Global political developments, institutions, policy decisions and cross-border relations.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham reportedly urged US President Donald Trump to raise the detention of British citizen Jimmy Lai with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The discussions occurred on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, with Lai's family continuing to call for diplomatic action over his imprisonment in Hong Kong.
A landmark defence agreement signed by the United States, Denmark, and Greenland will allow Washington to establish two new military bases in the Arctic territory. The deal, which modernises a 1951 pact, reaffirms Danish sovereignty and Greenland's right to self-determination, following over a year of diplomatic tension.
At least 11 people have died after gunmen opened fire on a gathering inside a house in KwaMakhutha township near Durban, with police investigating a possible link to organised crime and rival gang feuds.
Leaked images obtained by CBS reportedly show widespread damage to US military sites in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait from Iranian attacks, revealing significant material losses and prompting concerns over military readiness and costs.
Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte appeared physically before the International Criminal Court on Wednesday for the first time, as judges weigh whether he is mentally fit to stand trial over his deadly war on drugs.
A six-storey building in Gaza City, previously damaged by an Israeli strike and deemed unsafe, has collapsed overnight, killing at least 21 people, including eight children. Displaced families had been living in the structure due to a critical lack of shelter, with rescuers citing equipment shortages hindering recovery efforts.
US President Donald Trump concluded his two-day visit to Ireland by announcing the removal of all tariffs on Irish whiskey. The President also reiterated his support for a united Ireland, sparking varied reactions across the country, as he departed from Shannon Airport.
Oil prices have surged to $100 (£74) a barrel for the first time since July, following a series of escalating military actions in the Gulf region involving the United States, Iran, and Houthi forces in Yemen. The increase reflects intensifying tensions affecting critical global shipping lanes.
American military aircraft have reportedly sustained damage in Iranian airstrikes on a US base in Jordan, marking a significant escalation in the six-month-old conflict. The incidents coincide with increased attacks on commercial shipping, resulting in casualties, and a warning from Donald Trump regarding construction at Iran's deeply buried Pickaxe Mountain complex.
The United Kingdom has imposed sanctions on illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank, leading to a swift and strong retaliation from Israel. The move has sparked a diplomatic row, with Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband defending the decision while Israel accused the UK of hostile actions. Notably, US President Donald Trump did not object to the British plans during a call with Prime Minister Andy Burnham, though the US has not joined the sanctions.
A former US President has threatened to block Canadian aircraft manufacturer Bombardier from selling its jets in the United States unless the company moves its manufacturing operations south of the border. The warning from Donald Trump, made on his Truth Social platform, comes amid escalating trade tensions between the US and Canada, just hours before Ottawa is set to impose retaliatory tariffs on American goods.
The first road bridge connecting North Korea and Russia has officially opened across the Tumen river, a development that Pyongyang state media says will facilitate trade and exchanges, but which a Ukrainian investigative body suggests is primarily intended for a "covert military logistics corridor" to support Russia in the Ukraine conflict.
A sweeping regional election win for the Alternative for Germany party has triggered warnings from Berlin to Brussels, with reactions from Washington and Moscow underlining the wider stakes for European unity.
Recent statements and policy actions by high-ranking Israeli ministers regarding the future of Gaza and the West Bank have prompted scrutiny, with critics questioning the international community's response. Ministers have outlined proposals ranging from the expulsion of Palestinians to long-term destruction of infrastructure, while simultaneously advancing settlement expansion and annexation measures. Observers suggest a disconnect between the severity of these stated intentions and the perceived lack of decisive international action.
Iran has issued a stark warning of a "faster, heavier, and more painful response" to US attacks, as hostilities intensify following the expiration of a 60-day ceasefire. The renewed conflict, now in its sixth month, has seen reciprocal strikes on naval targets, diplomatic deadlock, and significant global economic fallout, particularly concerning oil prices and the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
The United States and Iran have engaged in a fresh exchange of naval strikes, escalating a conflict that has recently intensified. The US targeted Iranian oil tankers in response to an Iranian missile attack on US Navy ships.
Serhii Beskrestnov, a defence technology adviser to President Zelenskyy, cautions that neither side can win the intensifying conflict, predicting "destroyed economics, infrastructures" and increased risks to civilians from deep strikes. He warns of potential energy outages in Kyiv this winter and discusses the evolving drone warfare capabilities of both nations.
