International relations, geopolitics, wars, major global shifts
President Trump cancelled a diplomatic mission to Pakistan by envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, halting efforts to break a stalemate in U.S.-Iran negotiations. The move raises the risk of prolonged diplomatic deadlock and adds pressure on Iran. Oil markets could react if tensions escalate further.
Mali's army says armed groups launched coordinated attacks across the country, with witnesses reporting explosions and gunfire near a military base outside Bamako. An attack near the capital marks an escalation, as the city had largely been shielded from frontline violence. No casualty figures or claimed responsibility
President Trump has cancelled US participation in peace talks with Iran scheduled in Islamabad, Pakistan. The move stalls a key diplomatic channel between Washington and Tehran. Iran's Foreign Minister had already left Pakistan when the announcement was made.
The Trump administration cancelled a planned envoy trip to Pakistan that was meant to facilitate talks on Iran. Iran had already said it would not meet directly with the US delegation led by Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The breakdown removes a key potential back-channel for US-Iran diplomacy.
International flights have restarted at Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Airport after weeks of suspension during the US-Iran conflict. The resumption signals the ceasefire is holding well enough for commercial aviation to return to Iran's main hub. Airlines and cargo operators will now decide how quickly to
OFAC sanctioned a Chinese teapot refinery and about 40 shipping companies and vessels tied to Iran's shadow oil fleet. The move targets the supply chain that routes sanctioned Iranian crude to independent Chinese buyers outside mainstream financial channels. Teapot refiners risk losing access to U.S. financial systems
US-Iran ceasefire talks fell apart Saturday after Iran's top diplomat left Pakistan and President Trump said he told US envoys not to attend. The breakdown removes the near-term prospect of a negotiated agreement between the two countries. No new round of talks has been announced.
Israel has declared it will strike Hezbollah forcefully, with four people killed in Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon. The warning signals a potential escalation on Israel's northern front, which has seen sustained cross-border fire since late 2023. A broader flare-up could draw regional actors deeper into the
Trump cancelled a US envoy trip to Pakistan after Iran's Foreign Minister Araghchi left the country early. The move signals a possible breakdown in indirect diplomacy between Washington and Tehran. Trump suggested future talks could happen by phone, posting publicly that Iran just needs to call.
The US State Department has sent a global diplomatic cable urging foreign governments to treat Chinese AI firms, including DeepSeek, Moonshot AI, and MiniMax, as risks tied to alleged unauthorised distillation of US AI models. The move raises pressure on China just weeks before Trump is set to meet Xi Jinping in
Palestinians in part of Gaza cast votes in the territory's first elections in over 20 years, using tents and donated buildings as polling stations. The vote is a significant political moment for a territory long without formal electoral process. Whether results gain broader recognition will shape its real-world impact.
President Trump has canceled Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner's planned trip to Pakistan for potential talks with Iran. The move removes a near-term diplomatic channel between Washington and Tehran, with no alternative venue or timeline announced. Trump made the announcement on Truth Social without giving a reason.
The Trump administration says U.S. forces are clearing Iranian mines in the Strait of Hormuz to reopen one of the world's most critical oil shipping lanes. Sustained disruption there risks higher energy prices and wider economic damage. The pace of recovery depends on the scale of the mining and Iran's next moves.
The Justice Department dropped its criminal investigation into Fed Chair Jerome Powell over a Federal Reserve renovation project, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro announced Friday. No charges were filed. Powell remains in his role, removing a legal overhang on the Fed's leadership.
China plans to restrict US investment in its technology companies, Bloomberg News reports. The move could cut off American venture capital and institutional money from one of the world's largest tech sectors. No timeline or formal policy details have been confirmed yet.
Gunfire was reported near Bamako's airport and across multiple cities in Mali amid spreading unrest. The incidents raise concern about coordinated armed activity in a country already under military rule and facing persistent Sahel security threats. The situation remains fluid with no official confirmation of casualties
Trump is seeking to eliminate Iran's nuclear stockpile in new negotiations, but that stockpile expanded sharply after he withdrew the US from the 2015 nuclear deal in 2018. Iran's enrichment surge since then makes a new agreement harder to structure and verify. The scope of any required rollback is the main sticking
Palestinians voted Saturday in municipal elections across the West Bank and Gaza's Deir el-Balah, the first elections since Israel's invasion began in 2023. No Hamas-affiliated lists were on the ballot, and the vote covers local councils with no legislative authority. Western donors are watching for signs of
Israeli forces killed 12 Palestinians in multiple strikes across Gaza, including six police officers. The attacks mark a fresh escalation in ongoing military operations in the territory. No Israeli statement on the strikes had been issued at the time of reporting.
President Trump said Iran is 'making an offer' to the U.S., suggesting a possible diplomatic opening. Iran's Foreign Minister, visiting Pakistan, said no U.S. negotiations were scheduled, leaving the situation ambiguous. The gap between the two sides' public statements means any talks remain unconfirmed.