United States

Donald Trump's second administration is overhauling how the United States funds the United Nations, according to reporting by NBC News. The changes touch the contributions Washington makes across UN bodies and programmes, with the administration reviewing and cutting support. The move is drawing attention because the US is the UN's largest single funder, so shifts in its payments have wide consequences for the organisation's budgets and operations.

Mediators are working to broker an agreement between the United States and Iran, but significant obstacles stand in the way of a deal. The talks come amid heightened regional tensions, and observers caution that unresolved disagreements over key demands could still derail the effort. Details of the sticking points and the mediators' identities remain limited.

Iran says it is prepared for both diplomacy and war after US President Donald Trump rejected a proposed seven-day ceasefire. The statement signals Tehran is keeping its options open amid rising tensions, while Trump's refusal of the truce proposal has drawn attention to the risk of further escalation between the two countries.

The United States and Iran have each held separate discussions with mediators in the latest diplomatic effort to bring an end to the war. Reuters reported the parallel talks, which signal renewed international pressure for a negotiated settlement despite the absence of direct negotiations between Washington and Tehran.

China has surpassed 1,000 gigawatts of installed solar power capacity, the largest amount ever installed by any country. Observers note the milestone roughly equals the entire electricity generating capacity of the United States across all sources. The achievement underscores the pace of China's renewable energy buildout and has sparked discussion about its implications for global energy markets and climate targets.

The United States and Iran are preparing to resume diplomacy through indirect talks conducted via mediators, according to a report from Modern Diplomacy. The arrangement, which avoids direct contact between the two sides, signals a renewed effort to address tensions between Washington and Tehran. Observers are watching closely for what issues the talks will cover and whether they can produce tangible progress.

Donald Trump said the United States will win a war against Iran 'very soon', according to a Reuters report. The statement is drawing attention as tensions between Washington and Tehran remain in focus, with readers reacting to the scale and wording of the claim and to what it could mean for the region.

Iran has declared itself prepared for both diplomacy and war, after President Donald Trump rejected a ceasefire proposal in the standoff between the two countries. The statement signals Tehran is keeping military options open while leaving the door ajar to negotiations. Observers are watching closely for how Washington responds to the dual message.

The United States is threatening to ground Iranian airlines from operating worldwide starting Wednesday. The warning, reported by Al Jazeera, would bar Iranian carriers such as Iran Air from international airspace and airports. The move signals a further escalation in tensions between Washington and Tehran, and observers are watching how Iranian authorities and international aviation bodies will respond before the deadline.

The United Arab Emirates has called for renewed diplomacy and stronger international measures to address the war in Gaza and wider regional crises, speaking at the United Nations. The appeal underscores growing frustration among Gulf states over the pace of international responses, with the UAE pressing global powers to take a more active role in de-escalating conflicts across the Middle East.

An Atlantic article argues that President Biden's administration managed to prevent a full-scale war between the United States and Iran, crediting diplomatic restraint during a period of heightened tensions in the Middle East. The piece is drawing attention as readers debate whether the de-escalation was a genuine achievement or a postponement of a wider conflict.

Iran says the choice between war and diplomacy now rests with US President Donald Trump. The statement frames Tehran as leaving the door open to negotiations while placing responsibility for escalation on Washington. The remark comes amid heightened tensions over Iran's nuclear program and regional standoff, and observers are watching whether the US responds with talks or further pressure.

A Washington Post opinion column argues that Iran has shattered a core assumption underpinning U.S. military thinking. The piece, written amid ongoing tensions between Washington and Tehran, contends that recent events have upended long-held beliefs about American military dominance and deterrence in the Middle East, prompting debate among analysts about how U.S. strategy should adapt.

Donald Trump says he did not offer Tehran sanctions relief, pushing back on suggestions that the United States dangled easing of sanctions as part of diplomacy around the conflict with Iran. His denial comes as the Iran war continues to dominate headlines, with questions over what, if any, negotiations are underway between Washington and Tehran.

Leading figures in artificial intelligence have appealed to the United Nations, asking the Security Council and member states to establish international controls over AI development, warning that the technology they helped create could pose risks to humanity. The appeal adds to growing pressure on global institutions to set rules for advanced AI, a debate that has intensified as powerful new systems reach the public faster than regulators can respond.

Mediators are continuing efforts to broker an agreement between the United States and Iran, even after President Trump rejected the latest proposal from Tehran. The diplomacy continues despite the setback, with intermediaries working to keep negotiations alive between Washington and Tehran.

