Global Tensions and Domestic Conflictsactive

Pakistan's foreign minister said a new defense agreement his country signed with Saudi Arabia and Turkey was not directed against any country and remained open to other nations in the region. The landmark Mecca Joint Defense Agreement was signed on Friday by the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif as the three countries seek to deepen security cooperation amid heightened tensions between the United States and...

Mikhail Galuzin stressed that resolving the situation around Ukraine through diplomatic means is possible if there is the necessary political will

The president of the National Electoral Commission of Morena, Citlalli Hernández Mora, defended the morning conferences of President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, after PAN announced an initiative to regulate their content with rules of verification, rectification, right of reply, and accountability. Through social media, Hernández Mora expressed that "for years there were presidents who didn't show their face or open their mouth except to try to calm scandals or say silly things; they didn't inform anything because they didn't do much." "Besides being lost in their political strategy, they look pathetic trying to censor or jump onto a communication space between the government and the people like the morning press conference," she added. In that sense, she affirmed that since the time of former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and currently with President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, "every day the people are informed about what is done day by day and responses are given to the strategy of slander, hatred, and lies that you promote." Read also SEP: "infinite scroll" can generate compulsive behavior in minors; algorithms are not neutral, she affirms "Imagine you are a party mired in corruption allegations. That in every election you do worse and the people don't believe a single word you say. The logical thing would be to build a serious national project, acknowledge mistakes, and ask yourself why you stopped representing millions of Mexicans and Mexican..."

Taiwan plans to spend a record NT$1.1 trillion ($34.1 billion) on its military in 2027, a semi-official media outlet reported, a move that comes as the US pushes it to do more to deter China.

Indian student arrested in Germany for girlfriend’s murder in Arizona

President Trump on Sunday said there was "some contractor error" with the renovations to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool while still accusing a former Olympian canoeist of vandalizing the Washington, D.C., landmark despite charges against the athlete being dropped. "There was substantial damage to the Reflecting Pool, also but, unfortunately, there is no video or…

Trump's statement signalled the US' decision to refrain from more military strikes while Iran poses tough conditions to open the strait.

Varun Batchigari, an Arizona student, is accused of killing his girlfriend before being caught fleeing to India through Germany.

Israeli representatives are cooperating with the organization on the ground in the Gaza Strip, including efforts to reduce the intensity of strikes on the enclave

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on Sunday called for Democratic leaders to ban the involvement of super PACs in Democratic primary elections. Sanders’s request was part of a letter written to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N. Y.), House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N. Y.) and Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin. The Vermont senator’s call for a…

Indonesia’s faster-than-expected economic growth in the second quarter has offered a ray of hope for a sustainable turnaround after months of negative news over the rupiah, investor confidence and global uncertainties. Analysts, however, urged caution about the country’s economic outlook in the coming quarters, saying the latest data also revealed uneven sectoral performance and a reliance on government spending. Southeast Asia’s largest economy grew 5.29 percent year on year in the April-June...

Trump says US will wait for economic pressure to mount on Iran, as Israel formally rejects 15-point Gaza peace plan.

Bureau 1440's Rassvet constellation initiative has been gaining industry-wide attention for emerging as a comparative presence to Russia's Starlink, although it is currently nowhere near Starlink in constellation size or continuous global service.

India is accelerating its bid to build a broader semiconductor and electronics ecosystem, combining new packaging capacity, longer-term tax incentives and deeper localization with efforts to expand its chip workforce and sovereign AI capabilities. Investments by ASIP, Dixon, Rashi and global technology partners highlight a strategy increasingly focused on higher-value manufacturing.

