World Echo

Norway's parliament began public hearings on Wednesday over ties between late United States sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and Norwegian diplomats and politicians in a scandal that has shaken the nation's elite. US President Donald Trump's Department of Justice in January released millions of Epstein-related documents, revealing connections to politicians, royals and the ultra-rich around the world. Norway, home of the Nobel Peace Prize and often a fulcrum of international diplomacy, has seen major fallout, triggering parliamentary inquiries and police investigations. The government must explain what it is doing to restore trust in the foreign service, said Jonas Andersen Sayed, the leader of the hearing at parliament's Committee on Scrutiny and Constitutional Affairs. "There are many people who have demonstrated very poor judgement," Andersen Sayed told Reuters of those who had friendships with Epstein. Read: Epstein claimed Trump in...

Russia has warned NATO it would be ready to resort to nuclear weapons if the Western alliance attempted to cut off Kaliningrad, a Russian exclave that borders the Baltic Sea. In a document sent to NATO and seen by Reuters, Moscow accused the alliance of a "dangerous and reckless course" that entailed "high risks of the outbreak of a direct armed conflict". The document said this included the possibility "of Russian strikes against decision-making centres in the alliance's member states right from the outset of the conflict". "Russia will be ready to use the entire arsenal of forces and capabilities at its disposal, including nuclear weapons, to defend its territory should NATO countries undertake any attempt aimed at isolating the Kaliningrad Region from the rest of the country," said the text, classed as a "non-paper" — diplomatic jargon for an informal document. In addition to the private warning, Russian embassies i...

More than 100 Israeli settlers have attacked a village in ​the occupied West Bank, preventing a Palestinian family from returning home and clashing with troops, ‌witnesses said. Two houses belonging to the Tubasi family in Jalud village were seized by settlers weeks ago, amid a surge of settler violence and land seizures that have drawn international condemnation. The family had been staying elsewhere in the village, north of the city ​of Ramallah in the Palestinian territory, until Israel's military agreed to escort them back late on ​Monday night and protect them from the settlers. Around ten minutes after they reached the ⁠homes, a group of over 100 settlers descended, witnesses said. The settlers set the homes on fire, blocked ​access roads, and hurled rocks toward Israeli officers, three of whom were injured, the Israeli military said in ​a statement. A house belonging to Palestinians Mahmod Tubasi, 60, and his wife Aedah, 51, damaged in what they say was an Isr...

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) met United Arab Emirates (UAE) Vice ‌President and Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Riyadh on Tuesday, the Saudi Press Agency reported. According to Arab News, MBS and Al Nahyan discussed "bilateral relations and developments in the region", adding that the two leaders also reviewed relations between Saudi Arabia and the UAE. #PICTURES: Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman meets UAE Vice President Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed in Riyadh pic.twitter.com/IiqSCW4yqb — Saudi Gazette (@Saudi_Gazette) September 29, 2026 Earlier in the day, Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid ​bin Salman received Al Nahyan, Saudi state media ​reported, as Saudi Arabia faces increasing pressure ​from the Houthis, who have ​fired salvos of missiles and drones at the kingdom. The UAE withdrew from Yemen earlier this ​year after Saudi Arabia accused it of backing ​a military ope...

A bill proposing the recognition of Eidul Fitr and Eidul Azha as official holidays in California was signed into law, allowing workers to use existing paid leaves to observe the religious occasions. The bill, AB 2017, formally recognises Eidul Fitr and Eidul Azha as Islamic holidays as of September 10. With the partnership of Muslim communities and organisations, AB 2017 was introduced to California Governor Gavin Newsom by Assembly member Matt Haney in March this year. With the passage of the bill, schools and public workplaces will be granted the necessary tools to help Muslims in the US state to practice their faith without the burden of career obligations or academic barriers, according to US media. California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed AB 2017, formally recognizing Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha in state law. The law allows state and school employees to use existing leave to observe Eid and permits K-12 schools and community colleges to close for the holidays through local...

The US ban on some $1 billion worth of imports from Canada, including alcoholic beverages, dairy products, and motor vehicles, went into effect on Tuesday. President Donald Trump signed an executive order banning the sale of certain goods imported from Canada in the US. While the restriction on nearly $1 billion worth of products is not expected to create a major economic impact compared to the $880 billion annual bilateral trade volume between the two countries, the development marks a new phase in the ongoing trade disputes with Canada, a long-standing US ally and trading partner. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said in a statement that these measures were a direct result of Canada's discriminatory treatment of critical American exports. Read: Canada to impose retaliatory tariffs across a raft of US sectors, Carney says The list of banned goods imported from Canada includes select alcoholic beverages, dairy products, and motor vehicles. In July, the US administr...

