Germany remains outside the UN Security Council for the first time
Germany failed to secure a seat on the UN Security Council, suffering a surprise defeat in a General Assembly vote. For the two seats reserved for Western Europe and other regional groupings, Portugal and Austria received the most support. Portugal secured 134 votes, while Austria secured 131, leaving Germany with 104 votes. This is the first time Berlin has failed to win a seat in the race for this important UN body.
The Security Council has 15 members, five of whom are permanent: the United States, Russia, China, France and the United Kingdom. The other ten countries are elected for two-year terms and represent different regions of the world. Germany has served six times as a non-permanent member of the Council. This year's result is seen as an important diplomatic signal for the European Union's largest country.
Israel and Lebanon agree to conditional ceasefire
Israel and Lebanon have agreed to implement a new ceasefire, following US-brokered talks in Washington. The agreement calls for a complete cessation of attacks by the Iranian-backed Hezbollah group and the withdrawal of its fighters from areas south of the Litani River.
In exchange, the Lebanese army will take exclusive control of several security zones created along the border. The parties describe this as a step towards a broader agreement for peace and security.
However, the implementation of the ceasefire remains uncertain as Hezbollah was not directly part of the negotiations.
House of Representatives votes to limit Trump's military actions against Iran
The U.S. House of Representatives has approved a resolution aimed at limiting President Donald Trump's ability to take further military action against Iran without congressional approval. The measure passed by a vote of 215 to 208, with four Republicans joining Democrats in a rare show of opposition to the administration's policy.
The vote comes amid ongoing debate over the conflict with Iran, which began in February and has raised concerns about further U.S. military involvement. Critics argue that actions so far have not received the necessary authorization from Congress.
Two Pakistanis arrested for killing four farmers
Italian police have arrested two Pakistani nationals suspected of killing four farmers in the south of the country. The victims, three Afghans and a Pakistani, were found dead inside a burnt-out van near a petrol station near the village of Amendolara, in the Calabria region. Investigators believe the crime is linked to conflicts between groups of migrants working in the agricultural sector. The area has long been plagued by tensions over job sharing and difficult working conditions.
Another Afghan, who managed to survive, said he escaped by breaking a window of the vehicle and running away. According to his testimony, the detainees had repeatedly threatened him with knives and firearms, forcing him to work without pay. Italian media report that in recent months there have been at least 14 cases of arson against vehicles transporting Pakistani citizens in this area. Authorities are investigating whether the incident is linked to a wider network of exploitation and rivalries between migrant communities working in agriculture.
