International relations, geopolitics, wars, major global shifts
Israel and Iran exchanged direct attacks as a ceasefire showed signs of collapse, prompting US President Donald Trump to call Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The escalation raises risks for regional stability and global energy markets.
Israel struck an Iranian petrochemical complex in Mahshahr on Monday after Iran fired 11 ballistic missiles at Israeli targets, defying a direct request from President Trump to hold back.
An 8.1 magnitude earthquake hit Mindanao in the southern Philippines at a depth of 10 kilometers, according to the Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences. Tsunami warnings have been issued, putting coastal communities across the region at immediate risk.
Commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has dropped sharply as U.S.-Iran talks stall, raising global oil and gas supply risks. S&P Global vice chairman Daniel Yergin warns a prolonged disruption could drive up energy costs for importers across Asia and Europe.
US forces shot down Iranian drones near the Strait of Hormuz and struck radar sites in Iran, prompting Iran's Revolutionary Guards to fire seven ballistic missiles at Kuwait and Bahrain. The exchange threatens a ceasefire in place since April 8 and keeps a critical global energy chokepoint at risk.
Xi Jinping is visiting North Korea in a rare high-level diplomatic exchange, the FIFA World Cup is underway globally, and India is preparing to release key Consumer Price Index inflation data. The inflation print could influence RBI rate expectations and move Indian bond and equity markets.
Ukraine claims it struck five cargo ships carrying illegal goods in the Sea of Azov and Russian-occupied coastal waters. Separately, Ukrainian officials admitted a Ukrainian drone caused an explosion on Romanian territory, a NATO member state, raising diplomatic and alliance-management concerns.
Joao Fonseca, 18, beat Novak Djokovic in five sets to eliminate the 24-time Grand Slam champion from the French Open third round. Djokovic's pursuit of a record 25th major title will now wait until Wimbledon at the earliest.
High US visa fees, steep rejection rates, and fears over immigration enforcement are discouraging international fans from attending the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Iranian fans face an especially steep barrier due to active regional conflict and the absence of US-Iran diplomatic relations.
Mirra Andreeva, 18 and ranked eighth, beat qualifier Maja Chwalinska 6-3, 6-2 to win the French Open and claim her first Grand Slam title. The lopsided final cements Andreeva as a top-tier force in women's tennis heading into the grass-court season.
Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi is set to visit Tehran again, with PM Shehbaz Sharif personally briefing him ahead of the trip as Islamabad continues its shuttle diplomacy between the US and Iran.
US forces have struck Iranian sites on day 94 of the conflict, while Kuwait intercepted missiles and Israel deepened its offensive into southern Lebanon. No peace deal has been reached, and the conflict's spread toward Gulf states raises direct risks for energy supply and oil prices.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards struck a US-used air base Monday after US forces hit Iranian military sites over the weekend, continuing a pattern of exchanges despite a ceasefire in place since April.
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.