Category: World

The Iran war has strengthened Ukraine in surprising ways. Could a ceasefire with Russia be closer?18 hours agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleKatya AdlerEurope editorBBCWhen Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, serious-faced and clad in black, strolled down a lilac carpet in Saudi Arabia in March, it marked a moment in the US-Israeli war in Iran. A rather unexpected one.
In a post on X, he said his visit was to “strengthen the protection of lives”.
Zelensky, who carries the weight of Ukraine's own war with Russia on his shoulders, has been seizing the moment, flying to the Gulf to publicly showcase the international value and marketability of Kyiv's learned-on-the-battlefield military nous in drone warfare.
Ukraine says it has now signed deals with Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar – all hit by Iranian missiles and drones in recent weeks – to share drone expertise and technology, tightening alliances and benefitting from business – and it hopes defence deals – with wealth..

Germany says US troop withdrawal 'foreseeable' as Nato seeks clarification54 minutes agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleJaroslav LukivEPA-EFE/REX/ShutterstockThe US currently has more than 36,000 active duty troops in GermanyGerman Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has said the US decision to withdraw 5,000 troops from his country was “foreseeable”, as the Nato military alliance says it is seeking clarification from Washington.
Speaking to the DPA news agency, Pistorius also stressed that “the presence of American soldiers in Europe, and particularly in Germany, is in our interest and in the interest of the US”.
Meanwhile Nato spokeswoman Allison Hart said the alliance was “working with the US to understand the details of their decision”.
Washington's move comes after President Donald Trump criticised German Chancellor Friedrich Merz for saying the US had been “humiliated” by Iranian negotiators in the ongoing war.
The US military deployment in Germany – currently at m..

US threatens shipping firms with sanctions if they pay Iran tolls3 hours agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleTinshui YeungReutersThe number of vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz has dropped sharply, with only a handful making the journey each dayThe US has warned shipping companies they could face sanctions if they pay Iran for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
An alert on Friday by the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) warned US persons and companies were generally banned from paying Iranian government entities, and non-US persons may risk exposure to sanctions if they pay.
“Maritime industry participants involved with vessels calling at Iranian ports face significant sanctions risk under multiple sanctions authorities targeting Iran's shipping sector and ports”, OFAC said.
Iran has severely limited traffic through the strait since the war began in February. The US has also enforced a naval blockade on Iranian ports.
Iran has called the US intercepti..

Hegseth says clock paused on deadline to seek approval for Iran war23 minutes agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleJames FitzGerald and Brandon DrenonReutersThe defence secretary was responding to senators' questions on ThursdayUS Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has argued that the clock has paused on a deadline for the Trump administration to seek approval from Congress for the US-Israeli war with Iran.
Hegseth was responding to questions from members of the Senate, or upper chamber, on Thursday.
Friday is the 60th day since Trump formally notified Congress of the strikes against Iran on 2 March. US law requires a president to “terminate any use of United States Armed Forces” within 60 days of such a notification – unless Congress allows a continuation.
A senior administration official said hostilities with Iran had “terminated”, emphasising that a ceasefire had been in effect since early April.
Despite the ceasefire, the two sides have not yet reached a longer-term deal via tal..

Billions of meals at risk due to Iran war, says fertiliser boss 4 hours agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleSimon JackBusiness editorGetty ImagesThe interruption to supplies of fertiliser and its key ingredients due to the war in Iran could cost up to 10 billion meals a week globally and will hit poorest countries hardest, according to the boss of one of the world's biggest fertiliser producers.
Svein Tore Holsether, chief executive of Yara, told the BBC that hostilities in the Gulf, which have blocked shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, are jeopardising global food production.
Reduced crop yields as a result of lower fertiliser use could lead to a bidding war for food, he warned.
He urged European nations to consider carefully the impact of a price war on the “most vulnerable” in other countries.
Although the UK is very unlikely to face food shortages, the increased costs facing food producers are expected to start showing up on weekly food bills in the next few months.
“We&..