Andy Burnham has opened the door to a fresh Labour leadership battle, saying he would take on Prime Minister Keir Starmer if he secures victory in the Makerfield bye-election later this month. The Greater Manchester mayor said Labour, despite being in government, requires a fundamental reset as it struggles in the opinion polls. Burnham made the remarks during a BBC debate alongside other candidates contesting the parliamentary seat in northern England. Starmer, whose approval ratings rank among the weakest for a British…

Four days after US President Donald Trump departed Beijing, Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived — a swift diplomatic handover that underscored China’s central place in an increasingly unsettled global order. Beijing’s ties with Washington and Moscow differ sharply, of course: one relationship is defined by strategic rivalry, the other by strategic partnership. Yet as China welcomes a steady procession of global leaders, each high-profile visit helps reinforce the sense that Beijing is becoming a pivotal stage for world…

Donald Trump said on Monday there was a “very good chance” of striking an agreement to curb Iran’s nuclear programme, arguing diplomacy could still avert a fresh US assault. The US president also said he had halted a planned strike on Iran after Tehran delivered what he described as a peace proposal to Washington. Mr Trump said he had told the US military that “we will not be doing the scheduled attack of Iran tomorrow, but have further instructed them to be prepared to go forward with a full, large scale assault of Iran, on…

A Russian missile strike on a Kyiv apartment building has killed at least 24 people, including three children, after Ukrainian authorities raised the death toll from yesterday’s attack. The updated figure makes the assault one of the deadliest single Russian strikes on a Ukrainian city in recent months. Across the capital, more than 20 sites were hit by Russian drones and missiles, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said. The barrage came only days after Russian President Vladimir Putin told a news conference in Moscow…

By Dulmar Maalim Wednesday April 1, 2026 President William Ruto’s announcement that the Somalia–Kenya border will reopen in April 2026 marks a notable turn in the Horn of Africa’s security and economic outlook. Beyond the symbolism, the move speaks to a broader regional recalibration — one that places trade, connectivity, and cooperation at the center of the East African Community’s integration drive. The significance of the decision fits squarely within the broader argument I have made about regional blocs and…

UAE warns of possible action if Iran attacks continue ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — The United Arab Emirates may take stronger measures, including the possibility of military action, if Iran continues launching missiles and drones toward its territory, the country’s minister of state for international cooperation said in a televised interview. Reem Al-Hashimi told CNN the UAE is prepared to defend itself against what she described as an ongoing threat, signaling a sharpened posture should the attacks persist. “We are…

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…

Iran’s foreign minister said talks with the United States would resume soon after an initial round in Oman, even as he warned that Tehran would target U.S. bases in the region if Washington strikes Iranian territory. The comments underscore the fragile path back to negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program amid new U.S. sanctions and tariff threats. Abbas Araghchi, speaking in excerpts carried on his official Telegram channel from an interview with Al Jazeera, called the Muscat exchanges “a good start” and said rebuilding…

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on Monday sidestepped a question about an alleged U.S. strike on a dock inside Venezuela but signaled openness to talks with Washington on drug trafficking, oil and migration after weeks of escalating American pressure. “Wherever they want and whenever they want,” Maduro said in a state television interview, describing potential dialogue with the United States. Pressed on whether he could confirm or deny an attack, he replied, “This could be something we talk about in a few days.” His…

MOGADISHU, Somalia — President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud convened leaders from several federal member states and the Banadir regional administration on Sunday in Mogadishu, following Israel’s steps toward recognizing North Western State of Somalia as an independent state, according to the president’s office. In a closed-door briefing, Hassan Sheikh told the assembled leaders that the Israeli move violated Somalia’s territorial integrity and statehood. He said the federal government was pursuing a coordinated response grounded in…