Perm

Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said Russia's status as a permanent member of the UN Security Council is questionable, arguing that Russia took over the Soviet Union's seat without a vote. He contrasted this with the UN's formal 1971 decision that the People's Republic of China would represent China. His remarks are fueling debate over the legitimacy of Moscow's role at the UN.

The US Supreme Court has cleared the way for states to use the federal SAVE database to verify the citizenship status of people registering to vote. Supporters say the ruling helps states ensure only eligible voters are on the rolls, while critics warn it could lead to wrongful purges of eligible voters and raises questions about the accuracy of federal immigration records used in election administration.

According to The Information, China is considering allowing ByteDance and Alibaba to purchase new Nvidia chips, a potential easing of restrictions on access to advanced US semiconductors. The news is drawing attention as it could signal a shift in the tech trade standoff between Washington and Beijing, with major implications for Chinese AI development and Nvidia's business.

The United States is set to begin construction of a permanent embassy complex in Jerusalem, moving beyond the interim facility opened after the embassy's relocation. The announcement is drawing attention given Jerusalem's contested status, with Israelis likely to welcome the step while Palestinians and much of the international community do not recognise the city as Israel's capital.

Italy and the Czech Republic are preparing a joint call for the European Union to relax its rules on carbon permits and energy supply, according to a Reuters report. The push signals growing resistance within the bloc to strict emissions trading requirements as governments weigh energy security and industrial costs. It adds to debate over how far the EU should go in easing green regulations.

Japan has rejected accusations of militarisation after Russia voiced opposition to Tokyo gaining a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council. The exchange highlights ongoing tensions over Japan's defence policy and its long-sought bid to expand the council, where Russia holds a veto as one of five permanent members. The dispute underscores widening friction between Moscow and Tokyo amid broader geopolitical rivalry.

Developing nations are intensifying their demands for permanent seats on the UN Security Council, arguing the body no longer reflects the realities of the modern world. The push for reform has gained renewed momentum, with countries from Africa, Asia and Latin America calling for a council that better represents the global south. The campaign challenges a structure largely unchanged since 1945.

The Kh-101, a Russian air-launched cruise missile, is drawing searches following a reported drone attack on the Perm oil refinery in Russia, which Reuters says has halted operations. The strike adds to a series of attacks on Russian energy infrastructure, with Ukrainian outlets highlighting the disruption to a key refining facility deep inside Russia.

China may permit Alibaba and ByteDance to purchase new Nvidia chips, according to a report by The Information picked up by Yahoo Finance and Investing.com. If confirmed, the move would mark a relaxation of Beijing's stance on US-made AI hardware for its largest tech companies, amid ongoing tensions over semiconductor export controls between Washington and Beijing.

Nigeria has renewed calls for reform of the United Nations Security Council, arguing that Africa, despite holding three non-permanent seats, lacks a permanent voice in the body's decisions. African nations have long pressed for permanent representation, pointing to the continent's size and the number of conflicts the council addresses there.

A local official in Palmyra says war damage in the ancient Syrian city is so extensive that archaeological excavation missions could wait years before permits to resume work are granted. The announcement comes as residents and tourists slowly begin returning to the city following the ouster that ended years of conflict there. The fate of the UNESCO World Heritage site, heavily damaged during the war, remains a concern for heritage experts.

Nigerian Vice President Kashim Shettima has called for permanent African representation on the United Nations Security Council, arguing the continent deserves a standing voice in the body that decides on global peace and security. Africa currently holds only non-permanent, rotating seats despite being frequently affected by Council decisions. The demand renews a long-running reform push backed by many African governments.

Israeli and Palestinian peacebuilders spoke at the UN Security Council, urging governments to make support for civil society a permanent commitment rather than an ad hoc effort. The appeal highlights the work of grassroots organisations on both sides that continue cooperation and dialogue despite conflict, and calls on member states to provide sustained funding and political backing for such peacebuilding initiatives.

