a mass wildlife mortality event there could be deeply distressing for expeditioners living and working close to seals and seabirds. The move would affect a remote sub-Antarctic station about 1,500 kilometres south-east of Hobart.The Australian Antarctic Division said the decision was driven primarily by the risk to staff if bird flu reaches the island and causes widespread deaths among wildlife. Federal... [Continue Reading]
Judge questions rush to restore Trump's name to Kennedy Center facade
A US district judge has questioned why the Kennedy Center is moving so quickly to restore President Donald Trump's name to the performing arts venue in Washington, DC. The dispute centres on a deadline of September 8 that the venue says it must meet to begin adding the name back to the building. The case is the latest development in a legal fight over whether the national arts institution can be rebranded in this way.US District Court Judge Christopher Cooper raised the issue during a hearing on Thursday, asking Trump administration lawyer Bradley Mayers what was significant about that date.... [Continue Reading]
Nepal floods and landslides hit Nuwakot as rescue teams airlift the injured
Flash floods and landslides have caused widespread destruction in Nepal's Nuwakot district, with communities along the Trishuli River basin among the worst affected. The disaster struck on 26 August, a day after a glacial collapse near the Nepal-Tibet border, and torrents of mud and debris swept through settlements including Bidur, Devighat and Trishuli Bazaar. Images from the area show buildings partly buried, vehicles submerged in sludge and major infrastructure badly damaged.Hundreds of residents, tourists and security personnel are still unaccounted for as rescue operations continue. The Nepal Army has deployed MI-17 helicopters to establish an emergency airlift corridor to the... [Continue Reading]
Trump declares emergency to restrict some foreign equipment in US power grid
United States President Donald Trump has declared a national emergency over what his administration describes as security risks linked to foreign-made equipment used in the country's electricity grid. He signed an executive order on Wednesday that restricts the purchase and installation of certain foreign-produced equipment in the bulk-power system. The order also covers related software and digital capabilities that officials say could create cybersecurity or operational risks.The directive says the threat is "unusual and extraordinary" and frames the issue as a national security concern. The Department of Energy has 120 days to publish formal rules to carry out the policy.... [Continue Reading]
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Piracy off Somalia surges to highest level since 2013, analysis of IMO data shows
Piracy off Somalia has risen to its highest level since 2013, according to an analysis of data from the International Maritime Organisation. At least 15 attacks have been reported since the start of the year across the Gulf of Aden, the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean within 2,000 kilometres of Somalia. The increase marks a sharp change after years in which the region recorded only a handful of pirate attacks annually.The analysis says eight of the attacks took place in the Gulf of Aden since May, an area between Somalia and Yemen that links the Red Sea to the... [Continue Reading]
Israeli strike kills woman and wounds six in south Lebanon as attacks widen
A Lebanese woman has been killed and six other people wounded in Israeli strikes on the town of Arab Salim in southern Lebanon's Nabatieh district. The Lebanese Ministry of Health said the injured included a child, a woman and two elderly people. State media also reported that the dead woman had been married for 48 hours, and that her house was destroyed in the attack.Lebanese security sources said at least 10 Israeli strikes were carried out in the wider Nabatieh area on Thursday. State media also reported artillery shelling on the outskirts of Rashaf in the Bint Jbeil district, indicating... [Continue Reading]
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Ratko MladiΔ dies in prison in The Hague at 84, officials confirm
Ratko MladiΔ, the former Bosnian Serb commander convicted of genocide and war crimes over the Bosnian war, has died in prison in The Hague at the age of 84. His death was confirmed by a UN official and his lawyer, according to the supplied report. MladiΔ had been serving a life sentence after his conviction by a UN tribunal in 2017.The report says MladiΔ had been in poor health after a series of strokes. It also says the news of his death was first reported on Serbian state television after his son, Darko MladiΔ, had spoken earlier about his father's... [Continue Reading]
Customer data accessed in cyber attack on Manchester Airports Group
Manchester Airports Group has said customer data was accessed in a cyber security incident affecting services linked to Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands airports. The company said the incident involved an unauthorised third party and that about 8.7 million customers were affected. It said airport operations remained unaffected throughout.The group said the data accessed related to car park, lounge and fast track bookings, as well as in-airport Wi-Fi sign-ups. It said the information obtained included email addresses, phone numbers, vehicle registration numbers and postcodes. The company also said that neither it nor the system accessed held customers' bank or... [Continue Reading]
Five Russian drones enter Moldovan airspace on Independence Day
Moldova said five Russian drones entered its airspace on the morning of its Independence Day, prompting authorities to monitor the skies for public safety. The first crossing was reported at about 3:55am, according to the supplied report, and the drones were described as having come from the direction of neighbouring Ukraine. One drone later disappeared from radar near the village of Pervomaisc, close to the border.The Moldovan Ministry of Defence said the unauthorised overflights happened after Russian air attacks on Ukraine. It said national authorities, together with partners, were continuing to monitor airspace for the safety of the population. The... [Continue Reading]
Kilometre-long petrol queues in Tehran as Iran confirms fuel price rise
Long queues stretched for kilometres outside petrol stations in Tehran and other Iranian cities in the early hours of Thursday as a daily fuel shortfall collided with panic buying. Videos posted on social media showed lines of vehicles forming in the capital and in nearby Karaj around midnight on Wednesday and continuing into the early morning. Several stations closed before demand could be met, adding to the disruption seen by drivers.Officials said the immediate trigger was a surge in demand driven by rumours of shortages, but they also confirmed that petrol prices will rise. Mohammad Jafar Ghaempanah, Iran's vice president... [Continue Reading]
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Russia scrambles for fuel imports after refinery damage from Ukrainian drone strikes
Russia is facing a widening fuel crisis after Ukrainian long-range drone attacks damaged refinery capacity and disrupted domestic gasoline supply. The shortage has forced the Kremlin to seek emergency imports and processing arrangements abroad, including shipments routed through Turkey, India and Kazakhstan. The pressure has also led to rationing at filling stations in several Russian regions.The most recent confirmed shipment was a 200,000-barrel gasoline cargo bought from Turkey and sent from Mersin to the Baltic port of Primorsk. The cargo is being carried on a sanctioned tanker, according to the supplied material. It is described as the fifth confirmed seaborne... [Continue Reading]
Two dead and 10 hurt after car rams into crowd near Caen station
Two people have been killed and 10 others injured after a car drove into pedestrians near Caen station in northern France, according to local officials and French reports. Seven of the injured were said to be in a critical condition, while the rest were receiving treatment for less serious wounds. The incident took place opposite the station and prompted a major emergency response across the wider Normandy region.Local prefect David Clavière said the car deliberately rammed into pedestrians in the street opposite the station. He said the suspect, a 26-year-old man born in Russia, was later arrested in Ouistreham, about... [Continue Reading]
