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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has sought to reassure Gulf Arab allies that Washington remains committed to their security, despite concerns among regional partners about being sidelined in negotiations aimed at ending the conflict with Iran. Speaking in Bahrain on Thursday at the end of a three-day tour of the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Bahrain, Rubio said the United States wants Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) members to be fully informed and involved as negotiations with Iran progress. Rubio said Gulf leaders had shared "concrete concerns and ideas," adding that their main demand is to remain informed at every stage of both technical and political negotiations. "We want them to be involved and we want the views of all these countries to be reflected," he said, stressing that Washington would not make decisions that undermine the security or stability of its Gulf partners. The trip comes amid regional unease following the war launched by the United States and Israel against Iran on February 28, a conflict that disrupted oil exports and exposed several Gulf states to Iranian missile and drone attacks. Following the meeting, the United States and the six-member GCC—Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates—issued a joint statement reaffirming their shared objective of preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and maintaining unity as negotiations move toward a permanent end to hostilities. The statement also rejected any Iranian attempt to impose fees or assert control over the Strait of Hormuz, while welcoming Oman's initiative to establish a safe maritime corridor for stranded sailors. It noted that any economic benefits for Iran would depend on its compliance with both the temporary agreement and a future final deal. Despite the optimistic tone of the joint statement, comments from GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi suggested that concerns persist within the bloc. He stressed that any future arrangements involving Iran must address the security interests of Gulf states and adhere to principles of sovereignty, good neighbourliness and non-interference. Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani also welcomed recent diplomatic progress but said many questions remained unresolved. He underscored the need for Iran to fully meet its obligations, including preventing nuclear proliferation, ensuring freedom of navigation, ending missile and drone attacks, halting support for proxy groups and refraining from interference in neighbouring countries. The remarks highlight continuing Gulf concerns over the direction of US-Iran diplomacy and the long-term security implications for the region.

Rescue teams and residents continued searching through collapsed buildings in northern Venezuela on Thursday after two powerful earthquakes killed at least 188 people, injured around 1,500 and left more than 200 trapped beneath the rubble. The twin quakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, struck Wednesday evening and were among the strongest to hit Venezuela in more than a century. Thousands of people were also reported missing across the country. Authorities said the coastal state of La Guaira, north of the capital Caracas, suffered some of the worst destruction, with dozens of buildings collapsing and heavy casualties reported. Panic gripped cities across northern Venezuela as residents rushed into the streets and searched through debris for missing relatives and neighbors. Television footage showed rescue workers using power tools to cut through piles of rubble in search of survivors. Acting President Delcy Rodríguez described La Guaira as a "disaster zone" and said rescue teams from other parts of the country were being deployed to the area. She also appealed to businesses to provide heavy construction equipment to aid rescue efforts and said United Nations-certified search-and-rescue teams were on their way. State television showed several survivors, including three children, being pulled alive from the debris in La Guaira. The earthquakes also damaged and forced the closure of Venezuela's main airport, while buildings were evacuated as far away as Brazil's Amazon region, around 1,700 kilometres from Caracas. The latest disaster poses a major challenge for the government of Acting President Rodríguez as Venezuela continues to struggle with a prolonged economic crisis and political uncertainty. According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), the first 7.2-magnitude quake struck near the Caribbean coastal city of Moron at a depth of about 22 kilometres. A second, stronger 7.5-magnitude quake followed just a minute later at a depth of around 10 kilometres. Officials have urged residents to remain outdoors, warning that aftershocks could trigger further building collapses and additional casualties.

