International relations, geopolitics, wars, major global shifts
A US-brokered three-day ceasefire took effect on Saturday as Russia held a scaled-back Victory Day parade, with Ukraine agreeing to halt attacks in exchange for a 1,000-prisoner swap from each side.
China's April trade data beat forecasts despite risks from the US-Israel war on Iran, which had raised concerns about disruptions to shipping routes and energy imports. The result offers temporary relief but the conflict's trajectory will determine whether the resilience holds.
US forces disabled two Iranian oil tankers after exchanging fire with Iranian forces in the Strait of Hormuz, escalating tensions despite an active ceasefire. The confrontation threatens oil transit through one of the world's most critical shipping chokepoints, with likely knock-on effects for crude prices and shipping
The IMF Executive Board approved Pakistan's latest programme review, releasing $1.2 billion split between the Extended Fund Facility and the Resilience and Sustainability Facility. Total programme disbursements now reach $4.5 billion, with an IMF mission due in Islamabad on May 15 to review the next federal budget.
North Korea plans to deploy a new 155mm self-propelled howitzer along its border with South Korea, potentially placing Seoul within striking range. The move raises the military threat level on the peninsula, where diplomacy between Pyongyang and Washington remains stalled.
China's exports rose 14% in April, beating expectations despite ongoing geopolitical tensions and trade pressures from the US and other partners. The result could reflect front-loaded orders ahead of tariff increases or successful trade route diversification, with implications for global freight, commodity markets,
Pakistan's use of China's J-10C fighter during the May 2025 India-Pakistan aerial clashes gave the jet a combat-tested status that is driving export interest.
A CIA assessment found Iran could withstand a naval blockade for roughly four months and had not capitulated despite US strikes. The finding signals that military and economic pressure so far has not forced Tehran to change course, keeping Gulf energy risks elevated.
Israeli strikes killed 31 people in southern Lebanon on Friday, including a rescue worker, Lebanon's National News Agency reported. The strikes come as the US awaits Iran's reply to a peace proposal, with reported clashes near the Strait of Hormuz adding pressure on energy markets and diplomacy.
The Pentagon released video of US military strikes on two Iranian oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. The incident raises immediate concerns about energy supply security and potential escalation in one of the world's most critical oil shipping lanes.
U.S. fighter jets struck Iranian vessels in the Strait of Hormuz on Friday as part of an ongoing American blockade, while Secretary of State Rubio urged European allies in Rome to help reopen the waterway.
U.S. forces fired on and disabled two Iranian tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, the latest in a series of direct strikes on Iranian vessels. The attacks raise serious doubts about a month-old ceasefire the U.S. has insisted remains in effect, and could push oil prices higher if Iran retaliates.
President Trump announced a three-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, paired with a 1,000-prisoner swap from each side. The short truce is a confidence-building step, not a peace deal, with its durability depending on front-line compliance from both sides.
President Trump announced on social media that Russia and Ukraine agreed to a three-day ceasefire from Saturday through Monday, coinciding with Russia's Victory Day holiday, along with a prisoner swap. The pause stops short of any lasting truce and its real test will be whether fighting actually halts on the ground.
The UAE Defense Ministry said Iranian ballistic missiles and drones struck toward UAE territory, with air defenses intercepting five projectiles and three people wounded. The attack followed a separate U.S.-Iran military exchange, signaling a sharp escalation in the Gulf.
U.S. forces struck two Iran-flagged oil tankers attempting to bypass a naval blockade, even as President Trump insists a ceasefire with Iran remains in effect. The incidents threaten Iran's oil export revenues and raise questions about whether the truce can hold.
U.S. forces fired on and disabled two Iranian tankers attempting to breach an American naval blockade of Iran's ports in the Gulf of Oman. The incident puts fresh pressure on a ceasefire already described as shaky, with potential knock-on effects for oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran has not formally responded to the latest US ceasefire proposal, with officials on both sides indicating a large gap remains between their positions. The stalled talks keep uncertainty high over sanctions, oil supply, and regional stability.
US employers added 115,000 jobs in April, beating expectations despite economic disruption from the Iran conflict. Wage growth of 3.6% year-on-year stayed in line with the Fed's 2% inflation target, reducing pressure for an emergency rate cut.
Early results from UK local elections show Nigel Farage's hard-right Reform UK making sweeping gains while Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Labour suffers significant losses. The results mark a potential turning point in British politics less than a year after Labour's 2024 general election landslide.