The Municipality of Acatenango announced the official reopening of access to the Astillero Municipal Regional Park Volcano Acatenango, allowing tourists and hikers to enter again. This decision, announced on Friday, August 7, responds to the improvement in safety conditions following the recent activity of the Fuego volcano. According to the Municipality itself, the reopening aims to reactivate tourism flow in the region, one of the main local economic drivers, after a suspension decreed for safety reasons. Temporary closure: impact of the Fuego volcano The temporary closure of Acatenango Park was ordered on August 3, coinciding with the start of a violent eruptive phase of the Fuego volcano. According to a report from the National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (Conred), the activity included strong explosions, ash columns, and ballistic material, which triggered institutional alerts and forced authorities to restrict access to high mountain trails as a precaution. The measure was adopted to safeguard visitors' lives against the risk of ash fall and pyroclastic flows. Geographical connection: two interdependent giants The physical proximity between the Acatenango volcano and the Fuego volcano forms an interconnected volcanic complex, as explained by the National Institute of Seismology, Volcanology, Meteorology, and Hydrology (Insivume…

The global humanoid robot race is heating up, with the US and China battling for technological and market leadership, but a third force is rapidly emerging.

China’s tighter renewable-energy compliance rules have opened the way for green hydrogen, green ammonia, and green methanol to be included in the country’s minimum renewable-energy consumption framework, amid a sharp rise in investment. In the first half of 2026, investment in China’s hydrogen sector increased by more than 160% year-on-year, outpacing the other cited energy infrastructure categories.

SEOUL, Aug. 10 (Yonhap) -- Christopher Nolan's epic "The Odyssey" debuted atop t...

The Israeli prime minister says his country will not withdraw from Gaza until Hamas fully disarms, putting him at odds with a US-backed roadmap endorsed by the group. endorsed by Hamas.

The Israeli prime minister says his country will not withdraw from Gaza until Hamas fully disarms, putting him at odds with a US-backed roadmap endorsed by the group.

Palestinian Journalists Syndicate exposes rising threats, with over 270 journalists killed in Gaza since October 2023.

Leaf Li’s brokerage has become a central target in Beijing’s push to control the flow of Chinese money offshore.

Sen. David McCormick (R-Pa.) on Sunday praised his colleague Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) for being willing to “call out the craziness” in the Democratic Party, referring to the change among voters in favor of more radical, progressive candidates over more mainstream incumbents. McCormick told “The Cats Roundtable” host John Catsimatidis on WABC 770 AM that he…

Sen. Tim Scott (R-S. C.), chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, on Sunday said Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed is making the midterm election "easier" for the GOP. "I'm certain that Abdul El-Sayed is making it easier. Because he is inconsistent with Michiganders of either side of the aisle," Scott said during a Sunday…

Mohsen Rezaei appointed head of Supreme National Security Council after Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr steps down

'Growing up in hostile environments' (2/7). In 2014, in Xiamen, China, Dutch photographer Sarah Mei Herman met four lesbian students. Over the years, she has continued to follow them, capturing in her portraits a truth that these young women must otherwise hide in a society where homosexuality remains taboo.

US forces have also disabled 2 vessels

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has vowed to crack down on hard-to-cancel subscriptions and fake discounts as part of measures to tackle the cost-of-living crisis, Downing Street said on Sunday. The announcement came as the new Labour leader was set to return to work after a holiday and begin a tour of the country to talk to people about their financial pressures, his office said. Burnham said in a statement that “people are sick and tired of rip-off discounts and subscription traps,” where...

US congresswoman to share journey online as she criticizes Trump administration’s attacks on reproductive care Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has announced she is going to freeze her eggs and will be sharing the process online. The progressive New York congresswoman, 36, revealed her decision to undergo fertility treatment in a series of Instagram stories this weekend. “This is a choice that I am making to feel more in control of my life,” Ocasio-Cortez said. Continue reading...

"Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly stated that no 'freeze' is possible without eliminating the root causes of this crisis," Mikhail Galuzin emphasized

The Iran war proves it, and the Chinese threat is greater. We need new thinking about defense.

Washington’s semiconductor strategy must address not only who controls chip-making but also who controls the language those chips speak.