US Vice President JD Vance has said on Thursday The United States and Iran have agreed to establish a direct communication channel involving Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to help reduce the risk of further conflict. In an interview with British news website UnHerd, Vance said the arrangement would involve Iranian and US military officials meeting in Doha to resolve disputes through direct engagement. According to Vance, the two sides agreed that an IRGC representative and an official from the US Central Command (CENTCOM) would meet in the Qatari capital to address issues and prevent tensions from escalating. Vance also said the United Arab Emirates has opened new channels of communication with Iran, including with the IRGC, and is holding unprecedented discussions with Tehran on various economic incentives. Meanwhile, Iran has rejected any US-backed proposal to establish a separate southern shipping corridor through the Strait of Hormuz. Abas Aslani, a senior research fellow at the Center for Middle East Strategic Studies in Tehran, said Iran favours coordinated transit arrangements for vessels passing through the strategic waterway and opposes any alternative route proposed under US pressure. Speaking to Al Jazeera, Aslani said both Washington and Tehran are still trying to shape future arrangements in the Strait of Hormuz despite their recent memorandum of understanding. He said Iran intends to work with Oman during the current 60-day period to finalise new transit mechanisms and plans to impose service fees for vessels using the strait after that period. However, Aslani said Tehran considers any move by Oman, under US pressure, to open a separate southern corridor as unacceptable. He warned that failure to resolve the dispute over transit arrangements could undermine broader diplomatic efforts between Iran and the United States. Source: Al Jazeera

The US Supreme Court on Thursday cleared the way for the Donald Trump administration to potentially reinstate a controversial immigration policy that had previously limited the number of migrants allowed to seek asylum at the US-Mexico border. In a 6-3 ruling, the court overturned a lower court order that had blocked the practice, known as “metering,” which was first introduced under former President Barack Obama and later expanded during Trump’s first term. The policy restricted the number of asylum applications accepted each day at border crossings, leading to long waiting lines and makeshift camps on the Mexican side of the border. Immigration advocates argued that the practice triggered a humanitarian crisis, while the Trump administration maintained it was necessary to manage rising numbers of asylum seekers. Although the policy is not currently in effect, administration officials argued that it remains an important tool that should be available to future presidents. Federal attorneys said migrants turned away at the border were not denied asylum permanently and could return later to apply, though critics noted that waitlists often stretched into the thousands. The case is one of several immigration-related disputes before the Supreme Court, including challenges involving birthright citizenship and temporary legal protections for migrants fleeing conflict and instability. Under US law, migrants who reach American soil are generally entitled to apply for asylum and seek protection if they fear persecution in their home countries. However, the Justice Department argued that individuals stopped before being formally admitted into the country had not legally “arrived” in the United States and therefore were not entitled to immediate asylum processing. Writing for the majority, Justice Samuel Alito said, “A guest does not arrive in a house when he knocks on the front door.” Justice Sonia Sotomayor strongly dissented, warning that the ruling undermines America's long-standing commitment to offering refuge to those fleeing persecution. The metering policy was first used during the Obama administration amid an influx of Haitian migrants at the San Diego-Tijuana border crossing and was later expanded to all crossings along the Mexican border during Trump's first term. The practice ended in 2020 when broader restrictions were imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic and was formally rescinded by former President Joe Biden in 2021. A federal judge in California ruled in 2021 that the policy violated asylum seekers' rights and federal law requiring migrants to be screened for fear of persecution. That decision was later upheld by an appeals court before reaching the Supreme Court. US asylum law allows individuals seeking refuge to apply for protection regardless of whether they entered the country legally, provided they can demonstrate a credible fear of persecution based on factors such as race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership in a particular social group. Those granted asylum are allowed to remain in the United States, work legally and eventually apply for permanent residency and citizenship.

Senate Republicans late Wednesday voted down a war powers resolution aimed at curbing President Donald Trump's military actions against Iran, a day after a similar measure had passed, following intense pressure from the president. The vote came hours after Trump sharply criticized Republican senators during a private lunch meeting for allowing the earlier resolution to advance, deepening tensions within the party over the administration's Iran policy. The dispute has complicated Republican efforts to focus on domestic issues ahead of the elections, particularly concerns over affordability and the economy. During the closed-door meeting with Senate Republicans, Trump questioned why any GOP senator would support a measure seeking to limit further US military action against Iran. Republican Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, one of four Republicans who backed the resolution, defended his position, saying the administration had failed to adequately explain its objectives in Iran to the American people. "This is supposed to last four weeks. It's lasted four months. Our original objectives have not been achieved," Cassidy later told reporters. According to Cassidy, the exchange became heated when he said he would continue supporting war powers resolutions until Congress received a full briefing on developments in Iran. Trump reportedly raised his voice and repeatedly instructed Cassidy to sit down. A person familiar with the private meeting said the president at one point referred to the senator as a "lunatic." Cassidy acknowledged that he also lost his temper during the confrontation, saying afterward that his reaction "was not appropriate." Meanwhile, congressional Democrats on Wednesday called for investigations into renovations at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, adding to the political turbulence surrounding the president's troubled $16 million rehabilitation project.

