Indonesian ferry Virgo Transport 8 loses contact in Java Sea
Rescuers searched for 140 people from the Virgo Transport 8 after it lost contact early Sunday while traveling between Surabaya and Banjarmasin in bad weather.
Category: World
Israel-Lebanon talks postponed to October after Rome round delay
A US official announced that direct negotiations between Israel and Lebanon scheduled for Rome have been moved to October. The ambassadors will instead meet in Washington to discuss the June framework agreement. Reasons for the delay include Jewish holidays, a Paris conference, and UN General Assembly preparations.
Saudi Arabia intercepts Houthi drone near Mecca amid Red Sea crisis
Saudi-led coalition forces intercepted a Houthi drone south of Mecca on Tuesday as regional leaders called for secure navigation in the Red Sea.
Fire and explosion hit EMCO weapons storage site in central Bulgaria
An explosion caused a fire at an EMCO weapons storage facility near Tsareva Livada, Bulgaria, with no reported injuries. Officials confirmed the blaze occurred overnight on Saturday and is the second incident at an EMCO depot in recent weeks. An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the fire.
Christopher Harborne matches Ben Delo’s £36m donation to Reform UK
Cryptocurrency billionaire Christopher Harborne donated £36 million to Reform UK, matching a previous contribution of the same amount from fellow investor Ben Delo. These combined pledges total £72 million and represent the largest donations ever made to a UK political party within a short timeframe. The funds will be used for campaign activities as the party faces ongoing scrutiny regarding its finances.
Bahrain rejects participation in proposed Hormuz ministerial meeting with Iran
Bahrain stated it will not join a planned ministerial gathering in Oman concerning the Strait of Hormuz before diplomatic ties with Iran are restored. The kingdom cited recent attacks on its infrastructure and called for free passage without discrimination or fees. Bahrain maintained that dialogue remains a priority but refused to be part of any collective meeting involving Tehran.
Chinese President Xi urges BRICS nations to advance Middle East peace
During a summit in New Delhi, Chinese President Xi Jinping called on BRICS countries to assist in promoting stability within the Middle East and Gulf region. He stated that the ongoing conflict has caused significant losses for people across the area and does not align with international community interests. The Chinese leader emphasized Beijing's willingness to collaborate with fellow members to help achieve peace between the United States and Iran.
Donald Trump pledges $5,000 dividend to US adults if Republicans win midterms
President Donald Trump proposed paying every American adult $5,000 if his party retains control of Congress in the upcoming midterm elections. The announcement was made during a convention in Dallas where the president addressed the party's strategy for November. Reports indicate the proposal would cost approximately $1.35 trillion and raised immediate questions regarding its legal feasibility.
BRICS nations unanimously adopt joint declaration urging restraint in Middle East
The BRICS group of eleven nations adopted a joint declaration on Saturday during their annual summit in New Delhi. The statement expresses deep concern over the war and calls for maximum restraint to avoid further aggravating the situation. Leaders emphasized resolving disputes through dialogue, consultation, and diplomacy while noting that the conflict does not serve international community interests.
Zelensky open to meeting Putin at Miami G20 summit
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated he is willing to meet Russian leader Vladimir Putin at the upcoming G20 summit in Miami. The Kremlin has not yet confirmed whether Putin will attend the gathering scheduled for December 14-15. Moscow continues to demand that any talks occur with Zelensky traveling to Russia instead.