Eleven teenagers were wounded in a mass shooting at a birthday gathering in the US state of Georgia, with two of them in critical condition, media reports said on Monday. The shooting occurred around midnight during a “large gathering” at Carolyn Crayton Park in Macon, about 85 miles (137 kilometres) southeast of Atlanta, CBS News reported, citing the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office. The victims were four 18-year-old men, two 18-year-old women and five 17-year-old boys. An 18-year-old man and a 17-year-old boy remained in critical condition, while the other nine victims were stable. Bibb County Sheriff David Davis said the gathering appeared to be a birthday party that had originally been planned at another location before attendees moved to the park. Another group later arrived, and an argument between the two groups escalated into gunfire, Davis said. All 11 people wounded were part of the birthday gathering. No arrests had been made, and the investigation r...

China and the United States have agreed to cut tariffs imposed on $60 billion worth of goods ‌imported from each other, on an array of products ranging from US corn to cosmetics, and from Chinese household appliances to toys. Under the US-China Board of Trade, both countries have each recommended $30 billion of trade in non-sensitive goods for more favourable tariff treatment, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said in a statement on Sunday. For the United States, that was "unlocking improved market access" for about 30% ​of US exports to China, he said. The reciprocal tariff reduction as well as an extension of a trade truce were among the key takeaways from the ​second summit this year between President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump, hosted in Washington last week. One of two lists from ⁠the White House showed that China planned to trim duties on a variety of US agricultural goods including corn, wheat, sorghum, meat, dairy, vegetable oils and me...

British police were questioning five men on Monday on suspicion of explosives and terrorism offences after they were detained near an air base that has been used by the United States to strike Iran. Officers detained the five men in the early hours of Sunday after they received a tip-off that three large white vans had been seen heading to the military airfield of RAF Fairford in the west of England. US President Donald Trump said the suspects had been looking to do "big damage" and had been under investigation by British and US authorities. However, a local farmer said she had tipped off police after seeing a group of "hooded and masked men" running into the fields. British counterterrorism detectives have not yet publicly stated who they assessed was involved but a source familiar with the investigation said an Iranian-linked motive was considered the most likely, while a Russian sabotage operation or an Islamist plot were also being looked at as ...

United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers have been instructed to stop arresting immigrants who do not have criminal convictions or pending criminal charges, according to agency sources. Under the reported directive, federal immigration agents may arrest immigrants with criminal convictions or pending criminal charges, while those with final deportation orders but no criminal convictions or charges would not be arrested, The Daily Wire reported. The reported change would also end so-called “collateral arrests,” under which officers may detain others without legal status encountered while pursuing a criminal target, according to sources. Read: US judge blocks Trump limits on how long foreign students, journalists can stay The reported directive comes amid increased scrutiny of the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement policies and ICE operations. Several ICE officers expressed frustration about the reported change, with one...

Swiss voters will decide on Sunday whether to approve a more restrictive form of neutrality that would block their ​country from imposing economic sanctions or cooperating with NATO. The country is holding a referendum on whether a strictly defined version of neutrality should be written into its constitution. While Swiss neutrality has been internationally recognised since the end of the Napoleonic wars in 1815, how the government implements it is not spelled out. The right-wing Swiss People's Party (SVP) has said that Switzerland's traditional position has been eroded after Bern imposed sanctions on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine. Read: Is NATO ready to fight? The Ukraine war is raising doubts among military analysts The campaign has funded posters across the country urging people to vote "No war, yes to neutrality", featuring white peace doves ahead of the vote. Stil...

China said on Saturday it had agreed with the United States on a $30 billion reciprocal tariff-reduction arrangement and on launching a ​dialogue on AI, under an eight-point consensus reached during President ‌Xi Jinping's visit to Washington. The two sides have also agreed to set up a trade council and extend the outcomes of earlier talks in Kuala Lumpur, the Chinese ​Foreign Ministry said. The agreement follows an earlier move by ​the world's two largest economies to extend by two months ⁠a trade truce that had been due to expire on November 10, ​allowing more time to work on a potentially bigger trade deal, US ​Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Wednesday. Read: US, China buy time with trade truce as pressure builds The three-day summit between Xi and President Donald Trump, which ended on Friday, showcased personal diplomacy rather than big public breakthroughs. ​Xi has since landed in Beijing, Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported ​on Saturday. On a...

