Papua New Guinea to close Taiwan trade mission in Port Moresby to reassure China
Papua New Guinea has said it will close Taiwan's trade mission in its capital, Port Moresby, in a move that marks a sharp diplomatic shift in the Pacific. The government said Taiwan's presence was no longer recognised or required, and described the decision as part of an effort to deepen trust with Beijing. Officials also said the move reaffirms Papua New Guinea's commitment to the One China policy.Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko announced the decision on Thursday, saying it was a vital step in strengthening ties with China. He said Papua New Guinea had communicated with the Taipei office before the... [Continue Reading]
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Kim Jong Un meets top Chinese official in Pyongyang as ties deepen
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has met Wang Huning, one of China's top political figures, in Pyongyang and pledged to deepen ties with Beijing. The talks were reported by North Korea's state media and took place during a visit by a Chinese delegation led by Wang, a member of the Communist Party's Politburo Standing Committee. The meeting is the latest in a series of high-level exchanges between the two neighbours following Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to North Korea in June.Both sides said they would work to implement the agreement reached during Xi's visit last month, which was the... [Continue Reading]
Vance accuses Israeli officials of trying to sway US opinion against Iran deal
US Vice-President JD Vance has sharpened his criticism of some members of the Israeli government, accusing them of trying to influence American opinion to keep the war with Iran going. In an interview published on Wednesday, he told conservative podcaster Joe Rogan that he trusted some people in the Israeli government, but said others were "manipulating and trying to change American public opinion to keep the war going on indefinitely". He said there was a "very discreet, extremely well-funded campaign" aimed at derailing negotiations and the agreement with Iran.Vance said the effort was designed to pull the United States away... [Continue Reading]
China overtakes United States in global favourability for first time, Pew survey finds
A new Pew Research Center survey has found that China is now viewed more favourably than the United States across the countries and territories surveyed, marking a reversal in a long-running pattern. The findings were released on Wednesday and are based on interviews with more than 42,000 people in 36 countries between February and May. The result suggests a notable shift in global public opinion at a time of strained perceptions of Washington and improving views of Beijing.The survey found a median of 51% of respondents held a favourable view of China, compared with 39% who held an unfavourable view.... [Continue Reading]
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Israel tells US it will keep troops in security zones in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza
Israel has told the United States it intends to keep its forces in designated security zones in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza, according to a statement from the Israeli defence minister's office. The message came as US-mediated talks with Lebanon in Rome were described by Washington as positive, with pilot zones expected to begin implementation in the coming days. The development adds a new point of tension to already fragile negotiations over phased withdrawals in southern Lebanon.The statement said Israel's defence minister, Israel Katz, spoke overnight with US defence secretary Pete Hegseth and stressed Israel's determination to remain in the security... [Continue Reading]
Iran frees US-Iranian citizen Dena Karari amid renewed hostilities with Washington
Iran has allowed US-Iranian citizen Dena Karari to leave the country after she was detained there since December 2024, according to her lawyer and comments from the US president. The release comes as tensions between Washington and Tehran have risen again, with fresh US strikes on Iran reported in the supporting material. Karari is now outside Iran and is understood to be travelling back to the United States.US President Donald Trump publicly praised the move as a gesture of goodwill, saying the woman was in good condition and had safely left Iran. He did not name her in his initial... [Continue Reading]
French PM Lecornu's Morocco visit advances diplomatic reset
French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu has begun his first official foreign visit in Morocco, in a two-day trip that runs from July 15 to 16. The visit is being used to deepen the recent rapprochement between Paris and Rabat into a broader strategic partnership. It comes after France recognised Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara in 2024, a move that ended years of diplomatic ambiguity.Lecornu is travelling with about a dozen ministers, according to the supplied report, and the talks are covering defence, security, economic cooperation and investment. The visit is taking place in Rabat and is being presented as a... [Continue Reading]