Nepal flash floods leave NSW couple among missing Australians on Himalayan tour
The identity of a missing New South Wales couple has now been confirmed after catastrophic flash flooding in Nepal left a tour group unaccounted for in the Langtang Valley. Venkatraman Balakrishnan, 52, and his wife Chitra Venkatraman, 46, from Western Sydney are among 15 Australians missing from the group, according to the latest confirmed details. The tour was taking place near the Tibet border when the flooding struck, and the wider group remains unaccounted for.The couple were travelling with a US-based hiking company, and their son said he last spoke to his parents when they were about 15 kilometres from... [Continue Reading]
Trial of alleged 9/11 mastermind set for June 2028 after plea deal collapse
A US military judge has ordered Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and three co-defendants to go on trial in June 2028 over the 11 September 2001 attacks. The scheduling order, issued by Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Michael Schrama, sets 5 June 2028 as the start date for the long-running military commission case at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. It is the latest step in a prosecution that has been delayed for years by disputes over plea agreements, evidence and military court procedure.The order covers Mohammed, Walid Muhammad Salih Mubarak bin 'Atash, Mustafa Ahmed Adam al Hawsawi and Ali Abdul Aziz Ali. According to... [Continue Reading]
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Nepal-Tibet avalanche and mudslide rescue continues as China sends military aid
Rescue teams are continuing to mobilise on both sides of the Nepal-China border after an avalanche and mudslide left hundreds dead or missing in the Himalayan frontier region. The disaster has affected areas in Nepal and Tibet, with emergency crews working in difficult terrain and authorities warning that the search for survivors is becoming increasingly limited. Images from the area showed a mass of water, mud and debris sweeping through buildings in a valley near the border.China has sent military personnel to the region, along with more than 30,000 emergency kits containing tents, stoves, clothing and other basic supplies for... [Continue Reading]
Trump administration renews push to remove Fed Governor Lisa Cook amid legal dispute
The Trump administration has renewed its effort to remove Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, after her legal team said there is no legal basis for President Donald Trump to fire her. The dispute centres on allegations of mortgage fraud, which Cook's lawyers say are unsupported and are being used to pressure the central bank. The row has intensified concerns about political interference in the Federal Reserve, which is meant to operate independently of the White House.Cook's lawyers, Abbe David Lowell and Norman Eisen, issued a rebuttal letter on Wednesday rejecting the administration's claims. They said this was the second time... [Continue Reading]
Iceland holds knife-edge referendum on EU talks amid fish and sovereignty debate
Iceland is voting on whether to resume talks on joining the European Union in a referendum that polls suggest is too close to call. The vote has become a test of how the country balances economic concerns, sovereignty and its strategic position in the North Atlantic. In a nation of almost 400,000 people, the result could shape policy debates well beyond this weekend.The immediate issue is whether Iceland should reopen accession talks that were halted years ago. Prime Minister Kristrun Frostadottir's centre-left government pledged after winning a snap election in 2024 to hold a referendum by 2027, but recent geopolitical... [Continue Reading]
Western Australia maps emergency response for possible AUKUS nuclear reactor accident near Perth
Western Australia emergency services have published a hazard plan setting out how they would respond to a worst-case nuclear reactor accident linked to AUKUS submarines or warships near Perth. The plan covers possible radiation leaks involving gamma radiation or radioactive iodine and outlines measures that could include iodine tablets, sheltering and evacuations. It was published last week and is described as a response to the increased rotation of nuclear submarines under AUKUS.The plan says the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency would coordinate any emergency response to a radiological or nuclear incident. It focuses on the unlikely event of... [Continue Reading]
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Israeli seizure of UNRWA East Jerusalem training centre draws condemnation as injuries reported
UNRWA's acting commissioner-general has condemned the Israeli seizure of the Qalandiya Training Centre in East Jerusalem, saying the move is part of a campaign to weaken the agency and undermine Palestinian rights. Christian Saunders said Israeli forces violated UN premises when they raided the centre in the Kafr Aqab neighbourhood on Tuesday, expelled staff and ordered them not to return. He also said the agency would remain in place despite the pressure, adding that force would not determine the outcome of the conflict.The latest account says five Palestinians were injured by Israeli gunfire near the site during the operation, according... [Continue Reading]
Day News Recap: Nepal flood toll rises as Haiti killings, Iran tensions and trade war deepen
Nepalβs flash floods and mudslides along the Nepal Tibet border have worsened, with at least 22 bodies recovered and 384 people still missing, after earlier reports said at least eight people had died in the disaster zone. π πIn Haiti, the UN says at least 47 people were killed in a gang attack near Kenscoff, close to the capital Port au Prince, one of the deadliest recent assaults in the area. Survivors are still searching for missing relatives after armed men descended on the farming community and bodies were left in the streets. π πIran remained at the centre of... [Continue Reading]
Putin and al-Sharaa discuss Russia-Syria ties and future of military bases
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa have held talks on bilateral relations, including the future of Russia's military facilities in Syria. The discussion covered the Khmeimim airbase and the Tartous naval base, both of which have been central to Moscow's military presence in the country. Syria said the two sides also addressed broader political and economic cooperation.According to the Syrian side, the call took place on Wednesday and included Putin's affirmation of Russia's support for Syria's territorial integrity. The Kremlin said the conversation also touched on trade and on continuing contact between the two countries at various... [Continue Reading]
Dutch settlement-trade ban faces court challenge over stock deadline
A Dutch evangelical group linked to the Israel Product Centre has taken the Dutch state to court in an effort to block a planned ban on trade in goods from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and Golan Heights. The summary proceedings were filed in the Netherlands, with a hearing due on Wednesday, as the group argues the measure is too broad and leaves it too little time to sell existing stock. The case centres on a decree announced in July and due to take effect on 22 September for three years.The planned ban would prohibit importing, buying and... [Continue Reading]
Meta agrees $16.68bn settlement in youth-safety and privacy trial
Meta has agreed to pay up to $16.68 billion and make changes to Facebook and Instagram to resolve claims by 29 US states that it designed the platforms to addict children and mishandled personal data. The settlement also ends a federal trial in Oakland, California, that had become one of the most closely watched tests of allegations that social media companies harmed young users. Meta denied wrongdoing in agreeing to settle.Under the deal, Meta will impose daily usage limits and nighttime restrictions for children using Facebook and Instagram, and will strengthen measures intended to stop children from accessing age-restricted content.... [Continue Reading]
Japanese lawmakers visit Beijing amid efforts to ease Taiwan-related rift with China
