live Houthi attacks target Riyadh as Iran sets conditions for reopening Strait of Hormuz
Houthi attacks target Riyadh amid concerns over Saudi oil supplies, as Iran says it will not reopen the Strait of Hormuz until its conditions are m...
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to make a surprise visit to Berlin this Wednesday, where he will meet German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to discuss ways to revive stalled peace talks with Russia, according to Der Spiegel.
Merz plans to use the meeting to outline next steps toward technical-level negotiations and update Zelenskyy on a new EU sanctions package aimed at pressuring Moscow into serious discussions. Zelenskyy will also meet German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier during his visit.
The unannounced trip reflects European efforts to sustain momentum in bringing Ukraine and Russia back to the negotiating table. Military support for Ukraine is also expected to be a key point, with Germany quietly preparing to assist Ukraine’s defense industry, including in the production of long-range weapons, even as public statements about arms shipments remain cautious.
For Chancellor Merz, this meeting signals his ongoing commitment to achieving a ceasefire. Shortly after taking office, Merz joined French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on a visit to Kyiv, aiming to build pressure on Russia to agree to a 30-day truce as a first step toward peace talks.
Meanwhile, European leaders continue trying to keep U.S. President Donald Trump involved in the process, but with mixed results. During the Kyiv visit, Macron made an impromptu call to Trump, who initially supported tougher sanctions on Russia and urged swift negotiations. However, days later, after a phone conversation between Trump and Putin, the sanctions talk disappeared.
As diplomatic efforts falter, Russian military activity is intensifying sharply. Over the past week, Ukraine’s Air Force reported at least 1,390 drone attacks and 94 missile strikes targeting cities and military sites across the country. These assaults have killed at least 30 civilians and injured more than 160—marking the heaviest air raids since the war began. Notably, a Russian strike on Sunday killed 12 people just hours before a prisoner exchange, highlighting the ongoing volatility.
Zelenskyy’s visit comes at a critical moment, underscoring the difficult balance between diplomatic efforts and the harsh realities of escalating conflict on the ground.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards Navy said a Togo-flagged oil tanker was struck while attempting to make an “illegal passage” through the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian state media said early on Friday.
Saudi civil defence sent an all-clear on Saturday after issuing alerts for a second time for potential danger in Riyadh and the city of Al-Kharj east of the capital, amid an uptick in attacks by Iran-aligned Houthis on the Gulf country.
The European Union will disburse €3.3 billion ($3.8 billion) to Ukraine for missiles and drones, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said after a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The U.S. State Department approved a $2.7 billion military sale to Ukraine for air-defence development upgrades, along with related equipment and services, the department said. Meanwhile, Ukrainian authorities reported at least 10 people had died in Russian attacks over the last 24 hours.
Houthi attacks target Riyadh amid concerns over Saudi oil supplies, as Iran says it will not reopen the Strait of Hormuz until its conditions are met and U.S. commitments are implemented, parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on Sunday.
German voters cast ballots on Sunday in two state elections that could add to the political pressure on Chancellor Friedrich Merz, as his government faces growing public frustration and a resurgent far right.
Iraq has returned restricted airspace across the western part of the country to civilian authorities, ending limits imposed for military operations against Islamic State since 2016, the Transport Ministry said.
Denmark and Greenland have moved to reassure the public that their sovereignty will remain intact under a new security agreement with the United States.
World leaders are set to gather at the United Nations General Assembly in New York for several days of high-level debate, with Iran, Ukraine, artificial intelligence (AI) and a range of global crises expected to dominate discussions this week.
Ed Sheeran has broken his silence on the controversy surrounding his U.S. tour, apologising for decisions made after rapper Macklemore was removed from the line-up over his public support for Palestine.
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