Daily Asia briefing

President Trump said talks were underway. A top Iranian official denied that, while other Iranians said messages were being traded through intermediaries.

Canadian soldiers transported M777 howitzers to the High Arctic to show their ability to fight in an increasingly contested part of the world. It did not go as planned.

The new war has led to panic buying and a surge in food prices for Gazans as they try to recover from Israel’s two-year offensive against Hamas.

Tensions in the opposition Nationalist Party could surface this week as lawmakers debate defense funding intended to counter Beijing’s growing might.

The war in Iran is choking off Afghanistan’s main economic lifeline and has forced at least 70,000 Afghan workers and students there back home to a nation embroiled in another conflict.

Two missiles landed hours apart, wreaking havoc in two towns near a heavily guarded nuclear site in the Negev Desert.

France’s far right hoped for major gains in Sunday’s municipal elections, a key bellwether moment before a presidential election next year. Its results were mixed.

Michael Randrianirina, who sacked PM and cabinet without explanation, claims measure is to root out corruptionMadagascar’s military president has said new ministers will have to pass lie detector tests to root out corrup...

Iran dismissed President Trump’s ultimatum to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz, saying it would consider electric plants and water facilities “legitimate targets” if its electrical grid were struck.

UK’s bilateral aid to African countries, which funds areas such as schools and clinics, to be cut by almost £900m by 2028-29Some of the world’s poorest countries will lose out on UK aid that funds programmes such as scho...