Intervention follows days of delays and a near-miss between two planes on the Sydney aiport tarmac. Follow today’s news live Prue Car, the NSW deputy premier, has asked the NSW Education Standards Authority (Nesa) to impose a ban on unsupervised take-home assessments during a broad review of AI’s impact on student learning. Car said she has asked Nesa to “urgently” examine artificial intelligence and move to protect student learning amid growing evidence the technology is affecting student’s cognitive development. Half of students’ HSC result is based on school-based assessments, some of which is finished outside the classroom. Artificial intelligence has enormous potential to support teaching and learning, but it should never replace the thinking, creativity, and hard work that education is designed to develop. The purpose of schooling extends beyond producing an assessment task. It is to build knowledge, judgment, resilience, and critical thinking over time. If students rely on AI to bypass that learning process, we risk undermining both their education and the integrity of the HSC. Continue reading...

UK PM Burnham vows to end 'subscription traps' amid cost-of-living crisis

Schools in Ukraine's temporarily occupied territories will introduce a new subject called "Spiritual and Moral Culture of Russia" starting September 1.

First of PM’s ‘everyday fixes’ to be banning fake discounts and making it easier to cancel unwanted subscriptions Andy Burnham: I’ll end the rip-offs that people hate Andy Burnham has promised a series of measures to tackle the cost of living, including a ban on fake discounts and making it easier for people to escape unwanted subscriptions. The crackdown on “rip-off” business practices is expected to benefit consumers to the tune of £400m a year and will be the first in a range of “everyday fixes” to be implemented in the coming months. Continue reading...

As China seeks to reshape the global order, Malaysia’s political instability offers a cautionary tale about the challenges Beijing may face abroad. A recent Pew Research Centre survey found that global perceptions of China have improved relative to those of the US, driven partly by the view among some respondents that China under President Xi Jinping is more reliable than a US led by President Donald Trump. As Washington retreats from global leadership roles, Beijing has sought to present itself...

Prime Minister Andy Burnham is embarking on a nationwide tour to promote new policies aimed at reducing the cost of living, just as controversy over his prisons policy threatens to end the honeymoon he’s enjoyed since taking office.

Also in today’s newsletter: Kashmir protests test Pakistan’s military rulers and the bank behind China’s AI listings bonanza

The Senate left town for August recess over the weekend without voting on a cryptocurrency regulation bill, markedly dimming the measure’s chances of passing before the midterm elections.   The crypto industry is remaining hopeful that the Clarity Act, which would create a regulatory framework for the sector, can clear the Senate when lawmakers return for a brief three-week session…

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Sunday said Israel is “not aligned” with U. S. national security objectives, citing their actions in the Gaza strip and discourse amid the war in Iran. “I want there to be a strong U. S.-Israel relationship. I support Israel. I cannot support this government’s actions. They are not aligned with U. S. national…

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier on Sunday said his state is doing “everything in our power to seek truth” amid its probe into Dr. Anthony Fauci. Fox News’s Maria Bartiromo on “Sunday Morning Futures” interviewed Uthmeier about his investigation into the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). He described…

OTTAWA.– The authorities of the Canadian province of British Columbia declared a state of emergency after a rapidly spreading forest fire that forced the evacuation of more than 20,000 people and caused the destruction of homes in the Okanagan Lake region, in the west of the country. The fire, called Bald Range, was first reported on Friday afternoon and in a few hours expanded explosively, driven by strong winds and extreme drought conditions. The flames quickly advanced toward inhabited areas, prompting evacuation orders overnight for entire communities, including Summerland and Peachland. According to authorities, about 12,000 people in Summerland and another 8,000 in Peachland and nearby areas had to leave their homes due to the fire's progress. The mass evacuation caused scenes of chaos on congested roads, as residents fled with only what they could carry. The provincial premier, David Eby, confirmed that there were "significant losses of homes and properties" and warned that the extent of the damage could not yet be assessed because the fire remains active. Additionally, he indicated that some people were trapped by the sudden advance of the flames and had to be rescued in emergency operations. The Bald Range forest fire expanded to 50 km² in approximately three hours Authorities deployed aerial evacuations…