South Sudan's Permanent Representative to the United Nations addressed the general debate of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York. The speech came as part of the annual gathering where member states outline their positions on international peace, security and development. Details of the address have not been broadly reported beyond the UN's coverage of the session.

Manchester United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe did not give permission for his comments to be used in a Reform UK video, according to a New York Times report. The 73-year-old billionaire, who has publicly criticised UK immigration levels on multiple occasions, is said to have had his remarks repurposed by the party without authorisation. The episode raises questions about consent and political parties' use of prominent business figures' statements in campaign material.

US immigration authorities are making an increasing number of arrests outside big-box stores and supermarkets in Oregon, according to local reporting from OregonLive. The trend has drawn attention from residents and immigrant advocates concerned about enforcement activity near everyday shopping locations. Details on the scale of the operations and which communities are most affected remain limited.

The European Union auctioned 2.792 million spot carbon permits at a clearing price of 85.9 euros per tonne. The result offers a snapshot of EU carbon market levels under the Emissions Trading System, which prices pollution for heavy industry and power producers. Traders and analysts track these auctions closely as the carbon price influences energy costs and corporate decarbonisation incentives.

A study published in Science argues that a Mega El Niño pattern, producing extreme and prolonged climate swings, triggered the end-Permian mass extinction around 252 million years ago, the deadliest extinction event in Earth's history. The researchers say runaway warming destabilised ecosystems beyond what species could tolerate. The paper is being shared widely, with an open-access version of the full text available.

Kaiser Permanente has reached a labor agreement with its workforce that sets terms for how artificial intelligence is used on the job, and MIT Sloan argues other employers should take note. The deal shows how companies can negotiate AI adoption with workers rather than impose it, addressing concerns over automation, job quality and oversight.

Denmark's Permanent Representative to the United Nations delivered an address during the general debate of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York. The statement formed part of Denmark's annual intervention, where member states outline their positions on international peace and security, climate policy and multilateral cooperation before the global body.

Manchester United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe did not give permission for his comments to be used in a Reform UK video, according to a New York Times report. The disclosure raises questions over how the billionaire's remarks ended up in the party's material, drawing attention to the overlap between Ratcliffe's public statements and UK political campaigning.

New Zealand's Permanent Representative to the United Nations addressed the general debate of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York. The statement forms part of the annual opening debate, where member states set out their positions on global issues. Details of the specific points raised in the address were not provided.

A supermarket has opened a pub as a workaround for liquor laws, a move that has apparently proven so successful at drawing crowds that the store now employs bouncers to manage the door. The Wall Street Journal reports on the unusual arrangement, highlighting how retailers are finding creative paths around restrictions on alcohol sales.

Japan has formally revised its guidelines on permanent residency, marking an official overhaul of the system governing foreign residents' long-term status. The change, reported by The Japan Times, is expected to affect how permanent residency is granted and potentially revoked, drawing attention from immigrant communities and policy watchers concerned about residency security for foreign nationals in Japan.

Immigration arrests are increasing outside big-box stores and supermarkets in Oregon, according to local reporting from the Rogue Valley Times. The pattern suggests federal enforcement activity is concentrating at retail locations where day laborers and workers gather. Community members and advocates are likely watching the trend closely amid ongoing debate over immigration enforcement practices in the region.

Matt Mullenweg has used his supermajority voting power to remove the board of directors that had voted to fire him, according to a Fortune report. The move reverses his own dismissal and underlines his controlling stake in the company. The power struggle has drawn attention across the startup and tech community, with observers weighing in on governance implications of a founder able to overrule and dismiss the very board that removed him.

Turkmenistan's Permanent Representative to the United Nations addressed the general debate of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York. The address forms part of the annual session in which member states outline their foreign policy positions and priorities before the world body. Details of the statement's content were not available, but the speech places Turkmenistan among the countries presenting their views on international issues this session.