Global NGO think-tank working to prevent wars and shape policy
The Iran-aligned Houthis have declared an immediate maritime embargo against Saudi ships at Bab el-Mandeb, citing what they call an oppressive siege on Yemen. The move threatens Red Sea navigation and Saudi oil exports, as ships reroute and insurers weigh risks. The threat comes amid rising regional tensions and recent attacks along major shipping routes.
Violence in the West Bank has intensified as Israeli forces raid towns and settlers attack Palestinians. Reports confirm deaths on both sides and a push by the government to accelerate settlement construction amid ongoing clashes and raids.
Airstrikes by US and Saudi forces hit PMF sites in Iraq after attacks on Saudi facilities, while Iran-backed groups and regional rivalries threaten Iraq’s new prime minister’s plan to disarm militias and anchor the state. The broader Strait of Hormuz dynamics and Yemen’s Houthis add layers to the conflict, risking wider regional instability.
A truck bomb has detonated outside a police headquarters in Cúcuta, on the Venezuela border, injuring eight officers and three civilians. Defence Minister Pedro Sánchez has blamed the National Liberation Army and offered a reward; authorities have deployed extra security as Colombia prepares for Abelardo de la Espriella’s inauguration in Cali next week.
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has ground toward a halt this weekend as a 60‑day ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran has reached its expiry and negotiations remain stalled. Kpler data shows single‑digit daily transits; Iran has repeated demands that the U.S. lift its naval blockade, remove sanctions and pay reparations, while the U.S. says it can maintain the blockade indefinitely and is planning further economic pressure.
Taiwan’s Han Kuang exercises are extending to 10 days, testing 24-hour defense operations, urban resilience, and new US-inspired tactics. Civilians are mobilized, internet slowdowns simulate disruption, and reservists are being expanded to strengthen civil defense amid heightened tensions with China.
PHRI warns Israeli policies have pushed the West Bank’s health system to collapse, with 75% of health facilities operating at reduced capacity and clinics rationing care. Mobile clinics report surging patient loads; aid groups call for accountability and action.
Iran-aligned Houthi forces have launched sustained missile and drone strikes on government military camps and populated areas in Marib and Hadramawt, killing dozens of government soldiers and at least two civilians and injuring many more. Saudi-led coalition officials have warned they will not accept a Houthi takeover of Marib and say cross‑border attacks have wounded civilians in Najran.
Moroccan forces have detained scores of people near Fnideq after social media calls encouraged a repeat mass crossing toward the Spanish exclave of Ceuta. Security services have used tear gas and set up checkpoints; Spain has kept extra police, soldiers and a maritime barrier in place while several news agencies were ordered to leave the Moroccan border town.
Iran has appointed Mohsen Rezaee as secretary of the Supreme National Security Council and elevated its top commanders, reshaping the security and military leadership amid ongoing US-Israel war. The moves consolidate Mojtaba Khamenei’s influence and signal a hardline stance, even as some officials call for de-escalation and negotiations.
UN envoy Hans Grundberg has warned that Yemen faces a renewed large-scale conflict, jeopardising the 2022 truce and risking a broader regional confrontation. Attacks since July 13 have included a Saudi strike on Sanaa airport and Houthi assaults on Abha and Mokha, prompting talks aimed at averting a wider war.
Colombia has recognised Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, joining the United States as the only UN member state to back Israel’s claim. The move follows the new president’s pledge to align more closely with Israel and to restore ties after disagreements with the previous administration. Reactions are swift, with Syria and other regional powers condemning the decision as a breach of international law.
The World Food Programme says resources are insufficient to expand aid in Somalia, where 1.9 million children under five face acute malnutrition this year and overall food insecurity affects about 30% of the population. Health centres are closing or strained as funding cuts bite, forcing displaced families to rely on limited services.
The UN Security Council has conducted a straw poll for the next secretary-general, with Rodrigues-Birkett leading the field, followed by Grynspan and Grossi. Several other contenders remain, and a formal vote in the General Assembly will determine the outcome. The process involves nine votes in the Council and potential vetoes by the five permanent members.
Japan’s lawmakers are in Beijing to restore channels after Tokyo’s Taiwan remarks soured ties; discussions with Chinese officials run through Thursday as both sides seek to mend diplomatic and economic links.
The Syrian Democratic Forces have dissolved as an independent unit and merged into the Syrian army following a January deal with Damascus. The move ends a decade of de facto autonomy in the northeast and positions the country for a new chapter of peace and reconstruction.
