Germany tells nationals to leave Iran, fearing retaliation over sanctions
Germany has told its nationals to leave Iran and refrain from travelling there to avoid getting caught in retaliatory acts by Tehran over Germany's ro...
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi agreed in Beijing on Sunday to tighten coordination in forums from the United Nations to the G20, while reviewing prospects for ending the war in Ukraine and managing strained ties with the United States.
Meeting on the eve of a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation foreign-ministers’ gathering, the two men “emphasised the importance of strengthening close coordination” across multilateral bodies, Russia’s foreign ministry said in a statement.
Lavrov and Wang also “discussed relations with the United States and prospects for resolving the Ukrainian crisis,” according to the ministry, which gave no details of any peace initiative.
Moscow and Beijing declared a “no-limits” partnership in February 2022, just days before President Vladimir Putin launched his full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Washington brands China its top strategic competitor and Russia its leading nation-state threat, a stance both governments dismiss as Cold-War thinking. Beijing has refused to condemn Russia’s invasion, instead calling for a ceasefire and talks while expanding trade that now covers more than 90 % of Russian oil exports, according to Chinese customs data.
Lavrov arrived in Beijing from North Korea, where Pyongyang last week pledged further support for Russia’s war effort. He is expected to press fellow SCO members—who include India and several Central Asian states—to back Moscow’s position on Ukraine when the bloc’s leaders meet later this year.
Analysts say the foreign-minister meeting highlights a deepening geopolitical alignment that could complicate Western efforts to isolate Russia.
“Beijing gains leverage over both Moscow and Washington by keeping the partnership warm, while the Kremlin gains diplomatic cover,” said Alexander Gabuev of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center.
The pair are likely to cross paths again at the BRICS summit in Kazan in October and at November’s G20 leaders’ meeting in Rio de Janeiro, where Western diplomats hope China might still press Russia to accept a negotiated settlement.
A powerful eruption at Japan’s Shinmoedake volcano sent an ash plume more than 3,000 metres high on Sunday morning, prompting safety warnings from authorities.
According to the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), a magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck the Oaxaca region of Mexico on Saturday.
The UK is gearing up for Exercise Pegasus 2025, its largest pandemic readiness test since COVID-19. Running from September to November, this full-scale simulation will challenge the country's response to a fast-moving respiratory outbreak.
Music mega-star Taylor Swift and National Football League player Travis Kelce announced their engagement. “Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married," the couple wrote in a joint Instagram post, alongside photos of Kelce proposing to Swift in a garden of pink and white flowers.
Germany has told its nationals to leave Iran and refrain from travelling there to avoid getting caught in retaliatory acts by Tehran over Germany's role in triggering United Nations sanctions on Iran over its nuclear programme.
Britain has barred Israeli government officials from attending its largest defence trade show, DSEI UK 2025, in response to Israel's escalating military operations in Gaza. The move marks a rare rebuke of a historically close ally during rising humanitarian concerns.
Afghan officials said Pakistani drones struck homes in Nangarhar and Khost provinces late on Wednesday, killing three people and wounding seven, prompting the Taliban government to summon Pakistan’s ambassador in Kabul on Thursday in protest.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 29th of August, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Microsoft has dismissed four employees for protesting against its ties to Israel, including two who staged a sit-in at the office of company president Brad Smith this week.
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