Trump says Iran freed wrongfully detained American citizen, calls it a goodwill gesture
President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social at 15 July 2026 at 23:54 BST: "Iran has allowed an American Citizen, who was wrongfully detained in December of 2024 under the "presidency" of Sleepy Joe Biden, to leave the Country. She is now safely outside of Iran, and in good condition." "The United States of America appreciates this gesture of Goodwill by Iran!" Explanation: President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social at 15 July 2026 at 23:54 BST: Iran has allowed an American citizen, detained since December 2024, to leave the country and is now outside Iran in good condition. The... [Continue Reading]
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World leaders arrive in Doha for mourning of Qatar's former emir
World leaders continued to arrive in Doha on Wednesday as Qatar observed the third day of national mourning for Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. The former emir, who ruled from 1995 to 2013, died on Sunday at the age of 74. The visits have turned the capital into a focal point for diplomatic condolences, with senior figures from Europe, the Middle East and Africa paying respects to Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.Among those expected in Doha is Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, whose visit comes as tensions between Tehran and Washington remain high after renewed military exchanges... [Continue Reading]
US pressure shapes Iraq's new prime minister and Baghdad politics
Ali al-Zaidi's visit to Washington has highlighted the extent of US leverage over Iraq's politics, security and economy. He met US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office on Tuesday while serving as Iraq's prime minister, a role that carries formal authority but, according to the supplied material, limited practical power. The meeting comes after months of paralysis in Baghdad and a rapid political settlement that brought him to office.The Coordination Framework, the Shia alliance that selected him, reportedly took just 25 minutes to agree on his name 11 weeks earlier. That decision followed intense pressure from Washington, including Treasury... [Continue Reading]
Trump threatens expanded strikes on Iran's power plants and bridges next week
US President Donald Trump has threatened to expand American attacks on Iran next week, saying power plants and bridges could be targeted if Tehran refuses to negotiate a peace deal. He said in an interview that the offensive would continue for as long as he considered necessary. The remarks came after new US strikes on Iran's southern coast, according to the supplied material.Trump said US officials had spoken with Iranian counterparts on Tuesday and had again pressed Tehran to reach an agreement. He warned that the situation would become much worse for Iran next week, adding that power plants and... [Continue Reading]
Yemen's Houthis threaten Saudi Arabia with 'siege' after Sanaa airport strike
A senior Houthi official has threatened to impose a "siege" on Saudi Arabia after an attack on Sanaa International Airport that the group blamed on Riyadh. Mohammed al-Bukhaiti, a member of the Houthi political bureau, said the movement would respond to what it sees as Saudi attacks by targeting Saudi airports. His comments came after the runway strike in Yemen's Houthi-held capital and a retaliatory missile salvo fired towards southern Saudi Arabia.The Houthis said the airport attack marked the end of the "de-escalation phase" of Yemen's war. Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree said the strike would not go unanswered, while al-Bukhaiti... [Continue Reading]
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Qatar announces death of former emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani at 74
Qatar's Amiri Diwan has announced the death of Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the former emir who ruled the country from 1995 to 2013. He died this morning at the age of 74, according to the statement. Sheikh Hamad was widely seen as a central figure in shaping modern Qatar.The emir's office said it mourned "the great loss to the nation" and described him as the Father Emir. It said he passed away on Sunday morning, without giving further details on the circumstances of his death. Sheikh Hamad stepped aside in 2013 and handed power to his son, Sheikh... [Continue Reading]
Khamenei funeral and Iran escalation around the Strait of Hormuz intensify
Millions of people in Iran have reportedly attended the funeral of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, according to the supplied material, as the country's confrontation with the United States and its allies continues to dominate the regional agenda. The event was presented as both a public mourning ceremony and a carefully managed political moment. The Strait of Hormuz remains central to the wider escalation, with the ceasefire described in the rows as having collapsed.The material says hundreds of foreign reporters and social media influencers were granted rare access to Iran to cover the funeral, suggesting Tehran is placing strong emphasis on... [Continue Reading]
Poland announces national memorial for Volhynia wartime victims amid row with Ukraine
