Republic in West Asia with Europe-leaning borders and pivotal regional role
Granit Xhaka has withdrawn from Switzerland’s Nations League squad after confirming a past vaccination certificate was obtained amid his doubts about Covid vaccines. Investigations continue into the forged certificate case linked to a doctor in Lucerne, with authorities set to determine any criminal proceedings. Switzerland will play North Macedonia, Scotland, and Slovenia during the window.
Saudi Arabia has convened the chiefs of staff from Turkey and Pakistan to plan practical support under the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement after weeks of Houthi missile and drone strikes. Military leaders have agreed to deepen intelligence sharing, integrate defensive capabilities and begin translating the pact into operational cooperation.
The UN General Assembly has voted 164–1 to encourage use of the Equal Earth projection instead of the Mercator map. The non‑binding resolution, led by Togo and backed by the African Union, has prompted objections from the United States and concerns from countries including Ukraine, Japan and India over how disputed territories appear.
Netanyahu has addressed the UN General Assembly amid international walkouts and domestic political tension. He frames Gaza actions as defending Israel, while critics accuse him of genocide and war crimes. Protests and heavy international scrutiny accompany the speech.
Palestinian President Abbas has addressed the UN via a pre-recorded video, while Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu is delivering a live address. Abbas has called for ending the war in Gaza, a withdrawal from Gaza, and a political process toward an independent Palestinian state. Netanyahu is focusing on Israel's security concerns and Iran, with some world leaders planning protests in New York.
Iranian airlines are facing a global clampdown as the U.S. expands secondary sanctions to freeze access to the dollar system for entities aiding Iran’s aviation. Countries are restricting Iranian flights, with UAE, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Iraq and Turkey among those implementing or considering bans. Iran warns that airports in cooperating states could be rendered unable to operate.
The Iran-backed Houthis have seized key Red Sea assets and threaten to target American ships if the United States intervenes in Yemen. Washington is focusing on Iran and regional stability, while Saudi strikes and Houthi advances raise alarms about oil routes and international shipping.
Israel has demolished an extensive Hezbollah tunnel complex under the Ali al‑Taher ridge in southern Lebanon, using more than 1,000 tonnes of explosives to collapse two tunnels over 2km. The blast registered as a 4.1‑magnitude tremor. Israeli leaders say forces will remain to prevent Hezbollah from returning and to hold a self‑declared security zone.
Salah has opened the scoring in the fourth minute and has completed a hat-trick, with teammates contributing goals as Galatasaray slide in the league table. The match features discipline issues with Buruk sent to the stands and a red card for Ugochukwu, while Reis takes charge at Trabzonspor following Tekke’s exit.
Gulf states and Iran have been negotiating a temporary shipping framework for the Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing war-related disruptions. Oman and Iran are coordinating on routes while Bahrain has declined participation. Oil-price volatility remains as markets watch for a regional security framework to emerge.
Houthi advances along Yemen’s coast and the capture of Mocha put Bab el-Mandeb at risk. The United States faces political pressure as it weighs whether to intervene, while Saudi Arabia seeks to protect Red Sea shipping amid Iran-linked disruptions.
The 2027 Formula 1 schedule has expanded sprint races from six to ten, with Monaco hosting a short-form event for the first time. Other sprints are planned in Bahrain, Australia, Japan, Abu Dhabi, Canada, Britain, Italy, Brazil and Qatar as organisers seek greater fan engagement amid regional tensions and security concerns.
Houthi forces have seized large stretches of Yemen's Red Sea coast and islands, tightened control over the Bab al‑Mandeb shipping lane and have launched missiles, drones and ballistic rounds at Saudi cities including Riyadh and Yanbu. Saudi air defences have said they have intercepted strikes; residents have reported explosions and smoke. The advance has disrupted shipping and pushed global energy markets higher.
Congress has passed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 and sent it to President Donald Trump. The law expands sanctions on Russian officials, banks and a "shadow fleet" of tankers, and gives the president authority to impose tariffs of up to 100% on major buyers of Russian oil and gas.
A six-storey building in Gaza City has collapsed, killing at least 12 people and injuring many more, with rescue teams racing to reach those trapped beneath the rubble as aid access remains constrained and winter risks loom.
The Bab al-Mandeb strait is now under Houthi control, threatening Red Sea shipping and Egypt’s Suez Canal revenues. Egypt and Saudi Arabia are pursuing security cooperation while reaffirming commitment to safe navigation amid US-led regional dynamics.
Saudi Arabia faces mounting pressure as Houthi strikes test the Mecca defense pact with Turkey and Pakistan amid broader Iran-linked escalation. Officials say Riyadh is seeking air defences and secure oil routes, while allied partners weigh response. The crisis has strained regional security and threatened Gulf oil shipments.
President Trump has said he faces a "big decision" about whether to "annihilate" the Iranian regime, telling interviews he will use a planned meeting with six Gulf leaders at the UN General Assembly to decide the next phase of the war. The US has kept a naval blockade on Iran, tightened sanctions and is weighing whether to resume large-scale combat operations.
Gaza’s war-damaged housing stock faces a harsh winter as 1.2 million displaced residents rely on fragile shelters. Civil Defence warns hundreds of buildings remain at risk of collapse, with reconstruction stalled by political deadlock and access restrictions.
