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Gavin Blackburn

Iran

White House: US envoys to head to Pakistan for Iran talks on Saturday

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Pakistan on Friday night, but his ministry has ruled out direct talks with the US delegation.

Europe

Swedish Syria envoy charged over mishandling top secret documents

The diplomat, who was arrested in May 2025, had also been suspected of transmitting classified documents to a former politician from the central Swedish town of Gävle.

Lebanon

Peacekeeper dies of wounds suffered in Lebanon last month, UNIFIL says

His death brings the number of peacekeepers killed since the start of the most recent war between Israel and Hezbollah on 2 March to six.

USA

US soldier charged with using Maduro intel to win €341k on Polymarket

Polymarket said in a statement it had flagged the user who made the bets to the US Department of Justice and cooperated with the investigation.

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Iran

Israel says awaiting US green light to 'return Iran to Stone Age'

The war has spilled out of Iran and engulfed the region, leaving several thousand people dead, mainly in Iran and Lebanon, and continues to destabilise the global economy.

Lebanon

UN 'working on' keeping presence in Lebanon in 2027

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon has served fulfilled peacekeeping duties between Israel and Lebanon since 1978 but finds itself caught in the crossfire between Israeli forces and Hezbollah.

Ukraine

US still delivering weapons to Ukraine, Zelenskyy says

Meanwhile, three people were killed and 10 others wounded in a Russian drone attack on the central city of Dnipro.

Europe

Iran's exiled crown prince splattered with red liquid in Berlin

The alleged perpetrator, whose name was not released in line with German privacy rules, was immediately detained by police.

Sport

Italian officials roundly reject pitch to replace Iran at World Cup

Italy missed out on the World Cup for the third successive time after losing a penalty shootout to Bosnia and Herzegovina in their qualifying playoff final.

Europe

At least 18 injured, five critically, in train crash in Denmark

Police were unable to provide information about the cause of the accident, which occurred near a level crossing in a rural wooded area near the town of Hillerod, about 40 kilometres north of Copenhagen.

Iran

Trump says US in no rush to end war but 'clock is ticking' for Iran

Earlier in the day, Trump said he had ordered the US Navy to "shoot and kill" any boats found laying sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz.

Europe

Second French peacekeeper dies after ambush blamed on Hezbollah

Established in 1978, UNIFIL has more than 10,000 peacekeepers from 50 countries who patrol the Blue Line, the UN-drawn border between Lebanon and Israel.

Europe

Spain's far-right Vox returns to power in regional government

During a debate in Spain's national parliament on Wednesday, Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called the PP-Vox agreement in Extremadura "a kick to the constitution."

Singapore

UN alarmed by number of drugs-related executions in Singapore

Officials in Singapore maintain that the death penalty has made it one of the world's safest cities and a government survey in 2023 showed strong public support for capital punishment for serious crimes.

Europe

Austrian court acquits ex-official over Novichok document leak

Prosecutors had accused Peterlik of requesting "without official necessity" a classified report in 2018 that included the formula for Novichok, a military-grade nerve agent developed in the Soviet Union.

Europe

Greek parliament lifts immunity of MPs probed in EU farm scandal

The EU's European Public Prosecutor's Office has announced probes into 20 New Democracy members, including active and former lawmakers.

Europe

Keir Starmer defies resignation calls over Mandelson envoy row

Mandelson was named to the top diplomatic post in December 2024, just weeks before US President Donald Trump was inaugurated the following month.

Europe

Moldovan oligarch sentenced to 19 years in prison over $1bn fraud

A former businessman, lawmaker and kingpin in the Democratic Party of Moldova, Plahotniuc fled Moldova in 2019, as he faced a series of corruption charges.

Iran

Iran seizes two cargo ships in Hormuz after three vessels fired on

The tanker seizures come after US President Donald Trump said the ceasefire with Iran was being indefinitely extended at the request of mediator Pakistan.

USA

Almost 8,000 people died or disappeared on migration routes in 2025

The migration agency highlighted that at least around 340,000 family members are estimated to have been directly affected by the missing migrant crisis since 2014.

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