U.S. and Iran suspend direct contacts amid rising risk of confrontation
Direct communication between senior U.S. and Iranian officials has broken down as tensions rise over Tehran’s crackdown on protests and fears of U.S...
Germany and the U.S. will deliver five Patriot air defence systems to Ukraine as Russian missile attacks intensify, signalling a renewed Western push to strengthen Kyiv's defences, according to German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius.
The announcement was made during the 29th Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting and follows Pistorius’ recent trip to Washington, where he reached the deal with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
This comes amid a spike in Russian ballistic and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv,.
The Patriot missile system, capable of intercepting advanced ballistic and cruise missiles, is considered one of the most effective air defence tools in the world. With the war now now three and a half years in, Ukraine sees these systems as critical to shielding its population and infrastructure from long-range Russian strikes.
U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed earlier this month that Washington would send Patriot systems to NATO for redistribution to Ukraine, reversing an earlier pause in arms transfers. Trump stated the alliance would finance the move, and later announced that the shipments had already begun.
Germany will fund two of the systems, while Norway is contributing one and has expressed readiness to finance more. Norway, a NATO founding member, is a strong supporter of Ukraine, pledging F-16 fighter jets and a $7 billion aid package over five years.
Currently, the U.S. has supplied three Patriot batteries to Ukraine, with three more from Germany and an additional one from a European coalition. Some are undergoing routine maintenance.
Switzerland, which had ordered Patriot systems scheduled for delivery between 2027–2028, has been informed by the U.S. that the order may be delayed as the units are redirected to meet Ukraine’s urgent needs.
It remains unclear whether the systems will go directly to Ukraine or be used to backfill NATO allies donating their systems to Kyiv.
The Trump administration will suspend all visa processing for visitors from 75 countries beginning 21 January 2026, according to a State Department memo reported by media.
The U.S. has issued an urgent security notice calling all American citizens to leave Iran immediately, citing escalating protests, growing violence and widespread communication shutdowns across the country.
President Donald Trump said on Monday any country that does business with Iran will face a tariff rate of 25% on trade with the U.S., as Washington weighs a response to the situation in Iran which is seeing its biggest anti-government protests in years.
Apple will use Google’s Gemini artificial intelligence (AI) models for its revamped Siri voice assistant later this year, in a multi-year deal that strengthens the tech giants’ partnership and boosts Alphabet’s position in the race against OpenAI.
Israel and Arab States have urged the U.S. to delay any potential military action against Iran, warning that such a move could undermine ongoing protests inside the country, according to NBC News.
NASA is carrying out the first emergency return in International Space Station history after an astronaut aboard Crew-11 suffered a serious medical condition.
The British embassy in Tehran has been temporarily closed, with services now operating remotely, the government announced Wednesday.
The United States has announced an indefinite suspension of immigrant visa processing from 75 countries, expanding President Donald Trump’s crackdown on immigration.
Denmark has announced an immediate increase in its military presence in Greenland, citing growing security tensions in the Arctic.
Direct communication between senior U.S. and Iranian officials has broken down as tensions rise over Tehran’s crackdown on protests and fears of U.S. military action.
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