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Vladimir Putin has ordered an expansion of the Russian army, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said North Korea is preparing to deploy additional troops to fight alongside Russian forces. The moves point to an escalation of manpower on both sides as the war in Ukraine continues, raising concerns among Western allies about growing foreign involvement in the conflict.

Ukraine's defence ministry says its forces hit six strategic oil refineries deep inside Russia over a single week, some up to 1,600 km from the front line. Kyiv describes the facilities as key fuel suppliers for Russia's defence industry and occupation forces, framing the campaign as retaliation for Russian strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure.

A senior Ukrainian commander says forces have advanced on a key eastern battlefield, according to Reuters. The claim points to progress in the contested Donbas region, where front lines have shifted slowly amid heavy fighting. Details on the location and scale of the advance were not immediately provided, and Russian forces have often contested such claims.

Germany's foreign minister met with her Russian counterpart in a rare face-to-face encounter, urging Moscow to step back from what she called a dangerous escalation of the war in Ukraine. The meeting stands out given how few high-level contacts between Berlin and Moscow have taken place since Russia's full-scale invasion, and it signals continued diplomatic channels despite deep tensions.

Finland's President delivered a full address at the UN General Assembly in New York, framing his remarks around what he called a defining moment of world disorder. The complete speech, released in full, has drawn wide attention, with viewers responding strongly to his assessment of global instability and the state of international cooperation.

Iran says it is prepared for both diplomacy and war after US President Donald Trump rejected a proposed seven-day ceasefire. The statement signals Tehran is keeping its options open amid rising tensions, while Trump's refusal of the truce proposal has drawn attention to the risk of further escalation between the two countries.

Iran has declared itself prepared for both diplomacy and war, after President Donald Trump rejected a ceasefire proposal in the standoff between the two countries. The statement signals Tehran is keeping military options open while leaving the door ajar to negotiations. Observers are watching closely for how Washington responds to the dual message.

Ukraine's foreign minister has declared that Ukraine is ready for a ceasefire 'right now', according to DW. The statement underscores Kyiv's position amid ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the war with Russia. It signals openness to an immediate halt in fighting, keeping pressure on Moscow and international mediators as discussions about peace negotiations continue.

Oil prices climbed as ceasefire negotiations between the United States and Iran reached a deadlock, with no breakthrough reported. Markets are reacting to the heightened uncertainty over the conflict, with traders pricing in the risk of prolonged tension in the region and potential disruption to oil supplies if diplomacy fails.

Algeria charged at the United Nations that Israel is seeking to divide Somalia and is violating the Gaza ceasefire. The statement, delivered by Anadolu's reporting at the UN, links two sensitive files: Israel's recognition moves affecting Somalia's territorial integrity and ongoing tensions over the fragile truce in Gaza. The accusation adds Algeria's voice to growing diplomatic pushback against Israel at the world body.

Attention is turning to Sudan and the prospect of a new humanitarian truce, with the argument put forward that a ceasefire alone addresses only half of what needs to be negotiated. The country's civil war has created one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, and mediators face pressure to secure pauses that allow aid delivery. Observers stress that wider political arrangements remain unresolved.

Iran has reaffirmed its offer of a ceasefire, keeping diplomatic efforts to end hostilities in focus. Separately, British authorities say they have foiled a potential terrorist attack at a UK air base, with an investigation underway. The two developments are featured together in a global news briefing, highlighting both ongoing Middle East diplomacy and a domestic security incident in Britain.

Ukraine has reportedly carried out its largest drone attack to date on Moscow, with claims that a major oil refinery was hit and put out of operation. The reports are circulating widely among audiences following the Ukraine war, where daily frontline updates are drawing large attention. Details about casualties, damage assessments, and the refinery's identity have not been independently confirmed.

President Donald Trump has turned down the latest ceasefire proposal put forward by Iran, according to an NPR report. The rejection leaves ongoing tensions between the two countries unresolved, with no indication of when or whether renewed negotiations toward a truce might resume.

Ukraine's Defense Forces reportedly struck the Ilsky Oil Refinery in Russia's Krasnodar Krai, with additional hits reported on the Azov Optical-Mechanical Plant. In parallel developments, Japan allocated a further $51.5 million to Ukraine, while a bipartisan group of 14 U.S. senators urged President Trump to take a harder line against Putin. Commenters are highlighting the combination of deep strikes inside Russia and continued Western financial and political support for Kyiv.

Donald Trump has called on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to scale back attacks on Russian oil refineries. The request, which touches on Ukraine's most effective long-range strikes against Russia's energy sector, has drawn attention as Washington pushes for negotiations while Kyiv weighs the military and economic value of targeting Russian oil infrastructure.

The US ambassador to NATO says the Russia-Ukraine conflict will not be resolved through fighting alone, arguing the war cannot be settled by military means on the battlefield. The remark fuels ongoing debate in Washington and among allies about how the conflict might ultimately end, and what role diplomacy and negotiations should play.

President Trump has again stated that Iran cannot be allowed to acquire a nuclear weapon, while rejecting a ceasefire proposal from Tehran's leadership that would have paused hostilities for seven days. The refusal signals continued hardline US positioning toward Iran, with Washington prioritizing the elimination of Iran's nuclear ambitions over a short-term truce in the ongoing standoff.

The White House said Iran 'backed down' to President Trump in agreeing to a ceasefire, framing the deal as a victory for US pressure. The announcement comes amid heightened conflict involving Iran, and the characterisation is likely to fuel debate over who gained the most from the truce and whether it will hold.

President Trump has turned down a ceasefire proposal from Iran, according to NPR, leaving Washington's Gulf partners weighing the consequences. The rejection suggests the conflict could continue or escalate, and Gulf states hosting U.S. forces and trade routes now face renewed uncertainty over regional security, energy markets, and their own delicate balancing act between Washington and Tehran.