News in brief
Governments across the Asia-Pacific region are accelerating evacuation plans and reinforcing energy security measures as escalating hostilities in the Middle East disrupt global oil flows and unsettle financial markets. Countries including China, India, Pakistan and Australia have mobilized diplomatic......
Airlines across the globe have canceled hundreds of flights to and from the Middle East following recent military escalations involving Iran, the United States, and Israel. The widespread disruption comes as several countries in the region temporarily closed their airspace, forcing carriers to suspend......
Africa’s military balance remains largely stable in 2026, according to the latest Global Fire Power (GFP) ranking, despite several shifts within the continent’s top ten. The annual index evaluates the military strength of 145 countries worldwide using more than 60 indicators related to manpower,......
As December 31 unfolds, several countries across the globe have already marked the transition to 2026, blending celebration, reflection, and tradition. On Australia’s east coast, the New Year began in an atmosphere of caution and remembrance. In Sydney, festivities around the iconic Harbour Bridge......
China has launched large-scale military exercises around Taiwan, intensifying tensions in the Asia-Pacific region. The drills, described by Beijing as “major,” involve coordinated operations by the navy, air force, ground troops, and missile units, including live-fire exercises in areas surrounding......
Conservative candidate Nasry Asfura has been officially declared the winner of Honduras’ presidential election, marking a return of the right to power in the Central American country after a closely contested and controversial vote. The result was announced by electoral authorities several weeks......
Cambodia has accused Thailand of carrying out an airstrike on the border city of Poipet, a major crossing point between the two countries known for its numerous casinos and economic activity. According to a statement released by the Cambodian Ministry of Defense, a Thai F-16 fighter jet allegedly dropped......
Global economic losses from natural disasters are projected to have declined by 33 percent in 2025, reaching $220 billion, according to Swiss Re, the Zurich-based reinsurer. Despite the devastating Los Angeles wildfires in January, which alone caused an estimated $40 billion in insured losses—the......
European climate scientists report that 2025 is almost guaranteed to rank as the second- or third-warmest year ever measured, continuing a worrying pattern of escalating global temperatures. According to the Copernicus Climate Change Service, global average temperatures from January to November were......
Iran and Turkey announced on Sunday that they will begin construction of a new cross-border railway designed to become a key transit link for trade between Europe and Asia. The agreement was confirmed during a diplomatic meeting in Tehran between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his Turkish......
U.S. President Donald Trump has departed for a major tour of Asia, with a key stop in Malaysia where he plans to meet Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The meeting aims to restore diplomatic and economic ties between the two nations after years of tension. Speaking to reporters aboard......
In North Africa, Libya remains the country where migrants face the most severe challenges, warned the International Organization for Migration (IOM) on Friday, as the ongoing conflict in Sudan drives a massive influx of refugees into the region. “We regularly receive testimonies from migrants......
Chinese President Xi Jinping welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin and other key Eurasian leaders on Sunday as China hosts a major summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). The gathering, held in Tianjin, is being presented as a showcase of a new international order led by China, at......