A delegation of Japanese lawmakers has travelled to Beijing this week in what observers say is an effort to ease one of the sharpest strains in Japan-China relations in decades. The visit comes after a diplomatic dispute triggered by remarks from Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi about Taiwan and the possible use of force in the event of an attack. The trip includes politicians from both the ruling and opposition camps, underlining the political sensitivity of the issue in Tokyo.Among those in the delegation is Gaku Hashimoto, a member of Japan's House of Representatives and a figure in Takaichi's ruling... [Continue Reading]
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Iranian rial falls past 2 million per dollar as sanctions and war pressure deepen
Iran's rial has fallen to a new all-time low on the free market, dropping past 2 million rials to one US dollar. The move comes as sanctions and the economic fallout from the US-Israel war on Iran continue to weigh on households and businesses. The currency slide has added to pressure on prices for basic goods and medicines in Tehran and beyond.The report says Washington has imposed its toughest sanctions yet in an effort to squeeze Tehran's economy. It also says Iran's economy has already been weakened by decades of US and international sanctions, particularly measures linked to its nuclear... [Continue Reading]
Ukrainian drone strikes kill at least 3 in Russia as Wildberries warehouse burns in Tambov region
Separate Ukrainian drone strikes across Russia have killed at least three people and caused major damage to a logistics centre in the Tambov region, according to local officials. A warehouse belonging to Russian e-commerce company Wildberries in the town of Kotovsk was reported to have been completely destroyed by fire after an overnight attack. Other industrial damage was also reported in the Nizhny Novgorod, Lipetsk and Belgorod regions.Tambov governor Yevgeny Pervyshov said the Wildberries logistics centre was "completely destroyed by fire" and that about 100,000 square metres of the site had been set ablaze. He said one person was injured... [Continue Reading]
Trump-backed candidates win Republican runoff races in South Carolina and Oklahoma
Donald Trump has secured two projected Republican runoff victories in South Carolina and Oklahoma, giving the former president a boost after a series of losses for his endorsed candidates. US media projected that Darline Graham won the South Carolina contest against veteran congressman Ralph Norman, while Mike Mazzei won the Oklahoma runoff for governor against state attorney general Gentner Drummond. The results were reported on Tuesday and were presented as a sign that Trump still retains significant influence over Republican voters.In South Carolina, Trump campaigned directly for Graham, travelled to the state and held a telephone rally on the eve... [Continue Reading]
US expands sanctions pressure on Iran as secondary penalties are threatened
The United States has announced a new sanctions package against Iran and warned that countries and companies continuing to trade with Tehran could face secondary penalties. The measures were presented as part of a broader effort to cut off Iran's revenue streams and intensify economic pressure while the conflict remains unresolved. According to the supplied reporting, at least 60 entities across the Middle East, Asia and Europe have been targeted.US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the campaign would focus on Iran's oil income and other sources of revenue, and that firms facilitating transactions linked to Iranian oil could be targeted.... [Continue Reading]
Breakfast News Recap: Haiti massacre, Hormuz tensions and trade war escalation dominate a busy global briefing
At least 47 people have been killed in a gang attack near Haitiβs capital, in Kenscoff, where survivors are still searching for missing relatives and bodies were left in the streets. The UN says the assault is one of the deadliest recent attacks in the area, and hostages are also being threatened. π πIn Sudan, a medical network says 27 people, including four children, were killed in attacks in South Kordofan, the latest violence linked to the countryβs wider conflict. The UN has also said Myanmarβs human rights situation has βplummeted to a new lowβ, warning that civilians continue to... [Continue Reading]
ECB set for September rate hike as Iran war keeps inflation elevated
European Central Bank policymakers are preparing to raise interest rates at their September meeting, according to people familiar with the discussions. The expected move would lift the policy rate to 2.5% from 2.25% as officials respond to inflation pressures linked to the Iran war. The central bank is also said to have little appetite to signal further tightening beyond that point.The reported increase would come after the ECB raised borrowing costs in June for the first time in nearly three years. That earlier move was intended to stop a war-driven rise in energy prices from spreading more broadly through the... [Continue Reading]
Dissent surfaces in Jakarta during Indonesia's Independence Day celebrations
Indonesia marked its 81st Independence Day with large-scale celebrations in Jakarta, but the event also became a stage for public criticism of President Prabowo Subianto and his government. Several of the capital's main roads were closed as hundreds of thousands of people lined the streets, while the centrepiece of the day was the United Harmony of the Archipelago Carnival, which featured 32 floats representing government ministries and agencies. As the parade passed, officials highlighted government achievements and promoted the administration's flagship Free Nutritious Meals programme.The nutrition scheme has become a particular focus of criticism. According to figures read out during... [Continue Reading]
Dozens killed in rebel attacks in Sudan's South Kordofan, medical group says
A Sudanese medical network says 27 people, including four children, were killed in attacks in South Kordofan, in the latest reported violence linked to the country's wider war. The Sudan Doctors Network said the killings took place in Qardud and Abu Hamama, two areas inhabited by the Otoro tribe. It said the attacks triggered a wave of displacement toward Abu Hitan and Kadugli.The group accused the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North, or SPLM-N, of carrying out the attacks. It said the violence targeted unarmed civilians on ethnic grounds and amounted to a clear breach of international humanitarian law. The network also... [Continue Reading]
SpaceX unveils $100bn rocket complex plan in Louisiana
SpaceX has announced plans to build what it says will be its largest rocket launch complex in southern Louisiana. The proposed site, named Starbase Louisiana, would be built on Pecan Island in coastal wetlands and would become the company's fourth launch site in the United States. The project is described as a $100 billion facility and is intended to support Starship launches and AI satellite missions.The company said construction is due to begin next year, with the first Starship launch targeted for 2029. SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell said the campus is expected eventually to support thousands of Starship flights a... [Continue Reading]
Trump sends Saudi civil nuclear agreement to Congress as review begins
The United States has formally sent a classified civilian nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia to Congress for review, beginning a 90-day legislative clock under the Atomic Energy Act. The submission was made on Monday, according to an administration official and others familiar with the matter. The deal is intended to support Saudi Arabia's civilian nuclear programme, but its future remains tied to a political condition set by Donald Trump.The agreement was signed last month in Washington by US Energy Secretary Chris Wright and his Saudi counterpart, according to the supplied material. Trump then said the pact would not move... [Continue Reading]
UN says Myanmar human rights situation has plummeted to a new low
The United Nations has said Myanmar's human rights situation has "plummeted to a new low" in a report published on Tuesday. The assessment says civilians continue to face airstrikes, arson attacks, displacement and denial of assistance as fighting grinds on across the country. It also says abuses against the Rohingya minority have worsened sharply in western Rakhine State.The report says Myanmar's military, which seized power in a 2021 coup, has deepened civilian suffering in its effort to secure control and legitimacy. It estimates that 8,075 civilians, including 1,074 children, have been killed since the coup, with at least 1,241 deaths... [Continue Reading]
