The Party

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for accountability over external support fueling the war in Sudan. The appeal targets those backing the warring parties as the conflict continues to drive humanitarian crisis and displacement. The statement, circulating in international news coverage, adds pressure on states and actors seen as arming or financing the fighting.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is facing sharp questioning on Capitol Hill from Democrats and some Republicans over the US war with Iran and his dismissals of top Pentagon officials. Lawmakers are pressing him on the legal basis and strategy of the military operation, as well as the removals of senior defense leadership, making the hearings a flashpoint over wartime authority and Pentagon management.

Republican candidates and officials are publicly distancing themselves from Donald Trump as polling shows weak numbers ahead of upcoming elections. Several lawmakers have avoided appearing alongside him or declined to endorse his statements, signaling concern that his standing could hurt the party at the ballot box. The shift highlights growing anxiety within the party about Trump's influence on its electoral prospects.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has called for de-escalation as fighting intensifies in Ethiopia. The appeal highlights growing concern over the impact of renewed hostilities on civilians, and comes amid reports of worsening conditions on the ground. Observers are watching for whether the parties to the conflict respond to international pressure to step back.

Republican Representative Turner said President Trump faces 'not a lot of options' in dealing with Iran, a blunt assessment from within the president's own party. The comment comes amid rising tensions with Tehran, and is drawing attention because it highlights how limited the choices are between escalation and diplomacy as the nuclear standoff continues.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said a standoff between India and China will not help "either of us" and that a "third party will take advantage of it", while pointing to an improvement in bilateral ties. Speaking at the Asia Society, he signalled New Delhi's interest in managing differences with Beijing and avoiding prolonged confrontation, a message drawing wide attention given ongoing border tensions between the two countries.

Claims are circulating linking Germany's Alternative for Germany party to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the broader question of a Russian threat to Europe. Commentators are debating the AfD's stance on Russia and whether its positions on the war undermine European security. The discussion reflects ongoing controversy over the party's foreign policy views.

Iran has publicly stated that the decision now rests with US President Donald Trump, who must choose between war and diplomacy in the standoff between the two countries. The statement frames Washington as the party holding the next move, and it is drawing attention as tensions remain high and diplomatic channels appear increasingly uncertain.

Commentary is circulating that Germany's political centre ground is collapsing, raising questions about what comes next for the country's politics. The claim points to weakening support for the traditional mainstream parties that have long dominated German government, and debate is focusing on how coalitions and policy could be reshaped if centrist parties continue to lose ground to forces at the political extremes.

A new NBC News poll shows President Donald Trump's approval rating falling to 41% among registered voters, a second-term low, with 55% disapproving. More voters are also criticizing his handling of the economy, a shift that matters as the closely watched midterm elections approach and both parties gauge voter sentiment heading into the campaign season.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran no longer trusts negotiations with Washington, in an interview with Al Jazeera. He said Qatar and Pakistan are acting as intermediaries, relaying Tehran's messages to the United States. The remarks signal a further breakdown in direct US-Iran diplomacy, with third-party countries now carrying communication between the two sides amid heightened regional tensions involving Israel and the US.

Iranian officials have publicly stated that US President Donald Trump must decide whether the standoff between Washington and Tehran proceeds through diplomacy or heads toward war. The declaration frames the US administration as the party responsible for escalation or de-escalation, with talks reportedly stalled and regional tensions running high over Iran's nuclear programme and sanctions pressure.

Regional media are examining why ceasefire agreements in Sudan's civil war, from the US- and Saudi-brokered Jeddah talks to diplomatic efforts raised at the United Nations in New York, have repeatedly collapsed. Commentators point to continued fighting between the army and paramilitary forces, lack of enforcement, and weak international leverage over the warring parties.

A group of immigrants is asking the US Supreme Court to leave in place a lower-court ruling that prevents the Trump administration from deporting them to third-party countries. The filing asks the justices not to disturb protections that currently keep them from being removed to nations other than their home countries while the case continues.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has called on parliamentary parties to support urgent measures to ease the country's housing crisis. The appeal came after the forced eviction of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal from her longtime Madrid home, an incident that sparked public anger, with around 600 people continuing to camp in protest near the property.

The US Supreme Court has turned down the Trump administration's effort to impose restrictions on mail-in voting. The decision preserves existing access to absentee ballots, a voting method used by millions of Americans. The ruling is drawing attention from both parties, with critics of the restrictions calling it a win for voter access and Republicans weighing the setback ahead of future elections.

