The Times

Ukrainian Air Force MiG-29s carried out a powerful strike on a Russian command post in the northern sector of the front. According to the Ukrainian unit, Russian forces had been concentrating personnel in the building for some time and had been moving equipment and ammunition into the site before the attack.

Iran's foreign minister says the country is 'ready for diplomacy' and 'war at the same time', according to a full interview with NBC News. The remarks underline Tehran's dual message of openness to negotiations while warning it is prepared for confrontation, and are drawing wide international attention as tensions over Iran's nuclear program and regional standoff continue.

Iran's foreign minister said in an interview that Iran is 'ready for diplomacy' and 'war at the same time', signalling Tehran's stance as tensions remain high. The full interview was published by NBC News and has been picked up by international outlets, drawing attention to Iran's dual message of negotiation and defiance amid ongoing regional confrontations.

China has issued its official press release on the Xi-Trump meeting held at the White House, ahead of any comparable US statement. Chinese-speaking observers note the readout is short but unusually dense, and are parsing its wording closely for signals on trade and bilateral ties. Attention is now on what the American side's own account will say and whether the two versions diverge.

Saudi Arabia has withdrawn from a China-led cross-border currency platform, according to the Financial Times. The move is seen as a setback for Beijing's efforts to build alternatives to the dollar-based global payments system, and observers are weighing what it signals about the Gulf kingdom's financial alignment with Washington versus its deepening economic ties with China.

A New York Times report says investors on Wall Street are increasingly questioning the wave of spending and IPOs tied to AI data centers. Concerns center on whether massive capital expenditures will generate returns matching the valuations, with data center offerings facing a cooler reception than the broader artificial intelligence frenzy.

SpaceX is preparing its Starship rocket for its first flight to orbit. The launch would mark a major milestone for the company's next-generation, fully reusable heavy-lift rocket, developed in Texas to carry cargo and crews to the Moon, Mars and beyond. Interest is high given the scale of the vehicle and the significance of a successful debut orbital attempt for future deep-space missions.

Minutes from the Bank of Japan's July policy meeting show board members debated the need to raise interest rates at a faster pace than previously planned. The discussion highlights growing concern inside the central bank over inflation pressures and the pace of policy normalisation. Markets will read the minutes for clues on the timing of the next rate move.

Iran is asking Washington to clarify its position after President Trump rejected a proposed cease-fire, according to a New York Times report citing developments around the Strait of Hormuz. The move signals mounting tension between Tehran and the U.S. administration, with diplomats seeking to understand whether negotiations over the cease-fire proposal can continue or have collapsed entirely.

Ukraine carried out a record-scale attack on Moscow, leaving parts of the Russian capital ablaze on the day Russians went to the polls. The strike, described as the largest of its kind, is drawing wide attention as a bold escalation in the war and a pointed message timed to Russia's election day.

Ukraine carried out strikes targeting Moscow on the first day of Russia's presidential election, in which Vladimir Putin was expected to secure another term. The attack marked a symbolic escalation, hitting the Russian capital at a moment meant to showcase Putin's grip on power. Observers say the timing underscores Ukraine's ability to strike deep into Russia and challenge the narrative of Russian invincibility.

SpaceX is preparing its Starship megarocket for its first-ever attempt to reach orbit, scheduled for Sept. 28, with the launch available to watch live. The test flight marks a major milestone for the vehicle that SpaceX intends to use for missions to the Moon and eventually Mars. Attention is focused on whether the rocket can complete its ascent and orbital demonstration.

The US Federal Reserve has raised interest rates for the first time in several years, a shift in monetary policy that affects borrowing costs across the economy. Coverage is focused on what the move means for everyday finances, including credit card bills, mortgage rates, savings returns and loan payments.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has called for the creation of a new Eurasian security architecture, appealing at the United Nations for a regional order that would reduce the role of existing Western-led alliances. The proposal signals Moscow's continued push to reshape security arrangements across the continent, and it is drawing attention given the ongoing war in Ukraine and wider tensions between Russia and NATO members.

The European Union has instructed national governments to reduce gas consumption as concerns grow over the reliability of energy supplies. The appeal, reported by Euronews, signals that Brussels sees the risk of shortfalls as serious enough to require coordinated demand-cutting across member states, though details of targets or enforcement are not yet specified.

This week in U.S. politics, President Trump is confronting growing defections from within his own Republican Party, while preparing for a summit with China. A separate feud with the press is also drawing attention. Analysts are watching whether intra-party dissent will weaken Trump's position heading into high-stakes diplomacy with Beijing.

A Baghdad official says the US military has completed its withdrawal from Iraq, ending a military presence that lasted more than two decades after the 2003 invasion. The claim, if confirmed, would mark a major shift in the US role in the region and in relations between Washington and Baghdad. Details on the timing, terms, and whether any US personnel remain under other arrangements are not yet clear.

The US Federal Reserve has raised interest rates for the first time since 2023, according to ABC News. A rate hike would mark a reversal from the easing cycle of recent years and would affect borrowing costs for mortgages, credit cards and businesses across the American economy. Markets and households will be watching for signals on whether further increases are planned.

Russia's and Germany's top diplomats met on the sidelines of the United Nations in what both sides describe as their first direct talks since 2022. The meeting marks a rare high-level contact between Moscow and Berlin since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine severed most formal dialogue between the two governments.

Saudi Arabia is signaling that it could be open to developing nuclear weapons, according to a New York Times report on US-Saudi relations. The statement marks a notable shift in rhetoric from the kingdom, which has long said its nuclear program is for civilian purposes only. The news is drawing attention amid wider debates over nuclear proliferation in the Middle East and the future of American security guarantees to Riyadh.

Saudi Arabia has signalled it would be open to developing nuclear weapons, according to reports carried by major US outlets including The New York Times and The Seattle Times. The remarks raise fresh questions about nuclear proliferation in the Middle East and about Riyadh's nuclear ambitions at a time of ongoing regional tensions and talks over normalisation and security guarantees with Washington.

Following the Supreme Court's sweeping ruling on presidential immunity, Donald Trump is invoking it widely as he expands executive power. Critics say the decision, handed down by the conservative-majority court, has given a former and returning president sweeping protection from prosecution for official acts, and are warning it could reshape the limits of the American presidency.

Finland and Sweden have jointly scrambled fighter jets against a Russian aircraft for the first time, marking a historic milestone in military cooperation between the two Nordic countries. The joint response reflects their deepening integration into NATO's air defense posture following both countries' recent accession to the alliance and heightened concern over Russian air activity near their airspace.

The German and Russian foreign ministers have held a rare direct meeting at a time of sharply heightened tensions between Berlin and Moscow. Direct high-level contacts between the two governments have become unusual since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, making the talks notable. The meeting suggests both sides see some value in keeping diplomatic channels open, even as political relations remain deeply strained.

The US ambassador to NATO says the Russia-Ukraine conflict will not be resolved through fighting alone, arguing the war cannot be settled by military means on the battlefield. The remark fuels ongoing debate in Washington and among allies about how the conflict might ultimately end, and what role diplomacy and negotiations should play.