International relations, geopolitics, wars, major global shifts
The US Congress passed a bill restoring DHS funding and ending a partial government shutdown that had left federal workers unpaid for weeks. The bill excludes ICE, leaving that agency's funding unresolved. Federal workers covered by the measure will now receive back pay.
Trump is planning a May trip to China, with a U.S.-Iran conflict expected to dominate the agenda. China has called the war unnecessary, complicating talks that already carry high economic stakes. How Beijing handles pressure over Iranian oil trade could shape the outcome of broader U.S.-China negotiations.
A congressional deadline for President Trump to end or justify the U.S.-Iran conflict arrives Friday with no resolution in sight. The war has settled into a shipping-route standoff, and the deadline is expected to pass without altering U.S. military posture. Congressional war powers oversight remains unresolved.
Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng held a video call with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, with Beijing describing the tone as candid and constructive. The call comes weeks before an expected Trump-Xi summit, raising hopes for progress on trade tensions that have unsettled global
Rajnath Singh said India stopped Operation Sindoor by choice, not due to any military constraints, and called Pakistan the 'epicentre of terrorism'. He stressed that Indian forces can scale up at any time, framing the halt as a conditional pause. The remarks reinforce India's official narrative that it controlled the
Japan's yen surged after Tokyo issued a strong warning about possible currency market intervention to halt the yen's slide. The warning signals Japan may soon buy yen directly, which could jolt dollar and global bond markets. No confirmed intervention has been announced yet.
President Trump says the US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz will continue until Iran agrees to abandon its nuclear weapons program. Pentagon officials told Congress the conflict has cost $25 billion so far, while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faced criticism of the strategy. Gas prices are rising as markets price in
Oil price forecasts are moving higher as markets price in the risk of a prolonged supply disruption tied to the conflict involving Iran. Iran is a major OPEC producer, and a sustained outage would tighten global crude supply. Higher oil prices could raise import costs and fuel prices in India and other large importers.
Japan's finance minister warned markets after the yen fell past 160 per dollar, a level that has previously triggered government currency intervention. A weaker yen drives up import costs for fuel, food, and materials, adding to domestic inflation pressure. Markets are watching for signs that Tokyo may move from verbal
Pakistan has activated overland trade routes into Iran after US-Iran tensions disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, leaving cargo stranded. The land corridor offers a short-term fix but likely raises transport costs and transit times for traders on both sides.
The US is seeking international help to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, closed for two months following US-Israeli strikes on Iran. The blockage is cutting off 20% of global oil and gas supplies and driving crude prices higher. No timeline for reopening has been established.
Oil surged past $126 a barrel after Trump said the US blockade of Iranian ports could last months, pushing prices to their highest since 2022. The Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of global oil and gas flows, remains shut with no deal in sight. Stock markets fell across Asia while the dollar rose on safe-haven
Trump said the US blockade of Iranian ports is producing results and called on Tehran to 'give up' on day 62 of the conflict. A sustained blockade threatens Iran's oil export revenue and could tighten global crude supply. No public response from Iran has been reported.
President Trump confirmed a phone call with Putin covering both the Ukraine war and the conflict with Iran. Putin reportedly offered assistance to the U.S. on the Iran front, though specifics were not disclosed. The call signals active U.S.-Russia diplomacy across two major conflict zones simultaneously.
The Trump administration is seeking to form an international coalition to protect shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, per a State Department cable seen by Reuters. The strait carries roughly 20% of global oil trade, making any threat there a direct risk to energy prices worldwide.
Oil prices surged to their highest since 2022 after Axios reported US Central Command has prepared strike plans on Iran to brief President Trump. Energy markets reacted sharply because Iran and the Strait of Hormuz are critical to global oil supply. No decision to strike has been made.
Oil prices jumped after the US blockaded Iranian ports, raising fears of a sustained supply shortfall. Trump met oil company executives to explore ways to cushion the hit to fuel supplies. How long the blockade lasts and whether other producers respond will drive prices from here.
Trump threatened to pull U.S. troops from Germany after Chancellor Merz said Iran had 'humiliated' America. The public spat puts a crack in a key NATO relationship at a sensitive moment for European security. No formal withdrawal steps have been announced.
The Japanese yen breached 160 per dollar and JGB yields hit their highest level in nearly three decades. Rising yields push up Japan's borrowing costs and could force the Bank of Japan to shift policy. A weaker yen also lifts import prices, adding to inflation pressure on households and businesses.
President Trump confirmed the US naval blockade on Iran's ports will remain until Tehran agrees to a nuclear deal. The move targets Iran's oil exports and broader trade, raising questions about escalation risk. Democrats questioned Pentagon leaders about the military and diplomatic path forward.