A Republican senator has publicly called on President Trump to bring the conflict with Iran to an end. The remarks put the senator at odds with more hawkish voices in the party and add to pressure within GOP ranks over the direction of US policy toward Iran. Details of the senator's identity and reasoning were not immediately available.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed frustration over the situation in Sudan after an official denied claims that the country rejected a ceasefire. The exchange highlights growing American impatience with parties to the conflict and uncertainty over diplomatic efforts to halt the fighting.

A Hamas leader says the Gaza roadmap the group agreed to includes the establishment of a Palestinian state. The statement frames the deal as going beyond ceasefire arrangements and touching long-term political questions. Observers are weighing how the claim aligns with the terms accepted by other parties and what it signals for negotiations over Gaza's future governance.

Kazakhstan has offered to serve as a venue for negotiations on nuclear arms, according to a report by Kazakh outlet Aju Press. No further details about the proposal, the parties involved, or any responses were provided. The move would be consistent with Kazakhstan's history as a former Soviet nuclear site that gave up its arsenal.

Blake Lively has made a public statement following a court ruling in her ongoing legal dispute with Justin Baldoni, as their case heads toward trial. The actress addressed the decision ahead of proceedings, and coverage of the high-profile Hollywood lawsuit continues to draw widespread attention. Details of the ruling and her comments were not included in the available reporting.

Iran has put forward a seven-day plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the key shipping route for global oil supplies, alongside a proposal to resume nuclear talks within the same week. The offer, reported by Al Jazeera, is drawing attention from governments and observers watching tensions in the Gulf. Details of conditions or responses from other parties remain unclear.

Democrats are pledging to directly challenge Israel over violence against Palestinians, with party members describing the situation as 'out of control'. The vow signals growing willingness among Democratic lawmakers to publicly pressure the Israeli government over its conduct in the occupied territories and the treatment of Palestinians, a break from more cautious party positioning in the past.

Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband is set to tell Labour's conference that critics of the party's stance on Gaza 'were right', conceding Labour was wrong. In remarks reported by The Guardian, he will say the party is 'not here to accept the status quo but to change it'. The admission marks a notable shift as Labour recalibrates its position on the conflict under Keir Starmer's government.

Democrats say they will open investigations into lucrative business deals involving Donald Trump and his family if they win control of Congress in the November midterm elections. The pledge, reported by Reuters, signals that oversight of the former president's finances would become a priority should the party take committee power, setting up potential confrontations over conflicts of interest and foreign payments.

Sudan's ceasefire agreements, first brokered in Jeddah and later discussed at the UN in New York, have repeatedly collapsed as fighting between the army and the Rapid Support Forces continues. Analysts point to weak enforcement, lack of monitoring, and the parties' unwillingness to compromise as reasons the truces fail, leaving civilians facing a worsening humanitarian crisis.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers is defending his economic record ahead of the Reserve Bank of Australia's latest cash rate decision, in ongoing coverage from Canberra. The decision is being closely watched by households and businesses dealing with mortgage costs and inflation, with the opposition and minor parties including One Nation pressing the government over economic management.

This week in U.S. politics, President Trump is confronting growing defections from within his own Republican Party, while preparing for a summit with China. A separate feud with the press is also drawing attention. Analysts are watching whether intra-party dissent will weaken Trump's position heading into high-stakes diplomacy with Beijing.

New political polling in Italy shows the centre-right under pressure, with the Lega and Forza Italia both losing ground. General Roberto Vannacci, courted by right-wing circles as a draw, is reportedly not enough to reverse the trend. On the centre-left, the PD has fallen to 21.1 percent while the Five Star Movement rises to 12.9 percent, raising questions ahead of potential PD primaries.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has resigned from the presidency and will lead his ruling party into snap elections as a candidate for prime minister. The move, reported by Al Jazeera, marks an unusual reversal of roles in Serbian politics and comes as the country heads to an early vote, prompting debate about Vucic's continued grip on power despite the formal change of office.

President Trump is seeking to withhold $800 million in funding that Congress has already approved, according to Reuters and multiple US news outlets. The move raises fresh questions over executive authority and the separation of powers, as lawmakers from both parties weigh whether the administration can refuse to spend money appropriated by law.

Attention is turning to Morocco's 2026 elections as early, preliminary results begin to come in, indicating which parties and candidates are leading and which are losing ground. Commentators and voters are following the tallies closely to see who tops the race and which established figures or groups may fall short when the full outcome is known.

Aleksandar Vučić has resigned, with the move coming as Serbia prepares to hold both parliamentary and presidential elections. The announcement lands at a pivotal moment for the country's politics, since Vučić has dominated Serbian public life as president. Details of the exact post he is vacating and the timing of the vote remain the focus of attention as parties begin positioning for the campaign.