NIST

Seven people were killed in a strike on a market in Yemen, according to the Houthi-run health ministry. The report comes via Reuters, which cited the ministry. Further details about the location of the market, who carried out the strike, or whether there were additional casualties were not immediately available, and no independent verification of the toll has been reported yet.

The Trump administration is retreating from a planned executive order that would have increased White House control over National Institutes of Health grant decisions, following widespread pushback from scientists and officials. Reporting describes the proposed order as effectively dead, with critics arguing it would have politicised federal biomedical research funding.

Iran's foreign minister says the country is 'ready for diplomacy' and 'war at the same time', stressing a dual posture in the face of mounting tensions. In a full interview, he signalled Tehran is open to negotiations while insisting it will defend itself if confronted, a message drawing wide international attention.

Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten is lobbying Washington against a fresh round of export restrictions that would hit ASML's China business. US lawmakers are pursuing legislation that could tighten controls on the chip-equipment maker's immersion lithography systems and its servicing activities in China. The Dutch intervention highlights tensions between US efforts to curb China's chip ambitions and the interests of Europe's most valuable tech firm.

The Trump administration is considering building a baseball park in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. Major League Baseball approached the administration about hosting a game in a national park, and an agency official scouted Grand Teton as a possible location. The proposal is drawing attention because of concerns about commercial development in protected public lands and the unusual prospect of professional baseball in a wilderness setting.

Germany's foreign minister has met Russian counterparts in a rare encounter, urging Moscow to abandon what she called a dangerous escalation of the war in Ukraine. The direct appeal highlights renewed diplomatic contact between Berlin and Moscow as fighting continues and Western allies weigh further support for Kyiv.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran is fully prepared for fighting to resume, while stressing that diplomatic efforts are not yet exhausted. The comments underscore Tehran's dual posture of military readiness and continued engagement over its nuclear program and regional tensions. Officials and observers are watching whether negotiations can prevent a renewed confrontation between Iran and its adversaries.

The Trump administration is advancing its critical minerals agenda into a region known as America's 'forgotten wildlife corridor', according to reporting by Inside Climate News. The push for domestic mining of minerals deemed essential to national security and clean energy technologies is raising concerns that expanded extraction could fragment habitat and disrupt wildlife movement in an ecologically significant stretch of the country.

Pakistan has carried out strikes inside Afghanistan, with reports framing the action alongside Türkiye as a coordinated show of strength. The strikes signal rising tensions between Islamabad and Kabul over cross-border security concerns, and commentary suggests Pakistan and Türkiye are sending a strong joint message to the Afghan Taliban leadership. The development is drawing widespread attention across South Asia and the wider Muslim world.

Sudan is effectively run by two rival authorities: the army-backed administration in Port Sudan controls the formal state, while the paramilitary RSF governs territory it holds. Washington has said neither qualifies as legitimate constitutional governance, deepening uncertainty over who can represent the country internationally as the war drags on.

A former Ukrainian defense minister has announced an 'Army of Robots' initiative aimed at accelerating the deployment of autonomous systems in Ukraine's war effort. The plan seeks to scale up robotic ground and aerial platforms to reduce human casualties and speed up battlefield operations. The announcement is drawing attention to Ukraine's growing role in developing autonomous warfare technology.

Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Fedorov has announced the launch of an initiative called the 'Army of Robots'. Details remain limited, but the project is understood to focus on robotic systems, a field Ukraine has rapidly expanded since the Russian invasion. The announcement is drawing attention given Fedorov's previous role overseeing defense procurement and technology during the war.

Iran's foreign minister has said indirect talks with the United States remain open, signalling continued engagement despite tensions. At the same time, the Iranian navy claims it has captured an underwater drone, an assertion that adds friction to the diplomatic channel. The combination of ongoing negotiation and maritime incidents is drawing attention to the fragile state of US-Iran relations.

The foreign ministers of Germany and Russia have held a rare face-to-face meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. Direct talks between senior European and Russian officials have been scarce since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, making the encounter notable. Observers are watching for any signal of diplomacy, though no substantive outcomes have been reported from the discussion so far.

A defense minister says NATO must learn to break up and disperse its weapons manufacturing before a major conflict begins, warning that concentrated defense production could become a vulnerability in wartime. The remarks add to ongoing debate within the alliance about whether Europe and North America can produce ammunition and equipment at the scale needed for a prolonged war.

Pakistan's Finance Minister held talks with the US Export-Import Bank in Washington that covered financing for Boeing aircraft, according to an adviser. The discussions point to potential US-backed funding for Pakistan's national carrier as the country works to shore up its finances and modernise its fleet.

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has accused Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara of politically motivated interference, after she ordered a freeze on planning approvals for the E1 settlement project in the occupied West Bank. Smotrich, who oversees settlement policy, claims the move is designed to influence the upcoming election. The dispute deepens the ongoing conflict between the government and the attorney general over settlement expansion and the rule of law.

European ministers have met to discuss strengthening external border controls and speeding up the return of migrants who do not qualify for asylum. The talks reflect growing pressure across the continent to tighten migration policy, with governments seeking faster removal procedures and reinforced border management amid continued political debate over immigration.

Japan's Defense Ministry is planning a new system to support startups developing unmanned aerial vehicles and related products. The move would give emerging defense-tech firms backing to develop drones and other equipment for national security use, reflecting Japan's broader push to grow its domestic defense industry and adopt advanced unmanned technology.

Russia's Foreign Minister briefed the press at UN Headquarters in New York. The appearance comes as Moscow's diplomacy remains under intense scrutiny amid ongoing tensions with Western governments. Journalists gathered at the headquarters for the minister's remarks, which drew attention from international media covering the Security Council and Russia's positions on current global disputes.

The US Supreme Court has rejected the Trump administration's attempt to restrict mail-in voting. The decision blocks efforts to impose limits on the use of mailed ballots, preserving broader access to absentee voting for now. The ruling touches one of the most contested issues in American election policy, following years of litigation over voting rules.

In Spokane, Planet Fitness is set to open a new location on the South Hill, while former state representative Matt Shea has purchased a building on Division Street for use by his ministry. The moves are part of the latest local real estate and business news roundup, drawing attention from residents tracking neighborhood development and interest in Shea's continued activities.

Japan's Defense Ministry has announced a program to support startups working on unmanned aerial vehicles, according to the Japan Times. The initiative is aimed at drawing smaller companies and venture firms into defense technology development, a field long dominated by large contractors. The move reflects Japan's broader push to strengthen its defense industrial base and accelerate drone capabilities.

Cuba's Foreign Minister warned against a 'law of the jungle' in international relations while denouncing mounting US pressure on the island. Speaking at the United Nations, he argued that Washington's coercive approach violates international law and the principles of sovereign equality, and urged the international community to reject unilateral measures against Havana.

The Trump administration is reportedly looking to soften a vital protection for 401(k) retirement accounts, according to a Forbes report. The reported change touches a safeguard considered important for American workers' retirement savings. Details of which rule is targeted and how it would be changed have not been laid out, and the full scope of the proposal remains unclear.

German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt is hosting talks with EU counterparts aimed at tightening the European migration pact. The discussions, held in Germany, focus on strengthening the bloc's shared asylum and migration rules. The move signals Berlin's push for a harder line on migration policy at the European level, a subject of ongoing debate among member states.