Iranian authorities have carried out the execution of Hossein Pedaran, who allegedly provided information on missile sites to Mossad. The judiciary says the sentence was upheld by the supreme court, with the case not previously reported by media. The move comes as Iran faces ongoing conflict and domestic protests.
UN General Assembly’s High-Level Week prepares to address climate action, pandemic preparedness, sea-level rise and racism while marking milestones: 40th anniversary of the Right to Development and 25th Durban Declaration.
Pakistan and Afghanistan are locked in renewed clashes along their shared border after a series of airstrikes and cross-border fire. Pakistan says Afghan forces attacked border posts and targets, while Afghanistan denies the claims. The flare-up threatens negotiations and regional mediation efforts.
France has launched its new era under coach Zinedine Zidane with a first training camp at Clairefontaine featuring a 12-player group. Mbappé is absent, while Zidane is joined by Bettoni and Barthez as they prepare for Nations League fixtures against Turkey, Belgium, and Italy.
Voters in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania have delivered a severe setback for the CDU and boosted the AfD, while Berlin’s ballot shows Die Linke gaining ground. Merz vows to push ahead with reforms as the far-right gains momentum across Germany.
World clubs from CONCACAF, UEFA and CAF aim to compete in a mixed-host format in Miami, with new minimum standards and increased global visibility for women's club football. The event will feature Barcelona and Club America among others, as the sport expands beyond national teams.
EU negotiators have reached a compromise to extend sanctions on thousands of Russian individuals and entities for three years while delisting two Russian-Uzbek billionaires, Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman, amid tensions over potential prisoner exchange deals with Azerbaijan. Latvia abstained, delaying a final vote. Ukraine has criticised the move as a signal of impunity for Moscow.
Berlin’s state election has put Elif Eralp of Die Linke on track to become the city’s governing mayor. Her victory signals a potential historic shift and faces coalition hurdles as pro-poor housing plans meet resistance from other parties.
Britain has agreed to provide defensive air-to-air refueling to Saudi forces following a request from Riyadh. The operation will begin in coming days and is expected to last weeks, with UK ministers seeking broader international support.
Multiple articles assess the future leadership and funding challenges facing the FAO amid US budgets cuts and shifting foreign aid strategies. The agency faces tighter budgets, calls for efficiency, and debates over how to keep hunger in check as El Niño and geopolitical tensions threaten supply lines.
Alibaba has announced plans to establish cloud regions in Turkey, Finland and the Netherlands within 12 months and to train a new AI model at scale. The company also touts its Zhenwu V900 accelerator as a leap in performance, while signaling aggressive expansion of its data-centre capacity to meet rising AI demand.
Several people have been injured in a shooting outside a vocational and technical high school in Manisa’s Turgutlu district. The attacker has been detained as authorities investigate a motive amid a wave of school-violence incidents in Turkiye.
Zelensky has told journalists that Ukraine is ready to halt strikes on energy infrastructure if Russia does the same, as Washington pursues a trilateral format with the US, Ukraine and Russia to end the war. Trump has discussed potential engagement with Putin, with talks centring on reopening the Black Sea grain corridor and a possible energy ceasefire ahead of winter.
The Columbus Crew have dismissed reserve team coach Federico Higuaín after he grabbed a female referee’s hand and told her, “don’t forget this is a man’s game.” The incident occurred during an MLS Next Pro match on August 23; Higuaín has been banned for two games. The Professional Soccer Referees Association says the punishment is inadequate and calls for stronger sanctions.
The US‑backed Board of Peace has unveiled a 66‑project, $2.45bn six‑month recovery plan for Gaza and estimated total reconstruction needs at roughly $71.4bn over the next decade. The plan has not started on the ground because it depends on Hamas disarming and Israeli cooperation, and only a fraction of pledged donor funds has been transferred.
Iraq and Turkey have agreed to establish full state authority in Sinjar and end the presence of outlawed armed elements. Turkish forces will hand over a Bashiqa-Zilkan base to Baghdad under an agreed mechanism, with a timetable not specified. The pact follows talks between Erdogan and al-Zaidi at the UN General Assembly, and aligns with earlier Kurdish armed groups’ disarmament efforts.
Since Thursday, Afghan and Pakistani authorities have trade accusations and military actions along the border. Pakistan says air and drone strikes target militant sites in Afghanistan, while Afghan officials report civilian casualties and condemn the strikes. Both sides warn of consequences as mediation efforts by regional powers continue.
Drone attacks by the RSF and the Sudanese army have escalated in central Sudan, targeting government-held towns in North Kordofan. Hospitals and schools are damaged; civilians fear a broader escalation amid reports of a new drone campaign and international concerns over chemical weapons. The UN and human rights monitors warn of growing civilian harm while regional powers shape the conflict.
Iraqi airports have enforced a US-backed ban on Iranian airlines, disrupting Najaf travel and forcing long land journeys. Baghdad is seeking exemptions for humanitarian and civilian needs, while regional pilots adjust routes.
Iran has presented a seven-day plan to end the US-Israel war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days, contingent on U.S. acceptance of conditions. The plan includes sanctions relief, asset releases, and a regional ceasefire, with Hormuz reopening on day seven. Washington is engaging with mediators.