Russia’s permanent representative to international organizations in Vienna, Mikhail Ulyanov, has warned that the United States and Israel appear to be repeating their past mistakes. His comment came on Saturday in response to a New York Times report claiming that Washington and Tel Aviv are preparing for renewed military strikes against Iran.

In a post on social media platform X, Ulyanov said that if the report is accurate, it shows both countries have failed to learn from their previous strategic errors. The New York Times report noted that US President Donald Trump has not yet made a final decision but has been presented with several options. Meanwhile, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated last week that the United States has plans ready to escalate the situation if necessary.

The statements highlight growing tensions surrounding potential military action against Iran, with Russia publicly cautioning against what it views as a repeat of earlier missteps.

Tunisia and Turkey have officially announced the date for Eid al-Adha, one of the most significant Islamic festivals. Both countries stated that the celebration will take place on May 27, following the start of the Islamic month of Dhul-Hijjah on May 18. According to Islamic tradition, Eid al-Adha is observed on the 10th day of Dhul-Hijjah.

Gulf News reported that Tunisia became the first country in the world to formally declare the date of Eid al-Adha this year. Turkey, meanwhile, determined the date based on astronomical calculations rather than moon sighting, continuing its long-standing practice of using scientific methods to set Islamic months and religious observances.

Separately, the International Astronomy Center in Abu Dhabi indicated that the new moon of Dhul-Hijjah might be visible on May 17 in parts of East Asia, South Africa, and South America, suggesting that most countries could also celebrate Eid al-Adha on May 27.

International experts have called on the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare the climate crisis a global public health emergency. The appeal came through a report by the independent Pan-European Commission on Health and Climate, which warned that without swift and coordinated action, millions more people could face premature death and severe health risks. The report will be presented to European ministers on Sunday, ahead of the WHO World Health Assembly starting Monday.

The commission stated that climate change has reached a stage requiring classification as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). It cited the spread of vector-borne diseases such as dengue and chikungunya, heatwaves, floods, food insecurity, and air pollution as major threats. The report also urged an end to fossil fuel subsidies, noting that fossil fuels cause about 600,000 premature deaths annually in Europe while receiving €444 billion in subsidies.

Commission leaders emphasized that climate change poses a direct threat to human survival and health. They called for stronger climate-health assessments, combating misinformation, and making hospitals more resilient and environmentally sustainable.

China’s ambassador to the United Nations, Fu Cong, has strongly criticized a Bahrain-sponsored and US-backed draft resolution on the Strait of Hormuz at the UN Security Council. He stated that both the content and timing of the proposal were inappropriate and that passing such a resolution would not be helpful. The draft calls on Iran to halt attacks and the laying of mines in the strategic waterway.

Diplomats indicated that if the proposal is formally tabled, both China and Russia may again exercise their veto powers. The two countries had vetoed a similar US-supported resolution last month, citing claims of bias against Iran. In a short interview clip published by the UN-focused news portal PassBlue, Fu Cong emphasized the need for sincere and serious dialogue between all parties instead of adopting resolutions.

Fu concluded that passing a resolution at this stage would not contribute to resolving the issue, signaling continued opposition from Beijing and Moscow to unilateral measures targeting Iran.

Global financial markets reacted negatively after the recent meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping failed to produce any concrete agreements. The discussions included vague talks on agricultural purchases and limited commitments from China on oil imports. Although there were hints about easing restrictions on microchip sales to China, no major trade deal was reached. Trump also confirmed that tariff issues were not discussed, and no firm decision was made on reopening the strategic Hormuz Strait.

Investor uncertainty increased following the inconclusive talks. On Friday morning, Dow Jones futures dropped more than 300 points, or about 0.6 percent, while S&P 500 futures fell 1 percent and Nasdaq futures declined 1.4 percent. Continued uncertainty around the Hormuz Strait pushed Brent crude oil prices up nearly 3 percent to above $108 per barrel.

Analysts said the lack of clear outcomes weakened investor confidence and heightened inflation concerns, prompting greater caution in global markets.