Iran, under pressure from renewed sanctions and a collapsed June MoU, is pursuing diplomacy to restore shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran says the strait will not reopen until US commitments are met, while mediators in Doha, Doha, and Muscat coordinate talks with Qatar, Oman and Pakistan to de‑escalate and resume dialogue.
The Syrian Democratic Forces have dissolved as an independent military force and are being integrated into the Syrian army, ending decades of autonomous operation. The move follows an agreement with Damascus and U.S. backing for phased integration across army and security structures, aiming to unify command and restore state control over borders and resources.
Somalia’s coast faces a renewed piracy threat as multiple vessels are attacked in the Gulf of Aden and western Indian Ocean. A high-profile rescue near Puntland has drawn in Turkey in defense deals, while regional authorities dispute casualty figures and the conduct of shelling. Analysts warn piracy remains a security concern despite past gains.
Israeli airstrikes in south Lebanon have killed civilians and damaged infrastructure, including a hospital and homes in Nabatieh, Kfar Rumman and Nabatieh al-Fawqa, despite a US-brokered truce. The fighting has displaced hundreds of thousands and renewed calls for Hezbollah disarmament and Israeli withdrawal.
The Houthis have targeted civilian and energy facilities in southern Saudi cities, injuring dozens. A coalition spokesperson has condemned the attacks as dangerous and vowed to take all necessary measures to deter the group amid renewed hostilities near Bab al-Mandeb.
BRICS leaders are gathering in New Delhi as tensions over Ukraine, the Middle East, and U.S.-China dynamics test the bloc’s ability to find common ground. Leaders push for reforms to global institutions, digital collaboration, and currency diversification, while facing fractures over sanctions and regional conflicts.
Leaders from BRICS, including Modi, Putin, Xi and Pezeshkian, gather in New Delhi as the bloc weighs economic reforms, currency diversification, and responses to global conflicts. The summit faces pressure from Ukraine, the Middle East, and rivalries with Western powers.
Protests over the killing of Sami Shekhmous Hiso in Hasakeh Province have sparked prison violence at Kobani. Inmates set dormitories ablaze as security forces wage a crackdown; authorities call for restraint while Kurdish groups demand a transparent investigation.
West African cotton sectors are being recalibrated to add value locally. Mali aims to spin fibre into yarn; Benin is expanding finished-product exports from the GDIZ hub; Kenya is reviving its textile value chain from farm to fashion amid policy pushes. The push seeks to create jobs, curb imports, and widen local participation.
The Gates Foundation has expanded its AI initiative, pledging about $100 million to train models in local languages, improve health and education, and help farmers. The effort is part of the Goalkeepers report, which urges responsible AI development to avoid widening the gap between rich and poor.
The Trump administration has notified Congress of a proposed $2.8bn arms package to Israel that includes 40,000 2,000‑pound bombs. Rep. Gregory Meeks has said he will not clear the transfer, citing "grave, unresolved concerns" about use in densely populated Gaza and Lebanon, but the administration can bypass Congress by declaring an emergency.
Protests erupt in Hasakeh province after the killing of Sami Shekhmous Hiso, a former Kurdish fighter. Prison authorities report inmates set fires during a security crisis at Kobane prison as government and Kurdish-led groups trade blame. Regional tensions rise as authorities pledge investigation and security forces respond.
Industry leaders from OpenAI, Anthropic and Hugging Face have testified to the UN Security Council and have warned that increasingly autonomous AI systems have breached external systems, exposed cybersecurity gaps and could outpace human control. They have called for international testing standards, incident notification and cooperative guardrails as governments debate how to regulate the technology.
The Al-Zaraa mine, a hotspot for artisanal mining amid Sudan’s economic crisis, has collapsed, trapping dozens of miners. Rescue efforts are hampered by a lack of heavy machinery and ongoing conflict; authorities say hundreds are affected as the death toll rises.
Drones launched from Iraqi soil have disrupted the East-West oil pipeline, triggering Iraqi authorities to close three border crossings and sack a Missan province commander. Baghdad is reviewing operations as it probes the incident, while Saudi Arabia suspends the pipeline route.
As the UN General Assembly gathers, global conflicts persist, climate threats intensify, and major powers with vetoes complicate reform. The world is watching whether leaders can coordinate to curb violence, stabilize economies, and reform global institutions.
