International relations, geopolitics, wars, major global shifts
The U.S. military struck Iranian radar and drone control sites over the weekend, calling it a self-defense action. Iran countered by claiming it hit an air base used in the U.S. attack, with both sides exchanging strikes even as talks to end the conflict continue.
Pakistani Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will meet US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington on Friday, with Pakistan actively pursuing a mediation role to end the US-Israeli conflict with Iran. The outcome could shape both bilateral ties and Pakistan's broader diplomatic standing.
Diplomatic sources put the odds of a US-Iran peace deal at nine out of ten, with Islamabad likely to host the signing given its role in facilitating early talks. A framework would reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end the US-Israeli military campaign, with nuclear programme details deferred to later rounds.
Israeli forces captured Beaufort Castle and its ridge in southern Lebanon on Sunday, the country's deepest ground incursion in 26 years. The move escalates an already active conflict, as a formal ceasefire has gone unobserved since April 17 and Washington-brokered talks continue with uncertain results.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth praised Pakistan's role as the official go-between in US-Iran peace talks at the Shangri-La Dialogue, calling the Washington-Islamabad relationship an "unexpected" and "true friendship." The public praise, paired with Trump's repeated personal compliments of Pakistani leaders, signals
Russia warned of "consistent and systematic" missile strikes on Kyiv and called for foreign embassies to evacuate the city. The escalation threat raises pressure on Ukraine's air defenses and forces immediate decisions from Western governments and diplomatic missions in the capital.
The U.S. and Iran exchanged fire for a second time in three days near the Strait of Hormuz, with each side disputing who provoked the clash. Oil prices rose on the news, and the incidents are casting serious doubt on ongoing diplomatic talks between the two countries.
The US and Iran have exchanged strikes but both governments are signaling they want to avoid full-scale war. Proxy attacks, economic pressure, and oil market exposure keep the standoff volatile and make miscalculation the biggest near-term danger.
Iran has reportedly launched missiles as President Trump considers a deal to pause the conflict for two months. Trump says he feels no pressure to reach an agreement before November's midterm elections, keeping the diplomatic timeline open-ended.
Oil prices eased after reports emerged that the US and Iran may be nearing a ceasefire deal, reducing the geopolitical risk premium in crude markets. A formal agreement could eventually lead to more Iranian oil supply, pressuring prices further.
Oil prices slipped while stocks edged higher as traders awaited President Trump's decision on a potential US-Iran nuclear deal. A completed agreement could return Iranian crude to global markets, pressuring oil prices even as reduced geopolitical risk supports equities.
U.S. forces launched new defensive strikes against Iran on Wednesday as President Trump said the approaching midterm elections would not pressure him into a quick deal. The conflict raises risks for oil supply routes and energy prices, with no resolution timeline in sight.
Kuwait activated its air defenses against missile and drone threats as the United States launched a new wave of strikes on Iran. The dual developments point to a rapidly escalating military situation in the Gulf, with direct consequences for oil markets and regional security.
US forces shot down four Iranian drones and struck a control station near Bandar Abbas; Iran's Revolutionary Guard responded by targeting a US airbase. Oil prices jumped more than 3 percent as the exchange threatened the fragile ceasefire in place since early April.
US military strikes on Iran, including the downing of four drones and a hit on a control centre in Bandar Abbas, pushed Brent crude up 1.8 percent to $95.95 on Thursday.
Jill Biden tells CBS News she feared Joe Biden was having a stroke during his June 2024 debate against Donald Trump, saying she had never seen him like that. The admission directly contradicts the Biden team's earlier claim that the performance was due to fatigue and a cold.
Jill Biden told CBS News she had never seen Joe Biden perform the way he did during the 2024 presidential debate, describing the moment as unlike anything she witnessed before or after that night. The comment is her most candid public statement about an event that ultimately led to Biden withdrawing from the race.
Israel announced it killed the newly appointed chief of Hamas's Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades in a Gaza strike. The killing targets Hamas's military command structure and could affect ongoing ceasefire and hostage negotiations.
Brent crude fell below $95 a barrel on Wednesday, dropping roughly 5%, after signals of progress in US-Iran talks raised hopes that Iran could reopen shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Global oil prices rose roughly 3% after U.S. military strikes on Iran raised fresh fears of supply disruption, with the Strait of Hormuz remaining partially restricted. The move puts pressure on oil-importing economies and clouds prospects for a diplomatic deal that could have added Iranian supply to global markets.