World News
Inside Yemen’s front-line city as Houthis battle for control
Fighting around Yemen’s strategic city of Taiz has intensified as Houthi forces and Saudi-backed pro-government troops battle for control of key positions. The renewed clashes are adding to the humanitarian pressure in a country already devastated by years of civil war. Taiz remains divided between government forces and Houthi fighters, with the city surrounded by contested areas and front lines. Government forces hold the city centre, while Houthi positions are located to the north and east. Recent fighting has focused particularly on the western approaches, where control of high ground could affect access toward the Red Sea coast. Residents living close to the front line face daily risks from shelling, gunfire and drones. Some families have abandoned their homes and moved to displacement camps, while others remain behind to protect livestock and property despite the danger. Ambulances have also been seen transporting casualties toward Taiz’s main hospital. The latest escalation follows Houthi advances along Yemen’s Red Sea coast, including the reported seizure of the strategic port of Mokha earlier this month. The move has increased concerns about the security of the Bab al-Mandab Strait, an important maritime route connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. Taiz’s strategic location makes the battle significant beyond the city itself. The fighting could influence control of routes linking northern and southern Yemen, while instability near the Red Sea raises wider concerns for international shipping and regional security. For civilians, however, the immediate concern is survival. As fighting continues around the city, residents face uncertainty over whether the front line will move closer to their homes and whether another major offensive is approaching.
Iranian minister says only negotiation can end conflict after Trump rejects Hormuz deal
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said that only a negotiated solution can end the conflict between Iran, the United States and Israel, after President Donald Trump rejected Tehran’s latest proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Araghchi said on Sunday that Iran remained prepared for diplomacy despite Trump’s rejection of the proposal. He also said Tehran was waiting for mediators to deliver Washington’s official response before deciding its next steps. Iran had presented a seven-day roadmap through Qatari mediators during the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Under the proposal, Tehran said the Strait of Hormuz could be reopened within seven days if Washington met several conditions, including lifting its naval blockade, easing restrictions on Iranian oil sales, releasing frozen Iranian assets and observing a broader ceasefire. Iran also proposed restarting negotiations over its nuclear programme. Trump said he had rejected the proposal, arguing that the terms offered by Iran were unacceptable. US officials have also said Washington wants broader commitments from Tehran, particularly concerning Iran’s nuclear programme. The two sides therefore remain divided over the conditions required to resume negotiations. The Strait of Hormuz remains at the centre of the dispute because it is a crucial route for global energy shipments. Disruptions in the waterway have contributed to uncertainty in international oil markets and raised concerns about wider economic consequences. Despite the public disagreement, Iranian officials continue to emphasize diplomacy. Araghchi said Iran was ready for negotiations while also warning that Tehran remained prepared if fighting resumed. The United States has indicated that further talks could still take place, leaving diplomatic channels open even as tensions remain high.
Top News
Inside Yemen’s front-line city as Houthis battle for control
Fighting around Yemen’s strategic city of Taiz has intensified as Houthi forces and Saudi-backed pro-government troops battle for control of key positions. The renewed clashes are adding to the humanitarian pressure in a country already devastated by years of civil war. Taiz remains divided between government forces and Houthi fighters, with the city surrounded by contested areas and front lines. Government forces hold the city centre, while Houthi positions are located to the north and east. Recent fighting has focused particularly on the western approaches, where control of high ground could affect access toward the Red Sea coast. Residents living close to the front line face daily risks from shelling, gunfire and drones. Some families have abandoned their homes and moved to displacement camps, while others remain behind to protect livestock and property despite the danger. Ambulances have also been seen transporting casualties toward Taiz’s main hospital. The latest escalation follows Houthi advances along Yemen’s Red Sea coast, including the reported seizure of the strategic port of Mokha earlier this month. The move has increased concerns about the security of the Bab al-Mandab Strait, an important maritime route connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. Taiz’s strategic location makes the battle significant beyond the city itself. The fighting could influence control of routes linking northern and southern Yemen, while instability near the Red Sea raises wider concerns for international shipping and regional security. For civilians, however, the immediate concern is survival. As fighting continues around the city, residents face uncertainty over whether the front line will move closer to their homes and whether another major offensive is approaching.
