Section
Foreign Affairs
Putin faces darker mood at home as war drags on
Putin's position in Russia is under new strain as internet curbs, inflation and elite drift turn a distant war into a daily cost.
Trump ties Iran deal to wider Abraham Accords push
Trump tied an Iran deal to a wider Abraham Accords push, pressing for Arab-Israeli normalization as ceasefire talks with Tehran remain unsettled.
Israel steps up Hezbollah strikes as Iran talks advance
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would intensify strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon as Washington kept pursuing diplomacy with Iran.
Iran's uranium concession is the test of Trump's framework
Iran uranium concession is the hinge in Trump's ceasefire framework: without a verifiable transfer of enriched stockpiles, the deal only buys time.
EU blocking statute urged after US sanctions on ICC
Fatou Bensouda urged Brussels to use the EU blocking statute against US sanctions on ICC officials, increasing pressure on the bloc to decide whether to defend the court with legal action.
Trump Iran strikes: what the White House could hit next
Trump Iran strikes are back at the centre of White House planning as officials weigh energy, missile and uranium-linked targets while Hormuz talks stall.
Iran deal nears as Trump says Hormuz will reopen
Iran deal talks appeared to advance after Trump said a draft was largely negotiated, but disputes over nuclear terms, sanctions and assets remain.
Turkey-Israel rivalry grows as Iran war shifts Middle East
Turkey-Israel rivalry is sharpening as the Iran war pushes Ankara toward new regional pacts, turns Syria into the main arena and tests US leverage.
US-Iran peace deal finalised, announcement expected in hours
The US and Iran have reportedly finalised a peace deal with an announcement expected within hours, though gaps remain over uranium and Strait of Hormuz tolls.
Rubio tells NATO allies Trump angry over Iran war stance
Rubio tells NATO allies Trump angry over Iran war stance as Washington pressures Europe over base access and support ahead of ministers' talks.
Trump to speak with Taiwan president in diplomatic break
President Trump plans to speak directly with Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te, a break with 46 years of US diplomatic practice since Washington recognised Beijing in 1979.
Xi North Korea visit could test post-summit balance
Xi North Korea visit reports point to a possible Pyongyang trip next week, a move that would spotlight Beijing's ties with Kim Jong Un.
Raúl Castro indicted for murder as US carrier enters Caribbean
Raúl Castro indicted on murder charges as USS Nimitz carrier strike group enters Caribbean, marking sharpest US posture toward Cuba since Cold War.
Ahmadinejad plan recasts Israel's Iran war aims
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad plan suggests Israel's Iran war was tied to regime engineering, raising the cost of any cease-fire and shipping deal.
Israeli forces intercept Gaza-bound aid flotilla off Cyprus
Organisers said Israeli forces boarded 39 of 54 Gaza-bound aid boats off Cyprus, adding a new diplomatic flashpoint to the dispute over Gaza access by sea.
Israel expands territorial footprint under Netanyahu war strategy
Israel now controls roughly 1,000 square kilometres across Gaza, southern Lebanon and Syria, turning buffer zones into a regional strategy with rising diplomatic costs.
Marcos says Taiwan conflict would draw in Philippines
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said the Philippines would likely be drawn into any conflict over Taiwan because of geography and its citizens on the island.
Putin's Beijing trip tests Xi after Trump's China visit
Putin's May 19-20 trip to Beijing days after Trump's China visit forces Xi to balance ties with Washington and Moscow as the Ukraine war raises pressure.
Trump pauses planned Iran strikes after Gulf states press for talks
Trump delayed planned strikes on Iran after Gulf leaders urged space for negotiations, pausing what had been an imminent military escalation to open a narrow diplomatic window.
Argentina's China swap exit tests US strategy in Latin America
Argentina's reported unwind of a Chinese swap line under US pressure turns a reserve-management tool into a test of how Washington can challenge Beijing's leverage in Latin America.
Iran creates Hormuz authority as peace talks stall
Iran has created a new authority to oversee the Strait of Hormuz, tightening control over a vital shipping lane as ceasefire talks with Washington lose momentum.
Trump sharpens Iran threat after security meeting as deal stalls
Trump warned Iran that time was running out for a deal after meeting senior advisers, signaling a sharper public threat as diplomacy stalled.
Pakistan keeps Tehran channel open in Iran talks
Pakistan opened a direct senior-level channel to Tehran after Mohsin Naqvi met Masoud Pezeshkian during a week of regional strain.
Taiwan reasserts sovereignty after Trump casts doubt on US backing
Taipei said it remained sovereign and independent after Trump suggested support for Taiwan could be negotiated with Beijing.
Iraq PM Ali al-Zaidi takes office with cabinet gaps
Iraq PM Ali al-Zaidi takes office in Baghdad with only a partial cabinet in place, leaving security posts open and reforms under scrutiny.