The supreme leader of the Iranian regime, Mojtaba Khamenei, appointed this Sunday former Revolutionary Guards commander Mohsen Rezaei as the new secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, one of the central bodies for defining Iran's defense and security policy. The decision comes as Tehran maintains an open dispute with the United States over control and navigation conditions in the Strait of Hormuz. The appointment was announced this Sunday by the Iranian presidency after the departure of Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, who had led the council since March. According to presidential spokesman Mehdi Tabatabaei, Zolghadr is leaving the position to take on new roles, while Rezaei takes over as secretary of the organization. The change places a figure with extensive experience within the Iranian military apparatus at the head of a key institution. Rezaei, 71 years old, led the Revolutionary Guards between 1981 and 1997, during almost the entire Iran-Iraq conflict. After leaving military command, he developed a long political career and held various high-responsibility positions within the state. Before assuming his new role, Rezaei served as a military advisor to the supreme leader. His arrival at the Supreme National Security Council now positions him to intervene in decisions related to war, the war...

Pope Leo XIV today called for an end to the war launched by Russia against Ukraine.

The national president of the PAN, Jorge Romero Herrera, stated that the morning press conference of President Claudia Sheinbaum "must stop being a space for ideological propaganda from which opponents of the country are persecuted and from where anyone who does not support the Morena regime is calumniated without any shame." The PAN leader argued that "from the presidential pulpit, culprits are fabricated left and right without sufficient evidence, more than the inquisitorial comment of the President of the Republic." "We already saw this with the former governor of Baja California, Ernesto Ruffo Appel, who is accused from the morning press conference of a crime without a process being concluded against him and responsibilities being addressed," he added. Furthermore, he assured that "under the false pretext of protecting audiences," the Morena government seeks to control the content broadcast by radio and television media: "A censorship disguised as a way to end citizens' freedoms." Read also Sheinbaum signs decree to establish an annual reforestation day; it will be held on the second Sunday of August The leader of the PAN supported the announcement made by the PAN benches in the Union Congress, who will promote a bill to strictly guarantee the right of reply within the morning press conferences...

A session of the Kosovo Parliament ended this Saturday amid shouts, egg-throwing, and the intervention of security services, after opposition deputy Time Kadrijaj threw eggs at Albin Kurti, acting Prime Minister and leader of the Vetëvendosje party. The episode forced the interruption of a key meeting to complete the formation of the country's new political institutions. The confrontation occurred when Kurti again asked for the constitutive session of the Assembly, Kosovo's legislative body, to be postponed. The leader argued that he needs more time to negotiate with opposition parties an agreement to move forward in the election of the country's next president. The request provoked a strong reaction inside the chamber. Kadrijaj, a member of the Kosovo Future Alliance, threw several eggs at Kurti while publicly accusing him of blocking the functioning of Parliament. The situation led to a clash between legislators and prompted security personnel to intervene. The President of the Assembly, Dimal Dehari, finally ordered the session to be halted. The decision came after the interim Secretary General of Parliament, Feride Podvorica, requested that the meeting be interrupted. "Stop the session!" Podvorica demanded. Faced with the escalation of tension, Dehari called for security agents to be present and later announced that…

Rezaei succeeded Zolghadr, who took office as secretary of the Supreme National Security Council on March 27 following the death of his predecessor, Ali Larijani

The PRI coordinator in the Chamber of Deputies, Rubén Moreira Valdez, stated that Morena is building a dictatorship by promoting new guidelines regarding the right to audiences. Through a statement, he assured that the ruling party "aims to control what information Mexicans can receive and what can be said." In his program "With Pears, Apples, and Oranges," accompanied by Mario Di Costanzo and Miguel Sulub Caamal, the PRI legislator warned that these guidelines could become censorship mechanisms, allowing the government to determine which news is "true," "false," or "out of context." Read also: INE rules out non-compliance in the Territorium Life service; contract is not for conducting entrance exams, it states. Moreira Valdez pointed out that, under the argument of protecting the population, the government could even decide which programs citizens can watch, assuming the authority to determine which content is acceptable and which is not. He added that people should not be fooled because, more than a defender of audiences, what there would be is a censor. Rubén Moreira also questioned statements from members of governments emanating from Morena related to journalistic practice and freedom of expression. Meanwhile, lawyer Miguel Ángel Sulub explained that the right to audiences is not an issue exclusive to the media or journalists…

Syria said two Russian bases in the country will be turned into joint training centers after the two sides agreed to redefine the role of the facilities that have given Moscow a military presence on the Mediterranean.

