Coalition

A newly launched coalition called the Partnership for a Competitive Puget Sound argues that Washington must reform its tax structure to stay economically competitive. The group says the state needs a system that is simple, fair and competitive, alongside a sustainable revenue base. The effort is drawing attention among policy watchers in the Seattle-area business and civic community.

Discussion is swirling in Sweden around 'Tidö 2.0', a reference to a possible renewed or expanded version of the Tidö Agreement, the governing pact between the Moderates, Christian Democrats, Liberals and the Sweden Democrats. Commentators are debating what a second-phase deal could mean for government policy and cooperation on the right ahead of coming political negotiations.

The U.S. military has formally declared the end of Operation Inherent Resolve, the mission launched in 2014 to lead the coalition campaign against Islamic State forces in Iraq. The announcement marks a significant shift in the American military presence in the country, though questions remain about the future footprint of U.S. forces and continued counter-ISIS cooperation with Iraqi security forces.

Belgium will transfer three F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine before the end of the year, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said. The announcement adds to Western air-defense support for Kyiv as the country continues to face Russian missile and drone strikes. The handover is part of a broader coalition of countries pledging F-16s and training to Ukraine's air force.

The Artemis Accords, NASA's framework for international cooperation on lunar exploration, has grown to 76 signatory nations. The coalition sets shared principles for missions to the Moon, including transparency, interoperability and the use of space resources. The growing membership shows how the United States is building broad international support for its vision of lunar governance, even as rival approaches to space rules emerge.

The final British and American troops have left Iraq, marking the end of the anti-Islamic State mission there. The withdrawal closes a military chapter that began in 2014 with the coalition formed to defeat the jihadist group, and comes as Iraq moves toward a different security relationship with Western partners.

New Jersey's attorney general is co-leading a bipartisan coalition of state attorneys general urging Congress to fully fund security for the US Supreme Court. The joint call stresses that the justices and the court's facilities must be protected regardless of political affiliation. It comes amid ongoing concerns about threats to public officials and federal judges, and pressure on lawmakers to act before funding deadlines.

OpenAI, Blackstone, QTS and SoftBank are reported to be backing a union coalition opposing US data center moratoriums across seven states. Internal polling in Ohio reportedly shows 67% negative sentiment toward new facilities, shifting only when campaigns promise lower energy bills and local jobs, framing the fight as one over public perception as much as regulation.

The Pentagon says the United States and its coalition partners have concluded their military mission in Iraq. The announcement marks the formal end of a multinational mission that began years ago to fight the Islamic State group. Details about the future US troop presence in the country were not immediately given.

Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and the faction of exiled Fatah strongman Mohammed Dahlan have formed a joint electoral coalition ahead of Palestinian Legislative Council elections. The alliance unites rivals of Mahmoud Abbas's dominant Fatah mainstream, and observers are weighing what the unusual partnership means for the first Palestinian elections in years and the balance of power.

Regional leaders, waste workers and city representatives are urging negotiators at COP31 to redirect climate finance away from waste incineration and instead fund community-led methane reduction solutions. The coalition argues that burning waste undermines emissions goals and that decentralised, locally managed methane projects offer a more effective and equitable path, calling on governments to reflect this in the summit's finance decisions.

The final US coalition troops have left Iraq, ending the combat mission against ISIS. Under a bilateral agreement with Baghdad, Iraqi forces are taking control of former US bases as the government seeks to reinforce its sovereignty. The withdrawal marks a major shift in the two-decade American military presence in the country.

Nvidia has launched an industry-wide effort aimed at preventing rogue AI agents, but OpenAI is notably missing from the list of participants. The initiative brings together companies working on safety standards for autonomous AI agents, and OpenAI's absence is raising questions about the divide within the AI industry on agent safety cooperation. TechCrunch reports the reasons behind OpenAI staying out of the coalition.

The final US troops in Iraq are expected to withdraw on Wednesday, ending a 12-year American military presence dedicated to fighting ISIS. The departure closes a mission that began as part of the coalition campaign against the jihadist group and marks a significant shift in the US security role in the Middle East. The news is drawing broad attention as observers weigh what the withdrawal means for Iraq's stability and regional security.

US-led coalition forces are withdrawing from Iraq, raising questions about the future of Iran-aligned armed groups operating in the country. The exit ends a two-decade military presence and leaves open how these militias will adapt, whether they will turn their focus inward on Iraqi politics, and how security gaps will be filled.