THE OPEN CALL

Pope Leo has called on Russia and Ukraine to sit down and discuss how to bring an end to the war, according to Reuters. The appeal comes as the conflict, now in its fourth year, continues despite repeated international efforts to broker peace talks. The Pope's intervention adds to ongoing diplomatic pressure on both sides to open negotiations.

Iran's foreign minister said Tehran is prepared for what he called a 'doomsday' war with the United States, while insisting that diplomacy remains an option. The remarks underscore rising tensions between the two countries, combining sharp military rhetoric with a stated openness to negotiations. The comments are drawing attention as observers weigh the risk of escalation against continued diplomatic channels.

Donald Trump has suggested the United States and Iran could work together on removing what he called 'nuclear dust', implying cooperation in the aftermath of strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. The remarks signal an unexpectedly conciliatory tone toward Tehran, and observers are weighing whether they point to a possible diplomatic opening between the two countries after weeks of heightened tensions.

President Trump has rejected an Iranian proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, calling it not 'acceptable'. The plan closely resembled a memorandum of understanding agreed between the United States and Iran in June. The announcement raises fresh tensions over the strategic waterway, through which a large share of the world's oil passes, and leaves open questions about what Washington would accept instead.

Iran has signalled openness to talks with the United States over the Strait of Hormuz as both Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian prepare to attend the UN General Assembly in New York. It would be the first time the two leaders appear at the same event since Trump launched what he called 'Operation Epic Fury', raising speculation about a possible diplomatic opening between the two governments.

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has called on Israel to annex southern Lebanon and most of the Gaza Strip, according to The Times of Israel. The remarks are likely to draw international criticism and add to tensions over Israel's military presence and long-term plans in both territories, where the idea of annexation remains deeply contentious.

Pope Leo opened his trip to France with a stark warning that a 'paradise of machines' risks undermining humanity, urging that technology should serve people rather than replace human judgment and dignity. The remarks, made at the start of the visit, tie growing unease over artificial intelligence to a moral and spiritual call for balance.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has called on the Federal Reserve to keep an open mind when setting interest rates, arguing that productivity gains from artificial intelligence could change the economic outlook. He suggested AI-driven efficiency may affect inflation and growth dynamics, adding to the debate over how quickly the central bank should ease policy.

India and the West Indies are meeting in a men's one-day international series, with the second ODI in Guwahati. Coverage focuses on rain risks in Guwahati, pitch conditions at Thiruvananthapuram for the opener, and Virat Kohli closing in on Sachin Tendulkar's ODI record, 59 runs away. West Indies captain Sammy calls the series a perfect test ahead of the World Cup Qualifiers, while opener Jangoo targets the India challenge.

Pacific leaders are calling on Indonesia to allow the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights access to West Papua, where concerns persist over alleged abuses and restrictions on reporting. The appeal reflects growing regional pressure on Jakarta to permit independent monitoring in the restive province. Human rights groups have long sought international scrutiny of the situation there.

European Union member states continue to grapple with high energy prices, and commentary in Global Times argues the crisis cannot be solved by domestic measures alone. It calls for broader international trade cooperation, including diversified energy supplies and open trade channels, as the path to stabilising costs for European households and industry.

The Chips Joint Undertaking has opened calls worth €80 million to advance European AI computing capabilities. The funding aims to strengthen the EU's semiconductor and AI hardware base, supporting research and innovation in chips designed for artificial intelligence workloads as Europe seeks greater technological autonomy.

Mauricio Pochettino has publicly criticised the outcome of the Manchester City case, saying he struggles to identify a punishment that would be proportionate to what he called a 'period of deception' at the club. His comments add to a wider debate among managers and pundits over how football authorities should sanction financial rule breaches without distorting competition.

Citi is advising clients to buy the next dip in the stock market, arguing the AI-driven rally still has momentum ahead of the US midterm elections. The call signals the bank remains constructive on equities despite elevated valuations tied to artificial intelligence stocks. Investors are watching whether the AI trade can hold up through election-related volatility.

Pope Leo said Europe must return to its Christian roots while remaining open to migrants, pairing a call for cultural and spiritual renewal with an appeal for generosity toward newcomers. The remarks touch two of the continent's most sensitive debates: the role of Christianity in European identity and how the EU and its member states should handle migration.

Türkiye is strengthening what it calls 'agro diplomacy', using agricultural exports, cooperation programmes and trade ties to reduce its vulnerability to geopolitical tensions. The Daily Sabah reports the strategy aims to secure food supply chains and open new markets, positioning agriculture as a foreign policy tool amid ongoing regional instability and global trade disruptions.

A leading contender to chair the House Intelligence Committee says he would open investigations into what he calls 'nakedly corrupt dealings' if he takes the gavel. The pledge, reported by the Wall Street Journal, signals that oversight of intelligence and national security matters could become more aggressive under his leadership. The identity of the lawmaker and the specific dealings he intends to examine were not detailed, and it remains uncertain whether he will secure the chairmanship.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has called on the Federal Reserve to keep an open mind about the outlook for U.S. inflation, pushing back against a fixed view of where price pressures are heading. The remarks put fresh attention on the central bank's next rate decisions and on the administration's pressure campaign over monetary policy, with markets watching for any sign the Fed will shift its stance.

Pope Leo XIV celebrated an open-air Mass in Lourdes, France, urging the Catholic Church to acknowledge its own faults. His remarks, delivered at one of the world's best-known pilgrimage sites, call for humility and self-examination within the institution and are drawing attention as an early signal of his papacy's tone on reform and accountability.

Major banks are warning that AI agents — automated software that can act on a person's behalf — could open new doors for fraudsters and lead to an increase in scams. As more people delegate tasks like payments and account management to these tools, banks caution that criminals could exploit or impersonate them, and the industry is calling for stronger safeguards around agentic AI.

Truecaller is bringing its scam-fighting intelligence to the open web, TechCrunch reports, marking a strategic move beyond its core caller ID business. The Swedish company, best known for identifying spam calls, appears to be repositioning itself as a broader fraud-protection service as scam attempts increasingly shift to websites, messages and other online channels.