(2025-09-20). Trump, Xi make progress on TikTok deal. tribune.com.pk 
US President Donald Trump said he and Chinese President Xi Jinping made progress on a TikTok agreement and would meet face-to-face in six weeks in South Korea to discuss trade, illicit drugs and Russia's war in Ukraine. | The two sides appeared to lower tensions during the first call in three months between the leaders of the two superpowers, but it was not immediately clear that the call had yielded the firm agreement that had been expected over the fate of the popular short video app. | The leaders did agree to further talks on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum that starts on Octob…
(2025-09-20). Russia challenges ruling over Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 downing. scmp.com Russia has filed an appeal with the International Court of Justice over a decision deeming Moscow responsible for the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over Ukraine in 2014, killing 298 people, the court said on Friday. | Australia and the Netherlands, the countries with the most fatalities in the disaster, had launched the case, calling for Russia to assume responsibility for the downing and pay damages.
(2025-09-20). Paolini prolongs Italy's BJK Cup title defence. tribune.com.pk 
Jasmine Paolini pulled off double duty and fought back from the brink to keep Italy's title defence alive with victory over Ukraine in the Billie Jean King Cup semi-finals in Shenzhen on Friday. | With Italy trailing 0-1 in the tie and Paolini down 3-6, 2-4 to Elina Svitolina in the second singles of the day, things were looking dicey for the defending champions. | But, just like she did against Wang Xinyu in the quarter-finals three days earlier, Paolini clawed her way back to complete a 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 win over Svitolina and take the semi-final tie into a deciding doubles clash. | After a gruelling two-hour 25…
(2025-09-20). Russian Jets Violate NATO Airspace: Estonia Confronts 'Brazen' Incursion. devdiscourse.com In an alarming incident, three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets entered Estonian airspace without permission, remaining for 12 minutes before being forced out. This incursion, described as 'unprecedentedly brazen' by Estonia's Foreign Minister, Margus Tsahkna, marks the fourth such violation by Russia this year.
(2025-09-20). Seven injured in grenade attack on PPP leader's house in Khuzdar. tribune.com.pk 
Seven guards were injured when unknown assailants hurled a grenade at the residence of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) senior leader Agha Shakil Ahmed Durrani and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senator Agha Shazeb Durrani, late Friday night in Khuzdar's Do Talwar area. | According to SSP Khuzdar Shehzada Umar Abbas Babar, the attackers threw the grenade at the outer wall of the house, causing an explosion that was felt in nearby buildings. | "This was a cowardly act aimed at disturbing peace in the area," he said, adding that fortunately no lives were lost and the injured guards sustained only minor wounds.
(2025-09-20). Ted Cruz breaks with Republicans, slams 'mafioso' threats to broadcasters. aljazeera.com The US senator has labelled Carr's comments 'dangerous as hell' and something 'right out of Goodfellas'.
(2025-09-20). US army says 4 special ops troops presumed dead in Washington State helicopter crash. geo.tv 
US UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter flies during an opening ceremony of the NATO-led military exercises "Noble Partner 2018" at Vaziani military base outside Tbilisi, Georgia, US, August 1, 2018. —Reuters
(2025-09-20). Russian jets enter Estonia's airspace in latest test for Nato. geo.tv 
(2025-09-20). ONU: Venezuela demanda cese de acciones hostiles de EEUU. radiohc.cu El Gobierno de Venezuela demandó este viernes al Consejo de Seguridad de las Naciones Unidas que exija a Estados Unidos el cese inmediato de las acciones militares en el mar Caribe, que amenazan la paz de Latinoamérica. | En su cuenta de Telegram el ministro venezolano para Relaciones Exteriores, Yván Gil afirmó que "resulta fundamental" se respete la soberanía política y territorial de la República Bolivariana y de toda la región caribeña. | Señaló que los mismos oficiales estadounidenses aseguran que estas acciones "han resultado en asesinatos extrajudiciales de civiles, con la intención de sembrar terror en nu…
(2025-09-19). EU's New India Strategy Overlooks Modi's Repression. hrw.org Click to expand Image | EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (center left) and the College of European Commissioners with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other Indian officials in New Delhi, February 27, 2025. | © 2025 EU Commission…
(2025-09-19). 'Time to turn off the tap' as EU aims to bring forward Russian gas ban. scmp.com The European Commission is aiming to bring forward a ban on EU imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Russia by one year to the beginning of 2027 as part of the bloc's 19th package of sanctions on Moscow. | "Europe is increasing its pressure," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Friday. | "Russia's war economy is sustained by the revenues from fossil fuels. We want to cut these revenues," she said.
(2025-09-19). The Senator, the Gold Mine and the Sundance Kid. counterpunch.org 
My two journalistic encounters with Robert Redford both involved trout streams and internationally known professors of literature at the University of Chicago. In the fall of 1995, I got word from sources in Montana that Redford the environmental champion was sending out fundraising letters for the state's perpetually embattled Democratic Senator Max Baucus, despite the fact that Baucus had a dismal environmental record and his family had a stake in a giant open-pit gold mine slated to blasted into the headwaters of the Blackfoot River, a sacred stream to anglers around the world and the subject of Norman Maclean…
(2025-09-19). Riyadh-Islamabad "Islamic NATO" to Check Israel in Shadow of US Decline. juancole.com Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) — In a dramatic signal that the Arab Gulf nations have completely lost faith in the American security umbrella, on Wednesday September 17, Saudi Arabia signed a mutual defense pact with Pakistan. Mirroring the language of Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization charter, they announced that an attack on …