OpenAI has introduced Codex capabilities to the ChatGPT mobile app, allowing users to manage coding tasks and ongoing projects directly from their phones. The integration enables users to connect to laptops, devboxes, or remote environments where Codex is running, providing real-time access to live project states, approvals, and outputs. The update supports fluid collaboration across devices, letting users review results, approve commands, or start new threads while keeping files and credentials securely stored on their machines.

The new mobile experience is designed to help users stay engaged with Codex-driven work from anywhere, using a secure relay layer that syncs session states across devices without exposing machines to the public internet. OpenAI also announced Remote SSH support, allowing Codex to connect directly to managed remote environments, and introduced Hooks for prompt scanning, validation, and customization. Programmatic access tokens and HIPAA-compliant local use are also being rolled out for enterprise users.

Codex in the ChatGPT mobile app is now available in preview on iOS and Android across all plans, with Windows connectivity coming soon. Remote SSH and Hooks are available to all users, while enterprise features are limited to eligible plans.

U.S. President Donald Trump has stated that he and Chinese President Xi Jinping share the same position on Iran’s nuclear issue. According to a Reuters report cited by local media, the two leaders discussed the matter extensively during a recent meeting, where they agreed that Iran must not be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons. They also reached a consensus on keeping maritime navigation in the Strait of Hormuz open and secure.

Trump described the meeting as successful, asserting that they resolved several issues that others could not. The report suggests that China’s involvement or support in this matter could play a significant role in easing tensions in the Middle East.

The development highlights a rare alignment between Washington and Beijing on a sensitive international security issue, though further details of the discussions were not disclosed.

China has expressed interest in purchasing oil from the United States, leading to a rise of more than one percent in global oil prices. The increase followed a statement from US President Donald Trump. Market data showed that the international benchmark Brent crude rose by 1.17 dollars, or 1.11 percent, reaching 106.89 dollars per barrel. Meanwhile, US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude increased by 1.10 dollars, or 1.09 percent, to 102.27 dollars per barrel.

In addition to Trump’s statement, ongoing tensions in the Strait of Hormuz have also influenced the oil market. Although reports indicated that at least 30 ships passed through the strait last Thursday, concerns about potential detentions or attacks remain. This instability has prompted investors to anticipate further price increases.

Analysts suggest that the combination of geopolitical uncertainty and renewed trade interest between China and the United States is shaping short-term market expectations.

The United Nations General Assembly is set to hold a crucial vote in New York next week on a new resolution addressing climate justice. The proposal urges member states to endorse the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion recognizing legal obligations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and control fossil fuel use. The initiative, led by Pacific island nation Vanuatu, seeks to reinforce international legal accountability in tackling the climate crisis.

The ICJ issued its advisory opinion last year after hearings in The Hague, which was supported by 132 countries without opposition. Small island states hailed the opinion as a historic victory. Vanuatu has since spearheaded efforts to translate that opinion into a binding political commitment, aiming to secure broad support before the May 20 vote.

The latest draft of the resolution has been softened under pressure, particularly from the United States. References to a rapid and just phaseout of fossil fuels have been replaced with a call for gradual transition, and plans for an international registry of climate-related losses have been dropped.

The ongoing U.S. military involvement in the Iran war is being viewed as a major strategic victory for China, according to Alex Vatanka, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute. In an interview with Al Jazeera, Vatanka said that the conflict is depleting American military resources and weakening Washington’s overall defense posture.

Vatanka noted that although the Taiwan issue was not officially on the agenda of the Trump–Xi Jinping summit, it remains an unavoidable topic. He questioned why the United States is investing so much blood and money in the Iran conflict when its long-term strategic challenge lies in a potential confrontation with China over Taiwan. He argued that the war is not strengthening but rather undermining U.S. military readiness.

According to Vatanka, while a Taiwan conflict is not imminent, Beijing is closely monitoring how the Iran war is draining U.S. capabilities. This situation, he said, represents a significant strategic win for China.

The United States and China have agreed that the Strait of Hormuz must remain open to ensure the free flow of energy. According to a White House statement released on Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping reached this consensus during their meeting in Beijing. The statement also noted that both leaders agreed Iran should never possess nuclear weapons.

