Chang

The New York Times reports, based on satellite imagery analysis, that Israel has continued expanding its military presence and positions inside Gaza despite an agreed cease-fire. The findings suggest the truce has not halted changes on the ground, raising questions about whether the agreement is being honored and what this means for Palestinian residents and ongoing negotiations.

World leaders are addressing the United Nations General Assembly in New York as the annual high-level debate reaches its sixth day. Heads of state and government are delivering speeches covering global conflicts, climate change and international cooperation. The general debate traditionally draws wide attention as countries outline their foreign policy priorities before the world body.

Germany and Russia are holding their first direct talks since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, according to DW. The reported meeting has prompted questions about why the two governments are re-establishing contact now, with observers weighing what it could mean for diplomacy over the war, sanctions policy, and Europe's broader posture toward Moscow as the conflict continues.

A tense stand-off at Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea has prompted a sharp diplomatic exchange between the United States and Chinese embassies. The two sides traded accusations over the incident, underscoring rising friction between Washington and Beijing over freedom of navigation and territorial claims in the contested waterway.

Bank Indonesia has reduced its interventions in the foreign exchange spot market, according to the central bank governor. The move suggests officials see pressure on the rupiah as easing, or a shift toward managing the currency through other tools. Traders and analysts will be watching whether the change affects the currency's stability in coming sessions.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres used his final address to the UN General Assembly to warn that superpowers alone cannot solve the world's problems, touching on climate change and global cooperation. The speech, covered by The Guardian, is being shared widely as it marks the end of his tenure and delivers a pointed message to major powers about shared responsibility.

The United Nations has declared that solving climate change is a 'decisive test of global solidarity', framing collective action on emissions and adaptation as the defining challenge for international cooperation. The statement underscores growing pressure on governments to deliver coordinated commitments, with the UN urging countries to set aside divisions and treat the climate crisis as a shared responsibility requiring joint effort.

President Trump said on Saturday he rejected Iran's latest cease-fire proposal, which would have reopened the Strait of Hormuz and resumed negotiations over Tehran's nuclear program in exchange for concessions from the United States. The rejection marks another turn in a cycle of proposals and counteroffers between the two countries, with Washington and Tehran still far apart on terms to end the standoff.

The 2023-24 El Niño is described as record-shattering, with analysis of its wide-ranging effects on global temperatures, weather patterns and ecosystems. The event has driven exceptional ocean warming in the tropical Pacific, contributing to record global heat, shifts in rainfall, droughts and flooding in various regions, and stress on fisheries and agriculture. Commentators are weighing how much of the recent temperature surge should be attributed to El Niño versus longer-term climate change.

Iran is shifting its trade routes north to the Caspian Sea as the ongoing war impairs shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, the main artery for its oil and goods exports. The Strait's disruption has forced Tehran to seek alternatives, including transit via northern ports and routes through Central Asian neighbours. The change signals how the conflict is reshaping Iran's commerce and regional logistics.

Leaders of Pacific island nations used their addresses at the UN General Assembly in New York to spotlight the mounting threats climate change poses to their countries, including rising seas, extreme weather and threats to livelihoods and sovereignty. Their speeches press larger nations for stronger emissions cuts and support, giving small island states a prominent platform in the global climate debate.

Following this week's summit between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, China has frozen Iran's money held there, according to claims circulating widely. Commentators note the significance: China previously bought around 90% of Iran's oil exports before Trump's blockade, so the move is being read as a major diplomatic shift and a sign of changed global alignments.

President Donald Trump has publicly contradicted US intelligence assessments on Iran and, unlike on previous occasions, did not raise the prospect of regime change in Tehran. The remarks mark a shift in his rhetoric toward Iran and put him at odds with the intelligence community's read on the situation.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has resigned from the presidency and will lead his ruling party into snap elections as a candidate for prime minister. The move, reported by Al Jazeera, marks an unusual reversal of roles in Serbian politics and comes as the country heads to an early vote, prompting debate about Vucic's continued grip on power despite the formal change of office.

Scientists are developing new methods to control mosquitoes, the world's deadliest animal to humans, as warmer temperatures stretch mosquito seasons and expand the reach of diseases like malaria and dengue. PBS News reports that longer warm periods give the insects more time to breed and spread illness, prompting renewed research into control strategies as climate change shifts where the threat lands.

Ireland's Data Protection Commission has fined Google €403 million following an inquiry into how the company processes users' location data. The decision, announced by the watchdog, adds to a series of major EU privacy enforcement actions against large technology firms under the GDPR. Details of any required changes to Google's practices were not immediately clear.

Foreign secretary Ed Miliband told Labour's party conference that critics of the government's stance on Gaza 'were right', conceding Labour had been wrong. In a speech promising that Labour is 'not here to accept the status quo but to change it', Miliband's admission marks a notable shift in tone from a senior cabinet minister on one of the party's most divisive foreign policy issues.

A Wall Street Journal report says debate inside Iran over whether to build a nuclear weapon has become unusually public. The headline alone has been circulating widely, but the available posts do not include details of who is talking or what has changed. Readers appear to be sharing it amid ongoing concern over Iran's nuclear programme and regional tensions. Without the article's full contents, the specifics of the debate remain unclear from the evidence collected.

Island nations facing severe impacts from climate change say they are not giving up the fight, continuing to press for action despite mounting threats such as rising seas and extreme weather. Their representatives emphasize resilience and ongoing advocacy on the global stage.

US immigration officers have reportedly been instructed to stop arresting immigrants who have no criminal record. According to a report picked up by multiple international outlets, the directive marks a shift in enforcement priorities, focusing resources on immigrants with criminal histories rather than non-criminal ones. The news has drawn attention as it suggests a change in how US authorities are carrying out immigration arrests day to day.

Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth says the War Powers resolution deadline for reporting to Congress on military action against Iran does not apply, arguing a ceasefire has changed the legal situation. The claim is drawing scrutiny from lawmakers and legal observers over the administration's position on congressional authority over military operations.

The distinctive 'Not for EU' labels on food products in British shops, introduced after Brexit, are set to be phased out. The labels were added to comply with post-Brexit trading rules and reassure consumers, but the government is now moving to remove the requirement. The change is drawing attention as a visible marker of Britain's adjusted relationship with the European Union.