Ukraine will respond appropriately to every Russian strike, and the war will become increasingly felt on the territory of the aggressor country.

Astronomers say viewing conditions promising for this year’s shower, and 50 to 100 meteors an hour may be visible The Perseid summer light show is back, and viewing conditions are especially promising across the northern hemisphere. The meteor shower’s is expected to peak on Wednesday night into Thursday morning, and coincides with a total solar eclipse across Spain, Iceland and Greenland and a six-planet parade – though the best time to view the fireballs will come after totality. Continue reading...

Russia's naval facility at Tartous and Hmeimim air base have long been Moscow's principal military footholds in the Mediterranean and Middle East.

Iran stated on Sunday that the agreement with Oman to establish new maritime routes in the Strait of Hormuz is in its "final stages," although it reiterated that the maritime route will not be reopened until the United States meets other conditions. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi indicated that the understanding regarding the strait separating the two countries is in its "final stages." According to the Iranian agency Mehr, the agreement would establish the new maritime routes to be used once the United States fulfills the proposed conditions and the reopening occurs. An American official had stated on Friday that an agreement between Iran and Oman was close to being reached and that the maritime route could soon reopen, which before being blocked by Iran transported a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments. Araqchi also stated that Iran and the United States are not currently in negotiations and that Tehran will not initiate them while Washington breaches the provisional agreement signed in June. According to the minister, messages between the two countries are exchanged through intermediaries. U.S. President Donald Trump, for his part, assured that Washington was acting discreetly in its relationship with Tehran. "We are only negotiating partially with them. We are simply observing Iran, with its huge inflation and lack of liquidity..."

In rare public break with Trump, Israel’s prime minister says IDF will not withdraw until Hamas is disarmed Middle East crisis live – latest updates Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has rejected a US-backed 15-point peace plan for Gaza in a rare public break with Donald Trump. In a statement on Sunday, Netanyahu said that he was confronting a “wave of rumours about Israeli weakness and Israeli withdrawals on all fronts” and rebuked US pressure to end wars in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran without Israel’s buy-in. Continue reading...

Iran "is in very bad shape" economically due the United States’ naval blockade, US President said

Next Thursday, August 13, Guatemala will experience its second "shadowless day" of the year, an astronomical phenomenon in which vertical objects, such as posts, columns, or trees, do not cast a shadow on the ground or reduce it to a minimum for a moment around noon. This natural event draws the attention of scientists and the population, as it occurs twice a year and depends on the position of the Sun relative to the country's latitude. What is the "shadowless day"? The National Institute of Seismology, Vulcanology, Meteorology, and Hydrology (Insivumeh) explained that this phenomenon occurs when solar rays strike the Earth's surface at a 90-degree angle, exactly at solar noon. Under these conditions, vertical objects stop casting shadows or reduce them to their minimum. The effect is achieved when the Sun crosses the zenith, a moment when the light falls perpendicularly over Guatemalan territory. Exact moment and observation conditions According to the official bulletin from Insivumeh, the solar zenith will reach Guatemala at 12:07 p.m. Insivumeh specified that the one-minute difference in calculations is due to astronomical and geographical variables. The first "shadowless day" of 2026 took place on April 29, while the August 13 event coincides with the rainy season in the country. Authorities warned that the visibility of the phenomenon will depend on…

Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed took a swipe at President Trump over a post the president made targeting El-Sayed and his wife. In a post Saturday on Truth Social, Trump posted a photo of himself and his wife, first lady Melania Trump, and another photo of El-Sayed and his wife. Text above the two…

Tropical cyclone brings torrential rain and high winds to east coast after hitting Japan’s southern Okinawa province Typhoon Dolphin, the most powerful tropical cyclone to hit China this year, has made landfall on the country’s east coast, bringing torrential rain and strong ⁠winds and triggering warnings ​of flooding and landslides. The storm has already swept through Japan’s southern Okinawa prefecture, injuring six people and cutting power to more than 50,000 buildings. Continue reading...

