Iran plans seabed cable fees as US lobbies UAE to seize Lavan Island and fires 250 diplomats
Three developments deepen the Iran standoff. Tehran is preparing to charge global tech firms for using subsea cables crossing its Gulf waters, with non-payment risking sabotage. The Trump administration is reportedly pressing the UAE to take Iran's strategically located Lavan Island. The US State Department dismissed around 250 diplomats and 1,000-plus civil staff, with former officials saying the building is being 'systematically hollowed out' as Hormuz reopening remains deadlocked.
China calls summit deals 'preliminary' as Lai pushes back on Taiwan-as-bargaining-chip framing
Beijing's Commerce Ministry described the tariff, agricultural and aircraft agreements reached during Trump's visit last week as 'preliminary', flattening expectations of a firm deal. Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te responded that the island would not be 'sacrificed' and underlined US arms-sales commitments as binding obligations rather than negotiation chips. Both moves narrow the room for Trump to claim sweeping wins from Beijing.
Canadian passenger tests positive for hantavirus, widening case count across nationalities
British Columbia health authorities said a Canadian who left the luxury MV Hondius after the outbreak has tested positive for hantavirus, adding to confirmed cases now spanning French, US and Canadian nationals. Officials maintain that risk to the public remains low, but the new case strengthens the link between the ship's evacuation cohort and downstream community surveillance.