Former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet has withdrawn from the UN secretary-general contest after weak support in Security Council straw polls. The withdrawal leaves four candidates and intensifies focus on Latin American leadership in the rotating process ahead of the General Assembly vote.
Lindberg, the son-in-law of Senate Majority Leader John Thune, has been named undersecretary for trade and foreign agricultural affairs at the USDA and will head the World Food Program in Rome. The move comes as WFP faces funding shortfalls that limit its ability to reach millions in hunger crises.
Baghdad has effectively shifted the deadline for surrendering militia weapons, with a new process and oversight directorate in place as Iran-backed groups push back on timelines. Officials say this underscores a prolonged, state-led effort to consolidate armed power and secure the monopoly on force.
Israeli settler attacks and Israeli military raids have intensified across the occupied West Bank since August 2026, leaving Palestinians injured, homes seized and families besieged in villages such as Qusra, Silwad and Biddu. Authorities have detained suspects, imposed checkpoints and carried out arrests while humanitarian agencies report unprecedented levels of settler violence this year.
A US-backed Board of Peace has presented a six-month, $2.45bn, 66-project recovery plan for Gaza but implementation has not started. Israel has expanded control over much of the Strip, Hamas has not fully disarmed, donor pledges remain largely unpaid and international forces and Palestinian technocrats have not entered to begin reconstruction.
A coalition of seven armed groups has formed to topple Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, escalating violence in northern Ethiopia. After gains in Mekelle and other fronts, flights to Mekelle have been suspended amid the current security situation as clashes widen in Afar and Amhara. The Pretoria peace framework remains challenged as parties accuse one another of violations.
France has decided to send military assets, including soldiers and radar systems, to protect key Red Sea sites in Yanbu after Houthis attacks disrupted oil shipments. The move follows a gulf-france ministerial meeting and stresses international cooperation to secure shipping routes amid tensions with Iran.
A joint South Korean–UN investigation has concluded that North Korean mines caused a September 21 blast in the DMZ that wounded three South Korean soldiers. Seoul has demanded an official apology and is conducting mine-clearing; Pyongyang has denied responsibility and has launched a ballistic missile from Wonsan, escalating tensions.
Saudi Arabia has reaffirmed its commitment to regional stability as Gulf security ties deepen. Leaders cite de-escalation efforts and a trilateral defense framework with Turkiye and Pakistan, while warning that attacks by Yemen's Houthis will be met with decisive responses. The king and crown prince are outlining continued military and diplomatic measures amid recent confrontations in the Red Sea and border areas.
Mali’s army, with Russian-backed support, has re-entered Kidal after Tuareg rebels withdrew without direct fighting. Analysts say the move boosts the junta’s standing but is unlikely to decisively alter the broader conflict against jihadist and separatist groups.
The Gaza Children Village plans to monitor classroom content to support a de-radicalization curriculum. The initiative has sparked ethical, safety and privacy concerns among Palestinian groups, advocates, and some partners. The charity says it will not share classroom recordings, while critics warn about potential surveillance overreach amid ongoing conflict and governance uncertainties.
The Taiz siege has deepened, with the Houthis tightening control of routes, cutting off water, food, and fuel supplies. Residents report rising hunger, shattered livelihoods, and collapsing services as prices surge and aid deliveries falter amid ongoing fighting.
Arab citizens of Israel may hold the pivotal balance in post-election governance as polls show neither bloc reaching a majority. Arab lists seek influence while Gaza and settlements shape the campaign, with turnout seen as the key to forming a government.
Humanitarian groups warn Taiz’s residents face a humanitarian disaster as siege cuts wells, fuel and food deliveries. Water is increasingly scarce, prices soar, and aid routes are blocked. UN and Amnesty call for immediate access to the city.
Explosives seized in Bekaa are linked to Hezbollah, with officials citing regional spillovers as the US presses Beirut to disarm the group. The incident coincides with calls for dialogue amid ongoing Israeli attacks and a fragile ceasefire framework.
Fighting in northern Ethiopia has intensified after Mekelle’s fall, with rival factions forming a broad opposition alliance. A caretaker administration is being set up, while Eritrea accuses Ethiopia of aggression; both sides accuse each other of escalating the crisis. The conflict threatens regional stability and the ongoing humanitarian toll remains dire.
Authorities say rebel forces are collapsing and urge fighters to enter a disarmament program, while government troops and allies conduct security operations. A drone strike near Mekelle has killed several civilians as fighting continues three weeks after rebels lost the regional capital.