Poland's prime minister has announced plans for a national memorial to the victims of wartime killings blamed by Warsaw on Ukrainian nationalists. Donald Tusk made the announcement during commemorations in Warsaw and other Polish cities on Saturday, on the anniversary of what Poland calls the Volhynia massacre. The ceremony brought renewed attention to one of the most sensitive historical disputes between Poland and Ukraine.According to Polish authorities, about 100,000 ethnic Poles were killed by the Ukrainian Insurgent Army in 1943-45 in Volhynia, a region that was then part of German-occupied Poland and is now in western Ukraine. Tusk said truth... [Continue Reading]
Algeria and Mali restore diplomatic ties after year-long rift
Algeria and Mali have begun restoring diplomatic relations after more than a year of tension that had strained ties across the Sahel. Both countries are reinstating ambassadors and reopening airspace that had been closed to each other since April 2025. The move marks a significant thaw between two neighbours whose dispute had widened into a broader regional security concern.Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune said on Saturday that Algeria's ambassador would return to Mali. His announcement came a day after Algiers fully reopened its airspace to civilian and military aircraft travelling to and from Mali. A spokesperson for Mali's military government, Issa... [Continue Reading]
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China and North Korea mark 65 years of treaty as alliance remains strategically important
China and North Korea are marking the 65th anniversary of their Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance, a pact that still defines one of Asia's most closely watched relationships. The anniversary comes as North Korean Premier Pak Thae Song makes a three-day visit to Beijing to commemorate the treaty. The visit highlights that, despite decades of strain and change, the alliance remains active and politically significant.The treaty was signed in Beijing on 11 July 1961 by then Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai and North Korean leader Kim Il Sung. It includes a mutual defence clause committing either side to assist... [Continue Reading]
Trump threatens to "completely decimate" Iran as assassination row escalates
Donald Trump has escalated his warning to Iran, saying the United States would "completely decimate" the country if it attempted or succeeded in assassinating him. In a post on his social media platform on 11 July, he said 1,000 missiles were "locked and loaded" and aimed at Iran, and that orders had already been given. He added that the US military was ready, willing and able to destroy all areas of Iran for a one-year period, subject to extension.The comments came amid a fragile ceasefire and a recent exchange of fire that has further strained relations between Washington and Tehran.... [Continue Reading]
Satellite images suggest fresh activity at Iranian nuclear sites
Satellite imagery analysed by a US-based research institute and reported by a television news network appears to show fresh activity at Iranian nuclear sites, raising questions about whether Tehran has begun rebuilding parts of its nuclear programme. The images are said to have been obtained by the Institute for Science and International Security and reviewed by the broadcaster. The report comes amid heightened tension over Iran's nuclear file and renewed disputes over the status of a late-June memorandum between Tehran and Washington.According to the supplied material, the memorandum was signed in late June and reportedly included an Iranian commitment to... [Continue Reading]
Petr Pavel warns peace window may narrow after Russia's September elections
Czech President Petr Pavel has warned that the window for peace talks with Russia may narrow after the country's parliamentary elections in September. He said there is still an opportunity to push for dialogue, but argued that the situation could change quickly once the vote is over. His comments come amid continuing concern in Europe about the direction of the war in Ukraine.Pavel said Russia would be unlikely to announce mobilisation before the elections, but suggested pressure could build afterwards. He also said that if Ukraine continues to carry out successful deep strikes inside Russian territory, Moscow may be pushed... [Continue Reading]
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Israeli drone strikes hit southern Lebanon despite US-brokered framework deal
Two people were injured on Friday when an Israeli drone struck a pick-up truck in southern Lebanon, according to state-run media. The attack took place on the outskirts of Choukine and Kfar Dajjal in the Nabatieh district, where the vehicle was reportedly unloading garbage early in the day. The strike came despite a United States-brokered framework agreement intended to pave the way for a phased Israeli withdrawal.Lebanon's National News Agency said separate strikes also targeted a car in southern Lebanon, while demolition operations shook the border town of Khiam overnight. Later, the agency reported that drones also hit the towns... [Continue Reading]
US-Iran escalation threatens oil supply recovery, IEA warns as Hormuz disruption persists
