Ukraine energy minister Denys Shmyhal said Kyiv is seeking to sign a 30-year strategic energy agreement with Canada and has proposed an "energy security bridge" focused on Canadian LNG supplies. Shmyhal said he discussed the proposal with Canadian Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Tim Hodgson; he added President Zelenskiy and Prime Minister Carney had reached related understandings. Talks also covered a possible CAD 650 mln (~$461 mln) direct grant from Canada to help Ukraine buy winter g

Politico reports that as the US–Iran conflict continues, Arab states hit by Iranian retaliatory strikes have sought coordination toward peace but longstanding rifts are hampering progress. In recent weeks senior UAE and Saudi officials staged public photo-ops signaling a thaw; Jordan and the six GCC members held meetings at the US State Department and on Capitol Hill; and the Gulf Cooperation Council issued multiple joint statements condemning Iran’s attacks. Multiple Arab diplomats, current and former US officials, and regional sources say the states all want the Strait of Hormuz kept open but disagree on how to do so — including which countries can provide alternative shipping routes, which infrastructure is most linked to Iran, and which economies are bearing the biggest losses — preventing substantive progress. An Iraqi official said they are coordinating visits to Congress and the State Department but are not united on policy. David Schenker, former US State Department Middle East director, said the war has amplified pre-existing divisions in the Gulf.

Dalian will provide a phased fiscal interest subsidy for second-home housing provident fund loans approved between July 24, 2026 and Dec. 31, 2027: up to three years of subsidies equal to 15% of actual interest payments, aimed at easing repayment pressure for improvement buyers. Nationwide, nearly 90 Chinese cities have introduced purchase subsidies and loan-relief measures this year; local authorities are broadening their housing-policy toolkit, and fiscal interest support targeted at second-home provident fund loans remains relatively uncommon.