Diplomacy and International Relations

Sharia-based inheritance laws continue to disadvantage millions of women across the Middle East. What could prompt real change for the next generation of girls?

When Germany and Poland signed the Treaty on Good Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation in June 1991, they chose partnership over enmity and became close NATO and EU allies. But it hasn’t all been plain sailing.

The Kyiv Pechersk Lavra monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was set on fire as Russia struck multiple cities in Ukraine overnight. Meanwhile, Moscow reported three deaths from a Ukrainian drone attack.

A peace deal between the US and Iran is due to be signed this week — and while the hopes of peace may yet be dashed, the news alone was enough to trigger celebrations, backlash and political infighting on both sides.

Hotter, drier weather is impeding rice and palm-oil production as households across Southeast Asia struggle with higher fuel, food and transport costs.

A proposed US-Iran deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz is raising hopes for global shipping and oil markets. But naval mines, high insurance costs and geopolitical risks mean disruption could persist for months.

The EU has formally opened the first stage of accession negotiations with Ukraine. This comes two years later than planned, as former Hungarian PM Viktor Orban was blocking the process prior to his election defeat.

Germany was required to incorporate the EU Pay Transparency Directive into its national law, but it has missed the deadline.

The leader of the Venezuela-based Tren de Aragua gang has died in a US strike, US President Donald Trump says. The gang has been labeled a terrorist organization by Washington.

The firm said it was ordered to block foreign nationals from accessing its state of the art Fable 5 and Mythos 5 AI models on national security grounds.