China has refused to approve a planned visit Beijing is using the visit as leverage as it presses Washington to abandon the sale. The arms package, one of the largest Taiwan-related deals in years, has drawn sharp protests from China, which claims the island as its territory. The Pentagon has not commented on whether a final decision on the sale has been made.
Real Madrid secured the La Liga title on the final day of the Spanish football season after a dramatic final round of matches decided the championship. The club’s 37th league title came amid a tightly contested race with Barcelona that went down to the last kick of the season. Manager Carlo Ancelotti praised the squad’s mental strength throughout a grueling campaign. The result caps a turbulent but ultimately triumphant season for Los Blancos, who now turn their attention to Champions League obligations still to come.
European Union foreign ministers warned Iran this week that time is running out for a revived nuclear agreement, as talks in Vienna showed no signs of breakthrough. The EU, which has been mediating between Washington and Tehran, said Iran’s uranium enrichment program had reached levels that make a comprehensive deal increasingly difficult. Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons and insists its program is purely peaceful. The talks’ failure would likely trigger a new round of Western sanctions and increase tensions across the Middle East.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has ordered a sweeping crackdown on foreign media access, banning South Korean dramas and music while imposing harsh penalties on citizens caught consuming outside information. The order, delivered at a Workers’ Party meeting, marks a sharp reversal of the limited cultural openness seen in recent years. State propaganda outlets have intensified glorification campaigns centered on Kim and his family. Observers say the move reflects regime anxiety about losing control of the narrative as information leaks through smuggling networks along the Chinese border.
Stock markets across Asia, Europe, and the US opened higher on Thursday as oil prices pulled back from recent highs, easing concerns about persistent inflation. The relief rally came after OPEC+ signaled a potential increase in production output for the second half of the year. Technology stocks led gains in early trading, with the Nasdaq futures climbing 1.2%. Investors are now watching Federal Reserve signals on interest rate policy, with a policy meeting scheduled for next week.