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Vladimir Putin has signed a decree immediately increasing the size of the Russian armed forces to 2,441,630 personnel, including 1,550,500 military personnel. The decree replaces all previous ones on army strength and marks the seventh such expansion of Russian force levels since the start of the war in Ukraine.

Hurricane Polo is being reported as one of the strongest storms ever recorded, with El Niño conditions credited for intensifying it. The claim is circulating widely as attention focuses on how unusually warm ocean waters are powering exceptionally powerful storms this season.

Ethiopia's army chief has publicly accused Eritrea, Sudan and Egypt of supporting Tigrayan rebel forces, sharply escalating rhetoric in the Horn of Africa. The allegation, picked up by major international outlets, points to deepening strains between Addis Ababa and its neighbours. Analysts warn the claims could complicate already fragile regional diplomacy, with no confirmation from the accused governments so far.

Germany is shifting its economic strategy toward large-scale military rearmament, with defence spending increasingly framed as an engine for industrial growth. Observers are debating whether the country can revive its stagnant economy through arms production and defence investment, and what the move means for European security and Germany's fiscal priorities. The debate has drawn wide attention among economics and policy audiences.

Sudan's civil war has produced two rival centres of power with no internationally recognised government. The army-backed administration under General al-Burhan controls much of the formal state apparatus, while the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces governs territory it has seized. Washington's position that neither side represents legitimate constitutional authority leaves Sudan effectively stateless in diplomatic terms, raising questions about aid, recognition and peace negotiations.

Donald Trump has confirmed he will meet with an Iranian delegation, a development coming as Qatar intensifies its diplomatic efforts to defuse tensions between Washington and Tehran. The meeting signals a possible opening in US-Iran relations, with Qatar positioning itself as a key mediator in the region. Observers are watching closely for any signs of a breakthrough or easing of hostilities.

An incident involving a ship has been reported in the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow passage between Iran and Oman through which a large share of the world's oil transits. Details about the vessel, the cause of the incident and any casualties are not yet confirmed. Commenters are watching for possible fallout for shipping traffic and energy markets in the region.

Forest fires in Indonesia are pushing smoke and haze toward Singapore just as the city prepares to host its Formula One Grand Prix. Organisers are drawing up contingency plans in case air quality deteriorates ahead of the major sporting event. Al Jazeera's Patrick Fok reports on the seasonal haze problem, which has long strained relations between Indonesia and its neighbours over the burning of land for agriculture.

Germany has for the first time formally committed to phasing out fossil fuels, setting a target date of 2045. The pledge, reported by the Guardian, marks a significant shift in the country's climate policy and aligns with its existing goal of climate neutrality. Observers are weighing whether the target is achievable given Germany's industrial energy demands.

Commentary is circulating that Germany's political centre is collapsing, raising questions about the future direction of the country's politics. The analysis suggests mainstream middle-ground parties are losing ground, leaving uncertainty about what coalition or opposition dynamics will emerge next. Observers are debating the implications for German governance and Europe more broadly.

Sudanese authorities have called for an immediate end to foreign interference in the country and insisted that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) be disarmed. The demand comes as Sudan's civil war, which began in April 2023 between the army and the RSF, continues to drive one of the world's largest humanitarian crises, with outside powers widely accused of fuelling the conflict.

Reports claim Russian forces carried out large-scale strikes on Kyiv, saying the attacks hit Ukrainian military hubs and killed 'NATO specialists'. Russian officials have repeatedly framed strikes against foreign personnel in Ukraine as targeting Western involvement in the war. Ukraine has not confirmed such claims, and figures on casualties or damage remain unverified. The reported strikes add to ongoing Russian bombardment of the Ukrainian capital amid the continuing war.

Taiwan's government says US arms sales to the island continue as normal, but a large weapons package worth about $14 billion has not moved forward and remains on hold. Officials are playing down any suggestion of a policy shift, though the delay is drawing attention given rising tensions with China and questions about how quickly Washington will deliver promised defensive equipment to Taipei.

The Trump administration is overhauling how the United States funds the United Nations in its second term, with reports pointing to cuts and reviews of contributions to UN bodies and programs. The moves mark a sharp shift from prior U.S. policy and are drawing attention to the financial strain on the organization and its depend Bedrooms on American support.

A policy analyst told French broadcaster RFI that Washington has 'alienated' Sudan's army amid what he described as a 'complex war' raging in the country. The remarks point to strained relations between the United States and Sudan's military leadership as the conflict between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces continues, with outside powers struggling to shape the course of the fighting or broker peace.

President Donald Trump said the United States will 'win' its conflict with Iran 'very soon,' while rejecting a proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the critical oil shipping waterway. The remarks come amid escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran, with the strategic strait's status a major concern for global energy markets and regional security.

China's top diplomat Wang Yi told former Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya that relations between Beijing and Tokyo must be "normalized," during their talks. The meeting is the first high-level exchange since relations plummeted over Taiwan last year, and is being read as an early signal that both sides may be looking to stabilise a badly strained diplomatic relationship.

A data breach at the Pentagon has reportedly exposed personal information belonging to more than 3 million people. Details about how the breach occurred, when it happened, and who is responsible remain limited, but the scale makes it one of the larger breaches tied to US defense infrastructure. Cybersecurity observers are watching closely for confirmation from officials and guidance for affected individuals.

Kazakhstan has put forward an offer to host talks on nuclear arms, according to Aju Press. The proposal comes from the Central Asian country that gave up the Soviet nuclear arsenal left on its territory after independence. Details on which parties would take part and when the talks might happen have not been reported.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has confirmed further indirect talks between Tehran and Washington, conducted through Qatari mediators, amid ongoing disputes over Iran's nuclear programme. Araghchi said Iran is awaiting an official reply from the United States, with a response expected by Tuesday. The talks follow a period of heightened tension over nuclear negotiations between the two countries, which have no direct diplomatic relations and rely on intermediaries such as Qatar for communication.

Powerful storms are striking opposite sides of the United States at the same time, and meteorologists point to El Niño as the driving force. The climate pattern, marked by warmer Pacific waters, is reshaping jet streams and fueling severe weather on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, drawing wide attention to its growing impact.

Reserve Bank of Australia governor Michele Bullock has reaffirmed that the central bank is prepared to raise interest rates again if inflation requires it. The statement signals no shift in the bank's tightening stance, keeping alive the possibility of further increases and drawing attention from markets and households watching borrowing costs.

The US Supreme Court has ruled that states may use the federal SAVE database to verify the citizenship status of voters. The decision allows state officials to cross-check voter registration records against the immigration database, a step several Republican-led states have sought. Critics argue such checks risk wrongly purging eligible voters, particularly naturalised citizens, while supporters frame the ruling as a victory for election integrity.

Japan's finance minister has reaffirmed close coordination with the United States on currency matters, stressing shared interest in stable foreign exchange markets. The comments come as the yen remains a focal point for traders after periods of sharp weakness that have raised the prospect of Japanese intervention. Markets closely watch such statements for signals on how Tokyo and Washington would respond to excessive moves in the currency.

Discussion is turning to what it means for global warming to exceed the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C threshold. Commentators are explaining that breaching the limit does not mean climate action is pointless, but signals that average temperatures have risen beyond the target, with worsening heatwaves, sea-level rise and ecosystem stress. The debate centres on how overshoot could be temporary and whether warming can be brought back down.

North Korea has warned the United Nations about what it calls Japan's 'attempts at rearmament', voicing alarm at Japan's expanding defense posture. The statement, reported by Anadolu Agency, reflects Pyongyang's long-standing opposition to Japanese military buildup and adds to regional tensions over security policy in East Asia.