Solstice-aligned 5,000-year-old monument ‘once in a lifetime find’, say archaeologists

• Hundreds of trucks are currently stranded at the Iran-Turkey border following a US Navy blockade of trade routes. • Drivers are facing severe conditions in eastern Turkey, including cold temperatures and a lack of food or rest facilities.

• A president of Cambodia praised Donald Trump for his role in brokering an immediate and unconditional ceasefire and peace agreement. • The Cambodian leader credited Trump's "visionary, innovative diplomacy" and commitment to preventing catastrophic wars for the result.

• Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian delivered a speech at the United Nations pairing vows of resistance with an openness to diplomacy. • The president stated that Tehran will never surrender while simultaneously signaling a willingness to negotiate.

• President Donald Trump is meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington to discuss foreign policy and trade. • The discussions focus on American leverage regarding semiconductors, critical minerals, and sanctions against Russia and Iran.

• World leaders met today at the UN Security Council to debate a path toward peace as the war in Ukraine enters its fifth year. • Any proposed resolution faces a likely veto from Russia, which is one of the council's five permanent members with the power to block votes.

• Russian President Vladimir Putin is recruiting soldiers from 47 different countries to bolster manpower for the ongoing war in Ukraine. • Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky identified many of these recruits as coming from developing nations where Russian military salaries far exceed local wages.

• The Middle East is experiencing ongoing turmoil that threatens to reshape global geopolitics and the world economy. • The situation has evolved beyond a localized conflict into a crisis requiring an immediate and calibrated diplomatic surge.

Taraneh and Romina Rahimi were charged with ‘waging war against God’ after joining protests against Tehran regimeThe family of 21-year-old twins who have been sentenced to death and decades in jail for protesting against the Iranian regime have appealed to the United Nations for help for the young women.A formal “submission of information” relating to the case of Taraneh and Romina Rahimi has been submitted by British human right lawyers on their family’s behalf. Continue reading...

Ministry of Defence claims book by soldier known as Christian Craighead contains alleged breach of confidentiality contractAn injunction preventing a former member of the SAS from publishing a book about his role in a counter-terrorism operation has been extended after an application by the Ministry of Defence.The block on publication of the book in the UK will continue until the conclusion of a government legal action against the soldier, who is known only by the pseudonym Christian Craighead. Continue reading...

Paris public prosecutor opens investigation into online harassment of Riner, one of France’s most popular sportspeople Paris’s public prosecutor has opened an investigation into the racist abuse and online harassment of the French judo star Teddy Riner after he expressed concern about the rise of the far right.Riner, who has often been voted France’s most popular sportsperson and is one of the most successful judo competitors of all time, told a TV sports show this month that he felt “anxiety” about the rise of the far right in France. Numerous racist insults and hate messages were subsequently directed at him online, the prosecutor’s office said. Continue reading...

Senators’ report says taxpayers face higher bills after ‘bargain’ between president and major pollutersThe fossil fuel industry secured an estimated $190bn in tax breaks and subsidies over the next decade after responding to Donald Trump’s pre-election call for major campaign donations, leaving American taxpayers to shoulder higher bills and public health costs associated with pollution, according to a new report.Released on Thursday by Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, ranking member of the Senate environment and public works committee, and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, the report details what the senators describe as the fossil fuel industry’s expansive influence over the Trump administration. Continue reading...

Unions say record high figures, including assaults on rail workers as well as members of public, show need for more staff and policingBusiness live – latest updatesThe number of reported assaults on Britain’s railways has risen to a record high of almost 25,000 incidents in a year.Unions said the “horrendous” figures showed the need for more staff and policing, as the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) revealed a sharp increase in assaults on the travelling public and on railway staff last year. Continue reading...