Trade negotiations between Canada and the United States have collapsed, leading to new US tariffs on Canadian exports and Canada’s announcement of retaliatory duties. The dispute has intensified concerns over bilateral relations and prompted warnings from Canadian figures about a fundamental shift in the global order and implications for Western allies.
Vietnam's government has put forward a draft amendment to its Penal Code that would remove capital punishment for six offences, as part of a wider reform of the country's justice system, state media reported.
Moscow has been subjected to one of its most extensive aerial attacks, with over 600 drones targeting the capital region, forcing flight restrictions and causing injuries. This escalation follows Russia's stern warnings to the UK regarding alleged British-made drones used in Ukrainian strikes, prompting a firm response from London.
American missionary Kevin Rideout has been released after more than nine months in captivity in Niger, according to the Christian organisation he worked for. Mr Rideout, who was kidnapped outside his home in Niamey last year, is reportedly in good health and in the care of US officials, though details of his release remain unclear. His abduction highlighted the severe security challenges and militant activity plaguing the Sahel region.
Yann Vezilier, sentenced to 20 years for an alleged coup plot in Mali, has been granted a presidential pardon. The move comes a year after his conviction on charges of attempting to destabilise President Assimi Goïta's government on behalf of French intelligence.
Evidence shared with the BBC suggests South African special forces killed a senior police detective investigating the alleged abduction and murder of a man designated an Islamic State fundraiser by the US.
A Zan Times investigation has documented 231 cases of women killed in 10 Afghan provinces since August 2021, with many deaths recorded as suicides and few arrests made.
A serving member of the Russian armed forces has been detained after one soldier and three civilians were killed in Crimea, according to Moscow appointed regional officials.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has withdrawn a proposal to place World Cup commercial rights in a private investment vehicle after opposition from UEFA, CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation.
Nicaragua’s President Daniel Ortega has proposed extending the presidential term by another year, in a constitutional reform expected to pass through the government-controlled National Assembly.
The pause follows reported warnings from senior US military officials over target limits and munitions stocks, while Iran and Oman pursue talks aimed at reopening the waterway.
Prosecutors presented surveillance video at a preliminary hearing for Tyler Robinson, who is accused of killing Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University. The defence challenged parts of the evidence as the court considers whether the case should proceed to trial.
Nigeria says two of its nationals were killed in South Africa on the same day, as Abuja warns of rising hostility towards foreign Africans and seeks action from Pretoria.
Interim President Delcy Rodriguez used Independence Day commemorations to defend the government’s disaster response, as officials reported more than 3,300 deaths from the June earthquakes.
Families in La Guaira are waiting for hours at a port storage facility converted into a temporary morgue, as authorities work to identify victims of Venezuela’s twin earthquakes.
Tehran’s upcoming diplomatic engagement with Washington is expected to centre on enforcing an existing memorandum of understanding, with the Strait of Hormuz, access to frozen financial assets, and Lebanese tensions among the primary subjects.
Disruptions linked to the Middle East conflict underscore the urgency for enhanced energy security and accelerated transition to renewables, with China playing a pivotal role, according to Hitachi Energy’s CEO Wolf Mueller.
The United States and Iran engaged in reciprocal military actions in the Gulf following the downing of an American Apache helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz. Both sides reported attacks on strategic sites with heightened regional tensions underscoring continuing diplomatic challenges.
A Global Witness report suggests that major companies, including Amazon and Sony, may have sourced coltan linked to the M23 militia, which controls mines in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and is accused of serious human rights violations.
United States military forces have conducted a series of strikes in southern Iran, targeting missile sites and boats reportedly used by Iran in the vicinity of
Activists who joined a flotilla bound for Gaza say Israeli forces abused them while they remained in detention, alleging slaps, punches, humiliation and, in som
Tehran and Washington set out starkly different messages on the future of Iran’s nuclear talks, with both capitals signalling that time is short and risks are
US President Donald Trump announced the postponement of a scheduled military strike on Iran after Gulf Arab leaders requested a pause, citing developing negotiations. The decision comes as tensions remain high and diplomatic channels continue to operate under careful scrutiny.