Space for diplomacy. The Vatican prepares the mission to Moscow by Gallagher and Zuppi

U.S. President Donald Trump made it clear this Sunday that his strategy towards Iran now relies more on economic pressure than on a new military offensive, amid the deadlock in talks over maritime transit in the Strait of Hormuz. According to Axios, based on a telephone interview conducted with Channel 12, the president stated that the White House decided to tone down the confrontation and closely monitor Tehran's financial deterioration. "We're lowering the tone," Trump said in statements reported by both outlets. "We are only negotiating with them halfway. We are watching Iran, with its huge inflation and the fact that it has no money," he added. The words of the U.S. leader come just a week after he considered resuming large-scale military operations against the Islamic Republic. Trump also maintained that Iran is in a very bad economic situation and claimed that the country does not have the resources to pay its troops. According to Axios, the president attributed part of this situation to the naval blockade imposed by Washington, which, in his view, worsened Iran's internal crisis. He added that the price of oil fell to just over $75 a barrel, easing some of the conflict's impact on American consumers. "It will be resolved. It always gets resolved. It's like a game of chess," he affirmed…

Exclusive: Hamish Falconer wants ‘sense of renewed pace’ in post-Brexit talks while staying within Labour’s red lines The UK will move faster and be more ambitious on achieving closer ties with Europe under Andy Burnham’s government, his new chief post-Brexit negotiator has said. Hamish Falconer, the new cabinet minister in charge of the EU reset talks, said there was “room to be ambitious” within Labour’s red lines on Europe, which exclude reopening discussions on the single market and customs union, and he would look at the “art of the possible”. Continue reading...

No restrictions on electricity consumption are planned in Ukraine on Monday, August 10.

The differences over what should happen first—Hamas disarmament or the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza—once again strained the plan promoted by the United States to move towards the second phase of the ceasefire. While Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the 15-point document, Hamas reaffirmed its commitment to the proposal promoted by President Donald Trump. The Palestinian group assured that it maintains a "firm commitment" to the roadmap disseminated by the Peace Council and stated that its priority is to advance the full implementation of the agreement. "The priority at this stage must be to ensure the full implementation of the agreement in all its phases and requirements, which will lead to a complete ceasefire, the end of attacks against our people, the completion of the withdrawal (by Israel), or the opening of border crossings," Hamas said in a statement. The group added that the next stage should include the entry of humanitarian aid and supplies, the start of Gaza's reconstruction, and the launch of the National Committee responsible for managing the enclave. Netanyahu rejects the document The position contrasts with that expressed this Sunday by Netanyahu, who stated that Israel does not accept the 15-point document and conditioned any withdrawal on Hamas's prior disarmament. According to him, the Israeli withdrawal will only be carried out after a "genuine disarmament, not a ...

Typhoon Dolphin made landfall this Sunday in the densely populated eastern China, reported meteorological authorities, after the storm caused over 1,000 flight cancellations, evacuations, and a top-level alert. The eastern coast of China had been preparing for the storm's arrival in recent days, with work and transportation services suspended in some areas along its expected path. The center of the typhoon moved over the coast near the city of Yuhuan, in Zhejiang province, around 5:30 p.m. local time (0930 GMT), according to the China Meteorological Administration (NMC) in an online post. The maximum winds near the center exceeded 150 kilometers per hour (94 miles per hour) at the time of impact. Almost 1,400 inbound and outbound flights at Shanghai's two main passenger airports were canceled on Sunday, according to state broadcaster CCTV. Hangzhou Airport, in the neighboring Zhejiang province, reported the cancellation of 270 inbound and outbound flights, according to the same report. Red alert and evacuations in several provinces The NMC issued a red typhoon alert — its most severe warning — on Sunday morning, forecasting "extraordinary torrential rains" in some areas of central and eastern Zhejiang. Heavy rainfall was also expected in Shanghai and parts of the provinces…