The White House said the meeting covered economic cooperation, including expanding U.S. business access in China and increasing Chinese investment in American industries. Trump emphasized progress on stopping the flow of fentanyl precursors to the U.S. and urged China to purchase more American agricultural products. Xi reportedly expressed interest in buying more U.S. oil to reduce China’s dependence on the Hormuz route.

In a separate Chinese statement, Xi warned that mishandling the Taiwan issue could lead to conflict between the two countries, calling it the most critical matter in U.S.-China relations. China has not yet made an official comment on the White House statement.

FIFA has announced that pop icons Madonna and Shakira, along with K-pop group BTS, will perform during the halftime show of the FIFA World Cup 2026 final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 19. This will be the first time in World Cup history that a closing ceremony is held during the final’s halftime. The event will feature a Super Bowl–style concert, marking a new entertainment milestone for the tournament jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

Shakira, who previously performed at the 2006, 2010, and 2014 World Cups, has recorded a new song titled “Dai Dai” with Nigerian artist Burna Boy, filmed at Brazil’s Maracanã Stadium. The halftime show will be curated by Coldplay’s Chris Martin. FIFA President Gianni Infantino described the event as a historic moment for the sport.

Proceeds from the halftime show will go to FIFA’s Global Citizen Education Fund, which aims to raise $100 million to support children worldwide. FIFA also plans a special festival at New York’s Times Square during the tournament’s final week.

The United States and China have maintained high tariff levels despite a one-year pause in their trade war announced after a summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea last October. The meeting temporarily eased tensions between Washington and Beijing, but most trade barriers built over the past decade remain in place.

According to the Peterson Institute for International Economics, the average US tariff on Chinese imports now stands at 47.5 percent, up from 3.1 percent before Trump’s first term. Meanwhile, China’s average tariff on US goods has risen to 31.9 percent from 8.4 percent in 2018. These figures highlight the persistent volatility in bilateral trade relations.

Analysts say the recent pause has provided short-term relief for both sides, but long-term trade barriers remain a major concern. The high tariffs continue to affect both economies, and global observers remain uncertain about the future direction of US-China economic relations.

OpenAI has introduced a new sandbox environment for its Codex coding agent on Windows, designed to improve both safety and usability. The company previously lacked a sandbox implementation for Windows, forcing users to choose between excessive command approvals or unrestricted access. The new sandbox enforces strict boundaries for file writes and network access, ensuring that Codex operates safely within user workspaces while maintaining productivity.

The development followed an evaluation of existing Windows isolation tools such as AppContainer, Windows Sandbox, and Mandatory Integrity Control labeling, all of which proved unsuitable for Codex’s open-ended workflows. OpenAI first built an unelevated prototype using Windows security identifiers (SIDs) and write-restricted tokens to control file access, but this version offered only weak network protection. To address that limitation, the team created an elevated sandbox that uses dedicated Windows user accounts and firewall rules to enforce stronger network restrictions.

The elevated sandbox requires administrative setup but provides more robust isolation and control. This implementation aims to make Codex as secure and efficient on Windows as it is on macOS and Linux, offering developers a safer environment for AI-assisted coding.

Analysts believe that the ongoing discussions between the United States and China are unlikely to produce any major breakthroughs. However, limited, pragmatic, and transaction-based agreements may emerge from the talks. According to Professor Nick Bisley of La Trobe University, China’s main interest lies in reducing tariffs on its exports to the U.S., though it remains uncertain whether such concessions will be achieved.

Bisley told Al Jazeera that purchase-related agreements could receive the most attention. China may announce large-scale soybean purchases from the U.S., offering relief to American farmers affected by the Iran war’s economic impact. Additionally, Beijing might place new aircraft orders with Boeing. The formation of a joint trade board between the two nations is also reportedly under discussion.

Despite these possibilities, Bisley cautioned that expectations for major success are low. He described the meeting as a face-saving effort, allowing both sides to present the outcome domestically as a diplomatic achievement, while significant tariff reductions remain unlikely.