British authorities are investigating whether Iran or Russia had any involvement in a foiled attack near a military base used by American forces in the United Kingdom. The case has drawn attention because a link to either state would mark a serious escalation, and officials have not yet named suspects or confirmed the nature of the plot.

Iranian leaders delivered defiant rhetoric while on US soil in New York, drawing attention to the state of Iran-US diplomacy. The remarks come as tensions and negotiations between Tehran and Washington remain in the spotlight. Coverage in Bangladeshi media is highlighting the contrast between the hostile language and ongoing diplomatic engagement between the two countries.

A senior North Korean diplomat has declared that the country's nuclear status can never be reversed 'in any circumstances', a blunt rejection of denuclearisation talks. The statement underscores Pyongyang's insistence that its nuclear arsenal is permanent and non-negotiable, drawing attention amid ongoing tensions with South Korea, the United States and the wider international community.

An analyst told RFI that Washington has 'alienated' Sudan's army amid what he described as a 'complex war' gripping the country. The assessment points to strained relations between the United States and Sudan's military leadership as the conflict continues, with criticism that US policy has misjudged the army's role in the war.

Chinese President Xi Jinping says he is ready to work with Donald Trump to strengthen relations between China and the United States. The statement comes amid ongoing attention to the state of bilateral ties, with observers weighing what closer cooperation between the two leaders could mean for trade and diplomacy.

Multiple diplomatic delegations walked out during Donald Trump's appearance at the United Nations, in a visible show of protest. The walkout has drawn wide attention online, with commentators debating what it signals about international sentiment toward the US president and his policies. Supporters and critics are clashing over whether the empty seats were justified diplomacy or disrespect toward a sitting head of state.

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in New York City to protest Israel's war in Gaza. The rally adds to ongoing waves of protest across the United States and other cities worldwide, where crowds have called for a ceasefire and an end to the fighting. Organisers and attendees voiced anger over civilian casualties in the Gaza Strip.

A former official in the Biden administration says Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu believed the United States would cut off military aid during the Gaza war. The claim, reported by Haaretz, adds to the ongoing debate in Washington and Jerusalem over how far the Biden administration was willing to go in pressuring Israel over its conduct of the war, and why US weapons transfers ultimately continued.

Iran has issued a public challenge to US President Donald Trump, declaring that he must decide between pursuing war or diplomacy between the two countries. The statement underscores rising tensions in the region and frames the decision as resting with Washington. Analysts are weighing whether the rhetoric signals an opening for negotiations or a warning ahead of possible confrontation.

The New York Times highlights a growing problem linked to North Korea. The item gives no further detail on the specific issue, but it comes amid ongoing international concern over Pyongyang's nuclear weapons programme and missile activity. Readers and commentators are weighing what the escalating situation means for regional security and for the response from the United States and its allies.

A man deported from the United States to Liberia under the Trump administration's expanded deportation policy says he had never heard of the West African country before being sent there. The remark, in a Channel 4 News interview, has drawn attention to the US practice of removing migrants to third countries in Africa, prompting debate over the legality and human cost of deportations to nations with no connection to those being removed.

Australian policymakers and commentators are weighing whether the country can still rely on the United States as its principal security partner. The debate touches on defence ties, trade exposure and regional stability in the Indo-Pacific, with growing calls for Australia to diversify its alliances and build more independent strategic capabilities amid shifting US priorities.

A top Iranian army commander has asserted that Iran controls both sides of the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic waterway through which a large share of the world's oil passes. The statement comes amid heightened tensions involving Iran, the United States and Israel, and is being widely discussed alongside concerns about oil prices, shipping security and the risk of a wider regional war.

The United States and Iran are set to hold separate talks with mediators on Monday or Tuesday, according to an official. The indirect format suggests intermediaries will shuttle between the two sides rather than direct negotiations. The development comes amid ongoing tensions over Iran's nuclear programme and regional security, with observers watching for signs of de-escalation or progress toward renewed diplomacy.

Officials say mediators are continuing efforts to broker a possible agreement between Iran and the United States. Details of the proposed deal and the state of negotiations have not been disclosed, but the ongoing diplomatic track suggests both sides remain engaged despite earlier tensions. The report was carried by multiple US news outlets, indicating sustained interest in whether the talks can produce a breakthrough.