Iran nuclear deal pulled back from brink of collapse as talks resume in Vienna

Cautious optimism as Tehran revises its position after pressure from Russia and ChinaEfforts to revive the Iran nuclear deal have been hauled back from the brink of collapse as Tehran revised its stance after pressure from Russia and China and clear wa…

UK officials return to Afghanistan to meet Taliban for first time since takeover

Diplomats visit Kabul to raise issue of ‘safe passage’ for Britons leaving Afghanistan and rights of womenBritish officials have gone to Afghanistan for the first time since the country fell to the Taliban, meeting the group’s senior leaders in Kabul t…

ICC asked to relaunch inquiry into Taliban and IS ‘war crimes’

Move shows court’s determination to investigate contemporary as well as past crimes against humanityThe international criminal court’s new prosecutor has asked the court to relaunch an inquiry into alleged crimes against humanity committed by the Tali…

Is China stepping up its ambition to supplant US as top superpower?

Analysis: Joe Biden has cleared the decks to focus on China. But how imminent is the danger?It may have been an inelegantly, even ineptly, executed pivot, gratuitously alienating key allies, but by leaving Afghanistan and forming the Australian, US and…

Aukus pact: France to send ambassador back to US after Macron-Biden call

US and Australia not going back on cancelled €56bn submarine contract despite talk with French leaderFrance has agreed to return its ambassador to the US and Joe Biden has vowed not to cut Paris out of key future defence decisions in the Indo-Pacific a…

Taliban takeover of Afghanistan will reshape Middle East, official warns

Gulf states are having to reconsider their alliances and especially whether they can still trust the US, says senior sourceThe Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan is a shattering earthquake that will shape the Middle East for many years, a senior Gulf of…