Under the agreement, Syria will take over management of two Russian bases that were used to support ousted leader Bashar Assad during the Syrian civil war.

Clacton poll unlikely to settle serious questions over Reform UK leader, while a solar eclipse promises an economic lift

A fast-moving wildfire was raging in southern France on Sunday, forcing evacuations as more than 200 firefighters raced to contain the blaze. The fire broke out at around 12.45pm in the Lozere region, about 140km (85 miles) northwest of Montpellier. Officials said it might have been sparked by a car catching fire on a local road. By late afternoon, the fire had burned some 90 hectares (220 acres) and continued to spread. Around 220 firefighters from Lozere and neighbouring departments were...

Exclusive: Sadiq Khan urges Westminster council to adopt ‘positive vision of economic growth’ of nightlife Sadiq Khan has ordered Westminster council to scrap a policy that would ban new pubs and restaurants from opening in Soho and the West End of London. This comes after the Guardian revealed the council’s new licensing policy asks pubs to stop customers from standing up while consuming beverages, which it calls “vertical drinking”. The policy is under consultation and also asks pubs to have table service rather than allowing orders at the bar. Continue reading...

Nicaraguan territory will experience a significant increase in temperatures this Sunday, August 9, accompanied by marked atmospheric stability and low chances of precipitation. According to weather forecasts, this weather behavior is due to the combination of two main factors: the strengthening of the trade winds and the presence of a dust mass coming from the Sahara Desert. This dry air mass loaded with particles has entered the Central American region, affecting air quality and altering the usual patterns of cloudiness and rain in Nicaragua and neighboring countries. According to the official report from meteorologists, several areas of Nicaragua are expected to reach high temperature marks. In the Pacific and Central-West regions, thermometers could record up to 38 degrees Celsius, with a heat sensation that will approach or exceed 40 degrees Celsius due to constant solar radiation. Meanwhile, low-level currents from the Caribbean will continue transporting air toward the Isthmus, which will favor the presence of moderate winds with occasionally strong gusts. This wind flow will be felt more intensely in the Caribbean coastal areas, exposed sectors of the southern Pacific, and elevated zones of the central region. Although a dry environment with mostly clear to partly cloudy skies will prevail…

Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei held his first meeting with President Masoud Pezeshkian in three months, during which they discussed the country’s economy and defense.

There is a familiar ritual in Washington’s foreign policy think tanks whenever two Middle Eastern states sign a memorandum of understanding, launch a joint economic council or hold their first-ever ministerial dialogue: the announcement is instantly upgraded, in the retelling, into a “strategic partnership.” A defense-industry side deal becomes an “alliance.” A trade corridor becomes […] The post No need to overread the Middle East’s marriages of convenience appeared first on Asia Times.

The talks, according to Press TV, focused on the needs of the Iranian people, the current situation and future prospects of the US-Israeli war against Iran

Iran announced on Sunday that the agreement with Oman to define new maritime routes in the Strait of Hormuz was in its final stages, but reiterated that the navigable channel would only reopen once the United States fulfills other conditions. A U.S. official told Reuters on Friday that the agreement between Iran and Oman was close to being finalized and that the maritime route, which carried a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments before Iran blocked it in response to attacks by the United States and Israel, could soon reopen. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi stated on Sunday that the agreement on the strait, located between the two countries, was in the "final stages," but reiterated comments made on Saturday that it would not reopen unless other conditions were met. The agreement would establish the new maritime routes to be used once the United States fulfills those conditions and the strait reopens, according to the Iranian news agency Mehr. Iran and the United States do not hold talks, and Tehran will not initiate them while Washington breaches the provisional agreement signed in June, Araqchi said, adding that messages are being exchanged through intermediaries. Iran demands compensation and an end to sanctions. The United States launched airstrikes against Iran in late February, claiming that s…

Algeria says a German citizen has been released after a "criminal armed group" kidnapped him in Niger two weeks ago.

