IGN

Iran's foreign minister says the country is 'ready for diplomacy' and 'war at the same time', according to a full interview with NBC News. The remarks underline Tehran's dual posture of offering negotiations while signalling it is prepared for confrontation. The interview is drawing wide attention amid ongoing tensions over Iran's nuclear programme and regional security.

President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree increasing the size of the Russian armed forces to 2,441,630 personnel, including 1,550,500 military personnel, effective immediately. The decree replaces all previous decrees on army size and marks the seventh expansion of Russia's manpower levels since the start of the war in Ukraine. Observers note the move continues a steady pattern of force growth through presidential decrees rather than formal mobilization.

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde said eurozone inflation is expected to rise in the coming months, but stressed there are no signs yet of it becoming entrenched. The remarks matter for markets and households watching whether the ECB will keep or ease its policy stance, since entrenched inflation would likely force tighter policy for longer.

Sudan's government has called for foreign interference in the country to end and for the Rapid Support Forces to be disarmed, according to a report by Middle East Monitor. The demand comes as Sudan's civil war between the army and the RSF continues to displace millions, with Khartoum repeatedly accusing outside powers of arming and backing the paramilitary group.

Chinese authorities have signalled plans for fresh economic stimulus as the country's slowdown deepens. The pledge points to weaker-than-hoped growth, with pressure mounting on Beijing to support activity, particularly in the troubled property sector. Markets and analysts are watching closely for details on the scale and timing of any measures, which could shape global growth expectations and commodity demand.

Meta has blocked Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's Facebook page and his campaign's paid ads, with the restriction landing just two weeks before Brazil's election. The timing is drawing scrutiny, with commenters questioning whether the suspension results from an automated enforcement error or a politically significant decision affecting a sitting head of state's campaign messaging.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with Qatari mediators to discuss nuclear negotiations, with Qatar again acting as an intermediary between Tehran and Washington. A US official said no deal would be reached unless nuclear issues are addressed, while Tehran awaits further signals before responding. The talks underline Qatar's continuing role as a go-between as diplomacy over Iran's nuclear program remains deadlocked.

The All-In Podcast has released a new episode examining a set of major developments in the AI industry. The discussion covers reported risks to Anthropic's planned IPO, Meta's Muse project, falling token prices, growing market share for open-source AI models, and ongoing concerns that AI alignment efforts are falling short. The episode is drawing heavy engagement from listeners following the business and safety sides of artificial intelligence.

Sudan's Minister for Foreign Affairs is addressing the general debate of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The speech comes as Sudan's civil war continues to displace millions and drive widespread hunger, making the country's diplomatic voice at the UN a point of international attention.

British authorities are investigating whether a foreign state was involved in an alleged plot targeting a UK airbase. The suspects detained in the case have been released without charge, though the inquiry into possible foreign state involvement continues. Officials have not publicly named any country, and details about the suspects or the specific base remain limited as the investigation proceeds.

Federal authorities have issued a bulletin ahead of the anniversary of the September 11 attacks, warning that foreign terrorist organizations continue to call for or encourage attacks. The advisory reflects ongoing concern that anniversaries of the 2001 attacks can serve as inspiration or timing cues for extremist activity. Officials are urging the public and law enforcement to remain vigilant.

British officials say it is too early to attribute an alleged plot targeting a UK airbase to any foreign government, urging caution while investigations continue. The warning comes amid speculation about possible foreign involvement, and authorities have asked the public to wait for verified findings before drawing conclusions about who was behind the incident.

MongoDB chief executive Dev Ittycheria... no—reports say MongoDB's CEO Desai has resigned to lead Meta's enterprise platform. The move ends his tenure at the database company, which now begins a search for a successor. The news, reported by Reuters, is drawing wide attention in technology circles, with discussion focused on what Meta's push into enterprise software means and how MongoDB's leadership change will affect its strategy.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said a 'foreign actor' was involved in an alleged terror plot targeting a British military base that is also used by American forces. The claim points to foreign involvement in a scheme against a strategic site hosting both UK and US personnel, though details of the plot and the actor allegedly behind it have not been made public.

A senior Chinese diplomat told a former Japanese foreign minister that relations between Beijing and Tokyo must be 'normalized', according to The Japan Times. The remark came during a meeting between the two officials, and it signals China's continued insistence on improving a relationship strained by historical, territorial and security disputes. The identity of the diplomat, the former minister and the timing of the meeting were not detailed in the report.

A Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea addressed the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly debate in New York. The address places North Korea among the member states delivering statements during this year's general debate, where countries typically outline their positions on international security, sanctions and diplomatic relations.

With Election Day approaching, members of Congress face growing tension between legislating in Washington and returning home to campaign. As the election calendar tightens, time for lawmaking shrinks, forcing lawmakers and party leaders to weigh which legislative priorities can advance before campaigning takes over. Observers note this seasonal standoff is a recurring feature of US politics, but its intensity rises as the vote nears.

An adviser to Japan's prime minister says the planned expansion of defense spending will likely be spread over many years and should not become a source of significant market anxiety in any single year. The remarks come as Japan carries out a major, multiyear build-up of its military budget, raising questions among investors about how the costs will be absorbed.

Andrew Bailey has resigned from his post as deputy director of the FBI. Bailey, a former Missouri attorney general, was appointed to the bureau's second-highest job in 2025. Details on his reasons for stepping down or who might replace him were not immediately clear, and reaction is still building among political observers.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has directed the Defense Department to take action against foreign actors who meddle in U.S. elections, according to an Axios exclusive. The directive signals an expanded military role in protecting American elections from outside interference, though the scope of the order and what operations it authorizes remain unclear.

Anthropic has released Sonnet 5.5, the latest version of its AI model, which the company describes as a significantly cheaper and faster work partner for users. The release continues the race among AI developers to offer capable models at lower prices, and tech observers are weighing whether the speed and cost gains will translate into real productivity benefits for everyday work.

Kurt Olsen, a lawyer known for promoting false claims that the 2020 election was stolen, has resigned from the Justice Department, according to sources cited by CBS News. Olsen had drawn attention for his role in challenging election results, and his departure is raising questions about election-related figures inside the department.

A Minister of State from the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Foreign Affairs addressed the 81st session of the UN General Assembly during its general debate. The remarks come as world leaders gather in New York to set out their countries' positions on international peace, security and development. The UAE's intervention is being followed as part of its broader diplomatic engagement on the global stage.

VSMC is building a new 300mm wafer fabrication facility in Singapore, positioned as a strategic bet on the mature and specialty chips that underpin AI hardware even as attention stays fixed on leading-edge processors. Industry commentary frames the fab as addressing supply of foundational semiconductors that AI systems cannot function without.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has signed a directive aimed at defending the 2026 United States midterm elections from foreign threats. The move signals a more active Pentagon role in election security, an area traditionally led by civilian agencies. Details of the directive, including which foreign actors it targets and how the military will coordinate with other departments, have not yet been made public.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has directed the US military to help defend the upcoming midterm elections against foreign interference. The order tasks the Pentagon with supporting efforts to detect and counter meddling by outside actors in the electoral process. The move is drawing attention to the military's role in election security and how far its mandate will extend ahead of the vote.