Lead Story
Trump says he has entered 'decision phase' on Iran, weighs return to major strikes
President Donald Trump said Monday, September 21, 2026, that he had entered a critical decision phase on the Iran war, warning of major developments if Tehran fails to change its conduct. In interviews over the preceding days he described weighing whether to resume large-scale strikes to force an end to the conflict, saying his central goal remains preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon 'in any way, shape, or form.' His comments come ahead of a planned meeting with leaders of six Gulf states -- Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman -- on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, a meeting expected to shape whether Washington pushes for renewed diplomacy or intensifies military action.
Read more →Lead Story
Trump says he has entered 'decision phase' on Iran, weighs return to major strikes
President Donald Trump said Monday, September 21, 2026, that he had entered a critical decision phase on the Iran war, warning of major developments if Tehran fails to change its conduct. In interviews over the preceding days he described weighing whether to resume large-scale strikes to force an end to the conflict, saying his central goal remains preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon 'in any way, shape, or form.' His comments come ahead of a planned meeting with leaders of six Gulf states -- Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman -- on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, a meeting expected to shape whether Washington pushes for renewed diplomacy or intensifies military action.
Germany's AfD becomes largest party in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern after election rout for CDU
The far-right Alternative for Germany won Sunday's state election in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern with 38.2% of the vote, more than doubling its 16.7% share from five years ago and becoming, for the first time, the largest faction in the state parliament with 32 seats. The governing SPD placed second with 35.5% and 29 seats, while the Left and the Greens also cleared the threshold; the CDU managed only 4.9%, its worst result in any state election in the history of the Federal Republic, narrowly missing seats alongside the BSW. In parallel Berlin state elections held the same day, the Left party topped the vote.
Read more →Germany's AfD becomes largest party in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern after election rout for CDU
The far-right Alternative for Germany won Sunday's state election in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern with 38.2% of the vote, more than doubling its 16.7% share from five years ago and becoming, for the first time, the largest faction in the state parliament with 32 seats. The governing SPD placed second with 35.5% and 29 seats, while the Left and the Greens also cleared the threshold; the CDU managed only 4.9%, its worst result in any state election in the history of the Federal Republic, narrowly missing seats alongside the BSW. In parallel Berlin state elections held the same day, the Left party topped the vote.
Trump to hold first meeting with Venezuela's acting leader Delcy Rodriguez since Maduro's capture
The White House confirmed President Trump will hold a 'pull-aside' meeting with Venezuela's acting president, Delcy Rodriguez, in New York this week during the UN General Assembly -- their first encounter since the January US military raid on Caracas that captured Nicolas Maduro and installed Rodriguez, his former vice president, in charge. The meeting follows an agreement announced last month giving the United States a stake in Venezuela's oil reserves, and comes as Washington and Caracas continue working out the terms of their post-Maduro relationship.
Read more →Trump to hold first meeting with Venezuela's acting leader Delcy Rodriguez since Maduro's capture
The White House confirmed President Trump will hold a 'pull-aside' meeting with Venezuela's acting president, Delcy Rodriguez, in New York this week during the UN General Assembly -- their first encounter since the January US military raid on Caracas that captured Nicolas Maduro and installed Rodriguez, his former vice president, in charge. The meeting follows an agreement announced last month giving the United States a stake in Venezuela's oil reserves, and comes as Washington and Caracas continue working out the terms of their post-Maduro relationship.
Second Sudan gold mine collapse in a week kills at least 10, injures 21 near Egyptian border
Mine shafts in the Awny mining area near Sudan's border with Egypt collapsed on Saturday, September 20, 2026, killing at least 10 people and injuring 21 others, survivors said. It is the second deadly collapse at an unregulated Sudanese gold site in a week, after at least 67 people were killed on September 16 when a mine collapsed in West Kordofan state in territory held by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, an incident authorities blamed on ground destabilized by heavy rain. Collapses are common at the informal shafts that millions of Sudanese rely on for income amid the country's economic collapse and ongoing civil war.
Read more →Second Sudan gold mine collapse in a week kills at least 10, injures 21 near Egyptian border
Mine shafts in the Awny mining area near Sudan's border with Egypt collapsed on Saturday, September 20, 2026, killing at least 10 people and injuring 21 others, survivors said. It is the second deadly collapse at an unregulated Sudanese gold site in a week, after at least 67 people were killed on September 16 when a mine collapsed in West Kordofan state in territory held by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, an incident authorities blamed on ground destabilized by heavy rain. Collapses are common at the informal shafts that millions of Sudanese rely on for income amid the country's economic collapse and ongoing civil war.
Qatar urges Gulf-Iran security framework, calls 12-day war a 'wake-up call'
Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani called on Sunday, September 20-21, 2026, for a regional security framework bringing Gulf states and Iran together, telling an audience at the Qatar Economic Forum on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly that the recent war should be 'a wake-up call for everyone.' He said the Gulf 'will not be the same' without an arrangement ensuring no country in the region poses a threat to another, and that Qatar and its partners are working toward such a framework; separately, Iran announced that delegations from Iran, Iraq and Gulf states will meet in Muscat to discuss regional security and the Strait of Hormuz.
Read more →Qatar urges Gulf-Iran security framework, calls 12-day war a 'wake-up call'
Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani called on Sunday, September 20-21, 2026, for a regional security framework bringing Gulf states and Iran together, telling an audience at the Qatar Economic Forum on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly that the recent war should be 'a wake-up call for everyone.' He said the Gulf 'will not be the same' without an arrangement ensuring no country in the region poses a threat to another, and that Qatar and its partners are working toward such a framework; separately, Iran announced that delegations from Iran, Iraq and Gulf states will meet in Muscat to discuss regional security and the Strait of Hormuz.