Merz heads to China to boost dialogue on global challenges
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is heading to Beijing on for his first official visit as chancellor, aiming to strengthen political and economic dial...
In a historic move, French President Emmanuel Macron has announced that France will formally recognise the State of Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly in September. The declaration positions France as the most influential Western country to back Palestinian statehood—sparking celebration in Ramallah and outrage in Tel Aviv.
Macron framed the decision as a moral obligation and a diplomatic necessity, calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, the release of hostages, and a surge of humanitarian aid. But his statement also included conditions: demilitarisation of a future Palestinian state and full recognition of Israel.
The Palestinian Authority welcomed the announcement, describing it as a step towards justice and self-determination. Hamas issued cautious support, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fiercely condemned the move as a “reward for terror.” Israeli ministers have threatened retaliatory measures.
In this edition of NewsHour, we ask what France’s bold new stance means for the future of the Middle East, whether it signals a broader shift in European policy—and what comes next.
Watch our full segment, including reactions from Paris, and a special interview with a pro-Palestinian guest.
Further Iran-U.S. nuclear talks are scheduled in Geneva on Thursday (26 February) as diplomacy resumes over Tehran’s nuclear programme following earlier mediation efforts. But will the talks move Iran-U.S. negotiations closer to a deal, and what should be expected from the meeting?
The European Parliament’s trade chief has urged a temporary suspension of the EU–U.S. trade agreement approval, citing “tariff chaos” following President Donald Trump’s new 15% tariffs and a U.S. Supreme Court ruling invalidating his previous global tariff programme.
Iran has signed a secret €500 million arms deal with Russia to rebuild air defences, weakened during last year’s war with Israel, the Financial Times has reported. The agreement, signed in December in Moscow, will see Russia deliver 500 Verba launch units and 2,500 9M336 missiles over three years.
A British national was among at least 19 people killed when a passenger bus plunged off a mountain highway into the Trishuli river in Nepal before dawn on Monday (23 February), authorities said. A New Zealander and a Chinese national were among those injured.
Seven people were killed after gunmen ambushed a police patrol in Kohat, a district in Pakistan’s north-west near the Afghan border, on Tuesday, in an attack that comes amid rising militant violence and heightened tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
In a special edition of Context, Orkhan Amashov reports from Washington on the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace, examining plans for Gaza’s reconstruction, a proposed stabilisation force, and the wider diplomatic impact of the U.S.-led initiative.
Here are the latest stories from AnewZ’s Africa News programme, focusing on political and security developments across the African continent.
Here are the latest stories from AnewZ’s Africa News programme, focusing on political and security developments across the African continent.
The following story summaries are from AnewZ’s Africa News programme, focusing on political and security developments across Africa and beyond.
In today’s Prime Time, we covered the following conversations: Azerbaijan has shipped petroleum products to Armenia by rail for the first time in decades, marking a significant step toward economic cooperation and regional integration in the South Caucasus.
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