Iranian minister says only negotiation can end conflict after Trump rejects Hormuz deal
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said that only a negotiated solution can end the conflict between Iran, the United States and Israel, after President Donald Trump rejected Tehran’s latest proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Araghchi said on Sunday that Iran remained prepared for diplomacy despite Trump’s rejection of the proposal. He also said Tehran was waiting for mediators to deliver Washington’s official response before deciding its next steps. Iran had presented a seven-day roadmap through Qatari mediators during the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Under the proposal, Tehran said the Strait of Hormuz could be reopened within seven days if Washington met several conditions, including lifting its naval blockade, easing restrictions on Iranian oil sales, releasing frozen Iranian assets and observing a broader ceasefire. Iran also proposed restarting negotiations over its nuclear programme. Trump said he had rejected the proposal, arguing that the terms offered by Iran were unacceptable. US officials have also said Washington wants broader commitments from Tehran, particularly concerning Iran’s nuclear programme. The two sides therefore remain divided over the conditions required to resume negotiations. The Strait of Hormuz remains at the centre of the dispute because it is a crucial route for global energy shipments. Disruptions in the waterway have contributed to uncertainty in international oil markets and raised concerns about wider economic consequences. Despite the public disagreement, Iranian officials continue to emphasize diplomacy. Araghchi said Iran was ready for negotiations while also warning that Tehran remained prepared if fighting resumed. The United States has indicated that further talks could still take place, leaving diplomatic channels open even as tensions remain high.
Trump says he and Xi held ‘great meeting’ as Chinese leader visits White House
President Donald Trump said he and Chinese President Xi Jinping had a “great meeting” at the White House on Thursday, as the two leaders held high-level talks aimed at managing tensions between the world’s two largest economies. Xi’s visit marks his first trip to Washington in more than a decade. The meeting brought together the leaders at a time when Washington and Beijing continue to compete over trade, technology, artificial intelligence, critical minerals and security issues. Trump praised his relationship with Xi, describing it as a “truly great friendship” and saying the two countries had made progress on several issues. Trade was among the central subjects. The United States and China recently agreed to extend a fragile trade truce, helping prevent an immediate return to broader tariff tensions. The leaders are also expected to discuss agricultural purchases and market access, issues important to businesses and farmers in both countries. Artificial intelligence was another major focus. Both countries are competing for technological leadership, while officials are also discussing safeguards for increasingly powerful AI systems. Xi said the United States and China, as major AI powers, have a responsibility to develop and manage the technology responsibly. Other sensitive issues include Taiwan, Iran and the supply of critical minerals. Xi called for stronger communication between the two governments and said cooperation could help prevent confrontation between the rival powers. The White House visit included a formal arrival ceremony and a state dinner, underscoring the diplomatic importance attached to Xi’s trip. While the leaders emphasized cooperation, major differences between Washington and Beijing remain unresolved.
Major US outlets boycott shared Trump coverage in protest at media ban
Major U.S. television networks have taken the unusual step of suspending shared coverage of President Donald Trump after his administration barred CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House. The move has created a major confrontation between the Trump administration and several of the country’s biggest news organizations. ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox News and CNN participate in the White House television pool, a system in which one network provides live video that is shared with other broadcasters. On Monday, the networks halted that pool operation after CNN was removed from its scheduled duty following the White House ban. The decision meant that major television outlets did not provide their usual shared live footage of Trump’s public events. Trump announced on September 18 that CNN, MS NOW and Politico would be barred from the White House, accusing them of publishing what he described as “fake news.” The outlets rejected the accusations and said they would continue reporting on the administration. Their journalists were subsequently denied access and had their White House credentials revoked. The three organizations have also filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration, arguing that the restrictions violate constitutional protections for freedom of the press and due process. The case is now part of a broader legal and political dispute over media access to the presidency. The boycott has highlighted the importance of the White House press pool, which allows television audiences and other media organizations to receive shared footage of presidential events. Print, radio and wire-service journalists have continued covering Trump’s activities despite the television pool suspension. The dispute comes amid a wider and increasingly contentious relationship between Trump’s administration and major U.S. news organizations, with questions about press access, government transparency and First Amendment protections likely to remain central to the conflict.
