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Iraq seeks US exemption from Iranian airline ban citing humanitarian and religious travel needs

Iraq seeks US exemption from Iranian airline ban citing humanitarian and religious travel needs

The Iraqi government announced direct negotiations with Washington to exempt key airports from sweeping US aviation sanctions on Iranian airlines, warning that the flight ban has severely disrupted travel for medical patients, students, and religious pilgrims

Asia
Trump told Xi that China helping Iran is unacceptable, US ambassador says

Trump told Xi that China helping Iran is unacceptable, US ambassador says

US envoy David Perdue says Trump told Xi that any Chinese help to Iran, direct or indirect, is 'totally unacceptable'

Europe
Saudi air defenses down six Houthi missiles as France pledges security support

Saudi air defenses down six Houthi missiles as France pledges security support

Saudi air defense forces intercepted six Houthi ballistic missiles targeting the western energy hub of Yanbu and the southern province of Taif following nationwide emergency alerts

Middle East
Saudi coalition intercept Houthi drones targeting Riyadh and ballistic missiles over Khamis Mushait

Saudi coalition intercept Houthi drones targeting Riyadh and ballistic missiles over Khamis Mushait

Saudi air defense forces intercepted two Houthi drones launched toward Riyadh and neutralized two ballistic missiles targeting Khamis Mushait, as the UN Security Council issued a strong condemnation of continued strikes against Saudi civilian infrastructure

North America
US appeals court upholds Pentagon supply chain ban against Anthropic over AI safeguards

US appeals court upholds Pentagon supply chain ban against Anthropic over AI safeguards

A US federal appeals court upheld the Department of Defense's decision to exclude AI startup Anthropic from its defense supply chain after the company refused to remove safety restrictions on its Claude AI model for autonomous weapons and mass surveillance