UK winter energy bills set to rise to three-year high
Energy bills for millions of households in the United Kingdom are expected to rise this winter to their highest level in three years. The increase is due to be announced by the energy regulator on Wednesday and is expected to affect customers in England, Scotland and Wales on variable tariffs. Analysts expect the price cap to rise by about 4%, driven by higher wholesale gas costs.The cap applies to about 33 million households and limits the maximum price suppliers can charge per unit of gas and electricity, rather than setting a total bill. That means the final amount paid still... [Continue Reading]
Innocent parcels caught up in Australia illicit tobacco bust
A Melbourne homeowner says a set of custom kitchen cabinets she ordered from China has been caught up in a crackdown on alleged illicit tobacco and vape imports in Australia. Amy Zhang spent 300,000 yuan, or about $62,000, on the cabinets for her new home, but they have been held in quarantine in Sydney for weeks. She says the delay has left her building work stalled and her site waiting for a delivery that has not yet arrived.The cabinets were shipped on 7 July and were expected to arrive about a month later. Ms Zhang said the goods did reach... [Continue Reading]
Australian leaders clash over AI data-centre energy rules at national cabinet meeting
Australia's national cabinet is meeting in Sydney with a dispute over proposed standards for artificial intelligence data centres expected to dominate the talks. Premiers and chief ministers are due to sit down with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as the federal government pushes a plan that would set national requirements for new facilities. The agenda also includes domestic violence, bird flu, fuel security and gun laws, but the data-centre issue is the clearest source of disagreement.The federal proposal would require developers to bring their own renewable energy and meet parameters on water use and community contributions. Queensland and the Northern Territory... [Continue Reading]
Taiwan indicts nine over alleged illegal exports of AI servers to China
Taiwanese prosecutors have charged nine people in Keelung over an alleged scheme to illegally export high-end artificial intelligence servers to mainland China. The case involves employees linked to Nvidia and Super Micro, and it has become the latest enforcement action in the wider contest over advanced computing hardware. Prosecutors said the servers were routed through multiple locations in an apparent attempt to evade export controls.According to the prosecutors, one Nvidia employee and two Super Micro employees are among those charged. They said 74 servers reached China, with 50 sent through Indonesia, 16 delivered directly and eight routed via Japan and... [Continue Reading]
Syrian Kurdish-led SDF dissolves after merging into army in Damascus deal
The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces have announced that they are dissolving as an independent military force after completing their integration into the Syrian army. The declaration was made by commander Mazloum Abdi in a televised speech from the presidential palace in Damascus on Tuesday evening. It marks a major shift in Syria's postwar military landscape and a significant step in the consolidation of power by the new authorities in the capital.Abdi said the group had completed the process of integrating its fighters into brigades of the Syrian army. He said the announcement represented the end of the SDF's mission and... [Continue Reading]
At least 47 killed in gang attack near Haiti's capital as hostages are threatened
The attack in Kenscoff near Haiti's capital has now been confirmed as one of the deadliest recent assaults in the area, with the UN saying at least 47 people were killed and more than 50 others kidnapped. The violence took place at the weekend in the hillside community above Port-au-Prince, where armed men also set homes on fire. A gang leader has since threatened to kill the hostages if authorities kill any gang members or use drones against them.In a video posted on social media, the man identified himself as Izo 2 and warned the director of Haiti's national police,... [Continue Reading]
European rights court orders Turkey to free Osman Kavala
The European Court of Human Rights has ordered Turkey to immediately release businessman, activist and philanthropist Osman Kavala, saying his detention was unlawful. The ruling adds a new legal challenge to a case that has already become one of the most closely watched human rights disputes involving Turkey. Kavala has been held in prison since 2017 and was sentenced to life in 2022.In its decision, the court said Kavala's continued detention violated his rights to a fair trial, freedom of expression and freedom of association. It also said the measures taken against him were motivated by an ulterior purpose, namely... [Continue Reading]
UN and Red Cross renew push for global limits on autonomous weapons
The United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross have renewed calls for countries to agree global bans and limits on autonomous weapons. The appeal, issued on Tuesday, focuses on systems that can identify and attack targets without direct human command. The organisations said the technology is advancing faster than the rules meant to govern it.The two bodies said they are not seeking a total ban on every related technology, but want clear rules to control development and use. They said they have not confirmed autonomous weapons being used in combat, even though such systems are already being... [Continue Reading]
Zelensky sees window for US mediation to end Ukraine war
Ukraine's president says there is a limited window for US mediation to help end the war with Russia, stretching from this December until the end of summer 2027. Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine has drafted a one-page set of suggestions with US and European officials that will be presented to Moscow. He said the document includes ideas for a ceasefire and a previously discussed US proposal for a free economic zone in eastern Donbas to be administered by a third party.Zelensky told reporters in a weekend briefing that the ceasefire idea is the main point of the draft. He said the... [Continue Reading]
Chinese artist Gao Zhen sentenced to three years in prison over Mao-related works
Chinese artist Gao Zhen has been sentenced to three years in prison in China after being found guilty of slandering the country's "heroes and martyrs". The verdict was delivered by a court in Sanhe city in Hebei province, according to people familiar with the case and rights groups monitoring it. Gao, who is known for provocative sculptures involving former leader Mao Zedong, had already spent two years in detention before sentencing.The case centres on artworks created more than a decade before the law used against him came into force. China's law on defamation of heroes and martyrs took effect in... [Continue Reading]
Rwanda and DR Congo trade accusations as ceasefire verification advances
Rwandan President Paul Kagame has accused the Democratic Republic of the Congo of supporting the FDLR armed group and said Rwanda will continue to take measures it considers necessary for its security. He made the remarks at a news conference in Kigali as efforts to verify a ceasefire in eastern Congo move forward. The comments add a new layer of tension to an already fragile regional security process.Kagame said Rwanda's main concern is the continued presence of the FDLR on Congolese territory, and argued that if the problem is not resolved, Rwanda will remain involved in the conflict. He also... [Continue Reading]
Rohingya refugees protest in Cox's Bazar over aid cuts and return demands
Hundreds of Rohingya refugees gathered in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, on Monday and Tuesday to mark the ninth anniversary of their exodus from Myanmar and to press for justice, dignity and the right to return home. The protests took place in the world's largest refugee settlement, where more than 1.2 million Rohingya now live in about 30 camps. Organisers said the demonstrations were meant to remember the atrocities committed against the community and to draw attention to what they described as an ongoing humanitarian crisis.The United Council of Rohingya refugee group said it organised the protest, while reporting from the camps... [Continue Reading]
