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US lays it on the line as WTO mulls future of global trading
The United States launched a broadside at the hamstrung World Trade Organization as its main gathering opened Thursday, while China rushed to the WTO's defence, making the case for rules-based global trade.
Trump denies being 'desperate' for Iran deal
US President Donald Trump denied being "desperate" to make a deal with Iran Thursday, as he mixed threats with diplomacy in a push to wrap up his war in the Middle East.
US envoy to UK warns against cancelling king's visit
Washington's envoy to the UK said Thursday it would be a "big mistake" to cancel King Charles III's planned state visit to the US, following calls to abandon the trip over the Middle East war.
Oil climbs, stocks slide on uncertainty over US-Iran talks
Oil prices jumped and equities slid Thursday as hopes for a peace deal between the US and Iran wavered after Tehran rejected Washington's bid to wind down the nearly four-week war.
G7 meets in France hoping to heal transatlantic Iran rift
European and allied nations on Thursday looked for ways to narrow differences with the United States on the Middle East war as a two-day meeting of G7 foreign ministers got underway outside Paris.
Trump insists Iran operations 'extremely' ahead of schedule
US President Donald Trump said Thursday that the Iran war was "extremely" ahead of schedule, as he pushed Tehran to make a deal at his first cabinet meeting since the conflict began nearly a month ago.
Bab al-Mandeb Strait: another key shipping route under threat
Here are facts and figures about the Bab al-Mandeb strait, a crucial passage into the Red Sea that Iran has threatened to target if US forces launch a ground assault on its territory.
Venezuela's Maduro back in court after stunning US capture
Ousted Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro was back in a New York court Thursday for his second appearance since his capture by US forces in an extraordinary nighttime raid.
Trump's Iran war tests MAGA 'America First' creed
For a decade or more, "America First" has been a rallying cry against foreign wars. But as US bombs fall on Iran, many of President Donald Trump's supporters are embracing a muscular campaign abroad -- and insisting it still fits the doctrine.
What's happening with Iran-US 'talks'?
Diplomatic efforts to end the war in Iran are gathering pace, even though Tehran continues to insist talks with the United States are not happening.
US flexes 'new order' trade policy as WTO meet kicks off
US trade policy is a "corrective response" to the unbalanced rules of the World Trade Organization, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said as the WTO's ministerial conference opened Thursday.
UK PM 'very keen' to curb addictive social media after US ruling
UK leader Keir Starmer said Thursday he was "very keen" to tackle addictive features on social media following a landmark US ruling that found Meta and YouTube liable for harming a young woman.
Belarus' Lukashenko gifts automatic rifle to North Korea's Kim
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko gifted Kim Jong Un an automatic rifle during his maiden visit to Pyongyang, joking that the North Korean leader may need it "in case enemies appear", state media said Thursday.
Venezuela's Maduro back in US court after stunning capture
Ousted Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro will appear Thursday in a New York court for the second time since his capture by US forces in an extraordinary nighttime raid.
Iran may believe it has the upper hand as Trump seeks talks
Iran's decision to rebuff a 15-point peace proposal from US President Donald Trump and outline its own conditions for a ceasefire reflects growing confidence in its negotiating position after nearly four weeks of war, analysts say.
Trump says Iran 'better get serious' in Mideast war talks
US President Donald Trump warned Iran Thursday to engage in talks to end the Middle East war "before it is too late", after Tehran publicly spurned US overtures to resolve the nearly four-week conflict.
Global trading system hit by 'worst disruptions in the past 80 years': WTO chief
The global trading system is experiencing the "worst disruptions in the past 80 years", World Trade Organization chief Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala warned as the WTO ministerial conference opened Thursday.
EU parliament backs Trump tariff deal -- with conditions
European Union lawmakers on Thursday gave a green light -- with conditions -- to the bloc's tariff deal with US President Donald Trump, which Europe hopes to salvage while also racing to diversify its trade ties around the globe.
Israel strikes Iran as Tehran rejects US talks overture
Israel struck new targets across Iran on Thursday, after Tehran rejected US overtures to wind down the nearly four-week Middle East war and vowed to keep up its "resistance".
Leaked Nepal report into deadly uprising calls for prosecuting ex-PM
A Nepal commission has recommended the prosecution of ex-prime minister KP Sharma Oli in connection to the deadly September 2025 uprising that toppled his government, according to a leaked report.
EU to vote on Trump tariff deal -- but eyes rest of world
European Union lawmakers are on track to give a green light -- with conditions -- Thursday to the bloc's tariff deal with US President Donald Trump, which Europe hopes to salvage while also racing to diversify its trade ties around the globe.
North Korea, Belarus sign 'friendship' treaty during Lukashenko visit
North Korea and Belarus's strongmen leaders signed a "friendship and cooperation" treaty on Thursday after Kim Jong Un gave a lavish welcome to President Alexander Lukashenko on his maiden visit.
North Korea, Belarus sign 'friendship and cooperation' treaty
North Korea and Belarus's strongmen leaders signed a "friendship and cooperation" treaty on Thursday, state media reported, after Kim Jong Un "warmly" welcomed President Alexander Lukashenko to Pyongyang for a maiden visit.
Israel strikes Iran as Trump says Tehran wants deal to end war
Israel launched strikes across Iran on Thursday, hours after US President Donald Trump said Tehran wanted a deal to end the nearly four-week war despite its top diplomat rejecting any talks with Washington.
Hezbollah rejects truce talks as Israel presses Lebanon strikes
Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem said negotiations with Israel under fire would amount to "surrender", as the Iran-backed group launched attacks and Israel said it was expanding a "buffer zone" inside Lebanon.
Mideast war fuels disinformation about Taiwan's gas supply
Taiwan has been targeted by a wave of online disinformation claiming the self-ruled island's gas supplies will soon be completely depleted due to disruptions from the Middle East war -- a narrative officials say could cause panic and undermine confidence in the government.
Zimbabwe lithium export ban triggers crackdown, concerns
A month after banning raw lithium exports, Zimbabwe is tightening its regulations and ramping up its crackdown on mineral smuggling in a major shake-up that is winning local praise even as it stirs concerns.
North Korea's Kim 'warmly' welcomes Belarusian leader
North Korea's Kim Jong Un "warmly" welcomed Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on his maiden visit to the fellow Russia ally, with the two strongmen set to sign a friendship and cooperation treaty, state media reported Thursday.
Oil edges up and equities mixed amid mixed messages on 'talks'
Oil prices rose and equities were mixed Thursday as investors tracked developments in the Middle East warafter Iranian officials were said to have replied to US demands to end a conflict that has sparked warnings of an unprecedented energy crisis.
Russian oil arrives as Philippines battles 'energy emergency'
A ship carrying more than 700,000 barrels of Russian crude oil has arrived in the Philippines, a source with knowledge of the matter told AFP Thursday, days after the country declared a national energy emergency over the Middle East war.
G7 meets in France to narrow transatlantic Iran split
Foreign ministers from the G7 meet outside Paris from Thursday with European nations and allies seeking to narrow differences with the US on the Middle East war while keeping other crises like Ukraine and Gaza high on the agenda.
UN pushes fuel solution for Cuba aid work amid US talks
The United Nations has proposed an emergency plan for crisis-hit Cuba, including tracking fuel use, amid talks with the United States on allowing energy imports for humanitarian services, a UN official said Wednesday.