Israeli forces used phosphorus munitions while shelling several towns in southern Lebanon on Friday, state news agency NNA reported. Artillery struck the outskirts of Zawtar al-Sharqiyah, Mayfadoun and Nabatieh al-Fawqa in the Nabatieh district. Phosphorus shells were used in Nabatieh al-Fawqa, while Israel later renewed attacks on Zawtar al-Sharqiyah with similar munitions. Read: Pakistan, Lebanon agree to enhance intelligence sharing, security cooperation In the Tyre district, artillery fire also targeted Wadi Zibqin and the outskirts of Haris and Haddatha. Lebanese army specialists dismantled two unexploded Israeli aerial bombs in Majdal Selm and Al-Ghandouriyah in the Marjayoun and Bint Jbeil districts and moved them to a safe location. The Israeli offensive in Lebanon has killed at least 4,386 victims, wounded 12,407 and displaced more than 1 million others since early March, according to Lebanese authorities. The attacks continue despite a June framework deal that pro...

Washington and Beijing may have bought themselves breathing space with an extended trade truce, but analysts warn that time is running out for the world's two biggest economies to resolve their strategic rivalry. President Donald Trump and Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping concluded a pomp-filled summit Friday, with the US leader confirming they would meet twice more this year. But even as Trump and Xi "are making nice," their countries "remain locked in a bitter competition over trade, tech, Taiwan, defence, rare earths and industrial policy," said Daniel Russel of the Asia Society Policy Institute. Daniel Kritenbrink, a former US official now with The Asia Group consultancy, said there's "no doubt that both leaders would like to see stability in the relationship, at least through the end of the year." However, "you'd have to see further tangible outcomes for this truce to extend in the long run." Read: Xi calls for new cha...

Multiple pro-Palestinian users, based on their past posts, across social media platforms have been sharing a video since September 23, 2026, allegedly showing Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni criticising Israel at the ongoing 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York. However, the clip is old, from her speech during the 80th UNGA session in 2025. The 81st UNGA Session opened in New York on September 8, 2026. The high-level General Debate, considered the highlight of the annual gathering, commenced on September 22. More than 150 heads of state and government addressed the UNGA over the week, outlining their positions on pressing global issues ranging from peace and security to climate change and sustainable development. While traditionally a close ally of Israel, Italy recently suspended the renewal of a defence agreement, reflecting growing unease over the escalation. At the same time, Italy has supported efforts to secure global energy routes and protect maritime tr...

Delegations from nearly 70 countries walked out of the United Nations General Assembly hall or left their seats vacant Thursday as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began his address, staging a mass protest over Israel’s genocide in Gaza and its attacks across the region. An Anadolu review of footage from the 81st UN General Assembly showed dozens of delegations leaving the chamber together after Netanyahu approached the podium. Some countries left a single representative or junior diplomat behind, while others did not attend the address. Turkiye, Palestine, Tunisia, Syria, Algeria, Yemen, Egypt, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Iran, Qatar, Lebanon, Malaysia, Indonesia and Kuwait were among the countries whose representatives joined the protest. Delegations from Spain, Brazil, Peru, Cuba, Nigeria, Ghana, Libya, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Oman, Niger, Madagascar, Botswana, the Bahamas, Antigua and Barbuda, Cabo Verde and several other countries also walked out or remaine...

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Thursday hit back at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's criticisms in his United Nations General Assembly address, pointing to the international warrant seeking the visiting prime minister’s arrest. Netanyahu’s “lies” in his UN address cannot erase the warrant for genocidal war crimes issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC), said the mayor. “As he has done time and again, Prime Minister Netanyahu used his speech to repeat baseless lies meant to sanitise his genocide of Palestinians," Mamdani said in a statement, local media reported. "Yet no lie can change the fact that he remains the subject of an International Criminal Court arrest warrant alleging war crimes and crimes against humanity.” In November 2024 the ICC, based in The Hague, issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza ...

India's 'Cockroach' youth movement leaders said on Thursday ​that they would launch ‌protests across the country if India's chief election officer does ​not resign in ​48 hours, a day after ⁠a newspaper report pointed ​to differences among top officers ​leading the poll panel. The Indian Express newspaper said on Wednesday that ​two election commissioners had ​raised questions or expressed concern at ‌least ⁠14 times in 10 months, mostly in connection with the process of updating ​voters' lists ​that ⁠began last year, with Chief Election Commissioner ​Gyanesh Kumar. The Election ​Commission ⁠of India said that differences were normal in any ⁠institution ​and that all ​its actions were legal. In July, Indian youth protesters called off ​weeks of demonstrations and celebrated in the streets after the education minister quit and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government bowed to demands including calls to fix ‌a cheating-prone exam system. ...

