International relations, geopolitics, wars, major global shifts
Pakistani Army Chief General Asim Munir visited Tehran to advance indirect nuclear negotiations between the US and Iran. Pakistani mediators told Al Jazeera they are cautiously hopeful about a breakthrough on Iran's nuclear programme. The visit underscores Pakistan's emerging role as a key backchannel conduit between W
Xi Jinping met KMT Chairman Eric Chu in Beijing, with analysis suggesting the PLA's ongoing corruption purges weakened Beijing's military signaling capacity and pushed Xi toward political engagement on Taiwan. The move reflects a tactical recalibration, leveraging the KMT's cross-strait dialogue posture to maintain inf
A shooter killed eight students and one teacher at a Turkish school, Interior Minister Mustafa Cifci confirmed. The attack is the second fatal school shooting in Turkey in two days, intensifying pressure on authorities to respond with emergency security measures.
Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar publicly condemned attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz as 'completely unacceptable,' calling for safe maritime transit. The statement signals India's strategic concern over energy supply disruption, given its heavy dependence on Gulf oil imports. No specific retaliato
Regional conflict is placing direct fiscal pressure on Gulf sovereign wealth funds, which collectively manage around $6 trillion in oil-derived assets. Rising defense and domestic spending demands may reduce the surplus revenues governments channel into funds like Saudi Arabia's PIF, ADIA, and Kuwait's KIA. Reduced inf
Sudan's civil war has killed an average of 53 people per day over three years, equating to one death every 27 minutes. The sustained toll underscores the conflict's severity as one of the world's deadliest ongoing wars, with humanitarian access remaining severely constrained.
Sudan's civil war, now entering its third year, has caused mass destruction of civilian infrastructure and driven millions into severe poverty. The cumulative damage to hospitals, schools, and supply chains signals a long-term economic and humanitarian crisis that will outlast active fighting.
A teenage student killed three pupils and one teacher at a middle school in Kahramanmaras, Turkiye, wounding at least 20 others in the country's second school shooting in two days. Justice Minister Akin Gurlek has launched a formal investigation. The shooter, believed to have used his former police officer father's wea
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated Thursday that U.S. forces in the Middle East are positioned to resume combat operations if Iran refuses a peace deal. The public warning signals Washington is using military readiness as direct leverage in ongoing diplomatic negotiations with Tehran.
A student killed four people and wounded 20 in a school shooting in Türkiye, the second such incident in as many days. The consecutive attacks mark an highly atypical surge in school gun violence for the country and are likely to trigger immediate pressure on government and security officials to respond.
The 2027 AFC Asian Cup draw, hosted by Saudi Arabia, has been moved from its originally scheduled Saturday to May 9. The rescheduling occurs against the backdrop of the US-Israel military conflict involving Iran, though no formal causal link was stated. May 9 is now the confirmed date for the 24-team tournament draw.
Israel continued strikes on Lebanon while diplomacy aimed at a ceasefire was active, prompting Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah to publicly denounce negotiations and warn of internal Lebanese division. The split undermines the credibility of any emerging deal and complicates enforcement prospects. No ceasefire timel
Australia's government has announced A$53 billion in additional defence spending over the next decade, framing the build-up with explicit parallels to the World War II era. The commitment marks a structural, multi-year shift in defence capital allocation rather than an incremental adjustment. The fiscal path and offset
Ukrainian army chief Oleksandr Syrskyi says Ukraine recovered nearly 50 square kilometers of territory in March, extending gains made since the start of the year. The announcement signals a modest but continued Ukrainian advance against Russian forces, though specific sectors were not identified.
IAEA Director General has warned that North Korea is rapidly increasing operations at its Yongbyon reactor, signaling accelerated nuclear weapons manufacturing capacity. The assessment raises immediate concerns for regional security and nonproliferation frameworks across East Asia. The warning intensifies pressure on a
The IAEA assessed that North Korea is expanding its nuclear weapons production capacity, with Director General Rafael Grossi confirming the finding. IAEA chief Grossi said the agency has not detected evidence of Russian assistance in North Korea's nuclear development despite broader Moscow-Pyongyang military ties.
President Trump said the U.S. has beaten Iran militarily and the war is 'very close to over,' predicting a peace deal and a stock market boom. Equity markets are sensitive to Middle East de-escalation signals, particularly in energy and defense sectors. Confirmation from diplomatic or military channels will determine w
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov declared Wednesday that Russia can cover the resource shortfall China faces due to supply disruptions linked to the Iran conflict. The offer deepens the Russia-China energy axis, threatening to redirect commodity volumes into bilateral arrangements and away from open markets. Cont
President Trump stated the US war with Iran is 'close to over,' asserting that Iran would need 20 years to rebuild if the US exits now. The comment moves markets and foreign policy observers to assess whether a formal de-escalation or diplomatic process is underway. No timeline or mechanism for disengagement has been o
US Central Command says a blockade of Iranian ports is completely stopping the country's economic trade, with more than 10,000 personnel, warships, and aircraft committed to the operation. A full halt to maritime trade would sever Iran's primary oil export channel and compress foreign currency inflows. The Strait of Ho