Russia intensifies forced recruitment and mobilisation fears amid reports of coercive tactics
Reports from across Russia say security forces are detaining men off the street and pressuring them to sign military contracts, as concern grows over a possible new mobilisation wave linked to the war in Ukraine. The accounts describe a pattern of coercion that has become more visible since mid-2025 and appears to have intensified in August. One of the places repeatedly mentioned is Penza, where footage shared on social media has shown plainclothes men trying to force fighting-age men into vehicles.The reports say the detentions have taken place in several settings, including on the street, at workplaces, on the way... [Continue Reading]
Israel resumes Gaza strikes after Kushner leaves ceasefire talks
Israeli strikes hit residential areas in Gaza again within hours of United States envoy Jared Kushner leaving talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to the supplied report. The renewed attacks came as efforts to salvage a ceasefire remained stalled and both sides accused each other of violating the plan. The report says the strikes marked a return to pre-ceasefire rules of engagement.One strike hit a crowded cafe at the Gaza City port, which the report says was also being used as a displacement camp. At least seven Palestinians were killed there, including a child. Another strike hit Gaza... [Continue Reading]
US judge delays Lockerbie bombing trial amid new evidence review
A US federal judge has postponed the trial of Abu Agila Masud, the Libyan man accused of making the bomb that destroyed Pan Am Flight 103 over Scotland in 1988. Jury selection had been due to begin in Washington DC this week, but the court pushed the proceedings back after defence lawyers asked for time to review new evidence. Masud has denied the charge.The delay was ordered by Judge Dabney Friedrich, who cited newly discovered material and evidence located in other countries. No new trial date has been set, but a status hearing is scheduled for 1 September. The postponement... [Continue Reading]
Libyan factions sign initial election pact in Tunis amid doubts over implementation
Libyan negotiators have signed a preliminary election agreement in Tunis in a new attempt to move the country toward long-delayed polls. The pact was reached by the UN-backed 4+4 committee and covers electoral laws as well as the restructuring of the national elections commission. It is the latest effort to bridge Libya's political divide after years of competing administrations in the east and west.The committee includes four representatives from the House of Representatives, based in eastern Libya, and four from the High Council of State, which is linked to the internationally recognised Government of National Unity in Tripoli. According to... [Continue Reading]
Ukraine stages first-ever drone parade in Kyiv on Independence Day
Ukraine marked its 35th Independence Day in Kyiv with what President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described as the country's first-ever aerial, ground and naval drone parade. The display replaced the traditional image of soldiers marching down the capital's main street with unmanned systems designed for frontline use. It took place on Monday local time and highlighted how the war has reshaped Ukraine's military production and public messaging.Nine unmanned surface vessels, also known as drone boats, travelled along the Dnipro River as part of the event. In the skies above Kyiv, bomber drones and aerial-target interceptors were shown, while 30 unmanned ground vehicles... [Continue Reading]
Kalimantan wildfires intensify as haze drifts toward Malaysia and Singapore
Fires across Indonesian Kalimantan have burned through tens of thousands of acres, sending thick smoke across Borneo and into neighbouring countries. The haze has reached Malaysia and put Singapore on alert, according to the supplied report. Residents in the affected areas say visibility has fallen sharply and daily life is being affected by the smoke.Health ministry data cited in the report shows a steep rise in respiratory cases in West Kalimantan, with about 5,000 emergency room visits a week since July. That compares with about 500 a week in the first half of the year. The report says children are... [Continue Reading]
US removes Syria from state sponsor of terrorism list as investment barriers fall
The United States has removed Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism after 47 years, in a move Washington says clears the final major barriers to private sector investment and Syria's reintegration into the global economy. The decision also removes Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, from the US list of global terrorist organisations. It marks another major shift in US policy toward Syria's new leadership.US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the move reflected the Syrian government's positive actions to distance itself from acts of international terrorism. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the change would help foster... [Continue Reading]
DRC constitutional battle over 2028 succession intensifies amid reform push
President Felix Tshisekedi's reform agenda is fuelling a political battle in the Democratic Republic of the Congo over what will happen when his current mandate ends in 2028. The dispute centres on whether constitutional change could eventually affect the rules governing presidential succession and term limits. It is unfolding in Kinshasa while the country is also dealing with an armed rebellion in the east.Under the current constitution, the president is elected for five years and may be renewed once, while the number and length of presidential terms are protected from constitutional revision. Tshisekedi said in May that he had not... [Continue Reading]
Teenager arrested after four viable explosive devices found in Omagh security alert
Police in Omagh, County Tyrone, have arrested a 16-year-old boy under the Terrorism Act after finding four viable explosive devices during a planned search. The search took place on Monday at an address on Gardenville Avenue, where officers responded to a security alert. The devices were removed from the property for forensic examination.Nearby residents were asked to leave their homes while the operation was under way, and police later said they had returned. Det Insp Winters said the public should not speculate about the incident. He added that, although a suspect had been arrested under the Terrorism Act, the investigation... [Continue Reading]
Zelenskyy faces mounting domestic pressure amid corruption probes and wartime election dispute
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is facing renewed domestic pressure in Ukraine as corruption investigations widen and debate continues over whether wartime elections should be held. The issue has sharpened as international leaders visit Ukraine to mark Independence Day, while Russian and Ukrainian attacks continue to intensify. The political dispute is unfolding alongside the war, adding to the strain on the presidency.According to the supplied material, Zelenskyy has rejected calls for wartime elections, including a demand from a sacked minister. The latest reporting also says domestic pressure has been growing amid corruption investigations into senior government officials. No further details of the... [Continue Reading]
US military strike in eastern Pacific kills two as campaign resumes after pause
The US military has carried out another lethal strike on a vessel in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing two people it accused of trafficking drugs. The attack took place on Sunday and was announced by US Southern Command on Monday, ending a pause of more than two months in the campaign against alleged drug boats in Latin America's Caribbean and eastern Pacific routes. The command said the target was a low-profile vessel operating along established narcotrafficking routes.US Southern Command said the strike was a "lethal kinetic strike" and did not provide evidence that the vessel was carrying drugs. It said... [Continue Reading]
Syria sentences former grand mufti to life in prison over Assad-era war crimes
