presses

White House warns Iran to ‘be wise’ and take deal as U.S. weighs strikes, bolsters forces The White House urged Iran to “be wise” and strike an agreement with the United States as Washington readies military options and builds up forces near Iran, even as Oman-mediated talks resume in Geneva. U.S. forces could be prepared to launch strikes as early as this weekend, CNN and CBS reported, though President Donald Trump has not made a final decision. “Iran would be very wise to make a deal with President Trump and with his…

Micheál Martin meets Xi Jinping in Beijing, urges open trade as EU-China tensions simmer Taoiseach Micheál Martin met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Monday, opening a four-day official visit focused on trade, technology and wider geopolitical issues amid a tense backdrop in EU-China relations. During an audience at the capital’s Great Hall, Martin cited the strength of Irish-Chinese commerce and called for more open trade between the countries. He also acknowledged what he described as China’s indispensable role…

Venezuela demands US provide 'proof of life' of Maduro Venezuela’s government has demanded that the United States provide “proof of life” of President Nicolás Maduro, an extraordinary request that injected fresh uncertainty into already fraught relations between Caracas and Washington. The call, conveyed in public messaging on Saturday, did not come with detailed context readily available. The unusual phrasing — typically used in cases of abductions or incommunicado detentions — immediately raised questions about what…