A federal judge ordered US President Donald Trump on Thursday to restore White House access for ‌journalists from CNN, MS NOW and Politico, saying his ban on the three media outlets was likely unconstitutional. In a major setback for Trump in one of his biggest battles with the media, US District Judge Tim Kelly issued his order in a lawsuit that the news organisations filed contesting the ban that the Republican president announced on September 18. Kelly ordered the Trump administration to ​immediately return the outlets' press passes and blocked officials from enforcing the ban for 14 days. The judge rejected the government's assertion that the ​ban was motivated by national security concerns. Read: Trump bans CNN, MS NOW, Politico from White House "The record lacks factual support for defendants’ contention that the revocation of plaintiffs’ hard ⁠passes will in fact protect national security or that national security will be endangered if ...

The Israeli army blew up the home of a Palestinian prisoner in the occupied West Bank on Thursday, according to local sources. The sources told Anadolu that Israeli forces raided the town and surrounded Dawas Hassoun’s home before blowing it up, causing material damage to the building. A day earlier, Israeli forces raided the Hassoun family home and forced its residents to evacuate, while closing side roads leading to the house in preparation for its demolition, according to the sources. Hassoun was arrested in March 2026 and is accused of killing an occupier about six months ago. In a separate incident today, occupiers burned two vehicles and sprayed racist and hostile slogans on property during an attack on the village of Attara, north of Ramallah, according to local sources. Attara has been subjected to a series of occupier attacks, amid the establishment of a settlement outpost near Palestinian homes in the village in recent months, according to the same sources. Th...

Fresh from accusing fossil fuel interests of treating the atmosphere like an "open sewer," outgoing United Nations chief Antonio Guterres is set to host his final climate summit Wednesday at the world organisation's New York headquarters. The stakes are clearer than ever, as the impacts of climate change surge around the world — from heat waves and wildfires in Europe to catastrophic flooding in Nepal and Tibet triggered by a glacier collapse. Extreme weather impacts are set to worsen with an El Nino weather pattern that has tied for the most intense ever. And the world is set to shoot past — at least temporarily — 1.5C of warming, beyond which scientists say it will see worse catastrophes from climate change. The "High-level Event on Climate Action and the Just Transition" will have opening remarks by Guterres followed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. The two countries are co-hos...

US President Donald Trump's Board of Peace will unveil a six-month, $2.45 billion recovery plan for Gaza at a meeting of its members on Wednesday, Axios reported. The 66-project proposal includes estimated spending for temporary housing, rubble removal, hospital repairs, economic recovery and the deployment of a multinational security force, the report added, citing a copy of the plan. The White House and US Department of State did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Read: Board of Peace reiterates Gaza objectives ahead of UN General Assembly The plan estimates physical damage in Gaza at $35.2 billion and says full recovery and reconstruction will require about $71.4 billion over the next decade, the Axios report added. It also calls for repairing border crossings, restoring electricity and water infrastructure, deploying 25,000 portable solar power kits and permanently filling tunnels beneath sites needed for priority reconstruction projects. Trump'...

Britain’s prime minister vowed Tuesday not to stand by as "horrific suffering" continues to grow and the prospect of a two-state solution "comes under attack" in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. In his address at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Andy Burnham said recent sanctions targeting illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank recognise that the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territory is unlawful. The October 7, 2023 attack on Israel by the Palestinian group Hamas "does not justify the Israeli government's actions in Gaza or the West Bank," he noted, saying that "far too many people have died, including so many children." "We will not stand by as the horrific suffering continues to grow and the prospect of a two-state solution -- the best hope for peace and stability for both nations -- comes under attack," he added. Read: UK rejects 'damaging' Israeli retaliation over West Bank s...

The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said Tuesday that peace in southern Lebanon remains "elusive," stressing that permanently ending the conflict requires political will from the parties. The remarks came in a statement marking the International Day of Peace, observed annually on Sept. 21, which UNIFIL commemorated Monday evening with a ceremony at its headquarters in the southern Lebanese town of Naqoura. “Today, peace in south Lebanon remains elusive, but the hope for peace endures,” UNIFIL said, stressing that lasting peace requires “political commitments and solutions from the parties themselves.” “Peacekeepers can help restore stability, avoid misunderstandings, and reduce the risk of escalation -- but they cannot replace the political will and decisions needed to end the conflict permanently,” it said. Read: UN chief stresses smooth Lebanon pull-out "Peace is not something we address once a year; it is an endur...