A court in Damascus has sentenced Syria's former grand mufti, Ahmed Hassoun, to life in prison after convicting him of crimes including inciting civil war and complicity in intentional killing. The Fourth Criminal Court delivered the ruling in the capital, according to state media, in one of the most prominent accountability cases brought by Syria's transitional authorities. Hassoun, who denied the charges, was Syria's top Muslim cleric from 2005 to 2021 during the rule of ousted president Bashar al-Assad.The court said the official religious establishment he led was used to provide cover for military and security operations during the 13-year... [Continue Reading]
Australia warns data centres could become a major power load by 2036
Australia's energy market operator has forecast that data centres could become one of the country's biggest new sources of electricity demand within a decade. The Australian Energy Market Operator said the facilities could draw almost as much power from the grid by 2036 as all homes in New South Wales and Victoria do today. The warning comes as the number of known data-centre projects under development has more than doubled over the past year.The operator said there are now 225 known projects at various stages of development that want to connect to the national electricity market, compared with 97 a... [Continue Reading]
UK and Ukraine strike AI security deal using battlefield data
The UK and Ukraine have agreed a new deal to use Ukrainian battlefield data to train artificial intelligence systems designed to help protect sensitive sites in Britain. The agreement is intended to support security at UK defence locations and critical infrastructure, including railways and energy plants. It is being described as the first arrangement of its kind in the UK.Under the plan, AI models trained on data from Ukraine will be used to help identify protesters and hostile-state activity around military bases and other protected sites. The scheme will begin with a pilot at a UK defence site, where the... [Continue Reading]
Ukraine says first confirmed AI-guided drone strike killed three in Zaporizhzhia
Ukrainian authorities say a Russian drone guided by artificial intelligence killed three people in the city of Zaporizhzhia, in what they describe as the first confirmed attack of its kind. The strike is being treated in Kyiv as a significant development in the war because the drone was said to have selected its final impact point autonomously. Among the dead was a 19-year-old woman, according to the account cited by Ukrainian officials.The attack was reported after military forensic teams examined the drone wreckage, which Ukrainian authorities said supported the conclusion that AI had been used. According to the same account,... [Continue Reading]
Israeli strike hits Gaza shelter near al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah
An Israeli air strike has hit a tent sheltering displaced Palestinians in central Gaza, killing at least one person and wounding several others. The strike took place early on Monday near al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah, according to the Palestinian news agency Wafa. The incident adds to the continuing toll of attacks in the enclave despite the ceasefire agreement in place since October 2025.The Israeli army said in a post on Telegram that it had targeted two militants in the Deir al-Balah area on Sunday night. It identified one of them as Muhammad Abdul Nasser Jaber Abu Asad and said... [Continue Reading]
South Korea says US cancelled joint marine drills for a second day over Iran war constraints
South Korea says the United States has cancelled the planned Ssangyong amphibious landing exercise, a major joint marine drill scheduled for next month. The move affects a biennial exercise that normally brings together South Korean and US marine forces for combined amphibious operations. Seoul said the cancellation was linked to force availability constraints caused by the US-Israel war on Iran.A South Korean Marine Corps spokesman said the US Marine Corps formally notified South Korean forces in June that its ability to deploy troops for this year's exercise would be limited because of the situation in the Middle East. The spokesman... [Continue Reading]
Dutch broadcaster withdraws from Eurovision over neutrality and Gaza divisions
The Dutch public broadcaster AVROTROS has said it will not take part in next year's Eurovision Song Contest, arguing that the competition can no longer be considered neutral. The decision comes amid continuing divisions over the war in Gaza and Israel's participation in the event. AVROTROS said the contest has become a platform for division rather than a unifying cultural event.In a statement released on Monday, the broadcaster said international conflicts were increasingly affecting the competition and undermining its neutral character. It said there was a lack of clarity from organisers, the European Broadcasting Union, over how countries are assessed... [Continue Reading]
Guinea-Bissau mpox outbreak spreads, with many child cases
Guinea-Bissau has reported 46 suspected mpox cases and seven confirmed cases since it declared an outbreak in July, with more than half of patients now children. Health authorities say the vast majority of confirmed infections are in the Bissau autonomous sector, where the capital is located, with one case also recorded in the nearby Biombo area. No deaths have been reported so far.The outbreak was declared on 4 July, a little more than a week after the country confirmed its first mpox case in a 27-year-old woman. Since then, cases have appeared intermittently over several weeks, according to a former... [Continue Reading]
Kazakhstan pro-government Adilet wins parliamentary election as Tokayev consolidates power
Kazakhstan's newly formed pro-government Adilet party has won more than 71% of the vote in Sunday's parliamentary election, according to the electoral commission. The result is likely to strengthen President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's position after a constitutional overhaul that reshaped the legislature. Four other blocs also entered the new 145-member, single-chamber parliament known as the Kurultai.The commission said 74% of eligible voters took part in the vote, with about 12.6 million of Kazakhstan's 20 million people eligible to cast ballots. Adilet was founded earlier this year and is led by Tokayev's top aides, and it absorbed the former ruling party, Amanat,... [Continue Reading]
Thai PM meets security chiefs after 51 coordinated attacks in the south
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has held an urgent meeting with senior security officials after a wave of coordinated violence overnight in Thailand's southern border provinces. Officials said 51 incidents were reported on Saturday night across Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala, where a small-scale Muslim insurgency has been active for years. The attacks involved bombs, arson and other property damage, and the most visible target was a convenience store in Pattani.Authorities said the attackers did not engage with military or police forces. Only three civilians were known to have been wounded, and they were reported to be recovering on Sunday. A bomb... [Continue Reading]
Iran reports major new gas reserve discovery in Fars province amid war-hit energy sector
Iran has said it discovered more than 200 billion cubic metres of natural gas in the southern province of Fars, in a development announced as the country's energy system remains under strain from months of attacks. Petroleum Minister Mohsen Paknejad said on state television that more than 160 billion cubic metres could potentially be recovered from the field. He described the gas as sweet natural gas, meaning it contains very little hydrogen sulphide and is therefore cheaper to develop and operate.The announcement was made on Sunday and comes months into a wider Middle East war that has damaged Iran's energy... [Continue Reading]
Australia moves to override Queensland on AI data centre energy rules
Australia's federal government is preparing to settle new energy and water rules for large artificial intelligence data centres at a national cabinet meeting on Wednesday, despite opposition from Queensland. The dispute centres on whether new projects should be required to source power from renewable energy developments, with the state saying it will not support the proposed approach. If agreement cannot be reached, Canberra is expected to legislate to override Queensland.Queensland Premier David Crisafulli has said his government will stand firm against rules that would tie data centre construction to new renewable projects. The Northern Territory government has also indicated it... [Continue Reading]
