Organization · 1444 published stories · 310 outlets
Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has made his third visit to Tehran in recent weeks, part of Islamabad's ongoing mediation efforts between the U.S. and Iran. The visit comes amid heightened tensions, including recent military clashes and stalled negotiations, with Pakistan playing a central role as intermediary.
A recent NBC News report alleging Israeli espionage against US officials has sparked denials from both Washington and Jerusalem, while highlighting growing tensions between the allies over how to handle Iran. The Pentagon has reportedly raised the threat level from Israel to 'critical,' but US sources dispute the claims as politically motivated.
Recent reports detail US military involvement in coordinating vessel passages and conducting secretive ship-to-ship oil transfers near the Strait of Hormuz, amid ongoing tensions with Iran. The New York Times, as cited by TASS, reports over 100 vessels were assisted, while Reuters details an operation involving at least 92 ships.
The US military says it intercepted Iranian missiles and drones aimed at Kuwait and Bahrain, while conducting self-defense strikes on Iran's Qeshm Island. The attacks mark an escalation in the Gulf conflict despite a ceasefire, with Kuwait reporting damage at its international airport and diplomatic fallout.
US President Donald Trump said Iran has about 21-22% of its missiles remaining after US-Israeli strikes, while Western intelligence suggests Tehran retains about three-quarters of its pre-war arsenal. The conflicting assessments come as a framework deal for ending the war excludes any discussion of Iran's missile programme.
US stocks tumbled on Friday, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq posting their biggest one-day losses in months, after a stronger-than-expected May jobs report raised fears that the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates high or even hike them. Tech and chip stocks led the decline, while investors rotated into safer sectors. President Donald Trump reacted with confusion, saying stocks should rise on good jobs data.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth's softer tone towards China at the Shangri-La Dialogue marks a departure from his previous stance, reflecting Donald Trump's influence. Coverage also notes thawing China-Canada relations and efforts at China-India rapprochement.
Iran's national football team received US visas just 10 days before their World Cup opener, but several staff and federation officials, including the federation chief, were denied entry. The team has relocated its base to Tijuana, Mexico, amid a war with the US, marking the first time a host nation receives a team it is at war with.
President Donald Trump has told acting intelligence chief Bill Pulte to cut staff at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, saying the workforce was too large. Democrats have condemned the appointment of Pulte, who lacks an intelligence background, and reports have emerged of firings at the agency. Some Republicans have also voiced doubts about the interim chief.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday dismissed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's offer for face-to-face negotiations, stating he saw 'no point' in such a meeting. Zelenskyy had proposed direct talks in a third country to end the war, but Putin insisted Russia will achieve its military goals and demanded Ukraine's capitulation on key territorial issues.
Donald Trump's legal team has refused to provide financial information sought by the BBC in his $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the broadcaster, according to court filings cited by the Financial Times. The BBC had subpoenaed the Donald J Trump Revocable Trust, managed by Trump's eldest son, as part of its defense, while Trump's lawyers called the request a 'fishing expedition.'
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that President Vladimir Putin received and read Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's open letter but declined to reveal his reaction. Russian officials offered mixed assessments, with some dismissing the letter as a PR stunt and others reiterating Moscow's readiness to talk. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Russia had not received the letter through diplomatic channels.
On the 98th day of the Iran war, Hezbollah rejects a US-brokered ceasefire, Israel continues strikes in Lebanon, and an Iranian adviser raises concerns about a draft deal. Lebanon's death toll exceeds 3,500.
President Donald Trump personally appealed to Chinese President Xi Jinping to use Beijing's influence over Moscow to end the Ukraine war, according to multiple sources. The appeal came during last month's summit in Beijing, as negotiations between Russia and Ukraine have stalled. Trump has been pressuring Kyiv to reach a deal, while Russia launched a massive strike on Ukraine last month.
The US House of Representatives passed the Ukraine Support Act on Thursday, providing over $1 billion in assistance and up to $8 billion in loans to Ukraine while imposing new sanctions on Russia. The 226-195 vote marks a bipartisan rebuke of President Trump's approach, with 18 Republicans joining Democrats. The bill's future remains uncertain in the Senate.
President Trump's proposed White House ballroom has expanded to include a rooftop drone port, underground hospital, and military facilities, with costs doubling to $400m. Reports indicate federal funds designated for the Secret Service may have been redirected to the project, raising concerns among watchdogs.
The Senate passed a $70bn immigration-enforcement bill early Friday after an 18-hour 'vote-a-rama', but not before Democrats forced votes on a controversial $1.8bn fund tied to a Trump lawsuit settlement. The fund, criticized as a 'slush fund', was narrowly protected from being permanently blocked.
The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool has turned green again just days after a $14.2m renovation, despite the Trump administration's claims of success. Visitors offer mixed reviews, and the administration has compared its battle with algae to its war with Iran.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called for direct face-to-face negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin in a rare open letter, proposing a full ceasefire during talks. The Kremlin acknowledged receipt, while Putin expressed conditional willingness to negotiate, and US President Donald Trump endorsed the idea of a meeting.
Former US National Security Adviser John Bolton has reached a deal to plead guilty to one count of retaining classified information, potentially avoiding prison time. The agreement includes a $2.25 million fine and is set to be entered at a re-arraignment on June 26.