The Türkiye Nuclear Energy Incorporated (TUNAS) and the US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) signed a grant agreement on small modular reactors (SMRs) and fourth-generation reactors at a ceremony at Türkevi in New York, Türkiye's Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said Tuesday. Bayraktar said in a post on the US-based social media platform X that the agreement will enable Türkiye to comprehensively assess the technical, economic and regulatory feasibility of next-generation nuclear technologies. "In line with our goals of Net Zero Emissions by 2053 and full energy independence, we are committed to diversifying our energy mix," he added. Read: Turkish president calls for UN Security Council reform, end to veto privilege "In addition to our large-scale nuclear power plants, we will continue with determination to build a robust and modern energy infrastructure by meticulously exploring the alternatives best...

 A student opened fire in front of their high school in Turkiye's western province of Manisa early on Tuesday, wounding at least 11 other pupils, Justice Minister Akin Gurlek said. Two of the wounded were in a critical condition, Gurleksaid. The assailant was caught and their mother, father, and grandfather — who owned the weapon used in the attack — have been detained, the minister added. "When the security of our children is the issue, it is not possible for any negligence, any irresponsibility to be overlooked," the minister said on X. ÇOCUKLARIMIZIN GÜVENLİĞİNİ TEHDİT EDEN HİÇBİR İHMAL KARŞILIKSIZ KALMAYACAKTIR! Manisa’nın Turgutlu ilçesinde, okul binası dışında, öğrencilerimizin okullarına gittiği sokakta meydana gelen silahlı saldırıda 2’si ağır olmak üzere 11 öğrencimizin yaralanması hepimizi derinden… — Akın Gürlek (@abakingurlek) September 22, 2026 "The circu...

The Board of Peace on Tuesday reiterated its key objectives for Gaza as world leaders prepare to gather in New York for the UN General Assembly, calling for international support to advance a roadmap for ending the conflict. In a statement on US social media platform X, the board said its shared objectives include the demilitarisation and deradicalisation of Gaza, sustained humanitarian aid and reconstruction, effective Palestinian civilian and security administration, and lasting security for Palestinians and Israelis. The Board of Peace deeply appreciates the growing support of governments, international organizations, and partners for President Trump’s Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict and the Roadmap for its implementation. As world leaders gather in New York for the UN General… — Board of Peace (@BoardOfPeace) September 22, 2026 Read: Govt under fire for Trump's peace board The board, chaired by US President Donald Trump, said the plan ...

China’s President Xi Jinping will pay a state visit to the United States this week, Beijing confirmed on Monday, saying the Chinese and American leaders will exchange views on world peace amid the Iran war. “At the invitation of President of the United States of America Donald J Trump, President Xi Jinping will pay a state visit to the United States from September 23 to 25,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. At the invitation of President of the United States of America Donald J. Trump, President Xi Jinping will pay a state visit to the United States from September 23 to 25. pic.twitter.com/Gq3hDql3pa — CHINA MFA Spokesperson 中国外交部发言人 (@MFA_China) September 21, 2026 This will be Xi's first state visit to the US since September 2015, when he visited at the invitation of then President Barack Obama. Later, Xi met Trump during his first term in 2017. He visited the US in 2023, and met then President Joe Biden on the sidelines of the Asia-Paci...

United States Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng concluded talks in New York on Sunday with the US side proposing a new AI safety notification mechanism for US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping to consider at their summit this week. Bessent told reporters that the two sides discussed setting up a new US-China AI dialogue, with a particular emphasis on national security concerns with a notification system for common goals and common threats that would cover AI-related incidents that rise to a national security level. "We think that, just like with any cross-border activity, that moving from opaque to more transparency between the number one and the number two AI powers in the world is very important," Bessent said at the conclusion of the talks. Trump and Xi first discussed potential...

Denmark, Greenland and the United States are set to sign a deal on Greenland's security on Tuesday, an agreement Denmark says will put Arctic security under NATO's watch rather than leaving it solely to Washington and Copenhagen. The agreement, expected to be signed at the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Tuesday, has not been made public, though President Donald Trump says it grants the United States "permanent control". Denmark and Greenland have not commented on Trump's claim but said the deal will benefit the Arctic island and respect its sovereignity. The deal follows months of pressure from Trump, who has said the US should control Greenland and at times refused to rule out using military or economic force to acquire the semi-autonomous Danish territory. Read: EU chief in Greenland to boost Arctic ties His th...