Global non-profit think tank focused on preventing wars and shaping peace policy.
UN leaders gather amid wars in Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan and conflicts in Iran and Myanmar. AI, climate change and inequality rise as central challenges. Reforms to the Security Council and global institutions are on the table, with Western arrears and veto power shaping the debate.
Parliament has convened for the first time under a five-year transitional framework after Bashar al-Assad’s ouster. The assembly includes appointees by President al-Sharaa and elected members, with debates over representation, a new constitution, and transitional justice shaping the agenda.
China is expanding its sanctions framework, with new measures targeting foreign entities deemed to threaten its interests. The changes could complicate compliance for multinationals navigating US/EU sanctions and Chinese countermeasures. Regulators warn penalties may include fines, asset freezes and export controls as they implement Decrees 834 and 835.
Israel is ready to move forward with two pilot zones in southern Lebanon as talks with Beirut continue under US mediation. Washington seeks a broader security framework with Syria, while Netanyahu is under pressure from Trump’s calls to redeploy. The discussions come amid ongoing clashes and regional tensions.
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.
Two separate bomb attacks have marred Abelardo de la Espriella’s first week in office, killing at least one officer and wounding others. The army has attributed one tollbooth blast near Cali to dissident FARC factions and reported a drone strike on a police station in Cesar. De la Espriella has pledged a forceful crackdown and the US has pledged a $1bn security package.
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.
Houthis have launched repeated drone, missile and naval strikes that have damaged Yemen’s Mocha port, killed dozens and forced the port’s suspension. The group has claimed a drone hit on Saudi Aramco’s Jazan refinery and renewed attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and Bab al‑Mandeb, while Yemeni government forces have mounted counter‑attacks across multiple fronts.
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.
Somalia faces a deepening hunger emergency as drought, conflict and displacement collide with severe funding cuts. The World Food Programme and UNICEF warn millions of people, including nearly 1.9 million children at risk of malnutrition, will feel the impact unless funding improves. Health facilities are closing, and aid delivery is increasingly constrained as prices rise and households reduce meals.
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.
Kurdish-led SDF has dissolved and merged into Syria’s army as part of a broader integration deal approved by the presidency. Abdi has been appointed advisor to the presidency, reflecting a shift in governance and language recognition for Kurdish citizens.
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 strikes in southern Lebanon have killed civilians and damaged infrastructure amid ongoing clashes with Hezbollah. The target areas include Kfar Rumman, Nabatieh, and surrounding towns as diplomatic efforts to disarm Hezbollah and withdraw Israeli forces continue under a US-brokered framework. The toll includes women, children, and rescuers, with casualties and displacement prompting international concern.
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, uniting 60 partners including Google, Anthropic and OpenAI to develop language data for underserved communities. The effort aims to reach more than 3 billion people over five years, building language datasets across diverse dialects to ensure AI tools are equitable and locally relevant.
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.
Kurdish communities are voicing discontent as Syria presses ahead with integrating Kurdish-led forces into the national army. Protests surge after fuel-price hikes and language-policy changes, framing a tense moment for the post-war consolidation effort.
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.
Informal gold mining in Sudan has seen a deadly collapse at the Awny area near the Egypt border. Initial reports confirm multiple deaths and many injuries as rescuers work with limited equipment amid ongoing war and economic chaos.
The East-West pipeline has been hit by drones launched from Iraqi soil, prompting Saudi suspensions and Iraqi security actions. Iraqi authorities have sacked Missan province's commander and closed multiple border crossings as Baghdad probes the incident. The strikes, linked to Iran-aligned factions, test the sovereignty of Iraq as the US-led coalition withdraws.
A coalition including the TPLF, Amhara Fano and OLA has declared the Alliance for Survival to remove Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and establish a transitional government. Fighting is intensifying across Tigray, Amhara and Oromia as both sides mobilize and regional powers weigh in. Flights to Tigray have been canceled as Mekelle’s airport is seized, and tensions with Eritrea and Sudan are rising.
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.
Multiple articles assess the future leadership and funding challenges facing the FAO amid US budgets cuts and shifting foreign aid strategies. The agency faces tighter budgets, calls for efficiency, and debates over how to keep hunger in check as El Niño and geopolitical tensions threaten supply lines.
Iraq’s prime minister has extended the deadline for militias to disarm to June 2027, delaying Sept. 30’s originally planned milestone. Authorities say a new directorate will oversee the process, while immunities and PMF involvement remain points of contention with Washington. The US continues to pressure Baghdad to consolidate arms under state control.
More than 100 Israeli settlers have attacked the West Bank village of Jalud while Israeli forces were attempting to escort a displaced Palestinian family back to their home. Settlers set fire to houses and vehicles, injured three security officers and blocked the return. International organisations and some Israeli officials have criticised the violence.
The US‑backed Board of Peace has presented a six‑month, $2.45bn, 66‑project recovery plan for Gaza and has estimated full reconstruction needs at roughly $71.4bn over the next decade. Implementation has not begun because the plan depends on Hamas disarming, Israeli cooperation and major donor funding that remains largely unpaid; Israeli forces continue to control large parts of the Strip.
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.
The Supreme Court has unanimously overturned the Central Elections Committee’s disqualification of Ra’am and the Joint List, reinstating their ballots for the October 27 election. Cassif remains barred, while Sami Abu Shehadeh withdraws his candidacy; the court’s decision keeps Arab citizens represented as the election race tightens ahead of voting.
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.
North Korea has launched a ballistic missile from the Wonsan area toward the East Sea that flew more than 700km. The launch follows Seoul and the US-led UN Command finding North Korean mines caused a DMZ blast that wounded three South Korean soldiers; Pyongyang has denied responsibility and criticised Seoul.
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.