China aims to basically establish a clean, low-carbon, secure and efficient new energy system by 2030, according to a plan recently issued by the National Development and Reform Commission and the National Energy Administration. The plan, which covers the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), sets out targets for strengthening energy security, advancing the green transition, boosting technological self-reliance and improving market mechanisms, among others. By 2030, China's total energy production capacity will reach 5.8 billion tonnes of standard coal equivalent. At the same time, the power system's capacity for complementary support, security and resilience will see comprehensive improvements, according to the plan. The plan also says that coal and oil consumption should peak, non-fossil energy should account for 25 percent of total energy consumption, and wind and solar power should make up more than 50 percent of the country's total installed power generation capacity, becoming the mainstay of installed capacity. Non-fossil energy is also expected to contribute 50 percent of total power generation by 2030, becoming the main source of electricity, the plan says. China will accelerate the construction of a new energy infrastructure system that is strong and resilient, green and low-carbon, integrated, intelligent and efficient. A new power system is also expected to be basically established by 2030. The plan aims to make key technologies and equipment in the energy industrial chain largely self-reliant and controllable, while positioning China at the forefront of global energy technology innovation. It also calls for faster improvement of market and pricing mechanisms suited to the new energy system, with a unified national electricity market system to be basically established. The plan also stresses optimization of fossil energy production bases, better alignment between energy development and energy-consuming industries, and continued expansion of diversified energy import channels. China has set the dual carbon goals of peaking carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality before 2060. The country has built the world's largest and fastest-growing renewable energy system, providing stronger support for its green and low-carbon transition.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has claimed that Russia is redeploying a large portion of its air defense systems to protect key locations, including Moscow, as Ukrainian long-range drone attacks continue to strike targets deep inside Russian territory. In a video address late Wednesday, Zelenskyy said Russia has strengthened defenses around Moscow, the town of Valdai, where Russian President Vladimir Putin has a residence, and the Kerch Bridge, a crucial supply route linking mainland Russia with Crimea. According to Zelenskyy, hundreds of air defense missile launchers have been concentrated around Moscow, while nearly 90 launchers have reportedly been moved to Valdai from other regions. Ukraine has significantly increased drone strikes on Russian military and energy facilities in recent months. Kyiv says the attacks have disrupted fuel supplies and military logistics, creating additional challenges for Russian forces more than four years into the war. Ukrainian drones have recently targeted Moscow and St. Petersburg, while Kyiv is also seeking to weaken Russian control over Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014. Zelenskyy suggested that the redeployment of air defense systems could leave other parts of Russia more exposed to Ukrainian drone attacks. He said Ukraine's latest generation of drones can travel more than 1,500 kilometers. "There are growing difficulties for Russia because Putin continues to reject proposals for meaningful talks and a peaceful settlement," Zelenskyy said. Trump praises Zelenskyy US President Donald Trump, who has previously criticized Zelenskyy, offered rare praise for the Ukrainian leader on Wednesday. Speaking at the White House, Trump described Zelenskyy as "courageous" and said he was "doing pretty well" in the conflict. Zelenskyy said he secured commitments for continued international support during the recent G7 summit and expressed hope that additional military assistance would strengthen Ukraine's campaign against Russia. He added that Ukraine's operations, including those targeting Crimea, had been carefully planned and could increase pressure on Moscow to pursue peace negotiations. Ukraine watching Belarus closely Zelenskyy also said Ukrainian intelligence believes Belarus has switched off signal relay equipment that Kyiv claims was used to help guide Russian drones toward targets in Ukraine. Last week, Ukraine demanded that Belarus remove the equipment and warned it could take action if the systems remained operational. Despite the reported shutdown, Zelenskyy said concerns remain about Belarus, which allowed Russian forces to use its territory during the initial invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Ukrainian authorities on Wednesday ordered mandatory evacuations from communities in the northern Chernihiv region near the Belarus border starting July 1. Meanwhile, the Washington-based think tank Institute for the Study of War said Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko continues to balance relations between Moscow and Kyiv, while avoiding direct involvement in the war. Ukraine's military chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi, recently said the country is strengthening defenses along its northern border and establishing new drone units in the area. Russian strikes hit gas stations in Ukraine Russia launched one ballistic missile and 90 attack drones overnight, according to Ukraine's air force. A Russian drone strike hit a gas station in the northeastern Sumy region on Thursday morning, injuring four people, including two employees, regional governor Oleh Hryhorov said. He added that Russian forces have targeted gas stations in the region 13 times this month. In the southern city of Zaporizhzhia, another overnight Russian attack injured a woman and damaged a gas station, according to regional governor Ivan Fedorov. Russia's Defense Ministry said its air defense systems shot down 269 Ukrainian drones between late Wednesday and early Thursday. Several Russian airports also temporarily restricted flights during the attacks.