Nigeria sees gas opening as Iran war strains global markets
Nigeria says the war involving Iran has tightened global natural gas markets and created an opening for the country to expand its own production. The issue was set out by Ekperikpe Ekpo, Nigeria's minister of state for petroleum resources, who said the disruption could strengthen Nigeria's position as a major gas supplier. He pointed to plans linked to the Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline and to wider efforts to attract investment.Ekpo said Nigeria wants to expand gas production and increase liquefied natural gas exports, with Europe identified as a key market. He also said the country is seeking to position its LNG... [Continue Reading]
Macron to host Saudi Crown Prince in Paris for talks on security and energy routes
French President Emmanuel Macron is due to host Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Paris for a two-day state visit beginning on Sunday evening. The visit will open with the closing ceremony of the Esports World Cup before moving on to bilateral talks and a business forum on Monday. The discussions are expected to focus on regional security, energy routes and broader cooperation between France and Saudi Arabia.According to the supplied material, the two leaders are expected to address the main topics of regional importance within a framework of close collaboration between France and its partners in the Gulf.... [Continue Reading]
Trump renews Strait of Hormuz claim as Iran threatens to keep waterway closed
Donald Trump has renewed his claim over the Strait of Hormuz after posting a map on Truth Social that depicted the strategic waterway as "new American territory". He did not comment on the image, but the post revived a dispute that has already drawn sharp responses from Iranian officials. The exchange centres on one of the world's most important shipping lanes and comes amid continuing tension between Washington and Tehran.The latest remarks were followed by a direct warning from Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, who said the strait would remain closed until the United States changes... [Continue Reading]
Israeli man wounded in stabbing near al-Auja in occupied West Bank
Israeli forces have launched a wide search operation in the Jordan Valley after a stabbing attack near the village of al-Auja in the eastern occupied West Bank. The incident took place at a commercial complex on the main road near the village, according to the information provided by Israeli public broadcaster Kan and cited by a security source. Israeli police said the victim, an Israeli man in his 20s, was moderately wounded.The suspect fled the scene after the attack, the Israeli army said. In response, the military said it had deployed a large-scale search operation in the area, backed by... [Continue Reading]
Small UK power plant shut down for four days after cyber attack
A small power plant in the United Kingdom was shut down for four days after a cyber attack, according to officials. The incident affected a small-scale generator rather than a major power station, and the government said the wider energy system was never at risk. The site has not been identified for security reasons.The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said it had contacted power companies to warn them about cyber risk after the attack. The National Cyber Security Centre, which handles attacks on critical infrastructure, also declined to provide further details about the location or method used. Officials... [Continue Reading]
Swedish police confirm 17-year-old girl killed in Fagersta school sword attack
Police in Sweden have confirmed that a 17-year-old girl was killed in a sword attack at Brinell School in the central town of Fagersta. Two boys, aged 12 and 17, were seriously injured, while a third person suffered minor injuries in the attack on Friday afternoon. An 18-year-old man has been arrested, and police are treating the case as murder and attempted murder.Local authorities said the attack happened shortly after students had returned to the classroom following the summer break. Police later said they fired shots after being called to the scene, although they did not say whether the suspect... [Continue Reading]
Suspected bird flu threatens sea lion breeding grounds in South Australia
Mass bird deaths believed to be linked to H5N1 bird flu have been detected on islands that host one of Australia's largest sea lion breeding colonies. The deaths were reported on the Pages Islands, off South Australia, where the endangered Australian sea lion breeds alongside large numbers of seabirds. Authorities have not detected the virus in Australian sea lions in the country so far, but the finding has raised concern because the disease has already spread to marine mammals in other parts of the world.The South Australian government said on Thursday that the Pages Islands were the site of one... [Continue Reading]
South Korea sends first container ship through Arctic route on trial voyage
South Korea has launched its first commercial trial container voyage through the Arctic, with the PanStar Acro departing Busan New Port for Europe. The ship set sail on Saturday evening local time as part of a government-backed effort to test whether the Northern Sea Route can become commercially viable. The voyage is being watched closely because it could offer an alternative path for cargo between Asia and Europe.The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said the vessel departed at 9:30pm local time, or 12:30 GMT. The 2,758 TEU ship is carrying 837 TEU of cargo, including car parts, chemical products and... [Continue Reading]
Gaza families struggle to bury the dead as cemeteries fill up amid war
Families in Gaza are struggling to find space to bury relatives as cemeteries fill up during the war. In Gaza City's Zeitoun neighbourhood, 20-year-old Omar al-Sawhi said he had to look for a burial place for his father, Mohammad, after he was shot dead near the so-called Yellow Line, an Israeli-designated military zone. The shortage of graves has forced some families to use existing family plots or improvised burial sites.Mohammad al-Sawhi, 40, was working at a small roadside stall selling tea and coffee when a bullet struck him in the neck on 10 June, according to the account provided. Omar... [Continue Reading]
Europe wildfires trigger explosions of old wartime bombs and mines
Wildfires burning across parts of Europe have exposed a hidden danger beneath scorched ground, with explosions reported in France, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands. Emergency crews have been forced to contend not only with flames but also with old wartime bombs and mines uncovered by the heat. In one case, a bomb-disposal team was sent to a forest in Limburg province after fire threatened an area linked to fierce fighting in 1944.Officials and local reports said the fires have already set off detonations in several countries, underlining the scale of the risk. In eastern Belgium's Liege province, governor Herve Jamar... [Continue Reading]
Somalia child hunger crisis deepens as aid cuts force health facilities to close
Severe acute malnutrition among children is rising in Somalia as more than 200 health and nutrition facilities have been forced to shut after cuts to international aid. UNICEF said the deterioration is taking place against a backdrop of drought, displacement and widespread food shortages across the country. The agency warned that nearly 1.9 million children are projected to be malnourished this year.UNICEF said the number of children admitted for severe acute malnutrition and related complications rose by 32 percent in the first six months of 2026. Its spokesman, James Elder, said aid cuts were closing access to healthcare and nutrition... [Continue Reading]
World Bank warns Lebanon economy will contract 6.4% in 2026 after conflict escalation
Lebanon's economy is projected to shrink by 6.4% in 2026 after the March 2026 escalation in conflict with Israel disrupted a fragile recovery, according to the World Bank. The assessment says the renewed fighting damaged housing and infrastructure, displaced communities and hit tourism and domestic demand. It also says supply chains were interrupted, adding to pressure on businesses and households.The bank said Lebanon had entered 2026 on stronger footing after expanding by 4.2% in 2025, its fastest real gross domestic product growth since the 2019 financial collapse. That rebound was then sharply reversed by the conflict escalation in March, which... [Continue Reading]
