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Trump Presses Iran on Nuclear Talks as Diplomatic Window Remains Open Amid Gulf Military Build-Up

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Trump Presses Iran on Nuclear Talks as Diplomatic Window Remains Open Amid Gulf Military Build-Up

US President Donald Trump has warned Iran that “time is running out” to reach an agreement on its nuclear programme, as the United States continues a steady build-up of military forces in the Gulf, raising international attention on the standoff while leaving the door open to negotiations.

Speaking amid heightened tensions, Trump said a “massive Armada” of US naval forces was moving rapidly towards the region, describing it as advancing “with great power, enthusiasm, and purpose”. His remarks were widely interpreted as a signal of pressure rather than an immediate threat, aimed at pushing Tehran back to the negotiating table.

Iran responded by striking a careful balance between defiance and diplomacy. In a statement, Iran’s mission to the United Nations said Tehran “stands ready for dialogue based on mutual respect and interests”, underlining that it remains open to talks. At the same time, it warned that if Iran were forced into confrontation, it would defend itself and “respond like never before”.

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Iran has consistently maintained that its nuclear programme is entirely peaceful, rejecting long-standing accusations from the US and its allies that it is seeking to develop nuclear weapons. Iranian officials have repeatedly argued that international inspections and agreements provide sufficient assurances about the civilian nature of its nuclear activities.

Trump’s latest warning comes against the backdrop of intense unrest inside Iran following a sweeping and violent crackdown on demonstrations earlier this month. At the height of the protests, the US president publicly voiced support for demonstrators, telling them that “help is on the way”. He later adopted a more cautious tone, saying he had received assurances that executions linked to the protests had stopped.

Human rights groups continue to report alarming figures. The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) says it has confirmed the deaths of more than 6,301 people since unrest erupted in late December, including at least 5,925 protesters. HRANA added that it is investigating reports of a further 17,000 deaths, which it says have been difficult to verify due to an extended internet shutdown across the country.

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Meanwhile, Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHR) has warned that the final death toll could exceed 25,000, highlighting the scale of the crisis and the urgency of international engagement.

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Tiger Woods Accepts Five-Year Driving Ban After Reckless Driving Plea

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Golfing legend Tiger Woods has agreed to plead to a reckless driving charge as part of a deal with prosecutors, avoiding the original charge of driving under the influence following a rollover crash in Florida.

The 50-year-old accepted a five-year suspension of his driving licence and a $1,000 (£742) fine under the plea agreement reached with prosecutors in Martin County.

Woods was arrested following the March crash. He passed a breathalyser test but declined further testing for other substances.

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He initially pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor charges of driving under the influence and refusing to submit to testing. Following the incident, Woods said he was seeking treatment and taking time to focus on his health.

Florida State Attorney Thomas Bakkedahl said he was satisfied with the resolution of the case and insisted Woods had been treated like any other defendant.

“No one was injured in the crash, although Woods was forced to crawl through the passenger door to escape the vehicle after it rolled over.

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Police body-camera footage released in April showed Woods in the aftermath of the crash. He appeared calm as he told officers: “I looked down at my phone, and all of a sudden, boom.”

Woods told police he had not consumed alcohol that day. He also acknowledged taking prescription medication earlier that morning, although the names of the medication were redacted from the footage.

Officers said they suspected his normal faculties had been impaired by an “unknown substance”. Authorities later reported finding two white pills in his pocket, which were identified as hydrocodone, an opioid commonly prescribed for pain.

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After the incident, Woods acknowledged the seriousness of the situation and said he was stepping away to seek treatment and focus on his wellbeing.

The crash was the second time Woods had been arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.

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Norway’s King Haakon Takes Oath as Nation Mourns Late King Harald

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Norway’s King Haakon VIII has sworn an oath before parliament in Oslo, marking the first major formal step in his reign following the death of his father, King Harald V.

During Tuesday’s ceremony, parliament also observed a minute’s silence in honour of Harald, who died on Friday.

Haakon’s wife, Queen Mette-Marit, was absent from the formal ceremony as she continues to recover from a lung transplant.

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Following the parliamentary proceedings, mourners began gathering at the Royal Palace in Oslo to pay their respects to the late king.

King Harald’s coffin is lying in state at the palace, where members of the public will be able to pay their respects until 8 September.

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Nepal Flood Death Toll Surpasses 1,000 as Rescuers Search for Trapped Workers

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The death toll from devastating floods along Nepal’s border with Tibet has surpassed 1,000, according to the country’s disaster management authorities.

More than 3,900 people remain missing, including over 600 workers believed to be trapped inside a vast network of mud-filled tunnels at hydropower projects along the Trishuli River.

Rescuers have been pumping air into the tunnels in an effort to keep those trapped alive. A team managed to enter one of the tunnels on Monday but was forced to withdraw after finding no survivors.

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Nepalese Prime Minister Balendra Shah said 279 people had so far been rescued from the affected sites.

The international rescue effort is being led by Chinese and Nepalese military personnel, with experts from India, South Korea and Australia also taking part.

Families of the missing workers have expressed frustration over the pace of the rescue operation.

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Nepal relies heavily on hydropower and has invested extensively in projects along its mountainous river systems. Authorities said at least 11 hydropower projects, either completed or under construction, were damaged by the floods.

Rescuers began pumping air into one tunnel over the weekend, but relatives of those trapped said the measure should have been introduced sooner.

Prime Minister Shah said rescue efforts had been intensified, describing the floods as an extraordinary disaster and warning that climate change was increasing risks across the Himalayan region.

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