China on Thursday defended its recent coast guard patrols in waters east of Taiwan, a day after Britain, France and Germany expressed concern over what they called new Chinese activities in the area. The three European countries said the actions could threaten regional stability, freedom of navigation and the safety of international shipping. In response, China said its patrols were aimed at maintaining maritime order and stability in the region. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun told a regular briefing that the patrols were carried out after Japan and the Philippines announced plans to discuss maritime boundary issues in waters that Beijing claims as its own. According to Guo, the patrols were a necessary response to what China sees as attempts by Japan and the Philippines to interfere in maritime boundary matters and undermine China's maritime rights and interests. In a joint statement, the unofficial embassies of Britain, France and Germany in Taiwan said China's activities posed risks to regional security and international shipping routes. Taiwan's Central News Agency also reported that the United States had raised concerns over the developments. Earlier this month, Taiwan accused Chinese coast guard vessels of harassing commercial ships near the island by asking them to disclose their planned routes. The waters east of Taiwan are a major shipping corridor used for transporting oil, gas and goods between the Middle East, Europe and East Asia. Taiwan governs itself independently, but China considers the island part of its territory and claims authority over the surrounding waters. Guo maintained that the coast guard operations were lawful and represented China's legitimate exercise of jurisdiction. Tensions between Beijing and Tokyo have risen in recent months. Relations became more strained after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested last year that Japan's military could become involved if China took military action against Taiwan. Taiwan remains one of the most sensitive issues in China-US relations. The United States is Taiwan's main arms supplier and has repeatedly voiced support for the island's self-defense capabilities. This week, China sent its newest and most powerful aircraft carrier through the Taiwan Strait shortly after Taiwan launched a five-day military exercise aimed at preparing for a possible Chinese attack.

A Paris court is expected to deliver a landmark ruling on Thursday in a climate change lawsuit that could require French energy giant TotalEnergies to significantly cut its oil and gas production. The case, filed by several environmental groups along with the city of Paris, argues that the company is failing to comply with a 2017 French law requiring large corporations to identify and prevent human rights violations and environmental harm linked to their activities. The lawsuit marks the first time France's "corporate duty of vigilance" law has been used in a climate change case. Environmental organisations including Notre Affaire à Tous, Sherpa, France Nature Environnement and ZEA launched the legal action in 2020. The groups argue that TotalEnergies is among the world's largest historical contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. They are seeking a court order requiring the company to cut oil production by 37 percent and gas production by 25 percent by 2030, while also stopping all new fossil fuel projects. The ruling comes as much of Europe faces an intense heatwave, with record temperatures recorded in France this week. Extreme heat has also affected countries including the United Kingdom and Spain, where authorities issued the highest-level weather alerts, warning millions of people about dangerous conditions. The heat has disrupted daily life across Europe. Tourist attractions such as the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre Museum have reduced visiting hours, while school activities and transport services have faced disruptions in several countries. Scientists say human-driven climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of extreme weather events. The UN's climate agency has warned that the coming years are likely to bring even more record-breaking temperatures. According to the Copernicus Climate Change Service, Europe is warming faster than any other continent, with temperatures rising at roughly twice the global average rate since the 1980s. Earlier this month, the Europe office of the World Health Organization said more than 200,000 people across Europe had died from heat-related causes over the past four years, with many of those deaths considered preventable. The Paris ruling is expected to add to a growing number of significant climate-related court decisions around the world. Last year, the International Court of Justice said countries could breach international law if they fail to take adequate action against climate change. In 2024, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that governments must do more to protect people from climate-related risks. In 2019, the Supreme Court of the Netherlands delivered a landmark victory for climate activists by ruling that protection from the harmful effects of climate change is a human right and that governments have a responsibility to safeguard their citizens.

