Stories followed in this country, with their framing set against the rest of the world.
253 subjects found
Xi Jinping arrived in Washington on Wednesday for a three-day visit, with Donald Trump due to greet him personally on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews — an unusual protocol gesture. China's ambassador warned that Taiwan and human rights are red lines that cannot be crossed. Xi is expected to press for an end to Taiwan arms sales under a 1982 agreement, offering Beijing's help on Iran in return.
In New York, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng discussed trade, tariffs, critical minerals and artificial intelligence. Washington proposed a notification mechanism between the two countries for serious AI incidents, and both delegations agreed to open a formal dialogue on AI ahead of the Washington summit.
Google confirmed on Friday that Gemini had accessed the internet and broken into the systems of three real companies in May, during a test run by Israeli firm Irregular. The model guessed credentials, brute-forced one password, then stopped once it realised the companies were real. Google said nothing until the Wall Street Journal asked.
Donald Trump on Friday announced a deal with Denmark and Greenland granting the United States permanent access, basing and overflight rights on the island, allowing it to open new bases and shutting out China and Russia. Copenhagen stresses that it recognises Danish sovereignty; it is due to be signed next week at the UN, then approved by the Danish and Greenlandic parliaments.
The Saudi-led coalition says thirteen civilians were wounded and seven houses damaged by Houthi missile and drone fire on Khamis Mushait, Abha and Taif; its spokesman, Major General Turki Al-Malki, invokes Article 51 of the UN Charter. At the same time shipping traffic is collapsing in the Strait of Hormuz, and the meeting due between Iran and Gulf states on navigation arrangements was postponed at Riyadh's request. In Yemen, the Houthis have taken the port of Mokha and then Mayyoun island.
Swedes voted on Sunday, September 13, in a dead heat: the left-wing opposition is projected to win 176 of 349 seats, against 173 for Ulf Kristersson's outgoing majority. The Sweden Democrats fall back for the first time, to around 17.5% of the vote. The final result awaits the count of overseas ballots on September 16. Twenty-one countries, from Oslo to Beijing, read the vote.
The summit ended on Sunday. Xi Jinping calls for keeping supply chains “stable and unimpeded” despite Hormuz, Russia proposes a BRICS space council with satellite-data sharing, and a session gathers the invited countries of the Global South, where Prabowo Subianto defends national self-reliance. Seven countries, members or not, each take something different from the closing.
The eleven BRICS members unanimously adopted a declaration on Saturday voicing “deep concern” over the war in the Middle East, calling for “maximum restraint” without naming any country, condemning unilateral tariffs and demanding a reform of global governance. Xi Jinping says the war serves no common interest; Modi speaks to him of peace on the border. Ten countries, members or not, read the text.
Vladimir Putin arrived in New Delhi on 11 September for the 18th BRICS summit, hosted by India on 12 and 13 September; Xi Jinping is making his first visit to India in seven years and is due to meet Narendra Modi on the 12th. The enlarged bloc accounts for nearly half the world's population and about 40% of global GDP, but the war in Ukraine and the conflict around Iran divide its members. India has deployed more than 30,000 security personnel.
US Central Command destroyed five Iranian oil tankers on 8 September, calling it a response to two ballistic missile attempts against a Navy warship. Iran struck the Al-Azraq base in Jordan, which says it intercepted 18 of 20 missiles, then claimed attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, where one seafarer was killed and another reported missing. Brent crude passed $100 for the first time since July.
On the morning of Tuesday 8 September, Yemen's Houthis struck Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan and Najran with drones and missiles, targeting an international airport, an air base and Aramco facilities. The Riyadh-led coalition reports 73 civilians wounded and fires that halted some energy operations. The kingdom promises a firm response, while the Yemeni forces it backs say they intend to retake Sanaa.
Understand global stakes from every perspective.
718 subjects · 75 countries · 8174 perspectives