The International Energy Agency has warned that renewed fighting between the United States and Iran could derail a fragile recovery in global oil markets. The warning comes as a lull in hostilities and backroom diplomacy had appeared to create space for a possible revival of the ceasefire. The agency said the latest escalation risks prolonging disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global energy trade.According to the supplied material, the conflict had already cut as much as 14 million barrels per day of crude oil flows when the waterway was effectively closed. The IEA said... [Continue Reading]
THE BATTLE FOR ALI AL-TAHER: HOW A SOUTHERN LEBANON AMBUSH SHATTERED TRUMP’S WASHINGTON AGREEMENT
A catastrophic military escalation in Southern Lebanon has successfully disrupted the highest levels of global diplomacy. Just days after the signing of the United States and Iran Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), an armoured battlefield clash on the strategic heights of Ali al-Taher has effectively frozen implementation talks scheduled to begin today in Switzerland. The crisis provides an alarming look at how kinetic actions on the ground can instantly sabotage geopolitical blueprints designed in Washington. The Official Statement from Hezbollah Following the midnight clashes, the media wing of Hezbollah issued a formal, comprehensive statement outlining their strategic justification and rejecting accusations... [Continue Reading]
Fear the Shia, Arm the Sunnis: The Uncomfortable Numbers Behind America’s War Narrative
“When fear is managed carefully enough, a nation can be taught to look away from the blood on the floor and stare instead at the shadow on the wall.” A friend of mine, whose name I will not reveal because he asked me not to, sat across from me over dinner and placed a question on the table that would not leave me alone. He was born into a Muslim Shia background, and for the angle of this article, that detail matters, not because I wish to reduce a man to a sect, but because sect has become one of... [Continue Reading]
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GAS, GOD, AND GUNS: The Secret Agenda Behind the Washington Talks and the Death of the Maritime Border
The mahogany tables of the U.S. State Department are hosting a ghost today. As official delegations from Israel and Lebanon convene for a third round of high-stakes negotiations this Friday, May 8, 2026, the air in Washington is thick with the scent of a "peace" that looks increasingly like a strategic ambush. While the world watches the diplomatic theatre, the reality on the ground in Southern Lebanon tells a story of a predatory recalibration. Prime Minister Netanyahu isn’t just looking for a ceasefire; he is aiming to hit three birds with one single, devastating stone: the annexation of land, the... [Continue Reading]
The Great Uncoupling: Abu Dhabi’s Sovereign Gambit
The UAE’s 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 communiqués, 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]
When Deterrence Becomes Reality
Yesterday the war crossed a line! For years the Sejjil ballistic missile existed mostly as a symbol. A weapon paraded in military videos, discussed in defense briefings, whispered about in strategic circles as one of Iran’s most serious capabilities. A weapon that analysts described as deterrence, not something meant to be used. But on March 15, 2026, that line disappeared. Iran reportedly launched the Sejjil (also known as Ashoura) as part of what Tehran called the 54th wave of Operation True Promise 4, a massive strike package that also included the Fattah hypersonic missile and the Qadr ballistic missile system.... [Continue Reading]
The Madness of Power, From Balfour to the Edge of World War Three
A Voice in the Wilderness of War: Who Still Dares to Speak Truth While Empires March There are moments in history when the world suddenly accelerates toward disaster, moments when anyone who has studied history can feel the temperature rising even before the explosions reach their peak. The current escalation in the Middle East is one of those moments. According to the facts we now see unfolding, the United States and Israel made the unilateral decision to attack Iran without the approval of the United Nations, without a global coalition mandate, and without the support of most of the international... [Continue Reading]
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Shadows of Fire: The Long Arc of Iran–United States Tensions
A Region on Edge: The Latest Escalation In recent months, tensions between Iran and the United States have intensified once again, fueled by disputes over regional security, nuclear development, maritime incidents in the Persian Gulf, and the broader strategic balance in the Middle East. Officials in Washington have expressed renewed concern over Iran’s uranium enrichment levels, while leaders in Tehran have accused the United States of economic warfare through sanctions and diplomatic isolation. The fragile equilibrium that followed earlier rounds of indirect negotiations appears increasingly strained, with both sides engaging in sharp rhetoric at the United Nations, reinforcing military postures... [Continue Reading]



