INC

Iran says a draft agreement under negotiation with the United States would include a waiver on oil sanctions, limits on its nuclear programme and the release of frozen assets. The claims offer a glimpse into the terms being discussed, though Washington has not confirmed the details. Any deal easing oil sanctions would have major implications for energy markets and Iran's economy.

The US Federal Reserve has raised interest rates for the first time since 2023, according to ABC News. The increase marks a shift in monetary policy after an extended pause, affecting borrowing costs for households and businesses across the United States. Further details on the size of the hike and the central bank's reasoning were not included in the initial report.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree immediately increasing the size of the Russian armed forces to 2,441,630 personnel, of whom 1,550,500 are military. The decree replaces all previous staffing decrees and marks the seventh expansion of the army's authorised strength since the start of the war in Ukraine.

The US Strategic Petroleum Reserve has dropped to its lowest level since 1982, following extended releases of crude oil from the emergency stockpile. The drawdown, begun to cool fuel prices after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, has raised debate about US energy security and how quickly and at what cost the reserve can be refilled.

Climate outlets report that the El Niño event now developing in the Pacific is shaping up to be so intense that scientists say existing terminology does not adequately describe it. The warming pattern is expected to bring extreme heat, storms and disrupted weather worldwide, and coverage is focused on how unprecedented its strength could be.

The United Nations Security Council convened a formal meeting to discuss the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question. The session, carried on UN media, comes as the Council continues to weigh the conflict, ceasefire efforts and humanitarian conditions in the region. Member states were expected to restate positions on Palestinian statehood and security concerns, with no immediate announcement of agreed measures after the discussion.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are reportedly weighing uncertain security arrangements as the world marks the anniversary of Princess Diana's death. Harry has long sought police protection while visiting the UK, a dispute that remains unresolved, making any return trip complicated. The timing draws renewed attention to Diana's legacy and her sons' complicated relationship with royal security arrangements.

China has expanded overseas travel restrictions covering top artificial intelligence professionals at private companies, with the rules now extended to the families of key personnel. The move means relatives of leading AI workers may also be barred from travelling abroad, in what is widely read as an effort to prevent the loss of sensitive expertise and technology as competition with the United States over artificial intelligence intensifies.

A ship incident has been reported in the Strait of Hormuz, the critical chokepoint for global oil shipments between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula. Details remain limited, but the story is drawing attention because any disruption in the strait has immediate implications for energy prices and shipping security. Observers are watching for confirmation of what occurred and whether regional tensions are involved.

Counter-terrorism police have arrested five men as part of an investigation into a major incident near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, England. The arrests were confirmed by BBC News, which reported that counter-terror officers are leading the inquiry. Details about the men, the nature of the incident, and any charges have not yet been made public, and the base remains a focus of the investigation.

Police have declared a major incident near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire after several people were arrested on suspicion of explosives offences. The arrests prompted a large emergency response in the area, and details about those detained or any wider risk have not yet been released.

Counter-terrorism police are leading the investigation into what officials describe as a major incident near an RAF base, according to BBC News. Few details have been confirmed so far, and authorities have not said what caused the incident or whether anyone has been arrested. The involvement of counter-terror officers indicates police are treating the nature of the event as potentially deliberate.

Russia is raising $178 billion for defense, its largest military budget since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The figure signals a continued prioritization of war spending over other areas of the economy. Observers say the allocation underlines Moscow's commitment to sustaining its military campaign, and the scale of the budget is drawing attention to how long Russia can maintain such expenditure.

Russia plans to spend 17.1 trillion rubles, roughly US$202.58 billion, on defence in 2027, about 27% more than previously budgeted, according to Reuters. The increase signals Moscow's continued prioritisation of its military amid the war in Ukraine, drawing attention to how long Russia can sustain elevated wartime expenditure and what it means for NATO planning.

Counter-terrorism police say the five men arrested on suspicion over the incident at RAF Fairford are UK nationals and residents of London. The announcement came shortly after the arrests drew widespread attention. Details of the incident and the suspects' identities have not been released, and police have not confirmed what the men are alleged to have done.

Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has called for renewed negotiations among nuclear powers, marking 35 years since the closure of the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site. He warned that global arms-control safeguards are weakening and urged world powers to return to the negotiating table. Kazakhstan closed the site in 1991 after decades of Soviet testing and later gave up the nuclear arsenal it inherited.

British police have opened an investigation into what they are describing as a terror-related incident near an RAF base that was used in the war against Iran. Details remain limited, with authorities yet to confirm the nature of the incident, any suspects or whether there were casualties. The base's reported role in recent operations against Iran has heightened attention on the case.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has won a claim against the police concerning searches of his home, according to The Times. The ruling renews attention on the former prince, who has remained a controversial figure since stepping back from royal duties and losing his titles. Discussion in the UK centres on the legality of the searches and what the outcome means for his standing.

A lawyer named Omar Vanin has launched the Italian Islamic Arbitration Chamber in Padua, a body described as a sharia court operating in Italy. Padua has been a centre of European legal study since the University of Padua and its law school were founded in 1222, and the arrival of an Islamic arbitration chamber there is drawing strong reactions, with critics and supporters debating whether religious arbitration has a place in the Italian legal system.

Footage circulating online shows a Russian drone attacking a Ukrainian unmanned ground vehicle on the frontline, only to be disabled when the robot deploys an anti-drone net that snags it. Observers say the clip captures a striking moment of machines fighting machines in the war, highlighting how both sides are increasingly using robots and counter-drone technology in combat.

Earl Spencer, brother of Princess Diana, has apologised to Piers Morgan over factual errors contained in his book about the princess. The apology follows criticism from Morgan regarding inaccuracies in the published account of Diana's life, drawing attention to how Diana's family and commentators continue to dispute portrayals of her story decades after her death.

A large snake broke through what was described as shatterproof glass and escaped its enclosure in the United States. The escape happened just as a man was explaining the strength of male snakes, a timing detail that has drawn attention and amusement as the story spreads online. No details have been confirmed about the snake's species, the exact location, or whether it has been recaptured.

The United States military is set to conduct its first execution by firing squad since the Second World War, according to NBC News. The rare method of capital punishment, largely abandoned in favor of lethal injection, is drawing widespread attention and debate over its use in the modern era.