German Chancellor Merz calls state election a ‘disaster’ for his party but vows to stay on
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has described a damaging state election result as a “disaster” for his conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU), while insisting that he will remain in office and continue with his government’s reform plans. The setback came in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, where exit projections showed the CDU receiving only about 5% of the vote. That marked the party’s weakest result in a German state election since the Federal Republic was founded after the Second World War. The Alternative for Germany (AfD) emerged as the strongest party, with roughly 37% of the vote, narrowly ahead of the centre-left Social Democrats. The results also brought difficulties for the CDU in Berlin, where the party was projected to finish behind the left-wing Die Linke. The outcomes came only two weeks after the AfD secured a major victory in Saxony-Anhalt, adding to pressure on Merz and his government. Merz acknowledged the seriousness of the result but rejected suggestions that he should step aside. He said Germany’s economic and political challenges made reforms more necessary rather than less urgent. His government has been pursuing measures involving economic growth, pensions, taxation and reducing bureaucracy. The chancellor also defended his position as CDU leader and said he intended to continue serving as Germany’s chancellor. The election results are likely to fuel debate inside the CDU over its political strategy and response to the growing strength of the AfD. For Merz, the immediate challenge will be maintaining support within his party and coalition while delivering on promised reforms amid voter dissatisfaction and increasing political competition.
EU chief backs plan for Canada to become ‘associate member’
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has proposed opening the door for Canada to become the European Union’s first “associate member,” marking a significant step toward closer ties between Ottawa and Brussels. Speaking during her annual State of the European Union address in Strasbourg on September 16, von der Leyen directly addressed Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who was attending the speech. She said the EU wanted to take its relationship with Canada to the “highest level possible.” The proposal would build on the existing Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, known as CETA. Von der Leyen described the next stage as an “Alliance for the Future,” with cooperation potentially covering advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, critical minerals, energy, batteries, defence production, cybersecurity, quantum technology and Arctic projects. For Canada, the initiative comes as Ottawa seeks to diversify its economic and strategic relationships. Canada remains highly dependent on trade with the United States, while recent tensions with Washington have encouraged the government to strengthen connections with European partners. Carney has previously described his goal as creating a “unique alliance” with the EU. However, the proposed associate-member status is still undefined. EU treaties currently do not contain a formal category called “associate membership,” meaning negotiations would be required to establish what rights and obligations Canada would have. Questions could include access to parts of the EU single market, participation in European programmes and whether Canada would have any role in EU decision-making. The proposal is therefore an opening for deeper cooperation rather than an immediate change in Canada’s status. Further discussions are expected as Canada and the EU prepare for closer economic, technological and security cooperation.
Shorts
Israel seizes castle in Lebanon as it expands ground offensive
Israeli forces have captured the historic Beaufort Castle in southern Lebanon as part of an expanded ground offensive against the Iran-backed group Hezbollah. The seizure marks Israel’s deepest military incursion into Lebanese territory in more than 26 years and signals a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between the two sides.
The medieval fortress, also known as Beaufort Castle, sits on a strategic hilltop overlooking large areas of southern Lebanon and northern Israel. Military analysts say control of the site provides a valuable observation point and could strengthen Israeli operations in the region. Israeli officials stated that the area had been used by Hezbollah to coordinate attacks and launch projectiles toward northern Israel.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had ordered the military to expand its ground maneuver in Lebanon and deepen control over areas previously held by Hezbollah. Defense Minister Israel Katz described the capture of the castle as a major tactical achievement and indicated that Israeli forces intend to maintain a presence in the area.
The operation comes despite a U.S.-brokered ceasefire that officially remains in effect. Israel has also issued new evacuation warnings for civilians south of the Zahrani River as fighting intensifies. Lebanese authorities have condemned the offensive, accusing Israel of pursuing a “scorched-earth” policy that has displaced more than one million people and caused widespread destruction across southern Lebanon.
The latest developments have raised concerns among international leaders that the conflict could further destabilize the region and complicate ongoing diplomatic efforts involving the United States, Lebanon, and Iran. France has already called for an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council to address the escalating violence.