The grand security bargain between the United States and Gulf countries is widely perceived to be fraying, creating what analysts see as an opening for Beijing to expand its presence in the region. For decades, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states relied on Washington’s defensive shield, while it in turn relied on them for access, energy and influence. Riyadh’s decision to sign a mutual defence agreement with Turkey and Pakistan is the clearest sign yet of that shift. Signed this week in Mecca,...

Ex-CIA staffers step up efforts to publicise their deepening alarm about the state of American democracy

The government is working to secure the updated funding requirements of the Defense Forces through the end of 2026 and to find additional resources, including with the assistance of international partners.

Syria and Russia have agreed to end Moscow’s use of two strategic Mediterranean bases as military outposts, Syria's foreign ministry said Sunday. Under the deal, Damascus will take control of the Hmeimem air base and part of Tartous port, while the remaining military facilities will be converted into joint training centres.

The Thai teen behind a deadly school shooting outside Bangkok had an air gun confiscated by a teacher last year and had watched violent content online, police said on Sunday, as the government ‌promised new safety protocols for schools. As investigations continued into Friday’s rampage, where a 14-year-old boy allegedly shot dead his grandparents at home before killing another six people at his school before turning the gun on himself, police said the boy had used social media to learn how to...

India’s aviation ministry said Sunday that an Air India pilot whose flight plunged dramatically in turbulence, injuring 17 passengers and crew is undergoing a “confirmatory” psychoactive drug test. The Airbus A320, carrying 137 passengers and eight crew, lost around 300 feet (91 metres) on August 4 while flying from Phuket in Thailand to New Delhi, before stabilising and landing safely, the civil aviation ministry said. Eight passengers and four cabin crew members were admitted to hospitals...

Iran’s national security chief has outlined a list of demands for the US to meet before Tehran reopens the Strait of Hormuz. They include lifting the US naval blockade of Iranian ports, compensation for war damages and the release of frozen Iranian assets. Separately, Iran and Oman say they are close to reaching a deal on managing the strategic waterway. France 24 International affairs editor Douglas Herbert shares further insights.

Damascus and Moscow had signed a memorandum envisaging the reorganization of Russian military bases in Syria as centers for joint troops training, the country’s General Authority for Ports and Customs said

The topic included issues related to satisfying the needs of the population, the ongoing conflict with the United States, the supreme leader’s office said

National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett on Sunday expressed concern about continued high fuel prices amid the ongoing conflict with Iran. "Now, prices are still higher than we would like, but we've taken a lot of steps so that when the Gulf situation is resolved, then we can expect prices to go way, way down...

The Strait of Hormuz is Iran’s best leverage to get Washington to release Iran’s frozen assets, lift economic sanctions and end its naval blockade.

Iran said on Sunday that a deal with Oman defining new shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz was in its final stages but reiterated that the waterway would only reopen once the United States met other conditions. A US official said on Friday that an agreement between Iran and Oman was close and could soon reopen the waterway, which carried a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments before Iran blocked it in response to US and Israeli attacks. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas...

It could set the stage for a profound transformation of regional security in the Gulf.

For the third consecutive day, Russian forces have attacked facilities belonging to the Naftogaz Group. Overnight on August 9, drones struck the production assets and a drilling site of Ukrnafta.

After more than a year and a half of negotiations, Syria and Russia have agreed on new parameters of Russia’s military presence in Syria. Syria’s government said it opens the way for a new phase in relations between the two countries.

Hmeimim airbase and Tartus naval base will become joint training and capacity-building centres under the agreement.