Iran reviewing U.S. views on 7-day plan to cease hostilities: senior diplomat
A senior Iranian diplomat said Sunday that Iran is currently reviewing U.S. views on Tehran's recent proposal to cease hostilities and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, according to the semi-official Fars news agency.
Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi made the remarks in Tehran, saying that the United States has submitted its views on Iran's proposal through mediators.
He stressed that Iran's proposal is the "seven-day plan" that was presented to the other side by Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi in New York late last month.
Gharibabadi said, "The U.S. views are currently being reviewed inside the country through the appropriate channels," adding whenever Iran's final views are ready, the necessary action will be taken through "appropriate channels."
He added that Iran is simultaneously making the necessary preparations for any other scenario as well.
Voting begins in Brazil's presidential election
Voting in the first round of Brazil's 2026 presidential election officially began at 8 a.m. (1100 GMT) on Sunday, with polling stations across the country scheduled to close at 5 p.m. (0800 GMT).
Initial results are expected to be announced within a few hours after the polls close.
Recent opinion polls showed incumbent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of the ruling Workers' Party and Flavio Bolsonaro, the presidential candidate of Brazil's Liberal Party and son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, leading the race with a significant advantage over other candidates.
Trump announces new federal task force to coordinate AI efforts
U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday announced a new federal task force to coordinate the government's efforts on artificial intelligence (AI).
Trump said in a Truth Social post that the task force, named the "Super Intelligence Force," will coordinate federal efforts to ensure the United States continues to lead the world in AI.
It will also coordinate the government's engagement with consumers, public interest groups, religious organizations, critical infrastructure providers and AI companies, according to the post.
According to the post, Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton will lead the task force.
British PM reopens Brexit debate, but return to EU remains uncertain
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has reopened the debate over Britain's relationship with the European Union (EU), putting eventual membership among the options.
His remarks challenge Labour's previous red lines and raise a central question: how far is Britain prepared to go in rebuilding ties with the bloc?
In his first Labour Party conference speech as prime minister on Tuesday, Burnham said "Brexit has done more harm than good," and laid out options for "Britain's long-term relationship with our European partners."
In an interview broadcast by the BBC the next day, he said rejoining the EU was one option. "I would like to see Britain rejoin in my lifetime," he said, but added that he would "look at the different options."
Zelensky, Merz agree on 1.3-bln-euro support package for Ukraine
Ukraine will receive a new support package from Germany worth more than 1.3 billion euros (1.46 billion U.S. dollars), Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced Sunday following his meeting here with visiting German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
"It includes weapons that will help us now, as well as support for our energy sector ahead of winter -- an important energy package," Zelensky said on X, noting that he particularly discussed with Merz the need for air defense.
Zelensky said Ukraine and Germany currently have 15 agreements worth more than 8.5 billion euros.
The documents cover security cooperation, Ukraine's orders for German industry, and joint projects within Ukraine, among other areas, Zelensky said.
Houthis report 106 Saudi strikes amid new gov't military campaign in Yemen
Yemen's Houthi group said Sunday that Saudi Arabia had launched 106 air and missile strikes across Houthi-held areas over the past 24 hours, as the internationally recognized government announced a new military campaign to retake territory from the group amid a widening escalation in the country.
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said on social media platform X that the Saudi attacks hit the capital Sanaa and provinces including Al-Jawf and Taiz.
Sarea said the latest attacks brought the number of Saudi air and missile strikes since the current escalation began to 1,516.
The figures could not be independently verified, and Saudi Arabia has not confirmed carrying out the strikes reported by the Houthis.■
