Iran plunged into nationwide internet blackout as protests intensify
Iran is now facing a near‑total internet blackout as anti-government protests sweep the country. Major cities including Tehran have seen connectivit...
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has offered to mediate between the U.S. and Venezuela, warning that urgent diplomatic intervention is needed to prevent a “fratricidal war” in Latin America.
Speaking at a news conference in the Planalto Palace, Lula confirmed that he had discussed potential peaceful solutions with both U.S. President Donald Trump and Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.
“I engage in politics seeking solutions to problems,” he said, adding that negotiating a way out of conflict is possible.
Lula questioned the U.S.’s motives, suggesting that strategic interests, such as Venezuela’s oil or rare minerals, may be influencing its approach.
He emphasised that South America must remain a “region of peace” and indicated he may hold follow-up talks with President Trump to develop a diplomatic framework to avoid military confrontation.
The two leaders last spoke officially on 2 December, focusing on bilateral trade negotiations.
Lula’s mediation offer comes amid heightened U.S. military activity in the region. Since September, the U.S. has maintained a strong naval and aerial presence in Caribbean and Pacific waters and conducted strikes on vessels linked to drug trafficking, resulting in dozens of fatalities.
The Trump administration has also ordered a complete blockade of sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuelan ports.
The Brazilian president has criticised the U.S. campaign, warning that militarisation risks regional stability and could escalate into a wider conflict.
His initiative follows a similar offer of mediation from Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Wednesday.
Snow and ice stalled travellers in northwest Europe on Wednesday, forcing around a thousand to spend the night in Amsterdam's Schiphol airport but delighting others who set out to explore a snow-blanketed Paris on sledges and skis.
Open-source intelligence (OSINT) sources reported a significant movement of U.S. military aircraft towards the Middle East in recent hours. Dozens of U.S. Air Force aerial refuelling tankers and heavy transport aircraft were observed heading eastwards, presumably to staging points in the region.
Diplomatic tensions between Tokyo and Beijing escalated as Japan slams China's export ban on dual-use goods. Markets have wobbled as fears grow over a potential rare earth embargo affecting global supply chains.
Two people have been killed after a private helicopter crashed at a recreation centre in Russia’s Perm region, Russian authorities and local media have said.
Iran’s chief justice has warned protesters there will be “no leniency for those who help the enemy against the Islamic Republic”, as rights groups reported a rising death toll during what observers describe as the country’s biggest wave of unrest in three years.
Türkiye’s UN envoy called on the international community on Thursday to maintain strong support for the elimination of Syria’s remaining chemical weapons, stressing that the task is both a legal obligation and a critical priority for regional security and humanitarian protection.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on Thursday that the text of a bilateral security guarantee between Kyiv and Washington is "essentially ready" to be finalised with U.S. President Donald Trump.
Iran’s Commander-in-Chief of Army, Major General Amir Hatami has warned against hostile rhetoric from U.S. and Israeli officials. “Iran considers the intensification of the enemies' rhetoric against the Iranian nation as a threat and will not leave its continuation unanswered,” Hatami said.
Türkiye says it's prepared a self-sustaining international stabilisation force for Gaza and has already begun training, Defence Minister Yaşar Güler said, reiterating Ankara’s readiness to deploy troops to support humanitarian efforts and help end the fighting.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has dismissed reports that Nicolas Maduro, Venezuela’s toppled leader, was previously offered asylum in Türkiye.
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