A Liberian-flagged oil tanker successfully sailed through the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday despite fresh warnings from Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard against vessels using a newly designated shipping route near Oman’s coastline. The passage of the Stoic Warrior comes amid growing tensions between Iran and the United States over the implementation of a recently signed interim agreement aimed at bringing a permanent end to the Iran war. Under the memorandum of understanding reached last week, Washington and Tehran have agreed to a 60-day period to resolve key issues, including maritime security and the future of Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium. While negotiations continue behind closed doors, officials from both sides have also been publicly debating aspects of the deal, raising concerns about the stability of the fragile ceasefire. The situation has been further complicated by renewed violence in Lebanon. On Wednesday, an Israeli airstrike killed two people in southern Lebanon, according to the country’s state-run news agency. The strike marked Israel’s first attack on Lebanon since the latest ceasefire took effect on Saturday. The Stoic Warrior departed early Thursday and followed a route close to the coasts of the United Arab Emirates and Oman before rounding Oman’s Musandam Peninsula. The route was developed by Oman in coordination with the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the UN agency responsible for maritime safety. The new route lies south of the long-established Traffic Separation Scheme, the main shipping lane through the Strait of Hormuz that handles roughly one-fifth of global oil and natural gas shipments. The alternative path has gained attention after reports that naval mines may have been placed in parts of the strait during the conflict that began on Feb. 28 with US and Israeli strikes on Iran. The Revolutionary Guard has previously claimed responsibility for mining the waterway, prompting safety concerns for commercial shipping. Responding to the new route, the Guard’s naval arm issued a warning on Thursday through Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency. “A few hours ago, without notice or coordination with the Islamic Republic of Iran, some authorities announced a new route for ship traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, which is unacceptable and completely dangerous,” the statement said. “It is hereby notified to all that the only authorized route for passing through the Strait of Hormuz is the one declared by the Islamic Republic of Iran,” it added, warning that vessels operating outside those routes would be violating regulations. The statement further cautioned that “violators will be dealt with,” though it did not specify what actions might be taken. Despite the warning, there were no immediate reports of disruptions or incidents as the Stoic Warrior completed its transit. Ship-tracking data showed several vessels following the same route. Meanwhile, senior Emirati diplomat Anwar Gargash criticized any attempt by Iran to restrict navigation or impose fees on ships using the strategic waterway. Writing on X, Gargash said new geopolitical realities could not be forced upon Gulf Arab states and warned that such moves could fuel future tensions and instability in the region. At the same time, Lebanon remains a key point of contention in wider regional negotiations. Israel’s military said Thursday that one reservist soldier was killed and another wounded in southern Lebanon, where Israeli forces continue to hold positions. Since the latest conflict began, at least 37 Israeli soldiers and one civilian defense contractor have been killed, along with two civilians in northern Israel. Lebanese authorities say more than 4,000 people have been killed in Israeli attacks since the latest Israel-Hezbollah conflict erupted in March, shortly after the Iran war began. Iran has maintained that a lasting agreement with the United States will require an end to hostilities in Lebanon and a withdrawal of Israeli forces from occupied areas. Israel, however, argues that it must retain freedom of action against Hezbollah as international pressure over its military operations continues to grow.