Houthi threats to Saudi oil shipments via Bab al-Mandab have pushed Brent crude above $100 a barrel and raised fears of a further spike. The disruption is also tightening global diesel, petrol and gas markets.
Oil prices surpassed $100 a barrel for the first time in two months due to escalating Middle East tensions, including Houthi militia attacks on Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea. This renewed conflict threatens global oil supplies, pushing up government borrowing costs and causing stock market declines amid inflation fears.
Benjamin Netanyahu faces political oblivion due to his "lawless violence" doctrine, failed wars, and poisoning of the US-Israel "special relationship." His actions have alienated the US public and leadership, leading to a profound strategic schism and potentially ending unquestioning American support.
Colombia's presidential runoff winner inherits a nation shaped by paramilitary violence. Candidates Iván Cepeda and Abelardo de la Espriella have intertwined histories with these criminal forces, advocating opposing strategies for crime and peace.
Fierce clashes between government troops and opposition-aligned militias have erupted in Mogadishu following President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud's unilateral one-year term extension. Property damage and civilian displacement are reported, with heavy weapons used in densely populated areas.
Clashes erupted in Mogadishu between government troops and opposition-allied militias ahead of planned protests against President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud's extended term. The violence damaged property, injured civilians, and forced some to flee.
Organized crime groups like PCC, Comando Vermelho, and militias are increasingly financing candidates, impacting election security and voter choice. In Rio de Janeiro, 53 polling stations were relocated in 2024 to protect voters from threats and coercion, with more planned for 2026. Cases in Rio and Santa Catarina reveal vote-buying schemes involving cash and drugs, linked to candidates and state agents.
Hezbollah's disarmament is contingent on Iran's involvement in conflict resolution, according to Middle East analyst Naji Malaeb. He stated that Iran supplies Hezbollah's arsenal and holds the decision-making power over its future use. Malaeb suggested potential integration of Shiite militias into the Lebanese army.
A drone attack on the UAE's Barakah nuclear power plant, originating from Iraq, has heightened fears of regional escalation. Analysts suggest it's a warning from Iran-backed militias, aiming to pressure Gulf states and the US.
Anwar Gargash, UAE presidential diplomatic advisor, stated that Iran-backed militias in Iraq targeting the Barakah nuclear power plant in Abu Dhabi is a 'dangerous sign' of the threat facing the region, linking it to the absence of a national state and violations of international law.
The UAE stated that drones which attacked its only nuclear power plant last week were launched from Iraq, implicating Tehran-backed groups and marking a significant escalation in regional tensions.
The US has suspended dollar banknote deliveries to Iraq and frozen security cooperation programs to pressure Baghdad to disband pro-Iranian militias. The Treasury Department blocked approximately $500 million in transfers from Federal Reserve Bank of New York accounts, representing proceeds from Iraqi oil sales. This is the second batch of cash suspended since US military operations against Iran began. Washington also froze funding for Iraqi military and counterterrorism training programs.