UN Security Council straw poll puts Guyana's Rodrigues Birkett ahead in race for next secretary-general
The United Nations Security Council has held a second informal straw poll in the race to choose the next secretary-general, with Guyana's Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett emerging as the leading candidate. The vote took place on Friday as the council continued its search for consensus ahead of Antonio Guterres' departure at the end of December. The poll is non-binding, but it is one of the main steps used to narrow the field before a formal recommendation is sent to the General Assembly.According to the results circulated after the vote, Rodrigues Birkett received eight votes to encourage, three to discourage and four... [Continue Reading]
Two Palestinians killed in separate West Bank shootings as violence continues
The Palestinian Health Ministry said a 17-year-old Palestinian boy was shot dead in Sa'ir, north of Hebron, in one of two separate fatal shootings in the occupied West Bank on Friday. In a second incident, the Palestinian General Authority for Civil Affairs said 58-year-old Fathi Khazem was killed during an Israeli raid in Jenin. The two deaths were reported hours apart and involved different locations, different circumstances and different Israeli actors.In Sa'ir, the ministry identified the teenager as Karim Sanad Raja Shalaldeh. It said Israeli settlers shot him dead and wounded an elderly man after Palestinians allegedly threw rocks in... [Continue Reading]
Australia, Canada and UK condemn Israel over World Central Kitchen probe closure
Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom have jointly condemned Israel's decision not to pursue criminal investigations into the 2024 World Central Kitchen convoy strike in Gaza. The three governments described the move as "shameful" and said the victims and their families deserved justice and accountability. Their statement came after Israel's military said it would not open criminal probes into the attack that killed seven aid workers.The incident took place in April 2024 after the convoy had overseen the unloading of a food aid shipment in central Gaza. Those killed included three Britons, an Australian, a Polish national, a dual US-Canadian... [Continue Reading]
US Supreme Court lets White House ballroom work continue amid legal challenge
The US Supreme Court has allowed construction of a planned White House ballroom to continue for now, handing President Donald Trump a temporary legal victory. Chief Justice John Roberts lifted a lower-court order that had required work to stop by midnight. The decision means the project can proceed while the underlying litigation continues in lower courts.The project has been challenged by historical preservation groups, who argue the scale of the White House overhaul requires explicit congressional approval. According to the court filings described in the supporting material, the administration asked the Supreme Court to let it complete both the ballroom... [Continue Reading]
Dubai Property Market Faces Litmus Test as Nakheel Waterfront Investors Await Final Judicial Verdict
Hundreds of international and local investors who purchased land plots in Nakheelβs massive "Waterfront" project nearly two decades ago are holding their breath. Following the official cancellation of the project by the Dubai Land Department and its integration under Dubai Holding, a special judicial committee appointed by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has been tasked with resolving the liquidation and settling investor claims. βBecause the decisions of this specialized committee are legally binding and final, with no avenue for appeal, the upcoming rulings are being viewed as a critical turning point for the regulatory reputation of Dubai's... [Continue Reading]
The 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]
Is the Italian Prime Minister the Visionary Leader Europe Needs? An Analysis of Executive Decisiveness, National Security, and the Contrast in European Integration Policies
A Continent in Institutional Deadlock While the rest of Europe remains entangled in a web of bureaucratic deadlock and human rights litigation, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has quietly established herself as a leader operating far ahead of her continental peers. For years, European leaders have debated how to handle radicalism and unchecked migration, often waiting for institutional consensus that arrives too late. Meloni, conversely, has demonstrated a willingness to prioritize state security over political correctness, offering a blueprint for a continent facing asymmetric threats. The Contrast in European Legislative Approvals The contrast between Italyβs swift, executive decisiveness and the... [Continue Reading]
The Unspoken Stats: Who is Raping Europe?
Answering this question requires a direct look at the empirical data so, below is the comprehensive, data-verified draft for my article, formatted to analyse the relationship between immigration demographics and police-recorded sexual offense figures across Europe. Data vs. Perception: An Asymmetric Analysis of Migration and Sexual Offence Statistics in Europe While my primary field of research is rooted in macro-geopolitics, the responsibilities of independent journalism often demand transitioning from international balance-of-power metrics to domestic social realities. A recent high-profile criminal incident in England involving the gang rape of a 17-year-old girl by four Afghani nationals where one of them is... [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]
The Great Uncoupling: Abu Dhabiβs Sovereign Gambit
The UAEβs decision to cut ties with OPEC is far more than a mere adjustment of energy policy, for it functions as a political telegram written in barrels and sent directly to the heart of the global order. For nearly six decades, Abu Dhabi operated within the rigid architecture of producer discipline, where it accepted the rituals of quotas, the formality of communiquΓ©s, and the heavy burden of collective restraint. It played the long game of oil diplomacy with a patient hand, balancing its own massive national ambitions against the gravity of cartel discipline and the delicate logic of Gulf... [Continue Reading]
The Mirage of the Umbrella: The Shifting Sands of the U.S.-Israel-GCC Alliance
As I sat in a recent debate at the historic Carlton Club in London, listening to Faisal Abbas, the Editor-in-Chief of Arab News, I felt a tangible shift in the room, not because a new fact had been revealed, but because an old illusion had finally lost its last breath. The old-world order has not merely changed, it has evaporated, leaving the Gulf to realize it is no longer watching a distant fire from the safety of marble towers and air-conditioned ministries, but is instead standing directly inside the smoke. The GCC today is caught in a lethal crossfire between... [Continue Reading]
The Glass Elevator to Nowhere: A World Trapped in a Chocolate Factory
As a journalist in my mid-fifties, I thought my skin had thickened to the point of being impenetrable. I have covered the rise and fall of regimes, the grinding gears of the Cold War's leftovers, and the digital revolutions that promised to unite us. I thought I had seen every trick in the political playbook. Then came Donald Trumpβs 2026 foreign policy, and I realized I was not watching a statesman; I was watching a child play with a chemistry set he does not understand. The Willy Wonka of the West: Rule by Whim Walking into a press briefing lately... [Continue Reading]
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 Iranβs 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]
The Proving Ground, When βDecentβ Reporting Meets High-Tech Warfare
For two decades I have watched wars unfold not only on battlefields, but on screens. Todayβs incident over Kuwait, involving the downing of a U.S. F-15 Strike Eagle, is not just another headline in the Iran conflict. It may be a signal that something larger is unfolding behind the noise. Iranian state outlets rapidly circulated imagery of an ejected pilot. Washington responded cautiously. But beneath the spectacle lies a deeper question, whose technology was truly being tested? The Gulf as a live-fire laboratory For years, China has refined export-ready variants of its air defense systems, particularly the HQ-9 family and... [Continue Reading]
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]




